CONSECO INC
SC 13D, 1998-04-28
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.


                                  CONSECO, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                  Common Stock
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    208464107
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                               Stephen C. Hilbert
                          11825 N. Pennsylvania Street
                              Carmel, Indiana 46032
                                 (317) 817-6100

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                February 17, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (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 Schedule 13D and is filing this
     schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box:

[   ]



                                        1

<PAGE>




    CUSIP No.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208464107
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen C. Hilbert
                                                              ------------------

    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON . . . . . . . ...Not given
                                                                       ---------

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
    (a)  [   ] (b) [   ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.  SEC USE ONLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.  SOURCE OF FUNDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PF, 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,578,801

                     -----------------------------------------------------------
Shares

Beneficially      8. SHARED VOTING POWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 735,000
                                                                         -------

Owned By             -----------------------------------------------------------

Each              9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,578,801
                                                                       ---------

Reporting            -----------------------------------------------------------

Person With      10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . .735,000
                                                                         -------
                     -----------------------------------------------------------

11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
    10,313,801
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES SHARES
    [   ]


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
      5.4%
      ----

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IN
                                                                              --

                                        2

<PAGE>



Item 1.           Security and Issuer

         This statement relates to the Common Stock, no par value per share (the
         "Common Stock"), of Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation  ("Conseco").
         Conseco's   principal   executive   office  is   located  at  11825  N.
         Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032.

Item 2.           Identity and Background

         This statement is filed on behalf of Stephen C. Hilbert. Mr. Hilbert is
         Chairman  of the  Board,  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of
         Conseco.  The business address of Mr. Hilbert is 11825 N.  Pennsylvania
         Street,  Carmel,  Indiana 46032. Mr. Hilbert is a citizen of the United
         States of America. During the last five years, Mr. Hilbert has not been
         convicted in a criminal  proceeding  (excluding  traffic  violations or
         similar  misdemeanors) nor has he been a party to a civil proceeding 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
         securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

Item 3.           Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

         The  acquisition  which  is the  subject  of this  Schedule  13D is the
         beneficial  ownership  of  1,422,000  shares of Common  Stock  that Mr.
         Hilbert had the right to acquire beginning February 17, 1998 for $14.81
         per share under the terms of a stock option  granted to him in February
         1994. In addition,  the number of shares of Common Stock of Conseco has
         been reduced  through share  repurchases  by Conseco.  A combination of
         such  events  resulted  in Mr.  Hilbert's  ownership  of  Common  Stock
         exceeding 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. On February 28,
         1998, Mr. Hilbert  exercised his right to acquire such 1,422,000 shares
         of Common  Stock by  surrendering  897,551  shares  of Common  Stock to
         Conseco to pay the exercise price and to pay for taxes  associated with
         such exercise.

         Additionally,  Mr. Hilbert  becomes  entitled to purchase an additional
         276,248  shares  of  Common  Stock on June 8,  1998  pursuant  to stock
         options previously granted to Mr. Hilbert.  Because such options become
         exercisable  within sixty days of the date of this  report,  the shares
         that may be purchased  pursuant to such  options have been  included in
         Mr. Hilbert's  beneficial  ownership reported herein.  

                                        3

<PAGE>

         Such acquisition and vesting of options  increased the number of shares
         of Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Hilbert to 10,313,801 shares,
         or 5.4% of the shares of Common  Stock deemed to be  outstanding  under
         Rule  13d-3(d)  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.  Shares
         previously  acquired  were  acquired  with  personal  funds  and  funds
         borrowed  from  financial  institutions  under the Amended and Restated
         Director,  Executive and Senior Officer Stock Purchase Plan of Conseco,
         Inc. (the "Purchase Plan").

Item 4.           Purpose of Transaction

         Mr. Hilbert has acquired  beneficial  ownership of the Common Stock for
         investment purposes.

Item 5.           Interest in Securities of the Issuer

         Set forth below is  information  concerning  the shares of Common Stock
         beneficially owned by Mr. Hilbert on the date hereof.

(a)      10,313,801 shares, which number includes (i) 2,845,540 shares of Common
         Stock which may be acquired by Mr. Hilbert within 60 days upon exercise
         of stock options, (ii) 2,570,000 shares of Common Stock which are owned
         by trusts of which Mr.  Hilbert  is the sole  trustee  (the  "Trusts"),
         (iii)  675,000  shares of Common  Stock  which are owned by The Hilbert
         Foundation  (the  "Foundation")  of which Mr.  Hilbert and his wife are
         trustees,  (iv) 20,000  shares of Common Stock which may be acquired by
         the  Foundation  within 60 days upon  exercise of a warrant to purchase
         20,000 shares of Common Stock for $19.54 per share (the "Warrant"), (v)
         116,822  shares of Common  Stock  which  are  owned by the  Stephen  C.
         Hilbert 1996 Grantor  Retained  Annuity Trust  Agreement  (the "Hilbert
         GRAT") of which Mr.  Hilbert is a co-trustee  and (vi) 60,000 shares of
         Common  Stock  which are owned by Tomisue  Hilbert  Trust of which Mrs.
         Hilbert  is the  sole  trustee  and  ownership  of  which  Mr.  Hilbert
         expressly disclaims  beneficial  ownership.  Such amount is 5.4% of the
         deemed outstanding shares of Common Stock of Conseco.

(b)      Except for shares held by the Foundation,  the Hilbert GRAT and Tomisue
         Hilbert  Trust as indicated  in (a), Mr.  Hilbert has the sole power to
         vote or to direct  the vote of all of the shares  disclosed  in (a) and
         the sole power to dispose or to direct the  disposition of such shares.
         Shares beneficially owned, which are subject to options or warrants, do
         not have voting  rights  prior to exercise of such options or warrants,
         as the case may be.


                                        4

<PAGE>



(c)      Except  as  disclosed  herein,  Mr.  Hilbert  has  not  engaged  in any
         transactions concerning the Common Stock during the past 60 days.

(d)      Except as disclosed herein, no other person has the right to receive or
         the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from
         the  sale of the  shares  of  Common  Stock  beneficially  owned by Mr.
         Hilbert.

(e)      Not applicable.

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

         The shares of Common Stock  beneficially  owned by Mr. Hilbert  include
         2,845,540  shares which may be acquired within 60 days upon exercise of
         stock options.  Under those stock options, Mr. Hilbert has the right to
         acquire  (i)  283,748  shares of Common  Stock at a price of $13.31 per
         share,  (ii) 2,410,136  shares of Common Stock at a price of $39.44 per
         share and (iii) 151,656 shares of Common Stock at a price of $40.19 per
         share. Mr. Hilbert also holds options not exercisable within 60 days to
         acquire 5,257,551 shares of Common Stock. All such options were granted
         under the Conseco Stock Option Plan, as amended, the Conseco 1994 Stock
         and  Incentive  Plan and the Conseco  1997  Non-qualified  Stock Option
         Plan.

         Mr. Hilbert holds an aggregate of 1,759,596  stock units  (1,218,973 of
         which are vested)  (the "Stock  Units")  under the Conseco  Amended and
         Restated Deferred  Compensation  Program and the Conseco 1994 Stock and
         Incentive  Plan. Each Stock Unit represents and is payable in one share
         of Common  Stock.  The Stock  Units  have no voting  rights and are not
         payable  within the next 60 days because they either have been deferred
         or have not yet vested.  The Stock  Units must be paid out  following a
         change in  control  as  defined in the  Conseco  Amended  and  Restated
         Deferred  Compensation Program and the Conseco 1994 Stock and Incentive
         Plan for awards under the respective plans.

         Mr. Hilbert's  employment  agreement contains certain change in control
         provisions.  In the event of a Control  Termination  (as defined in the
         employment  agreement) of Mr.  Hilbert,  Mr. Hilbert may elect,  within
         sixty (60) days after such  Control  Termination,  to receive a payment
         from  Conseco  in return  for  surrender  by Mr.  Hilbert of all or any
         portion of the options then outstanding held by Mr. Hilbert to purchase
         shares of Common  Stock  ("Unexercised  Options")  and shares of Common
         Stock held by Mr. Hilbert.

                                        5

<PAGE>



         Unexercised Options include all outstanding options whether or not then
         exercisable.  For each  Unexercised  Option  to  purchase  one share of
         Common  Stock and each share of Common  Stock,  Conseco must pay to Mr.
         Hilbert an amount  equal to the highest per share fair market  value of
         the Common Stock on any day during the period  beginning six (6) months
         prior to the date of Mr.  Hilbert's  election  to sell such  shares and
         Unexercised Options pursuant to his employment agreement. To compensate
         Mr. Hilbert for loss of the potential future  speculative  value of the
         Unexercised  Options,  no deduction may be made for the exercise  price
         per share for each Unexercised Option from the amount to be received by
         Mr. Hilbert.

         The shares of Common Stock held by the Trusts were  purchased  pursuant
         to the Plan with the proceeds of a loan obtained pursuant to the Credit
         Agreement  (as defined  herein).  The Credit  Agreement  is filed as an
         exhibit hereto and is made a part hereof.  All such shares owned by the
         Trusts have been pledged to Bank of America  under the Borrower  Pledge
         Agreement  and  Reaffirmation  Agreement of Pledge  Agreement  filed as
         exhibits hereto and made a part hereof.

         The Warrant contains a provision  allowing Mr. Hilbert to cause Conseco
         to purchase the Warrant for the  difference  between the exercise price
         and the then current market price.  The Warrant  expires  September 29,
         2005. See Exhibit 9 to this Schedule 13D.


                                        6

<PAGE>



Item 7.           Material to Be Filed as Exhibits

         1.   Employment  Agreement  dated January 1, 1987,  between Conseco and
              Stephen  C.  Hilbert,  was filed as  Exhibit  10.1.2 to  Conseco's
              Annual  Report on Form 10-K for 1986,  and Amendment No. 1 thereto
              was filed as Exhibit  10.1.2 to  Conseco's  Annual  Report on Form
              10-K for 1987; and are incorporated herein by this reference.

         2.   Conseco's  Stock  Option  Plan was filed  with the  Commission  as
              Exhibit B to its  definitive  Proxy  Statement  dated December 10,
              1983;  Amendment  No. 1 thereto was filed with the  Commission  as
              Exhibit  10.8.1 to its Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended
              June  30,  1985;  Amendment  No.  2  thereto  was  filed  with the
              Commission as Exhibit 10.8.2 to its Registration Statement on Form
              S-1,  No.  33-4367;  Amendment  No. 3 thereto  was filed  with the
              Commission  as Exhibit  10.8.3 to Conseco's  Annual Report on Form
              10-K  for  1986;  Amendment  No.  4  thereto  was  filed  with the
              Commission as Exhibit 10.8 to Conseco's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              for 1987; Amendment No. 5 thereto was filed with the Commission as
              Exhibit  10.8 to  Conseco's  Report on Form  10-Q for the  quarter
              ended  September 30, 1991;  and such  documents  are  incorporated
              herein by this reference.

         3.   Amended and Restated Conseco Stock Bonus and Deferred Compensation
              Program was filed as Exhibit 10.8.4 to Conseco's  Annual Report on
              Form  10-K for 1992 and  Amendment  to the  Amended  and  Restated
              Conseco Stock Bonus and Deferred Compensation Program was filed as
              Exhibit  10.8.9 to Conseco's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1994.
              Such documents are incorporated herein by this reference.

         4.   The Conseco 1994 Stock and  Incentive  Plan was filed as Exhibit A
              to Conseco's  definitive  Proxy Statement dated April 29, 1994 and
              is incorporated herein by this reference.

         5.   Amended and Restated Director,  Executive and Senior Officer Stock
              Purchase Plan of Conseco,  Inc.,  dated August 21, 1997, was filed
              as Exhibit  10.8.11 to  Conseco's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for
              1997 and is incorporated herein by this reference.

         6.   Amended and Restated Credit Agreement,  (the "Credit  Agreement"),
              dated as of August 26, 1997, among the Borrowers

                                        7

<PAGE>



              (including the Trusts), the financial institutions  party  thereto
              and Bank of America.

         7.   Amended and Restated Guaranty, dated as of August 26, 1997.

         8.   Borrower Pledge Agreement,  dated May 13, 1996, between the Trusts
              and Bank of  America  was  filed by Mr.  Hilbert  as  Exhibit 8 to
              Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13D dated May 21, 1996.  Such document
              is incorporated herein by this reference.

         9.   Conseco,  Inc.  Warrant  dated  January  21, 1997 was filed by Mr.
              Hilbert as Exhibit #9 to  Amendment  No. 3 to  Schedule  13D dated
              January 31, 1997.  Such  document is  incorporated  herein by this
              reference and the Certificate of Adjustment,  dated as of February
              11, 1997, is filed herewith.

         10.  Conseco, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Non-qualified Stock Option
              Plan was filed as Exhibit  10.8.14 to Conseco's  Annual  Report on
              Form 10-K for 1997 and is incorporated herein by this reference.



                                        8

<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

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

Date:   April 28, 1998.



                                                           /s/Stephen C. Hilbert
                                                           ---------------------
                                                           Stephen C. Hilbert


                                        9








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



                      AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of August 26, 1997,

                                      among

              THE INDIVIDUALS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO,
                                  as Borrowers,

                 THE OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO,

                                       and

                         BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
                            AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
                             as Administrative Agent


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







<PAGE>



The following Table of Contents has been inserted for convenience  only and does
not constitute a part of this Agreement.


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS.................................   2
         1.1  Certain Defined Terms.........................................   2
         1.2  Other Definitional Provisions.................................  14
         1.3  Accounting and Financial Determinations.......................  15

SECTION 2.  THE COMMITMENTS AND THE LOANS...................................  15
         2.1  Commitment....................................................  15
         2.2  Procedure for Borrowings......................................  16
         2.3  Funding Reliance for Borrowings...............................  17
         2.4  Conversion and Continuation Elections.........................  18
         2.5  Repayment of Loans............................................  19
         2.6  Loan Accounts; Record Keeping.................................  19

SECTION 3.  INTEREST........................................................  20
         3.1  Interest Rates................................................  20
         3.2  Default Interest Rate.........................................  21
         3.3  Interest Payment Dates........................................  21
         3.4  Setting and Notice of Rates...................................  21
         3.5  Fees..........................................................  21
         3.6  Computation of Interest and Fees..............................  21

SECTION 4.  PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS........................................  22
          4.1  Voluntary Termination or Reduction of Commitments............  22
          4.2  Optional Prepayments.........................................  22
          4.3  Payments by the Borrowers....................................  23
         4.4  Application of Prepayments....................................  23
         4.5  Sharing of Payments...........................................  24
         4.6  Setoff........................................................  25
         4.7  Net Payments..................................................  25

SECTION 5.  CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES........................................  27
         5.1  Increased Costs...............................................  27
         5.2  Change in Rate of Return......................................  28
         5.3  Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or
                  Unfair....................................................  29
         5.4  Changes in Law Rendering Certain Loans Unlawful...............  30
         5.5  Funding Losses................................................  30

                                       i
<PAGE>

         5.6  Right of Banks to Fund Through Other Offices..................  31
         5.7  Discretion of Banks as to Manner of Funding...................  31
         5.8  Replacement of Banks..........................................  31
         5.9  Conclusiveness of Statements; Survival of
                  Provisions................................................  32

SECTION 6.  COLLATERAL AND OTHER SECURITY...................................  32

         6.1  Collateral Documents..........................................  32
         6.2  Application of Proceeds from Collateral.......................  33
         6.3  Further Assurances............................................  33

SECTION 7.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BORROWERS.....................  34
         7.1  No Conflict...................................................  34
         7.2  Validity......................................................  34
         7.3  Financial Statements..........................................  35
         7.4  Material Adverse Change.......................................  35
         7.5  Litigation and Contingent Obligations.........................  35
         7.6  Liens.........................................................  35
         7.7  Taxes.........................................................  35
         7.8  Accuracy of Information.......................................  35
         7.9  Proceeds......................................................  36
         7.10  Securities Laws..............................................  36
         7.11  Solvency.....................................................  36
         7.12  No Default...................................................  36
         7.13  Organization, etc............................................  36
         7.14  Authorization................................................  36
         7.15  Margin Regulations...........................................  36
         7.16  No Default or Event of Default...............................  37

SECTION 8.  COVENANTS OF BORROWERS..........................................  37
         8.1  Reports, Certificates and Other Information...................  38
         8.2  Taxes and Liabilities.........................................  39
         8.3  Compliance with Laws..........................................  39
         8.4  Other Agreements..............................................  39

SECTION 9. CONDITIONS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF
                          THIS AGREEMENT....................................  40
         9.1  Initial Loans.................................................  40
         9.2  All Loans.....................................................  42

SECTION 10.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT.............................  43
         10.1  Events of Default............................................  43
         10.2  Effect of Event of Default...................................  46

SECTION 11.  THE AGENT......................................................  46
         11.1  Authorization and Action.....................................  46
         11.2  Liability of the Administrative Agent........................  47

                                       ii
<PAGE>

         11.3  Administrative Agent and Affiliates..........................  48
         11.4  Bank Credit Decision.........................................  48
         11.5  Indemnification..............................................  48
         11.6  Successor Agent..............................................  49

SECTION 12.  ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS.................................  50
         12.1  Assignments..................................................  50
         12.2  Participations...............................................  52
         12.3  Disclosure of Information....................................  53
         12.4  Foreign Transferees..........................................  54

SECTION 13.  MISCELLANEOUS..................................................  55
         13.1  Waivers and Amendments.......................................  55
         13.2  Failure to Consent...........................................  56
         13.3  Notices......................................................  56
         13.4  Indemnity....................................................  57
         13.5  Subsidiary References........................................  57
         13.6  Captions.....................................................  57
         13.7  GOVERNING LAW................................................  57
         13.8  Counterparts.................................................  58
         13.9  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF VENUE..................  58
         13.10  Successors and Assigns......................................  58
         13.11  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL........................................  59
         13.12  Replacement of Existing Credit Agreement....................  59

                                      iii
<PAGE>




                             SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 2.1   Banks and Percentages
SCHEDULE 2.2   Borrower Loan Percentage


EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A      Form of Note
EXHIBIT B      Form of Notice of Borrowing
EXHIBIT C      Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
EXHIBIT D      Form of Reaffirmation of Pledge Agreement
EXHIBIT E      Form of Restated Guaranty
EXHIBIT F-1    Form of Opinion of Karl W. Kindig, counsel to
               Guarantor
EXHIBIT F-2    Form of Opinion of Baker & Daniels, outside
               counsel to Guarantor
EXHIBIT G      Form of Confidentiality Letter
EXHIBIT H      Form of Assignment Agreement
EXHIBIT I      Funding Loss Formula


                                       iv

<PAGE>



                      AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of August
26, 1997,  among the  individuals  listed as borrowers  on the  signature  pages
hereto (herein,  collectively  called the "Borrowers" and each  individually,  a
"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 BANK OF  AMERICA
NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION ("BofA"), as administrative agent for the
Banks (herein in such  capacity,  together with any  successors  thereto in such
capacity, called the "Administrative Agent").

                                   Background

         WHEREAS,  certain  of the  Borrowers,  certain  of the  Banks  and  the
Administrative  Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement,  dated as of
May 13, 1996 (as amended or modified  through  the date  hereof,  the  "Existing
Credit Agreement"), whereby the Banks party thereto agreed to make and made term
loans to the Borrowers party thereto, on the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in the Existing Credit  Agreement,  in an aggregate  principal  amount
equal to $83,362,831;

         WHEREAS,  the proceeds of the term loans made under the Existing Credit
Agreement were used by the Borrowers solely (a) to purchase common stock, no par
value per share, of Guarantor (as hereinafter defined) and/or (b) to purchase up
to $40,000,000 stated value of PRIDES (as hereinafter defined);

         WHEREAS,   the  Borrowers   have  requested  that  the  Banks  and  the
Administrative Agent agree to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in
its entirety on the terms and conditions  hereinafter  set forth to, among other
things, increase the commitments of the Banks to make term loans to an aggregate
of $250,000,000;

         WHEREAS, the proceeds of the term loans to be made under this Agreement
will  also be used by the  Borrowers  solely  (a) to  purchase  common  stock of
Guarantor and/or (b) to purchase PRIDES;

         WHEREAS, the Banks are willing, on the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth, to make the term loans to the Borrowers;

                                       1
<PAGE>

         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 that, as
of the Closing Date,  the Existing  Credit  Agreement is amended and restated in
its entirety, 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):

         "Administrative Agent" - see Preamble.

         "Administrative  Agent's  Office" shall mean 231 South LaSalle  Street,
Chicago,  Illinois 60697, or such other address designated by the Administrative
Agent (or any successor agent) to the Borrowers and the Banks from time to time.

         "Affected Bank" - see 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,  managing  general  partners  or
managers; 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.

         "Agent-Related Persons" shall mean BofA and any successor agent arising
under Section  11.6,  together with its  Affiliates  (including,  in the case of
BofA,  the  Arranger),  and  the  officers,  directors,  employees,  agents  and
attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.

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

                                       2
<PAGE>

         "Arranger"  shall  mean  BancAmerica   Securities,   Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation.

         "Assignment Agreement" - see Section 12.1.

         "Bank" or "Banks" - see Preamble.

         "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  and/or
Guarantor (on behalf of any Borrower) that it does not intend to comply with its
obligations under Section 2.1 to the extent required thereunder.

         "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 BofA in San
Francisco,  California,  as its "reference rate." The "reference rate" is a rate
set by BofA  based upon  various  factors  including  BofA'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 reference rate announced by BofA 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 bearing interest at the Base Rate.

         "BofA" - see Preamble.

         "Borrower" or "Borrowers" - see Preamble.

         "Borrower  Collateral  Percentage"  shall mean, as to any  Borrower,  a
fraction,  the numerator of which is equal to the principal  amount of the Loans
to such Borrower then  outstanding  hereunder  and the  denominator  of which is
equal to the  aggregate  principal  amount  of the Loans to all  Borrowers  then
outstanding hereunder.

         "Borrowing" shall mean a borrowing  hereunder  consisting of Loans made
to the Borrowers or any Borrower on the same day by the Banks under Section 2.

                                       3
<PAGE>


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

         "Borrowing  Termination  Date"  shall  mean the  earlier  of (a)  three
hundred  sixty four (364) days after the  Closing  Date  (including  the Closing
Date) or (b) the Termination Date.

         "Business  Day"  shall mean any day other  than a  Saturday,  Sunday or
other day on which commercial  banks in Chicago,  New York City or San Francisco
are authorized or required by law to close and, if the  applicable  Business Day
relates to any  Offshore  Rate  Loan,  means  such a day on which  dealings  are
carried on in the applicable offshore dollar interbank market.

         "Charges" - see Section 4.7.

         "Closing  Date" shall mean the date on which all  conditions  precedent
set forth in Section 9 are  satisfied or waived by all Banks or, with respect to
any payment to be made hereunder,  waived by the Person entitled to receive such
payment.

         "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.

         "Collateral Ratio" shall mean, as to any Borrower, the ratio of (a) the
sum of the Loan Value of Direct  Collateral  of such  Borrower plus the Borrower
Collateral  Percentage  of the Loan  Value  of  Indirect  Collateral  to (b) the
aggregate principal amount of the Loans of such Borrower then outstanding.

         "Commitments" - see Section 2.1.

         "Contingent  Obligation"  shall  mean  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.  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

                                       4
<PAGE>

amount  (or  maximum  outstanding  principal  amount,  if  larger)  of the debt,
obligation or other liability outstanding thereunder.

