WOOLWORTH CORPORATION
10-Q, 1996-06-11
VARIETY STORES
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<PAGE>   1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                 F O R M 10 - Q


                QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




For the quarterly period ended April 27, 1996


Commission file no. 1-10299


                              WOOLWORTH CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                New York                                13-3513936
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)



233 Broadway,    New York,  New York                         10279-0003
(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number:  (212) 553-2000


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.

YES    x       NO
      ---         ---

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at May 24, 1996: 133,091,871.
<PAGE>   2
                              WOOLWORTH CORPORATION

                                      INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Page No.
                                                                                        --------
Part I.   Financial Information

<S>                                                                                     <C> 
          Item 1.     Financial Statements

                      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets                                    3

                      Condensed Consolidated Statement
                      of Operations                                                            4

                      Condensed Consolidated Statement
                      of Retained Earnings                                                     5

                      Condensed Consolidated Statement
                      of Cash Flows                                                            6

                      Notes to Condensed Consolidated
                      Financial Statements                                                     7

          Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                      Financial Condition and Results of Operations                            8



Part II.  Other Information

          Item 1.     Legal Proceedings                                                       12

          Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                        12

                      Signature                                                               13

                      Index to Exhibits                                                       14
</TABLE>

                                       -2-
<PAGE>   3
                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                              WOOLWORTH CORPORATION

                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                  (in millions)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 April 27,           April 29,           Jan. 27,
                                                                    1996                1995               1996
                                                                (Unaudited)         (Unaudited)
                                                                -----------         -----------         -----------
<S>                                                             <C>                  <C>                 <C>     
                                                      ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents                                       $    46              $    76             $    13
Merchandise inventories                                           1,497                1,864               1,364
Other current assets                                                232                  392                 241
                                                                -------              -------             -------
                                                                  1,775                2,332               1,618
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net                                       1,182                1,558               1,225
DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER ASSETS                                   650                  682                 663
                                                                -------              -------             -------
                                                                $ 3,607              $ 4,572             $ 3,506
                                                                =======              =======             =======

                                       LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES
Short-term debt                                                 $   247              $   966             $    69
Accounts payable                                                    372                  447                 321
Accrued liabilities                                                 356                  367                 426
Current portion of long-term debt and obligations
 under capital leases                                                19                   25                  25
                                                                -------              -------             -------
                                                                    994                1,805                 841
LONG-TERM DEBT AND OBLIGATIONS
  UNDER CAPITAL LEASES                                              616                  571                 619
DEFERRED TAXES AND OTHER LIABILITIES                                797                  831                 817
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Preferred stock                                                  --                   --                  --
  Common stock and paid-in capital                                  291                  282                 290
  Retained earnings                                                 869                  975                 891
  Foreign currency translation adjustment                            75                  118                  83
  Minimum pension liability adjustment                              (35)                 (10)                (35)
                                                                -------              -------             -------
    Total shareholders' equity                                    1,200                1,365               1,229
CONTINGENCIES (Legal Proceedings)
                                                                -------              -------             -------
                                                                $ 3,607              $ 4,572             $ 3,506
                                                                =======              =======             =======
</TABLE>

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for comparative purposes.

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                       -3-
<PAGE>   4
                              WOOLWORTH CORPORATION

                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                     (in millions, except per share amounts)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Unaudited)                                                Thirteen weeks ended
                                                       ----------------------------
                                                        April 27,         April 29,
                                                          1996              1995
                                                       ----------        ----------

<S>                                                     <C>               <C>    
SALES                                                   $ 1,820           $ 1,794


COSTS AND EXPENSES
Costs of sales                                            1,295             1,305
Selling, general and administrative expenses                492               546
Depreciation and amortization                                50                59
Interest expense                                             20                32
Other income                                               --                 (15)
                                                        -------           -------
                                                          1,857             1,927
                                                        -------           -------

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES                                    (37)             (133)
Income tax benefit                                          (15)              (53)
                                                        -------           -------

NET LOSS                                                $   (22)          $   (80)
                                                        =======           =======


Net Loss Per Common Share                               $ (0.17)          $ (0.60)

Weighted-average Common Shares outstanding                133.1             132.5
</TABLE>


See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                       -4-
<PAGE>   5
                              WOOLWORTH CORPORATION

              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF RETAINED EARNINGS
                                  (in millions)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Unaudited)                                            Thirteen weeks ended
                                                       --------------------
                                                     April 27,       April 29,
                                                       1996           1995
                                                     ---------      ---------


<S>                                                    <C>           <C>    
RETAINED EARNINGS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR                 $ 891         $ 1,055
Net Loss                                                 (22)            (80)
Cash dividends declared:
  Preferred Stock - $0.55 per share                     --              --
                                                       -----         -------

RETAINED EARNINGS AT END OF INTERIM PERIOD             $ 869         $   975
                                                       =====         =======
</TABLE>



See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


                                       -5-
<PAGE>   6
                              WOOLWORTH CORPORATION

                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                  (in millions)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Unaudited)                                                                        Thirteen weeks ended
                                                                                   --------------------
                                                                                April 27,          April 29,
                                                                                  1996               1995
                                                                              -----------         ----------
<S>                                                                              <C>                <C>   
FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
   Net Loss                                                                      $ (22)             $ (80)
   Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used
     in operating activities:
       Depreciation and amortization                                                50                 59
       Gain on sales of real estate                                               --                  (15)
   Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
       Increase in merchandise inventories                                        (137)              (188)
       Increase in accounts payable                                                 52                 78
       Other, net                                                                  (71)              (143)
                                                                                 -----              -----
   Net cash used in operating activities                                          (128)              (289)
                                                                                 -----              -----

FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
   Proceeds from sale of real estate                                              --                   25
   Capital expenditures                                                            (16)               (30)
   Purchase of investments                                                        --                  (74)
   Proceeds from sale of assets                                                      7                 24
                                                                                 -----              -----
     Net cash used in investing activities                                          (9)               (55)
                                                                                 -----              -----

FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
   Increase in short-term debt                                                     179                108
   Increase in long-term debt                                                     --                  261
   Reduction in long-term debt and capital lease obligations                        (8)                (9)
   Dividends paid                                                                 --                  (20)
                                                                                 -----              -----
     Net cash provided by financing activities                                     171                340
                                                                                 -----              -----

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH
   AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                                                             (1)                 8
                                                                                 -----              -----

NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                                             33                  4
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR                                      13                 72
                                                                                 -----              -----
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD                                       $  46              $  76
                                                                                 =====              =====

Cash Paid During the Period:
   Interest                                                                      $   9              $  25
   Income Taxes                                                                  $   4              $   3
</TABLE>



See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                       -6-
<PAGE>   7
                              WOOLWORTH CORPORATION

              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Basis of Presentation

         The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements contained in the 1995 Annual Report to Shareholders of Woolworth
Corporation (the "Registrant"), portions of which Annual Report are incorporated
by reference in the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
January 27, 1996, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"). Certain items included in these statements are based on management's
estimates. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair
statement of the results for the interim period have been included, and all such
adjustments were of a normal recurring nature.

Merchandise Inventories

         Domestic merchandise inventories valued on the last-in, first-out basis
at April 27, 1996, April 29, 1995, and January 27, 1996 are stated,
respectively, at $102 million, $99 million and $102 million less than the
amounts that would have been determined on the first-in, first-out basis.

Legal Proceedings

         Between March 30, 1994, and April 18, 1994, the Registrant and certain
of its present and former directors and officers were named as defendants in
lawsuits brought by certain shareholders claiming to represent classes of
shareholders that purchased shares of the Registrant's Common Stock during
different periods between January 1992 and March 1994.

         These class action complaints purport to present claims under the
federal securities and other laws and seek unspecified damages based on alleged
misleading disclosures during the class periods.

         On April 29, 1994, United States Senior District Judge Richard Owen
entered an order consolidating 25 actions, purportedly brought as class actions,
commenced against the Registrant and certain officers and directors of the
Registrant in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New
York, under the caption In re Woolworth Corporation Securities Class Action
Litigation. Plaintiffs served an Amended and Consolidated Class Action
Complaint, to which the defendants responded. On February 17, 1995, Judge Owen
entered an order for certification of the action as a class action on behalf of
all persons who purchased the Registrant's Common Stock or options on the
Registrant's Common Stock from May 12, 1993 to March 29, 1994 inclusive,
pursuant to a stipulation among the parties.

         Five separate state-court derivative actions filed in April 1994 were
consolidated under the caption In re Woolworth Corporation Derivative Litigation
in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York. Plaintiffs
served a Consolidated Complaint on behalf of the plaintiffs in these five
actions together with the plaintiff in the former federal derivative action
Sternberg v. Woolworth Corp., which has been dismissed. Defendants moved to
dismiss the Consolidated Complaint, and on April 27, 1995, the court granted
defendants' motion, with leave to the plaintiffs to replead. On June 7, 1995,
plaintiffs served a Consolidated Amended Derivative Complaint. On June 27, 1995,
defendants moved to dismiss the Consolidated Amended Derivative Complaint with
prejudice. On April 10, 1996, the court granted defendants' motion with
prejudice. Plaintiffs have filed a notice of appeal from the dismissal

                                       -7-
<PAGE>   8
to the Appellate Division, First Department.

         There is one federal derivative action pending in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York under the caption Rosenbaum
v. Sells et al. There have been no material developments in this action.

         These actions are all at a preliminary stage of proceedings.
Accordingly, the outcomes cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. As a
result, the Registrant cannot determine if the results of the litigation will
have a material adverse effect on the Registrant's results of operations,
liquidity or financial position.

         During 1994, the staff of the SEC initiated an inquiry related to the
matters that were reviewed by the Special Committee of the Board of Directors as
well as in connection with trading in the Registrant's securities by certain
directors and officers of the Registrant. The SEC staff has advised that its
inquiry should not be construed as an indication by the SEC or its staff that
any violations of law have occurred. There have been no material developments in
the inquiry to date.

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

         Total sales for the 1996 first quarter increased 1.4 percent to $1,820
million compared to $1,794 million for the 1995 first quarter despite
unseasonably cooler weather in certain markets and 156 fewer stores. Excluding
the effect of foreign currency fluctuations and sales from disposed operations,
sales increased $25 million, or 1.4 percent. Comparable-store sales increased
0.7 percent during the period. Total Specialty segment's sales increased 4.2
percent in the first quarter and comparable-store sales increased 3.5 percent.
General Merchandise sales decreased 2.5 percent for the first quarter of 1996,
compared to the first quarter of 1995. The decrease in the General Merchandise
segment primarily relates to lower sales in the United States. Comparable-store
sales in the General Merchandise segment decreased 3.6 percent during the
period.

         The improvement in the 1996 first quarter operating results stems
directly from the implementation of the Registrant's strategic plan including
reducing inventory levels, lowering expenses and eliminating non-strategic
assets. Selling, general and administrative expenses were reduced by $54 million
in the first quarter of 1996 compared to first quarter 1995 which reflects the
cost reduction initiatives undertaken. In the first quarter 1995, a $38 million
charge was recorded as the inventory improvement program was implemented to
lower inventory levels and clear stores of aged and discontinued merchandise for
new product assortments.
        

                                     -8-
<PAGE>   9


         The Registrant reported a net loss of $22 million, or $0.17 per share,
for the thirteen weeks ended April 27, 1996, compared to a net loss of $80
million, or $0.60 per share, in the corresponding year-earlier period.

         During the first quarter of 1996 the Registrant announced the closing
of its 20-store Rx Place Drug Mart chain. The first quarter loss on disposed
operations of $13 million relates primarily to the closure of this chain. On May
21, 1996, the Registrant announced the closing of the Accessory Lady chain and
will redeploy a number of stores into other existing formats. The decision to
close the Accessory Lady chain is in line with the Registrant's strategic plan
to dispose of underperforming businesses. The Accessory Lady chain is expected
to be closed in the third quarter of 1996. Any loss incurred is not anticipated
to be material to the Registrant's annual results of operations.

         In the first quarter of 1995 the Registrant completed the sale of The
Rx Place deep-discount drug chain and signed an agreement to sell the Little
Folk/Kids Mart operations.

SALES
- -----

The following table summarizes sales by segment and by geographic area:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Thirteen weeks ended
                                               -------------------------------
(in millions)                                    April 27,      April 29,
                                                   1996           1995
                                               -------------   -----------
<S>                                            <C>             <C>   
By segment:
Specialty:
      Athletic Group                               $  840         $  784
      Specialty Footwear                              153            161
      Other Specialty                                  94            106
      Northern Group                                   66             55
                                                   ------         ------
Specialty total                                     1,153          1,106
                                                   ------         ------

General Merchandise:
      Germany                                         370            361
      United States                                   244            264
      Other                                            46             52
                                                   ------         ------
General Merchandise total                             660            677
                                                   ------         ------
Disposed operations                                     7             11
                                                   ------         ------
                                                   $1,820         $1,794
                                                   ======         ======
By geographic area:
      Domestic                                     $1,182         $1,164
      International                                   638            630
                                                   ------         ------
                                                   $1,820         $1,794
                                                   ======         ======
</TABLE>



                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10


Specialty Segment

         The Athletic Group and Northern Group turned in strong first quarter
performances. Athletic footwear and apparel sales increased by 7.1 percent over
the prior year period and comparable-store sales increased by 6.4 percent.
Northern Group sales increased by 20 percent which was attributable to a
combination of store openings and comparable-store growth of 2.0 percent.

         Specialty Footwear sales decreased by 5.0 percent compared to the prior
year period and comparable-store sales decreased by 4.8 percent. These declines
were mainly attributable to the closure of 88 stores, principally in the Kinney
format. Other Specialty sales, adjusted for the disposal of the Rx Place Drug
Mart chain, decreased by 11.3 percent while comparable-store sales declined by
5.7 percent. This decline in Other Specialty sales was mainly due to the closure
of 157 underperforming stores offset by 47 store openings.

General Merchandise

         German general merchandise sales increased by 2.5 percent. This was
principally due to the inclusion of a full quarter's results for the Austrian
department stores acquired February 1, 1995. However, German stores
produced only marginally improved sales results due to the continued poor
economic conditions, including high unemployment and a poor retail environment.

         United States general merchandise sales decreased by $20 million or 7.6
percent. This was caused by the closure of 15 stores under the Registrant's
store closing program and a decline in comparable-store sales of 5.0 percent.

         A slight decline in sales was experienced by both Mexican and
Canadian operations. Sales in this group fell by $6 million, or 11.5 percent,
and comparable-store sales declined by 8.8 percent. Cooler weather conditions in
Canada was the major factor causing this decline.

OPERATING RESULTS

Operating results (before corporate expense, interest, and income taxes) are as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           Thirteen weeks ended
                                         ----------------------------
(in millions)                              April 27,       April 29,
                                             1996            1995
By segment:                              ------------     -----------
<S>                                          <C>             <C>    
Specialty                                    $  34           $  (22)
General Merchandise                            (21)             (47)
Disposed operations                            (13)             (25)
Net gain on sales of real estate                -                15
                                             -----           ------
                                             $  -            $  (79)
                                             =====           ====== 

By geographic area:
Domestic                                     $  42           $  (30)
International                                  (29)             (39)
Disposed operations                            (13)             (25)
Net gain on sales of real estate                -                15
                                             -----           ------
                                             $  -            $  (79)
                                             ======          ======
</TABLE>



                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11


Specialty Segment

         Specialty operating profits improved by $56 million over the 1995 first
quarter. This was primarily due to higher sales and cost reductions by the
Athletic Group. All other specialty businesses reported lower operating expenses
as a result of the strategic plan. Specialty operating results for 1995 include
a $16 million charge to reduce aged and discontinued merchandise, which was part
of the Registrant's inventory improvement program.

General Merchandise

         Each country's general merchandise businesses produced an improvement
in operating results from the first quarter of 1995. General Merchandise 
operating results for 1995 include a $22 million charge to reduce aged and 
discontinued merchandise. In addition, the General Merchandise segment reported
lower operating expenses in 1996 as a result of the strategic plan.

SEASONALITY

         The Registrant's businesses are highly seasonal in nature.
Historically, the greatest proportion of sales and net income is generated in
the fourth quarter and the lowest proportion of sales and net income is
generated in the first quarter, reflecting seasonal buying patterns.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

         Net cash used in operating activities was $128 million for the thirteen
weeks ended April 27, 1996, compared to $289 million in the comparable
prior-year period. The decrease in utilization of cash during 1996 primarily
reflects lower inventory levels and improved operating results.

         Net cash used in investing activities amounted to $9 million for the
thirteen weeks ended April 27, 1996, compared to cash used in investing
activities of $55 million during the corresponding period in 1995. The reduced
utilization of cash in 1996 reflects the overall reduction in capital spending.
Capital expenditures of approximately $148 million are planned for the full year
1996.

         Inventories decreased by $367 million compared to the level at April
29, 1995 but rose $133 million from the level at January 27, 1996, to $1,497
million at the end of the first quarter 1996. The decrease from the first
quarter of 1995 reflects the success of the Registrant's inventory improvement
efforts.

         Accounts payable decreased by $75 million compared to the first quarter
1995 and increased by $51 million to $372 million at April 27, 1996, compared to
the year-end level. The decrease from April 29, 1995 coincides with the decrease
in inventory.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12
         Short-term debt decreased $719 million compared to the level at April
29, 1995 and increased $178 million to $247 million from the year-end level. The
Registrant was able to reduce short-term debt by lowering inventory levels by
$367 million, reducing capital expenditures, selling non-strategic assets and
continuing cost reduction programs. In addition, during the third quarter of
1995, short-term debt levels were reduced by refinancing $90 million to longer
term notes.

         On April 7, 1995 the Registrant negotiated a revolving credit agreement
to provide $1.5 billion of credit lines which included a $1.0 billion three-year
facility available through May 1998.

         Interest expense for the thirteen weeks ended April 27, 1996, decreased
$12 million over the comparable 1995 period. This was attributable to the
reduction in total debt levels of $680 million, compared to the prior year
period as well as lower borrowing rates associated with such borrowings.

         Shareholders' equity at April 27, 1996 decreased $165 million from the
level at April 29, 1995. The decrease reflects a non-cash pre-tax
charge of $241 million ($165 million after-tax) for the adoption of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of
Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of" in the fourth
quarter of 1995.

         On April 12, 1995, the Registrant announced the elimination of
dividends on shares of common stock and reduced capital expenditures as part of
management's plans to improve the Registrant's cash flow.


                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

         This information is incorporated by reference to the Legal Proceedings
section of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 7
through 8 of Part I, Item 1.


Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

         (a)  Exhibits

         An index of the exhibits that are required by this item, and which are
furnished in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K, appears on pages 14
through 16. The exhibits which are in this report immediately follow the index.

         (b)  Reports on Form 8-K

         The Registrant filed a Form 8-K dated April 2, 1996 (date of earliest
event reported), which reported the Board of Directors' recommendation that
shareholders vote against the proposal made by Greenway Partners, L.P. that the
Registrant spin off its Athletic Footwear and Apparel Division. It also
announced its 1995 operating results by segment.


        
                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13
                                    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.




                                                 WOOLWORTH CORPORATION
                                                 (Registrant)





Date: June 11, 1996                              /s/ Andrew P. Hines
      -------------                              -------------------
                                                 ANDREW P. HINES
                                                 Senior Vice President
                                                 and Chief Financial Officer


                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
                              WOOLWORTH CORPORATION
              INDEX OF EXHIBITS REQUIRED BY ITEM 6(a) OF FORM 10-Q
           AND FURNISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITEM 601 OF REGULATION S-K
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. in Item 601
   of Regulation S-K                                 Description
   -----------------                                 -----------
<S>                                                  <C> 
         1                                                                       *
         2                                                                       *

         3(i)(a)                                     Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as filed by the
                                                     Department of State of the State of New York on April 7, 1989 
                                                     (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the 
                                                     Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Registrant
                                                     with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC")
                                                     on May 9, 1989 (Registration No. 33-28469)(the "S-4 Registration
                                                     Statement").

         3(i)(b)                                     Certificates of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of
                                                     the Registrant, as filed by the Department of State of the State of
                                                     New York on (a) July 20, 1989 (incorporated herein by reference
                                                     to Exhibit 3(b) to the Registration Statement on Form 8-B filed by
                                                     the Registrant with the SEC on August 7, 1989 (Registration No.
                                                     1-10299) (the "8-B Registration Statement")) and (b) July 24,
                                                     1990 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(a) to the
                                                     Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
                                                     July 28, 1990, filed by the Registrant with the SEC on September
                                                     7,1990 (the "Form 10-Q")).

         3(ii)                                       By-laws of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated herein by   
                                                     reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant's Annual Report on 
                                                     Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 1995, filed by the     
                                                     Registrant with the SEC on April 24, 1995 (the "1994 10-K")).   
                                                     
                                                     

         4(a)                                        The rights of holders of the Registrant's equity securities are    
                                                     defined in the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, as       
                                                     amended (incorporated herein by reference to: (a) Exhibit 3(a)     
                                                     to the S-4 Registration Statement, (b) Exhibit 3(b) to the 8-B     
                                                     Registration Statement and (c) Exhibit 4(a) to the Form 10-Q).     
                                                     
                                                     

         4(b)                                        Rights Agreement dated as of April 4, 1988, as amended January
                                                     11, 1989, between F.W. Woolworth Co. ("FWW") and Morgan
                                                     Shareholder Services Trust Company (now, First Chicago Trust
                                                     Company of New York), as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by
                                                     reference to (a) Exhibit 1 to the Registration Statement on Form
                                                     8-A filed by FWW with the SEC on April 12, 1988 (Registration
                                                     No. 1-238) and (b) the Form 8 Amendment to such Form 8-A filed
</TABLE>

                              -14-
<PAGE>   15
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                  <C> 
                                                     by FWW with the SEC on January 13, 1989). The rights and
                                                     obligations of FWW under said Rights Agreement were assumed by
                                                     the Registrant pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Share
                                                     Exchange dated as of May 4, 1989, by and between FWW and the
                                                     Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 to the
                                                     S-4 Registration Statement).

         4(c)                                        Indenture dated as of October 10, 1991 (incorporated herein by
                                                     reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3
                                                     (Registration No. 33-43334) previously filed with the SEC).

         4(d)                                        Forms of Medium-Term Notes (Fixed Rate and Floating Rate)
                                                     (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibits 4.4 and 4.5 to the
                                                     Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-43334)
                                                     previously filed with the SEC).

         4(e)                                        Form of 8-1/2% Debentures due 2022 (incorporated herein by
                                                     reference to Exhibit 4 to Registrant's Form 8-K dated January
                                                     16, 1992).

         4(f)                                        Purchase Agreement dated June 1, 1995 and Form of 7% Notes due
                                                     2000 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibits 1 and 4,
                                                     respectively, to Registrant's Form 8-K dated June 7, 1995).

         4(g)                                        Distribution Agreement dated July 13, 1995 and Forms of Fixed
                                                     Rate and Floating Rate Notes (incorporated herein by reference
                                                     to Exhibits 1, 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, to Registrant's Form
                                                     8-K dated July 13, 1995).

         5                                                             *
         6                                                             *
         7                                                             *
         8                                                             *
         9                                                             *

         10(a)                                       $1 Billion Three-Year Credit Agreement dated as of May 26,
                                                     1995.

         10(b)                                       Amendment No. 1, dated as of March 21, 1996, to $1 Billion
                                                     Three-Year Credit Agreement dated as of May 26, 1995.

         11                                          Computation of Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share.

         12                                          Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

         13                                                            *
         14                                                            *
</TABLE>

                              -15-
<PAGE>   16
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                  <C> 
         15                                          Letter re: Unaudited Interim Financial Statements.

         16                                                            *
         17                                                            *
         18                                                            *
         19                                                            *
         20                                                            *
         21                                                            *
         22                                                            *
         23                                                            *
         24                                                            *
         25                                                            *
         26                                                            *

         27                                          Financial Data Schedule, which is submitted electronically
                                                     to the SEC for information only and not filed.

         28                                                            *

         99                                          Independent Accountants' Review Report.
</TABLE>



- ------------------------
  *  Not applicable


                              -16-
<PAGE>   17
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                          <C> 
Exhibits filed with this Form 10-Q:


Exhibit No.

    10(a)                                       $1 Billion Three-Year Credit Agreement dated as of May 26,
                                                1995.

    10(b)                                       Amendment No. 1, dated as of March 21, 1996, to $1 Billion
                                                Three-Year Credit Agreement dated as of May 26, 1995.

    11                                          Computation of Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share.

    12                                          Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

    15                                          Letter re: Unaudited Interim Financial Statements.

    27                                          Financial Data Schedule.

    99                                          Independent Accountants' Review Report.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10 (a)
                                 $1,000,000,000

                                   THREE-YEAR

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                   dated as of

                                  May 26, 1995

                                      among

                              Woolworth Corporation

                             The Banks Party Hereto

                            The Agents Listed Herein

                                 Chemical Bank,
                   Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
                         NationsBank, N.A. (Carolinas),
                              The Bank of New York,
                           The Bank of Nova Scotia and
                       Toronto Dominion (New York), Inc.,
                               as Arranging Agents

                         NationsBank, N.A. (Carolinas),
                            as Letter of Credit Agent

                            The Bank of Nova Scotia,
                             as Documentation Agent

                                       and

                              The Bank of New York,
                             as Administrative Agent
                               and Swingline Bank

                                 Syndicated by:

                            Chemical Securities Inc.
                           J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
<PAGE>   2
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS*
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            Page

                                                              ARTICLE I

                                                             DEFINITIONS

<S>                       <C>                                                                                <C>
    SECTION  1.01.        Definitions   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
             1.02.        Accounting Terms and Determinations   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
             1.03.        Types of Borrowings   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20


                                                              ARTICLE II

                                                             THE CREDITS

    SECTION  2.01.        Commitments to Lend   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
             2.02.        Notice of Committed Borrowing   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
             2.03.        Money Market Borrowings   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
             2.04.        Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
             2.05.        Notes   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
             2.06.        Maturity of Loans   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
             2.07.        Interest Rates  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
             2.08.        Method of Electing Interest Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
             2.09.        Facility Fees   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
             2.10.        Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
             2.11.        Mandatory Termination of Commitments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
             2.12.        Optional and Mandatory Prepayments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
             2.13.        General Provisions as to Payments   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
             2.14.        Funding Losses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
             2.15.        Computation of Interest and Fees  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
             2.16.        Termination of Existing Credit Agreements   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
             2.17.        Letters of Credit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
             2.18.        Swingline Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
             2.19.        Participation Fees  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
</TABLE>

- --------------------
     *The Table of Contents is not a part of this Agreement.

