AVADO BRANDS INC
10-Q, 1999-08-18
EATING PLACES
Previous: COLONIAL INVESTMENT GRADE MUNICIPAL TRUST, N-2/A, 1999-08-18
Next: GOLF ENTERTAINMENT INC, NTN 10Q, 1999-08-18



                                  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 July 4, 1999

                                       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


                               AVADO BRANDS, 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 August 17, 1999, there were 25,339,342  shares of common stock of the
Registrant outstanding.


<PAGE>
                               AVADO BRANDS, INC.

                          QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

                       FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JULY 4, 1999


                                      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 and
                  Comprehensive Income.........................................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...............12

        Item 3 -  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
                  Market Risk.................................................16

Part II - Other Information

        Item 6 -  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K............................17

Signature         ............................................................18





























                                     Page 2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
Avado Brands, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Quarter Ended                Six Months Ended
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    July 4,      June 28,         July 4,      June 28,
                                                                     1999         1998             1999         1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                              <C>              <C>             <C>           <C>
Restaurant sales:
    Canyon Cafe                                                  $   11,179        11,882          23,078        23,863
    Don Pablo's                                                      84,083        66,416         158,455       125,679
    Hops                                                             35,173        25,560          67,705        48,887
    McCormick & Schmick's                                            30,577        25,361          58,382        46,703
    Applebee's                                                        3,709       110,624          21,176       236,387
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total restaurant sales                                    164,721       239,843         328,796       481,519
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Restaurant operating expenses:
    Food and beverage                                                47,336        67,380          92,980       134,697
    Payroll and benefits                                             50,346        77,327         101,533       155,975
    Depreciation and amortization                                     4,791         4,184           9,683         8,388
    Other operating expenses                                         38,220        55,899          74,922       112,357
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total restaurant operating expenses                       140,693       204,790         279,118       411,417
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General and administrative expenses                                   9,014        12,281          18,854        25,196
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income                                                     15,014        22,772          30,824        44,906
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other income (expense):
    Interest expense, net                                            (4,293)       (7,214)         (9,234)      (14,353)
    Distributions on preferred securities                            (2,013)       (2,013)         (4,025)       (4,025)
    Gain (loss) on disposal of assets held for sale                     920        (2,303)          2,270        46,697
    Income (loss) from investments carried at equity                    (97)           84            (230)          787
    Other, primarily goodwill amortization                             (888)       (1,901)         (1,860)       (3,223)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total other income (expense)                               (6,371)      (13,347)        (13,079)       25,883
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before income taxes and cumulative
   effect of change in accounting principle                           8,643         9,425          17,745        70,789
Income taxes                                                          2,675         3,100           5,825        25,925
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before cumulative effect of
   change in accounting principle                                     5,968         6,325          11,920        44,864
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
   principle, net of tax benefit                                          -             -               -         1,461
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings                                                     $    5,968         6,325          11,920        43,403
========================================================================================================================

Basic earnings per common share:
      Basic earnings before cumulative effect of
            change in accounting principle                       $     0.21          0.17            0.40          1.18
      Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                 -             -               -         (0.04)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic earnings per common share                                  $     0.21          0.17            0.40          1.14
========================================================================================================================

Diluted earnings per common share:
      Diluted earnings before cumulative effect of
            change in accounting principle                       $     0.20          0.17            0.39          1.03
      Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                 -             -               -         (0.03)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted earnings per common share                                $     0.20          0.17            0.39          1.00
========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                                              Page 3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
Avado Brands, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share data)
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  July 4,                Jan. 3,
                                                                                                    1999                   1999
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                             <C>                        <C>
Assets
Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                                                                 $    1,121                  7,216
      Short-term investments                                                                             -                     27
      Accounts receivable                                                                            7,754                  9,124
      Inventories                                                                                    9,167                  8,599
      Prepaid expenses and other                                                                    11,811                  3,205
      Assets held for sale                                                                           2,339                 72,814
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Total current assets                                                                     32,192                100,985

Premises and equipment, net                                                                        398,878                367,587
Goodwill, net                                                                                      136,309                138,005
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates                                            17,505                 16,106
Other assets                                                                                        46,061                 47,914
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                $  630,945                670,597
====================================================================================================================================

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable                                                                          $   33,285                 28,474
      Accrued liabilities                                                                           30,821                 42,053
      Current installments of long-term debt                                                            22                140,500
      Income taxes                                                                                  29,519                 28,091
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Total current liabilities                                                                93,647                239,118

Long-term debt                                                                                     286,509                116,978
Deferred income taxes                                                                                8,200                  8,200
Other long-term liabilities                                                                          7,883                  8,177
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Total liabilities                                                                       396,239                372,473
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities
       of Avado Financing I, a subsidiary holding solely Avado
       Brands, Inc. 7% convertible subordinated debentures
       due March 1, 2027                                                                           115,000                115,000
Temporary equity, net                                                                                    -                 71,095
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 1999 and 1998                                                           405                    405
      Additional paid-in capital                                                                   144,941                 63,431
      Retained earnings                                                                            173,516                162,411
      Accumulated other comprehensive income                                                          (491)                    24
      Treasury stock at cost; 15,139,418 shares in 1999 and 8,910,174
           shares in 1998                                                                         (198,665)              (114,242)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Total shareholders' equity                                                              119,706                112,029
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                $  630,945                670,597
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



                                                               Page 4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
Avado Brands, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Accumulated
                                                                     Additional                 Other                     Total
                                                   Common Stock        Paid-in    Retained  Comprehensive   Treasury   Shareholders'
                                                Shares      Amount     Capital    Earnings      Income        Stock       Equity
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>         <C>       <C>        <C>             <C>       <C>           <C>
Balance at January 3, 1999                       40,479      $405      $63,431    $162,411        $24       ($114,242)    $112,029
Comprehensive income:
     Net earnings                                     -         -            -       5,952          -               -        5,952
     Foreign currency translation adjustment          -         -            -           -       (341)              -         (341)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total comprehensive income                            -         -            -       5,952       (341)              -        5,611
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase of common stock                              -         -            -           -          -         (32,435)     (32,435)
Common stock issued to ESOP and ESPP                  -         -         (264)          -          -             849          585
Settlement of equity forward contracts                 -         -       31,421           -          -               -       31,421
Cash dividends ($0.0125 per share)                    -         -            -        (378)         -               -         (378)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balance at April 4, 1999                         40,479       405       94,588     167,985       (317)       (145,828)     116,833
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive income:
     Net earnings                                     -         -            -       5,968          -               -        5,968
     Foreign currency translation adjustment          -         -            -           -       (174)              -         (174)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total comprehensive income                            -         -            -       5,968       (174)              -        5,794
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase of common stock                              -         -            -           -          -         (52,902)     (52,902)
Common stock issued to ESOP and ESPP                  -         -          (35)          -          -              65           30
Settlement of equity forward contracts                -         -       50,388           -          -               -       50,388
Cash dividends ($0.015 per share)                     -         -            -        (437)         -               -         (437)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at July 4, 1999                          40,479      $405     $144,941    $173,516      ($491)      ($198,665)    $119,706
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


















                                                               Page 5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
Avado Brands, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

(In thousands)
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                Six Months Ended
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             July 4,       June 28,
                                                                                              1999           1998
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                       <C>               <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net earnings                                                                        $   11,920         43,403
      Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
           provided by operating activities:
               Depreciation and amortization                                                  12,555         12,051
               Deferred income taxes                                                               -          2,469
               Gain on disposal of assets                                                     (2,270)       (46,697)
               Loss (income) from investments carried at equity                                  230           (787)
               (Increase) decrease in assets:
                    Accounts receivable                                                        1,366         (5,703)
                    Inventories                                                               (1,395)          (995)
                    Prepaid expenses and other                                                (8,949)        (4,124)
                Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
                     Accounts payable                                                          4,519          5,524
                     Accrued liabilities                                                     (12,348)           (98)
                     Income taxes                                                              1,428         16,043
                     Other long-term liabilities                                                (294)           954
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Net cash provided by operating activities                       6,762         22,040
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
      Capital expenditures                                                                   (45,928)       (74,078)
      Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired                                              -         (2,325)
      Proceeds from disposal of assets, net                                                   85,445        101,420
      Decrease in short-term investments                                                          27             10
      Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates                                (2,144)        (9,518)
      Additions to other assets                                                                 (778)        (9,769)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Net cash provided by investing activities                      36,622          5,740
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
      Net proceeds from (repayment of) revolving credit agreements                           (69,487)         4,765
      Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net                                           95,467              -
      Principal payments on long-term debt                                                       (21)             -
      Dividends declared and paid                                                               (815)          (911)
      Purchase of treasury stock                                                             (85,337)       (30,431)
      Net collateral payments on equity forward contracts                                     10,714              -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities           (49,479)       (26,577)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                          (6,095)         1,203
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period                                       7,216          2,503
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period                                        $    1,121          3,706
=====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.




                                                               Page 6

<PAGE>
                               AVADO BRANDS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  July 4, 1999
                                   (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 January 3, 1999,  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 six-month  period ended July 4,
1999 are not necessarily  indicative of the results that may be expected for the
year ending January 2, 2000.

NOTE 2 - ASSET DIVESTITURES

In  1999,  the  Company   completed  the   divestiture  of  its  279  Applebee's
restaurants,  including the  divestiture of 21 restaurants for proceeds of $35.1
million  completed  during the first quarter and the divestiture of the final 25
locations for proceeds of $43.8  million  completed  during the second  quarter.
Gross  proceeds  related  to the  Applebee's  divestiture  were  $514.0  million
including $10.9 million in notes outstanding at July 4, 1999.

NOTE 3 - LONG-TERM DEBT

In June 1999,  the Company  completed  the private  placement of $100 million of
11.75%  senior  subordinated  notes due June 15, 2009.  The notes were priced at
98.561 to yield 12.0%.  Subsequent  to July 4, 1999,  the notes were  registered
under the Securities Act of 1933. Simultaneously with the notes offering, a new,
three-year  $125 million  bank  revolving  credit  facility  was  executed.  The
Company's  existing  credit  facilities  were  refinanced with proceeds from the
notes offering and the new credit facility.  At July 4, 1999,  approximately $56
million was available under revolving credit agreements.

NOTE 4 - SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Cash  dividends  declared  and paid in the  quarter  ended July 4, 1999  totaled
$0.015 per share.  On August 4, 1999,  the Company  declared a cash  dividend of
$0.015 per share, payable on August 31, 1999 to shareholders of record on August
16, 1999.

In 1998, third parties  purchased a total of 8.3 million shares of the Company's
common  stock at an average  price per share of $13.36  (or a total  acquisition
cost of $110.9 million) pursuant to four equity forward contracts.  One of these
contracts for 2.0 million  shares was settled in December  1998, and the Company
acquired the related  shares for $29.9 million.  An additional  contract for 2.5
million shares was settled in March 1999,  and the Company  acquired the related


                                     Page 7
<PAGE>
shares for $32.4 million. During the second quarter of 1999, the Company settled
its two final  equity  forward  contracts  and  acquired the related 3.8 million
shares for $52.9 million.

NOTE 5 - SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

For the six-month  periods  ended July 4, 1999 and June 28, 1998,  the following
supplements the consolidated statements of cash flows (amounts in thousands):

                                                              1999       1998
                                                        ------------------------
       Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized)          $ 9,313      14,580
       Distributions paid on preferred securities          $ 4,025       4,025
       Income taxes paid                                   $ 4,397       6,660
       Net cash used for acquisitions                      $     -       2,325


As  discussed in Note 2, during the first six months of 1999 the Company sold 46
Applebee's  restaurants.  The accompanying  consolidated  balance sheet reflects
changes in asset and  liability  accounts  related to the  divestiture  of these
restaurants  as  follows:  decrease  in assets  held for sale of $68.7  million,
decreases  in  assets  not  classified  as held  for  sale of $6.2  million  and
increases in accrued liabilities of $0.5 million.

NOTE 6 - INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense as a percent of earnings before income taxes was 32.8% in the
first six months of 1999 compared to 36.6% in the corresponding  period of 1998.
Income tax  reflects,  for each period,  taxes on the gain on disposal of assets
held for sale provided at 38.0%. Taxes on continuing operations were provided at
32.1% in 1999 compared to 34.0% in 1998.  The lower tax rate on 1999  continuing
operations  primarily reflects an increase in the impact of FICA tip credits and
permanent tax planning strategies to reduce state income taxes.

NOTE 7 - 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 sought damages and other relief. During 1998, one of these suits
was dismissed.  Although the ultimate outcome of the remaining lawsuit cannot be
determined at this time, the Company  believes that the allegations  therein are
without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself.

NOTE 8 - GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES

The  Company's  senior  notes  and  revolving  credit  facilities  are fully and
unconditionally  guaranteed on a joint and several basis by substantially all of
its wholly owned subsidiaries.  The Company's  indebtedness is not guaranteed by
its non-wholly owned subsidiaries.  These non-guarantor  subsidiaries  primarily


                                     Page 8
<PAGE>
include  certain  partnerships of which the Company is typically a 90% owner. At
July 4, 1999 and  January  3,  1999,  these  partnerships  in the  non-guarantor
subsidiaries  operated 44 and 36,  respectively,  of the Company's  restaurants.
Accordingly,  condensed  consolidated  balance  sheets  as of July 4,  1999  and
January 3, 1999,  and  condensed  consolidated  statements  of earnings and cash
flows  for the  six-month  periods  ended  July 4,  1999 and  June 28,  1998 are
provided for such guarantor and non-guarantor  subsidiaries.  Separate financial
statements  and other  disclosures  concerning  the guarantor and  non-guarantor
subsidiaries are not presented  because  management has determined that they are
not material to investors.  There are no contractual restrictions on the ability
of the guarantor subsidiaries to make distributions to the Company.