         "Conversion/Continuation  Date"  shall  mean any date on  which,  under
Section 2.4,  Guarantor (on behalf of the  Borrowers)  (a) converts Loans of one
Type to another Type, or (b) continues as Loans of the same Type, but with a new
Interest Period, Loans having Interest Periods expiring on such date.

         "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.

         "Direct  Collateral"  shall mean,  with  respect to any  Borrower,  all
property, assets and/or rights on or in which a Lien is now or hereafter granted
by such Borrower to the Administrative  Agent (or to any agent, trustee or other
party  acting on behalf of the  Administrative  Agent)  for the  benefit  of the
Banks,  pursuant to the Pledge Agreement and any other  instruments or documents
provided  for herein or therein  or  delivered  hereunder  or  thereunder  or in
connection herewith or therewith.

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

         "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  Borrowers
consent).

         "Eurodollar  Reserve  Percentage"  has  the  meaning  specified  in the
definition of "Offshore Rate."

         "Event of Default" - see Section 10.1.

         "Existing Credit Agreement" - see first recital.

         "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,  

                                       5
<PAGE>

"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.

         "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 the opinions and pronouncements
of the  Accounting  Principles  Board and the  American  Institute  of Certified
Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting
Standards  Board (or agencies with similar  functions of comparable  stature and
authority within the U.S.  accounting  profession),  which are applicable to the
circumstances as of the date of determination.

         "Governmental Authority" shall mean any nation or government, any state
or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or
regulatory authority) 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.

         "Guarantor" shall mean Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation.

         "Hedging  Obligations" shall have the meaning provided in the Revolving
Credit Agreement.

         "IBOR" has the meaning set forth in the definition of Offshore Rate.

         "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 

                                       6
<PAGE>

or other  similar  instruments;  (c) all  obligations  in  respect of letters of
credit, whether or not drawn, and bankers' acceptances issued for the account 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.

         "Indemnified Parties" - see Section 13.4.

         "Indirect  Collateral"  shall mean any assets of  Guarantor  which,  as
determined by the Administrative  Agent in its sole discretion exercised in good
faith,  shall be deemed to  "indirectly  secure"  the  Liabilities  pursuant  to
Regulation U as a result of the negative pledge agreement of Guarantor set forth
in the Restated Guaranty.

         "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  quarter and each
date such Loan is converted into another Type of Loan, provided,  however,  that
if any Interest Period for an Offshore Rate Loan exceeds three months,  the date
that  falls  three  months  (as the case may be)  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 Offshore Rate Loan, the period
commencing on the Borrowing Date of such Loan or on the  Conversion/Continuation
Date on which the Loan is converted  into or continued as an Offshore Rate Loan,
and ending on the date one, two,  three or six months  thereafter as selected by
or (on  behalf  of the  Borrowers)  in its  Notice  of  Borrowing  or  Notice of
Conversion/Continuation;

         provided that:

                           (a) if any Interest  Period would  otherwise end on a
                  day that is not a Business Day, that Interest  Period 


                                       7
<PAGE>

                  shall be extended to the following Business Day unless, in the
                  case of an Offshore  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) any  Interest  Period  pertaining  to an Offshore
                  Rate Loan that begins on the last  Business  Day of a calendar
                  month  (or  on  a  day  for  which  there  is  no  numerically
                  corresponding  day in the  calendar  month  at the end of such
                  Interest  Period)  shall end on the last  Business  Day of the
                  calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

                           (c) no  Interest  Period  for any Loan  shall  extend
                  beyond the Termination Date.

         "Lending  Office"  shall  mean,  with  respect to any Bank,  any office
designated by 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 Borrowers and the  Administrative  Agent,  as a Lending  Office for purposes
hereunder.  A Bank may designate  separate  Lending  Offices for the purposes of
making and maintaining Loans.

         "Liabilities"  shall mean, as to any Borrower,  all obligations of such
Borrower to the Banks or the Administrative Agent, 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 or the other Loan Documents.

         "Lien"   shall   mean  any   security   interest,   mortgage,   pledge,
hypothecation,  assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or
other)  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  any  Borrower,  or  Guarantor  or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of its or their businesses or operations.

                                       8

<PAGE>



         "Loan(s)"  shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 and may be a
Base Rate Loan or an Offshore Rate Loan (each, a "Type of Loan").

         "Loan Documents" shall mean,  collectively,  this Agreement, the Notes,
the Restated  Guaranty,  the Pledge Agreement 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.

         "Loan  Value of Direct  Collateral"  shall  mean,  with  respect to any
Borrower,  (a) the current market value of the common stock of Guarantor  and/or
PRIDES pledged by such Borrower to the Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of
the Banks, under the Pledge Agreement, plus (b) without duplication, the current
market value of any other Direct Collateral constituting Margin Stock pledged by
such Borrower to the  Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the Banks, under
any Loan Document,  plus (c) without duplication,  the maximum loan value of all
Direct  Collateral of such  Borrower not  constituting  Margin  Stock,  it being
understood  that the maximum loan value of Direct  Collateral  shall be its good
faith loan value (i.e.,  the value of such Direct  Collateral as determined from
time to time by the  Administrative  Agent (with the concurrence of the Required
Lenders)  exercising sound banking  judgment)  without regard to such Borrower's
assets securing any unrelated transactions.  The Administrative Agent and/or the
Required  Lenders  shall have the right at any time in their sole  discretion to
recompute the Loan Value of Direct Collateral.

         "Loan Value of Indirect  Collateral"  shall mean,  with  respect to any
Borrower,  the sum of the  maximum  loan  value  of  Indirect  Collateral  under
Regulation  U, after  taking into  account any other  Indebtedness  of Guarantor
"indirectly  secured"  (as set  forth in  Regulation  U and the  interpretations
thereof) by the assets of Guarantor,  it being  understood  that (a) the maximum
loan value of Indirect Collateral  constituting Margin Stock shall be 50% of its
current  market value and (b) the maximum loan value of Indirect  Collateral not
constituting Margin Stock shall be its good faith loan value (i.e., the value of
such Indirect  Collateral as determined from time to time by the  Administrative
Agent (with the concurrence of the Required  Lenders)  exercising  sound banking
judgment),  in each case  without  regard to  Guarantor's  assets  securing  any
unrelated  transactions.  Until further notice from the Administrative  Agent to
the  Borrower,  the Loan  Value of  Indirect  Collateral  shall be  deemed to be

                                       9
<PAGE>

$1,460,918,000,  it being  understood that the  Administrative  Agent and/or the
Required  Lenders  shall have the right at any time in their sole  discretion to
recompute the Loan Value of Indirect Collateral.

         "Margin  Stock"  shall mean  "margin  stock" as such term is defined in
Regulation U and Regulation G.

         "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 Guarantor  and its
Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  or (c)  materially  impairs  the ability of any
Borrower  or  Guarantor  to  perform  his,  hers or its  obligations  under this
Agreement or any of the other Loan  Documents to which he, she or it is a party,
or (d)  materially  adversely  affects  the  perfection  or priority of any Lien
granted under any of the 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.

         "NationsBank" shall mean NationsBank,  N.A. (South), a national banking
association.

         "Nonconsenting Bank" - see Section 13.2.

         "Note"  shall  mean a  promissory  note,  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit A with blanks appropriately completed in conformity herewith, evidencing
the aggregate  Commitments of the Banks,  or any  promissory  note or promissory
notes issued in substitution or replacement therefor.

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

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

                                       10
<PAGE>

         "Obligations" shall have the meaning provided in the
Restated Guaranty.

         "Offshore  Rate" shall mean, for any Interest  Period,  with respect to
Offshore Rate Loans comprising part of the same Borrowing,  the rate of interest
per  annum  (rounded  upward  to  the  next  1/100th  of 1%)  determined  by the
Administrative Agent as follows:

         Offshore Rate =         IBOR
                         ------------------------------------
                         1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

         Where,

         "Eurodollar  Reserve  Percentage"  means  for any day for any  Interest
         Period the maximum reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal,  rounded
         upward to the next 1/100th of 1%) in effect on such day (whether or not
         applicable to any Bank) under  regulations  issued from time to time by
         the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement  (including any
         emergency,  supplemental or other marginal  reserve  requirement)  with
         respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency
         liabilities"); and

         "IBOR"  shall mean the rate of  interest  per annum  (computed  for the
         actual  number  of  days  elapsed  on the  basis  of a 360-  day  year)
         determined  by the  Administrative  Agent as the  rate at which  dollar
         deposits  (rounded  upward to the next 1/100th of 1% in the approximate
         amount of the Loans of such  Borrower  for an Interest  Period would be
         offered by BofA's Grand Cayman  Branch,  Grand Cayman  B.W.I.  (or such
         other office as may be designated  for such purpose by BofA),  to major
         banks in the  offshore  dollar  interbank  market at their  request  at
         approximately  11:00 A.M.  (New York City time) two (2)  Business  Days
         prior to the commencement of such interest period.

         The Offshore  Rate shall be adjusted  automatically  as to all Offshore
Rate  Loans  then  outstanding  as of the  effective  date of any  change in the
Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

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

         "Original  Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date under the Existing
Credit Agreement.

                                       11
<PAGE>

         "Percentage" shall mean, relative to any Bank, the percentage set forth
opposite  such  Bank's  name on  Schedule  2.1 (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 12.1.

         "Pledge Agreement" shall mean the Pledge Agreement, dated as of May 13,
1996,  executed and delivered by the  Borrowers in connection  with the Existing
Credit Agreement.

         "PRIDES" shall have the meaning provided in the Restated
Guaranty.

         "Regulation  "D," "G" and "U" shall mean Regulation D, Regulation G and
Regulation U, respectively,  or any successor regulation thereto, promulgated by
the FRB as from time to time in effect.

         "Replaced Bank" - see Section 5.8.

         "Replacement Bank" - see Section 5.8.

         "Required Banks" shall mean 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  outstanding at such time (excluding the Loans 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 or any senior or
executive vice president. 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.

         "Restated  Guaranty"  shall mean the Amended and  Restated  Guaranty of
Guarantor,  dated as of the date hereof,  executed and delivered in favor of the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Banks, in substantially the form of
Exhibit E.

                                       12
<PAGE>

         "Revolving  Credit  Agent"  shall  mean the  Administrative  Agent  (as
defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

         "Revolving  Credit Agreement" shall mean that certain Credit Agreement,
dated as of November 22, 1996,  among  Guarantor,  the  Revolving  Credit Banks,
BofA, as syndication agent for the Revolving Credit Banks,  First Union National
Bank of North Carolina,  as documentation  agent for the Revolving Credit Banks,
and NationsBank,  as administrative agent for the Revolving Credit Banks, as the
same may be amended or modified from time to time in  accordance  with the terms
of this Agreement and the Restated Guaranty.

         "Revolving  Credit  Bank(s)"  shall mean the Bank(s) (as defined in the
Revolving Credit Agreement).

         "Revolving Credit Loan Documents" shall mean the Loan
Documents (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

         "Significant  Subsidiary"  shall  have  the  meaning  provided  in  the
Revolving Credit Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date.

         "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 such Person 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.

                                       13
<PAGE>

         "Subsidiary"  shall have the meaning  provided in the Revolving  Credit
Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date.

         "Substitute Bank" - see Section 13.2.

         "Taxes"  or "Tax"  shall mean all taxes of any  nature  whatsoever  and
howsoever  denominated,  including,  without  limitation,  retaliatory,  income,
premium,  withholding,  guaranty fund or 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, as to any Borrower,  the earlier of (a)
August ___,  2001, or (b) the date of  termination  in whole of the  Commitments
pursuant to Section 4.1, 4.2 or 10.2.

         "Transferee" - see Section 12.3.

         "Type" or "Type of Loan" has the meaning specified in the definition of
"Loan."

         "UCC" shall mean the Uniform  Commercial Code or comparable  statute or
any successor  statutes thereto,  as in effect from time to time in the relevant
jurisdiction.

         "United States" and "U.S." each means the United States of America.

         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;  and
         subsection,  Section,  Schedule  and  Exhibit  references  are to  this
         Agreement unless otherwise specified.

                                       14
<PAGE>

                  (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."

                  (e) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the result
         of  negotiations  among  and  have  been  reviewed  by  counsel  to the
         Administrative  Agent, the Borrowers and the other parties, and are the
         products  of all  parties.  Accordingly,  they  shall not be  construed
         against the Banks or the  Administrative  Agent  merely  because of the
         Administrative Agent's or Banks' involvement in their preparation.

         SECTION 1.3  Accounting and Financial  Determinations.  For purposes of
this Agreement,  unless otherwise  specified or the context otherwise  requires,
all  accounting  terms  used in any  Loan  Document  shall be  interpreted,  all
accounting  determinations  and  computations  hereunder or thereunder  shall be
made,  and all  financial  statements  required  to be  delivered  hereunder  or
thereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP.


                    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 a term loan
(herein collectively called the "Loans" and individually called a "Loan") to the
Borrowers  in the amounts set forth on Schedule  2.2 from the Closing Date until
the Borrowing Termination Date in such Bank's Percentage of the aggregate amount
of such  Loans as the  Borrowers  may  request  from all  Banks.  The  aggregate
principal  amount of Loans which any Bank shall be committed to have outstanding
to the Borrowers shall not at any one time exceed the amount set opposite such

                                       15
<PAGE>

Bank's  name on Schedule  2.1 and the  aggregate  principal  amount of the Loans
which  all  Banks  shall  be  committed  to have  outstanding  hereunder  to the
Borrowers shall not at any one time exceed  $250,000,000 (or such reduced amount
as may be fixed  pursuant  to  Sections  4.1,  4.2 and  10.2).  The Loans to any
Borrower  shall be disbursed in accordance  with Section 2.2 and once repaid may
not  thereafter be reborrowed.  The foregoing  commitment of each Bank is herein
called its "Commitment" and for all Banks the "Commitments."

         SECTION 2.2 Procedure for Borrowings.

                  (a)  Each  Borrowing  shall  be  made to  each  Borrower  upon
irrevocable  written notice (or by telephone  promptly  confirmed in writing) of
Guarantor (on behalf of such Borrower) 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. (Chicago time) (i) three Business Days
prior to the  requested  Borrowing  Date, in the case of Offshore Rate Loans and
(ii)  on the  requested  Borrowing  Date,  in  the  case  of  Base  Rate  Loans,
specifying:

                           (i) the amount of such  Borrowing,  which shall be in
                  an aggregate  minimum  amount of $1,000,000  for all Borrowers
                  requesting that a Borrowing be made pursuant to such Notice of
                  Borrowing  or any  integral  multiple  of  $100,000  in excess
                  thereof;  provided  that the last  Borrowing  to be made under
                  this  Agreement  shall not be  required  to be in an  integral
                  multiple  of  $100,000;   and  provided,   further,  that  the
                  Borrowers,  collectively,  shall not be  entitled to make more
                  than thirty (30) Borrowings hereunder in the aggregate;

                           (ii) the requested  Borrowing Date,  which shall be a
                  Business Day and the same  Business  Day for each  Borrower to
                  which such Notice of Borrowing relates;

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

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

                                       16
<PAGE>

                  Borrowing  comprised  of Offshore  Rate Loans,  such  Interest
                  Period shall be three (3) months.

                  (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(s).

                  (c) Each Bank will make the amount of its  Percentage  of each
Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Borrower
requesting a Loan at the  Administrative  Agent's  Office by 1:00 P.M.  (Chicago
time) on the  Borrowing  Date  requested by such  Borrower in funds  immediately
available to the Administrative  Agent. The proceeds of all such Loans will then
be made available to such Borrower by the Administrative  Agent by wire transfer
in accordance with written instructions  provided to the Administrative Agent by
such Borrower of like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

                  (d)  After  giving  effect  to  any   Borrowing,   unless  the
Administrative Agent shall otherwise consent, there may not be more than one (1)
Interest Period in effect for all Loans then outstanding.

         SECTION 2.3 Funding Reliance for Borrowings.  Unless the Administrative
Agent shall have been notified by telephone,  confirmed in writing,  by any Bank
by 11:30 A.M. (Chicago time) on the relevant  Borrowing Date that such Bank will
not make  available  the amount which would  constitute  its  Percentage  of the
related  Borrowing(s),  the  Administrative  Agent may  assume,  subject  to the
satisfactory  fulfillment  by the  Borrower  requesting  such  Borrowing  of the
conditions  precedent  set forth in  Section  9, that such Bank  shall make such
amount  available  to the  Administrative  Agent  and,  in  reliance  upon  such
assumption  the  Administrative  Agent may (but shall not be  required  to) make
available to such  Borrower a  corresponding  amount.  If and to the extent that
such Bank shall not make such amount available to the Administrative Agent, such
Bank and  such  Borrower  severally  agree to  repay  the  Administrative  Agent
forthwith on demand such  corresponding  amount together with interest  thereon,
for each day from the date the  Administrative  Agent made such amount available
to such Borrower to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative  Agent,
at the interest rate applicable at the time to the Type of Loans comprising such
Borrowing; provided that if such amount is repaid by such Borrower and such Bank
the  Administrative  Agent agrees to refund to such  Borrower any excess  amount
paid by such  Borrower;  and provided,  further,  that such  

                                       17

<PAGE>

Borrower,  upon the request of the Administrative  Agent,  agrees to return such
refund to the  Administrative  Agent, on demand, in the event the Administrative
Agent is legally required to return any amount received from such Bank.

         SECTION 2.4 Conversion and  Continuation  Elections.  (a) Guarantor (on
behalf of the Borrowers)  may, upon  irrevocable  written notice to the Agent in
accordance with Section 2.4(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 Offshore Rate Loans,  to convert any such Loans
         (or any part thereof in an amount not less than $5,000,000,  or that is
         in an integral  multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) into Loans of
         any other Type; or

                           (ii)  elect  as of the  last  day  of the  applicable
         Interest  Period,  to continue any Offshore Rate Loans having  Interest
         Periods  expiring  on such day (or any part  thereof)  in an amount not
         less than $5,000,000,  or that is in an integral multiple of $1,000,000
         in excess thereof;

provided,  that if at any time the  aggregate  amount of Offshore  Rate Loans in
respect of any Borrowing is reduced,  by payment,  prepayment,  or conversion of
part  thereof  to be less  than  $5,000,000,  such  Offshore  Rate  Loans  shall
automatically convert into Base Rate Loans, and on and after such date the right
of Guarantor (on behalf of the  Borrowers) to continue such Loans as, or convert
such Loans into, Offshore Rate Loans, as the case may be, shall terminate.

                  (b)  Guarantor  (on behalf of the  Borrowers)  shall deliver a
Notice of  Conversion/Continuation  to be  received  by the Agent not later than
9:00 A.M. (San  Francisco  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 Offshore  Rate Loans;  and (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;

                                       18

<PAGE>

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

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

                  (c) If upon the expiration of any Interest  Period  applicable
to Offshore  Rate Loans,  Guarantor (on behalf of the  Borrowers)  has failed to
select timely a new Interest Period to be applicable to such Offshore Rate Loans
or if any Default or Event of Default then exists,  Guarantor  (on behalf of the
Borrowers)  shall be deemed to have elected to convert such  Offshore 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 Guarantor (on behalf of the  Borrowers),  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  consent,  during the
existence  of a  Default  or Event  of  Default,  Guarantor  (on  behalf  of the
Borrowers)  may not  elect  to have a Loan  converted  into or  continued  as an
Offshore Rate Loan.

                  (f) After giving effect to any conversion or  continuation  of
Loans, unless the Administrative Agent shall otherwise consent, there may not be
more than one (1) Interest Period in effect for all Loans hereunder.

         SECTION 2.5 Repayment of Loans.  Subject to the  provisions of Sections
4.1 and 4.2, the Loans of each Bank shall be payable in full (and each  Borrower
agrees to pay such Loans) on the Termination Date.

         SECTION 2.6  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

                                       19
<PAGE>

Agent and each Bank shall be conclusive  absent  manifest error of the amount of
the Loans  made by the Banks to the  Borrowers  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 any  Borrower  hereunder  or to pay any  amount  owing with
respect to the Loans.

                  (b) The  Loans  made by the  Banks to each  Borrower  shall be
evidenced by a Note  executed  and  delivered  by such  Borrower  payable to the
Administrative  Agent,  for the benefit of the Banks, in an aggregate  principal
amount  equal to the  aggregate  Commitments  of the Banks to make Loans to such
Borrower instead of or in addition to loan accounts.  The  Administrative  Agent
shall  endorse  on the  schedules  annexed  to each  Note the date,  amount  and
maturity of each Loan made by the Banks to such  Borrower and the amount of each
payment  of  principal  made  by  such  Borrower  with  respect   thereto.   The
Administrative  Agent is irrevocably  authorized by each Borrower to endorse the
Note of such Borrower and the Administrative  Agent's record shall be conclusive
absent manifest error; provided, however, that the failure of the Administrative
Agent to make,  or an error in making,  a notation  thereon  with respect to any
Loan  shall  not limit or  otherwise  affect  the  obligations  of any  Borrower
hereunder or under any such Note to any Bank.


                          SECTION 3. INTEREST AND FEES

         SECTION  3.1  Interest  Rates.  With  respect  to each Loan made to any
Borrower hereunder,  such Borrower hereby promises to pay 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:

                  (a) 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 minus 2.00%.

                  (b) at all times while such Loan or any portion  thereof is an
         Offshore  Rate Loan,  at a rate per annum equal to the  Offshore  Rate,
         plus the Eurodollar Rate Committed  Margin (as defined in the Revolving
         Credit Agreement) plus .125% per annum.

                                       20
<PAGE>

         SECTION 3.2 Default  Interest Rate.  Notwithstanding  the provisions of
Section 3.1, in the event that any Default under Section  10.1.2 or any Event of
Default shall occur with respect to any Borrower,  such Borrower hereby promises
to pay,  automatically  in the case of a Default  under  Section  10.1.2 or upon
demand therefor by the Administrative Agent for any Event of Default (other than
pursuant  to Section  10.1.2),  interest on the unpaid  principal  amount of the
Loans of such Borrower (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  10.2  and  13.1 at a rate  per  annum  equal  to the
applicable  interest  rate from  time to time in  effect  (but not less than the
applicable  interest rate as at such date of demand),  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 Loans under Section 4.1 or 4.2 for the portion of the
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  Offshore Rate
shall be determined  by the  Administrative  Agent.  Each  determination  of the
applicable  Offshore  Rate shall be  conclusive  and  binding  upon the  parties
hereto, in the absence of manifest 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 Guarantor (on behalf of the
Borrowers) or a Bank,  deliver to Guarantor (on behalf of the Borrowers) or such
Bank a statement  showing the computations used by the  Administrative  Agent in
determining any applicable Offshore Rate hereunder.

         SECTION 3.5 Fees. The Borrowers  agree to pay the fees set forth in the
Summary of Indicative Terms and Conditions dated February 11, 1997, for the sole
benefit of the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 3.6 Computation of Interest and Fees. Interest on Offshore Rate
Loans shall be computed for the actual  number of days elapsed on the basis of a
360-day  year,  and interest on Base 

                                       21
<PAGE>

Rate Loans shall be computed for the actual  number of days lapsed on the basis
of  a  365/366-day  year.  Each   determination  of  an  interest  rate  by  the
Administrative  Agent shall be  conclusive  and binding on the Borrowers and the
Banks in the  absence of  manifest  error.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained
herein to the  contrary  interest  on the Loans  shall not  exceed  the  maximum
interest permitted by applicable law.