                                     -i-

<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             ARTICLE III

                                                              CONDITIONS
                                                                                                              Page
                                                                                                              ----
<S>                       <C>                                                                                  <C>
    SECTION  3.01.        Closing   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
             3.02.        Extensions of Credit  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48


                                                              ARTICLE IV

                                                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

    SECTION  4.01.        Corporate Existence and Power   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
             4.02.        Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention  . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
             4.03.        Binding Effect  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
             4.04.        Financial Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
             4.05.        Litigation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
             4.06.        Compliance with Laws  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
             4.07.        Compliance with ERISA   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
             4.08.        Environmental Matters   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
             4.09.        Taxes   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
             4.10.        Subsidiaries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
             4.11.        Not an Investment Company   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
             4.12.        Full Disclosure   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52


                                                              ARTICLE V

                                                              COVENANTS

    SECTION  5.01.        Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
             5.02.        Maintenance of Property; Insurance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
             5.03.        Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
             5.04.        Compliance with Laws  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
             5.05.        Inspection of Property, Books and Records   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
             5.06.        Negative Pledge   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
             5.07.        Minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
             5.08.        Leverage Ratio  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
             5.09.        Limitation on Debt  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
             5.10.        Cash Flow Ratio   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
             5.11.        Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  59
             5.12.        Use of Proceeds   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
</TABLE>


                                       ii
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               Page
                                                                                                               ----

                                                              ARTICLE VI

                                                               DEFAULTS

<S>                       <C>                                                                                  <C>
    SECTION  6.01.        Events of Default   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
             6.02.        Notice of Default   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62
             6.03.        Cash Cover  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63


                                                             ARTICLE VII

                                            THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, DOCUMENTATION AGENT,
                                                LC AGENT, AGENTS AND ARRANGING AGENTS

    SECTION  7.01.        Appointment and Authorization   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
             7.02.        Agents and Affiliates   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
             7.03.        Obligations of the Documentation Agent, Agents and Arranging Agents   . . . . . . .  64
             7.04.        Obligations of Administrative Agent and LC Agent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
             7.05.        Consultation with Experts   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
             7.06.        Liability of Agents   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
             7.07.        Indemnification   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
             7.08.        Credit Decision   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
             7.09.        Successor Administrative Agent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
             7.10.        Administrative Agent's Fees   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  66


                                                             ARTICLE VIII

                                                       CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

    SECTION  8.01.        Basis for Determining Interest Rate   Inadequate or Unfair  . . . . . . . . . . . .  66
             8.02.        Illegality  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
             8.03.        Increased Cost and Reduced Return   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  68
             8.04.        Taxes   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  71
             8.05.        Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Fixed Rate Loans   . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
             8.06.        Substitution of Bank  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74
</TABLE>


                                       iii
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                             Page
                                                                                                             ----

                                                              ARTICLE IX

                                                            MISCELLANEOUS

<S>                       <C>                                                                                  <C>
    SECTION  9.01.        Notices   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
             9.02.        No Waivers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
             9.03.        Expenses; Indemnification   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
             9.04.        Sharing of Set-Offs   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  76
             9.05.        Amendments and Waivers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77
             9.06.        Successors and Assigns  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  78
             9.07.        Collateral  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  80
             9.08.        Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  80
             9.09.        Counterparts; Effectiveness   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  80
             9.10.        WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  81
</TABLE>



Pricing Schedule

Exhibit A-1 -   Form of Note

Exhibit A-2 -   Form of Swingline Note

Exhibit B   -   Form of Money Market Quote Request

Exhibit C   -   Form of Invitation for Money Market Quotes

Exhibit D   -   Form of Money Market Quote

Exhibit E   -   Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the
                    Borrower

Exhibit F   -   Form of Opinion of General Counsel of the
                    Borrower

Exhibit G   -   Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the
                    Co-Syndication Agents

Exhibit H   -   Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement



                                       iv
<PAGE>   6
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

             AGREEMENT dated as of May 26, 1995 among WOOLWORTH CORPORATION, the
BANKS party hereto, the AGENTS listed on the signature pages hereof, the
ARRANGING AGENTS listed on the signature pages hereof, NATIONSBANK, N.A.
(CAROLINAS), as LC Agent, THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as Documentation Agent, and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Administrative Agent and Swingline Bank.

             WHEREAS the Borrower desires to obtain a three-year revolving
credit facility in the amount of $1,000,000,000; and

             WHEREAS the Banks party hereto are willing to provide such credit
facility on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

             NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

             SECTION 1.01. Definitions. The following terms, as used herein,
have the following meanings:

             "Absolute Rate Auction" means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes
setting forth Money Market Absolute Rates pursuant to Section 2.03.

             "Adjusted CD Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(b).

             "Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate" has the meaning set forth
in Section 2.07(c).

             "Administrative Agent" means The Bank of New York, in its capacity
as administrative agent for the Banks hereunder, and its successors in such
capacity.

             "Administrative Questionnaire" means, with respect to each Bank, an
administrative questionnaire in the form
<PAGE>   7
prepared by the Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent 
(with a copy to the Borrower) duly completed by such Bank.

             "Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

             "Agents" means the Banks designated as Agents on the signature
pages hereof, in their respective capacities as Agents in connection with the
credit facility provided hereunder.

             "Annual Rent Expense" means, for purposes of calculations pursuant
to Section 5.10 as of the end of each Fiscal Year (the "Relevant Fiscal Year")
and the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of the next Fiscal Year,
the total rent expense (net of sublease income) of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries for the Relevant Fiscal Year, calculated in the same
manner as the $665,000,000 amount shown as such total rent expense (net of
sublease income) for Fiscal Year 1994 under the heading "Leases" on page 24 of
the Borrower's 1994 Annual Report to its shareholders.

             "Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to any Bank, (i) in
the case of its Domestic Loans, its Domestic Lending Office, (ii) in the case of
its Euro-Dollar Loans, its Euro-Dollar Lending Office and (iii) in the case of
its Money Market Loans, its Money Market Lending Office.

             "Arranging Agents" means Chemical Bank, Morgan, NationsBank, The
Bank of New York, The Bank of Nova Scotia and Toronto Dominion (New York), Inc.,
in their respective capacities as arranging agents in connection with the credit
facility provided hereunder.

             "Assessment Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(b).

             "Asset Sale" means any sale, lease or other disposition (including
any such transaction effected by way of merger or consolidation) of any asset by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, including without limitation any
sale-leaseback transaction, whether or not involving a capital lease, and any
sale of real estate, but excluding (i) dispositions of inventory, cash, cash
equivalents and other cash management investments and obsolete, unused or
unnecessary equipment, in each case in the ordinary course of business, (ii)
dispositions of assets to the Borrower or



                                        2
<PAGE>   8
a Subsidiary and (iii) any transaction involving a disposition of one or more
assets for a consideration less than $250,000.

             "Assignee" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.06(c).

             "Available Net Cash Proceeds" means:

          (i) with respect to any Asset Sale, an amount equal to the cash
    proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from or in
    respect of such Asset Sale (including any cash proceeds received as income
    or other proceeds of any noncash proceeds of such Asset Sale), less (x) any
    expenses reasonably incurred by such Person in respect of such Asset Sale,
    (y) the amount of any Debt secured by a Lien on any asset disposed of in
    such Asset Sale and discharged from the proceeds thereof and (z) any taxes
    actually paid or to be payable by such Person (as estimated by a senior
    financial or accounting officer of the Borrower, giving effect to the
    overall tax position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) in respect of
    such Asset Sale,

         (ii) with respect to any Public Debt Issuance, an amount equal to the
    cash proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in respect
    thereof less any expenses reasonably incurred by them in respect thereof,
    and

        (iii) with respect to any Equity Issuance, an amount equal to the cash
    proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in respect
    thereof less any expenses reasonably incurred by them in respect thereof.

             "Bank" means each bank listed on the signature pages hereof, each
Assignee which becomes a Bank pursuant to Section 9.06(c), and their respective
successors. The term "Bank" does not include the Swingline Bank in its capacity
as such.

             "Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the
higher of (i) the Prime Rate for such day and (ii) the sum of 1/2 of 1% plus the
Federal Funds Rate for such day.

             "Base Rate Loan" means (i) a Committed Loan which bears interest at
the Base Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing or Notice
of Interest Rate



                                        3
<PAGE>   9
Election or the provisions of Article VIII or (ii) an overdue amount which was 
a Base Rate Loan immediately before it became overdue.

             "Base Rate Margin" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(a).

             "Benefit Arrangement" means at any time an employee benefit plan
within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which is not a Plan or a
Multiemployer Plan and which is maintained or otherwise contributed to by any
member of the ERISA Group.

             "Borrower" means Woolworth Corporation, a New York corporation, and
its successors.

             "Borrower's 1994 Form 10-K" means the Borrower's annual report on
Form 10-K for 1994, as signed on April 12, 1995 and filed with the SEC pursuant
to the Exchange Act.

             "Borrowing" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.

             "CD Base Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(b).

             "CD Loan" means (i) a Committed Loan which bears interest at a CD
Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing or Notice of
Interest Rate Election or (ii) an overdue amount which was a CD Loan immediately
before it became overdue.

             "CD Margin" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(b).

             "CD Rate" means a rate of interest determined pursuant to Section
2.07(b) on the basis of an Adjusted CD Rate.

             "CD Reference Banks" means The Bank of New York, Chemical Bank and
Morgan.

             "Change in Consolidated Net Working Investment" means, for any
Fiscal Quarter, the amount (which may be positive or negative) obtained by
subtracting Consolidated Net Working Investment at the beginning of such Fiscal
Quarter from Consolidated Net Working Investment at the end of such Fiscal
Quarter. For purposes of this definition, "Consolidated Net Working Investment"
means, at any time, the amount obtained by subtracting consolidated accounts
payable of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at



                                        4
<PAGE>   10
such time from consolidated merchandise inventories of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries at such time.

             "Closing Date" means the date on or after the Effective Date on
which the Administrative Agent shall have received the documents specified in or
pursuant to Section 3.01.

             "Commitment" means a Revolving Credit Commitment or the Swingline
Commitment and "Commitments" means all or any combination of them.

             "Committed Loan" means a loan made or to be made by a Bank pursuant
to Section 2.01 or Section 2.18(f); provided that, if any such loan or
loans (or portions thereof) are combined or subdivided pursuant to a Notice of
Interest Rate Election, the term "Committed Loan" shall refer to the combined
principal amount resulting from such combination or to each of the separate
principal amounts resulting from such subdivision, as the case may be.

             "Consolidated Capital Expenditures" means, for any period, the
gross additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures
of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period.

             "Consolidated Debt" means at any date the Debt of the Borrower and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis as of such
date.

             "Consolidated Subsidiary" means at any date any Subsidiary or other
entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the Borrower in
its consolidated financial statements if such statements were prepared as of
such date in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

             "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" means at any date the
consolidated shareholders' equity (before foreign currency translation and
minimum pension liability adjustments) of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as of such date plus (i) $21,000,000 (being the total amount of the
increase in their consolidated shareholders' equity attributable to the
consolidated foreign currency translation and minimum pension liability
adjustments at January 28, 1995) and less (ii) their consolidated goodwill as of
such date.

             "Continuing Director" means at any date a member of the Borrower's
board of directors who was either (i) a member of such board twelve months prior
to such date or



                                        5
<PAGE>   11
(ii) nominated for election to such board by at least two-thirds of the
Continuing Directors then in office.

             "Co-Syndication Agents" means Chemical Securities Inc. and J.P.
Morgan Securities Inc., in their respective capacities as co-syndication agents
for the credit facility provided hereunder.

             "Debt" of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (i)
all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii)
all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or
services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of
business, (iv) all obligations of such Person as lessee which are capitalized in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (v) all non-contingent
obligations (and, for purposes of Section 5.06 and the definition of Material
Debt, all contingent obligations) of such Person to reimburse any bank or other
Person in respect of amounts paid under a letter of credit or similar
instrument, (vi) all Debt secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether
or not such Debt is otherwise an obligation of such Person, and (vii) all Debt
of others Guaranteed by such Person; provided that the term "Debt" shall not
include amounts borrowed against the cash value of life insurance policies.

             "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 or waived, become an Event of Default.

             "Designated Litigation" means (i) the litigation described under
the heading "Legal Proceedings" in the Borrower's 1994 Form 10-K, (ii)
subsequent developments in the foregoing litigation and (iii) any governmental
investigation or subsequent litigation relating to the events and transactions
described in the report of the special committee of the Borrower's board of
directors filed (excluding certain exhibits and the appendix) with the SEC
pursuant to the Exchange Act as an exhibit to the Borrower's current report on
Form 8K dated May 18, 1994.

             "Documentation Agent" means The Bank of Nova Scotia, in its
capacity as documentation agent for the credit facility provided hereunder.

             "Domestic Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required
by law to close;



                                        6
<PAGE>   12
provided that, when used in Section 2.17 with respect to any action
to be taken by or with respect to the LC Agent, the term "Domestic Business Day"
shall not include any day on which commercial banks are authorized by law to
close in the jurisdiction where the LC Office of the LC Agent is located.

             "Domestic Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its office
located at its address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire (or
identified in its Administrative Questionnaire as its Domestic Lending Office)
or such other office as such Bank may hereafter designate as its Domestic
Lending Office by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent; provided
that any Bank may so designate separate Domestic Lending Offices for its Base
Rate Loans, on the one hand, and its CD Loans, on the other hand, in which case
all references herein to the Domestic Lending Office of such Bank shall be
deemed to refer to either or both of such offices, as the context may require.

             "Domestic Loans" means CD Loans or Base Rate Loans or both.

             "Domestic Reserve Percentage" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.07(b).

             "EBITDA" means, for any period, the sum of (i) the consolidated net
income of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period plus
(ii) to the extent deducted in determining such consolidated net income, the sum
of (A) Interest Expense, (B) income taxes, (C) depreciation, amortization and
other similar non-cash charges, (D) the after-tax effect of any non-cash
extraordinary losses (or minus the after-tax effect of any non-cash
extraordinary gains), (E) the before-tax effect of any non-recurring non-cash
losses that are not classified as extraordinary losses (or minus the before-tax
effect of any non-recurring non-cash gains that are not classified as
extraordinary gains) and (F) any pre-tax loss (or minus any pre-tax gain) on the
sale after July 30, 1994 of any ownership or leasehold interest in real
property; provided that if any extraordinary non-cash loss or non-recurring
non-cash loss referred to in clause (D) or (E) of this definition includes a
provision for cash payments to be made in future periods, such cash payments
shall be deducted in calculating EBITDA for the periods in which they are
actually paid.

             "Effective Date" means the date this Agreement becomes effective in
accordance with Section 9.09.

             "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local and
foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions,



                                        7
<PAGE>   13
regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, injunctions, permits,
licenses and agreements relating to the protection of the environment, to the
effect of the environment on human health or to emissions, discharges or
releases of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes
into the environment including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water,
ground water, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of
pollutants, contaminants, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes or the
clean-up or other remediation thereof.

             "Equity Issuance" means any issuance of equity securities, or any
sale or other transfer of treasury stock, by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than equity securities issued to, or treasury stock sold or
transferred to, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

             "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended, or any successor statute.

             "ERISA Group" means the Borrower, any Subsidiary and 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 or any
Subsidiary, are treated as a single employer under subsection (b), (c), (m) or
(o) of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.

             "Euro-Dollar Business Day" means any Domestic Business Day on which
commercial banks are open for international business (including dealings in
dollar deposits) in London.

             "Euro-Dollar Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its office,
branch or affiliate located at its address set forth in its Administrative
Questionnaire (or identified in its Administrative Questionnaire as its
Euro-Dollar Lending Office) or such other office, branch or affiliate of such
Bank as it may hereafter designate as its Euro-Dollar Lending Office by notice
to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

             "Euro-Dollar Loan" means (i) a Committed Loan which bears interest
at a Euro-Dollar Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing
or Notice of Interest Rate Election or (ii) an overdue amount which was a
Euro-Dollar Loan immediately before it became overdue.



                                        8
<PAGE>   14
             "Euro-Dollar Margin" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(c).

             "Euro-Dollar Rate" means a rate of interest determined pursuant to
Section 2.07(c) on the basis of an Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate.

             "Euro-Dollar Reference Banks" means the principal London offices of
The Bank of New York, Chemical Bank and Morgan.

             "Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.07(c).

             "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

             "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.

             "Existing Banks" means the Banks that are parties to the Existing
Credit Agreements.

             "Existing Credit Agreements" means (i) the $1,000,000,000
Three-Year Credit Agreement dated as of April 7, 1995, among the Borrower, the
Existing Banks party thereto and the Agents, Arranging Agents, LC Agent,
Documentation Agent, Administrative Agent and Swingline Bank referred to therein
and (ii) the $500,000,000 Short-Term Credit Agreement dated as of April 7, 1995,
among the Borrower, the Existing Banks party thereto and the Agents, Arranging
Agents, Documentation Agent and Administrative Agent referred to therein.

             "Extension of Credit" means the making of a Loan or the issuance or
extension of a Letter of Credit.

             "Facility Fee Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09.

             "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum
(rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 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 such day 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



                                        9
<PAGE>   15
Day, and (ii) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Domestic
Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate
quoted to The Bank of New York on such day on such transactions as determined by
the Administrative Agent.

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

             "Fiscal Year" means a fiscal year of the Borrower. A Fiscal Year is
identified by the calendar year which includes approximately eleven months of
such Fiscal Year (e.g., Fiscal Year 1994 refers to the Fiscal Year that ended on
January 28, 1995).

             "Fixed Rate Loans" means CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans or Money
Market Loans (excluding Money Market LIBOR Loans bearing interest at the rate
applicable to Base Rate Loans by reason of clause (a) of Section 8.01) or any
combination of the foregoing.

             "Group of Loans" or "Group" means at any time a group of Committed
Loans consisting of (i) all Committed Loans which are Base Rate Loans at such
time or (ii) all Committed Loans which are Fixed Rate Loans of the same type
having the same Interest Period at such time; provided that if a
Committed Loan of any particular Bank is converted to or made as a Base Rate
Loan pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.05, such Loan shall be included in the same
Group or Groups of Loans from time to time as it would have been in if it had
not been so converted or made.

             "Guarantee" by any Person means any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt 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
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Debt (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to
keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, 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 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 either case in the ordinary course of
business. The term "Guarantee" used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.



                                       10
<PAGE>   16
             "Immaterial Subsidiaries" means at any time one or more
Subsidiaries that in the aggregate did not account for (i) more than 5% of the
consolidated revenues or consolidated net income of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries for the then most recent Fiscal Year for which audited
consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries have been delivered to the Banks or (ii) more than 5% of the
consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at the end
of such Fiscal Year.

             "Indemnitee" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(b).

             "Interest Expense" means, for any period, the consolidated interest
expense (net of interest income) of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries for such period, calculated in the same manner as the amounts shown
as "total interest expense" under the heading "Interest expense" on page 12 of
the Borrower's 1994 Annual Report to its shareholders.

             "Interest Period" means: (1) with respect to each Euro-Dollar Loan,
a period commencing on the date of borrowing specified in the applicable Notice
of Borrowing or on the date specified in the applicable Notice of Interest Rate
Election and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower
may elect in the applicable notice; provided that:

             (a) any Interest Period 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 calendar month at the end of such
    Interest Period) shall, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last
    Euro-Dollar Business Day of a calendar month; and

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

(2)  with respect to each CD Loan, a period commencing on the date of borrowing
specified in the applicable Notice of

                                       11
<PAGE>   17
Borrowing or on the date specified in the applicable Notice of Interest Rate
Election and ending 30, 60, 90 or 180 days thereafter, as the Borrower may
elect in the applicable notice; provided that:

             (a) any Interest Period 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; and

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

(3) with respect to each Money Market LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the
date such Loan is made and ending such whole number of months thereafter as the
Borrower may elect in accordance with Section 2.03; provided that:

             (a) any Interest Period 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 calendar month at the end of such
    Interest Period) shall, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last
    Euro-Dollar Business Day of a calendar month; and

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

(4) with respect to each Money Market Absolute Rate Loan, the period commencing
on the date such Loan is made and ending such number of days thereafter (but not
less than 14 days) as the Borrower may elect in accordance with Section 2.03;
provided that:

             (a) any Interest Period 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; and



                                       12
<PAGE>   18
                     (b) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after the
             Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date.

             "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time, or any successor statute.

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

             "Invitation for Money Market Quotes" means an Invitation for Money
Market Quotes substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.

             "LC Agent" means NationsBank in its capacities as letter of credit
agent in connection with the credit facility provided hereunder and as the
issuer of the letters of credit issued or to be issued hereunder, and its
successors in such capacities.

             "LC Exposure" means, with respect to any Bank at any time, an
amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the sum, without duplication, of (i) the
aggregate amount that is (or may thereafter become) available for drawing under
all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time plus (ii) the aggregate unpaid
amount of all Reimbursement Obligations outstanding at such time.

             "LC Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(m).

             "LC Office" means, with respect to each Letter of Credit, the
office at which the LC Agent books such Letter of Credit.

             "Letter of Credit" means a letter of credit issued or to be issued
hereunder by the LC Agent.

             "LIBOR Auction" means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes setting
forth Money Market Margins based on the London Interbank Offered Rate pursuant
to Section 2.03.

             "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien,
pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type
of preferential arrangement that has the practical effect of creating a security
interest, in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset
which it



                                       13
<PAGE>   19
has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any 
conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement 
relating to such asset.

             "Loan" means a Committed Loan or a Money Market Loan and "Loans"
means Committed Loans or Money Market Loans or any combination of the foregoing.

             "London Interbank Offered Rate" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.07(c).

             "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (i)
the business, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of the Borrower to
perform, or of the Administrative Agent, the LC Agent, the Swingline Bank or any
of the Banks to enforce, any of the payment obligations of the Borrower under
this Agreement, the Notes and the Swingline Note.

             "Material Assets" means at any time assets that accounted for more
than 5% of the aggregate book value of the consolidated assets of the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at the end of the then most recent Fiscal Year
for which audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries have been delivered to the Banks.

             "Material Debt" means Debt (other than the Loans, Swingline Loans
and Reimbursement Obligations) of the Borrower and/or one or more of its
Subsidiaries, arising in one or more related or unrelated transactions, in an
aggregate principal or face amount exceeding $25,000,000.

             "Material Plan" means at any time a Plan (or any two or more Plans,
each of which has Unfunded Liabilities) having aggregate Unfunded Liabilities in
excess of $25,000,000.

             "Money Market Absolute Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.03(d).

             "Money Market Absolute Rate Loan" means a loan made or to be made
by a Bank pursuant to an Absolute Rate Auction.

             "Money Market Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its Domestic
Lending Office or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may
hereafter designate as its Money Market Lending Office by notice to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent; provided that any



                                       14
<PAGE>   20
Bank may from time to time by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent designate separate Money Market Lending Offices for its Money Market LIBOR
Loans, on the one hand, and its Money Market Absolute Rate Loans, on the other
hand, in which case all references herein to the Money Market Lending Office of
such Bank shall be deemed to refer to either or both of such offices, as the
context may require.

             "Money Market LIBOR Loan" means a loan made or to be made by a Bank
pursuant to a LIBOR Auction (including such a loan bearing interest at the rate
applicable to Base Rate Loans by reason of clause (a) of Section 8.01).

             "Money Market Loan" means a Money Market LIBOR Loan or a Money
Market Absolute Rate Loan.

             "Money Market Margin" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).

             "Money Market Quote" means an offer by a Bank to make a Money
Market Loan in accordance with Section 2.03.

             "Money Market Quote Request" means a Money Market Quote Request
substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

             "Morgan" means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York.

             "Multiemployer Plan" means at any time an employee pension benefit
plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any member of
the ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions
or has within the preceding five plan years made contributions, including for
these purposes any Person which ceased to be a member of the ERISA Group during
such five year period.

             "NationsBank" means NationsBank, N.A. (Carolinas).

             "Non-Trade LC Fee Rate" means a rate per annum determined in
accordance with the Pricing Schedule.

             "Notes" means promissory notes of the Borrower, substantially in
the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, evidencing the obligation of the Borrower to
repay the Loans, and "Note" means any one of such promissory notes issued
hereunder.

             "Notice of Borrowing" means a Notice of Committed Borrowing or a
Notice of Money Market Borrowing.



                                       15
<PAGE>   21
             "Notice of Committed Borrowing" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.02.

             "Notice of Interest Rate Election" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.08.

             "Notice of Money Market Borrowing" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.03(f).

             "Notice of Swingline Borrowing" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.18(b).

             "Parent" means, with respect to any Bank, the Swingline Bank or the
LC Agent, any Person controlling such Bank, the Swingline Bank or the LC Agent,
as the case may be.

             "Participant" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.06(b).

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

             "Person" means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a
limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or
organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or
instrumentality thereof.

             "Plan" means at any time an employee pension benefit plan (other
than a Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to
the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and
either (i) is maintained, or contributed to, by any member of the ERISA Group
for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within
the preceding five years been maintained, or contributed to, by any Person which
was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any Person which
was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.

             "Pricing Schedule" means the Pricing Schedule attached hereto.

             "Prime Rate" means a rate of interest per annum equal to the rate
of interest publicly announced from time to time in New York City by The Bank of
New York as its prime commercial lending rate, such rate to be adjusted
automatically (without notice) on the effective date of any change in such
publicly announced rate.



                                       16
<PAGE>   22
             "Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to any Bank at any time, a
fraction the numerator of which is the amount of such Bank's Revolving Credit
Commitment at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of
the Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

             "Public Debt Issuance" means the issuance of any Debt by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for cash in a transaction that is required
to be registered with the SEC (or would have been required to be registered with
the SEC if such transaction had occurred within the United States).

             "Reference Banks" means the CD Reference Banks or the Euro-Dollar
Reference Banks, as the context may require, and "Reference Bank" means any one
of such Reference Banks.

             "Regulation U" means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

             "Reimbursement Obligations" means, at any time, all obligations of
the Borrower to reimburse the LC Agent pursuant to Section 2.17 for amounts paid
by the LC Agent in respect of drawings under Letters of Credit, including any
portion of any such obligation to which a Bank has become subrogated pursuant to
paragraph (1) of Section 2.17(j).

             "Requesting Banks" means at any time one or more Banks having at
least 15% of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments.

             "Required Banks" means at any time Banks having at least 66 2/3% of
the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments or, if the Revolving
Credit Commitments shall have been terminated, having outstanding Loans and LC
Exposures representing at such time at least 66 2/3% of the sum of (i) the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans and (ii) the aggregate
amount of the LC Exposures.

             "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Borrower, its
chief operating officer, its chief financial officer, its general counsel, its
treasurer, any assistant treasurer or any other officer whose duties include the
administration of this Agreement.

             "Revolving Credit Commitment" means, with respect to each Bank, the
amount set forth opposite the name of such Bank on the signature pages hereof
(or, in the case of an Assignee, the portion of the transferor Bank's Revolving
Credit Commitment assigned to such Assignee pursuant to Section 9.06(c)), in
each case as such amount may be reduced



                                       17
<PAGE>   23
from time to time pursuant to Sections 2.10 and 2.11 or changed as a result of
an assignment pursuant to Section 9.06(c).

             "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

             "Short-Term Credit Agreement" means the $483,575,000 Short-Term
Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof among the Borrower, the Banks party
thereto and the Agents, Arranging Agents, Documentation Agent and Administrative
Agent referred to therein, as the same may be amended from time to time.

             "Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, 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 such Person;
unless otherwise specified, "Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

             "Swingline Bank" means The Bank of New York, in its capacity as the
Swingline Bank under the swingline facility described in Section 2.18, and its
successors in such capacity.

             "Swingline Commitment" means the obligation of the Swingline Bank
to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount at any
one time outstanding not to exceed $25,000,000.

             "Swingline Loan" means a loan made by the Swingline Bank pursuant
to Section 2.18(a).

             "Swingline Loan Availability Period" means the period from and
including the Closing Date to but excluding the Swingline Maturity Date.

             "Swingline Maturity Date" means the day that is 30 days before the
Termination Date.