<TABLE>
                                   Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings
                                           Six Months Ended July 4, 1999
                                                  (In thousands)
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Guarantor       Non-Guarantor
                                                       Subsidiaries      Subsidiaries      Eliminations     Consolidated
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                      <C>                  <C>         <C>
Restaurant sales                                          $    277,940             50,856               -           328,796
Restaurant operating expenses                                  234,536             44,582               -           279,118
General and administrative expenses                             16,328              2,526               -            18,854
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income                                                27,076              3,748               -            30,824
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other income (expense)                                         (11,470)            (1,609)              -           (13,079)
Earnings before income taxes                                    15,606              2,139               -            17,745
Income taxes                                                     5,150                675               -             5,825
============================================================================================================================
Net earnings                                              $     10,456              1,464               -            11,920
============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
                                   Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings
                                          Six Months Ended June 28, 1998
                                                  (In thousands)
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Guarantor       Non-Guarantor
                                                       Subsidiaries      Subsidiaries      Eliminations     Consolidated
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                      <C>                  <C>         <C>
Restaurant sales                                          $    446,660             34,859               -           481,519
Restaurant operating expenses                                  381,707             29,710               -           411,417
General and administrative expenses                             23,529              1,667               -            25,196
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income                                                41,424              3,482               -            44,906
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other income (expense)                                          26,522               (639)              -            25,883
Earnings before income taxes and cumulative effect
     of change in accounting principle                          67,946              2,843               -            70,789
Income taxes                                                    24,950                975               -            25,925
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before cumulative effect of change in
     accounting principle                                       42,996              1,868               -            44,864
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle,
     net of tax benefit                                          1,461                  -               -             1,461
============================================================================================================================
Net earnings                                              $     41,535              1,868               -            43,403
============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>



                                     Page 9
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
                                       Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                                   July 4, 1999
                                                  (In thousands)
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Guarantor       Non-Guarantor
                                                       Subsidiaries      Subsidiaries      Eliminations     Consolidated
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                      <C>           <C>                <C>
ASSETS
Current assets                                            $     30,532              1,660               -            32,192
Premises and equipment, net                                    335,506             63,372               -           398,878
Goodwill, net                                                  114,541             21,768               -           136,309
Investments carried at equity                                   17,505                  -               -            17,505
Other assets                                                    45,239                822               -            46,061
Intercompany investments                                        47,687                  -         (47,687)                -
Intercompany advances                                           35,882                  -         (35,882)                -
============================================================================================================================
                                                          $    626,892             87,622         (83,569)          630,945
============================================================================================================================
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities                                       $     89,948              3,699               -            93,647
Long-term liabilities                                          302,238                354               -           302,592
Intercompany payables                                                -             35,882         (35,882)                -
Convertible preferred securities                               115,000                  -               -           115,000
Shareholders' equity                                           119,706             47,687         (47,687)          119,706
============================================================================================================================
                                                          $    626,892             87,622         (83,569)          630,945
============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
                                       Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                                  January 3, 1999
                                                  (In thousands)
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Guarantor       Non-Guarantor
                                                       Subsidiaries      Subsidiaries      Eliminations     Consolidated
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                      <C>           <C>                <C>
ASSETS
Current assets                                            $     99,129              1,856               -           100,985
Premises and equipment, net                                    309,919             57,668               -           367,587
Goodwill, net                                                  116,014             21,991               -           138,005
Investments carried at equity                                   16,106                  -               -            16,106
Other assets                                                    47,588                326               -            47,914
Intercompany investments                                        44,699                  -         (44,699)                -
Intercompany advances                                           33,103                  -         (33,103)                -
============================================================================================================================
                                                          $    666,558             81,841         (77,802)          670,597
============================================================================================================================
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities                                       $    235,497              3,621               -           239,118
Long-term liabilities                                          132,937                418               -           133,355
Intercompany payables                                                -             33,103         (33,103)                -
Convertible preferred securities                               115,000                  -               -           115,000
Temporary equity, net                                           71,095                  -               -            71,095
Shareholders' equity                                           112,029             44,699         (44,699)          112,029
============================================================================================================================
                                                          $    666,558             81,841         (77,802)          670,597
============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>



                                    Page 10
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
                                  Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
                                           Six Months Ended July 4, 1999
                                                  (In thousands)
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Guarantor      Non-Guarantor
                                                       Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Consolidated
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                    <C>                   <C>       <C>
Net cash provided by operating activities                 $     1,225             5,537                -           6,762
Cash flows from investing activities:
     Capital expenditures                                     (38,120)           (7,808)               -         (45,928)
     Proceeds from disposal of assets, net                     85,445                 -                -          85,445
     Other investing activities                                (2,399)             (496)               -          (2,895)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities            44,926            (8,304)               -          36,622
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
     Net proceeds from (repayment of) revolving
        credit agreements                                     (69,487)                -                -         (69,487)
     Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net             95,467                 -                -          95,467
     Purchase of treasury stock                               (85,337)                -                -         (85,337)
     Proceeds from (payment of) intercompany advances          (2,779)            2,779                -               -
     Other financing activities                                 9,878                 -                -           9,878
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities           (52,258)            2,779                -         (49,479)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents           (6,107)               12                -          (6,095)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period        7,162                54                -           7,216
=========================================================================================================================
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period        $     1,055                66                -           1,121
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
                                  Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
                                          Six Months Ended June 28, 1998
                                                  (In thousands)
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Guarantor      Non-Guarantor
                                                       Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Consolidated
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                   <C>                    <C>      <C>
Net cash provided by operating activities                 $    19,062             2,978                -          22,040
Cash flows from investing activities:
     Capital expenditures                                     (62,490)          (11,588)               -         (74,078)
     Proceeds from disposal of assets, net                    101,420                 -                -         101,420
     Other investing activities                               (19,973)           (1,629)               -         (21,602)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities            18,957           (13,217)               -           5,740
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
     Net proceeds from (repayment of) revolving
        credit agreements                                       4,765                 -                -           4,765
     Purchase of treasury stock                               (30,431)                -                -         (30,431)
     Proceeds from (payment of) intercompany advances         (10,252)           10,252                -               -
     Other financing activities                                  (911)                -                -            (911)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities           (36,829)           10,252                -         (26,577)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                       1,190                13                -           1,203
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period        2,471                32                -           2,503
=========================================================================================================================
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period        $     3,661                45                -           3,706
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>



                                    Page 11
<PAGE>
Item 2.

                               AVADO BRANDS, INC.
                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
            For the Second Quarter and Six Months Ended July 4, 1999


Consolidated Overview

In  1999,  the  Company   completed  the   divestiture  of  its  279  Applebee's
restaurants,  including the  divestiture of 21 restaurants for proceeds of $35.1
million  completed  during the first quarter and the divestiture of the final 25
locations for proceeds of $43.8  million  completed  during the second  quarter.
Gross  proceeds  related  to the  Applebee's  divestiture  were  $514.0  million
including $10.9 million in notes outstanding at July 4, 1999.

Consolidated  restaurant  sales for the second quarter and six months ended July
4, 1999 were $164.7 million and $328.8 million, respectively, compared to $239.8
million and $481.5  million for the same  respective  periods of 1998. The sales
decrease  reflects  fewer units in the  Applebee's  brand which  comprised 6% of
revenues in the first six months of 1999 compared to 49% in the first six months
of  1998.  Restaurant  operating  expenses  for the  first  six  months  of 1999
decreased to 84.9% of sales  compared to 85.4% for the  corresponding  period of
1998.  The decrease was primarily a result of a decrease in payroll and benefits
generated by the declining impact of increased  payroll and benefits incurred at
Applebee's  during 1998 and 1999 as a result of  performance-based,  pay-to-stay
bonus programs  implemented to control  management  turnover and operating costs
during the divestiture period. This decrease was partially offset by an increase
in depreciation  and  amortization  due primarily to a decrease in the impact of
Applebee's  fixed assets which were not depreciated due to their "held for sale"
status.

Core Brands

During  the  first six  months  of 1999,  the  Company  opened  24 "Core"  brand
restaurants  including 13 opened during the second quarter.  Core brands include
Canyon Cafe,  Don Pablo's,  Hops and  McCormick &  Schmick's.  In addition,  the
Company has opened one restaurant with each of its joint venture  partners Belgo
Group PLC and  PizzaExpress  PLC and closed five core brand  restaurants  during
1999. The following table presents core brand  restaurants open as of the end of
the second quarters of 1999 and 1998:

                                                         1999           1998
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Canyon Cafe                                           17             17
    Don Pablo's                                          137            110
    Hops                                                  55             39
    McCormick & Schmick's                                 22             21
    ============================================================================
         Total                                           231            187
    ============================================================================



                                    Page 12
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth the percentages which certain items of income and
expense bear to total  restaurant  sales for the quarter and  six-month  periods
ended July 4, 1999 and June 28, 1998 on a pro forma basis  (assuming sale of the
Applebee's brand was completed by December 28, 1997):
<TABLE>
Core Brands:
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Pro Forma         Pro Forma          Pro Forma          Pro Forma
                                                     Quarter           Quarter           Six Months        Six Months
                                                      Ended             Ended              Ended              Ended
                                                   July 4, 1999     June 28, 1998       July 4, 1998       June 28,1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                         <C>                <C>                <C>               <C>
Restaurant sales:
     Canyon Cafe                                              6.9%              9.2%                7.5%             9.7%
     Don Pablo's                                             52.2%             51.4%               51.5%            51.3%
     Hops                                                    21.8%             19.8%               22.0%            19.9%
     McCormick & Schmick's                                   19.0%             19.6%               19.0%            19.1%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total restaurant sales                            100.0%            100.0%              100.0%           100.0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Restaurant operating expenses:
     Food and beverage                                       28.8%             27.9%               28.3%            28.0%
     Payroll and benefits                                    30.5%             30.1%               30.6%            30.2%
     Depreciation and amortization                            3.0%              3.2%                3.1%             3.4%
     Other operating expenses                                23.5%             23.0%               23.0%            23.0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total restaurant operating expenses                85.7%             84.2%               85.1%            84.6%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from restaurant operations                            14.3%             15.8%               14.9%            15.4%

General and administrative expenses                           5.6%              6.9%                5.9%             7.3%
==========================================================================================================================
Operating income                                              8.7%              8.9%                9.0%             8.1%
==========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
Core brand  restaurant  sales for the second quarter and six-month  period ended
July 4, 1999  increased  by 25% over the results of the  comparable,  prior-year
periods. Increased core brand revenues were primarily attributable to sales from
59 restaurants  opened in 1998 and 24 more  restaurants in 1999. Sales increases
attributable  to new restaurant  openings were somewhat offset by the closing of
five core brand  restaurants  during 1999. On a  consolidated  core brand basis,
same-store sales for the second quarter of 1999 were 1% positive compared to the
same period of 1998  (same-store-sales  comparisons include all restaurants open
for 18 months as of the beginning of the quarter).

Core  brand  restaurant  operating  expenses  for  the  second  quarter  of 1999
increased to 85.7% of sales compared to 84.2% in the corresponding period of the
prior year.  The increase was primarily  attributable  to (i) a 0.9% increase in
food and  beverage  expenses  primarily  generated  by higher  cost  menu  items
associated with a new Don Pablo's summer  promotional  menu which began in June,
(ii) a 0.4% increase in payroll and benefit costs also associated primarily with
Don  Pablo's  summer  promotional  menu,  and  (iii) a 0.5%  increase  in  other
operating expenses primarily attributable to an increase in preopening expenses.

General and administrative expenses for the pro forma quarter ended July 4, 1999
decreased to 5.6% from 6.9% in the  corresponding  pro forma period of 1998. The
decrease was primarily  attributable to staff reductions and other actions taken
in the fourth quarter of 1998 as well as leverage gained from increased sales in
core brands.



                                    Page 13
<PAGE>
Interest and Other Expenses

Interest  expense for the second quarter and six-month period ended July 4, 1999
was $4.3 million and $9.2  million,  respectively,  compared to $7.2 million and
$14.4 million for the corresponding  periods of the prior year. The decrease was
primarily  attributable  to lower  average  borrowings  under  revolving  credit
agreements, somewhat offset by higher average borrowing rates.

Income (loss) from investments  carried at equity for the second quarter of 1999
primarily  reflects income from the Company's 20% equity interest in Belgo Group
PLC which was more than offset by preopening  expenses  associated  with the new
San  Marzano  restaurant  in  Philadelphia  under the  Company's  joint  venture
agreement with PizzaExpress PLC.

Income tax expense as a percent of earnings before income taxes was 32.8% in the
first six months of 1999 compared to 36.6% in the corresponding  period of 1998.
Income tax  reflects,  for each period,  taxes on the gain on disposal of assets
held for sale provided at 38.0%. Taxes on continuing operations were provided at
32.1% in 1999 compared to 34.0% in 1998.  The lower tax rate on 1999  continuing
operations  primarily reflects an increase in the impact of FICA tip credits and
permanent tax planning strategies to reduce state income taxes.

Net earnings for the  six-month  period ended July 4, 1999 was $11.9 million and
included an after-tax  gain on disposal of assets held for sale of $1.4 million.
Net earnings for the corresponding period of 1998 was $43.4 million and included
an  after-tax  gain on disposal  of assets held for sale of $29.0  million and a
$1.5  million  after-tax  charge  related  to a change in  accounting  principle
requiring the expensing of preopening costs as incurred.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company's historical and projected growth and its preference to own its real
estate  cause it to be a net user of cash,  even after a  significant  amount of
expansion financing is internally  generated from operations.  Principal sources
of funds in the first six months of 1999  consisted of proceeds from disposal of
assets of $85.4  million,  proceeds  from  issuance of  long-term  debt of $95.5
million and cash generated from operations of $6.8 million.  The primary uses of
funds consisted of treasury stock acquired through  settlement of equity forward
agreements  of $74.6  million  (net of  collateral  payments  on equity  forward
contracts),  repayment  of  revolving  credit  agreements  of $69.5  million and
capital expenditures of $45.9 million.

Since  substantially  all sales in the  Company's  restaurants  are for cash and
accounts  payable are generally due in 15 to 45 days, the Company  operates with
negative working capital. Increases in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and
other,  inventory,  accounts payable and accrued liabilities occurred during the
first half  of  1999  primarily as a result of new restaurant openings.  In some
instances,  these  increases  were more than offset by decreases  resulting from
divested  Applebee's  restaurants.   Further  increases  in  current  asset  and
liability  accounts  are  expected  as  the  Company  continues  its  restaurant
development program.

Capital  expenditures  during  the first six  months  of 1999  provided  for the
opening of 15 Don  Pablo's  and nine Hops  restaurants  in  addition  to ongoing
refurbishments   of  existing   restaurants.   Capital   requirements   for  the


                                    Page 14
<PAGE>
construction of new core restaurants are expected to approximate $35 million for
the  remainder of 1999 and $100 million in 2000,  over half of which is expected
to be generated internally.

In June 1999,  the Company  completed  the private  placement of $100 million of
11.75%  senior  subordinated  notes due June 15, 2009.  The notes were priced at
98.561 to yield 12.0%.  Subsequent  to July 4, 1999,  the notes were  registered
under the Securities Act of 1933. Simultaneously with the notes offering, a new,
three-year  $125 million  bank  revolving  credit  facility  was  executed.  The
proceeds of the notes offering,  the new bank facility and the final  Applebee's
divestiture  transactions  were used to refinance  existing  credit  facilities,
settle the remaining equity forward  contracts and to provide for future working
capital  and  other  corporate   purposes.   Management   believes  that  credit
availability  from  the  new  revolving  credit  facility  and  cash  flow  from
operations and  liquidation of other assets will provide  funding  sufficient to
satisfy expansion plans through fiscal 2000.