                       SECTION 4. PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS

        SECTION 4.1  Voluntary  Termination  or Reduction of  Commitments.  Each
Borrower  may,  upon not less than three (3) Business  Days'  irrevocable  prior
written notice to the  Administrative  Agent (which shall  promptly  advise each
Bank thereof),  terminate the Commitments of the Banks relating to such Borrower
or  permanently  reduce  such  Commitments  by an  aggregate  minimum  amount of
$100,000 or any integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof;  unless,  after
giving effect thereto and to any prepayments of Loans made on the effective date
thereof,  the then  outstanding  principal  amount of the Loans of such Borrower
would exceed the amount of the aggregate Commitments then in effect with respect
to  such  Borrower.   Once  reduced  in  accordance  with  this  Section,   such
Commitments,  to the  extent  terminated  or  permanently  reduced,  may  not be
increased.  Any reduction of the  Commitments of such Borrower  pursuant to this
Section 4.1 shall be applied in accordance with Section 4.4.

         SECTION 4.2 Optional  Prepayments.  Each  Borrower  may, at any time or
from time to time,  upon not less  than  three (3)  Business  Day's  irrevocable
written notice with respect to such Borrower's Loans to the Administrative Agent
by 11:00 A.M. (Chicago time),  ratably prepay such Loans in whole or in part, in
minimum  amounts of  $100,000  or any  integral  multiple  of $100,000 in excess
thereof.  Such notice of prepayment  shall specify the date,  the amount of such
prepayment and the Types 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 such Borrower,  such
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
accrued  interest  to each  such  date on the  amount  prepaid  and any  amounts
required  pursuant to Section 5.5. Any  prepayment of the Loans of such Borrower
pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be applied in 

                                       22
<PAGE>

accordance with Section 4.4 and shall reduce the  Commitments  of the Banks with
respect to such Borrower as set forth therein.

        SECTION 4.3 Payments by the Borrowers.

                (a) All payments to be made by any Borrower  hereunder  shall be
made without set-off, recoupment or counterclaim.  Except as otherwise expressly
provided   herein,   all  payments  by  such  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  12:30  P.M.  (Chicago  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) of such payment in like
funds as received.  Any payment received by the Administrative  Agent later than
12:30 P.M. (Chicago 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, 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 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
applicable  Borrower  prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Banks
that such Borrower will not make such payment in full as and when required,  the
Administrative Agent may assume that such 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 such 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 4.4 Application of Prepayments. Except as otherwise set forth in
this Agreement,  any reduction in the  Commitments  pursuant to Sections 4.1 and
4.2 shall be applied to 
                                       23

<PAGE>

a reduction of the  remaining  Commitments  and  prepayment of the Loans of each
Bank, pro rata, according to its Percentage.

        SECTION 4.5 Sharing of Payments.

                (a) If any Bank  shall  obtain  any  payment  or other  recovery
        (whether voluntary,  involuntary, by application of offset or otherwise)
        on account of the Loans (other than pursuant to the terms of Sections 5,
        12.1 and 13.2) in excess of its pro rata share (based on its Percentage)
        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) Each  Borrower  agrees that any Bank so  purchasing a  participation
        from another Bank pursuant to Section  4.5(a) may, to the fullest extent
        permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including pursuant
        to Section 4.6) with respect to such  participation  as fully as if such
        Bank were the direct  creditor  of such  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

                                       24
<PAGE>

        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  4.5(b) to share in the benefits of any recovery of such secured
        claim.

        SECTION 4.6 Setoff. Each Bank shall, upon the occurrence of any Event of
Default under Section 10.1.1,  the occurrence of a Default under Section 10.1.2,
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)  each  Borrower  hereby  grants to each Bank a continuing  security
interest in, any and all balances, credits, deposits, accounts or moneys of such
Borrower then or thereafter  maintained  with such Bank. Any such  appropriation
and  application  shall be subject to the  provisions  of Section 4.5. Each Bank
agrees promptly to notify such 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 4.6 are in addition to
other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff under applicable law
or otherwise) which such Bank may have.

        SECTION 4.7 Net Payments.  All payments by any 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 any  Borrower
hereunder is required in respect of any Charges  pursuant to any applicable law,
rule or regulation, then such Borrower will:

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

                                       25

<PAGE>


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

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

                (d) if any Bank  receives a refund in respect of any Taxes as to
        which it has been  indemnified  by any Borrower or with respect to which
        any Borrower (or any Person acting on behalf of such  Borrower) has paid
        additional amounts pursuant to this Section 4.7, it shall promptly repay
        such  refund  (but only to the extent of  indemnity  payments  made,  or
        additional  amounts  paid,  by such  Borrower (or such Person  acting on
        behalf of such  Borrower)  under this  Section  4.7 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 such 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  shall,  prior to the due date of any  payments  under the Loans,
execute and deliver to the Borrowers,  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),  

                                       26
<PAGE>

appropriately  completed.  Without  prejudice  to  the  survival  of  any  other
agreement of the Borrowers  hereunder or any other  document,  the agreements of
the  Borrowers  contained  in this Section  shall  survive  satisfaction  of the
Liabilities and termination of this Agreement.


                       SECTION 5. CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES

        SECTION  5.1  Increased  Costs.  If (a)  Regulation  D, or (b) after the
Original  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,

                (i) shall  subject any Bank (other than a  Defaulting  Bank) (or
        any  Lending  Office of such Bank) to any tax,  duty or other  charge or
        shall change the basis of taxation of payments to any Bank (other than a
        Defaulting  Bank) of the principal of, or interest on, any other amounts
        due under this  Agreement in respect of its Loans or its  obligation  to
        make Loans  (except  for  changes  in the rate of Tax,  other than Taxes
        covered by Section 4.7, 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 Loans;

                                       27
<PAGE>


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  Offshore  Rate Loans 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 relevant
Borrowers 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 such 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 such  controlling
Person could have  achieved  but for the  occurrence  of any such  circumstance,
then,  in any such case the relevant  Borrowers  shall,  within thirty (30) days
after written demand by such Bank to such  Borrowers,  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
such  Borrowers.  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  such  Borrowers  of any event  occurring  after the
Original Closing Date, which will entitle such Bank to compensation  pursuant to
this Section 5.2.

                                       28
<PAGE>

        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  offshore  dollar
        interbank 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
        offshore dollar  interbank  market adequate and reasonable  means do not
        exist for ascertaining the applicable Offshore Rate; or

                (b) any Bank advises the Administrative  Agent that the Offshore
        Rate as determined by the Administrative  Agent, will not adequately and
        fairly reflect the cost to such Bank of maintaining or funding such Loan
        for such Interest Period, or that the making or funding of Offshore Rate
        Loans has become  impracticable  as a result of an event occurring after
        the Original  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 Guarantor (on
        behalf of the Borrowers) and the Banks thereof,

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

                (iii) on the last day of the then  current  Interest  Period for
        Offshore Rate Loans so affected,  such Offshore 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

                                       29
<PAGE>

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
disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent or such Bank.

        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 Offshore 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
Offshore  Rate Loans or make  Offshore 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
Offshore 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  Offshore  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 disadvantageous to Administrative Agent or
such Bank.

        SECTION 5.5 Funding Losses. Each 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
such 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) such  Borrower  will
indemnify  such Bank against any loss or expense  which such Bank may sustain or
incur (including,  without limitation, any loss or expense incurred by reason of
the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Bank
to fund or maintain Offshore Rate Loans), as reasonably determined by such Bank,
as a result of (a) any payment or  prepayment or conversion of any Offshore Rate
Loans of such Bank on a date other than the last day of an  Interest  Period for
such  Offshore  Rate 

                                       30
<PAGE>

Loan, or (b) any failure of such Borrower to borrow on the date of any Borrowing
set forth in any Notice of  Borrowing  or (c) any  failure of such  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 Offshore Rate Loans by causing
any of its Lending Offices to make such Offshore 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 Offshore
Rate Loan shall  nevertheless be to such Bank and shall be deemed held by it, to
the  extent of such  Offshore  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 Offshore 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 Offshore 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, 5.3(b), or 5.4 above
(any such Bank being  hereinafter  referred to as a  "Replaced  Bank") and shall
petition the relevant  Borrowers for any increased  cost or amounts  thereunder,
then in such case,  Guarantor  (on behalf of the  Borrowers)  may, upon at least
five (5) Business  Days' notice to the  Administrative  Agent and such  Replaced
Bank,  designate a replacement  bank (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 relevant  Borrowers  and the  Replaced  Bank) of all
amounts owed to such Replaced Bank under Section 5.1, 5.2, 5.3(b), or 5.4 above,

                                       31
<PAGE>


assign  all  (but not less  than  all) of its  rights,  obligations,  Loans  and
Commitment  hereunder and execute an Assignment  Agreement with such Replacement
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 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, 5.5, 11.5 and 13.4, and Sections 7.1 and 7.2 of the Restated Guaranty while
such Replaced Bank was a Bank).  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 Sections  5.1,  5.2,  5.3,  5.4 and Section  5.5 shall be  conclusive  absent
demonstrable  error.  The  provisions of Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.5 and this Section
5.9 shall survive termination of this Agreement.


                    SECTION 6. COLLATERAL AND OTHER SECURITY

        SECTION  6.1  Collateral  Documents.  Concurrently  with or prior to the
Closing Date:

                (a)  Reaffirmation  of Pledge  Agreement.  The  Borrowers  shall
        execute and deliver to the Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the
        Banks, a reaffirmation of pledge agreement, substantially in the form of
        Exhibit D (herein,  as the same may be amended or  modified,  called the
        "Reaffirmation  of Pledge  Agreement"),  whereby  each of the  Borrowers
        shall reaffirm its obligations  under the Pledge  Agreement  executed in
        connection  with the Existing  Credit  Agreement  covering,  among other
        things,  the pledge of all of the issued and outstanding common stock of
        Guarantor  and/or  

                                       32
<PAGE>

        PRIDES owned by each Borrower and purchased with proceeds of the Loans.

                (b)  Guaranty.  Guarantor  shall  execute  and  deliver  to  the
        Administrative Agent the Restated Guaranty, covering (i) the payment and
        performance of all of the Liabilities and (ii)
        the other Obligations.

        SECTION  6.2  Application  of  Proceeds  from  Collateral.  As  to  each
Borrower,  all proceeds  received by the  Administrative  Agent from the sale or
disposition of any of the Direct Collateral  furnished by such Borrower pursuant
to this Agreement or Indirect Collateral  furnished by Guarantor pursuant to the
Restated Guaranty shall be applied by the Administrative  Agent in the following
order after receipt thereof:

                             First:  to the  payment  of  all of the  reasonable
                costs and  expenses of the  Administrative  Agent in  connection
                with (a) the administration,  sale or disposition of such Direct
                Collateral or Indirect  Collateral,  as the case may be, and (b)
                the  administration  and  enforcement  of this Agreement and the
                other Loan Documents, to the extent that such costs and expenses
                shall not have been reimbursed to the Administrative Agent;

                             Second:  to the  payment in full of all accrued and
                unpaid  interest  on the  Loans  of such  Borrower,  then to the
                payment  in full of all  unpaid  principal  of the Loans of such
                Borrower,   and  then  to  any  remaining  Liabilities  of  such
                Borrower;

                             Third: the balance,  if any, of such proceeds shall
                be paid to such Borrower,  to such Borrower's heirs and assigns,
                or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

        SECTION 6.3 Further  Assurances.  Each Borrower agrees that upon request
of the Administrative Agent (a) such Borrower shall promptly deliver or cause to
be delivered to the Administrative Agent, in due form for transfer,  all chattel
paper,  instruments,  securities  and  documents  of title,  if any, at any time
representing  all or any of the Direct  Collateral,  and (b) such Borrower shall
forthwith  execute  and  deliver or cause to be executed  and  delivered  to the
Administrative  

                                       33
<PAGE>

Agent,  in due form for  filing  or  recording  (and pay the cost of  filing  or
recording the same in all public offices deemed necessary by the  Administrative
Agent),  such  further  assignment  agreements,   security  agreements,   pledge
agreements,  instruments, consents, waivers, financing statements, stock or bond
powers,  searches,  releases,  and other  documents,  and do such other acts and
things, all as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request
to establish  and maintain to the  satisfaction  of the  Administrative  Agent a
valid  perfected  Lien on all  Direct  Collateral  (free of all other  Liens) to
secure payment of the Liabilities.


             SECTION 7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BORROWERS

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

        SECTION 7.1 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by such
Borrower of this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents to which such Borrower
is a party does not and will not (a)  contravene  or conflict with any provision
of any  law,  statute,  rule or  regulation  applicable  to such  Borrower,  (b)
contravene  or conflict  with,  result in any breach of, or constitute a default
under, any material agreement or instrument binding on such Borrower (including,
without limitation, any writ, judgment, injunction or other similar court order)
or (c) result in the creation or  imposition  of or the  obligation to create or
impose any Lien upon any of the property or assets of such Borrower  (except for
the Lien of the Administrative Agent).

        SECTION 7.2 Validity.  This  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents to
which such Borrower is a party  constitute  or upon  execution and delivery will
constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such 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,  

                                       34
<PAGE>

materiality,  fraudulent  transfer  and  reasonableness  (regardless  of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

        SECTION 7.3 Financial Statements. Such Borrower's financial statement as
at December 31, 1996, delivered to the Administrative Agent,  accurately present
the financial condition of such Borrower at such date.

        SECTION 7.4 Material  Adverse  Change.  No Material  Adverse  Change has
occurred since December 31, 1996 as to such Borrower.

        SECTION  7.5  Litigation  and   Contingent   Obligations.   No  Material
Litigation  is pending as to such  Borrower  or, to the best of such  Borrower's
knowledge,  threatened  as to such  Borrower,  and such Borrower has no material
Contingent Obligations.

        SECTION  7.6  Liens.  None  of the  Direct  Collateral  pledged  by such
Borrower  is  subject  to any Lien  (except  for the Lien of the  Administrative
Agent).

        SECTION 7.7 Taxes.  Such Borrower has filed all material Tax Returns and
Reports  required by law to have been filed by such  Borrower and has paid Taxes
thereby  shown to be owing,  except  any such Taxes  which are being  diligently
contested in good faith by  appropriate  proceedings.  There is no ongoing audit
or, to the best of such Borrower's knowledge,  other governmental  investigation
of the tax  liability  of such  Borrower and there is no  unresolved  claim by a
taxing  authority  concerning such Borrower's tax liability,  for any period for
which returns have been filed or were due.

        SECTION 7.8 Accuracy of Information.  All factual information heretofore
or  contemporaneously  furnished by or on behalf of such  Borrower in writing to
the Administrative  Agent or any Bank for purposes of or in connection with this
Agreement or any transaction  contemplated hereby is, and all other such factual
information  hereafter  furnished  by or on  behalf  of  such  Borrower  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.

                                       35
<PAGE>

        SECTION 7.9  Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Loans made to such  Borrower
will be used solely to purchase common stock of Guarantor and/or PRIDES.

        SECTION 7.10 Securities Laws.  Neither such Borrower nor, to the best of
such 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 7.11 Solvency.  Such Borrower is and, after consummation of this
Agreement and after giving effect to all Indebtedness  incurred by such Borrower
in connection herewith, will be, Solvent.

        SECTION  7.12 No  Default.  Such  Borrower  is not in default  under any
agreement or instrument to which such Borrower is a party or by which any of its
properties or assets is bound or affected,  which  default  might  reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        SECTION 7.13  Organization,  etc. Each Borrower (other than any Borrower
which is an individual) is a partnership  or irrevocable  trust duly  organized,
validly  existing and, with respect to any  partnership,  in good standing under
the laws of the state of its  formation  and each  partnership  Borrower is duly
qualified  to  transact  business  as a  foreign  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.

        SECTION 7.14 Authorization. Each Borrower (other than any Borrower which
is an  individual)  (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 7.15 Margin Regulations.

                                       36
<PAGE>

        (a) None of the  obligations of such Borrower to Guarantor is or will be
secured, directly or indirectly, by Margin Stock;

        (b) Neither  Guarantor nor any third party acting on behalf of Guarantor
has taken or will take  possession  of such  Borrower's  Margin Stock to secure,
directly or indirectly, any of the obligations of such Borrower to Guarantor;

        (c)  Guarantor  does not and will not have any  right to  prohibit  such
Borrower  from  selling,  pledging,  encumbering  or otherwise  disposing of any
Margin  Stock  owned by such  Borrower  so long as the  Restated  Guaranty is in
effect  or any  of the  obligations  of  such  Borrower  or the  obligations  of
Guarantor  under the this  Agreement,  the Restated  Guaranty or any of the Loan
Documents remain outstanding;

        (d) Such  Borrower  has not granted and will not grant  Guarantor or any
third party acting on behalf of Guarantor the right to  accelerate  repayment of
any of the  obligations  under this  Agreement  of such  Borrower  if any of the
Margin Stock owned by such Borrower is sold by such Borrower or otherwise; and

        (e) There is no agreement or other arrangement between such Borrower and
Guarantor  or any  third  party  acting  on  behalf  of  Guarantor  (and no such
agreement  or  arrangement  shall be entered  into so long as this  Agreement or
Restated Guaranty is in effect or any of the Obligations of such Borrower or the
obligations  of  Guarantor  under  the  Restated  Guaranty  or any  of the  Loan
Documents  remain  outstanding)  under which the Margin  Stock of such  Borrower
would be made more  readily  available  as security to  Guarantor  than to other
creditors of such Borrower.

        SECTION  7.16 No  Default  or Event of  Default.  No Default or Event of
Default  (as such  terms are  defined  in the  Existing  Credit  Agreement)  has
occurred and is continuing under the Existing Credit Agreement.


                        SECTION 8. COVENANTS OF BORROWERS

        Each  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), such Borrower will:

                                       37
<PAGE>

        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  Borrower  Financials.  As soon as  available,  but in any
        event within ninety (90) days after December 31 of each calendar year, a
        financial  statement  of  such  Borrower  in a  form  acceptable  to the
        Required Banks;

                8.1.2  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 such Borrower;

                8.1.3 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 such  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  as to  such
        Borrower;

                             (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  as  to  such
        Borrower;

                8.1.4 Collateral Ratio.  Upon the request of the  Administrative
        Agent  or  the  Required  Banks,  cause  Guarantor  (on  behalf  of  the
        Borrowers) to provide to the  Administrative  Agent,  for the benefit of
        the Banks, a computation of the Collateral  Ratio certified by its chief
        financial  officer  or a  vice  president  with  responsibility  for  or
        knowledge 

                                       38
<PAGE>

        of financial  matters of  Guarantor.  Nothing  contained in this Section
        8.1.4 shall be deemed to limit in any way whatsoever the  Administrative
        Agent's  right,  on behalf of the Banks,  to calculate the Loan Value of
        Direct  Collateral  or the Loan  Value  of  Indirect  Collateral  or the
        Collateral Ratio at any time it deems appropriate or necessary. If after
        making such calculation,  the Administrative Agent or the Required Banks
        determine that the amount of such Collateral Ratio is different from the
        Collateral   Ratio  most   recently   provided  by   Guarantor   or  the
        Administrative Agent, as the case may be, the Administrative Agent shall
        deliver  written  notice of such amount to  Guarantor  (on behalf of the
        Borrowers);  provided that the Administrative Agent's failure to deliver
        such notice shall not prejudice the rights of the  Administrative  Agent
        and the Banks or the  obligations of the Borrowers  under this Agreement
        or the other Loan Documents; and

                8.1.5  Other   Information.   From  time  to  time,  such  other
        information  concerning such Borrower as the  Administrative  Agent or a
        Bank may reasonably request.

        SECTION  8.2  Taxes and  Liabilities.  Pay when due all of its Taxes and
other material liabilities, except as contested in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings.

        SECTION 8.3  Compliance  with Laws.  Comply with all federal,  state and
local laws,  rules and regulations  related to such Borrower,  except where such
failure to comply could not  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

        SECTION 8.4 Other  Agreements.  Not enter into any agreement  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 such Borrower hereunder or in connection herewith, (b) prohibits or
restricts  the  ability  of such  Borrower  to amend or  otherwise  modify  this
Agreement,  any other Loan Document or any other document executed in connection
herewith or (c)  constitutes  an 

                                       39
<PAGE>

agreement to a limitation or  restriction  of the type  described in clauses (a)
and (b) with respect to any other Indebtedness.


                   SECTION 9. CONDITIONS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF
                                 THIS AGREEMENT

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

        SECTION 9.1 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 such  Borrower  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,  each in sufficient number of signed
counterparts  or copies  to  provide  one for each  Bank and the  Administrative
Agent:

                9.1.1 If requested by the Administrative Agent, an appropriately
        completed  Note  from  each  Borrower,  payable  to  the  order  of  the
        Administrative  Agent evidencing the aggregate  Commitments of the Banks
        to make Loans to such
        Borrower;

                9.1.2  The Reaffirmation of Pledge Agreement;

                9.1.3 The Administrative  Agent's receipt of all common stock of
        Guarantor and/or PRIDES owned by each Borrower which have been purchased
        with proceeds of Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit  Agreement and
        this Agreement) or any of the foregoing  relating thereto as required by
        the Pledge  Agreement,  together with appropriate  stock powers for such
        shares or PRIDES endorsed in blank and/or other appropriate  evidence of
        the  perfection  of  the  Administrative  Agent's  Lien,  including  UCC
        financing  statements and/or  registrations or  acknowledgements  of the
        Lien of the Administrative  Agent on any applicable brokerage account of
        each Borrower;

                                       40
<PAGE>


                9.1.4  The Restated Guaranty, together with
        the documents provided in Article V of the
        Restated Guaranty;

                9.1.5  A favorable opinion of Karl W.
        Kindig, counsel of Guarantor, substantially in
        the form of Exhibit F-1, and addressing such
        other legal matters as the Administrative Agent
        may require;

                9.1.6 A favorable opinion of Baker & Daniels, outside counsel to
        Guarantor, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2, and addressing such
        other legal matters as the Administrative Agent may require;

                9.1.7  Certified  copies of each material  consent,  license and
        approval  (including,   without  limitation,  any  consent  or  approval
        required under the Revolving  Credit  Agreement)  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;

                9.1.8 A  certificate  of each  Borrower  certifying  that  since
        December 31, 1996, no event has occurred  which  individually  or in the
        aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
        as to such Borrower;

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

                9.1.10  Evidence  satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent of
        compliance  by  each  Borrower  and  Guarantor  with  Regulation  U  and
        Regulation G in connection with the financing transactions  contemplated
        hereby;

                                       41
<PAGE>

                9.1.11 Evidence of each filing, registration or recordation (and
        payment of any  necessary  fee, Tax or expense  relating  thereto)  with
        respect  to  each  document  (including,  without  limitation,  any  UCC
        financing  statement)  required  by the Loan  Documents  or under law or
        requested  by  the  Administrative  Agent  to be  filed,  registered  or
        recorded in order to create, in favor of the  Administrative  Agent, for
        the benefit of the Banks a valid perfected Lien on all Direct Collateral
        (free of all other Liens)  (other than UCC  financing  statements  to be
        filed in connection  with the Loan Documents which will be delivered for
        filing on the Closing Date);

                9.1.12 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; and

                9.1.13  Certified  copies  of  any  indemnification  or  similar
        agreements or arrangements  between any Borrower and Guarantor  relating
        to the  reimbursement by such Borrower of any payments made by Guarantor
        under the Restated  Guaranty,  and certified copies of all documents and
        instruments  relating to the Conseco Stock Purchase Program  (including,
        without  limitation,  any plan relating  thereto),  as the same may have
        been amended or modified.

                9.1.14 A Federal  Reserve Form U-1 for each Bank,  duly executed
        by each Borrower and the Guarantor,  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.

