CONSECO INC
SC 13D/A, 1997-10-15
ACCIDENT & HEALTH INSURANCE
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13D


                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                AMENDMENT NO. 3


                            NAL Financial Group Inc.
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                  Common Stock
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   62872M106
                                 (CUSIP Number)






                                October 1, 1997
             (Date of Event which requires filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously  filed a Statement on Schedule 13G to report
the  acquisition  which is the  subject  of this  Statement  and is filing  this
Statement because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box:
[   ]



                                        1
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>     <C>                                                                                                               <C>
         CUSIP No..........................................................................................................62872M106

1.       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON......................................................................................Conseco, Inc.

         S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON................................................................35-1468632

2.       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
         (a)  [ X ] (b) [   ]

3.       SEC USE ONLY

4.       SOURCE OF FUNDS.........................................................................................................AF

5.       CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
         TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)                                                                                                 [   ]

6.       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION..................................................................United States Citizen

Number of                   7.      SOLE VOTING POWER........................................................................515,000

Shares

Beneficially                8.      SHARED VOTING POWER...................................................................83,879,680

Owned By

Each                        9.      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER...................................................................515,000

Reporting

Person With                 10.     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER..............................................................83,879,680


11.      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         84,394,680

12.      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES SHARES
         [   ]


13.      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
         86.8%


14.      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON.............................................................................................HC, CO

</TABLE>

                                        2


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


<S>     <C>                                                                                                                <C>
         CUSIP No..........................................................................................................62872M106

1.       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON.................................................................................CIHC, Incorporated

         S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON................................................................51-0356511

2.       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
         (a)  [ X ] (b) [   ]

3.       SEC USE ONLY

4.       SOURCE OF FUNDS.........................................................................................................BK

5.       CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
         TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)                                                                                                 [   ]

6.       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION..................................................................United States Citizen

Number of                   7.      SOLE VOTING POWER.....................................................................83,622,680

Shares

Beneficially                8.      SHARED VOTING POWER............................................................................0
                                                                                                                           
Owned By

Each                        9.      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER................................................................83,622,680

Reporting

Person With                 10.     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER.......................................................................0
                                                                                                                            


11.      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         83,622,680

12.      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES SHARES
         [   ]

13.      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
         86.7%

14.      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON.............................................................................................HC, CO

</TABLE>

                                        3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


<S>     <C>                                                                                                                <C>
         CUSIP No..........................................................................................................62872M106

1.       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON................................................................Conseco Private Capital Group, Inc.

         S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON................................................................35-1882445

2.       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
         (a)  [ X ] (b) [   ]

3.       SEC USE ONLY

4.       SOURCE OF FUNDS.........................................................................................................AF

5.       CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
         TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)                                                                                                 [   ]

6.       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION..................................................................United States Citizen

Number of                   7.      SOLE VOTING POWER........................................................................257,000

Shares

Beneficially                8.      SHARED VOTING POWER............................................................................0

Owned By

Each                        9.      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER...................................................................257,000

Reporting

Person With                10.      SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER.......................................................................0


11.      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         257,000

12.      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES SHARES
         [   ]


13.      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
           .5%

14.      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON...............................................................................................  CO

</TABLE>


                                        4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>     <C>                                                                                                                <C>
         CUSIP No..........................................................................................................62872M106

1.       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON.........................................................Beneficial Standard Life Insurance Company

         S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON................................................................95-0540891

2.       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
         (a)  [ X ] (b) [   ]

3.       SEC USE ONLY

4.       SOURCE OF FUNDS........................................................................................................N/A

5.       CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
         TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)                                                                                                 [   ]

6.       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION..................................................................United States Citizen

Number of                   7.      SOLE VOTING POWER..............................................................................0

Shares

Beneficially                8.      SHARED VOTING POWER............................................................................0

Owned By

Each                        9.      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER.........................................................................0

Reporting

Person With                 10.     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER.......................................................................0


11.      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         0

12.      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES SHARES
         [   ]


13.      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
          0%


14.      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON.................................................................................................IC
</TABLE>



                                        5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>     <C>                                                                                                                <C>
         CUSIP No..........................................................................................................62872M106

1.       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON...........................................................Great American Reserve Insurance Company

         S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON................................................................75-0300900

2.       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
         (a)  [ X ] (b) [   ]

3.       SEC USE ONLY

4.       SOURCE OF FUNDS........................................................................................................N/A

5.       CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
         TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)                                                                                                 [   ]

6.       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION..................................................................United States Citizen

Number of                   7.      SOLE VOTING POWER..............................................................................0

Shares

Beneficially                8.      SHARED VOTING POWER............................................................................0

Owned By

Each                        9.      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER.........................................................................0

Reporting

Person With                 10.     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER.......................................................................0


11.      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         0

12.      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES SHARES
         [   ]


13.      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
          0%


14.      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON.................................................................................................IC
</TABLE>



                                        6
<PAGE>

Item 1.  Security and Issuer

     This  Amendment  No. 3 to  Schedule  13D is being  filed by  Conseco,  Inc.
("Conseco"),  CIHC, Incorporated, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Conseco ("CIHC"),
Conseco  Private  Capital  Group,  Inc., a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Conseco
("CPCG"),  Beneficial Standard Life Insurance Company ("BSLIC"),  a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Conseco, and Great American Reserve Insurance Company ("GARCO"), a
wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Conseco,  relating to the Common Stock (the "Common
Stock"),  $.15 par value, of NAL Financial Group Inc. (the  "Company").  This is
the final  amendment  for BSLIC and GARCO because they have  transferred  all of
their beneficial ownership in the Common Stock to CIHC.

     The Company's  principle executive offices are located at 500 Cypress Creek
Road West, Suite 590, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33309.

Item 2.  Identity and Background

     Not amended except as stated  herein.  See Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13D,
dated June 25, 1997, previously filed.

     In September 1997, John J. Sabl became Executive Vice President,  Secretary
and General Counsel of Conseco.  Prior to such time, Mr. Sabl was a partner with
Sidley & Austin in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Sabl's business address is 11825 North
Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032.

     This statement is filed by CIHC, a Delaware  corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Conseco,  whose principal  business  address and principal  office
address is 1201 Orange Street,  Wilmington, DE 19801. CIHC is an interim holding
company that owns

                                        7

<PAGE>



and operates insurance  companies.  The following are the executive officers and
directors  of CIHC  along  with a  description  of their  background  and  their
business address:

     Mr.  Mark A.  Ferrucci,  whose  business  address  is 1209  Orange  Street,
Wilmington, Delaware 19801, is President and a director of CIHC. Mr. Ferrucci is
also an employee of CT Corporation.

     Mr.  William T.  Devanney,  Jr.,  whose  business  address  is 11825  North
Pennsylvania Street, Carmel,  Indiana 46032, is Vice President,  Corporate Taxes
of CIHC. Mr. Devanney is also an officer of other subsidiaries of Conseco.

     Ms. A. M. Horne, whose business address is 1209 Orange Street,  Wilmington,
Delaware  19801,  is  Secretary  of CIHC.  Ms.  Horne is also an  employee of CT
Corporation.

     Ms.  Kim E.  Lutthans,  whose  business  address  is  1209  Orange  Street,
Wilmington,  Delaware  19801,  is  Treasurer  of CIHC.  Ms.  Lutthans is also an
employee of CT Corporation.

     Mr. Gongaware is a director of CIHC.

     All of the  executive  officers  and  directors  of CIHC are United  States
citizens.  During the last five years no executive officers or directors of CIHC
have been convicted in a criminal  proceeding  (excluding  traffic violations or
similar misdemeanors) nor have such persons been party to civil proceedings of a
judicial  or  administrative  body  of  competent  jurisdiction  resulting  in a
judgment,  decree or final order enjoining future  violations of, or prohibiting
or mandating activities subject to, federal or state

                                        8

<PAGE>



securities laws or a finding of any violation with respect to such laws.

Item 3.  Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

     Effective  April 23,  1996,  BSLIC,  GARCO and the Company  entered  into a
Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Securities  Purchase Agreement") pursuant to
which  each  of  GARCO  and  BSLIC   purchased  $5  million  of  9%  Convertible
Subordinated Debentures of the Company (the "Debentures").  GARCO and BSLIC made
the investment out of their working capital. The Debentures are convertible into
shares of Common Stock. On August 22, 1997,  Conseco agreed to provide up to $10
million to the Company (the "Conseco Commitment"), up to $5 million of which was
to be in the form of loans to NAL  Acceptance  Corporation,  a subsidiary of the
Company,  and the  remainder  was to be in the  form of  preferred  stock of the
Company. Conseco also had agreed that the Debentures would be exercised, and the
Company agreed to fix the conversion price at $.32 per share.  Effective October
1, 1997, CIHC acquired the Debentures from GARCO and BSLIC for $5.7 million each
and caused the  principal  amount and accrued  interest of the  Debentures to be
converted into 36,814,305  shares of Common Stock. CIHC purchased the Debentures
with  proceeds  from a $200  million  credit  facility  provided  by First Union
National Bank (the "First Union Facility").

     Also, as previously reported, Conseco had reached tentative agreements with
holders of convertible debentures of the Company (the "Non-Conseco Debentures").
On September  17,  1997,  with  proceeds  from a $1.4  billion  credit  facility
including NationsBank,

                                        9

<PAGE>



N.A.  (South),  as  administrative  agent,  Conseco  acquired  a portion  of the
Non-Conseco  Debentures with an aggregate principal balance of $5 million for $4
million.  On October 1, 1997, with proceeds from the First Union Facility,  CIHC
acquired the  remainder of the  Non-Conseco  Debentures  for $4.8  million,  and
Conseco  contributed  the previously  acquired  Non-Conseco  Debentures to CIHC.
Pursuant to the terms of the Conseco Commitment, on October 1, 1997, the Company
and CIHC  agreed  to fix the  conversion  price at $.30 per share for all but $5
million of such debentures for which the conversion  price was fixed at $.32 per
share.  Upon conversion of the principal and accrued interest of the Non-Conseco
Debentures, CIHC could obtain an additional 38,808,374 shares of Common Stock.

     Also pursuant to the Conseco Commitment, with proceeds from the First Union
Facility,  CIHC  acquired  5,000,000  shares of newly issued  Series A Preferred
Stock of the Company, $1 par value (the "Preferred  Stock"),  providing for a 9%
cumulative dividend and convertible into common stock at CIHC's option at 80% of
the market price at the time of conversion.

Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction

     Conseco's  purpose  for  the  transactions  reported  herein  is to  obtain
majority  ownership of the Company.  Through the  acquisition  of the  Preferred
Stock and the Non-Conseco Debentures,  CIHC's rights to acquire shares of Common
Stock  pursuant to the Non- Conseco  Debentures  and the  Preferred  Stock,  the
conversion of the Debentures  into Common Stock and CPCG's and Conseco's  rights
to acquire shares of Common Stock pursuant to warrants,  CIHC,  Conseco and CPCG
together  beneficially  own  84,394,680  shares of  Common  Stock  assuming  the
conversion of the Preferred Stock at $.625 per

                                       10

<PAGE>



share.  Such shares represent 86.8% of the deemed  outstanding  shares of Common
Stock.  Upon the Company  amending its Certificate of  Incorporation to increase
its authorized  shares of Common Stock,  CIHC intends to convert the Non-Conseco
Debentures  into  shares of Common  Stock.  Pursuant to the terms of the Conseco
Commitment, Conseco has agreed that, for three months after the closing, it will
refrain from conducting any non-consensual  going-private  transactions.  For an
additional  three-month  period,  any  transactions  that would take the Company
private  would  require the  approval of  disinterested  members of the Board of
Directors  of the  Company.  Conseco  has no  present  plans  or has it made any
proposals to increase its ownership in the Company beyond that reported  herein.

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer

         (a) As a result  of CIHC's  ownership  of  36,814,305  shares of Common
Stock, the ownership of the Warrants,  the CPCG Warrant (as defined in Amendment
No. 1 to Schedule 13D),  the  Non-Conseco  Debentures  and the Preferred  Stock,
Conseco  beneficially  owns 84,394,680  shares of the Common Stock  representing
86.8% of the shares of Common Stock deemed to be  outstanding.  Such  beneficial
ownership  is based  upon a  conversion  price  of $.625  per  share  under  the
Preferred Stock.

         (b)  Assuming  exercise  of the  Warrants  and the  CPCG  Warrants  and
conversion of the Non-Conseco  Debentures and the Preferred Stock, Conseco would
have the sole  power to vote or to direct the vote and the sole power to dispose
or direct the disposition of


                                       11

<PAGE>



515,000  shares of Common  Stock and the  shared  power to dispose or direct the
disposition  and the  shared  power to vote  83,879,680  shares of Common  Stock
through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, CIHC and CPCG.

         (c)  The  only  transactions involving   the  Common  Stock   affected
during the past 60 days by Conseco,  CIHC, CPCG, BSLIC or GARCO are described in
this Schedule 13D, as amended by Amendment No. 1 and 2 and this Amendment No. 3.

         (d)  Not applicable.

         (e)  Not applicable.

Item 6.  Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or  Relationships with  Respect
to Securities of the Issuer

     See Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13D,  dated June 25, 1997 and Amendment No.
2 to Schedule 13D,  dated August 22, 1997.  The Company,  BSLIC,  GARCO and CIHC
entered into an Amendment to  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  dated October 1,
1997,  to  provide  for the  registration  of shares of  Common  Stock  acquired
pursuant to the Preferred Stock. Pursuant to the Conseco Commitment, the Company
increased  the size of its Board of Directors  from four to seven and  appointed
three nominees of Conseco to fill such new positions. The nominees are Andrew W.
Hubregsen,  an officer of CPCG, Michael F. Bonnet, an officer of CPCG and Robert
T. Wildman.

Item 7.  Material to Be Filed as Exhibits
      (99.1)      Joint Filing Agreement by and among BSLIC, GARCO, Conseco
                  and CPCG;


                                       12

<PAGE>



 *(99.2)          Securities   Purchase Agreement,  dated April 23, 1996, by and
                  among the Company, BSLIC and GARCO;
 *(99.3)          Warrant to purchase 500,000 shares  of Common Stock issued  to
                  Conseco April 23, 1996;
 *(99.4)          Warrant to purchase 15,000 shares  of  Common  Stock issued to
                  Conseco April 23, 1996;
 *(99.5)          Stockholders' Agreement, dated April 23, 1996,  by  and  among
                  GARCO, BSLIC, the Company and the shareholders  named therein;
 *(99.6)          Registration  Rights Agreement,  dated  April 23, 1996, by and
                  among the Company, GARCO and BSLIC;
 *(99.7)          Registration Rights  Agreement,  dated April  23, 1996, by and
                  between the Company and Conseco;
 *(99.8)          $5,000,000 9%  Subordinated  Convertible  Debenture  issued to
                  GARCO, dated April 23, 1996; and
 *(99.9)          $5,000,000 9%  Subordinated  Convertible Debenture  issued  to
                  BSLIC, dated April 23, 1996.
**(99.10)         First  Amendment  to  9% Subordinated  Convertible  Debenture,
                  dated  April 23, 1996, issued to BSLIC.
**(99.11)         First Amendment to 9%  Subordinated  Convertible    Debenture,
                  dated April 23, 1996, issued to GARCO.
**(99.12)         First   Amendment  to  Warrant  to  Purchase   Common Stock in
                  connection with  the  warrant  for  500,000  shares  issued to
                  Conseco.


                                       13

<PAGE>



 **(99.13)    First  Amendment to Warrant to Purchase Common Stock in connection
              with the warrant for 15,000 shares issued to Conseco.
 **(99.14)    Warrant to Purchase 257,000  shares of Common Stock issued to CPCG
              dated June 23, 1997.
***(99.15)    Investment Agreement by and between Conseco and  the Company dated
              August 22, 1997.
***(99.16)    Letter  Agreement  between  Conseco  and   Merrill  Lynch    dated
              August 22, 1997.
***(99.17)    Letter Agreement between  Conseco  and  Westminster Capital,  Inc.
              dated August 22, 1997.
***(99.18)    Letter Agreement between Conseco and Michael Karp dated August 22,
              1997.
   (99.19)    Certificate  of Designation  of  Series  A Preferred Stock of  NAL
              Financial Group Inc.
   (99.20)    Amendment  to  Registration Rights  Agreement   by   and among the
              Company, BSLIC, GARCO and CIHC, dated October 1, 1997.
   (99.21)    Consent by Stockholder to Action without  a Meeting, dated October
              2, 1997 and executed by CIHC.
   (99.22)    Credit  Agreement, dated as  of November 22,  1996, among Conseco,
              the lenders party thereto and the agents  party thereto  including
              NationsBank,  N.A.  (South) is  incorporated  herein  by reference
              to Exhibit   4.17 of  Conseco's  Report on Form 8-K dated December
              17, 1996.


                                       14

<PAGE>



      (99.23)     Credit  Agreement among Conseco and First Union National Bank,
                  dated as of September 30, 1997.
      (99.24)     Form of 9% Subordinated  Convertible Debenture is incorporated
                  herein  by   reference   to  Exhibit  4.2  of  the   Company's
                  Registration   Statement  on  Form  SB-2,   Registration   No.
                  33-97948, filed on October 25, 1995.
      (99.25)     10% Subordinated Convertible Debenture in the principal amount
                  of $2,250,000  payable  to  Bridge  Rope & Co. is incorporated
                  herein by reference to Exhibit 4.15 of the Company's September
                  1996 10-QSB.
      (99.26)     10% Subordinated Convertible Debenture in the principal amount
                  of $2,750,000 payable to Kane & Co. is  incorporated herein by
                  reference  to  Exhibit  4.16 of  the  Company's September 1996
                  10-QSB.
      (99.27)     Agreement for  Sale  of  Debentures   between Michael Karp and
                  Conseco.
      (99.28)     Agreement  for  Sale  of   Debentures   between  Merrill Lynch
                  Convertible Fund, Inc. and Conseco.
      (99.29)     Agreement for Sale of Debentures between Merrill Lynch   World
                  Income Fund, Inc. and Conseco.
      (99.30)     Agreement for Sale of Debentures between Westminster  Capital,
                  Inc. and Conseco.
      (99.31)     Second  Amendment  to 9%  Subordinated  Convertible  Debenture
                  Dated  April 23,  1996 by and  between  the  Company and CIHC,
                  dated October 1, 1997, related to the BSLIC Debenture.


                                       15

<PAGE>



      (99.32)     Second  Amendment  to 9%  Subordinated  Convertible  Debenture
                  Dated  April 23,  1996 by and  between  the  Company and CIHC,
                  dated October 1, 1997, related to the GARCO Debenture.
      (99.33)     Amendment  to  Subordinated  Convertible   Debenture,   by and
                  between the Company and CIHC,  dated  October 1, 1997, related
                  to the Westminster Capital, Inc. debenture.
      (99.34)     Amendment  to  Subordinated  Convertible  Debenture,   by  and
                  between the Company and CIHC, dated October 1, 1997,   related
                  to the Kane & Co. debenture.
      (99.35)     Amendments  to  Subordinated  Convertible  Debentures,  by and
                  between the Company and CIHC,  dated October 1, 1997,  related
                  to the Karp debentures.
      (99.36)     Amendment  to  Subordinated  Convertible   Debenture,  by  and
                  between the Company and CIHC, dated October 1, 1997,   related
                  to the Bridge Rope & Co. debenture.





    *             Incorporated by reference  from Schedule  13D, dated April 23,
                  1996.
    **            Incorporated   by  reference from Amendment No. 1 to  Schedule
                  13D, dated June 25, 1997.
   ***            Incorporated by reference from Amendment No.3 to Schedule 13D,
                  dated August 22, 1997.


                                       16

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief,
we certify that the  information  set forth in this statement is true,  complete
and correct.

Date: October 14, 1997.

                                  CONSECO, INC.


                                  By:   /S/DONALD F. GONGAWARE
                                        ---------------------------
                                        Donald F. Gongaware,
                                        Executive Vice President


                                  CIHC, INCORPORATED


                                  By:   /S/WILLIAM T. DEVANNEY, 
                                        ---------------------------
                                        William T. Devanney,
                                        Senior Vice President


                                  CONSECO PRIVATE CAPITAL GROUP,
                                      INC.


                                  By:   /S/MICHAEL F. BONNET
                                        ---------------------------
                                        Michael F. Bonnet,
                                        Vice President


                                  BENEFICIAL STANDARD LIFE
                                     INSURANCE COMPANY


                                  By:   /S/DONALD F. GONGAWARE
                                        ---------------------------
                                        Donald F. Gongaware,
                                        President


                                  GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE
                                     INSURANCE COMPANY


                                  By:   /S/DONALD F. GONGAWARE
                                        ---------------------------
                                        Donald F. Gongaware,
                                        President





                                       17


                             JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

         This will confirm the agreement by and among all the  undersigned  that
the  Schedule  13D filed on or about this date with  respect  to the  beneficial
ownership of the  undersigned of shares of the Common Stock,  $.15 par value, of
NAL  Financial  Group Inc. is being filed on behalf of each of the  undersigned.
This agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,  each of which shall
be deemed an original,  but all of which together  shall  constitute one and the
same instrument.


Dated: October 14, 1997             CONSECO, INC.


                                    By: /S/NGAIRE E. CUNEO
                                        ---------------------------     
                                        Ngaire E. Cuneo,
                                        Executive Vice President


                                    CONSECO PRIVATE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.


                                    By: /S/NGAIRE E. CUNEO
                                        ---------------------------     
                                        Ngaire E. Cuneo,
                                        President


                                    BENEFICIAL STANDARD LIFE INSURANCE
                                       COMPANY


                                    By: /S/ROLLIN M. DICK
                                        ---------------------------     
                                        Rollin M. Dick,
                                        Executive Vice President


                                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE LIFE INSURANCE
                                       COMPANY


                                    By: /S/ROLLIN M. DICK
                                        ---------------------------
                                        Rollin M. Dick,
                                        Executive Vice President

                                    CIHC, INCORPORATED


                                    By: /S/WILLIAM T. DEVANNEY
                                        ---------------------------
                                        William T. Devanney,
                                        Senior Vice President












                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

                                       of

                            SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                            NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.

           Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the General Corporation Law
                            of the State of Delaware

         NAL  Financial  Group Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),
certifies  that  pursuant  to the  authority  contained  in its  Certificate  of
Incorporation,  as amended,  and in  accordance  with the  provisions of Section
151(g) of the General  Corporation  Law of the State of  Delaware,  its Board of
Directors  (the  "Board of  Directors")  has adopted  the  following  resolution
designating  a series  of its  Preferred  Stock,  $.01 par  value,  as  Series A
Preferred Stock:

         RESOLVED,  that a series of the class of  authorized  Preferred  Stock,
$.01 par  value,  of the  Company  hereinafter  designated  "Series A  Preferred
Stock," be hereby  created,  and that the designation and amount thereof and the
voting  powers,  preferences  and  relative,  participating,  optional and other
special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations
or restrictions thereof are as follows:

         Section 1.        Designation and Amount.

         The  shares  of such  series  shall  be  designated  as the  "Series  A
Preferred  Stock"  (the  "Series A  Preferred  Stock")  and the number of shares
initially constituting such series shall be 5,000,000.

         Section 2.        Dividends and Distributions.

                  (a)  Each  holder of shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock,  in
preference  to the  holders of shares of the Common  Stock,  $.15 par value (the
"Common  Stock"),  of  the  Company  and  of  any  other  capital  stock  of the
Corporation  ranking  junior to the  Series A  Preferred  Stock as to payment of
dividends,  shall be entitled  to receive,  when and as declared by the Board of
Directors,  a cash dividend  accruing at the per share rate of nine cents ($.09)
per annum, payable semi-annually.  Dividend payments to the holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be payable on each semi-annual anniversary of the
date of the  original  issuance  of such  shares  to  holders  of  record on the
respective  dates fixed for that  purpose by the Board of  Directors.  Dividends
shall be payable in cash by delivery of a check to each such holder of record at
the address which is registered with the Secretary of the Company.

                                       1




<PAGE>




                  (b)  Dividends  payable  pursuant  to  paragraph  (a) of  this
Section 2 shall  begin to accrue from the date of the  original  issuance of the
Series A Preferred  Stock and shall be cumulative.  Dividends paid on the shares
of  Series A  Preferred  Stock in an amount  less than the total  amount of such
dividends  at the time  accrued and payable on such shares shall be allotted pro
rata on a share-by-  share basis among all such shares at the time  outstanding.
Accruals of dividends shall not bear interest.

                  (c)  Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  set forth in
paragraphs  (a) or (b) of this  Section  2,  each  holder  of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock entitled to receive a dividend on a dividend  payment date shall
have the option to receive such  dividend in the form of shares of the Company's
Common  Stock in such amount as is  determined  by dividing  the total  dividend
payment due to each holder on the relevant dividend payment date by the Dividend
Ratio (as that term is  hereafter  defined)  in effect  for such  dividend.  The
holder of any shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock may  exercise  such option by
delivering to the Company,  at the Company's  corporate  office  (presently  500
Cypress Creek Road, Suite 590, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309), or any successor
location, the form of election (the "Dividend Election"), completed and executed
as indicated  thereon,  no later than ten (10)  Business Days before the date on
which the dividend is payable.  For purposes of this paragraph (c), the Dividend
Election  shall be deemed to be  delivered on the day on which it is received by
the Company.  For purposes  hereof,  the term "Dividend Ratio" shall mean eighty
percent (80%) of the Closing Price (as that term is defined in Section 8) on the
record date for the payment of the dividend.  In connection with the issuance of
any shares of Common Stock pursuant to this paragraph,  no fractional  shares of
Common Stock shall be issued, but in lieu thereof,  the Company shall pay a cash
adjustment  in respect of such  fractional  interest in an amount  equal to such
fractional  interest multiplied by the Closing Price on the record date for such
dividend.

                  (d)  The holders of shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock shall
not be  entitled  to receive  any  dividends  or other  distributions  except as
provided in this Section 2.

                  (e)  No dividends  or other  distributions  shall be made with
respect to the Company's Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking junior
to the Series A Preferred  Stock as to dividends if at the time of such dividend
or distribution  the Company is in default with respect to any dividend  payable
on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

         Section 3.        Voting Rights.

         Except as required by law,  the holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall have no voting  rights and their  consent  shall not be required for
the taking of any corporate action.


                                       2




<PAGE>



         Section 4.        Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.

                  (a)  If the Company  shall adopt a plan of  liquidation  or of
dissolution,  or commence a voluntary case under the federal  bankruptcy laws or
any other applicable state or federal bankruptcy,  insolvency or similar law, or
consent to the entry of an order for relief in any  involuntary  case under such
law  or to the  appointment  of a  receiver,  liquidator,  assignee,  custodian,
trustee  or  sequestrator  (or  similar  official)  of  the  Company  or of  any
substantial  part of its property,  or make an assignment for the benefit of its
creditors,  or admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they
become due and on account of such event the Company shall liquidate, dissolve or
wind  up,  or upon any  other  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up of the
Company, then and in that event, no distribution shall be made to the holders of
shares of Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking  junior to the Series
A Preferred Stock as to the amounts distributable upon liquidation,  dissolution
or winding  up,  unless,  prior  thereto,  the holders of the Series A Preferred
Stock  shall  have  first  received  an  amount in cash or  equivalent  value in
securities or other consideration equal to the "liquidation preference" thereof.
If upon any  liquidation,  dissolution  or winding  up, the amount so payable or
distributable  does not  equal or exceed  the  "liquidation  preference"  of the
Series A  Preferred  Stock,  then,  and in that  event,  the  amount  of cash so
payable, and amount of securities or other consideration so distributable, shall
be shared ratably  according to the respective  "liquidation  preference" due to
the  holders  of the  Series A  Preferred  Stock.  After  payment in full of the
"liquidation  preference"  owed to the holders of the Series A Preferred  Stock,
the holders of the Common Stock and of all other classes of stock ranking junior
to  the  Series  A  Preferred  Stock  as to  the  amounts  distributable  upon a
liquidation,  dissolution,  or winding up shall be entitled, to the exclusion of
the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, to share in all remaining assets of
the Company in  accordance  with their  respective  interests.  For the purposes
hereof,  the "liquidation  preference" of each share of Series A Preferred Stock
shall  be  $1.00,  less  the  aggregate  amount  of  all  capital  distributions
(exclusive of dividends) made by the Company with respect to a share of Series A
Preferred  Stock  since  the  date of the  original  issuance  of the  Series  A
Preferred Stock.

                  (b)  Neither  the  voluntary  consolidation,  merger  or other
business combination of the Company with or into any other Person or Persons nor
the  voluntary  sale,  lease,  exchange or  conveyance of all or any part of the
property,  assets or business  of the Company to a Person or Persons  other than
the holders of the Company's Common Stock,  shall be deemed to be a liquidation,
dissolution  or winding up of the Company for purposes of paragraph  (a) of this
Section 4.

         Section 5.        Conversion.

                  (a) Subject to the provisions  for adjustment  hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be convertible in the manner
hereinafter set forth into fully paid and nonassessable  shares of Common Stock.
Each share of Series A Preferred Stock may, at the option of the holder thereof,
be converted  into a number of shares of Common  Stock  computed by dividing the
sum of $1.00 by the Conversion  Price (as that term is hereafter  defined).  The
term "Conversion Price" shall mean a amount equal to eighty percent (80%) of the
Closing

                                       3




<PAGE>



Price (as that term is defined in Section 8) of the  Company's  Common  Stock on
the  Conversion  Date (as that term is defined in paragraph  (d) of this Section
5).

                  (b) The number of  shares  of  Common  Stock  into  which each
share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible  shall be subject to adjustment
from time to time as follows:

                            (i) In case  the  Company  shall at any time or frp,
time to  time  declare  a dividend, or  make a  distribution, on the outstanding
shares of Common Stock in shares of Common Stock or subdivide or reclassify  the
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock  into a greater  number of shares of Common
Stock or combine or  reclassify  the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares of Common Stock, then, and in each case:

                                    (A) the  number  of  shares  of Common Stock
Stock into which each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible  shall be
adjusted so that the holder of each share  thereof shall be entitled to receive,
upon the  conversion  thereof,  the number of shares of Common  Stock which such
holder  would have been  entitled to receive  after the  happening of any of the
events described above had such share of Series A Preferred Stock been converted
immediately  prior to the  happening of such event or the record date  therefor,
whichever is earlier; and

                                    (B) an  adjustment  made  pursuant  to  this
this clause (i) shall become  effective  (1) in the case of any such dividend or
distribution, immediately after the close of business on the record date for the
determination  of holders of shares of Common  Stock  entitled  to receive  such
dividend  or  distribution,  and  (2)  in the  case  of  any  such  subdivision,
reclassification or combination,  at the close of business on the day upon which
such corporate action becomes effective.

                       (ii)     Any  capital  reorganization,  reclassification,
consolidation,  merger  or sale  of all or  substantially  all of the  Company's
assets to  another  Person  (other  than a  transaction  to which  clause (i) of
paragraph  (b) of this  Section 5 applies)  which is effected in such a way that
holders  of Common  Stock are  entitled  to  receive  (either  directly  or upon
subsequent  liquidation)  stock,  securities  or assets  with  respect  to or in
exchange for Common Stock is referred to herein as an "Organic Change." Prior to
the  consummation  of any  Organic  Change,  the Company  will make  appropriate
provisions  to insure that each of the holders of Series A Preferred  Stock will
thereafter  have the right to acquire and receive,  in lieu of or in addition to
the shares of Common Stock  immediately  theretofore  acquirable  and receivable
upon the conversion of such holder's  shares of Series A Preferred  Stock,  such
shares of stock,  securities  or assets as such  holder  would have  received in
connection  with such Organic  Change if such holder had  converted his Series A
Preferred Stock  immediately prior to the effective date of such Organic Change.
In any such case,  the Company will make  appropriate  provisions to insure that
the  provisions of this Section 5 will  thereafter be applicable to the Series A
Preferred  Stock.  The Company  will not effect any such Organic  Change  unless
prior to the  commencement  thereof,  the  successor  Person  (if other than the
Company)  resulting from  consolidation or merger or the Person  purchasing such

                                       4




<PAGE>



assets  assumes by written  instrument  the  obligation  to deliver to each such
holder such shares of stock,  securities  or assets as, in  accordance  with the
foregoing provisions, such holder may be entitled to acquire.

                  (c) In case the Company  shall be a party to an Organic Change
resulting in the change or exchange of the Company's Common Stock then, from and
after  the  date  of  announcement  of  the  pendency  of  such  Organic  Change
transaction  until the effective date thereof,  each share of Series A Preferred
Stock may be  converted,  at the option of the holder  thereof,  into  shares of
Common Stock on the terms and  conditions set forth in this Section 5, and if so
converted  during such  period,  such holder  shall be entitled to receive  such
consideration  in exchange for such  holder's  shares of Common Stock as if such
holder had been the holder of such shares of Common  Stock as of the record date
for such change or exchange of the Common Stock.

                  (d) The holder of any  shares of Series A  Preferred Stock may
exercise  the right to  convert  such  shares  into  shares  of Common  Stock by
surrendering for such purpose to the Company,  at the Company's corporate office
(presently 500 Cypress Creek Road, Suite 590, Fort  Lauderdale,  Florida 33309),
or any successor location, a certificate or certificates representing the shares
of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted with the form of election to convert
(the  "Election  to  Convert")  on the  reverse  side of the  stock  certificate
completed and executed as indicated,  thereby stating that such holder elects to
convert all or a specified  whole number of such shares in  accordance  with the
provisions  of this  Section 5 and  specifying  the name or names in which  such
holder wishes the certificate or  certificates  for shares of Common Stock to be
issued. In case the Election to Convert shall specify a name or names other than
that of such holder, it shall be accompanied by payment of all transfer or other
taxes  payable upon the issuance of shares of Common Stock in such name or names
that may be  payable in  respect  of any issue or  delivery  of shares of Common
Stock on conversion of Series A Preferred  Stock  pursuant  hereto.  The Company
will  have no  responsibility  to pay any taxes  with  respect  to the  Series A
Preferred  Stock.  As promptly as  practicable,  and in any event  within  three
Business Days after the surrender of such  certificate or  certificates  and the
receipt of the Election to Convert, and, if applicable,  payment of all transfer
or other taxes (or the  demonstration  to the  satisfaction  of the Company that
such taxes have been paid),  the Company  shall deliver or cause to be delivered
(i)  certificates  representing  the  number of validly  issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable  full  shares  of Common  Stock to which  the  holder of shares of
Series A Preferred  Stock so  converted  shall be entitled and (ii) if less than
the  full  number  of  shares  of  Series A  Preferred  Stock  evidenced  by the
surrendered  certificate or certificates are being converted,  a new certificate
or  certificates,  of like  tenor,  for the number of shares  evidenced  by such
surrendered  certificate or  certificates  less the number of shares  converted.
Such  conversion  shall be deemed to have been made at the close of  business on
the date (the  "Conversion  Date") of the Company's  receipt of a duly completed
Election  to  Convert  and  surrender  of  the   certificate   or   certificates
representing the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted.  The rights
of the holder of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock  surrendered for conversion
shall cease with  respect to such shares on the  Conversion  Date except for the
right to receive shares of Common Stock in accordance  herewith,  and the person
entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock shall be treated for all purposes
as having become

                                       5




<PAGE>



the record  holder of such shares of Common Stock on the  Conversion  Date.  The
Company shall not be required to convert, and no surrender of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall be effective for that purpose, while the transfer books of
the  Company for the Common  Stock are closed for any  purpose  (but not for any
period in excess of 15 calendar  days);  but the surrender of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock for conversion  during any period while such books are so closed
shall become  effective for  conversion  immediately  upon the reopening of such
books,  as if the  conversion  had been made on the date such shares of Series A
Preferred  Stock were  surrendered,  and at the conversion rate in effect at the
date of such surrender.

                  (e) Upon conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
the holder thereof shall be entitled to receive any accrued dividends in respect
of the shares so  converted,  which  dividends  shall be prorated  from the most
recent dividend payment date to the Conversion Date.

                  (f) In  connection with the conversion of any shares of Series
A Preferred Stock, no fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued,  but in
lieu  thereof  the  Company  shall  pay a cash  adjustment  in  respect  of such
fractional interest in an amount equal to such fractional interest multiplied by
the Closing Price on the Conversion Date.

         Section 6.        Reports as to Adjustments.

         Whenever  the number of shares of Common Stock into which each share of
Series A  Preferred  Stock is  convertible  is adjusted as provided in Section 5
hereof,  the  Company  shall  promptly  mail to the  holders  of  record  of the
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock at their respective  addresses as
the same shall appear in the Company's  stock records a notice  stating that the
number of shares of Common  Stock into  which the  shares of Series A  Preferred
Stock are  convertible  has been  adjusted  and setting  forth the new number of
shares of Common Stock (or describing the new stock,  securities,  cash or other
property) into which each share of Series A Preferred  Stock is convertible as a
result  of  such  adjustment,  together  with a  brief  statement  of the  facts
requiring such adjustment, the computation of such adjustment, and the date such
adjustment became effective.

         Section 7.        Reacquired Shares.

         Any  shares  of  Series  A  Preferred  Stock  converted,  purchased  or
otherwise  acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and
cancelled promptly after the acquisition  thereof,  and, if necessary to provide
for the lawful purchase of such shares,  the capital  represented by such shares
shall be reduced in accordance with the General  Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.  All such shares shall upon their  cancellation  become authorized but
unissued  shares of Preferred  Stock,  $.01 par value, of the Company and may be
reissued as part of another series of Preferred  Stock,  $.01 par value,  of the
Company.

         Section 8.        Certain Definitions.

                                       6




<PAGE>



         For the purposes of this  resolution and the Certificate of Designation
of Series A Preferred Stock which embodies this resolution,  the following terms
shall have the following meanings:

         "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on
which banking  institutions  in the State of Florida are authorized or obligated
by law or executive order to close.

         "Closing Price" shall mean the closing bid price of the Common Stock on
the  over-the-counter  market on the date for which the  Closing  Price is to be
determined,  as reported  by the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers
Automated Quotation System, or a similarly generally accepted reporting service,
or if not so available, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors on
the basis of such  relevant  factors  as the Board of  Directors  in good  faith
considers appropriate.

         "Person" means an individual, a corporation,  a partnership,  a limited
liability  company,  an  association,  a business  trust, or any other entity or
organization.

         "Trading  Day" means a day on which the principal  national  securities
exchange on which the Common  Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for
the transaction of business or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to
trading on any  national  securities  exchange,  any day other than a  Saturday,
Sunday,  or a day on which  banking  institutions  in the State of  Florida  are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Company  has  caused  this  Certificate  of
Designation  of  Series A  Preferred  Stock  to be duly  executed  by its  Chief
Executive  Officer and attested by its  Secretary  and has caused its  corporate
seal to be affixed hereto, this 30th day of September, 1997.