In 1998, third parties  purchased a total of 8.3 million shares of the Company's
common  stock at an average  price per share of $13.36  (or a total  acquisition
cost of $110.9 million) pursuant to four equity forward contracts.  One of these
contracts for 2.0 million  shares was settled in December  1998, and the Company
acquired the related  shares for $29.9 million.  An additional  contract for 2.5
million shares was settled in March 1999,  and the Company  acquired the related
shares for $32.4 million. During the second quarter of 1999, the Company settled
its two final  equity  forward  contracts  and  acquired the related 3.8 million
shares for $52.9 million.

Effect of Inflation

Management  believes that  inflation  has not had a material  effect on earnings
during the past several years. Inflationary increases in the cost of labor, food
and other  operating  costs  could  adversely  affect the  Company's  restaurant
operating margins. In the past, however,  the Company generally has been able to
modify its  operations,  including  raising prices,  to offset  increases in its
operating costs.


Forward-Looking Information

Certain  information  contained  in this  Form  10-Q,  particularly  information
regarding  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.  Furthermore,  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 and governmental initiatives such as minimum wage
rates and taxes.  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.



                                    Page 15
<PAGE>
Year 2000

Historically,  certain computer programs were written and certain computer chips
were designed using  two-digit year  designations.  These programs and chips may
experience   problems  handling  dates  beyond  1999.   Incomplete  or  untimely
resolution of these problems by the Company,  by its critical  suppliers,  or by
governmental  entities  could have a material  adverse  effect on the  Company's
consolidated  financial  position  or results of  operations.  Work on Year 2000
related  issues  began  in  1997  with  executive  awareness  programs  and  the
engagement of outside consultants to assist in developing a consistent Year 2000
methodology,  time  line and  project  plan.  An  inventory  and  assessment  of
information  technology  ("IT")  systems as well as non-IT systems was completed
during  1998,  and the  solution  implementation  and  testing  phases have been
substantially  completed.  As the Company  has  invested  primarily  in licensed
software rather than developing it internally,  remediation  efforts and related
expenditures have not been material. An evaluation of key suppliers to determine
the status of their Year 2000 compliance programs is also in process. Currently,
management does not anticipate any material  adverse effects related to the Year
2000.  Contingency plans, however, are being developed to address all aspects of
operation  level  functionality  and vendor  management in the event  unforeseen
circumstances arise.


New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 1998,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued  Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS") No. 133,  "Accounting  for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging  Activities."  As amended by SFAS No. 137,  "Deferral of
the Effective  Date of FASB  Statement No. 133",  SFAS 133 will be effective for
the Company's first quarter financial statements in fiscal 2001. The Company has
not  completed  its  evaluation  of the impact,  if any,  that  adoption of this
statement  will  have on its  consolidated  financial  position  or  results  of
operations.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates and changes
in  commodity  prices.  Exposure  to interest  rate risk  relates  primarily  to
variable rate U.S. LIBOR  obligations on revolving credit  agreements.  Interest
rate swap  agreements are utilized to manage overall  borrowing costs and reduce
exposure to adverse  fluctuations  in interest  rates.  Two  interest  rate swap
agreements  are  currently  in place under which the Company  pays an average of
certain  foreign  LIBOR-based  variable  rates.  These  agreements  also contain
interest  rate caps which further limit  interest  rate  exposures.  If interest
rates related to the Company's  U.S.  LIBOR  obligations  increased by 100 basis
points  over the rates in  effect  at July 4,  1999,  interest  expense  for the
remainder of fiscal 1999,  after  considering  the effects of interest rate swap
agreements,  would increase by approximately $0.4 million.  If an additional 100
basis point interest rate increase occurred in the Company's foreign LIBOR-based
obligations,  interest  expense in 1999 would  increase  by an  additional  $0.6
million. These amounts were determined by considering the impact of hypothetical
interest  rates  on  the  Company's   borrowing  cost  and  interest  rate  swap
agreements. In the event of a change of such magnitude,  management would likely
take actions to further mitigate interest rate exposures.

The Company  purchases  certain  commodities  such as beef,  chicken,  flour and
cooking  oil.  Purchases  of these  commodities  are  generally  based on vendor
agreements which often contain contractual features that limit the price paid by
establishing  price floors or caps. As commodity price aberrations are generally
short  term in nature  and have not  historically  had a  significant  impact on
operating  performance,  financial  instruments  are not used to hedge commodity
price risk.



                                    Page 16
<PAGE>
Part II. Other Information

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)        Exhibits.

     4.1  Indenture,  dated as of June 22,  1999,  among  the  Company,  certain
guaranteeing  subsidiaries and SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as Trustee (including the
form of Note).**

     4.2  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of June 22, 1999, among the
Company,  certain  guaranteeing  subsidiaries and the initial  purchasers of the
Notes.**

     10.1 $125 million Credit Agreement,  dated as of June 22, 1999, among Avado
Brands, Inc. as borrower and Wachovia Bank, National Association and BankBoston,
N.A.

     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

     **Incorporated by reference to the  corresponding  exhibit to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-82345, filed on July 6, 1999.



(b)   Reports on Form 8-K.

     The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K,  dated June 4, 1999,  which
disclosed,  pursuant  to  Item  5 of  Form  8-K,  the  completion  of  a  Second
Supplemental Indenture to its 9.75% Senior Notes due 2006.

     The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 23, 1999,  which
disclosed, pursuant to Item 5 of Form 8-K, the pricing of a private placement of
$100 million, 11.75% senior subordinated notes.



                                    Page 17
<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.



                                                         Avado Brands, Inc.
                                                            (Registrant)




Date:   August 17, 1999                      By:/s/ Erich J. Booth
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Erich J. Booth
                                                Chief Financial Officer and
                                                Corporate Treasurer




                                                /s/ Louis J. Profumo
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Louis J. Profumo
                                                Senior Vice President of Finance
                                                and Chief Accounting Officer




















                                    Page 18





                                  $125,000,000

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                   DATED AS OF

                                  JUNE 22, 1999

                                      AMONG

                               AVADO BRANDS, INC.,

                                  AS BORROWER,

                      WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

                                BANKBOSTON, N.A.

                                       AND

                ANY OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTION(S) LISTED ON THE
                            SIGNATURE PAGE(S) HEREOF,

                                    AS BANKS,

                      WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                            AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,

                               BANK BOSTON, N.A.,
                              AS SYNDICATION AGENT,

                           WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC.,
                                  AS ARRANGER,

                                       AND

                              BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON
                                 STEPHENS, INC.,
                                 AS CO-ARRANGER







<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


ARTICLE 1.  DEFINITIONS........................................................1
         SECTION 1.1.  Definitions.............................................1
         SECTION 1.2.  Accounting Terms and Determinations....................17
         SECTION 1.3.  References.............................................17
         SECTION 1.4.  Use of Defined Terms...................................17
         SECTION 1.5.  Terminology............................................17
ARTICLE 2.  THE CREDIT........................................................17
         SECTION 2.1.  Commitments to Lend....................................17
         SECTION 2.2.  Method of Borrowing....................................18
         SECTION 2.3.  Notes..................................................21
         SECTION 2.4.  Maturity of Revolving Loans and Swing Loans............22
         SECTION 2.5.  Interest Rates.........................................23
         SECTION 2.6.  Fees...................................................24
         SECTION 2.7.  Termination or Reduction of Commitments................25
         SECTION 2.8.  Optional Prepayments...................................26
         SECTION 2.9.  Mandatory Prepayments..................................26
         SECTION 2.10.  General Provisions as to Payments.....................27
         SECTION 2.11.  Computation of Interest and Fees......................27
ARTICLE 3.  CONDITIONS TO BORROWINGS..........................................27
         SECTION 3.1.  Conditions to First Borrowing..........................27
         SECTION 3.2.  Conditions to All Borrowings...........................29
ARTICLE 4.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................29
         SECTION 4.1.  Corporate Existence and Power..........................29
         SECTION 4.2.  Corporate and Governmental Authorization;
                       No Contravention.......................................30
         SECTION 4.3.  Binding Effect.........................................30
         SECTION 4.4.  Financial Information; No Material Adverse Effect......30
         SECTION 4.5.  No Litigation..........................................31
         SECTION 4.6.  Compliance with Laws Generally; Compliance with ERISA..31
         SECTION 4.7.  Taxes..................................................31
         SECTION 4.8.  Subsidiaries...........................................31
         SECTION 4.9.  Not a Public Utility, Holding Company, Investment
                       Company or Investment Adviser..........................32
         SECTION 4.10.  Ownership of Property; Liens..........................32
         SECTION 4.11.  No Default............................................32
         SECTION 4.12.  Full Disclosure.......................................32
         SECTION 4.13.  Environmental Matters.................................32
         SECTION 4.14.  Capital Stock.........................................33
         SECTION 4.15.  Margin Stock..........................................33
         SECTION 4.16.  Solvency..............................................33
         SECTION 4.17.  Possession of Franchises, Licenses, Etc...............33
         SECTION 4.18.  Insurance.............................................34
         SECTION 4.19.  Y2K Plan..............................................34
ARTICLE 5.  COVENANTS.........................................................34
         SECTION 5.1.  Information............................................34
         SECTION 5.2.  Inspection of Property, Books and Records..............36
         SECTION 5.3.  Y2K....................................................36
         SECTION 5.4.  Adjusted Total Debt/Adjusted Total Capital Ratio.......36
         SECTION 5.5.  Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio............................36
         SECTION 5.6.  Total Debt/EBITDA Ratio................................37
         SECTION 5.7.  Total Senior Debt/EBITDA Ratio.........................37
         SECTION 5.8.  Negative Pledge........................................37
         SECTION 5.9.  Maintenance of Existence...............................38
         SECTION 5.10.  Dissolution...........................................38
         SECTION 5.11.  Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets...........39
         SECTION 5.12.  Use of Proceeds.......................................39
         SECTION 5.13.  Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes................40
         SECTION 5.14.  Insurance.............................................40
         SECTION 5.15.  Change in Fiscal Year.................................40
         SECTION 5.16.  Maintenance of Property...............................40
         SECTION 5.17.  Environmental Notices.................................40


<PAGE>

         SECTION 5.18.  Environmental Matters.................................40
         SECTION 5.19.  Environmental Releases................................41
         SECTION 5.20.  Investments...........................................41
         SECTION 5.21.  Debt..................................................44
         SECTION 5.22. Dividends and Distributions............................44
         SECTION 5.23. Transactions With Affiliates...........................44
         SECTION 5.24. Subsidiary Guaranties..................................45
         SECTION 5.25. Stock Purchases, Etc...................................45
         SECTION 5.26. No Prepayment of Senior Notes..........................46
         SECTION 5.27. Subordinated Debt......................................46
ARTICLE 6.  DEFAULTS..........................................................46
         SECTION 6.1.  Events of Default......................................46
         SECTION 6.2.  Notice of Default......................................49
ARTICLE 7.  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT..........................................49
         SECTION 7.1.  Appointment; Powers and Immunities.....................49
         SECTION 7.2.  Reliance by Administrative Agent.......................50
         SECTION 7.3.  Defaults...............................................50
         SECTION 7.4.  Rights of Administrative Agent as a Bank...............50
         SECTION 7.5.  Indemnification........................................51
         SECTION 7.6.  Payee of Note Treated as Owner.........................51
         SECTION 7.7.  Nonreliance on Administrative Agent and Other Banks....51
         SECTION 7.8.  Failure to Act.........................................52
         SECTION 7.9.  Resignation of Administrative Agent....................52
ARTICLE 8.  CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES; COMPENSATION.............................53
         SECTION 8.1.  Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate
                       or Unfair..............................................53
         SECTION 8.2.  Illegality.............................................53
         SECTION 8.3.  Increased Cost and Reduced Return......................54
         SECTION 8.4.  Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected
                       Euro-Dollar Rate Loans.................................55
         SECTION 8.5.  Replacement of a Lender................................55
         SECTION 8.6.  Compensation...........................................55
ARTICLE 9.  MISCELLANEOUS.....................................................56
         SECTION 9.1.  Notices................................................56
         SECTION 9.2.  No Waivers.............................................56
         SECTION 9.3.  Expenses; Documentary Taxes............................57
         SECTION 9.4.  Indemnification........................................57
         SECTION 9.5.  Sharing of Setoffs.....................................57
         SECTION 9.6.  Amendments and Waivers.................................58
         SECTION 9.7.  No Margin Stock Collateral.............................59
         SECTION 9.8.  Successors and Assigns.................................59
         SECTION 9.9.  Confidentiality........................................61
         SECTION 9.10.  Representation by Banks...............................61
         SECTION 9.11.  Obligations Several...................................61
         SECTION 9.12.  GEORGIA LAW...........................................62
         SECTION 9.13.  Interpretation........................................62
         SECTION 9.14.  CONSENT TO JURISDICTION...............................62
         SECTION 9.15.  Counterparts..........................................62
         SECTION 9.16.  Survival..............................................63
         SECTION 9.17.  Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability.............63
         SECTION 9.18.  TIME OF THE ESSENCE...................................63
         SECTION 9.19.  No Joint Venture .....................................63
         SECTION 9.20.  Certain Designations..................................63









<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

EXHIBIT H                  Form of Subsidiary Guaranty


SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1.1               Non-Core Assets

SCHEDULE 1.2               Hops Subsidiaries

SCHEDULE 4.5               Existing Litigation

SCHEDULE 4.8               Existing Subsidiaries

SCHEDULE 5.8               Existing Permitted Liens

SCHEDULE 5.20              Existing and Committed Investments in Hops
                           Subsidiaries
- -------------














<PAGE>
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


     THIS  CREDIT  AGREEMENT,  dated as of June 22,  1999,  is made among  AVADO
BRANDS,  INC., as Borrower;  WACHOVIA BANK,  NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION,  BANKBOSTON,
N.A.,  and any other  party or parties  listed as a "Bank" or the "Banks" on the
signature  page(s) hereof, as Banks;  WACHOVIA BANK,  NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION,  as
Administrative  Agent for the Banks, the Syndication  Agent,  the Arranger,  the
Co-Arranger and itself;  BANKBOSTON,  N.A., as Syndication  Agent for the Banks;
WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC., as Arranger; and BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS, INC.,
as Co-Arranger.

                      The parties hereto agree as follows:


                                   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 Total Debt" shall mean and include the sum (without  duplication)
of  the  following,  at any  Fiscal  Quarter  end,  for  the  Borrower  and  its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis: (i) Total Debt; plus (ii) an
amount equal to seven (7) times the amount of the operating lease payments which
were owed by the  Borrower and such  Subsidiaries  during the period of four (4)
Fiscal Quarters ending on such date.

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

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

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


                                       1
<PAGE>
     "Administrative  Agent's Address" means the address of Administrative Agent
referred to or specified in Section 9.1.

     "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.