                9.1.15 Such other information and documents  including direction
        letters,  powers of attorney, and Borrower  authorizations to supplement
        Form  U-1  statements  in  connection  with  subsequent   Loans  as  may
        reasonably   be   required   by  the   Administrative   Agent   and  the
        Administrative Agent's counsel.

        SECTION  9.2 All  Loans.  The  obligation  of the  Banks  to make  Loans
hereunder is subject to the following further conditions precedent:

                                       42
<PAGE>

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

                9.2.2 No Default  exists or will  result  from the making of the
        Loans, and no Default (as defined under the Revolving Credit  Agreement)
        has occurred and is continuing;

                9.2.3  The  representations  and  warranties  of  the  Borrowers
        contained in Section 7, the  representations and warranties of Guarantor
        contained  in Article III of the  Restated  Guaranty  and the other Loan
        Documents  are true and  correct  with the same effect as though made on
        the Borrowing Date;

                9.2.4  No Material Litigation exists;

                9.2.5 No Material  Adverse  Change has occurred  with respect to
        the  Guarantor  or any  Borrower  since  the  date  of the  most  recent
        respective  financial statements of the Guarantor and each such Borrower
        delivered  to the  Banks  pursuant  to this  Agreement  or the  Restated
        Guaranty, respectively;

                9.2.6 The  Collateral  Ratio  for such  Borrower,  after  giving
        effect to such Loan, is at least 2.0 to 1.0.


                 SECTION 10. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT

        SECTION 10.1 Events of Default.  An "Event of Default"  shall exist with
respect  to a  Borrower  if any  one or  more of the  following  events  (herein
collectively called "Events of Default") shall occur and be continuing:

                10.1.1  Non-Payment of Loans, etc.

                              (a)  Default by such  Borrower  in the  payment or
        prepayment when due of any principal on the Loans made to such Borrower,
        or

                                       43
<PAGE>

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

                  10.1.2 Bankruptcy,  Insolvency, etc. Such Borrower,  Guarantor
        or any Significant  Subsidiary  becomes  insolvent or generally fails to
        pay, or admits in writing  its  inability  to pay,  debts as they become
        due; or such  Borrower,  Guarantor  or any such  Significant  Subsidiary
        applies  for,  consents  to,  or  acquiesces  in the  appointment  of, a
        trustee,  receiver or other  custodian for such  Borrower,  Guarantor or
        such Significant  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 such Borrower,  Guarantor or such Significant
        Subsidiary or for a substantial  part of the property of such  Borrower,
        Guarantor or such  Significant  Subsidiary and is not discharged  within
        sixty (60) days; or any bankruptcy, reorganization, debt arrangement, or
        other case or proceeding under any bankruptcy or similar  insolvency law
        is commenced in respect of such Borrower,  Guarantor or such Significant
        Subsidiary  and if such  case or  proceeding  is not  commenced  by such
        Borrower,  Guarantor or such Significant Subsidiary,  it is consented to
        or  acquiesced  in by  such  Borrower,  Guarantor  or  such  Significant
        Subsidiary or remains for sixty (60) days undismissed.

                10.1.3 Defaults Under this  Agreement.  Failure by such Borrower
        or Guarantor (or any of its  Subsidiaries) to comply with or perform any
        of the covenants or agreements of such Borrower, Guarantor or any of its
        Subsidiaries  set forth in this  Agreement  or the other Loan  Documents
        applicable to such Borrower, Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries (other
        than  those  constituting  an Event of  Default  

                                       44
<PAGE>

        under any of the other provisions of this Section 10) and continuance of
        such failure for thirty (30) days with respect to such  Borrower and ten
        (10) days with respect to Guarantor,  in each case after notice  thereof
        to  such  Borrower  or   Guarantor,   as  the  case  may  be,  from  the
        Administrative Agent.

                10.1.4  Representations  and Warranties.  Any  representation or
        warranty made by such Borrower or Guarantor 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 such
        Borrower or Guarantor 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.

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

                10.1.6  Collateral Ratio. The Collateral Ratio for such Borrower
        is less than 1.5 to 1.0.

                10.1.7 Defaults under Revolving  Credit  Agreement.  An event of
        default shall have occurred and be continuing under the Revolving Credit
        Agreement.  If  the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement  is  terminated,   the
        occurrence of any event or the existence of any circumstance which would
        have, had it occurred or existed prior to such termination,  constituted
        an event of default,  shall  constitute  an Event of Default  hereunder;
        provided that if such termination results from Guarantor's execution and
        delivery  of a  new  credit  facility  in  replacement,  restatement  or
        substitution  for the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  so long as (a) the
        terms of such new  credit  facility  could not have a  material  adverse
        effect on the Banks,  Guarantor  or any  material  provision of the Loan
        Documents,  (b) no Default or Event of  Default  exists or would  result
        therefrom and (c) no violation or contravention

                                       45
<PAGE>

        of  Regulation U or Regulation G exists or would result  therefrom,  the
        events of default set forth in such new credit  facility shall be deemed
        to replace and be substituted for the events of default set forth in the
        Revolving Credit Agreement.

        SECTION  10.2  Effect  of  Event of  Default.  If any  Event of  Default
described in Section 10.1.2 shall occur and be continuing,  the Commitments with
respect to such Borrower (or if such Event of Default relates to Guarantor,  any
Significant  Subsidiary  or Section  10.1.7,  all  Borrowers)  (if they have not
theretofore  terminated) shall immediately terminate and all Liabilities of such
Borrower  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 of such Borrower (or if such Event of
Default relates to Guarantor,  any Significant Subsidiary or Section 10.1.7, all
Borrowers)  (if they have not  theretofore  terminated) to be terminated and all
Liabilities  with respect to such Borrower to be due and payable,  whereupon the
Commitments  with respect to such Borrower (or if such Event of Default  relates
to Guarantor,  any Significant  Subsidiary or Section 10.1.7, all Borrowers) (if
they  have not  theretofore  terminated)  shall  immediately  terminate  and all
Liabilities with respect to such Borrower or all Borrowers,  as the case may be,
shall become  immediately  due and  payable,  all without  presentment,  demand,
protest or notice of any kind. The  Administrative  Agent shall promptly  advise
such  Borrower or all  Borrowers,  as the case may be, 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 13.1, the
effect as an Event of Default of any event  described  in Section  10.1.2 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  10 may be waived as  provided  in
Section 13.1.


                              SECTION 11. THE AGENT

        SECTION 11.1  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  


                                       46
<PAGE>


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 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  11.2  Liability  of  the  Administrative  Agent.  None  of  the
Administrative  Agent or any Agent-Related Person 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 12.1 hereof; (b) may consult with legal
counsel (including counsel for any 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 any
Borrower or to inspect the property  (including,  without limitation,  any books
and records) of any 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 

                                       47
<PAGE>

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 11.3  Administrative  Agent and Affiliates.  With respect to the
Loans  made by it,  BofA  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  BofA  in its
individual  capacity.  BofA and its  Affiliates may accept  deposits from,  lend
money to, act as trustee under  indentures of, and generally  engage in any kind
of business with, any Borrower,  Guarantor and any of its  Subsidiaries  and any
Person who may do  business  with or own  securities  of  Guarantor  or any such
Subsidiary, all as if BofA was not the Administrative Agent and without any duty
to account therefor to the Banks.

        SECTION 11.4 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 7.3 hereof and
Section 3.7 of the Restated Guaranty 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  11.5   Indemnification.   The  Banks  agree  to  indemnify  the
Administrative Agent and each Agent-Related Person (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,  

                                       48

<PAGE>

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 their
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 Borrowers or  Guarantor.  All  obligations
provided for in this Section 11.5 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

        SECTION 11.6 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 a majority of the
Borrowers  (which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld).  If no successor
agent  is  appointed  prior  to the  effective  date of the  resignation  of the
Administrative  Agent, the  Administrative  Agent may appoint,  after consulting
with the Banks and the Borrowers,  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 11 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

                                       49
<PAGE>

time, if  any,  as  the Required Banks appoint a successor agent as provided for
above.


                   SECTION 12. ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS

        SECTION 12.1  Assignments.

                (a) Each Bank  shall  have the right at any time to assign  with
        the  consent  of  Guarantor  (on  behalf  of  the   Borrowers)  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 H (an "Assignment  Agreement"),  duly executed by
        such  Bank  and  the  Eligible   Assignee,   and   acknowledged  by  the
        Administrative Agent.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Bank may make
        assignments  to its  Affiliates  or to any Federal  Reserve Bank without
        obtaining consent of the Administrative Agent.

                (b) Each assignment shall be pro rata with respect to all rights
        and  obligations of the assigning Bank  including the  Commitments,  the
        Loans and the Notes, if any. Each assignment shall be in an amount equal
        to or in excess of  $5,000,000  (except  for  assignments  of the entire
        unpaid  balance,  if less  than  $5,000,000,  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  12.1(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.

                                       50
<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 assigning Bank and the Eligible Assignee,

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

                             (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 13.2, 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  any
        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  Borrowers  and each Bank a
        revised Schedule 2.1, revised to reflect such assignment.

                                       51
<PAGE>

        SECTION 12.2  Participations.

                (a) Each Bank may grant participations in all or any part of its
        Loans, Commitments and, if applicable,  the Notes to any commercial bank
        or other  financial  institution  (other than  insurance  companies  and
        Affiliates  thereof  unless  consented to by  Guarantor).  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  13.1).
        Notwithstanding the foregoing, each participant shall have the rights of
        a Bank  pursuant to Section  4.6.  All amounts  payable by any  Borrower
        under this  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
        Borrowers 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,


                                       52
<PAGE>

                             (ii) the Borrowers,  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 participant's consent, take
        any action which  requires the consent of all of the Banks under Section
        13.1.

        SECTION 12.3  Disclosure of Information.  Each 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 such Borrower,  Guarantor and
its  Subsidiaries  which has been delivered to such Bank by such Borrower and/or
Guarantor in  connection  with such Bank's  credit  evaluation  of such Borrower
prior to entering into this  Agreement or which has been  delivered to such Bank
by such Borrower and/or Guarantor 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 G 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
representative  thereof or pursuant to legal  process.  For the purposes of this
Section 12.3, by execution of this  Agreement  each of the Banks shall be deemed
to have  agreed to and  executed  the  confidentiality  agreement  contained  in
Exhibit G.


                                       53
<PAGE>


        SECTION 12.4 Foreign  Transferees.  If, pursuant to this Section 12, any
interest  in this  Agreement  or any  Loans  or the 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 Borrowers) that under
        applicable  law and treaties no Taxes will be required to be withheld by
        the Administrative Agent,

                (b) to represent to the  Borrowers 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 Borrowers 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 Borrowers) to provide the transferor Bank,
        the Administrative  Agent and the Borrowers 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.

                                       54

<PAGE>

                            SECTION 13. MISCELLANEOUS

        SECTION 13.1 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  Borrowers  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 Required Banks,  shall
        be effective without the consent of each Bank;

                (b) which would modify this Section 13.1,  change the definition
        of "Required Banks," change any Percentage for any Bank (except pursuant
        to an Assignment  Agreement),  reduce any fees, extend 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  permit  the  release  of all or any  material
        portion of the Direct  Collateral or Indirect  Collateral or the release
        or  termination of  Guarantor's  obligations  in the  aggregate,  or any
        material obligation individually,  under the Restated Guaranty, shall be
        effective without the consent of each Bank;

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

                (e)  which  would  affect  adversely  the  interests,  rights or
        obligations of the  Administrative  Agent (in such capacity)  other than
        removal in  accordance  with Section  11.6,  shall be effective  without
        consent of the Administrative Agent.

                                       55
<PAGE>


        SECTION  13.2  Failure to Consent.  If any Bank shall fail to consent to
any amendment,  modification or waiver  described in Section 13.1 (any such Bank
being  hereinafter  referred  to as a  "Nonconsenting  Bank") then in such case,
Guarantor  (on behalf of the  Borrowers)  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 13.2 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, 5.5, 11.5 and 13.4, and Sections 7.1 and 7.2 of the Restated Guaranty while
such  Non-Consenting  Bank 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 Borrowers 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 13.2, 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  13.2  without  any  further  action of the
Nonconsenting Bank.

        SECTION 13.3 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,  the
Borrowers and Guarantor.  Each such notice, request or other communication shall
be effective (a) if given by facsimile or telex, when such facsimile or telex 

                                       56
<PAGE>

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 2, 3, 4 and 10 shall not
be effective until received by the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 13.4 Indemnity. The Borrowers agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify
each Bank,  its  Affiliates and each of their  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
Borrowers  and  Guarantor  provided  for in  this  Section  13.4  shall  survive
termination of this Agreement.

        SECTION 13.5  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 13.6 Captions.  Section  captions used in this Agreement are for
convenience only, and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.

        SECTION 13.7  GOVERNING  LAW.  THIS  AGREEMENT,  THE NOTES AND THE LOANS
SHALL  BE A  CONTRACT  MADE  UNDER  AND  GOVERNED  BY THE  LAWS OF THE  STATE OF
ILLINOIS,  WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES. ALL OBLIGATIONS OF THE
BORROWERS AND GUARANTOR 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.

                                       57
<PAGE>

        SECTION 13.8 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 hereof, and at such time the Administrative  Agent shall notify
the Borrowers and each Bank.

SECTION 13.9 SUBMISSION TO  JURISDICTION;  WAIVER OF VENUE.  THE  ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT,  EACH  BANK  AND EACH  BORROWER  (A)  HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY  SUBMIT  TO THE
JURISDICTION  OF ANY  ILLINOIS  STATE OR FEDERAL  COURT  SITTING IN THE NORTHERN
DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS OVER ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS,  AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT, EACH
BANK AND EACH BORROWER  HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY  AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF
SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING  MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH ILLINOIS STATE OR
FEDERAL  COURT,  AND (B) AGREE NOT TO INSTITUTE  ANY LEGAL ACTION OR  PROCEEDING
AGAINST ANOTHER PARTY OR THE DIRECTORS,  OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR PROPERTY
OF ANY THEREOF,  ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS  AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS,  IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN AS  HEREINABOVE  SPECIFIED  IN THIS  SECTION
13.9. THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT, EACH BANK AND EACH BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT  PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION IT OR THEY MAY NOW
OR HEREAFTER  HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN ANY ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  (WHETHER
BROUGHT BY ANY BORROWER,  THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT, ANY BANK, OR OTHERWISE) IN
ANY COURT HEREINABOVE  SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION 13.9 AS WELL AS ANY RIGHT IT OR
THEY 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  BANK AND  EACH  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 13.10  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement  shall be binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties  

                                       58
<PAGE>

hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that: the
Borrowers  may not assign or transfer  their  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 12.

        SECTION 13.11 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH 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.

        SECTION 13.12 Replacement of Existing Credit  Agreement.  This Agreement
amends and restates the Existing Credit Agreement,  and each of the Notes amends
and restates and is issued in  substitution  for each of the notes issued by the
Borrowers to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the banks party to the
Existing Credit Agreement,  pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement.  Upon the
effectiveness of this Agreement:  (a) the  Administrative  Agent shall return to
each of



                                       59
<PAGE>



the Borrowers  such Borrowers  existing note delivered  pursuant to the Existing
Credit  Agreement,  such notes to be marked replaced to indicate that such notes
have been  replaced by the Notes and (b) all loans made pursuant to the Existing
Credit  Agreement  and  outstanding  on such  date  shall be  deemed to be Loans
hereunder,  shall be  evidenced by the Notes and shall be entitled to all of the
benefits and bear all of the  obligations of this  Agreement.  Each Bank (or the
Administrative  Agent on its behalf) is  authorized  to enter on its Note issued
pursuant  to this  Agreement  the  information  marked on its  existing  note so
returned to the Borrower.

        Executed  as of the  day  and  year  first  above  written  at  Chicago,
Illinois.



                                              BORROWERS:


                                              LAUREN E. CUNEO
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:/s/Brian J. O'Connell
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Brian J. O'Connell, Trustee


                                              MATTHEW R. CUNEO
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:/s/Brian J. O'Connell
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Brian J. O'Connell, Trustee


                                              MICHAEL D. CUNEO
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:/s/Brian J. O'Connell
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Brian J. O'Connell, Trustee



                                              THE HEATHER DAWN HILBERT
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:/s/Stephen C. Hilbert
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Stephen C. Hilbert, Trustee


                                       60


<PAGE>



                                              THE THOMAS C. HILBERT
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST



                                              By:/s/Stephen C. Hilbert
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Stephen C. Hilbert, Trustee



                                              THE THOMAS C. HILBERT
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST II



                                              By:/s/Stephen C. Hilbert
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Stephen C. Hilbert, Trustee



                                              THE TODD S. HILBERT
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST



                                              By:/s/Stephen C. Hilbert
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Stephen C. Hilbert, Trustee



                                              CHRISTOPHER L. MYERS
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST



                                              By:/s/Stephen C. Hilbert
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Stephen C. Hilbert, Trustee



                                              HEATHER N. INLOW
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:         /S/
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 NBD Bank, N.A., Co-Trustee

                                                 /s/Thomas A. Withrow
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas A. Withrow, Co-Trustee

                                       61



<PAGE>



                                              JASON L. INLOW
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:     /s/
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 NBD Bank, N.A., Co-Trustee

                                                 /s/Thomas A. Withrow
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                    Thomas A. Withrow



                                              JEREMY H. INLOW
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:     /s/
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 NBD Bank, N.A., Co-Trustee

                                                 /s/Thomas A. Withrow
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas A. Withrow



                                              SARAH C. INLOW
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:     /s/
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 NBD Bank, N.A., Co-Trustee

                                                 /s/Thomas A. Withrow
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas A. Withrow, Co-Trustee



                                              JESSE A. INLOW
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:     /s/
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 NBD Bank, N.A., Co-Trustee

                                                 /s/Thomas A. Withrow
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas A. Withrow, Co-Trustee


                                              The David J. Barra Living Trust
                                              dated April 16, 1997


                                              By:/s/David J. Barra
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 David J. Barra, Trustee


                                       62
<PAGE>




                                                 /s/Louis P. Ferrero
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Louis P. Ferrero


                                                 /s/M. Phil Hathaway
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 M. Phil Hathaway


                                                 /s/Karl W. Kindig
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Karl W. Kindig


                                                 /s/James J. Larkin
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 James J. Larkin


                                                 /s/Richard Maybin
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Richard Maybin


                                                 /s/Dennis M. McComb
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Dennis M. McComb


                                                 /s/Gary S. Michaels
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Gary S. Michaels


                                                 /s/Susan Morisato
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Susan Morisato


                                                 /s/Daniel J. Murphy
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Daniel J. Murphy


                                                 /s/John M. Mutz
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 John M. Mutz


                                                 /s/Timothy F. O'Keefe
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Timothy F. O'Keefe


                                                 /s/H. Don Rutherford
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 H.Don Rutherford


                                                 /s/John J. Sabl
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 John J. Sabl

                                       63

<PAGE>



                                                 /s/Steven H. Schouweiler
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Steven H. Schouweiler


                                                 /s/John R. Sharpe
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 John R. Sharpe


                                                 /s/Christopher L. Weaver
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Christopher L. Weaver


                                                 /s/Nancy D. Weaver
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Nancy D. Weaver



                                              DPM, Ltd.


                                              By:/s/Dennis E. Murray, Sr.
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Dennis E. Murray, Sr., General
                                                 Partner

                                                 /s/Margaret A. Murray
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Margaret A. Murray, General
                                                 Partner



                                              JLT, LP


                                              By:/s/Rollin M. Dick
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Rollin M. Dick, General Partner


                                                 /s/Ngaire E. Cuneo
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Ngaire E. Cuneo


                                                 /s/Richard M. Cuneo
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Richard M. Cuneo


                                                 /s/Donald F. Gongaware
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Donald F. Gongaware


                                                 /s/James D. Massey
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 James D. Massey

                                       64

<PAGE>



                                              JASON L. INLOW
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:     /s/
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 NBD Bank, N.A., Co-Trustee

                                                 /s/Thomas A. Withrow
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                    Thomas A. Withrow



                                              JEREMY H. INLOW
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:     /s/
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 NBD Bank, N.A., Co-Trustee

                                                 /s/Thomas A. Withrow
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas A. Withrow



                                              SARAH C. INLOW
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:     /s/
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 NBD Bank, N.A., Co-Trustee

                                                 /s/Thomas A. Withrow
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas A. Withrow, Co-Trustee



                                              JESSE A. INLOW
                                              IRREVOCABLE TRUST


                                              By:     /s/
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 NBD Bank, N.A., Co-Trustee

                                                 /s/Thomas A. Withrow
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas A. Withrow, Co-Trustee


                                              The David J. Barra Living Trust
                                              dated April 16, 1997


                                              By:/s/David J. Barra
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 David J. Barra, Trustee


                                       62
<PAGE>




                                                 /s/Louis P. Ferrero
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Louis P. Ferrero


                                                 /s/M. Phil Hathaway
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 M. Phil Hathaway


                                                 /s/Karl W. Kindig
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Karl W. Kindig


                                                 /s/James J. Larkin
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 James J. Larkin


                                                 /s/Richard Maybin
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Richard Maybin


                                                 /s/Dennis M. McComb
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Dennis M. McComb


                                                 /s/Gary S. Michaels
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Gary S. Michaels


                                                 /s/Susan Morisato
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Susan Morisato


                                                 /s/Daniel J. Murphy
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Daniel J. Murphy


                                                 /s/John M. Mutz
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 John M. Mutz


                                                 /s/Timothy F. O'Keefe
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Timothy F. O'Keefe


                                                 /s/H. Don Rutherford
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 H.Don Rutherford


                                                 /s/John J. Sabl
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 John J. Sabl

                                       63

<PAGE>



                                                 /s/Steven H. Schouweiler
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Steven H. Schouweiler


                                                 /s/John R. Sharpe
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 John R. Sharpe


                                                 /s/Christopher L. Weaver
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Christopher L. Weaver


                                                 /s/Nancy D. Weaver
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Nancy D. Weaver



                                              DPM, Ltd.


                                              By:/s/Dennis E. Murray, Sr.
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Dennis E. Murray, Sr., General
                                                 Partner

                                                 /s/Margaret A. Murray
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Margaret A. Murray, General
                                                 Partner



                                              JLT, LP


                                              By:/s/Rollin M. Dick
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Rollin M. Dick, General Partner


                                                 /s/Ngaire E. Cuneo
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Ngaire E. Cuneo


                                                 /s/Richard M. Cuneo
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Richard M. Cuneo


                                                 /s/Donald F. Gongaware
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Donald F. Gongaware


                                                 /s/James D. Massey
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 James D. Massey

                                       64

<PAGE>



                                                 /s/David R. Decatur
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 David R. Decatur


                                                 /s/James S. Adams
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 James S. Adams


                                                 /s/William T. Devanney, Jr.
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 William T. Devanney, Jr.


                                                 /s/Pamela L. Devanney
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Pamela L. Devanney


                                                 /s/Thomas J. Kilian
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas J. Kilian



                                              MARYJOSC, LP


                                              By:/s/Rollin M. Dick
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Rollin M. Dick, General Partner


        
                                              Meyers, LP


                                              By:/s/Thomas Meyers
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas Meyers, General Partner


                                                 /s/Maxwell E. Bublitz
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Maxwell E. Bublitz


                                                 /s/Albert Gutierrez
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Albert Gutierrez




                                              DANCING BEARS, L.P.



