APPLE SOUTH INC
10-Q, 1998-05-12
EATING PLACES
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

                                   (Mark One)

     [X]  Quarterly  Report  Pursuant  to Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 For the quarterly period ended March 29, 1998

                                       or

     [ ]  Transition  Report  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 For the transition period from to

                         Commission File Number: 0-19542


                                APPLE SOUTH, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Georgia                                               59-2778983  
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S.  Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

Hancock at Washington, Madison, GA                                 30650 
(Address of principal  executive offices)                        (Zip Code)

                                  706-342-4552
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                                                 X Yes        No



As  of  May  11,  1998,  there  were  36,964,625  shares  of common stock of the
Registrant outstanding.










<PAGE>





                                APPLE SOUTH, INC.

                          QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

                      FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 29, 1998


                                      INDEX


Part I - Financial Information                                              Page

        Item 1 -  Consolidated Financial Statements:

                  Consolidated Statements of Earnings..........................3

                  Consolidated Balance Sheets..................................4

                  Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity..............5

                  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows........................6

                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...................7

        Item 2 -  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                  Financial Condition and Results of Operations...............10

Part II - Other Information

        Item 6 -  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K............................14

Signature         ............................................................15









                                     Page 2

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
Apple South, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(Unaudited)
                              
(In thousands, except per share data)
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                             Quarter Ended
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      March 29,          March 30,
                                                                                                        1998               1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                                   <C>                   <C>    
Restaurant sales:
    Applebee's                                                                                        $ 125,763             111,784
    Don Pablo's                                                                                          59,263              40,402
    Hops                                                                                                 23,327               4,729
    McCormick & Schmick's                                                                                21,342               7,324
    Canyon Cafes                                                                                         11,981                   -
    Other                                                                                                     -               7,214
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total restaurant sales                                                                        241,676             171,453
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Restaurant operating expenses:                                                           
    Food and beverage                                                                                    67,317              47,847
    Payroll and benefits                                                                                 78,648              52,338
    Depreciation and amortization                                                                         4,204               6,845
    Other operating expenses                                                                             56,458              39,558
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total restaurant operating expenses                                                           206,627             146,588
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General and administrative expenses                                                                      12,915               8,614
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating income                                                                                         22,134              16,251
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other income (expense):
    Interest expense                                                                                     (7,146)             (3,927)
    Distributions on preferred securities                                                                (2,012)               (375)
    Gain on disposal of assets held for sale                                                             49,000                   -
    Income from investments carried at equity                                                               703                   -
    Other, primarily goodwill amortization                                                               (1,322)               (657)
    Interest income                                                                                           7                  51
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Total other income (expense)                                                                   39,230              (4,908)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings before income taxes and cumulative
   effect of change in accounting principle                                                              61,364              11,343

Income taxes                                                                                             22,825               4,075
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings before cumulative effect of
   change in accounting principle                                                                        38,539               7,268
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cumulative effect of change in accounting
   principle, net of tax benefit                                                                          1,461                   -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings                                                                                          $  37,078               7,268
====================================================================================================================================

Basic earnings per common share:
      Basic earnings before cumulative effect of
            change in accounting principle                                                            $    0.99                0.19
      Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                                                 (0.04)                  -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic earnings per common share                                                                       $    0.95                0.19
====================================================================================================================================

Diluted earnings per common share:
      Diluted earnings before cumulative effect of
            change in accounting principle                                                            $    0.85                0.19
      Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                                                 (0.03)                  -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted earnings per common share                                                                     $    0.82                0.19
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                                                Page 3

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
Apple South, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share data)
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      March 29,         December 28,
                                                                                                        1998                1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                                   <C>                    <C>  
Assets
Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                                                                       $   2,231               2,503
      Proceeds due from sale of assets                                                                   94,749                   -
      Short-term investments                                                                                 27                  37
      Accounts receivable                                                                                11,995               8,983
      Inventories                                                                                        11,025              10,732
      Prepaid expenses and other                                                                          7,544               9,047
      Assets held for sale                                                                              304,175             331,104
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Total current assets                                                                         431,746             362,406

Premises and equipment, net                                                                             307,199             283,839
Goodwill, net                                                                                           136,376             138,403
Other assets                                                                                             27,865              19,641
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      $ 903,186             804,289
====================================================================================================================================

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable                                                                                $  21,739              24,819
      Accrued liabilities                                                                                51,446              40,266
      Current installments of long-term debt                                                                211                 206
      Income taxes                                                                                       18,049                   -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Total current liabilities                                                                     91,445              65,291

Long-term debt                                                                                          414,751             381,843
Deferred income taxes                                                                                    16,000              14,231
Other long-term liabilities                                                                               8,248               7,142
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Total liabilities                                                                            530,444             468,507
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities
       of Apple South Financing I, a subsidiary holding solely                                   
       Apple South, Inc. 7% convertible subordinated debentures
       due March 1, 2027                                                                                115,000             115,000

Shareholders' equity:
      Preferred stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized 10,000,000 shares;
          none issued                                                                                         -                   -
      Common stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized 75,000,000 shares;
          40,478,760 issued in 1998 and 1997                                                                405                 405
      Additional paid-in capital                                                                        145,303             145,269
      Retained earnings                                                                                 134,726              97,905
      Treasury stock at cost; 1,657,546 shares in 1998 and 1,662,812                             
           shares in 1997                                                                               (22,692)            (22,797)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Total shareholders' equity                                                                   257,742             220,782
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      $ 903,186             804,289
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.




 

                                                                Page 4

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
Apple South, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
(Unaudited)


(In thousands, except per share data)
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Additional                                    Total
                                                       Common Stock          Paid-in      Retained      Treasury      Shareholders'
                                                   Shares        Amount      Capital      Earnings        Stock          Equity
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>            <C>        <C>           <C>          <C>              <C>       
Balance at December 28, 1997                       40,479         $405       $145,269      $97,905      ($22,797)        $220,782
Net earnings                                            -            -              -       37,078             -           37,078
Purchase of common stock                                -            -              -            -          (113)            (113)
Common stock issued to ESOP and ESPP                    -            -             36            -           206              242
Exercise of options                                     -            -             (2)           -            12               10
Foreign currency translation adjustment                 -            -              -          148             -              148
Cash dividends ($0.01 per share)                        -            -              -         (405)            -             (405)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at March 29, 1998                          40,479         $405       $145,303     $134,726      ($22,692)        $257,742
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


























                                                                Page 5

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
Apple South, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

(In thousands)
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                             Quarter Ended
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      March 29,          March 30,
                                                                                                        1998               1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                                   <C>                     <C> 
Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net earnings                                                                                    $  37,078               7,268
      Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash                                            
           provided by operating activities:
               Depreciation and amortization                                                              5,665               7,825
               Deferred income taxes                                                                      1,769                   -
               Gain on sale of assets                                                                   (49,000)                  -
               (Increase) in assets:                                                                             
                    Accounts receivable                                                                  (3,012)             (1,954)
                    Inventories                                                                            (883)               (571)
                    Prepaid expenses and other                                                           (2,233)                (45)
                Increase (decrease) in liabilities:                                                
                     Accounts payable                                                                    (3,080)             (4,584)
                     Accrued liabilities                                                                  8,690               2,700
                     Income taxes                                                                        18,049                (210)
                     Other long-term liabilities                                                          1,106                 164
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Net cash provided by operating activities                                 14,149              10,593
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
      Capital expenditures                                                                              (40,088)            (26,369)
      Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired                                                         -            (106,240)
      Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment                                                          414                   -
      Decrease in short-term investments                                                                     10                  15
      Additions to franchise costs                                                                            -                (239)
      Additions to other assets                                                                          (7,152)             (1,602)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Net cash used in investing activities                                    (46,816)           (134,435)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
      Net proceeds from revolving credit agreements                                                      32,966              33,500
      Proceeds from issuance of preferred securities, net of issue costs                                      -             111,261
      Principal payments on long-term debt                                                                  (53)               (372)
      Proceeds from issuance of common stock                                                                  -                 918
      Dividends declared and paid                                                                          (405)               (313)
      Purchase of treasury stock                                                                           (113)            (15,640)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Net cash provided by financing activities                                 32,395             129,354
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                                       (272)              5,512
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period                                                  2,503               3,923
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period                                                    $   2,231               9,435
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.










    
                                                                Page 6

<PAGE>
                               APPLE SOUTH, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 March 29, 1998
                                   (Unaudited)


NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying  unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared
in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting   principles  for  interim
financial  information and with the  instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of
Regulation  S-X   promulgated   by  the  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission.
Accordingly,  they do not include all of the information and footnotes  required
by generally  accepted  accounting  principles  for annual  financial  statement
reporting  purposes.   However,  there  has  been  no  material  change  in  the
information  disclosed in the consolidated  financial statements included in the
Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year  ended  December  28,  1997,
except as  disclosed  herein.  In the opinion of  management,  all  adjustments,
consisting only of normal recurring  accruals,  considered  necessary for a fair
presentation  have been included.  Operating results for the quarter ended March
29, 1998 are not necessarily  indicative of the results that may be expected for
the year ending January 3, 1999.

NOTE 2 - APPLEBEE'S DIVESTITURE

On  March 29, 1998,  the  Company  completed  the  sale of  33 of its franchised
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar ("Applebee's")  restaurants.  Total proceeds
from the sale were  $94.7  million  in cash,  reflecting  $93.4  million  for 32
restaurants,  as  originally  disclosed  in a Form 8-K filed by the  Company  on
January 15, 1998,  plus $1.3  million for one  additional  restaurant  and other
routine closing adjustments.  The Company recorded a pre-tax gain on the sale of
$49.0 million ($30.4 million  after-tax).  Proceeds from the transaction,  which
closed as of the close of business on Sunday,  March 29, 1998,  were received by
the Company on Monday,  March 30, 1998, and as such,  $94.7 million is reflected
in the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheet as "Proceeds due from sale of
assets".  The remaining  premises and  equipment,  franchise  costs and goodwill
related to the  Applebee's  division  are  included  in "Assets  held for sale".
Depreciation  and  amortization  on the  long-lived  assets  were  suspended  on
December  16, 1997,  when  management  finalized  the decision to dispose of the
division.

NOTE 3 - CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE

At the beginning of fiscal 1998, the Company adopted AICPA Statement of Position
98-5,  "Reporting  the Cost of Start-Up  Activities."  This  statement  requires
entities to expense the costs of start-up activities as incurred. As a result of
the adoption of this change in  accounting  policy,  from  expensing  preopening
costs in the first full month of a restaurant's  operations to expensing them as
incurred,  the Company  recorded a cumulative  effect  charge from the change in
accounting principle of $2.2 million ($1.5 million net of tax benefit).

NOTE 4 - EQUITY INVESTMENTS

On January 14, 1998,  the Company  acquired a 20%  interest in Belgo Group,  PLC
("Belgo"), a public restaurant company based in the United Kingdom that owns and
operates two Belgo restaurants in London, for $6.1 million. The Company accounts
for its investment in Belgo under the equity method of accounting.  



                                     Page 7

<PAGE>



Accordingly,  the  Company's interest  in  Belgo's  net  earnings is included in
"Income from  investments  carried at equity" in the  accompanying  consolidated
statement of earnings. The Company's investment is included in "Other assets" in
the accompanying  consolidated  balance sheet. The investment is translated into
U.S. dollars at the period-end  exchange rate, while net earnings are translated
at the  average  exchange  rate  during the period.  The  resulting  translation
adjustments   are   recorded  as  a  component  of   shareholders'   equity  and
comprehensive income (Note 9).

Subsequent  to  March  29,  1998,  the  Company  sold its  Harrigan's  division,
retaining a 25% equity interest in the ongoing  business.  The Company  received
$3.0  million  in  cash  plus a $4.0  million  note  and  additionally  retained
ownership of the real estate for two Harrigan's locations which are being leased
to the new entity.  The interest in  Harrigan's  will be accounted for using the
equity  method  of  accounting  with  net  earnings  included  in  "Income  from
investments  carried at equity" and amounts for the quarter ended March 29, 1998
have been reclassified in the accompanying consolidated statement of earnings.

NOTE 5 - SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Cash  dividends  declared  and paid in the quarter  ended March 29, 1998 totaled
$405,000,  or $0.01 per share.  On April 28, 1998,  the Company  declared a cash
dividend of $0.0125  per share,  payable on May 29,  1998,  to  shareholders  of
record on May 15, 1998.

On January 9, 1998, the Company's Board of Directors approved the purchase of up
to two million  additional  shares of its common stock. As of March 29, 1998 the
Company had purchased  10,000 shares  pursuant to this  approval.  As of May 11,
1998, the Company had purchased a total of 1,888,600 of the approved shares.

NOTE 6 - SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

For the  quarters  ended  March  29, 1998 and  March  30,  1997,  the  following
supplements the consolidated statements of cash flows (amounts in thousands):

                                                            1998           1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest paid                                           $  4,388            675
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions paid on preferred securities              $  2,012              -
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income taxes paid                                       $  2,254          3,907
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired:
   Fair value of assets acquired, other than cash       $      -         47,166
   Liabilities assumed                                         -        (22,379)
   Merger consideration payable                                -         (1,891)
   Stock issued                                                -        (16,335)
   Purchase price in excess of the net assets acquired         -         99,679
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Net cash used for acquisitions                    $      -        106,240
================================================================================

As  discussed  in Note 2,  the  Company  received  proceeds  from the sale of 33
Applebee's  restaurants  subsequent to March 29, 1998. As such, the  divestiture
transaction had no effect on consolidated cash flows for the quarter ended March
29, 1998. The accompanying consolidated balance sheet, however, reflects changes
in asset and liability accounts related to the divestiture as follows:  decrease
in assets held for sale of $38.6 million,  decreases in assets not classified as
held for sale of $4.4  million  and  increases  in accrued  liabilities  of $2.7
million.

                                     Page 8


<PAGE>




NOTE 7 - INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate for the first  quarter of 1998 was 37.2%  reflecting  the
blend of taxes on continuing operations estimated at 34.0% and taxes on the gain
on sale of  assets  estimated  at 38.0%.  The  Company's  effective  tax rate on
continuing  operations  for fiscal 1998 is expected to be 34.0%  compared to the
prior year effective  rate of 32.4%.  The increase in effective rate is due to a
projected increase in taxable income for fiscal 1998.

NOTE 8 - CONTINGENCIES

During 1997, two lawsuits were filed by persons  seeking to represent a class of
shareholders of the Company who purchased  shares of the Company's  common stock
between May 26, 1995 and September 24, 1996.  Each  plaintiff  named the Company
and certain of its officers and directors as defendants.  The complaints alleged
acts  of  fraudulent  misrepresentation  by the  defendants  which  induced  the
plaintiffs to purchase the Company's  common stock and alleged  illegal  insider
trading by certain of the defendants, each of which allegedly resulted in losses
to the  plaintiffs  and  similarly  situated  shareholders  of the Company.  The
complaints each seek damages and other relief.  Although the ultimate outcome of
these lawsuits cannot be determined at this time, the Company  believes that the
allegations therein are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself.

NOTE 9 - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

In June 1997,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued  Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS")  No.  130,  "Reporting  Comprehensive
Income". SFAS 130, which is effective for the Company's fiscal 1998, established
standards for reporting and display of comprehensive  income and its components.
Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise
during a period  from  transactions  and other  events  and  circumstances  from
nonowner  sources.  Total  comprehensive  income for the quarter ended March 29,
1998 of $37.2  million  included  net  earnings as reported in the  accompanying
consolidated  statement of earnings  plus the $0.1 million  after-tax  effect of
foreign currency translation  adjustments.  Comprehensive income for the quarter
ended March 30, 1997 was equal to net earnings as reported.







                                     Page 9


<PAGE>




Item 2.
                                APPLE SOUTH, INC.
                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
                                 March 29, 1998



Consolidated Overview

Consolidated  restaurant  sales for the first  quarter of 1998  increased 41% to
$241.7  million  from  $171.5  million  for the same  period in 1997.  The sales
increase is primarily  due to a full  quarter of sales from the three  divisions
(Hops,  McCormick & Schmick's and Canyon Cafes) acquired during 1997 in addition
to a 48% increase in operating weeks in the Don Pablo's division attributable to
new unit openings.  Net earnings for the quarter were $37.1 million  compared to
$7.3 million for the first quarter of 1997 and included a $49.0 million  pre-tax
($30.4  million  after-tax)  gain on the sale of 33 of the Company's  franchised
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar ("Applebee's") restaurants. Net earnings for
the quarter also included a one-time,  after-tax  charge of $1.5 million related
to the adoption of a change in accounting  principle  requiring the expensing of
preopening  costs as incurred in  accordance  with AICPA  Statement  of Position
98-5,  "Reporting the Cost of Start-Up  Activities."  The Company had previously
expensed these costs in the first full month of a restaurant's operations.

During  January 1998,  the Company  acquired a 20% interest in Belgo Group,  PLC
("Belgo"),  a public  restaurant  company based in the United Kingdom,  for $6.1
million. During April 1998, the Company sold its Harrigan's division,  retaining
a 25% equity interest in the ongoing  business.  The Company's pro rata share of
net earnings of Belgo and  Harrigan's  is included in "Income  from  investments
carried at equity" in the accompanying consolidated statement of earnings.

Interest  expense for the quarter ended March 29, 1998 increased to $7.1 million
compared  to $3.9  million  for the same period in 1997 due to the net effect of
higher average borrowings as a result of Company expansion and the gain realized
on the termination of an interest rate contract.

Distributions  on  preferred  securities  increased  to $2.0  million  from $0.4
million  for the same  period  in 1997 due to a full  quarter  of  distributions
related to the Company's $115.0 million,  7.0% convertible  preferred securities
issued during March 1997 to finance acquisitions.

"Other,  primarily  goodwill  amortization"  increased to $1.3 million from $0.7
million  for the  same  period  in  1997  due  primarily  to a full  quarter  of
intangible amortization related to the 1997 acquisitions.

The effective tax rate for the first  quarter of 1998 was 37.2%  reflecting  the
blend of taxes on continuing operations estimated at 34.0% and taxes on the gain
on sale of  assets  estimated  at 38.0%.  The  Company's  effective  tax rate on
continuing operations for the full year 1998 is expected to be 34.0% compared to
the prior year effective rate of 32.4%. The increase in effective rate is due to
a projected increase in taxable income for fiscal 1998.


                                    Page 10

<PAGE>




Core Brands

The following table presents  operating income for the Company's  ongoing "Core"
brands which include Don Pablo's,  Hops, McCormick & Schmick's and Canyon Cafes.
The first quarter of 1997 included only one month of operations  related to Hops
and McCormick & Schmick's and no  operations  related to Canyon Cafes.  As such,
the table  presents the actual  quarter ended March 29, 1998 compared to the pro
forma  results  for the  quarter  ended  March  30,  1997  (assuming  the  three
acquisitions occurred as of the beginning of 1997).


                                                     Actual           Pro forma
                                                    March 29,          March 30,
For the quarters ended                                1998               1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Restaurant sales:
   Don Pablo's                                    $  59,263              40,402
   Hops                                              23,327              12,569
   McCormick & Schmick's                             21,342              18,469
   Canyon Cafes                                      11,981               6,992
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total restaurant sales                        115,913              78,432
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Restaurant operating expenses:
   Food and beverage                                 32,578              22,080
   Payroll and benefits                              35,096              23,810
   Depreciation and amortization                      4,204               2,846
   Other operating expenses                          26,631              18,043
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total restaurant operating expenses            98,509              66,779
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from restaurant operations                    17,404              11,653
                                                      15.0%               14.9%

General and administrative expenses                   8,961               6,150
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income                                   $  8,443               5,503
================================================================================
                                                       7.3%                7.0%

Total restaurant sales and operating income for the core divisions  increased by
48% and 53%,  respectively,  over the pro forma results of the comparable  prior
year period. The sales increase is a result of a combined core brand increase in
operating weeks of 48% in addition to increases in average weekly sales of 8% in
the Hops  division  and 4% in both the  McCormick & Schmick's  and Canyon  Cafes
divisions.  Average  weekly  sales in the Don  Pablo's  division  were  slightly
negative  (less than 1%).  The sales  decreases  at Don Pablo's were a result of
1997 new restaurant  openings which were  predominantly  located in new markets.
Restaurants  in new markets often  experience  lower average unit volumes in the
initial  post-opening  period compared to new units in established markets where
brand  recognition  has already been  established.  Average  weekly sales in Don
Pablo's base  restaurants  (those open for a full 12 months at the  beginning of
1998) were 3% positive for the first quarter of 1998,  reflecting  the concept's
increased  recognition  in existing  markets  achieved  through a combination of
market  penetration  and television  advertising.  Management  believes that the
sales  increases  in the other core  brands are  attributable  to the  Company's
expanding market share, increased concept recognition and a consumer focus which
allows a high level of execution against customer expectations.


                                    Page 11

<PAGE>




Restaurant  operating  expenses of 85.0% of sales were consistent with the prior
year's 85.1%. General and administrative  expenses, which include divisional and
all corporate  overhead,  decreased  from 7.8% to 7.7%  primarily as a result of
leverage gained from absolute increases in size.

Applebee's Divestiture

On March  29,  1998,  the  Company  completed  the sale of 33 of its  franchised
Applebee's restaurants. Total proceeds from the sale were $94.7 million in cash,
reflecting $93.4 million for 32 restaurants,  as originally  disclosed in a Form
8-K  filed by the  Company  on  January  15,  1998,  plus $1.3  million  for one
additional  restaurant  and  other  routine  closing  adjustments.  The  Company
recorded a pre-tax gain on the sale of $49.0 million ($30.4 million  after-tax).
Proceeds  from the  transaction,  which  closed as of the close of  business  on
Sunday,  March 29, 1998, were received by the Company on Monday, March 30, 1998,
and as such, $94.7 million is reflected on the accompanying consolidated balance
sheet as "Proceeds due from sale of assets".

Applebee's  sales for the quarter  ended March 29, 1998  increased by 12.5% over
the  comparable  prior year period due  primarily  to an  increase in  operating
weeks. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization,  prior to
accruals related to pay-to-stay bonuses,  increased by 10.0% over the comparable
prior year period.  Based on Applebee's  operating  performance during the first
quarter,  the Company  continues to expect net proceeds,  after selling expenses
and  income  taxes,  to  approximate  $400  million.  The  Company  has signed a
definitive  purchase  contract for the sale of 26 restaurants in Mississippi and
East Tennessee,  which is expected to close in the second quarter. As of May 11,
1998, the Company also has five additional  definitive purchase contracts for 77
restaurants,  four letters of intent for the purchase of 44 restaurants, and has
written offers for the remaining 86 restaurants.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The principal uses of funds during the quarter ended March 29, 1998 were capital
expenditures  and the  Company's  $6.1  million  investment  in  Belgo.  Capital
expenditures were $40.1 million compared to $26.4 million for the same period of
1997. These  expenditures,  which include purchases of land for new restaurants,
new restaurant construction,  and purchases of new and replacement furniture and
equipment,  are  expected to  approximate  $90  million to $100  million for the
remainder  of fiscal 1998 and $195  million to $210  million for fiscal  1999. A
portion of these capital requirements will be funded with cash proceeds from the
divestiture of the  Applebee's  division,  cash  generated  from  operations and
remaining   commitments  of  $20.0  million  under  a  master  equipment  lease.
Additionally,  at March 29, 1998 the Company had available  unsecured  revolving
bank credit  agreements  aggregating  $300.0  million of which $12.0 million was
unused and available.

Subsequent  to March 29, 1998,  the Company  used  proceeds  from the  completed
Applebee's sale transaction to pay-down  revolving debt. The Company reduced its
obligation  under a fully  utilized  $200.0  million  credit  facility  by $67.0
million.  Under the terms of the $200.0 million agreement,  credit  availability
declines commensurate with reductions in the outstanding obligation. As a result
of this decrease in credit  availability,  the Company has executed a new $100.0
million revolving credit facility, thereby increasing aggregate revolving credit
availability  to $333.0  million of which $30.0 million was unused and available
at May 11, 1998. The remaining  proceeds from the  Applebee's  sale were used to
pay down the Company's remaining credit facilities and purchase certain property
and equipment.


                                    Page 12

<PAGE>




Management  expects to continue the reduction of revolving debt  obligations and
believes that cash flow from operations and proceeds from sales of the remaining
Applebee's restaurants will generate a cash balance of approximately $30 million
to $40  million  by the end of fiscal  1998.  The  Company  does not  anticipate
reducing its outstanding  obligation  related to the $125.0 million senior notes
issued in 1996.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain  information  contained  in this  Form  10-Q,  particularly  information
regarding  the  timing  and  sales  price  of  the   disposition  of  Applebee's
restaurants,  future economic performance and finances,  restaurant  development
plans, capital requirements and objectives of management, is forward looking. In
some cases,  information  regarding  certain  important factors that could cause
actual  results to differ  materially  from any such  forward-looking  statement
appear  together with such statement.  In addition,  the following  factors,  in
addition to other possible factors not listed, could affect the Company's actual
results and cause such  results to differ  materially  from those  expressed  in
forward-looking statements.  These factors include competition within the casual
dining  restaurant  industry,   which  remains  intense;   changes  in  economic
conditions  such as  inflation  or a  recession;  consumer  perceptions  of food
safety; weather conditions; changes in consumer tastes; labor and benefit costs;
legal claims;  the continued ability of the Company to obtain suitable locations
and financing for new  restaurant  development;  government  monetary and fiscal
policies;  laws and regulations;  governmental  initiatives such as minimum wage
rates and taxes;  retention of  Applebee's  division  employees  while sales are
pending; the availability of qualified buyers for the Applebee's restaurants and
their ability to obtain  required  financing;  and the  satisfaction  of closing
conditions for  prospective  transactions  subject to  outstanding  contracts or
letters of intent.  Other  factors that may cause actual  results to differ from
the forward-looking statements contained in this release and that may affect the
Company's  prospects in general are  described in Exhibit 99.1 to the  Company's
Form 10-Q for the fiscal  quarter ended June 29, 1997,  and the Company's  other
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 1997,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued  Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS")  No.  130,  "Reporting  Comprehensive
Income". SFAS 130, which is effective for the Company's fiscal 1998, established
standards for reporting and display of comprehensive  income and its components.
Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise
during a period  from  transactions  and other  events  and  circumstances  from
nonowner  sources.  Total  comprehensive  income for the quarter ended March 29,
1998 of $37.2  million  included  net  earnings as reported in the  accompanying
consolidated  statement of earnings  plus the $0.1 million  after-tax  effect of
foreign currency translation  adjustments.  Comprehensive income for the quarter
ended March 30, 1997 was equal to net earnings as reported.