                                NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.

                                By: /S/ROBERT R. BARTOLINI
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                    Robert R. Bartolini, Chief Executive Officer

(Corporate Seal)

ATTEST:

By: /S/ JOANN WOODSIDE
    ------------------------
   JoAnn Woodside, Secretary



                                        7



                   AMENDMENT TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


         This AMENDMENT TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") made
and entered into as of this 1st day of October,  1997 by and among NAL FINANCIAL
GROUP INC., a Delaware  corporation  (the "Company"),  BENEFICIAL  STANDARD LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY ("BSLIC"),  GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY ("GARCO")
and CIHC, INC.  ("CONSECO"),  amends that certain Registration Rights Agreement,
dated  April  23,  1996,  by  and  among  the  Company,  BSLIC  and  GARCO  (the
"Registration Rights Agreement").

         WHEREAS, the Company has created a class of authorized Preferred Stock,
$.01 par value, of the Company designated "Series A Preferred Stock," the shares
of which have voting powers, preferences and other specials rights as more fully
set forth in the  Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred  Stock of NAL
Financial Group Inc., of even date herewith (the "Certificate of Designation");

         WHEREAS, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock (the "Series A Shares")
are convertible into shares of the Company's Common Stock in accordance with the
provisions of the Certificate of Designation;

         WHEREAS,  the holders of the Series A Shares may elect,  in  accordance
with the  provisions of the  Certificate  of  Designation,  to receive  dividend
payments thereon in the form of shares of the Company's Common Stock; and

         WHEREAS,  the parties  hereto desire to amend the  Registration  Rights
Agreement  to add the  holder of the  Series A Shares as a Holder and to provide
that any  shares of  Common  Stock  received  by such  Holder  upon  either  the
conversion of Series A Shares or as a dividend  payment on Series A Shares shall
be  subject to  registration  rights  identical  to those  afforded  Registrable
Securities (as such term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) in the
Registration Rights Agreement.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  for and in  consideration  of the  premises set forth
above and other good and valuable consideration,  the receipt and sufficiency of
which are  hereby  acknowledged  and  confessed,  the  parties  hereto  agree as
follows:

         I.  The  definition  of  the  term  "Common  Stock"  set  forth  in the
         Registration  Rights  Agreement  is hereby  amended and restated in its
         entirety to read as follows:


                                       1




<PAGE>



                  "Common Stock" means any outstanding shares of Common Stock of
the  Company,  as well as any  shares of Common  Stock of the  Company  issuable
either (i) upon the conversion of the Debentures or Series A Shares,  or (ii) as
a dividend payment on the Series A Shares.


         I. The definition of the term  "Holders" set forth in the  Registration
         Rights Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read
         as follows:


                  "Holders" means CIHC,  Incorporated for so long as (and to the
extent that) they own any Registrable Securities,  and each of their successors,
assigns,  and direct and indirect  transferees who become  registered  owners of
Registrable  Securities or securities  exercisable,  exchangeable or convertible
into Registrable Securities.


         I. The definition of the term "Registrable  Security(ies)" set forth in
         the Registration Rights Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its
         entirety to read as follows:

                  "Registrable  Security(ies)"  means all or any portions of any
shares of Common  Stock or other  equity  securities  of the Company that may be
issued upon the conversion of, or as a dividend payment on, the Series A Shares,
or  upon  the  conversion  of,  or in  exchange  for,  the  Debentures,  and any
additional  shares of Common  Stock or other  equity  securities  of the Company
issued or issuable  after the date hereof in respect of any such  securities (or
other equity securities issued in respect thereof) by way of a stock dividend or
stock  split,  in  connection  with  a  combination,  exchange,  reorganization,
recapitalization or  reclassification  of Company  securities,  or pursuant to a
merger,  division,  consolidation  or  other  similar  business  transaction  or
combination  involving  the  Company;   provided  that:  as  to  any  particular
Registrable  Securities,  such securities shall cease to constitute  Registrable
Securities  (i) when a  registration  statement with respect to the sale of such
securities  shall  have  become  effective  under  the  Securities  Act and such
securities  shall  have been  disposed  of  thereunder,  or (ii) when and to the
extent such securities are permitted to be distributed  pursuant to Rule 144 (or
any successor  provision to such Rule) under the Securities Act or are otherwise
freely  transferable  to the  public  without  further  registration  under  the
Securities  Act and are not  subject to any  limitations  on the amount of sales
under Rule 144 or (iii) when such securities shall have ceased to be Outstanding
and, in the case of clause (ii), the Company  shall,  if requested by the Holder
or Holders thereof, have delivered to such Holder or Holders the written opinion
of  independent  counsel to the Company to such effect.  Any time this Agreement
requires  the vote or consent of the  Holders of a  "majority"  or other  stated
percentage of the Registrable Securities, the term Registrable Securities shall,
solely for  purposes of  calculating  such vote,  be deemed to include  only the
Registrable  Securities  then  issuable  under  the  Debentures,  the  Series  A
Preferred Shares,  and any other securities  exercisable or exchangeable for, or
convertible into, Registrable Securities.


                                       2




<PAGE>




         I. A definition of the term "Series A Shares" shall be added to Article
         1 of the Registration Rights Agreement to read as follows:

                  "Series A Shares"  means  shares  of the  Company's  preferred
stock  designated  as "Series A  Preferred  Stock,"  which have  voting  powers,
preferences and other specials rights as more fully set forth in the Certificate
of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock of NAL Financial Group Inc., dated as
of October 1, 1997.

         I. The notice  address  for  Stephen  M.  Cohen,  Esquire  set forth in
         Article 10(d) of the Registration Rights Agreement is hereby amended to
         read as follows:

                           Stephen M. Cohen, Esquire
                           Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation
                           Eleven Penn Center, 14th Floor
                           1835 Market Street
                           Philadelphia, PA  19103


         I. The Notice Schedule attached to the Registration Rights Agreement is
         hereby amended as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto.

         II. Except as otherwise  provided herein, the terms of the Registration
         Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.


                                       3




<PAGE>




     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties have
executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.


                                    NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.


                                    By:/s/
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                            Name:_____________________________
                                            Title:______________________________



                                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE
                                    INSURANCE COMPANY


                                    By: /s/
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                            Name:_____________________________
                                            Title:______________________________


                                    BENEFICIAL STANDARD LIFE INSURANCE
                                    COMPANY

                                    By: /s/
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                            Name:______________________________
                                            Title:______________________________


                                    CIHC, INCORPORATED


                                    By: /s/
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                            Name:______________________________
                                            Title:______________________________





                                       4



<PAGE>



                                                     EXHIBIT A

                                                 NOTICE SCHEDULE:




                                                       5









                            NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
                             CONSENT BY STOCKHOLDER
                           TO ACTION WITHOUT A MEETING

                  The  undersigned,  a  record  holder  of  Common  Stock of NAL
Financial Group Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the  "Corporation") on October 2,
1997,   hereby  consents  pursuant  to  Section  228  of  the  Delaware  General
Corporation  Law, with respect to all shares of Common Stock of the  Corporation
held by the  undersigned,  to, and adopts and  approves,  the  following  action
without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote:

                           RESOLVED,  that  Section  5(a)  of the  Corporation's
                           Certificate  of  Incorporation  be amended to read as
                           follows:

                           "5.      (a)     The  Corporation  is  authorized  to
                           to issue capital stock to the extent of:  100,000,000
                           shares of Common  Stock  with a par value of $.15 per

                           share and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock with a
                            par value of $.01 per share.

                                    The  Board  of  Directors   shall  have  the
                                    authority   to   fix  by   resolution   such
                                    designations,  powers, preferences,  rights,
                                    qualifications, limitations, or restrictions
                                    of the Preferred Stock that may be desired."

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has caused Consent to be
duly executed and delivered to the Corporation this 2nd day of October, 1997.

                                       CIHC, INCORPORATED


                                       By:  /s/
                                            -----------------------------------





                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


                                      among


                           CONSECO, INC., as Borrower,


                             The Banks named herein,



                                       and




                           FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
                      as Administrative Agent for the Banks





                                   Arranged By
                        FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.






                         Dated as of September 30, 1997






C-462027v04.11222.01014
                                                       - 1 -

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                                                               PAGE
<S>                                                                                                             <C>
SECTION 1.        DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS..............................................................  1
         SECTION 1.1       Certain Defined Terms................................................................  1
         SECTION 1.2       Other Definitional Provisions........................................................ 23
         SECTION 1.3       Accounting and Financial Determinations.............................................. 23

SECTION 2.        THE COMMITMENTS AND THE LOANS................................................................. 24
         SECTION 2.1       Commitment........................................................................... 24
         SECTION 2.2       Procedure for Borrowings............................................................. 24
         SECTION 2.3       [Intentionally left blank.].......................................................... 25
         SECTION 2.4       [Intentionally left blank.].......................................................... 25
         SECTION 2.5       Types of Loans....................................................................... 25
         SECTION 2.6       Funding Reliance for Borrowings...................................................... 25
         SECTION 2.7       Conversion and Continuation Elections
                                      for Borrowings............................................................ 26
         SECTION 2.8       Repayment of Loans................................................................... 27
         SECTION 2.9       Loan Accounts; Record Keeping........................................................ 27

SECTION 3.        INTEREST AND FEES, ETC........................................................................ 28
         SECTION 3.1       Interest Rates....................................................................... 28
         SECTION 3.2       Default Interest Rate................................................................ 28
         SECTION 3.3       Interest Payment Dates............................................................... 29
         SECTION 3.4       Setting and Notice of Rates.......................................................... 29
         SECTION 3.5       Computation of Fees and Interest..................................................... 29
         SECTION 3.6       Fees................................................................................. 29

SECTION 4.        PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS...................................................................... 29
         SECTION 4.1       Voluntary Termination or Reduction of
                                      Commitments............................................................... 29
         SECTION 4.2       Optional Prepayments................................................................. 30
         SECTION 4.3       [Intentionally left blank]........................................................... 30
         SECTION 4.4       Payments by the Borrower............................................................. 30
         SECTION 4.5       [Intentionally left blank]........................................................... 31
         SECTION 4.6       Sharing of Payments.................................................................. 31
         SECTION 4.7       Setoff............................................................................... 32
         SECTION 4.8       Net Payments......................................................................... 32
         SECTION 4.9       Mandatory Reduction in the Commitments............................................... 33

SECTION 5.        CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES...................................................................... 33
         SECTION 5.1       Increased Costs...................................................................... 33
         SECTION 5.2       Change in Rate of Return............................................................. 34
         SECTION 5.3       Basis for Determining Interest Rate
                                      Inadequate or Unfair...................................................... 35
         SECTION 5.4       Changes in Law Rendering Certain Loans
                                      Unlawful.................................................................. 36
         SECTION 5.5       Funding Losses....................................................................... 36
         SECTION 5.6       Right of Banks to Fund Through Other Offices......................................... 37
         SECTION 5.7       Discretion of Banks as to Manner of
                                      Funding................................................................... 37
         SECTION 5.8       Replacement of Banks................................................................. 37
         SECTION 5.9       Conclusiveness of Statements; Survival
                                      of Provisions............................................................. 38

</TABLE>

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                                                         i

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<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                              <C>     

SECTION 6.        [Intentionally left blank.]................................................................... 38

SECTION 7.        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES................................................................ 38
         SECTION 7.1       Organization, etc.................................................................... 38
         SECTION 7.2       Authorization........................................................................ 38
         SECTION 7.3       No Conflict.......................................................................... 38
         SECTION 7.4       Governmental Consents................................................................ 39
         SECTION 7.5       Validity............................................................................. 39
         SECTION 7.6       Financial Statements................................................................. 39
         SECTION 7.7       Material Adverse Change.............................................................. 39
         SECTION 7.8       Litigation and Contingent Obligations................................................ 39
         SECTION 7.9       Liens................................................................................ 39
         SECTION 7.10      Pension and Welfare Plans............................................................ 39
         SECTION 7.11      Investment Company Act............................................................... 41
         SECTION 7.12      Public Utility Holding Company Act................................................... 41
         SECTION 7.13      Taxes................................................................................ 41
         SECTION 7.14      Accuracy of Information.............................................................. 41
         SECTION 7.15      Environmental Warranties............................................................. 42
         SECTION 7.16      Proceeds............................................................................. 43
         SECTION 7.17      Insurance............................................................................ 43
         SECTION 7.18      Securities Laws...................................................................... 43
         SECTION 7.19      Governmental Authorizations.......................................................... 43
         SECTION 7.20      Business Locations; Trade-Names...................................................... 44
         SECTION 7.21      Solvency............................................................................. 44
         SECTION 7.22      Insurance Licenses................................................................... 44
         SECTION 7.23      Compliance with Laws................................................................. 44
         SECTION 7.24      No Default........................................................................... 45
         SECTION 7.25      Margin Regulations................................................................... 45
         SECTION 7.26      Conseco Corporate Structure.......................................................... 45
         SECTION 7.27      Significant Subsidiaries............................................................. 45

SECTION 8.        AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS......................................................................... 45
         SECTION 8.1       Reports, Certificates and Other Information.......................................... 45
         SECTION 8.2       Corporate Existence; Foreign Qualification........................................... 51
         SECTION 8.3       Books, Records and Inspections....................................................... 52
         SECTION 8.4       Insurance............................................................................ 52
         SECTION 8.5       Taxes and Liabilities................................................................ 52
         SECTION 8.6       Pension Plans and Welfare Plans...................................................... 52
         SECTION 8.7       Compliance with Laws................................................................. 52
         SECTION 8.8       Maintenance of Permits............................................................... 53
         SECTION 8.9       Environmental Compliance............................................................. 53

SECTION 9.        NEGATIVE COVENANTS............................................................................ 53
         SECTION 9.1       Limitation on Indebtedness........................................................... 53
         SECTION 9.2       Liens................................................................................ 56
         SECTION 9.3       Consolidation, Merger, etc........................................................... 57
         SECTION 9.4       Asset Disposition, etc............................................................... 57
         SECTION 9.5       Other Agreements..................................................................... 58
         SECTION 9.6       Business Activities.................................................................. 58
         SECTION 9.7       Change of Location or Name........................................................... 58
         SECTION 9.8       Transactions with Affiliates......................................................... 58
         SECTION 9.9       [Intentionally left blank.].......................................................... 59
         SECTION 9.10      Investments.......................................................................... 59
         SECTION 9.11      Certain Indebtedness................................................................. 60

</TABLE>

C-462027v04.11222.01014
                                                        ii

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<TABLE>

<S>                                                                                                              <C>

SECTION 10.       FINANCIAL COVENANTS........................................................................... 60
         SECTION 10.1      Shareholders' Equity................................................................. 61
         SECTION 10.2      Debt to Total Capitalization Ratio................................................... 61
         SECTION 10.3      Interest Coverage Ratio.............................................................. 61

SECTION 11.       CONDITIONS.................................................................................... 61
         SECTION 11.1      Initial Loans........................................................................ 61
         SECTION 11.2      [Intentionally left blank.].......................................................... 63
         SECTION 11.3      All Loans............................................................................ 63

SECTION 12.       EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT............................................................ 63
         SECTION 12.1      Events of Default.................................................................... 63
         SECTION 12.2      Effect of Event of Default........................................................... 66

SECTION 13.       THE AGENT..................................................................................... 66
         SECTION 13.1      Authorization and Action............................................................. 66
         SECTION 13.2      Liability of the Administrative Agent................................................ 67
         SECTION 13.3      Administrative Agent and Affiliates.................................................. 67
         SECTION 13.4      Bank Credit Decision................................................................. 68
         SECTION 13.5      Indemnification...................................................................... 68
         SECTION 13.6      Successor Agent...................................................................... 68

SECTION 14.       ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS................................................................ 69
         SECTION 14.1      Assignments.......................................................................... 69
         SECTION 14.2      Participations....................................................................... 70
         SECTION 14.3      Disclosure of Information............................................................ 71
         SECTION 14.4      Foreign Transferees.................................................................. 72

SECTION 15.       MISCELLANEOUS................................................................................. 72
         SECTION 15.1      Waivers and Amendments............................................................... 72
         SECTION 15.2      Failure to Consent................................................................... 73
         SECTION 15.3      Notices.............................................................................. 74
         SECTION 15.4      Payment of Costs and Expenses........................................................ 74
         SECTION 15.5      Indemnity............................................................................ 75
         SECTION 15.6      Subsidiary References................................................................ 75
         SECTION 15.7      Captions............................................................................. 75
         SECTION 15.8      GOVERNING LAW........................................................................ 75
         SECTION 15.9      Counterparts......................................................................... 76
         SECTION 15.10     SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF
                                      VENUE..................................................................... 76
         SECTION 15.11     Service of Process................................................................... 76
         SECTION 15.12     Successors and Assigns............................................................... 77
         SECTION 15.13     WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL................................................................. 77

</TABLE>

C-462027v04.11222.01014
                                                        iii

<PAGE>




EXHIBITS

Exhibit A - Form of Account  Designation Letter
Exhibit B - Form of Note
Exhibit C - [Intentionally  left blank]
Exhibit D - [Intentionally left blank]
Exhibit E - [Intentionally left blank]
Exhibit F - Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit G - Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit H - [Intentionally left blank]
Exhibit I - Eurodollar  Funding  Loss  Determination  Methodology
Exhibit J - Conseco Corporate Structure
Exhibit K - Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit L - Form of Opinion of Karl W. Kindig, counsel to the
            Borrower
Exhibit M - Form of Officer's Certificate
Exhibit N - Form of Assignment Agreement
Exhibit O - Form of Confidentiality Agreement


SCHEDULES

Schedule 1.1-A - Schedule of Lenders and Commitments
Schedule 1.1-B - Servicing Agreements
Schedule 7.4 - Required Governmental Consents
Schedule 7.8 - Material Litigation
Schedule 7.10 - ERISA
Schedule 7.13 - Taxes
Schedule 7.17 - Insurance
Schedule 7.20 - Business  Office  Locations
Schedule 7.22 - Jurisdictions  of Insurance  Licenses
Schedule 7.27 - Significant  Subsidiaries
Schedule 9.1 - Permitted  Indebtedness
Schedule 9.2 - Permitted Liens
Schedule 9.6 - Permitted Business  Activities
Schedule 9.8 - Permitted  Reinsurance  Agreements
Schedule 9.10 - Permitted Investments





C-462027v04.11222.01014
                                                        iv

<PAGE>





                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


         THIS CREDIT  AGREEMENT is entered  into as of  September  30, 1997 (the
"Effective Date"), among CONSECO, INC., an Indiana corporation (the "Borrower"),
the several  financial  institutions  from time to time party to this  Agreement
(herein,  together with any Eligible Assignees thereof,  collectively called the
"Banks" and each  individually,  a "Bank"),  and FIRST UNION  NATIONAL  BANK, as
administrative  agent for the Banks (herein in such capacity,  together with any
successors thereto in such capacity, called the "Administrative Agent").

                                   Background

         WHEREAS,   the  Borrower  has  requested   that  the  Banks  provide  a
$200,000,000 credit facility for the purposes hereinafter set forth; and

         WHEREAS,  the Banks have agreed to make the requested  credit  facility
available to the Borrower on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

         NOW,  THEREFORE,   in  consideration  of  the  mutual  promises  herein
contained  and for  other  good and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt  and
sufficiency  of which are  hereby  acknowledged,  the  parties  hereto  agree as
follows:

SECTION 1.        DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

         SECTION 1.1  Certain  Defined  Terms.  As used in this  Agreement,  the
following  terms shall have the following  meanings (such meanings to be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

         "Account Designation Letter" shall mean a letter in the form of Exhibit
A from the Borrower to the Agent, duly completed and signed by a duly authorized
Responsible  Officer of the Borrower,  listing any one or more accounts to which
the  Borrower may from time to time request the Agent to forward the proceeds of
any Loans made hereunder.

         "Acquisition"  shall mean any transaction or series of transactions for
the purpose of or resulting,  directly or indirectly,  in (a) the acquisition of
all or  substantially  all of the  assets of a  Person,  or of any  business  or
division  of a Person,  (b) the  acquisition  of in excess of 50% of the capital
stock,  partnership  interests,  membership  interests or equity  securities (or
warrants,  options,  or other  rights to acquire  any of the  foregoing)  of any
Person,  or otherwise causing any Person to become a Subsidiary of the Borrower,
or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination of the Borrower or one
of

<PAGE>

its  Subsidiaries  with another Person (other than a Person that is a Subsidiary
of the Borrower  immediately  prior to such merger or  consolidation);  provided
that,  in the case of any  merger,  consolidation  or other  combination  of the
Borrower,  the Borrower shall be the surviving  entity,  in each case subject to
and to the extent permitted by this Agreement.

         "Administrative Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble
hereof.

         "Administrative  Agent's Office" shall mean One First Union Center, 301
South College Street, 10th Floor, Charlotte,  North Carolina 28288-0608, or such
other address designated by the Administrative Agent (or any successor agent) to
the Borrower and the Banks from time to time.

         "Affected Bank" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.4.

         "Affiliate"  shall mean,  as to any  Person,  any other  Person  which,
directly or  indirectly,  owns,  holds,  controls,  is controlled by or is under
common control with such Person (including all beneficial  control as a trustee,
guardian or other fiduciary). A Person shall be deemed to be "controlled by" any
other Person if such other Person possesses,  directly or indirectly,  power (a)
to vote 10% or more of the securities (on a fully diluted basis) having ordinary
voting power for the election of directors or managing general partners;  or (b)
to direct or cause the direction of the  management  and policies of such Person
whether through the ownership of voting  securities,  membership  interests,  by
contract or otherwise.

         "Agreement" shall mean this Credit Agreement, as amended or modified.

         "ALH" shall mean American Life Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

         "ALHC" shall mean American Life Holding Company, a Delaware 
corporation.

         "ALHC Preferred  Stock" shall mean ALHC's $2.16  Redeemable  Cumulative
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 and its $2.32  Redeemable  Cumulative  Preferred
Stock, par value $.01.

         "Amounts Available for Dividends" shall mean, without duplication,  the
maximum  amount of dividends  the  Insurance  Subsidiaries  are permitted to pay
under the  Applicable  Insurance  Code of their  respective  states of  domicile
without necessitating approval of the applicable Department.

         "Annual  Statement"  shall mean,  as to any Insurance  Subsidiary,  the
annual financial statement of such Insurance  Subsidiary as required to be filed
with the applicable  Department,  together with all exhibits or schedules  filed


                                       2
<PAGE>

therewith,  prepared in conformity with SAP. References to amounts on particular
exhibits,  schedules, lines, pages and columns of the Annual Statement are based
on the  format  promulgated  by the NAIC  for 1996  Life,  Accident  and  Health
Insurance Company Annual  Statements.  If such format is changed in future years
so that  different  information  is  contained  in such  items or they no longer
exist,  it is understood  that the reference is to information  consistent  with
that  reported  in the  referenced  item in the 1996  Annual  Statement  of such
Insurance Subsidiary.

         "Applicable Insurance Code" shall mean, as to any Insurance Subsidiary,
the insurance code of any state where such Insurance  Subsidiary is domiciled or
doing insurance  business and any successor statute of similar import,  together
with the regulations thereunder,  as amended or otherwise modified and in effect
from time to time. References to sections of the Applicable Insurance Code shall
be construed to also refer to successor sections.

         "Arranger" shall mean First Union Capital Markets Corp.

         "Assignment Agreement" shall  have  the  meaning  set  forth in Section
14.1.

         "ATC" shall mean American Travellers Corp., a Pennsylvania corporation.

         "Average  Life"  shall  mean,  as of the  date of  determination,  with
respect to any  Indebtedness,  the quotient  obtained by dividing (a) the sum of
the products of the numbers of years from the date of determination to the dates
of each successive  scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness  multiplied
by the  amount of such  scheduled  principal  payment by (b) the sum of all such
scheduled principal payments.

         "B-Share Financings"  shall  mean  the financing of fees or commissions
related to B-Shares.

         "B-Shares"  shall mean those shares of ownership  representing a mutual
interest in a pool of assets on which 12b-1 fees or  contingent  deferred  sales
commissions  (CDSC),  as defined under the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, are
applicable.

         "Banks" or "Bank"  shall  have  the  meaning  set forth in the Preamble
hereof.

         "Bank  Default"  shall  mean  (a)  the  refusal  (which  has  not  been
retracted) of a Bank to make available its Percentage of any Loans when required
hereunder or (b) a Bank having notified the Administrative Agent or the Borrower
that it does not intend to comply with its obligations  under Section 2.1 to the
extent required thereunder.

                                       3

<PAGE>

         "Base Rate" shall mean,  for any day, the higher of (a) 0.50% per annum
above the latest  Federal Funds  Effective  Rate and (b) the rate of interest in
effect for such day as  publicly  announced  from time to time by First Union in
Charlotte,  North Carolina,  as its "prime rate." The "prime rate" is a rate set
by First Union based upon various  factors  including  First  Union's  costs and
desired return,  general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a
reference point for pricing some loans,  which may be priced at, above, or below
such announced rate. Any change in the prime rate announced by First Union shall
take  effect at the  opening of  business  on the date  specified  in the public
announcement of such change.

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

         "BLHC" shall mean Bankers Life Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation.

         "BNL" shall mean Bankers National Life Insurance Company, a Texas stock
insurance corporation.

         "Borrower" shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.

         "Borrowing" shall mean a borrowing hereunder consisting of Loans of the
same Type made to the  Borrower  on the same day by the Banks  under  Section 2,
and, other than in the case of Base Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period.

         "Borrowing  Date" shall mean any date on which a Borrowing occurs under
Section 2.

         "Business  Day"  shall mean any day other  than a  Saturday,  Sunday or
other day on which  commercial  banks in New York, New York or Charlotte,  North
Carolina  are  authorized  or required  by law to close and,  if the  applicable
Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, shall mean such a day on which
dealings in Dollar deposits are also carried on in the London interbank market.

         "Calculation   Period"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to  any  ratio  or
calculation, the period for which such ratio or calculation is being calculated.

         "Capital and Surplus" shall mean, as to any Insurance Subsidiary, as of
any date,  the total  amount  shown on line 38,  page 3,  column 1 of the Annual
Statement of such Insurance Subsidiary,  or an amount determined in a consistent
manner for any date other than one as of which an Annual Statement is prepared.

         "Capitalized Lease Liabilities" shall mean, with respect to any Person,
all monetary obligations of such Person under any leasing or similar arrangement
which, in accordance with GAAP, 

                                       4
<PAGE>


would be classified as a capitalized lease, and, for purposes of this Agreement,
the  amount  of  such  obligations  shall  be the  capitalized  amount  thereof,
determined in accordance with GAAP, and the stated maturity thereof shall be the
date of the last  payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior
to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee  without
payment of a penalty.


         "Cash Equivalents" shall mean (a) securities with maturities of one (1)
year or less  from the date of  determination  issued  or  fully  guaranteed  or
insured  by the  United  States  Government,  or any  instrumentality  or agency
thereof, (b) certificates of deposit,  eurodollar time deposits,  overnight bank
deposits,  bankers'  acceptances  and  repurchase  agreements of any Bank or any
other  commercial bank whose unsecured  long-term debt  obligations are rated at
least "BBB-" by Standard & Poor's, "Baa-3" by Moody's,  "BBB-" by Duff & Phelps,
"BBB-"  by Fitch  Investors  Services,  Inc.  or  "NAIC  2" by the  NAIC  having
maturities  of six (6)  months  or less from the date of  determination  and (c)
commercial  paper having  maturities  of six (6) months or less from the date of
determination rated at least "A-2" by Standard Poor's,  "P-2" by Moody's,  "D-2"
by Duff & Phelps,  "F-2" by Fitch  Investors  Services,  Inc. or "NAIC 2" by the
NAIC, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency,
if all of the named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of investments.

         "CBOs" shall mean notes or other instruments  (other than CMOs) secured
by collateral consisting primarily of debt securities and/or other types of debt
obligations, including loans.

         "CCPI" shall mean CCP Insurance,  Inc., an Indiana  corporation,  which
merged into the Borrower.

         "CCPI  Indenture"  shall mean the  Indenture,  dated as of December 15,
1994,  between  CCPI and LTCB  Trust  Company,  as  trustee,  as the same may be
amended  or  modified  in  accordance  with  the  terms of this  Agreement.  The
obligations  of CCPI were  assumed by the  Borrower  on account of the merger of
CCPI into the Borrower.

         "CCPI Senior Note  Obligations"  shall mean the Obligations (as defined
in the CCPI Indenture) of CCPI with respect to the Securities (as defined in the
CCPI Indenture), such Obligations having been assumed by the Borrower on account
of the merger of CCPI into the Borrower.

         "CCPI  Senior  Notes"  shall mean the 10-1/2%  Senior Notes due 2004 of
CCPI assumed by the Borrower  pursuant to the merger of CCPI into the  Borrower,
as the same may be  amended or  modified  in  accordance  with the terms of this
Agreement.

         "CERCLA"   shall  mean  the   Comprehensive   Environmental   Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

                                       5

<PAGE>

         "CERCLIS"  shall  mean  the   Comprehensive   Environmental   Response,
Compensation and Liability Information System List.

         "Change in Control"  shall be deemed to have occurred at such times as:
(a)  any  Person,  or two or  more  Persons,  acting  in  concert,  directly  or
indirectly  acquire  after the Closing  Date  beneficial  ownership  (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of 30%
or more of the  outstanding  shares of voting stock of the Borrower  (other than
the officers and directors of the Borrower in place as of the Effective Date) or
(b) individuals who as of the Closing Date  constituted the Borrower's  Board of
Directors (together with any new director whose election by the Borrower's Board
of Directors or whose nomination for election by the Borrower's stockholders was
approved by a vote of at least  two-thirds of the directors then still in office
who either were  directors at the beginning of such period or whose  election or
nomination  for election was previously so approved),  for any reason,  cease to
constitute a majority of the directors at any time then in office.

         "Charges" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8.

         "Closing  Date" shall mean the date on which all  conditions  precedent
set forth in Section 11 are satisfied or waived by all Banks or, with respect to
the  payment of any fee  payable  hereunder,  waived by the Person  entitled  to
receive such payment.

         "CMOs"  shall mean  notes or other  instruments  secured by  collateral
consisting primarily of mortgages, mortgage-backed securities and/or other types
of mortgage-related obligations.

         "CMO  Derivative  Investments"  shall  mean Z  bonds,  floaters/inverse
floaters, PAC II, PAC III, Ioettes,  support bonds,  interest-only  investments,
principal-only investments, residuals, inverse IO's and super floaters.

         "Code" shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended,  and
regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  or, as the context  requires,  applicable
provisions of prior laws.

         "Commitment" and "Commitments" shall have   the respective meanings set
forth in Section 2.1.

         "Compliance Certificate" shall  have  the  meaning set forth in Section
8.1.5.

         "Conseco Indenture" shall mean the Indenture,  dated as of February 18,
1993, between Conseco, Inc. and Shawmut Bank Connecticut,  National Association,
as trustee,  as the same may be amended or modified in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement.

         "Conseco Series E Preferred Stock" shall mean $900,000,000 stated value
of the Borrower's Series E Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share.

                                       6
<PAGE>

         "Conseco  Senior  Note  Obligations"  shall  mean the  Obligations  (as
defined in the Conseco Indenture) of the Borrower with respect to the Securities
(as defined in the Conseco Indenture).

         "Conseco  Senior  Notes" shall mean the 8-1/8% Senior Notes due 2003 of
the  Borrower,  as the same may be amended or  modified in  accordance  with the
terms of this Agreement.

         "Contingent Obligation" shall mean, without duplication, any agreement,
undertaking or arrangement by which any Person guarantees, endorses or otherwise
becomes  or is  contingently  liable  upon (by  direct  or  indirect  agreement,
contingent  or otherwise,  to provide funds for payment,  to supply funds to, or
otherwise  to invest in, a debtor,  or  otherwise  to assure a creditor  against
loss) the debt, obligation or other liability of any other Person (other than by
endorsements  of  instruments  in the course of  collection),  or guarantees the
payment of dividends or other distributions upon the shares of any other Person;
provided,  that (i) the obligations of any Person under  Reinsurance  Agreements
and Surplus Relief  Reinsurance  Agreements or in connection with Investments of
Insurance Subsidiaries permitted by Section 9.10 and (ii) the obligations of the
Borrower  in  connection  with its  guaranty  of the  TOPrS  shall not be deemed
Contingent  Obligations of any such Person or the Borrower,  as applicable.  The
amount of any Person's liability with respect to any Contingent Obligation shall
(subject to any limitation  set forth  therein) be deemed to be the  outstanding
principal amount (or maximum  outstanding  principal  amount,  if larger) of the
debt, obligation or other liability outstanding thereunder.

         "Contractual Obligation" shall mean, as to any Person, any provision of
any security issued by such Person or of any agreement,  undertaking,  contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument, document or agreement to
which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

         "Controlled  Group"  shall mean all  members of a  controlled  group of
corporations  and all  members  of a  controlled  group of trades or  businesses
(whether or not  incorporated)  under common  control  which,  together with the
Borrower,  are  treated as a single  employer  under  section  414(b) or section
414(c) of the Code or section 4001 of ERISA.  For  purposes of this  definition,
the term "the Borrower"  shall be deemed to include any and all  Subsidiaries of
the Borrower.

         "Conversion/Continuation  Date"  shall  mean any date on  which,  under
Section 2.7,  the  Borrower  (a) converts  Loans of one Type to Loans of another
Type, or (b) continues as Eurodollar Rate Loans of the same Type, but with a new
Interest Period,  Eurodollar Rate Loans having Interest Periods expiring on such
date.

         "Credit  Tenant  Loans"  shall  mean  mortgage  loans  which  are  made
primarily in reliance on the credit standing of a major tenant,  structured with
an assignment of the rental payments to 

                                       7
<PAGE>

the lender with real estate  property   pledged  as  collateral in the form of a
first lien.

         "Debt to Total  Capitalization  Ratio" shall mean, for any  Calculation
Period, the ratio of (a) the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on all
Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower or any  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary
for which the Borrower or any such  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary,  respectively,  is
directly liable and which is not a Contingent  Obligation  (calculated excluding
Permitted  Transactions)  to  (b)  Total  Capitalization  (calculated  excluding
Permitted Transactions).

         "Default" shall mean any condition or event which  constitutes an Event
of Default  or which  with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both  would,
unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

         "Defaulting  Bank(s)"  shall mean any Bank(s)  with  respect to which a
Bank Default is in effect.

         "Department" shall mean, with respect to any Insurance Subsidiary,  the
Governmental  Authority of such  Insurance  Subsidiary's  state of domicile with
whom such Insurance Subsidiary is required to file its Annual Statement.

         "Dollars" and the sign "$" shall mean lawful money of the United States
of America.

         "Duff & Phelps" shall mean Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co., Inc.

         "Effective Date" shall  have  the  meaning  set  forth  in the Preamble
hereof.

         "Eligible  Assignee"  shall mean any bank,  pension fund,  mutual fund,
investment fund or other financial  institution (other than an insurance company
or any  Affiliate  of an  insurance  company  except those to which the Borrower
consents).

         "Environmental  Claims" shall mean all claims,  complaints,  notices or
inquiries,  however  asserted or made,  by any  Governmental  Authority or other
Person  alleging  potential  liability or  responsibility  for  violation of any
Environmental  Law,  or for  release or injury to the  environment  or threat to
public health, personal injury (including sickness,  disease or death), property
damage,   natural  resources  damage,   or  otherwise   alleging   liability  or
responsibility for damages (punitive or otherwise),  cleanup,  removal, remedial
or response costs, restitution, civil or criminal penalties,  injunctive relief,
or other type of relief,  resulting from or based upon the presence,  placement,
discharge,   emission  or  release  (including   intentional  or  unintentional,
negligent or non-negligent,  sudden or non sudden, accidental or non-accidental,
placement,  spills, leaks,  discharges,  emissions or releases) of any Hazardous
Material at, in, or from property, whether or not owned by the Borrower.

                                       8

<PAGE>

         "Environmental  Laws"  shall  mean all  federal,  state or local  laws,
statutes,  common  law  duties,  rules,  regulations,   ordinances,   codes  and
guidelines  (including common law, consent decrees and  administrative  orders),
together with all administrative orders,  directed duties,  requests,  licenses,
authorizations   and  permits  of,  and  agreements   with,   any   Governmental
Authorities, in each case relating to environmental, health, safety and land use
matters;  including  CERCLA,  the Clean Air Act,  the  Federal  Water  Pollution
Control  Act of 1972,  the  Solid  Waste  Disposal  Act,  the  Federal  Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, the Toxic  Substances  Control Act, the Emergency
Planning and Community  Right-to-Know  Act and any other  applicable laws of any
jurisdiction.

         "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended.

         "Eurodollar  Rate"  shall  mean,  for  the  Interest  Period  for  each
Eurodollar Loan comprising  part of the same Borrowing  (including  conversions,
extensions and renewals),  a per annum interest rate determined  pursuant to the
following formula:

                  Eurodollar Rate =        London Interbank Offered Rate
                                          --------------------------------------
                                               1 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

         "Eurodollar  Rate Loan"  shall mean any Loan that bears  interest  at a
rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate.

         "Eurodollar  Rate  Margin"  shall mean the  Eurodollar  Rate Margin set
forth in the fee letter dated  September  29, 1997,  by and between the Borrower
and First Union.

         "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" shall mean for any day, that percentage
(expressed as a decimal) which is in effect from time to time under Regulation D
as the maximum reserve requirement  (including,  without limitation,  any basic,
supplemental,  emergency, special, or marginal reserves) applicable with respect
to Eurocurrency  liabilities as that term is defined in Regulation D (or against
any other category of liabilities  that includes  deposits by reference to which
the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans is determined),  whether or not a Bank has
any Eurocurrency  liabilities  subject to such reserve requirement at that time.
Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute  Eurocurrency  liabilities and as
such shall be deemed subject to reserve requirements without benefits of credits
for proration,  exceptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to
a Bank. The  Eurodollar  Rate shall be adjusted  automatically  on and as of the
effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

         "Event of Default" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.1.

                                       9

<PAGE>
         "Existing Credit Agreement" shall mean the Credit  Agreement,  dated as
of November 22, 1996,  among the  Borrower,  the lenders  party  thereto and the
agents party thereto  including  NationsBank,  N.A.  (South),  as administrative
agent,  as such  agreement  may now or  hereafter be amended,  supplemented,  or
otherwise  modified,  and  any  agreement  extending  the  maturity,  modifying,
renewing, extending or refunding the same or refinancing or restructuring all or
any portion of the indebtedness  under any such agreement for whatever  purpose,
along with any amendment,  modification or supplement of any such refinancing or
restructuring.