                                              By:/s/Albert Gutierrez
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Albert Gutierrez, General
                                                 Partner

                                       65

<PAGE>




                                                 /s/Gregory J. Hahn
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Gregory J. Hahn


                                                 /s/Thomas A. Meyers
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas A. Meyers


                                                 /s/Beth R. Meyers
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Beth R. Meyers


                                                 /s/Andrew W. Hubregsen
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Andrew W. Hubregsen


                                                 /s/Donald Max Collins
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Donald Max Collins


                                                 /s/W. Michael Wells
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 W. Michael Wells


                                                 /s/Fred Crosley
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Fred Crosley


                                                 /s/Lynn C. Tyson
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Lynn C. Tyson


                                                 /s/L. Gregory Gloeckner
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 L. Gregory Gloeckner


                                                 /s/Jon P. Newsome
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Jon P. Newsome



                                              ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:


                                              BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
                                              AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION


                                              By:/s/Michael T. Ernst
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Michael T. Ernst
                                                 Vice President


                                       66

<PAGE>




                                              BANKS:

                                              BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND
                                              SAVINGS ASSOCIATION


                                              By:/s/Michael T. Ernst
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Michael T. Ernst
                                                 Vice President



                                              FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK


                                              By:/s/Gail A. Golightly
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Gail A. Golightly
                                                 Sr. Vice President



                                              FLEET NATIONAL BANK


                                              By:/s/James H. Stearne
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 James H. Stearne
                                                 Sr. Vice President



                                              NATIONSBANK, N.A.


                                              By:/s/Gregory A. Seib
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Gregory A. Seib, Officer



                                              THE LONG-TERM CREDIT BANK OF JAPAN


                                              By:/s/Richard E. Stahl
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Richard E. Stahl
                                                 Executive Vice President



                                              DEUTSCHE BANK AG


                                              By:/s/John S. McGill
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 John S. McGill, Vice President

                                       67

<PAGE>



                                                 /s/Nicole J. Holzapfel
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Nicole J. Holzapfel
                                                 Assistant Vice President



                                              SUN TRUST BANK


                                              By:/s/Christopher A. Black
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Christopher A. Black
                                                 Vice President



                                       68

<PAGE>



                         ACCEPTANCE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT


         CONSECO, INC. hereby acknowledges and agrees to make such deliveries as
are required by it and comply with the covenants and other provisions applicable
to it contained in this Agreement.


                                              CONSECO, INC.



                                              By:/s/Rollin M. Dick
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Rollin M. Dick
                                                 Executive Vice President











                                       69

<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A

                                  FORM OF NOTE


                                                               Chicago, Illinois
$__________                                                      August 26, 1997



                  The  undersigned,  FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  promises to pay to the
order of Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association, for the benefit
of the Banks (as defined below) at 231 South LaSalle Street,  Chicago,  Illinois
60697, [INSERT PRINCIPAL AMOUNT ($__________)] or, if less, the aggregate unpaid
principal  amount of all Loans made by the Banks to the undersigned  pursuant to
the Restated Credit Agreement  referred to below. The principal amount due under
this Note shall be due and payable on the Termination Date.

                  The  undersigned  also  promises to pay interest on the unpaid
principal amount hereof from time to time outstanding from the date hereof until
maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) and, after maturity, until paid,
at the  rates  per  annum and on the  dates  specified  in the  Restated  Credit
Agreement.

                  Payments  of both  principal  and  interest  are to be made in
lawful  money  of the  United  States  of  America  in same  day or  immediately
available funds.

                  This Note is a Note  described in, and is subject to the terms
and provisions of, that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement,  dated as
of  August  26,  1997 (as the same  may be  further  amended  or  modified,  the
"Restated Credit  Agreement"),  among the individuals listed as borrowers on the
signature pages thereto, the financial institutions who are or from time to time
become  party  thereto  (the  "Banks")  and Bank of America  National  Trust and
Savings  Association,  as Administrative  Agent for the Banks. Terms used herein
without  definition  shall have the  meanings  ascribed to them in the  Restated
Credit Agreement.  Reference is hereby made to the Restated Credit Agreement and
the  other  Loan  Documents  for  a  statement  of  the  prepayment  rights  and
obligations of the undersigned, the nature and extent of the collateral security
and the rights of the parties to the  Restated  Credit  Agreement  and the other
Loan Documents in respect of such



<PAGE>

collateral security, and for a statement of the terms and conditions under which
the due date of this Note may be accelerated.

                  In addition to and not in  limitation of the foregoing and the
provisions of the Restated Credit  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,  the
undersigned further agrees, subject only to any limitation imposed by applicable
law,  to pay all  reasonable  expenses  actually  incurred,  including,  without
limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses, by the holder of this
Note in endeavoring to collect any amounts payable  hereunder which are not paid
when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise.

                  This Note  constitutes  a renewal  and  restatement  of, and a
replacement  and  substitute  for,  the  Note  dated  November  22,  1996 of the
undersigned,  payable to the order of Bank of America National Trust and Savings
Association,  for the benefit of the Banks, in the principal amount of [$ INSERT
PRINCIPAL  AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL  NOTE"] (the "Existing  Note").  The  indebtedness
evidenced by the Existing Note is continuing  indebtedness,  and nothing  herein
shall be deemed to constitute a payment,  settlement or novation of the Existing
Note, or to release or otherwise adversely affect any lien, mortgage or security
interest  securing  such  indebtedness  or any rights of the Banks  against  any
guarantor,  surety or other  party  primarily  or  secondarily  liable  for such
indebtedness. (1)

                  All  parties  hereto,   whether  as  makers,   endorsers,   or
otherwise,  severally waive presentment for payment,  demand, protest and notice
of dishonor.

                  THIS NOTE HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AND SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT  MADE UNDER AND  GOVERNED  BY THE  INTERNAL  LAWS OF THE
STATE OF ILLINOIS.



                                             [INSERT NAME OF BORROWER



                                             By:___________________________
                                             Title:________________________]

                                             [------------------------------
                                             INSERT NAME OF INDIVIDUAL BORROWER]

- ------------------
(1) Inserted in Notes of Existing Borrowers only.



<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT B

                           FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING


Bank of America National Trust
  and Savings Association, as
  Administrative Agent for
  the Banks
231 S. LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60697

Attention:  Ms. Debra Basler

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  This  Notice of  Borrowing  is  delivered  to you  pursuant to
Sections 2.2 and 9.2.1 of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of
August 26, 1997 (as the same may be further  amended or modified,  the "Restated
Credit  Agreement"),  among the individuals listed as borrowers on the signature
pages thereto (the "Borrowers"), the financial institutions who are or from time
to time become party  thereto (the "Banks") and Bank of America  National  Trust
and  Savings   Association,   as   Administrative   Agent  for  the  Banks  (the
"Administrative Agent"). Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used
herein have the meanings provided in the Restated Credit Agreement.

                  Conseco,  Inc., an Indiana  corporation (the  "Guarantor") (on
behalf of the  Borrowers  set forth on Annex I hereto)  hereby  requests that [a
Loan]  [Loans]  be  made in the  aggregate  principal  amount  of $ on , 19 (the
"Borrowing  Date").** The [Loan] [Loans]  represented by this Borrowing shall be
[Offshore  Rate Loan[s]  having an Interest  Period of [one] [two] [three] [six]
months] [Base Rate Loan[s]].***

                  The Guarantor (individually and on behalf of the Borrowers set
forth on Annex I hereto)  hereby  certifies  and 

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

     **  Notice must be received by 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) (i) three Business
Days prior to the requested  Borrowing  Date, in the case of Offshore Rate Loans
and (ii) on the requested  Borrowing  Date, in the case of Base Rate Loans.  The
requested  Borrowing  Date  must be the  same  for all  Borrowers  and must be a
Business Day.

   ***   Select appropriate interest rate option.



<PAGE>
warrants that on the Borrowing  Date,  after giving effect to the making of such
Loan[s]:

                  (a) No Default  exists or will  result from the making of such
             Loan[s],  and no Default (as  defined  under the  Revolving  Credit
             Agreement) has occurred and is continuing.


                  (b)  The  representations  and  warranties  of  the  Borrowers
             contained in Section 7 of the  Restated  Credit  Agreement  and the
             representations  and  warranties  of  the  Guarantor  contained  in
             Article III of the Restated  Guaranty and the other Loan Documents,
             are true and  correct  with the same  effect as though  made on the
             Borrowing Date.

                  (c) No Material Litigation exists.

                  (d) No Material  Adverse Change has occurred and is continuing
             as to the  Guarantor  or any  Borrower  since  the date of the most
             recent  respective  financial  statements of the Guarantor and each
             such Borrower  delivered to the Banks  pursuant to the terms of the
             Restated Guaranty or the Restated Credit Agreement, respectively.

                  (e) The  Collateral  Ratio as to each  Borrower  set  forth on
             Annex I hereto,  after giving effect to such  Loan[s],  is at least
             2.0 to 1.0.

                  (f)  The  total  number  of  shares  of  common  stock  of the
             Guarantor  and/or  PRIDES  purchased  or to be  purchased  by  each
             Borrower  set forth on Annex I hereto with  proceeds of the Loan[s]
             to be made to such Borrower is set forth on Annex III hereto.

                  The Guarantor  (individually  and on behalf of the  Borrowers)
agrees that if prior to the time of the  Borrowing  requested  hereby any matter
certified  to herein by it will not be true and  correct at such time as if then
made, it will  immediately  so notify the  Administrative  Agent.  Except to the
extent,  if any,  that prior to the time of the Borrowing  requested  hereby the
Administrative  Agent shall  receive  written  notice to

<PAGE>

the contrary from the Guarantor, each matter certified to herein shall be deemed
once again to be certified  as  true  and correct at the date of such Borrowing
as if then made.

                  Please wire  transfer  the  proceeds of the  Borrowing  to the
accounts of the following persons as set forth on Annex II hereto.

                  The Guarantor (individually and on behalf of the Borrowers set
forth on Annex I hereto) has caused this Notice of  Borrowing to be executed and
delivered by its  Responsible  Officer,  and the  certification  and  warranties
contained herein to be made this _____ day of _________  19___.

                                                 CONSECO, INC.
                                                By:_________________________
                                                Its:____________________________




<PAGE>



                                     ANNEX I


                                                             Principal Amount of
Name of Borrower                                             Requested Borrowing
- ----------------                                             -------------------




<PAGE>



                                    ANNEX II



Amount to be            Person to be Paid                    Name, Address, etc.
                    --------------------------
Transferred         Name           Account No.               of Transferee Bank
- -----------         ----           -----------               -------------------

$__________        _______________  __________               ___________________
                                                             ___________________
                                                             Attention:_________

$__________        _______________  __________               ___________________
                                                             ___________________
                                                             Attention:_________

Balance of         The Borrower ______________               ___________________
such proceeds                                                ___________________
                                                             Attention:_________




<PAGE>



                                    ANNEX III



                                                         Capital Stock Purchased

Borrower                                           Common Stock           PRIDES
- --------                                           ------------           ------
 




<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT C

                    FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION


Bank of America National Trust
  and Savings Association, as
  Administrative Agent for
  the Banks
231 S. LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60697

Attention:  Ms. Debra Basler

Ladies and Gentlemen:


                  This Notice of  Conversion/Continuation  is  delivered  to you
pursuant to Section 2.4 of the Amended and Restated Credit  Agreement,  dated as
of  August  26,  1997 (as the same  may be  further  amended  or  modified,  the
"Restated Credit  Agreement"),  among the individuals listed as borrowers on the
signature pages thereto (the "Borrowers"), the financial institutions who are or
from  time to time  become  party  thereto  (the  "Banks")  and Bank of  America
National Trust and Savings  Association,  as Administrative  Agent for the Banks
(the "Administrative Agent"). Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms
used herein have the meanings provided in the Restated Credit Agreement.

                  Conseco,  Inc., an Indiana  corporation (the  "Guarantor") (on
behalf  of the  Borrowers  set  forth  on  Annex  I  hereto)  requests  that  on
__________, 199_,****

                  (1) the respective  Dollar amount  indicated on Annex I hereto
         of each such Borrower's presently  outstanding  principal amount of the


     --------------------  
     ****   Notice  of   Conversion/Continuation   must  be
            received by the  Administrative  Agent not later than 9:00 A.M. (San
            Francisco  time) at least (i) three  Business Days in advance of the
            Conversion/Continuation   Date  if  Loans  are  converted   into  or
            continued  as Offshore  Rate  Loans,  and (ii) one  Business  Day in
            advance of the  Conversion/Continuation  Date if Loans are converted
            into or continued as Offshore Rate Loans,  and (ii) one Business Day
            in  advance  of  the  Conversion/Continuation   Date  if  Loans  are
            converted into Base Rate Loans.

<PAGE>

         Loans  originally  made on the date  specified  on Annex I hereto  with
         respect to such Borrower,

                  (2) and all  presently  being  maintained  as  [Offshore  Rate
         Loans] [Base Rate Loans], *****

                  (3) be [converted into] [continued as], ******

                  (4) [Offshore Rate Loans having an Interest  Period of [1] [2]
         [3] [6] months] [Base Rate Loans].*******

                  The Guarantor (on behalf of itself and the  Borrowers)  hereby
represents  and warrants that no Default has occurred and is continuing or after
giving effect to the  conversion or  continuation  requested  herein,  will have
occurred.

                  Except to the  extent,  if any,  that prior to the time of the
conversion or continuation  requested  hereby,  the  Administrative  Agent shall
receive  written  notice to the contrary  from the  Guarantor  (on behalf of the
Borrowers),  each matter  certified to herein shall be deemed to be certified at
the date of such continuation or conversion as if then made.

                  The Borrower has caused this Notice of Conversion/Continuation
to be executed and delivered,  and the  certification  and warranties  contained
herein to be made, by a Responsible Officer this ____ day of ________, 199_.

                                                   CONSECO, INC.
 
                                                    By:_________________________
                                                    Its:________________________


- --------------------
     *****   Select  appropriate  interest rate option.  
     ******  Select appropriate conversion/continuation  option.  
     ******* Select appropriate  interest  rate  option.   After  giving  effect
             to  any  conversion  or  continuation,  there  may not be more than
             one (1)  Interest Period in effect for all Loans.

<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX I

                              Principal Amount of                Date Loans
                              Loans to be [Converted]            were originally
Name of Borrower              [Continued]                        made
- ----------------              -----------                        ----




<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT D

               FORM OF REAFFIRMATION AGREEMENT OF PLEDGE AGREEMENT


                  THIS REAFFIRMATION  AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"),  dated as of
August 26, 1997, among the individuals listed as pledgors on the signature pages
hereto  (herein,  collectively  called the "Pledgors" and each  individually,  a
"Pledgor"),  and BANK OF AMERICA  NATIONAL  TRUST AND  SAVINGS  ASSOCIATION,  as
Administrative  Agent for the Banks (each as hereinafter  defined).  Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise  defined shall have the meanings provided in
the Restated Credit Agreement referred to below.

                  WHEREAS,  pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement,  dated as of August 26,  1997 (as the same may be further  amended or
modified,  the "Restated Credit Agreement"),  among the Pledgors,  the financial
institutions who are or from time to time become party thereto (the "Banks") and
Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association,  as Administrative Agent
for the Banks (the  "Administrative  Agent"),  the  Pledgors,  the Banks and the
Administrative  Agent have agreed to amend and restate the terms of that certain
Credit  Agreement,  dated as of May 13, 1996 (as amended or modified through the
date hereof,  the "Existing Credit  Agreement"),  among certain of the Pledgors,
the banks party thereto, and the Administrative Agent;

                  WHEREAS,  certain of the Pledgors and the Administrative Agent
are parties to that certain  Borrower Pledge  Agreement dated as of May 13, 1996
(the "Existing Pledge Agreement"); and

                  WHEREAS,  as a  condition  precedent  to  the  Banks  and  the
Administrative  Agent entering into the Restated Credit  Agreement,  each of the
Pledgors has agreed to execute and deliver this Agreement;

                  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  Acknowledgment.  Each Pledgor  hereby  acknowledges
that all  references  made in the  Existing  Pledge  Agreement  to  "Loans"  and
"Liabilities"  shall be deemed to  include,  without  limitation,  all Loans and
Liabilities (each as 

<PAGE>

defined  in  the  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  as  the  same may be amended and
modified from time to time).

                  SECTION 2 Amendment.  Each Pledgor hereby agrees that (i) that
all references  made in the Existing Pledge  Agreement to "Pledgor(s)"  shall be
deemed to  include a  reference  to  Pledgor(s)  (as such term is defined in the
Agreement),  and (ii) Schedule 1 of the Existing Pledge  Agreement is amended to
read in its  entirety as set for in Schedule 1 of this  Agreement.  Each Pledgor
acknowledges  and  agrees  that it is subject  as a  "Pledgor"  to the terms and
provisions of the Existing Pledge Agreement as herein amended and modified.

                  SECTION 3 Direction Letter. Each Pledgor agrees not to revoke,
in whole or in part, any direction letter delivered to Ladenburg, Thalman & Co.,
Inc. in connection with the Existing Pledge Agreement,  which directs Ladenburg,
Thalman & Co.,  Inc. upon the  settlement of open market  purchases of shares of
Conseco, Inc.'s common stock or PRIDES, purchased with proceeds of the Loans, to
be registered and delivered to the Administrative Agent.

                  SECTION 4  Reaffirmation.  Each Pledgor  hereby  reaffirms all
duties  and  obligations  owed by it to the  Administrative  Agent and the Banks
pursuant to the Existing Pledge Agreement as herein amended and modified.

                  SECTION 5 Documents to Remain in Effect. Except as amended and
modified herein, the Existing Pledge Agreement remains in full force and effect.





<PAGE>



                  IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have  entered  into  this
Agreement on the date first above written.


                                         PLEDGORS:


                          [Insert Pledgors' Signatures]



                           BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND
                           SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, as
                           Administrative Agent


                           By:
                           Name:
                           Title:






<PAGE>



                                   SCHEDULE 1


                            LISTING OF STOCK PLEDGED

                                                                       Number of
Borrower                            Certificate No.                      Shares
- --------                            ---------------                   ----------




<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT G

                         FORM OF CONFIDENTIALITY LETTER


To:        Potential Participants

Date:      ___________, 19____

Re:        Conseco, Inc.
           Confidentiality Letter

                  You   have   expressed   interest   in  the   possibility   of
participating  in  the  financing  of a  transaction  ("Transaction")  involving
Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the "Company"),  and certain of Conseco's
officers and directors (collectively,  the "Borrowers").  In this connection you
have requested  that we, the Company and the Borrowers  furnish you with certain
non-public  information  relating  to the Company  and the  Borrowers,  and make
available  certain of our  officers  and those of the  Company  to discuss  such
information and to answer your inquiries.  As a condition to furnishing you with
such  information,  we, the Company and the Borrowers  require that you agree to
treat  confidentially  such information and any other  information which we, the
Company or any of the Company's  representatives  or agents furnish to you or to
which you are afforded access (collectively,  the "Evaluation  Material") and to
abstain from taking certain actions, as set forth below.

                  You agree that the  Evaluation  Material  and all  information
derived, directly or indirectly,  therefrom shall be held and treated by you and
your agents and employees and persons retained and engaged by you (collectively,
your "Agents") in utmost and strictest  confidence as provided herein, and shall
not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as provided herein,  be
disclosed by you or your agents in any manner  whatsoever,  in whole or in part,
or used by you or your  agents  other than for the  purposes of  evaluating  the
Transaction in, and assignment and  participation  of, the loans. You understand
that the disclosure of any information regarding pricing,  tenor, members of the
bank group or any other terms of the Transaction to the press or any other third
party is a violation of this Confidentiality  Letter, unless such information is
already   public  or  unless  it  is  in  connection   with  the  assignment  or
participation  of the loans to a party  which  has  executed  a  Confidentiality
Letter  substantially  in the form hereof.  You agree that the Borrowers and the
Company  shall be entitled to 

<PAGE>

equitable  relief,  including  injunction,  in the  event of any  breach  of the
provisions of this paragraph in addition to any right at law to damages.

                  Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  herein,  you  may
disclose the Evaluation Material: (i) that consists of information that has been
filed with, and made public and generally available by, any governmental agency,
or which has otherwise been publicly disclosed,  (ii) to regulatory  authorities
having  jurisdiction  to  examine  your books and  records,  (iii)  pursuant  to
subpoena or other legal  process or as  otherwise  required by law,  and (iv) to
your counsel and auditors in connection with matters concerning the Transaction.

                  If  you  are   required  in   connection   with   judicial  or
governmental  proceedings to disclose the Evaluation Material, it is agreed that
you will provide the Company and such Borrower,  as the case may be, with prompt
prior notice of such requirement  (unless prohibited from doing so by applicable
law) so that the Company or such  Borrower  may seek an  appropriate  protective
order or waive your compliance with the provisions of this letter.

                  You agree  that  should  you  decline  to  participate  in the
Transaction or should the  transaction  not be consummated  for any reason,  you
will  either  return to us or destroy  all of the  Evaluation  Material  and all
information  derived  therefrom in your possession and in the possession of your
Agents,  without  retaining any copy,  summary or extract thereof on any storage
medium whatsoever.

                  The undertakings in this letter have been made for the benefit
of the Company  and the  Borrowers  and may be relied  upon and  enforced by the
Company and the Borrowers to the same extent as if the Company and the Borrowers
were an express party to this letter.

                  Please acknowledge your understanding of this  Confidentiality
Letter and your  willingness  to abide by its  provisions  by signing  below and
returning by telecopy to:

                                    ------------------------------
                                    Attn:  _______________________
                                    Facsimile:  __________________





<PAGE>




Sincerely,

_________________________________


By: _____________________________
Print Name: _____________________
Title: __________________________


Agreed and Acknowledged this
_____ day of __________, 19__.


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



By: _____________________________
Print Name: _____________________
Title: __________________________
Institution: ____________________




<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT H

                          FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT


                  This Assignment  Agreement (the  "Assignment") is entered into
as of this  __________ day of  ____________,    19__ between ___________________
_____________________________________, the assigning bank (the "Assigning Bank")
and  ________________________________________,  the assignee  (the  "Assignee").
This  Assignment  is made pursuant to that certain  Amended and Restated  Credit
Agreement (as the same may be further amended or modified,  called the "Restated
Credit Agreement"), dated as of August 26, 1997, among the individuals listed as
borrowers on the  signature  pages thereto  (herein,  collectively  called,  the
"Borrowers" and each  individually,  a "Borrower"),  the financial  institutions
party  thereto  (the  "Banks")  and Bank of America  National  Trust and Savings
Association as administrative agent for the Banks (the "Administrative  Agent").
Unless otherwise  defined herein,  all terms used herein shall have the meanings
ascribed in the Restated Credit Agreement.

                  In consideration of the respective representations,  covenants
and agreements  contained in this Assignment,  the Restated Credit Agreement and
the Notes, if any, and in consideration of the respective undertakings of all of
the parties to the transaction  described herein and therein, the Assigning Bank
and the Assignee hereby covenant and agree as follows:

                              TERMS OF ASSIGNMENT


                  Section 1.  Sale of the Assigned Rights and
Obligations.