                                    Page 13


<PAGE>




Part II. Other Information

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)      Exhibits.

         10.1     $100  million  Credit  Agreement,  dated April 1, 1998,  among
                  Apple South, Inc.,  Wachovia Bank,  National  Association,  as
                  agent for the banks, and the banks listed as parties thereto.

         10.2     First amendment, dated as of March 27, 1998, to  Participation
                  Agreement (Apple South Trust No. 97-1),  dated as of September
                  24, 1997,  among Apple South, Inc., as lessee,  First Security
                  Bank, National Association, as lessor, SunTrust Bank, Atlanta,
                  as administrative agent, and the holders and lenders signatory
                  thereto.

         11.1     Computation of earnings per common share

         27.1     Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR version only)

         99.1     Safe Harbor Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
                  of 1995*

                           *Incorporated  by  reference  to  the   corresponding
                             exhibit to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form
                             10-Q  for the  quarter  ended  June  29,  1997,  as
                             amended by a Form 10-Q/A filed on August 27, 1997

(b)      Reports on Form 8-K.

         The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 15, 1998,
         which  disclosed,  pursuant  to  Item  5 of  Form  8-K,  the  Company's
         intentions to sell its franchised  Applebee's  Neighborhood Grill & Bar
         restaurants.

         The Company filed a Current  Report on Form 8-K,  dated March 29, 1998,
         which  disclosed,  pursuant  to  Item  2 of  Form  8-K,  the  Company's
         completion of the sale of 33 of its franchised Applebee's  Neighborhood
         Grill & Bar restaurants.













                                    Page 14

<PAGE>




Signature

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                                      Apple South, Inc.
                                                         (Registrant)

   
Date:   May 12, 1998                           By:      /s/ Erich J. Booth
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        Erich J. Booth
                                                        Chief Financial Officer 
                                                        and Treasurer

                                                        /s/ Philip L. Ammons
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        Philip L. Ammons
                                                        Chief Accounting Officer





























                                    Page 15


<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



         10.1     $100  million  Credit  Agreement,  dated April 1, 1998,  among
                  Apple South, Inc.,  Wachovia Bank,  National  Association,  as
                  agent for the banks, and the banks listed as parties thereto.

         10.2     First amendment, dated as of March 27, 1998, to  Participation
                  Agreement (Apple South Trust No. 97-1),  dated as of September
                  24, 1997,  among Apple South, Inc., as lessee,  First Security
                  Bank, National Association, as lessor, SunTrust Bank, Atlanta,
                  as administrative agent, and the holders and lenders signatory
                  thereto.         

         11.1     Computation of earnings per common share

         27.1     Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR version only)

         99.1     Safe Harbor Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
                  of 1995*

                           *Incorporated  by  reference  to  the   corresponding
                             exhibit to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form
                             10-Q  for the  quarter  ended  June  29,  1997,  as
                             amended by a Form 10-Q/A filed on August 27, 1997



                                    Page 16





                                  $100,000,000

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                   DATED AS OF

                                  APRIL 1, 1998

                                      AMONG

                               APPLE SOUTH, INC.,

                                   AS BORROWER

                       WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                       AND

                      ANY OTHER BANK OR BANKS LISTED ON THE
                            SIGNATURE PAGE(S) HEREOF,

                                    AS BANKS

                                       AND

                       WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                             AS AGENT FOR THE BANKS







<PAGE>




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



ARTICLE 1.  DEFINITIONS........................................................1
         SECTION 1.1.  Definitions.............................................1
         SECTION 1.2.  Accounting Terms and Determinations....................13
         SECTION 1.3.  References.............................................13
         SECTION 1.4.  Use of Defined Terms...................................14
         SECTION 1.5.  Terminology............................................14

ARTICLE 2.  THE CREDIT........................................................14
         SECTION 2.1.  Commitments to Lend....................................14
         SECTION 2.2.  Method of Borrowing....................................14
         SECTION 2.3.  Notes..................................................16
         SECTION 2.4.  Maturity of Revolving Loans............................17
         SECTION 2.5.  Interest Rates.........................................17
         SECTION 2.6.  Fees...................................................18
         SECTION 2.7.  Termination or Reduction of Commitments................18
         SECTION 2.8.  Optional Prepayments...................................19
         SECTION 2.9.  Mandatory Prepayments..................................19
         SECTION 2.10.  General Provisions as to Payments.....................19
         SECTION 2.11.  Computation of Interest and Fees. ....................20

ARTICLE 3.  CONDITIONS TO BORROWINGS..........................................20
         SECTION 3.1.  Conditions to First Borrowing..........................20
         SECTION 3.2.  Conditions to All Borrowings...........................21

ARTICLE 4.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................21
         SECTION 4.1.  Corporate Existence and Power..........................21
         SECTION 4.2.  Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No 
                         Contravention........................................22
         SECTION 4.3.  Binding Effect.........................................22
         SECTION 4.4.  Financial Information; No Material Adverse Effect......22
         SECTION 4.5.  No Litigation..........................................23
         SECTION 4.6.  Compliance with Laws Generally; Compliance with ERISA..23
         SECTION 4.7.  Taxes..................................................23
         SECTION 4.8.  Subsidiaries...........................................23
         SECTION 4.9.  Not a Public Utility, Holding Company, Investment 
                         Company or Investment Adviser........................23
         SECTION 4.10.  Ownership of Property; Liens..........................24
         SECTION 4.11.  No Default............................................24
         SECTION 4.12.  Full Disclosure.......................................24
         SECTION 4.13.  Environmental Matters.................................24
 
                                        i

<PAGE>




         SECTION 4.14.  Capital Stock.........................................25
         SECTION 4.15.  Margin Stock..........................................25
         SECTION 4.16.  Solvency..............................................25
         SECTION 4.17.  Possession of Franchises, Licenses, Etc...............25
         SECTION 4.18.  Insurance.............................................26
  
ARTICLE 5.  COVENANTS.........................................................26
         SECTION 5.1.  Information............................................26
         SECTION 5.2.  Inspection of Property, Books and Records..............27
         SECTION 5.3.  Adjusted Funded Debt/Adjusted Capitalization Ratio.....28
         SECTION 5.4.  Minimum Stockholders' Equity.  ........................28
         SECTION 5.5.  Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio............................28
         SECTION 5.6.  Total Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio.........................28
         SECTION 5.7.  Negative Pledge........................................29
         SECTION 5.8.  Maintenance of Existence...............................30
         SECTION 5.9.  Dissolution............................................30
         SECTION 5.10.  Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets...........30
         SECTION 5.11.  Use of Proceeds.......................................30
         SECTION 5.12.  Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes................31
         SECTION 5.13.  Insurance.............................................31
         SECTION 5.14.  Change in Fiscal Year.................................31
         SECTION 5.15.  Maintenance of Property...............................31
         SECTION 5.16.  Environmental Notices.................................31
         SECTION 5.17.  Environmental Matters.................................32
         SECTION 5.18.  Environmental Releases................................32
         SECTION 5.19.  Investments...........................................32
         SECTION 5.20.  Subsidiary Debt.......................................34

ARTICLE 6.  DEFAULTS..........................................................35
         SECTION 6.1.  Events of Default......................................35
         SECTION 6.2.  Notice of Default......................................38

ARTICLE 7.  THE AGENT.........................................................38
         SECTION 7.1.  Appointment; Powers and Immunities.....................38
         SECTION 7.2.  Reliance by Agent......................................39
         SECTION 7.3.  Defaults...............................................39
         SECTION 7.4.  Rights of Agent as a Bank..............................39
         SECTION 7.5.  Indemnification........................................40
         SECTION 7.6.  Payee of Note Treated as Owner.........................40
         SECTION 7.7.  Nonreliance on Agent and Other Banks...................40
         SECTION 7.8.  Failure to Act.........................................41
         SECTION 7.9.  Resignation of Agent...................................41


                                       ii

<PAGE>




ARTICLE 8.  CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES; COMPENSATION.............................41
         SECTION 8.1.  Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate 
               or Unfair......................................................41
         SECTION 8.2.  Illegality.............................................42
         SECTION 8.3.  Increased Cost and Reduced Return......................42
         SECTION 8.4.  Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Euro-Dollar 
               Rate Loans.....................................................43
         SECTION 8.5.  Replacement of a Lender................................44
         SECTION 8.6.  Compensation...........................................44

ARTICLE 9.  MISCELLANEOUS.....................................................45
         SECTION 9.1.  Notices................................................45
         SECTION 9.2.  No Waivers.............................................45
         SECTION 9.3.  Expenses; Documentary Taxes............................45
         SECTION 9.4.  Indemnification........................................46
         SECTION 9.5.  Sharing of Setoffs.....................................46
         SECTION 9.6.  Amendments and Waivers.................................47
         SECTION 9.7.  No Margin Stock Collateral.............................47
         SECTION 9.8.  Successors and Assigns.................................47
         SECTION 9.9.  Confidentiality........................................49
         SECTION 9.10.  Representation by Banks...............................50
         SECTION 9.11.  Obligations Several...................................50
         SECTION 9.12.  GEORGIA LAW...........................................50
         SECTION 9.13.  Interpretation........................................50
         SECTION 9.14.  CONSENT TO JURISDICTION...............................51
         SECTION 9.15.  Counterparts..........................................51
         SECTION 9.16.  Survival..............................................51
         SECTION 9.17.  Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability.............51
         SECTION 9.18.  TIME OF THE ESSENCE...................................51
         SECTION 9.19.  Banks Not a Joint Venturer............................52



                                       iii

<PAGE>





EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A                  Form of Assignment and Acceptance

EXHIBIT B                  Form of Revolving Loan Note

EXHIBIT C                  Form of Notice of Borrowing

EXHIBIT D                  Form of Opinion of Counsel for Borrower

EXHIBIT E                  Form of Closing Certificate

EXHIBIT F                  Form of Secretary's Certificate

EXHIBIT G                  Form of Compliance Certificate


SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 4.8               Existing Subsidiaries

SCHEDULE 5.7               Existing Permitted Liens


                                       iv

<PAGE>




                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


                  THIS  CREDIT  AGREEMENT,  dated as of April 1,  1998 , is made
among APPLE SOUTH, INC., as Borrower;  WACHOVIA BANK,  NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION and
any other party or parties  listed as a "Bank" or the  "Banks" on the  signature
page(s) hereof, as Banks; and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,  as Agent for
the Banks.

                  The parties hereto agree as follows:


                             ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS

                            SECTION 1.1. Definitions.

     The terms as defined in this  Section  1.1 shall for all  purposes  of this
Agreement  and any  amendment  hereto  (except  as  herein  otherwise  expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires),  have the meanings set forth
herein:

     "Adjusted  Capitalization"  shall be  equal to the sum at any date of:  (i)
Adjusted Funded Debt; plus (ii) Stockholders' Equity.

     "Adjusted Funded Debt" shall mean and include the sum (without duplication)
of  the  following,   at  any  date,  for  the  Borrower  and  its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis:  (i) Total Funded  Debt;  plus (ii) the
present value  (discounted at ten percent (10%) per annum) of the minimum amount
of   noncancellable   operating  lease  payments  owing  by  Borrower  and  such
Subsidiaries at such date (excluding,  however, for this purpose, any such lease
payments  owing  under the DR  Holdings  Lease);  plus (iii) the  present  value
(discounted  at ten  percent  (10%) per annum) of the total  payments  of "Rent"
owing by the  Borrower  under the DR  Holdings  Lease for the  entire  remaining
"Lease Term"  (inclusive of the original term and all renewal terms,  whether or
not then effective),  with the terms "Rent" and "Lease Term" as used hereinabove
having the meanings given to such terms in the DR Holdings Lease;  plus (iv) all
Redeemable Preferred Stock.

     "Adjusted Funded Debt/Adjusted  Capitalization  Ratio" shall mean the ratio
which  (i) the  Adjusted  Funded  Debt  of the  Borrower  and  its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  at any  date  bears  to (ii) the  Adjusted  Capitalization  of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at such date.

     "Adjusted  LIBOR  Rate,"  applicable  to any  Interest  Period,  means that
interest  rate per annum  determined  by the  Agent to be equal to the  quotient
obtained  (rounded upwards,  if necessary,  to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) by
dividing (i) the  applicable  LIBOR Rate for such  Interest  Period by (ii) 1.00
minus the then applicable Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage (if any).


                                       -1-

<PAGE>




     "Affiliate" means, as to any Person (i) any other Person that directly,  or
indirectly  through  one  or  more  intermediaries,   controls  such  Person  (a
"Controlling Person"),  (ii) any other Person which is controlled by or is under
common  control  with such Person or a  Controlling  Person,  or (iii) any other
Person of which such Person owns,  directly or indirectly,  twenty percent (20%)
or more of the common stock or equivalent equity interests.  As used herein, the
term "control" means possession,  directly or indirectly, of the power to direct
or cause the  direction  of the  management  or  policies  of a Person,  whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

     "Agent" means  Wachovia  Bank,  National  Association,  a national  banking
association  organized  under the laws of the United  States of America,  in its
capacity as agent for the Banks  hereunder,  and its  successors  and  permitted
assigns in such capacity.

     "Agent's  Address"  means the address of Agent  referred to or specified in
Section 9.1.

     "Agreement" means this Credit  Agreement,  together with all amendments and
modifications hereto.

     "Announcement  Date" shall mean that date on which the  Borrower  announces
publicly,  such as by issuance of a press  release,  that it has entered  into a
letter of intent,  agreement in principle or similar arrangement with Applebee's
International,  Inc.  and  one or more  other  franchisees  designated  by it in
respect of the Applebee's Spinoff.

     "Applebee's  Spinoff"  shall  mean  any sale or  other  disposition  by the
Borrower  of any of its  Applebee's  Neighborhood  Grill  & Bar  restaurants  to
Applebee's International,  Inc. or to other third parties, all of which sales in
the aggregate shall result in the sale or other  disposition by Borrower of all,
or  substantially  all, of the Applebee's  Neighborhood  Grill & Bar restaurants
owned by Borrower for an aggregate  amount of not less than Three  Hundred Fifty
Million  Dollars  ($350,000,000),  of which not less than  Three  Hundred  Forty
Million Dollars  ($340,000) shall be paid in cash, and not more than Ten Million
Dollars  ($10,000,000)  may be paid by issuance  of  purchase  money debt to the
Borrower,  each  payment of which  shall be made in full upon the closing of the
final  sale for  such  respective  transaction,  by the  payment  of cash or the
issuance of purchase money debt, or by some combination thereof,  subject to the
foregoing limitations,  with all such sales to occur as soon as practicable, but
in any event on or before April 1, 1999.

     "Applicable  Margin" means:  (i) for any Base Rate Loan, zero percent (0%);
and (ii) for any Euro-Dollar Rate Loan, one and one-half of one percent (1-1/2%)
per annum.

     "Assignee" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.8.3.

     "Assignment and Acceptance" means an Assignment and Acceptance  executed in
accordance with Section 9.8.3 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

     "Authority" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.

                                       -2-

<PAGE>




     "Bank"  means  each  bank or  other  financial  institution  listed  on the
signature pages hereof and identified therein as a "Bank."

     "Base  Rate"  means for any Base Rate Loan for any day,  the rate per annum
equal to the higher as of such day of (i) the Prime Rate,  and (ii)  one-half of
one  percent  (1/2%) per annum above the Federal  Funds  Rate.  For  purposes of
determining the Base Rate for any day,  changes in the Prime Rate or the Federal
Funds  Rate,  as the case may be,  shall be  effective  on the date of each such
change.

     "Base Rate Loan" means a Revolving  Loan made at the Base Rate  pursuant to
Section 2.1.

     "Borrower"  means  Apple  South,  Inc.,  a  Georgia  corporation,  and  its
successors and permitted assigns.

     "Borrowing" means a borrowing hereunder  consisting of Revolving Loans made
to the  Borrower  at the  same  time by the  Banks  pursuant  to  Article  II. A
Borrowing is a "Base Rate Borrowing" if such Revolving Loans are Base Rate Loans
or a "Euro-Dollar  Rate Borrowing" if such Revolving Loans are Euro-Dollar  Rate
Loans.

     "Capital  Stock" means any  nonredeemable  capital stock of the Borrower or
any  Consolidated  Subsidiary  (to the extent  issued to a Person other than the
Borrower), whether common or preferred.

     "Capitalized  Lease  Obligations"  shall  mean  those  liabilities  of  the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries under any leases that are required to
be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the
amount of such liabilities  shall be the capitalized  amount of such liabilities
as determined in accordance with GAAP.

     "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response  Compensation and
Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 9601 et seq. and its  implementing  regulations and
amendments.

     "CERCLIS" means the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response Compensation and
Liability Inventory System established pursuant to CERCLA.

     "Change of Law" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.

     "Closing Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.4.

     "Closing  Date"  means  the  date of this  Agreement,  as  first  inscribed
hereinabove.

     "Code"  means  the  Internal  Revenue  Code of  1986,  as  amended,  or any
successor Federal tax code.

                                       -3-

<PAGE>




     "Commitment"  means (i) the amount indicated  beneath each Bank's signature
hereinbelow  as its  "Commitment  Amount," as to each Bank, and (ii) One Hundred
Million Dollars ($100,000,000),  in the aggregate, as to all Banks; as each such
amount may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.7 or Section 8.5.

     "Compliance Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.3.

     "Consolidated  Net  Income,"  for any  period,  means the net income of the
Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for such period,  determined  on a
consolidated  basis  in  accordance  with  GAAP,  excluding,  however,  (i)  any
extraordinary  items  and  (ii)  any  equity  interest  of the  Borrower  or any
Consolidated  Subsidiary in the unremitted earnings of any Person which is not a
Subsidiary,  in each case as  likewise  determined  on a  consolidated  basis in
accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated  Subsidiary" means at any date any Subsidiary or other entity
the accounts of which, in accordance with GAAP, would be consolidated with those
of the Borrower in its consolidated financial statements as of such date.

     "Controlled  Group" means all members of a controlled group of corporations
and all trades or businesses  (whether or not incorporated) under common control
which,  together  with the  Borrower,  are  treated as a single  employer  under
Section 414 of the Code.

     "Default"  means  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 and waived, become an Event of Default.

     "Default Rate" means,  with respect to any Revolving  Loan, on any day, the
sum of two percent (2%) per annum in excess of the interest rate  otherwise then
or thereafter  payable on such Revolving Loan, but, in any event,  not less than
two percent (2%) per annum in excess of the Base Rate.

     "Dollars" or "$" means  dollars in lawful  currency of the United States of
America.

     "Domestic  Business  Day" means any day except a Saturday,  Sunday or other
day on which  commercial  banks are not  required to be open for business in the
State of Georgia.

     "DR Holdings Lease" shall mean the Lease and Development  Agreement,  dated
as of March 2, 1995, between DR Holdings,  L.P., as lessor, and the Borrower, as
lessee,  together with Appendix "A" thereto and each "Lease Supplement"  thereto
(as defined  therein),  all "Operative  Documents" (as also defined therein) and
all amendments and modifications thereto made from time to time hereafter.

     "EBITDA"  shall  mean,  for  any  fiscal  period  of the  Borrower  and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries,   that  amount  equal  to  the  sum,  determined  in
accordance  with GAAP,  of the Consoli  dated Net Income of the Borrower and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for such period  (considered  without  regard to any
extraordinary gains or losses), plus, without duplication, and to the extent

                                       -4-

<PAGE>




deducted from revenue in determining  Consolidated Net Income,  depreciation and
amortization  expense and any other non-cash  charges for such period,  interest
expense for such period, and taxes for such period.

     "Environmental   Authorizations"  means  all  licenses,   permits,  orders,
approvals,  notices,  registrations or other legal  prerequisites for conducting
the business of the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  required by any  Environmental
Requirement.

     "Environmental  Authority"  means any  foreign,  federal,  state,  local or
regional  government  that exercises any form of jurisdiction or authority under
any Environmental Requirement.

     "Environmental Judgments and Orders" means all judgments, decrees or orders
arising  from or in any way  associated  with  any  Environmental  Requirements,
whether or not entered  upon consent or pursuant to written  agreements  with an
Environmental  Authority  or any  other  entity,  arising  from  or in  any  way
associated with any Environmental Requirement,  whether or not incorporated in a
judgment, decree or order.

     "Environmental   Liabilities"   means  any  liabilities   whether  accrued,
contingent  or  otherwise,  arising  from  and in any way  associated  with  any
Environmental Requirements.

     "Environmental Notices" means notice from any Environmental Authority or by
any other Person, of possible or alleged  noncompliance  with or liability under
any Environmental  Requirement,  including,  without  limitation any complaints,
citations,  demands or requests  from any  Environmental  Authority  or from any
other Person for correction of any violation of any Environmental Requirement or
any investigations concerning any violation of any Environmental Requirement.

     "Environmental   Proceedings"   means  any   judicial   or   administrative
proceedings  arising  from  or in any  way  associated  with  any  Environmental
Requirement.

     "Environmental Releases" means "releases" as defined in CERCLA or under any
applicable state or local environmental law or regulation.

     "Environmental  Requirements"  means  any  legal  requirement  relating  to
health, safety or the environment and applicable to the Borrower, any Subsidiary
or any  Property,  including,  but not  limited to, any such  requirement  under
CERCLA or similar  state  legislation  and all  federal,  state and local  laws,
ordinances, regulations, orders, writs, decrees and common law.

     "ERISA"  means the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974,  as
amended from time to time, or any successor  law. Any reference to any provision
of ERISA shall also be deemed to be a reference  to any  successor  provision or
provisions thereof.


                                       -5-

<PAGE>




     "Euro-Dollar  Business  Day"  means  any  Domestic  Business  Day in  which
dealings in Dollar deposits are carried out in the London interbank  Euro-Dollar
market.

     "Euro-Dollar Rate," applicable to any Interest Period,  means that interest
rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for such Interest
Period, plus (ii) the Applicable Margin.

     "Euro-Dollar Rate Loan" means a Revolving Loan made at the Euro-Dollar Rate
pursuant to Section 2.1.

     "Euro-Dollar   Reserve  Percentage"  means  for  any  day  that  percentage
(expressed  as a decimal)  which is in effect on such day, as  prescribed by the
Board  of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve  System  (or any  successor)  for
determining  the maximum  reserve  requirement  for a member bank of the Federal
Reserve System in respect of  "Eurocurrency  liabilities"  (or in respect of any
other category of liabilities  which includes deposits by reference to which the
interest  rate on  Euro-Dollar  Rate  Loans is  determined  or any  category  of
extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by a non-United States
office of any Bank to United States residents). The Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall be
adjusted  automatically  on and as of the  effective  date of any  change in the
Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage.

     "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

     "Federal  Funds  Rate"  means,  for any day,  the rate per  annum  (rounded
upward,  if necessary,  to the next higher  1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the
Federal  Reserve  System  arranged  by Federal  funds  brokers  on such day,  as
published by the Federal  Reserve Bank of New York on the Domestic  Business Day
next succeeding such day, provided that (i) if the day for which such rate is to
be  determined  is not a Domestic  Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such
day  shall be such  rate on such  transactions  on the next  preceding  Domestic
Business Day as so published on the next succeeding  Domestic  Business Day, and
(ii) if such rate is not so published  for any day,  the Federal  Funds Rate for
such day  shall be the  average  rate  charged  to the Agent on such day on such
transactions, as determined by the Agent.

     "Fiscal Quarter" means any fiscal quarter of the Borrower.

     "Fiscal Year" means any fiscal year of the Borrower.

     "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" shall mean, for any fiscal period,  the ratio
which (A) the sum of: (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period; plus (ii) the
sum  (without  duplication)  of (a) interest  expense for such  period,  (b) any
dividends paid in respect of Redeemable  Preferred Stock during such period, and
(c) any payments made (howsoever denominated or construed) in respect of any tax
deductible,  convertible  preferred stock  ("TECONS") or similar  tax-advantaged
investment  vehicles,  regardless of maturity or the timing of any redemption or
repurchase rights granted in regard

                                       -6-

<PAGE>




thereto  (the  sum of  (a),  (b)  and  (c)  above  being  called,  collectively,
"Investment  Costs");  plus (iii) any provision  for taxes and  operating  lease
expense;  in each case, for the Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries for
such period;  bears to (B) the sum (without  duplication) of: (i) all Investment
Costs; plus (ii) operating lease expense; in each case, for the Borrower and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for the same such period;  all as  determined  under
GAAP.

     "Franchise  Rights" shall mean all rights,  privileges and interests of the
Borrower  and  its  Consolidated   Subsidiaries  to  own,  operate  and  develop
franchised  restaurants as a franchisee,  whether now or hereafter existing, and
whether  with  respect  to the  operation  of any  "Applebee's"  restaurants  or
otherwise.

     "GAAP" means generally  accepted  accounting  principles applied on a basis
consistent  with those which,  in accordance with Section 1.2, are to be used in
making the calculations for purposes of determining compliance with the terms of
this Agreement.

     "Guarantee" or "Guaranty" by any Person means any obligation, contingent or
otherwise,  of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any debt or other
obligation  of any other  Person and,  without  limiting the  generality  of the
foregoing, any obligation,  direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person  (i) to  secure,  purchase  or pay (or  advance  or supply  funds for the
purchase or payment of) such debt or other obligation (whether arising by virtue
of  partnership  arrangements,  by agreement to keep-well,  to purchase  assets,
goods, securities or services, to provide collateral security to take-or-pay, or
to maintain  financial  statement  conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into
for the  purpose of  assuring  in any other  manner the  obligee of such debt or
other  obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss
in respect  thereof (in whole or in part),  provided  that the term  "Guarantee"
shall not include  endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course
of  business.  The  terms  "Guarantee"  or  "Guaranty"  used  as a  verb  has  a
corresponding meaning.

     "Hazardous Materials" includes,  without limitation, (a) solid or hazardous
waste,  as defined in the Resource  Conservation  and  Recovery Act of 1980,  42
U.S.C. ss. 6901 et seq. and its implementing  regulations and amendments,  or in
any  applicable  state or local law or regulation,  (b)  "hazardous  substance,"
"pollutant," or  "contaminant"  as defined in CERCLA,  or in applicable state or
local law or  regulation,  (c)  gasoline,  or any  other  petroleum  product  or
by-product,   including,   crude  oil  or  any  fraction  thereof,   (d)  "toxic
substances",  as defined in the Toxic Substances  Control Act of 1976, or in any
applicable state or local law or regulation,  and (e) insecticides,  fungicides,
or  rodenticides,  as  defined  in  the  Federal  Insecticide,   Fungicide,  and
Rodenticide Act of 1975, or in any applicable  state or local law or regulation,
as each such Act, statute or regulation may be amended from time to time.