         "Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate" shall mean, for any day, the rate set
forth  in  the  weekly  statistical  release  designated  as  H.15(519),  or any
successor  publication,  published  by the  Federal  Reserve  Bank  of New  York
(including  any such  successor,  "H.15(519)")  on the  preceding  Business  Day
opposite the caption  "Federal Funds  (Effective)";  or, if for any relevant day
such rate is not so published on any such  preceding  Business Day, the rate for
such day will be the arithmetic mean as determined by the  Administrative  Agent
of the rates for the last transaction in overnight  Federal funds arranged prior
to 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on that day by each of three  leading  brokers
of Federal funds  transactions  in New York City selected by the  Administrative
Agent.

         "First Union" shall mean First Union  National Bank and each  successor
thereto.

         "Fiscal Quarter" or "FQ"  shall  mean  any  fiscal  quarter of a Fiscal
Year.

         "Fiscal  Year" or "FY"  shall  mean any  period of  twelve  consecutive
calendar months ending on December 31; references to a Fiscal Year with a number
corresponding  to any calendar year (e.g.,  the "1995 Fiscal Year") refer to the
Fiscal Year ending on the December 31 occurring during such calendar year.

         "Fixed Interest  Charges" shall mean, for any Calculation  Period,  (a)
interest  paid or,  without  duplication,  accrued  but unpaid on the Loans with
respect  to  such  Calculation  Period,  plus  (b)  interest  paid  or,  without
duplication,  accrued but unpaid on the Senior  Notes  during  such  Calculation
Period,  plus (c) interest paid or, without  duplication,  accrued but unpaid on
any  Indebtedness  set forth in clauses  (a) and (b) of the  definition  thereof
during such Calculation Period, minus (d) interest paid or, without duplication,
accrued  but  unpaid  on any  Indebtedness  which has been  eliminated  from the
balance sheet liabilities of the Borrower on a consolidated  basis in accordance
with GAAP.

         "FRB" shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve System,
and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

         "GAAP"  shall mean  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  in the
United States of America as from time to time in effect.

                                       10
<PAGE>

         "Governmental Authority" shall mean any nation or government, any state
or other political  subdivision  thereof,  and any entity exercising  executive,
legislative,  judicial,  regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled,  through
stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

         "Hazardous  Material"  shall mean:  (a) any  "hazardous  substance," as
defined  by CERCLA;  (b) any  "hazardous  waste,"  as  defined  by the  Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended; (c) any petroleum product; or (d) any
pollutant or contaminant or hazardous,  dangerous or toxic chemical, material or
substance  within the meaning of any other  applicable  federal,  state or local
law,  regulation,  ordinance  or  requirement  (including  consent  decrees  and
administrative  orders)  relating or imposing  liability or standards of conduct
concerning any hazardous,  toxic or dangerous waste,  substance or material, all
as amended or hereafter amended.

         "Hedging  Obligations"  shall mean,  with respect to the Borrower,  all
liabilities of the Borrower under interest rate swap  agreements,  interest rate
cap  agreements  and interest rate collar  agreements or agreements  designed to
protect the Borrower against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange
rates.

         "IMR/AVR"  shall mean,  as to any of the  Insurance  Subsidiaries  at a
particular   date,   the  interest   maintenance   reserve  of  such   Insurance
Subsidiaries,  computed in accordance with SAP as reported on line 11.4, page 3,
column 1 of the  Annual  Statement  plus the  asset  valuation  reserve  of such
insurance Subsidiary,  computed in accordance with SAP as reported on line 24.1,
page 3, column 1 of the Annual Statement.

         "Income Taxes" shall mean  any  Taxes  in which the base is measured by
net income.

         "Indebtedness"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to any Person at any date,
without duplication: (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or in
respect of loans or advances;  (b) all  obligations of such Person  evidenced by
bonds,  debentures,  notes or other similar instruments;  (c) all obligations in
respect of letters of credit,  whether or not drawn,  and  bankers'  acceptances
issued for the account or upon the  application  or request of such Person;  (d)
all Capitalized Lease Liabilities of such Person; (e) all Hedging Obligations of
such Person;  (f) all  obligations  of such Person to pay the deferred  purchase
price of property or services  which are included as  liabilities  in accordance
with  GAAP,  and  Indebtedness  secured  by a Lien on  property  owned  or being
purchased by such Person (including Indebtedness arising under conditional sales
or other title retention  agreements);  (g) any Indebtedness of a partnership in
which such Person is a general  partner;  and (h) all Contingent  Obligations of
such Person in connection with the foregoing.

                                       11

<PAGE>

         "Indemnified Parties" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.5.

         "Indentures" shall mean, collectively,  the Conseco Indenture, the CCPI
Indenture and the Subordinated Indentures.

         "Insurance  Subsidiary"  shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower that
is  authorized  or admitted to carry on or transact  one or more  aspects of the
business of selling, issuing or underwriting insurance or reinsurance.

         "Interest  Coverage Ratio" shall mean, for any Calculation  Period, the
ratio of (a) the sum of (i)  Amounts  Available  for  Dividends  directly to the
Borrower from the Insurance  Subsidiaries,  plus (ii) interest paid with respect
to the Surplus Debentures,  plus (iii) Net Cash Available from the Non-Insurance
Subsidiaries,  plus  (iv) the  amount  of Taxes  paid or,  without  duplication,
accrued but unpaid to the  Borrower  under the Tax Sharing  Agreement,  plus (v)
management  and  other  fees  received  by  the  Borrower  under  the  Servicing
Agreements or otherwise,  plus (vi) the Borrower's Investment Income received in
cash, minus (vii) the amount of Taxes paid or, without duplication,  accrued but
unpaid by the Borrower,  minus (viii) cash  operating  expenses of the Borrower,
minus  (ix)  capital  expenditures  of the  Borrower,  minus (x)  principal  and
interest payments made or, without  duplication,  interest accrued but unpaid on
intercompany  loans by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  minus (xi) dividends
paid, in cash, to BNL by the Borrower on the Conseco Series E Preferred Stock to
the extent  permitted  by this  Agreement  to (b) Fixed  Interest  Charges.  The
Interest  Coverage Ratio and the component  amounts  referenced  herein shall be
calculated on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter for the immediately  preceding
four (4)  consecutive  Fiscal  Quarters;  provided  that, for the Fiscal Quarter
ending September 30, 1997, the foregoing shall be calculated for the immediately
preceding three (3) consecutive Fiscal Quarters.

         "Interest  Payment  Date" shall mean,  as to any Loan other than a Base
Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period  applicable to such Loan and, as
to any Base Rate Loan,  the last Business Day of each calendar  month for all or
any portion of any such Base Rate Loan  outstanding  during such calendar month;
provided,  however,  that if any  Interest  Period  for a  Eurodollar  Rate Loan
exceeds  three  months,  the date that falls three months after the beginning of
such Interest Period and after each Interest  Payment Date thereafter is also an
Interest Payment Date.

         "Interest  Period"  shall mean,  as to any  Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  the
period   commencing   on  the   Borrowing   Date   of   such   Loan  or  on  the
Conversion/Continuation  Date on which such Loan is converted  into or continued
as a  Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  and ending on the date one,  two, or three  months
thereafter  as selected by the  Borrower in its Notice of Borrowing or Notice of
Conversion/Continuation; provided that:

                                       12

<PAGE>

                  (a) if any Interest  Period would  otherwise end on a day that
         is not a Business Day,  such  Interest  Period shall be extended to the
         following  Business  Day unless,  with respect to any  Eurodollar  Rate
         Loan,  the result of such  extension  would be to carry  such  Interest
         Period into another calendar month, in which event such Interest Period
         shall end on the preceding Business Day;

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

                  (c) no Interest  Period for any Loan shall  extend  beyond the
         maturity  date  of such  Loan;  provided,  however,  that  the  initial
         Borrowing made under this Agreement  shall be for an Interest Period of
         fourteen (14) days.

         "Investment" shall mean any investment in any Person,  whether by means
of share purchase, capital contribution, loan, time deposit, or otherwise.

         "Investment Grade Securities" shall mean (a) (i) non-equity  securities
which are rated  "BBB-" or better by  Standard  & Poor's,  "Baa-3"  or better by
Moody's,  "BBB-" or  better by Duff & Phelps,  or "NAIC 2" or better by the NAIC
and (ii) municipal  bonds which are rated "SP-2" or better by Standard & Poor's,
"Baa-3"  or "MIG4" or  better by  Moody's,  "BBB-" or better by Duff & Phelps or
"NAIC 2" or better by the NAIC, or, in each case,  carrying an equivalent rating
by a nationally  recognized  rating agency,  if all of the named rating agencies
cease publishing ratings of investments, and (b) direct mortgage loans which are
secured by leases with lessees which have  outstanding  securities  described in
clause (a) of this definition.

         "Investment  Income"  shall  mean,  (a) as to any  Person  which  is an
Insurance  Subsidiary  as of any date,  the amount  reported  on line 4, page 4,
column 1 of the Annual Statement, or an amount determined in a consistent manner
for any date  other than one as of which an Annual  Statement  is  prepared  but
exclusive of earnings of any Insurance  Subsidiaries  of such Person and, (b) as
to any Person  which is not an Insurance  Subsidiary,  the amount of earnings of
such Person on Investments, net of expenses actually incurred in connection with
such  Investments  and taking  into  account  realized  gains and losses on such
Investments.

         "Lending  Office"  shall  mean,  with  respect to any Bank,  any office
designated by1 such Bank in its sole discretion beneath its signature hereto (or
in an Assignment  Agreement) or otherwise from time to time by written notice to
the  Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent,  as a Lending  Office for purposes
hereunder. A Bank may designate separate Lending Offices for the purposes of

                                       13

<PAGE>


making,  maintaining or continuing Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans and,
with respect to  Eurodollar  Rate Loans,  such  Lending  Office may be a foreign
branch or an Affiliate of such Bank or such Bank's holding company.

         "Liabilities"  shall mean all obligations of the Borrower to the Banks,
the  Administrative  Agent,  or the  Arranger,  howsoever  created,  arising  or
evidenced, whether direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent,
or now or hereafter existing,  or due or to become due, which arise out of or in
connection with this Agreement, the Notes, if any, or the other Loan Documents.

         "Licenses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.22.

         "Lien"   shall   mean  any   security   interest,   mortgage,   pledge,
hypothecation,  assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or
other),  claim or other  priority  or  preferential  arrangement  of any kind or
nature whatsoever.

         "Litigation" shall mean any litigation (including,  without limitation,
any   governmental   proceeding  or  arbitration   proceeding),   tax  audit  or
investigative  proceeding,  claim,  lawsuit,  and/or  investigation  pending  or
threatened  against or involving the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries or any
of its or their businesses or operations.

         "Loan" shall mean a Loan by a Bank to the Borrower  under  Section 2.1,
which may be a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

         "Loans" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

         "Loan Documents" shall mean,  collectively,  this Agreement,  the Notes
and any and all other  documents  or  instruments  furnished  or  required to be
furnished in connection with any of the foregoing, as the same may be amended or
modified in accordance with this Agreement.

         "London  Interbank  Offered  Rate"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to any
Eurodollar Loan for the Interest Period applicable thereto, the rate of interest
per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary,  to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing
on Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor  page) as the London  interbank  offered
rate for  deposits  in Dollars at  approximately  11:00 A.M.  (London  time) two
Business  Days  prior  to the  first  day of  such  Interest  Period  for a term
comparable  to  such  Interest  Period  and  for an  amount  comparable  to such
Eurodollar  Loan;  provided,  however,  if more  than one rate is  specified  on
Telerate Page 3750, the applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of all such
rates.  If,  for any  reason,  such  rate is not  available,  the  term  "London
Interbank  Offered Rate" shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan for the
Interest  Period  applicable  thereto,  the rate of interest per annum  (rounded
upwards,  if  necessary,   to  the  nearest  1/100  of  1%)  determined  by  the
Administrative  Agent  to be the rate or the  arithmetic  mean of rates at which
Dollar deposits in immediately

                                       14

<PAGE>

available  funds are  offered by First Union to  first-tier  banks in the London
interbank  Eurodollar market, at approximately  11:00 a.m., London time, two (2)
Business  Days  prior to the  first  day of such  Interest  Period  for a period
substantially  equal to such Interest Period and in an amount comparable to such
Eurodollar Loan.

         "Material  Adverse Change" or "Material  Adverse Effect" shall mean any
change,  event,  action,  condition  or  effect  which  individually  or in  the
aggregate (a) impairs the validity or  enforceability  of this  Agreement or any
other Loan Document,  or (b) materially and adversely  affects the  consolidated
business,  operations,  financial prospects or condition of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  or (c)  materially  impairs  the ability of the
Borrower to perform its  obligations  under this  Agreement  or any of the other
Loan Documents.

         "Material  Litigation" or "Material Litigation  Development" shall mean
any Litigation,  or development in any Litigation, as the case may be, (a) which
seeks to enjoin,  prohibit,  discontinue  or  otherwise  impacts the validity or
enforceability  of this  Agreement  or any of the other Loan  Documents or other
transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby,  or (b) which could be reasonably
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         "Moody's" shall mean Moody's  Investors Service, Inc. and any successor
thereto.

         "Multiemployer Pension Plan" shall mean a multiemployer plan as defined
in section  4001(a)(3)  of ERISA to which the  Borrower or any other  Controlled
Group member may have liability.

         "NAIC" shall mean  the National Association of Insurance Commissioners,
or any successor organization.

         "Net Cash Available" shall mean,  without  duplication,  for any direct
Non-Insurance  Subsidiary of the Borrower (a) Net Income of such Subsidiary plus
(b) any non-cash expenses of such Subsidiary  deducted in determining Net Income
less (c) any non-cash income of such Subsidiary included in determining such Net
Income.

         "Net Income" shall mean, for any Person for any Calculation Period, the
net income (or loss) of such Person for such period as  determined in accordance
with GAAP.

         "Nonconsenting Bank" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.2.

         "Non-Insurance Subsidiary"  shall  mean  any Subsidiary which is not an
Insurance Subsidiary.

         "Notes"  shall  mean  promissory  notes,  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit B with blanks appropriately completed in conformity herewith, evidencing
Loans, or any promissory note or
                                       15

<PAGE>


promissory notes issued in substitution or replacement therefor.

         "Notice of Borrowing"  shall mean a notice in substantially the form of
Exhibit F.

         "Notice   of  Conversion/Continuation"   shall   mean  a   notice    in
substantially the form of Exhibit G.

         "Pension  Plan"  shall  mean  a  Single  Employer  Pension  Plan,  or a
Multiemployer  Pension Plan to which the Borrower or any other  Controlled Group
member may have liability.

         "Percentage" shall mean, relative to any Bank, the percentage set forth
opposite  such  Bank's  name on  Schedule  1.1-A (or set forth in an  Assignment
Agreement),  as such  Percentage  may be adjusted  from time to time pursuant to
Assignment  Agreement(s)  executed by such Bank and its  Eligible  Assignee  and
delivered pursuant to Section 14.1.

         "Permitted Liens" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.2.

         "Permitted   Transactions"  shall  mean  (a)  mortgage-backed  security
transactions in which an investor sells mortgage collateral,  such as securities
issued by the Government National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan
Mortgage  Corporation  for  delivery in the current  month while  simultaneously
contracting to repurchase  "substantially the same" (as determined by the Public
Securities  Association  and  GAAP)  collateral  for  a  later  settlement,  (b)
transactions in which an investor lends cash to a primary dealer and the primary
dealer  collateralizes  the borrowing of the cash with certain  securities,  (c)
transactions  in which an investor lends  securities to a primary dealer and the
primary  dealer  collateralizes  the  borrowing  of  the  securities  with  cash
collateral, (d) transactions in which an investor makes loans of securities to a
broker-dealer under an agreement requiring such loans to be continuously secured
by cash collateral or United States  government  securities and (e) transactions
in which the Federal Home Loan  Mortgage  Bank of  Pittsburgh  ("FHLMBP")  makes
loans to the Borrower,  which are sufficiently  secured by appropriate assets of
the Borrower  consisting of government  agency  mortgage-backed  securities,  in
accordance with the rules, regulations and guidelines of the FHLMBP for its loan
programs.

         "Person" shall mean any individual,  sole proprietorship,  partnership,
limited liability company, limited liability partnership,  joint venture, trust,
unincorporated  organization,   association,  corporation,  institution,  public
benefit corporation, entity or government (whether federal, state, county, city,
municipal or otherwise,  including,  without  limitation,  any  instrumentality,
division, agency, body or department thereof).

                                       16

<PAGE>

         "Process Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.11.

         "Purchase Money Debt" shall mean  Indebtedness  incurred by a Person in
connection with the purchase of fixed or capital assets by such Person, in which
such  assets  the  seller or  financier  thereof  has taken or  retained  a Lien
therein,  provided that any such Lien attaches to such assets  concurrently with
or within sixty (60) days after the purchase thereof by such Person.

         "Qualification"  shall mean, with respect to any  certificate  covering
financial  statements  or any  financial  statements,  a  qualification  to such
certificate  or  financial  statements  (such as a "subject  to" or "except for"
statement  therein) (a) resulting  from a limitation on the scope of examination
of such financial statements or the underlying data, (b) as to the capability of
the Person whose financial  statements are certified to continue operations as a
going  concern,  or (c)  which  could be  eliminated  by  changes  in  financial
statements or notes thereto covered by such certificate (such as by the creation
of or increase in a reserve or a decrease in the  carrying  value of assets) and
which if so  eliminated by the making of any such change and after giving effect
thereto would result in the occurrence of a Default,  provided,  that neither of
the following  shall  constitute a  Qualification:  (i) a consistency  exception
relating to a change in accounting  principles with which the independent public
accountants for the Person whose  financial  statements are being certified have
concurred;  or (ii) a  qualification  relating to the outcome or  disposition of
threatened Litigation, pending Litigation being contested in good faith, pending
or threatened claims or contingencies which cannot be determined with sufficient
certainty to permit such financial statements to not be qualified.

         "Reference  Departments" shall mean,  collectively,  the Departments of
the following States: California,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Tennessee, Texas, Ohio,
Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Iowa, Alabama, New York,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania.

         "Regulation  D" shall mean  Regulation D (or any successor  regulation)
promulgated by the FRB as from time to time in effect.

         "Regulation  G" shall mean  Regulation G (or any successor  regulation)
promulgated by the FRB as from time to time in effect.

         "Regulation  U" shall mean  Regulation U (or any successor  regulation)
promulgated by the FRB as from time to time in effect.

         "Reinsurance  Agreements" shall mean any agreement,  contract,  treaty,
certificate  or other  arrangement  (other  than a  Surplus  Relief  Reinsurance
Agreement) by which any Insurance Subsidiary

                                       17

<PAGE>


agrees to  transfer  or cede to  another  insurer  all or part of the  liability
assumed or assets held by it under a policy or policies of  insurance or under a
reinsurance  agreement assumed by it. Reinsurance  Agreements shall include, but
not be  limited  to,  any  agreement,  contract,  treaty,  certificate  or other
arrangement (other than a Surplus Relief Reinsurance Agreement) which is treated
as such by the applicable Department or Reference Department.

         "Replaced Bank" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.

         "Replacement Bank" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.

         "Reportable Event" shall have  the meaning  assigned  to such  term  in
ERISA.

         "Required  Banks" shall mean (a) Banks  (other than a Defaulting  Bank)
having  at  least  51% of  the  Commitments  (excluding  the  Commitment  of any
Defaulting Bank) or, if the Commitments  have terminated or expired,  51% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Loans and Participation  Interests outstanding
at such time (excluding the Loans and Participation  Interests of any Defaulting
Bank) or (b) for purposes of amending or modifying the  provisions of or waiving
or curing a Default  pursuant  to Section  12.1.5 as a result of Section  9.8 or
Section 12.1.9, Banks (other than a Defaulting Bank) having at least 66- 2/3% of
the  Commitments  (excluding the  Commitment of any Defaulting  Bank) or, if the
Commitments  have  terminated  or expired,  66-2/3% of the  aggregate  principal
amount  of the  Loans  outstanding  and  Participation  Interests  at such  time
(excluding the Loans and Participation Interests of any Defaulting Bank).

         "Responsible Officer" shall mean, in the case of any Person, any of the
following officers of such Person:  the chief executive officer;  the president;
the chief financial officer;  the chief operating officer;  the chief investment
officer; the general counsel; the secretary;  the treasurer;  any executive vice
president;  or  any  vice  president  with  responsibility  for  or  substantive
knowledge of financial  matters.  If any of the titles of the preceding officers
of  such  corporate  Person  are  changed  after  the  date  hereof,   the  term
"Responsible Officer" shall thereafter mean any officer performing substantially
the same  functions  as are  presently  performed by one or more of the officers
listed in the first sentence of this definition.

         "SAP"  shall  mean,  as to  any  Insurance  Subsidiary,  the  statutory
accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Department.

         "Senior  Note  Documents"  shall mean the Conseco  Indenture,  the CCPI
Indenture, the Senior Notes and the other agreements and instruments pursuant to
which the Senior Notes were issued, as

                                       18

<PAGE>

the same may be amended or  modified or  supplemented  in  accordance  with this
Agreement.

         "Senior Notes" shall mean,  collectively,  the Conseco Senior Notes and
the CCPI Senior Notes.

         "Servicing Agreements" shall mean,  collectively,  those agreements set
forth on Schedule 1.1-B.

         "Significant  Subsidiary"  shall mean any  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower
with,  after  the  elimination  of  intercompany   accounts,  (a)  assets  which
constituted at least 10% of the  Borrower's  consolidated  total assets,  or (b)
revenues which  constituted at least 10% of the  Borrower's  consolidated  total
revenues,  or (c) net earnings which  constituted at least 10% of the Borrower's
consolidated  total  net  earnings,  all as  determined  as of the  date  of the
Borrower's  most  recently  prepared  quarterly  financial  statements  for  the
12-month period then ended.

         "Single  Employer  Pension Plan" shall mean a pension plan as such term
is defined in section 3(2) of ERISA,  other than a multiemployer plan as defined
in section  4001(a)(3) of ERISA,  to which the Borrower or any other  Controlled
Group member may have  liability,  including  any  liability by reason of having
been a substantial  employer  within the meaning of section 4063 of ERISA at any
time  during the  preceding  five  years,  or by reason of being  deemed to be a
contributing sponsor under section 4069 of ERISA.

         "Solvent",  as to any Person on a particular  date,  shall mean that on
such date (a) the fair value of the  property of such Person is greater than the
total  amount  of  liabilities,   including,   without  limitation,   Contingent
Obligations, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of
such  Person  is not less  than the  amount  that  will be  required  to pay the
probable  liabilities  of such Person on its debts as they become  absolute  and
matured,  (c) such  Person is able to realize  upon its assets and pay its debts
and other  liabilities,  Contingent  Obligations  and other  commitments as they
mature in the normal course of business, (d) such Person does not intend to, and
does not believe that it will,  incur debts or liabilities  beyond such Person's
ability to pay as such debts and liabilities  mature, and (e) such Person is not
engaged in business or a transaction,  and is not about to engage in business or
a transaction,  for which such Person's  property would constitute  unreasonably
small capital after giving due  consideration to the prevailing  practice in the
industry in which such Person is engaged.  For the purposes of this  definition,
in computing the amount of any Contingent Obligation at any time, it is intended
that such  Contingent  Obligation will be computed at the amount which, in light
of all the facts and circumstances  existing at such time, represents the amount
that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

                                       19

<PAGE>


         "Standard & Poor's" shall mean Standard & Poor's  Ratings Group and any
successor thereto.

         "Statutory  Carrying Value" shall mean, as to an asset of any Insurance
Subsidiary, the value of such asset to be reflected in line 25, page 2, column 4
of the Annual Statement,  or an amount determined in a consistent manner for any
date other than one as of which an Annual Statement is prepared.

         "Statutory  Liabilities"  shall  mean,  with  respect to any  Insurance
Subsidiary as of any date,  the amount  reported on line 28, page 3, column 1 of
the Annual Statement of such Insurance Subsidiary, less IMR/AVR and less amounts
under the Surplus  Debenture  constituting  Statutory  Liabilities on the Annual
Statement,  or an amount  determined  in a consistent  manner for any date other
than one as of which an Annual Statement is prepared.

         "Subordinated  Debenture  Indenture"  shall mean the  Indenture,  dated
November 14, 1996, between Conseco, Inc. and Fleet National Bank, as trustee, as
supplemented  by a First  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated  November  14, 1996, a
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated November 22, 1996, and a Third Supplemental
Indenture,  dated  March 26,  1997,  as the same may be amended or  modified  in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

         "Subordinated  Debentures" shall mean the subordinated debt instruments
issued by the Borrower pursuant to the Subordinated Debenture Indenture.

         "Subordinated  Indentures"  shall mean,  collectively,  the  Indenture,
dated as of September 29, 1994,  between ALHC Merger  Corporation and LTCB Trust
Company and First  Supplemental  Indenture  thereto,  dated as of September  29,
1994,  between ALHC and LTCB Trust  Company for the 11 1/4% Senior  Subordinated
Notes due 2004;  the  Indenture,  dated as of April 21,  1993,  between  ALH and
Boatmen's  Trust Company and the  Supplemental  Indenture  thereto,  dated as of
September  29,  1994,  between  ALH and  Boatmen's  Trust  Company of the 6 1/4%
Convertible  Subordinated  Debentures  due  2003;  the  Indenture,  dated  as of
November 1, 1992, between BLHC and The Connecticut  National Bank for the Senior
Subordinated  Notes Due 2002; the Indenture,  dated September 15, 1995,  between
ATC  and  American  Bank,   National   Association  for  the  6.5%   Convertible
Subordinated  Debentures  due  October  1,  2005,  to be  amended  by the  First
Supplemental  Indenture between the Borrower and Firstar Bank of Minnesota;  and
the Indenture,  dated as of March 27, 1996, between Pioneer Financial  Services,
Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  and The First  National  Bank of Chicago for the
6-1/2% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2003.

         "Subsidiary"   shall  mean,   as  to  any  Person,   any   corporation,
partnership,  limited liability company,  limited liability  partnership,  joint
venture, trust, association or other unincorporated  organization of which or in
which such Person and such Person's  Subsidiaries own directly or indirectly 50%
or more of (a) the combined voting power of all classes of stock having

                                       20
<PAGE>

general  voting power under  ordinary  circumstances  to elect a majority of the
board  of  directors,  if it is a  corporation,  (b)  the  capital  interest  or
partnership interest,  if it is a partnership,  joint venture or similar entity,
or  (c)  the  beneficial  interest,  if  it is a  trust,  association  or  other
unincorporated organization;  provided that, with respect to any Investment made
by the  Borrower in any Person in the  ordinary  course of  business  solely for
investment  purposes,  such Person shall not be  considered a Subsidiary  of the
Borrower  for  purposes of this  Agreement if such Person is not integral to the
business or operations of the Borrower or any  Significant  Subsidiary  and such
Investment is otherwise permitted by Section 9.10.

         "Substitute Bank" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.2.

         "Surplus Debentures" shall mean, as to any Insurance  Subsidiary,  debt
securities of such  Insurance  Subsidiary the proceeds of which are permitted to
be  included,  in whole or in part,  as Capital  and  Surplus of such  Insurance
Subsidiary as approved and permitted by the applicable Department.

         "Surplus  Relief  Reinsurance  Agreements"  shall  mean  any  agreement
whereby any  insurance  company  assumes or cedes  business  under a reinsurance
agreement that would be considered a "financing-type"  reinsurance  agreement as
determined in accordance  with the Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards
113 or any successor thereto.

         "Tax  Returns  and  Reports"  shall  mean  all  returns,   reports  and
information required to be filed with any Governmental  Authority with regard to
Taxes.

         "Tax  Sharing  Agreement"  shall mean the tax sharing  agreement  dated
February 29, 1989 among the Borrower and certain of its Subsidiaries.

         "Taxes"  or "Tax"  shall mean all taxes of any  nature  whatsoever  and
however  denominated,   including,  without  limitation,   retaliatory,  income,
premium,  withholding,  guaranty fund and similar assessments,  excise,  import,
governmental  fees,  duties and all other charges,  as well as additions to tax,
penalties and interest thereon, imposed by any Governmental Authority.

         "Termination Date" shall mean the earlier of (a) March 30, 1998, or (b)
the date of termination in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 4.1, 4.3
or 12.2.

         "TOPrS" shall mean (a) $275,000,000 of 9.16% Trust Originated Preferred
Securities  issued by Conseco  Financing Trust I, a Delaware business trust, and
guaranteed by the Borrower, (b) $325,000,000 of 8.70% Capital Trust Pass-through
Securities  issued by Conseco Financing Trust II, a Delaware business trust, and
guaranteed by the Borrower, (c) $300,000,000 of 8.796%

                                       21
<PAGE>

Capital  Securities  issued by Conseco  Financing Trust III, a Delaware business
trust,  and  guaranteed by the Borrower,  or (d) other similar  securities  with
substantially  similar terms,  provided that the aggregate face amount  thereof,
together with the aggregate face amount of the  securities  described in clauses
(a), (b) or (c) of this  definition,  do not exceed  $1,000,000,000.  Upon their
issuance, the TOPrS were, or will be, sold in a public offering and the proceeds
thereof  were,  or  shall  be,  used to  purchase  the  Borrower's  Subordinated
Debentures issued under the Subordinated Debenture Indenture.

         "Total  Capitalization" shall mean (a) principal and accrued and unpaid
interest  on  all  Indebtedness  for  borrowed  money  of  the  Borrower  or any
Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  for  which  the  Borrower  or  any  such  Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary,  respectively,  is  directly  liable  and which is not a  Contingent
Obligation  (calculated  excluding  Permitted  Transactions)  plus (b) the Total
Shareholders'  Equity  of the  Borrower  plus  (c)  the  minority  interests  in
Subsidiaries  recorded  on the  balance  sheet of the  Borrower,  determined  in
accordance  with GAAP (but only to the extent such interests are not included in
the  calculation  of amounts  specified  in clause (a),  (b) or (c)  immediately
above),  provided  that (i) the  Borrower or a  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  of the
Borrower  owns 100% of the Voting  Shares of any such  Subsidiary or (ii) in the
event that less than 100% of the Voting Shares of any such  Subsidiary are owned
by the Borrower or one of its  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries,  the Borrower or such
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary has guaranteed the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary.

         "Total   Shareholders'   Equity"  shall  mean  the  sum  of  (i)  total
shareholders'  equity  of  a  Person  as  determined  in  accordance  with  GAAP
(calculated  excluding  unrealized gains (losses) of securities as determined in
accordance with FAS 115) and (ii) the redemption value or liquidation preference
(or if less, the purchase price), as applicable, of the ALHC Preferred Stock and
the TOPrS.

         "Transferee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.3.

         "Type of Loan" or "Type"  shall have the  meaning  set forth in Section
2.2. The Types of Loans under this Agreement are as follows: Base Rate Loans and
Eurodollar Rate Loans.

         "U.S. Government  Securities" shall mean obligations of, or obligations
guaranteed  as to principal  and interest by, the United  States  Government  or
agency or instrumentality thereof.

         "Voting Shares" shall mean,  with respect to any Person,  capital stock
issued by such Person,  the holders of which are  ordinarily,  in the absence of
contingencies,  entitled  to vote for the  election  of  directors  (or  persons
performing similar  functions) of such Person,  even though the right so to vote
has been suspended by the happening of any such contingency.

                                       22
<PAGE>

         "Welfare Plan" shall mean a "welfare  plan," as such term is defined in
section 3(l) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any other Controlled Group member
may have liability.

         "Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary"  shall mean (i) any  Person in which  (other
than directors'  qualifying shares required by law) 100% of the capital stock or
other ownership interests is owned,  beneficially and of record, by such Person,
or by one or more other  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries of such Person, or both, and
(ii) ALH.

         SECTION 1.2       Other Definitional Provisions.

                  (a)  All  terms  defined  in this  Agreement  shall  have  the
         above-defined   meanings  when  used  in  any  Loan  Document,  or  any
         certificate,  report or other  document  made or delivered  pursuant to
         this  Agreement,  unless the context  therein shall  clearly  otherwise
         require.

                  (b) The words  "hereof,"  "herein,"  "hereunder"  and  similar
         terms when used in this  Agreement  shall refer to this  Agreement as a
         whole  and  not to any  particular  provision  of this  Agreement.  All
         references to sections and  subsections in this  Agreement  shall be to
         sections and subsections of this Agreement unless  otherwise  specified
         or as the context shall clearly otherwise require.

                  (c) The  words  "amended  or  modified"  when used in any Loan
         Document  shall mean with respect to such Loan Document as from time to
         time, in whole or in part, amended, modified,  supplemented,  restated,
         refinanced, refunded or renewed.

                  (d) In the  computation  of periods of time in this  Agreement
         from a specified date to a later  specified date, the word "from" means
         "from and  including" and the words "to" and "until" each means "to but
         excluding."

         SECTION  1.3  Accounting  and  Financial   Determinations.   Except  as
otherwise  expressly  provided herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be
interpreted,  and all financial  statements and  certificates  and reports as to
financial  matters  required to be  delivered  to the Banks  hereunder  shall be
prepared,   in  accordance  with  GAAP  applied  on  a  consistent   basis.  All
calculations made for the purposes of determining compliance with this Agreement
shall (except as otherwise  expressly provided herein) be made by application of
GAAP  applied on a  consistent  basis with the most recent  annual or  quarterly
financial  statements  delivered  pursuant  to  Section  8.1  (or,  prior to the
delivery of the first financial  statements pursuant to Section 8.1 , consistent
with the financial statements as at September 30, 1996);  provided,  however, if
(a) the Borrower  shall object to determining  such  compliance on such basis at
the time of delivery of such  financial  statements due to any change in GAAP or
the rules promulgated with respect thereto or (b) the Administrative

                                       23
<PAGE>


Agent or the  Required  Banks  shall so object in  writing  within 30 days after
delivery of such financial statements, then such calculations shall be made on a
basis  consistent  with the most recent  financial  statements  delivered by the
Borrower to the Banks as to which no such objection shall have been made.

SECTION 2.        THE COMMITMENTS AND THE LOANS

         Subject to the terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement and relying on
the representations and warranties herein set forth:

         SECTION 2.1  Commitment.  Each of the Banks,  severally  and for itself
alone,  agrees,  on the terms and  conditions  set forth  herein,  to make loans
(herein collectively called the "Loans" and individually called a "Loan") to the
Borrower on a revolving  basis from time to time from the Closing Date until the
Termination Date in such Bank's Percentage of the aggregate amount of such Loans
as the Borrower may request from all Banks.  The aggregate  principal  amount of
the Loans which any Bank shall be committed to have  outstanding to the Borrower
shall not at any one time  exceed the amount set  opposite  such  Bank's name on
Schedule 1.1-A or, if less, in an Assignment Agreement. The foregoing commitment
of  each  Bank  is  herein  called  its  "Commitment"  and  for  all  Banks  the
"Commitments." The aggregate principal amount of the Loans which all Banks shall
be committed to have outstanding  hereunder to the Borrower shall not at any one
time exceed  $200,000,000  (or such reduced  amount as may be fixed  pursuant to
Sections 4.1, 4.9 and 12.2).

         SECTION 2.2       Procedure for Borrowings.

                  (a)  Each   Borrowing   shall  be  made  upon  the  Borrower's
         irrevocable  written  notice (or by  telephone  promptly  confirmed  in
         writing) delivered to the Administrative  Agent in the form of a Notice
         of Borrowing (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent
         prior to 11:00 A.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) (i) three Business
         Days prior to the requested  Borrowing  Date, in the case of Eurodollar
         Rate Loans,  and (ii) on the requested  Borrowing  Date, in the case of
         Base Rate Loans, specifying:

                           (A) the amount of such  Borrowing,  which shall be in
                  an  aggregate  minimum  amount of  $3,000,000  or any integral
                  multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof;

                           (B) the requested  Borrowing  Date,  which shall be a
                  Business Day;

                           (C) the Type of Loans comprising such Borrowing; and

                           (D) with  respect  to   any  Borrowing  comprised  of
                  Eurodollar  Rate Loans,  the duration of the  Interest  Period
                  applicable  to  such  Loans  included  in such notice.  If the
                  Notice of Borrowing fails to specify 


                                       24

<PAGE>

                  the  duration  of  the  Interest   Period  for  any  Borrowing
                  comprised of Eurodollar Rate Loans, such Interest Period shall
                  be three (3) months or, if less,  the highest  number of whole
                  months remaining before the Termination Date.

                  (b) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Bank of
         its receipt of any Notice of Borrowing and of the amount of such Bank's
         Percentage of the related Borrowing.

                  (c) Each Bank will make the amount of its  Percentage  of each
         Borrowing available to the Administrative  Agent for the account of the
         Borrower at the Administrative  Agent's Office by 2:00 P.M. (Charlotte,
         North Carolina time) on the Borrowing Date requested by the Borrower in
         funds immediately  available to the Administrative  Agent. The proceeds
         of all such Loans will then be made  available  to the  Borrower by the
         Administrative  Agent  by wire  transfer  in  accordance  with  written
         instructions  provided to the  Administrative  Agent by the Borrower of
         like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

                  (d) After  giving  effect to any  Borrowing,  there may not be
         more than five (5) different  Interest  Periods in effect for all Loans
         then outstanding.

                  (e) Notwithstanding the three Business Days notice requirement
         of Section 2.2(a)(i),  the initial Borrowing under this Agreement shall
         be a  Eurodollar  Rate Loan with an Interest  Period of  fourteen  (14)
         days.

         SECTION 2.3       [Intentionally left blank.]

         SECTION 2.4       [Intentionally left blank.]

         SECTION 2.5 Types of Loans. The Loans shall be denominated as Base Rate
Loans or Eurodollar  Rate Loans (each being herein called a "Type" of Loan),  as
the  Borrower  shall  specify in the related  Notice of  Borrowing  or Notice of
Continuation/Conversion.  Both  types of Loans  may be  outstanding  at the same
time,  provided that (a) not more than five (5) different Interest Periods shall
be outstanding at any one time for all Loans, and (b) the Borrower shall specify
Types of Loans and Interest  Periods such that no payment or  prepayment  of any
principal on any Loan shall result in an interruption of any Interest Period.