                  Under the Restated Credit Agreement,  a copy of which has been
furnished to the  Assignee,  the  Assigning  Bank has agreed to make loans in an
aggregate amount not to exceed  $___________  (collectively,  the "Loans").  The
Loans  made  or to be  made to each  Borrower  are  evidenced  by a Note of such
Borrower (collectively, the "Notes") pursuant to the terms and provisions of the
Restated  Credit  Agreement.  For good  and  valuable  consideration,  as of the
Effective  Date (as  hereinafter  defined),  the Assigning Bank hereby sells and
assigns to the Assignee,  and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the
Assigning Bank, the Assigned  Rights and  Obligations (as hereinafter  defined).
For purposes of this Assignment,  the "Assigned  Rights 

<PAGE>

and  Obligations"  shall mean that portion of the  Assigning  Bank's  rights and
obligations  under the  Restated  Credit  Agreement  and each of the other  Loan
Documents which the Assigning Bank is assigning hereunder,  including its rights
in  respect  of the  Loans and the  Notes.  The  percentage  of the  rights  and
obligations  of the  Assigning  Bank which are being  assigned  to the  Assignee
hereunder shall be ____% totaling $______.

                  Section  2.  Effective  Date.  This  Assignment  shall  become
effective (the  "Effective  Date") when all of the following have occurred:  (i)
this Assignment has been executed by the parties hereto, (ii) the Assignment has
been  acknowledged  by the  Administrative  Agent and Conseco,  Inc., an Indiana
corporation (on behalf of the Borrowers), (iii) either the Assigning Bank or the
Assignee has paid a processing fee of $3,000 to the Administrative Agent for its
own account and (iv) the Assigning Bank and the Administrative Agent have agreed
upon a  date  upon  which  the  Assignment  shall  become  effective.  Upon  the
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 Assignee;  however,  the interest,  fees and
other amounts which accrued prior to the Effective Date shall be payable for the
account of the Assigning Bank.

                  Section 3. Collateral.  The Loans (and the resulting  Assigned
Rights and  Obligations) are secured only to the extent provided in the Restated
Credit  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents.  The  Assignee  shall have no
interest in any property in the Assigning  Bank's  possession or control,  or in
any deposit held or other indebtedness owing to the Assigning Bank, which may be
or become  collateral  for or  otherwise  available  for payment of the Loans by
reason of the  general  description  of  secured  obligations  contained  in any
security  agreement or other  agreement or instrument held by the Assigning Bank
or by reason of the right of set-off,  counterclaim or otherwise, except that if
such  interest is provided for in provisions  of the Restated  Credit  Agreement
regarding  sharing of set-off,  the  Assignee  shall have the same rights as any
other Bank that is a party to the Restated Credit Agreement.

                  Section  4. No  Warranty  or  Recourse.  The  sale,  transfer,
assignment and delegation of the Assigned Rights and Obligations is made without
warranty or recourse  against the  Assigning  Bank of any kind,  except that the
Assigning Bank warrants that it has not sold or otherwise  transferred any other

<PAGE>

interest in the Assigned  Rights and  Obligations to any other party and that it
is the owner of the interests  being sold by it hereunder  free and clear of any
adverse claim. The Assigning Bank may, however, have sold and may hereafter sell
participation in, or may have assigned or may hereafter assign,  portions of its
interest in the Loans and the Restated  Credit  Agreement  that in the aggregate
(together with the portion assigned hereby), do not exceed 100% of the Assigning
Bank's original interest in the Loans and the Restated Credit Agreement.

                  Section  5.  Representations,  Covenants  and  Warranties.  To
induce  each other to enter into this  Assignment,  the  Assigning  Bank and the
Assignee each  represents  and warrants to, and  covenants and agrees with,  the
other, and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, as follows:

                  (a)  Existence.  Each of the  Assigning  Bank and the Assignee
         warrants  that it is an  entity  duly  existing  under  the laws of the
         United States or the jurisdiction of its incorporation, as applicable.

                  (b)  Authority.  Each of the  Assigning  Bank and the Assignee
         warrants  that it is duly  authorized  to execute,  deliver and perform
         this Assignment and the Restated Credit Agreement.

                  (c)  Valid and  Binding.  Each of the  Assigning  Bank and the
         Assignee  warrants that all acts,  conditions and things required to be
         done  and  performed  and to  have  occurred  prior  to the  execution,
         delivery and performance of this Assignment, and to constitute the same
         its  legal,  valid and  binding  obligation  enforceable  against it in
         accordance  with its  terms  (subject  to  bankruptcy,  insolvency  and
         similar laws affecting  creditors' rights generally and subject,  as to
         enforceability,  to general  principles of equity),  have been done and
         performed  and have  occurred  in due and  strict  compliance  with all
         applicable laws.

                  (d)  Purchasing  for Own Interest.  The Assignee  warrants and
         covenants that it is purchasing and assuming all of the Assigned 
<PAGE>

         Rights and  Obligations  purchased  hereunder in the ordinary course of
         making loans in its commercial lending business and not with a view to,
         or for sale in connection with, any distribution of its Assigned Rights
         and Obligations  acquired hereunder,  nor with any present intention of
         distributing or selling such Assigned Rights and  Obligations,  in each
         case in any  manner  which  would  require  registration  of any of the
         Assigned Rights and obligations under the Securities Act of 1933 or any
         "blue sky" laws.

                  (e) Credit Analysis by the Assignee. The Assignee warrants and
         covenants  that it has,  independently  and without  reliance  upon the
         Administrative  Agent,  the Assigning Bank or any other Bank, and based
         upon such financial  statements and other  documents and information as
         it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to
         engage in this Assignment and the transactions contemplated hereby, and
         the Assignee expressly acknowledges that the Assigning Bank has made no
         representation or warranty,  express or implied,  as to the accuracy or
         completeness of any of such financial statements or other documents and
         information.  The Assignee  further agrees that it will,  independently
         and without reliance upon the Administrative  Agent, the Assigning Bank
         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 the  Restated  Credit
         Agreement.

                  (f)  Enforceability,  etc.  The  Assignee  warrants  that  the
         Assigning  Bank  has  made  no  representation  or  warranty,   and  no
         representation  or warranty shall be implied,  as to performance by any
         Borrower  of any of its  obligations  under  the  Assigned  Rights  and
         Obligations  or  Restated  Credit  Agreement  or as to  the  execution,
         legality,   validity,   enforceability,    genuineness,    sufficiency,
         collectibility  or value of the Assigned Rights 

<PAGE>

         and  Obligations,  Loans  and the  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  or any
         document or  instrument  purported  to be  executed  and  delivered  in
         connection therewith, other than as set forth in Section 4 hereof.

                  (g) Receipt of  Documents.  The Assignee  warrants that it has
         received  a copy  of  the  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  the  financial
         statements  referred to in the Restated Credit Agreement and such other
         documents  executed in connection with the Restated Credit Agreement as
         it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decisions
         to enter into this Assignment.

                  (h) Eligible  Assignee.  The Assignee  confirms  that it is an
         Eligible Assignee.

                  (i)  Appointment of Agent.  The Assignee  hereby  appoints and
         authorizes the  Administrative  Agent,  together with any successors or
         assigns  thereof  pursuant to the terms and  conditions of the Restated
         Credit  Agreement,  to take such  action as agent on its  behalf and to
         exercise  such  powers  under  the  Restated  Credit  Agreement  as are
         delegated to the  Administrative  Agent by the terms thereof,  together
         with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

                  (j)  Lending  Offices.  The  Assignee  hereby  identifies  the
         offices  set forth  underneath  its  signature  hereon  as its  Lending
         Offices (together with the appropriate  addresses for such offices) and
         notice address for purposes of the Restated Credit Agreement.

                  (k) Securities  Laws. The Assigning Bank and the Assignee each
         acknowledges  that this  Assignment  does not  constitute the sale of a
         "security"  for  purposes  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933  and  the
         Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.

                  (l) Retained  Commitments.  The Assignee acknowledges that the
         Assigning Bank's loans 

<PAGE>

         and commitments not assigned hereunder,  if any, may be retained by the
         Assigning  Bank for its own  account  and  shall be  excluded  from the
         Assigned Rights and Obligations assigned and sold hereunder.

                  (m) No Conflict.  The execution,  delivery and  performance of
         this  Assignment  does not conflict with any provision of law or of the
         charter or by-laws (or equivalent constituent documents) of such party,
         or of any agreement binding upon it.

                  Section 6. Effectiveness of Sale. This Assignment shall become
effective as of the Effective  Date, and the  Administrative  Agent shall record
this  Assignment  in the register  maintained by the  Administrative  Agent (the
"Register") to indicate the effectiveness of such assignment as of the Effective
Date. As of the Effective Date (and without giving rise to any claim  whatsoever
against  the  Assigning  Bank or the  Assignee  with  respect to clauses (i) and
(ii)): (i) the Restated Credit  Agreement is amended to the extent,  and only to
the extent, necessary to reflect the addition of the Assignee; (ii) the Assignee
shall  be a  party  to the  Restated  Credit  Agreement  and the  documents  and
instruments  executed and delivered in connection  therewith as described herein
and  therein,  and have the rights and  obligations  of a Bank  thereunder  with
respect  to the  Assigned  Rights and  Obligations  purchased  by the  Assignee,
including,  but not  limited  to, the right to receive its pro rata share of all
fees thereafter payable to the Banks; and (iii) the Assigning Bank shall, to the
extent  provided  herein and in the Restated  Credit  Agreement,  relinquish its
rights and be released from its obligations  under the Restated Credit Agreement
and the documents and instruments executed and delivered in connection therewith
with  respect  to  the  Assigned  Rights  and  Obligations,  including,  without
limitation,  any related indemnification.  However, the Assigning Bank shall not
be released to the extent,  if any,  that the  Borrowers,  any other Bank or the
Administrative  Agent have rights against such Assigning Bank as a result of any
default by such Bank under the Restated Credit Agreement.

                  Section 7.  Indemnification.  The Assignee agrees to indemnify
the  Assigning  Bank  from and  against  any and all  liabilities,  obligations,
losses,  damages,   penalties,   actions,  judgments,  suits,  costs  (including
attorneys'  fees and  expenses,  whether of  special,  local or  in-house  legal
counsel and staff),  expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature  whatsoever
which

<PAGE>

may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Assigning Bank in any way
relating to or arising out of the Assigned Rights and  Obligations  assigned and
sold hereunder,  including,  without limitation, each and every indemnity of any
person or entity provided in the Restated Credit Agreement.  The indemnification
set forth herein shall survive any termination of this Assignment.

                  Section 8. Withholding  Taxes. The Assignee (a) represents and
warrants to the Assigning Bank, the Administrative  Agent and the Borrowers that
under  applicable law and treaties no tax will be required to be withheld by the
Assigning  Bank  with  respect  to any  payments  to be  made  to  the  Assignee
hereunder,  (b)  agrees to  furnish  (if it is  organized  under the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United States or any State thereof) to the Assigning
Bank,  the  Administrative  Agent and the  Borrowers  prior to the time that the
Administrative  Agent or the  Borrowers  are  required  to make any  payment  of
principal,  interest or fees hereunder either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form
4224,  Form 1001 or Form W-8  (wherein the Assignee  claims  entitlement  to the
benefits  of a tax  treaty  that  provides  for a complete  exemption  from U.S.
federal income withholding tax on all payments  hereunder) and agrees to provide
a new Form 4224,  Form 1001 or Form W-8 to the extent legally  entitled to do so
upon the expiration of any previously delivered form or comparable statements in
accordance with applicable U.S. law and regulations and amendments thereto, duly
executed  and  completed  by the  Assignee,  and (c)  agrees to comply  with all
applicable  U.S.  laws and  regulations  with  regard  to such  withholding  tax
exemption.

                  Section  9.  Other   Transactions  with  the  Borrowers.   The
Assigning Bank, the Assignee and their respective affiliates may accept deposits
from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures for and generally engage in
any kind of  business  with any  Borrower,  or any  Borrower's  Subsidiaries  or
affiliates,  and any person who may engage in business with or own securities of
such Borrower, or any of such Borrower's Subsidiaries or affiliates. Neither the
Assigning Bank nor the Assignee shall have any interest in any property taken as
security  for any loans or any credits  extended  to any  Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries by the other party by reason thereof,  except security specifically
granted pursuant to the Restated Credit Agreement.

<PAGE>

                  Section 10.  Successors  and Assigns.  This  Assignment  shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding  upon the  successors  and assigns of the
Assigning Bank and the Assignee.

                  Section  11.  Expenses.  In the event of any action to enforce
the provisions of this  Assignment  against either party hereto,  the prevailing
party shall be entitled to recover all costs and expenses incurred in connection
therewith, including, without limitation,  attorneys' fees and expenses, whether
of special, local or in-house legal counsel and staff.

                  Section  12.  APPLICABLE  LAW.  THIS  ASSIGNMENT  SHALL  BE  A
CONTRACT  MADE  UNDER  AND  GOVERNED  BY THE LAWS OF THE  STATE SET FORTH IN THE
RESTATED  CREDIT  AGREEMENT,  WITHOUT  REGARD TO  CONFLICT  OF LAWS  PRINCIPLES.
Wherever possible each provision of this Assignment shall be interpreted in such
manner as to be effective and valid under  applicable  law, but if any provision
of this  Assignment  shall be  prohibited  by or invalid  under  such law,  such
provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such  prohibition or invalidity,
without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions
of this  Assignment.  All obligations and rights of the parties hereto expressed
herein  shall be in  addition  to and not in  limitation  of those  provided  by
applicable law.

                  Section 13. Transfer Instructions. All payments made hereunder
shall be payable by the  transfer of  immediately  available  funds on or before
12:00 noon Chicago time on the date such payment is due pursuant to the transfer
instructions set forth below, or as the party receiving payment may from time to
time instruct the party rendering payment.

                  Section  14.  Amendments,  Changes,  and  Modifications.  This
Assignment may only be amended, changed, modified,  altered, or terminated by an
agreement in writing signed by the Assigning Bank, the Administrative  Agent and
the Assignee (or their permitted successors or assigns).

                  Section 15. Entire  Agreement.  This Assignment sets forth the
entire understanding of the parties and supersedes any and all prior agreements,
arrangements  and  understandings  relating to the  subject  matter  hereof.  No
representation,  promise,  inducement  or  statement  of intent has been made by
either party which is not embodied in this  Assignment,  and neither party shall
be bound by or liable for any alleged  representation,  promise,  inducement  or
statement of intention not expressly set forth herein.

<PAGE>

                  Section 16. Incorrect Payments. Each of the Assigning Bank and
the Assignee agrees that if it incorrectly  receives a payment in respect of the
Restated  Credit  Agreement  which should have been paid to the other party,  it
will promptly return such payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of
the party to which such payment should have been made.

                  Section 17. FORUM  SELECTION AND  SUBMISSION TO  JURISDICTION.
ANY CLAIM  ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS  ASSIGNMENT,  THE RESTATED  CREDIT
AGREEMENT,  THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE ASSIGNED  RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS MAY
BE BROUGHT AND  MAINTAINED BY THE  ASSIGNING  BANK IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT
HAVING SUBJECT MATTER  JURISDICTION  AND LOCATED IN CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS.  FOR THE
PURPOSE OF ANY ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  INSTITUTED  WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH CLAIM
THE ASSIGNEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY  SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION AND EXCLUSIVE VENUE
OF SUCH  COURTS AND  AGREES  NOT TO  INSTITUTE  ANY LEGAL  ACTION OR  PROCEEDING
AGAINST THE ASSIGNING BANK OR ANY OF ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AGENTS OR PROPERTY
OF ANY  THEREOF,  ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS  ASSIGNMENT,  THE  RESTATED
CREDIT  AGREEMENT OR THE ASSIGNED  RIGHTS AND  OBLIGATIONS,  IN ANY COURTS OTHER
THAN SUCH COURTS.  NOTHING  HEREIN  CONTAINED  SHALL PRECLUDE THE ASSIGNING BANK
FROM  SERVING  LEGAL  PROCESS  IN ANY  MATTER  PERMITTED  BY LAW OR, AT ITS SOLE
OPTION,  FROM BRINGING AN ACTION OR  PROCEEDING IN RESPECT  THEREOF IN ANY OTHER
COUNTRY,  STATE OR PLACE  HAVING  JURISDICTION  OVER SUCH  ACTION.  THE ASSIGNEE
IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH
IT MAY HAVE OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING AND  MAINTENANCE OF THE VENUE OF ANY
SUCH SUIT,  ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT  LOCATED IN  CHICAGO,
ILLINOIS AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING  BROUGHT IN SUCH
COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

                  Section  18.  Waiver  of  Jury  Trial.  THE  ASSIGNEE  AND THE
ASSIGNING BANK HEREBY KNOWINGLY,  VOLUNTARILY, AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,  PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM  BASED HEREON,  OR
ARISING OUT OF, UNDER,  OR IN CONNECTION  WITH,  THIS  ASSIGNMENT,  THE RESTATED
CREDIT  AGREEMENT  OR ANY OTHER  DOCUMENT  RELATIVE TO THE  ASSIGNED  RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS,  OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT,  COURSE OF DEALING,  STATEMENTS (WHETHER
VERBAL OR  WRITTEN),  OR ACTIONS OF THE  ASSIGNEE OR THE  ASSIGNING  BANK.  THIS
PROVISION  IS A MATERIAL  INDUCEMENT  FOR THE ASSIGNEE  AND THE  ASSIGNING  BANK
ENTERING INTO THIS ASSIGNMENT.


<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Assignment to
be executed on their behalf by their duly  authorized  offices as of the day and
year identified in Item 1.

                                               [ASSIGNING BANK]


                                               By: _____________________________
_                                              Name: ___________________________
                                               Title: __________________________
                                               Address: ________________________


                                               [ASSIGNEE]


                                               By: _____________________________
                                               Name: ___________________________
                                               Title: __________________________

                                               Lending Office

                                               Address: ________________________
                                                        ________________________
                                               Attention: ______________________
                                               Telephone: ______________________
                                               Facsimile: ______________________

                                               Notice Address

                                               Address: ________________________
                                                        ________________________
                                               Attention: ______________________
                                               Telephone: ______________________
                                               Facsimile: ______________________

                  As of this ____ day of ________, 19__, the undersigned, acting
on behalf of the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges this Assignment.


                                               BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
                                               AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION

                                               By: _____________________________
                                               Name: ___________________________
                                               Title: __________________________

<PAGE>

                  As  of  this  ______  day  of  _________________,   19__,  the
undersigned  acting  on  behalf  of  the  Borrowers  hereby   acknowledges  this
Assignment.

                                               CONSECO, INC.



                                               By: _____________________________
                                               Name: ___________________________
                                               Title: __________________________




<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT I

                              FUNDING LOSS FORMULA




                             (COFO - COFBD) x P x D
                             ----------------------
                                       360






              COFO  =  COST OF FUNDS AT ORIGINATION OF OFFSHORE RATE LOANS
                       (AS QUOTED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT)

             COFBD  =  COST OF FUNDS AT BREAK DATE FOR THE DAYS REMAINING
                       IN THE ORIGINAL INTEREST PERIOD (AS QUOTED BY THE
                       ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT)

                 P  =  PRINCIPAL

                 D  =  NUMBER OF DAYS LEFT IN ORIGINAL PERIOD



                          AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY

                          Dated as of August 26, 1997,

                                     between

                                 CONSECO, INC.,
                                  as Guarantor,

                                       and

                         BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
                            AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
                             as Administrative Agent








<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A-1       Form of Opinion of Karl W. Kindig, counsel to
                  Guarantor
EXHIBIT A-2       Form of Opinion of Baker & Daniels, outside
                  counsel to Guarantor
EXHIBIT B         Form of Officer's Certificate
EXHIBIT C         Form of Conseco Corporate Structure





<PAGE>



                          AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY


         THIS  AMENDED AND  RESTATED  GUARANTY  (this  "Restated  Guaranty")  is
entered  into as of August 26, 1997 by  CONSECO,  INC.,  an Indiana  corporation
("Guarantor"),   in  favor  of  BANK  OF  AMERICA  NATIONAL  TRUST  AND  SAVINGS
ASSOCIATION,  as  administrative  agent  (the  "Administrative  Agent")  for the
financial  institutions (the "Banks" and together with Administrative Agent, the
"Guarantied  Parties")  who are or from  time to time  may  become  party to the
Restated Credit Agreement (as hereinafter  defined).  Unless  otherwise  defined
herein,  capitalized  terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to such
terms pursuant to Article I hereof.


                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS,  Guarantor  has executed and  delivered to the  Administrative
Agent that  certain  Guaranty,  dated as of May 13, 1996 (as amended or modified
through  the date  hereof,  the  "Existing  Guaranty"),  whereby  Guarantor  has
absolutely,   unconditionally   and  irrevocably  agreed  to  pay  in  full  all
Obligations (as defined in the Existing Guaranty) of the borrowers party to that
certain  Credit  Agreement,  dated as of May 13,  1996 (as  amended or  modified
through the date hereof, the "Existing Credit Agreement"), among such borrowers,
the banks party thereto and the Administrative Agent;

         WHEREAS, Guarantor has established a stock purchase program for certain
of its officers and  directors  to increase  Guarantor's  ability to attract and
retain able  executive  and senior  officers  and  directors  and,  accordingly,
promote the interest of Guarantor and its  stockholders,  while at the same time
providing these individuals with additional incentive to work toward Guarantor's
future success;

         WHEREAS,  Guarantor  has  determined  it to be in the best  interest of
Guarantor and its  stockholders  to expand the stock purchase  program to permit
the purchase of additional common stock of Guarantor;

         WHEREAS,  concurrently with Guarantor's  execution and delivery of this
Restated Guaranty, the borrowers party to the Existing Credit Agreement together
with certain other individuals (herein, collectively called, the "Borrowers" and
each  individually,  a  "Borrower")  will enter into that  certain  Amended  and
Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 26, 1997 (as 

<PAGE>

from  time to time,  in whole or in  part,  the same may be  amended,  modified,
supplemented,  restated,  refinanced,  refunded or renewed, the "Restated Credit
Agreement"),  among  the  Borrowers,  the Banks  and the  Administrative  Agent,
whereby the Banks, among other things,  will increase the aggregate  Commitments
of the  Banks  to  $250,000,000  on the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions
contained in the Restated Credit Agreement;

         WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to the Banks executing and delivering
the Restated Credit  Agreement and increasing the Banks'  aggregate  Commitments
and making the initial  Loans  thereunder,  Guarantor is required to execute and
deliver this Restated Guaranty;

         WHEREAS,  Guarantor has been duly  authorized  to execute,  deliver and
perform this Restated Guaranty; and

         WHEREAS,  it is in the best  interest  of  Guarantor  to  execute  this
Restated Guaranty inasmuch as Guarantor has and will derive  substantial  direct
and indirect  benefits from the Loans made from time to time to the Borrowers by
the Banks pursuant to the Restated Credit Agreement;

         NOW  THEREFORE,  for good and  valuable  consideration  the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and in order to induce the Banks to
make Loans  (including  the  initial  Loans) to the  Borrowers  pursuant  to the
Restated Credit Agreement,  Guarantor agrees, for the benefit of each Guarantied
Party, as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1.  Certain  Terms.  Capitalized  terms used  herein,  unless
otherwise defined herein, shall have the respective meanings assigned thereto in
the Restated Credit Agreement;  provided that such definitions shall survive any
termination of the Restated Credit Agreement.  In addition, when used herein the
following  terms  shall have the  following  meanings  (such  definitions  to be
equally applicable to the singular and plural forms thereof):

         "Administrative Agent" - see Preamble.

         "Banks" or "Bank" - see Preamble.



<PAGE>



         "Borrowers" or "Borrower" - see fourth recital.

         "Borrower Default" - see Section 6.1.