     "Interest Period" means:

     (1) with respect to each Euro-Dollar Rate Borrowing,  the period commencing
on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically  corresponding  date
in the first, second, third or

                                       -7-

<PAGE>




sixth  calendar  month  thereafter,  as the Borrower may elect in the applicable
Notice of Borrowing; provided that:

     (a) any Interest Period (other than an Interest Period determined  pursuant
to  paragraph  (c)  below)  which  would  otherwise  end on a day which is not a
Euro-Dollar  Business Day shall be extended to the next  succeeding  Euro-Dollar
Business  Day unless such  Euro-Dollar  Business  Day falls in another  calendar
month,  in which  case such  Interest  Period  shall  end on the next  preceding
Euro-Dollar Business Day;

     (b) any Interest Period which begins on the last  Euro-Dollar  Business Day
of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding
day in the appropriate  subsequent  calendar month) shall,  subject to paragraph
(c)  below,  end on  the  last  Euro-Dollar  Business  Day  of  the  appropriate
subsequent calendar month; and

     (c) any Interest Period which begins before the Termination  Date and would
otherwise end after the Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date.

     (2) with respect to each Base Rate Borrowing,  the period commencing on the
date of such  Borrowing and ending on the date on which such Base Rate Borrowing
is fully paid or converted to a Euro-Dollar Rate Borrowing; provided that:

     (a) any Interest Period (other than an Interest Period determined  pursuant
to  paragraph  (b)  below)  which  would  otherwise  end on a day which is not a
Domestic Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Domestic Business
Day;

     (b) any Interest Period which begins before the Termination  Date and would
otherwise end after the Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date.

     "Lending  Office" means, as to each Bank, its office located at its address
set forth on the signature  pages hereof (or  identified on the signature  pages
hereof as its Lending  Office) or such other office in the United States as such
Bank may hereafter designate as its Lending Office by notice to the Borrower and
the Agent.

     "LIBOR Rate" means,  for any Euro-Dollar  Rate Loan for the Interest Period
of such Euro-Dollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum determined by the Agent on the
basis of the offered rate for deposits in Dollars of amounts equal or comparable
to the  principal  amount  of such  Euro-Dollar  Rate  Loan  offered  for a term
comparable to such Interest Period, which rate appears on the display designated
as page "3750" of the  Telerate  Service (or such other page as may replace page
3750 of that  service or such other  service or services as may be  nominated by
the British Bankers'  Association for the purpose of displaying London interbank
offered rates for U.S.  dollar  deposits),  determined as of 11:00 A.M.,  London
time, two (2) Euro-Dollar  Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest
Period,  provided  that (i) if more than one such  offered  rate appears on such
page,  the "LIBOR  Rate" will be the  arithmetic  average  (rounded  upward,  if
necessary, to the next higher

                                       -8-

<PAGE>




1/100th of 1%) of such offered  rates;  (ii) if no such offered  rates appear on
such page,  the "LIBOR  Rate" for such  Interest  Period will be the  arithmetic
average  (rounded  upward,  if necessary,  to the next higher  1/100th of 1%) of
rates quoted by not less than two (2) major banks in New York City,  selected by
the Agent, at approximately  10:00 A.M., New York City time, two (2) Euro-Dollar
Business  Days prior to the first day of such Interest  Period,  for deposits in
Dollars  offered  to  leading  European  banks for a period  comparable  to such
Interest  Period  in an  amount  comparable  to the  principal  amount  of  such
Euro-Dollar Loan.

     "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, deed to secure debt,
deed of trust, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, security title or other,
preferential  arrangement,  which has the  practical  effect of  constituting  a
security  interest or  encumbrance,  or  encumbrance or servitude of any kind in
respect  of such  asset to secure or assure  payment  of a debt or a  Guarantee,
whether by  consensual  agreement  or by  operation of statute or other law. For
purposes of this  Agreement,  the Borrower or any Subsidiary  shall be deemed to
own  subject to a Lien any asset which it has  acquired or holds  subject to the
interest of a vendor or lessor under any  conditional  sale  agreement,  capital
lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

     "Loan  Documents"  means  this  Agreement,  the Notes,  any other  document
evidencing  or  relating  to  the  Revolving  Loans,  and  any  other  document,
instrument,   certificate  or  agreement   delivered  in  connection  with  this
Agreement,  the Notes or the Revolving  Loans, as such  documents,  instruments,
certificates and agreements may be amended or modified from time to time.

     "Margin Stock" means "margin stock" as defined in Regulations G, T, U or X.

     "Material Adverse Effect" means, with respect to any event, act,  condition
or occurrence of whatever  nature  (including any adverse  determination  in any
litigation,  arbitration, or governmental investigation or proceeding),  whether
singly or in conjunction with any other event or events, act or acts,  condition
or  conditions,  occurrence or  occurrences,  whether or not related,  that such
event or events,  act or acts,  condition or  conditions,  and/or  occurrence or
occurrences  results in a material  adverse change in, or has a material adverse
effect  upon,  any of (a) the  financial  condition,  operations,  business,  or
properties of Borrower and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole, (b)
the rights and remedies of the Agent or the Banks under the Loan  Documents,  or
the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations  under the Loan Documents
to  which  it is a  party,  as  applicable,  or (c) the  legality,  validity  or
enforceability of this Agreement, any Note or any Loan Document.

     "Multiemployer Plan" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4001(a)(3)
of ERISA.

     "Net Cash  Proceeds"  shall mean,  the total cash proceeds  received by the
Borrower from any Applebee's Spinoff, less (i) provisions for all taxes actually
paid or payable as a result thereof,  (ii) any direct costs incurred by Borrower
or  any  Subsidiary   associated   therewith,   (iii)  any  payments  (including
prepayments of rent and termination charges) required to be made in such event

                                       -9-

<PAGE>




under the DR Holdings Lease and (iv) any payments made to repay any indebtedness
or other  obligation  outstanding  at the time of an Applebee's  Spinoff that is
secured by a Purchase Money Lien on the property or assets sold.

     "Notes"  means,   collectively,   the  promissory  notes  of  the  Borrower
evidencing the Revolving Loans,  each to be substantially in the form of Exhibit
B, together with all amendments,  consolidations,  modifications,  renewals, and
supplements thereto.

     "Notice of Borrowing" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.1.

     "Participant" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.8.2.

     "PBGC"  means  the  Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  or any  entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

     "Person"  means  an   individual,   a   corporation,   a  partnership,   an
unincorporated  association,  a  trust  or any  other  entity  or  organization,
including,  but not limited to, a  government  or  political  subdivision  or an
agency or instrumentality thereof.

     "Plan" means at any time an employee  pension benefit plan which is covered
by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum  funding  standards under Section
412 of the Code and is either (i) maintained by a member of the Controlled Group
for employees of any member of the Controlled Group or (ii) maintained  pursuant
to a collective  bargaining  agreement or any other arrangement under which more
than one employer  makes  contributions  and to which a member of the Controlled
Group is them making or  accruing an  obligation  to make  contributions  or has
within the preceding five plan years made contributions.

     "Prime  Rate"  refers  to  that  interest  rate so  denominated  and set by
Wachovia from time to time as an interest rate basis for  borrowings.  The Prime
Rate is but one of several interest rate bases used by Wachovia.  Wachovia lends
at interest rates at, above and below the Prime Rate.

     "Properties" means all property owned,  leased or otherwise used,  operated
or occupied by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  wherever  located,  and whether
real property or personal property.

     "Purchase  Money Liens" means Liens  securing the repayment of any purchase
money debt permitted  hereunder incurred to finance the purchase of any Property
hereafter  acquired by the Borrower or any Consolidated  Subsidiary,  so long as
such Liens are  limited  solely to the  Property  so  acquired,  secure only the
purchase money debt so incurred and are terminated  upon payment in full of such
purchase money debt.


                                      -10-

<PAGE>




     "Redeemable Preferred Stock" of any Person means any preferred stock issued
by such  Person  which is at any time prior to the  Termination  Date either (i)
mandatorily  redeemable  (by sinking fund or similar  payments or  otherwise) or
(ii) redeemable at the option of the holder thereof.

     "Regulation D" means  Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve  System,  as in effect  from time to time,  together  with all  official
rulings and interpretations issued thereunder.

     "Regulation G" means  Regulation G of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve  System,  as in effect  from time to time,  together  with all  official
rulings and interpretations issued thereunder.

     "Regulation T" means  Regulation T of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve  System,  as in effect  from time to time,  together  with all  official
rulings and interpretations issued thereunder.

     "Regulation U" means  Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve  System,  as in effect  from time to time,  together  with all  official
rulings and interpretations issued thereunder.

     "Regulation X" means  Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve  System,  as in effect  from time to time,  together  with all  official
rulings and interpretations issued thereunder.

     "Required Banks" means any Bank or Banks having (i) more than fifty percent
(50%) of the aggregate amount of the Commitments or (ii), if the Commitments are
no longer in effect, more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate  outstanding
principal amount of the Notes.

     "Revolving  Loan" means,  as to any Bank, a Base Rate Loan or a Euro-Dollar
Rate Loan made by such Bank pursuant to Section 2.1.

     "Solvent" means as to any Person,  that such Person (i) owns Property whose
fair  saleable  value is  greater  than the amount  required  to pay all of such
Person's total debts, direct or indirect,  contingent or otherwise, (ii) is able
to pay all of such  debts as and when such debts  mature  and (iii) has  capital
sufficient to carry on the business and  transactions in which it is engaged and
all business and transactions in which it is about to engage.

     "Stockholders'  Equity" means, at any time, the stockholders' equity of the
Borrower  and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  as set forth or reflected on the
most recent  consolidated  balance  sheet of the Borrower  and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  prepared in accordance  with GAAP,  but  excluding any  Redeemable
Preferred  Stock  of the  Borrower  or any  of  its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries.
Shareholders'  Equity generally would include, but not be limited to (i) the par
or stated value of all outstanding  Capital Stock,  (ii) capital surplus,  (iii)
retained earnings, and (iv) various deductions such

                                      -11-

<PAGE>




as (A) purchases of treasury stock,  (B) valuation  allowances,  (C) receivables
due from an employee stock ownership plan, and (D) employee stock ownership plan
debt Guarantees.

     "Subsidiary"  means any corporation or other entity of which  securities or
other  ownership  interests  having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of
the board of directors or other Persons  performing similar functions are at the
time directly or indirectly owned by the Borrower.

     "Synthetic   Lease"  shall  mean  any  agreement,   or  series  of  related
agreements,  between  the  Borrower  and one or more  other  parties  which  are
intended to be treated, for accounting purposes,  as an operating lease with the
Borrower as lessee and, for tax purposes,  as a financing  arrangement  with the
Borrower as debtor.

     "Tangible Net Worth" shall mean the  difference at any time between (i) the
Stockholders  Equity of the Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries at such
time and (ii) the sum of all those assets of the  Borrower and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  at such  time  constituting  (A)  goodwill,  patents,  copyrights,
trademarks,  trade names and other intangible  assets, as determined under GAAP,
plus (B) write-ups of any assets occurring subsequent to December 31, 1996, plus
(C) unamortized  debt discount and expense,  as determined  under GAAP, plus (D)
deferred charges,  as determined under GAAP, plus (E) any indebtedness  owing to
such Person by any Affiliate of such Person.

     "Termination Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.1.

     "Third Parties" means all lessees, sublessees, licensees and other users of
the  Properties,  excluding those users of the Properties in the ordinary course
of the Borrower's business and on a temporary basis.

     "Total Funded Debt" shall mean that portion of the total liabilities of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at any date equal to the sum (without
duplication)   of:  (i)  all  indebtedness  for  borrowed  money  at  such  date
(including,  for  this  purpose,  indebtedness  in  respect  of any  outstanding
bankers' acceptances);  plus (ii) all Capitalized Lease Obligations  outstanding
at such date;  plus  (iii) all  debts,  liabilities  and  obligations  which are
Guaranteed by the Borrower or any Consolidated  Subsidiary as of such date; plus
(iv) all debts,  liabilities or obligations at such date to any seller  incurred
to pay the  deferred  price of property or services  having a deferred  purchase
price of One Million  Dollars  ($1,000,000)  or more,  excepting,  in any event,
trade accounts  payable  arising in the ordinary course of business and purchase
options prior to their exercise; plus (v) all debts, liabilities and obligations
outstanding  at  such  date  in  respect  of  any  Synthetic  Leases,  excluding
therefrom,  however, any debts, liabilities or obligations under the DR Holdings
Lease up to a maximum thereof of Twenty-Eight Million Dollars ($28,000,000),  it
being  understood  and  agreed  that,  subject  to such  limitation,  no  debts,
liabilities or obligations (including any constituting  Guaranteed  Obligations)
under the DR Holdings  Lease shall be included in the definition of Total Funded
Debt.


                                      -12-

<PAGE>




     "Transferee" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.8.4.

     "Unfunded Vested  Liabilities" means, with respect to any Plan at any time,
the amount (if any) by which (i) the present value of all vested  nonforfeitable
benefits  under such Plan  exceeds (ii) the fair market value of all Plan assets
allocable to such benefits,  all determined as of the then most recent valuation
date for such  Plan,  but only to the  extent  that  such  excess  represents  a
potential  liability of a member of the Controlled Group to the PBGC or the Plan
under Title IV of ERISA.

     "Unused  Commitment" means at any date, with respect to any Bank, an amount
equal to its Commitment less the aggregate  outstanding  principal amount of its
Revolving Loans.

     "Voluntary Store Closing" shall mean any voluntary  closing by the Borrower
or any Subsidiary of any franchised  restaurant  location in the ordinary course
of its business which does not cause, or result in, the forfeiture,  suspension,
loss, rejection, disclaimer,  impairment,  curtailment,  alteration of, or other
adverse  effect on, any  Franchise  Rights  with  respect  to the  operation  or
development of any other existing or future  franchised  restaurant  location or
locations.

     "Wachovia" means Wachovia Bank,  National  Association,  a national banking
association, and its successors.

                SECTION 1.2. Accounting Terms and Determinations.

     Unless otherwise  specified  herein,  all terms of an accounting  character
used herein shall be interpreted,  all accounting determinations hereunder shall
be made, and all financial  statements  required to be delivered hereunder shall
be prepared in accordance with GAAP,  applied on a basis consistent  (except for
changes  concurred  with by the  Borrower's  independent  public  accountants or
otherwise  required  by a change  in GAAP)  with the then  most  recent  audited
consolidated   financial   statements  of  the  Borrower  and  its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries delivered to the Banks; provided,  however, that upon any change in
GAAP material to Borrower occurring hereafter, the Banks shall have the right to
require either that  conforming  adjustments be made to any financial  covenants
hereafter set forth, or the components thereof,  affected by such change or that
the  Borrower  report  its  financial  condition  based  on  GAAP  as in  effect
immediately prior to such change occurring.

                            SECTION 1.3. References.

     Unless  otherwise  indicated,  references in this  Agreement to "Articles,"
"Exhibits,"  "Schedules,"  "Sections" and other  Subdivisions  are references to
articles, exhibits, schedules, sections and other subdivisions hereof.


                                      -13-

<PAGE>




                       SECTION 1.4. Use of Defined Terms.

     All terms defined in this  Agreement  shall have the same defined  meanings
when used in any of the other Loan Documents,  unless otherwise  defined therein
or unless the context shall require otherwise.

                            SECTION 1.5. Terminology.

     All  personal  pronouns  used  in  this  Agreement,  whether  used  in  the
masculine,  feminine or neuter  gender,  shall  include all other  genders;  the
singular  shall  include the plural,  and the plural shall include the singular.
Titles of Articles and Sections in this Agreement are for convenience  only, and
neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this Agreement.


                              ARTICLE 2. THE CREDIT

                        SECTION 2.1. Commitments to Lend.

     Each Bank severally  agrees,  on the terms and conditions set forth herein,
to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower from time to time before the Termination
Date; provided that, immediately after each such Revolving Loan is made, (i) the
aggregate  principal amount of Revolving Loans by such Bank shall not exceed the
amount of its Commitment,  and (ii) the aggregate  principal amount of Revolving
Loans by all Banks shall not exceed One Hundred Million Dollars  ($100,000,000).
Each Borrowing under this Section shall be in an aggregate  principal  amount of
One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) or any larger multiple of Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars  ($500,000),  in the  case  of  Base  Rate  Loans,  and in an  aggregate
principal  amount of Two Million Dollars  ($2,000,000) or any larger multiple of
One Million Dollars ($1,000,000),  in the case of Euro-Dollar Rate Loans (except
that  any  such  Borrowing  may  be  in  the  aggregate  amount  of  the  Unused
Commitments),  and shall be made from the several Banks ratably in proportion to
their  respective  Commitments.  Within the foregoing  limits,  the Borrower may
borrow  under this  Section,  repay or, to the extent  permitted by Section 2.8,
prepay  Revolving Loans and reborrow under this Section at any time or from time
to time before the Termination Date.

                        SECTION 2.2. Method of Borrowing.

     2.2.1. Notice to Agent. The Borrower shall give the Agent notice (a "Notice
of Borrowing"), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C, not later
than 11:00 a.m.  (Atlanta,  Georgia  time) on the Domestic  Business Day of each
Base Rate  Borrowing  and not later than 11:00 a.m.  (Atlanta,  Georgia time) at
least three (3)  Euro-Dollar  Business Days before each  Euro-Dollar  Borrowing,
specifying:


                                      -14-

<PAGE>




                  (a) the date of such  Borrowing,  which  shall  be a  Domestic
         Business  Day in the case of a Base  Rate  Borrowing  or a  Euro-Dollar
         Business Day in the case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing,

                  (b)      the aggregate amount of such Borrowing,

                  (c) whether the Revolving Loans  comprising such Borrowing are
         to be Base Rate Loans or Euro-Dollar Rate Loans, and

                  (d) the duration of the Interest  Period  applicable  thereto,
         subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.

     2.2.2  Notice to Banks.  Upon receipt of a Notice of  Borrowing,  the Agent
shall  promptly  notify  each Bank of the  contents  thereof  and of such Bank's
ratable  share  of such  Borrowing  and  such  Notice  of  Borrowing  shall  not
thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.

     2.2.3 When Revolving Loans Made. Not later than 1:00 P.M. (Atlanta, Georgia
time) on the date of each Base Rate  Borrowing  and not later  than  11:00  A.M.
(Atlanta,  Georgia time) on the date of each  Euro-Dollar  Borrowing,  each Bank
shall (except as provided in Section  2.2.4) make available its ratable share of
such  Borrowing,  in federal or other funds  immediately  available  in Atlanta,
Georgia,  to the Agent at the Agent's address.  Unless the Agent determines that
any  applicable  condition  specified in Article 3 has not been  satisfied,  the
Agent will make the funds so received  from the Banks  available to the Borrower
at the Agent's  Address.  Unless the Agent  receives  notice from a Bank, at the
Agent's Address, no later than 12:00 noon (Atlanta, Georgia time) on the date of
a Base Rate Borrowing and no later than 4:00 P.M. (Atlanta, Georgia time) on the
Domestic  Business Day before the date of a Euro-Dollar  Rate Borrowing  stating
that such Bank will not make a Revolving Loan in connection with such Borrowing,
the Agent shall be entitled to assume that such Bank will make a Revolving  Loan
in connection with such Borrowing and, in reliance on such assumption, the Agent
may (but shall not be obligated to) make  available such Bank's ratable share of
such  Borrowing to the Borrower for the account of such Bank on the date of such
Borrowing.  If the Agent  makes  such  Bank's  ratable  share  available  to the
Borrower and such Bank does not in fact make its ratable share of such Borrowing
available  on such date,  the Agent  shall be  entitled  to recover  such Bank's
ratable  share from such Bank or the  Borrower  (and for such  purpose  shall be
entitled to charge such amount to any account of the  Borrower  maintained  with
the Agent),  together with interest  thereon for each day during the period from
the date of such  Borrowing  until  such sum shall be paid in full at a rate per
annum equal to the rate at which the Agent determines that it obtained (or could
have  obtained)  overnight  Federal funds to cover such amount for each such day
during  such  period,  provided  that any such  payment by the  Borrower of such
Bank's  ratable  share and interest  thereon  shall be without  prejudice to any
rights  that the  Borrower  may have  against  such Bank.  If the Agent does not
exercise  its option to  advance  funds for the  account of such Bank,  it shall
forthwith notify the Borrower of such decision.


                                      -15-

<PAGE>




     2.2.4 Application of Certain  Proceeds.  If any Bank makes a Revolving Loan
hereunder  on a day on which  the  Borrower  is to  repay  all or any part of an
outstanding Revolving Loan from such Bank, such Bank shall apply the proceeds of
its new  Revolving  Loan to make such  repayment and only an amount equal to the
difference  (if any)  between the amount  being  borrowed  and the amount  being
repaid shall be made  available by such Bank to the Agent as provided in Section
2.2.3, or remitted by the Borrower to the Agent, as the case may be.

     2.2.5 No Borrowing Upon Default.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
contained  in this  Agreement,  no  Borrowing  may be made if there  shall  have
occurred a Default, which Default shall not have been cured or waived.

     2.2.6 Certain  Payments Deemed Made. If the Borrower is otherwise  entitled
under this  Agreement  to repay any  Revolving  Loans  maturing at the end of an
Interest Period applicable thereto with the proceeds of a new Borrowing, and the
Borrower fails to repay such  Revolving  Loans using its own moneys and fails to
give a Notice of Borrowing in connection with such new Borrowing,  the Banks, at
their election (and without  obligation) may deem that a new Base Rate Borrowing
shall have been made on the date such Revolving  Loans mature in an amount equal
to the  principal  amount of the Revolving  Loans so maturing,  with an Interest
Period of not greater than one (1) month.

     2.2.7  Limitation on Borrowings.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
contained  herein,  there  shall  not be  more  than  six (6)  Euro-Dollar  Rate
Borrowings outstanding at any given time.

                               SECTION 2.3. Notes.

     2.3.1 Single Notes.  The Revolving Loans of each Bank shall be evidenced by
a single  Revolving  Loan Note payable to the order of such Bank for the account
of its Lending  Office in an amount  equal to the original  principal  amount of
such Bank's Commitment.

     2.3.2  Endorsements to Notes.  Upon receipt of each Bank's Note pursuant to
Section  3.1.2,  the Agent shall  deliver such Note to such Bank.  Each Bank may
record and,  prior to any  transfer of its Note shall,  endorse on the  schedule
forming a part thereof  appropriate  notations to evidence the date,  amount and
maturity of each  Revolving Loan made by it, the date and amount of each payment
of  principal  made by the  Borrower  with  respect  thereto  and  whether  such
Revolving Loan is a Base Rate Loan or  Euro-Dollar  Rate Loan, and such schedule
shall constitute  rebuttable  presumptive evidence of the principal amount owing
and unpaid on such Bank's  Note;  provided  that the failure of any Bank to make
any such  recordation  or  endorsement  shall not affect the  obligation  of the
Borrower  hereunder  or  under  the  Notes.  Each  Bank  is  hereby  irrevocably
authorized  by the  Borrower so to endorse its Notes and to attach to and make a
part of any Note a continuation of any such schedule as and when required.


                                      -16-

<PAGE>




                    SECTION 2.4. Maturity of Revolving Loans.

     Each  Revolving  Loan  included  in any  Borrowing  shall  mature,  and the
principal  amount  thereof  shall  be due and  payable,  on the  last day of the
Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing.

                          SECTION 2.5. Interest Rates.

     Subject to the terms of Section 8.1:

     2.5.1  Base Rate  Loans.  Each Base Rate Loan shall  bear  interest  on the
outstanding  principal  amount  thereof,  for  the  Interest  Period  applicable
thereto,  at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate, as it may change from time
to time during such Interest Period,  plus the Applicable Margin.  Such interest
shall be  payable  quarterly,  in  arrears,  on the  last  day of each  calendar
quarter,  in respect of  interest  accrued in such month (or  portion  thereof),
commencing  on June 30,  1998 (with the first  payment  date to cover the period
from the Closing Date until June 30,  1998),  until  maturity and  thereafter on
demand. Any overdue principal of and, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
overdue  interest on any Base Rate Loan shall bear interest,  payable on demand,
for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the Default Rate.

     2.5.2  Euro-Dollar  Rate  Loans.  Each  Euro-Dollar  Rate Loan  shall  bear
interest on the outstanding  principal  amount thereof,  for the Interest Period
applicable  thereto,  at the  Euro-Dollar  Rate for such Interest  Period.  Such
interest  shall be payable  for each  Interest  Period on the last day  thereof;
provided, however, if any Interest Period is for a period of more than three (3)
months,  accrued  interest  shall  also  be due and  payable  at the end of each
consecutive three (3) month period within such Interest Period,  commencing with
the first day thereof, as well as on the last day thereof. Any overdue principal
of and, to the extent  permitted  by law,  overdue  interest on any Euro- Dollar
Rate Loan shall bear interest,  payable on demand,  for each day until paid at a
rate per annum equal to the Default Rate;  provided that the mere application of
the Default Rate to these Revolving Loans shall not give rise to the breakage of
an Interest Period,  but only an increased margin  applicable to these Revolving
Loans.

     2.5.3 Agent to  Determine.  The Agent shall  determine  each  interest rate
applicable to the Revolving Loans hereunder.  The Agent shall give prompt notice
to the  Borrower  and the  Banks  by  telecopier  of each  rate of  interest  so
determined,  and its determination thereof shall be conclusive in the absence of
manifest error.

     2.5.4 Savings  Clause.  In no contingency or event  whatsoever,  whether by
reason of advancement of the proceeds hereof or otherwise, shall the amount paid
or agreed to be paid to the Banks for the use, forbearance or detention of money
advanced  hereunder  exceed the highest  lawful rate  permissible  under any law
which a court of competent jurisdiction may deem applicable hereto. In the event
that such a court  determines  that any Bank has  charged or  received  interest
hereunder  in  excess  of  the  highest   applicable   rate,   such  rate  shall
automatically be reduced

                                      -17-

<PAGE>




to the maximum rate  permitted by  applicable  law and such Bank shall  promptly
refund  to the  Borrower  any  interest  received  by such Bank in excess of the
maximum lawful rate or, if so requested by the Borrower, shall apply such excess
to the  principal  balance of that Bank's Note. It is the intent hereof that the
Borrower  not pay or contract to pay, and that the Banks not receive or contract
to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever,  interest in excess
of that which may be paid by the Borrower under applicable law.

                               SECTION 2.6. Fees.

     2.6.1  Upfront  Fee.  On the Closing  Date,  the Banks shall have earned an
upfront fee of five one  hundredths  of one percent  (.05%) of the  Commitments,
which  shall be paid to the Agent on the  Closing  Date for the  account of each
Bank and be shared ratably among the Banks.