         SECTION 2.6 Funding Reliance for Borrowings.  Unless the Administrative
Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Bank prior to a Borrowing  that
such Bank will not make available to the  Administrative  Agent the amount which
would  constitute its Percentage of the related  Borrowing,  the  Administrative
Agent  may  assume  that  such  Bank is  making  such  amount  available  to the
Administrative  Agent and the  Administrative  Agent may, in reliance  upon such
assumption, make available to the Borrower a

                                       25
<PAGE>

corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available
to the Administrative  Agent, the Administrative  Agent shall be able to recover
such  corresponding  amount  from  such  Bank.  If such  Bank  does not pay such
corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative  Agent's demand therefor,
the  Administrative  Agent will promptly  notify the Borrower,  and the Borrower
shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent. The
Administrative  Agent  shall also be  entitled  to recover  from the Bank or the
Borrower,  as the case may be, interest on such corresponding  amount in respect
of each day from the date such  corresponding  amount was made  available by the
Administrative  Agent to the Borrower to the date such  corresponding  amount is
recovered by the Administrative  Agent at a per annum rate equal to (i) from the
Borrower  at the  applicable  rate for  such  Loan  pursuant  to the  Notice  of
Borrowing and this Agreement and (ii) from a Bank at the Federal Funds Effective
Rate.

         SECTION 2.7       Conversion and Continuation Elections for Borrowings.

                  (a) As to any Loans comprising a Borrowing,  the Borrower may,
         upon  irrevocable  written  notice  to  the  Administrative   Agent  in
         accordance with Section 2.7(b):

                           (i) elect,  as of any  Business  Day,  in the case of
                  Base  Rate  Loans,  or as of the  last  day of the  applicable
                  Interest  Period,  in the case of  Eurodollar  Rate Loans,  to
                  convert  any such Loans (or any part  thereof in an amount not
                  less than  $3,000,000,  or that is in an integral  multiple of
                  $1,000,000 in excess thereof) into any other Type of Loans; or

                           (ii)  elect,  as of the  last  day of the  applicable
                  Interest Period,  to continue any Eurodollar Rate Loans having
                  Interest  Periods expiring on such day (or any part thereof in
                  an amount not less than $3,000,000,  or that is in an integral
                  multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof);

         provided,  that if at any time the aggregate  amount of Eurodollar Rate
         Loans in respect of any Borrowing is reduced,  by payment,  prepayment,
         or  conversion  of  part  thereof  to be  less  than  $3,000,000,  such
         Eurodollar Rate Loans shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans,
         and on and after such date the right of the  Borrower to continue  such
         Loans as, and convert such Loans into,  Eurodollar  Rate Loans,  as the
         case may be, shall terminate.

                  (b)   The    Borrower    shall    deliver    a    Notice    of
         Conversion/Continuation  to be received by the Administrative Agent not
         later than 11:00 A.M.  (Charlotte,  North  Carolina  time) at least (i)
         three Business Days in advance of the Conversion/Continuation  Date, if
         the Loans are  to be converted  into or continued  as  Eurodollar  Rate
         Loans;  and 

                                       26
<PAGE>

         (ii) one Business Day in advance of the  Conversion/Continuation  Date,
         if the Loans are to be converted into Base Rate Loans, specifying:

                           (A) the proposed Conversion/Continuation Date;

                           (B) the aggregate amount of Loans to be  converted or
                  continued;

                           (C) the  Type  of  Loans  resulting from the proposed
                  conversion or continuation; and

                           (D) in the case of conversions into or  continuations
                  of Eurodollar  Rate  Loans,  the  duration  of  the  requested
                  Interest Period.

                  (c) If upon the expiration of any Interest  Period  applicable
         to  Eurodollar  Rate Loans,  the Borrower has failed to select timely a
         new Interest  Period to be applicable to such  Eurodollar Rate Loans or
         if any  Default  then  exists,  the  Borrower  shall be  deemed to have
         elected  to  convert  such  Eurodollar  Rate Loans into Base Rate Loans
         effective as of the expiration date of such Interest Period.

                  (d) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Bank of
         its  receipt of a Notice of  Conversion/Continuation,  or, if no timely
         notice is  provided  by the  Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent will
         promptly  notify each Bank of the details of any automatic  conversion.
         All conversions and  continuations  shall be made ratably  according to
         the respective  outstanding principal amounts of the Loans with respect
         to which the notice was given held by each Bank.

                  (e) Unless the  Required  Banks  otherwise  agree,  during the
         existence  of a  Default,  the  Borrower  may not  elect to have a Loan
         converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

                  (f) After giving effect to any conversion or  continuation  of
         Loans,  there may not be more than five (5) different  Interest Periods
         in effect for all Loans hereunder.

         SECTION 2.8 Repayment of Loans.  Subject to the  provisions of Sections
4.1, the Loans of each Bank shall be payable in full (and the Borrower agrees to
pay such Loans) on the Termination Date.

         SECTION 2.9       Loan Accounts; Record Keeping.

                  (a) The Loans made by each Bank shall be  evidenced  by one or
         more loan  accounts or records  maintained by such Bank in the ordinary
         course of business and the  Administrative  Agent. The loan accounts or
         records maintained by the  Administrative  Agent and each Bank shall be
         conclusive

                                       27

<PAGE>

         absent  manifest  error of the amount of the Loans made by the Banks to
         the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon;  provided,  that in
         the  event  of  a  conflict   between   information   recorded  by  the
         Administrative  Agent and any Bank as to such Bank's Loans, the records
         of the  Administrative  Agent absent manifest error shall control.  Any
         failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit
         or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or to pay
         any amount owing with respect to the Loans.

                  (b)  Upon  the   request   of  any  Bank  made   through   the
         Administrative  Agent,  the Loans made by such Bank may be evidenced by
         one or more Notes,  instead of or in addition  to loan  accounts.  Each
         such Bank shall endorse on the schedules  annexed to its Note the date,
         amount  and  maturity  of each Loan  made by it and the  amount of each
         payment of principal  made by the Borrower with respect  thereto.  Each
         such Bank is irrevocably authorized by the Borrower to endorse its Note
         and each Bank's  record  shall be  conclusive  absent  manifest  error;
         provided,  however,  that the failure of a Bank to make, or an error in
         making,  a notation thereon with respect to any Loan shall not limit or
         otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under any
         such Note to such Bank.

SECTION 3.        INTEREST AND FEES, ETC.

         SECTION 3.1 Interest  Rates.  With  respect to each Loan,  the Borrower
hereby  promises to pay to the  Administrative  Agent, on behalf of the Lenders,
interest on the unpaid principal amount thereof for the period commencing on the
Borrowing Date of such Loan until such Loan is paid in full, as follows:

                           (i) At all  times  while  such  Loan  or any  portion
                  thereof is a Base Rate Loan,  at a rate per annum equal to the
                  Base Rate from time to time in effect.

                           (ii) At all  times  while  such  Loan or any  portion
                  thereof is a Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  at a rate per annum equal
                  to the  Eurodollar  Rate from time to time in effect  plus the
                  Eurodollar Rate Margin.

         SECTION 3.2 Default  Interest Rate.  Notwithstanding  the provisions of
Section 3.1, in the event that any Default under Section  12.1.3 or any Event of
Default shall occur,  the Borrower hereby promises to pay,  automatically in the
case  of a  Default  under  Section  12.1.3  or  upon  demand  therefor  by  the
Administrative Agent for any Event of Default,  interest on the unpaid principal
amount of the Loans (and  interest  thereon to the extent  permitted by law) for
the period commencing on the date of such Default or demand until such Loans are
paid in full or such  Default  or  Event  of  Default  is  cured  or  waived  in
accordance  with  Sections  12.2 and 15.1 at a rate per annum  equal to the Base
Rate from time to time in effect (but not less than the Base Rate as

                                       28

<PAGE>

at such date of demand),  plus the Eurodollar  Rate Margin then in effect,  plus
two percent (2%) per annum.

         SECTION 3.3 Interest Payment Dates. Interest on each Loan shall be paid
in arrears on each  Interest  Payment Date.  Interest  shall also be paid on the
date of any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans under Section 4.1 or Section 4.3
for the  portion  of the  Eurodollar  Rate  Loans so  prepaid  and upon  payment
(including  prepayment) in full thereof and during the existence of any Event of
Default,  interest  shall be paid on demand of the  Administrative  Agent at the
request or with the  consent of the  Required  Banks.  After  maturity,  accrued
interest on the Loans shall be payable on demand.

         SECTION 3.4 Setting and Notice of Rates. The applicable Eurodollar Rate
shall be determined  by the  Administrative  Agent.  Each  determination  of the
applicable  Eurodollar  Rate shall be  conclusive  and binding  upon the parties
hereto,  in the absence of demonstrable  error. If the  Administrative  Agent is
unable to determine such a rate, the provisions of Section 5.3 shall apply.  The
Administrative  Agent shall,  upon written  request of the Borrower or any Bank,
deliver to the Borrower or such Bank a statement  showing the computations  used
by the  Administrative  Agent in  determining  any  applicable  Eurodollar  Rate
hereunder.

         SECTION 3.5 Computation of Fees and Interest. Fees described in Section
3.6 and  interest on  Eurodollar  Rate Loans  shall be  computed  for the actual
number of days elapsed on the basis of a 360-day year, and interest on Base Rate
Loans shall be computed for the actual  number of days elapsed on the basis of a
365-day year. Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent
shall be conclusive  and binding on the Borrower and the Banks in the absence of
manifest error.

         SECTION  3.6 Fees.  The  Borrower  agrees to pay to the  Administrative
Agent,  for the benefit of the Banks  (other  than a  Defaulting  Bank)  ratably
according to their  respective  Percentage,  a non-use fee on the average  daily
unused  Commitments,  payable  quarterly in arrears on the last  Business Day of
each Fiscal Quarter  (commencing  with the first such date  occurring  after the
Effective  Date for the period from and  including  the  Effective  Date to such
date) and on the Termination Date at a rate per annum equal to 0.125%

SECTION 4.        PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS

         SECTION 4.1 Voluntary Termination or Reduction of Commitments.  Subject
to Section  5.5, the Borrower  may,  upon not less than five (5) Business  Days'
irrevocable  prior  written  notice to the  Administrative  Agent  (which  shall
promptly  advise each Bank  thereof),  terminate the  Commitments or permanently
reduce the  Commitments  by an aggregate  minimum  amount of  $5,000,000  or any
integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof;  unless,  after giving effect
thereto and to any prepayments of Loans made on the effective date thereof,  the
then

                                       29
<PAGE>

outstanding  principal  amount  of the  Loans  would  exceed  the  amount of the
aggregate  Commitments  then in effect.  Once  reduced in  accordance  with this
Section,  the Commitments,  to the extent terminated or permanently reduced, may
not be  increased.  Any  reduction of the  Commitments  shall be applied to each
Bank's Commitment, pro rata, according to its Percentage.

         SECTION 4.2 Optional Prepayments.  Subject to Section 5.5, the Borrower
may, at any time or from time to time, upon not less than (a) three (3) Business
Days',  irrevocable written notice with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans and (b)
one (1)  Business  Day's  irrevocable  written  notice with respect to Base Rate
Loans,  to the  Administrative  Agent by 11:00 A.M.  (Charlotte,  North Carolina
time),  ratably  prepay  such Loans in whole or in part,  in minimum  amounts of
$3,000,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Such notice
of  prepayment  shall  specify  the date and amount of such  prepayment  and the
Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid.  The  Administrative  Agent will promptly notify
each Bank of its receipt of any such notice,  and of such Bank's  Percentage  of
such  prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower,  the Borrower  shall
make such  prepayment and the payment  amount  specified in such notice shall be
due and  payable  on the date  specified  therein,  together  with  any  amounts
required  pursuant  to Section  5.5. If such notice does not provide the type of
Loans to be repaid, such prepayment shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans to
the  extent of the  aggregate  principal  amount  thereof  outstanding,  and the
balance to Eurodollar Rate Loans.

         SECTION 4.3       [Intentionally left blank.]

         SECTION 4.4       Payments by the Borrower.

                  (a) All payments to be made by the Borrower hereunder shall be
         made without set-off,  recoupment or counterclaim.  Except as otherwise
         expressly  provided herein,  all payments by the Borrower shall be made
         to the  Administrative  Agent  for  the  account  of the  Banks  at the
         Administrative  Agent's  Office,  and shall be made in  Dollars  and in
         immediately available funds, no later than 1:30 P.M. (Charlotte,  North
         Carolina time) on the date specified herein. The  Administrative  Agent
         will  promptly  distribute  to  each  Bank  its  Percentage  (or  other
         applicable  share as  expressly  provided  herein or in the  Assignment
         Agreement)  of such  payment in like  funds as  received.  Any  payment
         received by the Administrative  Agent later than 1:30 P.M.  (Charlotte,
         North  Carolina  time)  shall be deemed to have  been  received  on the
         following  Business  Day  and  any  applicable  interest  or fee  shall
         continue to accrue.

                 (b) Subject to the  provisions set  forth  in the definition of
         "Interest  Period"  herein,  whenever  any  payment  is  due  on  a day
         other  than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the following
         Business Day, and such
                                       30
<PAGE>

         extension of time shall in such case be included in the  computation of
         interest or fees, as the case may be.

                 (c) Unless the  Administrative  Agent  receives notice from the
         Borrower  prior to the date on which  any  payment  is due to the Banks
         that  the  Borrower  will  not make  such  payment  in full as and when
         required,  the  Administrative  Agent may assume that the  Borrower has
         made such payment in full to the  Administrative  Agent on such date in
         immediately available funds and the Administrative Agent may (but shall
         not be so required),  in reliance upon such  assumption,  distribute to
         each Bank on such due date an amount  equal to the amount then due such
         Bank.  If and to the extent the  Borrower  has not made such payment in
         full  to  the  Administrative  Agent,  each  Bank  shall  repay  to the
         Administrative  Agent on demand such amount  distributed  to such Bank,
         together with interest  thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate for
         each day from the date such  amount is  distributed  to such Bank until
         the date repaid.

         SECTION 4.5       [Intentionally left blank].

         SECTION 4.6       Sharing of Payments.

                  (a) If any Bank  shall  obtain any  payment or other  recovery
         (whether voluntary,  involuntary, by application of offset or otherwise
         (other than pursuant to Sections 5.8, 14.1 and 15.2)) on account of the
         Loans (other than  pursuant to the terms of Section 5) in excess of its
         pro rata  share  (based on its  Percentage  or, if  expressly  provided
         differently  herein  or  in  the  Assignment   Agreement,   such  other
         applicable  share) of  payments  and other  recoveries  obtained by all
         Banks of the Loans on  account  of  principal  of and  interest  on the
         Loans, such Bank shall purchase from the other Banks such participation
         in the Loans as shall be  necessary  to cause such  purchasing  Bank to
         share the excess payment or other  recovery  ratably with each of them;
         provided,  however, that if all or any portion of the excess payment or
         other recovery is thereafter  recovered from such purchasing  Bank, the
         purchase   shall  be   rescinded   and  each  Bank  which  has  sold  a
         participation to the purchasing Bank shall repay to the purchasing Bank
         the purchase price to the ratable extent of such recovery together with
         an amount equal to such selling Bank's ratable share  (according to the
         proportion of (i) the amount of such selling Bank's required  repayment
         to the  purchasing  Bank to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the
         purchasing Bank) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the
         purchasing Bank in respect of the total amount so recovered.

                  (b)  The  Borrower  agrees  that  any  Bank  so  purchasing  a
         participation  from another Bank pursuant to Section 4.6(a) may, to the
         fullest  extent  permitted  by law,  exercise all its rights of payment
         (including  pursuant to Section 4.7) with respect to such participation
         as fully as if such Bank

                                       31
<PAGE>

         were  the  direct  creditor  of the  Borrower  in the  amount  of  such
         participation. If under any applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency or other
         similar law, any Bank  receives a secured  claim in lieu of a setoff to
         which this Section applies, such Bank shall, to the extent practicable,
         exercise  its  rights  in  respect  of such  secured  claim in a manner
         consistent  with the rights of the Banks  entitled  under this  Section
         4.6(b) to share in the benefits of any recovery of such secured claim.

         SECTION 4.7 Setoff.  Each Bank shall,  upon the occurrence of any Event
of Default  under  Section  12.1.1,  the  occurrence  of a Default under Section
12.1.3,  or, with the consent of the Required Banks,  upon the occurrence of any
other Event of Default,  have the right to appropriate  and apply to the payment
of the  Liabilities  owing to it (whether or not then due), and (as security for
such Liabilities) the Borrower hereby grants to each Bank a continuing  security
interest in, any and all balances,  credits, deposits, accounts or moneys of the
Borrower then or thereafter  maintained  with such Bank. Any such  appropriation
and  application  shall be subject to the  provisions  of Section 4.6. Each Bank
agrees  promptly to notify the Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent after any
such  setoff and  application  made by such Bank;  provided,  however,  that the
failure to give such  notice  shall not affect the  validity  of such setoff and
application.  The rights of each Bank under this  Section 4.7 are in addition to
other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff under applicable law
or otherwise) which such Bank may have.

         SECTION 4.8 Net Payments. All payments by the Borrower of principal of,
and interest on, the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder shall be made
free and clear of and without deduction for any present or future income,  stamp
or other  Taxes,  fees,  duties,  withholdings  or other  charges  of any nature
whatsoever  imposed by any  taxing  authority,  other  than Taxes  imposed on or
measured by any Bank's net income or receipts with respect to payments  received
hereunder (such non-excluded  items being called  "Charges").  In the event that
any  withholding  or  deduction  from  any  payment  to be made by the  Borrower
hereunder is required in respect of any Charges  pursuant to any applicable law,
rule or regulation, then the Borrower will:

                  (a)  pay directly to  the  relevant  authority the full amount
         required to be so withheld or deducted;

                  (b)  promptly forward  to the Administrative Agent an official
         receipt or other documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
         evidencing such payment to such authority; and

                  (c)  pay to the Administrative Agent for  the  account  of the
         Banks such additional  amount  or  amounts  as  are necessary to ensure
         that the net amount actually received by each Bank

                                       32
<PAGE>

         will equal the full  amount such Bank would have  received  had no such
         withholding or deduction been required.

If any Bank  receives  a refund in  respect of any Taxes as to which it has been
indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower (or any Person
acting on behalf of the Borrower) has paid additional  amounts  pursuant to this
Section 4.8, it shall  promptly  repay such refund to the Borrower  (but only to
the extent of indemnity  payments  made,  or  additional  amounts  paid,  by the
Borrower (or such Person  acting on behalf of the  Borrower)  under this Section
4.8  with  respect  to  the  Taxes  giving  rise  to  such  refund),  net of all
out-of-pocket expenses of such Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may
be;  provided,  that  the  Borrower,  upon  the  request  of  such  Bank  or the
Administrative Agent, agrees to return such refund (together with any penalties,
interest or other charges due in connection  therewith to the appropriate taxing
authority or other  Governmental  Authority) to such Bank or the  Administrative
Agent in the event such Bank or the  Administrative  Agent is required to pay or
to return such refund to the relevant  taxing  authority  or other  Governmental
Authority.

Each Bank that is  organized  under the laws of a  jurisdiction  other  than the
United States or any state thereof shall,  prior to the due date of any payments
under the Loans,  execute  and  deliver to the  Borrower,  on or about the first
scheduled  payment date in each calendar year, a United States Internal  Revenue
Service Form 4224 or Form 1001,  as may be applicable  (or any successor  form),
appropriately  completed.  Without  prejudice  to  the  survival  of  any  other
agreement of the Borrower hereunder or any other document, the agreements of the
Borrower contained in this Section shall survive satisfaction of the Liabilities
and termination of this Agreement.

         SECTION 4.9 Mandatory  Reduction in the Commitments.  Each repayment or
prepayment  of the Loans  made  pursuant  to  Section  4.1  shall  concurrently,
permanently  and  automatically  ratably reduce the Commitments by the amount of
such repayment or prepayment.  If on any date the aggregate  principal amount of
the Loans exceeds the  Commitments,  the Borrower  shall repay on such date such
Loans in an amount equal to such excess.

SECTION 5.        CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES

         SECTION 5.1  Increased  Costs.  If (a)  Regulation  D, or (b) after the
Closing Date,  the adoption of any applicable  law, rule or  regulation,  or any
change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by
any governmental  authority,  central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation  or  administration  thereof,  or  compliance by any Bank (or any
Lending  Office of such Bank)  with any  request or  directive  (whether  or not
having  the  force of law) of any such  authority,  central  bank or  comparable
agency,


                                       33
<PAGE>

                  (i) shall subject any Bank (other than a Defaulting  Bank) (or
         any Lending  Office of such Bank) to any tax, duty or other charge with
         respect  to its  Eurodollar  Rate  Loans,  or its  obligation  to  make
         Eurodollar Rate Loans or shall change the basis of taxation of payments
         to any Bank  (other than a  Defaulting  Bank) of the  principal  of, or
         interest on, its  Eurodollar  Rate Loans or any other amounts due under
         this  Agreement  in  respect  of  its  Eurodollar  Rate  Loans  or  its
         obligation  to make  Eurodollar  Rate Loans  (except for changes in the
         rate of Tax,  other than Taxes  covered by Section  4.8, on the overall
         gross or net income of such Bank or its Lending Office); or

                  (ii)  shall  impose,  modify or deem  applicable  any  reserve
         (including,  without  limitation,  any reserve  imposed by the FRB, but
         excluding any reserve  included in the  determination of interest rates
         pursuant to Section 3), special deposit or similar  requirement against
         assets of,  deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by,
         any Bank (other than a Defaulting  Bank) (or any Lending Office of such
         Bank); or

                  (iii) shall impose on any Bank (other than a Defaulting  Bank)
         (or its Lending  Office) any other  condition  affecting its Eurodollar
         Rate Loans;

and the result of any of the  foregoing  is to  increase  the cost to (or in the
case of  Regulation D referred to above,  to impose a cost on) such Bank (or any
Lending Office of such Bank) of making or maintaining  any Eurodollar  Rate Loan
or to reduce the amount of any sum received or  receivable  by such Bank (or the
Lending  Office of such  Bank)  under  this  Agreement  or under its Loans  with
respect  thereto,  then within thirty (30) days after demand by such Bank (which
demand shall be  accompanied by a statement  setting forth in reasonable  detail
the basis of such demand and the  calculation of such  additional  amount),  the
Borrower  shall pay directly to such Bank such  additional  amount or amounts as
will compensate  such Bank for such increased cost or such reduction.  Each Bank
shall  promptly,  but in no  event  more  than  ninety  (90)  days  after it has
knowledge  thereof,  notify the Borrower of any event  occurring  after the date
hereof,  which will entitle such Bank to  compensation  pursuant to this Section
5.1.

         SECTION  5.2  Change  in Rate  of  Return.  If any  change  in,  or the
introduction,  adoption,  effectiveness,  interpretation,   reinterpretation  or
phase-in of, any law or regulation,  directive,  guideline,  decision or request
(whether or not having the force of law) of any court,  central bank,  regulator
or other  Governmental  Authority  affects or would affect the amount of capital
required or expected to be maintained by any Bank (other than a Defaulting Bank)
or any Person  controlling  such Bank, and such Bank reasonably  determines that
the rate of return on its or such controlling  Person's capital as a consequence
of the Loans made by such Bank (or any participating interest therein held by
such Bank) is reduced to a level below that which such Bank or 

                                       34
<PAGE>

such  controlling  Person could have achieved but for the occurrence of any such
circumstance, then, in any such case the Borrower shall, within thirty (30) days
after  written  demand by such Bank to the  Borrower,  pay directly to such Bank
additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Bank or such controlling Person
for such  reduction  in rate of return.  A statement of such Bank as to any such
additional  amount or amounts  (including  calculations  thereof  in  reasonable
detail) shall,  in the absence of manifest  error,  be conclusive and binding on
the  Borrower.  In  determining  such  amount,  such Bank may use any  method of
averaging and attribution  that it shall deem reasonably  applicable.  Each Bank
shall  promptly,  but in no  event  more  than  ninety  (90)  days  after it has
knowledge thereof,  notify the Borrower of any event occurring after the Closing
Date, which will entitle such Bank to compensation pursuant to this Section 5.2.


         SECTION 5.3       Basis for  Determining  Interest  Rate  Inadequate or
Unfair.  If with respect to any Interest Period:

                  (a)  deposits in Dollars (in the  applicable  amounts) are not
         being offered to the Administrative  Agent in the interbank  eurodollar
         market for such Interest Period, or the Administrative  Agent otherwise
         determines (which  determination shall be conclusive and binding on all
         parties)  that by  reason  of  circumstances  affecting  the  interbank
         eurodollar  market  adequate  and  reasonable  means do not  exist  for
         ascertaining the applicable Eurodollar Rate; or

                  (b)  any  Bank  advises  the  Administrative  Agent  that  the
         Eurodollar  Rate as determined by the  Administrative  Agent,  will not
         adequately  and fairly  reflect the cost to such Bank of maintaining or
         funding any Eurodollar Rate Loan for such Interest Period,  or that the
         making or funding of Eurodollar Rate Loans has become  impracticable as
         a result of an event  occurring  after the  Closing  Date  which in the
         opinion of such Bank materially changes such Loans;

then, so long as such circumstances shall continue:

                  (i)   the  Administrative  Agent  shall  promptly  notify  the
         Borrower and the Banks thereof,

                  (ii)  no Bank  shall  be  under  any  obligation  to  make  or
         continue or convert into Eurodollar Rate Loans so affected, and

                  (iii) on the last day of the then current  Interest Period for
         Eurodollar  Rate Loans so affected,  such  Eurodollar Rate Loans shall,
         unless then repaid in full, automatically convert to Base Rate Loans.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent and each Bank shall take
any reasonable actions available to it (including

                                       35
<PAGE>

designation of a different Lending Office), consistent with legal and regulatory
restrictions,  that  will  avoid the need to take the  steps  described  in this
Section 5.3,  which will not, in the reasonable  judgment of the  Administrative
Agent or such Bank, be materially  disadvantageous to the Administrative  Agent,
such Bank,  or the  Borrower as compared to the steps  described in this Section
5.3.

         SECTION 5.4 Changes in Law  Rendering  Certain Loans  Unlawful.  In the
event that any change in (including the adoption of any new)  applicable laws or
regulations,  or  any  change  in  the  interpretation  of  applicable  laws  or
regulations  by any  governmental  or other  regulatory  body  charged  with the
administration thereof, should make it unlawful for a Bank or the Lending Office
of such Bank ("Affected Bank") to make,  maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans,
then (a) the  Affected  Bank shall  promptly  notify  each of the other  parties
hereto,  (b) the  obligation  of all Banks to make or continue  or convert  into
Eurodollar  Rate Loans made  unlawful  for the  Affected  Bank  shall,  upon the
effectiveness of such event, be suspended for the duration of such unlawfulness,
and (c) on the last day of the current Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans
(or, in any event, if the Affected Bank so requests, on such earlier date as may
be required by the relevant law, regulation or  interpretation),  the Eurodollar
Rate Loans shall, unless then repaid in full, automatically convert to Base Rate
Loans.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the Administrative  Agent and each Bank
shall take any reasonable  actions  available to it (including  designation of a
different  Lending Office),  consistent with legal and regulatory  restrictions,
that will avoid the need to take the steps  described in this Section 5.4, which
will not, in the reasonable  judgment of the Administrative  Agent or such Bank,
be materially  disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent or the Affected Bank,
or the Borrower as compared to the steps described in this Section 5.4.

         SECTION 5.5 Funding Losses. The Borrower hereby agrees that upon demand
by any Bank to the Administrative Agent (which demand shall be made within three
(3) Business Days after receipt of notice of any payment or proposed  payment by
the Borrower  under this  Agreement  giving rise to  indemnification  under this
Section 5.5 and shall be accompanied by a statement  setting forth in reasonable
detail using the  methodology  set forth in Exhibit I with respect to Eurodollar
Rate Loans) the Borrower  will  indemnify  such Bank against any loss or expense
which such Bank may sustain or incur (including,  without  limitation,  any loss
incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds
acquired by such Bank to fund or maintain  Eurodollar Rate Loans,  but excluding
specifically any  administrative fee or other amount chargeable by such Bank for
the  calculation  of such loss),  as  reasonably  determined  by such Bank, as a
result of (a) any payment or prepayment or  conversion  of any  Eurodollar  Rate
Loans of such Bank on a date other than the last day of an  Interest  Period for
such  Eurodollar  Rate Loan, or (b) any failure of the Borrower to borrow on the
date of any
                                       36
<PAGE>

Borrowing  set  forth in any  Notice  of  Borrowing  or (c) any  failure  of the
Borrower  to convert or continue  any  portion of the Loans on a date  specified
therefor in the Notice of Continuation/  Conversion  delivered  pursuant to this
Agreement. For this purpose, all notices to the Administrative Agent pursuant to
this Agreement shall be deemed to be irrevocable.

         SECTION 5.6 Right of Banks to Fund  Through  Other  Offices.  Each Bank
may, if it so elects,  fulfill its commitment as to any Eurodollar Rate Loans by
causing any of its Lending Offices to make such Eurodollar Rate Loans; provided,
that in such event for the purposes of this Agreement, such Loan shall be deemed
to have been made by such Bank and the  obligation of the Borrower to repay such
Eurodollar Rate Loan shall nevertheless be to such Bank and shall be deemed held
by it, to the  extent of such  Eurodollar  Rate  Loan,  for the  account of such
branch or affiliate.

         SECTION   5.7   Discretion   of  Banks  as  to   Manner   of   Funding.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, each Bank shall
be entitled to fund and  maintain its funding of all or any part of its Loans in
any manner it sees fit, it being understood,  however,  that for the purposes of
this Agreement all  determinations  hereunder  shall be made as if such Bank had
actually  funded and maintained  each  Eurodollar Rate Loan during each Interest
Period  for such  Loan  through  the  purchase  of  deposits  having a  maturity
corresponding  to such Interest Period and bearing an interest rate equal to the
Eurodollar Rate, as the case may be, for such Interest Period.

         SECTION 5.8  Replacement of Banks. If any Bank shall become affected by
any of the changes or events described in Section 5.1, 5.2 or 5.4 (any such Bank
being  hereinafter  referred to as a  "Replaced  Bank") and shall  petition  the
Borrower for any increased  cost or amounts  thereunder,  then in such case, the
Borrower may, upon at least five (5) Business Days' notice to the Administrative
Agent and such Replaced  Bank,  designate a replacement  lender (a  "Replacement
Bank") acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable  discretion,  to
which such Replaced Bank shall,  subject to its receipt (unless a later date for
the  remittance  thereof  shall be agreed upon by the  Borrower and the Replaced
Bank) of all amounts owed to such Replaced Bank under Section 5.1 or 5.2, assign
all (but not less than all) of its  rights,  obligations,  Loans and  Commitment
hereunder; provided, that all Liabilities (except Liabilities which by the terms
hereof  survive  the  payment  in  full of the  Loans  and  termination  of this
Agreement)  due and payable to the Replaced Bank shall be paid in full as of the
date of such  assignment.  Upon  any  assignment  by any Bank  pursuant  to this
Section 5.8 becoming  effective,  the Replacement Bank shall thereupon be deemed
to be a "Bank" for all purposes of this  Agreement  and such Replaced Bank shall
thereupon cease to be a "Bank" for all purposes of this Agreement and shall have
no further rights or obligations hereunder (other than pursuant to Sections 5.1,
5.2,  15.4 and 15.5 while such Replaced  Bank was a Bank).  

                                       37
<PAGE>

Notwithstanding  any  Replaced  Bank's  failure or refusal to assign its rights,
obligations,  Loans and  Commitment  under this Section  5.8, the Replaced  Bank
shall  cease  to be a  "Bank"  for  all  purposes  of  this  Agreement  and  the
Replacement Bank  substituted  therefor upon payment to the Replaced Bank by the
Replacement  Bank of all  amounts  set forth in this  Section  5.8  without  any
further action of the Replaced Bank.

         SECTION 5.9  Conclusiveness  of  Statements;  Survival  of  Provisions.
Determinations and statements of the  Administrative  Agent or any Bank pursuant
to Section  5.1  through  Section 5.5 shall be  conclusive  absent  demonstrable
error.  The provisions of Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 5.5 and this Section 5.9 shall
survive termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 6.        [Intentionally left blank.]

SECTION 7.        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

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

         SECTION  7.1   Organization,   etc.   The  Borrower  and  each  of  its
Subsidiaries is a corporation or partnership  duly organized,  validly  existing
and in good  standing  under  the  laws of the  state  of its  incorporation  or
formation,  each of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  is duly  qualified  to
transact  business and in good standing as a foreign  corporation or partnership
authorized to do business in each jurisdiction  where the nature of its business
makes such qualification necessary and failure to so qualify could reasonably be
expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  and each of the  Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  has the  power and  authority  to own or lease  its  property  and
conduct its business as presently conducted.

         SECTION 7.2  Authorization.  The Borrower (a) has the power to execute,
deliver and perform this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a
party,  and (b) has  taken all  necessary  action to  authorize  the  execution,
delivery and performance by it of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to
which it is a party.

         SECTION 7.3 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by the
Borrower of this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents to which it is a party
did not, does not and will not (a)  contravene or conflict with any provision of
any  law,  statute,  rule  or  regulation,  the  contravention  of  which  could
reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  (b)  contravene or
conflict  with,  result in any breach of, or  constitute  a default  under,  any
agreement  or  instrument  binding on the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries
(including,  without limitation, any writ, judgment, injunction or other similar
court order), the contravention of which could reasonably be expected

                                       38
<PAGE>

to have a Material  Adverse Effect,  (c) result in the creation or imposition of
or the obligation to create or impose any Lien (except for Permitted Liens) upon
any of the property or assets of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries or (d)
contravene or conflict with any  provision of the articles of  incorporation  or
by-laws of the Borrower.

         SECTION 7.4 Governmental Consents.  Except as have been obtained and as
set forth on Schedule  7.4, no material  order,  consent,  approval,  hearing or
filing,  license,  authorization  or  validation  of, or  filing,  recording  or
registration with or exemption by, any governmental or public body or authority,
or any  subdivision  thereof,  is (or,  at the time of  execution  and  delivery
thereof,   was)  required  in  connection  with  the  execution,   delivery  and
performance by the Borrower of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

         SECTION 7.5 Validity. The Borrower has duly executed and delivered this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents,  and each of such documents  constitutes
or upon  execution and delivery  will  constitute  the legal,  valid and binding
obligation of the Borrower  enforceable in accordance  with its terms subject to
(a) applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium, or similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (b) general equitable principles,
including  without  limitation,   concepts  of  good  faith  and  fair  dealing,
materiality,  fraudulent  transfer  and  reasonableness  (regardless  of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

         SECTION 7.6 Financial  Statements.  The Borrower's audited consolidated
financial  statements  for the  Fiscal  Year  ended  December  31,  1996 and its
unaudited  consolidated financial statements for the Fiscal Quarters ended March
31, 1997,  and June 30, 1997,  copies of which have been furnished to each Bank,
have been prepared in conformity  with GAAP applied on a basis  consistent  with
that  of the  preceding  Fiscal  Year,  and  accurately  present  the  financial
condition of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries at such dates and the results of
operations for the periods then ended.

         SECTION 7.7 Material  Adverse  Change.  No Material  Adverse Change has
occurred since December 31, 1996.

         SECTION 7.8  Litigation   and  Contingent   Obligations.   No  Material
Litigation is pending or, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, threatened except
as set forth  (including  estimates of the Dollar amounts  involved) in Schedule
7.8. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have no material  Contingent  Obligations
other than as provided for or disclosed on Schedule 7.8.

         SECTION  7.9 Liens.  None of the assets of the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries is subject to any Lien, except for Permitted Liens.

         SECTION 7.10 Pension and Welfare Plans.

                                       39
<PAGE>

                  (a)  Except  as  set  forth  on  Schedule  7.10,   during  the
         twelve-consecutive-month  period  prior to the Closing  Date,  no steps
         have been taken by the  Borrower or any other  Controlled  Group member
         (i) to terminate or completely  or partially  withdraw from any Pension
         Plan or (ii)  terminate any Welfare Plan,  which  termination  could be
         reasonably  expected to give rise to a liability of the Borrower or any
         other  Controlled  Group  member  in  excess  of  $20,000,000  for  any
         Controlled  Group  member  (other  than the  Borrower)  or in excess of
         $65,000,000 for the Borrower,  and no contribution failure has occurred
         with  respect to any  Pension  Plan  sufficient  to give rise to a Lien
         exceeding  $20,000,000 on behalf of any Controlled  Group member (other
         than the  Borrower)  or  $65,000,000  on behalf of the  Borrower  under
         section  302(f)  of ERISA  and no  contribution  failure  in  excess of
         $20,000,000  has  occurred  on behalf of any  Controlled  Group  member
         (other than the Borrower) or in excess of  $65,000,000 on behalf of the
         Borrower;

                  (b) except as set forth on Schedule  7.10,  to the best of the
         Borrower's knowledge,  no condition exists, or event or transaction has
         occurred,  with  respect to any Pension  Plan which might result in the
         incurrence by the Borrower or any other member of the Controlled  Group
         of any  liability,  fine,  Tax or  penalty  which  could be  reasonably
         expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (c) except as set forth on Schedule 7.10, neither the Borrower
         nor  any  other  member  of the  Controlled  Group  has any  vested  or
         contingent liability with respect to any post-retirement  benefit under
         a  Welfare  Plan,  other  than  liability  for  continuation   coverage
         described in Part 6 of Title I of ERISA;

                  (d) except as set forth on Schedule 7.10, with respect to each
         Pension Plan  maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any other
         Controlled  Group member which is intended to qualify under section 401
         of the Code, a favorable  determination  letter has been  received from
         the  Internal  Revenue  Service  stating  that  such  Pension  Plan  so
         qualifies  and nothing has occurred  since the date of issuance of such
         determination  letter  which would cause any such Pension Plan to cease
         to qualify under section 401 of the Code;

                  (e) no Pension Plan maintained   by  the Borrower or any other
         member of the Controlled Group is a "multiemployer  plan" as defined in
         section 4001 of ERISA; and

                  (f) except as  disclosed  in Schedule  7.10,  no Pension  Plan
         maintained by or  contributed to by the Borrower or any other member of
         the Controlled Group and subject to section 302 of ERISA or section 412
         of the Code has incurred an accumulated  funding  deficiency as defined
         in section 302(a)(2) of ERISA and section 412(a) of the Code in excess

                                       40

<PAGE>

         of $20,000,000 on behalf of any Controlled Group member (other than the
         Borrower)  or in excess  of  $65,000,000  on  behalf  of the  Borrower,
         whether or not waived.

         SECTION 7.11  Investment  Company Act.  Neither the Borrower nor any of
its  Subsidiaries  is an "investment  company" or a company  "controlled"  by an
"investment  company," within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.