         "Cash  Collateral  Account"  shall mean the  custody  account,  account
number 72-80556, maintained in the name of, and subject to the sole dominion and
control of, the Administrative  Agent for the sole benefit of the Banks, for the
purpose of holding  prepayments of the Obligations of the Borrowers by Guarantor
pursuant to Section 6.1.

         "Existing Credit Agreement" - see first recital.

         "Existing Guaranty" - see first recital.

         "Guarantied Party" - see Preamble.

         "Indemnified Liabilities" - see Section 6.2.

         "Indemnified Parties" - see Section 7.2.

         "Obligations" - see Section 2.1.

         "Permitted Liens" - see Section 4.4.

         "PRIDES"  shall  mean the  $267,116,250  stated  value  of  Guarantor's
Preferred  Redeemable  Increased  Dividend  Equity  Securities,  7%  Convertible
Preferred Stock, no par value, issued pursuant to a registration statement filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 33-53095).

         "Restated Credit Agreement" - see fourth recital.

         "Restated Guaranty" - see Preamble.

         "Subrogation Rights" - see Section 2.6.

         "UCC" shall mean the Uniform  Commercial Code or comparable  statute or
any successor  statutes thereto,  as in effect from time to time in the relevant
jurisdiction.





<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE II

                          RESTATED GUARANTY PROVISIONS

         SECTION 2.1.  Guaranty.  Guarantor hereby absolutely,
unconditionally and irrevocably:

                  (a) guaranties to the Guarantied Parties the full and punctual
         payment when due, whether at stated maturity,  by required  prepayment,
         declaration,  acceleration,  demand  or  otherwise,  and at  all  times
         thereafter,  of all  obligations  of each  Borrower  to the  Guarantied
         Parties,  howsoever  created,  arising or evidenced,  whether direct or
         indirect,  absolute or contingent, or now or hereafter existing, or due
         or to become  due under the  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  whether  for
         principal,  interest,  fees, expenses or otherwise  (including all such
         amounts  which would become due but for the  operation of the automatic
         stay  provisions  under Section 362(a) of the United States  Bankruptcy
         Code, 11 U.S.C.  ss.362(a),  and the  operation of Sections  502(b) and
         506(b) of the United States  Bankruptcy  Code, 11 U.S.C.  ss.502(b) and
         ss.506(b)) (all such obligations  hereinafter  collectively  called the
         "Obligations"); and

                  (b) indemnifies  and holds harmless each  Guarantied  Party or
         any holder of any Loan for any and all costs and  expenses  (including,
         without limitation,  reasonable  attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred
         by such  Guarantied  Party  or such  holder,  as the  case  may be,  in
         enforcing any rights under this Restated Guaranty;

This  Restated  Guaranty  constitutes  a guaranty of payment when due and not of
collection,  and Guarantor specifically agrees that it shall not be necessary or
required that any Guarantied Party or any holder of any Loan exercise any right,
assert any claim or demand or enforce any remedy whatsoever against any Borrower
or any other obligor (or any other Person)  before the  performance  of, or as a
condition to, the obligations of Guarantor hereunder.

         SECTION 2.2.  Acceleration of Guaranty.  Guarantor  agrees that, in the
event of the  insolvency of any Borrower,  any other obligor with respect to the
Obligations of such Borrower, or Guarantor, as the case may be, or the inability
or failure of such  Borrower,  such other  obligor or  Guarantor to pay debts as
they  become due,  or an  assignment  by such  Borrower,  such other  obligor or
Guarantor  for the  benefit of  creditors,  or the  commencement  of any case or
proceeding in respect of such



<PAGE>



Borrower,  such other obligor or Guarantor under any  bankruptcy,  insolvency or
similar  federal or state laws, and if such event shall occur at a time when any
of the  Obligations  of such  Borrower or such other obligor may not then be due
and payable, Guarantor will pay to the Banks forthwith (a) if such event relates
to such  Borrower or any other obligor with respect to the  Obligations  of such
Borrower,  the full amount which would be payable  hereunder by Guarantor if all
Obligations  of such  Borrower  were then due and  payable and (b) if such event
relates to Guarantor or any other  obligor  with respect to the  obligations  of
Guarantor,  the full amount which would be payable hereunder by Guarantor if all
the Obligations of all Borrowers were then due and payable.

         SECTION 2.3.  Guaranty  Absolute,  etc. This Restated Guaranty shall in
all respects be a continuing,  absolute,  unconditional and irrevocable guaranty
of payment,  and shall remain in full force and effect until all  Obligations of
the Borrowers and each other obligor have been paid in full, all  obligations of
Guarantor  hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Commitments shall have
terminated.  Guarantor guarantees that the Obligations of the Borrowers and each
other obligor and their respective  Subsidiaries,  if any, will be paid strictly
in  accordance  with the terms of the Restated  Credit  Agreement and each other
Loan Document under which they arise, regardless of any law, regulation or order
now or hereafter in effect in any  jurisdiction  affecting  any of such terms or
the rights of any Guarantied  Party or any holder of the Note(s) of any Borrower
with respect  thereto.  The liability of Guarantor under this Restated  Guaranty
shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable irrespective of:

                  (a)  any lack of validity,  legality or  enforceability of the
         Restated Credit Agreement, any Note or any other Loan Document;

                  (b)  the failure of any Guarantied Party or any holder of  any
         Note:

                           (i) to assert any claim or demand or to  enforce  any
                  right or remedy against any Borrower, any other obligor or any
                  other  Person  under the  provisions  of the  Restated  Credit
                  Agreement, any Note, any other Loan Document or otherwise; or




<PAGE>



                           (ii)  to exercise any  right  or  remedy  against any
                  other guarantor of, or collateral securing, any Obligations of
                  any Borrower or any other obligor;

                  (c) any change in the time,  manner or place of payment of, or
         in any other term of, all or any of the  Obligations of any Borrower or
         any other obligor, or any other extension, compromise or renewal of any
         Obligations of any Borrower or any other obligor;

                  (d) any  reduction,  limitation,  impairment or termination of
         the  Obligations  of any Borrower or any other  obligor for any reason,
         including  any  claim of  waiver,  release,  surrender,  alteration  or
         compromise,  and shall not be subject to (and  Guarantor  hereby waives
         any  right  to or  claim  of)  any  defense  or  setoff,  counterclaim,
         recoupment  or  termination  whatsoever  by reason  of the  invalidity,
         illegality, nongenuineness,  irregularity, compromise, unenforceability
         of, or any other event or occurrence affecting,  the Obligations of any
         Borrower, any other obligor or otherwise;

                  (e)  any   amendment   to,   rescission,   waiver,   or  other
         modification of, or any consent to any departure from, any of the terms
         of the Restated Credit Agreement, any Note or any other Loan Document;

                  (f)  any  addition,   exchange,  release,  surrender  or  non-
         perfection of any collateral,  or any amendment to or waiver or release
         or addition of, or consent to any departure  from, any other  guaranty,
         held by any Guarantied  Party or any holder of any Note securing any of
         the Obligations of any Borrower or any other obligor; or

                  (g) any other circumstance which might otherwise  constitute a
         defense  available  to,  or a legal  or  equitable  discharge  of,  any
         Borrower, any other obligor, any surety or any guarantor.

         SECTION 2.4.  Reinstatement,  etc.  Guarantor agrees that this Restated
Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if
at any time any  payment  (in  whole  or in part) of any of the  Obligations  is
rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Guarantied Party or any holder of
any Note, upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of



<PAGE>



any Borrower, any other obligor or otherwise, all as though such payment had not
been made.

         SECTION  2.5.  Waiver,   etc.   Guarantor  hereby  waives   promptness,
diligence,  notice of acceptance and any other notice with respect to any of the
Obligations of the Borrower or any other obligor, and this Restated Guaranty and
any requirement that the Administrative Agent, any other Guarantied Party or any
holder of any Note protect,  secure,  perfect or insure any security interest or
Lien, or any property subject  thereto,  or exhaust any right or take any action
against any Borrower, any other obligor or any other Person (including any other
guarantor) or entity or any collateral  securing the Obligations of any Borrower
or any other obligor, as the case may be.

         SECTION 2.6. Waiver of  Subrogation;  Subordination.  Guarantor  hereby
irrevocably  waives  with  respect to any  Borrower,  until  termination  of the
Commitments of the Banks with respect to such Borrower and thereafter  until the
prior  indefeasible  payment in full in cash of all Obligations of such Borrower
under  the  Loan  Documents,  any  claim  or  other  rights  which it may now or
hereafter  acquire  against such  Borrower or any other obligor that arises from
the existence,  payment,  performance or enforcement of Guarantor's  obligations
under this Restated Guaranty or any other Loan Document or otherwise,  including
any right of subrogation,  reimbursement,  exoneration, or indemnification,  any
right to participate in any claim or remedy of the  Guarantied  Parties  against
such Borrower or any other obligor or any  collateral  which the  Administrative
Agent now has or hereafter acquires,  whether or not such claim, remedy or right
(all such claims,  remedies and rights being  collectively  called  "Subrogation
Rights") arises in equity, or under contract,  statute or common law,  including
the right to take or receive from such Borrower or any other  obligor,  directly
or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any manner, payment
or security  on account of such claim or other  rights.  If any amount  shall be
paid to Guarantor in violation  of the  preceding  sentence and the  Obligations
shall not have been paid in cash, in full, and the Commitments of the Banks with
respect to such Borrower have not been  terminated,  such amount shall be deemed
to have been paid to  Guarantor  for the benefit of, and held in trust for,  the
Guarantied Parties,  and shall forthwith be paid to the Guarantied Parties to be
credited and applied upon the  Obligations of such Borrower,  whether matured or
unmatured.  Guarantor  acknowledges  that it will  receive  direct and  indirect
benefits from the financing  arrangements  contemplated  by the Restated  Credit
Agreement and that the waiver set forth in this Section is



<PAGE>



knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the   Subrogation   Rights  of  Guarantor   shall  not  include  (and  Guarantor
acknowledges that it has no interest in) any of the collateral pledged by any of
the Borrowers under the Pledge Agreement.

         SECTION 2.7. Successors,  Transferees and Assigns;  Transfers of Notes,
etc. This Restated Guaranty shall:

                  (a) be binding upon Guarantor, and its successors, Transferees
         and assigns; and

                  (b)   inure  to  the  benefit  of  and  be  enforceable by the
         Administrative Agent and each other Guarantied Party.

Without  limiting the generality of clause (b), any Bank may assign or otherwise
transfer (in whole or in part) any Note or Loan held by it to any other  Person,
and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all rights and benefits
in respect thereof granted to such Bank under any Loan Document  (including this
Restated  Guaranty) or  otherwise.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained in this
Section 2.7 to the contrary,  this Section 2.7 shall not be deemed to enlarge or
create  additional  rights  with  respect  to any  Bank's  ability to assign any
portion  of its  Loans or  rights  under  any Note or any  other  Loan  Document
pursuant to Section 12 of the Restated Credit Agreement, and this Section 2.7 is
expressly made subject thereto.

         SECTION 2.8.  Payments Free and Clear of Taxes,  etc. Guarantor  hereby
agrees that:

                  (a) any and all payments made by Guarantor  hereunder shall be
         made in accordance  with Section 4.7 of the Restated  Credit  Agreement
         free and clear of, and without  deduction for, any and all Charges,  to
         the same extent as if Guarantor were a Borrower.

                  (b)  Guarantor  hereby  indemnifies  and holds  harmless  each
         Guarantied  Party and each  holder of a Loan for the full amount of any
         Charges paid by such Guarantied  Party or such holder,  as the case may
         be, and any  liability  (including  penalties,  interest and  expenses)
         arising therefrom or with respect thereto,  whether or not such Charges
         were correctly or legally asserted.

                  (c) Without  prejudice to the survival of any other  agreement
         of Guarantor hereunder, the agreements and



<PAGE>



         obligations  of Guarantor  contained in this Section 2.8 shall  survive
         the payment in full of the principal of and interest on the Loans.

         SECTION 2.9.  Right of Offset.  In addition to and not in limitation of
all rights of offset  that any  Guarantied  Party or other  holder of a Note may
have under  applicable law or any other Loan  Document,  subject to the terms of
the Restated Credit  Agreement,  each Guarantied Party or other holder of a Note
shall  upon the  occurrence  of any Event of  Default  and  whether  or not such
Guarantied  Party or such holder has made any demand or Guarantor's  obligations
are  matured,  have the  right  to  appropriate  and  apply  to the  payment  of
Guarantor's  obligations  hereunder  all deposits  (general or special,  time or
demand, provisional or final) then or thereafter held by, and other indebtedness
or property then or thereafter  owing to, such Guarantied Party or other holder,
whether or not related to this Restated Guaranty or any transaction hereunder.


                                   ARTICLE III

           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

         To induce the  Guarantied  Parties to enter  into the  Restated  Credit
Agreement and to make the Loans thereunder, Guarantor represents and warrants to
each Guarantied Party that:

         SECTION 3.1. Organization,  etc. Guarantor and each of its Subsidiaries
is a  corporation,  partnership  or limited  liability  company duly  organized,
validly  existing  and in good  standing  under  the  laws of the  state  of its
incorporation  or formation and each of Guarantor and its  Subsidiaries  is duly
qualified to transact  business and in good  standing as a foreign  corporation,
partnership  or limited  liability  company  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.

         SECTION  3.2.  Authorization.  Guarantor  (a) has the power to execute,
deliver and perform this Restated Guaranty 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  Restated  Guaranty and the
other Loan Documents to which it is a party.




<PAGE>



         SECTION 3.3. No Conflict.  The execution,  delivery and  performance by
Guarantor of this Restated  Guaranty and the other Loan Documents to which it is
a party does not and will not (a)  contravene  or conflict with any provision of
any law, statute, rule or regulation, (b) contravene or conflict with, result in
any  breach  of, or  constitute  a default  under,  any  material  agreement  or
instrument binding on Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries  (including,  without
limitation,  any writ,  judgment,  injunction or other similar court order), (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
Guarantor or any of its  Subsidiaries  or (d)  contravene  or conflict  with any
provision of the articles of incorporation or by-laws of Guarantor.

         SECTION 3.4.  Margin Regulations.

         (a) None of the  transactions  contemplated  hereunder or in connection
herewith  will  in any way  violate,  contravene  or  conflict  with  any of the
provisions of Regulation G or Regulation U;

         (b) None of the  obligations of any Borrower to Guarantor is or will be
directly or indirectly secured by "margin stock" (as defined in Regulation G and
Regulation U);

         (c) Neither Guarantor nor any third party acting on behalf of Guarantor
has taken or will take  possession of any Borrower's  "margin stock" (as defined
in Regulation G and Regulation U) to secure, directly or indirectly,  any of the
Obligations of such Borrower or the obligations of Guarantor under this Restated
Guaranty or any of the Loan Documents;

         (d) Guarantor  does  not and will not have any  right to  prohibit  any
Borrower  from  selling,  pledging,  encumbering  or otherwise  disposing of any
margin  stock  owned by such  Borrower so long as this  Restated  Guaranty is in
effect  or any  of the  Obligations  of  such  Borrower  or the  obligations  of
Guarantor  under this  Restated  Guaranty  or any of the Loan  Documents  remain
outstanding;

         (e) None of the Borrowers  have granted or will grant  Guarantor or any
third party acting on behalf of Guarantor the right to  accelerate  repayment of
any of the Obligations of such Borrower if any of the margin stock owned by such
Borrower is sold by such Borrower or otherwise; and




<PAGE>



         (f) There is no agreement or other arrangement between any Borrower and
Guarantor  or any  third  party  acting  on  behalf  of  Guarantor  (and no such
agreement or arrangement shall be entered into so long as this Restated Guaranty
is in effect or any of the  Obligations  of such Borrower or the  obligations of
Guarantor under this Guaranty or any of the Loan Documents  remain  outstanding)
under  which  the  margin  stock of such  Borrower  would be made  more  readily
available as security to Guarantor than to other creditors of such Borrower.

         SECTION 3.5. Conseco Corporate  Structure.  The corporate  structure of
Guarantor  and its  Subsidiaries  as of the date hereof and on a pro forma basis
after consummation of all pending  acquisitions for which definitive  agreements
have been executed is as set forth on Exhibit C.

         SECTION  3.6.  No Default or Event of  Default.  No Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing  with respect to Guarantor and no default
or event of default has occurred and is continuing  under the  Revolving  Credit
Agreement.

         SECTION 3.7.  Incorporation  by  Reference.  Guarantor  agrees that the
representations  and  warranties  of  Guarantor  set  forth in  Section 7 of the
Revolving  Credit  Agreement  (other than Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.16, 7.24 and
7.26) shall be  incorporated  by  reference in this  Restated  Guaranty in their
entirety as if fully set forth herein with the same effect as if applied to this
Restated  Guaranty.  All capitalized terms set forth in such Sections shall have
the meanings  provided in the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement;  provided  that for
purposes of this  Restated  Guaranty,  to the extent set forth in the  Revolving
Credit  Agreement (a) the term "Borrower"  shall be deemed to refer to Guarantor
and (b) the terms "Administrative Agent", "Agreement",  "Banks",  "Liabilities",
"Required Banks", "Loan Documents", "Collateral", "Material Adverse Effect", and
"Material  Adverse  Change" shall have the respective  meanings  provided in the
Restated Credit  Agreement.  Such  representations  and warranties  shall not be
affected in any manner by the termination of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

         Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if Section 7 (other than Sections 7.1,
7.2,  7.3,  7.16,  7.24 and  7.26) of the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement  (or any
successor  section  thereto) or any  definitions  set forth or used  therein are
amended  or  modified  in  accordance  with the  terms of the  Revolving  Credit
Agreement  either as the result of an amendment or  modification to such section
in the Revolving Credit Agreement or Guarantor's



<PAGE>



execution and delivery of a new credit facility in  replacement,  restatement or
substitution  for the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  this  Section 3.7 shall be
deemed to be amended  and  modified  to the  extent  set forth in the  Revolving
Credit  Agreement  (as amended or modified) or any new credit  facility  entered
into in  replacement,  restatement  or  substitution  for the  Revolving  Credit
Agreement;  provided  that (i) no Default or Event of Default  exists  under the
Restated Credit  Agreement,  (ii) the Required Banks have  determined,  in their
sole and absolute  discretion,  that any proposed  amendment or  modification to
this  Section  3.7 will not in any way  violate,  contravene  or  conflict  with
Regulation U or Regulation G, (c) if requested by the Administrative  Agent, the
Banks  shall  have   received  an  opinion  of  counsel   satisfactory   to  the
Administrative  Agent  and its  counsel  to the  effect  that any such  proposed
amendment  or  modification  to  this  Section  3.7  will  not in  way  violate,
contravene or conflict with  Regulation U or  Regulation G and  addressing  such
other legal matters as reasonably  requested by the Administrative Agent and (d)
upon the request of the  Administrative  Agent,  the Banks shall have received a
certificate   of  the  chief   financial   officer  or  a  vice  president  with
responsibility  for or knowledge of financial  matters of the Guarantor  setting
forth a calculation of the Collateral Ratio. 

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    COVENANTS

         SECTION 4.1.  Guarantor agrees that, on and after the date hereof until
the  termination or expiration of the  Commitments and for so long thereafter as
any of the Obligations or the obligations of Guarantor  hereunder  remain unpaid
or outstanding (except Obligations which by the terms hereof survive the payment
in full of the Loans and termination of this Restated Guaranty),  Guarantor will
comply with the covenants  set forth  Sections 8, 9 (other than Section 9.2) and
10 of the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement and the terms and  provisions  set forth
therein shall be  incorporated  by reference in this Restated  Guaranty in their
entirety as if fully set forth herein with the same effect as if applied to this
Restated Guaranty.  All capitalized terms set forth in Sections 8, 9 (other than
Section 9.2) and 10 of the Revolving  Credit  Agreement  shall have the meanings
provided in the Revolving Credit  Agreement;  provided that for purposes of this
Restated Guaranty, to the extent set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement (a)
the term  "Borrower"  shall be  deemed to refer to  Guarantor  and (b) the terms
"Administrative Agent", "Agreement",  "Banks", "Liabilities",  "Required Banks",
"Loan



<PAGE>



Documents",  "Collateral",  "Material  Adverse  Effect",  and "Material  Adverse
Change"  shall have the  respective  meanings  provided in the  Restated  Credit
Agreement. Such covenants shall not be affected in any manner by the termination
of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

         Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  if Sections 8, 9 (other than  Section
9.2), or 10 of the Revolving Credit Agreement (or any successor section thereto)
or any  definitions  set  forth or used  therein  are  amended  or  modified  in
accordance with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement either as the result
of an  amendment  or  modification  to  such  section  in the  Revolving  Credit
Agreement or  Guarantor's  execution  and  delivery of a new credit  facility in
replacement,  restatement or substitution  for the Revolving  Credit  Agreement,
this  Section 4.1 shall be deemed to be amended  and  modified to the extent set
forth in the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement  (as amended or  modified) or any new
credit facility entered into in replacement, restatement or substitution for the
Revolving  Credit  Agreement;  provided  that (i) no Default or Event of Default
exists  under the  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  (ii) the  Required  Banks  have
determined,  in their sole and absolute discretion,  that any proposed amendment
or modification  to this Section 4.1 will not in any way violate,  contravene or
conflict   with   Regulation  U  or  Regulation  G,  (c)  if  requested  by  the
Administrative  Agent,  the Banks  shall  have  received  an  opinion of counsel
satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent and its counsel to the effect that any
such proposed  amendment or modification to this Section 4.1 will not in any way
violate, contravene or conflict with Regulation U or Regulation G and addressing
such other legal matters as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and
(d) upon the request of the Administrative  Agent, the Banks shall have received
a  certificate  of  the  chief  financial  officer  or  a  vice  president  with
responsibility  for or knowledge of financial  matters of the Guarantor  setting
forth a calculation of the Collateral Ratio.

         SECTION 4.2. Certain  Indebtedness.  Guarantor shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to amend or modify any provision of the Revolving
Credit  Agreement or the other Revolving Credit Loan Documents if such amendment
or  modification  could  have an  adverse  effect on the  Banks or any  material
provision of the Loan Documents.

         SECTION 4.3. Margin Regulations.  Guarantor shall take such actions and
execute and  deliver  such  instruments  or  documents  from time to time as the
Administrative Agent shall reasonably



<PAGE>



request to maintain continuous compliance with Regulation G and Regulation U.

         SECTION 4.4. Negative Pledge. Guarantor shall not, and shall 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  (as
         defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement);

                  (b)  Liens for  current  Taxes (as  defined  in the  Revolving
         Credit  Agreement) 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 of the  Revolving  Credit
         Agreement  on the  Closing  Date (as  defined in the  Revolving  Credit
         Agreement);

                  (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



<PAGE>



         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
         (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) are permitted by Section
         9.10(e)(iii) of the Revolving Credit Agreement;

                  (h)  Liens in  favor of the  trustee  on sums  required  to be
         deposited  with the  trustee  under the  Indentures  (as defined in the
         Revolving Credit Agreement);

                  (i) If Section  9.1(II) of the Revolving  Credit  Agreement is
         then in effect,  Liens on indebtedness  permitted by Section 9.1(II)(o)
         of the Revolving Credit Agreement;

                  (j) If Section  9.1(II) of the Revolving  Credit  Agreement is
         then in effect, Liens on assets of Guarantor 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) of the Revolving Credit Agreement;  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 the
         Total Shareholders' Equity of Guarantor; and

                  (k) If Section  9.1(I) of the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement is
         then in effect, Liens on assets of Guarantor 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) of the Revolving Credit  Agreement;  provided,  however,
         that the aggregate fair market value of the property



<PAGE>



         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 (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) of
         Guarantor.

         Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if Section 9.2 of the Revolving Credit
Agreement (or any successor  section  thereto) or any  definitions  set forth or
used  therein  are  amended  or  modified  in  accordance  with the terms of the
Revolving  Credit Agreement either as the result of an amendment or modification
to such section in the Revolving Credit  Agreement or Guarantor's  execution and
delivery of a new credit  facility in  replacement,  restatement or substitution
for the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement,  this  Section  4.4 shall be deemed to be
amended and modified to the extent set forth in the Revolving  Credit  Agreement
(as amended or modified) or any new credit facility entered into in replacement,
restatement or substitution  for the Revolving Credit  Agreement;  provided that
(i) no Default or Event of Default exists under the Restated  Credit  Agreement,
(ii) the Required Banks have determined,  in their sole and absolute discretion,
that any proposed  amendment or modification to this Section 4.4 will not in any
way violate,  contravene or conflict  with  Regulation U or Regulation G, (c) if
requested by the Administrative  Agent, the Banks shall have received an opinion
of  counsel  satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent and its  counsel to the
effect that any such proposed amendment or modification to this Section 4.4 will
not in any way violate, contravene or conflict with Regulation U or Regulation G
and  addressing  such  other  legal  matters  as  reasonably  requested  by  the
Administrative  Agent,  (d) upon the request of the  Administrative  Agent,  the
Banks shall have received a certificate of the chief financial officer or a vice
president  with  responsibility  for or knowledge  of  financial  matters of the
Guarantor  setting forth a calculation of the  Collateral  Ratio and (e) without
limiting anything contained in this Section 4.4, if Guarantor shall grant a Lien
with respect to any of its assets to any third party not otherwise  permitted by
clauses  (a)-(l)  above,  the Banks shall be equally and  ratably  secured  with
respect to such assets.

         SECTION 4.5.  Limitation on Additional  Purpose  Credit/Sale of Assets.
Notwithstanding  any other  provision of this  Restated  Guaranty,  the Restated
Credit Agreement or the Revolving  Credit  Agreement to the contrary,  Guarantor
will  not,  and will not  permit  any of its  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries  and/or
Significant Subsidiaries to (a) incur or assume any Indebtedness which



<PAGE>



constitutes  "purpose  credit"  secured  "directly or  indirectly" as defined in
Regulation U by Margin Stock or (b) sell,  transfer or otherwise  dispose of any
of its assets (other than as permitted in clauses  (a)-(d) of Section 9.4 of the
Revolving Credit Agreement),  unless in the case of both clauses (a) and (b) the
Administrative  Agent  shall  have been  given at least 10 days'  prior  written
notice thereof and either:

                  (x) in the case of a  disposition  of  assets,  either  (i) if
         permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement, an amount equal to the Net
         Proceeds (as defined in the  Revolving  Credit  Agreement)  received by
         Guarantor,   such  Wholly-Owned   Subsidiary  and/or  such  Significant
         Subsidiary, as the case may be, in connection with any such disposition
         of assets shall be promptly  applied to repay,  pro rata, the principal
         amount of the Loans made to the Borrowers  (together  with any interest
         accrued  thereon).   To  the  extent  the  Net  Proceeds  of  any  such
         disposition  exceed the amount of the  Loans,  or the Loans  shall have
         been paid in full,  such Net  Proceeds  shall be  applied  to repay any
         remaining   Liabilities  or  (ii)  the  Borrowers  shall  prepay  their
         respective  Liabilities  hereunder in an amount equal to the product of
         (A)  the  Net  Proceeds   received  by  Guarantor,   such  Wholly-Owned
         Subsidiary and/or such Significant  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, in
         connection with such  disposition of assets,  multiplied by a fraction,
         the  numerator  of which is the  Liabilities  of such  Borrower and the
         denominator  of which is the  aggregate of all  Liabilities  of all the
         Borrowers; or

                  (y) (i) no  Default  or  Event of  Default  exists  under  the
                  Restated Credit  Agreement or this Restated  Guaranty or shall
                  result therefrom;

                     (ii) the Required Banks have  determined, in their sole and
                  absolute   discretion,   that  such  proposed   incurrence  of
                  Indebtedness  or proposed  disposition of assets,  as the case
                  may be, will not in any



<PAGE>



                  way  violate,  contravene  or conflict  with  Regulation  U or
                  Regulation G (and the Administrative Agent shall have received
                  such information from the Guarantor as may be requested by the
                  Administrative  Agent to make such determination,  including a
                  calculation  of the "good  faith  loan  value"  of the  assets
                  comprising  the  Indirect  Collateral  remaining  after giving
                  effect to such incurrence of Indebtedness  and/or  disposition
                  of assets);

                           (iii) if requested by the  Administrative  Agent, the
                  Banks  shall  have  received  (A) a  certificate  of the chief
                  financial officer or a vice president with  responsibility for
                  or  knowledge of financial  matters of the  Guarantor  setting
                  forth a calculation of the Collateral Ratio (which calculation
                  shall reflect any adjustment in the "good faith loan value" of
                  the Indirect  Collateral as determined by the Required Lenders
                  pursuant  to clause  (ii)  above)  and/or  (B) an  opinion  of
                  counsel  satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent  and  its
                  counsel  to  the  effect  that  such  proposed  incurrence  of
                  Indebtedness  or  disposition  of assets,  as the case may be,
                  will  not  in  way  violate,   contravene   or  conflict  with
                  Regulation U or Regulation G and  addressing  such other legal
                  matters as reasonably  requested by the Administrative  Agent;
                  and

                           (iv) after giving  effect to the  incurrence  of such
                  Indebtedness  and/or  the  disposition  of  such  assets,  the
                  Collateral Ratio shall
                  be at least 2 to 1.




<PAGE>



         SECTION 4.6.  Compliance with Restated Credit  Agreement;  Provision of
Collateral   Ratio   Information.   Guarantor   acknowledges   that  it  is  the
attorney-in-fact  of each of the Borrowers and further  acknowledges that it has
certain obligations and  responsibilities to the Banks under the Restated Credit
Agreement  (including,  without limitation,  under Section 8.1.4 of the Restated
Credit  Agreement).  Guarantor  hereby  agrees to comply with and  satisfy  such
obligations  and   responsibilities   under  the  Restated   Credit   Agreement.
Furthermore,  Guarantor shall provide to the Administrative  Agent and the Banks
such  information  as may be  reasonably  requested  from  time  to  time by the
Administrative Agent or the Required Banks to permit the Administrative Agent or
the Required  Banks,  as the case may be, to determine  the "maximum  good faith
loan value" (as defined in Regulation U) of the Indirect  Collateral and do such
other acts and  execute  such other  documentation  to  continue  to comply with
Regulation U and Regulation G.


                                    ARTICLE V

                        CONDITIONS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF
                                 THIS AGREEMENT

         The  obligation  of the Banks to make the Loans is (in  addition to the
conditions  precedent set forth in Section 9 of the Restated  Credit  Agreement)
subject to the  performance  by Guarantor of all of the  obligations  under this
Restated Guaranty and to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

         SECTION 5.1.  Initial Loans.  Prior to or concurrent with the making of
the initial Loans under the Restated Credit Agreement,  the Administrative Agent
shall have received all of the following,  each,  except to the extent otherwise
specified below, duly executed by a Responsible Officer of Guarantor,  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, each in sufficient number of signed counterparts or copies to provide one
for each Bank and the Administrative Agent:

                  5.1.1.  A  favorable  opinion  of Karl W.  Kindig,  counsel of
         Guarantor and its  Subsidiaries,  substantially  in the form of Exhibit
         A-1,  and  addressing  such other legal  matters as the  Administrative
         Agent may require;



<PAGE>



                  5.1.2. A favorable opinion of Baker & Daniels, outside counsel
         to Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, substantially in the form of Exhibit
         A-2,  and  addressing  such other legal  matters as the  Administrative
         Agent may require;

                  5.1.3. An officer's certificate of Guarantor, substantially in
         the form of Exhibits C, and dated as of the Closing  Date,  signed by a
         Responsible  Officer of  Guarantor,  and  attested to by the  secretary
         thereof,  together with  certified  copies of  Guarantor's  articles of
         incorporation, by-laws and directors resolutions;

                  5.1.4.  Evidence  of the  good  standing  or  certificates  of
         compliance  of  Guarantor  the  jurisdiction  in  which  Guarantor  was
         incorporated as of the Closing Date;

                  5.1.5.  Evidence  that  Guarantor  paid to the  Administrative
         Agent the fees and expenses provided for herein;

                  5.1.6.  Evidence  satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent of
         compliance by Guarantor with Regulation G; and

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


                                   ARTICLE VI

               SALE AND RELEASE OF PLEDGED SHARES; CASH COLLATERAL

         SECTION 6.1. Sale of Pledged Shares.  Notwithstanding any provision set
forth in any of the Loan  Documents to the contrary,  the  Administrative  Agent
agrees that after the occurrence  and during the  continuance of a Default under
Section  10.1.2 of the  Restated  Credit  Agreement or any Event of Default with
respect to any Borrower, the effect of which is to cause the Obligations of such
Borrower to be due and payable under the Restated Credit  Agreement (a "Borrower
Default"),  subject to the provisions of Section 6.2 and 6.4 below,  it will not
demand that



<PAGE>



Guarantor  pay  the  Obligations  of  such  Borrower  (constituting  outstanding
principal and interest of such Borrower),  until after the Administrative  Agent
has used its reasonable best efforts,  in good faith, to sell the Pledged Shares
of such Borrower,  such sale to be consummated in one or a series of open market
transactions  through  one or more  reputable  broker-dealers  at the then  fair
market value of such Pledged Shares.

         SECTION 6.2.  Conditions to Sale of Pledged  Shares.  The obligation of
the Administrative Agent not to demand payment hereunder pursuant to Section 6.1
is subject to the following conditions:

                  (a) Guarantor, within three (3) Business Days after receipt of
written  notice of a  Borrower  Default  from the  Administrative  Agent,  shall
deposit with the  Administrative  Agent in the Cash Collateral Account an amount
equal  to the then  outstanding  Obligations  of the  Borrower  related  to such
Borrower Default and,  thereafter,  upon written notice from the  Administrative
Agent,  Guarantor shall continue to deposit funds in the Cash Collateral Account
in  sufficient  amounts to pay in full any  additional  interest  accrued on the
Loans  of such  Borrower  after  the  date of the  initial  deposit  to the Cash
Collateral Account; and

                  (b) None of  the  following  has occurred at the  time of such
Borrower Default or shall occur thereafter:

                           (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in
                  securities  generally  or  trading  in  the  common  stock  of
                  Guarantor  and/or PRIDES on the New York Stock Exchange or any
                  other exchange upon which the common stock of Guarantor and/or
                  PRIDES may then be traded;

                           (ii)  a  general  moratorium  on  commercial  banking
                  activities  in New York is declared by any Federal or New York
                  State authorities;

                           (iii)  the  Administrative  Agent  is  prohibited  or
                  materially limited from selling the Pledged Shares as a result
                  of any federal or state  securities laws  (including,  without
                  limitation,  the rules promulgated  thereunder relating to the
                  disclosure of material information); or




<PAGE>



                           (iv) any other event (including,  without limitation,
                  commencement of any suit, action or litigation,  filing of any
                  claim or any other  similar  proceeding  or any  change in any
                  applicable law) has occurred which, in the reasonable  opinion
                  of the Administrative  Agent, would prohibit,  have a material
                  adverse  effect  on, or  materially  limit the  Administrative
                  Agent's  ability to sell the Pledged Shares as contemplated by
                  the terms of Section 6.1.

         Guarantor  agrees  that in any sale of any of the Pledged  Shares,  the
Administrative  Agent is authorized to comply with any limitation or restriction
in connection with such sale as counsel may advise the  Administrative  Agent is
necessary,  in the  reasonable  opinion of such  counsel,  in order to avoid any
violation of applicable law (including, without limitation, compliance with such
procedures  as may restrict the number of  prospective  bidders and  purchasers,
require   that  such   prospective   bidders   and   purchasers   have   certain
qualifications,  and restrict such prospective bidders and purchasers to persons
who will  represent and agree that they are purchasing for their own account for
investment  and  not  with  a  view  to  the  distribution  or  resale  of  such
Collateral),  or in order to obtain any required  approval of the sale or of the
purchaser by any governmental  regulatory  authority or official,  and Guarantor
further  agrees  that  such  compliance  shall not  result  in such  sale  being
considered or deemed not to have been made in a commercially  reasonable manner,
nor shall the Administrative Agent be liable or accountable to Guarantor for any
discount  allowed  by reason of the fact that such  Pledged  Shares  are sold in
compliance with any such limitation or restriction.

         Guarantor   further   agrees  to  indemnify   and  hold   harmless  the
Administrative  Agent  and the  Banks  and  each of their  respective  officers,
directors,  employees, agents, successors and assigns, and any Person in control
of any thereof, from and against any loss, liability, claim, damage and expense,
including, without limitation,  reasonable attorneys' fees actually incurred (in
this paragraph collectively called the "Indemnified Liabilities"), under federal
and state  securities laws or otherwise  resulting from the action or failure to
act by Guarantor or any Borrower;  provided,  that no such Person shall have the
right to be  indemnified  hereunder  for its own  gross  negligence  or  willful
misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.




<PAGE>



         Section 6.3. Release of Pledged Shares. The Administrative Agent agrees
that, so long as Guarantor is in compliance  with Section 6.2(a) and none of the
events set forth in Section 6.2(b) has occurred, it shall not release any of the
Pledged Shares of any Borrower from the Lien granted under the Pledge  Agreement
until after the  termination  of this Restated  Guaranty and the  obligations of
Guarantor   hereunder  with  respect  to  such  Borrower.   Notwithstanding  the
foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to (i) release the Pledged
Shares of such Borrower if such Pledged Shares are replaced by additional common
stock of Guarantor  and/or PRIDES and (ii) sell the Pledged  Shares  pursuant to
Section 6.1.

         SECTION 6.4. Borrower Event of Default.  Guarantor hereby  acknowledges
and agrees that  Sections 6.1 and 6.3 shall not apply to any Default or Event of
Default  relating  to  Guarantor  or any  of  its  Subsidiaries  and,  upon  the
occurrence  of an  Event  of  Default  relating  to  Guarantor  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries,  the  Administrative  Agent  expressly  reserves  its  rights  and
remedies under this Restated Guaranty to demand payment hereunder to satisfy the
Obligations of all Borrowers and the obligations of Guarantor  hereunder whether
or not the Administrative Agent has sold or attempted to sell the Pledged Shares
of any Borrower or otherwise  exercised its rights and remedies under the Pledge
Agreement or any other Loan Document. Furthermore nothing contained herein shall
be deemed to prohibit or limit in any way whatsoever the Administrative  Agent's
or any Bank's right or ability to receive its portion of the assets of Guarantor
upon the exercise by the Revolving Credit Agent or the Revolving Credit Banks of
their rights and remedies under the Revolving Credit Loan Documents or any other
creditor of Guarantor.

         SECTION 6.5. Application of Cash Collateral. If after compliance by the
Administrative   Agent  with  the  provisions  set  forth  in  Section  6.1  any
Obligations  remain unpaid with respect to any  applicable  Borrower,  any funds
held in the Cash Collateral Account may be applied by the  Administrative  Agent
against the payment of the  Obligations  of such  Borrower.  The  Administrative
Agent,  prior to applying such funds against the  Obligations  of such Borrower,
will certify to Guarantor  (a) if the Pledged  Shares of such  Borrower are sold
pursuant to Section 6.1, the net proceeds  (including a  calculation  thereof in
reasonable  detail) received by the  Administrative  Agent from the sale of such
Pledged  Shares  and (b) if the  Pledged  Shares of such  Borrower  are not sold
pursuant  to  Section  6.1,  the  reason or  reasons  why such sale could not be
accomplished. Any funds remaining in the Cash



<PAGE>



Collateral  Account after  application  thereof to the  Obligations as set forth
above shall be returned to Guarantor.  The  Administrative  Agent agrees that it
shall  deliver  to  Guarantor,  after  the  application  of  such  funds  to the
Obligations  of  such  Borrower,  a  calculation  in  reasonable  detail  of the
Obligations of such Borrower  (including  principal and interest of the Loans of
such Borrower) and the application of such funds thereto.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  7.1. Guarantor 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 the Restated Credit  Agreement,  this Restated Guaranty and
         the other Loan  Documents,  including  schedules and exhibits,  and any
         amendments,  waivers,  consents,  supplements or other modifications to
         the Restated Credit Agreement, this Restated Guaranty 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

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

Guarantor  further agrees to pay, and to save the  Administrative  Agent and the
Banks,  and their  respective  Affiliates,  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 the
Restated Credit Agreement, any Borrowing thereunder,  the issuance of the Notes,
this  Restated  Guaranty or any other Loan  Document.  Guarantor  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



<PAGE>



Administrative  Agent or such Bank in  connection  with the  enforcement  of any
Obligations  or  obligations  hereunder  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  Guarantor  provided  for in  this  Section  7.1  shall  survive
termination of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative
Agent or a Bank shall not have the right to reimbursement under this Section 7.1
for amounts determined by a court of competent  jurisdiction to have arisen from
the gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct of the  Administrative  Agent or a
Bank.

          7.2.  Guarantor  agrees to indemnify the  Administrative  Agent,  each
Bank,  their  Affiliates and their 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 the  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  this
Restated  Guaranty,  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  Borrowers  and  Guarantor  provided for in this Section 7.2
shall survive  termination  of the Restated  Credit  Agreement and this Restated
Guaranty.

         7.3.  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 Guarantor.  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



<PAGE>



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.

         7.4. This Restated  Guaranty,  and the terms,  covenants and conditions
hereof,  shall be binding  upon and inure to the benefit of the parties  hereto,
and their  respective  successors  and assigns,  except  Guarantor  shall not be
permitted to assign this  Restated  Guaranty nor any interest  herein nor in the
Collateral,  nor any part thereof,  except in  accordance  with the terms of the
Restated Credit Agreement.

         7.5.  EACH  OF  GUARANTOR  AND  THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT  (I)  HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY  SUBMITS TO THE  JURISDICTION OF ANY ILLINOIS STATE OR FEDERAL COURT
SITTING IN THE  NORTHERN  DISTRICT  OF  ILLINOIS  OVER ANY ACTION OR  PROCEEDING
ARISING  OUT  OF OR  RELATING  TO  THIS  RESTATED  GUARANTY  OR THE  OTHER  LOAN
DOCUMENTS, AND EACH OF GUARANTOR AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING  MAY BE HEARD AND
DETERMINED  IN SUCH  ILLINOIS  STATE OR FEDERAL  COURT,  AND (II)  AGREES NOT TO
INSTITUTE ANY LEGAL ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  AGAINST THE OTHER PARTY HERETO OR THE
DIRECTORS,  OFFICERS,  EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR PROPERTY OF ANY THEREOF, ARISING OUT
OF OR RELATING TO THIS RESTATED GUARANTY, IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN AS HEREINABOVE
SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION 7.5.  EACH OF GUARANTOR AND THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, 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  GUARANTOR,  ANY OF ITS  SUBSIDIARIES,  THE  ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT, ANY BANK OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY COURT HEREINABOVE SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION
7.5 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.  EACH OF GUARANTOR AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT AGREES
THAT A FINAL  JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING  SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND
MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER  JURISDICTIONS  BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER
MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.

         7.6.  Subject to Section 13.1 of the  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  the
provisions of this Restated Guaranty may from time to time be amended,  modified
or waived, if such amendment, modification or waiver is in writing and consented
to by Guarantor and by the Administrative  Agent (at the request of the Required
Banks),  and then any such amendment,  modification,  waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific  instance and for the specific  purpose for which
given.



<PAGE>



         7.7. The section  headings in this  Restated  Guaranty are inserted for
convenience  of reference  and shall not be  considered a part of this  Restated
Guaranty or used in its interpretation.

         7.8. No action of the Administrative Agent permitted hereunder shall in
any way  affect  or  impair  the  rights  of the  Administrative  Agent  and the
obligations  of  Guarantor  under  this  Restated  Guaranty.   Guarantor  hereby
acknowledges  that there are no conditions to the effectiveness of this Restated
Guaranty.

         7.9.  All  obligations  of Guarantor  and rights of the  Administrative
Agent or obligation  expressed in this Restated Guaranty shall be in addition to
and not in  limitation  of those  provided  in  applicable  law or in any  other
written instrument or agreement relating to any of the Obligations.

         7.10.  THIS  RESTATED  GUARANTY  SHALL BE A  CONTRACT  MADE  UNDER  AND
GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF  ILLINOIS,  WITHOUT  REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF
LAWS  PRINCIPLES.  ALL  OBLIGATIONS OF THE BORROWERS AND GUARANTOR AND RIGHTS OF
THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT AND THE BANKS IN RESPECT OF THE  OBLIGATIONS  AND THE
OBLIGATIONS OF GUARANTOR  EXPRESSED  HEREIN OR IN THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL
BE IN ADDITION TO AND NOT IN LIMITATION OF THOSE PROVIDED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

         7.11.  This  Restated  Guaranty  may  be  executed  in  any  number  of
counterparts,  each of which shall for all purposes be deemed an  original,  but
all such counterparts shall constitute but one and the same agreement. Guarantor
hereby acknowledges  receipt of a true, correct and complete counterpart of this
Restated Guaranty.

         7.12.  The  Administrative  Agent acts herein as agent for itself,  the
Banks and any and all future holders of the Obligations.

         7.13. EACH OF GUARANTOR AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT HEREBY KNOWINGLY,
VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,
PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM  CONCERNING ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS RESTATED  GUARANTY,
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 RESTATED GUARANTY
AND AGREES  THAT ANY SUCH  ACTION,  PROCEEDING  OR  COUNTERCLAIM  SHALL BE TRIED
BEFORE A COURT



<PAGE>



AND NOT BEFORE A JURY;  THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL  INDUCEMENT FOR THE PARTIES
ENTERING INTO THIS RESTATED GUARANTY.

         7.14. THIS RESTATED  GUARANTY AMENDS AND RESTATES THE EXISTING GUARANTY
AND IS NOT  INTENDED TO  EFFECTUATE A NOVATION OF THE  OBLIGATIONS  OF GUARANTOR
WHICH WERE EVIDENCED BY THE EXISTING  GUARANTY BUT RATHER A SUBSTITUTION  OF THE
TERMS GOVERNING SUCH OBLIGATIONS. 
                                    *       *       *



<PAGE>




         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Guarantor  has caused this  Amended and  Restated
Guaranty  to be duly  executed  and  delivered  by its  officer  thereunto  duly
authorized as of the date first above written.


                                                  CONSECO, INC.


                                                  By:/s/Rollin M. Dick
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                  Name:Rollin M. Dick
                                                  Title:Executive Vice President









                            CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTMENT

         This Certificate of Adjustment is dated this 11th day of February, 1997
with respect to the adjustment to Warrant No. TH-1 of Conseco,  Inc. pursuant to
Section 4.1 of the Warrant.

         In connection  with the 2-for-1 stock split  effective this 11th day of
February,  1997, the holder of the  above-referenced  Warrant is now entitled to
acquire  20,000 shares of Common Stock (as defined in the Warrant) at a purchase
price of $19.64285 per share.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed  this  certificate
effective as of the date first above written for and on behalf of Conseco, Inc.


                                                CONSECO, INC.



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









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