     2.6.2  Commitment Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account
of each Bank an unused commitment fee calculated at the per annum rate described
below on the  average  daily  amount  of such  Bank's  Unused  Commitment.  Such
commitment  fees shall accrue from and including the Closing Date and be due and
payable  quarterly in arrears,  commencing on June 30, 1998,  and  continuing on
each succeeding September 30, December 31, March 31 and June 30 thereafter.  The
per annum rate applicable to the payment of the foregoing  commitment fees shall
be one-fourth of one percent (1/4%) per annum.

     2.6.3 Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent,  for the account and
sole  benefit  of the  Agent,  such fees and other  amounts at such times as set
forth in any present or subsequent  agreement  made between the Borrower and the
Agent.

              SECTION 2.7. Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

     2.7.1  Termination of Commitments.  The Commitments shall terminate on July
1, 1999 (the "Termination Date").

     2.7.2 Voluntary Ratable Reductions of Commitments.  The Borrower shall have
the further right to reduce ratably the  Commitments of the Banks at any time or
from time to time, in the minimum  amount of Five Million  Dollars  ($5,000,000)
per reduction and integral multiples of One Million Dollars  ($1,000,000) beyond
such minimum  amount,  provided that (i) the Borrower shall have given the Agent
at least  three (3)  Domestic  Business  Days'  advance  written  notice of such
election,  (ii) as necessary,  the Borrower shall have reduced,  by repayment or
prepayment in accordance  with the terms of Section 2.9, as the case may be, its
Borrowings by that amount  necessary to cause total  Borrowings then outstanding
not to exceed the  aggregate  amount of the  reduced  Commitments  and (iii) any
Commitments once so reduced shall not be reinstated by the Banks.


                                      -18-

<PAGE>




                       SECTION 2.8. Optional Prepayments.

     The Borrower  may, on any Business  Day, upon giving notice to the Agent by
not later than 11:00 A.M.  (Atlanta,  Georgia  time) on such  Business  Day, and
making  payment  to the Agent,  for the  ratable  benefit of the Banks,  on such
Business Day of any  compensation  required by Section 8.6, prepay any Base Rate
Borrowing  in  whole  at any  time,  or from  time  to  time in part in  amounts
aggregating at least One Million Dollars  ($1,000,000) and integral multiples of
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars  ($500,000),  by paying the principal amount to be
prepaid together with accrued  interest thereon to the date of prepayment.  Each
such optional  prepayment shall be applied to prepay ratably the Revolving Loans
of the several  Banks  included in such  Borrowing.  Upon receipt of a notice of
prepayment  pursuant to this Section 2.8, the Agent shall  promptly  notify each
Bank of the contents thereof and of such Bank's ratable share of such prepayment
and such notice shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.

                       SECTION 2.9. Mandatory Prepayments.

     On each date, if any, on which the  Commitments  are  terminated or reduced
pursuant to Section  2.7,  the  Borrower  shall  repay or prepay such  principal
amount of the outstanding  Revolving  Loans, if any, as may be necessary so that
after such payment the aggregate  unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Loans
is  reduced  to zero,  in the case of any  termination,  or does not  exceed the
aggregate  amount  of the  Commitments  as  then  reduced,  in the  case  of any
reduction,  plus,  in  each  case,  accrued  interest  thereon  to the  date  of
prepayment and any compensation required by Section 8.6.

                SECTION 2.10. General Provisions as to Payments.

     2.10.1  Timing.  The Borrower  shall make each payment of principal of, and
interest on, the Revolving Loans and of commitment and other fees hereunder, not
later than 11:00 A.M.  (Atlanta,  Georgia time) on the date when due, in federal
or other  funds  immediately  available  in  Atlanta,  Georgia,  to the  Agent's
Address.  The Agent will  promptly  distribute to each Bank its ratable share of
each such payment received by the Agent for the account of the Banks.

     2.10.2 Next Banking Day.  Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest
on,  any Base Rate  Loans or of  commitment  or other fees shall be due on a day
which is not a Domestic  Business  Day,  the date for payment  thereof  shall be
extended to the next succeeding  Domestic  Business Day. Whenever any payment of
principal  of or interest on, the  Euro-Dollar  Rate Loans shall be due on a day
which is not a Euro-Dollar  Business Day, the date for payment  thereof shall be
extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar
Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case the date for payment
thereof shall be the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day.


                                      -19-

<PAGE>




                 SECTION 2.11. Computation of Interest and Fees.

     Interest on the Revolving Loans shall be computed on the basis of a year of
360 days and paid for the actual number of days  elapsed,  calculated as to each
Interest  Period from and  including  the first day thereof to but excluding the
last day thereof.  Commitment fees and any other fees payable hereunder on a per
annum  basis  shall be  computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and paid for
the actual  number of days elapsed  (including  the first day but  excluding the
last day).


                       ARTICLE 3. CONDITIONS TO BORROWINGS

                   SECTION 3.1. Conditions to First Borrowing.

     The obligation of each Bank to make a Revolving Loan on the occasion of the
first  Borrowing is subject to the  satisfaction  of the conditions set forth in
Section 3.2 and receipt by the Agent of the following in a sufficient  number of
counterparts (except as to the Notes) for delivery of a counterpart to each Bank
and retention of one counterpart by the Agent):

     3.1.1 This Agreement.  From each of the parties hereto of either (i) a duly
executed  counterpart of this Agreement signed by such party or (ii) a facsimile
transmission  stating that such party has duly  executed a  counterpart  of this
Agreement and sent such counterpart to the Agent;

     3.1.2 Notes.  A duly executed  Note for the account of each Bank  complying
with the provisions of Section 2.3;

     3.1.3  Opinion.  An opinion  (together  with any opinions of local  counsel
relied on therein) of legal  counsel for the  Borrower,  dated as of the Closing
Date,  substantially  in the form of  Exhibit  D and  covering  such  additional
matters  relating to the  transactions  contemplated  hereby as the Agent or any
Bank may reasonably request;

     3.1.4 Closing Certificate. A certificate ("Closing Certificate"),  dated as
of the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit E, signed by the chief
financial  officer  of the  Borrower,  to the  effect  that (i) no  Default  has
occurred  and is  continuing  on the date of the  first  Borrowing  and (ii) the
representations  and warranties of the Borrower  contained in Article 4 are true
on and as of the Closing Date;

     3.1.5  Other  Documents.  All  documents  which  the  Agent or any Bank may
reasonably  request  relating to the  existence of the  Borrower,  the corporate
authority for and the validity of this  Agreement,  the Notes and the other Loan
Documents,  and any other  matters  relevant  hereto,  all in form and substance
satisfactory  to the Agent,  including,  without  limitation,  a certificate  of
incumbency of the Borrower, signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the  Borrower,  in  substantially  the form of Exhibit F,  certifying  as to the
names, true signatures and incumbency of

                                      -20-

<PAGE>




the officer or officers of the  Borrower  authorized  to execute and deliver the
Loan  Documents  and the action  taken by the Board of Directors of the Borrower
authorizing  the  Borrower's   execution,   delivery  and  performance  of  this
Agreement.

     3.1.6 Borrowing Notice. A Notice of Borrowing.

     In addition,  the credit facility  created pursuant to the credit agreement
described in the first sentence of Section 5.11 below shall have been terminated
in  conjunction   with,  and  as  part  of,  the  refinancing  of  the  existing
indebtedness of Borrower thereunder on the Closing Date.

                   SECTION 3.2. Conditions to All Borrowings.

     The  obligation  of each Bank to make a Revolving  Loan on the  occasion of
each Borrowing is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

     3.2.1 Notice. Receipt by the Agent of a Notice of Borrowing;

     3.2.2  No  Default.  The fact  that,  immediately  before  and  after  such
Borrowing, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

     3.2.3  Truth of  Representations.  The fact  that the  representations  and
warranties  of the Borrower  contained in Article 4 of this  Agreement  shall be
true on and as of the date of such Borrowing; and

     3.2.4 Not Overadvance. The fact that, immediately after such Borrowing, the
aggregate  outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans of each Bank will
not exceed the amount of its Commitment.

     Each  Borrowing  hereunder  shall  be  deemed  to be a  representation  and
warranty by the Borrower on the date of such Borrowing as to the facts specified
in Sections 3.2.2, 3.2.3 and 3.2.4.


                    ARTICLE 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                   The Borrower represents and warrants that:

                   SECTION 4.1. Corporate Existence and Power.

     Each of the Borrower and each  Subsidiary is a corporation  duly organized,
validly  existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation,  is duly  qualified  to transact  business in every  jurisdiction
where, by the nature of its business,  such qualification is necessary,  and has
all corporate powers and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and
approvals  required to carry on its business as now conducted,  except where the
failure to so qualify,

                                      -21-

<PAGE>




or obtain such  licenses,  authorizations,  consents or  approvals  could not be
reasonably expected to have or cause a Material Adverse Effect.

    SECTION 4.2. Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention.

     The execution,  delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement,
the Notes and the other Loan Documents (i) are within the  Borrower's  corporate
powers, (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action,  (iii)
require no action by or in respect of or filing  with,  any  governmental  body,
agency or official,  (iv) do not contravene,  or constitute a default under, any
provision of applicable law or regulation or of the articles of incorporation or
by-laws of the  Borrower  or, to the best of the  Borrower's  knowledge,  of any
material  agreement,  judgment,  injunction,  order,  decree or other instrument
binding upon the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,  and (v) do not result in
the  creation or  imposition  of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries.

                          SECTION 4.3. Binding Effect.

     This  Agreement  constitutes a valid and binding  agreement of the Borrower
enforceable  in  accordance  with its  terms,  and the Notes and the other  Loan
Documents,  when executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement,  will
constitute  valid  and  binding  obligations  of  the  Borrower  enforceable  in
accordance with their respective terms,  provided that the enforceability hereof
and  thereof  is subject  in each case to  general  principles  of equity and to
bankruptcy,  insolvency and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally.

         SECTION 4.4. Financial Information; No Material Adverse Effect.

     The audited balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
as of the Fiscal  Year ended  closest to  December  31,  1997,  and the  related
consolidated  audited statements of income,  shareholders' equity and cash flows
of the  Borrower  and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for the Fiscal  Year then
ended, copies of which have been delivered to each of the Banks, fairly present,
in  conformity  with  GAAP,  the  financial  position  of the  Borrower  and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and the results of its operations and
cash  flow for such  periods  stated;  provided,  that  during  the term of this
Agreement after the Closing Date, future  representations  as to the matters set
forth in this  sentence  shall be deemed to refer to the most  recent  financial
statements  delivered  pursuant to Sections 5.1.1 and 5.1.2.  Since December 31,
1997,  there has been no event,  act,  condition or  occurrence  having or which
could  be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect,  except  for  matters
disclosed in the quarterly financial statements referred to above; provided that
during  the  term  of  this  Agreement   following  the  Closing  Date,   future
representations  as to  matters  set forth in this  sentence  shall be deemed to
refer to the last day of the most recent audited financial  statements delivered
by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.1.1.


                                      -22-

<PAGE>




                           SECTION 4.5. No Litigation.

     There is no action,  suit or proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the
Borrower   threatened,   against  or  affecting  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or
official which could have a Material Adverse Effect or which in any manner draws
into  question  the  validity of, or could impair the ability of the Borrower to
perform its obligations  under,  this  Agreement,  the Notes or any of the other
Loan Documents.

       SECTION 4.6. Compliance with Laws Generally; Compliance with ERISA.

     The Borrower and each Subsidiary are in compliance in all material respects
with applicable  laws  (including,  but not limited to, ERISA),  regulations and
similar requirements of governmental authorities (including, but not limited to,
PBGC),  noncompliance  with which could have or cause a Material Adverse Effect,
except where the necessity of such  compliance is being  contested in good faith
through appropriate  proceedings.  To the best of the Borrower's knowledge,  (i)
the  Borrower  and each  member of the  Controlled  Group have  fulfilled  their
respective obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code
with respect to each Plan and are in  compliance  in all material  respects with
the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code, and have not incurred
any  liability  to the PBGC or a Plan under Title IV of ERISA;  and (ii) neither
the  Borrower  nor any  member  of the  Controlled  Group  is or ever  has  been
obligated to contribute to any Multiemployer Plan.

                               SECTION 4.7. Taxes.

     There have been filed on behalf of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  all
federal,  state and local income,  excise,  property and other tax returns which
are  required to be filed by them and all taxes due  pursuant to such returns or
pursuant  to any  assessment  received  by or on behalf of the  Borrower  or any
Subsidiary have been paid,  except for amounts that either are immaterial or are
being  disputed  in good  faith and by  appropriate  proceedings.  The  charges,
accruals  and  reserves on the books of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  in
respect  of taxes or other  governmental  charges  are,  in the  opinion  of the
Borrower, adequate.

                           SECTION 4.8. Subsidiaries.

     As of the Closing Date,  the Borrower has no  Subsidiaries,  except for the
Subsidiaries   set  forth  on  Schedule  4.8,  all  of  which  are  Consolidated
Subsidiaries.

    SECTION 4.9. Not a Public Utility, Holding Company, Investment Company or
                              Investment Adviser.

     Neither  the  Borrower  nor any  Subsidiary  is a "holding  company,"  or a
"subsidiary  company" of a "holding  company," or an  "affiliate"  of a "holding
company"  or of a  "subsidiary  company"  of a "holding  company,"  or a "public
utility," within the meaning of the Public Utility

                                      -23-

<PAGE>




Holding  Company  Act of 1935,  as  amended;  or a "public  utility"  within the
meaning of the Federal Power Act, as amended;  or an  "investment  company" or a
company  "controlled"  by an  "investment  company"  within  the  meaning of the
Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended;  or an "investment  adviser" within
the meaning of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

                   SECTION 4.10. Ownership of Property; Liens.

     The Borrower owns  Properties,  or interests in Properties,  sufficient for
the conduct of its business;  and none of such Properties is subject to any Lien
except as permitted in Section 5.8.

                            SECTION 4.11. No Default.

     Neither the Borrower  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is in default  under or
with respect to any agreement,  instrument or undertaking to which it is a party
or by  which it or any of its  property  is bound  which  could  have or cause a
Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

                         SECTION 4.12. Full Disclosure.

     All written information and, to the best of the Borrower's  knowledge,  all
other information, heretofore furnished by the Borrower to the Agent or any Bank
for  purposes  of or in  connection  with  this  Agreement  or  any  transaction
contemplated  hereby is, and all such  information  hereafter  furnished  by the
Borrower to the Agent or any Bank will be, true,  accurate and complete in every
material  respect or based on reasonable  estimates on the date as of which such
information  is stated or certified.  The Borrower has disclosed to the Banks in
writing any and all facts which could  reasonably be expected to have or cause a
Material Adverse Effect.

                      SECTION 4.13. Environmental Matters.

     To the best of the Borrower's  knowledge,  (i) neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary is subject to any Environmental Liability which could have or cause a
Material  Adverse  Effect and neither the Borrower nor any  Subsidiary  has been
designated  as a potentially  responsible  party under CERCLA or under any state
statute similar to CERCLA.  None of the Properties located in the United States,
owned by either the Borrower or a Subsidiary, has been identified on any current
or proposed (A) National  Priorities  List under 40 C.F.R.  ss. 300, (B) CERCLIS
list or (C) any list arising from a state statute similar to CERCLA; (ii) to the
best of the Borrower's knowledge,  no Hazardous Materials have been or are being
used, produced,  manufactured,  processed, treated, recycled, generated, stored,
disposed of,  managed or otherwise  handled at, or shipped or  transported to or
from the  Properties  or are otherwise  present at, in or under the  Properties,
owned or operated by either the Borrower or a Subsidiary, or, to the best of the
knowledge of the Borrower, at or from any adjacent site or facility,  except for
Hazardous Materials,  such as cleaning solvents,  pesticides and other materials
used, produced,  manufactured,  processed, treated, recycled, generated, stored,
disposed of, managed, or otherwise handled in the ordinary course of business in
compliance with all

                                      -24-

<PAGE>




applicable Environmental  Requirements;  and (iii) to the best of the Borrower's
knowledge,  the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  are in  compliance  with  all
Environmental  Requirements in connection with the ownership,  use and operation
of  the  Properties  and  the  Borrower's  and  such   Subsidiary's   respective
businesses.

                          SECTION 4.14. Capital Stock.

     All Capital Stock, debentures, bonds, notes and all other securities of the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  presently issued and outstanding are validly and
properly  issued in  accordance  with all  applicable  laws,  including  but not
limited  to,  the  "Blue  Sky" laws of all  applicable  states  and the  federal
securities laws.

                           SECTION 4.15. Margin Stock.

     Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or
as one of its  important  activities,  in the business of purchasing or carrying
any Margin Stock, and no part of the proceeds of any Revolving Loan will be used
to  purchase  or carry any  Margin  Stock or to extend  credit to others for the
purpose of purchasing  or carrying any Margin Stock,  or be used for any purpose
which violates,  or which is inconsistent with the provisions of, Regulations G,
T, U or X.

                             SECTION 4.16. Solvency.

     After giving effect to the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and
the making of the  Revolving  Loans under this  Agreement,  the Borrower will be
Solvent.

             SECTION 4.17. Possession of Franchises, Licenses, Etc.

     The  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  possess  to the extent  material  all
franchises,  certificates,  licenses,  permits  and  other  authorizations  from
governmental  and  political  subdivisions  or regulatory  authorities,  and all
patents,  trademarks,  service  marks,  trade  names,  copyrights,   franchises,
licenses and other rights that are  necessary  for  ownership,  maintenance  and
operation of any of their respective material Properties and assets, and neither
the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any thereof,  which,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  would  or might  have or  cause a  Material
Adverse Effect.  Without  limiting the generality of the foregoing,  and, in any
event, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries  possess all Franchise Rights necessary
for the  ownership,  operation  and  development  of its (or  their)  franchised
restaurant  business as  conducted,  or  contemplated  to be  conducted,  by the
Borrower and such Subsidiaries,  including,  without limitation,  in the case of
"Applebee's"  restaurants,  franchise agreements for each franchised  restaurant
location and  exclusive  development  rights for each  designated  area in which
franchised restaurants are located or contemplated to be located.


                                      -25-

<PAGE>




                            SECTION 4.18. Insurance.

     The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries  maintains adequate insurance on,
and in respect of the ownership  and  operation  of, its  Properties in at least
such amounts and against at least such risks as are usually  insured  against in
the same general area by companies of established  repute engaged in the same or
similar business.


                              ARTICLE 5. COVENANTS

     The Borrower agrees that, so long as any Bank has any Commitment  hereunder
or any amount payable hereunder or under any Note remains unpaid:

                            SECTION 5.1. Information.

                 The Borrower will deliver to each of the Banks:

     5.1.1 Annual  Audit.  As soon as available  and in any event within  ninety
(90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and
the related  consolidated  statements of income,  shareholders'  equity and cash
flows for such Fiscal Year,  setting forth in each case in comparative  form the
figures for the  previous  fiscal year,  all  certified  by  independent  public
accountants of nationally  recognized  standing,  with such  certification to be
free  of  any  material  exceptions  and  qualifications;   provided  that,  the
information  required  by  this  paragraph  may  be  satisfied  by  delivery  of
information pursuant to Section 5.1.5 or Section 5.1.6;

     5.1.2  Interim  Statements.  As soon as  available  and in any event within
fifty (50) days after the end of each of the first three (3) Fiscal  Quarters of
each  Fiscal  Year,  a  consolidated  balance  sheet  of the  Borrower  and  its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries  as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related
statement  of income and  statement  of cash flows for such  quarter and for the
portion of the Fiscal Year ended at the end of such  quarter,  setting  forth in
each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding  quarter and the
corresponding  portion of the previous  Fiscal Year,  all certified  (subject to
normal  year-end   adjustments)  as  to  fairness  of  presentation,   GAAP  and
consistency by the chief  financial  officer of the Borrower;  provided that the
information  required  by  this  paragraph  may  be  satisfied  by  delivery  of
information pursuant to Section 5.1.5 or Section 5.1.6;

     5.1.3 Compliance Certificates. Simultaneously with the delivery of each set
of financial  statements referred to in Sections 5.1.1 and 5.1.2, a certificate,
substantially  in the form of  Exhibit G (a  "Compliance  Certificate"),  of the
chief financial  officer of the Borrower (i) setting forth in reasonable  detail
the  calculations  required to establish  whether the Borrower was in compliance
with the  requirements  of Sections  5.3,  5.4, 5.5, 5.6 and 5.19 on the date of
such  financial  statements  and (ii) stating  whether any Default exists on the
date of such certificate and, if any

                                      -26-

<PAGE>




Default then exists,  setting forth the details thereof and the action which the
Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

     5.1.4 Default Notice. Promptly (and, in any event, within five (5) Domestic
Business  Days)  after  the  Borrower  becomes  aware of the  occurrence  of any
Default,  a certificate of the chief financial  officer of the Borrower  setting
forth  the  details  thereof  and the  action  which the  Borrower  is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto;

     5.1.5 Proxy.  Promptly upon the mailing thereof to the  shareholders of the
Borrower  generally,  copies  of all  financial  statements,  reports  and proxy
statements so mailed;

     5.1.6 Registration Statements.  Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of
all registration  statements and annual,  quarterly or monthly reports which the
Borrower shall have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

     5.1.7 ERISA  Notices.  If and when any member of the  Controlled  Group (i)
gives or is  required  to give  notice to the PBGC of any  reportable  event (as
defined  in  Section  4043 of  ERISA)  with  respect  to any  Plan  which  might
constitute  grounds for a termination  of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA,  or
knows that the plan  administrator  of any Plan has given or is required to give
notice of any such  reportable  event,  a copy of the notice of such  reportable
event  given or  required  to be given to the  PBGC;  (ii)  receives  notice  of
complete or partial withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA, a copy of such
notice;  or (iii)  receives  notice  from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an
intent to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer  any Plan, a copy of such
notice; and

     5.1.8  Other  Reports.  From  time  to  time  such  additional  information
regarding  the   financial   position  or  business  of  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries as the Agent, at the request of any Bank, may reasonably request.

             SECTION 5.2. Inspection of Property, Books and Records.

     The Borrower will keep, and require each  Subsidiary to keep,  proper books
of record and account in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with
GAAP (or,  in the case of any  non-domestic  Subsidiary,  such other  accounting
standards,  rules,  regulations and practices applicable to businesses operating
in the locality in which each such Person operates);  and permit, and cause each
Subsidiary to permit,  representatives  of any Bank at such Bank's expense prior
to the  occurrence  of a  Default  and  at  the  Borrower's  expense  after  the
occurrence  and during the  continuance of a Default to visit and inspect any of
their  respective  properties,  to examine and make  abstracts from any of their
respective books and records and to discuss their respective  affairs,  finances
and accounts with their respective  officers,  employees and independent  public
accountants.  The  Borrower  agrees to  cooperate  and assist in such visits and
inspections in each case at such reasonable times and as often as may reasonably
be desired.


                                      -27-

<PAGE>




        SECTION 5.3. Adjusted Funded Debt/Adjusted Capitalization Ratio.

     The Adjusted Funded Debt/Adjusted Capitalization Ratio will not at any time
exceed .65:1.

                   SECTION 5.4. Minimum Stockholders' Equity.

     Stockholders'  Equity  will  at no  time  be  less  than  the  sum  of  (i)
$180,000,000,  as of the Fiscal  Quarter ended closest to December 31, 1996 (the
"Base Fiscal Quarter"), plus (ii) fifty percent (50%) of Consolidated Net Income
(if positive)  for each Fiscal  Quarter  subsequent to the Base Fiscal  Quarter;
plus, without duplication,  (iii) seventy-five percent (75%) of any net proceeds
received  by  Borrower  from any  offering  of  equity  securities  (other  than
Redeemable  Preferred  Stock) by Borrower  subsequent to the Closing Date; plus,
without  duplication,  (iv)  seventy-five  percent  (75%)  of any  net  proceeds
received by Borrower from any  conversion of debt into equity  subsequent to the
Closing Date; plus, without  duplication,  (v) seventy-five percent (75%) of any
adjustment  to equity due to any pooling of interests  occurring  subsequent  to
December 31, 1996; plus, without duplication, (vi) seventy-five percent (75%) of
any increase in Stockholders'  Equity resulting from the issuance or exchange of
any equity securities in furtherance of any acquisition constituting a permitted
investment under Section 5.19.

                    SECTION 5.5. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

     Borrower's  Fixed  Charge  Coverage  Ratio,  measured on a rolling four (4)
Fiscal Quarters' basis as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter, commencing with the
Fiscal  Quarter ended  closest to December 31, 1997,  shall be (i) not less than
1.80:1,  for the Fiscal Quarters ending closest to December 31, 1997,  March 31,
1998 and June 30, 1998, (ii) not less than 1.90:1, for the Fiscal Quarter ending
closest to September 30, 1998;  and (iii) not less than 2.00:1,  for each Fiscal
Quarter ending thereafter.

                  SECTION 5.6. Total Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio.

     The  ratio  which  (i)  the  Total  Funded  Debt  of the  Borrower  and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries at the end of any Fiscal Quarter,  commencing with the
Fiscal  Quarter ended closest to December 31, 1997,  bears to (ii) the EBITDA of
the Borrower and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  measured on a rolling four (4)
Fiscal  Quarters' basis as of the end of such Fiscal  Quarter,  shall be (i) not
more than 3.80:1,  for the Fiscal  Quarters  ending closest to December 31, 1997
and  closest to March 31,  1998,  and (ii) not more than  3.50:1 for each Fiscal
Quarter  ending  thereafter.  In  computing  EBITDA in respect of the  foregoing
ratio,  (a) any asset or stock  dispositions  by the Borrower  consisting of the
sale of a business line,  segment or other group of related  stores  (including,
particularly,  for this purpose,  the  Applebee's  Spinoff)  occurring  within a
Fiscal  Quarter  shall be  accounted  for by reducing  EBITDA by the  individual
EBITDA  attributable to each store within such group for such Fiscal Quarter and
the three (3) preceding Fiscal Quarters; and (b) any asset or stock acquisitions
by the Borrower consisting of the purchase of a business, line, segment or other
group

                                      -28-

<PAGE>




of related  stores  occurring  within a Fiscal Quarter shall be accounted for by
increasing  EBITDA by the individual  EBITDA  attributable  to each store within
such  group for such  Fiscal  Quarter  and for the three  (3)  preceding  Fiscal
Quarters;  in each instance,  on an historical basis, in a manner which Borrower
shall determine, but subject to prior review with, and approval by, the Agent.

                          SECTION 5.7. Negative Pledge.