         SECTION 7.12 Public Utility Holding  Company Act.  Neither the Borrower
nor any of its Subsidiaries is a "holding company," or a "subsidiary company" of
a  "holding  company,"  or  an  "affiliate"  of  a  "holding  company"  or  of a
"subsidiary  company" of a "holding  company,"  within the meaning of the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

         SECTION 7.13      Taxes.

                  (a) Except as set forth on Schedule  7.13,  the  Borrower  and
         each of its  Significant  Subsidiaries  have  filed  all  material  Tax
         Returns and Reports required by law to have been filed by them and have
         paid or provided  adequate  reserves for all Taxes  thereby shown to be
         owing,  except any such Taxes which are being  diligently  contested in
         good faith by appropriate  proceedings and for which adequate  reserves
         have been established and are being maintained in accordance with GAAP.
         Except as set forth on Schedule 7.13,  there is no ongoing audit or, to
         the Borrower's knowledge,  other governmental  investigation of the tax
         liability of the Borrower or any of its  Significant  Subsidiaries  and
         there  is no  unresolved  claim by a taxing  authority  concerning  the
         Borrower's or any of the Significant  Subsidiaries' tax liability,  for
         any period for which returns have been filed or were due. The liability
         stated for Taxes as of December  31, 1995 in the  financial  statements
         described in Section 7.6 is sufficient in all material respects for all
         Taxes as of such date.

                  (b) All life  insurance  reserves shown as such on federal tax
         returns  (other  than  individual  annuity  contracts)  of  each of the
         Insurance Subsidiaries qualify as life insurance reserves under section
         816(b) of the Code or under former section 801(b) of the Code.

                  (c) All current  Reinsurance  Agreements  among the  Insurance
         Subsidiaries and their respective  Affiliates have, at all times,  been
         conducted on an arm's-length basis.

                  (d) Each of the  Insurance  Subsidiaries  is a life  insurance
         company as defined in section 816 of the Code.

         SECTION  7.14  Accuracy  of   Information.   All  factual   information
heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any
of its  Subsidiaries  in  writing  to the  Administrative  Agent or any Bank for
purposes of or in
                                       41
<PAGE>

connection  with this Agreement or any transaction  contemplated  hereby is, and
all other such factual  information  hereafter  furnished by or on behalf of the
Borrower or its  Subsidiaries to the  Administrative  Agent or any Bank will be,
true  and  accurate  in every  material  respect  on the  date as of which  such
information is dated or certified and, except as such information  speaks solely
as of a particular  date, such  information is not, or shall not be, as the case
may be, incomplete by omitting to state any material fact necessary to make such
information not misleading.

         SECTION 7.15      Environmental Warranties.

                  (a)  All   facilities  and  property   (including   underlying
         groundwater) owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
         have been,  and continue to be, owned or leased by the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries in material compliance with all Environmental Laws, except
         where failure to so comply could not be  reasonably  expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect;

                  (b) there  have been no past,  and  there  are no  pending  or
         threatened,  Environmental  Claims,  except  where  such  Environmental
         Claims  could not  reasonably  be expected  to have a Material  Adverse
         Effect;

                  (c) there have been no releases of Hazardous  Materials at, on
         or under any property now or previously owned or leased by the Borrower
         or any of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, have
         had,  or could  reasonably  be  expected  to have,  a Material  Adverse
         Effect;

                  (d) the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have been issued
         and  are  in  material  compliance  with  all  permits,   certificates,
         approvals,  licenses and other authorizations relating to environmental
         matters and  necessary or desirable for their  businesses  except where
         failure to comply could not be  reasonably  expected to have a Material
         Adverse Effect;

                  (e) no  property  now or  previously  owned or  leased  by the
         Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  is listed or, to the  Borrower's
         knowledge,  proposed for listing (with respect to owned  property only)
         on the National  Priorities List pursuant to CERCLA,  on the CERCLIS or
         on any similar state list of sites requiring investigation or clean-up;

                  (f)  there  are  no  underground   storage  tanks,  active  or
         abandoned,  including petroleum storage tanks, on or under any property
         now  or  previously  owned  or  leased  by the  Borrower  or any of its
         Subsidiaries that,  individually or in the aggregate,  could reasonably
         be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                                       42

<PAGE>

                  (g)  neither  the  Borrower  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has
         directly transported or directly arranged for the transportation of any
         Hazardous  Material to any location  which is listed or, to  Borrower's
         knowledge,  proposed  for  listing  on  the  National  Priorities  List
         pursuant  to CERCLA,  on the  CERCLIS or on any  similar  state list or
         which  is the  subject  of  federal,  Governmental  Authority  or local
         enforcement actions or other  investigations which may lead to material
         claims against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for any remedial
         work, damage to natural resources or personal injury,  including claims
         under CERCLA;

                  (h) there are no polychlorinated biphenyls or friable asbestos
         present  at any  property  now or  previously  owned or  leased  by the
         Borrower  or any  of  its  Subsidiaries  that,  individually  or in the
         aggregate,  could be  reasonably  expected  to have a Material  Adverse
         Effect; and

                  (i) no  conditions  exist at, on or under any  property now or
         previously  owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
         which, with the passage of time, or the giving of notice or both, would
         give rise to liability under any  Environmental  Law, except where such
         liability could not be reasonably  expected to have a Material  Adverse
         Effect.

         SECTION 7.16 Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used to redeem
the ALHC Preferred  Stock,  to repurchase  the Borrower's  capital stock and its
Subsidiaries'  capital stock, to acquire  Colonial Penn Life Insurance  Company,
and for general corporate purposes.

         SECTION  7.17  Insurance.  Schedule  7.17 sets forth a true and correct
summary of all insurance carried by the Borrower. The properties and business of
the  Borrower  and  its   Subsidiaries   are  insured  against   casualties  and
contingencies  (other  than normal life  insurance  risk) for its benefit  under
policies issued by insurers of recognized  responsibility  in such amounts as is
customary  in the case of  similar  businesses.  No  notice  of any  pending  or
threatened  cancellation or material  premium  increase has been received by the
Borrower  with  respect to any of such  insurance  policies.  The Borrower is in
substantial compliance with all conditions contained in such insurance policies.

         SECTION 7.18 Securities Laws.  Neither the Borrower nor, to the best of
Borrower's knowledge, any of its Affiliates,  nor anyone acting on behalf of any
such Person, has directly or indirectly offered any interest in the Loans or any
other  Liabilities  for sale to,  or  solicited  any offer to  acquire  any such
interest  from,  or has sold any such interest to, any Person that would subject
the  making of the  Loans or any other  Liabilities  to  registration  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         SECTION 7.19 Governmental Authorizations.  The Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries have all licenses, franchises,

                                       43
<PAGE>

permits  and other  governmental  authorizations  necessary  for all  businesses
presently  carried on by them  (including  ownership and leasing of the real and
personal property owned and leased by them), except where failure to obtain such
licenses,  franchises,  permits and other governmental  authorizations could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 7.20 Business Locations;  Trade-Names. Schedule 7.20 lists each
of the  locations  where the Borrower and each of its  Significant  Subsidiaries
maintains  an office,  a place of  business or any  records  together  with each
partnership,  corporate, fictitious or trade name under or by which the Borrower
or any of its Significant Subsidiaries conducts its business.

         SECTION 7.21 Solvency.  On a consolidated  basis,  the Borrower is and,
after consummation of this Agreement and after giving effect to all Indebtedness
incurred by the Borrower in connection herewith, will be, Solvent.

         SECTION  7.22  Insurance  Licenses.  Schedule  7.22  lists  all  of the
jurisdictions  in  which  each  of  the  Insurance  Subsidiaries  hold  licenses
(including,  without  limitation,  licenses or  certificates  of authority  from
applicable  insurance  departments),   permits  or  authorizations  to  transact
insurance and reinsurance business (collectively, the "Licenses"). Except as set
forth on Schedule 7.22, to the best of Borrower's knowledge after due inquiry of
the  Responsible  Officers of the  respective  Insurance  Subsidiaries,  no such
License is the subject of a  proceeding  for  suspension  or  revocation  or any
similar  proceedings,  there is no  sustainable  basis for such a suspension  or
revocation, and no such suspension or revocation is threatened by any Department
which,  in either case could  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.  Schedule  7.22  indicates  that  line or lines of  insurance  which the
Insurance  Subsidiaries  are  permitted  to be engaged  in with  respect to each
License therein listed. The Insurance Subsidiaries do not transact any insurance
business,  directly or indirectly, in any state or jurisdiction other than those
enumerated on Schedule 7.22, where such business  requires any license,  permit,
governmental approval, consent or other authorization.

         SECTION  7.23  Compliance  with  Laws.  None  of  the  Borrower  or its
Subsidiaries is in violation of any law,  ordinance,  rule,  regulation,  order,
policy,  guideline or other  requirement of any Governmental  Authority,  if the
effect of such violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect and, to the best of the Borrower's knowledge,  no such violation has been
alleged and each of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries (a) has filed in a
timely manner all reports, documents and other materials required to be filed by
it with any Governmental  Authority, if such failure to so file could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and the information  contained in
each of such filings is true,  correct and complete in all material respects and
(b) has retained all records and

                                       44
<PAGE>

documents  required to be retained by it pursuant to any law,  ordinance,  rule,
regulation,  order,  policy,  guideline or other requirement of any Governmental
Authority,  if the  failure  to so  retain  such  records  and  documents  could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


         SECTION 7.24 No Default. None of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries is in
default  under  any  agreement  or  instrument  to which  the  Borrower  or such
Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their  respective  properties or assets
is bound or  affected,  which  default  might  reasonably  be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION  7.25  Margin   Regulations.   Neither  the  Borrower  nor  any
Subsidiary  of the Borrower is engaged  principally,  or as one of its important
activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying  margin stock  (within the meaning of  Regulation G or  Regulation  U).
"Margin stock" within the meaning of Regulation U does not constitute  more than
25%  of  the  value  of  the  consolidated   assets  of  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries.   None  of  the   transactions   contemplated  by  this  Agreement
(including,  without  limitation,  the direct or indirect use of the proceeds of
the Loans) will violate or result in a violation of the  Securities Act of 1933,
as amended,  or the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or regulations
issued pursuant thereto, or Regulation G, T, U or X.

         SECTION 7.26 Conseco  Corporate  Structure.  On the Effective Date, the
corporate  structure  of the Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  is as set forth in
Exhibit J.

         SECTION 7.27 Significant Subsidiaries.  Set forth on Schedule 7.27 is a
complete and accurate list of each Significant  Subsidiary of the Borrower as of
the Effective Date.


SECTION 8.        AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         The  Borrower  agrees  that,  on and after the  Closing  Date until the
termination or expiration of the  Commitments  and for so long thereafter as any
of the Liabilities remain unpaid or outstanding (except Liabilities which by the
terms hereof  survive the payment in full of the Loans and  termination  of this
Agreement), the Borrower will:

         SECTION  8.1  Reports,  Certificates  and  Other  Information.   Unless
otherwise   provided   herein,   furnish  or  cause  to  be   furnished  to  the
Administrative Agent and each Bank:

                  8.1.1  Audit Report.  As soon as available, but  in  any event
         within one hundred  and twenty  (120) days after the end of each Fiscal
         Year of the Borrower:

                           (a) copies of the audited consolidated balance  sheet
         of the Borrower and an unaudited  consolidating  balance 

                                       45
<PAGE>

         sheet of the Borrower as at the end of such Fiscal Year and the related
         statements  of earnings,  stockholders'  equity and cash flows for such
         Fiscal Year,  in each case  setting  forth the figures as of the end of
         the year and, in the case of the audited consolidated  statements,  for
         the previous year, prepared in reasonable detail and in accordance with
         GAAP applied  consistently  throughout  the periods  reflected  therein
         (except as set forth  therein)  certified,  in the case of the  audited
         financial  statements,  without  Qualification by Coopers & Lybrand (or
         such other  independent  certified  public  accountants  of  recognized
         standing acceptable to the Required Banks), and

                           (b) a letter or  letters  addressed  to the  Borrower
         from such  accountants  stating in substance that such accountants have
         been  informed  that such  audited  financial  statements  and  audited
         reports are being delivered to the Administrative  Agent and the Banks,
         and acknowledging that such financial statements and audit reports will
         be part of the information that the Administrative  Agent and the Banks
         will use to make credit decisions with regard to this Agreement;

                  8.1.2  Quarterly  Reports.  As soon as  available,  but in any
         event  within  sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three
         Fiscal  Quarters  of each Fiscal  Year of the  Borrower,  copies of the
         condensed unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the
         Borrower  at the end of such Fiscal  Quarter and the related  condensed
         unaudited  statements of earnings,  stockholders' equity and cash flows
         for such Fiscal Quarter and the portion of the Fiscal Year through such
         Fiscal  Quarter,  in the case of the  consolidated  statements  setting
         forth  in  comparative  form the  figures  as of the end of and for the
         corresponding   periods  of  the  previous  Fiscal  Year,  prepared  in
         reasonable  detail and in  accordance  with GAAP  applied  consistently
         throughout the periods  reflected therein (except as set forth therein)
         and certified by the chief financial  officer or a vice-president  with
         responsibility for or knowledge of financial matters of the Borrower on
         behalf of the Borrower as presenting fairly the financial condition and
         results of operations of the Borrower  (subject to normal  year-end and
         audit adjustments);

                  8.1.3  Tax   Returns  and  Reports.   If   requested  by   the
         Administrative  Agent or the  Required  Banks,  copies of all  federal,
         state,  local and foreign  Tax Returns and Reports  filed by any of the
         Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries;

                  8.1.4  SAP Financial Statements.

                           (a) As  soon as  possible,  but in any  event  within
         seventy-five (75) days after the end of each Fiscal Year of each of the
         Insurance  Subsidiaries,  a  copy  of  the  Annual  Statement  of  such
         Insurance  Subsidiary for such Fiscal Year prepared in accordance  with
         SAP and accompanied by the

                                       46
<PAGE>

         certification of the chief financial  officer or a vice-president  with
         responsibility  for or knowledge of financial matters of such Insurance
         Subsidiary that such financial statement presents fairly, in accordance
         with SAP, the financial  position of such Insurance  Subsidiary for the
         period then ended;

                           (b) As  soon as  possible,  but in any  event  within
         sixty  (60)  days  after  the  end of each of the  first  three  Fiscal
         Quarters of each Fiscal Year of each of the Insurance  Subsidiaries,  a
         copy of the quarterly  statement of such Insurance  Subsidiary for such
         Fiscal Quarter,  all prepared in accordance with SAP and accompanied by
         the  certification  of the chief financial  officer or a vice-president
         with  responsibility  for or  knowledge  of  financial  matters of such
         Insurance  Subsidiary that all such financial statements present fairly
         in  accordance  with  SAP the  financial  position  of  such  Insurance
         Subsidiary for the periods then ended;

                           (c) Within fifteen (15) days after being delivered to
         any  of  the   Insurance   Subsidiaries   constituting   a  Significant
         Subsidiary,  any draft or final Triennial  Examination Report issued by
         the applicable Department or the NAIC;

                           (d) Within  ninety  (90) days after the close of each
         Fiscal  Year  of  each  of the  Insurance  Subsidiaries,  a copy of the
         "Statement  of  Actuarial  Opinion"  and  "Management   Discussion  and
         Analysis" for each of the Insurance  Subsidiaries  which is provided to
         the  applicable  Department  (or  equivalent  information  should  such
         Department  no longer  require such a statement)  as to the adequacy of
         loss reserves of such  Insurance  Subsidiary.  Such opinion shall be in
         the format prescribed by the Applicable  Insurance Code of the state of
         domicile of such Insurance Subsidiary;

                  8.1.5  Compliance  Certificate.   Contemporaneously  with  the
         furnishing of a copy of each set of the statements and reports provided
         for in Sections  8.1.1 through  8.1.2,  a duly  completed  certificate,
         substantially in the form of Exhibit K (the "Compliance  Certificate"),
         signed  by  the  chief  financial  officer  or  a  vice-president  with
         responsibility  for or knowledge of financial  matters of the Borrower,
         containing,   among  other  things,   a  computation  of,  and  showing
         compliance   with,  each  of  the  applicable   financial   ratios  and
         restrictions  contained in Section 10 and to the effect that as of such
         date no Default has occurred and is continuing;

                  8.1.6  [Intentionally left blank.]

                  8.1.7  Auditors' Materials.  Promptly  upon receipt thereof by
         the Borrower,  copies of all material  financial and management reports
         regarding the Borrower or any of the Significant Subsidiaries submitted
         to the Borrower or any of

                                       47
<PAGE>

         the  Significant  Subsidiaries  by  independent  public  accountants in
         connection  with  each  annual or  interim  audit  report  made by such
         accountants  of the  books of the  Borrower  or any of its  Significant
         Subsidiaries;

                  8.1.8  Reports to SEC and to  Stockholders.  Promptly upon the
         filing or making thereof,  copies of each filing and report made by the
         Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with or to any securities  exchange
         or the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  and of each  communication
         from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to stockholders generally;

                  8.1.9 Notice of Default and Litigation. Promptly upon learning
         of the  occurrence of any of the  following,  written  notice  thereof,
         describing  the same and the steps  being  taken by the  Borrower  with
         respect thereto:

                           (a) the occurrence of a Default;

                           (b) the  institution  of  any  Material Litigation or
         the occurrence of any Material Litigation Development;

                           (c)  the  commencement  of any  dispute  which  might
         reasonably be expected to lead to the material modification,  transfer,
         revocation, suspension or termination of any Loan Document; or

                           (d) any Material Adverse Change;

                  8.1.10 Insurance Reports.  Written  notification ten (10) days
         prior to any cancellation or material change of any insurance policy by
         the Borrower or any Significant  Subsidiary,  and written  notification
         within  five (5) days after  receipt of any notice  (whether  formal or
         informal)  of  cancellation  or  any  material  change  by  any  of its
         insurers;

                  8.1.11  ERISA   Liability.   Promptly  upon  learning  of  the
         occurrence of the following, written notice thereof describing the same
         and the steps being taken by Borrower with respect thereto:

                           (a) the failure of any member of the Controlled Group
         to make a required  contribution to any Pension Plan if such failure is
         sufficient  to  give  rise  to  a  Lien  under  section   302(f)(1)  or
         accumulated  funding  deficiency under section 302 of ERISA of at least
         $20,000,000,  but with respect to the Borrower  only if such failure or
         deficiency totals $65,000,000,

                           (b) the institution of any steps by any member of the
         Controlled  Group to withdraw from, or the  institution of any steps by
         the Borrower to terminate, any Pension Plan,

                           (c)  the  taking  of any  action  with  respect  to a
         Pension Plan which could result in the requirement that the

                                       48
<PAGE>

         Borrower or any member of the Controlled  Group furnish a bond or other
         security in excess of $20,000,000 by any Controlled Group member (other
         than the Borrower) or in excess of  $65,000,000  by the Borrower to the
         Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor thereto) or such
         Pension Plan, or

                           (d) the  occurrence  of any event with respect to any
         Pension Plan which could result in the  incurrence by any member of the
         Controlled Group (other than the Borrower) of any liability,  fine, Tax
         or penalty in excess of $20,000,000 or $65,000,000  with respect to the
         Borrower or any event or requirement that would require the Borrower or
         any  member of the  Controlled  Group to pay more than  $30,000,000  in
         benefits in any one year with  respect to any  post-retirement  Welfare
         Plan  other than  benefits  which are  required  to be  provided  under
         section 601 of ERISA;

                  8.1.12 Pension Plan Withdrawals.  With respect to each Pension
         Plan, if any, which is a  "multi-employer  plan," as defined in section
         4001 of ERISA as to which any member of the Controlled  Group may incur
         any liability,

                  (a) no less  frequently  than  annually,  a  written  estimate
         (which shall be based on  information  received from each such plan, it
         being expressly  understood that the Borrower shall take all reasonable
         steps to obtain such  information)  of the  withdrawal  liability  that
         would be incurred by the Controlled Group in the event that all members
         of the Controlled Group were to completely withdraw from such plan, and

                  (b)  written  notice  thereof,  as  soon as it has  reason  to
         believe (on the basis of the most recent  information  available to it)
         that the sum of (i) the withdrawal  liability that would be incurred by
         the Controlled  Group if all members of the Controlled Group completely
         withdrew  from all  multi-employer  plans as to which any member of the
         Controlled  Group  has  an  obligation  to  contribute,  and  (ii)  the
         aggregate  amount  of the  outstanding  withdrawal  liability  (without
         unaccrued  interest) incurred by the Controlled Group to multi-employer
         plans, would exceed $20,000,000;

                  8.1.13  Environmental  Liabilities.   Promptly  upon  learning
         thereof,  written notice  (together  with copies,  if available) of all
         material written claims,  complaints,  notices or inquiries relating to
         the Borrower's or any Subsidiary's (a) properties or facilities, or (b)
         compliance with Environmental  Laws, together with a description of the
         steps  being  taken by the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary  with  respect
         thereto;

                  8.1.14  Insurance  Holding  Company  Filings.  Copies  of  all
         material Insurance Holding Company System Act filings with Governmental
         Authorities by the Borrower or any of its

                                       49
<PAGE>

         Subsidiaries  not later than five (5) Business  Days after such filings
         are made, including, without limitation, filings which seek approval of
         Governmental  Authorities  with  respect to  transactions  between  the
         Borrower and its Affiliates;

                  8.1.15  Insurance  Licenses.  Within five (5) Business Days of
         notice,  notice of actual suspension,  termination or revocation of any
         License or restriction thereon (material to the Insurance  Subsidiaries
         taken  as a  whole)  of  any  of  the  Insurance  Subsidiaries  by  any
         Governmental  Authority  or of receipt of notice from any  Governmental
         Authority  notifying  any of the  Insurance  Subsidiaries  of a hearing
         (which  is not  withdrawn  within  ten (10)  days)  relating  to such a
         suspension,  termination,  revocation  or  restriction,  including  any
         request by a Governmental  Authority which commits any of the Insurance
         Subsidiaries  to take,  or  refrain  from  taking,  any action or which
         otherwise  materially and adversely affects the authority of any of the
         Insurance Subsidiaries to conduct its business;

                  8.1.16 Insurance  Proceedings.  Within three (3) Business Days
         of such notice,  notice of any pending or threatened  investigation  or
         regulatory  proceeding  (other than routine periodic  investigations or
         reviews)  by  any  Governmental   Authority  concerning  the  business,
         practices or operations of any of the Insurance Subsidiaries, including
         any  agent or  managing  general  agent  thereof,  which  could  have a
         Material Adverse Effect;

                  8.1.17 Changes in Applicable  Insurance Code.  Promptly,  upon
         knowledge of the  Borrower,  to the  Administrative  Agent (which shall
         promptly  deliver such  reports to the Banks),  notice of any actual or
         proposed  changes in any  Applicable  Insurance Code which could have a
         Material Adverse Effect;

                  8.1.18  Reinsurance Agreements.

                  (a) Promptly, notice of any material change or modification to
         any  Reinsurance  Agreements or Surplus Relief  Reinsurance  Agreements
         whether  entered  into  before  or after  the  Closing  Date  including
         Reinsurance  Agreements,  if any,  which  are in a  runoff  mode on the
         Closing Date, which change or modification could reasonably be expected
         to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (b) promptly,  notice of any written notice received by any of
         the  Insurance   Subsidiaries  of  any  material  denial  of  coverage,
         litigation or  arbitration  arising out of any material  Surplus Relief
         Reinsurance  Agreement or any material  Reinsurance  Agreement to which
         any of the Insurance Subsidiaries is a party; and

                                       50
<PAGE>

                  (c)  promptly,  such  other  financial,  actuarial  and  other
         information with respect to Surplus Relief  Reinsurance  Agreements and
         Reinsurance  Agreements  as the  Administrative  Agent  may  reasonably
         request;

                  8.1.19  Investments.  To the  extent  not  provided  with  the
         financial  statements provided in Section 8.1.4, within sixty (60) days
         of the end of each of the first  three  Fiscal  Quarters  in any Fiscal
         Year and within one hundred twenty (120) days of the end of each Fiscal
         Year, a list of the  Investments  of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries
         including  a  valuation   thereof  prepared  from  sources   reasonably
         acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

                  8.1.20  Revenue  Agent  Notices.  Promptly,  and in any  event
         within  ten (10)  days of  receipt,  any  revenue  agent's  reports  or
         statutory  notices of any deficiency  related to the Borrower or any of
         its  Subsidiaries  which deficiency is material to the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                  8.1.21 Other Tax Information.  Upon request,  promptly furnish
         to the Administrative  Agent copies of all  correspondence  (including,
         without limitation,  notices, requests,  explanations,  determinations,
         schedules, charts and lists) delivered to any Governmental Authority in
         connection  with any Tax claim or Taxes and any  protest,  petition  or
         refund suit filed on behalf of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
         in connection with any Tax claim or Taxes;

                  8.1.22 Rating Agency Notice. Promptly, but in any event within
         three (3) Business Days of its knowledge thereof, written notice of any
         change in the rating of the  Borrower's  Senior  Notes by Duff & Phelps
         and/or Standard & Poor's; and

                  8.1.23  Other  Information.  From  time to  time,  such  other
         information  concerning the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries as the
         Administrative Agent or a Bank may reasonably request.

         SECTION  8.2  Corporate  Existence;  Foreign  Qualification.  Except as
permitted  by  Sections  9.3 and 9.4,  do and  cause to be done at all times all
things  necessary to (a) maintain  and preserve the  corporate  existence of the
Borrower and each of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries and Significant Subsidiaries,
(b) be, and ensure that the  Borrower  and each of its  Subsidiaries  are,  duly
qualified  to do  business  and in good  standing  as  foreign  corporations  or
partnerships,  as  applicable,  in each  jurisdiction  where the nature of their
business makes such qualification necessary and failure to so qualify could have
a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) comply, and cause each of its Wholly-Owned
Subsidiaries  and  Significant   Subsidiaries  to  comply,   with  all  

                                       51
<PAGE>


material  Contractual  Obligations  and  requirements  of law binding  upon such
entity.

         SECTION 8.3       Books, Records and Inspections.

                  (a) Maintain, and cause each of its Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries
         and Significant  Subsidiaries to maintain,  books and records which are
         complete and correct in all material respects;

                  (b) permit,  and cause each of its  Wholly-owned  Subsidiaries
         and Significant  Subsidiaries to permit,  access at reasonable times by
         the Administrative Agent and each Bank to its books and records;

                  (c) permit,  and cause each of its  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries
         and Significant  Subsidiaries to permit, the  Administrative  Agent and
         each Bank to inspect at reasonable times its properties and operations;
         and

                  (d) permit,  and cause each of its  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries
         and Significant  Subsidiaries to permit, the  Administrative  Agent and
         each Bank to discuss its business,  operations and financial  condition
         with its officers.

         SECTION 8.4 Insurance.  Maintain with responsible  insurance companies,
insurance with respect to its properties  and business  against such  casualties
and  contingencies  and of such types and in such amounts as is customary in the
case of similar businesses.

         SECTION 8.5       Taxes and Liabilities.

                  (a) Pay, and cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to pay, when due
         all of their respective Taxes and other material liabilities, except as
         contested in good faith and by appropriate  proceedings with respect to
         which  reserves have been  established,  and are being  maintained,  in
         accordance with GAAP; and

                  (b) except as permitted by Sections 9.3 and 9.4, cause each of
         the  Insurance  Subsidiaries  to continue to qualify as life  insurance
         companies under Section 816 of the Code.

         SECTION 8.6 Pension Plans and Welfare Plans.  Maintain,  and cause each
of its Subsidiaries to maintain, each Pension Plan and Welfare Plan sponsored by
it or its  Subsidiaries as to which it may have any liability,  in compliance in
all material respects with all applicable requirements of law.

         SECTION  8.7  Compliance  with  Laws.  Comply,  and  cause  each of its
Subsidiaries  to  comply,  with all  federal,  state and local  laws,  rules and
regulations related to its businesses including, without limitation, the various
Applicable Insurance Codes,

                                       52
<PAGE>

except where such failure to comply could not  reasonably  be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 8.8  Maintenance  of Permits.  Maintain,  and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to maintain, all permits,  licenses and consents as may be required
for the conduct of its business by any state, federal or local government agency
or instrumentality  including,  without limitation,  the Licenses,  except where
such  failure to maintain  could not  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 8.9 Environmental  Compliance.  Maintain, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to maintain,  (a) all necessary permits,  approvals,  certificates,
licenses and other  authorizations  relating to environmental  matters in effect
and use and operate all of its facilities and properties in material  compliance
with all Environmental Laws, and (b) appropriate  procedures for the handling of
all Hazardous Materials in material compliance with all applicable Environmental
Laws, and comply with such procedures at all times, except where such failure to
maintain could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 9.        NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         The  Borrower  agrees  that,  on and after the  Closing  Date until the
termination or expiration of the  Commitments  and for so long thereafter as any
of the Liabilities remain unpaid or outstanding (except Liabilities which by the
terms  hereof  survive the payment in full of the Loans and the  termination  of
this Agreement), the Borrower will:

         SECTION 9.1 Limitation on  Indebtedness.  (I) Subject to the provisions
set forth in subsection  (II) below in this Section 9.1, not, and not permit any
of its  Subsidiaries  to,  incur or at any time be liable  with  respect to, any
Indebtedness which is or constitutes:

                  (a) a Hedge Obligation not entered into in the ordinary course
         of business;

                  (b) Indebtedness with respect to Contingent Obligations to the
         extent the principal  amount of Indebtedness of this type exceeds eight
         percent  (8%) of Total  Shareholders'  Equity  of the  Borrower  in the
         aggregate;

                  (c)  (i) recourse Indebtedness of Significant Subsidiaries  or
         (ii)  nonrecourse  Indebtedness of Significant  Subsidiaries  resulting
         from the sale or  securitization  of  assets  other  than  non-admitted
         assets, policy loans, B-Share Financings, CBOs and CMOs; or

                                       53
<PAGE>

                  (d) any secured  Indebtedness  (excluding secured Indebtedness
         not prohibited by clause (c)(ii) immediately above), including, without
         limitation,  Capitalized  Lease Liabilities and Purchase Money Debt, to
         the extent Indebtedness of this type exceeds ten percent (10%) of Total
         Shareholders'  Equity  of  the  Borrower  in  the  aggregate  or  is in
         violation of Section 9.2(l).

(II) In the event that the long-term  unsecured  debt ratings of the Borrower by
each of Standard & Poor's and Duff & Phelps  shall fall below  investment  grade
(as of the Effective Date,  "BBB-" for each such rating  agency),  the following
covenant shall replace the  restrictions on the incurrence of  Indebtedness  set
forth above in  subsection  (I) of this Section 9.1 and shall become  applicable
automatically upon such event, without further act:

Not, and not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to, incur or at any time be liable
with respect to any Indebtedness except:

                  (a) Indebtedness outstanding  under  this Agreement in respect
         of the Loans and other Liabilities;

                  (b) Indebtedness  outstanding  on the Effective Date described
         on Schedule 9.1; provided,  that Indebtedness  permitted by this clause
         (b) does not include any  extension,  renewal or  refunding of any such
         outstanding Indebtedness unless such extension, renewal or refunding of
         such Indebtedness does not (A) increase the principal amount of or rate
         of interest on such Indebtedness,  (B) shorten the Average Life of such
         Indebtedness, or (C) make the terms of such Indebtedness less favorable
         to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower;

                  (c) Indebtedness secured by a Permitted Lien;

                  (d) Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of
         business;

                  (e) Other  Indebtedness  the proceeds of which are used solely
         to pay the Liabilities;  provided that a permanent ratable reduction is
         made  with  respect  to the  Commitments  in an  amount  equal  to such
         proceeds;

                  (f) Indebtedness in connection with Permitted Transactions;

                  (g) Indebtedness, or refinancings thereof, under reimbursement
         obligations in respect of  letters  of  credit incurred in the ordinary
         course of business;

                  (h) Indebtedness   of  the   Borrower  or  its    Subsidiaries
         consisting of deferred payment obligations resulting from

                                       54
<PAGE>

         the adjudication or settlement  of  any  claim  or  Litigation  of  the
         Borrower or its Subsidiaries;

                  (i) Indebtedness  resulting   from  reserves  for  outstanding
         checks;

                  (j) Indebtedness  of the  Significant  Subsidiaries  resulting
         from  the  sale  or  securitization  of  receivables  so  long  as such
         receivables   constitute   non-admitted   assets  of  such  Significant
         Subsidiaries;  provided,  that  Indebtedness  related  to any  sale  or
         securitization will be nonrecourse to the Significant Subsidiaries;

                  (k) Indebtedness with respect to Contingent  Obligations in an
         aggregate  principal  amount not  exceeding  five percent (5%) of Total
         Shareholders' Equity of the Borrower in the aggregate;

                  (l) Indebtedness of Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of the  Borrower
         owing  to  the  Borrower  or  another  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  of the
         Borrower,  and  Indebtedness  of  the  Borrower  owing  to  any  of its
         Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries;

                  (m) Indebtedness in respect of  deferred Taxes reserved on the
         financial statements of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP;

                  (n)  Indebtedness  arising from deferral by employees of their
         right to receive a portion  of their  salary or wages  pursuant  to any
         Pension Plan;

                  (o)  Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such person
         is first acquired and becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or is merged
         or  consolidated  with the  Borrower  or any  other  Subsidiary  of the
         Borrower so long as immediately after giving effect to such acquisition
         or merger no Default then exists; and

                  (p) Indebtedness,  including, without limitation,  Capitalized
         Lease   Liabilities  and  Purchase  Money  Debt,  in  addition  to  the
         Indebtedness  permitted  by clauses  (a)  through  (o),  in a principal
         amount not exceeding three percent (3%) of Total  Shareholders'  Equity
         of the Borrower in the aggregate;

provided,  however,  that legally binding  actions taken or commitments  made in
compliance  with  subsection  (I) while  subsection  (I) of this Section 9.1 was
still in effect shall be exempted from the  application of this  subsection (II)
to the extent such obligations cause the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to not be
in compliance with this subsection  (II).  Notwithstanding  the foregoing to the
contrary, any renewals or extensions of any such actions or commitments shall be
subject to the application of this subsection (II).

                                       55

<PAGE>

         SECTION  9.2 Liens.  Not,  and not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
create,  assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or  hereafter
acquired  by it,  except  for  the  following  (collectively  called  "Permitted
Liens"):

                  (a) Liens in connection with Permitted Transactions;

                  (b) Liens for current Taxes not  delinquent or for Taxes being
         contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and with respect
         to which  adequate  reserves are being  maintained in  accordance  with
         GAAP;

                  (c) Liens shown on Schedule 9.2;

                  (d) Liens  incurred  in the  ordinary  course of  business  in
         connection with worker's compensation,  unemployment insurance or other
         forms of governmental insurance or benefits or to secure performance of
         tenders,  statutory  obligations,  leases and contracts (other than for
         borrowed  money) entered into in the ordinary  course of business or to
         secure obligations on surety or appeal bonds;

                  (e) Liens of mechanics,  carriers,  and  materialmen and other
         like Liens  arising in the  ordinary  course of  business in respect of
         obligations  which are not  delinquent or which are being  contested in
         good faith and by  appropriate  proceedings  and with  respect to which
         adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

                  (f) Liens arising in the ordinary  course of business for sums
         being  contested in good faith and by appropriate  proceedings and with
         respect to which adequate  reserves are being  maintained in accordance
         with GAAP,  or for sums not due, and in either case not  involving  any
         deposits or advances for borrowed money or the deferred  purchase price
         of property or services;

                  (g) Liens on real estate to the extent real estate Investments
         are permitted by Section 9.10(e)(iii);

                  (h) Liens  in  favor  of  the  trustee  on sums required to be
         deposited with the trustee under the Indentures;

                  (i) If  Section   9.1(II)  is  then   in  effect,   Liens   on
         Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.1(II)(o);

                  (j) If Section  9.1(II) is then in effect,  Liens on assets of
         the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  and which are not  otherwise
         permitted to be incurred  pursuant to the  foregoing  clauses (a) - (i)
         securing  Indebtedness  permitted  by  Section  9.1(II)(p);   provided,
         however, that the aggregate fair market value of the property and other
         assets subject to any such Liens, calculated at the time such Liens are
         incurred, shall not exceed three and six-tenths percent (3.6%) of Total
         Shareholders' Equity of the Borrower; and

                                       56
<PAGE>

                  (l) If Section  9.1(I) is then in  effect,  Liens on assets of
         the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  and which are not  otherwise
         permitted to be incurred  pursuant to the  foregoing  clauses (a) - (h)
         securing  Indebtedness  not  prohibited  by Section  9.1(I);  provided,
         however, that the aggregate fair market value of the property and other
         assets subject to any such Liens, calculated at the time such Liens are
         incurred,  shall not exceed twelve percent (12%) of Total Shareholders'
         Equity of the Borrower.

         SECTION 9.3 Consolidation,  Merger, etc. Not, and not permit any of its
Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries or Significant Subsidiaries to, liquidate or dissolve,
consolidate  with, or merge into or with,  any other Person,  or consummate  any
Acquisition, except

                  (a) any Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary of the Borrower may liquidate
         or dissolve  voluntarily  into, and may merge or  consolidate  with and
         into, or sell all or  substantially  all of its capital stock or assets
         to, the Borrower or any other Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary of the Borrower,
         and

                  (b)  Acquisitions;  provided the Debt to Total  Capitalization
         Ratio does not exceed 0.35:1  immediately after giving pro forma effect
         to such Acquisition;  and provided,  further, that no Default exists at
         the  time  of  such  Acquisition  or  will  result  therefrom  and  the
         Administrative  Agent shall have  received a  certificate  of the chief
         financial  officer  or a  vice  president  with  responsibility  for or
         knowledge  of  financial  affairs  of  the  Borrower  to  such  effect.
         Notwithstanding the foregoing if the Debt to Total Capitalization Ratio
         exceeds 0.35:1, but in any event is less than 0.45:1, immediately after
         giving pro forma  effect to such  Acquisition,  the  Borrower  shall be
         permitted to make such  Acquisition  without being in violation of this
         Section 9.3 so long as the Debt to Total  Capitalization Ratio is equal
         to or less than 0.35:1 ninety (90) days after the  consummation of such
         Acquisition.