             "Swingline Note" means a promissory note of the Borrower,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, evidencing the obligation of
the Borrower to repay the Swingline Loans.

             "Termination Date" means May 26, 1998, or, if such day is not a
Euro-Dollar Business Day, the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day.



                                       18
<PAGE>   24
             "Total Borrowed Funds" means at any date the sum of (i)
Consolidated Debt at such date and (ii) the present value of operating lease
commitments. The present value referred to in clause (ii) of this definition
shall be deemed to be $2,166,000,000 (being the amount shown as "present value
of operating lease commitments" at January 28, 1995 on page 24 of the Borrower's
1994 Annual Report to its shareholders) until the first officer's certificate to
be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(e) is delivered, and thereafter shall be
deemed to be the amount set forth as the present value of operating lease
commitments at the end of the applicable Fiscal Year in the officer's
certificate delivered most recently pursuant to Section 5.01(e).

             "Total Capitalization" means at any date the sum of (i) Total
Borrowed Funds at such date and (ii) Consolidated Tangible Net Worth at such
date.

             "Unfunded Liabilities" means, with respect to any Plan at any time,
the amount (if any) by which (i) the value of all benefit liabilities under such
Plan, determined on a plan termination basis using the assumptions prescribed by
the PBGC for purposes of Section 4044 of ERISA, exceeds (ii) the fair market
value of all Plan assets allocable to such liabilities under Title IV of ERISA
(excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions), 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 ERISA Group to the
PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA.

             "United States" means the United States of America, including the
States thereof and the District of Columbia, but excluding its territories and
possessions.

             SECTION 1.02. Accounting Terms and Determinations. Unless
otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms 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 generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time
to time, applied on a basis consistent (except for changes concurred in by the
Borrower's independent public accountants) with the most recent audited
consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries delivered to the Banks; provided that if the Borrower
notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend any
provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change in generally accepted
accounting principles on the operation of such provision (or if the
Administrative Agent notifies the



                                       19
<PAGE>   25
Borrower that the Required Banks wish to amend any provision hereof for such
purpose), then the Borrower's compliance with such provision shall be determined
on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles in effect immediately
before the relevant change in generally accepted accounting principles became
effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such provision is amended in
a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Banks.

             SECTION 1.03. Types of Borrowings. The term "Borrowing"
denotes the aggregation of Loans of one or more Banks to be made to the Borrower
pursuant to Article II on the same date, all of which Loans are of the same type
(subject to Article VIII) and, except in the case of Base Rate Loans, have the
same Interest Period or initial Interest Period. Borrowings are classified for
purposes of this Agreement either by reference to the pricing of Loans
comprising such Borrowing (e.g., a "Euro-Dollar Borrowing" is a
Borrowing comprised of Euro-Dollar Loans) or by reference to the provisions of
Article II under which participation therein is determined (i.e., a
"Committed Borrowing" is a Borrowing under Section 2.01 in which all Banks
participate in proportion to their Revolving Credit Commitments, while a "Money
Market Borrowing" is a Borrowing under Section 2.03 in which the Bank
participants are determined on the basis of their bids in accordance therewith).

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE CREDITS

             SECTION 2.01. Commitments to Lend. Each Bank severally
agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make loans
to the Borrower pursuant to this Section from time to time on and after the
Closing Date and prior to the Termination Date; provided that the sum of
(i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Bank's Committed Loans,
(ii) each outstanding participation in Swingline Loans (if any) held by it
pursuant to Section 2.18(f) and (iii) its LC Exposure shall not at any time
exceed the amount of its Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Borrowing under this
Section shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $25,000,000 or any larger
multiple of $1,000,000; provided that (x) any such Borrowing may be in
the aggregate amount available in accordance with Section 3.02(c) and (y) if
such Borrowing is made on the Swingline Maturity Date, such Borrowing may be in
the aggregate amount of the Swingline Loans outstanding on such date. Each such



                                       20
<PAGE>   26
Borrowing shall be made from the several Banks ratably in proportion to their
respective Revolving Credit Commitments. Within the foregoing limits, the
Borrower may borrow under this Section, prepay Loans to the extent permitted by
Section 2.12, and reborrow under this Section at any time prior to the
Termination Date.

             SECTION 2.02. Notice of Committed Borrowing. The Borrower
shall give the Administrative Agent notice (a "Notice of Committed Borrowing")
not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on (x) the date of each Base Rate
Borrowing, (y) the second Domestic Business Day before each CD Borrowing and (z)
the third Euro-Dollar Business Day before each Euro-Dollar Borrowing,
specifying:

             (a) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Domestic Business
    Day in the case of a Domestic 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 Loans comprising such Borrowing are to bear
    interest initially at the Base Rate, a CD Rate or a Euro-Dollar Rate, and

             (d) if such Borrowing is a Fixed Rate Borrowing, the duration of
    the initial Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of
    the definition of Interest Period.

             SECTION 2.03.    Money Market Borrowings.

             (a) The Money Market Option. In addition to Committed
Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.01, the Borrower may, as set forth in this
Section, request the Banks to make offers to make Money Market Loans to the
Borrower from time to time prior to the Termination Date. The Banks may, but
shall have no obligation to, make such offers and the Borrower may, but shall
have no obligation to, accept any such offers in the manner set forth in this
Section.

             (b) Money Market Quote Request. When the Borrower wishes to
request offers to make Money Market Loans under this Section, it shall transmit
to the Administrative Agent by telex or facsimile transmission a Money Market
Quote Request so as to be received no later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time)
on (x) the fifth Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the date of Borrowing
proposed therein, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) the Domestic Business
Day next preceding the date of Borrowing proposed therein, in



                                       21
<PAGE>   27
the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case, such other time or
date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have mutually agreed
and shall have notified to the Banks not later than the date of the Money
Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate Auction
for which such change is to be effective) specifying:

             (i) the proposed date of Borrowing, which shall be a Euro-Dollar
    Business Day in the case of a LIBOR Auction or a Domestic Business Day in
    the case of an Absolute Rate Auction,

             (ii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing, which shall be
    $25,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000,

             (iii) the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto,
    subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period, and

             (iv) whether the Money Market Quotes requested are to set forth a
    Money Market Margin or a Money Market Absolute Rate.

The Borrower may request offers to make Money Market Loans for more than one
Interest Period in a single Money Market Quote Request. No Money Market Quote
Request shall be given within five Euro-Dollar Business Days (or such other
number of days as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may agree) of any
other Money Market Quote Request.

             (c) Invitation for Money Market Quotes. Promptly upon
receipt of a Money Market Quote Request, the Administrative Agent shall send to
the Banks by telex or facsimile transmission an Invitation for Money Market
Quotes, which shall constitute an invitation by the Borrower to each Bank to
submit Money Market Quotes offering to make the Money Market Loans to which such
Money Market Quote Request relates in accordance with this Section.

             (d) Submission and Contents of Money Market Quotes. (i)
Each Bank may submit a Money Market Quote containing an offer or offers to make
Money Market Loans in response to any Invitation for Money Market Quotes. Each
Money Market Quote must comply with the requirements of this subsection (d) and
must be submitted to the Administrative Agent by telex or facsimile transmission
at its offices specified in or pursuant to Section 9.01 not later than (x) 2:00
P.M. (New York City time) on the fourth Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the
proposed date of Borrowing, in the



                                       22
<PAGE>   28
case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 9:30 A.M. (New York City time) on the
proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in
either case, such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Banks not
later than the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR
Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to be effective);
provided that Money Market Quotes submitted by the Administrative
Agent (or any affiliate of the Administrative Agent) in the capacity of a
Bank may be submitted, and may only be submitted, if the Administrative
Agent or such affiliate notifies the Borrower of the terms of the offer or
offers contained therein not later than (x) one hour prior to the deadline
for the other Banks, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 15 minutes prior
to the deadline for the other Banks, in the case of an Absolute Rate
Auction. Subject to Articles III and VI, any Money Market Quote so made
shall be irrevocable except with the written consent of the Administrative
Agent given on the instructions of the Borrower.

             (ii) Each Money Market Quote shall be in substantially the form of
Exhibit D hereto and shall in any case specify:

             (A)  the proposed date of Borrowing,

             (B) the principal amount of the Money Market Loan for which each
    such offer is being made, which principal amount (w) may be greater than or
    less than the Revolving Credit Commitment of the quoting Bank, (x) must be
    $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000, (y) may not exceed the
    principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers were requested and
    (z) may be subject to an aggregate limitation as to the principal amount of
    Money Market Loans for which offers being made by such quoting Bank may be
    accepted,

             (C) in the case of a LIBOR Auction, the margin above or below the
    applicable London Interbank Offered Rate (the "Money Market Margin") offered
    for each such Money Market Loan, expressed as a percentage (specified to the
    nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) to be added to or subtracted from such base rate,

             (D) in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction, the rate of interest
    per annum (specified to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) (the "Money Market
    Absolute Rate") offered for each such Money Market Loan, and

             (E) the identity of the quoting Bank.



                                       23
<PAGE>   29
A Money Market Quote may set forth up to five separate offers by the quoting
Bank with respect to each Interest Period specified in the related Invitation
for Money Market Quotes.

             (iii) Any Money Market Quote shall be disregarded if it:

             (A) is not substantially in conformity with Exhibit D hereto or
    does not specify all of the information required by subsection (d)(ii);

             (B) contains qualifying, conditional or similar language, except an
    aggregate limitation permitted by subsection (d)(ii)(B)(z);

             (C) proposes terms other than or in addition to those set forth in
    the applicable Invitation for Money Market Quotes; or

             (D) arrives after the time set forth in subsection (d)(i).

             (e) Notice to Borrower. The Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify the Borrower of the terms (x) of any Money Market Quote
submitted by a Bank that is in accordance with subsection (d) and (y) of any
Money Market Quote that amends, modifies or is otherwise inconsistent with a
previous Money Market Quote submitted by such Bank with respect to the same
Money Market Quote Request. Any such subsequent Money Market Quote shall be
disregarded by the Administrative Agent unless such subsequent Money Market
Quote is submitted solely to correct a manifest error in such former Money
Market Quote. The Administrative Agent's notice to the Borrower shall specify
(A) the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers have
been received for each Interest Period specified in the related Money Market
Quote Request, (B) the respective principal amounts and Money Market Margins or
Money Market Absolute Rates, as the case may be, so offered and (C) if
applicable, limitations on the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans
for which offers in any single Money Market Quote may be accepted.

             (f) Acceptance and Notice by Borrower. Not later than 10:30
A.M. (New York City time) on (x) the third Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the
proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) the proposed
date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case,
such other time or date as the



                                       24
<PAGE>   30
Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall
have notified to the Banks not later than the date of the Money Market Quote
Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for which such
change is to be effective), the Borrower shall notify the Administrative
Agent of its acceptance or non-acceptance of the offers so notified to it
pursuant to subsection (e). In the case of acceptance, such notice (a
"Notice of Money Market Borrowing") shall specify the aggregate principal
amount of offers for each Interest Period that are accepted. The Borrower
may accept any Money Market Quote in whole or in part; provided
that:

             (i) the aggregate principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing
    may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Money Market
    Quote Request,

             (ii) the principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing must be
    $25,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000,

             (iii) acceptance of offers may only be made on the basis of
    ascending Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the case
    may be, and

             (iv) the Borrower may not accept any offer that is described in
    subsection (d)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the requirements
    of this Agreement.

             (g) Allocation by Administrative Agent. If offers are made
by two or more Banks with the same Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute
Rates, as the case may be, for a greater aggregate principal amount than the
amount in respect of which such offers are accepted for the related Interest
Period, the principal amount of Money Market Loans in respect of which such
offers are accepted shall be allocated by the Administrative Agent among such
Banks as nearly as possible (in multiples of $1,000,000, as the Administrative
Agent may deem appropriate) in proportion to the aggregate principal amounts of
such offers. Determinations by the Administrative Agent of the amounts of Money
Market Loans shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

             SECTION 2.04.    Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans.

             (a) Upon receipt of a Notice of Borrowing, the Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify each Bank of the contents thereof and of such Bank's share
(if any) of such



                                       25
<PAGE>   31
Borrowing and such Notice of Borrowing shall not thereafter be revocable by
the Borrower.

             (b) Not later than 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of
each Borrowing, each Bank participating therein shall make available its share
of such Borrowing, in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York
City, to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 9.01.
Unless the Administrative Agent determines that any applicable condition
specified in Article III has not been satisfied (which determination may, in the
case of Section 3.02(c), be based in part on information supplied by the LC
Agent on the date of such Borrowing as to the aggregate amount of the LC
Exposures on such date), the Administrative Agent shall (i) apply the funds so
received from the Banks to repay all Swingline Loans (if any) then outstanding,
together with interest accrued thereon and any other associated expenses, and
(ii) make the remainder of such funds available to the Borrower not later than
2:00 P.M. (New York City time) at the Administrative Agent's aforesaid address.

             (c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from
a Bank prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Bank will not make available
to the Administrative Agent such Bank's share of such Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent may assume that such Bank has made such share available to
the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with
subsection (b) of this Section 2.04 and the Administrative Agent may, in
reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a
corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Bank shall not have so made
such share available to the Administrative Agent, such Bank and the Borrower
severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such
corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date
such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is
repaid to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, a rate
per annum equal to the higher of the Federal Funds Rate and the interest rate
applicable thereto pursuant to Section 2.07 and (ii) in the case of such Bank,
the Federal Funds Rate. If such Bank shall repay to the Administrative Agent
such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Bank's
Loan included in such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.

             SECTION 2.05.    Notes.  (a)  The Loans of each Bank shall be 
evidenced by a single Note payable to the order of such Bank for the account of
its Applicable Lending Office



                                       26
<PAGE>   32
in an amount equal to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Bank's
Loans.

             (b) Each Bank may, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent, request that its Loans of a particular type be evidenced by a separate
Note in an amount equal to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Loans.
Each such Note shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto with
appropriate modifications to reflect the fact that it evidences solely Loans of
the relevant type. Each reference in this Agreement to the "Note" of such Bank
shall be deemed to refer to and include any or all of such Notes, as the context
may require.

             (c) Upon receipt of each Bank's Note pursuant to Section 3.01(a),
the Administrative Agent shall forward such Note to such Bank. Each Bank shall
record the date and amount of each Loan made by it and the date and amount of
each payment of principal made by the Borrower with respect thereto, and may, if
such Bank so elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement of its Note,
endorse on the schedule forming a part thereof appropriate notations to evidence
the foregoing information with respect to each such Loan then outstanding;
provided that the failure of any Bank to make any such recordation or
endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under
the Notes. Each Bank is hereby irrevocably authorized by the Borrower so to
endorse its Note and to attach to and make a part of its Note a continuation of
any such schedule as and when required.

             SECTION 2.06. Maturity of Loans. (a) Each Committed Loan shall
mature, and the principal amount thereof shall be due and payable, on the
Termination Date.

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

             SECTION 2.07. Interest Rates. (a) Each Base Rate Loan shall
bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from the
date such Loan is made until it becomes due or is converted, at a rate per annum
equal to the sum of the Base Rate for such day plus the Base Rate Margin (if
any) for such day. Subject to Section 2.06, such interest shall be payable for
each calendar month in arrears on the last Domestic Business Day thereof and,
with respect to the principal amount of any Base Rate Loan converted to a CD
Loan or a Euro-Dollar Loan, on the date such principal amount is so converted.
Any overdue



                                       27
<PAGE>   33
principal of or 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 sum of 2% plus
the rate otherwise applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day.

             "Base Rate Margin" means a rate per annum determined in accordance
with the Pricing Schedule.

             (b) Each CD Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal
amount thereof, for each day during each Interest Period applicable thereto, at
a rate per annum equal to the sum of the CD Margin for such day plus the
Adjusted CD Rate applicable to such Interest Period; provided that if
any CD Loan or any portion thereof shall, as a result of clause (2)(b) of the
definition of Interest Period, have an Interest Period of less than 30 days,
such portion shall bear interest for each day during such Interest Period at the
rate applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day. Such interest shall be payable
for each Interest Period on the last day thereof and, if such Interest Period is
longer than 90 days, 90 days after the first day thereof. Any overdue principal
of or interest on any CD Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each
day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the higher of (i)
the sum of the CD Margin for such day plus the Adjusted CD Rate applicable to
such Loan immediately before such payment became due and (ii) the rate
applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day.

             "CD Margin" means a rate per annum determined in accordance with
the Pricing Schedule.

             The "Adjusted CD Rate" applicable to any Interest Period means a
rate per annum determined pursuant to the following formula:

                      [ CDBR       ]*
             ACDR  =  [ ---------- ]  + AR
                      [ 1.00 - DRP ]

             ACDR  =  Adjusted CD Rate
             CDBR  =  CD Base Rate
              DRP  =  Domestic Reserve Percentage
               AR  =  Assessment Rate

    ----------
    *  The amount in brackets being rounded upward, if
    necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%



                                       28
<PAGE>   34
             The "CD Base Rate" applicable to any Interest Period is the rate of
interest determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average (rounded
upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) of the prevailing rates
per annum bid at 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) (or as soon thereafter as
practicable) on the first day of such Interest Period by two or more New York
certificate of deposit dealers of recognized standing for the purchase at face
value from each CD Reference Bank of its certificates of deposit in an amount
comparable to the principal amount of the CD Loan of such CD Reference Bank to
which such Interest Period applies and having a maturity comparable to such
Interest Period.

             "Domestic 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 (including without limitation any
basic, supplemental or emergency reserves) for a member bank of the Federal
Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding five billion dollars in
respect of new non-personal time deposits in dollars in New York City having a
maturity comparable to the related Interest Period and in an amount of $100,000
or more. The Adjusted CD Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the
effective date of any change in the Domestic Reserve Percentage.

             "Assessment Rate" means for any day the annual assessment rate in
effect on such day which is payable by a member of the Bank Insurance Fund
classified as adequately capitalized and within supervisory subgroup "A" (or a
comparable successor assessment risk classification) within the meaning of 12
C.F.R. Section 327.4(a) (or any successor provision) to the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (or any successor) for such Corporation's (or such
successor's) insuring time deposits at offices of such institution in the United
States. The Adjusted CD Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the
effective date of any change in the Assessment Rate.

             (c) Each Euro-Dollar Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding
principal amount thereof, for each day during each Interest Period applicable
thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Euro-Dollar Margin for such
day plus the Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate applicable to such Interest
Period. Such interest shall be payable for each Interest Period on the last day
thereof and, if such Interest Period is longer than three months, three months
after the first day thereof.



                                       29
<PAGE>   35
             "Euro-Dollar Margin" means a rate per annum determined in
accordance with the Pricing Schedule.

             The "Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any
Interest Period means a rate per annum equal to the quotient obtained (rounded
upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) by dividing (i) the
applicable London Interbank Offered Rate by (ii) 1.00 minus the Euro-Dollar
Reserve Percentage.

             The "London Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any Interest
Period means the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/16
of 1%) of the respective rates per annum at which deposits in dollars are
offered to each of the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks in the London interbank
market at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Euro-Dollar Business Days
before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount approximately equal to
the principal amount of the Euro-Dollar Loan of such Euro-Dollar Reference Bank
to which such Interest Period is to apply and for a period of time comparable to
such Interest Period.

             "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 New York City with deposits exceeding five billion dollars 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 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 London Interbank Offered Rate shall be adjusted
automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in the Euro-Dollar
Reserve Percentage.

             (d) Any overdue principal of or interest on any Euro-Dollar Loan
shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per
annum equal to the higher of (i) the sum of 2% plus the Euro-Dollar Margin for
such day plus the quotient obtained (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next
higher 1/100 of 1%) by dividing (x) the average (rounded upward, if necessary,
to the next higher 1/16 of 1%) of the respective rates per annum at which one
day (or, if such amount due remains unpaid more than three Euro-Dollar Business
Days, then for such other period of time not longer than three months as the



                                       30
<PAGE>   36
Administrative Agent may select) deposits in dollars in an amount approximately
equal to such overdue payment due to each of the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks are
offered to such Euro-Dollar Reference Bank in the London interbank market for
the applicable period determined as provided above by (y) 1.00 minus the
Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage (or, if the circumstances described in clause (a)
or (b) of Section 8.01 shall exist, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2%
plus the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day) and (ii) the sum of 2%
plus the Euro-Dollar Margin for such day plus the Adjusted London Interbank
Offered Rate applicable to such Loan immediately before such payment became due.

             (e) Subject to Section 8.01, each Money Market LIBOR Loan shall
bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for the Interest
Period applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the London
Interbank Offered Rate for such Interest Period (determined in accordance with
Section 2.07(c) as if the related Money Market LIBOR Borrowing were a Committed
Euro-Dollar Borrowing) plus (or minus) the Money Market Margin quoted by the
Bank making such Loan in accordance with Section 2.03. Each Money Market
Absolute 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 Money Market Absolute Rate quoted by the Bank making such Loan in
accordance with Section 2.03. Such interest shall be payable for each Interest
Period on the last day thereof and, if such Interest Period is longer than three
months, at intervals of three months after the first day thereof. Any overdue
principal of or interest on any Money Market Loan shall bear interest, payable
on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2%
plus the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day.

             (f) The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate
applicable to the Loans hereunder. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt
notice to the Borrower and the participating Banks of each rate of interest so
determined, and its determination thereof shall be conclusive in the absence of
manifest error.

             (g) Each Reference Bank agrees to use its best efforts to furnish
quotations to the Administrative Agent as contemplated by this Section. If any
Reference Bank does not furnish a timely quotation, the Administrative Agent
shall determine the relevant interest rate on the basis of the quotation or
quotations furnished by the remaining Reference Bank or Banks or, if none of
such quotations is



                                       31
<PAGE>   37
available on a timely basis, the provisions of Section 8.01 shall apply.

             SECTION 2.08. Method of Electing Interest Rates. (a) The
Loans included in each Committed Borrowing shall bear interest initially at the
type of rate specified by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Committed
Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower may from time to time elect to change or
continue the type of interest rate borne by each Group of Loans (subject in each
case to the provisions of Article VIII), as follows:

             (i) if such Loans are Base Rate Loans, the Borrower may elect to
    convert such Loans to CD Loans as of any Domestic Business Day or to
    Euro-Dollar Loans as of any Euro-Dollar Business Day;

             (ii) if such Loans are CD Loans, the Borrower may elect to convert
    such Loans to Base Rate Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans or elect to continue such
    Loans as CD Loans for an additional Interest Period, in each case effective
    on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such
    Loans; or

             (iii) if such Loans are Euro-Dollar Loans, the Borrower may elect
    to convert such Loans to Base Rate Loans or CD Loans or elect to continue
    such Loans as Euro-Dollar Loans for an additional Interest Period, in each
    case effective on the last day of the then current Interest Period
    applicable to such Loans.

Each such election shall be made by delivering a notice (a "Notice of Interest
Rate Election") to the Administrative Agent at least three Euro-Dollar Business
Days before the conversion or continuation selected in such notice is to be
effective (unless the relevant Loans are to be converted from Domestic Loans to
Domestic Loans of the other type or continued as Domestic Loans of the same type
for an additional Interest Period, in which case such notice shall be delivered
to the Agent at least three Domestic Business Days before such conversion or
continuation is to be effective). A Notice of Interest Rate Election may, if it
so specifies, apply to only a portion of the aggregate principal amount of the
relevant Group of Loans; provided that (i) such portion is allocated
ratably among the Loans comprising such Group and (ii) the portion to which such
notice applies, and the remaining portion to which it does not apply, are each
$25,000,000 or any larger multiple of $1,000,000.



                                       32
<PAGE>   38
             (b)  Each Notice of Interest Rate Election shall specify:

             (i) the Group of Loans (or portion thereof) to which such notice 
    applies;

            (ii) the date on which the conversion or continuation selected in 
    such notice is to be effective, which shall comply with the applicable 
    clause of subsection (a) above;

           (iii) if the Loans comprising such Group are to be converted, the new
    type of Loans and, if such new Loans are Fixed Rate Loans, the duration of
    the initial Interest Period applicable thereto; and

            (iv) if such Loans are to be continued as CD Loans or Euro-Dollar 
    Loans for an additional Interest Period, the duration of such additional 
    Interest Period.

Each Interest Period specified in a Notice of Interest Rate Election shall
comply with the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.

             (c) Upon receipt of a Notice of Interest Rate Election from the
Borrower pursuant to subsection (a) above, the Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify each Bank of the contents thereof and such notice shall not
thereafter be revocable by the Borrower. If the Borrower fails to deliver a
timely Notice of Interest Rate Election to the Administrative Agent for any
Group of Fixed Rate Loans, such Loans shall be converted into Base Rate Loans on
the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto.

             SECTION 2.09.    Facility Fees.

             The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the Banks ratably a facility fee at the Facility Fee Rate. Such facility fee
shall accrue for each day (i) from and including the Closing Date to but
excluding the Termination Date (or earlier date of termination of the Revolving
Credit Commitments in their entirety), on the aggregate amount of the Revolving
Credit Commitments (whether used or unused) and (ii) from and including the
Termination Date or such earlier date of termination to but excluding the first
date thereafter on which the Loans and the Swingline Loans shall have been
repaid in their entirety and the LC Exposures shall have been reduced to zero,
on an amount equal to the sum of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount
of the Loans and the Swingline Loans and (y) the aggregate amount of the LC
Exposures. Facility fees



                                       33
<PAGE>   39
accrued under this Section shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each
September 27, December 27, March 27 and June 27 and upon the date of
termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments in their entirety (and, if
later, the date on which the Loans and Swingline Loans shall have been
repaid in their entirety and the LC Exposures shall have been reduced to
zero).

             "Facility Fee Rate" means a rate per annum determined daily in
accordance with the Pricing Schedule.

             SECTION 2.10. Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitments. (a)
Revolving Credit Commitments. The Borrower may, without premium or penalty, upon
at least three Domestic Business Days' notice to the Administrative Agent, (i)
terminate the Revolving Credit Commitments at any time, if no Loans or Swingline
Loans are outstanding and no LC Exposures exist at such time or (ii) ratably
reduce from time to time, in each case by an aggregate amount of at least
$25,000,000, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments in excess
of the sum of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans and
the Swingline Loans and (y) the aggregate amount of the LC Exposures. Upon any
such termination or reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of such termination or
reduction.

             (b) Swingline Commitment. The Borrower may, upon at least three
Domestic Business Days' notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the
Swingline Commitment at any time, if no Swingline Loans are outstanding at such
time.

             SECTION 2.11. Mandatory Termination of Commitments. (a) The
Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the Termination Date and any
Committed Loans then outstanding (together with accrued interest thereon) shall
be due and payable on such date.

             (b) The Swingline Commitment shall terminate on the Swingline
Maturity Date and any Swingline Loans then outstanding (together with accrued
interest thereon) shall be due and payable on such date.

             SECTION 2.12. Optional and Mandatory Prepayments. (a) The
Borrower may upon at least one Domestic Business Day's notice to the
Administrative Agent, prepay any Group of Base Rate Loans (or any Money Market
Borrowing bearing interest at the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans by reason
of clause (a) of Section 8.01) in whole at any time, or from time to time in
part in amounts aggregating $10,000,000 or



                                       34
<PAGE>   40
any larger multiple of $1,000,000, 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 Loans of the several
Banks included in such Group or Borrowing.