     The  Borrower  will not, nor will the Borrower  permit any  Subsidiary  to,
create,  assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or  hereafter
acquired by it,  except:  (i) those Liens,  if any,  described on Schedule  5.7,
concerning  existing  debt of the Borrower,  to be set forth and described  more
particularly  therein,  together  with any Lien arising out of the  refinancing,
extension,  renewal or refunding of any debt secured by any such Lien,  provided
that such debt is not secured by any additional  assets,  and the amount of such
debt secured by any such Lien is not  increased;  (ii) Liens  incidental  to the
conduct of its  business or the  ownership  of its  Properties  which (A) do not
secure debt and (B) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of
its  Properties  or  materially  impair the use thereof or the  operation of its
business,  including, without limitation,  easements, rights of way, restrictive
covenants,  zoning  and  other  similar  restrictions  on real  property;  (iii)
materialmen's mechanics', warehousemen's carriers', landlords' and other similar
statutory  Liens which secure debt or other  obligations  that are not past due,
or,  if past  due are  being  contested  in good  faith by the  Borrower  or the
appropriate  Subsidiary  by  appropriate  proceedings;  (iv) Liens for taxes not
delinquent  or  taxes  being   contested  in  good  faith  and  by   appropriate
proceedings;  (v) pledges or deposits in connection with worker's  compensation,
unemployment  insurance and other social security legislation;  (vi) deposits to
secure performance of bids, trade contracts,  leases,  statutory obligations (to
the extent not excepted elsewhere  herein);  (vii) grants of security and rights
of  setoff  in  accounts,  securities  and  other  properties  held at  banks or
financial  institutions to secure the payment or reimbursement  under overdraft,
letter of credit,  acceptance  and other  credit  facilities;  (viii)  rights of
setoff,  banker's  liens and other similar rights arising solely by operation of
law; (ix) Purchase Money Liens; (x) Liens on any Properties acquired by Borrower
or any  Subsidiary  subsequent  to the Closing Date, to the extent that (A) such
Liens are existing at the time of  acquisition,  (B) the debt secured thereby is
not secured by any other  Properties of Borrower or such  Subsidiary  except the
acquired  Properties,  (C) the  amount of such debt so  secured  thereby  is not
increased at or  subsequent to the  acquisition  and (D) the total amount of all
such debt secured by all such acquired  Properties  does not exceed at any time,
in aggregate amount,  fifteen percent (15%) of Tangible Net Worth; together with
any Lien arising out of the refinancing,  extension, renewal or refunding of any
debt  secured by any such Lien,  provided  that such debt is not  secured by any
additional  assets,  and the amount of such debt secured by any such Lien is not
increased;  (xi)  capital  leases made in the ordinary  course of business  (but
excluding, however,  sale-leaseback transactions in any event) in which there is
no  provision  for title to the leased  Property to pass to the Borrower or such
Subsidiary  at the  expiration  of the  lease  term or as to  which  no  bargain
purchase  option  exists;  and (xii) rights of lessors in respect of  Properties
leased to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries under operating leases.


                                      -29-

<PAGE>




                     SECTION 5.8. Maintenance of Existence.

     Except as permitted in Section 5.10,  the Borrower  shall,  and shall cause
each Subsidiary to,  maintain its corporate  existence and carry on its business
in substantially  the same manner and in  substantially  the same fields as such
business is now carried on and  maintained.  Without  limiting the generality of
the foregoing,  the Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain
at all times in full force and  effect all  Franchise  Rights  necessary  to the
ownership,  operation and  development  of all  franchised  restaurant  business
conducted,   or  contemplated  to  be  conducted,   by  the  Borrower  and  such
Subsidiaries,  except with respect to Voluntary  Store  Closings and except with
respect to any Applebee's Spinoff.

                            SECTION 5.9. Dissolution.

     Neither the  Borrower  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  shall suffer or permit
dissolution or liquidation  either in whole or in part, except through corporate
reorganization to the extent permitted by Section 5.10.

           SECTION 5.10. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.

     The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, consolidate or
merge with or into, or sell, lease or otherwise  transfer all or any substantial
part of its  assets  to, any other  Person,  or  discontinue  or  eliminate  any
business  line or  segment,  provided,  however,  that,  subject at all times to
Section  5.19,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  may merge with  another  Person
(which is not the Borrower or such  Subsidiary) if (i) such Person was organized
under the laws of the United  States of  America  or one of its states  (ii) the
Borrower or such  Subsidiary (as the case may be) is the  corporation  surviving
such merger and (iii) immediately after giving effect to such merger, no Default
shall have occurred and be continuing,  and any Subsidiaries of the Borrower may
(i) merge or  consolidate  with each other or with the  Borrower (so long as the
Borrower is the corporation  surviving such merger), or (ii) sell assets to each
other or to the Borrower;  and, provided,  further,  that the Borrower may, upon
giving at least  two (2)  Business  Days  written  notice to the Agent  thereof,
consummate  an  Applebee's  Spinoff,  if made on the terms set forth  within the
definition thereof,  and provided that the Net Cash Proceeds  therefrom,  to the
extent not used to repay, in full or in part, the  indebtedness of Borrower then
existing under the credit agreement  described in Section 6.1.14 below, are used
either (i) to make an optional  prepayment of any  Borrowings  then  outstanding
hereunder, or (ii) to make investments permitted under Section 5.19 or (iii) for
working capital in Borrower's business; but for no other purposes.

                         SECTION 5.11. Use of Proceeds.

     The proceeds of the initial Revolving Loans will be used by the Borrower to
refinance all indebtedness then outstanding under its Credit Agreement, dated as
of December 10, 1997, with Wachovia Bank, N.A., as amended to date. The proceeds
of all  subsequent  Revolving  Loans  will be used by the  Borrower  solely  for
working capital, and for no other purpose. Without limitation

                                      -30-

<PAGE>




of the foregoing, no portion of the proceeds of the Revolving Loans will be used
by the Borrower (i) in connection  with,  whether  directly or  indirectly,  any
tender offer for, or other  acquisition of, stock of any corporation with a view
towards  obtaining  control  of  such  other   corporation,   (ii)  directly  or
indirectly,  for the purpose,  whether  immediate,  incidental  or ultimate,  of
purchasing  or  carrying  any  Margin  Stock,   (iii)   generally,   to  finance
investments,  even if such investments are otherwise permitted  hereunder,  (iv)
for any other  purpose  in  violation  of any term of this  Agreement  or of any
applicable law or regulation.

              SECTION 5.12. Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes.

     The Borrower will, and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries and each member
of the Controlled Group to, comply in all material respects with applicable laws
(including but not limited to ERISA),  regulations  and similar  requirements of
governmental  authorities  (including but not limited to PBGC), except where the
necessity  of  such   compliance  is  being  contested  in  good  faith  through
appropriate  proceedings.  The  Borrower  will,  and  will  cause  each  of  its
Subsidiaries  to,  pay  promptly  when due all taxes,  assessments  governmental
charges,  claims for  labor,  supplies,  rent and other  obligations  which,  if
unpaid,  might  become  a Lien  against  the  Property  of the  Borrower  or any
Subsidiary,  except liabilities being contested in good faith and against which,
if requested by the Agent,  the Borrower will set up reserves in accordance with
GAAP.

                            SECTION 5.13. Insurance.

     The Borrower  will  maintain,  and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to
maintain (either in the name of the Borrower or in such  Subsidiary's own name),
with financially sound and reputable insurance  companies,  insurance on, and in
respect of the  ownership  and  operation  of, its  Properties  in at least such
amounts and against at least such risks as are  usually  insured  against in the
same  general area by companies  of  established  repute  engaged in the same or
similar business.

                      SECTION 5.14. Change in Fiscal Year.

     The  Borrower  will not change its Fiscal  Year  without the consent of the
Required Banks.

                     SECTION 5.15. Maintenance of Property.

     The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain all of its
Properties in good condition,  repair and working order,  ordinary wear and tear
excepted.

                      SECTION 5.16. Environmental Notices.

     The  Borrower  shall  furnish to the  Agent,  promptly  after the  Borrower
becomes aware thereof, written notice of all Environmental Liabilities, pending,
threatened  Environmental  Proceedings,   Environmental  Notices,  Environmental
Judgments and Orders and Environmental

                                      -31-

<PAGE>




Releases,  at, on,  in,  under or in any way  affecting  the  Properties  or any
adjacent property and all facts,  events, or conditions that could reasonably be
expected to lead to any of the foregoing.

                      SECTION 5.17. Environmental Matters.

     The  Borrower  will  not,  and will not  permit  any Third  Party to,  use,
produce,  manufacture,  process,  treat, recycle,  generate,  store, dispose of,
manage at, or otherwise  handled or ship or transport to or from the  Properties
any  Hazardous  Materials  except  for  Hazardous  Materials  such  as  cleaning
solvents,  pesticides and other similar materials used, produced,  manufactured,
processed, treated, recycled, generated, stored, disposed, managed, or otherwise
handled in the ordinary  course of business in  compliance  with all  applicable
Environmental Requirements.

                      SECTION 5.18. Environmental Releases.

     The Borrower  agrees that upon the occurrence of an  Environmental  Release
(except for any Environmental  Release which (x) occurred in compliance with all
Environmental  Requirements  and (y) could not reasonably be expected to have or
cause a Material  Adverse  Effect),  it will act  immediately to investigate the
extent  of,  and  to  take  appropriate  remedial  action  to  eliminate,   such
Environmental Release,  whether or not ordered or otherwise directed to do so by
any Environmental Authority.

                           SECTION 5.19. Investments.

     The Borrower will not make (nor will the Borrower  permit any Subsidiary to
make) any  investment in any Person or Property  (which term  "investment,"  for
purposes hereof, shall mean and include, without limitation,  the acquisition of
any property,  the issuance,  acquisition or exchange of any capital stock, debt
or other obligations or security to, from or with any Person,  the making of any
loan, advance,  extension of credit, credit accommodation,  Guarantee or capital
contribution to or on behalf of any Person, and the leasing or subleasing of any
property to any Person), provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing,
the  Borrower  (or any  Subsidiary)  may,  from  time  to  time,  undertake  the
following,  without the  necessity of  obtaining  the  Required  Lenders'  prior
written consent thereto:

     (i) Current Assets. Acquire current assets for use in, or arising from, the
sale of goods or services in the ordinary course of its business (including, for
this purpose, but without limitation, credit card receivables);

     (ii) Capital Expenditures. Make capital expenditures in the ordinary course
of its business;

     (iii)  Franchise Fees. Pay franchisee fees and royalties to its franchisors
in the ordinary course of its business;


                                      -32-

<PAGE>




     (iv) Escrow  Deposits.  Make or maintain escrow deposits for the payment of
taxes, rents, utilities, insurance or like matters in the ordinary course of its
business;

     (v) Bank  Accounts.  Make and maintain  deposits of cash in demand  deposit
accounts of banks in the ordinary course of its business,  and make endorsements
of checks, drafts or other instruments in connection therewith;

     (vi) Surplus  Cash.  Consistent at all times with the  Borrower's  internal
Statement of Investment  Policy,  invest surplus cash in (A)  obligations of, or
guaranteed  by,  the  United  States  of  America  or any  agency  thereof,  (B)
short-term  certificates  of deposit issued by, and time deposits with, any Bank
or any other  financial  institution  domiciled in the United  States of America
with assets of at least $500,000,000,  (C) short-term  commercial paper rated at
least "A1" by Standard & Poors or "P1" by Moody's,  and (D) fixed or  adjustable
rate corporate debt securities with a credit rating of at least double A (Aa/AA)
by either  Moody's  or  Standard  & Poors,  provided  that any  fixed  rate debt
securities have a maturity of one year or less;

     (vii) Subsidiaries.  Make investments in those Consolidated Subsidiaries of
the Borrower which are wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower, in
the ordinary  course of, and  pursuant to the  reasonable  requirements  of, the
Borrower's  and such  Subsidiaries'  respective  businesses,  provided  that the
aggregate  amount of such  investments  which may be outstanding at any one time
hereafter, as to all such Subsidiaries,  shall not exceed, in any event, (A) ten
percent  (10%) of  consolidated  total assets of Borrower  and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  at any time prior to December  30,  1997,  (B) seven and  one-half
percent  (7-1/2%) of consolidated  total assets of Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries  on or at any time after  December 31, 1997,  but prior to June 30,
1998, and (C) five percent (5%) of consolidated total assets of Borrower and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries  on or after June 30, 1998; it being  understood  and
agreed that (a) there shall be excluded  from such  calculation  any  investment
deemed made by the Borrower in DF&R Restaurants, Inc., a Texas corporation which
is a  wholly-owned  Consolidated  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower,  pursuant to the
accounting for the prior  acquisition  of such  corporation by the Borrower as a
pooling of  interests;  (b) there shall be deducted in any event from the amount
of investments in  Subsidiaries  which may be made pursuant to this clause (vii)
the aggregate amount of Capitalized Lease Obligations of all Subsidiaries  which
are at any time  outstanding,  if and to the extent not already  counted against
such  amount  as  an  investment  of  Borrower;  i.e.,  as a  Capitalized  Lease
Obligation  owing to Borrower as lessor or sublessor;  and (c) the provisions of
this clause  (vii) shall be the  exclusive  means by which the  Borrower (or any
Subsidiary)  may  make   investments  in  any   Subsidiaries   (whether  or  not
wholly-owned  Subsidiaries)  and shall  override  any other  provisions  of this
Section 5.19 (including,  particularly, clauses (x), (xi) and (xii) below) which
may be construed otherwise to permit such investments.

     (viii) Travel Advances.  Make travel and similar advances to employees from
time to time in the ordinary course of business;


                                      -33-

<PAGE>




     (ix) Special Life  Insurance  Program.  The Borrower may invest up to Eight
Hundred  Fifty  Thousand  Dollars  ($850,000)  per Fiscal  Year in the making of
annual  premiums  payable on the split  dollar  joint  survivor  life  insurance
program implemented, or to be implemented,  covering the lives of Tom E. DuPree,
Jr. and his spouse Anne DuPree,  with an initial  death benefit of Fifty Million
Dollars  ($50,000,000),  provided,  however,  that (i) such investments are made
over a period not to exceed ten (10) Fiscal Years and (ii) Borrower maintains at
all times  during the  effective  period of the  program a security  interest in
policy  proceeds and cash values of policies issued as part of the program equal
in amount to not less than its then cumulative premium investments;

     (x) Applebee's Franchisees. Make investments in franchisees of "Applebee's"
restaurants, but no investment in Applebee's International,  Inc. (or any Person
which subsequent hereto shall become the franchisor of "Applebee's" restaurants)
shall be permitted to be made  subsequent to the Closing  Date,  notwithstanding
this clause (x) or any other  provision of this  Section,  except with the prior
written consent of the Required Lenders;

     (xi)  Other  Restaurant  Concepts.  Make  investments  in other  restaurant
concepts,  besides  "Applebee's,"  so  long  as the  total  amount  of all  such
investments  made  subsequent  to the  Closing  Date does not exceed Ten Million
Dollars ($10,000,000); or

     (xii) Purchase Money Debt. Make investments in the nature of purchase money
debt  issued in the  Borrower's  favor in respect of any  Applebee's  Spinoff in
accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in, said definition.

     In the event that,  and to the extent that, as of the Closing Date,  any of
the terms or  conditions  set forth in this  Section  5.19 (or in  Section  5.20
below) shall operate to restrict the ability of any  Consolidated  Subsidiary to
(i) pay dividends or make  distributions  permitted under  applicable law on any
capital stock of such Subsidiary owned by the Borrower or any other Consolidated
Subsidiary,  (ii) pay any  indebtedness or other obligation owed to the Borrower
or any other  Consolidated  Subsidiary,  (iii)  make  loans or  advances  to the
Borrower  or any other  Consolidated  Subsidiary,  or (iv)  transfer  any of its
property  or  assets  to  Borrower  or any other  Consolidated  Subsidiary  (the
"Subsidiary  Activities"),  and the  imposition of such  restriction on any such
Subsidiary   Activities  pursuant  hereto  is  expressly  prohibited  under,  or
constitutes  an event of default  under,  the terms of the  Borrower's  existing
indenture for its 9-3/4% senior notes of due June 1, 2006, then, notwithstanding
the foregoing, such Subsidiary Activities shall be permitted.

                         SECTION 5.20. Subsidiary Debt.

     Except solely to the extent expressly  permitted in clause (vii) of Section
5.19 of this Agreement, the Borrower will not permit any Consolidated Subsidiary
of the Borrower which is a wholly-owned Subsidiary,  directly or indirectly,  of
the  Borrower,  to create,  incur or suffer to exist any of the  following:  (i)
indebtedness for borrowed funds; (ii) Capitalized Lease  Obligations,  provided,
however, that DF&R Restaurants,  Inc. and its Subsidiaries may incur Capitalized
Lease  Obligations  in an  aggregate  amount not to exceed Ten  Million  Dollars
($10,000,000) at any one time

                                      -34-

<PAGE>




outstanding;  (iii)  Guarantees;  (iv) debts,  liabilities or obligations to any
seller  incurred  to pay the  deferred  purchase  price of  property or services
having a deferred  purchase price of One Million  Dollars  ($1,000,000) or more,
excepting,  in any event,  trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course
of  business  and  purchase  options  prior to their  exercise;  and (v)  debts,
liabilities or obligations in respect of Synthetic Leases.


                               ARTICLE 6. DEFAULTS

                         SECTION 6.1. Events of Default.

     If one or more of the  following  events  ("Events of Default")  shall have
occurred and be continuing:

     6.1.1  Non-Payment.  The  Borrower  (i)  shall  fail  to pay  when  due any
principal  of any  Revolving  Loan or (ii) shall fail to pay any interest on any
Revolving Loan within five (5) Domestic  Business Days after such interest shall
become due, or (iii) shall fail to pay any fee or other amount payable hereunder
or under any Loan Document within five (5) Domestic Business Days after such fee
or other amount becomes due; or

     6.1.2  Failure to Observe  Certain  Covenants.  The Borrower  shall fail to
observe or perform any covenant  contained  in Sections  5.3 through 5.9,  5.10,
5.11, 5.12, 5.15 or 5.19, inclusive; or

     6.1.3 Failure to Observe  Covenants  Generally.  The Borrower shall fail to
observe or perform any  covenant  or  agreement  contained  or  incorporated  by
reference  in this  Agreement  (other than those  covered by Sections  6.1.1 and
6.1.2) and such failure shall not have been cured within ten (10) days after the
earlier to occur of (i) written notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by
the Agent at the request of any Bank or (ii) an executive,  senior  financial or
accounting  officer of the Borrower otherwise becomes aware of any such failure;
or

     6.1.4  Misrepresentation.  Any representation,  warranty,  certification or
statement  made  by the  Borrower  in  Article  IV of this  Agreement  or in any
certificate,  financial  statement or other document  delivered pursuant to this
Agreement  shall prove to have been  incorrect  or  misleading  in any  material
respect when made (or deemed made); or

     6.1.5 Cross-Default.  The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any
payment in respect of any debt, liability or obligation outstanding individually
or in the aggregate with all other such debts, liabilities or obligations, equal
to or in excess of Five  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  ($500,000),  other than the
Notes, when due or within any applicable grace period; or any event or condition
shall occur which results in the  acceleration of the maturity of any such debt,
liability  or  obligation   outstanding   of  the  Borrower  or  any  Subsidiary
individually  or in the  aggregate  with all other such  debts,  liabilities  or
obligations equal to or in excess of Five Hundred Thousand

                                      -35-

<PAGE>




Dollars  ($500,000)  or the  mandatory  prepayment or purchase of any such debt,
liability or obligation by the Borrower (or its designee) or such Subsidiary (or
its  designee)  individually  or in the  aggregate  with all other  such  debts,
liabilities  or  obligations  equal to or in  excess  of Five  Hundred  Thousand
Dollars ($500,000) prior to the scheduled maturity thereof, or enables (or, with
the giving of notice or lapse of time or both,  would enable) the holders of any
such debt,  liability or obligation  individually  or in the aggregate  with all
other  such  debts,  liabilities  or  obligations  equal to or in excess of Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) or any Person acting on such holders' behalf
to  accelerate  the  maturity  thereof or require the  mandatory  prepayment  or
purchase  thereof prior to the scheduled  maturity  thereof,  without  regard to
whether such holders or other Person shall have  exercised or waived their right
to do so; or

     6.1.6 Voluntary Bankruptcy. The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall commence a
voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation,  reorganization or other
relief with respect to itself or its debts under any  bankruptcy,  insolvency or
other  similar law now or  hereafter in effect or seeking the  appointment  of a
trustee, receiver, liquidator,  custodian or other similar official of it or any
substantial part of its property,  or shall consent to any such relief or to the
appointment of or taking  possession by any such official in an involuntary case
or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for
the  benefit  of  creditors,  or shall fail  generally  to pay its debts as they
become  due,  or  shall  take  any  corporate  action  to  authorize  any of the
foregoing; or

     6.1.7 Involuntary Bankruptcy. An involuntary case or other proceeding shall
be  commenced  against  the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  seeking  liquidation,
reorganization  or other  relief  with  respect  to it or its  debts  under  any
bankruptcy,  insolvency  or other  similar  law now or  hereafter  in  effect or
seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver,  liquidator,  custodian or other
similar  official  of it or any  substantial  part  of its  property,  and  such
involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a
period of sixty (60) days;  or an order for relief shall be entered  against the
Borrower or any Subsidiary under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter
in effect; or

     6.1.8 ERISA.  The Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group shall fail
to pay when due any material  amount which it shall have become liable to pay to
the PBGC or to a Plan under Title IV of ERISA;  or notice of intent to terminate
a Plan or Plans  shall be filed  under  Title IV of ERISA by the  Borrower,  any
member of the Controlled Group, any plan administrator or any combination of the
foregoing;  or the PBGC shall institute  proceedings  under Title IV of ERISA to
terminate or to cause a trustee to be appointed to  administer  any such Plan or
Plans or a  proceeding  shall be  instituted  by a fiduciary of any such Plan or
Plans to enforce  Section 515 or 4219(c)(5) of ERISA and such  proceeding  shall
not have been dismissed within thirty (30) days thereafter; or a condition shall
exist  by  reason  of which  the  PBGC  would  be  entitled  to  obtain a decree
adjudicating that any such Plan or Plans must be terminated; or

     6.1.9  Judgments.  One or more judgments or orders for the payment of money
in an aggregate  amount equal to or greater than Five Hundred  Thousand  Dollars
($500,000) shall

                                      -36-

<PAGE>




be rendered  against the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  and such judgment or order
shall continue unsatisfied and unstayed for a period of thirty (30) days; or

     6.1.10 Tax Liens.  A federal tax Lien shall be filed  against the  Borrower
under  Section 6323 of the Code or a Lien of the PBGC shall be filed against the
Borrower or any  Subsidiary  under Section 4068 of ERISA and in either case such
Lien shall remain  undischarged  for a period of thirty (30) days after the date
of filing; or

     6.1.11  Change  of  Control.  Tom E.  DuPree,  Jr.  shall  cease to own and
control,  beneficially and with power to vote, at least fifteen percent (15%) of
the outstanding shares of the voting common stock of the Borrower; or any Person
(other than Tom E. DuPree,  Jr.) or two or more Persons  acting in concert shall
have  acquired  beneficial  ownership  (within the meaning of Rule 13d- 3 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of
twenty  percent  (20%) or more of the  outstanding  shares of the voting  common
stock of the  Borrower;  or as of any date, a majority of the Board of Directors
of the Borrower consists of individuals who were not either (A) directors of the
Borrower as of the  corresponding  date of the  previous  year,  (B) selected or
nominated to become directors by a Board of Directors of the Borrower of which a
majority  consisted of  individuals  described in clause (A), or (C) selected or
nominated to become directors by the Board of Directors of the Borrower of which
a majority  consisted of  individuals  described  in clause (A) and  individuals
described in clause (B); or

     6.1.12 Loss of  Franchise  Rights.  If any of the  Franchise  Rights of the
Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  shall be forfeited,  suspended,  lost,  rejected,
disclaimed,  impaired,  curtailed or otherwise  adversely altered or affected in
any manner, in whole or in any material part, for any reason whatsoever, whether
or not related to the Borrower's or such Subsidiary's  performance of its duties
and  obligations as franchisee at any time hereafter  except with respect to any
Voluntary Store Closing and except in connection with any Applebee's Spinoff; or
there  shall occur any default by the  Borrower  or any such  Subsidiary  in the
payment,  performance or observance of any terms, covenants or conditions of any
franchise  or  development  agreements  giving  rise  to  the  existence  and/or
continuation of any such Franchise Rights, and any grace or cure period relative
thereto  granted therein shall have expired without such default being waived or
cured except in connection with any Applebee's Spinoff; or

     6.1.13  Material  Adverse  Effect.   The  occurrence  of  any  event,  act,
occurrence, or condition which the Required Banks determine either does or has a
reasonable  probability of causing,  or resulting in, a Material Adverse Effect;
or

     6.1.14  Other  Credit  Agreement.  An "Event of  Default"  (as that term is
defined therein) shall occur and be continuing under that certain Second Amended
and Restated Credit  Agreement,  dated as of March 1, 1998,  among the Borrower,
the Agent,  Wachovia  and  certain  other  banks  listed  therein,  as it may be
modified or amended from time to time.


                                      -37-

<PAGE>




then, and in every such event,  the Agent shall (i) if requested by the Required
Banks,  by notice to the  Borrower  terminate  the  Commitments  and they  shall
thereupon  terminate,  and (ii) if requested by the Required Banks, by notice to
the Borrower declare the Notes (together with accrued  interest  thereon) to be,
and the Notes  shall  thereupon  become,  immediately  due and  payable  without
presentment,  demand,  protest  or other  notice of any  kind,  all of which are
hereby  waived by the  Borrower,  together  with  interest at the  Default  Rate
accruing on the principal  amount  thereof from and after the date of such Event
of Default; provided that if any Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1.6 or
6.1.7 above occurs with respect to the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  without any
notice  to the  Borrower  or any  other  acts by the  Agent  or the  Banks,  the
Commitments  shall  thereupon  terminate  and the Notes  (together  with accrued
interest thereon) shall become immediately due and payable without  presentment,
demand,  protest or other notice of any kind,  all of which are hereby waived by
the Borrower, together with interest thereon at the Default Rate accruing on the
principal  amount  thereof  from and  after the date of such  Event of  Default.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the Agent shall have available to it all other
remedies  at law or  equity,  and shall  exercise  any one or all of them at the
request of the Required Banks.

                         SECTION 6.2. Notice of Default.

     The Agent shall give notice to the  Borrower of any Default  under  Section
6.1.3  promptly  upon being  requested to do so by any Bank and shall  thereupon
notify all the Banks thereof.


                              ARTICLE 7. THE AGENT

                SECTION 7.1. Appointment; Powers and Immunities.