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

     "Applicable  Margin" means: (i) initially,  for any Base Rate Loan, one and
one-fourth of one percent (1 1/4%) per annum and for any Euro-Dollar  Rate Loan,
three  percent  (3%) per  annum,  and (ii)  from and  after  the  first  Pricing
Determination Date occurring subsequent to the Fiscal Quarter of Borrower ending
on June  30,  1999,  for any  Base  Rate  Loan or  Euro-Dollar  Rate  Loan,  the
percentage  determined  on each Pricing  Determination  Date by reference to the
table  set forth  below as to each  such type of Loan and the Total  Debt/EBITDA
Ratio,  as determined  as of the end of the Fiscal  Quarter  ending  immediately
prior  to  such   Pricing   Determination   Date;   provided,   however,   that,
notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  no decrease  in  interest  rate below those in
effect  on the  Closing  Date  shall  be  instituted  until  the  first  Pricing
Determination Date occurring subsequent to the Fiscal Quarter of Borrower ending
on September 30, 1999:


- ------------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------
          Total Debt/EBITDA           Applicable Margin for    Applicable Margin
                Ratio                   Euro-Dollar Rate         for Base Rate
                                              Loans                  Loans
- ------------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------

Level I                                       1.750%                   0%

If the Total Debt/EBITDA Ratio is
equal to or less than 2.00:1.00
- ------------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------

Level II                                      2.125%                 .375%

If the Total Debt/EBITDA Ratio is
greater than 2.00:1.00 but less than
or equal to 2.50:1.00
- ------------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------


                                       2
<PAGE>

Level III                                     2.500%                 .750%

If the Total Debt/EBITDA Ratio is
greater than 2.50:1.00, but less than
or equal to 3.00:1.00
- ------------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------

Level IV                                      2.750%                 1.000%

If the Total Debt/EBITDA Ratio is
greater than 3.00:1.00 but less than
or equal to 3.50:1.00
- ------------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------

Level V                                       3.000%                 1.250%

If the Total Debt/EBITDA Ratio is
greater than 3.50:1.00 but less than
or equal to 3.75:1.00
- ------------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------

Level VI                                      3.250%                 1.500%

If the Total Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio
is greater than 3.75:1.00
- ------------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------

     The  Applicable  Margin  shall be  subject to  reduction  or  increase,  as
applicable,  as set forth in the table above,  on a quarterly basis according to
the performance of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as measured by
the Total  Debt/EBITDA  Ratio,  beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ending on June
30,  1999,  subject  to  the  proviso  contained  at the  end  of the  preceding
paragraph. Except as set forth in the last sentence hereof, any such increase or
reduction in the Applicable Margin provided for herein shall be effective on the
Pricing Determination Date with respect to the applicable Fiscal Quarter. If the
financial  statements  and the  Compliance  Certificate  of the Borrower and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries  setting  forth the Total  Debt/EBITDA  Ratio are not
received  by the  Administrative  Agent  and the  Banks  by the  dates  required
pursuant to Sections 5.1.2 and 5.1.3 of this  Agreement,  the Applicable  Margin
shall be  determined  as if the Total  Debt/EBITDA  Ratio  exceeds the ratio set
forth as Level VI in the  foregoing  table  until  such  time as such  financial
statements  and  Compliance  Certificate  are  received and any Event of Default
resulting  from a  failure  to  timely  deliver  such  financial  statements  or
Compliance  Certificate is waived in writing by the Administrative Agent and the
Required  Banks.  For the final Fiscal  Quarter of any Fiscal Year, the Borrower
shall  provide  the  unaudited  financial  statements  of the  Borrower  and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries,  subject only to year-end audit adjustments,  for the


                                       3
<PAGE>
purpose of  determining  the  Applicable  Margin;  provided,  however,  if, upon
delivery of the annual audited financial  statements required to be submitted by
the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Banks pursuant to Section 5.1.1
of this Agreement,  the Applicable Margin, as determined therefrom, is different
from  the  Applicable  Margin  so  determined  from  such  quarterly   financial
statements,  then (a) the then  existing  Applicable  Margin shall be terminated
and,  effective  on  the  first  day  of  the  month  following  receipt  by the
Administrative  Agent and the Banks of such audited  financial  statements,  the
Applicable  Margin  shall  be the  Applicable  Margin  based  upon  the  audited
financial  statements of the Borrower for the Fiscal Year then ended, and (b) on
the  first  day  of  the  first   calendar  month   following   receipt  by  the
Administrative  Agent of such audited financial  statements,  an amount equal to
the  difference  between the amount of interest that would have been paid on the
principal amount of the Obligations using the Applicable Margin determined based
upon such audited financial  statements and the amount of interest actually paid
during the period in which the  reduction or  increase,  as  applicable,  of the
Applicable Margin was in effect based upon the unaudited financial statements of
such final Fiscal Quarter of the Fiscal Year then ended shall be paid (i) if the
amount of  interest  that  should  have been paid is greater  than the amount of
interest  actually paid, by the Borrower to the  Administrative  Agent,  for the
benefit of the Banks or (ii) if the amount of  interest  that  should  have been
paid is less than the amount of interest  actually  paid, to the Borrower by the
Administrative Agent, from funds received from the Banks.

     "Arranger" means Wachovia Securities,  Inc., a North Carolina  corporation,
in its capacity as arranger hereunder,  and its successors and permitted assigns
in such capacity.

     "Asset Sale" shall mean the sale by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
of any of their Properties,  excluding  inventory sold in the ordinary course of
business.

     "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.

     "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.



                                       4
<PAGE>
     "Base Rate Loan" means  either (i) a  Revolving  Loan made at the Base Rate
pursuant to Section  2.1 or (ii) a Swing Loan made at the Base Rate  pursuant to
Section 2.1 (unless  another rate is mutually  agreed between the Swing Bank and
the Borrower from time to time).

     "Borrower"  means  Avado  Brands,  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 or a Swing
Loan made to the Borrower by the Swing Bank  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.
All  Borrowings  consisting  of Swing Loans are "Base Rate  Borrowings"  (unless
otherwise  mutually  agreed between the Swing Bank and the Borrower from time to
time).

     "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 3.1.3.

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

     "Co-Arranger"  means  BancBoston  Robertson  Stephens  Inc.,  acting in its
capacity as co-arranger  hereunder,  and its successors and permitted assigns in
such capacity.

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



                                       5
<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
Twenty-Five Million Dollars  ($125,000,000),  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  (without
duplication),  (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.

     "Debt" of any  Person  means at any date,  without  duplication,  all items
which in accordance with GAAP would be included in determining total liabilities
of such Person as shown on the liability  side of a balance sheet of such Person
as of the date on which such determination is to be made.

     "Debt for Borrowed  Money" shall mean Debt of any Person for money borrowed
from any  Person,  including,  without  limitation,  Debt  represented  by notes
payable or bonds,  Debt under any Guarantee and Debt in respect of any letter of
credit; but, excluding, however, the TECONS.

     "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 or Swing 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 or Swing 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.



                                       6
<PAGE>
     "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.

     "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  Consolidated  Net Income of the Borrower and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries for such period (considered without regard to (i) any
extraordinary gains or losses, (ii) any gains or losses arising from the sale of
assets,  and (iii) any gains or losses arising from any  activities  outside the
normal  course of  Borrower's  business  operations  as conducted on the Closing
Date);  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;  provided,  however, that in computing EBITDA for the
four (4) Fiscal Quarters of Borrower ending closest to June 30, 1999,  September
30,  1999,  December  31,  1999 and March  31,  2000,  there  shall be added the
following sums,  respectively,  $6,140,000,  $2,883,000,  $621,000 and $117,000,
respecting certain agreed upon adjustments reflecting improvements in Borrower's
general and administrative expenses.

     "EBITDAR"  shall  mean,  for any  fiscal  period  of the  Borrower  and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  that  amount  equal to the sum of  EBITDA  for such
period  plus   operating   lease  expense  of  Borrower  and  its   Consolidated
Subsidiaries 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.



                                       7
<PAGE>
     "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.

     "Equity Forward Contract" shall mean any contract, whether now or hereafter
existing,  whereby the Borrower or any of its Consolidated  Subsidiaries agrees,
directly or indirectly,  to purchase Capital Stock of the Borrower on any future
date at a fixed price  (including any contract,  howsoever  denominated,  having
substantially the same or similar effect or result).

     "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.

     "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.



                                       8
<PAGE>
     "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  Administrative  Agent on such
day on such transactions, as determined by the Administrative Agent.

     "Fee Letter"  means the letter  agreement,  dated May 21,  1999,  among the
Borrower,  the  Arranger,  the  Co-Arranger,  the  Administrative  Agent and the
Syndication Agent, as it may be amended or modified from time to time.

     "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) EBITDAR  for such  period;  plus (ii) the sum  (without
duplication) of (a) any dividends paid in respect of Redeemable  Preferred Stock
during  such  period,  plus (b) any  payments  made  (howsoever  denominated  or
construed)  in respect of any TECONS in such period,  regardless  of maturity or
the timing of any redemption or repurchase rights granted in regard thereto (the
sum of (a) and (b) above being called, collectively, "Investment Costs" herein);
bears to (B) the sum (without  duplication) of: (i) all Investment  Costs;  plus
(ii) operating lease expense; plus (iii) interest expense; in each case, for the
Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for the same such  period;  all as
determined under GAAP.

     "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.



                                       9
<PAGE>
     "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.

     "Hops  Subsidiaries"  means  those  Subsidiaries  listed  on  Schedule  1.2
attached  hereto  plus any  Subsidiaries  (other  than any which are  Subsidiary
Guarantors) hereafter created or acquired for the purpose of owning or operating
any "Hops" restaurant or related business.

     "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 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.



                                       10
<PAGE>
     (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 Administrative 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
Administrative 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 Dow Jones  Market  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 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
Administrative  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 Rate 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.



                                       11
<PAGE>
     "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes, each Subsidiary Guaranty,
any other  document  evidencing or relating to the Revolving  Loans or the Swing
Loans, and any other document, instrument, certificate or agreement delivered in
connection  with this  Agreement,  the Notes,  the Revolving  Loans or the Swing
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 Administrative  Agent, the Syndication Agent, the
Arranger, the Co-Arranger 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 or any  Subsidiary  from any Asset Sale,  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,  and (iii) any
payments made to repay any indebtedness or other  obligation  outstanding at the
time of an Asset Sale that is secured by a Purchase  Money Lien on the  property
or assets sold.

     "Non-Core Assets" means those assets so identified on Schedule 1.1.

     "Notes"  means,   collectively,   the  promissory  notes  of  the  Borrower
evidencing  the Revolving  Loans (and, in the case of the Swing Bank,  the Swing
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.



                                       12
<PAGE>
     "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 then making or  accruing an  obligation  to make  contributions  or has
within the preceding five plan years made contributions.

     "Pricing  Determination  Date" shall mean,  as to any Fiscal  Quarter,  the
first day of the first calendar month after receipt by the Administrative  Agent
and the  Banks  of  Borrower's  and  its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries'  financial
statements  for such Fiscal  Quarter  pursuant to Section 5.1.2 and a Compliance
Certificate for such Fiscal Quarter pursuant to Section 5.1.3.

     "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 Debt
permitted  pursuant to Section  5.21  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.

     "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; but excluding the TECONS.

     "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 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.



                                       13
<PAGE>
     "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 2.1.1.

     "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 (i) any Redeemable
Preferred Stock of the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries and (ii)
the TECONS; and, pending settlement, any Debts, liabilities or obligations under
any Equity Forward Contracts.  Shareholders' Equity generally would include, but
not be limited to (i) the par or stated value of all outstanding  Capital Stock,
(ii) capital  surplus and (iii)  retained  earnings,  and would reflect  various
deductions  such 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.

     "Subordinated Debt" shall mean Debt of Borrower incurred on or prior to the
Closing Date pursuant to an indenture and other  documents  satisfactory  in all
respects  to the  Banks,  including,  without  limitation,  with  respect to the
subordination  provisions thereof, the covenants included therein, the repayment
terms thereof and the interest rate payable thereon.

     "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.



                                       14
<PAGE>
     "Subsidiary  Guarantor"  shall mean any  Subsidiary  of Borrower  which has
executed a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 3.1.3 or Section 5.24.

     "Subsidiary  Guaranty" shall mean a guaranty,  in substantially the form of
Exhibit H attached  hereto,  pursuant to which a  Subsidiary  of Borrower  shall
guarantee all debts,  liabilities and obligations of the Borrower hereunder, all
in accordance with Section 3.1.3 or Section 5.24.

     "Swing  Bank" means  Wachovia and any other Bank which,  hereafter,  at the
request or with the consent of Wachovia,  shall agree to act as "Swing Bank" for
purposes hereof.

     "Swing Loan" mean any Base Rate Loan made to the Borrower by the Swing Bank
from time to time pursuant to Section 2.1.2.

     "Syndication Agent" means BankBoston, N.A., a national banking association,
in its capacity as syndication agent for the Banks hereunder, and its successors
and permitted assigns in such capacity.

     "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
sum  of  (A)   Stockholders'   Equity  of  the  Borrower  and  its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  at such  time  plus (B) the  TECONS  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, 1998,  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.

     "TECONS"  means the  Borrower-obligated  mandatorily  redeemable  preferred
securities of Avado Financing I, as in existence on the Closing Date.

     "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  Debt" shall mean that  portion of the Debt of the  Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries at any date equal to the sum (without duplication) of:
(i) all Debt for Borrowed Money at such date (including,  for this purpose, Debt
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;  plus (vi) all Debts,  liabilities and obligations  under any
Equity Forward Contracts, pending settlement.



                                       15
<PAGE>
     "Total  Debt/EBITDA  Ratio"  shall have the  meaning  given to such term in
Section 5.6.

     "Total Senior Debt" shall mean, at any date, Total Debt of Borrower and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries  minus the then outstanding  principal balance of the
Subordinated Debt.

     "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 and, in the case of the Swing Bank, Swing Loans.

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

     "Y2K Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.19.

     "Y2K Plan Milestones" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.19.

     "Year 2000  Compliant  and Ready"  means  that (a) the  Borrower's  and its
operating divisions' and Subsidiaries' computer hardware or software in question
will:  (i) handle date  information  involving any and all dates before,  during
and/or after January 1, 2000,  including  accepting input,  providing output and
performing  date  calculations  in whole or in part;  (ii)  operate,  accurately
without  interruption  on and in  respect  of any and all dates  before,  during
and/or after  January 1, 2000 and without any change in  performance;  and (iii)
store and provide date input  information  without  creating any ambiguity as to
the century;  provided all other information  technology properly exchanges date
data information with it; and (b) the Borrower has developed  alternative  plans
to ensure business continuity in the event of the failure of any or all of items
(i) through (iii) above.