             (b) Subject to Section 2.14, the Borrower may, upon at least two
Domestic Business Days' notice to the Administrative Agent, in the case of a
Group of CD Loans or upon at least three Euro-Dollar Business Days' notice to
the Administrative Agent, in the case of a Group of Euro-Dollar Loans, prepay
the Loans comprising such a Group, in whole at any time, or from time to time in
part in amounts aggregating $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of $1,000,000, 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 Loans of the several Banks included in such Group.

             (c) In connection with any substitution of Banks pursuant to
Section 8.06, the Borrower may prepay the Loans of the Bank being replaced, as
provided in clause (ii) of Section 8.06.

             (d) Except as provided in Section 2.12(a) or 8.06, the Borrower may
not prepay all or any portion of the principal amount of any Money Market Loan
prior to the maturity thereof.

             (e) Upon receipt of a notice of prepayment pursuant to this
Section, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of the
contents thereof and of such Bank's ratable share (if any) of such prepayment
and such notice shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.

             (f) If the Borrower wishes to replace this Agreement with another
credit agreement at any time, the Borrower may, on the date of the initial
borrowing under such other credit agreement, prepay any and all Committed Loans
and Swingline Loans then outstanding hereunder; provided that the
Borrower (i) notifies each Bank as to the possibility of such prepayment at
least three Euro-Dollar Business Days prior thereto, (ii) gives definitive
notice of such prepayment to the Administrative Agent before 10:00 A.M. (New
York City time) on the date of such prepayment and (iii) complies with the
requirements of subsection (a) of this Section in connection with such
prepayment in all respects except the timing of such definitive notice.



                                       35
<PAGE>   41
             SECTION 2.13. General Provisions as to Payments. (a) The
Borrower shall make (i) each payment of principal of, and interest on, the Loans
and of fees hereunder, not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the
date when due, in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City,
to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 9.01 and (ii)
each payment of Reimbursement Obligations and any other amounts payable in
connection with the Letters of Credit in accordance with the provisions of
Section 2.17. 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. Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on, the
Domestic Loans or Swingline Loans or of fees or of Reimbursement Obligations
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, any Euro-Dollar Loans or Money
Market LIBOR Loan 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. Whenever any payment of principal of, or
interest on, any Money Market Absolute Rate Loan 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. If the date for any payment of
principal or any Reimbursement Obligation is extended by operation of law or
otherwise, interest thereon shall be payable for such extended time.

             (b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from
the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Banks
hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the
Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full
to the Administrative Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in
reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Bank on such due
date an amount equal to the amount then due such Bank. If and to the extent that
the Borrower shall not have so made such payment, each Bank shall repay to the
Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Bank
together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is
distributed to such Bank until the date such Bank repays such amount to the
Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.



                                       36
<PAGE>   42
             SECTION 2.14. Funding Losses. If the Borrower makes any
payment of principal with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan or any Fixed Rate Loan
is converted to a Base Rate Loan (pursuant to Article II, VI or VIII or
otherwise) on any day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable
thereto, or the last day of an applicable period fixed pursuant to Section
2.07(d), or if the Borrower fails to borrow or prepay any Fixed Rate Loans or
fails to continue any Fixed Rate Loans for an additional Interest Period or
fails to convert any outstanding Loans to Fixed Rate Loans, in each case after
notice of such borrowing, prepayment, continuation or conversion has been given
to any Bank in accordance with Section 2.04(a), 2.08(c) or 2.12(e), the Borrower
shall reimburse each Bank within 15 days after demand for any resulting loss or
expense incurred by it (or by an existing or prospective Participant in the
related Loan), including (without limitation) any loss incurred in obtaining,
liquidating or employing deposits from third parties, but excluding loss of
margin for the period after any such payment or conversion or failure to borrow,
prepay, continue or convert, provided that such Bank shall have
delivered to the Borrower a certificate as to the amount of such loss or
expense, which certificate shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

             SECTION 2.15. Computation of Interest and Fees. Interest
based on the Prime Rate hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of
365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) and paid for the actual number of days
elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All other interest
and facility fees 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).

             SECTION 2.16. Termination of Existing Credit Agreements. On
the Closing Date the commitments of the Existing Banks under the Existing Credit
Agreements shall terminate and the Borrower shall pay in full the principal of
and accrued interest on all loans then outstanding thereunder and all facility
fees accrued thereunder to but excluding the Closing Date.

             SECTION 2.17.    Letters of Credit.

             (a) Issuance of Letters of Credit. The LC Agent agrees, on
the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to issue Letters of Credit
for the account of the Borrower from time to time during the period from and
including the Closing Date to but excluding the date that is



                                       37
<PAGE>   43
30 days before the Termination Date; provided that, immediately after
each such Letter of Credit is issued:

             (i) the aggregate amount of the LC Exposures will not exceed
    $280,000,000 (of which the aggregate amount attributable to standby Letters
    of Credit will not exceed $75,000,000) and

             (ii) the condition specified in Section 3.02(c) shall be satisfied.

Upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit pursuant to this subsection (a), the
LC Agent shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have
sold to each Bank and each Bank shall be deemed, without further action by any
party hereto, to have purchased from the LC Agent, a participation in such
Letter of Credit and the related Reimbursement Obligations equal to such Bank's
Pro Rata Share thereof.

             (b) Expiry Dates. No Letter of Credit shall have an expiry
date later than the fifth Domestic Business Day prior to the Termination Date.
Subject to the preceding sentence:

             (i) each Letter of Credit shall, when issued, have an expiry date
    on or before the first anniversary of the date on which it is issued; and

             (ii) the expiry date of any Letter of Credit may, at the request of
    the Borrower, be extended from time to time for a period not exceeding one
    year so long as the LC Agent agrees to so extend such Letter of Credit (or,
    in the case of an "evergreen" Letter of Credit, its right to give a notice
    to prevent the extension thereof expires) no earlier than three months
    before the then existing expiry date thereof.

             (c) Notice of Proposed Issuance. The Borrower shall give the
LC Agent and the Administrative Agent at least one Domestic Business Day's prior
notice specifying the date each Letter of Credit is to be issued and describing
the proposed terms of such Letter of Credit and the nature of the transactions
proposed to be supported thereby.

             (d) Conditions to Issuance. The LC Agent shall not issue
any Letter of Credit unless (i) such Letter of Credit shall be satisfactory in
form and reasonably satisfactory in substance to the LC Agent, (ii) the Borrower
shall have executed and delivered such other instruments and



                                       38
<PAGE>   44
agreements relating to such Letter of Credit as the LC Agent shall have 
reasonably requested, (iii) the LC Agent shall have determined (based on
information supplied by the Administrative Agent on the date of such issuance 
as to the amounts specified in Section 3.02(c) other than the aggregate amount 
of the LC Exposures) that the limits specified in subsection (a) above will 
not be exceeded immediately after such Letter of Credit is issued and (iv) the 
LC Agent shall not have been notified in writing by the Borrower, the 
Administrative Agent or the Required Banks that any condition specified in 
clause (c), (d) or (e) of Section 3.02 is not satisfied on the date such 
Letter of Credit is to be issued.

             (e) Notice of Proposed Extensions of Expiry Dates. The LC
Agent shall give the Administrative Agent at least one Domestic Business Day's
notice prior to extending the expiry date of any Letter of Credit (or, in the
case of an "evergreen" Letter of Credit, allowing it to be extended), specifying
(i) the date on which such extension is to be made and (ii) the date to which
such expiry date is to be so extended. The LC Agent shall not extend (or allow
the extension of) the expiry date of such Letter of Credit if it shall have been
notified by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent (at the request of the
Required Banks) that any condition specified in clause (c), (d) or (e) of
Section 3.02 is not satisfied on the date such Letter of Credit is to be
extended (or, in the case of an "evergreen" Letter of Credit, the day when the
LC Agent's right to give a notice preventing the extension thereof expires).

             (f) Notice of Actual Issuances, Extensions and Amounts
Available for Drawing. Promptly upon issuing any Letter of Credit or
extending any Letter of Credit (or allowing any "evergreen" Letter of Credit to
be extended), the LC Agent will notify the Administrative Agent of the date of
such Letter of Credit, the amount thereof and the expiry date or extended expiry
date thereof. Within three Domestic Business Days after the end of each calendar
month, the LC Agent shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Bank of (i)
the daily average aggregate amount available for drawings (whether or not
conditions for drawing thereunder have been satisfied) under all Letters of
Credit outstanding during such month, (ii) the aggregate amount of letter of
credit fees accrued during such month pursuant to subsection (g) of this
Section, (iii) each Bank's Pro Rata Share of such accrued letter of credit fees
and (iv) the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding at
the end of such month.



                                       39
<PAGE>   45
             (g) Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the LC Agent, for the
account of the Banks ratably in accordance with their respective Pro Rata
Shares, a letter of credit fee for each day (i) at the Non-Trade LC Fee Rate on
the aggregate amount available for drawings (whether or not conditions for
drawing thereunder have been satisfied) under all Letters of Credit (other than
trade Letters of Credit) outstanding on such day and (ii) at a rate per annum
equal to the Non-Trade LC Fee Rate less 0.25% on the aggregate amount available
for drawings (whether or not conditions for drawing thereunder have been
satisfied) under all trade Letters of Credit outstanding on such day. Such
letter of credit fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Domestic
Business Day of each calendar quarter and on the fifth Domestic Business Day
before the Termination Date (or any earlier date on which the Revolving Credit
Commitments shall have terminated in their entirety and no Letters of Credit are
outstanding). Promptly upon receiving any payment of such fee, the LC Agent will
distribute to each Bank its Pro Rata Share thereof. In addition, the Borrower
shall pay to the LC Agent for its own account fronting fees and reasonable
expenses in the amounts and at the times agreed between the Borrower and the LC
Agent.

             (h) Drawings. Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any
Letter of Credit of a demand for payment under such Letter of Credit, the LC
Agent shall determine in accordance with the terms of such Letter of Credit
whether such demand for payment should be honored. If the LC Agent determines
that any such demand for payment should be honored, the LC Agent shall make
available to such beneficiary in accordance with the terms of such Letter of
Credit the amount of the drawing under such Letter of Credit. The LC Agent shall
thereupon notify the Borrower of the amount of such drawing paid by it.

             (i) Reimbursement and Other Payments by the Borrower. (1)
If any amount is drawn under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees to reimburse the LC Agent for all amounts paid by the LC
Agent upon such drawing, together with any and all reasonable charges and
expenses which the LC Agent may pay or incur relative to such drawing and
interest on the amount drawn at the Federal Funds Rate for each day from and
including the date such amount is drawn to but excluding the date such
reimbursement payment is due and payable. Such reimbursement payment shall be
due and payable (x) at or before 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date the
LC Agent notifies the Borrower of such drawing, if such notice is given at or
before 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such date, or (y) at or before 
10:00 A.M. (New York City



                                       40
<PAGE>   46
time) on the first Domestic Business Day after the date such notice is given, if
such notice is given after 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such date;
provided that no payment otherwise required by this sentence to be made
by the Borrower at or before 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on any day shall be
overdue hereunder if arrangements for such payment satisfactory to the LC Agent,
in its reasonable discretion, shall have been made by the Borrower at or before
1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on such day and such payment is actually made at
or before 3:00 P.M. (New York City time) on such day.

       (2) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay to the LC Agent interest on
any and all amounts not paid by the Borrower when due hereunder with respect to
a Letter of Credit, for each day from and including the date when such amount
becomes due to but excluding the date such amount is paid in full, whether
before or after judgment, payable on demand, at a rate per annum equal to the
sum of 2% plus the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day.

        (3) Each payment to be made by the Borrower pursuant to this subsection
(i) shall be made to the LC Agent in Federal or other funds immediately
available to it at its address referred to in Section 9.01.

             (j) Payments by Banks with Respect to Letters of Credit.
(1) If the Borrower fails to reimburse the LC Agent as and when required by
subsection (i) above for all or any portion of any amount drawn under a Letter
of Credit, the LC Agent may notify each Bank of such unreimbursed amount and
request that each Bank reimburse the LC Agent for such Bank's Pro Rata Share
thereof. Upon receiving such notice from the LC Agent, each Bank shall make
available to the LC Agent an amount equal to such Bank's share of such
unreimbursed amount as set forth in such notice, in Federal or other funds
immediately available to the LC Agent, by 3:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the
Domestic Business Day following such Bank's receipt of such notice from the LC
Agent, together with interest on such amount for each day from and including the
date of such drawing to but excluding the day such payment is due from such Bank
at the Federal Funds Rate for such day, at the LC Agent's address referred to in
Section 9.01. Upon payment in full thereof, such Bank shall be subrogated to the
rights of the LC Agent against the Borrower to the extent of such Bank's Pro
Rata Share of the related Reimbursement Obligation (including interest accrued
thereon). Nothing in this subsection (j) shall affect any rights any Bank may
have against the LC Agent for any action or omission for which the LC Agent is
not indemnified under subsection (n) of this Section.



                                       41
<PAGE>   47
             (2) If any Bank fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it
pursuant to clause (1) of this subsection (j) on the date on which such payment
is due, interest shall accrue on such Bank's obligation to make such payment,
for each day from and including the date such payment became due to but
excluding the date such Bank makes such payment, whether before or after
judgment, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate for such day. Any
payment made by any Bank after 3:00 P.M. (New York City time) on any Domestic
Business Day shall be deemed for purposes of the preceding sentence to have been
made on the next succeeding Domestic Business Day.

             (3) If the Borrower shall reimburse the LC Agent for any drawing
with respect to which any Bank shall have made funds available to the LC Agent
in accordance with clause (1) of this subsection (j), the LC Agent shall
promptly upon receipt of such reimbursement distribute to such Bank its Pro Rata
Share thereof, including interest, to the extent received by the LC Agent.

             (k) Exculpatory Provisions. The Borrower's obligations
under this Section shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all
circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment
which the Borrower may have or have had against the LC Agent, any Bank, the
beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other Person. The Borrower assumes
all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit
with respect to its use of such Letter of Credit. None of the LC Agent, the
Banks and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents shall be
responsible for, and the obligations of each Bank to make payments to the LC
Agent and of the Borrower to reimburse the LC Agent for drawings pursuant to
this Section (other than obligations resulting solely from the gross negligence
or willful misconduct of the LC Agent) shall not be excused or affected by,
among other things, (i) the use which may be made of any Letter of Credit or any
acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee in connection therewith; (ii)
the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents presented under any Letter
of Credit or of any endorsements thereon, even if such documents should in fact
prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged;
(iii) payment by the LC Agent against presentation of documents to it which do
not comply with the terms of the relevant Letter of Credit; (iv) any dispute
between or among the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, the beneficiary of any
Letter of Credit or any other Person or any claims or defenses whatsoever of the
Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person against the beneficiary of
any Letter of



                                       42
<PAGE>   48
Credit; (v) any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets,
condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (vi) any breach of this Agreement by any party
hereto (except, in the case of the LC Agent, a breach resulting solely from its
gross negligence or willful misconduct); (vii) any other circumstance or
happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; (viii) the
fact that a Default shall have occurred and be continuing; or (ix) the fact that
the Termination Date shall have passed or the Commitments shall have terminated.
The LC Agent shall not be liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay
in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however
transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit. Any action taken or
omitted by the LC Agent or any Bank under or in connection with any Letter of
Credit and the related drafts and documents, if done without willful misconduct
or gross negligence, shall be binding upon the Borrower and shall not place the
LC Agent or any Bank under any liability to the Borrower.

             (l) Reliance, Etc. The LC Agent shall be entitled (but not
obligated) to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, on the
representation and warranty by the Borrower set forth in the last sentence of
Section 3.02 to establish whether the conditions specified in clauses (c), (d)
and (e) of Section 3.02 are met in connection with any issuance or extension of
a Letter of Credit, unless the LC Agent shall have been notified to the contrary
by the Administrative Agent or the Required Banks (in which event the LC Agent
shall be fully protected in relying on such notice). The LC Agent shall be
entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon advice and
statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected
by the LC Agent and upon any Letter of Credit, draft, writing, resolution,
notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy,
telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document believed by it in
good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by
the proper Person or Persons, and may accept documents that appear on their face
to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of
any notice or information to the contrary. The LC Agent shall be fully justified
in refusing to take any action requested of it by any party hereto under this
Section in respect of any outstanding Letter of Credit unless it shall first
have received such advice or concurrence of the Required Banks as it reasonably
deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its reasonable
satisfaction by the Banks against any and all liability and expense which may be
incurred by it by reason



                                       43
<PAGE>   49
of taking or continuing to take, or omitting or continuing to omit, any such
action. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the LC Agent shall
in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under
this Section in respect of any Letter of Credit in accordance with a request of
the Required Banks, and such request and any action taken or failure to act
pursuant thereto shall be binding upon the Banks and all future holders of
participations in such Letter of Credit; provided that this sentence
shall not affect any rights the Borrower may have against the Banks that made
such request.

             (m) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Bank and the LC Agent (collectively, the "LC
Indemnitees") from and against any and all claims and damages, losses,
liabilities, costs or expenses (including, without limitation, the fees and
disbursements of counsel) which any such LC Indemnitee may reasonably incur (or
which may be claimed against any such LC Indemnitee by any Person whatsoever) by
reason of or in connection with the execution and delivery or transfer of or
payment or failure to pay under any Letter of Credit or any actual or proposed
use of any Letter of Credit, including any claims, damages, losses, liabilities,
costs or expenses which the LC Agent may incur by reason of or in connection
with the failure of any Bank to fulfill or comply with its obligations to the LC
Agent hereunder; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to
indemnify the LC Agent for any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or
expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, caused by (i) the willful
misconduct or gross negligence of the LC Agent in determining whether a request
presented under any Letter of Credit issued by it complied with the terms of
such Letter of Credit or (ii) the LC Agent's failure to pay under any Letter of
Credit issued by it after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying
with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit. Nothing in this
subsection (m) is intended to change the obligations of the Borrower under any
other provision of this Section.

             (n) Indemnification by the Banks. Each Bank shall, ratably
in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, indemnify the LC Agent, its affiliates
and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent
not reimbursed by the Borrower) against any cost, expense (including fees and
disbursements of counsel), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such
as result from the LC Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct or the LC
Agent's failure to pay under any Letter of Credit issued by it after the
presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions
of such



                                       44
<PAGE>   50
Letter of Credit) that any such indemnitee may suffer or incur in connection
with this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by such indemnitee under this
Agreement.

             (o) Dual Capacities. In its capacity as a Bank, the LC
Agent shall have the same rights and obligations under this Section as any other
Bank.

             SECTION 2.18. Swingline Loans. (a) Swingline
Commitment. The Swingline Bank agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth
in this Agreement, to make loans to the Borrower pursuant to this Section from
time to time during the Swingline Loan Availability Period; provided
that the aggregate principal amount of such loans at any one time outstanding
shall not exceed either (i) the Swingline Commitment or (ii) the aggregate
unused amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. Each loan under this Section
shall (i) be in a principal amount not less than $500,000 and shall be in a
multiple of $100,000 and (ii) bear interest on the outstanding principal amount
thereof for each day from the date such loan is made until it becomes due at
such rate or rates per annum (which shall in no event be greater than the rate
applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day), and be payable on such dates, as
shall be agreed upon from time to time by the Borrower and the Swingline Bank.
Within the foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow under this Section, repay
Swingline Loans and reborrow under this Section at any time during the Swingline
Loan Availability Period. If the Swingline Bank and the Borrower are unable, for
any reason, to agree on the interest rate or interest payment date or dates
applicable to any Swingline Loan, the Swingline Bank shall not be obligated to
make, and the Borrower shall not be obligated to borrow, such Swingline Loan.
The Swingline Loans shall be evidenced by the Swingline Note.

             (b) Notice of Swingline Borrowing. The Borrower shall give
the Swingline Bank notice (a "Notice of Swingline Borrowing") not later than
2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of each borrowing of a Swingline
Loan, specifying (i) the date of such borrowing, which shall be a Domestic
Business Day, and (ii) the amount of such Swingline Loan.

             (c) Funding of Swingline Loans. Not later than 3:00 P.M.
(New York City time) on the date of each borrowing of a Swingline Loan, the
Swingline Bank shall, unless the Swingline Bank determines that any applicable
condition specified in Article III has not been satisfied, make available the
amount of such Swingline Loan, in Federal or other funds immediately available
in New York City, to the



                                       45
<PAGE>   51
Borrower at the Swingline Bank's address referred to in Section 9.01.

             (d) Optional Prepayment of Swingline Loans. The Borrower
may prepay the Swingline Loans in whole at any time, or from time to time in
part in a principal amount of at least $500,000, by giving notice of such
prepayment to the Swingline Bank not later than 2:00 P.M. (New York City time)
on the date of prepayment and paying the principal amount to be prepaid
(together with (i) interest accrued thereon to the date of prepayment and (ii)
the loss or expense (if any) resulting from such prepayment which is incurred by
the Swingline Bank (or by an existing or prospective participant in the
Swingline Loans) and documented by the Swingline Bank) to the Swingline Bank at
its address referred to in Section 9.01, in Federal or other funds immediately
available in New York City, not later than 3:00 P.M. on the date of prepayment.

             (e) Mandatory Prepayment of Swingline Loans. On the date of
each Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.01 or 2.03, the Borrower shall prepay all
Swingline Loans then outstanding, together with (i) interest accrued thereon to
the date of prepayment and (ii) the loss or expense (if any) resulting from such
prepayment which is incurred by the Swingline Bank (or by an existing or
prospective participant in the Swingline Loans) and documented by the Swingline
Bank.

             (f) Refunding Unpaid Swingline Loans. The Swingline Bank
may at any time, by notice to the Banks (including the Swingline Bank, in its
capacity as a Bank), require each Bank to pay to the Swingline Bank an amount
equal to such Bank's Pro Rata Share of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of
the Swingline Loans then outstanding. Such notice shall specify the date on
which such payments are to be made, which shall be the first Domestic Business
Day after such notice is given. Not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time)
on the date so specified, each Bank shall pay the amount so notified to it to
the Swingline Bank at its address referred to in Section 9.01, in Federal or
other funds immediately available in New York City. The amount so paid by each
Bank shall constitute a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower; provided that,
if the Banks are prevented from making such Loans to the Borrower by the
provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, the amount so paid
by each Bank shall constitute a purchase by it of a participation in the unpaid
principal amount of the Swingline Loans (and interest accruing thereon after the
date of such payment). Each Bank's obligation to make such payment to the
Swingline Bank under this



                                       46
<PAGE>   52
subsection (f) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by
any circumstance, including, without limitation, (i) any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other right which such Bank or any other Person may have
against the Swingline Bank or the Borrower, (ii) the occurrence or continuance
of a Default or the termination of the Commitments, (iii) any adverse change in
the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or any other Person, (iv)
any breach of this Agreement by the Borrower or any other Bank or (v) any other
circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of
the foregoing; provided that no Bank shall be obligated to make any
payment to the Swingline Bank under this subsection (f) with respect to a
Swingline Loan made by the Swingline Bank at a time when the Swingline Bank has
determined that a Default had occurred and was continuing.

             SECTION 2.19. Participation Fees. On the Closing Date
participation fees shall be paid by the Existing Banks, through the
Administrative Agent, to the Banks in the amounts previously agreed to by the
Administrative Agent, the Existing Banks and the Banks.

                                   ARTICLE III

                                   CONDITIONS

             SECTION 3.01.    Closing.  The closing hereunder shall occur upon 
receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following:

             (a) a duly executed Note for the account of each Bank complying
    with the provisions of Section 2.05 and a duly executed Swingline Note for
    the account of the Swingline Bank, each dated the Closing Date;

             (b) an opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, special
    counsel for the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto,
    dated the Closing Date and covering such additional matters relating to the
    transactions contemplated hereby as the Required Banks may reasonably
    request;

             (c) an opinion of Gary M. Bahler, General Counsel of the Borrower,
    substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto, dated the Closing Date and
    covering such additional matters relating to the transactions contemplated
    hereby as the Required Banks may reasonably request;



                                       47
<PAGE>   53
             (d) an opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, special counsel for the
    Co-Syndication Agents, substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto, dated
    the Closing Date and covering such additional matters relating to the
    transactions contemplated hereby as the Required Banks may reasonably
    request;

             (e) evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the
    Borrower has paid (or made arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative
    Agent for the payment of) all amounts required to be paid by the Borrower on
    the Closing Date pursuant to Section 2.16; and

             (f) all documents that the Administrative Agent may reasonably
    request relating to the existence of the Borrower, the corporate authority
    for and the validity of this Agreement, the Notes and the Swingline Note,
    and any other matters relevant hereto, all in form and substance
    satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Banks of the
Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding on all parties
hereto.

             SECTION 3.02. Extensions of Credit. The obligation of any
Bank to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing (other than a Loan pursuant
to Section 2.18(f)), the obligation of the Swingline Bank to make any Swingline
Loan and the obligation of the LC Agent to issue or extend (or allow the
extension of) any Letter of Credit are each subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions:

             (a) the fact that the Closing Date shall have occurred on or prior
    to June 27, 1995;

             (b) receipt (i) by the Administrative Agent of a Notice of
    Borrowing as required by Section 2.02 or 2.03, (ii) by the Swingline Bank of
    a Notice of Swingline Borrowing as required by Section 2.18(b) or (iii) by
    the LC Agent of a notice of proposed issuance or extension as required by
    Section 2.17(c) or (e), as the case may be;

             (c) the fact that, immediately after such Extension of Credit, the
    sum of

                     (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 
             Loans,



                                       48
<PAGE>   54
                     (ii) the aggregate amount of the LC Exposures and

                     (iii) in the case of any issuance or extension of a Letter
             of Credit, the aggregate principal amount of (x) any Loans to be
             made after such Letter of Credit is issued or extended pursuant to
             Notices of Borrowing given before such Letter of Credit is issued
             or extended and (y) any outstanding Swingline Loans

    will not exceed the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments;

             (d) the fact that, immediately before and after such Extension of
    Credit, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

             (e) the fact that each of the representations and warranties of the
    Borrower contained in this Agreement shall be true on and as of the date of
    such Extension of Credit.

Each Extension of Credit hereunder shall be deemed to be a representation and
warranty by the Borrower on the date of such Extension of Credit as to the facts
specified in clauses (c), (d) and (e) of this Section.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

             The Borrower represents and warrants that:

             SECTION 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power. The Borrower
is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the State of New York, and has all corporate powers and all material
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry
on its business as now conducted, except where failures to possess such
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals could not, in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

             SECTION 4.02. Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No
Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this
Agreement, the Notes and the Swingline Note are within the Borrower's corporate



                                       49
<PAGE>   55
powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, require 
no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency
or official and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any 
provision of applicable law or regulation or of the certificate of 
incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower or of any agreement, judgment,
injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any 
of its Subsidiaries or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any 
asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

             SECTION 4.03. Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a
valid and binding agreement of the Borrower and each of the Notes and the
Swingline Note, when executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement,
will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, in each case
enforceable in accordance with its terms.

             SECTION 4.04.    Financial Information.

             (a) The consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of January 28, 1995 and the related consolidated
statements of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders' equity for the
Fiscal Year then ended, reported on by Price Waterhouse and set forth in the
Borrower's 1994 Form 10-K, a copy of which has been delivered to each of the
Banks, fairly present, in ormity with generally accepted accounting
principles, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of
operations and cash flows for such Fiscal Year.