     Each Bank hereby  irrevocably  appoints and  authorizes the Agent to act as
its agent  hereunder and under the other Loan  Documents with such powers as are
specifically  delegated to the Agent by the terms  hereof and thereof,  together
with such other powers as are  reasonably  incidental  thereto.  The Agent:  (a)
shall have no duties or  responsibilities  except as expressly set forth in this
Agreement  and the  other  Loan  Documents,  and  shall  not by  reason  of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document be a trustee for any Bank; (b) shall not be
responsible  to the  Banks  for any  recitals,  statements,  representations  or
warranties  contained in this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  or in any
certificate or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any
Bank under,  this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  or for the  validity,
effectiveness,  genuineness,  enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document or any other document referred to or provided for herein
or therein or for any failure by the Borrower to perform any of its  obligations
hereunder  or  thereunder;  (c) shall not be required to initiate or conduct any
litigation or collection  proceedings hereunder or under any other Loan Document
except to the extent requested by the Required Banks, and then only on terms and
conditions  satisfactory to the Agent;  and (d) shall not be responsible for any
action  taken or  omitted  to be taken by it  hereunder  or under any other Loan
Document or any other document or instrument referred to or provided for

                                      -38-

<PAGE>




herein or therein or in  connection  herewith or  therewith,  except for its own
gross  negligence  or  willful  misconduct.  The Agent  may  employ  agents  and
attorneys-in-fact  and shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct
of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. The
provisions  of this  Article VII are solely for the benefit of the Agent and the
Banks,  and the Borrower shall not have any rights as a third party  beneficiary
of any of the  provisions  hereof.  In performing its functions and duties under
this Agreement and under the other Loan Documents, the Agent shall act solely as
agent of the Banks and does not assume  and shall not be deemed to have  assumed
any  obligation  towards  or  relationship  of agency  or trust  with or for the
Borrower.  The duties of the Agent shall be ministerial  and  administrative  in
nature,  and the Agent shall not have by reason of this  Agreement  or any other
Loan Document a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Bank.

                         SECTION 7.2. Reliance by Agent.

     The Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any certification, notice or other
communication (including any thereof by telephone,  telefax,  telegram or cable)
believed  by it to be genuine  and correct and to have been signed or sent by or
on behalf of the proper  Person or Persons,  and upon advice and  statements  of
legal counsel,  independent  and  accountants  or other experts  selected by the
Agent.  As to any matters not  expressly  provided for by this  Agreement or any
other Loan Document,  the Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting,
or in  refraining  from acting,  hereunder and  thereunder  in  accordance  with
instructions signed by the Required Banks, and such instructions of the Required
Banks in any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding on
all of the Banks.

                             SECTION 7.3. Defaults.

     The Agent  shall not be deemed to have  knowledge  of the  occurrence  of a
Default or an Event of Default  (other than the  nonpayment  of  principal of or
interest on the  Revolving  Loans)  unless the Agent has received  notice from a
Bank or the  Borrower  specifying  such  Default or Event of Default and stating
that such notice is a "Notice of Default".  In the event that the Agent receives
such a notice of the  occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default,  the Agent
shall give prompt  notice  thereof to the Banks.  The Agent shall give each Bank
prompt  notice of each  nonpayment  of principal of or interest on the Revolving
Loans  whether  or not it has  received  any  notice of the  occurrence  of such
nonpayment.  The Agent shall (subject to Section 9.6) take such action hereunder
with  respect to such  Default or Event of Default as shall be  directed  by the
Required  Banks,  provided that,  unless and until the Agent shall have received
such directions, the Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action,
or refrain  from taking such  action,  with  respect to such Default or Event of
Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Banks.

                     SECTION 7.4. Rights of Agent as a Bank.

     With respect to the Revolving Loans made by it, Wachovia in its capacity as
a Bank  hereunder  shall have the same rights and powers  hereunder as any other
Bank and may exercise the

                                      -39-

<PAGE>




same as though it were not acting as the Agent,  and the term  "Bank" or "Banks"
shall,  unless  the  context  otherwise  indicates,   include  Wachovia  in  its
individual  capacity.  The Agent may (without having to account  therefor to any
Bank) accept  deposits from,  lend money to and generally  engage in any kind of
banking,  trust or other business with the Borrower (and any of its  Affiliates)
as if it were not acting as the Agent,  and the Agent may accept  fees and other
consideration  from the Borrower (in addition to any agency fees and arrangement
fees  heretofore  agreed to between the  Borrower and the Agent) for services in
connection  with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise  without
having to account for the same to the Banks.

                          SECTION 7.5. Indemnification.

     Each Bank severally  agrees to indemnify the Agent, to the extent the Agent
shall not have been  reimbursed by the Borrower,  ratably in accordance with its
Commitment,  for  any  and  all  liabilities,   obligations,   losses,  damages,
penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses  (including,  without
limitation,  counsel fees and  disbursements)  or  disbursements of any kind and
nature  whatsoever  which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the
Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this  Agreement or any other Loan
Document or any other documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein
or the transactions  contemplated hereby or thereby (excluding,  unless an Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing,  the normal  administrative costs and
expenses  incident to the  performance  of its agency  duties  hereunder) or the
enforcement  of any of the terms hereof or thereof or any such other  documents;
provided,  however that no Bank shall be liable for any of the  foregoing to the
extent they arise from the gross negligence or willful  misconduct of the Agent.
If any indemnity furnished to the Agent for any purpose shall, in the opinion of
the Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, the Agent may call for additional
indemnity and cease, or not commence,  to do the acts indemnified  against until
such additional indemnity is furnished.

                  SECTION 7.6. Payee of Note Treated as Owner.

     The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the owner thereof for
all  purposes  hereof  unless and until a written  notice of the  assignment  or
transfer  thereof  shall have been filed  with the Agent and the  provisions  of
Section  9.8 have been  satisfied.  Any  requests,  authority  or consent of any
Person  who at the time of making  such  request  or giving  such  authority  or
consent  is the  holder  of any Note  shall be  conclusive  and  binding  on any
subsequent  holder,  transferee or assignee of that Note or of any Note or Notes
issued in exchange therefor or replacement thereof.

               SECTION 7.7. Nonreliance on Agent and Other Banks.

     Each Bank agrees  that it has,  independently  and without  reliance on the
Agent or any other Bank, and based on such  documents and  information as it has
deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of the Borrower and decision to
enter into this Agreement and that it will,  independently  and without reliance
upon the 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 analysis and

                                      -40-

<PAGE>




decisions  in taking or not taking  action  under this  Agreement  or any of the
other Loan Documents. The Agent shall not be required to keep itself informed as
to the performance or observance by the Borrower of this Agreement or any of the
other Loan Documents or any other document referred to or provided for herein or
therein or to  inspect  the  properties  or books of the  Borrower  or any other
Person.  Except  for  notices,  reports  and  other  documents  and  information
expressly  required to be furnished to the Banks by the Agent hereunder or under
the other Loan Documents, the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to
provide any Bank with any credit or other  information  concerning  the affairs,
financial  condition  or business of the Borrower or any other Person (or any of
their Affiliates) which may come into the possession of the Agent.

                          SECTION 7.8. Failure to Act.

     Except for action  expressly  required of the Agent  hereunder or under the
other Loan Documents, the Agent shall in all cases be fully justified in failing
or refusing to act hereunder  and  thereunder  unless it shall  receive  further
assurances to its satisfaction by the Banks of their indemnification obligations
under  Section  7.5  against  any and all  liability  and  expense  which may be
incurred  by the Agent by reason of taking,  continuing  to take,  or failing to
take any such action.

                       SECTION 7.9. Resignation of Agent.

     Subject to the  appointment and acceptance of a successor Agent as provided
below,  the Agent may resign at any time by giving notice  thereof to the Banks.
Upon any such resignation,  the Required Banks shall have the right to appoint a
successor  Agent.  If no  successor  Agent shall have been so  appointed  by the
Required Banks and shall have accepted such appointment  within thirty (30) days
after the retiring  Agent's notice of resignation,  then the retiring Agent may,
on behalf of the Banks,  appoint a successor  Agent.  Upon the acceptance of any
appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent,  such successor Agent shall
thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights,  powers,  privileges
and duties of the retiring  Agent,  and the retiring  Agent shall be  discharged
from  its  duties  and  obligations   hereunder.   After  any  retiring  Agent's
resignation  or removal  hereunder as Agent,  the  provisions  of this Article 7
shall  continue  in effect for its  benefit in respect of any  actions  taken or
omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Agent hereunder.


                ARTICLE 8. CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES; COMPENSATION

     SECTION 8.1. Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair.

     If on or  prior  to the  first  day  of  any  Interest  Period,  the  Agent
determines  that deposits in Dollars (in the  applicable  amounts) are not being
offered in the relevant market for such Interest  Period,  or the Required Banks
advise the Agent that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, as determined by the Agent,  will
not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Banks of funding the relevant
Euro-Dollar Rate Loans for such Interest Period, then, the Agent shall forthwith
give notice thereof

                                      -41-

<PAGE>




to the Borrower and the Banks,  whereupon  until the Agent notifies the Borrower
that the  circumstances  giving rise to such  suspension  no longer  exist,  the
obligations of the Banks to make the  Euro-Dollar  Rate Loans  specified in such
notice shall be suspended.  Unless the Borrower  notifies the Agent at least two
(2) Domestic  Business days before the date of any Borrowing of such Euro-Dollar
Rate Loans for which a Notice of  Borrowing  has  previously  been given that it
elects not to borrow on such date,  such  Borrowing  shall  instead be made as a
Base Rate Borrowing.

                            SECTION 8.2. Illegality.

     If, after the date  hereof,  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 (any such
agency being referred to as an "Authority"  and any such event being referred to
as a "Change of Law"),  or compliance  by any Bank (or its Lending  Office) with
any  request  or  directive  (whether  or not  having  the  force of law) of any
Authority  shall make it  unlawful  or  impossible  for any Bank (or its Lending
Office) to make, maintain or fund its Euro-Dollar Rate Loans and such Bank shall
so notify the Agent,  the Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the other
Banks and the Borrower,  whereupon until such Bank notifies the Borrower and the
Agent that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the
obligation  of such Bank to make  Euro-Dollar  Rate  Loans  shall be  suspended.
Before giving any notice to the Agent pursuant to this Section,  such Bank shall
designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for
giving  such notice and will not, in the  judgment  of such Bank,  be  otherwise
disadvantageous  to such Bank, in any respect  deemed  material by such Bank. If
such Bank shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain and fund
any of its outstanding  Euro-Dollar  Rate Loans to maturity and shall so specify
in  such  notice,  the  Borrower  shall  immediately  prepay  in full  the  then
outstanding  principal  amount  of each  Euro-Dollar  Rate  Loan  of such  Bank,
together with accrued interest  thereon.  Concurrently  with prepaying each such
Euro-Dollar  Rate Loan, the Borrower shall borrow,  pursuant to Section 2.2.3, a
Base Rate Loan in an equal  principal  amount from such Bank (on which  interest
and principal shall be payable  contemporaneously  with the related  Euro-Dollar
Rate Loans of the other Banks), and such Bank shall make such a Base Rate Loan.

                 SECTION 8.3. Increased Cost and Reduced Return.

     8.3.1  Change  of Law.  If  after  the  date  hereof,  a  Change  of Law or
compliance  by any Bank (or its Lending  Office)  with any request or  directive
(whether  or not having  the force of law) of any  Authority  either:  (i) shall
subject any Bank (or its Lending  Office) to any tax,  duty or other charge with
respect to its Revolving  Loans,  its Note or its  obligation to make  Revolving
Loans,  or shall  change the basis of  taxation  of payments to any Bank (or its
Lending  Office) of the principal of or interest on its  Revolving  Loans or any
other amounts due under this Agreement in respect of its Revolving  Loans or its
obligation to make Revolving Loans (except for changes in the rate of tax on the
overall  net  income  of  such  Bank  or  its  Lending  Office  imposed  by  the
jurisdiction in which such Bank's  principal  executive office or Lending Office
is located); or (ii)

                                      -42-

<PAGE>




shall impose,  modify or deem applicable any reserve,  special deposit insurance
or similar  requirement  (including,  without  limitation,  any such requirement
imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve  System,  but excluding
any such requirement  included in an applicable  Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage)
against assets of,  deposits with or for the account of, or credit  extended by,
any Bank (or its  Lending  Office);  or (iii)  shall  impose on any Bank (or its
Lending  Office) or the London  Interbank  Market  any other  similar  condition
affecting its Revolving  Loans,  its Notes or its  obligation to make  Revolving
Loans;  and the result of any of the  foregoing  is to increase the cost to such
Bank (or its Lending  Office) of making or maintaining any Revolving Loan, or to
reduce  the  amount  of any such  received  or  receivable  by such Bank (or its
Lending Office) under this Agreement or under its Notes with respect thereto, by
an amount  deemed by such Bank to be material,  then,  within  fifteen (15) days
after demand by such Bank (with a copy to the Agent),  the Borrower shall pay to
such Bank such  additional  amount or amounts as will  compensate  such Bank for
such increased cost or reduction.

     8.3.2 Capital  Adequacy.  If any Bank shall have  determined that after the
date hereof the adoption of any  applicable  law, rule or  regulation  regarding
capital adequacy,  or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or
administration  thereof,  or compliance by any Bank (or its Lending Office) with
any request or directive  regarding  capital adequacy (whether or not having the
force of law) of any  Authority,  has or would have the effect of  reducing  the
rate of  return on such  Bank's  capital  as a  consequence  of its  obligations
hereunder to a level below that which such Bank could have achieved but for such
adoption,  change or compliance  (taking into consideration such Bank's policies
with  respect  to  capital  adequacy),  by an  amount  deemed by such Bank to be
material,  then from time to time, within fifteen (15) days after demand by such
Bank, the Borrower shall pay to such Bank such  additional  amount or amounts as
will compensate such Bank for such reduction.

     8.3.3 Notice of Determination.  Each Bank will promptly notify the Borrower
and the Agent of any event of which it has knowledge,  occurring  after the date
hereof,  which will entitle such Bank to  compensation  pursuant to this Section
and will designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the
need for,  or reduce the  amount  of,  such  compensation  and will not,  in the
judgment of such Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank, in any respect
deemed  material by such Bank. A certificate  of any Bank claiming  compensation
under this Section and setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid
to it  hereunder  shall be  conclusive  in the  absence of  manifest  error.  In
determining  such  amount,  such  Bank  may use  any  reasonable  averaging  and
attribution methods.

     8.3.4  Assignees  Covered.  The  provisions  of this  Section  8.3 shall be
applicable  with  respect to any  Assignee or other  Transferee  (excluding  any
Participants),  and any  calculations  required by such provisions shall be made
based upon the circumstances of such Assignee or other Transferee.

  SECTION 8.4. Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Euro-Dollar Rate Loans.


                                      -43-

<PAGE>




     If (i) the  obligation  of any Bank to make or  maintain  Euro-Dollar  Rate
Loans has been  suspended  pursuant to Section 8.2 or (ii) any Bank has demanded
compensation  under Section 8.3.1,  and the Borrower shall, by at least five (5)
Euro-Dollar  Business  Days' prior notice to such Bank  through the Agent,  have
elected  that the  provisions  of this Section  shall apply to such Bank,  then,
unless and until such Bank notifies the Borrower that the  circumstances  giving
rise to such  suspension or demand for  compensation  no longer  apply:  (i) all
Revolving Loans which would  otherwise be made by such Bank as Euro-Dollar  Rate
Loans,  shall be made  instead  as Base Rate  Loans (in all cases  interest  and
principal on such Revolving  Loans shall be payable  contemporaneously  with the
related  Euro-Dollar Rate Loans of the other Banks),  and (ii) after each of its
Euro-Dollar  Rate Loans has been repaid,  all payments of principal  which would
otherwise  be applied to repay such  Euro-Dollar  Rate Loans shall be applied to
repay its Base Rate Loans instead.

                      SECTION 8.5. Replacement of a Lender.

     In addition to the  foregoing,  if (i) the  obligation of any Bank (but not
all  Banks)  to make or  maintain  Euro-Dollar  Rate  Loans  has been  suspended
pursuant  to  Section  8.2 or (ii) any Bank  (but not all  Banks)  has  demanded
compensation  under Section 8.3,  then, in either such case,  the Borrower shall
have the  right,  at its  option,  upon  giving  at least  five (5)  Euro-Dollar
Business  Days'  prior  notice to such  Bank  through  the  Agent,  either:  (i)
notwithstanding  any  term of  Section  2.7.3 to the  contrary,  to  reduce  the
Commitment  of such Bank to zero, in which case the Borrower  shall  reduce,  by
repayment or prepayment,  as the case may be, its  Borrowings  from such Bank to
zero  effective  upon such  Commitment  reduction  becoming  effective,  and the
Commitment of each remaining Bank shall  remained  unchanged;  or (ii) to obtain
one or more Banks or Assignees  willing to replace such Bank,  in which case the
Bank which is being  replaced shall execute and deliver to such Bank or Assignee
an Assignment  and  Acceptance in accordance  with Section 9.8.3 with respect to
such Bank's entire interest under this Agreement and the Notes.

                           SECTION 8.6. Compensation.

     Upon the request of any Bank,  delivered to the Borrower and the Agent, the
Borrower shall pay to such Bank such amount or amounts as shall  compensate such
Bank for any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Bank (in connection with the
relevant Interest Period) as a result of: (i) any payment or prepayment (whether
pursuant to Section 8.2 or otherwise) of a Euro-Dollar Rate Loan on a date other
than the last day of an Interest Period for such  Euro-Dollar Rate Loan; or (ii)
any failure by the  Borrower to prepay a  Euro-Dollar  Rate Loan on the date for
such  prepayment  specified in the relevant notice of prepayment  hereunder;  or
(iii) any failure by the Borrower to borrow a Euro-Dollar  Rate Loan on the date
for the  Euro-Dollar  Borrowing  of which such Euro-  Dollar Rate Loan is a part
specified in the applicable  Notice of Borrowing  delivered  pursuant to Section
2.2. Such compensation shall include, without limitation, an amount equal to the
excess,  if any, of (x) the amount of interest  which would have  accrued on the
amount so paid or prepaid or not  prepaid or  borrowed  for the period  from the
date of such payment,  prepayment or failure to prepay or borrow to the last day
of the then current  Interest Period for such  Euro-Dollar Rate Loan (or, in the
case of a failure to prepay or borrow,  the Interest Period for such Euro-Dollar
Rate Loan

                                      -44-

<PAGE>




which would have  commenced  on the date of such failure to prepay or borrow) at
the  applicable  rate of interest for such  Euro-Dollar  Rate Loan  provided for
herein  (excluding,  however,  therefrom the amount thereof  attributable to the
imposition  of the  Applicable  Margin)  over (y) the  amount  of  interest  (as
reasonably  determined  by such Bank) such Bank would have paid on  deposits  in
Dollars of comparable amounts having terms comparable to such period placed with
it by leading banks in the London Interbank Market.


                            ARTICLE 9. MISCELLANEOUS

                              SECTION 9.1. Notices.

     All notices,  requests and other  communications  to any party hereunder or
under any Loan Document shall be in writing (including bank wire,  telecopier or
similar  writing) and shall be given to such party at its address or  telecopier
number  set  forth on the  signature  pages  hereof  or such  other  address  or
telecopier  number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice
to each other party. Each such notice,  request or other  communication shall be
effective (i) if given by  telecopier,  when such telecopy is transmitted to the
telecopier number specified in this Section and the appropriate  confirmation is
received, (ii) if given by mail, seventy-two (72) hours after such communication
is  deposited  in the United  States  mails with first  class  postage  prepaid,
addressed as aforesaid or (iii) if given by any other means,  when  delivered at
the address specified in this Section;  provided that notices to the Agent under
Article 2 or Article 8 shall not be effective until received.

                            SECTION 9.2. No Waivers.

     No failure or delay by the Agent or any Bank in exercising any right, power
or privilege  hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver  thereof nor
shall any  single or  partial  exercise  thereof  preclude  any other or further
exercise  thereof or the exercise of any other right,  power or  privilege.  The
rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any
rights or remedies provided by law.

                    SECTION 9.3. Expenses; Documentary Taxes.

     The  Borrower  shall  pay  (i) all  out-of-pocket  expenses  of the  Agent,
including fees and disbursements of special counsel for the Banks and the Agent,
in  connection  with  the  preparation  of this  Agreement  and the  other  Loan
Documents, any waiver or consent hereunder or thereunder or any amendment hereof
or thereof or any Default or alleged Default hereunder or thereunder and (ii) if
a Default occurs, all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agent and any Bank,
including fees and disbursements of counsel  (including a reasonable  allocation
of the cost of internal counsel), in connection with such Default and collection
and other enforcement  proceedings resulting therefrom,  including out-of-pocket
expenses  incurred  in  enforcing  this  Agreement,  the Notes  and  other  Loan
Documents.  The  Borrower  shall  indemnify  the Agent and each Bank against any
transfer

                                      -45-

<PAGE>




taxes, documentary taxes, assessments or charges made by any Authority by reason
of the  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement,  the Notes or the other Loan
Documents.

                          SECTION 9.4. Indemnification.

     The  Borrower  shall  indemnify  the  Agent,  the Banks and each  affiliate
thereof and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from, and
hold each of them harmless against, any and all losses,  liabilities,  claims or
damages  to which  any of them  may  become  subject,  insofar  as such  losses,
liabilities,  claims  or  damages  arise  out of or  result  from any  actual or
proposed use by the  Borrower of the proceeds of any  extension of credit by any
Bank  hereunder  or breach by the Borrower of this  Agreement,  the Notes or any
other Loan Document or from any  investigation,  litigation or other  proceeding
(including  any  threatened   investigation  or  proceeding)   relating  to  the
foregoing,  and the Borrower  shall  reimburse the Agent and each Bank, and each
affiliate  thereof  and their  respective  directors,  officers,  employees  and
agents, upon demand for any expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees)
incurred in connection with any such investigation or proceeding;  but excluding
any such losses, liabilities,  claims, damages or expenses incurred by reason of
the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Person to be indemnified.  The
indemnification  provisions  (including,  without  limitation,   provisions  for
default  interest,  to the extent that this  Section 9.4 might be  construed  as
duplicating  the  Borrower's  obligation  to pay interest at the Default Rate as
required elsewhere in this Agreement) set forth in this Section 9.4 are meant to
be without duplication of any other indemnification provisions set forth in this
Agreement.

                        SECTION 9.5. Sharing of Setoffs.

     Each Bank agrees  that if it shall,  by  exercising  any right of setoff or
counterclaim  or  otherwise,  receive  payment of a proportion  of the aggregate
amount of principal and interest owing with respect to the Note held by it which
is  greater  than the  proportion  received  by any other Bank in respect of the
aggregate  amount of all principal  and interest  owing with respect to the Note
held by such other Bank, the Bank receiving such proportionately greater payment
shall purchase such participations in the Notes held by the other Banks owing to
such other Banks, and such other  adjustments  shall be made, as may be required
so that all such  payments of principal  and interest  with respect to the Notes
held by the Banks  owing to such  other  Banks  shall be shared by the Banks pro
rata;  provided  that (i) nothing in this Section  shall impair the right of any
Bank to exercise  any right of setoff or  counterclaim  it may have and to apply
the amount  subject to such  exercise  to the  payment  of  indebtedness  of the
Borrower  other than its  indebtedness  under the Notes,  and (ii) if all or any
portion of such payment received by the purchasing Bank is thereafter  recovered
from such purchasing Bank, such purchase from each other Bank shall be rescinded
and such other Bank shall repay to the  purchasing  Bank the  purchase  price of
such  participation to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal
to such other Bank's  ratable  share  (according  to the  proportion  of (x) the
amount of such  other  Bank's  required  repayment  to (y) 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.  The
Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable
law, that any holder of a participation in a Note, acquired pursuant

                                      -46-

<PAGE>




to the foregoing arrangements, may exercise rights of setoff or counterclaim and
other rights with respect to such  participation as fully as if such holder of a
participation  were a direct  creditor  of the  Borrower  in the  amount of such
participation.

                      SECTION 9.6. Amendments and Waivers.

     Any provision of this Agreement,  the Notes or any other Loan Documents may
be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and
is signed by the Borrower and the Required  Banks (and,  if the rights or duties
of the Agent  are  affected  thereby,  by the  Agent);  provided  that,  no such
amendment or waiver shall,  unless signed by all Banks,  (i) except as otherwise
provided in Section 8.5,  change the  Commitment of any Bank or subject any Bank
to any additional  obligation,  (ii) change the principal of or rate of interest
on any Revolving  Loan or any fees or other  amounts  payable  hereunder,  (iii)
change  the date  fixed for any  payment  of  principal  of or  interest  on any
Revolving  Loan or any fees  hereunder,  (iv)  change the  amount of  principal,
interest,  fees or other amounts payable hereunder due on any date fixed for the
payment  thereof,  (v)  change  the  percentage  of  the  Commitments  or of the
aggregate unpaid amount of the Notes, or the percentage of Banks, which shall be
required  for the Banks or any of them to take any action  under this Section or
any other provision of this Agreement,  (vi) change the manner of application of
any payments made under this Agreement or the Notes, (vii) release or substitute
all or any substantial  part of the collateral (if any) held as security for the
Revolving  Loans,  (viii) release any Guarantee  given to support payment of the
Revolving  Loans;  (ix) change any terms of clause (vii) of Section 5.19; or (x)
change any terms of Section 5.20. In connection with the foregoing, the Borrower
will not  solicit,  request or  negotiate  for or with  respect to any  proposed
waiver or amendment of any of the provisions of this Agreement  unless each Bank
shall be informed  thereof by the Borrower or the Agent and shall be afforded an
opportunity of  considering  the same and shall be supplied by the Borrower with
sufficient  information  to enable it to make an informed  decision with respect
thereto.  Executed or true and correct copies of any waiver or consent  effected
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall be delivered by the requisite
percentage of Banks. The Borrower will not, directly or indirectly, pay or cause
to be paid  any  remuneration,  whether  by way of  supplemental  or  additional
interest,  fee or  otherwise,  to any  Bank  (in  its  capacity  as a  Bank)  as
consideration  for or as an  inducement to the entering into by such Bank of any
waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement  unless
such remuneration is concurrently  paid, on the same terms,  ratably to all such
Banks.

                    SECTION 9.7. No Margin Stock Collateral.

     Each of the Banks  represents  to the Agent,  the  Borrower and each of the
other  Banks  that it in good  faith is not,  (i)  directly  or  indirectly  (by
negative  pledge or  otherwise),  relying upon any Margin Stock as collateral in
the extension or  maintenance  of the credit  provided for in this  Agreement or
(ii)  entering  into this  Agreement  with an immediate  intention to resell its
Commitment or Revolving Loans.