                                       16
<PAGE>
               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.  In determining  compliance of the
Borrower  with the  financial  covenants  set forth in Sections  5.4 through 5.7
hereof,  and,  in making such  calculations  for any other  purposes  hereunder,
including,  without  limitation,  the  determination  of the  Applicable  Margin
pursuant  to  the  definition  thereof  and  the  determination  of  the  unused
commitment fee pursuant to Section  2.6.2,  (i) there shall be excluded from the
calculations of Consolidated Net Income,  depreciation and amortization  expense
and  operating  lease and rent expense any amounts  attributable  to  Applebee's
Neighborhood  Grill & Bar restaurants which were sold prior to the Closing Date,
and for the  Fiscal  Quarters  of  Borrower  ending  closest  to June 30,  1999,
September 30, 1999, December 31, 1999 and March 31, 2000, interest expense shall
be  "annualized,"  rather than  presented  historically;  e.g., for the four (4)
Fiscal  Quarters  ending  closest to each such date,  interest  expense shall be
computed by multiplying  interest  expense for the Fiscal Quarter ending closest
to such date, and multiplying by four (4).

                            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.

                       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.



                                       17
<PAGE>
                             ARTICLE 2. THE CREDIT

                        SECTION 2.1. Commitments to Lend.

     2.1.1  Revolving  Loans.  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
and, in the case of the Swing Bank,  Swing Loans,  by such Bank shall not exceed
the  amount  of its  Commitment,  and (ii) the  aggregate  principal  amount  of
Revolving Loans and Swing Loans by all Banks shall not exceed One Hundred Twenty
Five Million Dollars ($125,000,000).  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 Five  Million  Dollars
($5,000,000) 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.

     2.1.2  Swing  Loans.  The Swing  Bank  severally  agrees,  on the terms and
conditions set forth herein,  to make Swing Loans to the Borrower,  in the Swing
Bank's sole discretion, at any time and from time to time before the Termination
Date; provided, however, that,

     (i) immediately after such Swing Loan is made, (A) the sum of (1) all Swing
Loans then  outstanding,  plus (2) the Revolving Loans  outstanding of the Swing
Bank, will not exceed the Swing Bank's  Commitment,  and (B) the total amount of
all Swing  Loans and  Revolving  Loans  then  outstanding  will not  exceed  the
aggregate Commitments of all Banks; and

     (ii) total Swing Loans then outstanding will not exceed,  in any event, Ten
Million Dollars ($10,000,000).

     Each  Swing Loan  shall be a Base Rate  Loan,  and shall be in a  principal
amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand  Dollars  ($250,000) or any larger multiple
of Fifty Thousand  Dollars  ($50,000)  (except that any Swing Loan may be in the
amount of the Unused  Commitments)  and shall be made in accordance with Section
2.2.5.  Within the foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow under this Section,
repay or, to the extent  permitted  in Section  2.2.5,  prepay  Swing  Loans and
borrow under this Section at any time before the Termination  Date. The proceeds
of each Swing Loan shall be used by the Borrower  for the purposes  permitted in
Section 5.12.



                                       18
<PAGE>
                       SECTION 2.2. Method of Borrowing.

     2.2.1.  Notice  to  Administrative  Agent.  The  Borrower  shall  give  the
Administrative   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:

     (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
Administrative 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  Administrative  Agent at the  Administrative  Agent's address.
Unless  the  Administrative  Agent  determines  that  any  applicable  condition
specified in Article 3 has not been  satisfied,  the  Administrative  Agent will
make the funds so  received  from the Banks  available  to the  Borrower  at the
Administrative Agent's Address.  Unless the Administrative Agent receives notice
from a Bank, at the  Administrative  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  Administrative  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 Administrative 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 Administrative 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 Administrative  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  Administrative  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
Administrative  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  Administrative  Agent does not
exercise  its option to  advance  funds for the  account of such Bank,  it shall
forthwith notify the Borrower of such decision.



                                       19
<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  Administrative  Agent as
provided in Section  2.2.3,  or remitted by the  Borrower to the  Administrative
Agent, as the case may be.

     2.2.5 Borrowing of Swing Loans.

     a. The Borrower shall give the  Administrative  Agent written notice in the
form of a Notice of  Borrowing  (or notice by  telephone  or  telecopy  followed
immediately by a Notice of Borrowing; provided, however, that the failure by the
Borrower  to  confirm  any  notice by  telephone  or  telecopy  with a Notice of
Borrowing  shall not  invalidate  any  notice so given) no later than 11:00 a.m.
(Atlanta,  Georgia  time) on the  Domestic  Business  Day on which the  Borrower
wishes to receive any Swing Loan.  If the Swing  Bank,  in its sole  discretion,
elects to make the  requested  Swing  Loan,  the Swing Loan shall be made on the
Domestic  Business Day  specified in the Notice of Borrowing  and such Notice of
Borrowing  shall specify the amount of the requested Swing Loan. Each Swing Loan
shall be made as a Base Rate Loan (unless otherwise  mutually agreed between the
Swing Bank and the  Borrower  from time to time) and interest  thereon  shall be
payable in accordance  with Section  2.5.1 hereof.  The Swing Bank shall have no
duty or  obligation  to make any Swing Loans  hereunder and the Swing Bank shall
not make any Swing Loans unless,  on the date of the requested  advance thereof,
the Borrower satisfies each of the conditions  precedent to a Revolving Loan set
forth in Article 3 hereof. In the event the Swing Bank, in its sole and absolute
discretion,  elects to make any requested  Swing Loan, the Swing Bank shall make
the  proceeds of such Swing Loan  available  to the  Borrower by deposit of U.S.
dollars in same day funds by wire  transfer in  accordance  with the  applicable
Notice of Borrowing.

     b. The  Borrower  shall  have the right and from time to time to prepay any
Swing  Loan,  in whole or in part,  upon giving  written or telecopy  notice (or
telephone notice promptly  confirmed by written or telecopy notice) to the Swing
Bank and to the Administrative  Agent before 12:00 (noon),  Atlanta time, on the
date of prepayment.  Swing Loans not prepaid in full as provided herein shall be
payable as provided in Section 2.4. All  prepayments and payments of Swing Loans
shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Bank.



                                       20
<PAGE>
     c. The Swing Bank may, by written notice given to the Administrative  Agent
not later than 10:00 a.m.,  Atlanta,  Georgia time, on any Business Day, require
the Banks to acquire  participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of
the Swing Loans  outstanding.  Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of
Swing Loans in which the Banks will participate.  The Administrative Agent will,
promptly  upon receipt of such notice,  give notice to each Bank,  specifying in
such notice such Bank's pro rata share of such Swing Loan or Loans, based on its
pro rata share of the  Commitments.  In furtherance of the foregoing,  each Bank
hereby  irrevocably,  absolutely  and  unconditionally  agrees,  upon receipt of
notice as provided above, to pay the  Administrative  Agent,  for the account of
the Swing  Bank,  such  Bank's pro rata share of such Swing Loan or Loans.  Each
Bank  acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire  participations  in
Swing  Loans   pursuant  to  this   paragraph  is   irrevocable,   absolute  and
unconditional  and  shall  not  be  affected  by  any  circumstance  whatsoever,
including the occurrence and  continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or
the  termination  of the  Commitments,  and that each such payment shall be made
without any offset,  abatement,  withholding or reduction whatsoever.  Each Bank
shall  comply  with its  obligation  under this  paragraph  by wire  transfer of
immediately  available  funds,  in the same manner as provided in Section  2.2.3
with  respect to  Revolving  Loans made by such Bank (and  Section  2.2.3  shall
apply,  mutatis  mutandis,  to the  payment  obligations  of the  Banks) and the
Administrative  Agent  shall  promptly  pay to the  Swing  Bank the  amounts  so
received  by it from the  Banks.  The  Administrative  Agent  shall  notify  the
Borrower  of any  participations  in any Swing Loan  acquired  pursuant  to this
paragraph and thereafter payments in respect of such Swing Loan shall be made to
the  Administrative  Agent,  for the  account of the Banks,  rather than for the
account  of the Swing  Bank.  Any  amount  received  by the Swing  Bank from the
Borrower  in  respect  of a Swing  Loan  after  receipt by the Swing Bank of the
proceeds of a sale of  participations  therein shall be promptly remitted to the
Administrative  Agent;  any such amounts  received by the  Administrative  Agent
shall be promptly remitted by the  Administrative  Agent to the Banks that shall
have made their  payments  pursuant to this  paragraph and to the Swing Bank, as
their  interests  may appear.  The  purchase of  participations  in a Swing Loan
pursuant to this paragraph  shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the
payment thereof.

     2.2.6 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.



                                       21
<PAGE>
     2.2.7 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.

     2.2.8  Limitation on Borrowings.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
contained  herein,  there  shall not be more than  eight  (8)  Euro-Dollar  Rate
Borrowings outstanding at any given time.

                              SECTION 2.3. Notes.

     2.3.1 Single Notes.  The Revolving  Loans of each Bank (and, in the case of
the Swing Bank,  the Swing Loans) 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 3.1.3,  the  Administrative  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 and, in the case of the Swing Bank,
each Swing 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.

           SECTION 2.4. Maturity of Revolving Loans and Swing Loans.

     Each Revolving Loan and Swing 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.  In any event,  all Revolving
Loans and Swing Loans shall be due and payable in full on the Termination  Date,
if not sooner due and payable pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement.



                                       22
<PAGE>
                          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
on all Base Rate Loans  other  than Swing  Loans  shall be payable  monthly,  in
arrears,  on the last day of each calendar month, in respect of interest accrued
in such month (or portion thereof),  commencing on June 30, 1999 (with the first
payment  date to cover the period  from the Closing  Date until June 30,  1999),
until maturity and thereafter on demand.  Such interest on all Swing Loans shall
be payable as provided in Section 2.2.5(b) and otherwise monthly, in arrears, on
the last day of each  calendar  month,  in respect of  interest  accrued in such
month (or portion thereof),  commencing on June 30, 1999 (with the first payment
date to cover the period  from the  Closing  Date until  June 30,  1999),  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  Administrative  Agent to Determine.  The Administrative  Agent shall
determine each interest rate  applicable to the Revolving  Loans and Swing Loans
hereunder. The Administrative 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 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.



                                       23
<PAGE>
                               SECTION 2.6. Fees.

     2.6.1 Unused Commitment Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the  Administrative
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 unused  commitment  fees shall accrue from and  including  the
Closing Date and be due and payable quarterly in arrears, commencing on June 30,
1999, 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  unused  commitment  fees shall be one-half of one percent (.500%) per
annum initially.  From and after the first Pricing  Determination Date occurring
subsequent to the Fiscal  Quarter of Borrower  ending on September 30, 1999, the
unused  commitment fee shall be subject to reduction or increase,  as applicable
and as set forth in the table  below  (with  references  to Levels I through  VI
below  corresponding to the same Levels I through VI set forth in the definition
of "Applicable Margin" contained in Section 1.1):

            Level I                 .300%
            Level II                .400%
            Level III               .500%
            Level IV                .500%
            Level V                 .500%
            Level VI                .500%

     The unused  commitment  fee shall be subject to reduction  or increase,  as
applicable,  as set forth in the table above,  on a quarterly basis according to
the  performance  of the  Borrower as measured by the Total  Debt/EBITDA  Ratio,
beginning with the Fiscal  Quarter  ending on September 30, 1999.  Except as set
forth in the last sentence hereof,  any such increase or reduction in the unused
commitment   fee   provided  for  herein  shall  be  effective  on  the  Pricing
Determination  Date  for  the  applicable  Fiscal  Quarter.   If  the  financial
statements  and the  Compliance  Certificate  of the Borrower  setting forth the
Total  Funded  Debt/EBITDA  Ratio  for the  applicable  Fiscal  Quarter  are not
received by the Administrative Agent and the Banks by the date required pursuant
to Sections 5.1.2 and 5.1.3 of this Agreement,  the unused  commitment fee shall
be  determined  as if the Total Funded  Debt/EBITDA  Ratio exceeds the ratio set
forth as Level VI in the  foregoing  table  until  such  time as such  financial
statements  and  Compliance  Certificate  are  received and any Event of Default
resulting  from a  failure  to  timely  deliver  such  financial  statements  or
Compliance  Certificate is waived in writing by the Administrative Agent and the
Required  Banks.  For the final Fiscal  Quarter of any Fiscal Year, the Borrower
may provide the unaudited financial  statements of Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries,   subject  only  to  year-end  adjustments,  for  the  purpose  of


                                       24
<PAGE>
determining the unused commitment fee; provided,  however,  if, upon delivery of
the annual audited financial statements required to be submitted by the Borrower
to the  Administrative  Agent and the Banks  pursuant  to Section  5.1.1 of this
Agreement, the unused commitment fee, as determined therefrom, is different from
the unused commitment fee determined from such quarterly  financial  statements,
then (a) the then  existing  unused  commitment  fee  shall be  terminated  and,
effective on the first day of the month following receipt by the  Administrative
Agent and the Banks of such audited financial statements,  the unused commitment
fee  shall  be the  unused  commitment  fee  based  upon the  audited  financial
statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year
then  ended,  and (b) on the  first day of the first  calendar  month  following
receipt  by the  Administrative  Agent and the Banks of such  audited  financial
statements,  an amount equal to the difference  between the amount of the unused
commitment  fee that  would  have been  paid  using the  unused  commitment  fee
determined based upon such audited financial statements and the amount of unused
commitment  fee  actually  paid  during  the  period in which the  reduction  or
increase,  as applicable,  of the unused commitment fee was in effect based upon
the unaudited  financial  statements for such final Fiscal Quarter of the Fiscal
Year then ended  shall be paid (i) if the amount of the  unused  commitment  fee
that should have been paid is greater  than the amount of the unused  commitment
fee actually paid, by the Borrower to the Administrative  Agent, for the benefit
of the Banks or (ii) if the amount of the unused commitment fee that should have
been paid is less than the amount of the unused  commitment fee actually paid to
the Borrower, by the Administrative Agent, from funds received from the Banks.

     2.6.2 Upfront Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative  Agent for
distribution to the Banks their respective upfront fees, as previously  arranged
between the Borrower and each Bank.

     2.6.3 Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the  Administrative  Agent such
fees and  other  amounts  at such  times as set forth in the Fee  Letter,  to be
shared, as appropriate,  among the Administrative  Agent, the Syndication Agent,
the  Arranger  and the  Co-Arranger  in the manner  and to the extent  specified
therein.

             SECTION 2.7. Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

     2.7.1 Termination of Commitments. The Commitments shall terminate the third
(3rd) anniversary of the Closing Date (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 Ten Million  Dollars  ($10,000,000)
per reduction and integral multiples of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) beyond
such  minimum  amount,  provided  that (i) the  Borrower  shall  have  given the
Administrative  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  2.9.1,  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.



                                       25
<PAGE>
     2.7.3 Mandatory Ratable  Reductions in Commitments.  The Commitments of the
Banks  shall  reduce  ratably  in the  amount  of any  mandatory  prepayment  of
Borrowings  pursuant to Section 2.9.2. Any Commitments once so reduced shall not
be reinstated by the Banks.

                       SECTION 2.8. Optional Prepayments.