         SECTION  9.4 Asset  Disposition,  etc.  Not,  and not permit any of its
Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries or Significant  Subsidiaries to, sell, assign, lease,
transfer,  contribute,  reinsure, cede, convey or otherwise dispose of, or grant
options, warrants or other rights with respect to, any of its assets (including,
without limitation, any books of business), unless:

                  (a) such  sale,  assignment,  transfer,  lease,  contribution,
         reinsurance,  cession,  conveyance  or  other  disposition  is  in  the
         ordinary course of its business including, without limitation, sales of
         assets in connection with the management of the investment portfolio of
         the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  or as  related  to the  sale  or
         securitization of receivables  constituting  non-admitted  assets of an
         Insurance Subsidiary;

                                       57
<PAGE>

                  (b) such sale, assignment, transfer, contribution,  conveyance
         or other  disposition  is of Credit Tenant Loans,  CBOs,  CMOs or other
         mortgages held by such Person in connection with the  securitization of
         such mortgages;


                  (c) such sale, assignment, transfer, contribution,  conveyance
         or other  disposition is made pursuant to a sale-leaseback  of an asset
         of such Person in connection with a Capital Lease  Liability  permitted
         under Section 9.1; or

                  (d) such  sale,  assignment,  transfer,  lease,  contribution,
         reinsurance,  cession,  conveyance or other  disposition  is not of (i)
         stock of any  Significant  Subsidiary or (ii) a substantial  portion of
         the assets of the  Borrower  or of any  Significant  Subsidiary  of the
         Borrower.

         SECTION  9.5  Other  Agreements.   Not,  and  not  permit  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  to, enter into any agreement (other than agreements with insurance
regulators)  containing any provision which (a) would be violated or breached by
the performance of its obligations hereunder or under any instrument or document
delivered or to be delivered by it  hereunder  or in  connection  herewith,  (b)
prohibits or  restricts  the ability of any  Subsidiary  of the Borrower to make
dividends or advances or payments to the  Borrower,  (c)  prohibits or restricts
the ability of the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  to amend or  otherwise
modify this Agreement or any other document  executed in connection  herewith or
(d)  constitutes  an  agreement  to a  limitation  or  restriction  of the  type
described in clauses (a) through (c) with respect to any other Indebtedness.

         SECTION  9.6  Business  Activities.  Not,  and  not  permit  any of its
Significant  Subsidiaries to fundamentally  change the type of business in which
it is presently engaged as listed on Schedule 9.6.

         SECTION  9.7  Change of  Location  or Name.  Not,  and not  permit  its
Significant  Subsidiaries  to, change (a) the location of its principal place of
business,  chief  executive  office,  major  executive  office,  chief  place of
business or its records  concerning its business and financial  affairs,  or (b)
its name or the name under or by which it conducts  its  business,  in each case
without  first giving the  Administrative  Agent at least ten (10) days' advance
written notice thereof;  provided,  however, that notwithstanding the foregoing,
neither the Borrower nor any of its  Significant  Subsidiaries  shall change the
location of its  principal  place of business,  chief  executive  office,  major
executive office, chief place of business or its records concerning its business
and financial  affairs to any place outside the  contiguous  continental  United
States of America.

         SECTION  9.8  Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Except  as set  forth on
Schedule 9.8, not, and not permit any of the  Insurance  Subsidiaries  to, enter
into, or cause, suffer or permit to exist

                                       58
<PAGE>

any arrangement,  Reinsurance Agreement, Surplus Relief Reinsurance Agreement or
contract  with any of its other  Affiliates  (other than the  Borrower,  another
Insurance Subsidiary or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of any of them) unless, in the
case of any  arrangement,  contract  or  instrument  which  is  material  to the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  written notice is given to the
Administrative  Agent (which shall promptly deliver copies of such notice to the
Banks)  subsequent  to such  arrangement  and,  in any case,  such  arrangement,
contract  or  instrument  (a) is fair  and  equitable  to the  Borrower  or such
Subsidiary  and (b) is of a sort which would be entered into by a prudent Person
in the  position of the Borrower or such  Subsidiary  with a Person which is not
one of its Affiliates.

         SECTION 9.9  [Intentionally left blank.]

         SECTION 9.10  Investments.  Not, and not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, make,  incur,  assume or suffer to exist any Investment in any other Person,
except:

                  (a) Investments existing on the Effective Date and identified
         in Schedule 9.10;

                  (b) Cash Equivalents;

                  (c) without duplication, Investments permitted as Indebtedness
         pursuant to Section 9.1;

                  (d) Investments  by the  Borrower  in any of its Wholly  Owned
         Subsidiaries or by any such Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary in the Borrower or
         any  other  Wholly-Owned   Subsidiary  of  the  Borrower,   by  way  of
         contributions to capital or loans or advances;

                  (e) other Investments by  the  Borrower  and  its Subsidiaries
         which are in compliance with all of the following guidelines:

                      (i) All Investments made by any Insurance Subsidiary shall
         be in  compliance  with the  applicable  Department  of such  Insurance
         Subsidiary;

                      (ii) No  Investments  in  mortgage  loans,  except (A) for
         existing direct mortgage loans listed on Schedule 9.10 and refinancings
         thereof and (B) other  Investments in direct mortgage loans;  provided,
         that such Investments,  when aggregated with Investments in real estate
         permitted by clause (iii) below,  shall not exceed 8% of the  aggregate
         Investments  of the Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated
         basis;

                      (iii) No Investments  in real estate,  except for existing
         Investments  in real  estate  listed on  Schedule  9.10 and  additional
         Investments  in real  estate;  provided,  that such  Investments,  when
         aggregated with Investments in

                                       59
<PAGE>
         mortgage loans  permitted by clause (ii) above,  shall not exceed 8% of
         the aggregate  Investments  of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  on a
         consolidated basis;

                      (iv) Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,  on
         a consolidated  basis, in equity securities  (excluding  Investments in
         any  Subsidiary of the Borrower) and  non-Investment  Grade  Securities
         shall  not  exceed  in the  aggregate  15% of  the  Investments  of the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;

                      (v) Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a
         consolidated  basis, in Investments  relating to a single issuer (other
         than U.S.  Government  Securities) shall not exceed in the aggregate 4%
         of  the  Investments  of  the  Borrower  and  its   Subsidiaries  on  a
         consolidated basis;

                     (vi) Investments in connection with Permitted Transactions;

                      (vii)  Investments  in CMO  Derivative  Investments  in an
         amount  not to exceed in the  aggregate  4% of the  Investments  of the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;

                  (f) Credit Tenant Loans, CMOs and CBOs; and

                  (g) Investments,  in addition to the Investments  permitted by
         clauses (a) - (f) above, which do not exceed in the aggregate 4% of the
         Investments  of the Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated
         basis.

         SECTION 9.11 Certain  Indebtedness.  Not,  and  not  permit  any of its
Subsidiaries to:

                  (a) make  any  payment  (whether  of  principal,  interest  or
         otherwise)  on any  Senior  Notes  on any day  other  than  the  stated
         scheduled  date for such payment set forth in the Senior Note Documents
         as of the Effective Date;

                  (b) prepay,  redeem,   purchase,   defease  or   transfer  its
         obligations  under any Senior Notes, or make any deposit for any of the
         foregoing; or

                  (c) amend  or  modify  any  Senior  Note  Documents   if  such
         amendment or modification  could have an adverse effect on the Banks or
         any material provision of the Loan Documents.


SECTION 10.      FINANCIAL COVENANTS

         The  Borrower  agrees  that,  on and after the  Closing  Date until the
termination or expiration of the  Commitments  and for so long thereafter as any
of the  Liabilities  remain  unpaid  or  outstanding,  it will  comply  with the
following:
                                       60

<PAGE>

         SECTION  10.1  Shareholders'  Equity.  Not permit  Total  Shareholders'
Equity of the  Borrower to be less than  $2,400,000,000  at any time on or after
the Closing Date.

         SECTION 10.2 Debt to Total Capitalization Ratio. Not permit the Debt to
Total  Capitalization Ratio to exceed 0.45:1 at any time on or after the Closing
Date. This ratio shall be measured at the end of each Fiscal Quarter.

         SECTION 10.3 Interest  Coverage Ratio. Not permit the Interest Coverage
Ratio to be less than (a) 2.25:1 for the three Fiscal Quarters ending  September
30, 1997, and (b) 2.5:1 for any four Fiscal  Quarters  ending  thereafter.  This
ratio  shall be  measured  at the end of each  Fiscal  Quarter  for the  periods
provided in the definition thereof.

SECTION 11.      CONDITIONS

         The  obligation  of the  Banks to make  the  Loans  is  subject  to the
performance by the Borrower of all of its  obligations  under this Agreement and
to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

         SECTION 11.1 Initial Loans.  Prior to or concurrent  with the making of
the initial  Loans,  the  Administrative  Agent shall have  received  all of the
following,  each, except to the extent otherwise  specified below, duly executed
by a Responsible  Officer,  dated the date of the initial Loans (or such earlier
date as  shall  be  satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent),  in  form  and
substance  satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent,  and each in  sufficient
number of signed  counterparts  or copies to  provide  one for each Bank and the
Administrative Agent:

                  11.1.1 If  requested  by a Bank,  an  appropriately  completed
         Note,  payable  to the  order  of  such  Bank  evidencing  such  Bank's
         Commitment;

                  11.1.2 A favorable  opinion of Karl W. Kindig,  legal  counsel
         for the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries, substantially in the
         form of Exhibit L hereto,  and  addressing  such other legal matters as
         the Administrative Agent may require;

                  11.1.3 An officer's certificate of the Borrower, substantially
         in the form of  Exhibit M hereto,  and  dated as of the  Closing  Date,
         signed by a Responsible  Officer of the Borrower and attested to by the
         secretary  thereof,  together with  certified  copies of the Borrower's
         articles of incorporation, by-laws and directors resolutions;

                  11.1.4   [Intentionally left blank.];

                  11.1.5   [Intentionally left blank.];


                                       61
<PAGE>

                  11.1.6 A letter  from the  Process  Agent  agreeing to receive
         service of process on behalf of the Borrower  pursuant to Section 15.11
         hereof;

                  11.1.7 Certified copies of each material consent,  license and
         approval  (including,  without  limitation,  any  insurance  commission
         approvals)  required  in  connection  with  the  execution,   delivery,
         performance,  validity and  enforceability  of this  Agreement  and the
         other Loan Documents; such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in
         full force and effect,  shall be  satisfactory in form and substance to
         the  Administrative  Agent  and shall be all of the  material  consents
         required to be obtained  or made on or before the  consummation  of the
         financing contemplated by this Agreement;

                  11.1.8 A certificate of a Responsible  Officer of the Borrower
         that there are no material insurance regulatory  proceedings pending or
         threatened against any of the Insurance Subsidiaries;

                  11.1.9 A certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower,
         dated the Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in Sections  11.3.2
         through 11.3.5 hereof;

                  11.1.10  An  officer's  certificate  signed  by a  Responsible
         Officer  of the  Borrower,  certifying  that  to  such  officer's  best
         knowledge,  since  December  31,  1996,  no event  has  occurred  which
         individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect;

                  11.1.11 An Account Designation  Letter,  together with written
         instructions from a duly authorized Responsible Officer, including wire
         transfer  information,  directing  the  payment of the  proceeds of the
         initial Loans to be made hereunder;

                  11.1.12  [Intentionally left blank.];

                  11.1.13  Schedules and Exhibits satisfactory to the
         Administrative Agent and the Banks;

                  11.1.14  A  Federal  Reserve  Form  U-1 for  each  Bank,  duly
         executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower,  the statements made
         in which shall be such, in the opinion of the Administrative  Agent, as
         to permit the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance
         with Regulation U;

                  11.1.15 Evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that
         each of the Loan  Documents has been duly executed and delivered and is
         in full force and effect without modification;

                                       62
<PAGE>

                  11.1.16 Receipt by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of
         the  consolidated   financial   statements  of  the  Borrower  and  its
         Subsidiaries for each of fiscal years 1995 and 1996,  including balance
         sheets  and income and cash flow  statements,  in each case  audited by
         independent  public  accountants  of recognized  national  standing and
         containing  an  unqualified  opinion of such firm that such  statements
         present fairly, in all material  respects,  the consolidated  financial
         position   and  results  of   operations   of  the   Borrower  and  its
         Subsidiaries, respectively, and are prepared in conformity with GAAP;

                  11.1.17  [Intentionally left blank.];

                  11.1.18  There  shall  not  exist any  pending  or  threatened
         action,  suit,  investigation or proceeding against the Borrower or any
         of its Subsidiaries  that would have or would reasonably be expected to
         have a Material Adverse Effect; and

                  11.1.19 Such other information and documents as may reasonably
         be required by the Administrative Agent and the Administrative  Agent's
         counsel.

         SECTION 11.2      [Intentionally left blank.]

         SECTION  11.3 All  Loans.  The  obligation  of the Banks to make  Loans
hereunder is subject to the following further conditions precedent:

                  11.3.1   The Administrative Agent  shall  have received a duly
          executed Notice of Borrowing;

                  11.3.2   No Default exists or will result from  the  making of
         the Loans;

                  11.3.3 The  representations  and  warranties  of the  Borrower
         contained in Section 7 and by the Borrower in the other Loan  Documents
         are  true  and  correct  with the same  effect  as  though  made on the
         Borrowing Date;

                  11.3.4 No Material  Litigation  exists  except as disclosed on
         Schedule 7.8; and

                  11.3.5 No Material Adverse Change has occurred since September
         30, 1996.


SECTION 12.       EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT

         SECTION  12.1 Events of Default.  An "Event of Default"  shall exist if
any one or more of the following events (herein  collectively  called "Events of
Default") shall occur and be continuing:

                                       63
<PAGE>


         12.1.1   Non-Payment of Loans, etc.

                  (a)  Default  in the  payment  or  prepayment  when due of any
         principal on the Loans, or

                  (b) Default in the payment within five (5) days of when due of
         any  interest on the Loans or any other  amount  owing by the  Borrower
         pursuant to this Agreement.

                  12.1.2  Non-Payment  of  Other  Indebtedness.  Default  in the
         payment when due (subject to any applicable  grace period),  whether by
         acceleration or otherwise,  of any  Indebtedness of the Borrower or any
         of its Significant  Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness in respect of
         this  Agreement) in an amount in excess of  $50,000,000;  or default in
         the  performance  or  observance of any  obligation  or condition  with
         respect to any such  Indebtedness  if the effect of such  default is to
         accelerate or could result in the  acceleration  of the maturity of any
         such  Indebtedness or to permit the holder or holders  thereof,  or any
         trustee or agent for such holders, to cause such Indebtedness to become
         due and payable prior to its expressed  maturity.  For purposes of this
         Section 12.1.2,  Indebtedness shall refer only to Indebtedness included
         in  clauses  (a)  through  (d)  and  clause  (h) of the  definition  of
         Indebtedness.

                  12.1.3 Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc. The Borrower or any of its
         Significant Subsidiaries or Insurance Subsidiaries becomes insolvent or
         generally  fails to pay,  or admits in writing  its  inability  to pay,
         debts as they  become  due;  or the  applicable  Department  places the
         Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any of its Insurance
         Subsidiaries under supervision or conservation;  or the Borrower or any
         of its Significant  Subsidiaries or Insurance Subsidiaries applies for,
         consents to, or acquiesces in, the  appointment of a trustee,  receiver
         or other custodian for the Borrower or such  Significant  Subsidiary or
         Insurance  Subsidiary  or any  property  thereof,  or  makes a  general
         assignment  for the  benefit of  creditors;  or, in the absence of such
         application,  consent or  acquiescence,  a trustee,  receiver  or other
         custodian  is  appointed  for the  Borrower  or any of its  Significant
         Subsidiaries or Insurance Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the
         property of any thereof and is not  discharged  within sixty (60) days;
         or any bankruptcy,  reorganization,  debt arrangement, or other case or
         proceeding  under any bankruptcy or insolvency  law, or any dissolution
         or liquidation proceeding (except the voluntary dissolution,  not under
         any  bankruptcy or insolvency  law, of a  Subsidiary),  is commenced in
         respect  of the  Borrower  or any of its  Significant  Subsidiaries  or
         Insurance  Subsidiaries and if such case or proceeding is not commenced
         by the Borrower or such Significant Subsidiary or Insurance Subsidiary,
         it is consented to or acquiesced in by the Borrower or such Significant
         Subsidiary or  Insurance  Subsidiary  or  remains  for  sixty (60) days
         undismissed;  or 

                                       64
<PAGE>

         the  Borrower  or any  of its  Significant  Subsidiaries  or  Insurance
         Subsidiaries takes any corporate action to authorize, or in furtherance
         of, any of the foregoing.

                  12.1.4 Defaults Under this Agreement.  Failure by the Borrower
         to comply with or perform any of the  covenants  or  agreements  of the
         Borrower set forth in Sections 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4 and 10.


                  12.1.5 Other Noncompliance with this Agreement. Failure by the
         Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with or perform any other
         provision of this Agreement or the other Loan  Documents  applicable to
         it (other than those listed in Section 12.1.4 or those  constituting an
         Event of Default under any of the other  provisions of this Section 12)
         and  continuance  of such  failure  for thirty  (30) days after  notice
         thereof to the Borrower from the Administrative Agent.

                  12.1.6  Representations and Warranties.  Any representation or
         warranty made by the Borrower in any of the Loan  Documents is false or
         misleading  in any material  respect as of the date hereof or as of the
         date  hereafter  certified,  or any  schedule,  certificate,  financial
         statement,  report,  notice, or other writing furnished by the Borrower
         to the  Administrative  Agent or any Bank is false or misleading in any
         material  respect on the date as of which the facts  therein  set forth
         are stated or certified.

                  12.1.7  Pension Plans and Welfare  Plans.  With respect to any
         Single  Employer  Pension  Plan as to which the  Borrower  or any other
         Controlled  Group  member may have any  liability,  there shall exist a
         deficiency of more than  $20,000,000 as to any Controlled  Group member
         (other than the  Borrower)  or  $65,000,000  as to the  Borrower in the
         Pension Plan assets  available  to satisfy the  benefits  guaranteeable
         under ERISA with respect to such Pension Plan, and steps are undertaken
         to  terminate  such  plan or such  Pension  Plan is  terminated  or the
         Borrower  or any  other  Controlled  Group  member  withdraws  from  or
         institutes  steps to withdraw  from such Pension  Plan, or the Borrower
         has knowledge that steps have been taken to terminate any Multiemployer
         Pension  Plan and such  termination  may  result  in  liability  to any
         Controlled  Group  member  (other  than  the  Borrower)  in  excess  of
         $20,000,000 or  $65,000,000 as to the Borrower or any Reportable  Event
         with respect to such  Pension  Plan has occurred  which could result in
         the incurrence of liability by any Controlled  Group member (other than
         the  Borrower)  in  excess  of  $20,000,000  or  $65,000,000  as to the
         Borrower or steps are taken to terminate any Multiemployer Pension Plan
         and such  termination  may result in any  liability  of any  Controlled
         Group  member  (other than the  Borrower) in excess of  $20,000,000  or
         $65,000,000 as to the Borrower shall occur.

                                       65

<PAGE>


                  12.1.8  Adverse  Judgment.  One or  more  final  judgments  or
         decrees   shall  be  entered   against  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its
         Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries and/or Significant  Subsidiaries  involving,
         individually or in the aggregate,  a liability  (other than a liability
         of an Insurance  Subsidiary  in the ordinary  course of business)  (not
         covered by collectible  insurance) of $30,000,000 or more, and all such
         judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, satisfied, discharged
         or stayed or bonded,  if required by law,  pending appeal within thirty
         (30) consecutive days from the entry thereof.

                  12.1.9  Change  in  Control.  The  occurrence  of a Change  in
         Control.

                  12.1.10 Material  Adverse Change.  The occurrence of any event
         which, in the reasonable judgment of the Required Banks,  constitutes a
         Material Adverse Change.

         SECTION  12.2  Effect  of Event of  Default.  If any  Event of  Default
described in Section 12.1.3 shall occur and be continuing,  the  Commitments (if
they  have not  theretofore  terminated)  shall  immediately  terminate  and all
Liabilities shall become immediately due and payable,  all without  presentment,
demand,  protest or notice of any kind;  and,  in the case of any other Event of
Default, the Administrative Agent may (or shall, upon the written request of the
Required   Banks)  declare  the   Commitments  (if  they  have  not  theretofore
terminated)  to be  terminated  and  all  Liabilities  to be  due  and  payable,
whereupon  the  Commitments  (if they  have not  theretofore  terminated)  shall
immediately  terminate  and all  Liabilities  shall become  immediately  due and
payable,  all without  presentment,  demand,  protest or notice of any kind. The
Administrative  Agent shall  promptly  advise the  Borrower and each Bank of any
such  declaration,  but  failure  to do so shall not  impair  the effect of such
declaration. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision of Section 15.1, the
effect as an Event of Default of any event  described  in Section  12.1.3 may be
waived by the written  concurrence  of the Banks  holding 100% of the  aggregate
unpaid  principal  amount of the Loans, and the effect as an Event of Default of
any other  event  described  in this  Section  12 may be waived as  provided  in
Section 15.1.

SECTION 13.       THE AGENT

         SECTION 13.1  Authorization  and Action.  Each Bank hereby appoints and
authorizes the Administrative  Agent to take such action as administrative agent
on its behalf and to exercise  such powers to the extent  provided  herein or in
any  document or  instrument  delivered  hereunder  or in  connection  herewith,
together with such other action as may be reasonably  incidental  thereto. As to
matters  not  expressly  provided  for by  this  Agreement  (including,  without
limitation,  enforcement  or  collection  of this  Agreement  or any other  Loan
Document) the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any 

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discretion, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be
fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of
the Required Banks and such instructions  shall be binding upon all Banks. Under
no circumstances shall the Administrative Agent have any fiduciary duties to any
Bank or be required to take any action which exposes the Administrative Agent to
personal  liability or which is contrary to this  Agreement or to the other Loan
Documents or applicable law.

         SECTION  13.2  Liability  of  the  Administrative  Agent.  None  of the
Administrative  Agent or any of its  directors,  officers,  agents or  employees
shall be liable for any action  taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under
or in connection  with this Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,  except for
its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing,  the Administrative  Agent: (a) may treat a Bank as such until
the Administrative  Agent receives an executed Assignment Agreement entered into
between a Bank and an  Eligible  Assignee  pursuant  to  Section  14.1;  (b) may
consult with legal counsel  (including  counsel for the  Borrower),  independent
public  accountants  and other experts or consultants  selected by it; (c) shall
not be liable for any  action  taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by the
Administrative  Agent in  accordance  with the advice of  counsel,  accountants,
consultants or experts; (d) shall make no warranty or representation to any Bank
and  shall  not be  responsible  to  any  Bank  for  any  recitals,  statements,
warranties or representations, whether written or oral, made in or in connection
with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents;  (e) shall not have any duty to
ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms,
obligations,  covenants  or  conditions  of this  Agreement  on the  part of the
Borrower or to inspect the property  (including,  without limitation,  any books
and records) of the Borrower;  (f) shall not be  responsible to any Bank for the
due execution, legality, validity, enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency or
value of this  Agreement or any other Loan Document or other support or security
(including  the  validity,  priority or  perfection  of any Lien),  or any other
document furnished in connection with any of the foregoing;  and (g) shall incur
no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by
action  upon  any  written  notice,  statement,  certificate,  order,  telephone
message,  facsimile or other document which the Administrative Agent believes in
good faith to be genuine and correct  and to have been  signed,  sent or made by
the proper Person.

         SECTION 13.3 Administrative  Agent and Affiliates.  With respect to the
Loans made by it,  First Union shall have the same rights and powers  under this
Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents  as any other Bank and may exercise the
same as  though it were not the  Administrative  Agent;  and the term  "Bank" or
"Banks" shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated,  include First Union in its
individual  capacity.  First Union and its Affiliates may accept  deposits from,
lend money to, act as

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<PAGE>

trustee under  indentures of, and generally engage in any kind of business with,
the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries and any Person who may do business with
or own securities of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary,  all as if First Union
were not the  Administrative  Agent and without any duty to account  therefor to
the Banks.

         SECTION 13.4 Bank Credit Decision.  Each Bank acknowledges that it has,
independently  and without reliance upon the  Administrative  Agent or any other
Bank and based on the financial  statements  referred to in Section 7.6 and such
other  documents  and  information  as it has deemed  appropriate,  made its own
credit  analysis  and  decision  to enter  into this  Agreement.  Each Bank also
acknowledges  that  it  will,   independently  and  without  reliance  upon  the
Administrative  Agent  or any  other  Bank  and  based  on  such  documents  and
information as it shall deem  appropriate at the time,  continue to make its own
credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement.

         SECTION  13.5  Indemnification.   The  Banks  agree  to  indemnify  the
Administrative  Agent (to the extent not  reimbursed by the  Borrower),  ratably
according  to their  Percentages,  from  and  against  any and all  liabilities,
obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs,
expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature  whatsoever which may be imposed
on,  incurred  by,  or  assessed  against  the  Administrative  Agent in any way
relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or any
action taken or omitted by the Administrative  Agent under this Agreement or the
other Loan Documents;  provided, that no Bank shall be liable for any portion of
such liabilities,  obligations,  losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits,  costs,  expenses  or  disbursements  resulting  from the  Administrative
Agent's gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct.  Without  limiting any of the
foregoing,  each Bank agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly upon
demand for its Percentage of any expenses  (including  reasonable  counsel fees)
incurred by the Administrative  Agent (in its individual capacity as agent or in
its capacity as representative of the Banks) in connection with the preparation,
execution,  delivery,   administration,   modification,   amendment,  waiver  or
enforcement (whether through  negotiations,  legal proceedings or otherwise) of,
or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under this Agreement or
the other Loan  Documents  to the extent  that the  Administrative  Agent is not
reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower.  All  obligations  provided for in
this Section 13.5 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

         SECTION 13.6 Successor Agent. The Administrative  Agent may, and at the
request of the Required  Banks  shall,  resign as  Administrative  Agent upon 30
days'  notice to the  Banks.  If the  Administrative  Agent  resigns  under this
Agreement,  the  Required  Banks shall  appoint from among the Banks a successor
agent for the Banks which  successor  agent  shall be  approved by the  Borrower
(which consent shall not be  unreasonably  withheld).  If no successor  agent is
appointed prior to the effective date of the

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<PAGE>

resignation of the Administrative  Agent, the Administrative  Agent may appoint,
after  consulting with the Banks and the Borrower,  a successor agent from among
the Banks.  Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent hereunder,
such successor  agent shall succeed to all the rights,  powers and duties of the
retiring  Administrative  Agent and the term  "Administrative  Agent" shall mean
such successor agent and the retiring Administrative Agent's appointment, powers
and duties as  Administrative  Agent  shall be  terminated.  After any  retiring
Administrative  Agent's  resignation  hereunder  as  Administrative  Agent,  the
provisions of this Section 13 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken
or  omitted  to be  taken by it while it was  Administrative  Agent  under  this
Agreement.  If no successor  agent has accepted  appointment  as  Administrative
Agent by the date which is 30 days following a retiring  Administrative  Agent's
notice of resignation,  the retiring  Administrative  Agent's  resignation shall
nevertheless  thereupon  become effective and the Banks shall perform all of the
duties of the  Administrative  Agent  hereunder  until such time, if any, as the
Required Banks appoint a successor agent as provided for above.

SECTION 14.       ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS

         SECTION 14.1      Assignments.

                  (a) Each Bank shall have the right at any time to assign  with
         the  consent  of the  Borrower  and  the  Administrative  Agent  (which
         consent,  in each case,  will not  unreasonably  be  withheld),  to any
         Eligible  Assignee,   all  or  any  part  of  such  Bank's  rights  and
         obligations under this Agreement and each other Loan Document including
         its rights in respect of its Loans and Notes. Any such assignment shall
         be pursuant to an assignment  agreement,  substantially  in the form of
         Exhibit N (an "Assignment  Agreement"),  duly executed by such Bank and
         the Eligible Assignee, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent and
         the  Borrower.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  each  Bank  may  make
         assignments  to its  Affiliates or to any Federal  Reserve Bank without
         obtaining consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent.

                  (b) Each  assignment  shall be pro rata  with  respect  to all
         rights and  obligations of the assigning Bank including its Commitment,
         Loans and Note, if any. Each assignment  shall be in an amount equal to
         or in excess of  $10,000,000  (except  for  assignments  of the  entire
         unpaid  balance,  if less than  $10,000,000,  of the Loans of a Bank or
         assignments  to existing  Banks).  In the case of any such  assignment,
         upon  the  fulfillment  of the  conditions  in  Section  14.1(c),  this
         Agreement shall be deemed to be amended to the extent,  and only to the
         extent,  necessary to reflect the addition of such  Eligible  Assignee,
         and such  Eligible  Assignee  shall for all  purposes  be a Bank  party
         hereto  and shall  have,  to the  extent of such  assignment,  the same
         rights and obligations as a Bank hereunder.

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<PAGE>

                  (c) An assignment shall become effective hereunder when all of
         the following shall have occurred:

                           (i)  the   Assignment   Agreement  shall  have   been
         executed by the parties thereto,

                           (ii) the  Assignment   Agreement   shall  have   been
         acknowledged by the Administrative Agent and by the Borrower,

                           (iii) either  the  assigning  Bank   or the  Eligible
         Assignee   shall  have  paid  a   processing   fee  of  $3,000  to  the
         Administrative  Agent for its own account;  provided  that the Eligible
         Assignee  shall be  solely  responsible  for such  processing  fee with
         respect to any assignment pursuant to Sections 5.8 and 15.2, and

                           (iv) the assigning Bank and the Administrative  Agent
         shall have agreed upon a date upon which such  assignment  shall become
         effective.  Upon such assignment becoming effective, the Administrative
         Agent shall forward all payments of interest, principal, fees and other
         amounts that would have been made to the assigning  Bank, in proportion
         to the percentage of the assigning  Bank's rights  transferred,  to the
         Eligible Assignee.

                  (d) Upon the  effectiveness  of any assignment,  the assigning
         Bank shall be relieved from its obligations  hereunder to the extent of
         the  obligations  so assigned  (except to the extent,  if any, that the
         Borrower,  any  other  Bank or the  Administrative  Agent  have  rights
         against  such  assigning  Bank as a result of any  default by such Bank
         under this  Agreement).  Promptly  following the  effectiveness of each
         assignment,  the Administrative Agent shall furnish to the Borrower and
         each Bank a revised Schedule 1.1-A, revised to reflect such assignment.

         SECTION 14.2      Participations.

                  (a) Each Bank may grant  participations  in all or any part of
         its Loans,  Commitments  and, if applicable,  the Notes to any Eligible
         Assignee.  A participant shall not have any rights under this Agreement
         or  any  other   document   delivered  in   connection   herewith  (the
         participant's rights against such Bank in respect of such participation
         to be those set forth in the  agreement  executed by such Bank in favor
         of the participant  relating  thereto,  which agreement with respect to
         such  participation  shall not restrict such Bank's ability to make any
         modification, amendment or waiver to this Agreement without the consent
         of the participant  except that the consent of such  participant may be
         required in connection with matters requiring the consent of all of the
         Banks  under  Section  15.1).   Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,   each
         participant  shall have the rights of a Bank  pursuant to Section  4.7.
         All amounts payable by the Borrower under this

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<PAGE>

         Agreement  shall  be  determined  as if the  Bank  had  not  sold  such
         participation. In the event of any such sale by a Bank of participating
         interests  to  a  participant,   such  Bank's  obligations  under  this
         Agreement  shall  remain  unchanged,  such  Bank  shall  remain  solely
         responsible  for the  performance  thereof,  such Bank shall remain the
         holder of any obligation for all purposes under this Agreement, and the
         Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and
         directly  with such Bank in  connection  with such  Bank's  rights  and
         obligations under this Agreement.

                  (b) Limitation  of Rights of any Participant.  Notwithstanding
         anything in the foregoing to the contrary,

                           (i)  no  participant shall  have  any  direct  rights
         hereunder,

                           (ii) the Borrower,  the Administrative  Agent and the
         Banks,  other than the selling Bank, shall deal solely with the selling
         Bank and  shall  not be  obligated  to  extend  any  rights or make any
         payment to, or seek any consent of, the participant,

                           (iii) no participation shall relieve the selling Bank
         of any of its other  obligations  hereunder  and such Bank shall remain
         solely responsible for the performance thereof, and

                           (iv) no  participant,  other than an affiliate of the
         selling Bank, shall be entitled to require such Bank to take or omit to
         take any action  hereunder,  except  that such Bank may agree with such
         participant  that  such  Bank  will  not,  without  such  participant's
         consent, take any action which requires the consent of all of the Banks
         under Section 15.1.

         SECTION 14.3  Disclosure of Information.  The Borrower  authorizes each
Bank to disclose to any  participant,  assignee or Eligible  Assignee  (each,  a
"Transferee")  and any  prospective  Transferee  any and all financial and other
information  in  such  Bank's   possession   concerning  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries which has been delivered to such Bank by the Borrower in connection
with such Bank's credit  evaluation of the Borrower  prior to entering into this
Agreement or which has been  delivered to such Bank by the Borrower  pursuant to
this Agreement;  provided,  however, that each Bank,  participant,  assignee and
Eligible Assignee shall execute a confidentiality agreement substantially in the
form of  Exhibit  O in  which it  agrees  that it  shall  hold  all  non-public,
confidential and proprietary  information  obtained pursuant to the requirements
of this  Agreement  in  accordance  with safe and  sound  banking  and  business
practices  and  may  make  disclosure  reasonably  required  by  any  bona  fide
participant,  assignee or Eligible  Assignee in connection with the contemplated
transfer  of any  portion  of the  Loans  or as  required  or  requested  by any
Governmental Authority or

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<PAGE>

representative  thereof or pursuant to legal  process.  For the purposes of this
Section 14.3, by execution of this  Agreement  each of the Banks shall be deemed
to have  agreed to and  executed  the  confidentiality  agreement  contained  in
Exhibit O.

         SECTION 14.4 Foreign Transferees.  If, pursuant to this Section 14, any
interest  in this  Agreement  or any  Loans  or any Note is  transferred  to any
Transferee which is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction  other than the
United  States or any state  thereof or upon the  request of the  Administrative
Agent,  the  transferor  Bank  shall  cause  such  Transferee  (other  than  any
participant), and may cause any participant, concurrently with the effectiveness
of such transfer,

                  (a) to  represent to the  transferor  Bank (for the benefit of
         the transferor  Bank, the  Administrative  Agent and the Borrower) that
         under  applicable  law and  treaties  no Taxes will be  required  to be
         withheld by the Administrative Agent,

                  (b) to represent to the Borrower or the  transferor  Bank that
         under  applicable  law and  treaties  no Taxes will be  required  to be
         withheld with respect to any payments to be made to such  Transferee in
         respect of the Loans or, if applicable, the Notes,

                  (c) to  furnish to the  transferor  Bank,  the  Administrative
         Agent and the Borrower either U.S.  Internal  Revenue Service Form 4224
         or U.S.  Internal  Revenue  Service Form 1001 (wherein such  Transferee
         claims entitlement to complete exemption from U.S. federal  withholding
         tax on all interest payments hereunder), and

                  (d) to agree (for the  benefit  of the  transferor  Bank,  the
         Administrative  Agent and the Borrower) to provide the transferor Bank,
         the Administrative  Agent and the Borrower a new Form 4224 or Form 1001
         upon the  obsolescence of any previously  delivered form and comparable
         statements in accordance  with applicable U.S. laws and regulations and
         amendments  duly  executed  and  completed by such  Transferee,  and to
         comply from time to time with all applicable  U.S. laws and regulations
         with regard to such withholding tax exemption.

SECTION 15.       MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 15.1 Waivers and  Amendments.  The provisions of this Agreement
and of each other Loan  Document  may from time to time be amended,  modified or
waived, if such amendment, modification or waiver is in writing and consented to
by the  Borrower  and the  Required  Banks;  provided,  that no such  amendment,
modification or waiver:

                           (a) which would modify any requirement hereunder that
                  any particular action be taken by all Banks or by the 

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<PAGE>

                  Required Banks, shall be effective without the consent of each
                  Bank;

                           (b) which would modify this Section 15.1,  change the
                  definition of "Required  Banks," change any Percentage for any
                  Bank (except pursuant to an Assignment Agreement),  reduce any
                  fees,  extend the Termination Date or the maturity date of any
                  Loan,  reduce  any rate of  interest  payable  on the Loans or
                  subject  any  Bank to any  additional  obligations,  shall  be
                  effective without the consent of each Bank;

                           (c) which  would  extend the due date for,  or reduce
                  the amount of, any payment or  prepayment  of  principal of or
                  interest on the Loans or any fees, shall be effective  without
                  the consent of each Bank; or

                           (d) which  would  affect  adversely  the   interests,
                  rights or  obligations  of the  Administrative  Agent (in such
                  capacity)  other than removal in accordance with Section 13.6,
                  shall  be  effective  without  consent  of the  Administrative
                  Agent.

Notwithstanding  any  provision  of  this  Section  15.1  to the  contrary,  any
amendment,  waiver or other  modification with respect to Section 8, 9 or 10 (or
any related  definition  in Section 1) of the Existing  Credit  Agreement  shall
automatically  likewise  amend,  waive or  otherwise  modify  the  corresponding
provision  of Section 8, 9 or 10 (or  related  definition  in Section 1) of this
Agreement  unless,  within ten (10)  Business Days after receipt by the Bank and
the  Administrative  Agent  of  written  notice  of the  effectiveness  of  such
amendment  to the Existing  Credit  Agreement,  Banks,  whose  unwillingness  to
consent  would,  in the  aggregate,  preclude a consent of the  Required  Banks,
notify the  Administrative  Agent and the  Borrower in writing  that they do not
consent to such  amendment,  waiver or other  modification  with respect to this
Agreement.

         SECTION 15.2  Failure to Consent.  If any Bank shall fail to consent to
any amendment,  modification or waiver  described in Section 15.1 (any such Bank
being hereinafter referred to as a "Nonconsenting  Bank") then in such case, the
Borrower  may,  upon at least  five (5)  Business  Days'  written  notice to the
Administrative  Agent and such Nonconsenting Bank, designate a substitute lender
(a  "Substitute  Bank")  acceptable  to the  Administrative  Agent  in its  sole
discretion, to which such Nonconsenting Bank shall assign all (but not less than
all) of its rights and  obligations  under the Loans and  Commitment  hereunder.
Upon  any  assignment  by any  Bank  pursuant  to  this  Section  15.2  becoming
effective,  the Substitute Bank shall thereupon be deemed to be a "Bank" for all
purposes of this Agreement and the assigning Bank shall  thereupon cease to be a
"Bank" for all purposes of this  Agreement  and shall have no further  rights or
obligations  hereunder  (other than pursuant to Sections 5.1, 5.2, 15.4 and 15.5
while such Non-Consenting Bank
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<PAGE>

was a Bank);  provided,  that all Liabilities  (except  Liabilities which by the
terms hereof  survive the payment in full of the Loans and  termination  of this
Agreement) due and payable to the Nonconsenting Bank shall be paid in full as of
the date of such assignment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that in
connection  with any amendment,  modification  or waiver more than one Bank is a
Nonconsenting  Bank,  the Borrower may not require one Bank to assign its rights
and obligations to a Substitute Bank unless all Nonconsenting Banks are required
to make such an assignment.  Notwithstanding any Nonconsenting Bank's failure or
refusal to assign  its  rights,  obligations,  Loans and  Commitment  under this
Section 15.2, the Nonconsenting Bank shall cease to be a "Bank" for all purposes
of this Agreement and the Substitute Bank  substituted  therefor upon payment to
the  Nonconsenting  Bank by the Substitute Bank of all amounts set forth in this
Section 15.2 without any further action of the Nonconsenting Bank.