                      SECTION 9.8. Successors and Assigns.

                                      -47-

<PAGE>




     9.8.1 No Assignment by Borrower.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors  and assigns;  provided that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise
transfer any of its rights under this Agreement.

     9.8.2 Participation.  Any Bank may, without the consent of the Borrower, at
any  time  sell to one or more  Persons  (each  a  "Participant")  participating
interests in any Revolving  Loan owing to such Bank, any Note held by such Bank,
any  Commitment  of such  Bank  hereunder  or any  other  interest  of such Bank
hereunder.  In the event of any such sale by a Bank of a participating  interest
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 such Note for all  purposes
under this  Agreement,  and the  Borrower  and the Agent shall  continue to deal
solely and directly  with such Bank in  connection  with such Bank's  rights and
obligations  under  this  Agreement.  In no  event  shall  a Bank  that  sells a
participation be obligated to the Participant to take or refrain from taking any
action  hereunder  except  that such Bank may agree that it will not  (except as
provided below), without the consent of the Participant, agree to (i) the change
of any date fixed for the  payment of  principal  of or  interest on the related
Revolving  Loan or  Revolving  Loans,  (ii) the  change  of the  amounts  of any
principal,  interest or fees due on any date fixed for the payment  thereof with
respect to the related  Revolving Loan or Revolving  Loans,  (iii) the change of
the principal or the related  Revolving Loan or Revolving Loans, (iv) any change
in the rate at which either  interest is payable  thereon or (if the Participant
is entitled to any part thereof) a commitment fee is payable  hereunder from the
rate at which the  Participant  is entitled to receive  interest or a commitment
fee (as the case may be) in respect of such  participation,  (v) the  release or
substitution of all or any  substantial  part of the collateral (if any) held as
security for the Revolving  Loans, or (vi) the release of any Guarantee given to
support  payment  of the  Revolving  Loans.  Each Bank  selling a  participating
interest in any Revolving  Loan,  Note,  Commitment or other interest under this
Agreement shall,  within ten (10) Domestic  Business Days of such sale,  provide
the Borrower and the Agent with written  notification stating that such sale has
occurred and  identifying  the  Participant  and the interest  purchased by such
Participant. Except as otherwise expressly provided in Article 8, the Agent, the
Banks and the  Borrower  agree that each  Participant  shall be  entitled to the
benefits  of Article 8 with  respect to its  participation  in  Revolving  Loans
outstanding  from time to time, but only to the extent that such Bank which sold
the relevant  participation  would have been  entitled  thereto  pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement.

     9.8.3 Assignments.  Any Bank may at any time assign to one or more banks or
financial institutions (each an "Assignee") all, or a proportionate part of all,
of its  rights and  obligations  under this  Agreement  and the Notes,  and such
Assignee shall assume all such rights and obligations, pursuant to an Assignment
and  Acceptance,  executed by such Assignee,  such transferor Bank and the Agent
(and,  in the case of an  Assignee  that is not then a Bank,  by the  Borrower);
provided  that (i) no interest  may be sold by a Bank  pursuant to this  Section
unless the Assignee  shall agree to assume  ratably  equivalent  portions of the
transferor  Bank's  Commitment,  (ii)  the  amount  of  the  Commitment  of  the
transferor Bank subject to such assignment  (determined as of the effective date
of the assignment) shall be equal to at least Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000),
(iii) no interest

                                      -48-

<PAGE>




may be sold by a Bank  pursuant to this Section to any Assignee that is not then
a Bank or an  Affiliate  of a Bank  without the consent of the  Borrower and the
Agent  (which  consent  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld),  except after the
occurrence  of, and during the  continuance  of, an Event of  Default,  and (iv)
during the term of this  Agreement,  a Bank may not have more than two Assignees
that are not then Banks at any one time.  Upon (A)  execution of the  Assignment
and  Acceptance  by such  transferor  Bank,  such  Assignee,  the  Agent and (if
applicable) the Borrower, (B) delivery of an executed copy of the Assignment and
Acceptance  of the Borrower and the Agent,  (C) payment by such Assignee to such
transferor  Bank of an amount  equal to the purchase  price agreed  between such
transferor  Bank  and  such  Assignee,  and  (D)  payment  of a  processing  and
recordation fee of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500) to the Agent, such
Assignee shall for all purposes be a Bank party to this Agreement and shall have
all the rights and obligations of a Bank under this Agreement to the same extent
as if it were an original  party hereto with a  Commitment  as set forth in such
instrument of  assumption,  and the  transferor  Bank shall be released from its
future obligations  hereunder to a corresponding  extent, and no further consent
or action by the  Borrower,  the Banks or the Agent shall be required.  Upon the
consummation of any transfer to an Assignee  pursuant to this Section 9.8.3, the
transferor Bank, the Agent and the Borrower shall make appropriate  arrangements
so that, if required, a new Note is issued to such Assignee.

     9.8.4  Disclosures.  Subject to the provisions of Section 9.9, the Borrower
authorizes  each  Bank  to  disclose  to  any  Participant,  Assignee  or  other
transferee  (each a  "Transferee")  and any  prospective  Transferee any and all
information  in such Bank's  possession  concerning  the Borrower which has been
delivered to such Bank by the Borrower  pursuant to this  Agreement or which has
been  delivered  to such Bank by the  Borrower  in  connection  with such Bank's
credit evaluation prior to entering into this Agreement.

     9.8.5 Status of Transferee.  No Transferee shall be entitled to receive any
greater  payment  under  Section  8.3 than the  transferor  Bank would have been
entitled to receive with respect to the rights transferred, unless such transfer
is made with the Borrower's prior written consent or by reason of the provisions
of Section 8.2 or 8.3  requiring  such Bank to  designate  a  different  Lending
Office under certain  circumstances or at a time when the  circumstances  giving
rise to such greater payment did not exist.

                          SECTION 9.9. Confidentiality.

     Each Bank and the Agent agrees to exercise its best  efforts  (and,  in any
event,  with at least the same degree of care as it  ordinarily  exercises  with
respect  to  confidential  information  of its  other  customers)  to  keep  any
information  delivered  or made  available  by the  Borrower  to it,  including,
without limitation,  information obtained by the Agent or such Bank by reason of
a visit or investigation by any Person contemplated in Section 5.2, confidential
from any one other than persons employed or retained by such Bank who are or are
expected  to  become   engaged  in   evaluating,   approving,   structuring   or
administering the Revolving Loans;  provided,  however that nothing herein shall
prevent any Bank from disclosing such  information (i) to the Agent or any other
Bank, (ii) upon the order of any court or administrative  agency, (iii) upon the
request or demand of

                                      -49-

<PAGE>




any regulatory  agency or authority  having  jurisdiction  over such Bank,  (iv)
which has been publicly  disclosed other than by an act or omission of the Agent
or any Bank except as permitted herein, (v) to the extent reasonably required in
connection with any litigation (with respect to this Agreement, any of the other
Loan  Documents,  in  connection  with  any  of  the  foregoing,  or  any  other
obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary owing to the Agent or any Bank) to
which the Agent, any Bank or their respective Affiliates may be a party, (vi) to
the extent  reasonably  required in  connection  with the exercise of any remedy
hereunder,  (vii) to such Bank's  legal  counsel and  independent  auditors  and
(viii) to any actual or proposed  Participant,  Assignee or other  Transferee of
all or part of its rights  hereunder  which has agreed in writing to be bound by
the provisions of this Section 9.9.

                     SECTION 9.10. Representation by Banks.

     Each Bank hereby  represents  that it is a  commercial  lender or financial
institution  which makes  Revolving Loans in the ordinary course of its business
and that it will make its Revolving  Loans  hereunder for its own account in the
ordinary  course of such business;  provided,  however that,  subject to Section
9.8, the disposition of a Note or the Notes held by that Bank shall at all times
be within its exclusive control.

                       SECTION 9.11. Obligations Several.

     The  obligations of each Bank  hereunder are several,  and no Bank shall be
responsible  for the  obligations  or  commitment  of any other Bank  hereunder.
Nothing contained in this Agreement and no action taken by Banks pursuant hereto
shall be deemed to constitute the Banks to be a partnership,  an association,  a
joint  venture  or any other  kind of entity.  The  amounts  payable at any time
hereunder to each Bank shall be a separate and  independent  debt, and each Bank
shall be  entitled  to  protect  and  enforce  its  rights  arising  out of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document and it shall not be necessary for any other
Bank to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

                           SECTION 9.12. GEORGIA LAW.

     THIS  AGREEMENT,  EACH NOTE AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

                          SECTION 9.13. Interpretation.

     No provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents  shall be
construed  against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any
court or other governmental or judicial authority by reason of such party having
or being deemed to have structured or dictated such provision.


                                      -50-

<PAGE>




                     SECTION 9.14. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.

     THE BORROWER,  AND EACH OF THE BANKS AND THE AGENT  IRREVOCABLY (A) SUBMITS
TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE  PERSONAL  JURISDICTION IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA,  THE COURTS
THEREOF  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES  DISTRICT  COURTS  SITTING  THEREIN,  FOR  THE
ENFORCEMENT  OF THIS  AGREEMENT,  THE NOTES AND THE OTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENTS,  (B)
WAIVES ANY AND ALL PERSONAL  RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW OF ANY  JURISDICTION TO OBJECT
ON  ANY  BASIS  (INCLUDING,  WITHOUT  LIMITATION,  INCONVENIENCE  OF  FORUM)  TO
JURISDICTION  OR VENUE WITHIN THE STATE OF GEORGIA FOR THE PURPOSE OF LITIGATION
TO ENFORCE THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AND (C) AGREES
THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE UPON IT IN THE MANNER  PRESCRIBED IN SECTION
9.1 FOR THE GIVING OF NOTICE TO THE BORROWER. NOTHING HEREIN CONTAINED, HOWEVER,
SHALL  PREVENT  THE AGENT  FROM  BRINGING  ANY ACTION OR  EXERCISING  ANY RIGHTS
AGAINST ANY SECURITY AND AGAINST THE BORROWER PERSONALLY, AND AGAINST ANY ASSETS
OF THE BORROWER, WITHIN ANY OTHER STATE OR JURISDICTION.

                           SECTION 9.15. Counterparts.

     This Agreement may be signed in any number of  counterparts,  each of which
shall be an  original,  with the same  effect as if the  signatures  thereto and
hereto were upon the same instrument.

                             SECTION 9.16. Survival.

     All representations, warranties and covenants made herein shall survive the
execution and delivery of all of the Loan Documents. The terms and provisions of
this Agreement  shall continue in full force and effect until the payment of the
Notes and termination of the Commitments.

            SECTION 9.17. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability.

     This  Agreement  shall  constitute the entire  agreement  among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any
provision  hereof may be changed,  waived,  discharged,  modified or  terminated
orally,  but only by an instrument in writing in accordance with Section 9.6. If
any  provision of any of the Loan  Documents or the  application  thereof to any
party thereto or circumstances  shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent,
the remainder of such Loan Documents and the  application of such  provisions to
any other party thereto or circumstance  shall not be affected thereby and shall
be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.

                       SECTION 9.18. TIME OF THE ESSENCE.

     TIME IS OF THE  ESSENCE  IN THIS  AGREEMENT,  THE NOTES AND THE OTHER  LOAN
DOCUMENTS.


                                      -51-

<PAGE>




                    SECTION 9.19. Banks Not a Joint Venturer.

     Neither  this  Agreement  nor any  agreements,  instruments,  documents  or
transactions  contemplated  hereby (including the Loan Documents),  shall in any
respect be  interpreted,  deemed or  construed as making any Bank or the Agent a
partner  or  joint  venturer  with  the  Borrower  or as  creating  any  similar
relationship or entity.

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


                                           "BORROWER"

                                            APPLE SOUTH, INC.
                                            (SEAL)


                           By:_________________________________
                              Erich J. Booth, Chief Financial
                              Officer and Treasurer


                           Attest:_____________________________
                             Tonya Benjamin, Assistant Secretary


                                            Apple South, Inc.
                                            Corporate Headquarters
                                            Hancock at Washington
                                            Madison, Georgia  30650
                                            Attn:  Erich J. Booth,
                                                   Chief Financial Officer

                                            Telecopier Number: (706) 342-4057



                                      -52-

<PAGE>





                                            "BANKS"

                                            WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL
                                            ASSOCIATION, as the Agent and as
                                            a Bank
                                            (SEAL)


                           By:________________________________
                              W. Tompkins Rison, Vice President

                        
                                            Lending Office:

                                            Wachovia Bank, N.A.
                                            191 Peachtree Street, N.E.
                                            30th Floor
                                            Atlanta, Georgia  30303-1757
                                            Attention: Georgia Corporate 
                                                       Commercial Group

                                            Telecopier Number: (404) 332-6920

                                            Commitment Amount:

                                            $55,000,000


                                      -53-

<PAGE>




                                            SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA,
                                            as a Bank
                                             (SEAL)


                           By:________________________________
                           Name:___________________________
                           Title:____________________________


                           By:________________________________
                           Name:___________________________
                           Title:____________________________

                           
                                            Lending Office:

                                            SunTrust Bank, Atlanta
                                            25 Park Place
                                            23rd Floor
                                            Atlanta, Georgia  30302

                                            Telecopier Number: (404) 588-8833

                                            Commitment Amount:

                                            $25,000,000


                                                       -54-

<PAGE>




                                            BANKBOSTON, N.A.,
                                            as a Bank
                                            (SEAL)


                           By:________________________________
                              Debra L. Zurka, Director

                                            Lending Office:

                                            Large Corporate-Restaurant Division
                                            100 Federal Street
                                            Mail Stop 01-09-05
                                            Boston, Massachusetts  02110

                                            Telecopier Number: (617) 434-0637

                                            Commitment Amount:

                                            $10,000,000


                                      -55-

<PAGE>




                                            COMERICA BANK,
                                            as a Bank
                                            (SEAL)


                           By:________________________________
                           Name:___________________________
                           Title:____________________________

                           
                                            Lending Office:

                                            Comerica Bank
                                            500 Woodward Avenue
                                            9th Floor, MC 3280
                                            Detroit, Michigan  48226

                                            Telecopier Number (313) 222-3330

                                            Commitment Amount:

                                            $10,000,000



                                      -56-

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT A

                        FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE


                            ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

                             Dated ________ __, 19__


     Reference  is made to the  Credit  Agreement  dated  as of  April  1,  1998
(together with all amendments and modifications  thereto, the "Credit Agreement"
among Apple South, Inc., a Georgia  corporation (the "Borrower"),  the Banks (as
defined in the Credit  Agreement) and Wachovia Bank,  National  Association,  as
Agent (the "Agent").  Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with
the same meaning.

________________________________________ (the "Assignor") and
________________________________________ (the "Assignee") agree as follows:

     1. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee,  and the Assignee
hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor,  a ________%  interest in and to
all of the Assignor's  rights and obligations  under the Credit  Agreement as of
the Effective Date (as defined below) (including,  without limitation,  a _____%
interest  (which on the Effective Date hereof is  $__________) in the Assignor's
Commitment  and a  _____  interest  (which  on  the  Effective  Date  hereof  is
$__________)  in the  Revolving  Loans  owing  to  the  Assignor  (which  on the
Effective Date hereof is $__________).

     2. The  Assignor  (i) makes no  representation  or warranty  and assumes no
responsibility  with respect to any  statements,  warranties or  representations
made in or in connection with the Credit  Agreement or the execution,  legality,
validity,  enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency  or  value  of the  Credit
Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto,  other
than that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by
it hereunder, that such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim and that
as of the date  hereof its  Commitment  (without  giving  effect to  assignments
thereof which have not yet become  effective) is  $__________  and the aggregate
outstanding  principal  amount of  Revolving  Loans owing to it (without  giving
effect  to  assignments   thereof  which  have  not  yet  become  effective)  is
$__________;   (ii)  makes  no   representation   or  warranty  and  assumes  no
responsibility  with respect to the  financial  condition of the Borrower or the
performance  or observance by the Borrower of any of its  obligations  under the
Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto;
and (iii)  attaches  the Note(s)  referred to in  paragraph 1 above and requests
that the Agent exchange such Note(s) for [a new Note dated  __________,  ____ in
the principal  amount of $__________  payable to the order of the Assignee) (new
Notes as follows: a Note dated

                                       -1-

<PAGE>




__________,  ____ in the principal amount of $__________ payable to the order of
the  Assignor  and a Note  dated  __________,  ____ in the  principal  amount of
$__________ payable to the order of the Assignee].

     3. The  Assignee  (i)  confirms  that it has  received a copy of the Credit
Agreement,  together  with  copies of the  financial  statements  referred to in
Section 4.4.1 thereof (or any more recent  financial  statements of the Borrower
delivered  pursuant to Sections 5.1.1 or 5.1.2 thereof) and such other documents
and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (ii) agrees that it will,
independently  and without  reliance  upon the Agent,  the Assignor 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 Credit Agreement; (iii) confirms that it is a bank or financial
institution; (iv) appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent
on its behalf and to exercise  such  powers  under the Credit  Agreement  as are
delegated to the Agent by the terms  thereof,  together  with such powers as are
reasonably  incidental  thereto;  (v) agrees that it will perform in  accordance
with  their  terms  all of the  obligations  which by the  terms  of the  Credit
Agreement  are required to be performed by it as a Bank;  (vi)  specifies as its
Lending  Office (and address for notices) the office set forth  beneath its name
on the signature pages hereof, (vii) represents and warrants that the execution,
delivery  and  performance  of this  Assignment  and  Acceptance  are within its
corporate  powers  and have  been duly  authorized  by all  necessary  corporate
action, and (viii) attaches the forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service
of the United  States  certifying  as to the  Assignee's  status for purposes of
determining  exemption from United States  withholding taxes with respect to all
payments to be made to the Assignee under the Credit  Agreement and the Notes or
such other  documents as are  necessary to indicate  that all such  payments are
subject to such taxes at a rate reduced by an applicable tax treaty.

     4. The Effective  Date for this  Assignment  and  Acceptance  shall be (the
"Effective Date"). Following the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance, it
will be delivered to the Agent for execution and acceptance by the Agent (and to
the Borrower for execution by the Borrower.  If Assignee is organized  under the
laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States.

     5. Upon such  execution  and  acceptance  by the Agent and execution by the
Borrower,  if the Assignee is not a Bank prior to the Effective  Date,  from and
after  the  Effective  Date,  (i) the  Assignee  shall be a party to the  Credit
Agreement and, to the extent rights and obligations  have been transferred to it
by this  Assignment and  Acceptance,  have the rights and  obligations of a Bank
thereunder and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent its rights and obligations
have  been  transferred  to the  Assignee  by this  Assignment  and  Acceptance,
relinquish its rights (other than under Section 8.3 of the Credit Agreement) and
be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.

     6. Upon such  execution  and  acceptance  by the Agent and execution by the
Borrower,  if the Assignee is not a Bank prior to the Effective  Date,  from and
after the  Effective  Date,  the Agent shall make all payments in respect of the
interest assigned hereby to the Assignee. The

                                       -2-

<PAGE>




Assignor and Assignee  shall make all  appropriate  adjustments  in payments for
periods prior to such acceptance by the Agent directly between themselves.

     7. This  Assignment and  Acceptance  shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Georgia.

                               [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]


                           By:
                           Title:


                               [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]


                           By:
                           Title:


                                            Lending Office:
                                            [Address]

                                            WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                            as Agent


                           By:
                           Title:


                                            APPLE SOUTH, INC.
                                            If  the  Assignee  is not a
                                            Bank prior to the Effective Date.


                           By:
                           Title:


                                       -3-

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT B

                           FORM OF REVOLVING LOAN NOTE


                               REVOLVING LOAN NOTE

                                Atlanta, Georgia
                                  April 1, 1998


     For  value  received,   APPLE  SOUTH,  INC.,  a  Georgia  corporation  (the
"Borrower"), promises to pay to the order  of_____________________________  (the
"Bank"),  for the  account of its Lending  Office,  the  principal  sum of up to
____________ Million Dollars ($_________),  or such lesser amount as shall equal
the  unpaid  principal  amount  of each  Revolving  Loan made by the Bank to the
Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement referred to below, on the dates and in
the  amounts  provided in the Credit  Agreement.  The  Borrower  promises to pay
interest on the unpaid principal amount of this Revolving Loan Note on the dates
and at the rate or rates provided for in the Credit Agreement referred to below.
Interest  on any  overdue  principal  of and,  to the extent  permitted  by law,
overdue  interest on the  principal  amount  hereof  shall bear  interest at the
Default  Rate,  as provided for in the Credit  Agreement.  All such  payments of
principal  and interest  shall be made in lawful  money of the United  States in
Federal or other  immediately  available  funds at the office of Wachovia  Bank,
National Association,  191 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta,  Georgia 30303-1757,
or such other  address as may be  specified  from time to time  pursuant  to the
Credit Agreement.

     All Revolving  Loans made by the Bank, the respective  maturities  thereof,
the interest rates from time to time applicable  thereto,  and all repayments of
the  principal  thereof may be recorded by the Bank and,  prior to any  transfer
hereof,  endorsed  by  the  Bank  on  the  schedule  attached  hereto,  or  on a
continuation of such schedule attached to and made a part hereof;  provided that
the failure of the Bank to make any such  recordation or  endorsement  shall not
affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under the Credit Agreement.

     This  Revolving  Loan Note is one of the Notes  referred  to in the  Credit
Agreement dated as of April 1, 1998, among the Borrower, the Banks listed on the
signature pages thereof and Wachovia Bank,  National  Association,  as Agent (as
the same may be amended and modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement").
Terms defined in the Credit  Agreement  are used herein with the same  meanings.
Reference is made to the Credit  Agreement for the  provisions  for the optional
and mandatory  prepayment and the repayment  hereof and the  acceleration of the
maturity hereof.


                                       -1-

<PAGE>




     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Borrower has caused this Revolving Loan Note to be
duly executed, under seal, by its duly authorized officer as of the day and year
first above written.


                                            APPLE SOUTH, INC. (SEAL)


                           By:_______________________________
                              Erich J. Booth, Chief Financial
                              Officer and Treasurer

                           Attest:___________________________
                                  Tonya Benjamin, Assistant
                                  Secretary



                                       -2-

<PAGE>




                          Revolving Loan Note (cont'd)


                    REVOLVING LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL


           Base Rate           Amount         Amount of
           or Euro-              of           Principal      Maturity   Notation
Date       Dollar Loan     Revolving Loan       Repaid         Date     Made By

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

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

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

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

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

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



                                       -3-

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT C

                           FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING


                               NOTICE OF BORROWING

                             ________________, 199_


Wachovia Bank, National
  Association, as Agent
191 Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1757
Attention:  Commercial Group

         Re:      Credit  Agreement  (as amended or modified  from time to time,
                  the  "Credit  Agreement")  dated as of April 1,  1998,  by and
                  among Apple South, Inc., Wachovia Bank, National  Association,
                  as a Bank and as the Agent,  and the other  Banks from time to
                  time party thereto.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Unless otherwise  defined herein,  capitalized  terms used herein shall
have the meanings attributable thereto in the Credit Agreement.

         This Notice of Borrowing is delivered to you pursuant to Section 2.2 of
the Credit Agreement.

         The Borrower  hereby  requests a Borrowing in the  aggregate  principal
amount  of  $________________  to be  made  on  ______________,  199__,  and for
interest to accrue thereon at the rate  established by the Credit  Agreement for
(check one):

         1.       _____    Base Rate Loans
         2.       _____    Euro-Dollar Rate Loans

         The duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto in the case of
Euro-Dollar Rate Loans shall be (check one):

         1.       _____    1 month
         2.       _____    2 months
         3.       _____    3 months
         4.       _____    6 months

                                       -1-

<PAGE>




     If,  immediately  after the Borrowing  requested  herein,  the  outstanding
balance of the Revolving Loans following such Borrowing will be in excess of the
aggregate  outstanding  principal  balance of the  Revolving  Loans  immediately
preceding such Borrowing,  the Borrower  hereby  represents and warrants that on
the date the Borrowing requested hereunder is made (both before and after giving
effect  to the  making  of such and  after  giving  effect  to the  application,
directly or indirectly, of the proceeds thereof):

                  (a)      no Default has occurred and is continuing; and

                  (b)  the   representations  and  warranties  of  the  Borrower
         contained in Article IV of the Credit Agreement are true.

         The  Borrower  has caused this Notice of  Borrowing  to be executed and
delivered  by its duly  authorized  officer  as of this ____ day of  __________,
199__.

                                APPLE SOUTH, INC.



                           By:
                           Title:


                                       -2-

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT D


                               FORM OF OPINION OF
                            COUNSEL FOR THE BORROWER


                                  April 1, 1998


To the Banks and the Agent
  Referred to below
c/o Wachovia Bank,
  National Association, as Agent
191 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia  30303-1757

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We have  acted as legal  counsel  to Apple  South,  Inc.  (the
"Borrower") in connection  with the Credit  Agreement  (the "Credit  Agreement")
dated as of April 1,  1998,  among the  Borrower,  the  Banks  from time to time
parties  thereto,  and Wachovia  Bank,  National  Association,  as Agent.  Terms
defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

                  We have  examined  original or copies,  certified or otherwise
identified  to  our  satisfaction,   of  such  documents,   corporate   records,
certificates of public  officials and other  instruments and have conducted such
other  investigations  of fact and law as we have deemed  necessary or advisable
for purposes of this  opinion.  We have assumed for purposes of our opinions set
forth below that the executed and delivery of the Credit  Agreement by each Bank
and by the Agent have been duly authorized by each Bank and by the Agent.

                  When facts relevant to these  opinions were not  independently
established  by us, we have relied upon the  certificate of the Secretary of the
Borrower. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of
all  documents  delivered  to us as  originals,  the legal  capacity  of natural
persons,  the conformity to original documents of all documents  submitted to us
as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such
letter documents.

                  Upon the basis of the  foregoing,  and  subject to the further
qualifications and assumptions set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

                  1. The Borrower is a corporation  duly  incorporated,  validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Georgia and has all
corporate powers required to carry on its business as now conducted.

                                       -1-

<PAGE>




                  2. The execution,  delivery and performance by the Borrower of
the  Credit  Agreement,  the Notes and the Other  Agreements  (i) are within the
Borrower's  corporate  powers,  (ii) have been duly  authorized by all necessary
corporate  action,  (iii) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with,
any governmental body, agency or official, (iv) do not contravene, or constitute
a default  under,  any provision of (A)  applicable law or regulation or (B) the
certificate  of  incorporation  or by-laws of the  Borrower or (C) any  material
judgment, injunction, order or decree which to our knowledge is binding upon the
Borrower or (D) any material indenture,  mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement
or other financial  agreement or instrument (but not including  leases) known to
us which to our  knowledge  is binding on the  Borrower  and (V) do not,  to our
knowledge,  result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the
Borrower.