             (b) Since January 28, 1995, there has been no material adverse
change in the business, financial position, results of operations or prospects
of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole.

             SECTION 4.05. Litigation. Except for the Designated
Litigation, there is no action, suit or proceeding pending against, 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 reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.

             SECTION 4.06.    Compliance with Laws.  The Borrower and its 
Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable 
laws, ordinances, rules,



                                       50
<PAGE>   56
regulations and binding requirements of governmental authorities, except where
(i) the necessity of compliance therewith is being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings or (ii) failure to comply therewith could not, in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

             SECTION 4.07. Compliance with ERISA. Each member of the
ERISA Group has fulfilled its obligations under the minimum funding standards of
ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to each Plan and is in
compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of
ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to each Plan. No member of the
ERISA Group has (i) sought a waiver of the minimum funding standard under
Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code in respect of any Plan, (ii) failed to
make any contribution or payment to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect
of any Benefit Arrangement, or made any amendment to any Plan or Benefit
Arrangement, which has resulted or will result in the imposition of a Lien under
Section 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or in the incurrence of a
requirement under Section 401(a)(29) of the Internal Revenue Code to post a bond
or other security in order to retain the tax-qualified status of such Plan or
Benefit Arrangement or (iii) incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA
other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA.

             SECTION 4.08. Environmental Matters. To the knowledge of
the Borrower, (i) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance
with all applicable Environmental Laws, (ii) there are no claims, demands or
investigations against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by any
governmental authority or other person or entity that may reasonably be expected
to result in material liability for the clean up of materials that have been
released into the environment and (iii) there are no conditions that are
reasonably likely to result in such claims, demands or investigations against
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except for failures to comply and
liabilities which, in the aggregate, are unlikely to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.

             SECTION 4.09. Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have
filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax
returns which are required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes due
pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any material assessment received by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, except taxes and assessments which are not yet
delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate



                                       51
<PAGE>   57
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 4.10. Subsidiaries. Each of the Borrower's
corporate Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and has
all corporate powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations,
consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted,
except where failures to possess such licenses, authorizations, consents and
approvals could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.

             SECTION 4.11. Not an Investment Company. The Borrower is not an
"investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.

             SECTION 4.12. Full Disclosure. All information (taken as a
whole) heretofore furnished in writing by the Borrower to any Bank for purposes
of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby
is, and all such information hereafter furnished in writing by the Borrower to
any Bank will be, true in all material respects on the date as of which such
information is stated or certified. The Borrower has disclosed to the Banks in
writing any and all facts which could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect (to the extent the Borrower can now reasonably foresee,
utilizing reasonable assumptions and the information now actually known to the
Borrower's Responsible Officers).

                                    ARTICLE V

                                    COVENANTS

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

             SECTION 5.01. Information. The Borrower will deliver to each of the
Banks:

             (a) as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the
    end of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and
    its



                                       52
<PAGE>   58
    Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related
    consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and changes in
    shareholders' equity for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in
    comparative form the figures as of the end of and for the previous Fiscal
    Year, all reported on (without any qualification that would not be
    acceptable to the SEC for purposes of filings under the Exchange Act) by
    Price Waterhouse or other independent public accountants of nationally
    recognized standing;

             (b) as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the
    end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year, a
    consolidated condensed balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated
    Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter, the related consolidated
    condensed statement of operations for such Fiscal Quarter and the related
    consolidated condensed statements of operations, cash flows and retained
    earnings for the portion of the Fiscal Year ended at the end of such Fiscal
    Quarter, setting forth in comparative form (i) in the case of such statement
    of operations, the figures for the corresponding Fiscal Quarter of the
    previous Fiscal Year and (ii) in the case of such statements of operations,
    cash flows and retained earnings, the figures for the corresponding portion
    of the previous Fiscal Year, all certified (subject to normal year-end
    adjustments) as to fairness of presentation, generally accepted accounting
    principles and consistency by the chief financial officer or the chief
    accounting officer of the Borrower;

             (c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial
    statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of the
    Borrower's chief financial officer or chief accounting officer (i) setting
    forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether
    the Borrower was in compliance with the requirements of Sections 5.06 to
    5.10, inclusive, 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;

             (d) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial
    statements referred to in clause (a) above, a statement of the firm of
    independent public accountants which reported on such statements (i)



                                       53
<PAGE>   59
    whether anything has come to their attention to cause them to believe that
    any Default existed on the date of such statements and (ii) irming the
    calculations set forth in the officer's certificate delivered simultaneously
    therewith pursuant to clause (c) above;

             (e) as soon as practicable and in any event within 90 days after
    the end of each Fiscal Year, a certificate of the Borrower's chief financial
    officer setting forth (i) the total rent expense (net of sublease income) of
    the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year and (ii)
    the present value of their operating lease commitments at the end of such
    Fiscal Year, and certifying that such amounts have been calculated on the
    same basis as the comparable amounts shown on page 24 of the Borrower's 1994
    Annual Report to its shareholders;

             (f) within five Domestic Business Days after any Responsible
    Officer obtains knowledge of any Default, if such Default is then
    continuing, a certificate of the Borrower's chief financial officer or chief
    accounting officer setting forth the details thereof and the action which
    the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

             (g) promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the
    Borrower generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy
    statements so mailed;

             (h) promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration
    statements (other than the exhibits thereto and any registration statements
    on Form S-8 or its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or
    their equivalents) which the Borrower shall have filed with the SEC;

             (i) if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is
    required to give notice to the PBGC of any "reportable event" defined in
    PBGC Regulations Sections 2615.11(a), .12(a), .14(a), .16(a), .17(a),
    .21(a), .22(a) or .23(a) with respect to any Plan, or, with respect to any
    Plan, gives or is required to give notice to the PBGC under Section
    4043(b)(3) of ERISA or would be required to give notice under such Section
    but for the provisions of Section 4043(b)(2) 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, or that



                                       54
<PAGE>   60
    would be required to be given but for the provisions of Section 4043(b)(2);
    (ii) receives notice of complete or partial withdrawal liability under Title
    IV of ERISA or notice that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, is
    insolvent or has been terminated, a copy of such notice; (iii) receives
    notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to terminate,
    impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in
    respect of, or appoint a trustee to administer, any Plan, a copy of such
    notice; (iv) applies for a waiver of the minimum funding standard under
    Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, a copy of such application; (v)
    gives notice of intent to terminate any Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA,
    a copy of such notice and other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives
    notice of withdrawal from any Plan pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a copy
    of such notice; or (vii) fails to make any payment or contribution to any
    Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any Benefit Arrangement or makes
    any amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement which has resulted or will
    result in the imposition of a Lien under Section 412(n) of the Internal
    Revenue Code or the incurrence of a requirement under Section 401(a)(29) of
    the Internal Revenue Code to post a bond or other security in order to
    retain the tax-qualified status of such Plan or Benefit Arrangement, a
    certificate of the Borrower's chief financial officer or chief accounting
    officer setting forth details as to such occurrence and action, if any,
    which the Borrower or applicable member of the ERISA Group has taken or
    proposes to take; and

             (j) 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 5.02. Maintenance of Property; Insurance. (a) The
Borrower will keep, and will cause each Subsidiary to keep, all material
properties useful and necessary in its business in good working order and
condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

             (b) The Borrower will, 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 responsible insurance companies, insurance on all
their respective properties in at least such amounts and against at least such
risks (and with such risk retention)



                                       55
<PAGE>   61
as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies of
established repute engaged in the same or a similar business; provided that 
such risks may be covered by self-insurance programs consistent with past 
practice. The Borrower will furnish to the Banks, upon request from the 
Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the 
insurance so carried.

             SECTION 5.03. Conduct of Business and Maintenance of
Existence. The Borrower will continue, and will cause each Subsidiary to
continue, to engage in business of the same general type as now conducted by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and will preserve, renew and keep in full force
and effect, and will cause each Subsidiary to preserve, renew and keep in full
force and effect their respective existence and their respective rights,
privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of
business, except where failures to possess such rights, privileges and
franchises could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect; provided that nothing in this Section shall
prohibit (i) the merger of a Subsidiary into the Borrower or the merger or
consolidation of a Subsidiary with or into another Person if the corporation
surviving such consolidation or merger is a Subsidiary and if, in each case,
after giving effect thereto, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or
(ii) the termination of the existence of any Subsidiary if the Borrower in good
faith determines that such termination is in the best interest of the Borrower
and is not materially disadvantageous to the Banks.

             SECTION 5.04. Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will
comply, and cause each Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all
applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and binding requirements of
governmental authorities (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws and
ERISA and the rules and regulations thereunder), except where (i) the necessity
of compliance therewith is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings or (ii) failures to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

             SECTION 5.05. Inspection of Property, Books and Records.
The Borrower will keep, and will cause each Subsidiary (except for Subsidiaries
that constitute Immaterial Subsidiaries) to keep, proper books of record and
account in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all dealings
and transactions in relation to its business and activities; and will permit,
and will cause each Subsidiary (except for Subsidiaries that constitute



                                       56
<PAGE>   62
Immaterial Subsidiaries) to permit, representatives of any Bank at such Bank's
expense, upon reasonable prior notice, 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, all at such reasonable times and as often as may reasonably be
desired.

             SECTION 5.06. Negative Pledge. Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary will create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now
owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

             (a) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement securing Debt
    outstanding on the date of this Agreement in an aggregate principal or face
    amount not exceeding $100,000,000;

             (b) any Lien on any asset (or improvement thereon) securing Debt
    incurred or assumed solely for the purpose of financing all or any part of
    the cost of acquiring such asset (or improvement thereon), provided
    that such Lien attaches to such asset (or improvement thereon) concurrently
    with or within 90 days after the acquisition thereof;

             (c) any Lien existing on any asset of any corporation at the time
    such corporation becomes a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of
    such event;

             (d) any Lien on any asset of any corporation existing at the time
    such corporation is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a
    Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

             (e) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition
    (whether by purchase, merger or otherwise) thereof by the Borrower or a
    Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such acquisition;

             (f) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or
    refunding of any Debt secured by any Lien permitted by any of the foregoing
    clauses of this Section, provided that such Debt is not increased
    and is not secured by any additional assets;

             (g) Liens on life insurance policies securing amounts borrowed
    against the cash value of such policies;



                                       57
<PAGE>   63
             (h) Liens arising in the ordinary course of its business which (i)
    do not secure Debt, (ii) do not secure any single obligation or series of
    related obligations in an amount exceeding $100,000,000 and (iii) do not in
    the aggregate materially detract from the value of its assets or materially
    impair the use thereof in the operation of its business; and

             (i) Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this
    Section securing Debt in an aggregate principal or face amount at any date
    not to exceed 10% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.

             SECTION 5.07. Minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth will at no time be less than the sum of (i)
$1,000,000,000 plus (ii) for each Fiscal Quarter ended at or prior to such time
(but after January 28, 1995), 50% of the consolidated net income of the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter (if greater than
zero).

             SECTION 5.08. Leverage Ratio. Total Borrowed Funds will not
(i) exceed 80% of Total Capitalization at any time from the Closing Date through
the end of the third Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year 1996 or (ii) exceed 70% of
Total Capitalization at any time thereafter.

             SECTION 5.09.    Limitation on Debt.

             (a) Fourth Quarter Clean-Down Requirement. The aggregate
outstanding principal amount of (i) all debt for borrowed money owed by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries to banks (or to other financial institutions under
credit facilities comparable to bank credit facilities), including without
limitation this Agreement and the Short-Term Credit Agreement, and (ii) all
other short-term Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will not exceed (x)
$600,000,000 for at least 15 consecutive days during the fourth Fiscal Quarter
of Fiscal Year 1995 or (y) $400,000,000 for at least 15 consecutive days during
the fourth Fiscal Quarter of any subsequent Fiscal Year.

             (b) Debt of Subsidiaries. The total Debt of all
Consolidated Subsidiaries (excluding Debt owed to the Borrower or to another
Consolidated Subsidiary) will not at any time exceed $250,000,000.

             SECTION 5.10. Cash Flow Ratio. At the end of each Fiscal Quarter
listed below, the ratio of



                                       58
<PAGE>   64
             (i) the sum of (w) EBITDA, (x) Change in Consolidated Net Working
    Investment and (y) Available Net Cash Proceeds of Asset Sales, Public Debt
    Issuances and Equity Issuances, in each case for the four consecutive Fiscal
    Quarters then ended, plus (z) 1/3 of Annual Rent Expense, to

             (ii) the sum of (u) Interest Expense, (v) all scheduled payments of
    principal of Debt of the Borrower (other than loans outstanding under the
    Short-Term Credit Agreement) or any of its Subsidiaries (net of, in the case
    of commercial paper of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, if any,
    contemporaneous refinancings thereof by commercial paper and/or loans under
    this Agreement or the Short-Term Credit Agreement), (w) any payments of
    principal required by Section 2.11(d) of the Short-Term Credit Agreement,
    (x) Consolidated Capital Expenditures and (y) dividends paid on all shares
    of capital stock issued by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than
    dividends paid to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), in each case for
    said four consecutive Fiscal Quarters, plus (z) 1/3 of Annual Rent Expense,

will not be less than the ratio set forth below with respect to such Fiscal
Quarter:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             Fiscal Quarter                                     Ratio
             --------------                                     -----
    <S>                                                         <C>
    Second Fiscal Quarter
      of Fiscal Year 1995                                       1.00 to 1

    Third Fiscal Quarter of
      Fiscal Year 1995                                          1.10 to 1

    Fourth Fiscal Quarter of
      Fiscal Year 1995 and
      first three Fiscal Quarters
      of Fiscal Year 1996                                       1.25 to 1

    Each subsequent Fiscal Quarter                              1.35 to 1
</TABLE>

             SECTION 5.11. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.
The Borrower will not consolidate or merge with or into any other Person;
provided that the Borrower may merge with another Person if (A) the
Borrower is the corporation surviving such merger and (B) immediately after
giving effect to such merger no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
The Borrower and its Subsidiaries will not sell, lease or otherwise transfer,
directly or



                                       59
<PAGE>   65
indirectly, all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person; provided that the 
foregoing limitation shall not apply to sales of inventory or sales and other 
dispositions of surplus assets, in each case in the ordinary course of business.

             SECTION 5.12. Use of Proceeds. The Letters of Credit and
the proceeds of the Loans and Swingline Loans made under this Agreement will be
used by the Borrower for its general corporate purposes.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    DEFAULTS

             SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. If one or more of the following
events ("Events of Default") shall have occurred and be continuing:

             (a) the Borrower shall fail (i) to pay any principal of any Loan or
    any Reimbursement Obligation when due or (ii) to pay any interest on any
    Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, any fees or any other amount payable
    hereunder within two Domestic Business Days after the due date thereof;

             (b) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant
    contained in Sections 5.06 to 5.12, inclusive;

             (c) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or
    agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those covered by clause
    (a) or (b) above) for 30 days after written notice thereof has been given to
    the Borrower by the Administrative Agent at the request of any Requesting
    Banks;

             (d) any representation, warranty, certification or statement made
    (or deemed made) by the Borrower in this Agreement or in any certificate,
    financial statement or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement
    shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made (or
    deemed made);

             (e) the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay,
    when due or within any applicable grace period, an amount or amounts
    aggregating more than $25,000,000 payable in respect of their Debt;



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<PAGE>   66
             (f) any event or condition shall occur which results in the
    acceleration of the maturity of any Material Debt or enables the holder of
    such Debt or any Person acting on such holder's behalf to accelerate the
    maturity thereof;

             (g) any of the Borrower or one or more Subsidiaries (unless such
    Subsidiaries are Immaterial Subsidiaries) 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 Material Assets, or shall consent to any such relief or to the
    appointment of any such official or to any such official taking possession
    of Material Assets, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of
    creditors, or shall state that it is unable to pay its debts generally as
    they become due, or shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the
    foregoing;

             (h) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced
    against the Borrower or one or more Subsidiaries (unless such Subsidiaries
    constitute Immaterial Subsidiaries), in each case 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 Material Assets, and such involuntary
    case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period
    of 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;

             (i) any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an
    amount or amounts aggregating in excess of $10,000,000 which it shall have
    become liable to pay under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to
    terminate a Material Plan (except for any termination under Section 4041(b)
    of ERISA) shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by any member of the ERISA
    Group, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the
    PBGC shall institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate, to
    impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in
    respect



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<PAGE>   67
    of, or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer, any Material Plan;
    or a condition shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be entitled to
    obtain a decree adjudicating that any Material Plan must be terminated; or
    there shall occur a complete or partial withdrawal from, or a default,
    within the meaning of Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA, with respect to, one or
    more Multiemployer Plans which could cause one or more members of the ERISA
    Group to incur a current payment obligation in excess of $25,000,000;

             (j) a judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of
    $10,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary and
    such judgment or order shall continue unsatisfied and unstayed for a period
    of 10 days; or

             (k) any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section
    13 or 14 of the Exchange Act) shall have acquired beneficial ownership
    (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under said Act) of
    20% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Borrower; or
    Continuing Directors shall cease to constitute a majority of the board of
    directors of the Borrower;

then, and in every such event, the Administrative Agent shall (i) if requested
by Banks having more than 50% in aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit
Commitments, by notice to the Borrower terminate the Commitments and they shall
thereupon terminate, and (ii) if requested by Banks holding Notes evidencing
more than 50% in aggregate principal amount of the Loans, by notice to the
Borrower declare the Notes and the Swingline Note (together with accrued
interest thereon) to be, and the Notes and the Swingline Note (together with
accrued interest thereon) 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; provided that if any Event of Default
specified in clause (g) or (h) above occurs with respect to the Borrower, then
without any notice to the Borrower or any other act by the Administrative Agent
or the Banks, the Commitments shall thereupon terminate and the Notes and the
Swingline Note (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.

             SECTION 6.02. Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall
give notice to the Borrower under



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<PAGE>   68
Section 6.01(c) promptly upon being requested to do so by any Requesting
Banks and shall thereupon notify all the Banks thereof.

             SECTION 6.03. Cash Cover. The Borrower agrees, in addition
to the provisions of Section 6.01, that upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of any Event of Default, it shall, if requested by the LC Agent upon
the instruction of the Required Banks, pay to the LC Agent an amount in
immediately available funds (which funds shall be held as collateral pursuant to
arrangements satisfactory to the LC Agent) equal to the aggregate amount
available for drawing under all Letters of Credit then outstanding at such time,
provided that, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in
clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 with respect to the Borrower, the Borrower
shall pay such amount forthwith without any notice or demand or any other act by
the LC Agent or the Banks.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                 THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, DOCUMENTATION AGENT,
                      LC AGENT, AGENTS AND ARRANGING AGENTS

             SECTION 7.01. Appointment and Authorization. Each Bank
irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action
as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the
Notes as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or
thereof, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

             SECTION 7.02. Agents and Affiliates. Each Bank acting as an
Agent or Arranging Agent, or as the Documentation Agent, the Administrative
Agent, the LC Agent or the Swingline Bank, in connection with this Agreement or
the credit facility provided hereby shall have the same rights and powers under
this Agreement as any other Bank and may exercise or refrain from exercising the
same as though it were not so acting. Each Bank so acting, and each of their
respective affiliates, may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally
engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or affiliate
of the Borrower as if it were not so acting.



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             SECTION 7.03. Obligations of the Documentation Agent, Agents
and Arranging Agents. The Agents, Arranging Agents and Documentation Agent,
in their capacities as such, shall have no duties, obligations or liabilities of
any kind hereunder.

             SECTION 7.04. Obligations of Administrative Agent and LC
Agent. The obligations of the Administrative Agent and the LC Agent
hereunder are only those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to
take any action with respect to any Default, except as expressly provided in
Article VI.

             SECTION 7.05. Consultation with Experts. The Administrative
Agent and the LC Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for
the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it
and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or
experts.

             SECTION 7.06. Liability of Agents. None of the Agents, the
Arranging Agents, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent, their
respective affiliates or their respective directors, officers, agents or
employees shall be liable for any action taken or not taken in connection
herewith (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Banks or (ii) in
the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. None of the
Agents, the Arranging Agents, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent,
the LC Agent, their respective affiliates or their respective directors,
officers, agents or employees shall be responsible for or have any duty to
ascertain, inquire into or verify (i) any statement, warranty or representation
made in connection with this Agreement or any Extension of Credit; (ii) the
performance or observance of any of the covenants or agreements of the Borrower;
(iii) the satisfaction of any condition specified in Article III except, in the
case of the Administrative Agent, receipt of items required to be delivered to
it; or (iv) the validity, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, the
Notes, the Swingline Note or any other instrument or writing furnished in
connection herewith. The LC Agent shall not incur any liability by acting in
reliance upon information supplied by the Administrative Agent as to the
aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding at any time (including Loans to
be made pursuant to Notices of Borrowing theretofore received by the
Administrative Agent). The Administrative Agent shall not incur any liability by
acting in reliance upon (i) information supplied by the LC



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<PAGE>   70
Agent as to the aggregate amount of the LC Exposures at any time or (ii) any
notice, consent, certificate, statement, or other writing (which may be a bank
wire, telex, facsimile transmission or similar writing) believed by it to be
genuine or to be signed by the proper party or parties.

             SECTION 7.07. Indemnification. Each Bank shall, ratably in
accordance with its Revolving Credit Commitment, indemnify the Administrative
Agent, the Swingline Bank and their respective affiliates, directors, officers,
agents and employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower) against any
cost, expense (including counsel fees and disbursements), claim, demand, action,
loss or liability (except such as result from such indemnitees' gross negligence
or willful misconduct) that such indemnitees may suffer or incur in connection
with this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by such indemnitees
hereunder.

             SECTION 7.08. Credit Decision. Each Bank acknowledges that
it has, independently and without reliance upon any of the Co-Syndication
Agents, the Agents, the Arranging Agents, the Documentation Agent, the
Administrative Agent, the LC Agent, the Swingline Bank or any other Bank, and
based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its
own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Bank also
acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any of the
Co-Syndication Agents, the Agents, the Arranging Agents, the Documentation
Agent, the Administrative Agent, the LC Agent, the Swingline Bank or any other
Bank, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate
at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking
any action under this Agreement.

             SECTION 7.09. Successor Administrative Agent. The
Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the
Banks and the Borrower, such resignation to be effective when a successor
Administrative Agent is appointed pursuant to this Section and accepts such
appointment. Upon receiving any such notice of resignation, the Required Banks
shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, subject to the
approval of the Borrower (unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing at the time of such appointment, in which case the Borrower's
approval will not be required). If no successor Administrative Agent shall have
been so appointed by the Required Banks, and shall have accepted such
appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice
of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the
other



                                       65
<PAGE>   71
Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial
bank organized or licensed under the laws of the United States of America or of
any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$500,000,000. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as the Administrative Agent
hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative
Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights 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 hereunder, the provisions of this
Article shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be
taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent.

             SECTION 7.10. Administrative Agent's Fees. The Borrower
shall pay to the Administrative Agent for its account, fees in the amounts and
at the times previously agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                             CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

             SECTION 8.01. Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or
Unfair. If on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any CD
Loan, Euro-Dollar Loan or Money Market LIBOR Loan:

             (a) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Reference Banks that
    deposits in dollars (in the applicable amounts) are not being offered to the
    Reference Banks in the relevant market for such Interest Period, or

             (b) in the case of CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, Banks having 50%
    or more of the aggregate principal amount of the affected Loans advise the
    Administrative Agent that the Adjusted CD Rate or the Adjusted London
    Interbank Offered Rate, as the case may be, as determined by the
    Administrative Agent will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such
    Banks of funding their CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, as the case may be,
    for such Interest Period,

the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower 
and the Banks, whereupon until the



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<PAGE>   72
    Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving
    rise to such suspension no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Banks to
    make CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, or to continue such Loans for an
    additional Interest Period, as the case may be, or to convert outstanding
    Loans into CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, as the case may be, shall be
    suspended and (ii) each outstanding CD Loan or Euro-Dollar Loan, as the case
    may be, shall be converted into a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the then
    current Interest Period applicable thereto. Unless the Borrower notifies the
    Administrative Agent at least two Domestic Business Days before the date of
    any Fixed Rate Borrowing for which a Notice of Borrowing has previously been
    given that it elects not to borrow on such date, (i) if such Fixed Rate
    Borrowing is a Committed Borrowing, such Borrowing shall instead be made as
    a Base Rate Borrowing and (ii) if such Fixed Rate Borrowing is a Money
    Market LIBOR Borrowing, the Money Market LIBOR Loans comprising such
    Borrowing shall bear interest for each day from and including the first day
    to but excluding the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto at
    the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day.

             SECTION 8.02. Illegality. If, on or after the date of this
Agreement, the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change
in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation
or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or
comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or
compliance by any Bank (or its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) with any request or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority,
central bank or comparable agency, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any
Bank (or its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) to make, maintain or fund its
Euro-Dollar 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 Loans, to continue
Euro-Dollar Loans for an additional Interest Period or to convert outstanding
Loans into Euro-Dollar Loans, shall be suspended. Before giving any notice to
the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section, such Bank shall designate a
different Euro-Dollar 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. If such notice is given, each Euro-Dollar Loan 



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<PAGE>   73
of such Bank then outstanding shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan either (a)
on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such
Euro-Dollar Loan if such Bank may lawfully continue to maintain and fund such
Loan to such day or (b) immediately if such Bank shall determine that it may not
lawfully continue to maintain and fund such Loan to such day.

             SECTION 8.03. Increased Cost and Reduced Return. (a) If on
or after (x) the date hereof, in the case of any Committed Loan or Swingline
Loan or Letter of Credit or any obligation to make Committed Loans or Swingline
Loans or participate in Letters of Credit or (y) the date of the related Money
Market Quote, in the case of any Money Market Loan, the adoption of any
applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in any applicable law, rule or
regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Bank (or its
Applicable Lending Office) or the Swingline Bank with any request or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or
comparable agency, shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve
(including, without limitation, any such requirement imposed by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, but excluding (i) with respect to any
CD Loan any such requirement included in an applicable Domestic Reserve
Percentage and (ii) with respect to any Euro-Dollar Loan any such requirement
included in an applicable Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage), special deposit,
insurance assessment (excluding, with respect to any CD Loan, any such
requirement reflected in an applicable Assessment Rate) or similar requirement
against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by,
any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) or the Swingline Bank or shall
impose on any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) or the Swingline Bank or
on the United States market for certificates of deposit or the London interbank
market any other condition affecting its Fixed Rate Loans, its Note, its
Swingline Loans, its Swingline Note, its obligation to make Fixed Rate Loans or
Swingline Loans or its obligation to participate in any Letter of Credit and the
result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Bank (or its
Applicable Lending Office) of making or maintaining any Fixed Rate Loan, or
participating in any Letter of Credit or increase the cost to the Swingline Bank
of making or maintaining any Swingline Loan or to reduce the amount of any sum
received or receivable by such Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) or the
Swingline Bank under this Agreement or under its Note or Swingline Note with
respect 



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<PAGE>   74
thereto, by an amount deemed by such Bank or the Swingline Bank to be material,
then, within 15 days after receiving a request by such Bank or the Swingline
Bank for compensation under this subsection, accompanied by a certificate
complying with subsection (e) of this Section (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent), the Borrower shall, subject to subsection (f) of this Section, pay to
such Bank or the Swingline Bank such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Bank or the Swingline Bank for such increased cost or reduction.