         SECTION 15.3 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to
any party hereunder shall be in writing  (including bank wire, telex,  facsimile
or similar  writing) and shall be given to such party at its address,  facsimile
or telex number set forth on the  signature or  acknowledgement  pages hereof or
such  other  address,  facsimile  or telex  number as such  party may  hereafter
specify for the purpose by written  notice to the  Administrative  Agent and the
Borrower.  Each such notice,  request or other  communication shall be effective
(a) if given by facsimile or telex,  when such facsimile or telex is transmitted
to the  facsimile or telex number  specified in this Section and, in the case of
telex, the appropriate answerback is received, (b) if given by mail, seventy-two
(72) hours after such  communication  is deposited in the mails with first class
postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid or (c) if given by any other means, when
delivered at the address  specified in this Section,  provided,  that notices to
the Administrative Agent under Sections 3, 4 and 12 shall not be effective until
received by the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 15.4 Payment of Costs and Expenses.  The Borrower agrees to pay
on demand all reasonable  expenses of the  Administrative  Agent  (including the
non-duplicative  fees and reasonable  expenses of counsel (including expenses of
in-house  counsel)  and of local  counsel,  if any,  who may be retained by such
counsel) in connection with:

                  (a) the negotiation,  preparation,  execution, syndication and
         delivery  of this  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents,  including
         schedules  and  exhibits,  and  any  amendments,   waivers,   consents,
         supplements or other  modifications to this Agreement or the other Loan
         Documents as may from time to time  hereafter  be required,  whether or
         not the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby are consummated;
         and
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<PAGE>

                  (b) the preparation  and/or review of the form of any document
         or instrument relevant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

The Borrower further agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and the
Banks  harmless  from all  liability  for,  any stamp or other Taxes (other than
income taxes of the  Administrative  Agent or the Banks) which may be payable in
connection  with the  execution  or delivery of this  Agreement,  the  borrowing
hereunder, or the issuance of the Notes or any other Loan Document. The Borrower
also agrees to reimburse the Administrative  Agent and each Bank upon demand for
all reasonable expenses (including  attorneys' fees and legal expenses) incurred
by the  Administrative  Agent or such Bank in connection with the enforcement of
any  Liabilities  and the  consideration  of legal  issues  relevant  hereto and
thereto whether or not such expenses are incurred by the Administrative Agent on
its own  behalf or on behalf  of the  Banks.  All  obligations  of the  Borrower
provided for in this Section 15.4 shall survive  termination of this  Agreement.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  neither the  Administrative  Agent nor any Bank
shall  have the right to  reimbursement  under  this  Section  15.4 for  amounts
determined  by a court of competent  jurisdiction  to have arisen from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or such Bank.

         SECTION 15.5 Indemnity.  The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Bank and
each Bank's respective directors,  officers,  employees,  persons controlling or
controlled by any of them or their respective agents, consultants, attorneys and
advisors (the  "Indemnified  Parties") and hold each Indemnified  Party harmless
from and against any and all liabilities,  losses,  claims,  damages,  costs and
expenses of any kind to which any of the Indemnified Parties may become subject,
whether directly or indirectly  (including,  without limitation,  the reasonable
fees and  disbursements  of counsel for any Indemnified  Party),  relating to or
arising  out of this  Agreement,  the  other  Loan  Documents  or any  actual or
proposed  use  of the  proceeds  of  the  Loans  hereunder;  provided,  that  no
Indemnified  Party shall have the right to be indemnified  hereunder for its own
gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct  as determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction.  All obligations of the Borrower provided for in this Section 15.5
shall survive termination of this Agreement.

         SECTION 15.6  Subsidiary  References.  The provisions of this Agreement
relating  to  Subsidiaries  shall  apply  only  during  such  times  as a Person
referenced in such a provision has one or more Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 15.7 Captions.  Section captions used in this Agreement are for
convenience only, and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.

         SECTION 15.8  GOVERNING  LAW. THIS  AGREEMENT,  THE NOTES AND THE LOANS
SHALL BE A CONTRACT  MADE UNDER AND  GOVERNED  BY THE LAWS

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<PAGE>

OF THE STATE OF NORTH  CAROLINA,  WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES.
ALL OBLIGATIONS OF THE BORROWER AND RIGHTS OF THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT AND THE
BANKS IN  RESPECT  OF THE  LIABILITIES  EXPRESSED  HEREIN OR IN THE  OTHER  LOAN
DOCUMENTS  SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO AND NOT IN  LIMITATION  OF THOSE  PROVIDED BY
APPLICABLE LAW.

         SECTION 15.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by the different  parties on separate  counterparts and each
such counterpart  shall be deemed to be an original,  but all such  counterparts
shall together  constitute  but one and the same  agreement.  When  counterparts
executed by all the parties shall have been lodged with the Administrative Agent
(or, in the case of any Bank as to which an executed  counterpart shall not have
been so  lodged,  the  Administrative  Agent  shall have  received  telegraphic,
facsimile,  telex or other written confirmation from such Bank of execution of a
counterpart  hereof by such Bank),  this Agreement shall become  effective as of
the Closing  Date,  and at such time the  Administrative  Agent shall notify the
Borrower and each Bank.

         SECTION  15.10  SUBMISSION  TO  JURISDICTION;   WAIVER  OF  VENUE.  THE
ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT, EACH AGENT, EACH BANK AND THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
SUBMIT TO THE  NONEXCLUSIVE  JURISDICTION OF ANY NORTH CAROLINA STATE OR FEDERAL
COURT  SITTING IN THE  WESTERN  DISTRICT  OF NORTH  CAROLINA  OVER ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING  ARISING  OUT OF OR  RELATING  TO THIS  AGREEMENT  OR THE OTHER  LOAN
DOCUMENTS,  AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EACH AGENT, EACH BANK AND THE BORROWER
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING
MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS.  THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT, EACH AGENT, EACH BANK AND THE BORROWER HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVE, TO THE
FULLEST  EXTENT  PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO
THE  LAYING  OF  VENUE IN ANY  ACTION  OR  PROCEEDING  (WHETHER  BROUGHT  BY THE
BORROWER,  THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT, ANY AGENT, ANY BANK, OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY
COURT  HEREINABOVE  SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION  15.10 AS WELL AS ANY RIGHT IT MAY
NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO REMOVE ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING,  ONCE  COMMENCED,
TO  ANOTHER  COURT ON THE  GROUNDS OF FORUM NON  CONVENIENS  OR  OTHERWISE.  THE
ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT, EACH AGENT, EACH BANK AND THE BORROWER AGREE 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.

         SECTION  15.11  Service of Process.  The  Borrower  hereby  irrevocably
appoints  C.T.  Corporation  (the "Process  Agent"),  with an office on the date
hereof at 225 Hillsborough Street,  Raleigh,  North Carolina 27603, as its agent
to receive on behalf of the Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  and their  property
service of copies of the summons and  complaint  and any other process which may
be served in any such action or proceeding. A copy of such process shall also be
mailed by express  two-day  delivery,  postage  prepaid,  to the Borrower at its
address specified pursuant to Section 15.3; provided,  however,  that failure to
give a copy of 

                                       76

<PAGE>

such  notice to the  Borrower  will not  affect the  validity  of service on the
Process  Agent.  Such  service  may be made by  delivering  by  express  two-day
delivery or hand  delivering  a copy of such  process to the Borrower in care of
the Process Agent at the Process Agent's above address,  and the Borrower hereby
irrevocably  authorizes  and directs the Process Agent to accept such service on
its behalf.  The Borrower  agrees to indemnify  such Process Agent in connection
with all matters  relating to its  appointment as agent of the Borrower for such
purposes,  to enter into any agreement  relating to such appointment  which such
Process Agent may customarily require, and to pay such Process Agent's customary
fees upon demand. As an alternative  method of service,  the Borrower for itself
and its  Subsidiaries  also  irrevocably  consents to the service of any and all
process  in any such  action  or  proceeding  by the  mailing  of copies of such
process to the  Borrower at its  address  specified  pursuant  to Section  15.3.
Nothing in this Section 15.11 shall affect the right of the Administrative Agent
or any Bank to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

         SECTION 15.12  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties  hereto and their  respective
successors and assigns; provided,  however, that: the Borrower may not assign or
transfer  its  rights or  obligations  under  this  Agreement  or any other Loan
Document  without the prior written consent of all Banks,  and the rights of the
Banks to make assignments or grant  participations are subject to the provisions
of Section 14.

         SECTION 15.13 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  THE BORROWER,  THE  ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT AND EACH BANK HEREBY KNOWINGLY,  VOLUNTARILY AND  INTENTIONALLY  WAIVE ANY
RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,  PROCEEDING OR  COUNTERCLAIM  CONCERNING
ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS  AGREEMENT,  ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT
OR AGREEMENT  DELIVERED  OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE  DELIVERED IN  CONNECTION
HEREWITH OR  THEREWITH,  OR ARISING  FROM ANY BANKING  RELATIONSHIP  EXISTING IN
CONNECTION  WITH THIS AGREEMENT,  AND AGREE THAT ANY SUCH ACTION,  PROCEEDING OR
COUNTERCLAIM SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY; THIS PROVISION
IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PARTIES ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT.

                                       77


<PAGE>




         Executed as of the day and year first above written.


                              CONSECO, INC.



                              By: /s/ ROLLIN M. DICK
                                  ---------------------------------------------
                              Name:   Rollin M. Dick
                              Title:  Chief Financial Officer and
                                      Executive Vice President


                              Notice Address

                              Address:     11825 N. Pennsylvania St.
                                           Carmel, Indiana  46032
                              Attention:   John J. Sabl
                              Telephone:  (817) 573-6163
                              Facsimile:  (817) 573-6327



C-462027v04.11222.01014

<PAGE>


                              FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as
                              Administrative Agent and as a Bank



                              By:  /s/ GAIL M. GOLIGHTLY
                                   ---------------------------------------------

Commitment:
$200,000,000                  Name:   Gail M. Golightly

                              Title:  Senior Vice President


                              Instructions  for wire transfers
                              to the Administrative Agent:

                              First Union National Bank
                              ABA Routing No. 053000219
                              Charlotte, North Carolina
                              General Ledger No. 465906, RC No. 5007
                              Attention: Syndication Agency Services
                              Re:  Conseco, Inc. Six-Month Loan

                              Address for notices as a Lender:

                              First Union National Bank
                              One First Union Center, 5th Floor
                              301 South College Street
                              Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0735
                              Attention: Mr. Robert C. Mayer, Jr.
                              Telephone: (704) 374-6628
                              Telecopy: (704) 383-7611

                              Lending Office:
                              First Union National Bank
                              One First Union Center, 5th Floor
                              301 South College Street
                              Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0735
                              Attention: Ms. Lisa Mowery
                              Telephone: (704) 383-0558
                              Telecopy: (704) 383-7611

C-462027v04.11222.01014







                       AGREEMENT FOR SALE OF DEBENTURES OF
                            NAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.


         This Agreement is made and entered into by and between the  undersigned
selling debenture holder ("Seller") and Conseco, Inc. ("Buyer").

                                    RECITALS

         A. The Seller is the present holder of certain  convertible  debentures
of NAL  Financial  Group,  Inc. (the  "Company")  listed on Exhibit "A" attached
hereto in the aggregate face amount of $5,500,000 (the "Debentures").

         B.  Seller  desires to sell,  and the Buyer  desires to  purchase,  the
Debentures  subject to the  terms,  provisions  and  conditions  as  hereinafter
provided.

                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the above Recitals and the mutual
covenants  contained herein,  and each act pursuant thereto the parties agree as
follows:

         1. On the later of (i) October 1, 1997, or (ii) the fifth  business day
immediately   following  the   expiration  of  the  waiting   period  under  the
Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act with respect to a filing made by Buyer or its  affiliates
in connection with this proposed transaction (the "Filing Approval"), the Seller
shall sell and the Buyer shall  purchase  all of the  Debentures  subject to the
conditions hereinafter stated (the "Closing Date").

         2. This  transaction  is subject and  conditioned  upon  obtaining  the
Filing  Approval  no later than  October  23,  1997.  In the event  such  Filing
Approval is not obtained by October 23, 1997,  the  obligation  of the Buyer and
the Seller  hereunder  shall  terminate  without any need for further act by the
parties. In addition, the following conditions must be satisfied prior to the






<PAGE>



Closing Date, unless waived by Buyer:

                  (a) The Company shall not have filed for bankruptcy protection
         under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

                  (b) The Buyer shall obtain  agreements of the other holders of
         the Company's  outstanding  convertible  debt to sell to the Buyer such
         convertible debt.

                  (c) The Buyer shall have obtained any required approval of the
         transfer of the Debentures from the Company,  and any other party whose
         approval is required to preclude the  acceleration  of  indebtedness of
         the Company.

         3. The purchase  price  ("Purchase  Price") for the Debenture  shall be
$4,400,000,  notwithstanding  the face amount or principal and interest  balance
thereof.  The Closing shall take place at the offices of counsel to the Company,
Buchanan Ingersoll,  in Philadelphia on the Closing Date ("Closing").  The Buyer
shall  provide the Seller prior  written  notice of the Closing Date of at least
five (5)  business  days prior to the Closing  Date.  At Closing,  Seller  shall
deliver to the Buyer the original  Debentures,  duly  endorsed by an  assignment
without recourse and such other instruments,  in form and substance satisfactory
to the Seller,  as the Buyer shall deem  necessary to transfer such ownership of
the  Debentures.  On the Closing  Date,  Buyer  shall  deliver to Seller by wire
transfer in immediately available funds the full amount of the Purchase Price in
accordance with the payment instruction  provided by Seller to Buyer. The Seller
shall promptly after entering into this Agreement,  and the parties  agreeing to
the transfer  documents,  deposit the original Debentures and transfer documents
in escrow  with the  Company's  counsel,  Buchanan  Ingersoll,  to hold  pending
payment of the Purchase Price.

                  4. The following  shall be conditions to Seller's  obligations
to sell hereunder:

                  (a) At Closing, the Company shall provide any required consent
         to the  transfer  of the  Debenture  and waive any  requirement  for an
         opinion of counsel to be  provided of Seller  (unless  Buyer or Company
         provides such opinion).

                  5. Seller represents and warrants on the date hereon and as of
         Closing, as follows:

                                       2
<PAGE>


                  (a)  Seller  will be the sole owner of the  Debentures,  which
         shall not be  converted  prior to Closing on the date  hereof and as of
         Closing,  and each of such  Debentures  shall be free and  clear of the
         liens, encumbrances,  claims of others and transfer restrictions of any
         kind;

                  (b) Seller has full power and authority to sell the Debentures
         to the Buyer in accordance with the provisions hereof;

                  (c) This  Agreement is a valid and binding  obligation  of the
         Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the execution and
         performance  of this  Agreement  by the  Seller  will not result in any
         violation  of or be in  conflict  or  constitute  a  default  under any
         contract, agreement, instrument, judgment, decree or other indenture to
         which Seller is a party or by which Seller otherwise is bound;

                  (d) No persons,  corporations  or other  entity has,  nor as a
         result of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby will have, any right,
         interest,  or valid claim against the Seller,  the Buyer or the Company
         for the commission,  fee or other compensation as a finder or broker or
         any similar capacity arising out of any action taken by Seller; and

                  (e) The Seller is a  sophisticated  seller with respect to the
         Debentures,  has  adequate  information  concerning  the  business  and
         financial  condition  of the  Company  to  make  an  informed  decision
         regarding the sale of the Debentures,  and has  independently,  without
         reliance upon the Buyer,  and based upon such  information as it deemed
         appropriate,  made its own  analysis  and  decision  to enter into this
         Agreement,  and the Seller  acknowledges  and agrees that the Buyer may
         possess  material  information with respect to the Company not known to
         the Seller (the "Buyer Information"), that the Seller has not requested
         the Buyer  Information  and the Buyer  shall have no  liability  to the
         Seller with respect to the non-disclosure of the Buyer Information.

         6. The Buyer  hereby  represents  and  warrants  as follows on the date
hereof and as of the Closing:

                  (a) This  Agreement is a valid and binding  obligation  of the
         Buyer,  enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the execution and
         performance  of this  Agreement  by the  Buyer  will not  result in any
         violation of or be in conflict  with or  constitute a default under any
         contract, agreement, instrument, judgment, decree or other indenture to
         which the Buyer is a party or by which the Buyer otherwise is bound;

                  (b) No  person,  corporation  or other  entity  has,  nor as a
         result of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby will have, any right,
         interest  or valid claim  against the Seller,  the Buyer or the Company
         for any commission, fee or any other


                                       3

<PAGE>



         compensation as a finder or broker or in any similar capacity arising
         out of any action taken by the Buyer;

                  (c) The  Buyer  has  the  power  and  legal  right  to buy the
         Debentures from the Seller in accordance with the provisions hereof;

                  (d) To  the  Buyer's  actual  knowledge,  no  proceedings  are
         pending   against   the  Buyer   before  any  court,   arbitrator,   or
         administrative  or  governmental  body,  which  would  have a  material
         adverse  effect on any action  taken or to be taken by the Buyer  under
         this Agreement;

                  (e) The  Buyer  is a  sophisticated  buyer  and an  accredited
         investor  within the meaning of Rule 501 of the  Securities Act of 1933
         with respect to the Debentures, has adequate information concerning the
         business  and  financial  condition  of the Company to make an informed
         decision   regarding   the   purchase  of  the   Debentures,   and  has
         independently,  without  reliance upon the Seller,  and based upon such
         information as it deemed appropriate, made it own analysis and decision
         to enter into this  Agreement,  and the Buyer  acknowledges  and agrees
         that the Seller may possess  material  information  with respect to the
         Company  not known to the Buyer (the  "Seller  Information"),  that the
         Buyer has not  requested  the Seller  Information  and the Seller shall
         have no liability to the Buyer with  respect to the  non-disclosure  of
         the Seller Information;

                  (f)  The  Buyer  has  made  such  examinations,   reviews  and
         investigations of the facts and circumstances necessary to evaluate the
         purchase  of the  Debentures  as the  Buyer  has  deemed  necessary  or
         appropriate;

                  (g) The  Buyer  has  made  its own  credit  determination  and
         analysis based upon such information as the Buyer deemed  sufficient to
         enter  into  this   Agreement  and  not  based  on  any  statements  or
         representations  by  the  Seller,   except  for  those  statements  and
         representations expressly set forth herein;

                  (h)  The  sale of the  Debentures  hereunder  is made  without
         recourse,  representation  or  warranty  of any kind,  except for those
         representations and warranties expressly set forth herein;

                  (i) No "Benefit  Plan",  as such is defined in Section 3(3) of
         the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974, as amended,  is
         purchasing any interest in the Debentures;

                  (j) No consents,  notices filings, approvals or authorizations
         on behalf of the Buyer are  required  to be made to or with or received
         from any person or governmental body for the sale of the Debentures and
         the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
         except as may be referenced in the conditions of this Agreement; and

                                       4

<PAGE>

                  (k) The Buyer is purchasing the Debentures for its own account
         and the Buyer is not  purchasing  the Debentures for resale in a manner
         that violate applicable  securities laws, provided that this subsection
         6(k)  shall  not  limit the  ability  of the  Buyer to sell,  assign or
         transfer  the  Debentures,  in  whole or in part,  in  accordance  with
         applicable law, the Debentures and this Agreement.

         7. Each of the  Seller  and the Buyer  acknowledge  and  represent  and
warrant to each  other that (a)  neither  party has made any  representation  or
warranty,  either  express  or  implied,  of any  character,  except  for  those
representations and warranties  expressly set forth herein, and (b) upon Closing
the sale of the Debentures to the Buyer is irrevocable.

         8. This Agreement  constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the subject  matter hereof and  supersedes  and merges all prior
understandings  and  agreements  concerning  the  subject  matter  hereof.  This
Agreement may only be modified or amended in writing.

         9. This  Agreement may be executed in  counterparts,  each one of which
shall  constitute  one and the same  agreement  and  each one of which  shall be
deemed an original. This Agreement may be executed and delivered via facsimile.

         10.  Each of the  Seller  and the  Buyer  shall  bear its own costs and
expenses in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

         11.  Whenever  possible,  each  provision  of this  Agreement  shall be
interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under  applicable law.
If any  provision  contained in this  Agreement is held to be  prohibited  by or
invalid under  applicable law, such provision  shall be ineffective  only to the
extent of such prohibition or invalidity,  without invalidating the remainder of
such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

         12.  Neither the Seller nor the Buyer may assign this  Agreement or any
of their rights 

                                       5
<PAGE>

or  obligations  under this Agreement  without the prior written  consent of the
other party,  which consent shall be given in the sole discretion of such party;
provided,  however,  that Buyer may transfer this Agreement to any of its wholly
owned  subsidiaries  provided  that such  transferee  assumes  all  obligations,
representations  and  warranties  herein,  and provides  Seller with  reasonable
evidence that  transferee  complies with all  representations  and warranties in
Section 6 hereof.

         13. This  Agreement  shall  be  construed  in  accordance  with and  be
governed  by the law of the State of New York.  Each of the Seller and the Buyer
hereby  irrevocably  consents  to the  nonexclusive  jurisdiction  of the United
States Court for the  Southern  District of New York and the courts of the State
of New York located in the City of New York in any action to enforce,  interpret
or construe any provision of this Agreement.

                                       6


<PAGE>



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.

                                            CONSECO, INC.



                                            By: /s/ NGAIRE E. CUNEO
                                                --------------------------------
                                            Printed: Ngaire E. Cuneo
                                            Title: Executive Vice President

                                                            "BUYER"


                                             /s/MICHAEL KARP     
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                     Michael Karp





<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                    EXHIBIT "A"

                                                List of Debentures

<S>                      <C>                      <C>                      <C>    
                                                    ORIGINAL                 FACE
  DEBENTURE                ISSUE DATE                LENDER                 AMOUNT
- ---------------          -------------            ------------             ---------- 

9% Convertible           Jan. 29, 1996            Michael Karp             $2,500,000
Subordinated
Debenture
9% Convertible           July 14, 1995            Florence Karp            $1,000,000
Subordinated                                      C/F Penelope &
Debenture                                         Athena Karp
                                                  assigned to
                                                  Michael Karp)
9% Convertible           July 28, 1995            Florence Karp            $1,000,000
Subordinated                                      C/F Penelope &
Debenture                                         Athena Karp
                                                  (assigned to
                                                  Michael Karp)
9% Convertible           Aug. 22, 1995            Florence Karp            $1,000,000
Subordinated                                      C/F Penelope &
Debenture                                         Athena Karp
                                                  (assigned to
                                                  Michael Karp)
- ------------------------ ------------------------ -----------------------  --------------------

</TABLE>










                      AGREEMENT FOR SALE OF DEBENTURES OF
                            NAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.


         This Agreement is made and entered into by and between the  undersigned
selling debenture holder ("Seller") and Conseco, Inc. ("Buyer").

                                    RECITALS

         A. The Seller is the present holder of certain  convertible  debentures
of NAL Financial  Group,  Inc. (the  "Company") in the face amount of $2,750,000
(the "Debentures").

         B.  Seller  desires to sell,  and the Buyer  desires to  purchase,  the
Debentures  subject to the  terms,  provisions  and  conditions  as  hereinafter
provided.

                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the above Recitals and the mutual
covenants  contained herein,  and each act pursuant thereto the parties agree as
follows:
         1. On the fifth  business day  immediately  following the expiration of
the waiting period under the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act (the "Closing Date"),  with
respect to a filing  made by Buyer or its  affiliates  in  connection  with this
proposed  transaction  (the  "Filing  Approval"),  the Seller shall sell and the
Buyer shall purchase all of the Debentures subject to the conditions hereinafter
stated.
         2. This  transaction  is subject and  conditioned  upon  obtaining  the
Filing  Approval  no later than  October  23,  1997.  In the event  such  Filing
Approval is not obtained by October 23, 1997,  the  obligation  of the Buyer and
the Seller  hereunder  shall  terminate  without any need for further act by the
parties.  In addition,  the following  conditions must be satisfied prior to the
Closing Date, unless waived by Buyer:


<PAGE>


                  (a)  There  shall  have  been no  material  adverse  change in
         Company's business as of August 19, 1997 and the Company shall not have
         filed for  bankruptcy  protection  under the United  States  Bankruptcy
         Code.

                  (b) The Buyer shall obtain  agreements of the other holders of
         the Company's  outstanding  convertible  debt to sell to the Buyer such
         convertible debt.

                  (c) The Buyer shall have obtained any required approval of the
         transfer of the Debentures from the Company,  and any other party whose
         approval is required to preclude the  acceleration  of  indebtedness of
         the Company.

         3. The purchase  price  ("Purchase  Price") for the Debenture  shall be
$2,200,000,  notwithstanding  the face amount or principal and interest  balance
thereof.. The Closing shall take place at the offices of counsel to the Company,
Buchanan Ingersoll,  in Philadelphia on the Closing Date ("Closing").  The Buyer
shall  provide the Seller prior  written  notice of the Closing Date of at least
five (5)  business  days prior to the Closing  Date.  At Closing,  Seller  shall
deliver to the Buyer the original  Debentures,  duly  endorsed by an  assignment
without recourse and such other instruments,  in form and substance satisfactory
to the Seller,  as the Buyer shall deem  necessary to transfer such ownership of
the  Debentures.  On the Closing  Date,  Buyer  shall  deliver to Seller by wire
transfer in immediately available funds the full amount of the Purchase Price in
accordance with the payment instruction provided by Seller to Buyer.

         4. The following  shall be conditions to Seller's  obligations  to sell
         hereunder:


                  (a) At Closing, the Company amend those certain warrants dated
         September 12, 1996,  issued to Kane & Co., as nominee for Merrill Lynch
         Convertible  Fund, Inc., in the amount of 34,375 shares of common stock
         of the Company, and issued to Bridge Rope & Co., as nominee for Merrill
         Lynch World Income Fund, Inc., in the amount of 28,125 shares of Common
         Stock of the Company, so as to provide a strike price being adjusted to
         one hundred  percent  (100%) of the closing bid price of the  Company's
         common  stock,  as reported  on the  principal  exchange  or  automated
         quotation system upon which the Company's  common stock trades,  on the
         day of the Filing Approval, to comply with, and in lieu of, any further
         adjustment right in Section 11.5 of the Warrants; and

                  (b) At Closing, the Company shall provide any required consent
         to the transfer


                                       2


<PAGE>



         of the Debenture and waive any requirement for an opinion of counsel to
         be provided of Seller (unless Buyer or Company provides such opinion).

         5. Seller represents and warrants on the date hereon and as of Closing,
         as follows: 

                  (a)  Seller  will be the sole  owner of the  Debentures, which
         shall not be  converted  prior to Closing on the date  hereof and as of
         Closing,  and each of such  Debentures  shall be free and  clear of the
         liens, encumbrances,  claims of others and transfer restrictions of any
         kind;

                  (b) Seller has full power and authority to sell the Debentures
         to the Buyer in accordance with the provisions hereof;

                  (c) This  Agreement is a valid and binding  obligation  of the
         Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the execution and
         performance  of this  Agreement  by the  Seller  will not result in any
         violation  of or be in  conflict  or  constitute  a  default  under any
         contract, agreement, instrument, judgment, decree or other indenture to
         which Seller is a party or by which Seller otherwise is bound;


                  (d) No persons,  corporations  or other  entity has,  nor as a
         result of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby will have, any right,
         interest,  or valid claim against the Seller,  the Buyer or the Company
         for the commission,  fee or other compensation as a finder or broker or
         any similar capacity arising out of any action taken by Seller; and

                  (e) The Seller is a  sophisticated  seller with respect to the
         Debentures,  has  adequate  information  concerning  the  business  and
         financial  condition  of the  Company  to  make  an  informed  decision
         regarding the sale of the Debentures,  and has  independently,  without
         reliance upon the Buyer,  and based upon such  information as it deemed
         appropriate,  made its own  analysis  and  decision  to enter into this
         Agreement,  and the Seller  acknowledges  and agrees that the Buyer may
         possess  material  information with respect to the Company not known to
         the Seller (the "Buyer Information"), that the Seller has not requested
         the Buyer  Information  and the Buyer  shall have no  liability  to the
         Seller with respect to the non-disclosure of the Buyer Information.

         6. The Buyer  hereby  represents  and  warrants  as follows on the date
hereof and as of the Closing:

                  (a) This  Agreement is a valid and binding  obligation  of the
         Buyer,  enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the execution and
         performance  of this  Agreement  by the  Buyer  will not  result in any
         violation of or be in conflict  with or  constitute a default under any
         contract, agreement, instrument, judgment, decree or other indenture to
         which the Buyer is a party or by which the Buyer

                                       3


<PAGE>


         otherwise is bound;

                  (b) No  person,  corporation  or other  entity  has,  nor as a
         result of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby will have, any right,
         interest  or valid claim  against the Seller,  the Buyer or the Company
         for any commission, fee or any other compensation as a finder or broker
         or in any  similar  capacity  arising  out of any  action  taken by the
         Buyer;

                  (c) The  Buyer  has  the  power  and  legal  right  to buy the
         Debentures from the Seller in accordance with the provisions hereof;

                  (d)  To the  Buyer's  actual  knowledge,  no  proceedings  are
         pending   against   the  Buyer   before  any  court,   arbitrator,   or
         administrative  or  governmental  body,  which  would  have a  material
         adverse  effect on any action  taken or to be taken by the Buyer  under
         this Agreement;

                  (e) The  Buyer  is a  sophisticated  buyer  and an  accredited
         investor  within the meaning of Rule 501 of the  Securities Act of 1933
         with respect to the Debentures, has adequate information concerning the
         business  and  financial  condition  of the Company to make an informed
         decision   regarding   the   purchase  of  the   Debentures,   and  has
         independently,  without  reliance upon the Seller,  and based upon such
         information as it deemed appropriate, made it own analysis and decision
         to enter into this  Agreement,  and the Buyer  acknowledges  and agrees
         that the Seller may possess  material  information  with respect to the
         Company  not known to the Buyer (the  "Seller  Information"),  that the
         Buyer has not  requested  the Seller  Information  and the Seller shall
         have no liability to the Buyer with  respect to the  non-disclosure  of
         the Seller Information;

                  (f)  The  Buyer  has  made  such  examinations,   reviews  and
         investigations of the facts and circumstances necessary to evaluate the
         purchase  of the  Debentures  as the  Buyer  has  deemed  necessary  or
         appropriate;

                  (g) The  Buyer  has  made  its own  credit  determination  and
         analysis based upon such information as the Buyer deemed  sufficient to
         enter  into  this   Agreement  and  not  based  on  any  statements  or
         representations  by  the  Seller,   except  for  those  statements  and
         representations expressly set forth herein;

                  (h)  The  sale of the  Debentures  hereunder  is made  without
         recourse,  representation  or  warranty  of any kind,  except for those
         representations and warranties expressly set forth herein;

                  (i) No "Benefit  Plan",  as such is defined in Section 3(3) of
         the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974, as amended,  is
         purchasing any interest in the Debentures;


                                       4
<PAGE>

                  (j) No consents,  notices filings, approvals or authorizations
         on behalf of the Buyer are  required  to be made to or with or received
         from any person or governmental body for the sale of the Debentures and
         the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
         except as may be referenced in the conditions of this Agreement; and

                  (k) The Buyer is purchasing the Debentures for its own account
         and the Buyer is not  purchasing  the Debentures for resale in a manner
         that violate applicable  securities laws, provided that this subsection
         6(k)  shall  not  limit the  ability  of the  Buyer to sell,  assign or
         transfer  the  Debentures,  in  whole or in part,  in  accordance  with
         applicable law, the Debentures and this Agreement.


         7. Each of the  Seller  and the Buyer  acknowledge  and  represent  and
warrant to each  other that (a)  neither  party has made any  representation  or
warranty,  either  express  or  implied,  of any  character,  except  for  those
representations and warranties  expressly set forth herein, and (b) upon Closing
the sale of the Debentures to the Buyer is irrevocable.

         8. This Agreement  constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the subject  matter hereof and  supersedes  and merges all prior
understandings  and  agreements  concerning  the  subject  matter  hereof.  This
Agreement may only be modified or amended in writing.


         9. This  Agreement may be executed in  counterparts,  each one of which
shall  constitute  one and the same  agreement  and  each one of which  shall be
deemed an original. This Agreement may be executed and delivered via facsimile.

         10.  Each of the  Seller  and the  Buyer  shall  bear its own costs and
expenses in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

         11.  Whenever  possible,  each  provision  of this  Agreement  shall be
interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under  applicable law.
If any  provision  contained in this  Agreement is held to be  prohibited  by or
invalid under  applicable law, such provision  shall be 

                                       5
<PAGE>

ineffective  only to the  extent  of such  prohibition  or  invalidity,  without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this
Agreement.

         12.  Neither the Seller nor the Buyer may assign this  Agreement or any
of their rights or obligations  under this  Agreement  without the prior written
consent of the other party,  which consent shall be given in the sole discretion
of such party; provided,  however, that Buyer may transfer this Agreement to any
of its wholly  owned  subsidiaries  provided  that such  transferee  assumes all
obligations,  representations  and warranties  herein,  and provides Seller with
reasonable  evidence  that  transferee  complies  with all  representations  and
warranties in Section 6 hereof.

         13.  This  Agreement  shall  be  construed  in  accordance  with and be
governed  by the law of the State of New York.  Each of the Seller and the Buyer
hereby  irrevocably  consents  to the  nonexclusive  jurisdiction  of the United
States Court for the  Southern  District of New York and the courts of the State
of New York located in the City of New York in any action to enforce,  interpret
or construe any provision of this Agreement.

                                       6

<PAGE>




         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.

                                              CONSECO, INC.



                                              By: /s/ NGAIRE E. CUNEO 
                                              _________________________________
                                              Printed: Ngaire E. Cuneo
                                              Title: Executive Vice President

                                                             "BUYER"


                                              MERRILL LYNCH CONVERTIBLE
                                                  FUND, INC.



                                              By: /s/ DANIEL LUCHANSKY
                                              __________________________________
                                              Printed:  Daniel Luchansky
                                              Title:  Vice President




                       AGREEMENT FOR SALE OF DEBENTURES OF
                            NAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.


         This Agreement is made and entered into by and between  the undersigned
selling debenture holder ("Seller") and Conseco, Inc. ("Buyer").

                                    RECITALS

         A. The Seller is the present holder of certain  convertible  debentures
of NAL Financial  Group,  Inc. (the  "Company") in the face amount of $2,250,000
(the "Debentures").

         B.  Seller  desires to sell,  and the Buyer  desires to  purchase,  the
Debentures  subject to the  terms,  provisions  and  conditions  as  hereinafter
provided.

                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the above Recitals and the mutual
covenants  contained herein,  and each act pursuant thereto the parties agree as
follows:

         1. On the fifth  business day  immediately  following the expiration of
the waiting period under the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act (the "Closing Date"),  with
respect to a filing  made by Buyer or its  affiliates  in  connection  with this
proposed  transaction  (the  "Filing  Approval"),  the Seller shall sell and the
Buyer shall purchase all of the Debentures subject to the conditions hereinafter
stated.

         2. This  transaction  is subject and  conditioned  upon  obtaining  the
Filing  Approval  no later than  October  23,  1997.  In the event  such  Filing
Approval is not obtained by October 23, 1997,  the  obligation  of the Buyer and
the Seller  hereunder  shall  terminate  without any need for further act by the
parties.  In addition,  the following  conditions must be satisfied prior to the
Closing Date, unless waived by Buyer:



<PAGE>

                  (a)  There  shall  have  been no  material  adverse  change in
         Company's business as of August 19, 1997 and the Company shall not have
         filed for  bankruptcy  protection  under the United  States  Bankruptcy
         Code.

                  (b) The Buyer shall obtain  agreements of the other holders of
         the Company's  outstanding  convertible  debt to sell to the Buyer such
         convertible debt.

                  (c) The Buyer shall have obtained any required approval of the
         transfer of the Debentures from the Company,  and any other party whose
         approval is required to preclude the  acceleration  of  indebtedness of
         the Company.

         3. The purchase  price  ("Purchase  Price") for the Debenture  shall be
$1,800,000,  notwithstanding  the face amount or principal and interest  balance
thereof.  The Closing shall take place at the offices of counsel to the Company,
Buchanan Ingersoll,  in Philadelphia on the Closing Date ("Closing").  The Buyer
shall  provide the Seller prior  written  notice of the Closing Date of at least
five (5)  business  days prior to the Closing  Date.  At Closing,  Seller  shall
deliver to the Buyer the original  Debentures,  duly  endorsed by an  assignment
without recourse and such other instruments,  in form and substance satisfactory
to the Seller,  as the Buyer shall deem  necessary to transfer such ownership of
the  Debentures.  On the Closing  Date,  Buyer  shall  deliver to Seller by wire
transfer in immediately available funds the full amount of the Purchase Price in
accordance with the payment instruction provided by Seller to Buyer.

         4. The following  shall be conditions to Seller's  obligations  to sell
         hereunder:


                  (a) At Closing, the Company amend those certain warrants dated
         September 12, 1996,  issued to Kane & Co., as nominee for Merrill Lynch
         Convertible  Fund, Inc., in the amount of 34,375 shares of common stock
         of the Company, and issued to Bridge Rope & Co., as nominee for Merrill
         Lynch World Income Fund, Inc., in the amount of 28,125 shares of Common
         Stock of the Company, so as to provide a strike price being adjusted to
         one hundred  percent  (100%) of the closing bid price of the  Company's
         common  stock,  as reported  on the  principal  exchange  or  automated
         quotation system upon which the Company's  common stock trades,  on the
         day of the Filing Approval, to comply with, and in lieu of, any further
         adjustment right in Section 11.5 of the Warrants; and

                  (b) At Closing, the Company shall provide any required consent
         to the transfer



                                       2
<PAGE>



         of the Debenture and waive any requirement for an opinion of counsel to
         be provided of Seller (unless Buyer or Company provides such opinion).

         5. Seller represents and warrants on the date hereon and as of Closing,
as follows:

                  (a)  Seller  will be the sole owner of the  Debentures,  which
         shall not be  converted  prior to Closing on the date  hereof and as of
         Closing,  and each of such  Debentures  shall be free and  clear of the
         liens, encumbrances,  claims of others and transfer restrictions of any
         kind;

                  (b) Seller has full power and authority to sell the Debentures
         to the Buyer in accordance with the provisions hereof;

                  (c) This  Agreement is a valid and binding  obligation  of the
         Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the execution and
         performance  of this  Agreement  by the  Seller  will not result in any
         violation  of or be in  conflict  or  constitute  a  default  under any
         contract, agreement, instrument, judgment, decree or other indenture to
         which Seller is a party or by which Seller otherwise is bound;

                  (d) No persons,  corporations  or other  entity has,  nor as a
         result of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby will have, any right,
         interest,  or valid claim against the Seller,  the Buyer or the Company
         for the commission,  fee or other compensation as a finder or broker or
         any similar capacity arising out of any action taken by Seller; and

                  (e) The Seller is a  sophisticated  seller with respect to the
         Debentures,  has  adequate  information  concerning  the  business  and
         financial  condition  of the  Company  to  make  an  informed  decision
         regarding the sale of the Debentures,  and has  independently,  without
         reliance upon the Buyer,  and based upon such  information as it deemed
         appropriate,  made its own  analysis  and  decision  to enter into this
         Agreement,  and the Seller  acknowledges  and agrees that the Buyer may
         possess  material  information with respect to the Company not known to
         the Seller (the "Buyer Information"), that the Seller has not requested
         the Buyer  Information  and the Buyer  shall have no  liability  to the
         Seller with respect to the non-disclosure of the Buyer Information.

         6. The Buyer  hereby  represents  and  warrants  as follows on the date
hereof and as of the Closing:

                  (a) This  Agreement is a valid and binding  obligation  of the
         Buyer,  enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the execution and
         performance  of this  Agreement  by the  Buyer  will not  result in any
         violation of or be in conflict  with or  constitute a default under any
         contract, agreement, instrument, judgment, decree or other indenture to
         which the Buyer is a party or by which the Buyer

                                       3
<PAGE>


         otherwise is bound;

                  (b) No  person,  corporation  or other  entity  has,  nor as a
         result of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby will have, any right,
         interest  or valid claim  against the Seller,  the Buyer or the Company
         for any commission, fee or any other compensation as a finder or broker
         or in any  similar  capacity  arising  out of any  action  taken by the
         Buyer;

                  (c) The  Buyer  has  the  power  and  legal  right  to buy the
         Debentures from the Seller in accordance with the provisions hereof;

                  (d) To  the  Buyer's  actual  knowledge,  no  proceedings  are
         pending   against   the  Buyer   before  any  court,   arbitrator,   or
         administrative  or  governmental  body,  which  would  have a  material
         adverse  effect on any action  taken or to be taken by the Buyer  under
         this Agreement;

                  (e) The  Buyer  is a  sophisticated  buyer  and an  accredited
         investor  within the meaning of Rule 501 of the  Securities Act of 1933
         with respect to the Debentures, has adequate information concerning the
         business  and  financial  condition  of the Company to make an informed
         decision   regarding   the   purchase  of  the   Debentures,   and  has
         independently,  without  reliance upon the Seller,  and based upon such
         information as it deemed appropriate, made it own analysis and decision
         to enter into this  Agreement,  and the Buyer  acknowledges  and agrees
         that the Seller may possess  material  information  with respect to the
         Company  not known to the Buyer (the  "Seller  Information"),  that the
         Buyer has not  requested  the Seller  Information  and the Seller shall
         have no liability to the Buyer with  respect to the  non-disclosure  of
         the Seller Information;

                  (f) The  Buyer  has  made   such  examinations,   reviews  and
         investigations of the facts and circumstances necessary to evaluate the
         purchase  of the  Debentures  as the  Buyer  has  deemed  necessary  or
         appropriate;

                  (g) The  Buyer  has  made  its own  credit  determination  and
         analysis based upon such information as the Buyer deemed  sufficient to
         enter  into  this   Agreement  and  not  based  on  any  statements  or
         representations  by  the  Seller,   except  for  those  statements  and
         representations expressly set forth herein;

                  (h) The  sale of  the  Debentures  hereunder  is made  without
         recourse,  representation  or  warranty  of any kind,  except for those
         representations and warranties expressly set forth herein;

                  (i) No "Benefit  Plan",  as such is defined in Section 3(3) of
         the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974, as amended,  is
         purchasing any interest in the Debentures;

                                       4
<PAGE>

                  (j) No consents,  notices filings, approvals or authorizations
         on behalf of the Buyer are  required  to be made to or with or received
         from any person or governmental body for the sale of the Debentures and
         the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
         except as may be referenced in the conditions of this Agreement; and

                  (k) The Buyer is purchasing the Debentures for its own account
         and the Buyer is not  purchasing  the Debentures for resale in a manner
         that violate applicable  securities laws, provided that this subsection
         6(k)  shall  not  limit the  ability  of the  Buyer to sell,  assign or
         transfer  the  Debentures,  in  whole or in part,  in  accordance  with
         applicable law, the Debentures and this Agreement.

         7. Each of the  Seller  and the Buyer  acknowledge  and  represent  and
warrant to each  other that (a)  neither  party has made any  representation  or
warranty,  either  express  or  implied,  of any  character,  except  for  those
representations and warranties  expressly set forth herein, and (b) upon Closing
the sale of the Debentures to the Buyer is irrevocable.

         8. This Agreement  constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the subject  matter hereof and  supersedes  and merges all prior
understandings  and  agreements  concerning  the  subject  matter  hereof.  This
Agreement may only be modified or amended in writing.

         9. This  Agreement may be executed in  counterparts,  each one of which
shall  constitute  one and the same  agreement  and  each one of which  shall be
deemed an original. This Agreement may be executed and delivered via facsimile.

         10.  Each of the  Seller  and the  Buyer  shall  bear its own costs and
expenses in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

         11.  Whenever  possible,  each  provision  of this  Agreement  shall be
interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under  applicable law.
If any  provision  contained in this  Agreement is held to be  prohibited  by or
invalid under  applicable law, such provision  shall be

                                       5

<PAGE>

ineffective  only to the  extent  of such  prohibition  or  invalidity,  without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this
Agreement.

         12.  Neither the Seller nor the Buyer may assign this  Agreement or any
of their rights or obligations  under this  Agreement  without the prior written
consent of the other party,  which consent shall be given in the sole discretion
of such party; provided,  however, that Buyer may transfer this Agreement to any
of its wholly  owned  subsidiaries  provided  that such  transferee  assumes all
obligations,  representations  and warranties  herein,  and provides Seller with
reasonable  evidence  that  transferee  complies  with all  representations  and
warranties in Section 6 hereof.

         13.  This  Agreement  shall  be  construed  in  accordance  with and be
governed  by the law of the State of New York.  Each of the Seller and the Buyer
hereby  irrevocably  consents  to the  nonexclusive  jurisdiction  of the United
States Court for the  Southern  District of New York and the courts of the State
of New York located in the City of New York in any action to enforce,  interpret
or construe any provision of this Agreement.


                                       6


<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.

                                              CONSECO, INC.



                                              By: /s/ NGAIRE E. CUNEO
                                              __________________________________
                                              Printed: Ngaire E. Cuneo
                                              Title: Executive Vice President
                                                        
                                             "BUYER"


                                              MERRILL LYNCH WORLD INCOME
                                                  FUND, INC.



                                              By: /s/ DANIEL LUCHANSKY
                                              __________________________________
                                              Printed:  Daniel Luchansky
                                              Title:  Vice President











                       AGREEMENT FOR SALE OF DEBENTURES OF
                            NAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.


         This Agreement is made and entered into by and between the  undersigned
selling debenture holder ("Seller") and Conseco, Inc. ("Buyer").

                                    RECITALS

         A. The Seller is the present holder of certain  convertible  debentures
of NAL Financial  Group,  Inc. (the "Company") in the face amount of $1,250,000,
having a principal balance of $513,694.26 (the "Debentures").

         B.  Seller  desires to sell,  and the Buyer  desires to  purchase,  the
Debentures  subject to the  terms,  provisions  and  conditions  as  hereinafter
provided.

                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the above Recitals and the mutual
covenants  contained herein,  and each act pursuant thereto the parties agree as
follows:

         1. On the later of (i) October 1, 1997, or (ii) the fifth  business day
immediately   following  the   expiration  of  the  waiting   period  under  the
Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act with respect to a filing made by Buyer or its  affiliates
in connection with this proposed transaction (the "Filing Approval"), the Seller
shall sell and the Buyer shall  purchase  all of the  Debentures  subject to the
conditions hereinafter stated (the "Closing Date").

         2. This  transaction  is subject and  conditioned  upon  obtaining  the
Filing  Approval  no later than  October  23,  1997.  In the event  such  Filing
Approval is not obtained by October 23, 1997,  the  obligation  of the Buyer and
the Seller  hereunder  shall  terminate  without any need for further act by the
parties. In addition, the following conditions must be satisfied prior to the






<PAGE>


Closing Date, unless waived by Buyer:

                  (a)  There  shall  have  been no  material  adverse  change in
         Company's business as of August 19, 1997 and the Company shall not have
         filed for  bankruptcy  protection  under the United  States  Bankruptcy
         Code.

                  (b) The Buyer shall obtain  agreements of the other holders of
         the Company's  outstanding  convertible  debt to sell to the Buyer such
         convertible  debt,  which  agreements must be obtained by September 15,
         1997, or the condition waived by the Buyer.

                  (c) The Buyer shall have obtained any required approval of the
         transfer of the  Debentures  from the Company,  which  approval must be
         obtained by September 15, 1997,  and any other party whose  approval is
         required to preclude the acceleration of indebtedness of the Company.

         3. The purchase  price  ("Purchase  Price") for the Debenture  shall be
$410,955.41,  notwithstanding  the face amount or principal and interest balance
thereof.  The Closing shall take place at the offices of counsel to the Company,
Buchanan Ingersoll,  in Philadelphia on the Closing Date ("Closing").  The Buyer
shall  provide the Seller prior  written  notice of the Closing Date of at least
five (5)  business  days prior to the Closing  Date.  At Closing,  Seller  shall
deliver to the Buyer the original  Debentures,  duly  endorsed by an  assignment
without recourse and such other instruments,  in form and substance satisfactory
to the Seller,  as the Buyer shall deem  necessary to transfer such ownership of
the  Debentures.  On the Closing  Date,  Buyer  shall  deliver to Seller by wire
transfer in immediately available funds the full amount of the Purchase Price in
accordance with the payment instruction  provided by Seller to Buyer. The Seller
shall promptly after  receiving  notice of the Closing Date deposit the original
Debentures and transfer documents in escrow with the Company's counsel, Buchanan
Ingersoll,   to  hold  pending  payment  of  the  Purchase  Price  under  escrow
instructions prescribed by Seller.

         4. The following  shall be conditions to Seller's  obligations  to sell
hereunder:

                  (a) At Closing, the Buyer shall not purchase or have purchased
         other

                                       2


<PAGE>


         convertible  debentures  of the  Company  on more  favorable  terms  of
         purchase of convertible debentures without having offered such terms to
         Seller; and

                  (b) At Closing, the Company shall provide any required consent
         to the  transfer  of the  Debenture  and waive any  requirement  for an
         opinion of counsel to be  provided of Seller  (unless  Buyer or Company
         provides such opinion).

         5. Seller represents and warrants on the date hereon and as of Closing,
as follows:

                  (a)  Seller  will be the sole owner of the  Debentures,  which
         shall not be  converted  prior to Closing on the date  hereof and as of
         Closing,  and each of such  Debentures  shall be free and  clear of the
         liens, encumbrances,  claims of others and transfer restrictions of any
         kind  (other  than any  compliance  or  exception  requirements  of any
         applicable securities laws);

                  (b) Seller has full power and authority to sell the Debentures
         to the Buyer in accordance with the provisions hereof;

                  (c) This  Agreement is a valid and binding  obligation  of the
         Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the execution and
         performance  of this  Agreement  by the  Seller  will not result in any
         violation  of or be in  conflict  or  constitute  a  default  under any
         contract, agreement, instrument, judgment, decree or other indenture to
         which Seller is a party or by which Seller otherwise is bound;

                  (d) No persons,  corporations  or other  entity has,  nor as a
         result of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby will have, any right,
         interest,  or valid claim against the Seller,  the Buyer or the Company
         for the commission,  fee or other compensation as a finder or broker or
         any similar capacity arising out of any action taken by Seller; and

                  (e) The Seller is a  sophisticated  seller with respect to the
         Debentures,  has  adequate  information  concerning  the  business  and
         financial  condition  of the  Company  to  make  an  informed  decision
         regarding the sale of the Debentures,  and has  independently,  without
         reliance upon the Buyer,  and based upon such  information as it deemed
         appropriate,  made its own  analysis  and  decision  to enter into this
         Agreement,  and the Seller  acknowledges  and agrees that the Buyer may
         possess  material  information with respect to the Company not known to
         the Seller (the "Buyer Information"), that the Seller has not requested
         the Buyer  Information  and the Buyer  shall have no  liability  to the
         Seller with respect to the non-disclosure of the Buyer Information.

         6. The Buyer  hereby  represents  and  warrants  as follows on the date
hereof and as of the Closing:


                                       3
<PAGE>


                  (a) This  Agreement is a valid and binding  obligation  of the
         Buyer,  enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the execution and
         performance  of this  Agreement  by the  Buyer  will not  result in any
         violation of or be in conflict  with or  constitute a default under any
         contract, agreement, instrument, judgment, decree or other indenture to
         which the Buyer is a party or by which the Buyer otherwise is bound;

                  (b) No  person,  corporation  or other  entity  has,  nor as a
         result of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby will have, any right,
         interest  or valid claim  against the Seller,  the Buyer or the Company
         for any commission, fee or any other compensation as a finder or broker
         or in any  similar  capacity  arising  out of any  action  taken by the
         Buyer;

                  (c) The  Buyer  has  the  power  and  legal  right  to buy the
         Debentures from the Seller in accordance with the provisions hereof;

                  (d)  To the  Buyer's  actual  knowledge,  no  proceedings  are
         pending   against   the  Buyer   before  any  court,   arbitrator,   or
         administrative  or  governmental  body,  which  would  have a  material
         adverse  effect on any action  taken or to be taken by the Buyer  under
         this Agreement;

                  (e) The  Buyer  is a  sophisticated  buyer  and an  accredited
         investor  within the meaning of Rule 501 of the  Securities Act of 1933
         with respect to the Debentures, has adequate information concerning the
         business  and  financial  condition  of the Company to make an informed
         decision   regarding   the   purchase  of  the   Debentures,   and  has
         independently,  without  reliance upon the Seller,  and based upon such
         information as it deemed appropriate, made it own analysis and decision
         to enter into this  Agreement,  and the Buyer  acknowledges  and agrees
         that the Seller may possess  material  information  with respect to the
         Company  not known to the Buyer (the  "Seller  Information"),  that the
         Buyer has not  requested  the Seller  Information  and the Seller shall
         have no liability to the Buyer with  respect to the  non-disclosure  of
         the Seller Information;

                  (f)  The  Buyer  has  made  such  examinations,   reviews  and
         investigations of the facts and circumstances necessary to evaluate the
         purchase  of the  Debentures  as the  Buyer  has  deemed  necessary  or
         appropriate;

                  (g) The  Buyer  has  made  its own  credit  determination  and
         analysis based upon such information as the Buyer deemed  sufficient to
         enter  into  this   Agreement  and  not  based  on  any  statements  or
         representations  by  the  Seller,   except  for  those  statements  and
         representations expressly set forth herein;

                  (h)  The  sale of the  Debentures  hereunder  is made  without
         recourse,  representation  or  warranty  of any kind,  except for those
         representations and warranties expressly set forth herein;


                                       4
<PAGE>


                  (i) No "Benefit  Plan",  as such is defined in Section 3(3) of
         the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974, as amended,  is
         purchasing any interest in the Debentures;

                  (j) No consents,  notices filings, approvals or authorizations
         on behalf of the Buyer are  required  to be made to or with or received
         from any person or governmental body for the purchase of the Debentures
         and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
         except as may be referenced in the conditions of this Agreement; and

                  (k) The Buyer is purchasing the Debentures for its own account
         and the Buyer is not  purchasing  the Debentures for resale in a manner
         that violate applicable  securities laws, provided that this subsection
         6(k)  shall  not  limit the  ability  of the  Buyer to sell,  assign or
         transfer  the  Debentures,  in  whole or in part,  in  accordance  with
         applicable law, the Debentures and this Agreement.

         7. Each of the  Seller  and the Buyer  acknowledge  and  represent  and
warrant to each  other that (a)  neither  party has made any  representation  or
warranty,  either  express  or  implied,  of any  character,  except  for  those
representations and warranties  expressly set forth herein, and (b) upon Closing
the sale of the Debentures to the Buyer is irrevocable.

         8. This Agreement  constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the subject  matter hereof and  supersedes  and merges all prior
understandings  and  agreements  concerning  the  subject  matter  hereof.  This
Agreement may only be modified or amended in writing.

         9. This  Agreement may be executed in  counterparts,  each one of which
shall  constitute  one and the same  agreement  and  each one of which  shall be
deemed an original. This Agreement may be executed and delivered via facsimile.

         10.Each  of the  Seller  and the  Buyer  shall  bear its own  costs and
expenses in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

         11.  Whenever  possible,  each  provision  of this  Agreement  shall be
interpreted in such a 

                                       5
<PAGE>

manner as to be  effective  and valid under  applicable  law.  If any  provision
contained  in this  Agreement  is  held to be  prohibited  by or  invalid  under
applicable law, such provision  shall be ineffective  only to the extent of such
prohibition or invalidity,  without invalidating the remainder of such provision
or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

         12.  Neither the Seller nor the Buyer may assign this  Agreement or any
of their rights or obligations  under this  Agreement  without the prior written
consent of the other party,  which consent shall be given in the sole discretion
of such party; provided,  however, that Buyer may transfer this Agreement to any
of its wholly  owned  subsidiaries  provided  that such  transferee  assumes all
obligations,  representations  and warranties  herein,  and provides Seller with
reasonable  evidence  that  transferee  complies  with all  representations  and
warranties in Section 6 hereof.

         13.  This  Agreement  shall  be  construed  in  accordance  with and be
governed  by the law of the State of New York.  Each of the Seller and the Buyer
hereby  irrevocably  consents  to the  nonexclusive  jurisdiction  of the United
States Court for the  Southern  District of New York and the courts of the State
of New York located in the City of New York in any action to enforce,  interpret
or construe any provision of this Agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.

                                             CONSECO, INC.



                                             By: /s/ NGAIRE E. CUNEO
                                             ___________________________________
                                             Printed: Ngaire E. Cuneo
                                             Title: Executive Vice President

                                                             "BUYER"


                                       6
<PAGE>


                                              WESTMINSTER CAPITAL, INC.



                                              By: /s/
                                              __________________________________
                                              Printed: _________________________
                                              Title: ___________________________





                                       7





                       SECOND AMENDMENT TO 9% SUBORDINATED
                   CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE DATED APRIL 23, 1996

         On April 23, 1996,  NAL  Financial  Group Inc., a Delaware  corporation
("Maker" or the "Company") entered into a convertible debenture in the principal
amount of  $5,000,000  (the  "Debenture")  payable  to the  order of  Beneficial
Standard Life Insurance  Company as lender ("BSLI"),  as amended by that certain
First  Amendment to 9% Subordinated  Convertible  Debenture dated June 23, 1997.
BSLI has transferred  the Debenture to CIHC,  Incorporated  (the "Lender").  For
good and valuable consideration,  receipt of which is acknowledged,  the parties
agree to amend the Debenture as follows:

         1.       Paragraph 6 of the Debenture is hereby superseded and replaced
in its entirety with the following:

                           "6.  The  unpaid   principal  of  this  Debenture  is
                  convertible at the option of the Lender,  in whole or in part,
                  upon  surrender of this  Debenture at the principal  office of
                  the  Company,  into  restricted  shares of the Maker's  Common
                  Stock at a fixed conversion price  ("Conversion  Price") equal
                  to  Thirty-  Two  Cents   (32 cents)  per  share.   Upon  such
                  conversion and issuance of the Common Stock, all principal due
                  under  this  Debenture  shall be  discharged  and the  Company
                  released  from all  obligations  hereunder,  however,  accrued
                  interest  shall  be paid to the  date  of  conversion.  At the
                  option of the Lender,  accrued interest may also be subject to
                  conversion in the same manner as principal.

                           The shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  issuable
                  upon  the  exercise  of  the   conversion   feature  shall  be
                  "restricted securities" as that term is defined under Rule 144
                  of the  1933  Act and,  as a  consequence,  may not be sold or
                  otherwise  transferred  except pursuant to registration  under
                  the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom."

         2.       Paragraph 7.5  of  the  Debenture is  hereby  superseded   and
replaced in its entirety with the following:

                           "7.5  The  Company  shall  not  issue,  offer or sell
                  additional  shares of Common Stock or any preferred  stock, or
                  issue any rights or options for the purchase of, or securities

                                        1
                         



<PAGE>



                  convertible into shares of Common Stock or preferred stock,
                  without the prior written consent of Lender."

         3.   In all other  respects, the  Debenture  as  amended  shall  remain
unamended and in full force and effect.



                                        2




<PAGE>


WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have executed this amendment to be effective as of
October 1, 1997.

CIHC, INCORPORATED                                  NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
as Lender                                           as the Company



By:  /S/DAVID A. HILL                               By: /S/ROBERT R. BARTOLINI
     ------------------------                           ------------------------
     David A. Hill, Vice President                      Robert R. Bartolini
                                                        Chief Executive Officer




                                        3
                                              







                       SECOND AMENDMENT TO 9% SUBORDINATED
                   CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE DATED APRIL 23, 1996

         On April 23, 1996,  NAL  Financial  Group Inc., a Delaware  corporation
("Maker" or the "Company") entered into a convertible debenture in the principal
amount of $5,000,000  (the  "Debenture")  payable to the order of Great American
Reserve Insurance Company as lender ("GARCO"),  as amended by that certain First
Amendment to 9% Subordinated  Convertible  Debenture dated June 23, 1997.  GARCO
has transferred the Debenture to CIHC,  Incorporation  (the "Lender").  For good
and valuable consideration,  receipt of which is acknowledged, the parties agree
to amend the Debenture as follows:

         1.       Paragraph 6 of the Debenture is hereby superseded and replaced
in its entirety with the following:

                           "6.  The  unpaid   principal  of  this  Debenture  is
                  convertible at the option of the Lender,  in whole or in part,
                  upon  surrender of this  Debenture at the principal  office of
                  the  Company,  into  restricted  shares of the Maker's  Common
                  Stock at a fixed conversion price  ("Conversion  Price") equal
                  to  Thirty-  Two  Cents   (32 cents)  per  share.   Upon  such
                  conversion and issuance of the Common Stock, all principal due
                  under  this  Debenture  shall be  discharged  and the  Company
                  released  from all  obligations  hereunder,  however,  accrued
                  interest  shall  be paid to the  date  of  conversion.  At the
                  option of the Lender,  accrued interest may also be subject to
                  conversion in the same manner as principal.

                           The shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  issuable
                  upon  the  exercise  of  the   conversion   feature  shall  be
                  "restricted securities" as that term is defined under Rule 144
                  of the  1933  Act and,  as a  consequence,  may not be sold or
                  otherwise  transferred  except pursuant to registration  under
                  the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom."

         2.       Paragraph  7.5  of  the Debenture  is  hereby  superseded  and
replaced in its entirety with the following:

                           "7.5  The  Company  shall  not  issue,  offer or sell
                  additional  shares of Common Stock or any preferred  stock, or
                  issue any rights or options for the purchase of, or securities

                                        1
                         



<PAGE>



                  convertible into shares of Common Stock or preferred stock,
                  without the prior written consent of Lender."

         3.   In all  other respects,  the  Debenture as  amended  shall  remain
unamended and in full force and effect.



                                        2




<PAGE>


WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this amendment to be effective as of
October 1, 1997.

CIHC, INCORPORATED                                 NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
as Lender                                          as the Company



By:  /S/DAVID A. HILL                              By: /S/ROBERT R. BARTOLINI
     ---------------------------                       ----------------------
     David A. Hill, Vice President                     Robert R. Bartolini
                                                       Chief Executive Officer




                                        3
                                                    




                                  AMENDMENT TO
                       SUBORDINATED CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE

         On November 30, 1995, NAL Financial Group Inc., a Delaware  corporation
("Maker" or the "Company") entered into a convertible debenture in the principal
amount of  $1,250,000  (the  "Debenture")  payable  to the order of  Westminster
Capital, Inc. as lender, as amended. The Debenture has been transferred to CIHC,
Incorporation (the "Lender").  For good and valuable  consideration,  receipt of
which is acknowledged, the parties agree to amend the Debenture as follows:

         1.  Paragraph 7 of the Debenture is hereby  superseded  and replaced in
its entirety with the following:

                           "7.  The  unpaid   principal  of  this  Debenture  is
                  convertible at the option of the Lender,  in whole or in part,
                  upon  surrender of this  Debenture at the principal  office of
                  the  Company,  into  restricted  shares of the Maker's  Common
                  Stock at a fixed conversion price  ("Conversion  Price") equal
                  to Thirty Cents (30 cents) per share. Upon such conversion and
                  issuance of the Common  Stock,  all  principal  due under this
                  Debenture  shall be discharged  and the Company  released from
                  all obligations hereunder,  however, accrued interest shall be
                  paid to the date of  conversion.  At the option of the Lender,
                  accrued interest may also be subject to conversion in the same
                  manner as principal.

                           The shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  issuable
                  upon  the  exercise  of  the   conversion   feature  shall  be
                  "restricted securities" as that term is defined under Rule 144
                  of the  1933  Act and,  as a  consequence,  may not be sold or
                  otherwise  transferred  except pursuant to registration  under
                  the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom."

         2. In all  other  respects,  the  Debenture  as  amended  shall  remain
unamended and in full force and effect.



                                                       1




<PAGE>


WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed  this amendment to be effective as of
October 1, 1997.
CIHC, INCORPORATED                              NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
as Lender                                       as the Company



By: /s/ DAVID A. HILL                           By: /s/ ROBERT R. BARTOLINI
                          
- ---------------------------------               --------------------------------
  David A. Hill, Vice President                     Robert R. Bartolini         
                                                         



                                        2










                                  AMENDMENT TO
                       SUBORDINATED CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE

         On September 12, 1996, NAL Financial Group Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Maker" or the "Company") entered into a convertible debenture in the principal
amount of  $2,750,000  (the  "Debenture")  payable to the order of Kane & Co. as
lender.  The  Debenture  has  been  transferred  to  CIHC,   Incorporation  (the
"Lender").   For  good  and   valuable   consideration,   receipt  of  which  is
acknowledged, the parties agree to amend the Debenture as follows:

         1.  Paragraph 6 of the Debenture is hereby  superseded  and replaced in
its entirety with the following:

                           "6. Conversion Feature.  The unpaid principal of this
                  Debenture is convertible at the option of the Lender, in whole
                  or in part,  upon surrender of this Debenture at the principal
                  office of the Company,  into restricted  shares of the Maker's
                  Common Stock at a fixed conversion price ("Conversion  Price")
                  equal to  Thirty-Two  Cents  (32 cents)  per share.  Upon such
                  conversion and issuance of the Common Stock, all principal due
                  under  this  Debenture  shall be  discharged  and the  Company
                  released  from all  obligations  hereunder,  however,  accrued
                  interest  shall  be paid to the  date  of  conversion.  At the
                  option of the Lender,  accrued interest may also be subject to
                  conversion in the same manner as principal.

                           The shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  issuable
                  upon  the  exercise  of  the   conversion   feature  shall  be
                  "restricted securities" as that term is defined under Rule 144
                  of the  1933  Act and,  as a  consequence,  may not be sold or
                  otherwise  transferred  except pursuant to registration  under
                  the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom."

         2. In all  other  respects,  the  Debenture  as  amended  shall  remain
unamended and in full force and effect.


WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this amendment to be effective as of
October 1, 1997.




CIHC, INCORPORATED                            NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
as Lender                                     as the Company



By: /s/ DAVID A. HILL                         By: /s/ Robert R. Bartolini      
    _______________________________               ______________________________
    David A. Hill, Vice President                 Robert R. Bartolini
                                                  Chief Executive Officer







                                  AMENDMENT TO
                       SUBORDINATED CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE

         On July 14, 1995,  NAL  Financial  Group Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation
("Maker" or the "Company") entered into a convertible debenture in the principal
amount of $1,000,000 (the "Debenture")  payable to the order of Florence Karp as
c/f Penelope Karp and Athena Karp ("Karp").  The Debenture has been  transferred
to CIHC,  Incorporation  (the  "Lender").  For good and valuable  consideration,
receipt of which is  acknowledged,  the parties  agree to amend the Debenture as
follows:

         1.       Paragraph 7 of the Debenture is hereby superseded and replaced
in its entirety with the following:

                           "7.   Conversion.   The  unpaid   principal  of  this
                  Debenture is convertible at the option of the Lender, in whole
                  or in part,  upon surrender of this Debenture at the principal
                  office of the Company,  into restricted  shares of the Maker's
                  Common Stock at a fixed conversion price ("Conversion  Price")
                  equal  to  Thirty  Cents  (30 cents)  per  share.   Upon  such
                  conversion and issuance of the Common Stock, all principal due
                  under  this  Debenture  shall be  discharged  and the  Company
                  released  from all  obligations  hereunder,  however,  accrued
                  interest  shall  be paid to the  date  of  conversion.  At the
                  option of the Lender,  accrued interest may also be subject to
                  conversion in the same manner as principal.

                           The shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  issuable
                  upon  the  exercise  of  the   conversion   feature  shall  be
                  "restricted securities" as that term is defined under Rule 144
                  of the  1933  Act and,  as a  consequence,  may not be sold or
                  otherwise  transferred  except pursuant to registration  under
                  the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom."

         2.   In all other  respects,  the  Debenture  as  amended  shall remain
unamended and in full force and effect.

                                        1
                      



<PAGE>



WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this amendment to be effective as of
October 1, 1997.

CIHC, INCORPORATED                              NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
as Lender                                       as the Company



By:  /S/DAVID A. HILL                           By:    /S/ROBERT R. BARTOLINI
     -------------------------                         -------------------------
     David A. Hill, Vice President                     Robert R. Bartolini
                                                       Chief Executive Officer





                                        2



<PAGE>



                                  AMENDMENT TO
                       SUBORDINATED CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE

         On July 28, 1995,  NAL  Financial  Group Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation
("Maker" or the "Company") entered into a convertible debenture in the principal
amount of $1,000,000 (the "Debenture")  payable to the order of Florence Karp as
c/f Penelope Karp and Athena Karp ("Karp").  The Debenture has been  transferred
to CIHC,  Incorporation  (the  "Lender").  For good and valuable  consideration,
receipt of which is  acknowledged,  the parties  agree to amend the Debenture as
follows:

         1.       Paragraph 7 of the Debenture is hereby superseded and replaced
in its entirety with the following:

                           "7.   Conversion.   The  unpaid   principal  of  this
                  Debenture is convertible at the option of the Lender, in whole
                  or in part,  upon surrender of this Debenture at the principal
                  office of the Company,  into restricted  shares of the Maker's
                  Common Stock at a fixed conversion price ("Conversion  Price")
                  equal  to  Thirty  Cents  (30 cents)  per  share.   Upon  such
                  conversion and issuance of the Common Stock, all principal due
                  under  this  Debenture  shall be  discharged  and the  Company
                  released  from all  obligations  hereunder,  however,  accrued
                  interest  shall  be paid to the  date  of  conversion.  At the
                  option of the Lender,  accrued interest may also be subject to
                  conversion in the same manner as principal.

                           The shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  issuable
                  upon  the  exercise  of  the   conversion   feature  shall  be
                  "restricted securities" as that term is defined under Rule 144
                  of the  1933  Act and,  as a  consequence,  may not be sold or
                  otherwise  transferred  except pursuant to registration  under
                  the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom."

         2.   In all other respects,  the  Debenture  as  amended  shall  remain
unamended and in full force and effect.

                                        1
                      




<PAGE>


WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this amendment to be effective as of
October 1, 1997.

CIHC, INCORPORATED                            NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
as Lender                                     as the Company



By:  /S/DAVID A. HILL                         By: /S/ROBERT R. BARTOLINI
     -----------------------                      -------------------------
     David A. Hill, Vice President                Robert R. Bartolini
                                                  Chief Executive Officer





                                        2


<PAGE>






                                  AMENDMENT TO
                       SUBORDINATED CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE

         On August 22, 1995,  NAL Financial  Group Inc., a Delaware  corporation
("Maker" or the "Company") entered into a convertible debenture in the principal
amount of $1,000,000 (the "Debenture")  payable to the order of Florence Karp as
c/f Penelope Karp and Athena Karp ("Karp").  The Debenture has been  transferred
to CIHC,  Incorporation  (the  "Lender").  For good and valuable  consideration,
receipt of which is  acknowledged,  the parties  agree to amend the Debenture as
follows:

         1.       Paragraph 7 of the Debenture is hereby superseded and replaced
in its entirety with the following:

                           "7.   Conversion.   The  unpaid   principal  of  this
                  Debenture is convertible at the option of the Lender, in whole
                  or in part,  upon surrender of this Debenture at the principal
                  office of the Company,  into restricted  shares of the Maker's
                  Common Stock at a fixed conversion price ("Conversion  Price")
                  equal  to  Thirty  Cents  (30 cents)  per  share.   Upon  such
                  conversion and issuance of the Common Stock, all principal due
                  under  this  Debenture  shall be  discharged  and the  Company
                  released  from all  obligations  hereunder,  however,  accrued
                  interest  shall  be paid to the  date  of  conversion.  At the
                  option of the Lender,  accrued interest may also be subject to
                  conversion in the same manner as principal.

                           The shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  issuable
                  upon  the  exercise  of  the   conversion   feature  shall  be
                  "restricted securities" as that term is defined under Rule 144
                  of the  1933  Act and,  as a  consequence,  may not be sold or
                  otherwise  transferred  except pursuant to registration  under
                  the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom."

         2.   In  all  other respects,  the  Debenture  as  amended shall remain
unamended and in full force and effect.

                                        1
                      



<PAGE>


WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this amendment to be effective as of
October 1, 1997.

CIHC, INCORPORATED                               NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
as Lender                                        as the Company



By:  /S/DAVID A. HILL                            By:   /S/ROBERT R. BARTOLINI
     -----------------------------                     ------------------------
     David A. Hill, Vice President                     Robert R. Bartolini
                                                       Chief Executive Officer





                                        2


<PAGE>




                                  AMENDMENT TO
                       SUBORDINATED CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE

         On January 29, 1996, NAL Financial  Group Inc., a Delaware  corporation
("Maker" or the "Company") entered into a convertible debenture in the principal
amount of  $2,500,000  (the  "Debenture")  payable to the order of Michael  Karp
("Karp").  The  Debenture  has  been  transferred  to CIHC,  Incorporation  (the
"Lender").   For  good  and   valuable   consideration,   receipt  of  which  is
acknowledged, the parties agree to amend the Debenture as follows:

         1.       Paragraph 7 of the Debenture is hereby superseded and replaced
in its entirety with the following:

                           "7.   Conversion.   The  unpaid   principal  of  this
                  Debenture is convertible at the option of the Lender, in whole
                  or in part,  upon surrender of this Debenture at the principal
                  office of the Company,  into restricted  shares of the Maker's
                  Common Stock at a fixed conversion price ("Conversion  Price")
                  equal  to  Thirty  Cents  (30 cents)  per  share.   Upon  such
                  conversion and issuance of the Common Stock, all principal due
                  under  this  Debenture  shall be  discharged  and the  Company
                  released  from all  obligations  hereunder,  however,  accrued
                  interest  shall  be paid to the  date  of  conversion.  At the
                  option of the Lender,  accrued interest may also be subject to
                  conversion in the same manner as principal.

                           The shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  issuable
                  upon  the  exercise  of  the   conversion   feature  shall  be
                  "restricted securities" as that term is defined under Rule 144
                  of the  1933  Act and,  as a  consequence,  may not be sold or
                  otherwise  transferred  except pursuant to registration  under
                  the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom."

         2.   In all other  respects,  the  Debenture  as  amended  shall remain
unamended and in full force and effect.



                                        1
                      



<PAGE>


WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this amendment to be effective as of
October 1, 1997.

CIHC, INCORPORATED                              NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
as Lender                                       as the Company



By:  /S/DAVID A. HILL                           By: /S/ROBERT R. BARTOLINI
     -----------------------                        ---------------------------
     David A. Hill, Vice President                  Robert R. Bartolini
                                                    Chief Executive Officer





                                        2






                                  AMENDMENT TO
                       SUBORDINATED CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE

         On September 12, 1996, NAL Financial Group Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Maker" or the "Company") entered into a convertible debenture in the principal
amount of $2,250,000 (the "Debenture") payable to the order of Bridge Rope & Co.
as lender.  The  Debenture  has been  transferred  to CIHC,  Incorporation  (the
"Lender").   For  good  and   valuable   consideration,   receipt  of  which  is
acknowledged, the parties agree to amend the Debenture as follows:

         1.       Paragraph 6 of the Debenture is hereby superseded and replaced
in its entirety with the following:

                           "6. Conversion Feature.  The unpaid principal of this
                  Debenture is convertible at the option of the Lender, in whole
                  or in part,  upon surrender of this Debenture at the principal
                  office of the Company,  into restricted  shares of the Maker's
                  Common Stock at a fixed conversion price ("Conversion  Price")
                  equal to  Thirty-Two  Cents  (32 cents)  per share.  Upon such
                  conversion and issuance of the Common Stock, all principal due
                  under  this  Debenture  shall be  discharged  and the  Company
                  released  from all  obligations  hereunder,  however,  accrued
                  interest  shall  be paid to the  date  of  conversion.  At the
                  option of the Lender,  accrued interest may also be subject to
                  conversion in the same manner as principal.

                           The shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  issuable
                  upon  the  exercise  of  the   conversion   feature  shall  be
                  "restricted securities" as that term is defined under Rule 144
                  of the  1933  Act and,  as a  consequence,  may not be sold or
                  otherwise  transferred  except pursuant to registration  under
                  the 1933 Act or an available exemption therefrom."

         2.       In all other respects, the  Debenture as  amended shall remain
unamended and in full force and effect.




<PAGE>


         WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have  executed  this  amendment  to be
effective as of October 1, 1997.

CIHC, INCORPORATED                                 NAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
as Lender                                          as the Company



By:  /S/DAVID A. HILL                             By:  /S/ROBERT R. BARTOLINI
     ---------------------------                       -----------------------
     David A. Hill, Vice President                     Robert R. Bartolini
                                                       Chief Executive Officer



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