                  3. The Credit  Agreement,  the Notes and the Other  Agreements
constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Borrower,  enforceable  against
the Borrower in accordance with its terms,  except as such enforceability may be
limited: (i) by bankruptcy, insolvency,  reorganization,  fraudulent conveyance,
voidable preference,  moratorium or similar laws applicable to creditors' rights
or the  collection  of  debtors'  obligations  generally  and  (ii)  by  general
principles  of  equity  (including,  without  limitation,  the  availability  of
equitable remedies).

                  4. To our  knowledge,  there is no action,  suit or proceeding
pending,  or  threatened,  against  or  affecting  the  Borrower  or  any of its
Subsidiaries  before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or
official in which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse decision which
could materially adversely affect the business,  consolidated financial position
or  consolidated  results of  operations  of the Borrower  and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries,  considered  as a  whole,  or which in any  manner  questions  the
validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any Note.

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

                  We are  qualified  to practice law in the State of Georgia and
do not  purport to be experts  on any laws  other than the  federal  laws of the
United States and the laws of the State of Georgia, and this opinion is rendered
only with respect to such laws. We have made no investigation of the laws of any
other jurisdiction.

                                                              Very truly yours,


                                       -2-

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT E

                           FORM OF CLOSING CERTIFICATE

                                APPLE SOUTH, INC.

                               CLOSING CERTIFICATE


         Reference  is made to the Credit  Agreement  ("the  Credit  Agreement")
dated as of April 1, 1998,  among Apple South,  Inc., the Banks listed  therein,
and  Wachovia  Bank,  N.A.,  as Agent.  Capitalized  terms used  herein have the
meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.

         Pursuant to Section  3.1.4 of the Credit  Agreement,  the  undersigned,
Erich J. Booth,  the duly authorized  Chief  Financial  Officer and Treasurer of
Apple South, Inc., in his aforesaid official capacity and not personally, hereby
certifies  to the Agent and the  Banks on  behalf  of the  Borrower  that (i) no
Default has  occurred  and is  continuing  as of the date  hereof,  and (ii) the
representations  and warranties  contained in Article IV of the Credit Agreement
are true on and as of the date hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this  Certificate in
his aforesaid official capacity as Chief Financial Officer and not personally as
of April 1, 1998.



                                            By:
                                                      Erich J. Booth, as Chief
                                                      Financial Officer and
                                                      Treasurer, for and on
                                                      behalf    of    Apple
                                                      South, Inc.


                                       -1-

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT F

                         FORM OF SECRETARY'S CERTIFICATE


                             SECRETARY'S CERTIFICATE


         The undersigned, being the duly elected, qualified and acting Secretary
of APPLE SOUTH, INC., a Georgia  corporation (the  "Corporation"),  and, in such
capacity,  being duly authorized and empowered to issue this  certificate on its
behalf, does hereby certify that:

         1. On or prior to the date hereof, by unanimous consent of the Board of
Directors of the  Corporation,  obtained in accordance  with and pursuant to the
Articles of Incorporation  and By-Laws of the  Corporation,  the resolutions set
forth and described on Exhibit A were  unanimously  adopted and,  being the only
effective  resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of this Corporation (or
any committee  thereof) with respect to the matters referred to therein,  remain
unmodified and in full force and effect as of the date hereof;

         2. The  following  are the names of the duly  elected  officers of this
Corporation now holding the respective offices indicated, and that the signature
set  forth  opposite  the name of each  such  officer  is the  true and  genuine
signature of such officer (complete as applicable):


Erich J. Booth, Chief Financial                   _____________________________
 Officer and Treasurer                                     (Signature)


Tonya Benjamin, Assistant Secretary               _____________________________
                                                           (Signature)

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand as Assistant  Secretary
and the seal of the Corporation as of the 1st day of April, 1998.


[CORPORATE SEAL]                               ________________________________
                                             Tonya Benjamin, Assistant Secretary

                                       -1-

<PAGE>





                                    EXHIBIT G

                         FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE


                             COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE


         Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 1,
1998 (as modified and  supplemented and in effect from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement") among Apple South,  Inc., the Banks from time to time party thereto,
and  Wachovia  Bank,  National  Association,  as a Bank and as Agent as ascribed
thereto in the Credit Agreement.

         Pursuant to Section 5.1.3 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned, the
[Chief  Financial  Officer/Chief  Accounting  Officer] of the  Borrower,  hereby
certifies  that  (i)  attached  hereto  as  Annex 1 are the  true  and  accurate
calculations  required to establish  whether the Borrower was in compliance with
Sections 5.3,  5.4,  5.5, 5.6 and 5.19 of the Credit  Agreement as of the end of
the Fiscal [Quarter/Year] ended __________,  19__, each determined in accordance
with the requirements of the Credit Agreement and (ii) [no Default exists on the
date hereof] [the following  Defaults  (including the details thereof) exist and
the  Borrower is taking or proposes to take the  following  actions with respect
thereto]:

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

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this  Certificate in
his capacity as [Chief Financial  Officer] and not personally as of the ____ day
of __________, 199___.



                                                    
                                            By:_________________________________
                                                        _______________________,
                                                           as _________________,
                                                           for and on  behalf of
                                                           Apple South, Inc.



                                       -1-

<PAGE>




                                  SCHEDULE 4.8

                              SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE


                     [TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLE SOUTH, INC.]




                                       -1-

<PAGE>



                                  SCHEDULE 5.7

                                  DEBT SCHEDULE



                     [TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLE SOUTH, INC.]

    


                   FIRST AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

     THIS FIRST  AMENDMENT TO  PARTICIPATION  AGREEMENT (this  "Amendment"),  is
entered into as of March 27, 1998,  among (i) APPLE SOUTH,  INC., a  corporation
organized  and existing  under the Laws of Georgia  (herein,  together  with its
successors and assigns  permitted  hereunder,  called the "Lessee"),  (ii) FIRST
SECURITY BANK,  NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION,  a national banking  association  ("First
Security"),  not in its individual capacity except as expressly provided herein,
but solely as Owner  Trustee  under Apple  South Trust No. 97-1  (herein in such
capacity,  together with its successors and assigns permitted hereunder,  called
the "Owner Trustee"),  (iii) STI CREDIT CORPORATION,  a Nevada  corporation,  as
assignee  of  SunTrust  Bank,  Atlanta,  in its  capacity  as the  holder of the
beneficial  interest in the trust estate established under Apple South Trust No.
97-1 (in such capacity as of the date hereof,  the  "Holder",  and together with
its successors and assigns permitted hereunder,  called the "Holders"), (iv) the
financial  institutions now parties to the  Participation  Agreement (as defined
below) (each herein in such  capacity,  together with its successors and assigns
permitted hereunder, called a "Lender" and collectively, the "Lenders"), and (v)
SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA, a banking  corporation  organized and existing under the
laws of Georgia,  ("SunTrust"), as collateral agent and administrative agent for
the Lenders and the Holders (in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

     WHEREAS,  the Lessee,  the Owner Trustee,  the Holder,  the Lenders and the
Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Participation Agreement,  dated
as of September 24, 1997 (the "Participation Agreement");

     WHEREAS,  the Lessee has  requested  that the  Participation  Agreement  be
amended in connection with its divestiture of its Applebee's  Neighborhood Bar &
Grill restaurants, and the parties hereto are willing to amend the Participation
Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

     NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the foregoing  premises,  the mutual
covenants  and  agreements   contained   herein  and  other  good  and  valuable
consideration,  the receipt and sufficiency whereof are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereby amend the Participation Agreement as follows:

                                 A. DEFINITIONS

     Unless the context  otherwise  requires,  all capitalized terms used herein
and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Appendix A
to the Participation  Agreement for all purposes of this Amendment.  The General
Provisions of Appendix A to the Participation  Agreement are hereby incorporated
by reference herein.

                                        1
<PAGE>

                                  B. AMENDMENTS

     1. Section 5.5 of the Participation  Agreement is amended by replacing such
Section in its entirety with the following:

     5.5 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

     Lessee's Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, measured on a rolling four (4) Fiscal
Quarters' basis as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter, commencing with the Fiscal
Quarter ended  closest to December 31, 1997,  shall be (i) not less than 1.8:1.0
for the Fiscal Quarters ending closest to December 31, 1997,  March 31, 1998 and
June 30, 1998,  (ii) not less than 1.9:1.0 for the Fiscal Quarter ending closest
to September 30, 1998,  and (iii) not less than 2.0:1.0 for each Fiscal  Quarter
ending thereafter.

     2. Section 5.6 of the Participation  Agreement is amended by replacing such
Section in its entirety with the following:

     5.6 Total Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio.

     The  ratio  which  (i)  the  Total  Funded  Debt  of  the  Lessee  and  its
Consolidated Subsidiaries at the end of any Fiscal Quarter,  commencing with the
Fiscal  Quarter ended closest to December 31, 1997,  bears to (ii) EBITDA of the
Lessee and its Consolidated Subsidiaries,  measured on a rolling four (4) Fiscal
Quarters' basis as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter,  shall be (i) no more than
3.8:1.0 for the Fiscal  Quarters  ending  closest to December 31, 1997 and March
31,  1998  and  (ii) no more  than  3.50:1.0  for  each  Fiscal  Quarter  ending
thereafter. In computing EBITDA in respect of the foregoing ratio, (a) any asset
or stock  dispositions by the Lessee  consisting of the sale of a business line,
segment or other  group of related  stores  (including,  particularly,  for this
purpose,  the  Applebee's  Spinoff)  occurring  within a Fiscal Quarter shall be
accounted for by reducing EBITDA by the individual  EBITDA  attributable to each
store  within  such group for such Fiscal  Quarter  and the three (3)  preceding
Fiscal  Quarters;  and  (b)  any  asset  or  stock  acquisitions  by the  Lessee
consisting of the purchase of a business line, segment or other group of related
stores  occurring  within a Fiscal  Quarter shall be accounted for by increasing
EBITDA by the individual EBITDA attributable to each store within such group for
such Fiscal  Quarter and for the three (3) preceding  Fiscal  Quarters;  in each
instance,  on an historical basis, in a matter which the Lessee shall determine,
but subject to prior review with, and approval by, the Administrative Agent.

     3. Section 5.8 of the Participation  Agreement is amended by replacing such
Section in its entirety with the following:

                                       2
<PAGE>

     5.8 Maintenance of Existence.

     Except as permitted in Section 5.10, the Lessee shall, and shall cause each
Subsidiary  to,  maintain its  corporate  existence and carry on its business in
substantially  the same  manner  and in  substantially  the same  fields as such
business is now carried on and  maintained.  Without  limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Lessee shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain at
all  times in full  force and  effect  all  Franchise  Rights  necessary  to the
ownership,  operation and  development  of all  franchised  restaurant  business
conducted, or contemplated to be conducted, by the Lessee and such Subsidiaries,
except with respect to Voluntary  Store  Closings and except with respect to any
Applebee's Spinoff.

     4. Section 5.10 of the Participation Agreement is amended by replacing such
Section in its entirety with the following:

     5.10 Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.

     The Lessee will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary  to,  consolidate or
merge with or into, or sell, lease or otherwise  transfer all or any substantial
part of its  assets  to, any other  Person,  or  discontinue  or  eliminate  any
business  line or  segment,  provided,  however,  that,  subject at all times to
Section 5.11,  the Lessee or any Subsidiary may merge with another Person (which
is not the Lessee or such Subsidiary) if (i) such Person was organized under the
laws of the United  States of  America  or one of its states  (ii) the Lessee or
such  Subsidiary (as the case may be) is the  corporation  surviving such merger
and (iii) immediately after giving effect to such merger, no Lease Default shall
have occurred and be continuing; provided, further, that any Subsidiaries of the
Lessee may (i) merge or consolidate  with each other or with the Lessee (so long
as the Lessee is the corporation  surviving such merger), or (ii) sell assets to
each  other  or to the  Lessee;  and  provided,  further,  that the  Lessee  may
consummate an Applebee's  Spinoff if made in accordance with the terms set forth
in the definition thereof and provided that the Lessee complies with Section 2.9
of the Credit Agreement.

     5.  Section  5.11 of the  Participation  Agreement  is amended by replacing
subsection (j) and (k) of such Section with the following:

     (j) Reserved.

     (k) Other Restaurant Concepts. Make investments in new restaurant concepts,
so  long  as the  total  amount  of  each  such  investment  (either  considered
individually or as part of a series of related,  concurrent  investments),  does
not exceed ten percent (10%) of Lessee's  consolidated  total assets immediately
before  such  investment  (or  the  last  in a  series  of  related,  concurrent
investments) is made; or

                                       3
<PAGE>

     6.  Section  5.11 of the  Participation  Agreement  is  further  amended by
replacing the last two paragraphs of such Section with the following:

     The Lessee shall notify the Administrative Agent from time to time, but not
less  frequently than quarterly,  or at any time at the  Administrative  Agent's
request,  of the nature and amount of any  investments  made pursuant to clauses
(k) and (l) hereof which, individually or in the aggregate, exceed $100,000.

     Notwithstanding   anything  in  this  Section  5.11  to  the  contrary,  no
Subsidiary shall be required to comply with, and Lessee shall not be required to
cause any Subsidiary to comply with, any part of clause (g), (k) and (l) of this
Section  5.11 to the  extent  it  would  cause a  violation  of any  term of the
Lessee's  $125,000,000 9 3/4% Senior Notes due 2006 or the Prospectus Supplement
dated May 23, 1996 related thereto.

     7. The  Participation  Agreement is further amended by adding the following
as a new Section 5.26:

     5.26. Liquidity Facility

     The Lessee shall maintain at all times a senior  revolving  credit facility
in a principal amount of at least  $25,000,000,  with a maturity date no shorter
than  six  months,  on an  unsecured  basis  with  representations,  warranties,
covenants and defaults that are no more  restrictive  than the  representations,
warranties, covenants and defaults set forth in this Participation Agreement.

     8.  Appendix A of the  Participation  Agreement is amended by replacing the
definitions of "Credit Agreement" and "Franchisee Rights" with the following:

     "Credit  Agreement"  shall mean that  certain  Second  Amended and Restated
Credit  Agreement  dated as of March  1,  1998,  among  Lessee,  Wachovia  Bank,
National Association,  as Agent, and the other banks and financial  institutions
that are parties thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, and supplemented
from time to time, and any loan or credit agreement  executed in connection with
the  refinancing  of  all  or  any  substantial   portion  of  the  indebtedness
outstanding  under such Second Amended and Restated  Credit  Agreement,  as such
loan or credit agreement may be amended, restated, and supplemented from time to
time.

     "Franchise  Rights"  shall mean all rights,  privileges  and  interests  of
Lessee and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries to own, operate and develop franchised
restaurants as a franchisee, whether now or hereafter existing, and whether with
respect to the operation of any "Applebee's" restaurants or otherwise.

     9.  Appendix A of the  Participation  Agreement  is amended by deleting the
definition  of "Cash  Flow"  and  adding  the  following  definitions  in proper
alphabetical order:

                                       4
<PAGE>

     "Applebee's Spinoff" shall mean any sale or other disposition by the Lessee
of any of its  Applebee's  Neighborhood  Grill & Bar  restaurants  to Applebee's
International,  Inc.  or to  other  third  parties,  all of  which  sales in the
aggregate shall result in the sale or other disposition by the Lessee of all, or
substantially all, of the Applebee's  Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants owned
by the  Lessee for an  aggregate  amount of not less than  Three  Hundred  Fifty
Million Dollars ($350,000,000),  in cash, each payment of which shall be made in
full upon the closing of the final sale for such  respective  transaction,  with
all such  sales to occur as soon as  practicable,  but in any event on or before
April 1, 1999.

     "EBITDA"  shall  mean,  for  any  fiscal  period  of  the  Lessee  and  its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries,   that  amount  equal  to  the  sum,  determined  in
accordance  with  GAAP,  of the  Consolidated  Net  Income of the Lessee and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for such period  (considered  without  regard to any
extraordinary gains or extraordinary losses), plus, without duplication,  and to
the  extent  deducted  from  revenue in  determining  Consolidated  Net  Income,
depreciation  and  amortization  expense and any other non-cash charges for such
period, interest expense for such period and taxes for such period.

                                C. MISCELLANEOUS

     1. The Holder, the Lenders and the  Administrative  Agent hereby consent to
the Owner Trustee  executing and delivering to the Lessee the First Amendment to
Lease  Agreement in the form  attached  hereto as Exhibit A. Pursuant to Section
10.1(a) of the Trust  Agreement,  the Holder  authorizes  and requests  that the
Owner Trustee execute such First Amendment to Lease Agreement.

     2. To induce  the Holder  and the  Lenders  to enter  into this  Amendment,
Lessee agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the
Holder and the Lenders, a $17,500 amendment fee as a condition  precedent to the
effectiveness   of  this  Amendment,   which  fee  shall  be  fully  earned  and
non-refundable when paid.

     3. Upon the Lessee's  payment of the  amendment  fee  referenced in Section
C(2) above and the  Administrative  Agent's receipt of executed  signature pages
from all parties to this Amendment,  this Amendment shall become effective as of
the date  hereof,  except  that,  for  purposes of  Sections  5.5 and 5.6 of the
Participation Agreement, the effective date of this Amendment shall be deemed to
be one (1)  Business  Day  prior to the last day of the  Fiscal  Quarter  ending
closest to December 31, 1997.

     4. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall be deemed not
to waive or modify any  provision  of the  Participation  Agreement or the other
Operative Agreements,  and all terms of the Participation  Agreement, as amended
hereby,  shall be and shall remain in full force and effect and shall constitute
a legal,  valid,  binding and enforceable  obligations of the Lessee,  the Owner
Trustee, the Holder, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent. All references to
the Participation Agreement shall hereinafter be references to the Participation
Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

                                       5
<PAGE>

     5. THIS AMENDMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE  WITH,
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND ALL APPLICABLE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.

     6. This  Amendment  may be  executed in one or more  counterparts,  each of
which shall be deemed an original,  but all of which together  shall  constitute
one and the same document.

     7. This  Amendment  shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of,
the successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

     8. In the  event  that  any  part of this  Agreement  shall  be found to be
illegal or in violation of public  policy,  or for any reason  unenforceable  at
law, such finding shall not invalidate any other part thereof.

     9. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

     10. The parties agree that their  signatures by telecopy or facsimile shall
be effective  and binding upon them as though  executed in ink on paper but that
the parties shall exchange original ink signatures  promptly  following any such
delivery by telecopy or facsimile.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Amendment to be
executed and delivered by their respective  officers  thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the date first above written.

                                           APPLE SOUTH, INC., as the Lessee


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:



                           [Signature Pages Continued]

                                           FIRST SECURITY BANK,
                                           NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                           not in its individual capacity
                                           except as expressly provided herein,
                                           but solely as Owner Trustee under
                                           Apple South Trust No. 97-1


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                                       6
<PAGE>

                           [Signature Pages Continued]
                                    
                                           SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA, 
                                           as Administrative Agent



                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                           SUNTRUST  BANK,
                                           ATLANTA, as a Lender


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                           [Signature Pages Continued]
                                          
                                           SOUTHTRUST BANK, NATIONAL
                                           ASSOCIATION,  as a Lender


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                           [Signature Pages Continued]

                                           AMSOUTH BANK, as a Lender


                                           By:
                                           Name:
 
                                           Title:

                                       7
<PAGE>

                           [Signature Pages Continued]
               
                                           REGIONS BANK, as a Lender


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                           [Signature Pages Continued]
                            
                                           COMPASS BANK, as a Lender


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                           [Signature Pages Continued]
   
                                           FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, 
                                           as a Lender


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                           [Signature Pages Continued]

                                           BANCBOSTON LEASING INC., as a Lender


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                           [Signature Pages Continued]
   
                                           STI CREDIT CORPORATION,
                                           as the Holder


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:
    

                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                       8
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                       FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE AGREEMENT

     THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO MASTER EQUIPMENT LEASE AGREEMENT (this "Amendment")
is entered into as of March __, 1998,  between  FIRST  SECURITY  BANK,  NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,  a national  banking  association  ("First  Security"),  not in its
individual  capacity except as expressly  provided  herein,  but solely as Owner
Trustee under Apple South Trust No. 97-1 (herein in such capacity, together with
its successors and assigns permitted hereunder, called the "Owner Trustee"), and
APPLE  SOUTH,  INC., a  corporation  organized  and  existing  under the Laws of
Georgia (herein,  together with its successors and assigns permitted  hereunder,
called the "Lessee").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

     WHEREAS,  the  Lessee and the Owner  Trustee  are  parties to that  certain
Master Equipment Lease  Agreement,  dated as of September 24, 1998 (the "Lease";
capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings
assigned  to such  terms in the  Lease  or in  Appendix  A to the  Participation
Agreement, as defined in the Lease);

     WHEREAS,  the Lessee has requested  that the Lease be amended in connection
with its divestiture of its Applebee's Neighborhood Bar & Grill restaurants, and
the Owner Trustee is willing to amend the Lease on the terms and  conditions set
forth herein;

     NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the foregoing  premises,  the mutual
covenants  and  agreements   contained   herein  and  other  good  and  valuable
consideration,  the receipt and sufficiency whereof are hereby acknowledged, the
Lessee and the Owner Trustee hereby amend the Lease as follows:

                                  A. AMENDMENT

     Section  14 of the Lease is amended by  replacing  subsections  (d) and (q)
thereof with the following:

     (d) Lessee shall default in the  performance  or observance of any covenant
set forth or  referenced  in Sections  5.3 through  5.13 or Section  5.26 of the
Participation   Agreement;  or  Lessee  shall  default  in  the  performance  or
observance  of any other  covenants  set forth or referenced in Section 5 of the
Participation  Agreement,  and such default shall not be remedied within 10 days
after the earlier to occur of (i) written  notice  thereof  having been given to
Lessee by Lessor or the  Administrative  Agent,  or (ii) any  executive,  senior
financial or accounting  officer of Lessee  otherwise  becomes aware of any such
default; or


                                       1
<PAGE>

     (q) if any of the Franchise Rights of Lessee or its  Subsidiaries  shall be
forfeited,  suspended,  lost,  rejected,  disclaimed,   impaired,  curtailed  or
otherwise  adversely  altered  or  affected  in any  manner,  in whole or in any
material part, for any reason whatsoever,  whether or not related to Lessee's or
such Subsidiary's performance of its duties and obligations as franchisee at any
time hereafter  except with respect to any Voluntary Store Closing and except in
connection  with any  Applebee's  Spinoff;  or there  shall occur any default by
Lessee or any such  Subsidiary in the payment,  performance or observance of any
terms, covenants or conditions of any franchise or development agreements giving
rise to the existence and/or  continuation of any such Franchise Rights, and any
grace or cure period relative thereto granted therein shall have expired without
such  default  being waived or cured except in  connection  with any  Applebee's
Spinoff.

                                B. MISCELLANEOUS

     1. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall be deemed not
to waive or modify any provision of the Lease or the other Operative Agreements,
and all terms of the Lease, as amended hereby, shall be and shall remain in full
force and effect and shall  constitute a legal,  valid,  binding and enforceable
obligations  of the Lessee and the Owner  Trustee.  All  references to the Lease
shall hereinafter be references to the Lease as amended by this Amendment.

     2. THIS AMENDMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE  WITH,
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND ALL APPLICABLE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.

     3. This  Amendment  may be  executed in one or more  counterparts,  each of
which shall be deemed an original,  but all of which together  shall  constitute
one and the same document.

     4. This  Amendment  shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of,
the successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

     5. In the  event  that  any  part of this  Agreement  shall  be found to be
illegal or in violation of public  policy,  or for any reason  unenforceable  at
law, such finding shall not invalidate any other part thereof.

     6. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

     7. The parties agree that their  signatures by telecopy or facsimile  shall
be effective  and binding upon them as though  executed in ink on paper but that
the parties shall exchange original ink signatures  promptly  following any such
delivery by telecopy or facsimile.


                                       2
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Amendment to be
executed and delivered by their respective  officers  thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the date first above written.

                                           APPLE SOUTH, INC., as the Lessee


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                           FIRST SECURITY BANK,
                                           NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                           not in its individual capacity 
                                           except as expressly provided herein,
                                           but solely as Owner Trustee under
                                           Apple South Trust No. 97-1


                                           By:
                                           Name:
                                           Title:



                                        3

<TABLE>
Exhibit 11.1 
Computation of Earnings Per Common Share

(In thousands, except share data)
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                              Quarter Ended
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      March 29,           March 30,
                                                                                                        1998                1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                                      <C>                 <C>   
Average number of common shares used in basic calculation                                                38,820              38,803
Net additional shares issuable pursuant to employee stock
      option plans at period-end market price                                                               139                  99
Shares issuable on assumed conversion of convertible
      preferred securities                                                                                7,774                   -
====================================================================================================================================
Average number of common shares used in diluted calculation                                              46,733              38,902
====================================================================================================================================

Earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                                      38,539               7,268
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax benefit                                   1,461                   -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings                                                                                             37,078               7,268
Distribution savings on assumed conversion of convertible
       preferred securities, net of income taxes                                                          1,328                   -
====================================================================================================================================
Net earnings for computation of diluted earnings per common share                                        38,406               7,268
====================================================================================================================================

Basic earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                                  0.99                0.19
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                                                       (0.04)                  -
====================================================================================================================================
Basic earnings per common share                                                                            0.95                0.19
====================================================================================================================================

Diluted earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                                0.85                0.19
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                                                       (0.03)                  -
====================================================================================================================================
Diluted earnings per common share                                                                          0.82                0.19
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     (THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM FORM
10-Q FOR THE PERIOD  ENDING  MARCH 29, 1998 AND IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS).
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                      0000849101
<NAME>                              Apple South, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                    1,000
       
<S>                                            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         Jan-03-1999
<PERIOD-START>                            Dec-29-1997
<PERIOD-END>                              Mar-29-1998 
<CASH>                                          2,231
<SECURITIES>                                       27
<RECEIVABLES>                                  11,995 
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0 
<INVENTORY>                                    11,025
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              431,746
<PP&E>                                        307,199
<DEPRECIATION>                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                903,186
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          91,445
<BONDS>                                       414,751
                         115,000
                                         0
<COMMON>                                          405
<OTHER-SE>                                    257,337
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  903,186
<SALES>                                       241,676
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              241,676
<CGS>                                          67,317
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 206,627
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              7,146
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                61,364
<INCOME-TAX>                                   22,825
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            38,539
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0 
<CHANGES>                                       1,461 
<NET-INCOME>                                   37,078
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.95
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.82
        


</TABLE>


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