     In addition to the  Borrower's  right to prepay Swing Loans as set forth in
Section 2.2.5,  the Borrower may, on any Business Day, upon giving notice to the
Administrative  Agent by not later than 11:00 A.M.  (Atlanta,  Georgia  time) on
such  Business  Day, and making  payment to the  Administrative  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  Administrative  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.

     2.9.1  Reductions  in  Commitments.  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
and Swing  Loans,  if any, as may be  necessary  so that after such  payment the
aggregate  unpaid  principal  amount of the  Revolving  Loans and Swing 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.

     2.9.2 Asset Sales. To the extent that, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 5.11, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  consummates an Asset Sale
(except of Non-Core  Assets) and (i) after giving effect to such Asset Sale, the
Net Cash Proceeds from all Asset Sales (except of Non-Core  Assets)  consummated
to date  during  the  then  current  Fiscal  Year  exceed  Ten  Million  Dollars
($10,000,000)  and (ii) as of the Borrower's most recently ended Fiscal Quarter,
the Borrower's and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries' Total Debt/EBITDA was greater
than or equal to 2.0:1.0,  the  Borrower  shall apply an amount equal to seventy
five percent (75%) of the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset Sale (other than any
thereof  which,  together  with Net Sale  Proceeds  from Asset Sales  (except of
Non-Core Assets)  previously  consummated in such Fiscal Year, do not exceed Ten
Million Dollars  ($10,000,000)),  to repay or prepay outstanding Revolving Loans
and, if Revolving  Loans are reduced to zero,  Swing Loans,  plus, in each case,
accrued interest thereon to the date of prepayment and any compensation required
by Section 8.6. In each such case,  the  Commitments  of the Banks shall also be
simultaneously reduced as provided in Section 2.7.3.


                                       26
<PAGE>
                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 the Swing Loans and of unused  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 Administrative  Agent's Address.  The Administrative  Agent will
promptly distribute to each Bank its ratable share of each such payment received
by the Administrative 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 unused  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.

                SECTION 2.11. Computation of Interest and Fees.

     Interest  on the  Revolving  Loans and Swing 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. Unused 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 each of the following conditions precedent:

     3.1.1  Subordinated Debt. The Borrower shall have obtained cash proceeds in
the  amount of at least  Ninety-Five  Million  Dollars  ($95,000,000),  from the
issuance of  Subordinated  Debt, on terms  acceptable to the Banks.


                                       27
<PAGE>
     3.1.2 First Union Line of Credit.  Borrower shall have  terminated its line
of  credit  with  First  Union  National  Bank and  shall  have paid in full its
obligations thereunder.

     3.1.3 Documents.  The Administrative  Agent shall have received each 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
Administrative Agent:

     (A) 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 Administrative Agent;

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

     (C)  Subsidiary  Guaranty.  A Subsidiary  Guaranty,  duly  executed by each
Consolidated  Subsidiary of the Borrower which is a  wholly-owned  Subsidiary of
the  Borrower  (excepting  therefrom  any having  total  assets of less than Ten
Thousand  Dollars  ($10,000) on the Closing  Date and any which,  as a result of
planned  transfers  of Capital  Stock to store  managers,  will be  wholly-owned
Subsidiaries  of the  Borrower  for a period of less than ninety (90) days after
the Closing Date).

     (D) Opinion. An opinion (together with any opinions of local counsel relied
on therein) of legal  counsel for the  Borrower and the  Subsidiary  Guarantors,
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 Administrative Agent or any Bank may reasonably request;

     (E) 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;

     (F) Other Documents.  All documents which the  Administrative  Agent or any
Bank may reasonably  request  relating to the existence of the Borrower and each
Subsidiary  Guaranty,  the  corporate  authority  for and the  validity  of this
Agreement,  the Notes, the Subsidiary  Guaranty executed on the Closing Date and
the other Loan Documents, and any other matters relevant hereto, all in form and
substance   satisfactory  to  the  Administrative  Agent,   including,   without
limitation,  certificates  of  incumbency  of the Borrower  and each  Subsidiary
Guarantor, signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower and
each Subsidiary Guarantor, in substantially the form of Exhibit F, certifying as
to the names,  true  signatures and incumbency of the officer or officers of the
Borrower and each  Subsidiary  Guarantor  authorized  to execute and deliver the
Loan  Documents  and the action  taken by the Board of Directors of the Borrower
and each Subsidiary Guarantor authorizing the Borrower's execution, delivery and
performance  of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is party
and each  Subsidiary  Guarantor's  execution,  delivery and  performance  of the
Subsidiary  Guaranty to be executed  and  delivered  on the Closing Date and the
other Loan Documents to which it is party.



                                       28
<PAGE>
     (G) Borrowing Notice. A Notice of Borrowing.

                   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 Administrative 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 No Overadvance.  The fact that, immediately after such Borrowing, the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans of each Bank (and,
in the case of the Swing  Bank,  the Swing  Loans) 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,  or obtain  such  licenses,  authorizations,  consents or
approvals could not be reasonably  expected to have or cause a Material  Adverse
Effect.



                                       29
<PAGE>
    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  to which  it is  party  and by each
Subsidiary  Guarantor of the Subsidiary Guaranty and the other Loan Documents to
which it is party (i) are within the Borrower's and such Subsidiary  Guarantor'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 any Subsidiary  Guarantor 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, the Subsidiary Guaranty
and the other Loan  Documents,  when executed and  delivered in accordance  with
this Agreement,  will constitute valid and binding  obligations of the Borrower,
to the extent that it is party thereto,  and each Subsidiary  Guarantor,  to the
extent that it is party thereto, 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,  1998,  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,  and the  unaudited  balance  sheet of the Borrower and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  as of the Fiscal  Quarter ended closest to March 31, 1999, and the
related consolidated  unaudited  statements of income,  shareholders' equity and
cash flows of the  Borrower  and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for the Fiscal
Quarter  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, 1998, there has been no event, act,  condition or occurrence having
or which could be  expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect;  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.



                                       30
<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  except as  described  on
Schedule  4.5, or which in any manner  draws into  question  the validity of, or
could impair the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary  Guarantor to perform
its obligations under, this Agreement, the Notes, the Subsidiary Guaranty 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.



                                       31
<PAGE>
    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 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 and each of its Subsidiaries 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 Administrative
Agent,  the  Syndication  Agent,  the Arranger,  the Co-Arranger 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
Administrative  Agent, the Syndication  Agent, the Arranger,  the Co-Arranger 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 in its offering  circular  dated June 2,
1999, a copy of which has been delivered to each of the Banks, or otherwise in a
writing  delivered  to the Banks,  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


                                       32
<PAGE>
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 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 or Swing
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 T, U or X.

                             SECTION 4.16. Solvency.

     After giving effect to the  execution  and delivery of the Loan  Documents,
the making of the Revolving  Loans and Swing Loans under this  Agreement and the
incurrence of the  Subordinated  Debt described in Section  3.1.1,  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.



                                       33
<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.

                            SECTION 4.19. Y2K Plan.

     By the Closing Date, the Borrower shall have developed and delivered to the
Administrative Agent a comprehensive plan (the "Y2K Plan"), including milestones
("Y2K Plan Milestones"),  to identify whether its and its Subsidiaries' computer
software and hardware  systems  which  materially  impact or affect the business
operations of the Borrower and such Subsidiaries will be Year 2000 Compliant and
Ready.

                              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 the  Administrative  Agent and 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;



                                       34
<PAGE>
     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  5.4,  5.5, 5.6, 5.7 and 5.20 on the date of
such  financial  statements  and (ii) stating  whether any Default exists on the
date of such  certificate  and, if any 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 Y2K Plan.  Simultaneously with the delivery of each set of annual and
quarterly  financial  statements  referred to in Section 5.1.1 and Section 5.1.2
until such time as Borrower is Year 2000 Compliant and Ready, a statement of the
chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or chief technology officer of
the Borrower to the effect that  nothing has come to his  attention to cause him
to believe  that the Y2K Plan  Milestones  have not been  achieved (or cannot be
achieved) in a manner such that the  Borrower's and its  Subsidiaries'  hardware
and software  systems will not be Year 2000  Compliant  and Ready in  accordance
with the Y2K Plan.  In  addition,  if,  prior to the  delivery  date of any such
statements,  the Borrower becomes aware of any material  deviations from the Y2K
Plan or any Y2K Plan  Milestones  which would be reasonably  likely to cause the
Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  not to be Year  2000  Compliant  and  Ready,  a
statement of the chief  executive  officer,  chief financial  officer,  or chief
technology  officer of Borrower setting forth the details thereof and the action
which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect  thereto  shall be
delivered to each of the Banks promptly thereafter.



                                       35
<PAGE>
     5.1.9  Other  Reports.  From  time  to  time  such  additional  information
regarding  the   financial   position  or  business  of  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries  as the  Administrative  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.

     SECTION 5.3.  Y2K. The Borrower  will  diligently  endeavor to meet the Y2K
Plan Milestones such that all computer hardware and software systems  identified
as material will be Year 2000  Compliant  and Ready in  accordance  with the Y2K
Plan.

         SECTION 5.4. Adjusted Total Debt/Adjusted Total Capital Ratio.

     The Adjusted Total  Debt/Adjusted  Total Capital Ratio will not at any time
exceed .70:1.0.

                   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 June 30,  1999,  shall be (i) not less  than
1.50:1,  for the Fiscal Quarters ending closest to June 30, 1999,  September 30,
1999 and December 31, 1999,  (ii) not less than 1.75:1,  for the Fiscal Quarters
ending closest to March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, September 30, 2000 and December
31,  2000;  and (iii) not less  than  2.00:1,  for each  Fiscal  Quarter  ending
thereafter.



                                       36
<PAGE>
                      SECTION 5.6. Total Debt/EBITDA Ratio.

     The ratio  which (i) the Total Debt of the  Borrower  and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  at the end of any  Fiscal  Quarter,  commencing  with  the  Fiscal
Quarter ended closest to June 30, 1999, 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  (the "Total  Debt/EBITDA
Ratio"),  shall be (i) not more than  4.00:1,  for the  Fiscal  Quarters  ending
closest to June 30, 1999,  September  30, 1999 and  December 31, 1999,  (ii) not
more than 3.75:1 for the Fiscal  Quarters ending closest to March 31, 2000, June
30,  2000,  September  30,  2000 and  December  31, 2000 and (iii) not more than
3.50:1 for each Fiscal Quarter ending thereafter. In computing EBITDA in respect
of the foregoing  ratio and the ratio set forth in Section 5.7, (a) any asset or
stock  dispositions  by the Borrower  consisting of the sale of a business line,
segment or other group of related stores 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  or, in the event that any such store had  negative  individual
EBITDA for such  periods,  by  increasing  EBITDA by the amount of such negative
EBITDA;  and (b) any asset or stock  acquisitions by the Borrower  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 or, in the event
that any such  store  had  negative  individual  EBITDA  for  such  periods,  by
decreasing EBITDA by the amount of such negative EBITDA; in each instance, on an
historical  basis,  in a manner which Borrower shall  determine,  but subject to
prior review with, and approval by, the Administrative Agent.

     SECTION 5.7. Total Senior  Debt/EBITDA Ratio. The ratio which (i) the Total
Senior Debt of the Borrower and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries at the end of any
Fiscal  Quarter,  commencing  with the Fiscal  Quarter ended closest to June 30,
1999,  bears to (ii) EBITDA of the Borrower and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,
measured on a rolling Four Quarters'  basis as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter
(adjusted,  however,  as reflected in Section  5.6),  shall be (i) not more than
3.00:1,  for the Fiscal Quarters ending closest to June 30, 1999,  September 30,
1999 and December 31,  1999,  (ii) not more than 2.75:1 for the Fiscal  Quarters
ending closest to March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, September 30, 2000 and December
31,  2000  and  (iii)  not more  than  2.50:1,  for any  Fiscal  Quarter  ending
thereafter

                         SECTION 5.8. 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  5.8,
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


                                       37
<PAGE>
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 deposit 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, provided that the total amount of all such Debt,
when  aggregated  with any Debt described in clause (x) below then  outstanding,
does not exceed,  at any time,  in aggregate  amount,  fifteen  percent (15%) of
Tangible  Net Worth;  (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, when aggregated with all Purchase Money
Debt then outstanding, 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.

                     SECTION 5.9. Maintenance of Existence.

     Except as permitted in Section 5.10 and 5.11, 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.

                           SECTION 5.10. 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 5.11.



                                       38
<PAGE>
           SECTION 5.11. 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, (i) subject at all times to
Section  5.20,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  may merge with  another  Person
(which is not the Borrower or such  Subsidiary) if (A) such Person was organized
under the laws of the United  States of America  or one of its  states,  (B) the
Borrower or such  Subsidiary (as the case may be) is the  corporation  surviving
such merger and (C) immediately  after giving effect to such merger,  no Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) any Subsidiaries of the Borrower may
(A) merge or  consolidate  with each other or with the  Borrower (so long as the
Borrower is the corporation  surviving such merger),  or (B) sell assets to each
other or to the Borrower and (iii) in  connection  with  acquisitions  permitted
pursuant to clause  (xii) of Section  5.20,  the  Borrower may cause one or more
Subsidiaries  formed for such purpose to merge into acquisition targets in order
to consummate such acquisitions;  and, provided,  further, that the Borrower may
consummate Asset Sales so long as, unless  otherwise  approved in writing by the
Required Banks, each of the following conditions is met: (i) the Asset Sales are
to Persons other than Affiliates,  (ii) the Asset Sales are made for cash, (iii)
the Net Cash  Proceeds  from all such Asset Sales  (other than any in respect of
Non-Core  Assets) in any one  Fiscal  Year do not  exceed  Ten  Million  Dollars
($10,000,000),  (iv) the  proceeds  of all such Asset  Sales  (other than any in
respect of Non-Core Assets) are applied in the manner provided in Section 2.9.2,
to the extent  required  thereby,  and to the extent  not so  required,  to make
optional  prepayments of the Revolving  Loans pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof and
for working capital in Borrower's business, but for no other purpose, and (v) no
Default has occurred  which is then  continuing  or otherwise  would result from
such sale occurring.

                         SECTION 5.12. 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 April 1, 1998,  with the banks  named  therein  and  Wachovia,  as Agent,  as
amended to date, and to refinance any other Debt which, pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement,  is required to be paid in full and refinanced as of the Closing
Date. The proceeds of all subsequent Revolving Loans and all Swing Loans will be
used by the Borrower solely for working capital, and for no other purpose except
that Borrower may use such proceeds to settle any Equity Forward  Contracts then
permitted to exist hereunder. Without limitation of the foregoing, no portion of
the proceeds of the Revolving  Loans or Swing 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  even  if such  acquisition  is  otherwise
permitted  hereunder,  (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,  or (iv) for any other purpose in violation of any term of
this Agreement or of any applicable law or regulation.



                                       39
<PAGE>
             SECTION 5.13. 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  Administrative  Agent, the Borrower will set up reserves in
accordance with GAAP.