             (b) If, on or after the date hereof, the adoption of any applicable
law, rule or regulation, or any change in any applicable law, rule or
regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by the LC Agent with any
request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) made on or after
the date of this Agreement by any such authority, central bank or comparable
agency, shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve (including, without
limitation, any such requirement imposed by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System), special deposit, insurance assessment or similar
requirement against any Letter of Credit issued by the LC Agent or shall impose
on the LC Agent any other condition affecting its Letters of Credit or its
obligation to issue Letters of Credit and the result of any of the foregoing is
to increase the cost to the LC Agent of issuing any Letter of Credit or to
reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the LC Agent under this
Agreement with respect thereto, by an amount deemed by the LC Agent to be
material, then, within 15 days after demand by the LC Agent (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to the LC Agent such additional
amount or amounts as will compensate the LC Agent for such increased cost or
reduction.

             (c) If any Bank, the Swingline Bank or the LC Agent shall have
determined that, after the date hereof, the adoption of any applicable law, rule
or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or any change in any such law, rule or
regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or any request or directive regarding
capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority,
central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the
rate of return on capital of such Bank, the Swingline Bank or the LC Agent, as
the case may be (or its Parent), as 



                                       69
<PAGE>   75
a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such
Bank, the Swingline Bank or the LC Agent, as the case may be (or its Parent),
could have achieved but for such adoption, change, request or directive (taking
into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount
deemed by it to be material, then from time to time, within 15 days after
receiving a request by such Bank, the Swingline Bank or the LC Agent, as the
case may be, for compensation under this subsection, accompanied by a
certificate complying with subsection (e) of this Section (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall, subject to subsection (f) of this
Section, pay to such Bank, the Swingline Bank or the LC Agent, as the case may
be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate it (or its Parent) for
such reduction.

             (d) Each Bank, the Swingline Bank and the LC Agent 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 it to
compensation pursuant to this Section and will designate a different Applicable
Lending Office or LC Office if such designation will avoid the need for, or
reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in its judgment, be
otherwise disadvantageous to it. If a Bank, the Swingline Bank or the LC Agent
fails to notify the Borrower of any such event within 180 days after such event
occurs, it shall not be entitled to compensation under this Section for any
effect of such event arising more than 180 days before it does notify the
Borrower thereof.

             (e) Each request by a Bank, the Swingline Bank or the LC Agent for
compensation under this Section shall be accompanied by a certificate, signed by
one of its authorized employees, setting forth in reasonable detail (i) the
basis for claiming such compensation, (ii) the additional amount or amounts to
be paid to it hereunder and (iii) the method of calculating such amount or
amounts, which certificate shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
In determining such amount, such Bank, the Swingline Bank or the LC Agent may
use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

             (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, none of
the Banks, the Swingline Bank and the LC Agent shall be entitled to compensation
under subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this Section if it is not then its general
practice to demand compensation in similar circumstances under comparable
provisions of other credit agreements.



                                       70
<PAGE>   76
             SECTION 8.04.    Taxes.  (a)  For purposes of this Section 8.04, 
the following terms have the following meanings:

             "Relevant Payee" means any Bank, the Swingline Bank, the LC Agent 
or the Administrative Agent.

             "Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies,
imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings with respect to any payment by the
Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or under any Note or the Swingline Note, and
all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding (i) in the case of each
Relevant Payee, taxes imposed on or measured by its income, and franchise or
similar taxes imposed on it, by a jurisdiction under the laws of which it is
organized or qualified to do business (but only if the taxes are imposed solely
because such Relevant Payee is qualified to do business in such jurisdiction
without regard to any Loan) or in which its principal executive office is
located or in which its Applicable Lending Office or LC Office is located and
(ii) in the case of each Bank, any United States withholding tax imposed on such
payments other than such withholding tax imposed as a result of a change in
treaty, law or regulation occurring after a Bank first becomes subject to this
Agreement.

             "Other Taxes" means any present or future stamp, documentary or
mortgage recording taxes and any other excise or property taxes, or similar
charges or levies, which arise from any payment made pursuant to this Agreement
or under any Note or the Swingline Note or from the execution, delivery or
enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, any Note or the
Swingline Note.

             (b) Any and all payments by the Borrower to or for the account of
any Relevant Payee hereunder or under any Note or the Swingline Note shall be
made without deduction for any Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that, if
the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes or Other Taxes from
any such payments, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that
after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to
additional sums payable under this Section 8.04) such Relevant Payee receives an
amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made,
(ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (iii) the Borrower shall pay the
full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in
accordance with applicable law and (iv) the Borrower shall furnish to the
Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 9.01, the original
or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.



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<PAGE>   77
            (c) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Relevant Payee for the
full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or
Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under
this Section 8.04) paid by such Relevant Payee and any liability (including
penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto,
provided that Borrower shall not indemnify any Relevant Payee for any penalties
or interest on any Taxes or Other Taxes accrued during the period between the
15th day after such Relevant Payee has received a notice from the jurisdiction
asserting such Taxes or Other Taxes and such later day on which such Relevant
Payee has informed the Borrower of the receipt of such notice. This
indemnification shall be paid within 15 days after such Relevant Payee makes
demand therefor.

            (d) Each Relevant Payee organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
outside the United States, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery
of this Agreement in the case of each Relevant Payee listed on the signature
pages hereof and on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Relevant Payee in
the case of each other Relevant Payee, and from time to time thereafter if
requested in writing by the Borrower (but only so long as such Relevant Payee
remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide the Borrower with Internal
Revenue Service Form 1001 or 4224, as appropriate, or any successor form
prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying that such Relevant Payee
is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United States is
a party which exempts such Relevant Payee from United States withholding tax or
reduces the rate of withholding tax on payments of interest for the account of
such Relevant Payee or certifying that the income receivable pursuant to this
Agreement is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in
the United States.

            (e) For any period with respect to which a Relevant Payee has failed
to provide the Borrower with the appropriate form as required by Section 8.04(d)
(unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation occurring
subsequent to the date on which such form originally was required to be
provided), such Relevant Payee shall not be entitled to indemnification under
Section 8.04(b) or (c) with respect to Taxes (including penalties, interest and
expenses) imposed by the United States; provided that if a Relevant Payee, which
is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax,
becomes subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required
hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps

                                       72
<PAGE>   78
as such Relevant Payee shall reasonably request to assist such Relevant Payee to
recover such Taxes.

            (f) If the Borrower is required to pay additional amounts to or for
the account of any Relevant Payee pursuant to this Section 8.04, then such
Relevant Payee will change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office or
LC Office if, in the judgment of such Relevant Payee, such change (i) will
eliminate or reduce any such additional payment which may thereafter accrue and
(ii) is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Relevant Payee.

            (g) If a Relevant Payee receives a notice from a taxing authority
asserting any Taxes or Other Taxes for which the Borrower is required to
indemnify such Relevant Payee under Section 8.04(c), it shall furnish to the
Borrower a copy of such notice no later than 90 days after the receipt thereof.
If such Relevant Payee has failed to furnish a copy of such notice to the
Borrower within such 90-day period as required by this Section 8.04(g), the
Borrower shall not be required to indemnify such Relevant Payee for any such
Taxes or Other Taxes (including penalties, interest and expenses thereon)
arising between the 90th day after the Relevant Payee has received such notice
and the day on which such Relevant Payee has furnished to the Borrower a copy of
such notice.

            SECTION 8.05. Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Fixed Rate
Loans. If (i) the obligation of any Bank to make or maintain Euro-Dollar Loans
has been suspended pursuant to Section 8.02 or (ii) any Bank has demanded
compensation under Section 8.03 or 8.04 with respect to its CD Loans or
Euro-Dollar Loans and, in either case, the Borrower shall, by at least five
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 exist:

            (a) all Loans which would otherwise be made by such Bank as (or
      continued as or converted into) CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, as the case
      may be, shall instead be Base Rate Loans (on which interest and principal
      shall be payable contemporaneously with the related Fixed Rate Loans of
      the other Banks), and

            (b) after each of its CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, as the case may
      be, has been repaid (or converted to a Base Rate Loan), all payments of


                                       73
<PAGE>   79
      principal which would otherwise be applied to repay such Fixed Rate Loans
      shall be applied to repay its Base Rate Loans instead.

If such Bank notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such
notice no longer apply, the principal amount of each such Base Rate Loan shall
be converted into a CD Loan or Euro-Dollar Loan, as the case may be, on the
first day of the next succeeding Interest Period applicable to the related CD
Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans of the other Banks.

            SECTION 8.06. Substitution of Bank. If (i) the obligation of any
Bank to make Euro-Dollar Loans has been suspended pursuant to Section 8.02 or
(ii) any Bank has demanded compensation under Section 8.03 or 8.04, the Borrower
shall have the right, with the assistance of the Administrative Agent, to seek a
mutually satisfactory substitute bank or banks (which may be one or more of the
Banks) to replace such Bank. Any substitution under this Section 8.06 may be
accomplished, at the Borrower's option, either (i) by the replaced Bank
assigning its rights and obligations hereunder to the replacement bank or banks
pursuant to Section 9.06(c) at a mutually agreeable price or (ii) by the
Borrower prepaying all outstanding Loans from the replaced Bank and terminating
its Revolving Credit Commitment on a date specified in a notice delivered to the
Administrative Agent and the replaced Bank at least three Euro-Dollar Business
Days before the date so specified (and compensating such Bank for any resulting
funding losses as provided in Section 2.14) and concurrently the replacement
bank or banks assuming a Revolving Credit Commitment in an amount equal to the
Revolving Credit Commitment being terminated and making Loans in the same
aggregate amount and having the same maturity date or dates, respectively, as
the Loans being prepaid, all pursuant to documents reasonably satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent (and in the case of any document to be signed by the
replaced Bank, reasonably satisfactory to such Bank). No such substitution shall
relieve the Borrower of its obligation to compensate and/or indemnify the
replaced Bank as required by Sections 8.03 and 8.04 with respect to the period
before it is replaced and to pay all accrued interest, accrued fees and other
amounts owing to the replaced Bank hereunder.


                                       74
<PAGE>   80
                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

            SECTION 9.01. Notices. All notices, requests and other
communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including bank wire,
telex, facsimile transmission or similar writing) and shall be given to such
party: (x) in the case of the Borrower, the LC Agent, the Swingline Bank or the
Administrative Agent, at its address, facsimile number or telex number set forth
on the signature pages hereof, (y) in the case of any Bank, at its address,
facsimile number or telex number set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire
or (z) in the case of any party, such other address, facsimile number or telex
number as such party may hereafter specify for such purpose by notice to the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower. Each such notice, request or other
communication shall be effective (i) if given by telex, when such telex is
transmitted to the telex number specified in this Section and the appropriate
answerback is received, (ii) if given by facsimile transmission, when
transmitted to the facsimile number specified in this Section and confirmation
of receipt is received, (iii) if given by mail, three Domestic Business Days
after such communication is deposited in the mails with first class postage
prepaid, addressed as aforesaid, or (iv) if given by any other means, when
delivered at the address specified in this Section; provided that notices to the
Administrative Agent under Article II or Article VIII and notices to the LC
Agent or the Swingline Bank under Article II shall not be effective until
received.

            SECTION 9.02. No Waivers. No failure or delay by the Administrative
Agent, the LC Agent, the Swingline Bank or any Bank in exercising any right,
power or privilege hereunder or under any Note or the Swingline Note shall
operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be
cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

            SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnification. (a) The Borrower shall pay
(i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Co-Syndication Agents, the
Administrative Agent, the LC Agent and the Arranging Agents, including
reasonable fees and disbursements of special counsel for the Co-Syndication
Agents, in connection with the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement,
the administration of


                                       75
<PAGE>   81
this Agreement, any waiver or consent hereunder or any amendment hereof or any
Default or alleged Default hereunder and (ii) if an Event of Default occurs, all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Co-Syndication Agents, the Administrative
Agent, the LC Agent, the Arranging Agents, the Swingline Bank and each Bank,
including (without duplication) the fees and disbursements of special counsel
and the allocated cost of internal counsel, in connection with any collection,
bankruptcy, insolvency and other enforcement proceedings resulting therefrom.

            (b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each of the Agents and
Arranging Agents, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent, the LC
Agent, the Swingline Bank and each Bank, their respective affiliates and the
respective directors, officers, agents and employees of the foregoing (each an
"Indemnitee") and hold each Indemnitee harmless from and against any and all
liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses of any kind, including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, which may be
incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with any investigative, administrative
or judicial proceeding (whether or not such Indemnitee shall be designated a
party thereto) brought or threatened relating to or arising out of this
Agreement or any actual or proposed use of proceeds of Loans hereunder; provided
that no Indemnitee shall have the right to be indemnified hereunder for such
Indemnitee's own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction.

            SECTION 9.04. Sharing of Set-Offs. (a) Each Bank agrees that if it
shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, receive
payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of principal and interest that
has become due with respect to any Note held by it which is greater than the
proportion received by any other Bank in respect of the aggregate amount of
principal and interest that has become due with respect to any 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, 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 shall be
shared by the Banks pro rata.

            (b) Each Bank further agrees that if it shall, by exercising any
right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, receive payment of a proportion
of the aggregate amount of the principal of and interest on the Reimbursement
Obligations held by it or for its account which is greater

                                       76
<PAGE>   82
than the proportion received in respect of the aggregate amount of the principal
of and interest on the Reimbursement Obligations held by or for the account of
any other Bank, the Bank receiving such proportionately greater payment shall
purchase such participations in the aggregate amount of the principal of and
interest on the Reimbursement Obligations held by or for the account of the
other Banks, and such other adjustments shall be made, as may be required so
that all such payments of the aggregate amount of the principal of and interest
on the Reimbursement Obligations held by or for the account of the Banks shall
be shared by them pro rata.

            (c) Nothing in this Section shall impair the right of any Bank to
exercise any right of set-off 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 hereunder.

            (d) The Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent it may effectively do
so under applicable law, that any holder of a participation in a Note or the
Swingline Note or an LC Exposure, whether or not acquired pursuant to the
foregoing arrangements, may exercise rights of set-off 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 9.05. Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this
Agreement, the Notes or the Swingline Note 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, the LC
Agent or the Swingline Bank are affected thereby, by the Administrative Agent,
the LC Agent or the Swingline Bank, as the case may be); provided that no such
amendment or waiver shall, unless signed by all the Banks, (i) increase or
decrease the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Bank (except for a ratable
decrease in the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Banks) or subject any Bank
to any additional obligation, (ii) reduce the principal of or rate of interest
on any Loan or Swingline Loan or any fees hereunder, (iii) postpone the date
fixed for any payment of principal of or interest on any Loan or Swingline Loan
or any fees hereunder or for the termination of any Commitment, (iv) reduce the
principal of or rate of interest on any Reimbursement Obligation, (v) postpone
the date fixed for payment by the Borrower of any Reimbursement Obligation or
extend the expiry date of any Letter of Credit to a date later than the fifth
Domestic Business Day prior to the Termination Date, (vi) unless signed by the
Swingline Bank,


                                       77
<PAGE>   83
increase the Swingline Commitment, postpone the date fixed for termination of
the Swingline Commitment or otherwise affect any of its rights and obligations,
or (vii) change the percentage of the Revolving Credit Commitments or of the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Notes, or the number 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.

            SECTION 9.06. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not
assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights under this Agreement without the
prior written consent of all Banks, the LC Agent and the Swingline Bank.

            (b) Any Bank may at any time grant to one or more banks or other
institutions (each a "Participant") participating interests in its Revolving
Credit Commitment or any or all of its Loans or all or any part of its LC
Exposure. In the event of any such grant by a Bank of a participating interest
to a Participant, whether or not upon notice to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent, such Bank shall remain responsible for the performance of
its obligations hereunder, such Bank shall remain the holder of its Note, 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. Any agreement pursuant to which any Bank may grant such a
participating interest shall provide that such Bank shall retain the sole right
and responsibility to enforce the obligations of the Borrower hereunder
including, without limitation, the right to approve any amendment, modification
or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such participation
agreement may provide that such Bank will not agree to any modification,
amendment or waiver of this Agreement described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
or (v) of Section 9.05 without the consent of the Participant. The Borrower
agrees that each Participant shall, to the extent provided in its participation
agreement, be entitled to the benefits of Article VIII with respect to its
participating interest. An assignment or other transfer which is not permitted
by subsection (c) or (d) below shall be given effect for purposes of this
Agreement only to the extent of a participating interest granted in accordance
with this subsection (b).

            (c) Any Bank may, in the ordinary course of its business and in
accordance with applicable law, at any time assign to one or more banks or other
institutions (each an


                                       78
<PAGE>   84
"Assignee") all, or a proportionate part (equivalent to an initial Revolving
Credit Commitment of not less than $10,000,000) of all, of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, and such Assignee shall assume
such rights and obligations, pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement
in substantially the form of Exhibit H hereto executed by such Assignee and such
transferor Bank, with (and subject to) the subscribed consents of the Borrower,
the LC Agent, the Swingline Bank and the Administrative Agent (which consents
shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided that (i) such consents
shall not be required if the Assignee is an affiliate of such transferor Bank or
was a Bank immediately prior to such assignment; (ii) such assignment may, but
need not, include rights of the transferor Bank in respect of outstanding Money
Market Loans and (iii) the $10,000,000 minimum amount specified above for a
partial assignment of the transferor Bank's rights and obligations shall not
apply if the Assignee was a Bank immediately prior to such assignment. Upon
execution and delivery of such instrument and payment by such Assignee to such
transferor Bank of an amount equal to the purchase price agreed between such
transferor Bank and such Assignee, such Assignee shall be a Bank party to this
Agreement and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Bank with a
Revolving Credit Commitment as set forth in such instrument of assumption, and
the transferor Bank shall be released from its obligations hereunder (and its
Commitment shall be reduced) to a corresponding extent, and no further consent
or action by any party shall be required. Upon the consummation of any
assignment pursuant to this subsection (c), the transferor Bank, the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall make appropriate arrangements so
that, if required, a new Note is issued to the Assignee. In connection with any
such assignment (except an assignment required by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 8.06), the transferor Bank shall pay to the Administrative Agent an
administrative fee for processing such assignment in the amount of $2,500. If
the Assignee is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America
or a state thereof, it shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent certification as to exemption from deduction or withholding of any United
States federal income taxes in accordance with Section 8.04.

            (d) Any Bank may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights
under this Agreement and its Note to a Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment
shall release the transferor Bank from its obligations hereunder.

            (e) No Assignee, Participant or other transferee of any Bank's
rights shall be entitled to receive any


                                       79
<PAGE>   85
greater payment under Section 8.03 or 8.04 than such 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 8.02, 8.03 or 8.04 requiring such Bank to designate a different
Applicable Lending Office under certain circumstances or at a time when the
circumstances giving rise to such greater payment did not exist.

            SECTION 9.07. Collateral. Each of the Banks represents to the
Administrative Agent and each of the other Banks that it in good faith is not
relying upon any "margin stock" (as defined in Regulation U) as collateral in
the extension or maintenance of the credit provided for in this Agreement.

            SECTION 9.08. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. (a) Each
Letter of Credit and Section 2.17 shall be subject to the Uniform Customs and
Practice for Documentary Credits (1993 Revision), International Chamber of
Commerce Publication No. 500, as the same may be revised or amended from time to
time, and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of
New York.

            (b) SUBJECT TO CLAUSE (a) OF THIS SECTION, THIS AGREEMENT, EACH NOTE
AND THE SWINGLINE NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. The Borrower hereby submits to the nonexclusive
jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York and of any New York State court sitting in New York City for purposes
of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the
Notes, the Swingline Note or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
The Borrower irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any
such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such proceeding
brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

            SECTION 9.09. Counterparts; Effectiveness. 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. This Agreement shall become effective upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent of counterparts hereof signed by each of the parties hereto
(or, in the case of any party as to which an executed counterpart shall not have
been received, receipt by the Administrative Agent in form satisfactory to it of
telegraphic, telex, facsimile or other


                                       80
<PAGE>   86
written confirmation from such party of execution of a counterpart hereof by
such party).

            SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE
AGENTS, THE ARRANGING AGENTS, THE DOCUMENTATION AGENT, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,
THE LC AGENT, THE SWINGLINE BANK AND THE BANKS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND
ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO
THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES, THE SWINGLINE NOTE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY OR THEREBY.


                                       81
<PAGE>   87
            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.

                                      WOOLWORTH CORPORATION

                                      By /s/ John H. Cannon       
                                         ------------------------------------  
                                         Title: Vice President &
                                                Treasurer

                                      233 Broadway
                                      New York, New York  10279-0003
                                      Facsimile number: 212-553-2094
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Revolving Credit
Commitments:
- -----------
<S>                                   <C>
$132,165,605.55                       MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                                        OF NEW YORK
                                        as an Arranging Agent and a Bank

                                      By /s/ Penelope J.B. Cox
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                         Title: Vice President


$ 79,299,363.11                       THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                        as an Arranging Agent and a Bank

                                      By /s/ David K. Nichols
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                         Title: Senior Vice President


$ 79,299,363.11                       THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
                                        as the Documentation Agent,
                                        an Arranging Agent and a Bank

                                      By /s/ J. Alan Edwards
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                         Title: Authorized Signatory

</TABLE>

                                       82
<PAGE>   88
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Revolving Credit
Commitments:
- -----------
<S>                                   <C>

$79,299,363.11                        CHEMICAL BANK
                                        as an Arranging Agent and a Bank

                                      By /s/ William J. Caggiano
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                         Title: Managing Director


$52,866,241.89                        NATIONSBANK, N.A. (CAROLINAS)
                                        as an Arranging Agent and a Bank

                                      By /s/ Sally L. Hazard
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                         Title: Senior Vice President


$52,866,241.89                        TORONTO DOMINION (NEW YORK), INC.
                                        as an Arranging Agent and a Bank

                                      By /s/ Jorge Garcia
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President


$38,768,577.35                        BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION
                                        as an Agent and a Bank

                                      By /s/ John W. Pocalyko
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                         Title: Vice President


$38,768,577.35                        UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND
                                        as an Agent and a Bank

                                      By /s/ Daniel H. Perron
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                         Title: Vice President

                                      By /s/ Daniel R. Strickford
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                         Title: Assistant Treasurer
</TABLE>



                                       83
<PAGE>   89
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Revolving Credit
Commitments:
- -----------
<S>                                   <C>

$33,333,333.33                        DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
                                      AND/OR CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
                                        as a Lead Manager and a Bank

                                      By /s/ J. Tracy Mehr
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President

                                      By /s/ James Fox
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Assistant Vice President


$33,333,333.33                        NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC
                                        as a Lead Manager and a Bank

                                      By /s/ Maria Amaral-LeBlanc
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President


$26,666,666.67                        CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH

                                      By /s/ Mark A. Campellone
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President


                                      CREDIT LYONNAIS CAYMAN ISLAND
                                      BRANCH

                                      By /s/ Mark A. Campellone
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Authorized Signature


$20,000,000.00                        SHAWMUT BANK, N.A.

                                      By /s/ Linda H. Thomas
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Managing Director

</TABLE>

                                       84
<PAGE>   90
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Revolving Credit
Commitments:
- -----------
<S>                                   <C>

$16,666,666.67                        ABN AMRO BANK N.V. NEW YORK BRANCH

                                      By /s/ John F. Lacey
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Senior Vice President

                                      By /s/ Thomas Rogers
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Corporate Banking 
                                                 Officer


$16,666,666.67                        THE BANK OF TOKYO TRUST COMPANY


                                      By /s/ Paul P. Malecki 
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President


$16,666,666.67                        COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

                                      By /s/ Thomas Ausfahl
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Assistant Vice President


                                      COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

                                      By /s/ Angela Z. Bezara
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Assistant Treasurer


$16,666,666.67                        THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

                                      By /s/ Randall L. Faust
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Assistant Vice President


$16,666,666.67                        FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA

                                      By /s/ Wendy V.C. Purcell
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Assistant Vice President
</TABLE>


                                       85
<PAGE>   91
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Revolving Credit
Commitments:
- -----------
<S>                                   <C>

$16,666,666.67                        THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING
                                      CORPORATION LIMITED

                                      By /s/ Rochelle Forster
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President


$16,666,666.67                        THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN TRUST
                                      COMPANY

                                      By /s/ J. Kenneth Biegen
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Senior Vice President & 
                                                 Department Head


$16,666,666.67                        THE MITSUBISHI BANK, LIMITED

                                      By /s/ Paula Mueller
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President


$16,666,666.67                        MITSUBISHI TRUST & BANKING
                                      CORPORATION (U.S.A.)

                                      By /s/ Yasushi Satomi
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Executive Vice President


$16,666,666.67                        THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED
                                      NEW YORK BRANCH

                                      By /s/ Jean-Michel Fatovic
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President


$16,666,666.67                        SOCIETY NATIONAL BANK

                                      By /s/ Lawrence A Mack
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President
</TABLE>


                                       86
<PAGE>   92
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Revolving Credit
Commitments:
- -----------
<S>                                   <C>

$16,666,666.67                        THE SUMITOMO TRUST AND BANKING
                                      CO., LTD.

                                      By /s/ Hidehiko Asai
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Deputy General Manager


$16,666,666.67                        UNION BANK

                                      By /s/ Cecilia M. Valente
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President & Manager


$16,666,666.67                        WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

                                      By /s/ Lee M. Jensen
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President


$10,000,000.00                        ARAB BANK PLC

                                      By /s/ Peter R. Boyadjian
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Senior Vice President


$10,000,000.00                        BANK BRUSSELS LAMBERT, NEW YORK
                                        BRANCH

                                      By /s/ Eric Hollanders
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Senior Vice President


                                      BANK BRUSSELS LAMBERT, NEW YORK
                                        BRANCH

                                      By /s/ Eileen Stekeur
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Assistant Vice President

</TABLE>

                                       87
<PAGE>   93
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Revolving Credit
Commitments:
- -----------
<S>                                   <C>

$10,000,000.00                        CORESTATES BANK, N.A.

                                      By /s/ Darren Baer
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Commercial Officer


$10,000,000.00                        DAIWA BANK TRUST COMPANY

                                      By /s/ Joel Limjap
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President


$10,000,000.00                        DRESDNER BANK AG,
                                      NEW YORK AND GRAND CAYMAN BRANCHES

                                      By /s/ J. Curtin Beaudouin
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President

                                      By /s/ Susan A. Hodge
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President


$10,000,000.00                        FIRSTAR BANK MILWAUKEE, N.A.

                                      By /s/ Robert A. Flosbach
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President


$10,000,000.00                        LTCB TRUST COMPANY

                                      By /s/ Rene O. LeBlanc
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Senior Vice President


</TABLE>
                                       88
<PAGE>   94
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Revolving Credit
Commitments:
- -----------
<S>                                   <C>
$10,000,000.00                        THE SAKURA BANK, LIMITED

                                      By /s/ Masahiro Nakajo
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Senior Vice President & 
                                                 Manager


$10,000,000.00                        THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED

                                      By /s/ Yoshinori Kawamura
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Joint General Manager


$10,000,000.00                        THE YASUDA TRUST AND BANKING CO.,
                                        LTD.

                                      By /s/ Nicholas D. Pullen
                                         ------------------------------------    
                                          Title: Vice President

Total Revolving
Credit Commitments

$1,000,000,000
==============

</TABLE>

                                      NATIONSBANK, N.A. (CAROLINAS)
                                        as LC Agent

                                      By /s/ Sally L. Hazard                    
                                         ------------------------------------ 
                                         Title: Senior Vice President
                                         c/o NationsBank International
                                             55 Broadway
                                             New York, New York  10006
                                             Attention:  Celso Faustino
                                             Facsimile number:  212-363-5361


                                       89
<PAGE>   95

                                      THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                        as Administrative Agent and 
                                        Swingline Bank
                                      By /s/ David K. Nichols
                                         ------------------------------------ 
                                      Title: Senior Vice President
                                      One Wall Street, 18th Fl. North
                                      New York, New York  10286
                                      Attention:  Carolyn Surles
                                                  Assistant Treasurer
                                      Facsimile number:  212-635-6385


                                       90
<PAGE>   96
                                PRICING SCHEDULE

            The "Euro-Dollar Margin", "Non-Trade LC Fee Rate", "CD Margin",
"Base Rate Margin" and "Facility Fee Rate" for any day are the respective
percentages per annum set forth below in the applicable row under the column
corresponding to the Status that exists on such day:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==========================================================================
                     Level    Level     Level    Level     Level     Level
    Status             I       II        III      IV         V         VI
==========================================================================
<S>                 <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>
Euro-Dollar
Margin and
Non-Trade LC 
Fee Rate

  If Utilization 
  is 50% or less     .3125    .4125     .4875    .6875     .8125    1.1875

  If Utilization     .4375    .5375     .6125    .8125     .9375    1.3125
   exceeds 50%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
CD Margin

  If Utilization     .4375    .5375     .6125    .8125     .9375    1.3125
   is 50% or less

  If Utilization     .5625    .6625     .7375    .9375    1.0625    1.4375
   exceeds 50%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base Rate                0       0          0        0         0      .250
Margin
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facility Fee 
Rate                 .1875    .2125     .2625    .3125     .4375     .5625
==========================================================================
</TABLE>


            For purposes of this Schedule, the following terms have the
following meanings:

            "Level I Status" exists at any date if, at such date, (i) the
Borrower's commercial paper is rated A2 or
<PAGE>   97
higher by S&P and P2 or higher by Moody's and (ii) the Borrower's long-term debt
is rated A- or higher by S&P and A3 or higher by Moody's.

            "Level II Status" exists at any date if, at such date, Level I
Status does not exist and (i) the Borrower's commercial paper is rated A2 or
higher by S&P and P2 or higher by Moody's and (ii) the Borrower's long-term debt
is rated BBB+ or higher by S&P and Baa1 or higher by Moody's.

            "Level III Status" exists at any date if, at such date, no higher
Status exists and (i) the Borrower's commercial paper is rated A2 or higher by
S&P and P2 or higher by Moody's and (ii) the Borrower's long-term debt is rated
BBB or higher by S&P and Baa2 or higher by Moody's.

            "Level IV Status" exists at any date if, at such date, no higher
Status exists and (i) the Borrower's commercial paper is rated A3 or higher by
S&P and P3 or higher by Moody's and (ii) the Borrower's long-term debt is rated
BBB- or higher by S&P and Baa3 or higher by Moody's.

            "Level V Status" exists at any date if, at such date, no higher
Status exists and (i) the Borrower's commercial paper is rated A3 or higher by
S&P and P3 or higher by Moody's and (ii) the Borrower's long-term debt is rated
BB+ or higher by S&P and Ba1 or higher by Moody's.

            "Level VI Status" exists at any date if, at such date, no higher
Status exists.

            "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

            "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group.

            "Status" refers to the determination of which of Level I Status,
Level II Status, Level III Status, Level IV Status, Level V Status or Level VI
Status exists at any date. Level VI Status is the lowest Status and Level I
Status is the highest.

            "Utilization" means at any date the percentage equivalent of a
fraction (i) the numerator of which is the sum of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Loans and Swingline Loans and the aggregate amount of
the LC Exposures at such date, after giving effect to any borrowing or repayment
on such date, and (ii) the denominator of which


                                        2
<PAGE>   98
is the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments at such date, after
giving effect to any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments on such date.
For purposes of this Schedule, if for any reason any Loans, Swingline Loans or
Letters of Credit remain outstanding after termination of the Revolving Credit
Commitments, the Utilization for each date on or after the date of such
termination shall be deemed to exceed 50%.

The credit ratings to be utilized for purposes of this Schedule are those
assigned to the unsecured commercial paper of the Borrower without third-party
credit enhancement or to the senior unsecured long-term debt securities of the
Borrower without third-party credit enhancement, as the case may be. Any rating
assigned to any other commercial paper or debt security of the Borrower shall be
disregarded. The rating in effect at any date is that in effect at the close of
business on such date.


                                        3
<PAGE>   99
                                                                     EXHIBIT A-1

                                      NOTE

                                                              New York, New York
                                                                          , 19

            For value received, Woolworth Corporation, a New York corporation
(the "Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of _____________ (the "Bank"),
for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, the unpaid principal amount of
each Loan made by the Bank to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement
referred to below on the maturity date thereof provided for in the Credit
Agreement. The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount
of each such Loan on the dates and at the rate or rates provided for in the
Credit Agreement. All such payments of principal and interest shall be made in
lawful money of the United States in Federal or other immediately available
funds at the office of The Bank of New York, One Wall Street, 18 North, New
York, New York.

            All Loans made by the Bank, the respective types thereof and all
repayments of the principal thereof shall be recorded by the Bank and, if the
Bank so elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement hereof,
appropriate notations to evidence the foregoing information with respect to each
such Loan then outstanding may be endorsed by the Bank on the schedule attached
hereto, or on a continuation of such schedule attached to and made a part
hereof; provided that the failure of the Bank to make any such recordation or
endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under
the Credit Agreement.

            This note is one of the Notes referred to in the Three-Year Credit
Agreement dated as of May 26, 1995 among the Borrower, the Banks party thereto
and the Agents,
<PAGE>   100
Arranging Agents, LC Agent, Documentation Agent, Administrative Agent and
Swingline Bank referred to therein (as the same may be amended from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used
herein with the same meanings. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement for
provisions for the prepayment hereof and the acceleration of the maturity
hereof. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                                               WOOLWORTH CORPORATION


                                               By________________________
                                                  Title:




                                        2
<PAGE>   101
                                  Note (cont'd)


                         LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Amount of
                      Amount of             Principal            Notation
   Date               Loan                  Repaid               Made By
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                   <C>                   <C>                  <C>    
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                        3
<PAGE>   102
                                                                     EXHIBIT A-2

                                 SWINGLINE NOTE

                                                              New York, New York
                                                                          , 199

            For value received, WOOLWORTH CORPORATION, a New York corporation
(the "Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of THE BANK OF NEW YORK (the
"Swingline Bank") the unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan made by the
Swingline Bank to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement referred to
below on the maturity date provided for in the Credit Agreement. The Borrower
promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each such Swingline
Loan on the dates and at the rate or rates provided for in the Credit Agreement.
All such payments of principal and interest shall be made in lawful money of the
United States in Federal or other immediately available funds at the office of
The Bank of New York, One Wall Street, 18 North, New York, New York.

            All Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Bank and all repayments of
the principal thereof shall be recorded by the Swingline Bank and, if the
Swingline Bank so elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement hereof,
appropriate notations to evidence the foregoing information with respect to each
such Swingline Loan then outstanding may be endorsed by the Swingline Bank on
the schedule attached hereto, or on a continuation of such schedule attached to
and made a part hereof; provided that the failure of the Swingline Bank to make
any such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the
Borrower hereunder or under the Credit Agreement.

            This note is the Swingline Note referred to in the Three-Year Credit
Agreement dated as of May 26, 1995 among the Borrower, the Banks party thereto
and the Agents, Arranging Agents, LC Agent, Documentation Agent, Administrative
Agent and Swingline Bank referred to therein (as the same may be amended from
time to time, the "Credit Agreement"). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are
used herein with the same meanings. Reference is made to the
<PAGE>   103
Credit Agreement for provisions for the prepayment hereof and the acceleration
of the maturity hereof. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


                                               WOOLWORTH CORPORATION


                                               By________________________
                                                  Title:


                                        2
<PAGE>   104
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                       Form of Money Market Quote Request

                                                [Date]

To:         The Bank of New York
              (the "Administrative Agent")

From:       Woolworth Corporation

Re:         Three-Year Credit Agreement dated as of May 26, 1995 (as amended
            from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") among the Borrower, the
            Banks party thereto and the Agents, Arranging Agents, LC Agent,
            Documentation Agent, Administrative Agent and Swingline Bank
            referred to therein

            We hereby give notice pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit
Agreement that we request Money Market Quotes for the following proposed Money
Market Borrowing(s):

Date of Borrowing: 
                   --------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Amount*                        Interest Period**
- ----------------                         ---------------
<S>                                      <C>
$
</TABLE>


            Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin]
[Absolute Rate]. [The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered
Rate.]

- --------------------------
      *Amount must be $25,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000.

     **Not less than one month (LIBOR Auction) or not less than 14 days
(Absolute Rate Auction), subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest
Period.
<PAGE>   105
            Terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit
Agreement.


                                               WOOLWORTH CORPORATION


                                               By________________________
                                                  Title:





                                        2
<PAGE>   106
                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                   Form of Invitation for Money Market Quotes



To:         [Name of Bank]

Re:         Invitation for Money Market Quotes to Woolworth Corporation (the 
            "Borrower")

            Pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Three-Year Credit Agreement dated as
of May 26, 1995 among the Borrower, the Banks party thereto and the Agents,
Arranging Agents, LC Agent, Documentation Agent, Administrative Agent and
Swingline Bank referred to therein (as amended from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"), we are pleased on behalf of the Borrower to invite you to submit
Money Market Quotes to the Borrower for the following proposed Money Market
Borrowing(s):

Date of Borrowing: 
                  ---------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Amount                         Interest Period
- ----------------                         ---------------
<S>                                      <C>
$
</TABLE>


            Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin]
[Absolute Rate]. [The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered
Rate.]

            Please respond to this invitation by no later than [2:00 P.M.] [9:30
A.M.] (New York City time) on [date].
<PAGE>   107
            Terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit
Agreement.


                                               THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                                               By______________________
                                                  Authorized Officer




                                        2
<PAGE>   108
                                                                       EXHIBIT D

                           Form of Money Market Quote


To:         The Bank of New York,
              as Administrative Agent

Re:         Money Market Quote to Woolworth Corporation (the "Borrower")

            In response to your invitation on behalf of the Borrower dated
_____________, 199[ ], we hereby make the following Money Market Quote on the
following terms:

1.  Quoting Bank:  
                   -----------------------

2.  Person to contact at Quoting Bank:

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

3.  Date of Borrowing:                     *
                       --------------------

4.  We hereby offer to make Money Market Loan(s) in the following principal
    amounts, for the following Interest Periods and at the following rates:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal     Interest                  Money Market
 Amount**     Period***        [Margin****] [Absolute Rate*****]
- ---------     ---------        ---------------------------------
<S>           <C>              <C>
$

$
</TABLE>


    [Provided, that the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans for
    which the above offers may be accepted shall not exceed $____________.]**

- ----------
*  As specified in the related Invitation.

** Principal amount bid for each Interest Period may not exceed principal amount
requested. Specify aggregate limitation if the sum of the individual offers
exceeds the amount the Bank is willing to lend. Bids must be made for $5,000,000
or a larger multiple of $1,000,000.

                       (notes continued on following page)
<PAGE>   109
            We understand and agree that the offer(s) set forth above, subject
to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in the Three-Year
Credit Agreement dated as of May 26, 1995 among the Borrower, the Banks party
thereto and the Agents, Arranging Agents, LC Agent, Documentation Agent,
Administrative Agent and Swingline Bank referred to therein (as amended from
time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), irrevocably obligates us to make the
Money Market Loan(s) for which any offer(s) are accepted, in whole or in part.

            Terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit
Agreement.

                                               Very truly yours,

                                               [NAME OF BANK]

Dated:_______________                          By:__________________________
                                                  Authorized Officer








- ----------

***   Not less than one month or not less than 14 days, as specified in the
related Invitation. No more than five bids are permitted for each Interest
Period. 

****  Margin over or under the London Interbank Offered Rate determined for the
applicable Interest Period. Specify percentage (to the nearest 1/10,000 of 1%) 
and specify whether "PLUS" or "MINUS". 

***** Specify rate of interest per annum (to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%).


                                        2
<PAGE>   110
                                                                       EXHIBIT E

                               OPINION OF SPECIAL
                            COUNSEL FOR THE BORROWER

                                                  May [ ], 1995

The Bank of New York,
  as Administrative Agent
  and Swingline Bank
One Wall Street
18 North
New York, New York  10286

and

The banks party to the 
  Credit Agreement referred to 
  below, as listed on Schedule I
  hereto (the "Banks")

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            We have acted as special counsel to Woolworth Corporation, a New
York corporation (the "Borrower"), in connection with the preparation, execution
and delivery of, and the initial borrowing under, the Three-Year Credit
Agreement, dated as of May 26, 1995 (the "Credit Agreement") among the Borrower,
the Banks party thereto and the Agents, Arranging Agents, LC Agent,
Documentation Agent, Administrative Agent and Swingline Bank referred to
therein. This opinion is being delivered pursuant to Section 3.01(b) of the
Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings herein as ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.

            In our examination we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of
all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies, and the
authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts material to this
opinion which we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon
statements and representations of the Borrower and its officers and other
representatives and of public officials, including the facts set forth in the
Borrower's Certificate described below.
<PAGE>   111
            In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have examined and
relied on originals or copies of the following:

            (a) the Credit Agreement;

            (b) the Notes and Swingline Note delivered to you on the date
hereof;

            (c) the certificate of the Borrower executed by Andrew P. Hines
dated the date hereof, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A hereto (the
"Borrower's Certificate");

            (d) certified copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws
of the Borrower;

            (e) a certified copy of certain resolutions of the Board of
Directors of the Borrower adopted on March 8, 1995; and

            (f) such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate
as a basis for the opinions set forth below.

            The Credit Agreement, the Notes and the Swingline Note shall
hereinafter be referred to collectively as the "Transaction Documents."

            Members of our firm are admitted to the bar of the State of New
York. We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i)
the laws of the State of New York, and (ii) the federal laws of the United
States of America to the extent specifically referred to herein.

            Based on the foregoing and subject to the limitations,
qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the
opinion that:

            1. The Borrower has been duly incorporated and is validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York.

            2. The Borrower has the corporate power and authority to (i) carry
on its business as described in the Borrower's 1994 Form 10-K and (ii) execute,
deliver and perform all of its obligations under each of the Transaction
Documents and to borrow and to incur reimbursement obligations with respect to
letters of credit issued thereunder. The execution and delivery of each of the
Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Borrower of the transactions
contemplated thereby have been duly


                                        2
<PAGE>   112
authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Borrower. Each
of the Transaction Documents has been duly executed and delivered by the
Borrower.

            3. Each of the Transaction Documents constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with
its terms, subject to the following qualifications:

               (a) enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
         insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting
         creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity
         (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law);

               (b) we express no opinion as to the enforceability of any rights
         to contribution or indemnification provided for in the Transaction
         Documents which are violative of the public policy underlying any law,
         rule or regulation (including any federal or state securities law, rule
         or regulation); and

               (c) we express no opinion as to Section 9.04 of the Credit
         Agreement to the extent it authorizes or permits any party to any
         Transaction Document or any purchaser of a participation interest for
         any such party to set off or apply any deposit, property or
         indebtedness with respect to any participation interest.

            4. The execution and delivery by the Borrower of each of the
Transaction Documents and the performance by the Borrower of its obligations
under each of the Transaction Documents, each in accordance with its terms, do
not conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Borrower.

            5. Neither the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower of
the Transaction Documents nor the compliance by the Borrower with the terms and
provisions thereof will contravene any provision of any Applicable Law (as
hereinafter defined). "Applicable Laws" shall mean those laws, rules and
regulations of the State of New York and of the United States of America
(including, without limitation, Regulations G, U and X of the Federal Reserve
Board) which, in our experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the
type contemplated by the Transaction Documents.


                                        3
<PAGE>   113
            6. No Governmental Approval (as hereinafter defined), which has not
been obtained or taken and is not in full force and effect, is required to
authorize or is required in connection with the execution, delivery or
performance of any of the Transaction Documents by the Borrower. "Governmental
Approval" means any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of,
or filing, recording or registration with, any Governmental Authority (as
hereinafter defined) pursuant to Applicable Laws. "Governmental Authority" means
any New York or federal legislative, judicial, administrative or regulatory
body.

            7. Neither the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower of
its obligations under the Transaction Documents nor compliance by the Borrower
with the terms thereof will contravene any Applicable Order (as hereinafter
defined) against the Borrower. "Applicable Orders" means those orders, judgments
or decrees of Governmental Authorities identified on Schedule II to the
Borrower's Certificate.

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

            In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have assumed, with your
consent, that:

            (a) the execution, delivery and performance of any of its
obligations under the Transaction Documents does not and will not conflict with,
contravene, violate or constitute a default under (i) to your knowledge, any
lease, indenture, instrument or other agreement to which the Borrower or its
property is subject, (ii) any rule, law or regulation to which the Borrower is
subject (other than Applicable Laws as to which we express our opinion in
paragraph 5 herein) or (iii) any judicial or administrative order or decree of
any governmental authority (other than Applicable Orders as to which we express
our opinion in paragraph 7 herein); and

            (b) no authorization, consent or other approval of, notice to or
filing with any court, governmental authority or regulatory body (other than
Governmental Approvals as to which we express our opinion in paragraph 6 herein)
is required to authorize or is required in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance by the Borrower of the Transaction Documents or the
transactions contemplated thereby.


                                        4
<PAGE>   114
            We understand that you are separately receiving an opinion, dated as
of the date hereof, with respect to the foregoing from Gary M. Bahler (the
"General Counsel Opinion") and we are advised that such opinion contains
qualifications. Our opinions herein stated are based on the assumptions
specified above and we express no opinion as to the effect on the opinions
herein stated of the qualifications contained in the General Counsel Opinion.

            Our opinions are also subject to the following assumptions and
qualifications:

            (a) we have assumed each of the Transaction Documents constitutes
the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party to such Transaction
Document (other than the Borrower) enforceable against such party (other than
the Borrower) in accordance with its terms; and

            (b) we express no opinion as to the effect on the opinion expressed
herein of (i) the compliance or non-compliance of any party (other than the
Borrower) to the Transaction Documents with any state, federal or other laws or
regulations applicable to it or (ii) the legal or regulatory status or the
nature of the business of any party (other than the Borrower) to the Transaction
Documents.

            In rendering the opinions herein stated, we have taken into account
the fact that you have asked the Borrower to make, and the Borrower has made,
the representation set forth in Section 4.02 of the Credit Agreement.

            This opinion is being furnished only to you and is solely for your
benefit and is not to be relied upon by any other Person or for any other
purpose without our prior written consent, provided, however, that any Assignee
that becomes a Bank pursuant to Section 9.06(c) of the Credit Agreement may rely
on this opinion as if it were addressed to such Assignee and delivered on the
date hereof.

                                               Very truly yours,






                                        5
<PAGE>   115
                                                               Schedule I
                                                               to SASM&F Opinion

                                    Lenders


1.  Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association
2.  Chemical Bank
3.  Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York
4.  NationsBank, N.A. (Carolinas)
5.  The Bank of New York
6.  The Bank of Nova Scotia
7.  Toronto Dominion (New York), Inc.
8.  Union Bank of Switzerland
9.  Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch and/or Cayman Islands Branch
10. National Westminster Bank PLC
11. Credit Lyonnais New York Branch
12. Credit Lyonnais Cayman Island Branch
13. Shawmut Bank, N.A.
14. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. New York Branch
15. The Bank of Tokyo Trust Company
16. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft
17. The First National Bank of Chicago
18. First Interstate Bank of California
19. The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
20. The Industrial Bank of Japan Trust Company
21. The Mitsubishi Bank, Limited
22. Mitsubishi Trust & Banking Corporation (U.S.A.)
23. The Sanwa Bank, Limited New York Branch
24. Society National Bank
25. The Sumitomo Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.
26. Union Bank
27. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
28. Arab Bank PLC
29. Bank Brussels Lambert, New York Branch
30. Corestates Bank, N.A.
31. Daiwa Bank Trust Company
32. Dresdner Bank AG, Grand Cayman and New York Branches
33. Firstar Bank of Milwaukee, N.A.
34. LTCB Trust Company
35. The Sakura Bank, Limited
36. The Sumitomo Bank, Limited
37. The Yasuda Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.
<PAGE>   116
                                                                       Exhibit F



                 [Form of Opinion of Borrower's General Counsel]

                             [Woolworth letterhead]


                                            May [ ], 1995

The Bank of New York,
  as Administrative Agent
  and Swingline Bank
One Wall Street
18 North
New York, New York  10286

and

The banks party to the 
  Credit Agreement referred to 
  below, as listed on Schedule I
  hereto (the "Banks")

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            I am General Counsel of Woolworth Corporation, a New York
corporation (the "Borrower"), and have acted as such in connection with the
preparation, execution and delivery of, and the initial borrowing under, the
Three-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of May 26, 1995 (the "Credit Agreement"),
among the Borrower, the Banks party thereto and the Agents, Arranging Agents, LC
Agent and Documentation Agent, Administrative Agent and Swingline Bank referred
to therein. This opinion is being delivered pursuant to Section 3.01(c) of the
Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the same meanings herein as ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.

            In my examination I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,
the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to me as originals, the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to me as certified or photostatic copies, and the
authenticity of the originals of such
<PAGE>   117
copies. As to any facts material to this opinion which I did not independently
establish or verify, I have relied upon statements and representations of the
Borrower and its officers and other representatives and of public officials.

            In rendering the opinions set forth herein, I, or a lawyer acting
under my general supervision, have examined and relied on originals or copies of
the following:

            (a) the Credit Agreement;

            (b) the Notes and the Swingline Note delivered to you on the date
hereof;

            (c) certified copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws
of the Borrower;

            (d) a copy of certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
Borrower adopted on March 8, 1995; and

            (e) such other documents as I have deemed necessary or appropriate
as a basis for the opinions set forth below.

            The Credit Agreement, the Notes and the Swingline Note shall
hereinafter be referred to collectively as the "Transaction Documents."

            I am a member of the bar of the State of New York and I do not
express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the laws of the State
of New York.

            Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations,
qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, I am of the opinion
that:

            1. Each of the Transaction Documents has been duly executed and
delivered by the Borrower.

            2. The execution and delivery by the Borrower of each of the
Transaction Documents and the performance by the Borrower of its obligations
under each of the Transaction Documents, each in accordance with its terms, do
not (i) constitute a violation of or a default under any Applicable Contracts
(as hereinafter defined) or (ii) cause the creation of any security interest or
lien upon any of the property of the Borrower pursuant to any Applicable
Contracts. I do not express any opinion, however, as to whether the execution,
delivery or performance by the Borrower of the Transaction Documents will
constitute a violation of or a default under any covenant, restriction or


                                        2
<PAGE>   118
provision with respect to financial ratios or tests or any aspect of the
financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower as set forth in the
Transaction Documents or otherwise. "Applicable Contracts" mean those agreements
or instruments which are material to the business or financial condition of the
Borrower.

            3. Except for the Designated Litigation, there is no action, suit or
proceeding pending against, or to the best of my knowledge 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 reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

            This opinion is being furnished only to you and is solely for your
benefit and is not to be relied upon by any other Person or for any other
purpose without my prior written consent, provided, however, that any Assignee
that becomes a Bank pursuant to Section 9.06(c) of the Credit Agreement may rely
on this opinion as if it were addressed to such Assignee and delivered on the
date hereof.


                                               Very truly yours,






                                        3
<PAGE>   119
                                                            Schedule I
                                                            to Woolworth Opinion


                                     Lenders

1.  Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association
2.  Chemical Bank
3.  Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York
4.  NationsBank, N.A. (Carolinas)
5.  The Bank of New York
6.  The Bank of Nova Scotia
7.  Toronto Dominion (New York), Inc.
8.  Union Bank of Switzerland
9.  Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch and/or Cayman Islands Branch
10. National Westminster Bank PLC
11. Credit Lyonnais New York Branch
12. Credit Lyonnais Cayman Island Branch
13. Shawmut Bank, N.A.
14. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. New York Branch
15. The Bank of Tokyo Trust Company
16. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft
17. The First National Bank of Chicago
18. First Interstate Bank of California
19. The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
20. The Industrial Bank of Japan Trust Company
21. The Mitsubishi Bank, Limited
22. Mitsubishi Trust & Banking Corporation (U.S.A.)
23. The Sanwa Bank, Limited New York Branch
24. Society National Bank
25. The Sumitomo Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.
26. Union Bank
27. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
28. Arab Bank PLC
29. Bank Brussels Lambert, New York Branch
30. Corestates Bank, N.A.
31. Daiwa Bank Trust Company
32. Dresdner Bank AG, Grand Cayman and New York Branches
33. Firstar Bank of Milwaukee, N.A.
34. LTCB Trust Company
35. The Sakura Bank, Limited
36. The Sumitomo Bank, Limited
37. The Yasuda Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.
<PAGE>   120
                                                                       EXHIBIT G



                                   OPINION OF
                     DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL, SPECIAL COUNSEL
                          FOR THE CO-SYNDICATION AGENTS


To the Banks, the Swingline Bank and the
  Administrative Agent Referred to Below
c/o The Bank of New York,
  as Administrative Agent
One Wall Street
18 North
New York, New York  10286

Dear Sirs:

            We have participated in the preparation of the Three-Year Credit
Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") dated as of May 26, 1995 among Woolworth
Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Borrower"), the Banks party thereto
(the "Banks") and the Agents, Arranging Agents, LC Agent, Documentation Agent,
Administrative Agent and Swingline Bank referred to therein, and have acted as
special counsel for the Co-Syndication Agents for the purpose of rendering this
opinion pursuant to Section 3.01(d) of the Credit Agreement. Terms defined in
the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

            We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records,
certificates of public officials and other instruments and have conducted such
other investigations of fact and law as we have deemed necessary or advisable
for purposes of this opinion.

            Upon the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

            1. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the
Credit Agreement, the Notes and the Swingline Note are within the Borrower's
corporate powers
<PAGE>   121
and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action.

            2. The Credit Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of
the Borrower and each Note and the Swingline Note delivered to you today
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, in each case
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and
by general principles of equity.

            We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and the foregoing
opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws of
the United States of America. In giving the foregoing opinion, we express no
opinion as to the effect (if any) of any law of any jurisdiction (except the
State of New York) in which any Bank is located which limits the rate of
interest that such Bank may charge or collect.

            This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the above
matter. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or
relied upon by any other person without our prior written consent; provided that
any Assignee that becomes a Bank pursuant to Section 9.06(c) of the Credit
Agreement may rely on this opinion as if it were addressed to such Assignee and
delivered on the date hereof.


                                               Very truly yours,




                                        2
<PAGE>   122
                                                                       EXHIBIT H


                       ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT



            AGREEMENT dated as of _________, 19__ among [ASSIGNOR] (the
"Assignor") and [ASSIGNEE] (the "Assignee").


                               W I T N E S S E T H


            WHEREAS, this Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the "Agreement")
relates to the Three-Year Credit Agreement dated as of May 26, 1995 among
Woolworth Corporation, the Banks party thereto and the Agents, Arranging Agents,
LC Agent, Documentation Agent, Administrative Agent and Swingline Bank referred
to therein (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement");

            WHEREAS, as provided under the Credit Agreement, the Assignor has a
Revolving Credit Commitment to make Committed Loans to the Borrower and
participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower in an
aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $__________;

            WHEREAS, Committed Loans made to the Borrower by the Assignor under
the Credit Agreement in the aggregate principal amount of $__________ are
outstanding at the date hereof; and*

            WHEREAS, the Assignor proposes to assign to the Assignee all of the
rights of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement in respect of a portion of its
Revolving Credit Commitment thereunder in an amount equal to $__________ (the
"Assigned Amount"), together with a corresponding portion of its outstanding
Committed Loans and LC Exposure, and the Assignee proposes to accept assignment
of such rights and assume the corresponding obligations from the Assignor on
such terms;


- ----------------------
     *This clause (and certain other provisions herein) should be modified to
reflect the assignment of Money Market Loans if such Loans are being assigned.
<PAGE>   123
            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

            SECTION 1. Definitions. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

            SECTION 2. Assignment. The Assignor hereby assigns and sells to the
Assignee all of the rights of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement to the
extent of the Assigned Amount, and the Assignee hereby accepts such assignment
and purchases such rights from the Assignor and assumes all of the obligations
of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement to the extent of the Assigned Amount,
including the purchase from the Assignor of the corresponding portion of the
principal amount of the Committed Loans made by, and the LC Exposure of, the
Assignor outstanding at the date hereof. Upon the execution and delivery hereof
by the Assignor, the Assignee, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and the
payment of the amounts specified in Section 3 hereof required to be paid on the
date hereof (i) the Assignee shall, as of the date hereof, succeed to the rights
and be obligated to perform the obligations of a Bank under the Credit Agreement
with a Revolving Credit Commitment in an amount equal to the Assigned Amount,
and (ii) the Revolving Credit Commitment of the Assignor shall, as of the date
hereof, be reduced by a like amount and the Assignor released from its
obligations under the Credit Agreement to the extent such obligations have been
assumed by the Assignee. The assignment provided for herein shall be without
recourse to the Assignor.

            SECTION 3. Payments. (a) As consideration for the assignment and
sale contemplated in Section 2 hereof, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor on
the date hereof in Federal funds the amount heretofore agreed between them.* It
is understood that facility fees accrued to the date hereof in respect of the
Assigned Amount are for the account of the Assignor and such fees accruing from
and including the date hereof are for the account of the Assignee. Each of the
Assignor and the Assignee hereby agrees that if it receives any amount under the
Credit Agreement which is for the account of the other party hereto, it shall
receive the same


- ------------------
        *Amount should combine principal together with accrued interest and
breakage compensation, if any, to be paid by the Assignee, net of any portion of
any upfront fee to be paid by the Assignor to the Assignee.



                                        2
<PAGE>   124
for the account of such other party to the extent of such other party's interest
therein and shall promptly pay the same to such other party.

            (b) The Assignor shall pay the $2500 administrative fee to be paid
by it to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.06(c) of the Credit
Agreement.*

            SECTION 4. Consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
This Agreement is conditioned upon the consent of the Borrower, the LC Agent,
the Swingline Bank and the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.06(c) of
the Credit Agreement. The execution of this Agreement by the Borrower, the LC
Agent, the Swingline Bank and the Administrative Agent is evidence of this
consent. Pursuant to said Section 9.06(c) the Borrower is obligated to execute
and deliver a Note payable to the order of the Assignee, if required, to reflect
the assignment provided for herein.

            SECTION 5. Non-Reliance on Assignor. The Assignor makes no
representation or warranty in connection with, and shall have no responsibility
with respect to, the solvency, financial condition, or statements of the
Borrower, or the validity and enforceability of the obligations of the Borrower
in respect of the Credit Agreement or any Note. The Assignee acknowledges that
it has, independently and without reliance on the Assignor, and based on such
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit
analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and will continue to be
responsible for making its own independent appraisal of the business, affairs
and financial condition of the Borrower.

            SECTION 6. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

            SECTION 7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if
the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.


- ----------------------
     *Section 3(b) should be deleted if the assignment is required by the
Borrower pursuant to Section 8.06 of the Credit Agreement.




                                        3
<PAGE>   125
            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first
above written.

                                               [ASSIGNOR]


                                               By_________________________
                                                 Title:



                                               [ASSIGNEE]


                                               By__________________________
                                                 Title:

Consented and agreed to:

WOOLWORTH CORPORATION


By__________________________
  Title:


THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
  as Administrative Agent
  and Swingline Bank


By__________________________
  Title:


NATIONSBANK, N.A. (CAROLINAS),
  as LC Agent


By__________________________
  Title:


                                        4



<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXECUTION COPY 
                      AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT



                  AMENDMENT dated as of March 21, 1996 to the $1,000,000,000
Three-Year Credit Agreement dated as of May 26, 1995 (the "Credit Agreement")
among WOOLWORTH CORPORATION (the "Borrower"), the Banks party thereto and the
Agents, Arranging Agents, LC Agent, Documentation Agent, Administrative Agent
and Swingline Bank referred to therein.

                  WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested an amendment of the
definition of "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" in Section 1.01 of the Credit
Agreement to add back a non-cash charge taken in the fourth quarter of 1995 as a
result of the adoption of SFAS No. 121 (to the extent that such charge resulted
from a writedown of fixed assets) and the undersigned Banks are willing to agree
to such amendment;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned parties hereto agree as
follows:

                  SECTION 1. Definitions, References. Unless otherwise
specifically defined herein, each term used herein which is defined in the
Credit Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.
Each reference to "hereof," "hereunder," "herein," and "hereby" and each other
similar reference and each reference to "this Agreement" and each other similar
reference contained in the Credit Agreement shall, after this Amendment becomes
effective, refer to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

                  SECTION 2. Amendment of Definition of Consolidated Tangible
Net Worth. The definition of "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" in Section 1.01
of the Credit Agreement is amended to read as follows:

                  "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" means at any date the
         consolidated shareholders' equity (before foreign currency translation
         and minimum pension liability adjustments) of the Borrower and its
         Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date plus (i) $21,000,000 (being
         the total amount of the increase in their consolidated shareholders'
         equity attributable to the consolidated foreign currency translation
         and minimum pension liability adjustments at January 28, 1995) plus
         (ii) $144,000,000 (being the amount by which their consolidated
         shareholders' equity was reduced during the fourth Fiscal Quarter of
         Fiscal Year 1995 to reflect writedowns of fixed assets and deferred
         charges resulting from the adoption of SFAS No. 121) and less (iii)
         their consolidated goodwill as of such date.
<PAGE>   2
                  SECTION 3. Rights Otherwise Unaffected. This Amendment is
limited to the matters expressly set forth herein. Except to the extent
specifically amended hereby, the provisions of the Credit Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect.

                  SECTION 4. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

                  SECTION 5. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Amendment 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. This Amendment shall become effective when the Administrative Agent
shall have received from each of the Borrower and the Required Banks either a
counterpart hereof signed by such party or telex, facsimile or other written
confirmation that such party has signed a counterpart hereof.


                                        2
<PAGE>   3
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties hereto have caused
this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of
the day and year first above written.


                                            WOOLWORTH CORPORATION


                                            By  /s/ John H. Cannon
                                                -------------------------------
                                               Title: Vice President & Treasurer

                                            MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                                              OF NEW YORK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            THE BANK OF NEW YORK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            CHEMICAL BANK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            NATIONSBANK, N.A. (CAROLINAS)


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:

<PAGE>   4
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties hereto have caused
this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of
the day and year first above written.


                                            WOOLWORTH CORPORATION


                                            By
                                                -------------------------------
                                               Title:

                                            MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                                              OF NEW YORK


                                            By /s/ Penelope J.B. Cox
                                               -------------------------------
                                               Title: Vice President


                                            THE BANK OF NEW YORK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            CHEMICAL BANK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            NATIONSBANK, N.A. (CAROLINAS)


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:
<PAGE>   5
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties hereto have caused
this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of
the day and year first above written.


                                            WOOLWORTH CORPORATION


                                            By
                                                -------------------------------
                                               Title: 

                                            MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                                              OF NEW YORK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            THE BANK OF NEW YORK


                                            By /s/ Howard F. Bascom
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title: Vice President


                                            THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            CHEMICAL BANK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            NATIONSBANK, N.A. (CAROLINAS)


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:
<PAGE>   6
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties hereto have caused
this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of
the day and year first above written.


                                            WOOLWORTH CORPORATION


                                            By
                                                -------------------------------
                                               Title: 

                                            MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                                              OF NEW YORK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            THE BANK OF NEW YORK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA


                                            By /s/ J. Alan Edwards
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title: Authorized Signatory


                                            CHEMICAL BANK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            NATIONSBANK, N.A. (CAROLINAS)


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:
<PAGE>   7
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties hereto have caused
this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of
the day and year first above written.


                                            WOOLWORTH CORPORATION


                                            By
                                                -------------------------------
                                               Title: 

                                            MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                                              OF NEW YORK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            THE BANK OF NEW YORK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            CHEMICAL BANK


                                            By /s/ Neil R. Boylan
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title: Vice President


                                            NATIONSBANK, N.A. (CAROLINAS)


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:
<PAGE>   8
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties hereto have caused
this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of
the day and year first above written.


                                            WOOLWORTH CORPORATION


                                            By
                                                -------------------------------
                                               Title: 

                                            MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                                              OF NEW YORK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            THE BANK OF NEW YORK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            CHEMICAL BANK


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title:


                                            NATIONSBANK, N.A. (CAROLINAS)


                                            By /s/ Sally L. Hazard
                                               -------------------------------

                                               Title: Senior Vice President

<PAGE>   9
                                            TORONTO DOMINION (NEW YORK), INC.


                                            By  /s/ Kimberly Burleson
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President


                                            BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND
                                              SAVINGS ASSOCIATION


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
                                            AND/OR CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:




<PAGE>   10
                                            TORONTO DOMINION (NEW YORK), INC.


                                            By  
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND
                                              SAVINGS ASSOCIATION


                                            By  /s/ Dale Robert Mason
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Title: Vice President


                                            UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
                                            AND/OR CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   11
                                            TORONTO DOMINION (NEW YORK), INC.


                                            By  
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND
                                              SAVINGS ASSOCIATION


                                            By
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND


                                            By /s/ Daniel H. Perron
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Title: Vice President


                                            By /s/ Daniel R. Strickford
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Title: Assistant Vice President
                                                   

                                            DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
                                            AND/OR CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   12
                                            TORONTO DOMINION (NEW YORK), INC.


                                            By  
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND
                                              SAVINGS ASSOCIATION


                                            By
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND


                                            By 
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            By
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
                                            AND/OR CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC


                                            By  /s/ John C. Burlison 
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title: Senior Vice President 
                                                       Corporate Lending 
                                                       Services, N.A.


                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   13
                                            TORONTO DOMINION (NEW YORK), INC.


                                            By  
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND
                                              SAVINGS ASSOCIATION


                                            By
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND


                                            By 
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            By
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
                                            AND/OR CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC


                                            By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By  /s/
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President

<PAGE>   14
                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS CAYMAN ISLAND
                                            BRANCH


                                            By /s/ 
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: Authorized Signature


                                            SHAWMUT BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            ABN AMRO BANK N.V. NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE BANK OF TOKYO TRUST COMPANY


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   15
                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS CAYMAN ISLAND
                                            BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            FLEET NATIONAL BANK formerly known
                                            as SHAWMUT BANK, N.A.


                                            By /s/ Linda H. Thomas
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: Director


                                            ABN AMRO BANK N.V. NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE BANK OF TOKYO TRUST COMPANY


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   16
                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS CAYMAN ISLAND
                                            BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            SHAWMUT BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            ABN AMRO BANK N.V. NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By /s/
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President


                                            By /s/ Thomas Rogers
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: Assistant Vice President


                                            THE BANK OF TOKYO TRUST COMPANY


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   17
                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS CAYMAN ISLAND
                                            BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            SHAWMUT BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            ABN AMRO BANK N.V. NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By 
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: 

                                            By 
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST 
                                            COMPANY successor by merger to 
                                            The Bank of Tokyo Trust Company

                                            By /s/ Amanda S. Ryan
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President


                                            COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   18
                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS CAYMAN ISLAND
                                            BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            SHAWMUT BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            ABN AMRO BANK N.V. NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By 
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: 

                                            By 
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            THE BANK OF TOKYO TRUST COMPANY


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT


                                            By /s/ Robert Donahue
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   19
                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS CAYMAN ISLAND
                                            BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            SHAWMUT BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            ABN AMRO BANK N.V. NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By 
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: 

                                            By 
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            THE BANK OF TOKYO TRUST COMPANY


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO


                                            By /s/ Barry Litwin
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: Senior Vice President


                                            FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   20
                                            CREDIT LYONNAIS CAYMAN ISLAND
                                            BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            SHAWMUT BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            ABN AMRO BANK N.V. NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By 
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: 

                                            By 
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            THE BANK OF TOKYO TRUST COMPANY


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO


                                            By
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA


                                            By /s/ Peter G. Olson
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: Senior Vice President


                                            By /s/
                                               -------------------------------
                                                Title: Assistant Vice President
<PAGE>   21
                                            THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING
                                            CORPORATION LIMITED


                                            By /s/ R. Forster
                                               ----------------------------
                                               Title: Vice President


                                            THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN TRUST
                                            COMPANY


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE MITSUBISHI BANK, LIMITED


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            MITSUBISHI TRUST & BANKING
                                            CORPORATION (U.S.A.)


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED
                                            NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            SOCIETY NATIONAL BANK


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SUMITOMO TRUST AND BANKING
                                            CO., LTD.


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                                    
<PAGE>   22
                                            THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING
                                            CORPORATION LIMITED


                                            By 
                                               ----------------------------
                                               Title:

                                            THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN TRUST
                                            COMPANY


                                            By /s/ J. Kenneth Biegen
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title: Senior Vice President


                                            THE MITSUBISHI BANK, LIMITED


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            MITSUBISHI TRUST & BANKING
                                            CORPORATION (U.S.A.)


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED
                                            NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            SOCIETY NATIONAL BANK


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SUMITOMO TRUST AND BANKING
                                            CO., LTD.


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   23
                                            THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING
                                            CORPORATION LIMITED


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN TRUST
                                            COMPANY


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, LTD.,
                                            NEW YORK BRANCH, successor by merger
                                            to The Mitsubishi Bank, Limited


                                            By /s/ Paula Mueller
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President


                                            MITSUBISHI TRUST & BANKING
                                            CORPORATION (U.S.A.)


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED
                                            NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            SOCIETY NATIONAL BANK


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SUMITOMO TRUST AND BANKING
                                            CO., LTD.


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   24
                                            THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING
                                            CORPORATION LIMITED


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN TRUST
                                            COMPANY


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE MITSUBISHI BANK, LIMITED


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            MITSUBISHI TRUST & BANKING
                                            CORPORATION (U.S.A.)


                                            By /s/
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title: Executive Vice President


                                            THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED
                                            NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            SOCIETY NATIONAL BANK


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SUMITOMO TRUST AND BANKING
                                            CO., LTD.


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   25
                                            THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING
                                            CORPORATION LIMITED


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN TRUST
                                            COMPANY


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE MITSUBISHI BANK, LIMITED


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            MITSUBISHI TRUST & BANKING
                                            CORPORATION (U.S.A.)


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED
                                            NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By /s/ Jean Michael Fatovic
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President


                                            SOCIETY NATIONAL BANK


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SUMITOMO TRUST AND BANKING
                                            CO., LTD.


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   26
                                            THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING
                                            CORPORATION LIMITED


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN TRUST
                                            COMPANY


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE MITSUBISHI BANK, LIMITED


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            MITSUBISHI TRUST & BANKING
                                            CORPORATION (U.S.A.)


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED
                                            NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            SOCIETY NATIONAL BANK


                                            By /s/ 
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President


                                            THE SUMITOMO TRUST AND BANKING
                                            CO., LTD.


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   27
                                            THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING
                                            CORPORATION LIMITED


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                               Title:


                                            THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN TRUST
                                            COMPANY


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE MITSUBISHI BANK, LIMITED


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            MITSUBISHI TRUST & BANKING
                                            CORPORATION (U.S.A.)


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED
                                            NEW YORK BRANCH


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            SOCIETY NATIONAL BANK


                                            By
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            THE SUMITOMO TRUST AND BANKING
                                            CO., LTD.


                                            By /s/ Suraj Bhatia
                                               ----------------------------
                                                Title: Senior Vice President

<PAGE>   28
                                            UNION BANK


                                            By /s/ Cecilia M. Valente
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President


                                            WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            ARAB BANK PLC


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            BANK BRUSSELS LAMBERT, NEW YORK
                                              BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            BANK OF IRELAND


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            CORESTATES BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            DRESDNER BANK AG,
                                            NEW YORK AND GRAND CAYMAN BRANCHES


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   29
                                            UNION BANK


                                            By 
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.


                                            By /s/ Richard Clapp
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: S.V.P.


                                            ARAB BANK PLC


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            BANK BRUSSELS LAMBERT, NEW YORK
                                              BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            BANK OF IRELAND


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            CORESTATES BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            DRESDNER BANK AG,
                                            NEW YORK AND GRAND CAYMAN BRANCHES


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   30
                                            UNION BANK


                                            By 
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: 

                                            WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            ARAB BANK PLC


                                            By /s/ Peter Boyadjian
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: Senior Vice President


                                            BANK BRUSSELS LAMBERT, NEW YORK
                                              BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            BANK OF IRELAND


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            CORESTATES BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            DRESDNER BANK AG,
                                            NEW YORK AND GRAND CAYMAN BRANCHES


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   31
                                            UNION BANK


                                            By 
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            ARAB BANK PLC


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            BANK BRUSSELS LAMBERT, NEW YORK
                                              BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            BANK OF IRELAND


                                            By /s/ John Cusak
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: Assistant Treasurer


                                            CORESTATES BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            DRESDNER BANK AG,
                                            NEW YORK AND GRAND CAYMAN BRANCHES


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   32
                                            UNION BANK


                                            By 
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            ARAB BANK PLC


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            BANK BRUSSELS LAMBERT, NEW YORK
                                              BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            BANK OF IRELAND


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            CORESTATES BANK, N.A.


                                            By /s/ Jon Peterson
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: V.P.


                                            DRESDNER BANK AG,
                                            NEW YORK AND GRAND CAYMAN BRANCHES


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   33
                                            UNION BANK


                                            By 
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: 


                                            WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            ARAB BANK PLC


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            BANK BRUSSELS LAMBERT, NEW YORK
                                              BRANCH


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            BANK OF IRELAND


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            CORESTATES BANK, N.A.


                                            By
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            DRESDNER BANK AG,
                                            NEW YORK AND GRAND CAYMAN BRANCHES


                                            By /s/ J. Curtin Beaudouth
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: First Vice President


                                            By /s/ Susan A. Hodge
                                               -----------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President
<PAGE>   34
                                            FIRSTAR BANK MILWAUKEE, N.A.

                                            By /s/ Robert A. Flosbach
                                              ----------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President


                                            LTCB TRUST COMPANY

                                            By
                                              ----------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE SAKURA BANK, LIMITED

                                            By
                                              ----------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED

                                            By
                                              ----------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE YASUDA TRUST AND BANKING CO.,
                                              LTD.

                                            By
                                              ----------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   35
                                            FIRSTAR BANK MILWAUKEE, N.A.

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            LTCB TRUST COMPANY

                                            By /s/ Rene O. LeBlanc
                                              -------------------------------
                                                Title:  Senior Vice President

                                            THE SAKURA BANK, LIMITED

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE YASUDA TRUST AND BANKING CO.,
                                              LTD.

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   36
                                            FIRSTAR BANK MILWAUKEE, N.A.

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            LTCB TRUST COMPANY

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE SAKURA BANK, LIMITED

                                            By /s/ Masahiro Nakajo
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title: Senior Vice President
                                                          & Manager

                                            THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE YASUDA TRUST AND BANKING CO.,
                                              LTD.

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   37
                                            FIRSTAR BANK MILWAUKEE, N.A.

                                            By
                                              ----------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            LTCB TRUST COMPANY

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE SAKURA BANK, LIMITED

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED

                                            By /s/ Yoshinori Kawamura
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title: Joint General Manager

                                            THE YASUDA TRUST AND BANKING CO.,
                                              LTD.

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:
<PAGE>   38
                                            FIRSTAR BANK MILWAUKEE, N.A.

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                            LTCB TRUST COMPANY

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE SAKURA BANK, LIMITED

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED

                                            By
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title:

                                            THE YASUDA TRUST AND BANKING CO.,
                                              LTD.

                                            By /s/ R.M. Laudenschlager
                                              ------------------------------
                                                Title: Senior Vice President




<PAGE>   1
                                                      EXHIBIT 11

                              WOOLWORTH CORPORATION

                COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
                     (in millions, except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Unaudited)                                                                                    Thirteen weeks ended
                                                                                               --------------------
                                                                                              April 27,        April 29,
                                                                                                 1996            1995
                                                                                             -----------      ----------
<S>                                                                                           <C>               <C>  
FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding                                            133.1             132.5
                                                                                              =======           =======

Net loss                                                                                      $   (22)          $   (80)
Less:  Preferred dividends                                                                       --                --
                                                                                              -------           -------
Net loss applicable to common shares                                                          $   (22)          $   (80)
                                                                                              =======           =======

Net loss per share of common stock                                                            $ (0.17)          $ (0.60)
                                                                                              =======           =======


PRIMARY(1)

Weighted-average number of common shares
  outstanding and common share equivalents                                                      133.1             132.5
                                                                                              =======           =======

Net loss applicable to common shares                                                          $   (22)          $   (80)
                                                                                              =======           =======

Primary net income (loss) per share of common stock                                           $ (0.17)          $ (0.60)
                                                                                              =======           =======


FULLY DILUTED (1) (2)

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding
  and fully diluted common share equivalents                                                    133.6             132.6
Assumed conversion of preferred stock                                                             0.5               0.6
                                                                                              -------           -------
Adjusted weighted-average number of  common
  shares and common share equivalents                                                           134.1             133.2
                                                                                              =======           =======

Net loss applicable to common shares                                                          $   (22)          $   (80)
                                                                                              =======           =======

Fully diluted net loss per share of common stock                                              $ (0.16)          $ (0.60)
                                                                                              =======           =======
</TABLE>



(1)      This calculation is submitted in accordance with Securities Exchange
         Act of 1934 Release No. 9083 although not required by footnote 2 to
         paragraph 14 of APB Opinion No. 15 because it results in dilution of
         less than 3%.

(2)      This calculation is submitted for the 1996 and 1995 losses in
         accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(11) although it is contrary
         to paragraph 40 of APB Opinion No. 15 because it produces an
         anti-dilutive result.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 12

                              WOOLWORTH CORPORATION

                COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

                             (dollars in millions)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Fiscal     Fiscal     Fiscal     Fiscal     Fiscal
                                                Quarter     Year       Year       Year       Year       Year
                                                ended       ended      ended      ended      ended      ended
                                                Apr. 27,    Jan. 27,   Jan. 28,   Jan. 29,   Jan. 30,   Jan. 25,
                                                1996        1996       1995       1994       1993       1992
                                                --------    --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
<S>                                            <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>   
NET EARNINGS
Net Income (loss)                              $ (22)       $(164)     $  47      $(495)      $280       $ (53)

Income taxes                                     (15)         (69)        49       (303)       157         (30)

Interest expense, excluding capitalized
  interest                                        21          124        110         86         94          99

Portion of rents deemed representative
 of the interest factor (1/3)                     56          224        211        210        199         192
                                               -----        -----      -----      -----       ----       -----

                                               $  40        $ 115      $ 417      $(502)      $730       $ 208
                                               =====        =====      =====      =====       ====       =====



FIXED CHARGES
Gross interest expense                         $  21        $ 124      $ 111      $  86       $ 94       $  99

Portion of rents deemed representative
 of the interest factor (1/3)                     56          224        211        210        199         192
                                               -----        -----      -----      -----       ----       -----
                                               $  77        $ 348      $ 322      $ 296       $293       $ 291
                                               =====        =====      =====      =====       ====       =====

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED
  CHARGES                                         .5           .3        1.3       --          2.5          .7
                                               =====        =====      =====      =====       ====       =====
</TABLE>


Earnings were not adequate to cover fixed charges by $37 million for the
thirteen weeks ended April 27, 1996. Earnings were also not adequate to cover
fixed charges by $233 million, $798 million and $83 million for the fiscal
years ended January 27, 1996, January 29, 1994 and January 25, 1992,
respectively.

<PAGE>   1
                                                               EXHIBIT 15

                           Accountants' Acknowledgment
                           ---------------------------

Woolworth Corporation
New York, New York

Board of Directors:

Re: Registration Statement Numbers 33-43334 and 33-86300 on Form S-3 and Numbers
2-98142 and 33-10783 on Form S-8.

With respect to the subject registration statements, we acknowledge our
awareness of the use therein of our report dated May 14, 1996 related to our
review of interim financial information.

Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, such report is not
considered a part of a registration statement prepared or certified by an
accountant or a report prepared or certified by an accountant within the meaning
of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.




/s/KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
New York, New York
June 5, 1996

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE INTERIM
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 27, 1996 AND
THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF APRIL 27, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-25-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-27-1996
<CASH>                                              46
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                      1,497
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 1,775
<PP&E>                                           1,182
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   3,607
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              994
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           291
<OTHER-SE>                                         909
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     3,607
<SALES>                                          1,820
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 1,820
<CGS>                                            1,295
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    1,295
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    50
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  20
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   (37)
<INCOME-TAX>                                      (15)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               (22)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                      (22)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.17)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        

</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                           EXHIBIT 99

                     Independent Accountants' Review Report
                     --------------------------------------

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Woolworth Corporation:

We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheets of Woolworth
Corporation and subsidiaries as of April 27, 1996 and April 29, 1995, and the
related condensed consolidated statements of operations, retained earnings, and
cash flows for the thirteen-week periods ended April 27, 1996 and April 29,
1995. These condensed consolidated financial statements are the responsibility
of the Woolworth Corporation's management.

We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial
information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial
data and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting
matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance
with generally accepted auditing standards, the objective of which is the
expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole.
Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should
be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for
them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards, the consolidated balance sheet of Woolworth Corporation and
subsidiaries as of January 27, 1996, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then
ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated March 12, 1996, we
expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In
our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed
consolidated balance sheet as of January 27, 1996, is fairly stated, in all
material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it
has been derived.



/s/KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
New York, New York
May 14, 1996


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