                            SECTION 5.14. 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 5.15. Change in Fiscal Year.

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

                     SECTION 5.16. 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 5.17. Environmental Notices.

     The Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative  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 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 5.18. 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.


                                       40
<PAGE>
                     SECTION 5.19. 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 5.20. 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,  but shall not include the  issuance by the  Borrower of
its Capital Stock in exchange for cash consideration),  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 Banks' 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;

     (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;



                                       41
<PAGE>
     (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.  Have investments in Consolidated  Subsidiaries of the
Borrower in the ordinary course of, and pursuant to the reasonable  requirements
of, the  Borrower's and such  Subsidiaries'  respective  businesses  (including,
without  limitation,  the  issuance of  Guarantees  of the  obligations  of such
Consolidated   Subsidiaries),   provided  that  the  aggregate  amount  of  such
investments  which may be outstanding at any one time hereafter,  as to all such
Subsidiaries,  other than any which are  Subsidiary  Guarantors  (as to which no
limitation shall apply),  shall not exceed (A) as to the Hops Subsidiaries,  the
sum of (1) the  aggregate  amount  thereof  which  already has been invested and
remains outstanding on the Closing Date, or has been committed to be invested as
of the Closing  Date, as set forth on Schedule  5.20  attached  hereto  (without
credit for any  reductions  thereof  which may occur  subsequent  to the Closing
Date), plus (2) an additional amount,  which shall represent the maximum amount,
in the aggregate,  which may be invested in the Hops Subsidiaries  subsequent to
the  Closing  Date,  not to exceed Two Million  Five  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars
($2,500,000)  per annum,  measured from the Closing  Date, in annual  increments
(without any rollover from year-to-year);  and (B) as to all Subsidiaries, other
than the Hops Subsidiaries and any Subsidiaries which are Subsidiary Guarantors,
an aggregate amount which does not exceed,  when aggregated with all investments
(whether or not made in, by or through  Subsidiaries)  under  clause (x) of this
Section 5.20, ten percent (10%) of the sum of (A) Borrower's Stockholders Equity
at any time plus (B) the amount of the TECONS at such time; it being  understood
and  agreed  that  there  shall be  deducted  in any  event  from the  amount of
investments  in such  Subsidiaries  which may be made pursuant to this subclause
(B)  the  aggregate  amount  of  Capitalized   Lease  Obligations  of  all  such
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.

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

     (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;



                                       42
<PAGE>
     (x)  Restaurant  Concepts.  So  long  as no  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing or would be caused thereby,  make investments in restaurant  concepts
and joint ventures (including, without limitation, by the issuance of Guarantees
of the obligations of such restaurant concepts and joint ventures),  and whether
directly or through one or more  Subsidiaries,  for the operation of restaurants
so  long  as the  total  amount  of all  such  investments  at any  time  (after
subtracting   therefrom  the  amount  of  cash  returns  received  on  any  such
investments)   does  not  exceed,   when  aggregated  with  all  investments  in
Subsidiaries  described in and permitted  under subclause (B) to clause (vii) of
this Section 5.20, ten percent (10%) of the sum of (A)  Borrower's  Stockholders
Equity at any time plus (B) the amount of the TECONS at such time;

     (xi)  Other  Advances.  Make loans or  advances  to  Affiliates  (excluding
therefrom,  however,   Subsidiaries),   shareholders,   directors,  officers  or
employees in addition to those described in clauses (i) through (x) hereinabove,
in an aggregate amount as to all such loans and advances at any time outstanding
to all such Persons not to exceed Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000) so long as,
and provided  that,  (A) no Default has occurred and is  continuing  or would be
caused thereby,  (B) each such loan or advance is repaid in full, not later than
two (2) years  from the date of its  disbursement  and (C) the  aforesaid  Eight
Million Dollar  ($8,000,000)  limitation  shall be reduced by the amount of such
repayments   until  such   limitation   is  reduced  to  Five  Million   Dollars
($5,000,000);

     (xii)  Acquisitions.  Acquire all of the stock or assets of any Person,  so
long as (A) the  aggregate  amount  of  cash,  or  value  of  Property,  paid as
consideration in connection with all such acquisitions,  and liabilities assumed
by the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  in  connection  with all such  acquisitions
consummated during any eighteen (18) month period,  determined initially for the
eighteen  (18) month period  commencing on the Closing Date and  thereafter  for
each  eighteen  (18)  month  period  commencing  on the first day of each  month
thereafter,  does not exceed the lesser of (1) five percent (5%) of consolidated
total assets of Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and (2) Fifty Million
Dollars  ($50,000,000) , (ii) after giving effect to all such  acquisitions,  no
Default has occurred and is continuing and (iii) after giving effect to all such
acquisitions,   Borrower's  and  its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries'  total  Senior
Debt/EBITDA Ratio and Total Debt/EBITDA  Ratio,  determined on a pro forma basis
as of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower for which financial
statements  have  been  delivered  to the  Administrative  Agent  and the  Banks
pursuant to Section 5.1.2, as if such acquisitions had been consummated prior to
the date of such financial  statements,  shall not exceed 2.50:1.0 and 3.50:1.0,
respectively.

     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 5.20 (or in Section 5.21 or
Section  5.22 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.



                                       43
<PAGE>
     SECTION 5.21. Debt.

     The  Borrower  will not  incur,  assume  or  suffer  to  exist  any Debt or
obligation  under any Guarantee (or permit any Subsidiary to do so), except for:
(i) Debt for Borrowed Money existing on the date of this Agreement and disclosed
in the interim  financial  statements  described in Section  4.4;  (ii) Debt and
Guarantees  incurred  pursuant to this  Agreement  or the other Loan  Documents;
(iii) trade  payables and  contractual  obligations  to suppliers  and customers
incurred in the ordinary course of business; (iv) accrued pension fund and other
employee benefit plan obligations and liabilities (provided,  however, that such
Debt does not result in the  existence of any Event of Default or Default  under
any other provision of this Agreement);  (v) deferred taxes; (vi) Debt resulting
from endorsements of negotiable  instruments  received in the ordinary course of
its business;  (vii) any Debt  described in, and permitted  within  Section 5.8;
(viii) Debt and Guarantees  described in and permitted pursuant to clauses (vii)
and (x) of Section 5.20;  (ix) Debt arising under or in connection with interest
rate  protection  contracts  entered  into  by the  Borrower  with a Bank in the
ordinary  course of business,  and not for  speculation;  (x) in the case of the
Borrower and Subsidiary  Guarantors,  Capitalized Lease  Obligations;(xi)  other
Debt for Borrowed  Money in respect of letters of credit  issued in  conjunction
with  debts,  liabilities  and  obligations  arising  from  time  to time in the
ordinary  course of, and  pursuant to the  customary  operation  of,  Borrower's
business; and (xii) the Subordinated Debt.

     SECTION 5.22. Dividends and Distributions.

     The Borrower will not, nor will the Borrower  permit any Subsidiary to, (i)
pay any  cash  dividend;  (ii)  make any  capital  distribution;  (iii)  redeem,
repurchase or retire for cash any Capital Stock (except as permitted pursuant to
Section  5.25);  or (iv)  take any  other  action  which  would  have an  effect
equivalent  to any of the  foregoing  (the actions  described  in the  preceding
clauses (i) through (iv) herein called, generally,  "Distributions");  provided,
however,  that,  notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  (A) so long as no Default has
occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the Borrower may pay cash
dividends on its Capital Stock in each Fiscal Year in an aggregate amount not to
exceed  Three  Million  Dollars  ($3,000,000)  per Fiscal Year during its Fiscal
Years  ending on or about  December  31,  1999 and  December  31,  2000 and Four
Million  Dollars  ($4,000,000)  during  each Fiscal  Year  thereafter,  (B) each
Subsidiary may make  Distributions on any Capital Stock of such Subsidiary owned
by the  Borrower  or  another  Consolidated  Subsidiary  which  is a  Subsidiary
Guarantor and (C) Borrower may make Distributions on the TECONS.

     SECTION 5.23. Transactions with Affiliates.

     The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to enter into, or
be a party to, any transaction with any Affiliate, except in the ordinary course
of and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of its business and upon fair and
reasonable  terms and are no less favorable to Borrower or said  Subsidiary than
would be obtained in a comparable arm's length  transaction with a Person not an
Affiliate.



                                       44
<PAGE>
     SECTION 5.24. Subsidiary Guarantees.

     The  Borrower  shall cause each  Consolidated  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower
acquired or coming into existence after the Closing Date which is a wholly-owned
Subsidiary,  directly or indirectly, of Borrower (excepting therefrom any having
total  assets  of  less  than  Ten  Thousand  Dollars  ($10,000)),  as  soon  as
practicable  after,  but in  any  event  within  thirty  (30)  days  after,  its
acquisition  or creation,  to execute a Subsidiary  Guaranty,  together with all
other such documents which the  Administrative  Agent may reasonably  request in
connection  therewith,  including  a  secretary's  certificate,  confirming  the
existence of enabling  authorization in respect of such Subsidiary Guarantor and
signing  officer  incumbency,  and an opinion of counsel,  confirming  that such
Subsidiary  Guaranty  is a valid,  binding  and  enforceable  obligation  of the
Subsidiary  party  thereto,  subject to customary  assumptions,  exceptions  and
limitations acceptable to Administrative Agent. There shall be excluded from the
foregoing  requirements any Consolidated  Subsidiary of the Borrower which, as a
result of planned  transfers of Capital Stock to store  managers,  (A) will be a
wholly-owned  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  for a period of not more than ninety
(90) days  after its  acquisition  or  creation  or (B)  becomes a  wholly-owned
Subsidiary as a result of the return to the Borrower of, or the cancellation of,
any Capital Stock by any store manager for a period of not more than ninety (90)
days after such return or cancellation occurs; provided, however, that, (i) such
requirements  shall  apply if such  planned  transfers  are not made during such
period such that such  Subsidiary  continues to be a wholly-owned  Subsidiary at
the  expiration  of such grace  period and (ii) all such  Subsidiaries  shall be
treated at all times, for purposes of Section 5.20(vii), as if such Subsidiaries
were not wholly-owned Subsidiaries.  The requirements of this Section 5.24 shall
likewise  apply to any  Subsidiary  as to which the  Borrower is not required to
deliver a Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to one of the exceptions set forth in the
parenthetical  to Section 3.1.3(C) as and when such exception no longer applies.
In addition to the  foregoing,  the  Borrower  may, at its option,  at any time,
cause any other Subsidiary to execute a Subsidiary  Guaranty,  together with all
other such  documents  as the  Administrative  Agent may  request in  connection
therewith, consistent with the foregoing provisions, after which such Subsidiary
shall be a Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes hereof.

     SECTION 5.25.Stock Purchases, Etc.

     The Borrower will not, and will not permit any  Consolidated  Subsidiary of
the Borrower, to purchase any Capital Stock of the Borrower, whether in a "spot"
transaction,  pursuant to an Equity Forward Contract or otherwise, except (i) in
respect of shares of Capital Stock which are subject to Equity Forward Contracts
entered  into prior to October 1, 1998 which are  pending  settlement  as of the
Closing  Date,  and (ii) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or
would be caused  thereby,  other  purchases of  Borrower's  Capital  Stock in an
aggregate amount not in excess of Five Million Dollars  ($5,000,000)  during the
term of this Agreement, nor will Borrower enter into, or permit any Consolidated
Subsidiary  to enter into,  any Equity  Forward  Contract or amend or modify any
Equity  Forward  Contract  in effect on the Closing  Date so as to increase  the
amount of, or price of, any shares of Capital  Stock which are subject to Equity
Forward Contracts pending settlement as of the Closing Date.


                                       45
<PAGE>
     SECTION  5.26. No Prepayment of Senior Notes.

     The Borrower will not prepay, and will not permit any Subsidiary to prepay,
the principal  amount of any of the  Borrower's  9-3/4% Senior Notes,  due 2006,
heretofore  issued  by  the  Borrower  in  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of
$125,000,000,   nor  will  Borrower  repurchase  or  permit  any  Subsidiary  to
repurchase, such Notes.

     SECTION  5.27. Subordinated Debt.

     The Borrower will not, and will to permit any  Subsidiary  to: (i) make any
payment  (whether  of  principal,   interest,   premium  or  otherwise)  on  any
Subordinated Debt unless and except to the extent, if any,  expressly  permitted
by the express, written terms of subordination governing such Subordination Debt
as then approved in writing by the Required Lenders; or (ii), in any event, make
any  prepayment  of any  part  or all of any  Subordinated  Debt,  or  otherwise
repurchase,  redeem or retire any instrument  evidencing any  Subordinated  Debt
prior  to  maturity;  or  enter  into any  agreement  which  could in any way be
construed to amend,  modify,  alter or terminate any one or more  instruments or
agreements evidencing or relating to any Subordinated Debt.


                               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 Swing  Loan or (ii)  shall fail to pay any
interest on any Revolving  Loan or Swing 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  5.12,  5.14,
5.15, or 5.20 through 5.28, 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 Administrative 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



                                       46
<PAGE>
     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 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



                                       47
<PAGE>
     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 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  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 then,  and in  every  such  event,  the  Administrative  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
Administrative 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 Administrative
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.



                                       48
<PAGE>
     SECTION 6.2. Notice of Default.

     The  Administrative  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 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     SECTION 7.1. Appointment; Powers and Immunities.

     Each Bank, the Syndication  Agent, the Arranger and the Co-Arranger  hereby
irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as its agent
hereunder  and  under  the  other  Loan   Documents  with  such  powers  as  are
specifically  delegated  to the  Administrative  Agent by the terms  hereof  and
thereof,  together with such other powers as are reasonably  incidental thereto.
The Administrative 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, the Syndication  Agent, the Arranger or the Co-Arranger;  (b) shall not be
responsible  to the Banks,  the Arranger or the  Co-Arranger  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, the Arranger or the Co-Arranger 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  Administrative  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 herein
or therein or in  connection  herewith  or  therewith,  except for its own gross
negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative 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  Administrative
Agent and the Banks,  the Syndication  Agent,  the Arranger and the Co-Arranger,
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 Administrative Agent shall act
solely as agent of the  Banks,  the  Syndication  Agent,  the  Arranger  and the
Co-Arranger  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  Administrative  Agent shall be ministerial and administrative
in  nature,  and the  Administrative  Agent  shall  not have by  reason  of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document a fiduciary  relationship in respect of any
Bank, the Syndication Agent, the Arranger or the Co-Arranger.



                                       49
<PAGE>
     SECTION 7.2. Reliance by Administrative Agent.

     The Administrative  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  Administrative  Agent. As to any matters not expressly provided
for by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the Administrative 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  Administrative  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 or Swing  Loans)  unless the
Administrative  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 Administrative  Agent receives such a notice of
the  occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default,  the  Administrative  Agent
shall give prompt notice thereof to the Banks.  The  Administrative  Agent shall
give each Bank prompt  notice of each  nonpayment of principal of or interest on
the Revolving  Loans or Swing Loans whether or not it has received any notice of
the occurrence of such nonpayment.  The  Administrative  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  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received  such  directions,  the
Administrative  Agent may (but shall not be obligated  to) take such action,  or
refrain  from  taking  such  action,  with  respect to such  Default or Event of
Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Banks.

     SECTION 7.4. Rights of Administrative Agent as a Bank.

     With respect to the Revolving Loans and Swing 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 same as though it were not acting as the
Administrative  Agent, and the term "Bank" or "Banks" shall,  unless the context
otherwise  indicates,   include  Wachovia  in  its  individual   capacity.   The
Administrative 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 Administrative  Agent, and the Administrative 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
Administrative  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.



                                       50
<PAGE>
     SECTION 7.5. Indemnification.

     Each Bank severally  agrees to indemnify the  Administrative  Agent, to the
extent the Administrative  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 Administrative  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  Administrative
Agent. If any indemnity  furnished to the  Administrative  Agent for any purpose
shall,  in the opinion of the  Administrative  Agent,  be insufficient or become
impaired,  the Administrative 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  Administrative  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  Administrative
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 Administrative Agent and Other Banks.

     Each Bank agrees  that it has,  independently  and without  reliance on the
Administrative  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  Administrative  Agent or any other
Bank, and based on such documents and  information as it shall deem  appropriate
at the time,  continue to make its own analysis  and  decisions in taking or not
taking  action  under this  Agreement  or any of the other Loan  Documents.  The
Administrative  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  Administrative  Agent
hereunder or under the other Loan Documents,  the Administrative 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 Administrative Agent.



                                       51
<PAGE>
     SECTION 7.8. Failure to Act.

     Except for action expressly required of the Administrative  Agent hereunder
or under the other Loan Documents,  the Administrative  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  Administrative  Agent by reason of taking,
continuing to take, or failing to take any such action.

     SECTION 7.9. Resignation of Administrative Agent.

     Subject to the  appointment  and  acceptance of a successor  Administrative
Agent as  provided  below,  the  Administrative  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  Administrative  Agent.  If no
successor  Administrative  Agent shall have been so  appointed  by the  Required
Banks and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the
retiring  Administrative  Agent's  notice  of  resignation,  then  the  retiring
Administrative   Agent  may,  on  behalf  of  the  Banks,  appoint  a  successor
Administrative  Agent.  Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative
Agent   hereunder  by  a  successor   Administrative   Agent,   such   successor
Administrative  Agent shall thereupon  succeed to and become vested with all the
rights, powers,  privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and
the  retiring  Administrative  Agent  shall be  discharged  from its  duties and
obligations hereunder.  After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation or
removal  hereunder as  Administrative  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  Administrative  Agent
hereunder.




                                       52
<PAGE>
                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 Administrative
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  Administrative  Agent  that  the  Adjusted  LIBOR  Rate,  as
determined by the  Administrative  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  Administrative  Agent shall  forthwith give notice
thereof to the Borrower and the Banks,  whereupon until the Administrative 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
Administrative  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. llegality.

     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  Administrative  Agent, the  Administrative  Agent shall forthwith
give notice  thereof to the other Banks and the Borrower,  whereupon  until such
Bank notifies the Borrower and the  Administrative  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
Administrative  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.



                                       53
<PAGE>
     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 (or, in the case of the Swing Bank, Swing 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 in the case of the Swing Banks,  the Swing
Loans) or any other amounts due under this Agreement in respect of its Revolving
Loans (or, in the case of the Swing Bank, Swing 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) 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 (or, in the case of the Swing Bank,  Swing 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, in the case of the Swing Bank,  Swing 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  Administrative  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 Administrative  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.



                                       54
<PAGE>
     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.

     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 Administrative
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  Administrative  Agent,
either: (i) notwithstanding any term of Section 2.7.2 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
Administrative 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


                                       55
<PAGE>
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 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
Administrative  Agent under Article 2 or Article 8 shall not be effective  until
received.

     SECTION 9.2. No Waivers.

     No failure or delay by the  Administrative  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.



                                       56
<PAGE>
     SECTION 9.3. Expenses; Documentary Taxes.

     The Borrower shall pay (i) all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative
Agent, including fees and disbursements of special counsel for the Banks and the
Administrative  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  Administrative  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
Administrative  Agent and each Bank  against  any  transfer  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  Administrative  Agent,  the  Syndication
Agent, the Arranger,  the Co-Arranger,  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  Administrative  Agent, the Syndication  Agent, the
Arranger,  the Co-Arranger  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


                                       57
<PAGE>
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 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 Administrative Agent are affected thereby, by the Administrative  Agent);
provided  that, no such  amendment or waiver shall,  unless signed by all Banks,
(i) except as otherwise  provided in Section 8.5, increase the Commitment of any
Bank or subject any Bank to any additional obligation, (ii) change the principal
of, or decrease the rate of interest on any  Revolving  Loan or Swing Loan or on
any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (iii) extend the date fixed for any
payment of principal of or interest on any  Revolving  Loan or Swing Loan or any
fees  hereunder,  (iv)  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,  (v) change the manner of application of
any payments made under this Agreement or the Notes,  (vi) release or substitute
all or any substantial  part of the collateral (if any) held as security for the
Revolving Loans and Swing Loans, or (vii) release any Guarantee given to support
payment  of the  Revolving  Loans  and  Swing  Loans.  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
Administrative  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.



                                       58
<PAGE>
     SECTION 9.7. No Margin Stock Collateral.

     Each of the Banks represents to the Administrative  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.

     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 (or, in the case of the Swing
Bank,  and Swing Loan),  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  Administrative  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) an extension of any date fixed for the
payment of principal of or interest on the related  Revolving  Loan or Revolving
Loans or Swing  Loan or Swing  Loans,  (ii) the  change  of the  amounts  of any
principal  of, or the decrease of any interest or fees due on any date fixed for
the payment  thereof  with  respect to the related  Revolving  Loan or Revolving
Loans or Swing Loan or Swing  Loans,  (iii) the change of the  principal  or the
related Revolving Loan or Revolving Loans or Swing Loan or Swing Loans, (iv) any
decrease  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 and Swing  Loans,  or (vi) the
release of any Guarantee  given to support  payment of the  Revolving  Loans and
Swing Loans.  Each Bank selling a participating  interest in any Revolving Loan,
Swing Loan,  Note,  Commitment or other  interest  under this  Agreement  shall,
within ten (10) Domestic  Business  Days of such sale,  provide the Borrower and
the Administrative  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
Administrative  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 and Swing 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.



                                       59
<PAGE>
     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
Administrative  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), if less than the entirety of such Commitment,
shall be equal to at least Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000),  (iii) no interest
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
Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),  except
after the  occurrence  of, and during the  continuance  of, an Event of Default.
Upon (A) execution of the  Assignment and  Acceptance by such  transferor  Bank,
such Assignee,  the Administrative  Agent and (if applicable) the Borrower,  (B)
delivery of an executed copy of the  Assignment  and  Acceptance of the Borrower
and the  Administrative  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
Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500) to the Administrative  Agent (which
fee shall be  reduced to One  Thousand  Five  Hundred  Dollars  ($1,500)  if the
Assignee is an existing Bank or an Affiliate of a Bank,  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 Administrative Agent shall be required.
Upon the  consummation  of any transfer to an Assignee  pursuant to this Section
9.8.3, the transferor Bank, the Administrative 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.



                                       60
<PAGE>
     SECTION 9.9. Confidentiality.

     Each Bank, the  Administrative  Agent, the Syndication  Agent, the Arranger
and the Co-Arranger 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  Administrative  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 and, in the case of the Swing Bank,  the
Swing  Loans;   provided,   however  that  nothing   herein  shall  prevent  the
Administrative  Agent, the Syndication  Agent, the Arranger,  the Co-Arranger or
any Bank from disclosing such information (i) to the any other such Person, (ii)
upon the order of any court or administrative  agency, (iii) upon the request or
demand of any  regulatory  agency or  authority  having  jurisdiction  over such
Person,  (iv) which has been publicly disclosed other than by an act or omission
of any such Person  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 any such Person) to
which any such Person 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 Person's  legal counsel and  independent  auditors and
(viii) to any actual or proposed  Participant,  Assignee or other  Transferee of
all or part of any  Bank's  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.



                                       61
<PAGE>
     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.

     SECTION 9.14. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.

     EACH OF THE BORROWER,  EACH BANK, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE SYNDICATION
AGENT,  THE  ARRANGER  AND  THE  CO-ARRANGER  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  ADMINISTRATIVE  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.



                                       62
<PAGE>
     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.

     SECTION 9.19. No Joint Venture .

     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,   the
Administrative  Agent, the Syndication  Agent, the Arranger or the Co-Arranger a
partner  or  joint  venturer  with  the  Borrower  or as  creating  any  similar
relationship or entity.

     SECTION 9.20. Certain Designations.

     The designations "Syndication Agent," "Arranger" and "Co-Arranger," as used
herein and in any other Loan Document,  are honorary designations and shall have
no  substantive  effect;  nor shall any parties so designated  have any other or
additional duties, powers or responsibilities  hereunder or under any other Loan
Document as a result of such designation.



                                       63
<PAGE>
     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"

                               AVADO BRANDS, INC.
                                     (SEAL)


                      By:_________________________________
                        Louis J. Profumo
                        Senior Vice President of Finance


                      Attest:_____________________________
                             John G. McLeod, Jr.
                             Secretary

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

                           Telecopier Number: (706) 342-4057
















                                       64
<PAGE>



                                     "BANKS"

                             WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL
          ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative 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: $35,000,000















                                       65
<PAGE>



                     BANKBOSTON, N.A., as Syndication Agent
                                  and as a Bank
                                     (SEAL)


                      By:________________________________
                      Name:__________________________
                      Title:___________________________

                           Lending Office:

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

                           Telecopier Number:  (617) 434-0637

                           Commitment Amount: $25,000,000















                                       66
<PAGE>



                             SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA,
                                    as a Bank


                      By:________________________________
                      Name:___________________________
                      Title:____________________________


                      By:________________________________
                      Name:___________________________
                      Title:____________________________

                           Lending Office:

                           SunTrust Bank, Atlanta
                           303 Peachtree Street, N.E.
                           2nd Floor
                           Atlanta, Georgia  30308

                           Telecopier Number:  (404) 588-8833

                           Commitment Amount: $20,000,000















                                       67
<PAGE>



                              COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE
                         RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK B.A.,
                            "RABOBANK INTERNATIONAL,"
                                 NEW YORK BRANCH


                      By:________________________________
                      Name:___________________________
                      Title:____________________________


                      By:________________________________
                      Name:___________________________
                      Title:____________________________

                           Lending Office:

                           Cooperatieve Centrale
                           Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A.,
                           "Rabobank International,"
                           New York Branch
                           245 Park Avenue
                           36th Floor
                           New York, New York  10167

                           Telecopier Number (404) 877-9150

                           Commitment Amount: $25,000,000















                                       68
<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















                                       69
<PAGE>



                SOUTHTRUST BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Bank
                                     (SEAL)


                      By:________________________________
                      Name:___________________________
                      Title:____________________________


                           Lending Office:

                           SouthTrust Bank, N.A.
                           27th Floor
                           Mail Code PT007
                           One Georgia Center
                           600 West Peachtree Street
                           Atlanta, Georgia  30308

                           Telecopier Number (404) 853-5766

                           Commitment Amount: $10,000,000















                                       70
<PAGE>



                                   "ARRANGER"

                            WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC.


                      By:________________________________
                      Name:___________________________
                      Title:____________________________


                           Lending Office:

                           Wachovia Bank, N.A.
                           191 Peachtree Street, N.E.
                           26th Floor
                           Atlanta, Georgia  30303-1757

                           Telecopier Number (404) 332-4005
















                                       71
<PAGE>



                                  "CO-ARRANGER"

                              BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON
                                 STEPHENS, INC.


                      By:________________________________
                      Name:___________________________
                      Title:____________________________


                           Lending Office:

                           BancBoston Robertson Stephens, Inc.
                           100 Federal Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts  02110

                           Telecopier Number (617) 434-0637




     Exhibits and  schedules to this  agreement  are not filed  pursuant to Item
601(b)(2) of SEC Regulation S-K. By the filing of this Form 10-Q, the Registrant
hereby  agrees  to  furnish  supplementally  a copy of any  omitted  exhibit  or
schedule to the Commission upon request.


















                                       72

<TABLE>
Exhibit 11.1
Computation of Earnings Per Common Share

(In thousands, except  per share data)
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 Quarter Ended                Six Months Ended
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             July 4,       June 28,        July 4,       June 28,
                                                                              1999          1998            1999           1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                         <C>             <C>             <C>           <C>
Average number of common shares used in basic calculation                     28,756        37,513          29,824        38,167
Net additional shares issuable pursuant to employee stock
      option plans at period-end market price                                      1            80               1            34
Shares issuable on assumed conversion of convertible
      preferred securities                                                     7,774         7,774           7,774         7,774
===================================================================================================================================
Average number of common shares used in diluted calculation                   36,531        45,367          37,599        45,975
===================================================================================================================================

Earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle         $  5,968         6,325          11,920        44,864
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax benefit            -             -               -        (1,461)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings                                                                   5,968         6,325          11,920        43,403
Distribution savings on assumed conversion of convertible
       preferred securities, net of income taxes                               1,407         1,328           2,733         2,656
===================================================================================================================================
Net earnings for computation of diluted earnings per common share           $  7,375         7,653          14,653        46,059
===================================================================================================================================

Basic earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle   $   0.21          0.17            0.40          1.18
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                                -             -               -         (0.04)
===================================================================================================================================
Basic earnings per common share                                             $   0.21          0.17            0.40          1.14
===================================================================================================================================

Diluted earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle $   0.20          0.17            0.39          1.03
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                                -             -               -         (0.03)
===================================================================================================================================
Diluted earnings per common share                                           $   0.20          0.17            0.39          1.00
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     (THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM FORM
10-Q FOR THE PERIOD  ENDING  JULY 4, 1999 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS).
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                      0000849101
<NAME>                              Avado Brands, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                    1,000

<S>                                            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         Jan-02-2000
<PERIOD-START>                            Jan-04-1999
<PERIOD-END>                              Jul-04-1999
<CASH>                                          1,121
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   7,754
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                     9,167
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               32,192
<PP&E>                                        398,878
<DEPRECIATION>                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                630,945
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          93,647
<BONDS>                                       215,061
                         115,000
                                         0
<COMMON>                                          405
<OTHER-SE>                                    119,301
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  630,945
<SALES>                                       328,796
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              328,796
<CGS>                                          92,980
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 297,972
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              9,234
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                17,745
<INCOME-TAX>                                    5,825
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            11,920
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   11,920
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.39



</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission