OXFORD HEALTH PLANS INC
10-Q, 1998-05-15
HOSPITAL & MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS
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<PAGE>   1
                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

(MARK ONE)

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

For the quarterly period ended     March 31, 1998

                                       OR

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


For the transition period from ____________________ to ______________________

Commission File Number:        0-19442

                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                   Delaware                                  06-1118515
       (State or other jurisdiction of                      (IRS Employer
        incorporation or organization)                    Identification No.)

  800 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut                  06854
   (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)

                                 (203) 852-1442
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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

                             Yes      X               No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date. The number of shares of common
stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding on May 12, 1998 was 80,330,974.

                                        1
<PAGE>   2
                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.
                               INDEX TO FORM 10-Q


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                                                   PAGE
                                                                                                 ----
<S>                                                                                             <C>
    ITEM 1      Financial Statements

                Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 1998 and
                    December 31, 1997 ......................................................       3

                Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended
                   March 31, 1998 and 1997..................................................       4

                Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months
                   Ended March 31, 1998 and 1997 ...........................................       5

                Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements .......................       6

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

    ITEM 3      Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk..................      13



PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

    ITEM 1      Legal Proceedings ..........................................................      14

    ITEM 2      Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds...................................      14

    ITEM 5      Other Information...........................................................      14

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


SIGNATURES
</TABLE>

                                        2
<PAGE>   3
                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                   OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                        (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Mar. 31,                Dec. 31,
                                ASSETS                                               1998                    1997
                                                                                     ----                    ----
Current assets:                                                                  (Unaudited)
<S>                                                                              <C>                      <C>
   Cash and cash equivalents                                                     $   61,053                    4,141
   Short-term investments - available-for-sale, at market value                     635,270                  635,743
   Premiums receivable, net                                                         289,549                  275,646
   Other receivables                                                                 53,484                   45,418
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                         20,849                   10,097
   Refundable income taxes                                                           71,603                  120,439
   Deferred income taxes                                                             31,866                   38,092
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total current assets                                                      1,163,674                1,129,576

Property and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and
      amortization of $139,999 in 1998 and $125,926 in 1997                         171,801                  147,093
Deferred income taxes                                                               117,846                   86,406
Other noncurrent assets                                                              38,409                   34,914
=====================================================================================================================
        Total assets                                                             $1,491,730                1,397,989
=====================================================================================================================

                      LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
   Bridge notes payable                                                          $  200,000                        -
   Current portion of capital lease obligations                                       6,186                        -
   Medical costs payable                                                            739,195                  762,959
   Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses                                      176,262                  152,152
   Unearned premiums                                                                 46,897                  124,603
   Deferred income taxes                                                              7,798                    9,059
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total current liabilities                                                 1,176,338                1,048,773
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obligations under capital leases                                                     14,123                        -

Shareholders' equity:
   Preferred stock, $.01 par value, authorized 2,000,000 shares                           -                        -
   Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 400,000,000
        shares; issued and outstanding 79,514,037 in 1998
        and 79,474,439 in 1997                                                          795                      795
   Additional paid-in capital                                                       437,983                  437,653
   Retained earnings (deficit)                                                     (140,800)                 (95,498)
   Unrealized net appreciation of investments                                         3,291                    6,266
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total shareholders' equity                                                  301,269                  349,216
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                               $1,491,730                1,397,989
=====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

                                        3
<PAGE>   4
                   OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                   THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND 1997
                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                   (UNAUDITED)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            Three Months
                                                                                           Ended March 31
                                                                                   1998                      1997
                                                                                   ----                      ----
<S>                                                                             <C>                         <C>
Revenues:
   Premiums earned                                                              $1,213,085                  970,115
   Third-party administration, net                                                   5,002                    3,076
   Investment and other income, net                                                 11,536                   14,124
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total revenues                                                             1,229,623                  987,315
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Expenses:
   Health care services                                                          1,066,437                  777,736
   Marketing, general and administrative                                           201,033                  149,784
   Restructuring charges                                                            25,000                        -
   Interest expense                                                                  6,849                        -
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total expenses                                                             1,299,319                  927,520
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating earnings (loss)                                                          (69,696)                  59,795

Equity in net loss of affiliate                                                          -                     (900)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings (loss) before income taxes                                                (69,696)                  58,895
Income tax expense (benefit)                                                       (24,394)                  24,516
====================================================================================================================
Net earnings (loss)                                                             $  (45,302)                  34,379
====================================================================================================================

Earnings (loss) per common share - basic                                        $     (.57)                     .44
Earnings (loss) per common share - assuming dilution                            $     (.57)                     .42

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic                                  79,488                   77,843
Effect of dilutive securities - stock options                                            -                    4,494
====================================================================================================================
Weighted average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution                      79,488                   82,337
====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

                                        4
<PAGE>   5
                   OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
                   THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND 1997
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       1998                      1997
                                                                                       ----                      ----
<S>                                                                                  <C>                     <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net earnings (loss)                                                               $ (45,302)                  34,379
   Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
      provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization                                                   16,059                   13,112
        Deferred income taxes                                                          (24,407)                   3,415
        Realized gain on sale of investments                                            (1,372)                  (2,336)
        Other, net                                                                       1,312                    1,020
        Changes in assets and liabilities:
          Premiums receivable                                                          (13,903)                 (73,102)
          Other receivables                                                             (8,066)                   2,483
          Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                    (10,752)                  (1,079)
          Refundable income taxes                                                       48,836                        -
          Other noncurrent assets                                                          378                   (2,455)
          Medical costs payable                                                        (23,764)                  33,466
          Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses                                   24,110                   10,595
          Income taxes payable                                                               -                   18,538
          Unearned premiums                                                            (77,706)                 (61,057)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Net cash used by operating activities                                    (114,577)                 (23,021)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Capital expenditures                                                                (29,657)                 (22,402)
   Purchases of available-for-sale securities                                         (154,891)                (156,489)
   Sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities                               151,110                  127,352
   Other, net                                                                            4,597                     (457)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Net cash used by investing activities                                     (28,841)                 (51,996)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
   Proceeds from exercise of stock options                                                 330                    7,137
   Proceeds of bridge notes payable                                                    200,000                        -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Net cash provided by financing activities                                 200,330                    7,137
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                    56,912                  (67,880)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                                         4,141                   72,160
========================================================================================================================
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                           $  61,053                    4,280
========================================================================================================================

Supplemental cash flow information - net cash paid (refunded) for income taxes       $ (46,018)                   5,309
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:
   Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of short-term investments                     (5,043)                  12,004
   Tax benefit realized on exercise of stock options                                         -                    6,562
   Capital lease obligations incurred                                                $  20,309                        -
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

                                        5
<PAGE>   6
                   OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (UNAUDITED)

(1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION

       The interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein
have been prepared by Oxford Health Plans, Inc. ("Oxford") and Subsidiaries
(collectively, the "Company") without audit, pursuant to the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Certain
information and footnote disclosures, normally included in the financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations;
nevertheless, management of the Company believes that the disclosures herein are
adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The condensed
consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with
the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for
each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1997, included in
the Company's Form 10-K filed with the SEC in March and amended in April 1998.

       In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal
recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial
position of the Company with respect to the interim condensed consolidated
financial statements have been made. The results of operations for the interim
periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the
full year.

(2) RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

       Results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 1998 include a
nonrecurring charge of $25,000,000 for severance costs and other expenses
associated with the restructuring of certain of the Company's management and
administrative functions. The charge increased the Company's net loss for the
first quarter of 1998 by approximately $16,250,000,or 20 cents per share.

(3)    EARNINGS PER SHARE

       The Company has adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS 128"), which became
effective in 1997. Under the provisions of SFAS 128, basic earnings per share is
calculated on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted
earnings per share is calculated on the weighted average number of common shares
and common share equivalents resulting from options outstanding. All prior year
amounts have been restated to reflect these calculations.

(4)    COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

       Effective January 1, 1998, the Company has adopted the provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income" ("SFAS 130"). SFAS 130 requires that all items that are required to be
recognized under accounting standards as components of comprehensive income be
reported in the financial statements. The statement of comprehensive earnings
for the three months ended March 31, 1998 and 1997 is as follows:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        1998               1997
                                                                                        ----               ----
                                                                                             (In thousands)
<S>                                                                                   <C>                 <C>
Net earnings (loss) per statement of operations                                       $(45,302)           34,379
Unrealized holding losses on available for sale securities, net of income taxes         (2,083)           (5,564)
Less reclassification adjustment for gains included in net earnings (loss),
    net of income taxes                                                                   (892)           (1,518)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive earnings (loss)                                                         $(48,277)           25,919
================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(5) SUBSEQUENT EVENT

       On May 13, 1998, the Company consummated a definitive agreement with the
investment firm Texas Pacific Group under which Texas Pacific Group and others
("Texas Pacific") purchased $350 million in preferred stock

                                       6
<PAGE>   7
issued as Series A and Series B with dividend rates of 8% and 9%, respectively.
Dividends on the preferred shares may be paid in kind for the first two years.
The preferred shares were issued with warrants to acquire 22.5 million shares of
Oxford common stock with an exercise price of $17.75. This price represents a 5%
premium over the average trading price of Oxford shares for 30 trading days
ended February 20, 1998. The exercise price will become 115% of the average
trading price of Oxford common stock for the 20 trading days following the
filing of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending December
31, 1998, if such adjustment would reduce the exercise price. The Series A
Preferred Stock carries a dividend of 8% and was issued with warrants to
purchase 15,800,000 shares of common stock, or 19.9% of the present outstanding
voting power of the Company's common stock. The Series A Preferred Stock has
16.6% of the combined voting power of the Company's outstanding common stock and
the Series A shares. The Series B Preferred Stock, which was issued with
warrants to purchase nonvoting junior participating preferred stock, is
nonvoting and carries a dividend of 9%. The Series B Preferred Stock will become
voting, the dividend rate will decrease to 8% and the related warrants will be
exercisable for 6,730,000 shares of common stock at such time as the Company's
shareholders approve the increase in voting rights of Texas Pacific to 22.1%.
The terms of the agreement prohibits the Company from paying cash dividends on
its common stock.

       Simultaneously with the consummation of the agreement with Texas Pacific,
the Company issued $200 million principal amount of 11% Senior Notes due May 15,
2005. The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and will
rank pari passu in the right of payment with all current and future senior
indebtedness of the Company. The Company's obligations under the Senior Notes
will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future secured indebtedness
of the Company to the extent of the value of the assets securing such
indebtedness and will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future
indebtedness, if any, of the Company's subsidiaries. Interest is payable
semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year commencing November 15,
1998. The Senior Notes will not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to
May 15, 2002.

        At the same time, the Company entered into a Term Loan Agreement
pursuant to which the Company borrowed $150,000,000 in the form of a senior
secured term loan (the "Term Loan") with a final maturity in 2003 at which time
all outstanding amounts will be due and payable. Prior to the final maturity of
the Term Loan there are no scheduled principal payments. In certain
circumstances, the Term Loan provides for mandatory prepayments. The Term Loan
bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the administrative agent's reserve
adjusted LIBO rate plus 4.25%.

       Also simultaneously with the transactions described above, Norman C.
Payson, M.D., the Company's Chief Executive Officer, purchased 644,330 shares
of Oxford common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $10,000,000.

       The aggregate proceeds of the above transactions of $710,000,000 were
utilized, in part, to retire previously outstanding bridge notes of $200,000,000
and make capital contributions to certain regulated subsidiaries pay fees and
expenses approximating $39,000,000 related to the transactions. The remaining
proceeds will be available for capital contributions to certain regulated
subsidiaries and for general corporate purposes.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8
ITEM 2.      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
             CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table shows membership by product:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   As of March 31          Increase (Decrease)
Membership:                                      1998          1997         Amount          %
                                                 ----          ----         ------          -
<S>                                           <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>
   Freedom Plan                               1,400,200      1,143,500      256,700       22.4%
   HMO                                          280,900        224,300       56,600       25.2%
   Medicare                                     162,600        134,600       28,000       20.8%
   Medicaid                                     183,500        189,900       (6,400)      (3.4%)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total fully insured                     2,027,200      1,692,300      334,900       19.8%
   Self-funded                                   68,500         46,500       22,000       47.3%
====================================================================================
      Total membership                        2,095,700      1,738,800      356,900       20.5%
====================================================================================
</TABLE>


      The following table provides certain statement of operations data
expressed as a percentage of total revenues for the three months ended March 31,
1998 and 1997:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Three Months
                                                                  Ended March 31
Revenues:                                                  1998                    1997
                                                           ----                    ----
<S>                                                      <C>                      <C>
   Premiums earned                                         98.7%                    98.3%
   Third-party administration, net                          0.4%                     0.3%
   Investment and other income, net                         0.9%                     1.4%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total revenues                                      100.0%                   100.0%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Expenses:
   Health care services                                    86.8%                    78.7%
   Marketing, general and administrative                   16.0%                    15.2%
   Restructuring charges                                    2.0%                     -
   Interest expense                                        (0.6%)                    -
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total expenses                                      105.7%                    93.9%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating earnings (loss)                                  (5.7%)                    6.1%

Equity in net loss of affiliate                             -                       (0.1%)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings (loss) before income taxes                        (5.7%)                    6.0%
Income tax expense (benefit)                               (2.0%)                    2.5% 
=========================================================================================
Net earnings (loss)                                        (3.7%)                    3.5%
=========================================================================================

Medical-loss ratio                                         87.9%                    80.2%
=========================================================================================
</TABLE>

                                       8
<PAGE>   9
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

       The Company's revenues consist primarily of commercial premiums derived
from its Freedom Plan and Liberty Plan, health maintenance organization ("HMO"),
preferred provider organizations ("PPOs") and dental plan products,
reimbursements under government contracts relating to its Medicare and Medicaid
programs, third-party administration fee revenue for its self-funded plan
services (which is stated net of direct expenses such as third-party reinsurance
premiums) and investment income.

       Health care services expense primarily comprises payments to physicians,
hospitals and other health care providers under fully insured health care
business and includes an estimated amount for incurred but not reported claims
("IBNR"). The Company estimates IBNR expense based on a number of factors,
including prior claims experience. The actual expense for claims attributable to
any period may be more or less than the amount of IBNR reported. The Company's
results for the year ended December 31, 1997 were adversely affected by
additions to the Company's reserves for IBNR in the third and fourth quarters.
See "Liquidity and Capital Resources."

       The Company has experienced substantial growth in membership and revenues
since it began operations in 1986. The membership and revenue growth has been
accompanied by increases in the cost of providing health care in New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, Florida and New Hampshire. The
Company does not expect its future growth in membership or revenue, if any, to
be similar to its growth in prior years as the Company has to redirect its
strategic initiatives to attempt to establish profitability. Since the Company
provides services on a prepaid basis, with premium levels fixed for one-year
periods, unexpected cost increases during the annual contract period cannot be
passed on to employer groups or members.

       Software and hardware problems experienced in the conversion of a portion
of the Company's computer system in September 1996 resulted in significant
delays in the Company's billing of group and individual and have adversely
affected the Company's premium billing. The Company's revenues in 1997 were
adversely affected by adjustments of approximately $174 million related to
estimates for terminations of group and individual members and for non-paying
group and individual members.  The Company is taking steps to attempt to improve
billing timeliness, reduce billing errors, lags in recording enrollment and
disenrollment notifications, and the Company's collection processes and is
attempting to make requisite improvements in management information concerning
the value and aging of outstanding accounts receivable. The Company believes it
has made adequate provision in its estimates for group and individual member
terminations and for non-paying group and individual members as of March 31,
1998.  Adjustments to the estimates may be necessary, however, and any such
adjustments would be included in the results of operations for the period in
which such adjustments are made.  

       The Company's commercial rates are often higher than those charged by
competitors, in part reflecting the size and quality of the Company's provider
network, additional services provided by the Company and other features of the
Company's products. The Company's ability to receive requested rate increases
from group customers may be adversely affected by publicity surrounding the
losses announced by the Company for the third and fourth quarters of 1997 and
the first quarter of 1998 and claims payment issues involving the Company's
provider network. The Company believes that commercial premium pricing will
continue to be highly competitive and may become more so in the future. However,
the Company does not intend to promote revenue growth at the level of prior
periods because the Company's priority in 1998 is to attempt to strengthen its
service and systems infrastructure.  Revenues may also be adversely affected as
a result of the Company's decision to reduce its future investment in developing
the Florida, Illinois and New Hampshire markets. Moreover, the Company expects
that revenue growth will be adversely affected by customers' concern regarding
recently publicized operating losses and provider dissatisfaction with
timeliness of claims payment.

       In March 1998, the Company filed with the New York State Insurance
Department ("NYSID") proposed rate increases of 50% and 64%, respectively for
its New York mandated individual HMO and point-of-service plans (the "New York
Mandated Plans") as a result of rapidly rising medical costs in those plans. The
Company believes it experiences significant selection bias in these plans which
are chosen, on average, by individuals that require more health care services
than the average commercial population. The Company had 38,700 members in the
mandated HMO and 14,400 members in the mandated point-of-service plan as of
March 31, 1998. In April 1998, the NYSID denied the Company's rate request, but
directed the Company to apply funds it will be allocated from the Demographic
and Specified Medical Condition pools against rate relief in the individual and
small group market. The Company expects that operating results for the
individual product will continue to be adversely affected by high medical costs
and that losses will continue in the absence of significant rate or regulatory
relief.

       In 1997, the Clinton Administration and Congressional leadership reached
an agreement on legislation aimed at balancing the Federal budget, which
includes provisions for $115 billion in savings from Medicare programs over the
next five years. This agreement was enacted into law as the Balanced Budget Act
of 1997 (the "1997 Act"). The legislation changes the way health plans are
compensated for Medicare members by eliminating over five years amounts paid for
graduate medical education and increasing the blend of national cost factors
applied in determining local reimbursement rates over a six-year phase-in
period. Both changes will have the effect of reducing reimbursement in high cost
metropolitan areas with a large number of teaching hospitals, such as the
Company's service areas; however, the legislation includes provision for a
minimum increase of 2% annually in health plan Medicare reimbursement for the
next five years. The legislation also provides for expedited licensure of
provider-sponsored Medicare plans and a repeal in 1999 of the rule requiring
health plans to have one commercial enrollee for each Medicare or Medicaid
enrollee. These changes could have the effect of increasing competition in the
Medicare market.

       In 1998, the Company will receive a 2% increase in Medicare premiums,
minus the user fee assessment of .428% of the Company's gross monthly Medicare
premium. The user fee is applied to all Medicare risk contractors by HCFA to
cover HCFA's costs relating to beneficiary enrollment, dissemination of
information and certain counseling and assistance programs. On March 2, 1998
HCFA announced a 2% increase in premiums in 1999 for all plans in the Company's
service areas. However, the user fee for 1999 has not been determined and may
increase since the Clinton Administration is seeking legislation authorizing it
to collect additional funds. Under the authority provided by the 1997 Act, HCFA
has begun to collect hospital encounter data from Medicare risk contractors. The
data will be used to develop and implement a new risk adjustment mechanism by
January 1, 2000. Given the relatively high Medicare risk premium levels in the
Company's market areas, the Company is in significant jeopardy that the new risk
adjustment mechanism to be developed could significantly and adversely affect
the Company's Medicare premium ratio going forward. President Clinton has
proposed expanding Medicare coverage to individuals between the ages of 55 and
64. There is significant opposition to his proposal, and the Company cannot
predict the outcome of the legislative process or the impact of the proposal on
the Company's results of operations. In addition, long-term structural changes
to the Medicare program are currently being considered by a newly appointed
National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare. This Commission is
required to submit a report to the President and Congress by March 1, 1999.

       The Company does not anticipate revenue growth at the level of prior
years in its Medicare programs because the Company's priority in 1998 is to
attempt to strengthen its service and systems infrastructure and mitigate
operating losses. Medicare enrollment could also be adversely affected, perhaps
substantially so, by customer concern over recently publicized operating losses
and provider dissatisfaction, changes to the Company's Medicare provider network
in certain counties and medical management policies designed to better control
medical costs and HCFA's recent site examination of the Company, among other
factors.

       Premium yields in the Company's Medicaid business in New Jersey and
Connecticut will be unchanged in 1998. At March 31, 1998, the Company had
approximately 33,300 Connecticut Medicaid members and 41,700 New Jersey Medicaid
members. Premium yields in the Company's New York Medicaid program
(approximately 42,200 members at March 31, 1998) were increased 4% effective
April 1, 1998. Premium yields in the Company's Pennsylvania Medicaid program
(approximately 66,300 members at March 31, 1998) were increased 7% effective
January 1, 1998. No assurances can be given regarding prospective premium yields
from these programs.
        
       The Company is taking a number of steps to address the deterioration of
operating results in Medicare, Medicaid and the New York Mandated Plans. The
Company is pursuing certain provider contracts for its Medicare programs
pursuant to which a significant portion of the medical cost risk of some  of the
Company's Medicare enrollment  may be transferred to network providers. Despite
these efforts, no assurances can be given that such contracts will be
consummated or, if consummated, will successfully control the Company's ultimate
costs. In its Pennsylvania Medicaid program, the Company has entered into an
agreement to transfer a substantial portion of the medical risk in that program
to a third party. The Company is also attempting to implement new medical
management policies aimed at reducing costs in various lines of business. The
Company has also withdrawn from the Medicaid programs in New Jersey and
Connecticut, effective July 1, 1998 and April 1, 1998, respectively.

       The Company's results of operations are dependent, in part, on its
ability to predict and maintain effective control over health care costs
(through, among other things, appropriate benefit design, utilization review and
case management programs and its case rate and risk-sharing agreements with
providers) while providing members with quality health care. Factors such as
utilization, new technologies and health care practices, hospital costs, changes
in demographics and trends, selection biases major epidemics, inability to
establish acceptable compensation agreements with providers and numerous other
factors may affect Oxford's ability to control such costs. The Company attempts
to use its medical cost containment capabilities, such as claim auditing
systems, physician tracking systems and utilization review protocols, and
improved channeling to cost-effective providers with a view to reducing the rate
of growth in health care services expense. There can be no assurance that Oxford
will be successful in mitigating the effect of any or all of the above-listed or
other factors. In addition, the Company's relationships with many of its
contracted providers were adversely affected by the Company's computer systems
and related claims payment problems which could impede the Company's efforts to
obtain favorable arrangements with some of these providers going forward.
Accordingly, past financial performance is not necessarily a reliable indicator
of future performance, and investors should not use historical performance to
anticipate results or future period trends. The Company continues to reconcile
delayed claims and claims previously paid or denied in error and pay down
backlogged claims. Information gained as the process continues may result in
future changes to the Company's estimates of its medical costs and expected cost
trends.


       The Company expects to report losses in 1998 as the result of high
medical costs and high administrative costs. The Company intends to take
steps to better control medical and administrative spending, but there can be no
assurance that it will be successful. Results of operations will be adversely
affected if such steps cannot be successfully implemented or if there are delays
in such implementation.


The three months ended March 31, 1998 compared with the three months ended March
31, 1997

       Total revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 were $1.23 billion,
up 25% from $987.3 million during the same period in the prior year. The net
loss for the first quarter of 1998 totaled $45.3 million, or 57 cents per share,
compared to net earnings of $34.4 million, or 44 cents per share, for the first
quarter of 1997. Results of operations for the first quarter of 1998 were
adversely affected by significantly higher medical costs and approximately $25.0
million ($16.3 million after tax) of nonrecurring restructuring charges for
severance and other costs expected to be incurred in connection with the
restructuring of certain administrative and management functions. The
restructuring charges increased the net loss for the quarter by $.20 per share.

       Membership in the Company's fully insured commercial health care programs
as of March 31, 1998 increased by approximately 313,000 members (23%) over the
level of such membership as of March 31, 1997, while membership in government
programs increased by approximately 22,000 members (7%) during the same period.
This enrollment growth reflects the quality and popularity of the Company's
products.

       Total commercial premiums earned for the three months ended March 31,
1998 increased 26% to $872.6 million compared with $691.8 million in the same
period in the prior year. This increase is attributable to a 24% increase in
member months in the Company's commercial health care programs, including a 24%
member months increase in the Freedom Plan. Premium yields of commercial
programs were 1.5% higher on average than in the first quarter of 1997.

       Premiums earned from government programs increased 22% to $340.5 million
in the first quarter of 1998 compared with $278.3 million in the first quarter
of 1997. Membership growth accounted for most of the change as member months of
Medicare programs increased 23% when compared with the prior year first quarter,
while member months of Medicaid programs increased by 6% over the level of the
prior year first quarter. Premium yields of Medicare programs in the first
quarter of 1998 were 2.8% higher than in the prior year quarter and 3.7% higher
in Medicaid programs.

       Net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 1998 decreased
22% to $11.1 million from $14.3 million for the same period last year primarily
due to a decline in average invested balances in the first quarter of 1998
compared with the first quarter of 1997.

       The medical-loss ratio (health care services expense stated as a
percentage of premium revenues) was 87.9% for the first quarter of 1998 compared
with 80.2% for the first quarter of 1997. Software and hardware problems
experienced in the conversion of a portion of the Company's computer system in
September 1996 resulted in significant delays in the Company's payment of
provider claims and adversely affected payment accuracy during the first quarter
of 1997. Medical costs for 1997 reflect additions to the Company's reserves for
IBNR in the third and fourth quarters of 1997 aggregating $327 million. These
additions represent revisions to estimates of the Company's incurred medical
costs based on information gained in the process of reviewing and reconciling
previously delayed claims and claims paid or denied in error. A portion of the
reserve additions represented revisions to estimates for claims incurred in
years before 1997. The Company's paid and received claims data and revised
estimates showed significant increases in medical costs in 1996 and 1997 for the
Company's Medicare, Medicaid and New York Mandated Plans. These increases
resulted primarily from higher expenses for hospital and specialist physician
services and increases in per member per month pharmacy costs. Reserves for the
first quarter for 1998 continued to reflect high costs in these areas. The
Company believes it has made adequate provision for medical costs as of March
31, 1998. There can be no assurance that additional reserve additions will not
be necessary as the Company continues to review and reconcile delayed claims and
claims paid or denied in error. Additions to reserves could also result as a
consequence of regulatory examinations and such additions would also be included
in the results of operations for the period in which such adjustments are made.

       Marketing, general and administrative expenses totaled $201.0 million in
the first quarter of 1998 compared with $149.8 million in the first quarter of
1997. The increase over the first quarter of 1997 is primarily attributable to a
$27.3 million rise in payroll and benefits due to increased staffing and a $19.0
million increase in consulting fees primarily related to enhancements to
management information systems. These expenses as a percent of operating revenue
were

                                       9
<PAGE>   10
16.5% during the first quarter of 1998 compared with 15.4% during the first
quarter of 1997 and 17.6% for the full year 1997. The Company expects that
results for 1998 will continue to be adversely affected by high administrative
costs, including consulting and other costs associated with strengthening its
operation. Administrative costs in future periods will also be affected by the
costs associated with responding to regulatory inquiries and investigations and
defending pending securities class actions and shareholder derivative
litigation, including fees and disbursements of counsel and other experts, to
the extent such costs are not reimbursed under existing policies of insurance.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

       Cash used by operations during the first quarter of 1998 aggregated
$114.6 million, compared with $23.0 million for the first quarter of 1997. The
increase in cash used by operations is substantially due to the Company's net
loss for the first three months of 1998. The Company's capital expenditures for
the first three months of 1998 totaled $29.7 million. Such funds were used
primarily for management information systems and leasehold improvements. In
addition, the Company in March 1998 incurred obligations under capital leases
for peripheral computer equipment with an aggregate fair market value
approximating $20 million. Except for anticipated capital expenditures and
obligations to provide required levels of capital to its operating subsidiaries,
the Company currently has no definitive commitments for use of material cash.

       As of March 31, 1998, cash aggregating $24.0 million has been segregated
as restricted investments to comply with federal and state regulatory
requirements. During April 1998, the Company segregated an additional $1.5
million in cash as a restricted investment. The Company's subsidiaries are also
subject to certain restrictions on their abilities to make dividend payments,
loans or other transfers of cash to the parent company, which limit the ability
of the Company to use cash generated by subsidiary operations to pay the
obligations of the parent, including debt service and other financing costs.

       As a result of the previously discussed delays in claims payments during
the fourth quarter of 1996 and the first quarter of 1997, the Company
experienced a significant increase in medical claims payable, but such increase
was mitigated, in part, by progress in paying backlogged claims and making
advance payments to providers during the first quarter of 1997 and thereafter.
Outstanding advances aggregated approximately $183.4 million at March 31, 1998
and have been netted against medical costs payable in the Company's consolidated
balance sheet. The Company has established a valuation reserve of $10 million
against the advances. The Company believes that it will be able to recover
outstanding advance payments, either through repayment by the provider or
application against future claims, but any failure to recover funds advanced in
excess of the reserve would adversely affect the Company's results of
operations.

       The Company's medical costs payable was $922.6 million as of March 31,
1998 (including $803.6 million for IBNR and before netting advance claim
payments of $183.4 million) compared with $965.9 million as of December 31, 1997
(including $859.0 for IBNR and before netting advance claim payments of $203.0
million). The decrease reflects progress in paying backlogged claims and more
timely payment of current claims during the first quarter of 1998. The Company
estimates the amount of its reserves using

                                       10
<PAGE>   11
standard actuarial methodologies based upon historical data, including the
average interval between the date services are rendered and the date claims are
paid and between the date services are rendered and the date claims are received
by the Company, expected medical cost inflation, seasonality patterns and
increases in membership. The liability is also affected by shared risk
arrangements, including Private Practice Partnerships ("Partnership"). In
determining the liability for medical costs payable, the Company accounts for
the financial impact of the experience of risk-sharing Partnership providers
(who may be entitled to credits from Oxford for favorable experience or subject
to deductions for accrued deficits) and, in the case of Partnership providers
subject to deficits, has established reserves to account for delays or other
impediments to recovery of those deficits. The Company believes that its
reserves for IBNR are adequate to satisfy its ultimate claim liability. However,
the Company's rapid growth, delays in paying claims, paying or denying claims in
error and changing speed of payment may affect the Company's ability to rely on
historical information in making IBNR reserve estimates.

       During the first quarter of 1998, the Company made cash contributions to
the capital of its HMO subsidiaries aggregating $243.4 million. The capital
contributions were made to ensure that each subsidiary had sufficient surplus
under applicable regulations after giving effect to operating losses and
reductions to surplus resulting from the nonadmissibility of certain assets. The
contributions were made with the proceeds of the issuance of $200 million of
senior secured notes ("Bridge Notes") under the Bridge Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated as of February 6, 1998, between the Company and an affiliate of
Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, as amended, on March 30,
1998. The Bridge Notes were repaid on May 13, 1998 with a portion of the
proceeds of the financings described below.

       The Company expects that additional capital contributions to the
subsidiaries will be required as the result of expected operating losses in
1998. On May 14, 1998, the Company made additional capital contributions of
$52.5 million from the proceeds of the financings. Further, additional capital
contributions will be required if there is an increase in the nonadmissible
assets of the Company's subsidiaries or a need for reserve strengthening as the
result of regulatory action or otherwise. Such contributions, if any, will also
be funded with a portion of the proceeds of the financings.

       Pursuant to an Investment Agreement, dated as of February 23, 1998 (the
"Investment Agreement"), between the Company and TPG Oxford LLC (together with
the investors thereunder, the "Investors"), the Investors, on May 13, 1998,
purchased $350,000,000 in Preferred Stock with Warrants to acquire up to
22,530,000 shares of common stock. Dividends on the Preferred Stock may be paid
in kind for the first two years. The Warrants have an exercise price of $17.75,
which represents a 5% premium over the average trading price of Oxford shares
for the 30 trading days ended February 20, 1998. The exercise price is to become
115% of the average trading price of Oxford common stock for the 20 trading days
following the filing of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year
ending December 31, 1998, if such adjustment would reduce the exercise price.
The Preferred Stock was issued as Series A and Series B. The Series A Preferred
Stock carries a dividend of 8% and was issued with Series A Warrants to purchase
15,800,000 shares of common stock, or 19.9% of the present outstanding voting
power of Oxford's common stock. The Series A Preferred Stock has 16.6% of the
combined voting power of Oxford's outstanding common stock and the Series A
shares. The Series B Preferred stock, which was issued with Series B Warrants to
purchase non-voting junior participating preferred stock, is nonvoting and
carries a dividend of 9%. The Series B Preferred Stock will become voting, the
dividend rate will decrease to 8% and the Series B warrants will be exercisable
for 6,730,000 shares of common stock at such time as Oxford's shareholders
approve the increase in voting rights of TPG to 22.1%. The Preferred Stock is
not redeemable by the Company prior to the fifth anniversary of its original
issuance. Thereafter, subject to certain conditions, the Series A and Series B
Preferred Stock are redeemable at the option of the Company for an aggregate
redemption price of $245,000,000 and $105,000,000, respectively (in each case,
plus accrued and unpaid dividends), and are subject to mandatory redemption at
the same price on the tenth anniversary of their original issuance. The Series A
Warrants and the Series B Warrants expire on the earlier of the tenth
anniversary of their original issuance or redemption of the related series of
Preferred Stock. The Warrants are detachable from the Preferred Stock.

       Simultaneously with the consummation of the Investment Agreement, the
Company issued $200,000,000 principal amount of 11% Senior Notes due May 15,
2005. The Senior Notes are senior
                                       11
<PAGE>   12
unsecured obligations of the Company and rank pari passu in the right of payment
with all current and future senior indebtedness of the Company. The Company's
obligations under the Senior Notes will be effectively subordinated to all
existing and future secured indebtedness of the Company to the extent of the
value of the assets securing such indebtedness and will be structurally
subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness, if any, of the Company's
subsidiaries. Interest is payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of
each year commencing November 15, 1998. The Senior Notes will not be redeemable
at the Company's option prior to May 15, 2002.

       At the same time, the Company entered into a Term Loan Agreement pursuant
to which the Company borrowed $150,000,000 in the form of a senior secured term
loan (the "Term Loan") with a final maturity in 2003 at which time all
outstanding amounts will be due and payable. Prior to the final maturity of the
Term Loan there are no scheduled principal payments. In certain circumstances,
the Term Loan provides for mandatory prepayments. The Term Loan bears interest
at a rate per annum equal to the administrative agent's reserve adjusted LIBO
rate plus 4.25%.

       Also simultaneously with the transactions described above, Norman C.
Payson, M.D., the Company's Chief Executive Officer, purchased 644,330 shares of
Oxford Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $10,000,000.

       The aggregate proceeds of the above financings of $710,000,000 were
utilized, in part, to retire the Bridge Notes of $200,000,000 and more capital
contributions to certain regulated subsidiaries pay transaction fees and
expenses approximating $39,000,000 related to the financings. The remaining
proceeds will be available for capital contributions to regulated subsidiaries
and for general corporate purposes. The Company believes that the above
described proceeds will be sufficient to finance the capital needs referred to
previously and to provide additional capital for losses or contingencies in
excess of the Company's current expectations. However, there can be no assurance
that such proceeds will be sufficient to finance the capital needs and to
provide additional capital for losses or contingencies in excess of the
Company's current expectations.


                                       12
<PAGE>   13
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

  Certain statements contained in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations", including statements concerning
future premium rates for commercial, Medicare and Medicaid business, future
medical-loss ratio levels, the Company's ability to control health care costs,
the Company's information systems, proposed efforts to control health care and
administrative costs, government regulation and the future of the health care
industry, and the impact on the Company of recent events, legal proceedings, and
regulatory investigations and examinations, and other statements contained
herein regarding matters that are not historical facts, are forward-looking
statements (as such term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended). Because such statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual
results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially include, but are not limited to, those discussed below.

      Net Losses; Turnaround Plan

      The Company incurred a net loss of $291 million in 1997 and $45 million in
the first three months of 1998 and expects to incur additional losses in 1998,
the extent of which cannot be predicted at this time. As a result of losses at
certain of its HMO and insurance subsidiaries in 1997, the Company has had to
make capital contributions to certain of its HMO and insurance subsidiaries and
expects that additional capital contributions will be required to be made by the
Company in 1998.

      The Company's ability to control net losses depends, to a large extent, on
the success of its turnaround plan, which includes improving provider contracts,
implementing certain medical management programs and improving operating margins
by, among other things, strengthening commercial underwriting, reducing
administrative and medical costs and, where appropriate, refining benefit plans
and increasing premiums. There can be no assurance that new management will be
successfully retained or that the other elements of the turnaround plan will be
implemented in the manner described herein, or, if implemented, will be
successful or that other efforts by the Company to control net losses will be
successful. Moreover, the Company cannot predict the impact of adverse
publicity, legal and regulatory proceedings or other future events on the
Company's operations and financial results, including ongoing financial losses.
There can be no assurance that new management will be successfully retained or
that the other elements of the Turnaround Plan will be implemented in the manner
described herein, or, if implemented, will be successful or that other efforts
by the Company to control net losses will be successful.

   Implementation of the Company's turnaround plan depends, in part, on its
ability to implement measures to reduce its medical and administrative costs
below existing levels. The Company currently believes that, it has the ability
and intent to reduce certain costs, including those specified in the turnaround
plan and others.

<PAGE>   14
   Control Over and Predictability of Health Care Costs

   Oxford's future results of operations depend, in part, on its ability to
predict and maintain effective control over health care costs (through, among
other things, appropriate benefit design, utilization review and case management
programs and its case rate and risk-sharing arrangements with providers) while
providing members with quality health care. Factors such as utilization, new
technologies and health care practices, hospital costs, changes in demographics
and trends, selection biases, major epidemics, inability to establish acceptable
compensation arrangements with providers, operational and regulatory issues
which could delay, prevent or impede those arrangements, and numerous other
factors may affect Oxford's ability to control such costs. There can be no
assurance that Oxford will be successful in mitigating the effect of any or all
of the above-listed or other factors.

   Medical costs payable in Oxford's financial statements include reserves for
incurred but not reported claims ("IBNR") which are estimated by Oxford. Oxford
estimates the amount of such reserves using standard actuarial methodologies
based upon historical data including the average interval between the date
services are rendered and the date claims are paid and between the date services
are rendered and the date claims are received by the Company, expected medical
cost inflation, seasonality patterns and increases in membership. The estimates
for submitted claims and IBNR are made on an accrual basis and adjusted in
future periods as required. Oxford believes that its reserves for IBNR are
adequate in order to satisfy its ultimate claim liability. However, Oxford's
rapid growth, delays in paying claims, paying or denying claims in error and
changing speed of payment affect the Company's ability to rely on historical
information in making IBNR reserve estimates. There can be no assurances as to
the ultimate accuracy of such estimates. Any adjustments to such estimates could
adversely affect Oxford's results of operations in future periods.
<PAGE>   15
   Administrative Costs

      A key element of the Company's Turnaround Plan is a reduction in
administrative expenses. In 1998, however, the Company expects that results will
continue to be adversely affected by high administrative costs associated with
the Company's efforts to strengthen its operations. No assurance can be given
that the Company will not continue to experience significant service and systems
infrastructure problems in 1998 and beyond, which would have a significant
impact on administrative costs.

   Government Regulation; Reimbursement

      The healthcare industry in general, and HMOs and health insurance
companies in particular, are subject to substantial federal and state government
regulation, including, but not limited to, regulation relating to cash reserves,
minimum net worth, licensing requirements, approval of policy language and
benefits, mandatory products and benefits, provider compensation arrangements,
member disclosure, premium rates and periodic examinations by state and federal
agencies. State regulations require the Company's HMO and insurance subsidiaries
to maintain restricted cash or available cash reserves and restrict their
ability to make dividend payments, loans or other transfers or cash to the
Company. In addition, the ability of Oxford's HMO and insurance subsidiaries to
declare and pay dividends to Oxford is limited by state regulations. In 1996 and
1997, significant federal and state legislation affecting the Company's business
was enacted. For example, effective January 1998, New York State implemented a
requirement that health plans pay interest on delayed payment of claims at a
rate of 12% per annum." Moreover, state and federal government authorities are
continually considering changes to laws and regulations applicable to Oxford and
are currently considering regulation relating to mandatory benefits, provider
compensation, health plan liability to members who fail to receive appropriate
care, disclosure and composition of physician networks which would apply to the
Company. In addition, Congress is considering significant changes to Medicare
and Medicaid legislation and has in the past considered, and may in the future
consider, proposals relating to healthcare reform. Changes in federal and state
laws or regulations, if enacted, could increase healthcare costs and
administrative expenses and reductions could be made in Medicare and Medicaid
reimbursement rates. Oxford is unable to predict the ultimate impact on the
Company of recently enacted and future legislation and regulations but such
legislation and regulations, particularly in New York where much of the
Company's business is located, could have a material adverse impact on the
Company's operations, financial condition and prospects.

      Premiums for Oxford's Medicare and Medicaid programs are determined
through formulas established by HCFA for Oxford's Medicare contracts and by
state government agencies in the case of Medicaid. Medicaid premiums in New York
were significantly reduced in 1996, and federal legislation enacted in 1997
provides for future adjustment of Medicare reimbursement by HCFA which could
reduce the reimbursement received by the Company. Premium reductions or premium
rate increases in a particular region, which are lower than the rate of increase
in healthcare service expenses for Oxford's Medicare or 
<PAGE>   16
Medicaid members in such region, could adversely affect Oxford's results of
operations. Oxford's Medicare programs are subject to certain risks relative to
commercial programs, such as higher comparative medical costs and higher levels
of utilization. Oxford's Medicare and Medicaid programs are subject to higher
marketing and advertising costs associated with selling to individuals rather
than to groups.

      Management of Growth

      Over the past five years the Company has experienced rapid growth in its
business and in its staff and the Company will be affected by its ability to
manage growth effectively, including its ability to continue to develop
processes and systems to support its growing operations. In September 1996 the
Company converted a significant part of its business operations to a new
computer operating system. Unanticipated software and hardware problems arising
in connection with the conversion resulted in significant delays in the
Company's claims payments and group and individual billing and adversely
affected claims payment and billing. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." The Company does not intend
to promote growth at the level of prior years because the Company's priority in
1998 will be to strengthen its service and systems infrastructure. However, no
assurance can be given that the Company will not continue to experience
significant service and systems infrastructure problems in 1998 and beyond.


      Management of Information Systems

      There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in
mitigating the existing system problems that have resulted in payment delays and
claims processing errors. Moreover, operating and other issues can lead to data
problems that affect performance of important functions, including claims
payment and group and individual billing. There can also be no assurance that
the process of improving existing systems will not be delayed or that additional
systems issues will not arise in the future.
<PAGE>   17
   Recent Events and Related Publicity

   Recent events at the Company in the last several months have resulted in
adverse publicity. Such events and related publicity may adversely affect the
Company's provider network and future enrollment in the Company's health benefit
plans.
<PAGE>   18
discretionary review of the Company.

      Collectibility of Advances

      As part of its attempts to ameliorate delays in processing claims for
payment, as of March 31, 1998, the Company had advanced $183,375,000 in funds to
providers pending the Company's disposition of claims for payment. The New York
State Insurance Department is requiring the Company to obtain written
acknowledgments of such advances from recipients of advances. If the Company is
unable to receive written acknowledgments there can be no assurance that the
insurance regulators will continue to recognize such advances as admissible
assets for regulatory purposes. If the insurance regulators do not recognize
such advances as admissible assets, the capital of certain of the Company's
regulated subsidiaries could be impaired. The Company may have to make
additional capital contributions to compensate for any impairment. Although the
Company believes that the advances will be repaid in full, there can be no
assurance that the advances will be repaid in full.


<PAGE>   19
MARKET RISK DISCLOSURES

The Company's consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 1998 includes a
significant amount of assets whose fair values are subject to market risk. Since
the substantial portion of the Company's investments are in fixed rate debt
securities, interest rate fluctuations represent the largest market risk factor
affecting the Company's consolidated financial position. Interest rate risk is
managed within a tight duration band, and credit risk is managed by investing in
U.S. government obligations and in corporate and municipal debt securities with
high average quality ratings and maintaining a diversified sector exposure
within the debt securities portfolio. A hypothetical immediate increase of 100
basis points in market interest rates would decrease the fair value of the
Company's investments in debt securities as of March 31, 1998 by approximately
$11.3 million, while a 200 basis points increase in rates would decrease the
value of such investments by approximately $22.5 million. A hypothetical
immediate decrease of 100 basis points in market interest rates would increase
the fair value of the Company's investments in debt securities as of March 31,
1998 by approximately $10.9 million, while a 200 basis points decrease in rates
would increase the value of such investments by approximately $22.2 million. The
Company's investment in equity securities as of March 31, 1998 is not
significant. Caution should be used in evaluating the Company's overall market
risk based on the above information since actual results could differ materially
because the information was developed using hypothetical assumptions.

YEAR 2000 DATE CONVERSION

       The Company is currently conducting a comprehensive review of its
computer systems to identify the systems that could be affected by the "Year
2000" date conversion and is developing an implementation plan to resolve the
issue. The Year 2000 problem is the result of computer programs being written
using two digits rather than four to define the applicable year. Any of the
Company's programs that have time-sensitive software may recognize the date "00"
as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000. This could result in system failure
or miscalculations. The Company is utilizing and will utilize both internal and
external resources to identify, correct or reprogram, and test the systems for
Year 2000 compliance. The Company has not completed its assessment of the Year
2000 date conversion. Accordingly, the Company cannot estimate its Year 2000
compliance expense and the related potential effect on the Company's results of
operations.

    The Company is communicating with certain material vendors to determine the
extent to which the Company may be vulnerable to such vendors' failure to
resolve their own "Year 2000" issues. The Company will attempt to mitigate its
risk with respect to the failure of such vendors to be "Year 2000" compliant.
The effect, if any, is not reasonably estimable at this time.

ITEM 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

       See information contained in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations under "Market Risk Disclosures."

                                       13
<PAGE>   20
                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

    Securities Class Action Litigation

    As previously reported by the Company, following the October 27, 1997
decline in the price per share of the Company's common stock, purported
securities class action lawsuits were filed on October 28, 29, and 30, 1997
against the Company and certain of its officers in the United States District
Courts for the Eastern District of New York, the Southern District of New York
and the District of Connecticut. Since that time, plaintiffs have filed
additional securities class actions (see below) against Oxford and certain of
its directors and officers in the United States District Courts for the Southern
District of New York, the Eastern District of New York, the Eastern District of
Arkansas, and the District of Connecticut.

    The complaints in these lawsuits purport to be class actions on behalf of
purchasers of Oxford's securities during varying periods beginning on February
6, 1996 through December 9, 1997. The complaints generally allege that
defendants violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
("Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 thereunder by making false and misleading
statements and failing to disclose certain allegedly material information
regarding changes in Oxford's computer system, and the Company's membership
enrollment, revenues, medical expenses, and ability to collect on its accounts
receivable. Certain of the complaints also assert claims against the individual
defendants alleging violations of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and claims
against all of the defendants for negligent misrepresentation. The complaints
also allege that certain of the individual defendants disposed of Oxford's
common stock while the price of that stock was artificially inflated by
allegedly false and misleading statements and omissions. The complaints seek
unspecified damages, attorneys' and experts' fees and costs, and such other
relief as the court deems proper.

    The complaints filed in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York are Metro Services, Inc., et al. v. Oxford Health Plans,
Inc., et al., No. 97 Civ. 08023 (filed Oct. 29, 1997); Worldco, LLC, et al. v.
Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 97 Civ. 8494 (filed Nov. 14, 1997);
Jerovsek, et al. v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 97 Civ. 8882 (filed
Dec. 2, 1997); North River Trading Co., LLC v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et
al., No. 97 Civ. 9372 (filed Dec. 22, 1997); National Industry Pension Fund v.
Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 97 Civ. 9566 (filed Dec. 31, 1997);
Scheinfeld v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 98 Civ. 1399 (originally
filed Dec. 31, 1997 in the United States District Court for the District of
Connecticut and transferred); and Paskowitz v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et
al., No. 98 Civ. 1991 (filed March 19, 1998).

    The complaints filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of New York are Koenig v. Oxford Health Plans, et al., No. 97 Civ. 6188
(filed Oct. 29, 1997); Wolper v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 97 Civ.
6299 (filed Oct. 29, 1997); Tawil v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 97
Civ. 7289 (filed Dec. 11, 1997); and Winters, et al. v. Oxford Health Plans,
Inc., et al., No. 97 Civ. 7449 (filed Dec. 18, 1997).

    The complaints filed in the United States District Court for the District of
Connecticut are Heller v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02295
(filed Oct. 28, 1997); Fanning v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV
02300 (filed Oct. 29, 1997); Lowrie, IRA v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al.,
No. 397 CV 02299 (filed Oct. 29, 1997); Barton v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et
al., No. 397 CV 02306 (filed Oct. 30, 1997); Sager v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc.,
et al., No. 397 CV 02310 (filed Oct. 30, 1997); Cohen v. Oxford Health Plans,
Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02316 (filed Oct. 31, 1997); Katzman v. Oxford Health
Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02317 (filed Oct. 31, 1997); Shapiro v. Oxford
Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02324 (filed Oct. 31, 1997); Willis v.
Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02326 (filed Oct. 31, 1997); Saura
v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02329 (filed Nov. 3, 1997);
Selig v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02337 (filed Nov. 4,
1997); Brandes v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02343 (filed
Nov. 4, 1997); Ross v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02344
(filed Nov. 4, 1997); Sole v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV
02345 (filed Nov. 4, 1997); Henricks v. Wiggins, et al., No. 397 CV 02346 (filed
Nov. 4 1997); Williams v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02348
(filed Nov. 5, 1997); Direct Marketing Day in New York, Inc. v. Oxford Health
Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02349 (filed Nov. 5, 1997); Howard Vogel
Retirement Plans, Inc., et al. v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV
02325 (filed Oct. 31, 1997 and amended Dec. 17, 1997); Serbin v. Oxford Health
Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02426 (filed Nov. 18, 1997); Hoffman v. Oxford
Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02458 (filed Nov. 24, 1997); Armstrong v.
Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02470 (filed Nov. 25, 1997);
Roeder, et al. v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02496 (filed
Nov. 26, 1997); Braun v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02510
(filed Dec. 1, 1997); Blauvelt, et al. v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No.
397 CV 02512 (filed Dec. 2, 1997); Hobler et al. v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc.,
et al., No. 397 CV 02535 (filed Dec. 3, 1997); Bergman v. Oxford Health Plans,
Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02564 (filed Dec. 8, 1997); Pasternak v. Oxford Health
Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02567 (filed Dec. 8, 1997); Perkins Partners I,
Ltd. v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02573 (filed Dec. 9,
1997); N.I.D.D., Ltd. v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02584
(filed Dec. 9, 1997); Burch v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV
02585 (filed Dec. 9, 1997); Mark v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397
CV 02594 (filed Dec. 11, 1997); Ross, et al. v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et
al., No. 397 CV 02613 (filed Dec. 12, 1997); Lerchbacker v. Oxford Health Plans,
Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02670 (filed Dec. 22, 1997); State Board of
Administration of Florida v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02709
(filed Dec. 29, 1997) (the complaint, although purportedly not brought on behalf
of a class of shareholders, invites similarly situated persons to join as
plaintiffs); and Ceisler v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No. 397 CV 02729
(filed Dec. 31, 1997).

    The complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Arkansas is Rudish v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al., No.
LR-C-97-1053 (filed Dec. 29, 1997).

    The Company anticipates that additional class action complaints containing
similar allegations may be filed in the future.

    On January 6, 1998, certain plaintiffs filed an application with the
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ("JPML") to transfer most of these
actions for consolidated or coordinated pretrial proceedings before Judge
Charles L. Brieant of the United States District Court for the Southern District
of New York. The Oxford defendants subsequently filed a similar application with
the JPML seeking the transfer of all of these actions for consolidated or
coordinated pretrial proceedings, together with the shareholder derivative
actions discussed below, before Judge Brieant. The JPML heard argument on the
applications on March 27, 1998. On April 28, 1998, the JPML entered an order
transferring substantially all of these actions for consolidated or
coordinated pretrial proceedings, together with the federal shareholder
derivative actions discussed below, before Judge Brieant.

    The outcomes of these actions cannot be predicted at this time, although the
Company believes that it and the individual defendants have substantial defenses
to the claims asserted and intends to defend the actions vigorously.

  Shareholder Derivative Litigation

    As previously reported by the Company, in December 1997, purported
shareholder derivative actions were filed on behalf of the Company in
Connecticut Superior Court against the Company's directors and certain of its
officers (and the Company itself as a nominal defendant). Several additional
purported shareholder derivative actions (see below) subsequently were filed on
behalf of Oxford in Connecticut Superior Court and in the United States District
Courts for the Southern District of New York and the District of Connecticut
against the Company's directors and certain of its officers (and the Company
itself as a nominal defendant).

     These derivative complaints generally allege that defendants breached their
fiduciary obligations to the Company, mismanaged the Company and wasted its
assets in planning and implementing certain changes to Oxford's computer system,
by making misrepresentations concerning the status of those changes in Oxford's
computer system, by failing to design and to implement adequate financial
controls and information systems for the Company, and by making
misrepresentations concerning Oxford's membership enrollment, revenues, profits
and medical costs in Oxford's financial statements and other public
representations. The complaints further allege that certain of the defendants
breached their fiduciary obligations to the Company by disposing of Oxford
common stock while the price of that common stock was artificially inflated by
their alleged misstatements and omissions. The complaints seek unspecified
damages, attorneys' and experts' fees and costs and such other relief as the
court deems proper. None of the plaintiffs has made a demand on the Company's
Board of Directors that Oxford pursue the causes of action alleged in the
complaint. Each complaint alleges that plaintiff's duty to make such a demand
was excused by the directors' alleged conflict of interest with respect to the
matters alleged therein.

    The complaints filed in Connecticut Superior Court are Reich v. Wiggins, et
al., No. CV 97-485145 (filed on or about Dec. 12, 1997); Gorelkin v. Wiggins, et
al., No. CV-98-0163665 S (filed on or about Dec. 24, 1997); and Kellmer v.
Wiggins, et al., No. CV 98-0163664 S HAS (filed on or about Jan. 28, 1998).

    The complaints filed in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York are Roth v. Wiggins, et al., No. 98 Civ. 0153 (filed Jan.
12, 1998); Plevy v. Wiggins, et al., No. 98 Civ. 0165 (filed Jan. 12, 1998);
Mosson v. Wiggins, et al., No. 98 Civ. 0219 (filed Jan. 13, 1998); Boyd, et al.
v. Wiggins, et al., No. 98 Civ. 0277 (filed Jan. 16, 1998); and Glick v.
Wiggins, et al., No. 98 Civ. 0345 (filed Jan. 21, 1998).

    The complaints filed in the United States District Court for the District of
Connecticut are Mosson v. Wiggins, et al., No. 397 CV 02651 (filed Dec. 22,
1997), and Fisher, et al. v. Wiggins, et al., No. 397 CV 02742 (filed Dec. 31,
1997).

    The Company anticipates that additional purported shareholder derivative
actions containing similar allegations may be filed. Although the outcome of
these actions cannot be predicted at this time, the Company believes that the
defendants have substantial defenses to the claims asserted in the complaints.
On March 16, 1998, Oxford and certain of the individual defendants filed a
motion to dismiss or, alternatively, to stay two of the purported derivative
actions pending in Connecticut Superior Court. On March 23, 1998, Oxford and
certain of the individual defendants filed a motion to dismiss or,
alternatively, to stay the third purported derivative action pending in
Connecticut Superior Court. Since then, the parties to the
state derivative actions have agreed in principle, under certain conditions, to
hold all pretrial proceedings in those actions in abeyance during the pretrial
proceedings in the federal derivative actions, and to allow the state derivative
plaintiffs to participate to a limited extent in the pretrial proceedings in the
federal derivative actions.

     In addition, on January 27, 1998, defendants filed an application with the
JPML to transfer the federal derivative actions for consolidated or coordinated
pretrial proceedings before Judge Charles L. Brieant of the Southern District of
New York. The JPML heard argument on the application on March 27, 1998. As these
applications are not opposed in any material respect, the Company anticipates
that the federal purported derivative actions will be transferred for
consolidated or coordinated pretrial proceedings before Judge Brieant.

   State Insurance Departments

    As previously reported by the Company, the New York State Insurance
Department ("NYSID") is presently conducting its triennial examination and
market conduct examination of Oxford's New York HMO and insurance subsidiaries.
As previously reported, in December 1997, the Company made additions of $164
million to the reserves of its New York subsidiaries at the direction of the
NYSID. The NYSID also issued a Market Conduct Report identifying several alleged
violations of state law and NYSID regulations. On December 22, 1997, the NYSID
and Oxford entered into a stipulation under which Oxford promised to take
certain corrective measures and to pay restitution and paid a $3 million fine.
The stipulation provides that the NYSID will not impose any other fines for
Oxford's conduct up to November 1, 1997. The NYSID has continued to review
market conduct issues, including, among others, those relating to claims
processing. At this time, the Company cannot predict the outcome of such
continuing review. The NYSID has directed the Company's New York subsidiaries to
obtain notes or other written evidence of agreements to repay from each provider
who has received an advance. The NYSID is presently conducting an examination of
Oxford's finances and will focus on adequacy of reserves for medical costs
payable, premiums receivable and provider advances. The NYSID is expected to
issue a report in the coming months.

    The Company is also subject to ongoing examinations with respect to
financial condition and market conduct for its HMO and insurance subsidiaries in
other states where it conducts business. The outcome of these examinations
cannot be predicted at this time.

  New York State Attorney General

    As previously reported, on November 6, 1997, the New York State Attorney
General served a subpoena duces tecum on the Company requiring the production of
various documents, records and materials "in regard to matters relating to the
practices of the [Company] and others in the offering, issuance, sale,
promotion, negotiation, advertisement, distribution or purchase of securities in
or from the State of New York." Since then, Oxford has produced a substantial
number of documents in response to the subpoena, and expects to produce
additional documents. In addition, Oxford has been asked to provide testimony
from some of its present and former directors and officers.

    As previously reported, the Company entered into an Assurance of
Discontinuance, effective July 25, 1997, with the Attorney General under which
the Company agreed to pay interest at 9% per annum on provider clean claims not
paid by Oxford within 30 days on its New York commercial and Medicaid lines of
business until January 22, 1998. Thereafter, the Company's obligations to make
prompt payments are governed by applicable New York law. See "Recent Regulatory
Developments". In addition, contemporaneously, the Company agreed to pay varying
interest rates to providers in Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and
Pennsylvania.

    The Company has subsequently responded to a number of inquiries by the
Attorney General with respect to Oxford's compliance with the Assurance of
Discontinuance. On February 2, 1998, the Attorney General served a subpoena
duces tecum on Oxford seeking production of certain documents relating to
complaints from providers and subscribers regarding nonpayment or untimely
payment of claims, interest paid under the Assurance, accounts payable, provider
claims processing, and suspended accounts payable. Oxford has produced a number
of documents in response to the subpoena, and expects to produce additional
documents.

    The Company intends to cooperate fully with the Attorney General's
inquiries, the outcome of which cannot be predicted at this time.

    Securities and Exchange Commission

    As previously reported, the Company received an informal request on December
9, 1997 from the Securities and Exchange Commission's Northeast Regional Office
seeking production of certain documents and information concerning a number of
subjects, including disclosures made in the Company's October 27, 1997 press
release announcing a loss in the third quarter. Oxford has produced documents
and has provided information in response to this informal request.

    On January 30, 1998, pursuant to a formal order, the Commission served a
subpoena duces tecum on Oxford for documents concerning a number of subjects,
including internal and external audits, uncollectible premium receivables,
timing of payments to vendors, doctors and hospitals, late payments to medical
providers, computer system problems, agreements with the New York State Attorney
General, and policies and procedures relating to the sale of Oxford securities
by officers and directors. Oxford has also been requested to provide testimony
from some of its present and former directors and officers. Oxford has produced
documents in response to this subpoena, and intends to cooperate fully with the
Commission.

On April 23, 1998, pursuant to a formal order, the Commission served a second
subpoena duces tecum on Oxford for documents concerning, among other things,
advances to medical providers, additions to reserves for unpaid claims, and
adjustments related to terminations of group and individual members and for
non-paying group and individual members. Oxford intends to cooperate fully
with the Commission and produce documents in response to this subpoena.

Oxford cannot predict the outcome of the Commission's investigation at this
time.

  Health Care Financing Administration

    From February 9, 1998 through February 13, 1998, the Health Care Financing
Administration ("HCFA") conducted an enhanced site visit at Oxford to assess
Oxford's compliance with federal regulatory requirements for HMO eligibility and
Oxford's compliance with its obligations under its contract with HCFA. During
the visit, HCFA monitored, among other things, Oxford's administrative and
managerial arrangements, Oxford's quality assurance program, Oxford's health
services delivery program, and all aspects of Oxford's implementation of the
Medicare risk program. In its exit interview with the Company, HCFA expressed
concern over claims payment delays and various other regulatory issues,
including HCFA requirements regarding enrollment and disenrollment documentation
and provider contracts. To the extent that alleged violations of regulatory
requirements or contractual obligations are identified, HCFA may seek corrective
action, impose fines, limit enrollment in the Company's Medicare plans and
impose other sanctions. The Company has not received a final report from HCFA
and cannot predict at this time any action HCFA might take as a result of its
site visit.

  Arbitration Proceedings

    On February 3, 1998, the New York County Medical Society ("NYCMS") initiated
an arbitration proceeding before the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") in
New York against Oxford alleging breach of the written agreements between Oxford
and some NYCMS physician members and failure to adopt standards and practices
consistent with the intent of those agreements. The notice of intention to
arbitrate was subsequently amended to join thirteen additional New York medical
associations as co-claimants. NYCMS and the other claimants seek declaratory and
injunctive relief requiring various changes to Oxford's internal practices and
policies, including practices in the processing and payment of claims submitted
by physicians. Oxford has petitioned the New York State Supreme Court for a
permanent stay of this proceeding; the outcome of this motion cannot be
predicted at this time. The NYCMS and other claimants also announced their
intention to seek arbitration on behalf of physicians having particular claim
disputes or seeking payment of delayed claims from Oxford. Two such arbitration
proceedings have been commenced by individual physicians.

    The Company has been informed that on March 9, 1998, a purported class
action arbitration was brought by two physicians before the AAA in Connecticut
against Oxford alleging breach of contract and violation of the Connecticut
Unfair Insurance Practices Act. The Company has not yet received a copy of the
Demand for Arbitration and is considering its response. The outcome of the
arbitration cannot be predicted at this time, although the Company believes
that it has substantial defenses to the claims asserted and intends to defend
the arbitration vigorously.

    Jeffrey S. Oppenheim, M.D., et al. v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., et al.,
Index No. 97/109088

    On May 19, 1997, Oxford was served with a purported "Class Action Complaint"
filed in the New York State Supreme Court, New York County by two physicians and
a medical association of five physicians. Plaintiffs alleged that Oxford (i)
failed to make timely payments to plaintiffs for claims submitted for health
care services and (ii) improperly withheld from plaintiffs a portion of
plaintiffs' agreed compensation. Plaintiffs alleged causes of action for common
law fraud and deceit, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty,
breach of implied covenants and breach of contract. The complaint sought an
award of an unspecified amount of compensatory and exemplary damages, an
accounting, and equitable relief.

    On July 24, 1997, Oxford and plaintiffs reached a settlement in principle
of the class claims wherein Oxford agreed to pay, from September 1, 1997 to
January 1, 2000, interest at certain specified rates to physicians who did not
receive payments from Oxford within certain specified time periods after
submitting "clean claims" (a term that was to be applied in a manner consistent
with certain industry guidelines). Moreover, Oxford agreed to provide to
plaintiffs' counsel, on a confidential basis, certain financial information that
Oxford believed would demonstrate that Oxford acted within its contractual
rights in making decisions on payments withheld from plaintiffs and members of
the alleged class. The settlement in principle provides that, if plaintiffs'
counsel reasonably does not agree with Oxford's belief in this regard,
plaintiffs retain the right to proceed individually (but not as a class) against
Oxford by way of arbitration. Oxford has supplied financial information to
plaintiffs' counsel and has exchanged draft settlement papers with plaintiffs'
counsel. The parties have not yet submitted final settlement papers to the
Court.

  Other

    In the ordinary course of its business, the Company is subject to claims
and legal actions by members in connection with benefit coverage determinations
and alleged acts by network providers and by health care providers and others.

ITEM 2.    CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

    See information contained in note 5 of "Notes to Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."
<PAGE>   21
ITEM 2.    CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

      See information contained in note 5 of "Notes to Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."

ITEM 5.    OTHER INFORMATION

STATUS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS

      In September 1996, the Company converted a significant part of its
business operations to a new computer operating system developed at Oxford known
as "Pulse." From September 1996, most business functions at the Company were
operated on the Pulse system, with the exception of the processing of claims,
which continued to operate on the previous system, known as "Pick." Since the
conversion, the Company must transmit claims, provider, membership and other
data from Pulse to Pick in order to process claims, and processed claims data is
transmitted from Pick to Pulse where checks are prepared. This transmission of
data between systems is known as "backbridging."

      Unanticipated software and hardware problems arising in connection with
the conversion resulted in significant delays in the Company's claims payments
and group and individual billing and adversely affected claims payment and
billing. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations." The Company implemented a number of systems and
operational improvements during 1996 and 1997 which had the effect of improving
claims turnaround times, and reducing claims backlogs and claims and billing
errors. However, the backbridging process continues to create issues relating to
transfer of data, which continues to cause delays for certain claims, and there
have been delays in delivering all needed functionality under the Pulse system.
The Company is continuing to seek improvements in the process referred to above
and to added needed functionality.

      The Company has undertaken a thorough review of its information systems
needs and capabilities with the assistance of independent experts. As a result
of this review, the Company has decided not to continue the development of
claims processing functionality in Pulse because of the risks associated with
the development, integration and support of this functionality. The Company has
also determined that significant risks would be involved integrating other
claims processing systems available from third parties with the existing Pulse
system.

      With the recent arrival of Mr. Marvin P. Rich as Chief Administrative
Officer, the Company continues to review its long-term information system
strategy, but has not reached any final decision concerning alternative
information systems approaches. The Company's resources are currently focused on
making improvements to the Pulse and Pick systems to improve performance and
provide additional needed functionality pending any such decision.

      There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in
mitigating the existing system problems that have resulted in payment delays and
claims processing errors. Moreover, operating and other issues can lead to data
problems that affect performance of important functions, including claims
payment and group and individual billing. There can also be no assurance that
the process of identifying information systems alternatives and improving
existing systems will not be delayed or that additional systems issues will not
arise in the future.

      For information as to the "Year 2000" date conversion, see "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations --
Liquidity and Capital Resources -- Year 2000 Date Conversion."

ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

                (a)  Exhibits

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      Exhibit No.      Description of Document
                      -----------      -----------------------
<S>                   <C>              <C> 
                         3(a)          Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
                                       Incorporation, as amended, of the Registrant
                                    
                         3(b)          Amended and Restated Bylaws of the
                                       Registrant
                                    
                         10(a)         Purchase Agreement, dated May 7, 1998,
                                       between Registrant and Donaldson, Lufkin &
                                       Jenrette Securities Corporation
                                    
                         10(b)         Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 13,
                                       1998, between Registrant and Donaldson,
                                       Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
                                    
                         10(c)         Indenture of Registrant, dated as of May 13,
                                       1998, between Registrant and The Chase
                                       Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, including
                                       form of 11% Senior Notes due 2005

                         10(d)         Term Loan Agreement, dated as of May 13, 1998,
                                       among Registrant, Lenders Listed therein,
                                       DLJ Capital Funding, Inc. and IBJ
                                       Schroder Bank & Trust Company, including
                                       exhibits
</TABLE>

                (b) Reports on Form 8-K

                      In a report on Form 8-K dated January 8, 1998, and filed
                      January 8, 1998, the Company reported, under Item 5.
                      "Other Events," the formation of a new executive
                      committee.

                      In a report on Form 8-K dated February 6, 1998, and filed
                      February 9, 1998, the Company reported, under Item 5.
                      "Other Events," the issuance of a $100 million senior
                      secured increasing rate loan pursuant to a $200 million
                      bridge securities purchase agreement.

                      In a report on Form 8-K dated February 24, 1998, and filed
                      February 24, 1998, the Company reported, under Item 5.
                      "Other Events," its fourth quarter 1997 earnings press
                      release.

                                       14
<PAGE>   22
                                   SIGNATURES


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.


                                                OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                                       (REGISTRANT)


   May 15, 1998                                    /s/ NORMAN C. PAYSON, M.D.
- ------------------------               ----------------------------------------
         Date                                        NORMAN C. PAYSON, M.D.,
                                                 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


   May 15, 1998                                       /s/ ALBERT A. KOCH
- ------------------------               ----------------------------------------
        Date                                        ALBERT A. KOCH,
                                                CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

                                       15
<PAGE>   23
                   OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit                                                                                                  Page
Number             Description of Document                                                              Number
- ------             -----------------------                                                              ------
<S>               <C>                                                                                  <C>
    3(a)           Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant,
                        as amended ......................................................................  17

    3(b)           Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant ............................................  XX

   10(a)           Purchase Agreement, dated May 7, 1998, between Registrant and
                        Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation .............................  XX

   10(b)           Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 13, 1998,
                        between Registrant and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
                        Securities Corporation ..........................................................  XX

   10(c)           Indenture of Registrant, dated May 13, 1998, between Registrant and
                        The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, including form of
                        11% Senior Notes due 2005........................................................  XX

   10(d)           Term Loan Agreement, dated May 13, 1998, among Registrant, Lenders
                      Listed therein, DLJ Capital Funding, Inc. and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust
                      Company, including exhibits........................................................  XX
</TABLE>

                                       16

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 3.a

                           SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.
                            (a Delaware corporation)


      OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), hereby certifies as follows:

     1. The name of the Corporation is Oxford Health Plans, Inc. The date of
filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State
was September 17, 1984, and the name under which it was originally incorporated
was Integrated Health Plans, Inc.

     2. This Restated Certificate of Incorporation amends, restates and
integrates the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation (as previously
amended and restated) and has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242
and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the written
consent of the stockholders of the Corporation was given in accordance with
Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and written
notice to the stockholders who did not consent in writing was provided as
required by Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     3. The text of the present Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to
read in full as set forth on the attached Exhibit A.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC. has caused this Second
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by Stephen F.
Wiggins, its President, and attested by Donald V. Barrett, its Secretary,
this 13th day of August, 1991.

                                          OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.


                                          By:
                                             ---------------------------------
                                             Stephen F. Wiggins
                                             President

ATTESTED:

By:
   -------------------------------
   Donald V. Barrett
   Secretary
<PAGE>   2
                                                                       Exhibit A

                           SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.
                            (a Delaware Corporation)

                                  ARTICLE FIRST

                                      Name

   The name of the corporation is OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC. (the
"Corporation").

                                 ARTICLE SECOND

                                     Purpose

   The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are as follows:

      1. To establish a plan or plans under which the Corporation, directly or
through one or more subsidiaries or affiliates, may provide health services
and/or any form of health insurance to subscribers both individually and in
groups; to engage in all of the activities of a health services or health
maintenance or health insurance organization, however designated, as permitted
by applicable law. Health services may include diagnostic services, preventive
medicine and medical treatment in clinics, hospitals, treatment centers, or
other medical facilities or institutions by licensed physicians, nurses and
other health services personnel and the furnishing of drugs and other medical
products and equipment;

      2. To establish, operate, and maintain medical service centers, clinics
and other medical facilities;

      3. To contract for medical and related services with physicians, hospital
service corporations, medical service corporations and other corporations,
plans, persons and entities;

      4. To own or contract with mutual and stock insurance companies,
underwriters and other corporations and persons for and in connection with
health insurance;

      5. To contract with agencies of federal, state and local governments;

      6. To acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise, and to construct, own,
hold, use maintain, improve, and operate, and to sell, lease, and otherwise
dispose of real and 
<PAGE>   3
personal property;

      7. To form, participate in or acquire other health service or health
maintenance organizations or health insurance companies or other business
entities;

      8. In general to perform and do, whether directly or indirectly and
whether alone or in conjunction or cooperation with other persons and
organizations of every kind and nature, all other acts and things incidental to
or in furtherance of the accomplishment of the purposes of the Corporation, and
to sue and exercise all applicable powers conferred from time to time by
applicable law; and

      9. To engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be
organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware (the "Delaware
Statute").

                                  ARTICLE THIRD

                                Registered Office

      The address of the Corporation's registered office in the State of
Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street in the City of
Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at such
address is The Corporation Trust Company.

                                 ARTICLE FOURTH

                                  Capital Stock

      The total authorized capital stock of the Corporation consists of
15,000,000 shares, of which 2,000,000 are shares of Preferred Stock, $.01 par
value ("Preferred Stock"), and 13,000,000 are shares of Common Stock, $.01 par
value, ("Common Stock"). The designations and the powers, preferences and
relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the Preferred Stock and
the Common Stock shall be as follows:

      1. The Preferred Stock may be issued, from time to time, in one or more
series, with such designations, voting powers, if any, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations
or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or
resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors, in such resolution or resolutions (a copy of
which shall be filed and recorded as required by law), is also expressly
authorized to fix:

      (i) the distinctive serial designations and the division of such shares
into series and the number of shares of a particular series, which may be
increased or decreased, but not below the number of shares thereof then
outstanding, by a certificate made, signed, filed 
<PAGE>   4
and recorded as required by law;

      (ii) the annual dividend rate (or method of determining such rate) for the
particular series, the date or dates upon which such dividends shall be payable,
and the date or dates or method of determining the date or dates from which
dividends on all shares of such series shall be cumulative, if dividends on
stock of the particular series shall be cumulative;

      (iii) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and
the terms and conditions upon which the shares of such series may be redeemed,
in whole or in part, at the option of the Corporation;

      (iv) the right, if any, of the holders of a particular series or the
Corporation to convert such stock into other classes or series of stock or to
exchange such stock for shares of any other class of stock or series thereof,
and the terms and conditions, if any, including the price or prices or the rate
or rates of conversion and the terms and conditions of any adjustments thereof,
of such conversion;

      (v) the obligation, if any, of the Corporation to purchase and retire and
redeem, in whole or in part, shares of a particular series as a sinking fund or
redemption or purchase account, the terms thereof and the redemption price or
prices per share for such series redeemed pursuant to the sinking fund or
redemption account;

      (vi) the voting rights, if any, of the shares of such series in addition
to those required by law, including the number of votes per share and any
requirement for the approval by the holders of up to 66 2/3% of all Preferred
Stock, or of the shares of one or more series, or of both, as a condition to
specified corporate action or amendments to the certificate of incorporation;

      (vii) the ranking of the shares of the series as compared with shares of
other series of the Preferred Stock in respect of the right to receive payments
out of the assets of the Corporation upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation; and

      (viii) any other rights, obligations, or provisions which may be so
determined to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

      All shares of any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every
particular and all series shall rank equally and be identical in all respects
except in so far as they may vary with respect to the matters which the Board of
Directors is hereby expressly authorized to determine in the resolution or
resolutions providing for the issue of any series of the Preferred Stock.

      2. All shares of Preferred Stock shall rank senior to the Common Stock in
respect of the right to receive dividends and the right to receive payments out
of the assets of the 
<PAGE>   5
Corporation upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Corporation. The shares of an one series of Preferred Stock shall be
identical with each other in all respects except as to the dates from and after
which dividends thereon shall be cumulative. All shares of Preferred Stock
redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation (including shares
surrendered for conversion) shall be canceled and thereupon restored to the
status of authorized but unissued Preferred Stock undesignated as to series.

      3. Holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for
each share of such stock upon all questions presented to shareholders of the
Corporation. The rights of holders of Common Stock shall be subject to the
powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof, of the Preferred Stock.

                                  ARTICLE FIFTH

                  Management of the Affairs of the Corporation

      Except as otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation or as
may otherwise be provided in the By-Laws of the Corporation, the Board of
Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal
By-Laws of the Corporation.

                                  ARTICLE SIXTH

                              Election of Directors

      Election of Directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot
except and to the extent provided in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

                                 ARTICLE SEVENTH

                              Meetings of the Board

      The Board of Directors shall have the power to hold its meetings within or
outside the State of Delaware, at such place as from time to time may be
designated by the By-Laws or by resolution of the Board.


                                 ARTICLE EIGHTH

                                 Indemnification

      The Corporation shall indemnify its officers and directors to the fullest
extent permitted by law.
<PAGE>   6
                                  ARTICLE NINTH

                              Director's Liability

      To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as
the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a Director of this Corporation
shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director.

                                  ARTICLE TENTH

                               Stockholder Action

      Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the
Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of
stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in
writing by such holders.

                                ARTICLE ELEVENTH

                 Vote Required for Certain Business Transactions

      1. In addition to the requirements of the provisions of any series of
Preferred Stock which may be outstanding, and whether or not a vote of the
stockholders is otherwise required, the affirmative vote of the holders of not
less than eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of the Voting Stock shall be
required for the approval or authorization of any Business Transaction with a
Related Person, or any Business Transaction in which a Related Person has an
interest (other than only a proportionate interest as a stockholder of the
Corporation); provided, however, that the eighty percent (80%) voting
requirement shall not be applicable if (i) the Business Transaction is duly
approved by the continuing Directors, or (ii) all of the following conditions
are satisfied:

            (a)   the Business Transaction is a merger or consolidation or sale
                  of substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, and the
                  aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of the
                  property, securities or other consideration to be received per
                  share (on the date of effectiveness of such merger or
                  consolidation or on the date of distribution to stockholders
                  of the Corporation of the proceeds from such sale of assets)
                  by holders of Common Stock of the Corporation (other than such
                  Related Person) in connection with such Business Transaction
                  is at least equal in value to such Related Person's Highest
                  Common Stock Purchase Price;

            (b)   after such Related Person has become the Beneficial Owner of
                  not less than twenty percent (20%) of the voting power of the
                  Voting Stock and prior to the consummation of such Business
                  Transaction, such
<PAGE>   7
                  Related Person shall not have become the Beneficial Owner of
                  any additional shares of Voting Stock or securities
                  convertible into Voting Stock, except (x) as a part of the
                  transaction which resulted in such Related Person becoming the
                  Beneficial Owner of not less than ten percent (10%) of the
                  voting power of the Voting Stock or (y) as a result of a pro
                  rata stock dividend or stock split; and

            (c)   prior to the consummation of such Business Transaction, such
                  Related Person shall not have, directly or indirectly, (x)
                  received the benefit (other than only a proportionate benefit
                  as a stockholder of the Corporation) of any loans, advances,
                  guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or tax
                  credits provided by the Corporation or any of its
                  subsidiaries, (y) caused any material change in the
                  Corporation's business or equity capital structure, including,
                  without limitation, the issuance of shares of capital stock of
                  the Corporation or (z) except as duly approved by the
                  Continuing Directors, caused the Corporation to fail to
                  declare and pay quarterly cash dividends on the outstanding
                  Common Stock on a per share basis at least equal to the cash
                  dividends being paid thereon by the Corporation immediately
                  prior to the date on which the Related Person became a Related
                  Person.

      2. For the purpose of this Article ELEVENTH:

                        (i)   The term "Business Transaction" shall mean (a) any
                              merger or consolidation involving the Corporation
                              or a subsidiary of the Corporation, (b) any sale,
                              lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition (in
                              one transaction or a series of related
                              transactions), including, with limitation, a
                              mortgage or any other security device, of all or
                              any Substantial Part of the assets either of the
                              Corporation or of a subsidiary of the Corporation,
                              (c) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other
                              disposition (in one transaction or a series of
                              related transaction) of all or any Substantial
                              Part of the assets of an entity to the Corporation
                              or a subsidiary of the Corporation, (d) the
                              issuance, sale, exchange, transfer or other
                              disposition (in one transaction or in a series of
                              related transactions) by the Corporation or a
                              subsidiary of the Corporation of any securities of
                              the Corporation or any subsidiary of the
                              Corporation having an aggregate fair market value
                              of $20,000,000 or more, (e) any recapitalization
                              or reclassification of the securities of the
                              Corporation (including, without limitation, any
                              reverse stock split) or other transaction that
                              would have the effect of increasing the voting
                              power of a Related Person or reducing the number
                              of shares of each class of Voting Stock
                              outstanding, (f) any liquidation, spinoff,
                              splitoff, splitup or dissolution of the
<PAGE>   8
                              Corporation, and (g) any agreement contract or
                              other arrangement providing for any of the
                              transactions described in this definition of
                              Business Transaction.

      (ii)  The term "Related Person" shall mean and include (a) any individual,
            corporation, partnership, group, association or other person or
            entity which, together with its Affiliates and Associates, is the
            Beneficial Owner of not less than ten percent (10%) of the voting
            power of the Voting Stock or was the Beneficial Owner of no less
            than ten percent (10% ) of the voting power of the Voting Stock (x)
            at the time the definitive agreement providing for the Business
            Transaction (including any amendment thereof) was entered into, (y)
            at the time a resolution approving the Business Transaction was
            adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or (z) as of
            the record date for the vote on, or consent to, the Business
            Transaction, and (b) any Affiliate or Associate of any such
            individual, corporation, partnership, group, association or other
            person or entity; provided, however, and notwithstanding anything in
            the foregoing to the contrary, the term "Related Person" shall not
            include the Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
            Corporation, or any trustee of, or fiduciary with respect to, any
            such plan when acting in such capacity.

      (iii) The term "Beneficial Owner" shall be defined by reference to Rule
            13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on
            August 13, 1991; provided, however, that any individual,
            corporation, partnership, group, association or other person or
            entity which has the right to acquire any Voting Stock at any time
            in the future, whether such right is contingent or absolute,
            pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon
            exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise,
            shall be deemed the Beneficial Owner of such Voting Stock.

      (iv)  The term "Highest Common Stock Purchase Price" shall mean the
            highest amount of consideration paid by such Related Person for a
            share of Common Stock of the Corporation (including any brokerage
            commission, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees) in the
            transaction which resulted in such Related Person becoming a Related
            Person, at any time while such Related Person was a Related Person
            or within one year prior to the date such Related Person became a
            Related Person, whichever is higher; provided, however, that the
            Highest Common Stock Purchase Price shall be appropriately adjusted
            to reflect the occurrence of any reclassification, recapitalization,
            stock split, reverse stock split or other similar corporate
            readjustment in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock of
            the Corporation between the last date upon which such Related Person
            paid the Highest Common Stock Purchase Price to the effective date
            of the merger or consolidation or the date of distribution to
            stockholders of the Corporation of the proceeds from the sale of
            substantially all of the assets of the Corporation referred to in
            subparagraph (a) 
<PAGE>   9
            of Section 1 of this Article ELEVENTH.

      (v)   The term "Substantial Part" shall mean more than twenty percent
            (20%) of the fair market value of the total assets of the entity in
            question, as reflected on the most recent consolidation balance
            sheet of such entity existing at the time the shareholders of the
            Corporation would be required to approve or authorize the Business
            Transaction involving the assets constituting any such Substantial
            Part.

      (vi)  In the event of a merger in which the Corporation is the surviving
            corporation, for the purpose of subparagraph (a) of Section 1 of
            this Article ELEVENTH, the phrase "property, securities or other
            consideration to be received" shall include, without limitation,
            Common Stock of the Corporation retained by its stockholders (other
            than such Related Person).

      (vii) The term "Voting Stock" shall mean all outstanding shares of capital
            stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election
            of Directors, considered for the purpose of this Article ELEVENTH as
            one class.

      (viii)The term "Preferred Stock" shall mean each class of series of
            capital stock which may from time to time be authorized in or by
            Article FOURTH of this Certificate of Incorporation which is not
            designated as "Common Stock".

      (ix)  The term "Continuing Director" shall mean a Director who either was
            a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation on August 13,
            1991, or who became a Director of the Corporation subsequent to such
            date and whose election, or nomination for election by the
            Corporation's stockholders, was Duly Approved by the Continuing
            Directors then on the Board, either by a specific vote or by
            approval of the proxy statement issued by the Corporation on behalf
            of the Board of Directors in which such person is named as nominee
            for Director, without due objection to such nomination; provided,
            however, that in no event, shall a Director be considered a
            "Continuing Director" if such Director is a Related Person and the
            Business Transaction to be voted upon is with such Related Person or
            is one in which such Related Person has an interest (other than only
            a proportionate interest as a stockholder of the Corporation).

      (x)   The term "Duly Approved by the Continuing Directors" shall mean an
            action approved by the vote of at least a majority of the Continuing
            Directors then on the Board, except, if the votes of such Continuing
            Directors in favor of such action would be insufficient to
            constitute an act of the Board of Directors if a vote by all of its
            members were to have been taken, then such term shall mean an action
            approved by the unanimous vote of the Continuing Directors so long
            as there are at least three Continuing Directors on the Board at the
            time of 
<PAGE>   10
            such unanimous vote.

      (xi)  The term "Affiliate", used to indicate a relationship to a specified
            person, shall mean a person that directly, or indirectly through one
            or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under
            common control with, such specified person.

      (xii) The term "Associate", used to indicate a relationship with a
            specified person, shall mean (a) any corporation, partnership or
            other organization of which such specified person is an officer or
            partner (b) any trust or other estate in which such specified person
            has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which such specified
            person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, (c) any
            relative or spouse of such specified person, or any relative of such
            spouse, who has the same home as such specified person or who is a
            Director or officer of the Corporation or any of its parents or
            subsidiaries and (d) any person who is a Director, officer or
            partner of such specified person or of any corporation (other than
            the Corporation or any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation),
            partnership or other entity which is an Affiliate of such specified
            person.

3.    For the purpose of this Article ELEVENTH, so long as Continuing Directors
      constitute at least a majority of the entire Board of Directors, the Board
      of Directors shall have the power to make a good faith determination, on
      the basis of information know to them, of: (i) the number of shares of
      Voting Stock of which any person is the Beneficial Owner, (ii) whether a
      person is a Related Person or is an Affiliate or Associate of another,
      (iii) whether a person has an agreement, arrangement or understanding with
      another as to the matters referred to in the definition of Beneficial
      Owner herein, (iv) whether the assets subject to any Business Transaction
      constitute a Substantial Part, (v) whether any Business Transaction is
      with a Related Person or is one in which a Related Person has an interest
      (other than only a proportionate interest as a stockholder of the
      Corporation), (vi) whether a Related Person has, directly or indirectly,
      received the benefits or caused any of the changes referred to in
      subparagraph (c) of Section 1 of this Article ELEVENTH, and (vii) such
      other matters with respect to which a determination is required under this
      Article ELEVENTH; and such determination by the Board of Directors shall
      be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Article ELEVENTH.

4.    Nothing contained in this Article ELEVENTH shall be construed to relieve
      any Related Person of any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.

5.    The fact that any Business Transaction complies with the provisions of
      Section 1 of this Article ELEVENTH shall not be construed to impose any
      fiduciary duty, obligation or responsibility on the Board of Directors, or
      any member thereof, to approve such Business Transaction or recommend its
      adoption or approval to the stockholders of the Corporation.
<PAGE>   11
                                 ARTICLE TWELFTH

           Board of Directors; Numbers; Qualifications; Classification

1. (i) The number of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by or pursuant
   to the By-Laws of the Corporation. Directors need not be stockholders.

      (ii)  Unless waived by the Board of Directors, no person not already a
            director shall be eligible to be elected to or serve as a director
            unless such person's candidacy shall have been notified to the Board
            of Directors at least seventy-five (75) days before initiation of
            solicitation to the stockholders for election in the event of an
            election other than at an annual meeting and seventy-five (75) days
            before the corresponding date that had been the record date of the
            previous year's annual meeting in the event of an election at an
            annual meeting. Any such notification pursuant to this subparagraph
            (ii) shall be effective and such person shall be eligible to be
            elected or to serve only if the notification contains all
            information concerning such person which would be required to be
            included in a proxy statement pursuant to the rules and regulations
            under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any successor
            provisions.

      (iii) The Directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class
            I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as
            may be possible, of one-third of the total number of Directors
            constituting the entire Board of Directors. The term of the initial
            Class I Directors shall terminate on the date of the 1992 annual
            meeting of stockholders; the term of the initial Class II Directors
            shall terminate on the date of the 1993 annual meeting of
            stockholders, and the term of the initial Class III Directors shall
            terminate on the date of the 1994 annual meeting of stockholders. At
            each annual meeting of stockholders beginning in 1992, successors to
            the class of Directors whose term expires at that annual meeting,
            other than those Directors elected under particular circumstances by
            a separate class vote of the holders of any class or series of
            Preferred Stock, shall be elected for a three-year term. If the
            number of Directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be
            apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of
            Directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any
            additional Directors of any class elected to fill a vacancy
            resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a
            term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but
            in no case will a decrease in the number of Directors shorten the
            term of any incumbent Director.

      2.    Each Director shall hold office until his or her successor is
            elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or
            removal. Any Director may resign at any time upon written notice to
            the Board of Directors or to the 
<PAGE>   12
            President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Such written notice
            shall be necessary to make a Director's resignation effective.
            Except as may be provided in the terms of any class or series of
            Preferred Stock relating to the rights of the holders of such class
            or series to elect, by separate class vote, additional Directors,
            any Director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed only
            for cause, and only by the holders of 80% of the shares then
            entitled to vote at an election of Directors. Unless otherwise
            provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or in the By-Laws,
            vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any
            increase in the authorized number of Directors or from any other
            cause may be filled by a majority of the Directors, although less
            than a quorum, then remaining in office and elected by the holders
            of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally
            in the election of Directors or, in the event that there is only one
            such Director, by such sole remaining Director, and the Directors so
            chosen shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the
            term of the class to which such Director shall have been elected.

      3.    In the event that the holders of any class or series of Preferred
            Stock are entitled, by a separate class vote, to elect Directors
            pursuant to the terms of such class or series, then the provisions
            of such class or series with respect to such rights of election
            shall apply to the election of such Directors. The number of
            Directors that may be elected by the holders of any such class or
            series of stock shall be in addition to the number fixed by or
            pursuant to the By-Laws. Except as otherwise expressly provided in
            the terms of such class or series, the number of directors that may
            be so elected by the holders of any such class or series of stock
            shall be elected for terms expiring at the next Annual Meeting of
            the Stockholders and without regard to the classification of the
            remaining members of the Board of Directors, and vacancies among
            Directors so elected by the separate class vote of any such class or
            series of Preferred Stock shall be filled by the affirmative vote of
            a majority of the remaining Directors elected by such class or
            series, or, if there are no such remaining Directors, by the holders
            of such class or series in the same manner in which such class or
            series initially elected a Director.

      If at any meeting for the election of Directors, more than one class of
stock, voting separately as classes, shall be a quorum of only one such class of
stock, that class of stock shall be entitled to elect its quota of Directors
notwithstanding absence of a quorum of the other class or classes of stock.

                               ARTICLE THIRTEENTH

                              Amendment of By-Laws

      Subject to any limitations imposed by this Certificate of Incorporation,
the Board of Directors shall have power to adopt, amend, or repeal the By-Laws
of the Corporation, 
<PAGE>   13
Any By-Laws made by the Directors under the powers conferred hereby may be
amended or repealed by the Directors or by the stockholders. Notwithstanding the
foregoing and any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or the
By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage may be
specified by law), no provisions of the By-Laws shall be adopted, amended, or
repealed by the stockholders without an affirmative vote of the holders of not
less than eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of Directors, considered for the purposes of this Article as a single
class.

                               ARTICLE FOURTEENTH

                      Higher Vote Requirement for Amendment

      Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation
or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage
may be specified by law), the provisions of Articles TENTH, ELEVENTH, TWELFTH,
THIRTEENTH OR FOURTEENTH hereof may not be amended or repealed unless such
action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than
eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
Directors, considered for the purpose of this Article as a single class.
<PAGE>   14
                         CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE
                           SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.


      Oxford Health Plans, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), hereby certifies that at a
meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation held on September 17, 1993, it
was resolved by the duly adopted vote of the stockholders in accordance with
Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware that the
first sentence of the first paragraph of Article Fourth of the Corporation's
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation be amended to read as
follows:

                                 ARTICLE FOURTH

                                  CAPITAL STOCK

The total authorized capital stock of the Corporation consists of 27,000,000
shares of which 2,000,000 are shares of Preferred Stock, $.01 par value
("Preferred Stock"), and 25,000,000 are shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value,
("Common Stock").

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this amendment to be signed
by Stephen F. Wiggins, its Chairman of the Board of Directors, and attested by
Donald V. Barrett, its Secretary, this 17th day of September, 1993.

                                          OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.


                                          By:
                                             -------------------------------
                                             Stephen F. Wiggins
                                             Chairman of the Board
                                             of Directors

ATTEST:

By:
   --------------------------------
   Donald V. Barrett
   Secretary

<PAGE>   15
                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

                                       of

                       SERIES A CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

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

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


                  Oxford Health Plans, Inc., a corporation organized and
existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
"Corporation"), hereby certifies that the following resolutions were adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board of Directors") pursuant to
authority of the Board of Directors as required by Section 151 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law:

                  RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested
in the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of the Second
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended
(the "Certificate of Incorporation"), the Board of Directors hereby creates a
series of the Corporation's previously authorized preferred stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), and hereby states the designation and
number thereof, and fixes the voting powers, preferences and relative,
participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof, as follows:

                  Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock:

                  I. Designation and Amount

                  The designation of this series of shares shall be "Series A
Cumulative Preferred Stock" (the "Series A Preferred Stock"); the stated value
per share shall be $1,000 (the "Stated Value"); and the number of shares
constituting such series shall be 300,000. The number of shares of the Series A
Preferred Stock may be decreased from time to time by a resolution or
resolutions of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that such number shall
not be decreased below the aggregate number of shares of the Series A Preferred
Stock then outstanding.
<PAGE>   16
                  II. Rank

                  A. With respect to dividend rights, the Series A Preferred
Stock shall rank (i) junior to each other class or series of Preferred Stock
which by its terms ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to payment of
dividends, (ii) on a parity with each other class or series of Preferred Stock
which by its terms ranks on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to
payment of dividends, including the Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.01
per share, of the Corporation (the "Series B Preferred Stock") and (iii) prior
to the Corporation's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), and, except as specified above, all other classes and series of capital
stock of the Corporation hereafter issued by the Corporation. With respect to
dividends, all equity securities of the Corporation to which the Series A
Preferred Stock ranks senior, including the Common Stock, are collectively
referred to herein as the "Junior Dividend Securities"; all equity securities of
the Corporation with which the Series A Preferred Stock ranks on a parity,
including the Series B Preferred Stock, are collectively referred to herein as
the "Parity Dividend Securities"; and all equity securities of the Corporation
(other than convertible debt securities) to which the Series A Preferred Stock
ranks junior, with respect to dividends, are collectively referred to herein as
the "Senior Dividend Securities."

                  B. With respect to the distribution of assets upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or
involuntary, the Series A Preferred Stock shall rank (i) junior to each other
class or series of Preferred Stock which by its terms ranks senior to the Series
A Preferred Stock as to distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, (ii) on a parity with each other class or series of Preferred Stock
which by its terms ranks on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to
distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, including the Series B Preferred Stock, and (iii) prior to the
Common Stock, and, except as specified above, all other classes and series of
capital stock of the Corporation hereinafter issued by the Corporation. With
respect to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, all equity securities
of the Corporation to which the Series A Preferred Stock ranks senior, including
the Common Stock, are collectively referred to herein as "Junior Liquidation
Securities"; all equity securities of the Corporation (other than convertible
debt securities) to which the Series A Preferred Stock ranks on parity,
including the Series B Preferred Stock, are collectively referred to herein as
"Parity Liquidation Securities"; and all equity securities of the Corporation to
which the Series A Preferred Stock ranks junior are collectively referred to
herein as "Senior Liquidation Securities."

                  C. The Series A Preferred Stock shall be subject to the
creation of Junior Dividend Securities and Junior Liquidation Securities
(collectively, "Junior Securities") but no Parity Dividend Securities or Parity
Liquidation Securities
<PAGE>   17
(collectively, "Parity Securities") (other than the Series B Preferred Stock),
or Senior Dividend Securities or Senior Liquidation Securities (collectively,
"Senior Securities") shall be created except in accordance with the terms hereof
and the Investment Agreement, including, without limitation, Article VIII,
Section F hereof.

                  III. Dividends

                  A. Dividends. Prior to the Second Anniversary Date, shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall accumulate dividends at a rate of 8.243216% per
annum, payment of which may be made in cash or by the issuance of additional
shares of Series A Preferred Stock (which, upon issuance, shall be fully paid
and nonassessable), at the option of the Company; provided that if any such
dividend is paid after the Second Anniversary Date, such dividend shall be paid
in cash. On and after the Second Anniversary Date, shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall accumulate dividends at a rate of 8% per annum, which dividends
shall be paid in cash. On and prior to the Second Anniversary Date, dividends
shall be paid annually on the anniversary of the original issuance of Series A
Preferred Stock, and thereafter dividends shall be paid in four equal quarterly
installments on the last day of March, June, September and December of each
year, or if any such date is not a Business Day, the Business Day next preceding
such day (each such date, regardless of whether any dividends have been paid or
declared and set aside for payment on such date, a "Dividend Payment Date"), to
holders of record (the "Registered Holders") as they appear on the stock record
books of the Corporation on the fifteenth day prior to the relevant Dividend
Payment Date. Dividends shall be paid only when, as and if declared by the Board
of Directors out of funds at the time legally available for the payment of
dividends. Dividends shall begin to accumulate on outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock from the date of issuance and shall be deemed to accumulate from
day to day whether or not earned or declared until paid. Dividends shall
accumulate on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months
(four 90-day quarters) and the actual number of days elapsed in the period for
which payable.

                  B. Accumulation. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock
shall be cumulative, and from and after any Dividend Payment Date on which any
dividend that has accumulated or been deemed to have accumulated through such
date has not been paid in full or any payment date set for a redemption on which
such redemption payment has not been paid in full, additional dividends shall
accumulate in respect of the amount of such unpaid dividends or unpaid
redemption payment (the "Arrearage") at the annual rate then in effect as
provided in Section A of this Article III (or such lesser rate as may be the
maximum rate that is then permitted by applicable law). Such additional
dividends in respect of any Arrearage shall be deemed to accumulate from day to
day whether or not earned or declared until the Arrearage is paid, shall be
calculated as of such successive Dividend Payment Date and shall constitute an
additional Arrearage from and after any Dividend Payment Date to the extent not
paid on such Dividend Payment Date. References in any Article herein to
dividends that have accumulated or that have been
<PAGE>   18
deemed to have accumulated with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock shall
include the amount, if any, of any Arrearage together with any dividends
accumulated or deemed to have accumulated on such Arrearage pursuant to the
immediately preceding two sentences. Additional dividends in respect of any
Arrearage may be declared and paid at any time, in whole or in part, without
reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to Registered Holders as they
appear on the stock record books of the Corporation on such record date as may
be fixed by the Board of Directors (which record date shall be no less than 10
days prior to the corresponding payment date). Dividends in respect of any
Arrearage shall be paid in cash.

                  C. Method of Payment. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A
Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the
time accumulated and payable on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such
shares then outstanding. After the Second Anniversary Date, dividends that are
declared and paid in an amount less than the full amount of dividends
accumulated on the Series A Preferred Stock (and on any Arrearage) shall be
applied first to the earliest dividend which has not theretofore been paid. All
cash payments of dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of
payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

                  IV. Liquidation Preference

                  In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of
then-outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive
out of the assets of the Corporation, whether such assets are capital or surplus
of any nature, an amount per share equal to the sum of (i) the dividends, if
any, accumulated or deemed to have accumulated thereon to the date of final
distribution to such holders, whether or not such dividends are declared, and
(ii) the Stated Value thereof, and no more, before any payment shall be made or
any assets distributed to the holders of any Junior Liquidation Securities.
After any such payment in full, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall
not, as such, be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of
assets of the Corporation. All the assets of the Corporation available for
distribution to stockholders after the liquidation preferences of any Senior
Liquidation Securities shall be distributed ratably (in proportion to the full
distributable amounts to which holders of Series A Preferred Stock and Parity
Liquidation Securities, if any, are respectively entitled upon such dissolution,
liquidation or winding up) among the holders of the then-outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock and Parity Liquidation Securities, if any, when such
assets are not sufficient to pay in full the aggregate amounts payable thereon.

                  Neither a consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or
into any other Person or Persons, nor a sale, conveyance, lease, exchange or
transfer of all or part of the
<PAGE>   19
Corporation's assets for cash, securities or other property to a Person or
Persons shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation for purposes of this Article IV, but the holders of shares of Series
A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be entitled from and after any such
consolidation, merger or sale, conveyance, lease, exchange or transfer of all or
part of the Corporation's assets to the rights provided by this Article IV
following any such transaction. Notice of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, stating the payment
date or dates when, and the place or places where, the amounts distributable to
each holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock in such circumstances shall be
payable, shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less
than 30 days prior to any payment date stated therein, to holders of record as
they appear on the stock record books of the Corporation as of the date such
notices are first mailed.

                  V. Redemption

                  A. Optional Redemption. The Corporation shall not have any
right to redeem any shares of Series A Preferred Stock prior to the fifth
anniversary of the original issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock. On and
after such date, the Corporation shall have the right, at its option and
election, to redeem all the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in
whole but not in part, at any time, in accordance with the provisions of this
Article V. The redemption price for such shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall be paid in cash out of funds legally available therefor and shall be in an
amount per share equal to the sum of (i) the amount, if any, of all unpaid
dividends accumulated thereon to the date of actual payment of the Redemption
Price, whether or not such dividends have been declared, and (ii) the Stated
Value thereof (the "Redemption Price").

                  B. Mandatory Redemption. On the tenth anniversary of the
original issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock (the "Mandatory Redemption
Date"), the Corporation shall redeem (the "Mandatory Redemption") all
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock by paying the Redemption Price
therefor in cash out of funds legally available for such purpose.

                  C. Notice and Redemption Procedures. Notice of the redemption
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section A or B hereof (a
"Notice of Redemption") shall be sent to the holders of record of the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at
each such holder's address as it appears on the stock record books of the
Corporation not more than 120 nor fewer than 90 days prior to the date fixed for
redemption, which date shall be set forth in such notice (the "Redemption
Date"); provided that failure to give such Notice of Redemption to any holder,
or any defect in such Notice of Redemption to any holder shall not affect the
validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series A
Preferred Stock held by any other holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event that contemporaneously with or prior to the delivery of a Notice of
Redemption, the 
<PAGE>   20
Corporation irrevocably deposits, in accordance with Section F of this Article
V, funds sufficient to pay the aggregate Redemption Price for the Series A
Preferred Stock, such Notice of Redemption shall be delivered not more than 120
days nor fewer than 30 days prior to the Redemption Date; provided, however,
that, if such Notice of Redemption is delivered fewer than 60 days prior to the
Redemption Date and the Investor or any of its Affiliates Beneficially Owns
shares of Series A Preferred Stock as of the date of the Notice of Redemption
and uses its reasonable best efforts to consummate the sale of its shares of
Series A Preferred Stock prior to the stated Redemption Date but has not
completed the sale of all the Series A Preferred Stock Beneficially Owned by the
Investor and its Affiliates (or such other amount desired to be sold by the
Investor and its Affiliates), the Corporation shall, at the option of the
Investor (or any such Affiliate), delay such Redemption Date for a period not to
exceed 30 days as requested by the Investor (or any such Affiliate) in order to
complete such sale or sales, and shall notify the holders of Series A Preferred
Stock of such delay within five days of receiving the request therefor. Any
delay of the Redemption Date pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence
shall be requested by the Investor (or its Affiliate) in writing no later than
the tenth day preceding the then-scheduled Redemption Date stated in the Notice
of Redemption. The Redemption Date stated in a Notice of Redemption shall not be
delayed more than once in connection with the redemption of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock pursuant to such Notice of Redemption. In order to facilitate
the redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors may
fix a record date for the determination of the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock to be redeemed, in each case, not more than 30 days prior to the
date the Notice of Redemption is mailed. On or after the Redemption Date, each
holder of the shares called for redemption shall surrender the certificate
evidencing such shares to the Corporation at the place designated in such notice
and shall thereupon be entitled to receive payment of the Redemption Price. From
and after the Redemption Date, all dividends on shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall cease to accumulate and all rights of the holders thereof as holders
of Series A Preferred Stock shall cease and terminate, except to the extent the
Corporation shall default in payment thereof on the Redemption Date. Prior to
any Redemption Date that has been fixed by the Company, other than in connection
with the Mandatory Redemption, the Corporation shall take all measures
reasonably requested by the Investor to facilitate a sale or other disposition
of Series A Preferred Stock by the Investor or its Affiliates prior to such
Redemption Date, including, without limitation, participation in due diligence
sessions and provision of information about the management, business and
financial condition of the Corporation, preparation of offering memoranda,
private placement memoranda and other similar documents and preparation and
delivery of such other certificates or documents reasonably requested by the
Investor. For so long as the Investor or an Affiliate of the Investor holds any
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, no Notice of Redemption in connection with a
redemption pursuant to Section A or B of this Article V shall be delivered
unless (i) the Corporation's preferred stock is rated Baa or better by Moody's
or BBB or better by S&P, or in the event the Corporation's preferred stock is
not rated by Moody's and S&P, the Corporation's unsecured debt is rated Baa or
better 
<PAGE>   21
by Moody's or BBB or better by S&P or (ii) the Corporation has sufficient funds
reasonably available under committed lines of credit or other similar sources of
financing established with financially sound financing providers to pay, on the
Redemption Date, the aggregate Redemption Price in connection with such
redemption (and shall reserve such funds or availability for the payment of the
aggregate Redemption Price); provided, that the Corporation may deliver a Notice
of Redemption without complying with the foregoing conditions if prior to, or
contemporaneously with, the delivery of such notice the Corporation irrevocably
deposits in accordance with Section F of this Article V funds sufficient to pay
the aggregate Redemption Price for the Series A Preferred Stock.

                  D. Change of Control. In the event there occurs a Change of
Control, any holder of record of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Section E hereof, may require the
Corporation to redeem any or all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held
by such holder at the Redemption Price therefor.

                  E. Change of Control Notice and Redemption Procedures. Notice
of any Change of Control shall be sent to the holders of record of the
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock not more than five days following
a Change of Control, which notice (a "Change of Control Notice") shall describe
the transaction or transactions constituting such Change of Control and set
forth each holder's right to require the Corporation to redeem any or all shares
of Series A Preferred Stock held by him or her out of funds legally available
therefor, the Redemption Date (which date shall be not more than 30 days from
the date of such Change of Control Notice) and the procedures to be followed by
such holders in exercising his or her right to cause such redemption; provided,
however, that if shares of Series A Preferred Stock are owned by more than 50
holders or groups of Affiliated holders and if the Series A Preferred Stock is
listed on any national securities exchange or quoted on any national quotation
system, the Corporation shall give such Change of Control Notice by publication
in a newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, within 30 days following such Change of Control and, in any case, a
similar notice shall be mailed concurrently to each holder of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock. Failure by the Corporation to give the Change of Control Notice
as prescribed by the preceding sentence, or the formal insufficiency of any such
Change of Control Notice, shall not prejudice the rights of any holder of shares
of Series A Preferred Stock to cause the Corporation to redeem any such shares
held by him or her. In the event a holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall elect to require the Corporation to redeem any or all such shares of
Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section D hereof, such holder shall
deliver, prior to the Redemption Date as set forth in the Change of Control
Notice, or, if the Change of Control Notice is not given as required by this
Section E, at any time following the last day the Corporation was required to
give the Change of Control Notice in accordance with this Section E (in which
case the Redemption Date shall be the date which is the later of (x) 30 days
following the last day the Corporation was required to give the Change of
Control Notice in accordance with
<PAGE>   22
this Section E and (y) 15 days following the delivery of such election by such
holder), a written notice, in the form specified by the Corporation (if the
Corporation did in fact give the notice required by this Section E), to the
Corporation so stating, and specifying the number of shares to be redeemed
pursuant to Section D hereof; provided, however, that if all of the shares of
the Series A Preferred Stock are owned by 50 or fewer holders or groups of
affiliated holders, such holders or groups may deliver a notice or an election
to redeem at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of a Change of
Control without awaiting receipt of a Change of Control Notice or the expiration
of the time allowed for the delivery of a Change of Control Notice hereunder.
The Corporation shall redeem the number of shares so specified on the Redemption
Date fixed by the Corporation or as provided in the preceding sentence. The
Corporation shall comply with the requirements of Rules 13e-4 and 14e-1 under
the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the
repurchase of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock as a result of a Change of
Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations
conflict with the provisions of this paragraph, the Corporation shall comply
with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to
have breached its obligations hereunder by virtue thereof.

                  F. Deposit of Funds. The Corporation shall, on or prior to any
Redemption Date pursuant to this Article V, deposit with its transfer agent or
other redemption agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York having
a capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000 selected by the Board of
Directors, as a trust fund for the benefit of the holders of the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed, cash that is sufficient in amount to
redeem the shares to be redeemed in accordance with the Notice of Redemption or
Change of Control Notice, with irrevocable instructions and authority to such
transfer agent or other redemption agent to pay to the respective holders of
such shares, as evidenced by a list of such holders certified by an officer of
the Corporation, the Redemption Price upon surrender of their respective share
certificates. Such deposit shall be deemed to constitute full payment of such
shares to the holders, and from and after the date of such deposit, all rights
of the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are to be redeemed
as stockholders of the Corporation with respect to such shares, except the right
to receive the Redemption Price upon the surrender of their respective
certificates, shall cease and terminate. No dividends shall accumulate on any
shares of Series A Preferred Stock after the Redemption Date for such shares
(unless the Corporation shall fail to deposit cash sufficient to redeem all such
shares). In case holders of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock called for
redemption shall not, within two years after such deposit, claim the cash
deposited for redemption thereof, such transfer agent or other redemption agent
shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation the balance so deposited.
Thereupon, such transfer agent or other redemption agent shall be relieved of
all responsibility to the holders thereof and the sole right of such holders,
with respect to shares to be redeemed, shall be to receive the Redemption Price
as general creditors of the Corporation. Any interest accrued on any funds so
deposited shall belong
<PAGE>   23
to the Corporation, and shall be paid to it from time to time on demand.

                  VI. Exchange of Series A Preferred Stock

                  A. The Series A Preferred Stock shall be exchangeable, at any
time, at the option of the Corporation and to the extent permitted by applicable
law, in whole but not in part, on any Dividend Payment Date for Junior
Subordinated Debentures (issued pursuant to an indenture (the "Indenture")
prepared in accordance with the Investment Agreement), in principal amount of
$1,000 per share of Series A Preferred Stock (a "Debenture" and, collectively,
the "Debentures"), in accordance with this Article VI:

                  (i) Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
exchangeable at the offices of the Corporation and at such other place or
places, if any, as the Board of Directors may designate. Except with the prior
written consent of the holders of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred
Stock, the Corporation may not exchange any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
if (a) full cumulative dividends, to the extent payable or deemed payable
through the date of exchange, have not been paid or set aside for payment on all
outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, (b) the Corporation has
failed to amend its Certificate of Incorporation pursuant to Delaware law to
confer the power to vote upon holders of the Debentures as shall be contemplated
by the Indenture or (c) such exchange could result in any tax consequence to the
Investor or any of its Affiliates which is materially adverse.

                  (ii) Prior to giving notice of its intention to exchange, the
Corporation shall execute and deliver to a bank or trust company selected by the
Board of Directors and, if required by applicable law, qualify under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Indenture.

                  (iii) The Corporation shall mail written notice of its
intention to exchange Series A Preferred Stock for Debentures (the "Exchange
Notice") to each holder of record of shares of Series A Preferred Stock not less
than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the date fixed for exchange.

                  (iv) Prior to effecting any exchange provided above, the
Corporation shall deliver to each holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
an opinion of nationally recognized legal counsel to the effect that: (i) each
of the Indenture and the Debentures have been duly authorized and executed by
the Corporation and, when delivered by the Corporation in exchange for shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations
of the Corporation enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with their
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity; (ii) the
exchange of the Debentures for the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not
violate the provisions of this Article VI or of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, including Section 221
<PAGE>   24
thereof; and (iii) the exchange of the Debentures for the shares of Series A
Preferred Stock is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act or, if no such exemption is available, that the Debentures have been duly
registered for such exchange under such Act.

                  (v) Upon the exchange of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
for Debentures, the rights of the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
as stockholders of the Corporation shall terminate and such shares shall no
longer be deemed outstanding.

                  (vi) Before any holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall be entitled to receive Debentures, such holder shall surrender the
certificate or certificates therefor, at the office of the Corporation or at
such other place or places, if any, as the Board of Directors shall have
designated, and shall state in writing the name or names (with addresses) in
which he or she wishes the certificate or certificates for the Debentures to be
issued. The Corporation will, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and
deliver at said office or place to such holder of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock, or to his or her nominee or nominees, certificates for the Debentures to
which he or she shall be entitled as aforesaid. Shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall be deemed to have been exchanged as of the close of business on the
date fixed for exchange as provided above, and the Person or Persons entitled to
receive the Debentures issuable upon such exchange shall be treated for all
purposes (including the accrual and payment of interest) as the record holder or
holders of such Debentures as of the close of business on such date.

                  B. For purposes of clause (c) of paragraph (i) of Section A,
an exchange of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be an
exchange that could result in a tax consequence to the Investor or any of its
Affiliates which is materially adverse only if the Investor or its Affiliate
shall have delivered to the Corporation a written notice to such effect on or
before the fifteenth day after its receipt of the Exchange Notice (an "Objection
Notice"), which Objection Notice shall be prepared in good faith and shall
specify in reasonable detail the nature of such tax consequences which could
result from the exchange (other than the difference between the tax treatment of
distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock and interest payments on the
Debentures); provided, that the Investor or its Affiliates shall not deliver an
Objection Notice unless the Investor and its Affiliates Beneficially Own, in the
aggregate, at least 1,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the time of
delivery of such Objection Notice to the Corporation. If the Corporation
receives an Objection Notice, then the Corporation shall not exchange the shares
of Series A Preferred Stock of the Investor and its Affiliates and the
Corporation shall, within 15 days after its receipt of the Objection Notice mail
written notice to the effect that it is canceling the proposed exchange of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock to each holder of record of shares of Series
A Preferred Stock to which it mailed the Exchange Notice.

                  C. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock may be exchanged for
<PAGE>   25
Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 4 of the Warrants.

                  VII. Restrictions on Dividends

                  So long as any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are
outstanding, the Board of Directors shall not declare, and the Corporation shall
not pay or set apart for payment any dividend on any Junior Securities or make
any payment on account of, or set apart for payment money for a sinking or other
similar fund for, the repurchase, redemption or other retirement of, any Junior
Securities or Parity Securities or any warrants, rights or options exercisable
for or convertible into any Junior Securities or Parity Securities (other than
the repurchase, redemption or other retirement of debentures or other debt
securities that are convertible or exchangeable into any Junior Securities or
Parity Securities), or make any distribution in respect of the Junior
Securities, either directly or indirectly, and whether in cash, obligations or
shares of the Corporation or other property (other than distributions or
dividends in Junior Securities to the holders of Junior Securities), and shall
not permit any corporation or other entity directly or indirectly controlled by
the Corporation to purchase or redeem any Junior Securities or Parity Securities
or any warrants, rights, calls or options exercisable for or convertible into
any Junior Securities or Parity Securities (other than the repurchase,
redemption or other retirement of debentures or other debt securities that are
convertible or exchangeable into any Junior Securities or Parity Securities)
unless prior to or concurrently with such declaration, payment, setting apart
for payment, repurchase, redemption or other retirement or distribution, as the
case may be, all accumulated and unpaid dividends on shares of the Series A
Preferred Stock not paid on the dates provided for in paragraph A of Article III
hereof (including Arrearages and accumulated dividends thereon) shall have been
paid, except that when dividends are not paid in full as aforesaid upon the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, all dividends declared on the Series A
Preferred Stock and any series of Parity Dividend Securities shall be declared
and paid pro rata so that the amount of dividends so declared and paid on Series
A Preferred Stock and such series of Parity Dividend Securities shall in all
cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated dividends (including
interest accrued on or additional dividends accumulated in respect of such
accumulated dividends) on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and such Parity
Dividend Securities bear to each other. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
paragraph shall not prohibit (i) the acquisition, repurchase, exchange,
conversion, redemption or other retirement for value of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock or any Parity Dividend Security by the Corporation in accordance
with the terms of such securities or of any shares of Trust Preferred Stock (as
defined in Section F of Article VIII) or (ii) the acquisition, repurchase,
exchange, conversion, redemption or other retirement for value by the
Corporation of any Junior Dividend Securities by the Corporation in accordance
with obligations in existence at the time of original issuance of the Series A
Preferred Stock.

                  VIII. Voting Rights
<PAGE>   26
                  A. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall
have no voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to
time required by law.

                  B. So long as any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are
outstanding, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to vote on all matters voted on by holders of Common Stock, and the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall vote together with shares of Common
Stock (and any shares of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to vote) as a single
class; provided, however, that upon register or transfer on the stock records of
the Corporation of a share of Series A Preferred Stock to any Person other than
the Investor or an Affiliate of the Investor, the transferee, and any subsequent
transferee, shall not be entitled to such voting rights. With respect to any
such vote, the Investor (together with its Affiliates) shall be entitled to a
number of votes per share of Series A Preferred Stock equal to the quotient of
the Investor Aggregate Vote Number, divided by the number of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock held by such Investor and its Affiliates as of the record date
for such vote. The "Investor Aggregate Vote Number" shall equal the number of
Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon the exercise of the Original Warrants
(as defined below) by the holders thereof (assuming all conditions precedent to
such exercise have been satisfied and that such exercise occurs as of the record
date for such vote), multiplied by the lesser of (x) the quotient of the number
of Original Warrants that are Beneficially Owned by members of the Investor
Group, in the aggregate, as of the record date for such vote (excluding for
purposes of this calculation, however, any Original Warrants that have been
transferred on the books of the Corporation by any member of the Investor Group
to any Person other than a member of the Investor Group, regardless of whether
any such Original Warrants are subsequently acquired by any member of the
Investor Group), divided by the number of Original Warrants, and (y) the
quotient of the number of Original Series A Preferred Shares (as defined below)
that are Beneficially Owned by members of the Investor Group, in the aggregate,
as of the record date for such vote (excluding for purposes of this calculation,
however, any Original Series A Preferred Shares transferred on the stock records
of the Corporation by any member of the Investor Group to any Person other than
a member of the Investor Group, regardless of whether any such Original Series A
Preferred Shares are subsequently acquired by any member of the Investor Group),
divided by the number of Original Series A Preferred Shares. The term "Original
Warrants" means those Warrants Beneficially Owned by members of the Investor
Group, in the aggregate, as of the Closing. The term "Original Series A
Preferred Shares" means those shares of Series A Preferred Stock Beneficially
Owned by members of the Investor Group, in the aggregate, as of the Closing.

                  C. If on any date (i) dividends payable on either the Series A
Preferred Stock or the Series B Preferred Stock shall have been in arrears and
not paid in full for four consecutive quarterly periods or if dividends shall
have been in arrears and not paid in full on the first or second annual
anniversary of the original issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock or Series B
Preferred Stock, as the case may be, or (ii) the Corporation
<PAGE>   27
shall have failed to satisfy its obligation to redeem either shares of Series A
Preferred Stock or shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to the relevant
Certificate of Designations, then the number of directors constituting the Board
of Directors shall, without further action, be increased by two, and the holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B
Preferred Stock shall have, in addition to the other voting rights set forth
herein, the exclusive right, voting together as a single class without regard to
series, to elect the two directors (the "Additional Directors") of the
Corporation to fill such newly-created directorships. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Investor and its Affiliates shall not be permitted to elect,
pursuant to the preceding sentence, more than the number of directors that would
result in four directors designated for nomination or elected by the Investor
and its Affiliates then being on the Board of Directors (including directors
that the Investor has a right to designate for nomination to the Board of
Directors pursuant to the Investment Agreement); provided, that if at the time
holders of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock have the right
to elect Additional Directors and (i) the Investor and its Affiliates
Beneficially Own, in the aggregate, a majority of the outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock, taken together as a
single class, and (ii) the Investor and its Affiliates are not permitted to
elect one or both of the Additional Directors as aforesaid, then the holders of
Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock (other than the Investor
and its Affiliates) shall have the right to elect, voting together as a single
class, one Additional Director pursuant to this Section C. Additional Directors
shall continue as directors and such additional voting right shall continue
until such time as (a) all dividends accumulated on the Series A Preferred Stock
and/or Series B Preferred Stock, as the case may be, shall have been paid in
full or (b) any redemption obligation with respect to the Series A Preferred
Stock and/or the Series B Preferred Stock, as the case may be, that has become
due shall have been satisfied or all necessary funds shall have been set aside
for payment, as the case may be, at which time such Additional Directors shall
cease to be directors and such additional voting right of the holders of shares
of Series A Preferred Stock shall terminate subject to revesting in the event of
each and every subsequent event of the character indicated above and subject to
any rights as to the election of directors provided for the holders of any other
series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation.

                  D. In the event that one or more of the Investor Nominees
required to be designated for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to the
Investment Agreement are not so designated or are not elected to the Board of
Directors and the Investor or any of its Affiliates Beneficially Owns shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, then the number of directors constituting the Board of
Directors shall, without further action, be increased by the number of such
Investor Nominees not elected to the Board of Directors pursuant to the
Investment Agreement, and such holder or holders shall have, in addition to the
other voting rights set forth herein, the exclusive right, voting separately as
a single class, to elect a number of directors to the Board of Directors equal
to the number of such Investor Nominees not elected to the Board of Directors.
Directors elected pursuant to this Section D shall continue as directors and
such additional voting right shall
<PAGE>   28
continue until such time as the requisite number of Investor Nominees are
elected to the Board of Directors pursuant to the Investment Agreement, at which
time the directors elected by the Investor and its Affiliates pursuant to this
Section D shall cease to be directors (unless elected as Investor Nominees), and
such additional voting rights shall terminate subject to revesting in the event
of each and every subsequent event of the character indicated above.

                  E. (a) The foregoing rights of holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock to take any action as provided in this Article VIII may be
exercised at any annual meeting of stockholders or at a special meeting of
stockholders held for such purpose as hereinafter provided or at any adjournment
thereof, or by the written consent, delivered to the Secretary of the
Corporation, of the holders of the minimum number of shares required to take
such action. So long as such right to vote continues (and unless such right has
been exercised by written consent of the minimum number of shares required to
take such action), the Chairman of the Board of Directors may call, and upon the
written request of holders of record of 20% of the outstanding shares of Series
A Preferred Stock, addressed to the Secretary of the Corporation at the
principal office of the Corporation, shall call, a special meeting of the
holders of shares entitled to vote as provided herein. Such meeting shall be
held within 60 days after delivery of such request to the Secretary, at the
place and upon the notice provided by law and in the Bylaws for the holding of
meetings of stockholders.

                  (b) Each director elected pursuant to Section C or D hereof
shall serve until the next annual meeting or until his or her successor shall be
elected and shall qualify, unless the director's term of office shall have
terminated pursuant to the provisions of Section C or D hereof, as the case may
be. In case any vacancy shall occur among the directors elected pursuant to
Section C or D hereof, such vacancy may be filled for the unexpired portion of
the term by vote of the remaining director or directors theretofore elected by
such holders (or such director's or directors' successor in office), if any. If
any such vacancy is not so filled within 20 days after the creation thereof or
if all of the directors so elected shall cease to serve as directors before
their term shall expire, the holders of the shares then outstanding and entitled
to vote for such director pursuant to the provisions of Section C or D hereof,
as the case may be, may elect successors to hold office for the unexpired terms
of any vacant directorships, by written consent as herein provided, or at a
special meeting of such holders called as provided herein. The holders of a
majority of the shares entitled to vote for directors pursuant to Section C or D
hereof, as the case may be, shall have the right to remove with or without cause
at any time and replace any directors such holders have elected pursuant to such
section, by written consent as herein provided, or at a special meeting of such
holders called as provided herein.

                  F. Without the consent or affirmative vote of the holders of
at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
voting separately as a
<PAGE>   29
class, the Corporation shall not authorize, create or issue, or increase the
authorized amount of, (i) any Senior Securities or Parity Securities (except
Parity Securities to be issued in exchange for all outstanding shares of Series
B Preferred Stock in connection with a simultaneous exchange of Parity
Securities for all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock) or (ii) any
class or series of capital stock or any security convertible into or exercisable
for any class or series of capital stock, redeemable mandatorily or redeemable
at the option of the holder thereof at any time on or prior to the Mandatory
Redemption Date (whether or not only upon the occurrence of a specified event)
(except Parity Securities to be issued in exchange for all outstanding shares of
Series B Preferred Stock in connection with a simultaneous exchange of Parity
Securities for all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock); provided,
however, that no consent or vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of the
Series A Preferred Stock shall be required for the creation or issuance by a
trust formed at the direction of the Corporation of any series of preferred
securities of such trust for financing purposes in an aggregate amount not to
exceed $250,000,000 ("Trust Preferred Stock"). No consent or vote of the holders
of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be required to
authorize, create or issue, or increase the authorized amount of, any class or
series of Junior Securities, or any security convertible into a stock of any
class or series of Junior Securities, except to the extent such action would
violate Section H of this Article VIII.

                  G. Without the consent or affirmative vote of the holders of
at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
voting separately as a class, the Corporation shall not (i) amend, alter or
repeal any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, if the
amendment, alteration or repeal alters or changes the powers, preferences or
special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them materially
and adversely, or (ii) authorize or take any other action if such action alters
or changes any of the rights of the Series A Preferred Stock in any respect or
otherwise would be inconsistent with the provisions of this Certificate of
Designations and the holders of any class or series of the capital stock of the
Corporation is entitled to vote thereon. The terms set forth in this Certificate
of Designations may be amended or modifies without the affirmative vote of the
stockholders of the Company (other than the holders of the Series A Preferred
Stock as provided in the preceding sentence); provided, that the Board of
Directors has determined that such amendment or modification will not have a
material adverse effect on the Corporation.

                  H. Other Securities. The Corporation shall not enter into any
agreement or issue any security that prohibits, conflicts or is inconsistent
with, or would be breached by, the Corporation's performance of its obligations
hereunder.

                  IX. Additional Definitions

                  For the purposes of this Certificate of Designations of Series
A Preferred Stock, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

                  "Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the
Exchange Act. The term "Affiliated" has a correlative meaning. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, for all purposes hereof, TPG, and each Person controlled by,
controlling or under common control with TPG (each, a "TPG Person"), shall not
be deemed an "Affiliate" of any
<PAGE>   30
Designated Purchaser Person (as defined below), and no designated Purchaser, and
no Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such
Designated Purchaser (each, a "Designated Purchaser Person"), shall be deemed an
"Affiliate" of any TPG Person or any other Designated Purchaser Person, in any
such case solely as a consequence of the Investment Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby.

                  "Beneficially Own" with respect to any securities means having
"beneficial ownership" of such securities (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof, except that a Person
shall be deemed to Beneficially Own all such securities that such Person has the
right to acquire whether such right is exercisable immediately or after the
passage of time). The terms "Beneficial Ownership" and "Beneficial Owner" have
correlative meanings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for all purposes hereof, no
TPG Person shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities that are held by
any Designated Purchaser Person, and no Designated Purchaser Person shall be
deemed to Beneficially Own any securities that are held by any TPG Person or
other Designated Purchaser Person, in any such case solely as a consequence of
the Investment Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby.

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

                  "Bylaws" means the Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended.

                  "Change of Control" means such time as:

                  (i) any Person or Group (other than the Investor, its
Affiliates, the Corporation or any Subsidiaries of the Corporation, or any Group
composed of such Persons) has become, directly or indirectly, the Beneficial
Owner, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of a majority of the voting
power of the then-outstanding Voting Securities of the Corporation on a
fully-diluted basis, after giving effect to the conversion and exercise of all
outstanding warrants, options and other securities of the Corporation
convertible into or exercisable for Voting Securities of the Corporation
(whether or not such securities are then currently convertible or exercisable);
or

                  (ii) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Corporation and its
Subsidiaries to any Person or Group; or

                  (iii) during any period of two consecutive calendar years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of
Directors, together with any new members of such Board of Directors whose
election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the
stockholders of the Corporation was approved by a
<PAGE>   31
vote of at least a majority of the members of such Board of Directors then still
in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose
election or nomination for election was previously so approved or who were
approved pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Investment Agreement or Article VIII,
Section C, D or E of this Certificate of Designations, cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the directors of the Corporation then in office; or

                  (iv) the Corporation consolidates with or merges with or into
another Person or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the
Corporation, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which immediately
after the consummation thereof the Persons owning the then-outstanding Voting
Securities of the Corporation immediately prior to such consummation shall not
own a majority in the aggregate (by reason of such prior ownership) of the
then-outstanding Voting Securities of the Corporation or the surviving entity if
other than the Corporation; or

                  (v) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation, whether or not otherwise in compliance with the
provisions of this Series A Preferred Stock.

                  "Closing" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
Investment Agreement.

                  "Designated Purchaser" has the meaning assigned to such term
in the Investment Agreement.

                  "Designated Purchaser Person" has the meaning set forth in the
definition of "Affiliate."

                  "Exchange Act" means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, from time to
time.

                  "Group" has the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-5 under the
Exchange Act.

                  "Investment Agreement" means the Investment Agreement, dated
as of February 23, 1998, by and between the Investor and the Corporation, as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Investor Group" means, collectively, the Investor, the
Designated Purchasers, if any, and the respective Affiliates of such Persons.


                  "Investor Nominee" means a person designated for election to
the Board of Directors by the Investor pursuant to the Investment Agreement.
<PAGE>   32
                  "Investor" means TPG.

                  "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service and its successors.
                  "Person" means any individual, corporation, company,
association, partnership, joint venture, trust or unincorporated organization,
or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

                  "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of February 23, 1998, by and between the Investor and the
Corporation, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Second Anniversary Date" means the second anniversary of the
original issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock.

                  "Securities Act" means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, from time to
time.

                  "Series B Preferred Stock" has the meaning assigned to such
term in the Investment Agreement.

                  "S&P" means Standard and Poor's Ratings Group, a division of
the McGraw-Hill Companies, and its successors.

                  "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any
corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the
total voting power of shares of voting stock is at the time owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries
of that Person (or combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (A) the sole
general partner of the managing general partner of which is such Person or a
Subsidiary of such Person or (B) the only general partners of which are such
Person or of one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination
thereof).

                  "TPG" means TPG Oxford LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company.

                  "TPG Person" has the meaning set forth in the definition of
"Affiliate."

                  "Voting Securities" means the shares of Common Stock and any
other securities of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election
of directors.

                  "Warrants" means the Series A Warrants issued by the
Corporation on pursuant to the Investment Agreement.

                  "Warrant Shares" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Warrants.
<PAGE>   33
                  X. Miscellaneous

                  A. Notices. Any notice referred to herein shall be in writing
and, unless first-class mail shall be specifically permitted for such notices
under the terms hereof, shall be deemed to have been given upon personal
delivery thereof, upon transmittal of such notice by telecopy (with confirmation
of receipt by telecopy or telex) or five days after transmittal by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

                  (i) if to the Corporation, to its office at 800 Connecticut
Avenue Norwalk, Connecticut 06854 (Attention: General Counsel) or to the
transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Stock;

                  (ii) if to a holder of the Series A Preferred Stock, to such
holder at the address of such holder as listed in the stock record books of the
Corporation (which may include the records of any transfer agent for the Series
A Preferred Stock); or

                  (iii) to such other address as the Corporation or such holder,
as the case may be, shall have designated by notice similarly given.

                  B. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, directly or
indirectly, in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly
after the acquisition thereof (and shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any
purpose) and, if necessary to provide for the lawful redemption or purchase of
such shares, the capital represented by such shares shall be reduced in
accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law. All such shares of Series
A Preferred Stock shall upon their cancellation and upon the filing of an
appropriate certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,
become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Corporation and may be reissued as part of another series of
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation subject to the
conditions or restrictions on issuance set forth herein.

                  C. Enforcement. Any registered holder of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock may proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of
such holders by any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to
protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any
provision in this Certificate of Designations or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

                  D. Transfer Taxes. Except as otherwise agreed upon pursuant to
the terms of this Certificate of Designations, the Corporation shall pay any and
all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes and other governmental
charges that
<PAGE>   34
may be imposed under the laws of the United States of America or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein in respect of any issue or
delivery of Debentures on exchange of, or other securities or property issued on
account of, shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant hereto or certificates
representing such shares or securities. The Corporation shall not, however, be
required to pay any such tax or other charge that may be imposed in connection
with any transfer involved in the issue or transfer and delivery of any
certificate for Debentures or other securities or property in a name other than
that in which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so exchanged, or on account
of which such securities were issued, were registered and no such issue or
delivery shall be made unless and until the Person requesting such issue has
paid to the Corporation the amount of any such tax or has established to the
satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

                  E. Transfer Agent. The Corporation may appoint, and from time
to time discharge and change, a transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Stock.
Upon any such appointment or discharge of a transfer agent, the Corporation
shall send notice thereof by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each holder
of record of shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

                  F. Record Dates. In the event that the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be registered under either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
the Corporation shall establish appropriate record dates with respect to
payments and other actions to be made with respect to the Series A Preferred
Stock.
<PAGE>   35

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is
executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Secretary and attested by its
Controller, this ___ day of May, 1998.

                                       OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

                                       By:_____________________________________
                                          Jeffery H. Boyd, Executive Vice
                                          President, General Counsel and
                                          Secretary



[Corporate Seal]

ATTEST:

 -------------------------
Brendan Shanahan, Vice President and
Controller
<PAGE>   36
                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

                                       of

                       SERIES B CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

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

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


                  Oxford Health Plans, Inc., a corporation organized and
existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
"Corporation"), hereby certifies that the following resolutions were adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board of Directors") pursuant to
authority of the Board of Directors as required by Section 151 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law:

                  RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested
in the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of the Second
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended
(the "Certificate of Incorporation"), the Board of Directors hereby creates a
series of the Corporation's previously authorized preferred stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), and hereby states the designation and
number thereof, and fixes the voting powers, preferences and relative,
participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof, as follows:

         Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock:

                  I. Designation and Amount

                  The designation of this series of shares shall be "Series B
Cumulative Preferred Stock" (the "Series B Preferred Stock"); the stated value
per share shall be $1,000 (the "Stated Value"); and the number of shares
constituting such series shall be 300,000. The number of shares of the Series B
Preferred Stock may be decreased from time to time by a resolution or
resolutions of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that such number shall
not be decreased below the aggregate number of shares of the Series B Preferred
Stock then outstanding.
<PAGE>   37
                  II. Rank

                  A. With respect to dividend rights, the Series B Preferred
Stock shall rank (i) junior to each other class or series of Preferred Stock
which by its terms ranks senior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to payment of
dividends, (ii) on a parity with each other class or series of Preferred Stock
which by its terms ranks on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock as to
payment of dividends, including the Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01
per share, of the Corporation (the "Series A Preferred Stock") and (iii) prior
to the Corporation's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), and, except as specified above, all other classes and series of capital
stock of the Corporation hereafter issued by the Corporation. With respect to
dividends, all equity securities of the Corporation to which the Series B
Preferred Stock ranks senior, including the Common Stock, are collectively
referred to herein as the "Junior Dividend Securities"; all equity securities of
the Corporation with which the Series B Preferred Stock ranks on a parity,
including the Series A Preferred Stock, are collectively referred to herein as
the "Parity Dividend Securities"; and all equity securities of the Corporation
(other than convertible debt securities) to which the Series B Preferred Stock
ranks junior, with respect to dividends, are collectively referred to herein as
the "Senior Dividend Securities."

                  B. With respect to the distribution of assets upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or
involuntary, the Series B Preferred Stock shall rank (i) junior to each other
class or series of Preferred Stock which by its terms ranks senior to the Series
B Preferred Stock as to distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, (ii) on a parity with each other class or series of Preferred Stock
which by its terms ranks on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock as to
distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, including the Series A Preferred Stock, and (iii) prior to the
Common Stock, and, except as specified above, all other classes and series of
capital stock of the Corporation hereinafter issued by the Corporation. With
respect to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, all equity securities
of the Corporation to which the Series B Preferred Stock ranks senior, including
the Common Stock, are collectively referred to herein as "Junior Liquidation
Securities"; all equity securities of the Corporation (other than convertible
debt securities) to which the Series B Preferred Stock ranks on parity,
including the Series A Preferred Stock, are collectively referred to herein as
"Parity Liquidation Securities"; and all equity securities of the Corporation to
which the Series B Preferred Stock ranks junior are collectively referred to
herein as "Senior Liquidation Securities."

                  C. The Series B Preferred Stock shall be subject to the
creation of Junior Dividend Securities and Junior Liquidation Securities
(collectively, "Junior
<PAGE>   38
Securities") but no Parity Dividend Securities or Parity Liquidation Securities
(collectively, "Parity Securities") (other than the Series A Preferred Stock),
or Senior Dividend Securities or Senior Liquidation Securities (collectively,
"Senior Securities") shall be created except in accordance with the terms hereof
and the Investment Agreement, including, without limitation, Article VIII,
Section F hereof.

         III. Dividends

                    A. Dividends. Prior to the Second Anniversary Date, shares
of Series B Preferred Stock shall accumulate dividends at a rate of 9.308332%
per annum, payment of which may be made in cash or by the issuance of additional
shares of Series B Preferred Stock (which, upon issuance, shall be fully paid
and nonassessable), at the option of the Company; provided that if any such
dividend is paid after the Second Anniversary Date, such dividend shall be paid
in cash. On and after the Second Anniversary Date, shares of Series B Preferred
Stock shall accumulate dividends at a rate of 9% per annum, which dividends
shall be paid in cash. On and prior to the Second Anniversary Date, dividends
shall be paid annually on the anniversary of the original issuance of Series B
Preferred Stock, and thereafter dividends shall be paid in four equal quarterly
installments on the last day of March, June, September and December of each
year, or if any such date is not a Business Day, the Business Day next preceding
such day (each such date, regardless of whether any dividends have been paid or
declared and set aside for payment on such date, a "Dividend Payment Date"), to
holders of record (the "Registered Holders") as they appear on the stock record
books of the Corporation on the fifteenth day prior to the relevant Dividend
Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, from and after the day on which the
Shareholder Approval occurs, dividends shall accumulate on the Series B
Preferred Stock (i) prior to the Second Anniversary Date, at a rate of 8.243216%
per annum, payment of which may be made in cash or by the issuance of additional
shares of Series B Preferred Stock (which upon issuance shall be fully paid and
nonassessable), at the option of the Company, provided that if any such dividend
is paid after the Second Anniversary Date, such dividend shall be paid in cash,
and (ii) on and after the Second Anniversary Date, at a rate of 8% per annum,
which dividends shall be paid in cash. Dividends shall be paid only when, as and
if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds at the time legally available
for the payment of dividends. Dividends shall begin to accumulate on outstanding
shares of Series B Preferred Stock from the date of issuance and shall be deemed
to accumulate from day to day whether or not earned or declared until paid.
Dividends shall accumulate on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day months (four 90-day quarters) and the actual number of days elapsed in
the period for which payable. Dividends payable at more than one annual rate for
any dividend period or partial dividend period shall be pro rated on the basis
of the number of days in such dividend period or partial dividend period,
calculated as aforesaid, and the actual number of days elapsed for which
dividends are payable at each such annual rate.
<PAGE>   39
                  B. Accumulation. Dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock
shall be cumulative, and from and after any Dividend Payment Date on which any
dividend that has accumulated or been deemed to have accumulated through such
date has not been paid in full or any payment date set for a redemption on which
such redemption payment has not been paid in full, additional dividends shall
accumulate in respect of the amount of such unpaid dividends or unpaid
redemption payment (the "Arrearage") at the annual rate then in effect as
provided in Section A of this Article III (or such lesser rate as may be the
maximum rate that is then permitted by applicable law). Such additional
dividends in respect of any Arrearage shall be deemed to accumulate from day to
day whether or not earned or declared until the Arrearage is paid, shall be
calculated as of such successive Dividend Payment Date and shall constitute an
additional Arrearage from and after any Dividend Payment Date to the extent not
paid on such Dividend Payment Date. References in any Article herein to
dividends that have accumulated or that have been deemed to have accumulated
with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock shall include the amount, if any,
of any Arrearage together with any dividends accumulated or deemed to have
accumulated on such Arrearage pursuant to the immediately preceding two
sentences. Additional dividends in respect of any Arrearage may be declared and
paid at any time, in whole or in part, without reference to any regular Dividend
Payment Date, to Registered Holders as they appear on the stock record books of
the Corporation on such record date as may be fixed by the Board of Directors
(which record date shall be no less than 10 days prior to the corresponding
payment date). Dividends in respect of any Arrearage shall be paid in cash.

                  C. Method of Payment. Dividends paid on the shares of Series B
Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the
time accumulated and payable on all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred
Stock shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such
shares then outstanding. After the Second Anniversary Date, dividends that are
declared and paid in an amount less than the full amount of dividends
accumulated on the Series B Preferred Stock (and on any Arrearage) shall be
applied first to the earliest dividend which has not theretofore been paid. All
cash payments of dividends on the shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be
made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of
payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

         IV. Liquidation Preference

                  In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of
then-outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive
out of the assets of the Corporation, whether such assets are capital or surplus
of any nature, an amount per
<PAGE>   40
share equal to the sum of (i) the dividends, if any, accumulated or deemed to
have accumulated thereon to the date of final distribution to such holders,
whether or not such dividends are declared, and (ii) the Stated Value thereof,
and no more, before any payment shall be made or any assets distributed to the
holders of any Junior Liquidation Securities. After any such payment in full,
the holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall not, as such, be entitled to any
further participation in any distribution of assets of the Corporation. All the
assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders after the
liquidation preferences of any Senior Liquidation Securities shall be
distributed ratably (in proportion to the full distributable amounts to which
holders of Series B Preferred Stock and Parity Liquidation Securities, if any,
are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up)
among the holders of the then-outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and
Parity Liquidation Securities, if any, when such assets are not sufficient to
pay in full the aggregate amounts payable thereon.

                  Neither a consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or
into any other Person or Persons, nor a sale, conveyance, lease, exchange or
transfer of all or part of the Corporation's assets for cash, securities or
other property to a Person or Persons shall be deemed to be a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation for purposes of this Article IV,
but the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be
entitled from and after any such consolidation, merger or sale, conveyance,
lease, exchange or transfer of all or part of the Corporation's assets to the
rights provided by this Article IV following any such transaction. Notice of any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, stating the payment date or dates when, and the place or places
where, the amounts distributable to each holder of shares of Series B Preferred
Stock in such circumstances shall be payable, shall be given by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 days prior to any payment date
stated therein, to holders of record as they appear on the stock record books of
the Corporation as of the date such notices are first mailed.

         V. Redemption

                  A. Optional Redemption. The Corporation shall not have any
right to redeem any shares of Series B Preferred Stock prior to the fifth
anniversary of the original issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock. On and
after such date, the Corporation shall have the right, at its option and
election, to redeem all the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, in
whole but not in part, at any time, in accordance with the provisions of this
Article V. The redemption price for such shares of Series B Preferred Stock
shall be paid in cash out of funds legally available therefor and shall be in an
amount per share equal to the sum of (i) the amount, if any, of all unpaid
dividends accumulated thereon to the date of actual payment of the Redemption
Price, whether or not such dividends have been declared, and (ii) the
<PAGE>   41
Stated Value thereof (the "Redemption Price").

                  B. Mandatory Redemption. On the tenth anniversary of the
original issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock (the "Mandatory Redemption
Date"), the Corporation shall redeem (the "Mandatory Redemption") all
outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock by paying the Redemption Price
therefor in cash out of funds legally available for such purpose.

                  C. Notice and Redemption Procedures. Notice of the redemption
of shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to Section A or B hereof (a
"Notice of Redemption") shall be sent to the holders of record of the shares of
Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at
each such holder's address as it appears on the stock record books of the
Corporation not more than 120 nor fewer than 90 days prior to the date fixed for
redemption, which date shall be set forth in such notice (the "Redemption
Date"); provided that failure to give such Notice of Redemption to any holder,
or any defect in such Notice of Redemption to any holder shall not affect the
validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series B
Preferred Stock held by any other holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event that contemporaneously with or prior to the delivery of a Notice of
Redemption, the Corporation irrevocably deposits, in accordance with Section F
of this Article V, funds sufficient to pay the aggregate Redemption Price for
the Series B Preferred Stock, such Notice of Redemption shall be delivered not
more than 120 days nor fewer than 30 days prior to the Redemption Date;
provided, however, that, if such Notice of Redemption is delivered fewer than 60
days prior to the Redemption Date and the Investor or any of its Affiliates
Beneficially Owns shares of Series B Preferred Stock as of the date of the
Notice of Redemption and uses its reasonable best efforts to consummate the sale
of its shares of Series B Preferred Stock prior to the stated Redemption Date
but has not completed the sale of all the Series B Preferred Stock Beneficially
Owned by the Investor and its Affiliates (or such other amount desired to be
sold by the Investor and its Affiliates), the Corporation shall, at the option
of the Investor (or any such Affiliate), delay such Redemption Date for a period
not to exceed 30 days as requested by such Investor (or any such Affiliate) in
order to complete such sale or sales, and shall notify the holders of Series B
Preferred Stock of such delay within five days of receiving the request
therefor. Any delay of the Redemption Date pursuant to the proviso to the
preceding sentence shall be requested by the Investor (or any such Affiliate) in
writing no later than the tenth day preceding the then-scheduled Redemption Date
stated in the Notice of Redemption. The Redemption Date stated in a Notice of
Redemption shall not be delayed more than once in connection with the redemption
of shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to such Notice of Redemption. In
order to facilitate the redemption of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, the
Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of the holders of
shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed, in each case, not more than
30 days prior to the date the Notice of Redemption is mailed. On or after 
<PAGE>   42
the Redemption Date, each holder of the shares called for redemption shall
surrender the certificate evidencing such shares to the Corporation at the place
designated in such notice and shall thereupon be entitled to receive payment of
the Redemption Price. From and after the Redemption Date, all dividends on
shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall cease to accumulate and all rights of
the holders thereof as holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall cease and
terminate, except to the extent the Corporation shall default in payment thereof
on the Redemption Date. Prior to any Redemption Date that has been fixed by the
Company, other than in connection with the Mandatory Redemption, the Corporation
shall take all measures reasonably requested by the Investor to facilitate a
sale or other disposition of Series B Preferred Stock by the Investor or its
Affiliates prior to such Redemption Date, including, without limitation,
participation in due diligence sessions and provision of information about the
management, business and financial condition of the Corporation, preparation of
offering memoranda, private placement memoranda and other similar documents and
preparation and delivery of such other certificates or documents reasonably
requested by the Investor. For so long as the Investor or an Affiliate of the
Investor holds any shares of Series B Preferred Stock, no Notice of Redemption
in connection with a redemption pursuant to Section A or B of this Article V
shall be delivered unless (i) the Corporation's preferred stock is rated Baa or
better by Moody's or BBB or better by S&P, or in the event the Corporation's
preferred stock is not rated by Moody's and S&P, the Corporation's unsecured
debt is rated Baa or better by Moody's or BBB or better by S&P or (ii) the
Corporation has sufficient funds reasonably available under committed lines of
credit or other similar sources of financing established with financially sound
financing providers to pay, on the Redemption Date, the aggregate Redemption
Price in connection with such redemption (and shall reserve such funds or
availability for the payment of the aggregate Redemption Price); provided, that
the Corporation may deliver a Notice of Redemption without complying with the
foregoing conditions if prior to, or contemporaneously with, the delivery of
such notice the Corporation irrevocably deposits in accordance with Section F of
this Article V funds sufficient to pay the aggregate Redemption Price for the
Series B Preferred Stock.

                  D. Change of Control. In the event there occurs a Change of
Control, any holder of record of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Section E hereof, may require the
Corporation to redeem any or all of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock held
by such holder at the Redemption Price therefor.

                  E. Change of Control Notice and Redemption Procedures. Notice
of any Change of Control shall be sent to the holders of record of the
outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock not more than five days following
a Change of Control, which notice (a "Change of Control Notice") shall describe
the transaction or transactions constituting such Change of Control and set
forth each holder's right to
<PAGE>   43
require the Corporation to redeem any or all shares of Series B Preferred Stock
held by him or her out of funds legally available therefor, the Redemption Date
(which date shall be not more than 30 days from the date of such Change of
Control Notice) and the procedures to be followed by such holders in exercising
his or her right to cause such redemption; provided, however, that if shares of
Series B Preferred Stock are owned by more than 50 holders or groups of
Affiliated holders and if the Series B Preferred Stock is listed on any national
securities exchange or quoted on any national quotation system, the Corporation
shall give such Change of Control Notice by publication in a newspaper of
general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, within 30
days following such Change of Control and, in any case, a similar notice shall
be mailed concurrently to each holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock.
Failure by the Corporation to give the Change of Control Notice as prescribed by
the preceding sentence, or the formal insufficiency of any such Change of
Control Notice, shall not prejudice the rights of any holder of shares of Series
B Preferred Stock to cause the Corporation to redeem any such shares held by him
or her. In the event a holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall elect
to require the Corporation to redeem any or all such shares of Series B
Preferred Stock pursuant to Section D hereof, such holder shall deliver, prior
to the Redemption Date as set forth in the Change of Control Notice, or, if the
Change of Control Notice is not given as required by this Section E, at any time
following the last day the Corporation was required to give the Change of
Control Notice in accordance with this Section E (in which case the Redemption
Date shall be the date which is the later of (x) 30 days following the last day
the Corporation was required to give the Change of Control Notice in accordance
with this Section E and (y) 15 days following the delivery of such election by
such holder), a written notice, in the form specified by the Corporation (if the
Corporation did in fact give the notice required by this Section E), to the
Corporation so stating, and specifying the number of shares to be redeemed
pursuant to Section D hereof; provided, however, that if all of the shares of
the Series B Preferred Stock are owned by 50 or fewer holders or groups of
affiliated holders, such holders or groups may deliver a notice or an election
to redeem at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of a Change of
Control without awaiting receipt of a Change of Control Notice or the expiration
of the time allowed for the delivery of a Change of Control Notice hereunder.
The Corporation shall redeem the number of shares so specified on the Redemption
Date fixed by the Corporation or as provided in the preceding sentence. The
Corporation shall comply with the requirements of Rules 13e-4 and 14e-1 under
the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the
repurchase of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock as a result of a Change of
Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations
conflict with the provisions of this paragraph, the Corporation shall comply
with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to
have breached its obligations hereunder by virtue thereof.
<PAGE>   44
                  F. Deposit of Funds. The Corporation shall, on or prior to any
Redemption Date pursuant to this Article V, deposit with its transfer agent or
other redemption agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York having
a capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000 selected by the Board of
Directors, as a trust fund for the benefit of the holders of the shares of
Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed, cash that is sufficient in amount to
redeem the shares to be redeemed in accordance with the Notice of Redemption or
Change of Control Notice, with irrevocable instructions and authority to such
transfer agent or other redemption agent to pay to the respective holders of
such shares, as evidenced by a list of such holders certified by an officer of
the Corporation, the Redemption Price upon surrender of their respective share
certificates. Such deposit shall be deemed to constitute full payment of such
shares to the holders, and from and after the date of such deposit, all rights
of the holders of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock that are to be redeemed
as stockholders of the Corporation with respect to such shares, except the right
to receive the Redemption Price upon the surrender of their respective
certificates, shall cease and terminate. No dividends shall accumulate on any
shares of Series B Preferred Stock after the Redemption Date for such shares
(unless the Corporation shall fail to deposit cash sufficient to redeem all such
shares). In case holders of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock called for
redemption shall not, within two years after such deposit, claim the cash
deposited for redemption thereof, such transfer agent or other redemption agent
shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation the balance so deposited.
Thereupon, such transfer agent or other redemption agent shall be relieved of
all responsibility to the holders thereof and the sole right of such holders,
with respect to shares to be redeemed, shall be to receive the Redemption Price
as general creditors of the Corporation. Any interest accrued on any funds so
deposited shall belong to the Corporation, and shall be paid to it from time to
time on demand.

         VI. Exchange of Series B Preferred Stock

                  A. The Series B Preferred Stock shall be exchangeable, at any
time, at the option of the Corporation and to the extent permitted by applicable
law, in whole but not in part, on any Dividend Payment Date for Junior
Subordinated Debentures (issued pursuant to an indenture (the "Indenture")
prepared in accordance with the Investment Agreement) in principal amount of
$1,000 per share of Series B Preferred Stock (a "Debenture" and, collectively,
the "Debentures"), in accordance with this Article VI:

                  (1) Each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall be
         exchangeable at the offices of the Corporation and at such other place
         or places, if any, as the Board of Directors may designate. Except with
         the prior written consent of the holders of all outstanding shares of
         Series B Preferred Stock, the Corporation may not exchange any shares
         of Series B Preferred Stock if (a) full cumulative
<PAGE>   45
         dividends, to the extent payable or deemed payable through the date of
         exchange, have not been paid or set aside for payment on all
         outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred Stock, (b) the Corporation
         has failed to amend its Certificate of Incorporation pursuant to
         Delaware law to confer the power to vote upon holders of the Debentures
         as shall be contemplated by the Indenture or (c) such exchange could
         result in any tax consequence to the Investor or any of its Affiliates
         which is materially adverse.

                  (2) Prior to giving notice of its intention to exchange, the
         Corporation shall execute and deliver to a bank or trust company
         selected by the Board of Directors and, if required by applicable law,
         qualify under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the
         Indenture.

                  (3) The Corporation shall mail written notice of its intention
         to exchange Series B Preferred Stock for Debentures (the "Exchange
         Notice") to each holder of record of shares of Series B Preferred Stock
         not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the date fixed for
         exchange.

                  (4) Prior to effecting any exchange provided above, the
         Corporation shall deliver to each holder of shares of Series B
         Preferred Stock an opinion of nationally recognized legal counsel to
         the effect that: (i) each of the Indenture and the Debentures have been
         duly authorized and executed by the Corporation and, when delivered by
         the Corporation in exchange for shares of Series B Preferred Stock,
         will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
         Corporation enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with
         their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar
         laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of
         equity; (ii) the exchange of the Debentures for the shares of Series B
         Preferred Stock shall not violate the provisions of this Article VI or
         of the Delaware General Corporation Law, including Section 221 thereof;
         and (iii) the exchange of the Debentures for the shares of Series B
         Preferred Stock is exempt from the registration requirements of the
         Securities Act or, if no such exemption is available, that the
         Debentures have been duly registered for such exchange under such Act.

                  (5) Upon the exchange of shares of Series B Preferred Stock
         for Debentures, the rights of the holders of shares of Series B
         Preferred Stock as stockholders of the Corporation shall terminate and
         such shares shall no longer be deemed outstanding.

                  (6) Before any holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock
         shall be entitled to receive Debentures, such holder shall surrender
         the certificate or certificates therefor, at the office of the
         Corporation or at such other place or
<PAGE>   46
         places, if any, as the Board of Directors shall have designated, and
         shall state in writing the name or names (with addresses) in which he
         or she wishes the certificate or certificates for the Debentures to be
         issued. The Corporation will, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue
         and deliver at said office or place to such holder of shares of Series
         B Preferred Stock, or to his or her nominee or nominees, certificates
         for the Debentures to which he or she shall be entitled as aforesaid.
         Shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have been
         exchanged as of the close of business on the date fixed for exchange as
         provided above, and the Person or Persons entitled to receive the
         Debentures issuable upon such exchange shall be treated for all
         purposes (including the accrual and payment of interest) as the record
         holder or holders of such Debentures as of the close of business on
         such date.

                  B. For purposes of clause (c) of paragraph (i) of Section A,
an exchange of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be an
exchange that could result in a tax consequence to the Investor or any of its
Affiliates which is materially adverse only if the Investor or its Affiliate
shall have delivered to the Corporation a written notice to such effect on or
before the fifteenth day after its receipt of the Exchange Notice (an "Objection
Notice"), which Objection Notice shall be prepared in good faith and shall
specify in reasonable detail the nature of such tax consequences which could
result from the exchange (other than the difference between the tax treatment of
distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock and interest payments on the
Debentures); provided, that the Investor or its Affiliates shall not deliver an
Objection Notice unless the Investor and its Affiliates Beneficially Own, in the
aggregate, at least 1,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at the time of
delivery of such Objection Notice to the Corporation. If the Corporation
receives an Objection Notice, then the Corporation shall not exchange the shares
of Series B Preferred Stock of the Investor and its Affiliates and the
Corporation shall, within 15 days after its receipt of the Objection Notice mail
written notice to the effect that it is canceling the proposed exchange of
shares of Series B Preferred Stock to each holder of record of shares of Series
B Preferred Stock to which it mailed the Exchange Notice.

                  C. Shares of the Series B Preferred Stock may be exchanged for
Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 4 of the Warrants.

         VII. Restrictions on Dividends

                  So long as any shares of the Series B Preferred Stock are
outstanding, the Board of Directors shall not declare, and the Corporation shall
not pay or set apart for payment any dividend on any Junior Securities or make
any payment on account of, or set apart for payment money for a sinking or other
similar fund for, the repurchase, redemption or other retirement of, any Junior
Securities or Parity Securities or any warrants, rights or options exercisable
for or convertible into any
<PAGE>   47
Junior Securities or Parity Securities (other than the repurchase, redemption or
other retirement of debentures or other debt securities that are convertible or
exchangeable into any Junior Securities or Parity Securities), or make any
distribution in respect of the Junior Securities, either directly or indirectly,
and whether in cash, obligations or shares of the Corporation or other property
(other than distributions or dividends in Junior Securities to the holders of
Junior Securities), and shall not permit any corporation or other entity
directly or indirectly controlled by the Corporation to purchase or redeem any
Junior Securities or Parity Securities or any warrants, rights, calls or options
exercisable for or convertible into any Junior Securities or Parity Securities
(other than the repurchase, redemption or other retirement of debentures or
other debt securities that are convertible or exchangeable into any Junior
Securities or Parity Securities) unless prior to or concurrently with such
declaration, payment, setting apart for payment, repurchase, redemption or other
retirement or distribution, as the case may be, all accumulated and unpaid
dividends on shares of the Series B Preferred Stock not paid on the dates
provided for in paragraph A of Article III hereof (including Arrearages and
accumulated dividends thereon) shall have been paid, except that when dividends
are not paid in full as aforesaid upon the shares of Series B Preferred Stock,
all dividends declared on the Series B Preferred Stock and any series of Parity
Dividend Securities shall be declared and paid pro rata so that the amount of
dividends so declared and paid on Series B Preferred Stock and such series of
Parity Dividend Securities shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio
that accumulated dividends (including interest accrued on or additional
dividends accumulated in respect of such accumulated dividends) on the shares of
Series B Preferred Stock and such Parity Dividend Securities bear to each other.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this paragraph shall not prohibit (i) the
acquisition, repurchase, exchange, conversion, redemption or other retirement
for value of shares of Series B Preferred Stock or any Parity Dividend Security
by the Corporation in accordance with the terms of such securities or of any
shares of Trust Preferred Stock (as defined in Section F of Article VIII) or
(ii) the acquisition, repurchase, exchange, conversion, redemption or other
retirement for value by the Corporation of any Junior Dividend Securities by the
Corporation in accordance with obligations in existence at the time of original
issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock.

         VIII. Voting Rights

                  A. The holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall
have no voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to
time required by law.

                  B. Through the Approval Date, shares of Series B Preferred
Stock shall have no voting rights except as set forth in Section C of this
Article VIII. After the Approval Date, so long as any shares of the Series B
Preferred Stock are outstanding, each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder thereof to
<PAGE>   48
vote on all matters voted on by holders of Common Stock, and the shares of
Series B Preferred Stock shall vote together with shares of Common Stock (and
any shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to vote) as a single class;
provided, however, that upon register or transfer on the stock records of the
Corporation of a share of Series B Preferred Stock to any Person other than the
Investor or an Affiliate of the Investor, the transferee, and any subsequent
transferee, shall not be entitled to such voting rights. With respect to any
such vote, the Investor (together with its Affiliates) shall be entitled to a
number of votes per share of Series B Preferred Stock equal to the quotient of
the Investor Aggregate Vote Number, divided by the number of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock held by such Investor and its Affiliates as of the record date
for such vote. The "Investor Aggregate Vote Number" shall equal the number of
Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon the exercise of Original Warrants (as
defined below) by the holders thereof (assuming all conditions precedent to such
exercise have been satisfied and that such exercise occurs as of the record date
for such vote), multiplied by the lesser of (x) the quotient of the number of
Original Warrants that are Beneficially Owned by members of the Investor Group,
in the aggregate, as of the record date for such vote (excluding for purposes of
this calculation, however, any Original Warrants that have been transferred on
the books of the Corporation by any member of the Investor Group to any Person
other than a member of the Investor Group, regardless of whether any such
Original Warrants are subsequently acquired by any member of the Investor
Group), divided by the number of Original Warrants, and (y) the quotient of the
number of Original Series B Preferred Shares (as defined below) that are
Beneficially Owned by members of the Investor Group, in the aggregate, as of the
record date for such vote (excluding for purposes of this calculation, however,
any Original Series A Preferred Shares transferred on the stock records of the
Corporation by any member of the Investor Group to any Person other than a
member of the Investor Group, regardless of whether any such Original Series B
Preferred Shares are subsequently acquired by any member of the Investor Group),
divided by the number of Original Series B Preferred Shares. The term "Original
Warrants" means those Warrants Beneficially Owned by members of the Investor
Group, in the aggregate, as of the Closing. The term "Original Series B
Preferred Shares" means those shares of Series B Preferred Stock Beneficially
Owned by members of the Investor Group, in the aggregate, as of the Closing.

                  C. If on any date (i) dividends payable on either the Series B
Preferred Stock or the Series A Preferred Stock shall have been in arrears and
not paid in full for four consecutive quarterly periods or if dividends shall
have been in arrears and not paid in full on the first or second annual
anniversary of the original issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock or Series A
Preferred Stock, as the case may be, or (ii) the Corporation shall have failed
to satisfy its obligation to redeem either shares of Series B Preferred Stock or
shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the relevant Certificate of
Designations, then the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors
shall, without further action, be increased by two, and the holders
<PAGE>   49
of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series A
Preferred Stock shall have, in addition to the other voting rights set forth
herein, the exclusive right, voting together as a single class without regard to
series, to elect the two directors (the "Additional Directors") of the
Corporation to fill such newly-created directorships. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Investor and its Affiliates shall not be permitted to elect,
pursuant to the preceding sentence, more than the number of directors that would
result in four directors designated for nomination or elected by the Investor
and its Affiliates then being on the Board of Directors (including directors
that the Investor has a right to designate for nomination to the Board of
Directors pursuant to the Investment Agreement); provided, that if at the time
holders of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock have the right
to elect Additional Directors and (i) the Investor and its Affiliates
Beneficially Own, in the aggregate, a majority of the outstanding shares of
Series B Preferred Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, taken together as a
single class, and (ii) the Investor and its Affiliates are not permitted to
elect one or both of the Additional Directors as aforesaid, then the holders of
Series B Preferred Stock and Series A Preferred Stock (other than the Investor
and its Affiliates) shall have the right to elect, voting together as a single
class, one Additional Director pursuant to this Section C. Additional Directors
shall continue as directors and such additional voting right shall continue
until such time as (a) all dividends accumulated on the Series B Preferred Stock
and/or Series A Preferred Stock, as the case may be, shall have been paid in
full or (b) any redemption obligation with respect to the Series B Preferred
Stock and/or Series A Preferred Stock, as the case may be, that has become due
shall have been satisfied or all necessary funds shall have been set aside for
payment, as the case may be, at which time such Additional Directors shall cease
to be directors and such additional voting right of the holders of shares of
Series B Preferred Stock shall terminate subject to revesting in the event of
each and every subsequent event of the character indicated above and subject to
any rights as to the election of directors provided for the holders of any other
series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation.

                  D. [Reserved]

                  E. i. The foregoing rights of holders of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock to take any action as provided in this Article VIII may be
exercised at any annual meeting of stockholders or at a special meeting of
stockholders held for such purpose as hereinafter provided or at any adjournment
thereof, or by the written consent, delivered to the Secretary of the
Corporation, of the holders of the minimum number of shares required to take
such action. So long as such right to vote continues (and unless such right has
been exercised by written consent of the minimum number of shares required to
take such action), the Chairman of the Board of Directors may call, and upon the
written request of holders of record of 20% of the outstanding shares of Series
B Preferred Stock, addressed to the Secretary of the Corporation at
<PAGE>   50
the principal office of the Corporation, shall call, a special meeting of the
holders of shares entitled to vote as provided herein. Such meeting shall be
held within 60 days after delivery of such request to the Secretary, at the
place and upon the notice provided by law and in the Bylaws for the holding of
meetings of stockholders.

                  ii. Each director elected pursuant to Section C hereof shall
serve until the next annual meeting or until his or her successor shall be
elected and shall qualify, unless the director's term of office shall have
terminated pursuant to the provisions of Section C hereof, as the case may be.
In case any vacancy shall occur among the directors elected pursuant to Section
C hereof, such vacancy may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by
vote of the remaining director or directors theretofore elected by such holders
(or such director's or directors' successor in office), if any. If any such
vacancy is not so filled within 20 days after the creation thereof or if all of
the directors so elected shall cease to serve as directors before their term
shall expire, the holders of the shares then outstanding and entitled to vote
for such director pursuant to the provisions of Section C hereof, as the case
may be, may elect successors to hold office for the unexpired terms of any
vacant directorships, by written consent as herein provided, or at a special
meeting of such holders called as provided herein. The holders of a majority of
the shares entitled to vote for directors pursuant to Section C hereof, as the
case may be, shall have the right to remove with or without cause at any time
and replace any directors such holders have elected pursuant to such section, by
written consent as herein provided, or at a special meeting of such holders
called as provided herein.

                  F. Without the consent or affirmative vote of the holders of
at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock,
voting separately as a class, the Corporation shall not authorize, create or
issue, or increase the authorized amount of, (i) any Senior Securities or Parity
Securities (except Parity Securities to be issued in exchange for all
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock in connection with a simultaneous
exchange of Parity Securities for all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred
Stock) or (ii) any class or series of capital stock or any security convertible
into or exercisable for any class or series of capital stock, redeemable
mandatorily or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof at any time on or
prior to the Mandatory Redemption Date (whether or not only upon the occurrence
of a specified event) (except Parity Securities to be issued in exchange for all
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock in connection with a simultaneous
exchange of Parity Securities for all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred
Stock); provided, however, that no consent or vote of the holders of the
outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be required for the
creation or issuance by a trust formed at the direction of the Corporation of
any series of preferred securities of such trust for financing purposes in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000,000 ("Trust Preferred Stock"). No
consent or vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred
Stock shall be required to authorize, create or issue, or increase the
authorized amount of, any class or series of Junior Securities, or any security
convertible into a stock of any class or series of Junior Securities, except to
the extent such action would violate Section H of this Article VIII.

                  G. Without the consent or affirmative vote of the holders of
at
<PAGE>   51
least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, voting
separately as a class, the Corporation shall not (i) amend, alter or repeal any
provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, if the amendment,
alteration or repeal alters or changes the powers, preferences or special rights
of the Series B Preferred Stock so as to affect them materially and adversely,
or (ii) authorize or take any other action if such action alters or changes any
of the rights of the Series B Preferred Stock in any respect or otherwise would
be inconsistent with the provisions of this Certificate of Designations and the
holders of any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation is
entitled to vote thereon. The terms set forth in this Certificate of
Designations may be amended or modified without the affirmative vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation (other than the holders of the Series B
Preferred Stock as provided in the preceding sentence); provided, that the Board
of Directors has determined that such amendment or modification will not have a
material adverse effect on the Corporation

                  H. Other Securities. The Corporation shall not enter into any
agreement or issue any security that prohibits, conflicts or is inconsistent
with, or would be breached by, the Corporation's performance of its obligations
hereunder.

         IX. Additional Definitions

                  For the purposes of this Certificate of Designations of Series
B Preferred Stock, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

                  "Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the
Exchange Act. The term "Affiliated" has a correlative meaning. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, for all purposes hereof, TPG, and each Person controlled by,
controlling or under common control with TPG (each, a "TPG Person"), shall not
be deemed an "Affiliate" of any Designated Purchaser Person (as defined below),
and no Designated Purchaser, and no Person controlled by, controlling or under
common control with such Designated Purchaser (each, a "Designated Purchaser
Person"), shall be deemed an "Affiliate" of any TPG Person or any other
Designated Purchaser Person, in any such case solely as a consequence of the
Investment Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.

                  "Approval Date" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in the Series B Warrant.

                  "Beneficially Own" with respect to any securities means having
"beneficial ownership" of such securities (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof, except that a Person
shall be deemed to Beneficially Own all such securities that such Person has the
right to acquire whether such right is exercisable immediately or after the
passage of time). The terms
<PAGE>   52
"Beneficial Ownership" and "Beneficial Owner" have correlative meanings.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for all purposes hereof, no TPG Person shall be
deemed to Beneficially Own any securities that are held by any Designated
Purchaser Person, and no Designated Purchaser Person shall be deemed to
Beneficially Own any securities that are held by any TPG Person or other
Designated Purchaser Person, in any such case solely as a consequence of the
Investment Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby.

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

                  "Bylaws" means the Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended.

                  "Change of Control" means such time as:

                  (1) any Person or Group (other than the Investor, its
         Affiliates, the Corporation or any Subsidiaries of the Corporation, or
         any Group composed of such Persons) has become, directly or indirectly,
         the Beneficial Owner, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of
         a majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding Voting
         Securities of the Corporation on a fully-diluted basis, after giving
         effect to the conversion and exercise of all outstanding warrants,
         options and other securities of the Corporation convertible into or
         exercisable for Voting Securities of the Corporation (whether or not
         such securities are then currently convertible or exercisable); or

                  (2) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or
         substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Corporation and its
         Subsidiaries to any Person or Group; or

                  (3) during any period of two consecutive calendar years,
         individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board
         of Directors, together with any new members of such Board of Directors
         whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for
         election by the stockholders of the Corporation was approved by a vote
         of at least a majority of the members of such Board of Directors then
         still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such
         period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
         approved or who were approved pursuant to Section 5.02 of the
         Investment Agreement or Article VIII, Section C, D or E of this
         Certificate of Designations, cease for any reason to constitute a
         majority of the directors of the Corporation then in office; or

                  (4) the Corporation consolidates with or merges with or into
<PAGE>   53
         another Person or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into,
         the Corporation, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which
         immediately after the consummation thereof the Persons owning the
         then-outstanding Voting Securities of the Corporation immediately prior
         to such consummation shall not own a majority in the aggregate (by
         reason of such prior ownership) of the then-outstanding Voting
         Securities of the Corporation or the surviving entity if other than the
         Corporation; or

                  (5) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or
         dissolution of the Corporation, whether or not otherwise in compliance
         with the provisions of this Series B Preferred Stock.

                  "Closing" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
Investment Agreement.

                  "Designated Purchaser" has the meaning assigned to such term
in the Investment Agreement.

                  "Designated Purchaser Person" has the meaning set forth in the
definition of "Affiliate."

                  "Exchange Act" means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, from time to
time.

                  "Group" has the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-5 under the
Exchange Act.


                  "Investment Agreement" means the Investment Agreement, dated
as of February 23, 1998, by and between the Investor and the Corporation, as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Investor" means TPG.

                  "Investor Group" means, collectively, the Investor, the
Designated Purchasers, if any, and the respective Affiliates of such Persons.

                  "Investor Nominee" means a person designated for election to
the Board of Directors by an Investor pursuant to the Investment Agreement.

                  "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service and its successors.

                  "Person" means any individual, corporation, company,
association, partnership, joint venture, trust or unincorporated organization,
or a government or
<PAGE>   54
any agency or political subdivision thereof.

                  "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of February 23, 1998, by and between the Investor and the
Corporation, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Second Anniversary Date" means the second anniversary of the
original issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock.

                  "Securities Act" means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, from time to
time.

                  "Series A Preferred Stock" has the meaning assigned to such
term in the Investment Agreement.

                  "Shareholder Approval" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in the Investment Agreement.

                  "S&P" means Standard and Poor's Ratings Group, a division of
the McGraw-Hill Companies, and its successors.

                  "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any
corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the
total voting power of shares of voting stock is at the time owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries
of that Person (or combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (A) the sole
general partner of the managing general partner of which is such Person or a
Subsidiary of such Person or (B) the only general partners of which are such
Person or of one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination
thereof).

                  "TPG" means TPG Oxford LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company.

                  "TPG Person" has the meaning set forth in the definition of
"Affiliate."

                  "Voting Securities" means the shares of Common Stock and any
other securities of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election
of directors.

                  "Warrants" means the Series B Warrants issued by the
Corporation on pursuant to the Investment Agreement.

                  "Warrant Shares" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Warrants.
<PAGE>   55
         X. Miscellaneous

                  A. Notices. Any notice referred to herein shall be in writing
and, unless first-class mail shall be specifically permitted for such notices
under the terms hereof, shall be deemed to have been given upon personal
delivery thereof, upon transmittal of such notice by telecopy (with confirmation
of receipt by telecopy or telex) or five days after transmittal by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

                  (1) if to the Corporation, to its office at 800 Connecticut
         Avenue Norwalk, Connecticut 06854 (Attention: General Counsel) or to
         the transfer agent for the Series B Preferred Stock;

                  (2) if to a holder of the Series B Preferred Stock, to such
         holder at the address of such holder as listed in the stock record
         books of the Corporation (which may include the records of any transfer
         agent for the Series B Preferred Stock); or

                  (3) to such other address as the Corporation or such holder,
         as the case may be, shall have designated by notice similarly given.

                  B. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series B Preferred Stock
redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, directly or
indirectly, in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly
after the acquisition thereof (and shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any
purpose) and, if necessary to provide for the lawful redemption or purchase of
such shares, the capital represented by such shares shall be reduced in
accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law. All such shares of Series
B Preferred Stock shall upon their cancellation and upon the filing of an
appropriate certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,
become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Corporation and may be reissued as part of another series of
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation subject to the
conditions or restrictions on issuance set forth herein.

                  C. Enforcement. Any registered holder of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock may proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of
such holders by any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to
protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any
provision in this Certificate of Designations or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

                  D. Transfer Taxes. Except as otherwise agreed upon pursuant to
the terms of this Certificate of Designations, the Corporation shall pay any and
all
<PAGE>   56
documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes and other governmental
charges that may be imposed under the laws of the United States of America or
any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein in respect of
any issue or delivery of Debentures on exchange of, or other securities or
property issued on account of, shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant
hereto or certificates representing such shares or securities. The Corporation
shall not, however, be required to pay any such tax or other charge that may be
imposed in connection with any transfer involved in the issue or transfer and
delivery of any certificate for Debentures or other securities or property in a
name other than that in which the shares of Series B Preferred Stock so
exchanged, or on account of which such securities were issued, were registered
and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the Person
requesting such issue has paid to the Corporation the amount of any such tax or
has established to the satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been
paid or is not payable.

                  E. Transfer Agent. The Corporation may appoint, and from time
to time discharge and change, a transfer agent for the Series B Preferred Stock.
Upon any such appointment or discharge of a transfer agent, the Corporation
shall send notice thereof by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each holder
of record of shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

                  F. Record Dates. In the event that the Series B Preferred
Stock shall be registered under either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
the Corporation shall establish appropriate record dates with respect to
payments and other actions to be made with respect to the Series B Preferred
Stock.
<PAGE>   57
                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is
executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Secretary and attested by its
Controller, this ___ day of May, 1998.

                                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.


                                            By:________________________________
                                               Jeffery H. Boyd, Executive Vice
                                                 President, General Counsel and
                                                 Secretary



[Corporate Seal]

ATTEST:


____________________________________
Brendan Shanahan, Vice President and
Controller
<PAGE>   58
                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

                                       OF

                  SERIES C JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

                                       OF

                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

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

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


                  OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC., a corporation organized and
existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter
called the "Company"), hereby certifies that the following resolution was duly
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company as required by Section 151 of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware at a meeting duly called
and held on May 6, 1998:

                  RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested
in the Board of Directors of the Company (hereinafter called the "Board of
Directors" or the "Board") in accordance with the provisions of the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended to date (hereinafter called the
"Certificate of Incorporation"), the Board of Directors hereby creates a series
of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company and hereby states
the designation and number of shares, and fixes the relative rights, powers and
preferences thereof, and the limitations thereof, as follows:

                  Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the
"Series C Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Series C
Preferred Stock shall be 6,730. Such number of shares may be increased or
decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that no decrease
shall reduce the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock to a number less
than the number of shares then outstanding.

                  Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

                  (A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any
series of Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Preferred Stock") (or any similar
stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series C Preferred Stock with respect
to dividends, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock, in preference
to the holders of Common
<PAGE>   59
Stock, par value $.0l per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company and of any
other stock of the Company ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Stock, shall
be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out
of funds legally available for the purpose, dividends and other distributions,
in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to, subject to the
provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1000 times the aggregate per
share amount of all cash dividends, and 1000 times the aggregate per share
amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other
than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, declared on the Common Stock
since the immediately preceding dividend or distribution declared on the Series
C Preferred Stock. In the event the Company shall at any time after May 13, 1998
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount per share to which
holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to
such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.

                  (B) The Company shall declare a dividend or distribution on
the Series C Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).

                  (C) The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the
determination of holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock entitled to
receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record
date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment
thereof.

                  Section 3. Voting Rights. Except as set forth in Section 10,
or as otherwise from time to time required by law, holders of Series C Preferred
Stock shall have no voting rights and their consent shall not be required for
taking any corporate action.

                  Section 4. Certain Restrictions.

                  (A) Whenever dividends or distributions payable on the Series
C Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until
all unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of
Series C Preferred 

                                      -46-
<PAGE>   60
Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Company shall not:

                  (i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions,
         on any shares of stock ranking junior (as to dividends) to the Series C
         Preferred Stock;

                  (ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
         distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (as to
         dividends) with the Series C Preferred Stock, except dividends paid
         ratably on the Series C Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on
         which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total
         amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

                  (iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
         consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to
         dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series
         C Preferred Stock, provided that the Company may at any time redeem,
         purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in
         exchange for shares of any stock of the Company ranking junior (as to
         dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the
         Series C Preferred Stock or rights, warrants or options to acquire such
         junior stock; or

                  (iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
         any shares of Series C Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking
         on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
         winding up) with the Series C Preferred Stock, except in accordance
         with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined
         by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares of Series C
         Preferred Stock, or shares of Series C Preferred Stock and parity
         stock, as the case may be, upon such terms as the Board of Directors,
         after consideration of the respective dividend rates and other relative
         rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall
         determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment
         among the respective series or classes.

                  (B) The Company shall not redeem or purchase or otherwise
acquire shares of Common Stock (other than pursuant to any written agreement of
the Company in existence on May 13, 1998 and other than redemptions or purchases
or other acquisitions for aggregate consideration not in excess of $10,000,000
since May 13, 1998), unless, in each case, the Company promptly (within five
business days) makes a purchase offer in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of shares of Series C
Preferred Stock offering to purchase a number of shares of Series C Preferred
Stock equal to one one-thousandth of the

                                      -47-
<PAGE>   61
number of shares of Common Stock redeemed or purchased or otherwise acquired in
such transaction at a price per share equal to 1000 times the amount of
consideration paid for one share of Common Stock in such transaction and
otherwise on terms and conditions no less favorable to the holders than those
applicable in such transaction (as determined by the Board of Directors in good
faith). In the event the Company shall at any time after May 13, 1998 declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or
effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend
in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common
Stock, then in each such case (i) the number of shares of Series C Preferred
Stock which holders thereof were entitled to have the Company offer to purchase
immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted
by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event, and (ii) the amount per share to
which holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by
multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately after such event.

                  (C) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any subsidiary
of the Company to, enter into any agreement with any person providing for the
purchase or other acquisition by such person (or any other person), whether
pursuant to tender offer, exchange offer or otherwise, unless in each case such
person promptly (within five business days) makes a purchase offer in writing or
by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of
shares of Series C Preferred Stock offering to purchase a number of shares of
Series C Preferred Stock equal to one-one thousandth of the number of shares of
Common Stock purchased or otherwise acquired in such transaction at a price per
share equal to 1000 times the amount of consideration paid for one share of
Common Stock in such transaction and otherwise on terms and conditions no less
favorable to the holders than those applicable in such transaction (as
determined by the Board of Directors in good faith). In the event the Company
shall at any time after May 13, 1998 declare or pay any dividend on the Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination
or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification
or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case (i)
the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock which holders thereof were
entitled to have redeemed or purchased or otherwise acquired immediately prior
to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such
number

                                      -48-
<PAGE>   62
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event, and (ii) the amount per share to which holders of shares of Series C
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the
preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately after such event.

                  (D) The Company shall not permit any subsidiary of the Company
to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Company unless the Company could, under paragraph (A) or (B) of this Section 4,
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

                  Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series C Preferred
Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock,
subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.

                  Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be
made (A) to the holders of the Common Stock or of shares of any other stock of
the Company ranking junior, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, to the
Series C Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series
C Preferred Stock shall have received (i) $1.00 per share, plus (ii) an amount
equal to declared and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, to the date of
such payment, plus (iii) an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1000 times the aggregate amount
to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (B) to the
holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up with the Series C Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably
on the Series C Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the
total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Company shall at any
time after May 13, 1998 declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable
in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
aggregate amount per share to which holders of shares of Series C Preferred
Stock were entitled

                                      -49-
<PAGE>   63
immediately prior to such event under clause (A)(iii) of the preceding sentence
shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

                  Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Company
shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in
which the shares of Common Stock are converted into, exchanged for or changed
into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such
case each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly
converted into, exchanged for or changed into an amount per share (subject to
the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 1000 times the
aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable
in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock
is converted, exchanged or changed. In the event the Company shall at any time
after May 13, 1998 declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than
by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in
the preceding sentence with respect to the conversion, exchange or change of
shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.

                  Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series C Preferred
Stock shall not be redeemable from any holder.

                  Section 9. Rank. The Series C Preferred Stock shall rank, with
respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, junior to all other
series of Preferred Stock (unless the terms of any such series shall provide
otherwise) and senior to the Common Stock.

                  Section 10. Amendment. Without the consent or affirmative vote
of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series C
Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, the Company shall not (i) amend,
alter or repeal any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws,
if the amendment, alteration or repeal alters or changes the powers, preferences
or special rights of the Series C Preferred Stock so as to affect them
materially and adversely, or (ii) authorize or take any other action if such
action alters or changes any of the rights of the

                                      -50-
<PAGE>   64
Series C Preferred Stock in any respect or otherwise would be inconsistent with
the provisions of this Certificate of Designations and the holders of any class
or series of the capital stock of the Company is entitled to vote thereon.

                  Section 11. Fractional Shares. Series C Preferred Stock may be
issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to
such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series C Preferred Stock.

                                      -51-
<PAGE>   65
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is
executed on behalf of the Company by its Secretary and attested by its
Controller this ___ day of May, 1998.



                                            ___________________________________
                                            Jeffery H. Boyd, Executive Vice
                                            President, General Counsel and 
                                            Secretary



Corporate Seal




Attest:


________________________________
Brendan Shanahan, Vice President
and Controller

                                      -52-

<PAGE>   1
                                  EXHIBIT 3(b)

                          AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

                                       OF

                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

                                    ARTICLE I

                                  Stockholders

         Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of stockholders shall be
held for the election of directors at such date, time and place either within or
without the State of Delaware as may be designated by the Board of Directors
from time to time. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual
meeting.

         Section 1.2. Special Meeting. Special meetings of stockholders may be
called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Vice Chairman of
the Board, if any, the President or the Board of Directors, to be held at such
date, time and place either within or without the State of Delaware as may be
stated in the notice of the meeting. Any action required or permitted to be
taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called
annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may be effected
by any consent in writing by such holders.

         Section 1.3. Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or
permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall
be given which shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the
case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is
called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the written notice of any meeting
shall be given not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the
meeting to each stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such
notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail,
postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder's address as it
appears on the records of the Corporation.

         Section 1.4. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or
special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other
place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time
and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which
might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for
more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed
for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to
each stockholder of records entitled to vote at the meeting.
<PAGE>   2
         Section 1.5. Quorum. At each meeting of stockholders, except where
otherwise provided by law or the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws,
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each class of stock
entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy,
shall constitute a quorum. For purposes of the foregoing, two or more classes or
series of stock shall be considered a single class if the holders thereof are
entitled to vote together as a single class at the meeting. In the absence of a
quorum the stockholders so present may, by majority vote, adjourn the meeting
from time to time in the manner provided by Section 1.4 of these by-laws until a
quorum shall attend. Shares of its own capital stock belonging on the record
date for the meeting to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority
of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other
corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither
be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum; provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation to vote stock, including
but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

         Section 1.6. Organization. Meeting of stockholders shall be presided
over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the absence of the Chairman of
the Board by the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the absence of the
Vice Chairman of the Board by the President, or in the absence of the President
by a Vice President, or in the absence of such designation by a chairman chosen
at the meeting. The Secretary or in the absence of the Secretary an Assistant
Secretary, but in the absence of the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary the
chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the
meeting.

         Section 1.7. Voting; Proxies. Unless otherwise provided in the
certificate of incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting
of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by
such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. Each
stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent
or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize
another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such
proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the
proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable
if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled
with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A
stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the
meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the
proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the secretary of
the Corporation. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be written ballot
and need not be conducted by inspectors unless the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of all classes of stock entitled to vote thereon present in
person or by proxy at such meeting shall so determine. At all meetings of
stockholders for the election of directors a plurality of the votes cast shall
be sufficient to elect. With respect to other matters, unless otherwise provided
by law or by the certificate or incorporation or these by-laws, the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of all classes of stock present
in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the
subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders, provided that (except as
otherwise

                                       2
<PAGE>   3
required by law or by the certificate or incorporation) the Board of Directors
may require a larger vote upon any such matter. Where a separate vote by class
is required, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares or
each class present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the
act of such class, except as otherwise provided by law or by the certificate or
incorporation or these by-laws.

         Section 1.8. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice
of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to
express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to
receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any
rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion
or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of
Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty
nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days
prior to any other action. If no record date is fixed: (1) the record date for
determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day
on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on
the day next preceding the day of which the meeting is held; (2) the record date
for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in
writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is necessary, shall
be the day on which the first written consent is expressed; and (3) the record
date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of
business on the day on which the Board adopts the record entitled to notice of
or to vote at the meeting of stockholder shall apply to any adjournment of the
meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the
adjourned meeting.

         Section 1.9. List of Stockholder Entitled to Vote. The Secretary shall
prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to
the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting,
during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the
meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held,
which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so
specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

         Section 1.10. Advance Notice of Stockholder-Proposed Business at any
Meeting of Stockholders. To be properly brought before any meeting of the
stockholders, business must be either (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or
any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors,
(b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the
Board of Directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a
stockholder. In addition to any other applicable requirements, including
(without limitation) requirements imposed by federal securities

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
laws pertaining to proxies, for business to be properly brought before any
meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof
in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's
notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive
offices of the Corporation, at least seventy-five (75) days prior to the meeting
provided, however, that in the event that less than ninety (90) days' notice or
prior public disclosure of the date of annual meeting of stockholders is given
or made to stockholders by the Corporation, notice by the Stockholder to be
timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 15th day
following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was
mailed or such public disclosure was made, whichever first occurs. A
stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the
stockholder proposes to bring before any meeting of the stockholders (i) a brief
description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the
reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (ii) the name and record
address of the stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number
of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the stockholders,
and (iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such business.

         Notwithstanding anything in these by-laws to the contrary, no business
shall be conducted at any meeting of the stockholders except in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Section 1.10, provided, however, that nothing
in this Section 1.10 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder
as to any business properly brought before any meeting.

         The Chairman of the stockholders' meeting shall, if the facts warrant,
determine and declare at any meeting of the Stockholders that business was not
properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 1.10, and if he should determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and
any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be
transacted.

                                   ARTICLE II

                               Board of Directors

         Section 2.1. Powers; Numbers; Qualifications. (a) The business and
affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the
Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by law or in the
certificate of incorporation. (b) Except as otherwise fixed by or pursuant to
the provisions or Article FOURTH of the certificate of incorporation (as it may
be duly amended from time to time) relating to the rights of the holders of any
class or series of stock having a preference over the common stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation to elect, by separate class vote, additional
directors, the number of directors of the Corporation shall be the number fixed
from time to time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of
directors which the Corporation would have, prior to any increase or decrease,
if there were no vacancies. Until otherwise fixed by the directors, the number
of directors constituting the entire Board shall be twelve (12). The persons
receiving the votes of a plurality in amount of

                                       4
<PAGE>   5
holders of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, considered as a
single class, entitled to vote generally in the election of directors for the
term prescribed by Article TWELFTH of the certificate of incorporation or until
their successors shall be elected and qualified.

         Section 2.2. Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of
incorporation or in the by-laws, vacancies and newly created directorships
resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or from any
other cause may be filled by a majority of the directors, although less than a
quorum, then remaining in office and elected by the holders of the capital stock
of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or,
in the event that there is only one such director, by such sole remaining
director, and the directors so chosen shall hold office for a term that shall
coincide with the term of the class to which such director shall have been
elected.

         Section 2.3. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of
Directors, or any committee thereof, may be held at such places within or
without the State of Delaware and at such times as the Board or such committee
may from time to time determine, and, if so determined, notice thereof need not
be given.

         Section 2.4. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors, or any committee thereof, may be held at such places within or
without the State of Delaware whenever called, in the case of a Board Meeting,
by the Chairman of the Board, if any, by the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any,
or by any two or more Directors or, in the case of a committee meeting, by the
Chairman of such committee, if any, or by any two or more committee members. At
least 24 hours notice of any such meeting, which may, but need not, state the
purpose thereof, shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting or
a representative or agent thereof.

         Section 2.5. Participation in Meeting by Conference Telephone
Permitted. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or
these by-laws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by
the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board or of such committee, as
the case may be, by means of conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this by-law shall
constitute presence in person at such meeting.

         Section 2.6. Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the
Board of Directors a majority of the entire Board shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at
a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board unless the
certificate of incorporation or these by-laws shall require a vote of a greater
number. In case at any meeting of the Board a quorum shall not be present, the
members of the Board present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a
quorum shall attend.

                                       5
<PAGE>   6
         Section 2.7. Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the absence of the
Chairman of the Board by the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the
absence of the Vice Chairman of the Board by the President, or in their absence
by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary, or in the absence of the
Secretary an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in
the absence of the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary, the chairman of the
meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

         Section 2.8. Action by Directors Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise
restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, any action
required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or
of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the
Board or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereof in writing, and
the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board
or committee.

         Section 2.9. Compensation of Directors. The Board of Directors shall
have the authority to fix the compensation of directors.

                                   ARTICLE III

                                   Committees

         Section 3.1. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution
passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each
committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The
Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee,
who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the
committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the
member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may
unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place
of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent
provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the
powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs
of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed
to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have power or
authority in reference to amending the certificate of incorporation, adopting an
agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders a
dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation or dissolution, removing or
identifying directors or amending these by-laws; and, unless the resolution
expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to
declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock.

         Section 3.2. Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise
provides, each committee designated by the Board may adopt, amend and repeal
rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of the provisions by the
Board or a provision in the rules of such committee to the contrary, a majority
of the entire authorized number

                                       6
<PAGE>   7
of members of such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, the vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting at the time
of such vote if a quorum is then present shall be the act of such committee, and
in other respects each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner
as the Board conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these by-laws.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    Officers

         Section 4.1. Officers; Elections. As soon as practicable after the
annual meeting of stockholders in each year, the Board of Directors shall elect
a President and a Secretary, and it may, if it so determines, elect from among
its members a Chairman of the Board and a Vice Chairman of the Board. The Board
may also elect one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Vice
Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and one or more
Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as the Board may deem desirable or
appropriate and may give any of them such further designations or alternate
titles as it considers desirable. Any number of offices may be held by the same
person.

         Section 4.2. Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Except as
otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors electing any
officer, each officer shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board
after the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding his or her election,
and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her
earlier resignation or removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon written
notice to the Board or to the President or the Secretary of the Corporation.
Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and unless
otherwise specified therein no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary
to make it effective. The Board may remove any officer, except for the Chief
Executive Officer, with or without cause at any time. The Board may remove the
Chief Executive Officer only with an affirmative vote of at least a
three-quarters (3/4) of the Directors of the Corporation. Any such removal shall
be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the
Corporation, but the election of an officer shall not of itself create
contractual rights. Any vacancy occurring shall not of itself create contractual
rights. Any vacancy occurring in any office or the Corporation by death,
resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled for the unexpired portion of the
term by the Board at any regular or special meeting.

         Section 4.3. Powers and Duties. The officers of the Corporation shall
have such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as shall be
stated in these by-laws or in a resolution of the Board of Directors which is
not inconsistent with these by-laws and, to the extent not so stated, as
generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the
Board. The Secretary shall have the duty to record the proceedings of the
meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any

                                       7
<PAGE>   8
committees in a book to be kept for the purpose. The Board may require any
officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his
or her duties.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                      Stock

         Section 5.1. Certificates. Every holder of stock in the Corporation
shall be entitled to have certificate signed by or in the name of the
Corporation by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any,
or the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation,
certifying the number of shares owned by such holders in the corporation. If
such certificate is manually signed by one officer or manually countersigned by
a transfer agent or by a registrar, any other signature on the certificate may
be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed
or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have
ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before the such
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect
as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of
issue.

         Section 5.2. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of
New Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the
place of any certificate therefore issued by it, alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner's legal representative, to give
the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be
made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction or any such
certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                  Miscellaneous

         Section 6.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
determined by the Board of Directors.

         Section 6.2. Seal. The Corporation may have a corporate seal which
shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such
form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. The
corporate seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed
or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

         Section 6.3. Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors
and Committee. Whenever notice is required to be given by law or under any
provision of the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, a written waiver
thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the
time stated therein, shall be deemed

                                       8
<PAGE>   9
equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a
waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for
the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the
transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any
regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors, or members of a
committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless
so required by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws.

         Section 6.4. Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Employees. The
Corporation shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person
made or threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether
criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, including any action
instituted by or on behalf of the Corporation, by reason of the fact that such
person or such person's testator or intestate is or was a director or officer of
the Corporation, by reason of the fact that such person or such person's
testator or intestate is or was a director or officer of the Corporation any
other enterprise as a director or officer. Expenses incurred by any such person
in defending any such actions, suit or proceeding shall be paid or reimbursed by
the Corporation promptly upon receipt by it or an undertaking of such person to
repay such expense if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. The rights provided to any person
by this by-law shall be enforceable against the Corporation by such person who
shall be presumed to have relied upon it in serving or continuing to serve as a
director or officer as provided above. No amendment of this by-law shall impair
the rights of any person arising at any time with respect to events occurring
prior to such amendment. To the extent permitted by Delaware law, the Board may
cause the Corporation to indemnify and reimburse other employees of the
Corporation as it deems appropriate. For purposes of this by-laws, the term
"Corporation" shall include any predecessor of the Corporation and any
constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed by
the Corporation in a consolidation or merger; the term "other enterprise" shall
include any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or employee benefit
plan; service "at the request of the Corporation" shall include service as a
director or officer of the Corporation, which imposes duties on, or involves
services by, such director or officer with respect to any other enterprise or
any employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; any excise taxes
assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan, shall be deemed
to be indemnifiable expenses; and action by a person with respect to any
employee benefit plan which such person reasonably believes to be in the
interest of the participants and beneficiaries of such plan shall be deemed to
be action not opposed to the best interest of the Corporation.

         Section 6.5. Interested Directors; Quorum. No contract or transaction
between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between
the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other
organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or
officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for
this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or
participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof

                                       9
<PAGE>   10
which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or her or
their votes are counted for such purpose, if: (1) the material facts as to his
or her relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are
disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee, and the Board or committee
in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of
a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested
directors be less than a quorum; or (2) the material facts as to his or her
relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or
are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or
transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders;
or (3) the contract or transaction is fair as the Corporation as of the time it
is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board, a committee thereof or the
stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the
presence of a quorum at the meeting of the Board or of a committee which
authorizes the contract or transaction.

         Section 6.6. Form of Records. Any records maintained by the Corporation
in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of
account and minute books, may be kept on, or be in the form of, punch cards,
magnetic tape, photographs, microphotographs or any other information storage
device, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible
form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so convert any records so
kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect the same.

         Section 6.7. Amendment of By-Laws. These by-laws may be amended or
repealed, and new by-laws adopted, by the Board of Directors, but the
stockholders, by the affirmative vote of 80% of the voting power of all the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, considered for the purposes of this
Section as a single class may adopt additional by-laws and may amend or repeal
any by-law whether or not adopted by them.

                                       10








As amended May 6, 1998

<PAGE>   1
                                  EXHIBIT 10(a)



                                  $200,000,000

                            11% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005

                          of OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                                                     May 7, 1998

DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
         SECURITIES CORPORATION
277 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10172

Dear Sirs:

                  Oxford Health Plans, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), proposes to issue and sell to Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation (the "INITIAL PURCHASER") an aggregate of $200,000,000 in
principal amount of its 11% Senior Notes Due 2005 (the "SERIES A SENIOR NOTES"),
subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein. The Series A Senior Notes
are to be issued pursuant to the provisions of an indenture (the "INDENTURE"),
to be dated as of May 13, 1998, between the Company and The Chase Manhattan
Bank, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). The Series A Senior Notes and the Series B
Senior Notes (as defined below) issuable in exchange therefor are collectively
referred to herein as the "SENIOR NOTES". Capitalized terms used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Indenture.

                  1. OFFERING MEMORANDUM. The Series A Senior Notes will be
offered and sold to the Initial Purchaser pursuant to one or more exemptions
from the registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "ACT"). The Company has prepared a preliminary offering memorandum, dated
April 24, 1998 (the "PRELIMINARY OFFERING MEMORANDUM"), and a final offering
memorandum, dated May 7, 1998 (the "OFFERING MEMORANDUM"), relating to the
Series A Senior Notes.

                  Upon original issuance thereof, and until such time as the
same is no longer required pursuant to the Indenture, the Series A Senior Notes
(and all securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof)
shall bear the following legend:

                  "THIS SENIOR NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED
                  UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
                  "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD,
                  PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR
                  TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS
                  SET FORTH IN THE NEXT SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR
                  OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS
                  THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED
                  IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A "QIB"), (B) IT IS
                  ACQUIRING THIS SENIOR NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN
                  COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C)
                  IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN
                  RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D 
<PAGE>   2
                  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN "IAI"), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL
                  NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SENIOR NOTE EXCEPT (A)
                  TO THE COMPANY, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY
                  BELIEVES IS A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE
                  ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
                  RULE 144A, (C) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE
                  REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D)
                  IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER
                  THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN IAI THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH
                  TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING
                  CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE
                  TRANSFER OF THIS SENIOR NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE
                  OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT
                  OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SENIOR NOTES LESS THAN
                  $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT
                  SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (F) IN
                  ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
                  REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION
                  OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN
                  EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN
                  ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF
                  THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (3)
                  AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SENIOR
                  NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE
                  SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN,
                  THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" AND "UNITED STATES" HAVE THE
                  MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE
                  SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING
                  THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SENIOR
                  NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING."

                  2. AGREEMENTS TO SELL AND PURCHASE. On the basis of the
representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement, and
subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to the Initial Purchaser, and the Initial Purchaser agrees to
purchase from the Company, an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000 of
Series A Senior Notes at a purchase price equal to 97% of the principal amount
thereof (the "PURCHASE PRICE").

                  3. TERMS OF OFFERING. The Initial Purchaser has advised the
Company that the Initial Purchaser will make offers (the "EXEMPT RESALES") of
the Series A Senior Notes purchased hereunder on the terms set forth in the
Offering Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, solely (i) to persons whom the
Initial Purchaser reasonably believes to be "qualified institutional buyers" (as
defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) ("QIBS") in reliance upon Rule
144A under the Securities Act or (ii) in offshore transactions to certain
eligible persons to which the Initial Purchaser is permitted to offer and sell
the Series A Senior Notes in reliance upon Regulation S under the Securities Act
(each, a "REGULATION S PURCHASER") (such persons specified in clauses (i) and
(ii) being referred to herein as the "ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS"). The Initial
Purchaser will offer the Series A Senior Notes to Eligible Purchasers initially
at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof. Such price may be
changed at any time without notice.

                  Holders (including subsequent transferees) of the Series A
Senior Notes will have the registration rights set forth in the registration
rights agreement (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), to be dated the Closing
Date, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, for so long as such Series
A Senior Notes constitute "TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES" (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement,
the Company will agree to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"COMMISSION") under the circumstances set forth therein, (i)

                                       2
<PAGE>   3
a registration statement under the Securities Act (the "EXCHANGE OFFER
REGISTRATION STATEMENT") relating to the Company's 11% Series B Senior Notes Due
2005 (the "SERIES B SENIOR NOTES"), to be offered in exchange for the Series A
Senior Notes (such offer to exchange being referred to as the "EXCHANGE OFFER"),
and (ii) if applicable, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415
under the Securities Act (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" and, together with
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the "REGISTRATION STATEMENTS")
relating to the resale by certain holders of the Series A Senior Notes and to
use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statements to be declared and
remain effective and usable for the periods specified in the Registration Rights
Agreement and to consummate the Exchange Offer.

                  This Agreement, the Indenture, the Senior Notes, the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Investment Agreement dated February 23, 1998
(the "INVESTMENT AGREEMENT") between the Company and TPG Oxford LLC ("TPG") and
the Term Loan Agreement to be dated May 13, 1998 (the "TERM LOAN AGREEMENT")
among the Company and the Initial Purchaser, as arranger, DLJ Capital Funding,
Inc., as syndication agent, and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as facility
manager, and the lenders named therein are hereinafter sometimes referred to
collectively as the "OPERATIVE DOCUMENTS."

                  4. DELIVERY AND PAYMENT.

                           (a) Delivery of, and payment of the Purchase Price
for, the Series A Senior Notes shall be made at the offices of Sullivan &
Cromwell, 125 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004 or such other location as
may be mutually acceptable. Such delivery and payment shall be made at 9:00 a.m.
New York City time, on May 13, 1998 or at such other time on the same date or
such other date as shall be agreed upon by the Initial Purchaser and the Company
in writing. The time and date of such delivery and the payment for the Series A
Senior Notes are herein called the "CLOSING DATE."

                           (b) One or more of the Series A Senior Notes in
definitive global form, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the
Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), having an aggregate principal amount
corresponding to the aggregate principal amount of the Series A Senior Notes
(collectively, the "GLOBAL SENIOR NOTE"), shall be delivered by the Company to
the Initial Purchaser (or as the Initial Purchaser directs) in each case with
any transfer taxes thereon duly paid by the Company against payment by the
Initial Purchaser of the Purchase Price thereof by wire transfer in same day
funds to the order of the Company. The Global Senior Note shall be made
available to the Initial Purchaser for inspection not later than 9:30 a.m., New
York City time, on the business day immediately preceding the Closing Date.

                  5. AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company hereby agrees with
the Initial Purchaser as follows:

                           (a) To advise the Initial Purchaser promptly and, if
requested by the Initial Purchaser, confirm such advice in writing, (i) of the
issuance by any state securities commission of any stop order suspending the
qualification or exemption from qualification of any Series A Senior Notes for
offering or sale in any jurisdiction designated by the Initial Purchaser
pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof, or the initiation of any proceeding by any
state securities commission or any other federal or state regulatory authority
for such purpose and (ii) of the happening of any event during the period
referred to in Section 5(c) below that makes any statement of a material fact
made in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum untrue or
that requires any additions to or changes in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum
or the Offering Memorandum in order to make the statements therein not
misleading. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any stop order or order suspending the qualification or exemption of any Series
A Senior Notes under any state securities or Blue Sky laws and, if at any time
any state securities commission or other federal or state regulatory authority
shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption of any Series A
Senior Notes under any state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company shall use
its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the
earliest possible time.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
                           (b) To furnish the Initial Purchaser and those
persons identified by the Initial Purchaser to the Company as many copies of the
Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, and any amendments
or supplements thereto, as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably request for the
time period specified in Section 5(c). Subject to the Initial Purchaser's
compliance with its representations and warranties and agreements set forth in
Section 7 hereof, the Company consents to the use of the Preliminary Offering
Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, and any amendments and supplements
thereto required pursuant hereto, by the Initial Purchaser in connection with
Exempt Resales.

                           (c) During such period as in the opinion of counsel
for the Initial Purchaser an Offering Memorandum is required by law to be
delivered in connection with Exempt Resales by the Initial Purchaser and in
connection with market-making activities of the Initial Purchaser, (i) not to
make any amendment or supplement to the Offering Memorandum of which the Initial
Purchaser shall not previously have been advised or to which the Initial
Purchaser shall reasonably object after being so advised and (ii) to prepare
promptly upon the Initial Purchaser's reasonable request, any amendment or
supplement to the Offering Memorandum which may be necessary or advisable in
connection with such Exempt Resales or such market-making activities.

                           (d) If, during the period referred to in Section 5(c)
above, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which, in
the opinion of counsel to the Initial Purchaser, it becomes necessary to amend
or supplement the Offering Memorandum in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances when such Offering Memorandum is delivered to
an Eligible Purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel to the
Initial Purchaser, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Offering
Memorandum to comply with any applicable law, promptly to prepare an appropriate
amendment or supplement to such Offering Memorandum so that the statements
therein, as so amended or supplemented, will not, in the light of the
circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that such Offering
Memorandum will comply with applicable law, and to furnish to the Initial
Purchaser and such other persons as the Initial Purchaser may designate such
number of copies thereof as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably request.

                           (e) Prior to the sale of all Series A Senior Notes
pursuant to Exempt Resales as contemplated hereby, to cooperate with the Initial
Purchaser and counsel to the Initial Purchaser in connection with the
registration or qualification of the Series A Senior Notes for offer and sale to
the Initial Purchaser and pursuant to Exempt Resales under the securities or
Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Initial Purchaser may request and to
continue such registration or qualification in effect so long as required for
Exempt Resales and to file such consents to service of process or other
documents as may be necessary in order to effect such registration or
qualification; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in
connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in
which it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to
general consent to service of process or taxation other than as to matters
relating to Exempt Resales, in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so
subject.

                           (f) So long as the Senior Notes are outstanding, (i)
to mail and make generally available as soon as practicable after the end of
each fiscal year to the record holders of the Senior Notes a financial report of
the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (and a similar
financial report of all unconsolidated subsidiaries, if any), all such financial
reports to include a consolidated balance sheet, a consolidated statement of
operations, a consolidated statement of cash flows and a consolidated statement
of shareholders' equity as of the end of and for such fiscal year, together with
comparable information as of the end of and for the preceding year, certified by
the Company's independent public accountants and (ii) to mail and make generally
available as soon as practicable after the end of each quarterly period (except
for the last quarterly period of each fiscal year) to such holders, a
consolidated balance sheet, a consolidated statement of operations and a
consolidated statement of cash flows (and similar financial reports of all
unconsolidated subsidiaries, if any) as of the

                                       4
<PAGE>   5
end of and for such period, and for the period from the beginning of such year
to the close of such quarterly period, together with comparable information for
the corresponding periods of the preceding year.

                           (g) So long as the Senior Notes are outstanding, to
furnish to the Initial Purchaser as soon as available copies of all reports or
other communications furnished by the Company to its security holders or
furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on
which any class of securities of the Company is listed and such other publicly
available information concerning the Company and/or its subsidiaries as the
Initial Purchaser may reasonably request.

                           (h) So long as any of the Series A Senior Notes
remain outstanding and during any period in which the Company is not subject to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"EXCHANGE ACT"), to make available to any holder of Series A Senior Notes in
connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Series A
Senior Notes from such holder, the information ("RULE 144A INFORMATION")
required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

                           (i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in
this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause
to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the
Company under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and
expenses of counsel to the Company and accountants of the Company in connection
with the sale and delivery of the Series A Senior Notes to the Initial Purchaser
and pursuant to Exempt Resales, and all other fees and expenses in connection
with the preparation, printing, filing and distribution of the Preliminary
Offering Memorandum, the Offering Memorandum and all amendments and supplements
to any of the foregoing (including financial statements), including the mailing
and delivering of copies thereof to the Initial Purchaser and persons designated
by it in the quantities specified herein; provided, however, that the Company
shall pay or cause to be paid the fees and expenses of counsel to the Initial
Purchaser only if the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have not been
consummated or if this Agreement is terminated through no fault of the Initial
Purchaser, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of
the Series A Senior Notes to the Initial Purchaser and pursuant to Exempt
Resales, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) all costs
of printing or producing this Agreement, the other Operative Documents and any
other agreements or documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale or
delivery of the Series A Senior Notes, (iv) all expenses in connection with the
registration or qualification of the Series A Senior Notes for offer and sale
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states and all costs of
printing or producing any preliminary and supplemental Blue Sky memoranda in
connection therewith (including the filing fees and fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Initial Purchaser in connection with such registration or
qualification and memoranda relating thereto), (v) the cost of printing
certificates representing the Series A Senior Notes, (vi) all expenses and
listing fees in connection with the application for quotation of the Series A
Senior Notes in the PORTAL market ("PORTAL") of National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee
and the Trustee's counsel in connection with the Indenture and the Senior Notes,
(viii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar and/or depositary
(including DTC), (ix) any fees charged by rating agencies for the rating of the
Senior Notes, (x) all costs and expenses of the Exchange Offer and any
Registration Statement, as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, (xi)
the expenses of the Initial Purchaser in connection with the Company's
participation in the "road-show," and (xii) all other costs and expenses
incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for
which provision is not otherwise made in this Section.

                           (j) To use its best efforts to effect and maintain
the inclusion of the Series A Senior Notes in PORTAL for so long as the Series A
Senior Notes are outstanding.

                           (k) To obtain the approval of DTC for "book-entry"
transfer of the Senior Notes, and to comply with all of its agreements set forth
in the representation letters of the Company to

                                       5
<PAGE>   6
DTC relating to the approval of the Senior Notes by DTC for "book-entry"
transfer.

                  (l) During the period beginning on the date hereof and
continuing to and including the Closing Date, not to offer, sell, contract to
sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any debt securities of the Company or
any warrants, rights or options to purchase or otherwise acquire debt securities
of the Company substantially similar to the Senior Notes (other than the Senior
Notes), without the prior written consent of the Initial Purchaser.

                  (m) Not to sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or
otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the Securities
Act) that would be integrated with the sale of the Series A Senior Notes to the
Initial Purchaser or pursuant to Exempt Resales in a manner that would require
the registration of any such sale of the Series A Senior Notes under the
Securities Act.

                  (n) Not to voluntarily claim, and to actively resist any
attempts to claim, the benefit of any usury laws against the holders of any
Senior Notes.

                  (o) To cause the Exchange Offer to be made in the appropriate
form to permit Series B Senior Notes registered pursuant to the Securities Act
to be offered in exchange for the Series A Senior Notes and to comply with all
applicable federal and state securities laws in connection with the Exchange
Offer.

                  (p) To comply with all of its agreements set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (q) To use its best efforts (i) to do and perform all things
required or necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by it prior
to the Closing Date and (ii) to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery
of the Series A Senior Notes.

         6. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. As of the
date hereof, the Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the
Initial Purchaser that:

                           (a) The Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the
Offering Memorandum do not, and any supplement or amendment to them will not,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
except that the representations and warranties contained in this paragraph (a)
shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Preliminary Offering
Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum (or any supplement or amendment thereto)
based upon information relating to the Initial Purchaser furnished to the
Company in writing by the Initial Purchaser expressly for use therein. No stop
order preventing the use of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering
Memorandum, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any order asserting that
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the
registration requirements of the Securities Act, has been issued.

                           (b) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been
duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power and
authority to carry on its business as described in the Preliminary Offering
Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum and to own, lease and operate its
properties, and each is duly qualified and is in good standing as a foreign
corporation authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature
of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a
material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or
draw into question the validity of this Agreement or the other Operative
Documents (a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT").

                                       6
<PAGE>   7
                           (c) All outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid,
non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

                           (d) The entities listed on Schedule A hereto are the
only subsidiaries, direct or indirect, of the Company. All of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of each of the Company's subsidiaries have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and are
owned by the Company, directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries
(except for the subsidiaries specified in the Term Loan Agreement), free and
clear of any security interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse interest of
any nature (each, a "LIEN"), except pursuant to the Term Loan Agreement and the
Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 6, 1998, between the
Company and Oxford Funding, Inc.

                           (e) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company.

                           (f) The Indenture has been duly authorized by the
Company and, on the Closing Date, will have been validly executed and delivered
by the Company. When the Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company, the Indenture will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights
and to general equity principles. On the Closing Date, the Indenture will
conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended (the "TIA" or "TRUST INDENTURE ACT"), and the rules and
regulations of the Commission applicable to an indenture which is qualified
thereunder.

                           (g) The Series A Senior Notes have been duly
authorized and, on the Closing Date, will have been validly executed and
delivered by the Company. When the Series A Senior Notes have been issued,
executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture
and delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchaser in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, the Series A Senior Notes will be entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the
Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
equity principles. On the Closing Date, the Series A Senior Notes will conform
in all material respects as to legal matters to the description thereof
contained in the Offering Memorandum.

                           (h) On the Closing Date, the Series B Senior Notes
will have been duly authorized by the Company. When the Series B Senior Notes
are issued, executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the
Exchange Offer and the Indenture, the Series B Senior Notes will be entitled to
the benefits of the Indenture and will be the valid and binding obligations of
the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles.

                           (i) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
authorized by the Company and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed
and delivered by the Company. When the Registration Rights Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered, the Registration Rights Agreement will be a valid
and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles. On
the Closing Date, the Registration Rights Agreement will conform in all material
respects as to legal matters to the description thereof in the Offering
Memorandum.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8
                           (j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
is in violation of its respective charter or by-laws or in default in the
performance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument that
is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries or their respective property is bound, in each case, where such
violation would have a Material Adverse Effect.

                           (k) The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the other Operative Documents by the Company, compliance by the
Company with all provisions hereof and thereof and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) require any consent,
approval, authorization or other order of, or qualification with, any court or
governmental body or agency (except such as may be required under the securities
or Blue Sky laws of the various states) and except for registration pursuant to
the Registration Rights Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement dated as
of February 23, 1998 between the Company and TPG (the "TPG REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT"), (ii) constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a
default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or
instrument that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective property is bound,
(iii) violate or conflict with any applicable law or any rule, regulation,
judgment, order or decree of any court or any governmental body or agency having
jurisdiction over the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective
property, (iv) result in the imposition or creation of (or the obligation to
create or impose) a Lien under, any agreement or instrument to which the Company
or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or their respective property is bound, or (v) result in the
termination, suspension or revocation of any Authorization (as defined below) of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or result in any other impairment of the
rights of the holder of any such Authorization, in each case, which would have a
Material Adverse Effect.

                           (l) All indebtedness of the Company that will be
repaid with the proceeds of the issuance and sale of the Series A Notes was
incurred for proper purposes and in good faith and the Company will be on the
Closing Date (after giving effect to the application of the proceeds from the
issuance of the Series A Senior Notes) solvent, and will have on the Closing
Date (after giving effect to the application of the proceeds from the issuance
of the Series A Senior Notes) sufficient capital for carrying on its business
and will be on the Closing Date (after giving effect to the application of the
proceeds from the issuance of the Series A Senior Notes) able to pay its debts
as they mature.

                           (m) There are no legal or governmental proceedings
pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or
could be a party or to which any of their respective property is or could be
subject, which might result, singly or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse
Effect, except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum.

                           (n) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
has violated any foreign federal, state or local law or regulation relating to
the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic
substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), any
provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"), or any provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder, except for such violations which, singly
or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                           (o) There are no costs or liabilities associated with
Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating
expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with
Environmental Laws or any Authorization, any related constraints on operating
activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, singly
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       8
<PAGE>   9
                           (p) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has such
permits, licenses, consents, exemptions, franchises, authorizations and other
approvals (each, an "AUTHORIZATION") of, and has made all filings with and
notices to, all governmental or regulatory authorities and self-regulatory
organizations and all courts and other tribunals, including without limitation,
under any applicable Environmental Laws, as are necessary to own, lease, license
and operate its respective properties and to conduct its business, except where
the failure to have any such Authorization or to make any such filing or notice
would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Each such
Authorization is valid and in full force and effect and each of the Company and
its subsidiaries is in compliance with all the terms and conditions thereof and
with the rules and regulations of the authorities and governing bodies having
jurisdiction with respect thereto; and no event has occurred (including, without
limitation, the receipt of any notice from any authority or governing body)
which allows or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would allow, revocation,
suspension or termination of any such Authorization or results or, after notice
or lapse of time or both, would result in any other impairment of the rights of
the holder of any such Authorization; and such Authorizations contain no
restrictions that are burdensome to the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
except where such failure to be valid and in full force and effect or to be in
compliance, the occurrence of any such event or the presence of any such
restriction would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect, and except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum. Neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written notice from any
governmental or regulatory authorities that it may lose an Authorization or that
it may be restricted in any manner in which it currently conducts its business,
except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum. The Company has not received
notice that any insurance regulatory authority has issued or commenced any
proceeding for the issuance of any order or decree impairing, restricting or
prohibiting the payment of dividends of any subsidiary to its parent other than
such restrictions that apply to all insurance companies regulated by such
regulatory authority.

                           (q) The accountants, KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, that have
certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the
Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum are independent
public accountants with respect to the Company, as required by the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act. The historical financial statements, together with
related schedules and notes, set forth in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum
and the Offering Memorandum comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements applicable to registration statements on Form S-3 under the
Securities Act.

                           (r) The historical financial statements, together
with related schedules and notes forming part of the Offering Memorandum (and
any amendment or supplement thereto), present fairly in all material respects
the consolidated financial position, results of operations and changes in
financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries on the basis stated in
the Offering Memorandum at the respective dates or for the respective periods to
which they apply; such statements and related schedules and notes have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed
therein; and the other financial and statistical information and data set forth
in the Offering Memorandum (and any amendment or supplement thereto) are, in all
material respects, accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with
such financial statements and the books and records of the Company.

                           (s) All reinsurance treaties and arrangements to
which any subsidiary of the Company engaged in the business of insurance (an
"INSURANCE SUBSIDIARY") is party are in full force and effect and no Insurance
Subsidiary is in violation of or in default in the performance, observance or
fulfillment of, any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained
therein, which violation or default could reasonably be expected, either
individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; no
Insurance Subsidiary has received any notice from any of the other parties to
such treaties, contracts or agreements that such other party intends not to
perform such treaty and, to the best knowledge of the Company and the Insurance
Subsidiaries, the Company and Insurance Subsidiaries have no reason to believe
that any of the other parties to such treaties or arrangements will be unable to

                                       9
<PAGE>   10
perform such treaty or arrangement except to the extent adequately and properly
reserved for in the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in
the Offering Memorandum. No insurance regulatory authority has required that the
Company make a capital contribution to a subsidiary which requirement will not
have been satisfied as of the Closing Date.

                           (t) The Company is not and, after giving effect to
the offering and sale of the Series A Senior Notes and the application of the
net proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Memorandum, will not be, an
"investment company," as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.

                           (u) There are no contracts, agreements or
understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right
to require the Company to include any securities of the Company with the Senior
Notes registered pursuant to any Registration Statement.

                           (v) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
nor any agent thereof acting on the behalf of them (other than the Initial
Purchaser, as to whom the Company makes no representation) has taken, and none
of them will take, any action that might cause this Agreement or the issuance or
sale of the Series A Senior Notes to violate Regulation G (12 C.F.R. Part 207),
Regulation T (12 C.F.R. Part 220), Regulation U (12 C.F.R. Part 221) or
Regulation X (12 C.F.R. Part 224) of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System.

                           (w) No "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization" as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
Securities Act (i) has imposed (or has informed the Company that it is
considering imposing) any condition (financial or otherwise) on the Company's
retaining any rating assigned to the Company or any securities of the Company or
(ii) has indicated to the Company that it is considering (a) the downgrading,
suspension, or withdrawal of, or any review for a possible change that does not
indicate the direction of the possible change in, any rating so assigned or (b)
any change in the outlook for any rating of the Company or any securities of the
Company.

                           (x) Since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Offering Memorandum other than as set forth in the
Offering Memorandum (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto
subsequent to the date of this Agreement), (i) there has not occurred any
material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material
adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings,
business, management or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, (ii) except for the loans contemplated by the Term Loan Agreement and
the investment by TPG, there has not been any material adverse change or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change in the capital stock
or in the long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (iii)
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material
liability or obligation, direct or contingent.

                           (y) When the Series A Senior Notes are issued and
delivered pursuant to this Agreement, the Series A Senior Notes will not be of
the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act) as any
security of the Company that is listed on a national securities exchange
registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or that is quoted in a United
States automated interdealer quotation system.

                           (z) No form of general solicitation or general
advertising (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) was used by
the Company or any of its respective representatives (other than the Initial
Purchaser, as to whom the Company make no representation) in connection with the
offer and sale of the Series A Senior Notes contemplated hereby, including, but
not limited to, articles, notices or other communications published in any
newspaper, magazine, or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio, or
any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general
solicitation or general advertising. No securities of the same class as the
Series A Senior Notes have been issued and sold by the Company within the
six-month period immediately prior to the date 

                                       10
<PAGE>   11
hereof.


                           (aa) Prior to the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement, the Indenture is not required to be qualified under the TIA.

                           (bb) The Company and its respective affiliates and
all persons acting on their behalf (other than the Initial Purchaser, as to whom
the Company makes no representation) have complied with and will comply with the
offering restrictions requirements of Regulation S under the Securities Act
("REGULATION S") in connection with the offering of the Series A Senior Notes
outside the United States and, in connection therewith, the Offering Memorandum
will contain the disclosure required by Rule 902(h) under the Securities Act.

                           (cc) The Company is a "reporting issuer", as defined
in Rule 902 under the Securities Act.

                           (dd) The sale of the Series A Senior Notes pursuant
to Regulation S is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration
provisions of the Securities Act.

                           (ee) No registration under the Securities Act of the
Series A Senior Notes is required for the sale of the Series A Senior Notes to
the Initial Purchaser as contemplated hereby or for the Exempt Resales assuming
the accuracy of, and compliance with, the Initial Purchaser's representations
and warranties and agreements set forth in Section 7 hereof.

                           (ff) Each certificate signed by any officer of the
Company and delivered to the Initial Purchaser or counsel for the Initial
Purchaser shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to
the Initial Purchaser as to the matters covered thereby.

                  The Company acknowledges that the Initial Purchaser and, for
purposes of the opinions to be delivered to the Initial Purchaser pursuant to
Section 9 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Initial Purchaser
will rely as to facts upon the accuracy and truth of the foregoing
representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

                  7. INITIAL PURCHASER'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The
Initial Purchaser represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company that:

                           (a) The Initial Purchaser is a QIB, with such
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as is necessary in
order to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in the Series A Senior
Notes.

                           (b) The Initial Purchaser (A) is not acquiring the
Series A Senior Notes with a view to any distribution thereof or with any
present intention of offering or selling any of the Series A Senior Notes in a
transaction that would violate the Securities Act or the securities laws of any
state of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction and (B) will be
reoffering and reselling the Series A Senior Notes only to (x) QIBs in reliance
on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
provided by Rule 144A and (y) in offshore transactions in reliance upon Rule 903
of Regulation S.

                           (c) The Initial Purchaser agrees that no form of
general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D
under the Securities Act) has been or will be used by the Initial Purchaser or
any of its representatives in connection with the offer and sale of the Series A
Senior Notes pursuant hereto, including, but not limited to, articles, notices
or other communications published in any newspaper, magazine or similar medium
or broadcast over television or radio, or any seminar or meeting whose attendees
have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising.

                                       11
<PAGE>   12
                           (d) The Initial Purchaser agrees that, in connection
with Exempt Resales, such Initial Purchaser will solicit offers to buy the
Series A Senior Notes only from, and will offer to sell the Series A Senior
Notes only to, Eligible Purchasers. The Initial Purchaser further agrees that it
will offer to sell the Series A Senior Notes only to, and will solicit offers to
buy the Series A Senior Notes only from (A) Eligible Purchasers that the Initial
Purchaser reasonably believes are QIBs and (B) Regulation S Purchasers, in each
case, that agree that (x) the Series A Senior Notes purchased by them may be
resold, pledged or otherwise transferred within the time period referred to
under Rule 144(k) (taking into account the provisions of Rule 144(d) under the
Securities Act, if applicable) under the Securities Act, as in effect on the
date of the transfer of such Series A Senior Notes, only (I) to the Company,
(II) to a person whom the seller reasonably believes is a QIB purchasing for its
own account or for the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the
requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, (III) in an offshore
transaction (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) meeting the
requirements of Rule 903 or 904 under the Securities Act, (IV) in a transaction
meeting the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (V) in accordance
with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
(and based upon an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company) or (VI)
pursuant to an effective registration statement and, in each case, in accordance
with the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any
other applicable jurisdiction, and (y) they will deliver to each person to whom
such Series A Senior Notes or an interest therein is transferred a notice
substantially to the effect of the foregoing.

                           (e) The Initial Purchaser and its affiliates or any
person acting on its or their behalf have not engaged or will not engage in any
directed selling efforts within the meaning of Regulation S with respect to the
Series A Senior Notes.

                           (f) The Initial Purchaser agrees that it has not
offered or sold and will not offer or sell the Series A Senior Notes in the
United States or to, or for the benefit or account of, a U.S. Person (other than
a distributor), in each case, as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act
(i) as part of its distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days
after the later of the commencement of the offering of the Series A Senior Notes
pursuant hereto and the Closing Date, other than in accordance with Regulation S
or another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
The Initial Purchaser agrees that, during such 40-day restricted period, it will
not cause any advertisement with respect to the Series A Senior Notes (including
any "tombstone" advertisement) to be published in any newspaper or periodical or
posted in any public place and will not issue any circular relating to the
Series A Senior Notes.

                           (g) The Initial Purchaser agrees that, at or prior to
confirmation of a sale of Series A Senior Notes by it to any distributor, dealer
or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration during the
40-day restricted period referred to in Rule 903(c)(2) under the Securities Act,
it will send to such distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling
concession, fee or other remuneration a confirmation or notice to substantially
the following effect: "The Senior Notes covered hereby have not been registered
under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and
may not be offered and sold within the United States or to, or for the account
or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of your distribution at any time or (ii)
otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the Offering and
the Closing Date, except in either case in accordance with Regulation S under
the Securities Act (or Rule 144A), and in connection with any subsequent sale by
you of the Series A Senior Notes covered hereby in reliance on Regulation S
during the period referred to above to any distributor, dealer or person
receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration, you must deliver a
notice to substantially the foregoing effect. Terms used above have the meanings
assigned to them in Regulation S."

                           (h) The Series A Senior Notes offered and sold by the
Initial Purchaser pursuant hereto in reliance on Regulation S have been and will
be offered and sold only in offshore transactions. 

                                       12
<PAGE>   13


                           (i) The sale of the Series A Senior Notes offered and
sold by the Initial Purchaser pursuant hereto in reliance on Regulation S is not
part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration provisions of the Securities
Act.

                           The Initial Purchaser acknowledges that the Company
and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered to the Initial Purchaser
pursuant to Section 9 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Initial
Purchaser will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the foregoing representations
and such Initial Purchaser hereby consents to such reliance.

                  8. INDEMNIFICATION.

                           (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Initial Purchaser, its directors, its officers and each person, if any, who
controls such Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments (including, without
limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with
investigating or defending any matter, including any action, that could give
rise to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), the
Preliminary Offering Memorandum or any Rule 144A Information provided by the
Company to any holder or prospective purchaser of Series A Senior Notes pursuant
to Section 5(h) or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to the
Initial Purchaser furnished in writing to the Company by the Initial Purchaser;
provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to the
benefit of the Initial Purchaser if it failed to deliver a Final Offering
Memorandum (as then amended or supplemented, provided by the Company to the
Initial Purchaser in the requisite quantity and on a timely basis to permit
proper delivery on or prior to the Closing Date) to the person asserting any
losses, claims, damages and liabilities and judgments caused by any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary Offering Memorandum, or caused by any omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, if such material misstatement or
omission or alleged material misstatement or omission was cured in the Final
Offering Memorandum.

                           (b) The Initial Purchaser agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each person, if any,
who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Company to the Initial Purchaser but only with reference to
information relating to the Initial Purchaser furnished in writing to the
Company by the Initial Purchaser expressly for use in the Preliminary Offering
Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum. The only such information is in the
third, sixth, ninth and tenth paragraphs and the fourth sentence of the seventh
paragraph of the "Plan of Distribution" section.

                           (c) In case any action shall be commenced involving
any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a)
or 8(b) (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify
the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY")
in writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action,
including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party and the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred
(except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), the Initial Purchaser shall not
be required to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c),
but may employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel, except as

                                       13
<PAGE>   14
provided below, shall be at the expense of the Initial Purchaser). Any
indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing by
the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume
the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that
there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from
or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for
all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by Donaldson, Lufkin
& Jenrette Securities Corporation, in the case of the parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold
harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action (i)
effected with the prior written consent of the indemnifying party or (ii)
effected without its written consent if the settlement is entered into more than
ninety days after the indemnifying party shall have received a request from the
indemnified party for reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in any
case where such fees and expenses are at the expense of the indemnifying party)
and, prior to the date of such settlement, the indemnifying party shall have
failed to comply with such reimbursement request. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect
to, any pending or threatened action in respect of which the indemnified party
is or could have been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have
been sought hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such settlement,
compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified
party from all liability on claims that are or could have been the subject
matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an
admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the
indemnified party.

                           (d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in
this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect
of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein,
then each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser on the other hand from the
offering of the Series A Senior Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and
the Initial Purchaser, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on
the other hand, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net
proceeds from the offering of the Series A Senior Notes (after underwriting
discounts and commissions, but before deducting expenses) received by the
Company, and the total discounts and commissions received by the Initial
Purchaser bear to the total price to investors of the Series A Senior Notes, in
each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Offering
Memorandum. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial
Purchaser, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Initial Purchaser, on the other
hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

                                       14
<PAGE>   15
                           The Company and the Initial Purchaser agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d)
were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation
which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any
matter, including any action, that could have given rise to such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 8, the Initial Purchaser shall not be required to contribute any amount
in excess of the amount by which the total discounts and commissions received by
the Initial Purchaser exceeds the amount of any damages which the Initial
Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.

                           (e) The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are
not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

                           9. CONDITIONS OF INITIAL PURCHASER'S OBLIGATIONS. The
obligations of the Initial Purchaser to purchase the Series A Senior Notes under
this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction of each of the following
conditions:

                           (a) All the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct on the Closing
Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date.

                           (b) On or after the date hereof, (i) there shall not
have occurred any downgrading, suspension or withdrawal of, nor shall any notice
have been given of any potential or intended downgrading, suspension or
withdrawal of, or of any review (or of any potential or intended review) for a
possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change in,
any rating of the Company or any securities of the Company (including, without
limitation, the placing of any of the foregoing ratings on credit watch with
negative or developing implications or under review with an uncertain
direction), by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" as
such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act,
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, nor shall any notice have been
given of any potential or intended change, in the outlook for any rating of the
Company or any securities of the Company by any such rating organization, and
(iii) no such rating organization shall have given notice that it has assigned
(or is considering assigning) a lower rating to the Senior Notes than that on
which the Senior Notes were marketed.

                           (c) The execution and delivery by the Company of the
Term Loan Agreement providing for a new $150 million senior secured term loan
and the drawdown of $150 million in term loans shall have been consummated in
accordance with the Term Loan Agreement.

                           (d) The investment of $350 million by TPG in the
Company shall have been consummated in accordance with the Investment Agreement.

                           (e) The purchase of $10 million of common stock of
the Company by Dr. Norman C. Payson shall have been consummated.

                           (f) Since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Offering Memorandum other than as set forth in the
Offering Memorandum (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto
subsequent to the date of this Agreement), (i) there shall not have

                                       15
<PAGE>   16
occurred any change or any development involving a prospective change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business, management or
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) except as
contemplated by (c), (d) and (e) above, there shall not have been any change or
any development involving a prospective change in the capital stock or in the
long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and (iii) neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have incurred any liability or
obligation, direct or contingent, the result of which, in any such case
described in clause 9(f)(i), 9(f)(ii) or 9(f)(iii), in your judgment, is
material and adverse and, in your judgment, makes it impracticable to market the
Series A Senior Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Offering Memorandum.

                           (g) You shall have received on the Closing Date a
certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by the President and the Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, confirming the matters set forth in Sections
6(x), 9(a) and 9(b) and stating that the Company has complied with all the
agreements and satisfied all of the conditions herein contained and required to
be complied with or satisfied on or prior to the Closing Date.

                           (h) You shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion (satisfactory to you and counsel for the Initial Purchaser), dated the
Closing Date, of Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel for the Company, to the effect
that:

                                    (i) each of the Company and its subsidiaries
                           incorporated in New York or Delaware has been duly
                           incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in
                           good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
                           incorporation and has the power and authority under
                           its Certificate of Incorporation and the corporation
                           law of its jurisdiction of incorporation to carry on
                           its business as described in the Offering Memorandum
                           and to own, lease and operate its properties;

                                    (ii) all the shares being issued to TPG on
                           the closing date have been duly authorized and
                           validly issued and are fully paid;

                                    (iii) all of the outstanding shares of
                           capital stock of each of the Company's subsidiaries
                           incorporated in New York or Delaware have been duly
                           authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
                           non-assessable, and are owned by the Company;

                                    (iv) the Series A Senior Notes have been
                           duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated
                           in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture
                           and delivered to and paid for by the Initial
                           Purchaser in accordance with the terms of this
                           Agreement, will be entitled to the benefits of the
                           Indenture and will be valid and legally binding
                           obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance
                           with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
                           fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
                           similar laws of general applicability relating to or
                           affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
                           principles;

                                    (v) the Indenture has been duly authorized,
                           executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid
                           and legally binding agreement of the Company
                           enforceable against the Company in accordance with
                           its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency
                           fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
                           similar laws of general applicability relating to or
                           affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
                           principles;

                                    (vi) this Agreement has been duly
                           authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

                                       16
<PAGE>   17
                                    (vii) The Registration Rights Agreement has
                           been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
                           Company and is a valid and legally binding agreement
                           of the Company enforceable against the Company in
                           accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
                           insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
                           moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
                           relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
                           general equity principles; provided, however, that
                           such counsel need not express any opinion as to
                           Section 8 of the Registration Rights Agreement;

                                    (viii) the Series B Senior Notes have been
                           duly authorized;

                                    (ix) such counsel is of the opinion ascribed
                           to it in the Offering Memorandum under the caption
                           "Certain Income Tax Considerations";

                                    (x) the execution, delivery and performance
                           of this Agreement and the other Operative Documents
                           by the Company, the compliance by the Company with
                           all provisions hereof and thereof and the
                           consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
                           and thereby will not (i) require any consent,
                           approval, authorization or other order of, or
                           qualification with, any court or governmental body or
                           agency (except such as have been obtained or as may
                           be required under the insurance or health laws of
                           various states in connection with the enforcement of
                           remedies under the Term Loan Agreement and except for
                           registration pursuant to the Registration Rights
                           Agreement and the TPG Registration Rights Agreement),
                           (ii) constitute a breach of any of the terms or
                           provisions of, or a default under, the charter or
                           by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
                           any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or
                           other agreement or instrument that is material to the
                           Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to
                           which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
                           party or by which the Company or any of its
                           subsidiaries or their respective property is bound of
                           which it is aware, (iii) violate or conflict with any
                           applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgment,
                           order or decree of any court or any Federal
                           governmental body or agency of the United States or
                           any governmental body or agency of the State of New
                           York having jurisdiction over the Company, any of its
                           subsidiaries or their respective property, or (iv)
                           result in the termination, suspension or revocation
                           of any State of New York Authorization of the Company
                           or any of its subsidiaries or result in any other
                           impairment of the rights of the holder of any such
                           State of New York Authorization; provided, however,
                           that for the purposes of this paragraph, such counsel
                           need express no opinion with respect to Federal or
                           state securities laws, other antifraud laws and
                           fraudulent transfer laws; provided, further, that
                           insofar as performance by the Company of its
                           obligations under this Agreement and the other
                           Operative Documents is concerned, such counsel need
                           express no opinion as to bankruptcy, insolvency,
                           reorganization, moratorium and similar laws or
                           general applicability relating to or affecting
                           creditors' rights;

                                    (xi) the Company is not and, after giving
                           effect to the offering and sale of the Series A
                           Senior Notes and the application of the net proceeds
                           thereof as described in the Offering Memorandum, will
                           not be, an "investment company" as such term is
                           defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
                           amended;

                                    (xii) to the best of such counsel's
                           knowledge after due inquiry, there are no contracts,
                           agreements or understandings, other than the
                           Registration

                                       17
<PAGE>   18
                           Rights Agreement and the TPG Registration Rights
                           Agreement, between the Company and any person
                           granting such person the right to require the Company
                           to file a registration statement under the Securities
                           Act with respect to any securities to require the
                           Company to include such securities with the Senior
                           Notes registered pursuant to any Registration
                           Statement;

                                    (xiii) the Indenture complies as to form in
                           all material respects with the requirements of the
                           TIA, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
                           applicable to an indenture which is qualified
                           thereunder; it is not necessary in connection with
                           the offer, sale and delivery of the Series A Senior
                           Notes to the Initial Purchaser in the manner
                           contemplated by this Agreement or in connection with
                           the Exempt Resales to qualify the Indenture under the
                           TIA;

                                    (xiv) no registration under the Securities
                           Act of the Series A Senior Notes is required for the
                           sale of the Series A Senior Notes to the Initial
                           Purchaser as contemplated by this Agreement or for
                           the Exempt Resales assuming that (i) the Initial
                           Purchaser is a QIB, (ii) the accuracy of, and
                           compliance with, the Initial Purchaser's
                           representations and agreements contained in Section 7
                           of this Agreement, and (iii) the accuracy of the
                           representations of the Company set forth in Sections
                           5(h) and 6(bb), (cc) and (dd) of this Agreement; and

                                    (xv) nothing that came to such counsel's
                           attention in the course of their review of the
                           Offering Memorandum has caused such counsel to
                           believe that, as of the date of the Offering
                           Memorandum or as of the Closing Date, the Offering
                           Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, if applicable
                           (except for the financial statements and other
                           financial data included therein, as to which such
                           counsel need not express any belief) contained any
                           untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
                           state a material fact necessary in order to make the
                           statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
                           under which they were made, not misleading.

                  The opinions of Sullivan & Cromwell described in Section 9(h)
above shall be rendered to you at the request of the Company and shall so state
therein. Jeffery H. Boyd, General Counsel of the Company, may give the opinions
set forth in Sections 9(h)(iii), 9(h)(x)(ii) and 9(h)(x)(iv) in lieu of Sullivan
& Cromwell. In expressing their belief with respect to the matters covered by
Section 9(h)(xv), Sullivan & Cromwell may state that their belief is based upon
their participation in the preparation of the Offering Memorandum and any
amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the contents
thereof, but are without independent check or verification except as specified.

                           (i) The Initial Purchaser shall have received on the
Closing Date an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett,
counsel for the Initial Purchaser, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Initial Purchaser.

                           (j) The Initial Purchaser shall have received, at the
time this Agreement is executed and at the Closing Date, letters dated the date
hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent
public accountants, containing the information and statements of the type
ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to the Initial Purchaser
with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information
contained in the Offering Memorandum.

                           (k) The Series A Senior Notes shall have been
approved by the NASD for trading and duly listed in PORTAL.


                                       18
<PAGE>   19
                           (l) The Initial Purchaser shall have received a
counterpart, conformed as executed, of the Indenture which shall have been
entered into by the Company and the Trustee.

                           (m) The Company shall have executed the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Initial Purchaser shall have received an original copy
thereof, duly executed by the Company.

                           (n) The Company shall not have failed at or prior to
the Closing Date to perform or comply with any of the agreements herein
contained and required to be performed or complied with by the Company at or
prior to the Closing Date.

                  10. EFFECTIVENESS OF AGREEMENT AND TERMINATION. This Agreement
shall become effective upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
parties hereto.

                  This Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior to
the Closing Date by the Initial Purchaser by written notice to the Company if
any of the following has occurred: (i) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities
or other national or international calamity or crisis or change in economic
conditions or in the financial markets of the United States or elsewhere that,
in the Initial Purchaser's judgment, is material and adverse and, in the Initial
Purchaser's judgment, makes it impracticable to market the Series A Senior Notes
on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Offering Memorandum, (ii) the
suspension or material limitation of trading in securities or other instruments
on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq
National Market or limitation on prices for securities or other instruments on
such exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, (iii) the suspension of trading of
any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market,
(iv) the enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any federal or
state statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other governmental
authority which in the Initial Purchaser's opinion materially and adversely
affects, or will materially and adversely affect, the business, prospects,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (v) the declaration of a banking moratorium by
either federal or New York State authorities or (vi) the taking of any action by
any federal government or agency in respect of the monetary or fiscal affairs of
the United States which in your opinion has a material adverse effect on the
financial markets in the United States.

                  11. MISCELLANEOUS. Notices given pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement shall be addressed as follows: (i) if to the Company, to Oxford
Health Plans, Inc., 800 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06854,
Attention: General Counsel, and (ii) if to the Initial Purchaser, Donaldson,
Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York
10172, Attention: Syndicate Department, or in any case to such other address as
the person to be notified may have requested in writing.

                  The respective indemnities, contribution agreements,
representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the Initial
Purchaser set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative
and in full force and effect, and will survive delivery of and payment for the
Series A Senior Notes, regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to
the results thereof, made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchaser, the officers
or directors of the Initial Purchaser, any person controlling the Initial
Purchaser, the Company, the officers or directors of the Company, or any person
controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of the Series A Senior Notes and
payment for them hereunder and (iii) termination of this Agreement.

                  If for any reason other than a breach or default by the
Initial Purchaser under this Agreement the Series A Senior Notes are not
delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company agrees
to reimburse the Initial Purchaser for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by them. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Company
shall be liable for all expenses which it has agreed to pay pursuant to Section
5(i) hereof. The Company also agrees to reimburse the Initial Purchaser and its
officers, directors and each person, if any, who controls the Initial Purchaser
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act for

                                       19
<PAGE>   20
any and all reasonable fees and expenses (including without limitation the fees
and expenses of counsel) incurred by them in connection with enforcing their
rights under this Agreement (including without limitation its rights under
Section 8).

                  Except as otherwise provided, this Agreement has been and is
made solely for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company, the
Initial Purchaser, their respective directors and officers, any controlling
persons referred to herein, and their respective successors and assigns, all as
and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire
or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term "successors and
assigns" shall not include a purchaser of any of the Series A Senior Notes from
the Initial Purchaser merely because of such purchase.

                  This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.

                  This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       20
<PAGE>   21
                  Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the
agreement between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.


                                            By:   /s/ Jeffery H. Boyd
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name: Jeffery H. Boyd
                                               Title: EVP, General Counsel



DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
  SECURITIES CORPORATION


By:
   --------------------------
   Name:
   Title:

                                       21
<PAGE>   22
                                   SCHEDULE A

                                  SUBSIDIARIES


Oxford Health Plans (NY), Inc.
Oxford Health Plans (NJ), Inc.
Oxford Health Plans (CT), Inc.
Oxford Health Plans (NH), Inc.
Oxford Health Plans (FL), Inc.
Oxford Health Plans (IL), Inc.
Oxford Health Plans (PA), Inc.
Oxford Health Insurance, Inc.
Oxford Health Plans (Bermuda) Inc.
Oxford Illinois Holdings, Inc.
Compass PPA, Inc.
Oaktree Health Plans, Inc.
Oxford SE Holdings, Inc.
Direct Script, Inc.
Oxford On-Call, Inc.
Oxford Aviation, Inc.
Oxford Health Plans Ireland Limited
Oxford Health Centers, Inc.
Oxford Specialty Holdings, Inc.
Oxford Specialty Management, Inc.
Specialty Management Company (NY) IPA, Inc.
Specialty Management Company (NJ) IPA, Inc.
Specialty Management Company (CT) IPA, Inc.
Specialty Management Company (PA) IPA, Inc.
<PAGE>   23
                                    EXHIBIT A

                      FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
 

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.b


                                                                  EXECUTION COPY




                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                            Dated as of May 13, 1998

                                  by and among

                            Oxford Health Plans, Inc.

                                       and

               Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
<PAGE>   2
                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


         This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of May 13, 1998 by and among Oxford Health Plans, Inc. (the
"Company") and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation (the "Initial
Purchaser"), who has agreed to purchase the Company's 11% Senior Notes due 2005
(the "Series A Senior Notes") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined
below).

         This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated May 7,
1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company and the Initial
Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to purchase the Senior
Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in
this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to
the obligations of the Initial Purchaser as set forth in Section 9(m) of the
Purchase Agreement.

         The parties hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1.    DEFINITIONS

         As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:

         Broker-Dealer:  Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

         Business Day:  Any day other than a Legal Holiday.

         Closing Date:  The date of this Agreement.

         Commission:  The Securities and Exchange Commission.

         Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement relating to the Series B Senior Notes to be issued in the Exchange
Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Registration Statement as continuously
effective and the keeping open of the Exchange Offer for a period not less than
the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the
delivery, by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture, of Series B
Senior Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal
amount of Series A Senior Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the
Exchange Offer.

         Damages Payment Date: With respect to the Series A Senior Notes, each
Interest Payment Date.

         Effectiveness Target Date: As defined in Section 5.
<PAGE>   3
         Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Securities
Act of the Series B Senior Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement pursuant to which the Company shall offer the Holders of all
outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such
outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities for Series B Senior Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders.

         Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.

         Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchaser
proposes to sell the Series A Senior Notes to certain "qualified institutional
buyers," as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, to
persons who are not U.S. persons, as such term is defined in Regulation S under
the Securities Act, in transactions conforming with such Regulation S and to
certain institutional "accredited investors," as such term is defined in Rule
501(a)(1), (2), (3) and (7) of Regulation D under the Act.

         Holders:  As defined in Section 2 hereof.

         Indemnified Holder:  As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.

         Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of May 7, 1998, among the Company
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"), pursuant to which the
Senior Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from
time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

         Initial Purchaser:  As defined in the preamble hereto.

         Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Indenture and the Senior
Notes.

         Investment Agreement: The agreement entered into on February 23, 1998
by and between the Company and TPG Oxford LLC, an affiliate of Texas Pacific
Group.

         Legal Holiday: A Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which federal offices
or banking institutions in the City of New York, in the city of the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee, or at a place of payment are authorized by law,
regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal
Holiday, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal
Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

         NASD:  National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.


                                       3
<PAGE>   4
         Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust or
unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision
thereof.

         Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments
thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by
reference into such Prospectus.

         Record Holder: With respect to any Damages Payment Date relating to
Senior Notes, each Person who is a Holder of Senior Notes on the record date
with respect to the Interest Payment Date on which such Damages Payment Date
shall occur.

         Registration Default:  As defined in Section 5 hereof.

         Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company
relating to (a) an offering of Series B Senior Notes pursuant to an Exchange
Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement, in each case, including the Prospectus included
therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective
amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

         Securities Act:  The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         Senior Notes:  The Series A Senior Notes and the Series B Senior Notes.

         Series B Senior Notes: The Company's 11% Series B Senior Notes due 2005
to be issued pursuant to the Indenture in the Exchange Offer.

         Shelf Filing Deadline:  As defined in Section 4 hereof.

         Shelf Registration Statement:  As defined in Section 4 hereof.

         TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date of the Indenture.

         Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Senior Note, until the earliest to
occur of (a) the date on which such Senior Note is exchanged in the Exchange
Offer by a Person other than a Broker-Dealer for a Series B Senior Note and is
entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with
the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, (b) following the
exchange by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Senior Note for a Series
B Senior Note, the date on which such Series B Senior Note is sold to a
purchaser who receives from such Broker-Dealer on or prior to the date of such
sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, (c) the date on which such Senior Note effectively has been
registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance


                                       4
<PAGE>   5
with the Shelf Registration Statement or (d) the date on which such Senior Note
is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

         Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in
which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.

SECTION 2.    HOLDERS

         A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(each, a "Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.

SECTION 3.    REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER

         (a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable
law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below
have been complied with), the Company shall (i) cause to be filed with the
Commission the Exchange Offer Registration Statement on or prior to the 270th
day after the Closing Date, provided, however, that, in the event the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith that an extension of the
filing date beyond such 270th day is in the best interest of the Company, the
filing day may be extended to the earliest date thereafter to which the Board
determines it may be extended consistent with the best interest of the Company,
but in no event later than the earlier of the filing of the registration
statement required by the Investment Agreement or the 360th day after the
Closing Date, (ii) use its best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time, (iii)
in connection with the foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective, (B) file, if
applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act and (C) cause all
necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and qualification
of the Series B Senior Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and
(iv) use its best efforts to issue on or prior to the 30th Business Day after
the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared
effective (the "Exchange Offer Effectiveness Date") Series B Senior Notes in
exchange for all Series A Senior Notes tendered prior thereto in the Exchange
Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting
registration of the Series B Senior Notes to be offered in exchange for the
Series A Senior Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit
resales of Senior Notes held by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c)
below.

         (b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange
Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under
applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer;
provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business
Days. The Company shall

                                       5
<PAGE>   6
cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state
securities laws. No securities other than the Series B Senior Notes shall be
included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company shall use its
best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest
practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become
effective, but in no event later than 30 Business Days thereafter.

         (c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate
therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Series A Senior Notes that are Transfer
Restricted Securities and that were acquired for its own account as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer
Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company), may exchange such
Series A Senior Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such
Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities Act and, consequently, must deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Series
B Senior Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which
prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such
Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other
information with respect to such resales by Broker-Dealers that the Commission
may require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of
Distribution" shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of
Senior Notes held by any such Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the
Commission as a result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement.

         The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as
required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to the extent necessary to
ensure that it is available for resales of Senior Notes acquired by
Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities, and to ensure that such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act
and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time
to time, for a period of one year from the date on which the Exchange Offer is
Consummated.

         The Company shall promptly provide sufficient copies of the latest
version of such Prospectus to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request, and in no
event later than one day after such request, at any time during such one-year
period in order to facilitate such resales.

SECTION 4.    SHELF REGISTRATION

         (a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not required to file an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Series B Senior Notes
or permitted to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not
permitted by


                                       6
<PAGE>   7
applicable law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below have been
complied with) or Commission policy or (ii) if any Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities shall notify the Company prior to the 20th Business Day following the
Consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or
Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) such Holder may
not resell the Series B Senior Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Series A
Senior Notes acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, then
the Company shall (x) cause to be filed on or prior to 30 days after the date on
which the Company determines that it is not required to file the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement pursuant to clause (i) above or 30 days after the date on
which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (ii) above a shelf
registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (which may
be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event,
the "Shelf Registration Statement")), relating to all Transfer Restricted
Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required
pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, and shall (y) use its best efforts to cause
such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 90 days
after the date on which the Company becomes obligated to file such Shelf
Registration Statement. If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement which satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above,
the Company is required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration
Statement solely because the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted under
applicable federal law, then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above. Such
an event shall have no effect on the requirements of clause (y) above, or on the
Effectiveness Target Date as defined in Section 5 below. The Company shall use
its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement discussed in this
Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by and
subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent
necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of Transfer Restricted
Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a),
and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the
Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years (as extended
pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the date on which such Shelf Registration
Statement first becomes effective under the Securities Act.

         (b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 Business Days after receipt of a request
therefor, such information specified in item 507 of Regulation S-K under the
Securities Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. Each Holder as to which
any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to
the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the



                                       7
<PAGE>   8
information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially
misleading.

         (c) Restrictions on Sale of Certain Securities by Others. The Company
agrees not to, and to use its best efforts to cause its affiliates not to,
offer, sell, contract to sell or grant any option to purchase or otherwise
transfer or dispose of any debt security issued by the Company or any security
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such debt security,
including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, during the
30-day period beginning on the closing date of each Underwritten Offering made
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (except as part of such
Underwritten Registration).

SECTION 5.    LIQUIDATED DAMAGES

         If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in
this Agreement, (ii) the Company has failed either to use its best efforts to
have such Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission pursuant
to Section 3 of this Agreement or to have such Registration Statement declared
effective by the Commission prior to the date specified for such effectiveness
in Section 4 of this Agreement (the "Effectiveness Target Date"), (iii) the
Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 30 Business Days of the
Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or (iv) subject to the provisions of Section 6(c)(i) below, any
Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared
effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for
its intended purpose without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective
amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is
itself immediately declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses
(i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), the Company hereby agrees to pay
liquidated damages to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, with
respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such
Registration Default, in an amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each week or
portion thereof that the Registration Default continues. The amount of
liquidated damages payable to each Holder shall increase by an additional $.05
per week per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by
such Holder for each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults
have been cured, up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages of $.50 per week
per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such
Holder. All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid by the Company on each
Damages Payment Date (i) to the Global Note Holder by wire transfer of
immediately available funds and (ii) to Holders of Certificated Securities by
wire transfer to the accounts specified by them or by mailing checks to their
registered addresses if no such accounts have been specified, as provided in the
Indenture. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of
liquidated damages will cease.

         All obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding paragraph
that are


                                       8
<PAGE>   9
outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such
security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such
time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been
satisfied in full.

SECTION 6.    REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

         (a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company shall comply with all applicable provisions of
Section 6(c) below, shall use its best efforts to effect such exchange and to
permit the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with
the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and shall comply with
all of the following provisions:

            (i) If, following the date hereof there has been published a change
     in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange
     Offer, such that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company there
     is a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by
     applicable federal law, the Company hereby agrees to seek a no-action
     letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company
     to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Series A Senior Notes. The Company
     hereby agrees to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission
     staff level. In connection with the foregoing, the Company hereby agrees to
     take all such other actions as are requested by the Commission or otherwise
     required in connection with the issuance of such decision, including
     without limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences with the
     Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by
     counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which
     such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted
     and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable) by
     the Commission staff of such submission.

                   (ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
     Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer
     Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior
     to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the
     Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated
     by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is
     not an affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not
     intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any
     person to participate in, a distribution of the Series B Senior Notes to be
     issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Senior
     Notes in its ordinary course of business. Each Holder hereby acknowledges
     and agrees (X) that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the
     Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to be
     acquired in the Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in
     effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission
     enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and
     Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted
     in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and
     similar no-action letters (including, if applicable, any no-action letter


                                       9
<PAGE>   10
     obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the
     registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in
     connection with a secondary resale transaction and (Y) that such a
     secondary resale transaction must be covered by an effective registration
     statement containing the selling security holder information required by
     Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of
     Series B Senior Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Series A
     Senior Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or an
     Affiliate thereof.

                  (iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
     Registration Statement, the Company shall provide, if requested by the
     Commission, a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the
     Company is registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of
     the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available
     May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and,
     if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above,
     (B) including a representation that the Company has not entered into any
     arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the Series B
     Senior Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of
     the Company's information and belief, each Holder participating in the
     Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Senior Notes in its ordinary
     course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person
     to participate in the distribution of the Series B Senior Notes received in
     the Exchange Offer and (C) including any other undertaking or
     representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action
     letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above.

         (b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all of the provisions of
Section 6(c) below and shall use its best efforts to effect such registration to
permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant
thereto the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration
Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the
Securities Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in accordance with
the provisions hereof.

         (c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement
and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement in order to permit the
sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation,
any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales
of Senior Notes by Broker-Dealers), the Company shall:

                    (i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement
     continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for
     the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable.
     Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration
     Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material
     misstatement or omission or (B) not to be


                                       10
<PAGE>   11
     effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during
     the period required by this Agreement, the Company promptly shall file an
     appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of clause
     (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of
     either clause (A) or (B), use its best efforts to cause such amendment to
     be declared effective and such Registration Statement and the related
     Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as
     practicable thereafter;

                   (ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
     post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be necessary
     to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set
     forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, or such shorter period as will terminate
     when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration
     Statement have been sold; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any
     required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant
     to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply fully with the
     applicable provisions of Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable, under the
     Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the
     Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by
     such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with
     the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set
     forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

                  (iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders
     promptly and, if requested by such Persons, confirm such advice in writing,
     (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective
     amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement
     or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become
     effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the
     Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or
     for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the
     Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement under the Securities Act or of the suspension by any
     state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted
     Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of
     any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of
     any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a
     material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any
     amendment or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference
     therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes
     in the Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not
     misleading, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in
     the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time
     the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
     the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other
     regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or
     exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under
     state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company shall use its best efforts
     to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of


                                       11
<PAGE>   12
     such order at the earliest possible time;

                   (iv) furnish to the Initial Purchaser, each of the selling
     Holders named in any Registration Statement or Prospectus and each of the
     underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, before filing with the
     Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included
     therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement
     or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the
     initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be
     subject to the review and comment of such Holders and underwriter(s) in
     connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business
     Days, and the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or
     Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration
     Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by
     reference) to which a selling Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
     covered by such Registration Statement or the underwriter(s) in connection
     with such sale, if any, shall reasonably object within five Business Days
     after the receipt thereof;

                    (v) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to
     be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
     provide copies of such document to the selling Holders and to the
     underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, make the Company's
     representatives available for discussion of such document and other
     customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such
     document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or
     underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;

                   (vi) make available at reasonable times for inspection by the
     selling Holders, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
     to such Registration Statement, and any attorney or accountant retained by
     such selling Holders or any of the underwriter(s), all financial and other
     records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and
     cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all
     information reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney
     or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any
     post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior
     to its effectiveness;

                  (vii) if requested by any selling Holders or the
     underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, promptly include in
     any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or
     post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling
     Holders and underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request to have included
     therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the "Plan
     of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities, information with
     respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being
     sold to any such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and
     any other terms of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such
     offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or
     post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is
     notified of the matters to be included in such


                                       12
<PAGE>   13
     Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

                 (viii) cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
     Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if
     so requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
     Senior Notes covered thereby or the underwriter(s), if any;

                   (ix) furnish to each selling Holder and each of the
     underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, without charge, at
     least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the
     Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all documents
     incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits
     incorporated therein by reference);

                    (x) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the
     underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
     (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement
     thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company hereby consents
     to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by
     each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s) in connection
     with such sale, if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the
     Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment
     or supplement thereto;

                   (xi) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting
     agreement), and make such representations and warranties, and take all such
     other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate
     the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any
     Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent
     as may be requested by the Initial Purchaser or by any Holder of Transfer
     Restricted Securities or underwriter in connection with any sale or resale
     pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement; and
     whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not
     the registration is an Underwritten Registration, the Company shall:

              (A) furnish to the Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder and each
         underwriter in connection with such sale, if any, and to each
         Restricted Broker Dealer in such substance and scope as they may
         request and as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in
         primary underwritten offerings, upon the date of the Consummation of
         the Exchange Offer and, if applicable, upon the effectiveness of the
         Shelf Registration Statement:

                      (1) a certificate, dated the date of Consummation of the
              Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
              Registration Statement, as the case may be, signed by (x) the
              President or any Executive Vice President and (y) the principal
              financial officer of the Company, confirming, as of the date
              thereof, the matters set forth in paragraphs (a), (b), (f) and (j)
              of Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as
              such parties may reasonably request;


                                       13
<PAGE>   14
                      (2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the
              Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
              Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the
              Company covering the matters set forth in paragraph (h) of Section
              9 of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as the Holders
              and/or managing underwriter(s) reasonably may request, and in any
              event including a statement to the effect that such counsel has
              participated in conferences with officers and other
              representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent
              public accountants for the Company, the Initial Purchaser's
              representatives and the Initial Purchaser's counsel in connection
              with the preparation of such Registration Statement and the
              related Prospectus and have considered the matters required to be
              stated therein and the statements contained therein, although such
              counsel has not independently verified the accuracy, completeness
              or fairness of such statements; and that on the basis of the
              foregoing (relying upon facts provided to such counsel by officers
              and other representatives of the Company and without independent
              check or verification), that no facts came to such counsel's
              attention that caused such counsel to believe that the applicable
              Registration Statement, at the time such Registration Statement or
              any post-effective amendment thereto became effective, and, in the
              case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of the date
              of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, contained an untrue
              statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
              required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
              therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such
              Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of the
              opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as
              of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a
              material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in
              order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
              circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Without
              limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state further that such
              counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not independently
              verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial
              statements, notes and schedules and other financial data included
              in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or
              the related Prospectus; and

                      (3) customary comfort letters, dated as of the date of
              Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of
              the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, from the
              Company's past and present independent accountants, in the
              customary form and covering matters of the type customarily
              covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with
              primary underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set
              forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 7(l) of
              the Purchase Agreement, without exception;

              (B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the
         underwriting agreement,



                                       14
<PAGE>   15
     if any, the indemnification provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof
     with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

                  (C) deliver such other documents and certificates as
         reasonably may be requested by such parties to evidence compliance with
         clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in the
         underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company
         pursuant to this clause (xi), if any.

         The provisions of this clause (A) shall be applicable at each closing
     under such underwriting or similar agreement, as and to the extent required
     thereunder and, if at any time the representations and warranties of the
     Company contemplated in clause (A)(1) above cease to be true and correct,
     the Company promptly shall so advise the Initial Purchaser and the
     underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, and each selling
     Holder and each Restricted Broker Dealer and, if requested by such Persons,
     shall confirm such advice in writing;

                  (xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
     Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s) in
     connection with such sale, if any, and their respective counsel in
     connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer
     Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
     jurisdictions as the selling Holders or underwriter(s) may request and do
     any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
     disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities
     covered by the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that the
     Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign
     corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that
     would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other
     than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement,
     in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;

                 (xiii) upon the request of any Holder of Series A Senior Notes
     covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, issue Series B Senior Notes,
     having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal
     amount of Series A Senior Notes surrendered to the Company by such Holder
     in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder, such Series B Senior
     Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the
     purchaser(s) of such Senior Notes, as the case may be; in return, the
     Series A Senior Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the
     Company for cancellation;

                  (xiv) cooperate with the selling Holders and the
     underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, to facilitate the
     timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer
     Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends,
     and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations
     and registered in such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s) in
     connection with such sale, if any, may request at least two Business Days
     prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;


                                       15
<PAGE>   16
                   (xv) use its best efforts to cause the disposition of the
     Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be
     registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
     authorities as may be necessary in order to enable the seller or sellers
     thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of
     such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in
     clause (xii) above;

                  (xvi) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event
     contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred,
     prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration
     Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by
     reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter
     delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the
     Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
     to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
     light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

                 (xvii) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted
     Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement
     covering such Transfer Restricted Securities, and provide the Trustee under
     the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted
     Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository
     Trust Company;

                (xviii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made
     with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by
     any underwriter (including any "qualified independent underwriter") that is
     required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
     NASD, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to
     become effective and approved by such governmental agencies or authorities
     as may be necessary to enable the Holders selling Transfer Restricted
     Securities to Consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted
     Securities;

                  (xix) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
     applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally
     available to their security holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated
     earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be
     audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any
     fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to
     underwriters in a firm or best efforts Underwritten Offering or (B) if not
     sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of
     the Company's first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of
     the Registration Statement;

                   (xx) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not
     later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required
     by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee
     and the Holders of Senior Notes to effect such changes to the Indenture as
     may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with
     the terms of the TIA; and execute and use its best


                                       16
<PAGE>   17
     efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required
     to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be
     filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a
     timely manner;

               (xxi) use its best efforts to cause all Transfer Restricted
     Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on each
     securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are
     then listed if requested by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding
     shares or aggregate principal amount of Series A Senior Notes, or the
     underwriters, if any; and

                 (xxii) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each
     document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section
     13 and Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

         Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security
that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in Section 6(c)(i) or any notice
from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section
6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof, or until it is advised in
writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be
resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that
are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. If so directed by the Company,
each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies,
other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the
Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the
time of receipt of either such notice. In the event the Company shall give any
such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended
by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including
the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall
have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated
by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof or shall have received the Advice.

SECTION 7.    REGISTRATION EXPENSES

         All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance
with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a
Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all
registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings made by the Initial
Purchaser or Holder with the NASD (and, if applicable, the fees and expenses of
any "qualified independent underwriter" and its counsel that may be required by
the rules and regulations of the NASD)); (ii) all fees and expenses of
compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii)
all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Series B
Senior Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of



                                       17
<PAGE>   18
Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and, subject to Section 7(b) below, the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing fees
in connection with listing Senior Notes on a national securities exchange or
automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all
fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the
Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters
required by or incident to such performance).

         The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the
fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the
Company.


SECTION 8.    INDEMNIFICATION

         (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder
and (ii) each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the
persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a
"controlling person") and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners,
employees, representatives and agents of each Holder and each controlling person
(any person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred
to as an "Indemnified Holder") to the fullest extent lawful, from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages, judgments, actions and expenses (including
without limitation and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of
investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim or action, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to any
Indemnified Person) directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based upon,
arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus (including any amendments thereof and
supplements thereto), or by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses are finally judicially determined by a competent court to have been
caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
relating to an Indemnified Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such
Indemnified Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall notify each
Indemnified Holder promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any
claim, proceeding (including any governmental investigation) or litigation in
connection with the matters addressed by this Agreement which involves the
Company or an Indemnified Holder.

         (b) In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental
regulatory


                                       18
<PAGE>   19
investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any
of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against
the Company, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder controlled by
such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company in writing (provided,
that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Company of its
obligations pursuant to this Agreement). Such Indemnified Holder shall have the
right to employ its own counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any such
action and the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid, as incurred, by
the Company (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an
Indemnified Holder is not entitled to indemnification hereunder). The Company
shall not, in connection with any one such action or proceeding or separate but
substantially similar or related actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the
reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in
addition to any local counsel) at any time for the Indemnified Holders, which
firm shall be designated by Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
if Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation is then an Indemnified
Holder and otherwise by the Holders. The Company shall be liable for any
settlement of any such action or proceeding effected with the Company's prior
written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, and the
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Holder from and
against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of any
settlement of any action effected with the written consent of the Company.
Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if at any time an
Indemnified Holder shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
Indemnified Holder for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the
second sentence of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than twenty business days
after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Holder in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. The Company
shall not, without the prior written consent of an Indemnified Holder, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate
any pending or threatened action, claim, litigation or proceeding in respect of
which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not
any Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise,
consent or termination includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified
Holder from all Liabilities arising out of such action, claim, litigation or
proceeding.

         (c) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and
not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and its directors,
officers, and any person controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the respective officers,
directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of each such person,
to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each of the
Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses incurred in investigating, preparing, pursuing or
defending claims and actions directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based
upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or omission or


                                       19
<PAGE>   20
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement, preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus (including any amendments
thereof and supplements thereto) that was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by or
on behalf of such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the
liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater than the amount by which
the total proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable
Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation exceeds the sum of (A)
the amount paid by such Holder for such Registrable Securities plus (B) the
amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of a claim or action based on such information.

         (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to an indemnified party under Sections 8(a), 8(b) or 8(c) hereof
(other than by reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then
each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other hand from their sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i)
above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but
also the relative fault of the Company and of the Indemnified Holder, as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by
the Company and any Indemnified Holder shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as (x) the total proceeds from the offering of Senior Notes to the
Initial Purchaser (net of discounts but before deducting expenses) received by
the Company and (y) the total proceeds received by such Indemnified Holder upon
its sale of Transfer Restricted Services which otherwise would give rise to the
indemnification obligation, respectively. The relative fault of the Company, on
the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand,
or by the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission.

         The Company and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section
8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as
one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in
the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other


                                       20
<PAGE>   21
fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with investigating or defending any claim or action. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 8, none of the Holders (and its related Indemnified
Holders) shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, an amount in excess
of the amount by which the total proceeds received by such Holder with respect
to the sale of its Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement exceeds the sum of (A) the amount paid by such Holder for such
Transfer Restricted Securities plus (B) the amount of any damages which such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant to
this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to the principal amount of Series A
Senior Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.

SECTION 9. RULE 144A

         The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, to
make available, upon request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, to
any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection
with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted
Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.



SECTION 10. PARTICIPATION IN UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS

         No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder
unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by
the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes
and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents required under the
terms of such underwriting arrangements.

SECTION 11. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS

         The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted
Securities in an Underwritten Offering. For any Underwritten Offering, the
investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers for any
Underwritten Offering that will administer such offering will be selected by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate


                                       21
<PAGE>   22
principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in such
offering. Such investment bankers and managers are referred to herein as the
"underwriters".

SECTION 12. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; APPOINTMENT OF AGENT FOR SERVICE

         To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company
irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the
City, County and State of New York, United States of America, in any suit or
proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement (solely in connection with
any such suit or proceeding), and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect
of such suit or proceeding may be determined in any such court. The Company
irrevocably and fully waives the defense of an inconvenient forum to the
maintenance of such suit or proceeding. The Company hereby irrevocably
designates and appoints Jeffery Boyd, Esq., 1133 Avenue of the Americas, New
York, New York 10036 (the "Process Agent"), as the authorized agent of the
Company upon whom process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, it being
understood that the designation and appointment of Jeffery Boyd as such
authorized agent shall become effective immediately without any further action
on the part of the Company. The Company represents to the Initial Purchaser that
it has notified the Process Agent of such designation and appointment and that
the Process Agent has accepted the same in writing. The Company hereby
irrevocably authorizes and directs the Process Agent to accept such service. The
Company further agrees that service of process upon the Process Agent and
written notice of said service to the Company mailed by prepaid registered first
class mail or delivered to the Process Agent at its principal office, shall be
deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any
such suit or proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Initial
Purchaser or any person controlling the Initial Purchaser or any Indemnified
Holder to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. The Company
further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of
any and all such documents and instruments as may be necessary to continue such
designation and appointment of the Process Agent in full force and effect so
long as the Company has any outstanding obligations under this Agreement. To the
extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from
jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of
note, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, executor or
otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, the Company hereby
irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of their obligations under this
Agreement, to the extent permitted by law.

SECTION 13. OBLIGATION CURRENCY

         The obligation of the parties to make payments hereunder is in U.S.
dollars (the "Obligation Currency") and such obligation shall not be discharged
or satisfied by any tender or recovery pursuant to any judgment expressed in or
converted into any currency other than the Obligation Currency or any other
realization in such other currency, whether as proceeds of set-off, security,
guarantee, distributions, or otherwise, except to the extent to which such
tender, recovery or realization shall result


                                       22
<PAGE>   23
in the effective receipt by the party which is to receive such payment of the
full amount of the Obligation Currency expressed to be payable hereunder, and
the party liable to make such payment agrees to indemnify the party which is to
receive such payment (as an additional, separate and independent cause of
action) for the amount (if any) by which such effective receipt shall fall short
of the full amount of the Obligation Currency expressed to be payable hereunder
and such obligation to indemnify shall not be affected by judgment being
obtained for any other sums due under this Agreement.

SECTION 14. MISCELLANEOUS

         (a) Remedies. Each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise
all rights provided herein, in the Indenture, the Purchase Agreement or granted
by law, including recovery of liquidated or other damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees that
a breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement will cause irreparable
injury to the Holders, that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation
for any loss incurred by reason of such breach, that the Holders have no
adequate remedy by law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, that
each and every provision contained in this Agreement shall be specifically
enforceable against the Company, and the Company hereby waives and agrees not to
assert as a defense to the request or granting of specific performance of any
such provision that any breach of any such provision does not or would not cause
irreparable harm or is or would be compensable by an award of money damages in
respect of such breach.

         (b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not enter, on or after
the date of this Agreement, into any agreement with respect to its securities
that would be inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this
Agreement or otherwise would conflict with the provisions hereof. The Company
previously has not entered into any agreement granting any registration rights
with respect to its securities to any Person. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent in any way
with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's securities under any
agreement in effect on the date hereof.

         (c) Adjustments Affecting the Senior Notes. The Company will not take
any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the Senior Notes that
would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate
any Exchange Offer.

         (d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 12(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to
departure from the provisions hereof that relates


                                       23
<PAGE>   24
exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered
pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly
the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to
such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange
Offer.

         (e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

                    (i) if to a Holder, then at the address set forth on the
     records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar
     under the Indenture; and

                   (ii) if to the Company, then:

                      Oxford Health Plans, Inc.
                      800 Connecticut Avenue
                      Norwalk, Connecticut  06854
                      Telecopier No.:  (203) 852-1442
                      Attention:  Jeffery Boyd, Esq.

                      With a copy to:

                      Sullivan & Cromwell
                      125 Broad Street
                      New York, New York  10014
                      Telecopier No.:  (212) 558-3588
                      Attention:  Dan Dunson, Esq.

         All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given as follows: (A) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered;
(B) five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if
mailed; (C) when answered back, if telexed; (D) when receipt acknowledged, if
telecopied; and (E) on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

         Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
delivered concurrently to the Trustee, at the address specified in the
Indenture, by the Person giving the same.

         (f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties,
including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment,
subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that
this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor
or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired
Transfer Restricted Securities directly from


                                       24
<PAGE>   25
such Holder.

         (g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         (h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

         (i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

         (j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

         (k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with the other Operative
Documents (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.


                                       25
<PAGE>   26
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.

OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.


By:
Name:
Title:

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written:

DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
  SECURITIES CORPORATION


By:____________________________
Name:
Title:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.C



             INDENTURE, dated as of May 13, 1998, between Oxford Health Plans,
Inc. a Delaware corporation ("the Company") and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
trustee (the "Trustee").

              Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of each other and for
the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 11% Senior Notes due 2005
(the "Series A Senior Notes") and the 11% Series B Senior Notes due 2005 (the
"Series B Senior Notes" and, together with the Series A Senior Notes, the
"Senior Notes"):

                                    ARTICLE 1
                          DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
                                  BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS

         "Acquired Indebtedness" means, with respect to any specified Person,
(i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is
merged with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary or is designated a
Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including, without limitation,
Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other
Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary or Restricted Subsidiary of
such specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any
asset acquired by such specified Person.

         "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling", "controlled by"
and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that
beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a Person shall
be deemed to be control.

         "Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or exchange
of beneficial interests in a Global Senior Note, the rules and procedures of the
Depository that apply to such transfer and exchange.

         "Asset Sale" means (i) the sale, lease (other than an operating lease),
conveyance or other disposition of any assets (including, without limitation, by
way of a sale and leaseback, including any disposition by means of a merger,
consolidation or similar transaction and including the issuance, sale or other
transfer of any of the capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of such
person) other than to the Company or to any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries
(including the receipt of proceeds of insurance paid on account of the loss of
or damage to any asset and awards of compensation for any asset taken by
condemnation, eminent domain or similar proceeding) that have a fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of such Person) in
excess of $2 million or for net cash proceeds in excess of $2 million); and (ii)
the
<PAGE>   2
                                                                               2


issuance of Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of
any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in one or a
series of related transactions, provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing,
the term "Asset Sale" shall not include: (a) the sale, lease, conveyance,
disposition or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, as permitted pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, (b) the sale or lease of
equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets in the ordinary course
of business and consistent with past practice, including, without limitation,
the sale of any investments constituting a portion of an investment portfolio in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, (c) a
transfer of assets by the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary or by a Restricted
Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary, (d) an issuance
of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another
Restricted Subsidiary, (e) Permitted Investments, (f) any cash dividend,
distribution, Investment or payment made pursuant to the first or second
paragraph of Section 4.10 hereof, (g) the sale or transfer of surplus or
obsolete equipment in the ordinary course of business, (h) a pledge of all or
any part of the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary or a Lien on any
other property or asset of a Restricted Subsidiary permitted by the Indenture or
(i) Excluded Asset Sales.

         "Attributable Debt" in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction
means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate
of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP) of
the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term
of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any
period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the
lessor, be extended, to the extent the lease payments during such extension
period are required to be capitalized on a balance sheet as a liability in
accordance with GAAP).

         "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company, or
any authorized committee of the Board of Directors.

         "Business Day" means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

         "Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination thereof
is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that
would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in
accordance with GAAP.

         "Capital Stock" means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate
stock, (ii) in the case of a limited liability company or similar entity, any
membership or similar interests therein, (iii) in the case of an association or
business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other
equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, (iv) in the case of a
partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited) and (v) any
other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a
share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing
Person.

         "Cash Equivalents" means: (i) U.S. Government Obligations or securities
that
<PAGE>   3
                                                                               3


would be U.S. Government Obligations if such securities were not callable or
redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, in each case maturing not more
than one year after the date of acquisition; (ii) any certificate of deposit,
maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition, issued by, or
time deposit of, a commercial banking institution that has combined capital and
surplus of not less than $100.0 million or its equivalent in foreign currency,
whose debt is rated at the time as of which any investment therein is made, "A"
(or higher) according to S&P or "Aa" (or higher) according to Moody's, or if
neither S&P nor Moody's shall then exist, the equivalent of such rating by any
other nationally recognized securities rating agency; (iii) obligations issued
or fully guaranteed by any state of the United States of America or any
political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof
maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time
of acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either S&P
or Moody's; (iv) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days
for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (i) and (ii), above
entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified
in clause (ii) above; and (v) commercial paper having one of the two of the
highest ratings obtainable from either Moody's or S&P and in each case maturing
within one year after the date of acquisition.

         "CEDEL" means Cedel Bank, societe anonyme.

         "Definitive Senior Notes" means Senior Notes that are substantially in
the form of the Senior Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, that do not include
the information or text called for by footnotes 1 and 3.

         "Change of Control" means such time as (i) the Company becomes aware
that, a "person" or "group" (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2)
of the Exchange Act) other than the Permitted Holders has become, directly or
indirectly, the "beneficial owner", by way of merger, consolidation or
otherwise, of 51% or more of the voting power of the voting stock of the Company
on a fully-diluted basis after giving effect to the conversion and exercise of
all outstanding warrants, options and other securities of the Company (whether
or not such securities are then currently convertible or exercisable), (ii) the
sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
to any person or group (other than the Permitted Holders), or (iii) during any
period of two consecutive calendar years, individuals who at the beginning of
such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any
new directors whose election by the Board of Directors of the Company or whose
nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company was approved by a
vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who either were
directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved or was approved by the Permitted Holders)
cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors of the Company
then in office.

         "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "Consolidated Cashflow" means, with respect to the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of, without duplication, (i) the
Consolidated Net
<PAGE>   4
                                                                               4


Income for such period, plus (ii) to the extent deducted from Consolidated Net
Income for such period, (x) the Fixed Charges for such period, plus (y) non-cash
dividends on the Company's preferred stock, plus (iii) Consolidated Income Taxes
for such period, plus (iv) consolidated depreciation, amortization (including
amortization of goodwill and other intangibles), depletion and other non-cash
charges of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries required to be reflected
as expenses on the books and records of the Company, minus (v) cash payments
with respect to any nonrecurring, non-cash charges previously added back
pursuant to clause (iv). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for taxes
based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization and
other non-cash charges of, a Restricted Subsidiary of a Person shall be added to
Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cashflow only to the extent that
the Net Income of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating the
Consolidated Net Income of such Person.

         "Consolidated Income Taxes" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, taxes imposed upon such Person or other payments required to be made by
such Person by any governmental authority which taxes or other payments are
calculated by reference to the income or profits of such Person or such Person
and its Subsidiaries (to the extent such income or profits were included in
computing Consolidated Net Income for such period), regardless of whether such
taxes or payments are required to be remitted to any governmental authority.

         "Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance
with GAAP; provided that (i) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is
not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of
accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or
distributions paid in cash to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary
thereof, (ii) the Net Income of, or any dividends or other distributions from,
any Unrestricted Subsidiary, to the extent otherwise included, shall be
excluded, whether or not distributed to the Company or one or its Restricted
Subsidiaries, (iii) without duplication, (x) losses of any Restricted Subsidiary
shall be excluded with respect to the calculation under Section 4.12 hereof, (y)
Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded with respect to the
calculation under such covenant to the extent that such Net Income has not been
dividended or distributed in cash to the Company, and (z) intercompany payments
to the Company by the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be included in Net Income of
the Company and intercompany payments by the Company to the Restricted
Subsidiaries shall be deducted from Net Income with respect to the calculation
under such covenant, (iv) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of
interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition shall
be excluded, (v) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles
shall be excluded, and (vi) income or loss attributable to discontinued
operations shall be excluded.

         "Consolidated Net Worth" of a Person at any date means the amount by
which the assets of such Person and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries
(less any revaluation or other write-up subsequent to the date of the Indenture
in any such assets
<PAGE>   5
                                                                               5


(other than write-ups of tangible assets of a going concern business made within
twelve months after the acquisition of such business)) exceed the sum of (a) the
total liabilities of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries, plus (b) any
Disqualified Stock of such Person or any consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries of
such Person issued to any Person other than such Person or a wholly owned
Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, in each case determined in accordance with
GAAP.

         "Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" shall be at the address of the
Trustee specified in Section 10.2 hereof or such other address as to which the
Trustee may give notice to the Company.

         "Default" means any event that is or with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default.

         "Depositary" means, with respect to the Senior Notes issuable or issued
in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in the Indenture as the
Depositary with respect to the Senior Notes, until a successor shall have been
appointed and become such Depositary pursuant to the applicable provision of the
Indenture, and, thereafter, "Depositary" shall mean or include such successor.

         "Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by
the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, is convertible
or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or redeemable at the
option of the Holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date which
is 91 days after the date that the Senior Notes mature.

         "Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or
other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

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

         "Exchange Offer" means the offer that may be made by the Company
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to exchange Exchange Notes for
Senior Notes.

         "Exchange Senior Notes" means the Series B Senior Notes to be issued in
exchange for the Series A Senior Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement.

         "Excluded Asset Sales" means the sale of the capital stock or assets of
American Psych Systems, Inc., Ralin Medical, Inc., Opticare Eye Health Centers,
Inc., Oxford Health Plans (IL), Inc., Oxford Health Plan (FL), Inc., St.
Augustine Health Care Inc. (Florida), the Medicaid businesses of Subsidiaries of
Oxford in New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania, Oxford
Specialty, Direct Script, Inc., Oxford On-Call, Inc., Oxford Health Centers,
Inc., the Company's dental business and Collegiate Healthcare, Inc., in an
aggregate amount of consideration not to exceed $55 million. To the extent the
Company makes a Permitted Investment as described in
<PAGE>   6
                                                                               6


clause (xiii) of the definition thereof, cash and Marketable Securities from
Excluded Asset Sales in an amount equal to such Investment shall be deemed
proceeds from Asset Sales and subject to Section 4.10 hereof. To the extent the
aggregate amount of consideration from Excluded Asset Sales received by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries equals or exceeds $55 million, such
excess shall be deemed proceeds from Asset Sales and subject to Section 4.10
hereof.

         "Existing Indebtedness" means the Indebtedness of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Term Loan Agreement)
in existence on the date of the Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.

         "Euroclear" means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the
Brussels office, as operator of the Euroclear system.

         "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to any asset or property, the
sale value that would be obtained in an arm's-length transaction between an
informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and
willing buyer.

         "Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any Person for any period, the
sum, without duplication, of (i) the consolidated interest expense of such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued
(including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount,
non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment
obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital
Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in
respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and net payments
(if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations), and (ii) the consolidated interest
expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized
during such period, and (iii) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another
Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries
or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon), and (iv)
all dividend payments, whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock
of any such Person payable to a party other than the Company or a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary, other than dividend payments on Equity Interests payable solely in
Equity Interests of the Company.

         "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means with respect to any Person for any
period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cashflow of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period. In the event that the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees or repays any
Indebtedness (other than the incurrence or repayment of revolving credit
borrowings used for working capital, except to the extent that a repayment is
accompanied by a permanent reduction in revolving credit commitments) or issues
preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the four-quarter reference
period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior
to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio is made (the "Calculation Date"), then the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence,
<PAGE>   7
                                                                               7


assumption, guarantee or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance or
redemption of preferred stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of
the applicable four-quarter reference period. For purposes of making the
computation referred to above, (i) acquisitions that have been made by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or
consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the
four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or
prior to the Calculation Date shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day
of the four-quarter reference period and shall give pro forma effect to the
Consolidated Cashflow and Indebtedness of the Person which is the subject of any
such acquisition (as well as any pro forma expense and cost reductions
attributable thereto), and (ii) the Consolidated Cashflow attributable to
discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations
or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, and
Consolidated Cashflow shall reflect any pro forma expense and cost reductions
relating to such discontinuance, and (iii) the Fixed Charges attributable to
discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations
or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, but
only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will
not be obligations of the referent Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
following the Calculation Date.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States which are in effect on the date of the Indenture.

         "Global Senior Notes" means, collectively, the U.S. Global Senior Note
and the Reg S Global Senior Note.

         "Guarantee" means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or
indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any
Indebtedness.

         "Healthcare Service Business" means a business, the majority of whose
revenues are derived from providing or arranging to provide or administering,
managing or monitoring healthcare services or any business or activity that is
reasonably similar thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion
thereof or ancillary thereto, including, without limitation, the issuance of
health insurance.

         "Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the
obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest
rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest rates.

         "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Senior Note is registered on
the Registrar's books.

         "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of
such
<PAGE>   8
                                                                               8


Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by
bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker's acceptances or
representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of the
purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging Obligations, except
any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, if and to
the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and
Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such
Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as all indebtedness of others
secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person (whether or not such indebtedness
is assumed by such Person), the maximum fixed repurchase price of Disqualified
Stock issued by such Person in each case, if held by any Person other than the
Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company, and, to the extent not
otherwise included, the guarantee by such Person of any indebtedness of any
other Person. For the purposes of this definition, the "maximum fixed repurchase
price" of Disqualified Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall
be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such
Disqualified Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be
required to be determined pursuant to the Indenture, and if such price is based
upon, or measured by, the Fair Market Value of such Disqualified Stock, such
Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the board of directors of
the issuer of such Disqualified Stock.

         "Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time
to time.

         "Indirect Participant" means a Person who holds an interest through a
Participant.

         "Initial Purchaser" means Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation.

         "Institutional Accredited Investor" means an entity which is an
"accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the
Securities Act.

         "Investment Grade Securities" means: (i) U.S. Government Obligations;
(ii) any certificate of deposit, maturing not more than 270 days after the date
of acquisition, issued by, or time deposit of, a commercial banking institution
that has combined capital and surplus of not less than $100.0 million or its
equivalent in foreign currency, whose debt is rated at the time as of which any
investment therein is made, "A" (or higher) according to S&P or Moody's, or if
neither S&P nor Moody's shall then exist, the equivalent of such rating by any
other nationally recognized securities rating agency; (iii) commercial paper,
maturing not more than 270 days after the date of acquisition, issued by a
corporation (other than an Affiliate or Subsidiary of the Company) with a
rating, at the time as of which any investment therein is made, of "A-1" (or
higher) according to S&P or "P-1" (or higher) according to Moody's, or if
neither S&P nor Moody's shall then exist, the equivalent of such rating by any
other nationally recognized securities rating agency; (iv) any bankers
acceptances or any money market deposit accounts, in each case, issued or
offered by any commercial bank
<PAGE>   9
                                                                               9


having capital and surplus in excess of $100 million or its equivalent in
foreign currency, whose debt is rated at the time as of which any investment
therein is made, "A" (or higher) according to S&P or Moody's, or if neither S&P
nor Moody's shall then exist, the equivalent of such rating by any other
nationally recognized securities rating agency; (v) any other debt securities or
debt instruments with a rating of "BBB -- " or higher by S&P, "Baa-3" or higher
by Moody's, Class "2" or higher by the NAIC or the equivalent of such rating by
S&P, Moody's or the NAIC, or if none of S&P, Moody's and the NAIC shall then
exist, the equivalent of such rating by any other nationally recognized
securities rating agency; and (vi) any fund investing exclusively in investments
of the types described in clauses (i) through (v) above.

         "Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all investments by
such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or
indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations),
advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel, relocation and
similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of
business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness,
Equity Interests or other securities and all other items that are or would be
classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP;
provided that an acquisition of assets, Equity Interests or other securities by
the Company for consideration consisting of common equity securities of the
Company shall not be deemed to be an Investment.

         "Issue Date" means the date on which Senior Notes are originally issued
under the Indenture.

         "Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which federal
offices or banking institutions in the City of New York, in the city of the
principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or at a place of payment are
authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment
date is a Legal Holiday, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is
not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

         "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law
(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in
the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under
the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction).

         "Liquidated Damages" means all liquidated damages owing pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement.

         "Marketable Securities" means debt or equity securities that are
registered and, in the case of debt securities, are rated in one of the four
highest ratings by one or more nationally recognized rating agencies.
<PAGE>   10
                                                                              10


         "Maturity Date" means May 15, 2005.

         "Minority Investment" means an Investment in an Equity Interest in a
Person which Investment is held by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary such
that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not have more than 50% of
the voting control over all outstanding Equity Interests in such Person.

         "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

         "NAIC" means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and
its successors.

         "Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss)
of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP, and, for purposes of clause
(b)(i) of Section 4.11 hereof, and for purposes of Section 4.12 hereof, before
reduction for non-cash preferred stock dividends and for purposes of clause
(b)(ii) of Section 4.11 hereof, before reduction for preferred stock dividends,
excluding in each case, however, (i) any gain (but not loss), together with any
related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection
with (a) any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to
sale and leaseback transactions) or (b) the disposition of any securities by
such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any
Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) any
extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not loss), together with any related
provision for taxes on such extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not loss)
and (iii) for purposes of Section 1.12 hereof, any capital contributions made or
required to be made by the Company.

         "Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale
(including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other
disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of
the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation,
legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any
relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a
result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or
deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), and any reserve for adjustment in
respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with
GAAP and net of any Purchase Money Obligations relating to the assets comprising
such Asset Sale.

         "Non-Insurance Litigation" means claims, investigations, proceedings
and litigation arising out of or relating to federal or state law relating to
the purchase or sale of securities, including without limitation stockholders
derivative actions.

         "Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness (i) as to which neither the
Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides any guarantee or
credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, guarantee, indemnity,
keepwell, makewell, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness)
or (b) is directly or
<PAGE>   11
                                                                              11


indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise), (ii) no default with respect to
which (including any rights that the Holders thereof may have to take
enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon
notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default under such
other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable
prior to its stated maturity and (iii) as to which the lenders have been
notified in writing that they will not have any recourse against any of the
assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

         "Note Custodian" means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the
Global Senior Notes, or any successor entity thereto.

         "Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

         "Offering Memorandum" means the Offering Memorandum dated May 7, 1998,
relating to the Company's offering and placement of the Senior Notes.

         "Officer" means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the
Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller,
the Secretary or any Vice President of such Person.

         "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed on behalf of the
Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal
executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the
principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of
Section 10.5 hereof.

         "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section
10.5 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

         "Oxford Specialty" means Oxford Specialty Holdings, Inc., Oxford
Specialty Management, Inc., Specialty Management Company (NY) IPA, Inc.,
Specialty Management Company (PA) IPA, Inc., Specialty Management Company (NJ)
IPA, Inc. and Specialty Management Company (CT) IPA, Inc.

         "Pari Passu Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the Company that is
pari passu in right of payment to the Senior Notes. Pari passu means equal to
and without preference, each to the other.

         "Participant" means, with respect to DTC, Euroclear or Cedel, a Person
who has an account with DTC, Euroclear or Cedel, respectively (and, with respect
to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Cedel).
<PAGE>   12
                                                                              12


         "Permitted Holders" means TPG Oxford LLC and its Affiliates.

         "Permitted Investments" means (i) any Investments in the Company or in
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (ii) any Investment in any Person that
becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Investment provided that the
Company, after giving pro forma effect to such Investment, would be permitted to
incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.12 hereof;
(iii) Investments in existence, or made pursuant to legally binding written
commitments in existence, on the Issue Date; (iv) Investments in cash, Cash
Equivalents and Investment Grade Securities; (v) loans or advances to employees
made in the ordinary course of business; (vi) receivables owing to the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; (vii)
repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements entered into by a
Restricted Subsidiary with any lender or any primary dealer of United States
government securities relating to Investment Grade Securities maturing within
one year from the date of acquisition thereof; provided, that the terms of any
such agreement comply with the guidelines set forth in the Federal Financial
Institutions Examination Council Supervisory Policy-Repurchase Agreements of
Depository Institutions with Securities Dealers and Others, as adopted by the
Comptroller of the Currency on October 31, 1985 and, in the case of a repurchase
agreement with a primary dealer, a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or its
duly authorized custodian shall take possession of the obligations subject to
such agreement; (viii) Investments in Hedging Obligations and other similar
agreements or arrangements designed to protect the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in the value of Investments of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case to the extent permitted
under the Indenture; (ix) accounts receivable created or acquired, and prepaid
expenses arising, in the ordinary course of business; (x) the endorsements of
negotiable instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business; (xi) Investments made as a result of the receipt of non-cash
consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance
with Section 4.10 hereof; (xii) Investments in securities of trade creditors or
customers received in settlement of obligations or pursuant to any plan of
reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of such
trade creditors or customers; (xiii) Investments in St. Augustine Health Care,
Inc. made after the Issue Date in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000; (xiv)
Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2.5 million at any one time
outstanding which shall be in addition to Investments which may be made pursuant
to clauses (i) through (xiii) above).

         "Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred
pursuant to any credit agreement or credit facility that is permitted by the
terms of the Indenture to be outstanding (including, without limitation, Liens
securing Indebtedness incurred under the Term Loan Agreement); (ii) Liens in
favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; (iii) Liens on property of a
Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens
were not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such merger or
consolidation and such Liens do not extend to any assets of the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than the assets of the
<PAGE>   13
                                                                              13


Person so merged into or consolidated with the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary; (iv) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens
were not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition
and do not extend to any assets of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries other than the property so acquired; (v) Liens to secure the
performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds or performance
bonds, or landlords', carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', suppliers',
materialmen's or other like Liens, in any case incurred in the ordinary course
of business and with respect to amounts not yet delinquent or being contested in
good faith by appropriate process of law, if a reserve or other appropriate
provision, if any, as is required by GAAP shall have been made therefor; (vi)
Liens existing on the date of the Indenture; (vii) Liens for taxes, assessments
or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and
diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision
as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;
(viii) Liens on assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries that secure Non-Recourse
Indebtedness (to the extent permitted under the Indenture) of Unrestricted
Subsidiaries; (ix) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, minor defects or
irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not
interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries; (x) statutory Liens of landlords or of mortgagees
of landlords arising by operation of law, provided that the rental payments
secured thereby are not yet due and payable; (xi) Liens incurred or deposits
made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers'
compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security; (xii)
Purchase Money Liens (including extensions and renewals thereof); (xiii)
interests of lessors in capital or operating leases; (xiv) Liens on deposits
made in connection with hedging arrangements; (xv) Liens encumbering deposits
made to secure obligations arising from statutory or regulatory, requirements of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including rights of offset
and set-off; (xvi) prejudgment Liens and judgment Liens not giving rise to a
Default or Event of Default so long as any appropriate legal proceeding that may
have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not have been
finally terminated or so long as the period within which such proceeding may be
initiated shall not have expired; and (xvii) Liens incurred in the ordinary
course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company with respect
to obligations permitted under the Indenture that do not exceed $1 million in
principal amount in the aggregate at any one time outstanding.

         "Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net
proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or
refund other Indebtedness (including the issuance of Disqualified Stock in
exchange for Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Term Loan Agreement); provided
that: (i) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the outstanding principal
amount (or then current accreted value, if applicable) and redemption premium
of, plus accrued and unpaid interest on, the Indebtedness so
<PAGE>   14
                                                                              14


extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount
of reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith); (ii) such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date at least as late as the final
maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or
greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; (iii) if the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded
is subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Notes, such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity
date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Senior Notes on terms
at least as favorable to the Holders of Senior Notes as those contained in the
documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded; and (iv) such Indebtedness is incurred either by
the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded.

         "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited
liability company, or other business entity or government or agency or political
subdivision thereof (including any subdivision or ongoing business of any such
entity or substantially all of the assets of any such entity, subdivision or
business).

         "Principal Subsidiary" means Oxford Health Plans (NY), Inc., Oxford
Health Plans (NJ), Inc., Oxford Health Plans (CT), Inc. and Oxford Health
Insurance, Inc.

         "Public Equity Offering" means an underwritten public offering pursuant
to a registration statement (other than on Form S-8 or any other form relating
to securities issuable under any benefit plan of the Company) filed with the
Commission of Equity Interests other than Disqualified Stock of the Company or
any successor to the Company.

         "Purchase Money Lien" means a Lien granted on an asset or property to
secure a Purchase Money Obligation permitted to be incurred under the Indenture
and incurred solely to finance the purchase, or the cost of construction or
improvement, of such asset or property; provided however, that such Lien
encumbers only such asset or property and is granted within 180 days of such
acquisition.

         "Purchase Money Obligations" of any Person means any obligations of
such Person to any seller or any other Person incurred or assumed to finance the
purchase, or the cost of construction or improvement, of real or personal
property to be used in the business of such Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in an amount that is not more than 100% of the cost, or fair market
value, as appropriate, of such property, and incurred within 90 days after the
date of such acquisition (excluding accounts payable to trade creditors incurred
in the ordinary course of business).

         "Qualified Institutional Buyer" or "QIB" shall have the meaning
specified in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
<PAGE>   15
                                                                              15


         "Qualified Insurance Payments" means payments made by third party
insurers to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of
Non-Insurance Litigation, less reimbursement payments required from the Company
or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such payments.

         "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of the date of the Indenture, by and among the Company and
the Initial Purchaser, as such agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time.

         "Regulation S" means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

         "Representative" means the indenture trustee or other trustee, client
or representative for any senior Indebtedness.

         "Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee, means any
officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any
successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter,
any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.

         "Restricted Beneficial Interest" means any beneficial interest of a
Participant or Indirect Participant in the U.S. Global Senior Note or the Reg S
Global Senior Note.

         "Restricted Global Senior Note" means the U.S. Global Senior Note and
the Reg S Global Senior Note, each of which shall bear the Private Placement
Legend.

         "Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.

         "Restricted Subsidiary" of a Person means any Subsidiary of the
referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

         "Rule 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

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

         "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         "Senior Note Custodian" means the Trustee, as custodian for the
Depository with respect to the Senior Notes in global form, or any successor
entity thereto.

         "Significant Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be
a "significant subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X,
promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the
date hereof.
<PAGE>   16
                                                                              16


         "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation,
association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting
power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of
any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees
thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such
Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination
thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing
general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b)
the only general partners of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries
of such Person (or any combination thereof).

         "Term Loan Agreement" means, collectively, (i) that certain Term Loan
Agreement, as in effect on the date of the Indenture, by and among the Company,
the lenders that may be from time to time parties thereto and Donaldson, Lufkin
& Jenrette Securities Corporation, as arranger, DLJ Capital Funding, Inc., as
syndication agent, and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as facility manager,
together with all related guarantees, notes and collateral agreements, as the
foregoing may from time to time be amended, renewed, supplemented, extended,
substituted, replaced, refinanced, restructured or otherwise modified at the
option of the parties thereto, including increases in the principal amount
thereof and including successive substitutions, replacements and refinancings;
and (ii) after the Term Loan Agreement has been terminated and all then
outstanding Indebtedness thereunder or with respect thereto have been repaid in
full in cash and discharged, any successors to or replacements of (as designated
by the Board of Directors of the Company in its sole judgment, and evidenced by
a resolution) such Term Loan Agreement, as such successors or replacements may
from time to time be amended, renewed, supplemented, extended, substituted,
replaced, refinanced, restructured or otherwise modified, including increases in
the principal amount thereof.

         "TPG Investment Agreement" means the Investment Agreement dated as of
February 23, 1998 between TPG Oxford LLC and Oxford Health Plans, Inc.

         "TPG Securities" means the securities issued by the Company pursuant to
the TPG Investment Agreement.

         "Transfer Restricted Senior Notes" means Senior Notes that bear or are
required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

         "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which the Indenture is
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

         "Trustee" means the party named as such above until a successor
replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and
thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

         "Unrestricted Global Senior Notes" means one or more Global Senior
Notes that do not and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
<PAGE>   17
                                                                              17


         "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (i) any Subsidiary that is designated
by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board
Resolution; but only to the extent that such Subsidiary: (a) has no Indebtedness
other than Non-Recourse Debt; (b) is not party to any agreement, contract,
arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or
understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not
Affiliates of the Company; (c) is a Person with respect to which neither the
Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect
obligation (1) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (2) to maintain
or preserve such Person's financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve
or maintain any specified levels of profitability; and (d) has not guaranteed or
otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. Any such designation by the
Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing
with the Trustee a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving
effect to such designation and an Officers' Certificate certifying that such
designation complied with the foregoing conditions. If, at any time, any
Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted
Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary
shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of
such date. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any
Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that such
designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary and such designation shall only be permitted if (i) such Indebtedness
is permitted under Section 4.12 hereof and (ii) no Default or Event of Default
would be in existence following such designation.

         "U.S. Government Obligations" means securities that are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its
full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of
America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full
faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either
case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and
shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section
3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such U.S.
Government Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any
such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the
holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law)
such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable
to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the
custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment
of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such
depository receipt.

         "Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any
Indebtedness at
<PAGE>   18
                                                                              18


any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products
obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment,
sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including
payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years
(calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and
the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of
such Indebtedness.

         "Wholly Owned Subsidiary" of any Person means a Restricted Subsidiary
of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests
of which (other than directors' qualifying shares or shares required by
applicable law to be held by third parties) shall at the time be owned by such
Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person. Unrestricted
Subsidiaries shall not be included in the definition of Wholly Owned Subsidiary
for any purposes of the Indenture.

SECTION 1.2 OTHER DEFINITIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Defined
              Term                                              in Section
              ----                                              ----------

<S>                                                             <C>
              "Affiliate Transaction"                                 4.16
              "Asset Sale Offer"                                       4.8
              "Asset Sale Offer Period"                                4.8
              "Asset Sale Offer Amount"                                4.8
              "Asset Sale Purchase Date"                               4.8
              "Bankruptcy Law"                                         6.1
              "Change of Control Offer"                                4.9
              "Change of Control Offer Period"                         4.9
              "Change of Control Payment"                              4.9
              "Change of Control Purchase Date"                        4.9
              "Covenant Defeasance"                                    8.3
              "Custodian"                                              6.1
              "Distribution Compliance Period"                         2.1
              "DTC"                                                    2.3
              "Event of Default"                                       6.1
              "Excess Proceeds"                                        4.8
              "Group of Subsidiaries"                                  6.1
              "incur"                                                 4.12
              "Interest"                                              2.13
              "Legal Defeasance"                                       8.2
              "Notice of Default"                                      6.1
              "Paying Agent"                                           2.3
              "Payment Default"                                        6.1
              "Private Placement Legend"                               2.6
              "Reg S Global Senior Note"                               2.1
              "Registrar"                                              2.3
              "Restricted Payments"                                   4.11
              "Senior Notes"                                      Preamble
              "Series A Senior Notes"                             Preamble
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   19
                                                                              19


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Defined
              Term                                              in Section
              ----                                              ----------

<S>                                                             <C>
              "Series B Senior Notes"                             Preamble
              "U.S. Global Senior Note"                                2.1
</TABLE>

SECTION 1.3 INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT

              Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust
Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of
this Indenture.

              The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture
have the following meanings:

              "indenture securities" means the Senior Notes;

              "indenture security Holder" means a Holder of a Senior Note;

              "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;

              "indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee;

              "obligor" on the Senior Notes means the Company and any successor
thereto.

              All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the
Trust Indenture Act, defined by the Trust Indenture Act reference to another
statute or defined by Commission rule under the Trust Indenture Act have the
meanings so assigned to them.

SECTION 1.4 RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

              Unless the context otherwise requires:

              (1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

              (2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning
         assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

              (3) "or" is not exclusive;

              (4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural
         include the singular;

              (5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

              (6) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act
         shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor
         sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time.
<PAGE>   20
                                                                              20


                                    ARTICLE 2
                                THE SENIOR NOTES

SECTION 2.1 FORM AND DATING

         (a) The Senior Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication
shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto. The Senior
Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock
exchange rule or usage and as provided to the Trustee in writing by the Company.
Each Senior Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Senior Notes
shall be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. The Series A
Senior Notes and the Series B Senior Notes will be the same except that the
Private Placement Legend will be omitted from the Series B Senior Notes.

         The terms and provisions contained in the Senior Notes shall
constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the
Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture,
expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

         (b) Global Senior Notes. The Senior Notes offered and sold to (i) QIBs
in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of U.S. Global
Senior Notes (the "U.S. Global Senior Notes") which shall be deposited on behalf
of the purchasers of the Senior Notes represented thereby with the Senior Note
Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the
Depository, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as
hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the U.S. Global Senior
Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the
records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter
provided.

         The Senior Notes being offered and sold in offshore transactions in
reliance on Regulation S, if any, initially will be in the form of one or more
registered, global book-entry notes without interest coupons (the "Reg S Global
Senior Notes"). The Reg S Global Senior Notes will be deposited with the
Trustee, as custodian for DTC, in New York, New York, and registered in the name
of a nominee of DTC for credit to the accounts of Indirect Participants at
Euroclear and Cedel. During the 40-day period commencing on the day after the
later of the offering date and the original Issue Date of the Senior Notes (the
"Distribution Compliance Period"), beneficial interests in the Reg S Global
Senior Note may be held only through the DTC participants for Euroclear or
CEDEL, and, pursuant to DTC's procedures, Indirect Participants that hold a
beneficial interest in the Reg S Global Senior Note will not be able to transfer
such interest to a person that takes delivery thereof in the form of an interest
in the U.S. Global Senior Notes. After the Distribution Compliance Period
expires and upon receipt by the Trustee of an Officer's Certificate from the
Company stating that such expiration has occurred, (i) beneficial interests in
the Reg S Global Senior Notes may be transferred to a person that takes delivery
in the form of an interest in the U.S. Global Senior Notes and (ii) beneficial
interests in the U.S. Global
<PAGE>   21
                                                                              21


Senior Notes may be transferred to a person that takes delivery in the form of
an interest in the Reg S Global Senior Notes, provided, in each case, that the
certification requirements described below are complied with. The aggregate
principal amount of the Reg S Global Senior Notes may from time to time be
increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the
Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of
interest as hereinafter provided.

         Each Global Senior Note shall represent such of the outstanding Senior
Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall
represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Senior Notes from time to time
endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Senior Notes
represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as
appropriate, to reflect exchanges, redemptions and transfers of interests. Any
endorsement of a Global Senior Note to reflect the amount of any increase or
decrease in the amount of outstanding Senior Notes represented thereby shall be
made by the Trustee or the Senior Note Custodian, at the direction of the
Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required
by Section 2.6 hereof.

         The provisions of the "Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System"
and "Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear" and the "Management
Regulations" and "Instructions to Participants" of Cedel shall be applicable to
interests in the Reg S Global Senior Notes that are held by Participants through
Euroclear or Cedel. The Trustee shall have no obligation to notify Holders of
any such procedures or to monitor or enforce compliance with the same.

         Except as set forth in Section 2.6 hereof, the Global Senior Notes may
be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the
Depository or to a successor of the Depository or its nominee.

         (c) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(c) shall apply only to
Global Senior Notes deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

         The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with
this Section 2.1(c), authenticate and deliver the Global Senior Notes that (i)
shall be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of the
Depository and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depository or
pursuant to the Depository's instructions or held by the Senior Note Custodian.

         Participants shall have no rights either under this Indenture with
respect to any Global Senior Note held on their behalf by the Depository or by
the Senior Note Custodian as custodian for the Depository or under such Global
Senior Note, and the Depository may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and
any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global
Senior Note for all purposes whatsoever under the Indenture. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of
the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification,
proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between
the Depository and its Participants, the operation of
<PAGE>   22
                                                                              22


customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of
an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Senior Note.

         (d) Certificated Senior Notes. Senior Notes issued in certificated form
shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without
including the text referred to in footnotes 1 and 3 thereto).

         (e) Provisions Applicable to Forms of Notes. The Senior Notes may also
have such additional provisions, omissions, variations or substitutions as are
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, and may have such
letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or
endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with this Indenture,
any applicable law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with the rules of
any securities exchange or governmental agency or as may be determined
consistently herewith by the Officers of the Company executing such Senior
Notes, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Senior Notes. All
Senior Notes will be otherwise substantially identical except as provided
herein.

         Subject to the provisions of this Article 2, a Holder of a Global
Senior Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person to take any
action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Senior
Notes.

         The Senior Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

SECTION 2.2 EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION

         Two Officers shall sign the Senior Notes for the Company by manual or
facsimile signature.

         If an Officer whose signature is on a Senior Note no longer holds that
office at the time a Senior Note is authenticated, the Senior Note shall
nevertheless be valid.

         A Senior Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual
signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the
Senior Note has been authenticated under this Indenture. The form of Trustee's
certificate of authentication to be borne by the Senior Notes shall be
substantially as set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

         The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the
Company to authenticate Senior Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate
Senior Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to
authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An
authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or
an Affiliate of the Company.
<PAGE>   23
                                                                              23


         The Trustee shall authenticate Senior Notes for an original issue in
the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $200,000,000 upon a written order
of the Company in the form of an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel
in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The Officer's Certificate shall
specify the amount of Senior Notes to be authenticated and the date on which
they are to be authenticated.

         Upon receipt by the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate from the
Company stating that a Registration Statement covering the Series A Senior Notes
has become effective, together with a written order of the Company in the form
of an Officers' Certificate requesting the authentication of the Exchange Senior
Notes and an Opinion of Counsel relating to the Exchange Senior Notes, the
Trustee shall authenticate the Exchange Senior Notes in like principal amount of
Series A Senior Notes delivered for cancellation, in an amount not to exceed
$200,000,000. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
aggregate principal amount of Series A Senior Notes, together with the aggregate
principal amount of Exchange Senior Notes shall not exceed $200,000,000 at any
time.

SECTION 2.3 REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT

         The Company shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Senior Notes
may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange ("Registrar") and
(ii) an office or agency where Senior Notes may be presented for payment
("Paying Agent"). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Senior Notes and of
their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more additional
paying agents. The term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent. The
Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder.
The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any
Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain
another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The
Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

         The Company initially appoints the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") to
act as Depository with respect to the Global Senior Notes.

         The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and
Paying Agent and to act as Senior Note Custodian with respect to the Global
Senior Notes.

SECTION 2.4 PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST

         The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to
agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of
Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of
principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Senior
Notes, and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in
making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may
require a Paying Agent to pay all money
<PAGE>   24
                                                                              24


held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to
pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the
Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further
liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it
shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders
all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization
proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for
the Senior Notes.

SECTION 2.5 HOLDER LISTS

         The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of
all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee
is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven
Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the
Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the
Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of
Senior Notes, and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).

SECTION 2.6 TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE

         (a)  Transfer and Exchange of Global Senior Notes. The transfer and
exchange of beneficial interests in Global Senior Notes shall be effected
through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture and the procedures of
the Depository therefor, which shall include restrictions on transfer comparable
to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act.
Beneficial interests in a Global Senior Note may be transferred to Persons who
take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Global
Senior Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the legend
in subsection (g) of this Section 2.6. Transfers of beneficial interests in the
Global Senior Notes to Persons required to take delivery thereof in the form of
an interest in another Global Senior Note shall be permitted as follows:

              (i)    U.S. Global Senior Note to Reg S Global Senior Note. If, at
              any time, an owner of a beneficial interest in a U.S. Global
              Senior Note deposited with the Depository (or the Senior Note
              Custodian) wishes to transfer its beneficial interest in such U.S.
              Global Senior Note to a Person who is required or permitted to
              take delivery thereof in the form of an interest in a Reg S Global
              Senior Note, such owner shall, subject to the Applicable
              Procedures, exchange or cause the exchange of such interest for an
              equivalent beneficial interest in a Reg S Global Senior Note as
              provided in this Section 2.6(a)(i). Upon receipt by the Trustee of
              (1) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable
              Procedures from a Participant directing the Trustee to credit or
              cause to be credited a beneficial interest in the Reg S Global
              Senior Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the
              U.S. Global Senior Note to be exchanged, (2) a written order given
              in accordance with the Applicable Procedures
<PAGE>   25
                                                                              25


              containing information regarding the Participant account of the
              Depository and the DTC participants for/or Euroclear or Cedel
              account to be credited with such increase, (3) a certificate in
              the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto given by the owner of such
              beneficial interest stating that the transfer of such interest has
              been made in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable
              to the Global Senior Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with
              Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, and (4) if requested by the
              Company or the Trustee, the delivery of an opinion of counsel, a
              certificate in the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto and/or other
              information satisfactory to them, then the Trustee, as Registrar,
              shall instruct the Depository to reduce or cause to be reduced the
              aggregate principal amount at maturity of the applicable U.S.
              Global Senior Note and to increase or cause to be increased the
              aggregate principal amount at maturity of the applicable Reg S
              Global Senior Note by the principal amount at maturity of the
              beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Senior Note to be exchanged
              or transferred, to credit or cause to be credited to the account
              of the Person specified in such instructions, a beneficial
              interest in the Reg S Global Senior Note equal to the reduction in
              the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the U.S. Global
              Senior Note, and to debit, or cause to be debited, from the
              account of the Person making such exchange or transfer the
              beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Senior Note that is being
              exchanged or transferred.

              (ii)   Reg S Global Senior Note to U.S. Global Senior Note. If, at
              any time, prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance
              Period, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Reg S Global Senior
              Note deposited with the Depository or with the Senior Note
              Custodian wishes to transfer its beneficial interest in such Reg S
              Global Senior Note to a Person who is required or permitted to
              take delivery thereof in the form of an interest in a U.S. Global
              Senior Note, such owner shall, subject to the Applicable
              Procedures, exchange or cause the exchange of such interest for an
              equivalent beneficial interest in a U.S. Global Senior Note as
              provided in this Section 2.6(a)(ii). Upon receipt by the Trustee
              of (1) instructions from the DTC participants for/or Euroclear or
              Cedel, if applicable, and the Depository, directing the Trustee,
              as Registrar, to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial
              interest in the U.S. Global Senior Note equal to the beneficial
              interest in the Reg S Global Senior Note to be exchanged, such
              instructions to contain information regarding the Participant
              account with the Depository to be credited with such increase, (2)
              a written order given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures
              containing information regarding the participant account of the
              Depository and (3) a certificate in the form of Exhibit B-2
              attached hereto given by the owner of such beneficial interest
              stating that if the transfer is pursuant to Rule 144A, that the
              Person transferring such interest in a Reg S Global Senior Note
              reasonably believes that the Person acquiring such interest in a
              U.S. Global Senior Note is a QIB and is obtaining such beneficial
              interest in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A
              and any applicable
<PAGE>   26
                                                                              26


              blue sky or securities laws of any state of the United States in
              accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the
              United States or any other applicable jurisdiction, then the
              Trustee, as Registrar, shall instruct the Depository to reduce or
              cause to be reduced the aggregate principal amount at maturity of
              such Reg S Global Senior Note and to increase or cause to be
              increased the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the
              applicable U.S. Global Senior Note by the principal amount at
              maturity of the beneficial interest in the Reg S Global Senior
              Note to be exchanged or transferred, and the Trustee, as
              Registrar, shall instruct the Depository, concurrently with such
              redemption, to credit or cause to be credited to the account of
              the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in
              the applicable U.S. Global Senior Note equal to the reduction in
              the aggregate principal amount at maturity of such Reg S Global
              Senior Note and to debit or cause to be debited from the account
              of the Person making such transfer the beneficial interest in the
              Reg S Global Senior Note that is being exchanged or transferred.

              (iii)  Restricted Global Senior Notes to Institutional Accredited
              Investor. If, at any time, an owner of a beneficial interest in a
              Restricted Global Senior Note deposited with the Depository (or
              the Senior Note Custodian) wishes to transfer its beneficial
              interest in such Restricted Global Senior Note to a Person who is
              an Institutional Accredited Investor, such owner shall, subject to
              the Applicable Procedures and the other provisions of this Section
              2.6, exchange or cause the exchange of such interest for a
              Restricted Certificated Senior Note in like aggregate principal
              amount as provided in this Section 2.6(a)(iii). Upon receipt by
              the Trustee of (1) instructions given in accordance with the
              Applicable Procedures from a Participant directing the Trustee to
              exchange a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Senior
              Note for a Restricted Certificated Senior Note in like aggregate
              principal amount, (2) a written order given in accordance with the
              Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the name in
              which such Certificated Senior Note shall be registered, and (3) a
              certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto given by the proposed
              transferee, together, and, if the Company should so request, an
              Opinion of Counsel provided by the transferor or the transferee (a
              copy of which the Transferor attaches to such certificate), in
              form reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar, to
              the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities
              Act, then the Trustee, as Registrar, shall authenticate a
              Certificated Senior Note as registered in the name of the Person
              specified in such instructions, in an aggregate principal amount
              equal to the amount to be debited, and to debit, or cause to be
              debited, from the account of the Person making such exchange or
              transfer the beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Senior
              Note that is being exchanged or transferred.

         (b)  Transfer and Exchange of Certificated Senior Notes. When
Certificated Senior Notes are presented by a Holder to the Registrar with a
request to register the
<PAGE>   27
                                                                              27


transfer of the Certificated Senior Notes or to exchange such Certificated
Senior Notes for an equal principal amount of Certificated Senior Notes of other
authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the
exchange as requested only if the Certificated Senior Notes are presented or
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, are endorsed and contain a
signature guarantee or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by his attorney
and contains a signature guarantee, duly authorized in writing and the Registrar
received the following documentation (all of which may be submitted by
facsimile):

              (i)    in the case of Certificated Senior Notes that are Transfer
              Restricted Senior Notes, such request shall be accompanied by the
              following additional information and documents, as applicable:

              (A)    if such Transfer Restricted Global Note is being delivered
                     to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name
                     of such Holder, without transfer, or such Transfer
                     Restricted Global Note is being transferred to the Company,
                     a certification to that effect from such Holder (in
                     substantially the form of Exhibit B-3 hereto); or

              (B)    if such Transfer Restricted Global Note is being
                     transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the
                     Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from
                     registration in accordance with Rule 144 under the
                     Securities Act or in an offshore transaction pursuant to
                     and in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act or
                     pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
                     Securities Act, a certification to that effect from such
                     Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-3 hereto);
                     or

              (C)    if such Transfer Restricted Global Note is being
                     transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in
                     reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements
                     of the Securities Act other than those listed in
                     subparagraph (B) above, a certification to that effect from
                     such Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-3
                     hereto), a certification substantially in the form of
                     Exhibit C hereto, and, if requested by the Company, an
                     Opinion of Counsel acceptable to the Company that such
                     transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; or

              (D)    if such Transfer Restricted Global Note is being
                     transferred in reliance on any other exemption from the
                     registration requirements of the Securities Act, a
                     certification to that effect from such Holder (in
                     substantially the form of Exhibit B-3 hereto) and an
                     Opinion of Counsel from such Holder or the transferee
                     reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar
                     to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the
                     Securities Act.
<PAGE>   28
                                                                              28


         (c)  Transfer of a Beneficial Interest in a U.S. Global Senior Note or
              Reg S Global Senior Note for a Certificated Senior Note.

              (i)    Any Person having a beneficial interest in a U.S. Global
              Senior Note or Reg S Global Senior Note may upon request, subject
              to the Applicable Procedures, exchange such beneficial interest
              for a Certificated Senior Note. Upon receipt by the Trustee of
              written instructions or such other form of written instructions as
              is customary for the Depository (or Euroclear or Cedel, if
              applicable), from the Depository or its nominee on behalf of any
              Person having a beneficial interest in a U.S. Global Senior Note
              or Reg S Global Senior Note, and, in the case of a Transfer
              Restricted Global Note, the following additional information and
              documents (all of which may be submitted by facsimile):

              (A)    if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the
                     Person designated by the Depository as being the beneficial
                     owner, a certification to that effect from such Person (in
                     substantially the form of Exhibit B-4 hereto);

              (B)    if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB
                     in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act or
                     pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance
                     with Rule 144 under the Securities Act or in an offshore
                     transaction pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 904
                     under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective
                     registration statement under the Securities Act, a
                     certification to that effect from the transferor (in
                     substantially the form of Exhibit B-4 hereto);

              (C)    if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an
                     Institutional Accredited Investor, pursuant to a private
                     placement exemption from the registration requirements of
                     the Securities Act, a certification to that effect from
                     such Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-4
                     hereto) and a certification from the applicable transferee
                     (in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto) and, if
                     requested by the Company, an Opinion of Counsel acceptable
                     to the Company that such transfer is in compliance with the
                     Securities Act; or

              (D)    if such beneficial interest is being transferred in
                     reliance on any other exemption from the registration
                     requirements of the Securities Act, a certification to that
                     effect from the transferor (in substantially the form of
                     Exhibit B-4 hereto) and an Opinion of Counsel from the
                     transferee or the transferor reasonably acceptable to the
                     Company and to the
<PAGE>   29
                                                                              29


                     Registrar to the effect that such transfer is in compliance
                     with the Securities Act, in which case the Trustee or the
                     Senior Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee,
                     shall, in accordance with the standing instructions and
                     procedures existing between the Depository and the Senior
                     Note Custodian, cause the aggregate principal amount of
                     U.S. Global Senior Notes or Reg S Global Senior Notes, as
                     applicable, to be reduced accordingly and, following such
                     reduction, the Company shall execute and, the Trustee shall
                     authenticate and deliver to the transferee a Certificated
                     Senior Note in the appropriate principal amount.

              (ii)   Certificated Senior Notes issued in exchange for a
              beneficial interest in a U.S. Global Senior Note or Reg S Global
              Senior Note, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.6(c) shall
              be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations
              as the Depository, pursuant to instructions from its Participants
              or Indirect Participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee
              in writing. The Trustee shall deliver such Certificated Senior
              Notes to the Persons in whose names such Senior Notes are so
              registered. Following any such issuance of Certificated Senior
              Notes, the Trustee, as Registrar, shall instruct the Depository to
              reduce or cause to be reduced the aggregate principal amount at
              maturity of the applicable Global Senior Note to reflect the
              transfer.

         (d)  Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange of Global Senior Notes.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture (other than the provisions
set forth in subsection (f) of this Section 2.6), a Global Senior Note may not
be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the
Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another
nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a
successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

         (e)  Authentication of Certificated Senior Notes in Absence of
Depository. If at any time:

              (i)    the Depository (A) notifies the Company that it is
                     unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the
                     Global Senior Notes and the Company thereupon fails to
                     appoint a successor depositary within 90 days or (B) has
                     ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the
                     Exchange Act

              (ii)   the Company, at its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee
                     in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of
                     Certificated Senior Notes under this Indenture, or

              (iii)  there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or an
                     Event
<PAGE>   30
                                       30


                     of Default with respect to the Senior Notes.

then the Company shall, execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an
authentication order in accordance with Section 2.2 hereof, authenticate and
deliver, Certificated Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of the Global Senior Notes in exchange for such Global Senior
Notes.

         (f)  Legends.

              (i)    Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii), (iii)
                     and (iv), each Senior Note certificate evidencing Global
                     Senior Notes and Certificated Senior Notes (and all Senior
                     Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof)
                     shall bear a legend (the "Private Placement Legend") in
                     substantially the following form:

                     "THIS SENIOR NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) HAS NOT BEEN
                     REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
                     AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT
                     BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN
                     THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF,
                     U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE NEXT SENTENCE. BY
                     ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN,
                     THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED
                     INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE
                     SECURITIES ACT) (A "QIB"), (B) IT IS ACQUIRING THIS SENIOR
                     NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH
                     REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN
                     INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN RULE
                     501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE
                     SECURITIES ACT (AN "IAI"), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT
                     RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SENIOR NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO
                     THE COMPANY, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY
                     BELIEVES IS A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE
                     ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS
                     OF RULE 144A, (C) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE
                     REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (D)
                     IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER
                     THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN IAI THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH
                     TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING
                     CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE
                     TRANSFER OF THIS SENIOR NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE
                     OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN
                     RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
<PAGE>   31
                                                                              31


                     AMOUNT OF SENIOR NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF
                     COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN
                     COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH
                     ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
                     SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
                     ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
                     REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE
                     WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE
                     UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (3)
                     AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS
                     SENIOR NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE
                     SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN,
                     THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" AND "UNITED STATES" HAVE
                     THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S
                     UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A
                     PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY
                     TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING."

              (ii)   Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Global
                     Note (including any Transfer Restricted Global Note
                     represented by a Global Senior Note) pursuant to Rule 144
                     under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective
                     registration statement under the Securities Act:

                     (A)   in the case of any Transfer Restricted Global Note
                           that is a Certificated Senior Note, the Registrar
                           shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such
                           Transfer Restricted Global Note for a Certificated
                           Senior Note that does not bear the legend set forth
                           in (i) above and rescind any restriction on the
                           transfer of such Transfer Restricted Global Note upon
                           receipt of a certification from the transferring
                           holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B-4
                           hereto; and

                     (B)   in the case of any Transfer Restricted Global Note
                           represented by a Global Senior Note, such Transfer
                           Restricted Global Note shall not be required to bear
                           the legend set forth in (i) above, but shall continue
                           to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.6(a) and
                           (b) hereof; provided, however, that with respect to
                           any request for an exchange of a Transfer Restricted
                           Global Note that is represented by a Global Senior
                           Note for a Certificated Senior Note that does not
                           bear the legend set forth in (i) above, which request
                           is made in reliance upon Rule 144, the Holder thereof
                           shall
<PAGE>   32
                                                                              32


                           certify in writing to the Registrar that such request
                           is being made pursuant to Rule 144 (such
                           certification to be substantially in the form of
                           Exhibit B-4 hereto).

              (iii)  Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Global
                     Note (including any Transfer Restricted Global Note
                     represented by a Global Senior Note) in reliance on any
                     exemption from the registration requirements of the
                     Securities Act (other than exemptions pursuant to Rule 144A
                     or Rule 144 under the Securities Act) in which the Holder
                     or the transferee provides an Opinion of Counsel to the
                     Company and the Registrar in form and substance reasonably
                     acceptable to the Company and the Registrar (which Opinion
                     of Counsel shall also state that the transfer restrictions
                     contained in the legend are no longer applicable):

                     (A)   in the case of any Transfer Restricted Global Note
                           that is a Certificated Senior Note, the Registrar
                           shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such
                           Transfer Restricted Global Note for a Certificated
                           Senior Note that does not bear the legend set forth
                           in (i) above and rescind any restriction on the
                           transfer of such Transfer Restricted Global Note; and

                     (B)   in the case of any Transfer Restricted Global Note
                           represented by a Global Senior Note, such Transfer
                           Restricted Global Note shall not be required to bear
                           the legend set forth in (i) above, but shall continue
                           to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.6(a) and
                           (b) hereof.

              (iv)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of the
                     Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights
                     Agreement, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an
                     authentication order in accordance with Section 2.2 hereof,
                     the Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted
                     Global Senior Notes in aggregate principal amount equal to
                     the principal amount of the Restricted Beneficial Interests
                     validly tendered and not properly withdrawn by Persons that
                     certify in the letter of transmittal delivered in the
                     Exchange Offer that they are not (x) brokerdealers, (y)
                     Persons participating in the distribution of the Series B
                     Senior Notes or (z) Persons who are affiliates (as defined
                     in Rule 144) of the Company and accepted for exchange in
                     the Exchange Offer and (ii) Certificated Senior Notes that
                     do not bear the Private Placement Legend in an aggregate
                     principal amount equal to the principal amount of the
                     Restricted Certificated Senior Notes accepted for exchange
                     in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the issuance of
                     such Senior Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate
                     principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global
<PAGE>   33
                                                                              33


                     Senior Notes to be reduced accordingly and the Company
                     shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
                     deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of
                     Certificated Senior Notes so accepted Certificated Senior
                     Notes in the appropriate principal amount.

              Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, unless
and until there is an effective Registration Statement covering the Senior
Notes, the Company shall direct the Trustee in writing with respect to the
removal of legends.

         (g)  Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Senior Notes. At such
time as all beneficial interests in Global Senior Notes have been exchanged for
Certificated Senior Notes, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, all Global Senior
Notes shall be cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.
At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global
Senior Note is exchanged for Certificated Senior Notes, redeemed, repurchased or
cancelled, the principal amount of Senior Notes represented by such Global
Senior Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on
such Global Senior Note, by the Trustee or the Senior Notes Custodian, at the
direction of the Trustee, to reflect such reduction.

         (h)  General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

              (i)    To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the
                     Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate
                     Global Senior Notes and Certificated Senior Notes at the
                     Registrar's request.

              (ii)   No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any
                     registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may
                     require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp or
                     transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in
                     connection therewith (other than any such stamp or transfer
                     taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange
                     or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.6, 4.10, 4.14 and
                     9.5 hereto).

              (iii)  All Global Senior Notes and Certificated Senior Notes
                     issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
                     Global Senior Notes or Certificated Senior Notes shall be
                     the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
                     debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this
                     Indenture, as the Global Senior Notes or Certificated
                     Senior Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer
                     or exchange.

              (iv)   The Registrar shall not be required: (A) to issue, to
                     register the transfer of or to exchange Senior Notes during
                     a period beginning at the opening of fifteen (15) Business
                     Days before the day of any selection of Senior Notes for
                     redemption under Section 3.2 hereof and ending at the close
                     of business on the day of selection, (B) to
<PAGE>   34
                                                                              34


                     register the transfer of or to exchange any Senior Note so
                     selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
                     unredeemed portion of any Senior Note being redeemed in
                     part, or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a
                     Senior Note between a record date and the next succeeding
                     interest payment date.

              (v)    Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer
                     of any Senior Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company
                     may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Senior Note
                     is registered as the absolute owner of such Senior Note for
                     the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and
                     interest on such Senior Notes and for all other purposes,
                     and neither the Trustee, any Agent nor the Company shall be
                     affected by notice to the contrary.

              (vii)  The Trustee shall authenticate Global Senior Notes and
                     Certificated Senior Notes in accordance with the provisions
                     of Section 2.2 hereof.

                     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
                     the Trustee shall have no duty whatsoever to monitor
                     compliance with federal or state securities laws.

SECTION 2.7 REPLACEMENT OF SENIOR NOTES

         If any mutilated Senior Note is surrendered to the Trustee, or the
Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Senior Note, the Company shall issue and the
Trustee, upon the written order of the Company signed by two Officers of the
Company, shall authenticate a replacement Senior Note if the Trustee's
requirements are met. The Trustee and the Company shall require an indemnity
bond to be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the
Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any
authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Senior Note
is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Senior Note.

         Every replacement Senior Note is a replacement obligation of the
Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally
and proportionately with all other Senior Notes duly issued hereunder.

SECTION 2.8 OUTSTANDING SENIOR NOTES

         The Senior Notes outstanding at any time are all the Senior Notes
authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered
to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Senior Note
effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those
described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.9
hereof, a Senior Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company holds the Senior Note.
<PAGE>   35
                                                                              35


         If a Senior Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof, it ceases
to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Senior Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

         If the principal amount of any Senior Note is considered paid under
Section 4.1 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to
accrue.

         If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money
sufficient to pay Senior Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date
such Senior Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to
accrue interest.

SECTION 2.9 TREASURY SENIOR NOTES

         In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of
Senior Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Senior Notes
owned by the Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, shall
be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such
direction, waiver or consent, only Senior Notes that a Trustee receives an
Officer's Certificate stating that such Senior Notes are so owned shall be so
disregarded.

SECTION 2.10 TEMPORARY SENIOR NOTES

         Until definitive Senior Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may
prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Senior Notes upon a written
order of the Company signed by two Officers of the Company. Temporary Senior
Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Senior Notes but may have
variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Senior Notes and
as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. without unreasonable delay,
the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Senior
Notes in exchange for temporary Senior Notes.

         Holders of temporary Senior Notes shall be entitled to all of the
benefits of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.11 CANCELLATION

         The Company at any time may deliver Senior Notes to the Trustee for
cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any
Senior Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or
payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Senior Notes surrendered
for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and
shall destroy cancelled Senior Notes (subject to the record retention
requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all
cancelled Senior Notes shall be delivered to the
<PAGE>   36
                                                                              36


Company. The Company may not issue new Senior Notes to replace Senior Notes that
it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

SECTION 2.12 DEFAULTED INTEREST

         If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Senior Notes,
it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent
lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are
Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided
in the Senior Notes and in Section 4.1 hereof. The Company shall notify the
Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on
each Senior Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or
cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided that
no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related
payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special
record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the
Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or cause to be
mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related
payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.13 RECORD DATE

         The record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of
the Senior Notes entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent
authorized or permitted under this Indenture shall be determined as provided for
in TIA Section 316(c).

SECTION 2.14 COMPUTATION OF INTEREST

         Interest on the Senior Notes shall be computed on the basis of a
360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 2.15 CUSIP NUMBER

         The Company in issuing the Senior Notes may use a "CUSIP" number, and
if it does so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP number in notices of redemption
or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state
that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP
number printed in the notice or on the Senior Notes and that reliance may be
placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Senior Notes. The
Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP number.


                                    ARTICLE 3
                            REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

SECTION 3.1 NOTICES TO TRUSTEE

         If the Company elects to redeem Senior Notes pursuant to the optional
<PAGE>   37
                                                                              37


redemption provisions of Section 3.7 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at
least 45 days (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) but not
more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers' Certificate setting
forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall
occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Senior Notes to
be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.

SECTION 3.2 SELECTION OF SENIOR NOTES TO BE REDEEMED

         If less than all of the Senior Notes are to be redeemed at any time,
selection of the Senior Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee in
compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange,
if any, on which the Senior Notes are listed or, if the Senior Notes are not so
listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee considers
fair and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular
Senior Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein,
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the
Trustee from the outstanding Senior Notes not previously called for redemption.

         The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Senior
Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Senior Note selected for
partial redemption, the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
Senior Notes and portions of Senior Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000
or integral multiples of $1,000; except that if all of the Senior Notes of a
Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Senior Notes held by
such Holder, even if not an integral multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed.
Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that
apply to Senior Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Senior
Notes called for redemption.

SECTION 3.3 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

         At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date,
the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of
redemption to each Holder whose Senior Notes are to be redeemed at its
registered address.

         The notice shall identify the Senior Notes to be redeemed and shall
state:

         (a) the redemption date;

         (b) the redemption price;

         (c) if any Senior Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the
principal amount of such Senior Note to be redeemed and that, after the
redemption date upon surrender of such Senior Note, a new Senior Note or Senior
Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon
cancellation of the original Senior Note;

         (d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
<PAGE>   38
                                                                              38


         (e) that Senior Notes called for redemption (other than a Global Senior
Note) must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

         (f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption
payment, interest on Senior Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and
after the redemption date;

         (g) the paragraph of the Senior Notes and/or Section of this Indenture
pursuant to which the Senior Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

         (h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of
the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Senior Notes.

         At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the
redemption date (unless a shorter time is acceptable to the Trustee), an
Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting
forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding
paragraph.

SECTION 3.4 EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

         Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.3
hereof, Senior Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on
the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be
conditional.

SECTION 3.5 DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE

         On or prior to the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the
Trustee or with the Paying Agent immediately available funds sufficient to pay
the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on and
Liquidated Damages, if any, on all Senior Notes to be redeemed on that date. The
Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money
deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the
amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all
Senior Notes to be redeemed.

         If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph,
on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Senior
Notes or the portions of Senior Notes called for redemption. If a Senior Note is
redeemed on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related
interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the
Person in whose name such Senior Note was registered at the close of business on
such record date. If any Senior Note called for redemption shall not be so paid
upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply
with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal,
from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and
<PAGE>   39
                                                                              39


to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each
case at the rate provided in the Senior Notes and in Section 4.1 hereof.

SECTION 3.6 SENIOR NOTES REDEEMED IN PART

         Upon surrender of a Senior Note (other than a Global Senior Note) that
is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and, upon the Company's written
request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the
Company a new Senior Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of
the Senior Note surrendered. The records of the Registrar and the Depositary
shall reflect any partial redemption of any Global Senior Note.

SECTION 3.7 OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

         (a) Except as set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of this Section 3.7, the
Senior Notes shall not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to May 15,
2002. Thereafter, the Senior Notes shall be subject to redemption for cash at
the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days' notice to each Holder of Senior Notes to be redeemed at the
following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount
thereof) if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 15, 2002 of
each of the years indicated below, in each case together with any accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable
redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant
record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             YEAR                      PERCENTAGE

<S>                                    <C>
             2002                       105.500%
             2003                       102.750%
             2004 and thereafter        100.000%
</TABLE>

         (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.7,
at any time on or before May 15, 2001, the Company may (but shall not have the
obligation to) redeem for cash up to 33-1/3% of the original aggregate principal
amount of the Senior Notes at a redemption price of 111% of the principal amount
thereof, in each case plus any accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated
Damages, if any, thereon to the redemption date, with the net proceeds of a
Public Equity Offering; provided that at least 66-2/3% of the original aggregate
principal amount of the Senior Notes remains outstanding immediately after the
occurrence of such redemption; and provided, further, that such redemption shall
occur within 60 days of the date of the closing of such Public Equity Offering.

         (c) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall be made pursuant
to the provisions of Section 3.1 through 3.6 hereof.
<PAGE>   40
                                                                              40


SECTION 3.8 NO MANDATORY REDEMPTION

         Except as set forth in Section 4.9 and Section 4.10, the Company shall
not be required to make any mandatory redemption, purchase or sinking fund
payments with respect to the Senior Notes prior to the Maturity Date.


                                    ARTICLE 4
                                    COVENANTS

SECTION 4.1 PAYMENT OF SENIOR NOTES

         The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on the Senior Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in
the Senior Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered
paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a
Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money
deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and
sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. The
Company shall pay all Liquidated Damages, if any, in the same manner on the
dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. The
Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of a Registration Default (as defined
in the Registration Rights Agreement) under the Registration Rights Agreement
and any cure thereof by delivery of an Officers' Certificate setting forth the
Liquidated Damages due for $1,000 in aggregate principal amount.

         The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to
1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Senior Notes
to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any (without regard to any applicable grace period) at
the same rate to the extent lawful.

SECTION 4.2 MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY

         The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New
York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate
of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Senior Notes may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or
upon the Company in respect of the Senior Notes and this Indenture may be
served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the
location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any
time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the principal Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee.

         The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Senior Notes may be presented or surrendered for
any or
<PAGE>   41
                                                                              41


all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided,
however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt
written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any
change in the location of any such other office or agency.

         The Company hereby designates the principal Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with
Section 2.3 hereof.

SECTION 4.3 CORPORATE EXISTENCE

         Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done
all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its
corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each
of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents
(as the same may be amended from time to time) of each of the Company or any
such Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and
franchises of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or
franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its
Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation
thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in
any material respect to the Holders of the Senior Notes.

SECTION 4.4 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES AND INSURANCE

         (a) The Company shall cause all material properties owned by or leased
by it or any of its Subsidiaries useful and necessary to the conduct of its
business or the business of any of its Subsidiaries to be improved or maintained
and kept in normal condition, repair and working order and shall cause to be
made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements
thereof, all as in its judgment may be necessary, so that the business carried
on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times; provided,
however, that nothing in this Section 4.4 shall prevent the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries from discontinuing the use, operation or maintenance of any of
such properties, or disposing of any of them, if such discontinuance or disposal
is, in the judgment of the Board of Directors or of the board of directors of
any Subsidiary of the Company concerned, or of an officer (or other agent
employed by the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries) of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries having managerial responsibility for any such property,
desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, and if such discontinuance or disposal is not adverse in any material
respect to the Holders.

         (b) To the extent available at commercially reasonable rates, the
Company shall maintain, and shall cause its Subsidiaries, to the extent such
Subsidiaries maintain operations, to maintain, insurance with responsible
carriers against such risks and in
<PAGE>   42
                                                                              42


such amounts, and with such deductibles, retentions, self-insured amounts and
co-insurance provisions, as are customarily carried by similar businesses, of
similar size.

SECTION 4.5 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

         The Company shall comply, and shall cause each of its respective
Subsidiaries to comply, with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders
and restrictions in respect of the conduct of their respective businesses and
the ownership of their respective properties, except for such noncompliances as
would not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the financial
condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole.

SECTION 4.6 REPORTS

         (a) Whether or not required by the Exchange Act or the rules and
regulations of the Commission, so long as any Senior Notes are outstanding, the
Company shall furnish to all Holders of Senior Notes within 15 days after it is
or would have been required to file such with the Commission, all quarterly and
annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing
with the Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K if the Company were required to
file such Forms, including a "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and, with respect to the annual information
only, a report thereon by the independent public accountants of the Company. In
addition, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the
Commission, the Company will file copies of all such information and reports
with the Commission for public availability (unless the Commission will not
accept such a filing) and will promptly make such information available to
securities analysts and prospective investors upon request.

         (b) For so long as any Senior Notes remain outstanding, the Company
will furnish to all Holders and to securities analysts and prospective
investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant
to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act during any period in which the
Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

SECTION 4.7 TAXES

         The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and
governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not
adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Senior Notes.

SECTION 4.8 STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS

         The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that
it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim
or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever
enacted, now or at
<PAGE>   43
                                                                              43


any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of
this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so)
hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants
that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the
execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and
permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

SECTION 4.9 CHANGE OF CONTROL

              Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Senior
Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part
(equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's Senior Notes
pursuant to the offer described below (the "Change of Control Offer") at an
offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus
accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date
of purchase (the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 30 days following any
Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder describing the
transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering
to repurchase Senior Notes pursuant to the procedures required by this Indenture
and described in such notice. The Company will comply with the requirements of
Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations
thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection
with the repurchase of the Senior Notes as a result of a Change of Control.

              The Change of Control Offer will remain open for a period of 20
Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent
that a longer period is required by applicable law (the "Change of Control Offer
Period"). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer
Period (the "Change of Control Purchase Date"), the Company shall purchase all
Senior Notes validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Change
of Control Offer. Payment for any Senior Notes so purchased shall be made in the
same manner as interest payments are made on the Senior Notes.

              If the Change of Control Purchase Date is on or after an interest
record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, shall be paid to the Person in
whose name a Senior Note is registered at the close of business on such record
date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Senior
Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.

              Upon the commencement of a Change of Control Offer, the Company
shall send, by first class mail, a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy of
each such notice to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and
materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Senior Notes pursuant to
the Change of Control Offer. The Change of Control Offer shall be made to all
Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Change of Control
Offer, shall state:

              (a) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to
         this
<PAGE>   44
                                                                              44


         covenant and the length of time the Change of Control Offer shall
         remain open;

              (b) the purchase price and the Change of Control Purchase Date;

              (c) that any Senior Note which is not validly tendered or are
         otherwise not accepted for payment shall continue to accrete or accrue
         interest;

              (d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any
         Senior Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control
         Offer shall cease to accrete or accrue interest after the Change of
         Control Purchase Date;

              (e) that Holders electing to have a Senior Note purchased pursuant
         to any Change of Control Offer shall be required to surrender the
         Senior Note, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect
         Purchase" on the reverse of the Senior Note completed, or transfer by
         book-entry transfer, to the Company, a depositary, if appointed by the
         Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at
         least three days before the Change of Control Purchase Date; and

              (f) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if
         the Company, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be,
         receives, not later than the expiration of the Change of Control Offer
         Period, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the
         name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Senior Note the Holder
         delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
         his election to have such Senior Note purchased.

              On the Change of Control Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the
extent lawful, (1) accept for payment all Senior Notes or portions thereof
validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Change of Control
Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of
Control Payment in respect of all Senior Notes or portions thereof so validly
tendered and not properly withdrawn and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to
the Trustee the Senior Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate
stating the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes or portions thereof being
purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of
Senior Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn the Change of
Control Payment for such Senior Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly
authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder
a new Senior Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the
Senior Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Senior Note shall
be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company
will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on the Change
of Control Purchase Date.

SECTION 4.10 ASSET SALES AND EXCLUDED ASSET

              The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, engage in an Asset Sale unless (i) the Company (or the
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of
such Asset Sale at least equal to the
<PAGE>   45
                                                                              45


fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests sold or otherwise disposed
of and, in the case of a lease of assets, a lease providing for rent and other
conditions which are no less favorable to the Company (or the Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be) in any material respect than the then prevailing
market conditions (evidenced in each case by a resolution of the Board of
Directors of such entity set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the
Trustee upon which the Trustee may conclusively rely) and (ii) at least 75%
(100% in the case of lease payments) of the consideration therefor received by
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash
Equivalents; provided that the amount of any liabilities (as shown on the most
recent balance sheet of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary) of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and
liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Senior Notes) that are
assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation
agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further
liability shall be deemed to be cash for the purposes of clause (ii).

         The Company will cause its Restricted Subsidiaries to transfer to the
Company all consideration received by the Restricted Subsidiaries from Asset
Sales and Excluded Asset Sales as promptly as practicable, except in the case of
Asset Sales to the extent the proceeds thereof are applied as set forth in
clause (a)(iii) or (b) of the immediately following paragraph.

              Within 364 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an
Asset Sale, the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable) may (a)
apply such Net Proceeds (i) to make an investment in, to make a capital
expenditure relating to, or to acquire other tangible assets in, the commercial
group health benefit business in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, (ii) to
the reduction of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Agreement or the permanent
reduction of any other Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Company or the permanent
reduction of any long-term Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary, or (iii) to
make capital contributions to regulated Restricted Subsidiaries covering
commercial lives operating in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut which
contributions are required by law or requested in writing to be made by the
appropriate state regulatory authorities or (b) with respect to Net Proceeds
received from an Asset Sale by a regulated Restricted Subsidiary which are not
permitted by appropriate state regulatory authorities to be distributed or
otherwise transferred, retain such Net Proceeds as capital of such regulated
Restricted Subsidiary. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or
invested or committed to be applied or invested, as provided in the preceding
sentence of this paragraph will be deemed to constitute "Excess Proceeds". On
the earlier of (i) the 365th day after an Asset Sale or (ii) such date as the
Board of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary determines not to apply the
Net Proceeds relating to such Asset Sale in the manner set forth above, if the
aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20 million, the Company will be
required to make an offer to all Holders of Senior Notes (an "Asset Sale Offer")
to purchase the maximum principal amount of Senior Notes that may be purchased
out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100%
of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated
Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase, in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the
<PAGE>   46
                                                                              46


Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Senior Notes tendered
pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company
may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes. If the
aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes surrendered by Holders thereof
exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Senior Notes
to be purchased on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the
Trustee deems fair and appropriate. Upon completion of such Asset Sale Offer,
the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

              The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of 20 Business
Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a
longer period is required by applicable law (the "Asset Sale Offer Period"). No
later than five Business Days after the termination of the Asset Sale Offer
Period (the "Asset Sale Purchase Date"), the Company will purchase the principal
amount of Senior Notes required to be purchased pursuant to this covenant (the
"Asset Sale Offer Amount") or, if less than the Asset Sale Offer Amount has been
validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, all Senior Notes validly tendered
and not properly withdrawn in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any
Senior Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments
are made on the Senior Notes.

              If the Asset Sale Purchase Date is on or after an interest record
date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose
name a Senior Note is registered at the close of business on such record date,
and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Senior Notes
pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

              Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall
send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with
a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials
necessary to enable such Holders to tender Senior Notes pursuant to the Asset
Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which
shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

              (a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this
         covenant and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open;

              (b) the Asset Sale Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Asset
         Sale Purchase Date;

              (c) that any Senior Note which are not validly tendered or are not
         otherwise accepted for payment shall continue to accrete or accrue
         interest;

              (d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any
         Senior Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall
         cease to accrete or accrue interest after the Asset Sale Purchase Date;

              (e) that Holders electing to have a Senior Note purchased pursuant
         to any
<PAGE>   47
                                                                              47


         Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Senior Note, with
         the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse
         of the Senior Note completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to
         the Company, a depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying
         Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before
         the Asset Sale Purchase Date;

              (f) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if
         the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be,
         receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a
         telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of
         the Holder, the principal amount of the Senior Note the Holder
         delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
         his election to have such Senior Note purchased;

              (g) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes
         surrendered by Holders exceeds the Asset Sale Offer Amount, the Company
         shall select the Senior Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with
         such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that
         only Senior Notes in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples
         thereof, shall be purchased); and

              (h) that Holders whose Senior Notes were purchased only in part
         shall be issued new Senior Notes equal in principal amount to the
         unpurchased portion of the Senior Notes surrendered (or transferred by
         book-entry transfer).

              On or before the Asset Sale Purchase Date, the Company shall, to
the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent
necessary, the Asset Sale Offer Amount of Senior Notes or portions thereof
validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or
if less than the Asset Sale Offer Amount has been validly tendered and not
properly withdrawn, all Senior Notes validly tendered and not properly
withdrawn, and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating
that such Senior Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the
Company in accordance with the terms of this covenant. The Company, the
Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any
case not later than five days after the Asset Sale Purchase Date) mail or
deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the
Senior Notes validly tendered and not properly withdrawn by such Holder and
accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall promptly issue a new
Senior Note, and the Trustee, upon delivery of an Officers' Certificate from the
Company, shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Senior Note to such
Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Senior
Note surrendered. Any Senior Note not so accepted will be promptly mailed or
delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly
announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Asset Sale Purchase Date.
The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange
Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such
laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Senior
Notes pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer.

              The Company agrees that (i) a sale of the stock or assets of FPA
Medical
<PAGE>   48
                                                                              48


Management, Inc. shall be for cash only, (ii) at least 50% of the consideration
received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of stock or
assets of Oxford Specialty and Oxford Health Plans (NH), Inc. shall be cash or
Marketable Securities, (iii) there shall be no restrictions on the consideration
received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of the
stock or assets of or Indebtedness issued by a Minority Investment or the New
York, New Jersey, Florida or Pennsylvania Medicaid business, Oxford Health Plans
(IL), Inc. or Oxford Health Plans (FL), Inc. and (iv) the consideration received
by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from all other Excluded Asset
Sales shall be cash. The Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will sell all
such Marketable Securities for cash no later than the earlier of 60 days from
receipt and the termination or expiration of any governmental limitation of such
sale.

SECTION 4.11 RESTRICTED PAYMENTS

              The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or make
any payment or distribution on account of the Company's or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries' Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in
connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) (other than
dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Company or dividends or distributions payable to the Company or
any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company or dividends payable in preferred
stock in accordance with the TPG Investment Agreement as in effect on the
closing date); or make any payment (other than in Equity Interests (other than
Disqualified Stock)) in connection with any settlement or resolution of any
Non-Insurance Litigation involving the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (excluding Qualified Insurance Payments); (ii) purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than any such Equity Interests owned
by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); (iii) prepay,
purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value prior to its
stated maturity any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Senior Notes; or
(iv) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set
forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as
"Restricted Payments"), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such
Restricted Payment:

              (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
         continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; and

              (b) (i) at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving
         pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at
         the beginning of the applicable four quarter period, the Fixed Charge
         Coverage Ratio for the Company's most recently ended four full fiscal
         quarters for which internal financial statements are available
         immediately preceding the date on which such Restricted Payment is made
         would have been at least 2.25 to 1; and (ii) such Restricted Payment
         when taken together with all other Restricted Payments relating to such
         period shall not exceed 50% of Consolidated Net Income of the Company
         for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal
<PAGE>   49
                                                                              49


         financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on
         which such Restricted Payment is made.

              The foregoing provisions will not prohibit (i) the payment of any
dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at said date
of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this
Indenture; (ii) the making of any Restricted Payment (other than the payment of
a dividend) in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially
concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, or from
substantially concurrent additional capital contributions in respect of, Equity
Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); (iii) the redemption,
repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests of the
Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent
sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, or from substantially
concurrent additional capital contributions in respect of, other Equity
Interests of the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock); (iv) the
defeasance, redemption or repurchase of subordinated Indebtedness with the net
cash proceeds from (X) an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or
(Y) the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the
Company) of, or from substantially concurrent additional capital contributions
in respect of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock);
(v) an exchange of Disqualified Stock for Disqualified Stock that constitutes
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; and (vi) any dividend or other distribution
made by any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company to another Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of the Company or to the Company; provided, however, that in the case
of any transaction described in clauses (ii) through (vi) no Default or Event of
Default will have occurred and be continuing immediately after such transaction.

              The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary if such designation would not cause a Default or Event
of Default. For purposes of making such determination, all outstanding
Investments after the Issue Date by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
(except to the extent repaid in cash) in the Subsidiary so designated will be
deemed to be Restricted Payments at the time of such designation and will reduce
the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of this
covenant. Such designation will only be permitted if such Restricted Payment
would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the
definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

              The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be
the fair market value (evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set
forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee upon which the
Trustee may conclusively rely) on the date of the Restricted Payment of the
asset(s) proposed to be transferred by the Company or the applicable Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. Not later
than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company will deliver to the
Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is
permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by
this covenant were computed, which calculations may be based upon the Company's
latest available financial statements.
<PAGE>   50
                                                                              50


SECTION 4.12 INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK

              The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee
or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise,
with respect to (collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including Acquired
Indebtedness) and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not
permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred
stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including
Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock if: (i) the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company's most recently ended four full fiscal
quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately
preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such
Disqualified Stock is issued would have been at least 2 to 1, determined on a
pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds
therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the
Disqualified Stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such
four-quarter period; and (ii) no Default or Event of Default will have occurred
and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

              The foregoing provisions will not apply to:

              (i)    the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness under the
         Term Loan Agreement (and any guarantees by the Company's Subsidiaries
         with respect thereto) provided that the aggregate principal amount of
         all Indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan Agreement does not, at
         any time, exceed $150 million;

              (ii)   the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness represented
         by the Senior Notes;

              (iii)  all Existing Indebtedness;

              (iv)   the incurrence by the Company or its Restricted
         Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations,
         Purchase Money Obligations or similar financing transactions relating
         to its properties, assets and rights acquired after the Issue Date,
         provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness under
         this clause does not exceed 100% of the cost of such properties, assets
         and rights;

              (v)    the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
         of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net
         proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace,
         defease or refund, Indebtedness of such entity that was permitted by
         the Indenture to be incurred;

              (vi)   the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted
         Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company
         and any Wholly Owned Subsidiaries or between or among any Wholly Owned
         Subsidiaries;
<PAGE>   51
                                                                              51


         provided, however, that (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of
         Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a
         Person other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and (ii) any sale or other
         transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the
         Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary will be deemed, in each case, to
         constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such
         Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;

              (vii)  the incurrence, assumption or creation of Hedging
         Obligations of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to
         interest rate protection obligations, but only to the extent that the
         stated aggregate notional amounts of such obligations do not exceed
         100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness covered by
         such interest rate protection obligations;

              (viii) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted
         Subsidiaries of Indebtedness constituting reimbursement obligations
         with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of
         business, including, without limitation, letters of credit in respect
         of workers' compensation claims or self-insurance, or other
         Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding
         workers' compensation claims;

              (ix)   the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted
         Subsidiaries of obligations in respect of performance and surety bonds
         and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted
         Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

              (x)    the incurrence or assumption by the Company or any
         Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from agreements of the
         Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification,
         adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case,
         incurred or assumed by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in
         connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a
         Subsidiary, other than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any
         Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a
         Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition or otherwise;
         provided that the maximum assumable liability in respect of all such
         Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually
         received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection
         with such disposition; and

              (xi)   the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted
         Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount of up to
         $50 million which shall be in addition to amounts which may be incurred
         pursuant to clauses (i) through (x) above.

              Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, a guarantee
of Indebtedness permitted by the terms of the Indenture at the time such
Indebtedness was incurred will not constitute a separate incurrence of
Indebtedness.

              In the event that Indebtedness falls within more than one category
of
<PAGE>   52
                                                                              52


permitted Indebtedness under the Indenture, the Company will determine the
applicable category and such Indebtedness will only be counted once. If
Indebtedness is issued at less than the principal amount thereof, the amount of
such Indebtedness for purposes of the above limitations shall equal the amount
of the liability as determined in accordance with GAAP. Accrual of interest, the
accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of
additional Indebtedness will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness
for purposes of this covenant.

SECTION 4.13 SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS

              The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided,
however, that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into a
sale and leaseback transaction if (i) the Company could have (a) incurred
Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such sale
and leaseback transaction pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set
forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.12 hereof and (b) incurred a Lien to
secure such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.14 hereof, (ii) the net cash
proceeds of such sale and leaseback transaction are at least equal to the fair
market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors and set
forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee upon which the
Trustee can conclusively rely) of the property that is the subject of such sale
and leaseback transaction and (iii) the transfer of assets in such sale and
leaseback transaction is permitted by, and the proceeds of such transaction are
applied in compliance with, Section 4.10 hereof.

SECTION 4.14 LIENS

              The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or
become effective any Lien securing Indebtedness of any kind (other than
Permitted Liens) upon any of its property or assets, now owned or hereafter
acquired, or upon any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right
to receive income therefrom, unless contemporaneously therewith effective
provision is made to secure the Indebtedness under this Indenture and the Senior
Notes on an equal and ratable basis with (or prior to in the case of Liens with
respect to obligations subordinated to the Senior Notes) the Indebtedness so
secured for so long as such Indebtedness is secured by such Lien.

SECTION 4.15 DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING RESTRICTED
             SUBSIDIARIES

              The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to
exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Subsidiary to (i) (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions
to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or
(2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its
profits, or (b) pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) transfer any of its properties or
<PAGE>   53
                                                                              53


assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except for such
encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (a) Existing
Indebtedness as in effect on the date of the Indenture, (b) the Term Loan
Agreement as in effect as of the date of the Indenture, and any amendments,
modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings,
replacements or refinancings thereof, provided that such amendments,
modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings,
replacements or refinancings are no more restrictive with respect to such
dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the Term Loan
Agreement as in effect on the date of the Indenture, (c) the Indenture and the
Senior Notes, (d) any instrument governing Acquired Indebtedness or Capital
Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Acquired
Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such
acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person,
or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the
property or assets of the Person, so acquired, (e) Purchase Money Obligations
for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose
restrictions of the nature described in clause (iii) above on the property so
acquired, (f) customary non-assignment provisions in licenses, leases and
agreements relating to intellectual property entered into in the ordinary course
of business and consistent with past practices, (g) agreements relating to the
financing of the acquisition of real or tangible personal property acquired
after the date of the Indenture, provided that such encumbrance or restriction
relates only to the property which is acquired and in the case of any
encumbrance or restriction that constitutes a Lien, such Lien constitutes a
Purchase Money Lien, (h) any law or any governmental regulation or order or
pursuant to any agreement or understanding with any regulatory body or agency;
provided that, if such order would prevent the Company from making a payment
under the Indenture, the Company has used its reasonable efforts to have any
such order diminished or removed by any regulator authorized to do so and to
obtain any exemptive orders from the relevant regulator with respect to such
encumbrance or restriction to the extent such exemptive orders are reasonably
practicable under applicable laws and regulations, or (i) contracts for the sale
of assets, including, without limitation, customary restrictions with respect to
a Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or
disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such
Subsidiary.

SECTION 4.16 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

              The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its
properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into
or make any contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with,
or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an "Affiliate
Transaction"), unless (i) such Affiliate Transaction is in the ordinary course
of business, (ii) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction are fair and
reasonable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, and
are at least as favorable as the terms which could be obtained by the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in a comparable transaction made
on an arm's-length basis between unaffiliated parties and (iii) the Company
delivers to the
<PAGE>   54
                                                                              54


Trustee (a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction entered into after the
date of the Indenture involving aggregate consideration in excess of $1 million,
a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate
certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above and
that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors and (b) with respect to any
Affiliate Transaction involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5 million,
an opinion as to the fairness to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of
such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an
investment banking firm or appraisal firm of national standing; provided that
the following will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions; (u) the
transactions contemplated by the TPG Investment Agreement and the TPG Securities
or any exchange of Disqualified Stock under paragraph (v) of Section 4.12 hereof
or amendment to the Certificates of Designations in lieu of any such exchange;
(v) reasonable fees and compensation paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf
of, officers and directors of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as
determined in good faith by the appropriate Board of Directors or senior
management; (w) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, joint venture
partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the
ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, pursuant to joint
venture agreements) and otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Indenture
and which comply with the terms of clause (ii) above; (x) transactions
constituting Permitted Investments; (y) any employment agreement entered into by
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with the past practice of the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary (including, without limitation, any such employment agreements
entered into prior to the date of the Indenture) and (z) transactions between or
among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

SECTION 4.17 LINE OF BUSINESS

              The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than (i) the Healthcare Service
Business and such business activities incidental or related thereto and (ii)
acting as a holding company for companies engaged in the businesses specified in
(i) above.

SECTION 4.18 LIMITATION AS TO UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES

              The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to create,
assume, incur, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of any
Indebtedness except Non-Recourse Debt; provided, however, if any such
Indebtedness ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt, such event shall be deemed to
constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary subject to Section 4.12 hereof. The Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries will not designate, create or purchase any Unrestricted Subsidiary,
unless the Board of Directors of the Company shall have made a determination (as
set forth in the resolution approving such designation, creation or purchase)
that the designation, creation and operation of the Unrestricted Subsidiary is
not reasonably expected to materially and adversely affect the financial
condition, business, or operations of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries taken together as a whole (which resolution shall be conclusive
evidence of compliance with this
<PAGE>   55
                                                                              55


provision).

SECTION 4.19 LIMITATION ON SALE OF STOCK OR ASSETS OF PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES

              Except for a transaction subject to the provisions of Section 5.1
hereof, or a transaction described under the definition of "Excluded Asset
Sales" in Section 1.1 hereof, the Company will not, and will not permit any
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, convey or otherwise
dispose of (other than to the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company) any Capital Stock of a Principal Subsidiary or any securities
convertible into or warrants, rights or options to subscribe for Capital Stock
of any Principal Subsidiary, and the Company will not permit any Principal
Subsidiary to issue, sell, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of (other than
to the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) any of
its Capital Stock or securities convertible into or rights, warrants or options
to subscribe for its Capital Stock or sell, transfer, convey or otherwise
dispose of any of its group contracts or subscriber contracts relating to
commercial group health benefit plans.

SECTION 4.20 PAYMENTS FOR CONSENTS

              Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will, directly or
indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of
interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder of any Senior Notes for or as an
inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions
of the Indenture or the Senior Notes unless such consideration is offered to be
paid or is paid to all Holders of the Senior Notes that consent, waive or agree
to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to
such consent, waiver or agreement.

SECTION 4.21 LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF GUARANTEES

              The Company will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, to guarantee or secure any Pari Passu Indebtedness (other than the
Term Loan Agreement) or any Subordinated Indebtedness unless such Restricted
Subsidiary simultaneously executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to the
Trustee providing for the guarantee of the payment of the Senior Notes by such
Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of any Subordinated
Indebtedness, the guarantee of the Senior Notes is senior to any guarantee of
such Subordinated Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such
guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Senior Notes shall provide by its
terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged
upon either (i) the release or discharge of such guarantee of payment of Pari
Passu Indebtedness or any Subordinated Indebtedness, as applicable, or (ii) any
sale, exchange or transfer, to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company, of
all of the Company's stock in, or all or substantially all the assets of, such
Restricted Subsidiary, which sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance
with the applicable provisions of the Indenture, including, without limitation,
the provisions of Section 5.1 hereof.
<PAGE>   56
                                                                              56


SECTION 4.22 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

              (a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after
the end of each fiscal year, an Officers' Certificate stating that a review of
the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal
year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to
determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its
obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer
signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company
has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in
this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of
the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of
Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is
taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or
her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which
payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Senior Notes
is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what
action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

              (b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial
statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.6(a) hereof shall be accompanied by a
written statement of the independent public accountants of the Company (who
shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the
examination necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing
has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has
violated any provisions of Article Four or Article Five hereof (except that,
such written statement need not address the Company's compliance with the
provisions of Sections 4.02 or 4.14 hereof) or, if any such violation has
occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being
understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to
any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.

              (c) the Company shall, so long as any of the Senior Notes are
outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware
of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers' Certificate specifying such
Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to
take with respect thereto.


                                    ARTICLE 5
                                   SUCCESSORS

SECTION 5.1 MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF ASSETS

              The Company will not, in a single transaction or series of related
transactions, consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is
the surviving corporation), or directly and/or indirectly through its Restricted
Subsidiaries sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all
or substantially all of its
<PAGE>   57
                                                                              57


properties or assets determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole in one or more related transactions, to
another corporation, Person or entity unless (i) the Company is the surviving
corporation or the entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been
made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of one of the states
of the United States or the District of Columbia; (ii) the entity or Person
formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the
Company) or the entity or Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the
obligations of the Company under the Senior Notes and the Indenture pursuant to
a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; (iii)
immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default shall occur
and be continuing or result as a consequence thereof; (iv) except in the case of
a merger of the Company with or into a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company, the Company or the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been
made (A) shall have Consolidated Net Worth immediately after the transaction
equal to or greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately
preceding the transaction and (B) shall, at the time of such transaction and
after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such transaction had occurred at the
beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least
$1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.12 hereof; (v) if any of the
property or assets of the Company would thereupon become subject to any Lien,
the outstanding Senior Notes shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior
to) the obligation or liability secured by such Lien, unless the Company could
create such Lien without equally and ratably securing the Senior Notes; and (vi)
the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel addressed to the Trustee with respect to the foregoing matters.

SECTION 5.2 SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED

              Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment,
transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1 hereof, the successor
corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is
merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other
disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and
after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other
disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to "the Company" shall
refer instead to the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may
exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same
effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein;
provided, however, that the predecessor of the Company shall not be relieved
from the obligation to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Senior Notes except in the case of a sale of
all of the Company's assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.1 hereof.
<PAGE>   58
                                                                              58


                                    ARTICLE 6
                              DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT

              An "Event of Default" occurs if:

              (A) the Company defaults in the payment of interest on, or
         Liquidated Damages with respect to, any Senior Note when the same
         becomes due and payable and the Default continues for a period of 30
         days;

              (B) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of or
         premium, if any, on any Senior Note when the same becomes due and
         payable at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise;

              (C) the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant,
         condition or agreement on the part of the Company to be observed or
         performed pursuant to Sections 4.9, 4.10, 4.11 or 5.1 hereof;

              (D) the Company fails to comply with any of its other agreements
         or covenants in, or provisions of, the Senior Notes or this Indenture
         and the Default continues for a period of 30 days after the notice
         thereof to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee
         by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding
         Senior Notes;

              (E) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument
         under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or
         evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of
         its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by
         the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), other than
         Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, whether
         such Indebtedness or guarantee exists on the date of this Indenture or
         shall be created thereafter, which default (a) is caused by a failure
         to pay when due (after giving effect to any grace period related
         thereto) any principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such
         Indebtedness (a "Payment Default") or (b) results in the acceleration
         of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case,
         the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the
         principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has
         been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so
         accelerated, aggregates $10 million or more;

              (F) a final judgment or final judgments for the payment of money
         are entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the
         Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such judgment or
         judgments remain undischarged or unpaid or stayed for a period (during
         which execution shall not be effectively stayed) of 60 days, provided
         that the aggregate of all such
<PAGE>   59
                                                                              59


         undischarged and unpaid judgments exceeds $10.0 million (net of any
         amounts with respect to which a reputable and creditworthy insurance
         company has acknowledged liability in writing);

              (G)  the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or group
         of Restricted Subsidiaries that, together taken (as of the latest
         audited consolidated financial statement for the Company and its
         Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary (a "Group of
         Subsidiaries"), pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy
         Law:

                   (a)  commences a voluntary case,

                   (b)  consents to the entry of an order for relief against it
              in an involuntary case,

                   (c)  consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for
              all or substantially all of its property,

                   (d)  makes a general assignment for the benefit of its
              creditors, or

                   (e)  generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

              (H)  a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree
         under any Bankruptcy Law that:

                   (a)  is for relief against the Company or any Significant
              Subsidiary or Group of Subsidiaries in an involuntary case, or

                   (b)  appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant
              Subsidiary or Group of Subsidiaries or for all or substantially
              all of the property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary
              or Group of Subsidiaries, or

                   (c)  orders the liquidation of the Company or any Significant
              Subsidiary or Group of Subsidiaries,

                   (d)  and in each case the order or decree remains unstayed
              and in effect for 30 consecutive days.

              The term "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar
federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term "Custodian" means any
receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy
Law.

              An Event of Default shall not be deemed to have occurred under
clause (C), (E) or (F) until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have
received written notice from the Company or any of the Holders or unless a
Responsible Officer shall have obtained actual knowledge of such Event of
Default. The notice referred to in
<PAGE>   60
                                                                              60


clause (D) must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that
the notice is a "Notice of Default."

SECTION 6.2 ACCELERATION

              If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified
in clauses (G) or (H) of Section 6.1 relating to the Company, any Significant
Subsidiary or any Group of Subsidiaries) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee
by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of
the then outstanding Senior Notes by written notice to the Company and the
Trustee may declare the unpaid principal of and any accrued interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, on all the Senior Notes to be due and payable. Upon
such declaration the principal and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any,
shall be due and payable immediately (together with the premium referred to in
Section 6.1, if applicable). If an Event of Default specified in clause (G) or
(H) of Section 6.1 relating to the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any
Group of Subsidiaries occurs, such an amount shall ipso facto become and be
immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of
the Trustee or any Holder. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
then outstanding Senior Notes by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an
acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any
judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of
principal or interest or Liquidated Damages that has become due solely because
of the acceleration) have been cured or waived. The Trustee may withhold from
Holders of the Senior Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default
(except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or
interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

              In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Senior Notes
because an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as a result of the
acceleration of any Indebtedness specified in clause (E) of Section 6.1 hereof,
the declaration of acceleration of the Senior Notes shall be automatically
annulled if the holders of any Indebtedness specified in clause (E) of Section
6.1 hereof have rescinded the declaration of acceleration in respect of such
Indebtedness within 30 days of the date of such declaration and if (a) the
annulment of the acceleration of Senior Notes would not conflict with any
judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (b) all existing
Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal or interest on the Senior
Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Senior Notes,
have been cured or waived.

SECTION 6.3 OTHER REMEDIES

              If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may
pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if
any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Senior Notes or to
enforce the performance of any provision of the Senior Notes or this Indenture.

              The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess
any of the Senior Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A
delay or
<PAGE>   61
                                                                              61


omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Senior Note in exercising any right
or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy
or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies
are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

SECTION 6.4 WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS

              Subject to Section 6.7 and Section 9.2, Holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes by
notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Senior Notes
waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder,
except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal
of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on, the Senior Notes
(including in connection with an offer to purchase). Upon any such waiver, such
Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall
be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right
consequent thereon.

SECTION 6.5 CONTROL BY MAJORITY

              Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Senior Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or
power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction
that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines may be
unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Senior Notes or that may
involve the Trustee in personal liability.

SECTION 6.6 LIMITATION ON SUITS

              A Holder of a Senior Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this
Indenture or the Senior Notes only if:

              (a) the Holder of a Senior Note gives to the Trustee written
         notice of a continuing Event of Default;

              (b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
         outstanding Senior Notes make a written request to the Trustee to
         pursue the remedy;

              (c) such Holder of a Senior Note or Holders of Senior Notes offer
         and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the
         Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

              (d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days
         after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the
         provision of indemnity; and
<PAGE>   62
                                                                              62


              (e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in
         principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes do not give the
         Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

A Holder of a Senior Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of
another Holder of a Senior Note or to obtain a preference or priority over
another Holder of a Senior Note.

SECTION 6.7 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR NOTES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT

              Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right
of any Holder of a Senior Note to receive payment of principal, premium and
Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Senior Note, on or after the
respective due dates expressed in the Senior Note (including in connection with
an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment
on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the
consent of such Holder.

SECTION 6.8 COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE

              If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(A) or (B) occurs
and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name
and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of
principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest remaining
unpaid on the Senior Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent
lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the
costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and
any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.7.

SECTION 6.9 TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM

              The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other
papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims
of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the
Holders of the Senior Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the
Company (or any other obligor upon the Senior Notes), its creditors or its
property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute
any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any
custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to
make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall
consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the
Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other
amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7 hereof. To the extent that the payment
of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7
hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason,
payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any
and all distributions,
<PAGE>   63
                                                                              63


dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be
entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan
of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be
deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on
behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Senior Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to
authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such
proceeding.

SECTION 6.10 PRIORITIES

              If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it
shall pay out the money in the following order:

              First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due
under Section 7.7 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and
liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and
expenses of collection;

              Second: to Holders of Senior Notes for amounts due and unpaid on
the Senior Notes for principal and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest,
ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts
due and payable on the Senior Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated
Damages, if any and interest, respectively; and

              Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent
jurisdiction shall direct.

              The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment
to Holders of Senior Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.

SECTION 6.11 UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS

              In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by
it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party
litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the
court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to
the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant.
This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a
Senior Note pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than
10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes.


                                    ARTICLE 7
                                     TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.1 DUTIES OF TRUSTEE
<PAGE>   64
                                                                              64


              (a)  If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a
prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his
own affairs.

              (b)  Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

                        (i)   the duties of the Trustee shall be determined
              solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee
              need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in
              this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or
              obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;
              and

                        (ii)  in the absence of bad faith on its part, the
              Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements
              and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon
              certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming
              to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall
              examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not
              they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

              (c)  The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own
negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful
misconduct, except that:

                        (i)   this paragraph does not limit the effect of
              paragraph (b) of this Section;

                        (ii)  the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
              judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is
              proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the
              pertinent facts; and

                        (iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to
              any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance
              with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.5 hereof.

              (d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision
of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to
paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this Section.

              (e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to
expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under
no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at
the request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee
security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.

              (f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money
received by it
<PAGE>   65
                                                                              65


except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust
by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent
required by law.

SECTION 7.2 RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE

              (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed
by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person.
The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

              (b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may
require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee
shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in
reliance on such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may
consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of
Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in reliance thereon.

              (c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall
not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any attorney or agent
appointed with due care.

              (d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or
omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the
rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

              (e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture and
subject to Section 7.2(b), any demand, request, direction or notice from the
Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.

              (f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of
the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction
of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

              (g) Except with respect to Section 4.1 hereof, the Trustee shall
have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company's covenants in
Article 4 hereof. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge
of any Default or Event of Default except (i) any Event of Default occurring
pursuant to Sections 6.1(A) (other than with respect to Liquidated Damages ) or
6.1(B), or (ii) any Default or Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer
of the Trustee shall have received written notification or obtained actual
knowledge.

              (h) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into
the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but
the Trustee may, in its discretion, make
<PAGE>   66
                                                                              66


such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see
fit and if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or
investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises
of the Company personally or by agent or attorney.

SECTION 7.3 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE

              The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the
owner or pledgee of Senior Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not
Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting
interest (as defined in the Trust Indenture Act) it must eliminate such conflict
within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue as Trustee or
resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is
also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

SECTION 7.4 TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER

              The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no
representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Senior
Notes or the Offering Memorandum, it shall not be accountable for the Company's
use of the proceeds from the Senior Notes or any money paid to the Company or
upon the Company's direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not
be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying
Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement
or recital herein or any statement in the Senior Notes or any other document in
connection with the sale of the Senior Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other
than its certificate of authentication.

SECTION 7.5 NOTICE OF DEFAULTS

              If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if
it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Senior Notes a
notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except
in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any Senior Note, the Trustee may withhold the
notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith
determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the
Senior Notes.

SECTION 7.6 REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE SENIOR NOTES

              Upon qualification of this Indenture and as required by the Trust
Indenture Act, within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15
following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Senior Notes remain
outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Senior Notes a brief
report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA Section 313(a)
(but if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve
months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee
also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by
mail all reports as required by TIA Section 313(c).
<PAGE>   67
                                                                              67


              A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of
Senior Notes shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the Commission and
each stock exchange on which the Senior Notes are listed in accordance with TIA
Section 313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Senior
Notes are listed on any stock exchange.

SECTION 7.7 COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY

              The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable
compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The
Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly
upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or
made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall
include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's
agents and counsel.

              The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all
losses, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred
by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of
its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing
this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 7.7) and defending
itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any
other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any
of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability
or expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall
notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.
Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of
its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee
shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the
Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company
need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld.

              The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.7 shall
survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture and any other termination including a termination
under any bankruptcy laws.

              To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the
Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Senior Notes on all money or property
held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and
interest on particular Senior Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture.

              When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an
Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(G) or 6.1(H) hereof occurs, the
expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses
of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration
under any Bankruptcy Law.
<PAGE>   68
                                                                              68


              The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section
313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

SECTION 7.8 REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE

              A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's
acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

              The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged
from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of Senior
Notes of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes may
remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The
Company may remove the Trustee if:

              (a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

              (b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order
         for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy
         Law;

              (c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or
         its property; or

              (d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

              If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee. within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes may
appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the
Company.

              If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after
the retiring Trustee notifies the Company of its resignation is removed, the
retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of Senior Notes of at least 10% in
principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

              If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Senior
Note who has been a Holder of a Senior Note for at least six months, fails to
comply with Section 7.10, such Holder of a Senior Note may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a
successor Trustee.

              A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, together with
the payment of all amounts due and owing to the retiring Trustee under Section
7.7 hereof, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become
effective, and the successor Trustee
<PAGE>   69
                                                                              69


shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this
Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to
Holders of the Senior Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all
property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing
to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in
Section 7.7 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this
Section 7.8, the Company's obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue
for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

SECTION 7.9 SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.

              If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers
all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another
corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the
successor Trustee.

SECTION 7.10 ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION

              There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of
America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by
federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of
condition.

              This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the
requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to
TIA Section 310(b).

SECTION 7.11 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY

              The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any
creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned
or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated
therein.


                                    ARTICLE 8
                    LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.1 OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE

              The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced
by a resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time, elect to
have either Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof be applied to all outstanding Senior Notes
upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Eight.

SECTION 8.2 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE
<PAGE>   70
                                                                              70


              Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.2, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be deemed to have been
discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Senior Notes on
the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal
Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be
deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the
outstanding Senior Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be "outstanding"
only for the purposes of Section 8.5 hereof and the other Sections of this
Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other
obligations under such Senior Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on
demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive
until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of
outstanding Senior Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in
Section 8.4 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in
respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated
Damages, if any, on such Senior Notes when such payments are due, (b) the
Company's obligations with respect to such Senior Notes under Article 2 and
Section 4.2 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the
Trustee hereunder and the Company's obligations in connection therewith and (d)
this Article Eight. Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the Company
may exercise its option under this Section 8.2 notwithstanding the prior
exercise of its option under Section 8.3 hereof.

SECTION 8.3 COVENANT DEFEASANCE

              Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.3, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be released from its
obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12,
4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19, 4.20, 4.21 and Section 5.1(iv), (v),
(vi) hereof with respect to the outstanding Senior Notes on and after the date
the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant
Defeasance"), and the Senior Notes shall thereafter be deemed not "outstanding"
for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of
Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants,
but shall continue to be deemed "outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder
(it being understood that such Senior Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for
accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with
respect to the outstanding Senior Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and
shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set
forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any
reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in
any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and
such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default
under Section 6.1 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this
Indenture and such Senior Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon
the Company's exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this
Section 8.3 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section
<PAGE>   71
                                                                              71


8.4 hereof, Sections 6.1(E) and 6.1(F) hereof shall not constitute Events of
Default.

SECTION 8.4 CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE

              The following shall be the conditions to the application of either
Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof to the outstanding Senior Notes:

              In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance:

              (a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in
         trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars,
         non-callable Government Obligations or a combination thereof, in such
         amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally
         recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal
         of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on
         the outstanding Senior Notes on the stated maturity date for payment
         thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and
         the Company must specify whether the Senior Notes are being defeased to
         maturity or to a particular redemption date;

              (b) in the case of an election under Section 8.2 hereof, the
         Company shall have delivered to the Trustee (1) an Opinion of Counsel
         in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming
         that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by,
         the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this
         Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal
         income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon
         such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the
         outstanding Senior Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for
         U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance
         and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in
         the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
         such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

              (c) in the case of an election under Section 8.3 hereof, the
         Company shall have delivered to the Trustee (1) an Opinion of Counsel
         in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming
         that the Holders of the outstanding Senior Notes will not recognize
         income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result
         of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income
         tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
         would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

              (d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
         continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event
         of Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness all or a
         portion of the proceeds of which will be used to defease the Senior
         Notes pursuant to this Article Eight concurrently with such incurrence)
         or insofar as Sections 6.1(G) or 6.1(H) hereof is concerned, at any
         time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;
<PAGE>   72
                                                                              72


              (e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result
         in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any
         material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which
         the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

              (f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of
         Counsel to the effect that on the 91st day following the deposit, the
         trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
         creditors' rights generally;

              (g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
         Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with
         the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the
         Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or
         defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

              (h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
         Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
         precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the
         Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

SECTION 8.5 DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS TO BE HELD IN TRUST;
            OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

              Subject to Section 8.6 hereof, all money and non-callable
Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the
Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section
8.5, the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof in respect of the outstanding
Senior Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance
with the provisions of such Senior Notes and this Indenture, to the payment,
either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as
Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Senior Notes
of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if
any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except
to the extent required by law.

              The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax,
fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable
Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof or the principal
and interest received in respect thereof.

              Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the
request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Obligations held by
it as provided in Section 8.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written
certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which
<PAGE>   73
                                                                              73


may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.4(a) hereof), are in excess of the
amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an
equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

SECTION 8.6 REPAYMENT TO THE COMPANY

              Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then
held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if
any, Liquidated Damages or interest on any Senior Note and remaining unclaimed
for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, Liquidated Damages, if
any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its
request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust;
and the Holder of such Senior Note shall thereafter, as a creditor, look only to
the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying
Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as
trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or
such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the
expense of the Company cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The
Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed
and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days
from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such
money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 8.7 REINSTATEMENT

              If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United
States dollars or non-callable Government Obligations in accordance with Section
8.2 or 8.3 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any
court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting
such application, then the Company's obligations under this Indenture and the
Senior Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred
pursuant to Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying
Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.2 or 8.3
hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any
payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Senior Note
following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated
to the rights of the Holders of such Senior Notes to receive such payment from
the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

SECTION 8.8 SURVIVAL OF CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS

              Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture
and of the Senior Notes referred to in Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4 hereof,
the respective obligations of the Company and the Trustee under Sections 2.3,
2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 2.11, 7.7 and 8.7 hereof shall survive until the Senior Notes are
not longer outstanding, and thereafter the obligations of the Company and the
Trustee under Section 7.7 and 8.7 shall survive. Nothing contained in this
Article Eight shall abrogate any of the rights, obligations or duties of the
Trustee under this Indenture.
<PAGE>   74
                                                                              74


                                    ARTICLE 9
                        AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

SECTION 9.1 WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR NOTES

              Notwithstanding Section 9.2 of this Indenture, the Company and the
Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Senior Notes without the
consent of any Holder of a Senior Note:

              (a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

              (b) to provide for uncertificated Senior Notes in addition to or
         in place of certificated Senior Notes;

              (c) to provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to
         the Holders of the Senior Notes in the case of a merger or
         consolidation pursuant to Article 5 hereof;

              (d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or
         benefits to the Holders of the Senior Notes or that does not adversely
         affect the legal rights hereunder of any such Holder of the Senior
         Notes; or

              (e) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to
         effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust
         Indenture Act or to provide for the succession of a Successor Trustee.

              Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its
Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section
7.2 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any
amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this
Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that
may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into
such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 9.2 WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR NOTES

              Except as provided below in this Section 9.2, the Company and the
Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including Sections 4.9 and 4.11
hereof) and the Senior Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of
the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Senior Notes then
outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or
exchange offer for the Senior Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.7
hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event
of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
the Senior Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that
has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this
<PAGE>   75
                                                                              75


Indenture or the Senior Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes (including
consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the
Senior Notes).

              Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its
Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the
Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Senior Notes as aforesaid, and upon
receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.2 hereof, the
Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such amended or
supplemental Indenture unless such amended or supplemental Indenture affects the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in
which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to,
enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.

              It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Senior
Notes under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed
amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the
substance thereof.

              After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section
becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Senior Notes
affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or
waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein,
shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended
or supplemental Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.7 hereof, the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes then
outstanding may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with
any provision of this Indenture or the Senior Notes. However, without the
consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not (with respect to
any Senior Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

              (a) reduce the principal amount of Senior Notes whose Holders must
         consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

              (b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any
         Senior Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of
         the Senior Notes, except as provided above with respect to Sections 4.9
         and 4.10 hereof;

              (c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest
         or Liquidated Damages, if any, on any Senior Note;

              (d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of
         principal of or premium, if any, or interest on or Liquidated Damages,
         if any, with respect to the Senior Notes (except a rescission of
         acceleration of the Senior Notes by the Holders of at least a majority
         in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes and
         a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

              (e) make any Senior Note payable in money other than that stated
         in the

<PAGE>   76

                                                                              76

         Senior Notes;

                  (f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture
         relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Senior
         Notes to receive payments of principal of, premium or Liquidated
         Damages, if any, or interest on the Senior Notes;

                  (g) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Senior
         Note; or

                  (h) make any change in Section 6.4 or 6.7 hereof or in the
         foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.

SECTION 9.3  COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT

                  Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Senior
Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental Indenture that complies
with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

SECTION 9.4  REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS

                  Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a
consent to it by a Holder of a Senior Note is a continuing consent by the Holder
of a Senior Note and every subsequent Holder of a Senior Note or portion of a
Senior Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Senior Note,
even if notation of the consent is not made on any Senior Note. However, any
such Holder of a Senior Note or subsequent Holder of a Senior Note may revoke
the consent as to its Senior Note if the Trustee receives written notice of
revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes
effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance
with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

SECTION 9.5  NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF SENIOR NOTES

                  The Company may place an appropriate notation about an
amendment, supplement or waiver on any Senior Note thereafter authenticated. The
Company in exchange for all Senior Notes may issue and the Trustee shall
authenticate new Senior Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

                  Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Senior
Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or
waiver.

SECTION 9.6  TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC.

                  The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental Indenture
authorized pursuant to this Article Nine if the amendment or supplement does not
adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.
The Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board
of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture,
the Trustee shall be entitled to
<PAGE>   77
                                                                              77


receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and to receive and (subject to
Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the
documents required by Section 10.4, an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture and constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Company subject to customary exceptions.

                                   ARTICLE 10
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 10.1  TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS

                  If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or
conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA Section 318(c), the imposed duties
shall control.

SECTION 10.2 NOTICES

                  Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to
the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by
first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telecopier
or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others' address:

If to the Company:
Oxford Health Plans, Inc.
800 Connecticut Avenue
Norwalk, Connecticut  06854
Attention:  General Counsel
Telephone No.:  (203) 852-1442
Telecopier No.: (203) 852-2465

If to the Trustee:
The Chase Manhattan Bank
450 West 33rd Street
15th Floor
New York, New York 10001-2697
Attention: Global Trust Services
Telephone No.:  (212) 946-3084
Telecopier No.: (212) 946-8161/8162

                  The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the others may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.

                  All notices and communications (other than those sent to
Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand,
if personally delivered; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next
Business Day after
<PAGE>   78
                                                                              78

timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing
next day delivery.

                  Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by
first class mail or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to
its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or
communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA Section
313(c), to the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act. Failure to mail a
notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its
sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

                  If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided
above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee
receives it.

                  If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it
shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

SECTION 10.3  COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF SENIOR NOTES
              WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF SENIOR NOTES

                  Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with
other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Senior
Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the
protection of TIA Section 312(c).

SECTION 10.4  CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

                  Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee
to take any action under this Indenture, the Company, upon request, shall
furnish to the Trustee:

                  (a) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
         satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set
         forth in Section 10.5 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the
         signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for
         in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied;
         and

                  (b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
         satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set
         forth in Section 10.5 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such
         counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been
         satisfied.

SECTION 10.5  STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION

                  Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate
provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of
TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:

                  (a) a statement that the Persons making such certificate or
         opinion have
<PAGE>   79
                                                                              79



         read such covenant or condition;

                  (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the
         examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions
         contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

                  (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Persons, they
         have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable
         them to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant
         or condition has been satisfied; and

                  (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
         Persons, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

SECTION 10.6  RULES BY TRUSTEE AND AGENTS

                  The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a
meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and
set reasonable requirements for its functions.

SECTION 10.7  NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS,
         EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS

                  No past, present or future director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder of the Company, as such, shall have any liability
for any obligations of the Company under the Senior Notes, this Indenture or for
any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their
creation. Each Holder by accepting a Senior Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of
the Senior Notes.

SECTION 10.8  GOVERNING LAW

                  THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE
USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE AND THE SENIOR NOTES.

SECTION 10.9 AGENT FOR SERVICE; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES

                  By the execution and delivery of this Indenture or any
amendment or supplement hereto, the Company (i) acknowledges that it has, by
separate written instrument, designated and appointed CT Corporation System (the
"Process Agent") currently located at 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019,
as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit, action or
proceeding with respect to, arising out of, or relating to, this Indenture or
the Senior Notes or brought under U.S. federal or state securities laws, may be
instituted in any U.S. federal or state court located in The City of New York,
New York, and acknowledges that the Process Agent
<PAGE>   80
                                                                              80

has accepted such designation, (ii) submits to the jurisdiction of any such
court in any such suit, action or proceeding, and (iii) agrees that service of
process upon the Process Agent shall be deemed in every respect effective
service of process upon the Company in any such suit, action or proceeding. The
Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and
filing of any and all such documents and instruments as may be necessary to
continue such designation and appointment of the Process Agent in full force and
effect so long as this Indenture shall be in full force and effect; provided
that the Company may and shall (to the extent the Process Agent ceases to be
able to be served on the basis contemplated herein), by written notice to the
Trustee, designate such additional or alternative agents for service of process
under this Section 10.9 that (i) maintains an office located in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York in the State of New York, (ii) are either (a)
counsel for the Company or (b) a corporate service company which acts as agent
for service of process for other persons in the ordinary course of its business
and for other persons in the ordinary course of its business and (iii) agrees to
act as agent for service of process in accordance with this Section 10.9. Such
notice shall identify the name of such agent for process and the address of such
agent for process in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, State of
New York. Upon the request of any Holder of a Senior Note, the Trustee shall
deliver such information to such Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there
shall, at all times, be at least one agent for service of process for the
Company appointed and acting in accordance with this Section 10.9.

                  To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire
any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether
through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of
execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, the
Company hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations
under this Indenture and the Senior Notes, to the extent permitted by law.

SECTION 10.10  NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS

                  This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other
indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any
other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to
interpret this Indenture.

SECTION 10.11  SUCCESSORS

                  All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Senior
Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture
shall bind its successors.

SECTION 10.12  SEVERABILITY

                  In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Senior Notes
shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.
<PAGE>   81
                                                                              81



SECTION 10.13  COUNTERPART ORIGINALS

                  The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture.
Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the
same agreement.

SECTION 10.14  TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.

                  The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of
the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience
of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall
in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
<PAGE>   82
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be
hereunto affixed, as of the date first written above.

(SEAL)                                      OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

                                            By:
                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:

(SEAL)                                      THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Trustee

                                            By:
                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:
<PAGE>   83
                         (Face of Senior Note)                         Exhibit A

[Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Senior Notes in
definitive form, this Senior Note may not be transferred except as a whole by
the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary
to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or
any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor
Depositary. Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative
of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) ("DTC"),
to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment,
and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other
name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment
is made to Cede & Co.] or such other entity as may be requested by an authorized
representative of DTC), any transfer, pledge or other use hereof for value or
otherwise by or to any person is wrongful inasmuch as the registered owner
hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.](1)

THIS SENIOR NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S.
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY
NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN
THE NEXT SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN,
THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A "QIB"), (B) IT IS ACQUIRING
THIS SENIOR NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT (AN "IAI"), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS
SENIOR NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER
REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT
OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (C) IN AN
OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 OF THE
SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN IAI THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE
TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS
RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS SENIOR NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED
FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF SENIOR NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO
THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (F) IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON


(1)      This paragraph should be included only if the Senior Note is issued in
         global form.



                                      A-83
<PAGE>   84
AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE
JURISDICTION AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS
SENIOR NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE
EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" AND
"UNITED STATES" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE
TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE
FOREGOING.(2)

                        11% [Series A] [Series B] Senior

                                 Notes due 2005

                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

CUSIP No.

No.                                                                 $___________

                  OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC. promises to pay to _______________

or registered assigns, the principal sum of             Dollars on May 15, 2005.

           Interest Payment Dates:  May 15 and November 15

           Record Dates:  May 1 and November 1

         Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Senior Note
set forth on

the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the
same effect as if

set forth at this place.


(2)  This paragraph should be removed upon the exchange of Series A Senior Notes
for Series B Senior Notes in the Exchange Offer or upon the registration of
Series A Senior Notes pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights
Agreement.




                                      A-84
<PAGE>   85
           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed, and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed, as of the date written
below.

                                                     OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

(SEAL)                                               By:
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:

                                                     By:
                                                       Name:
                                                       Title:

Dated:

Certificate of Authentication:
This is one of the Senior Notes
referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture:

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
as Trustee

By:_________________________________
           Authorized Signatory


                                      A-85
<PAGE>   86
                            (Reverse of Senior Note)

                        11% [Series A] [Series B] Senior
                                 Notes due 2005

                  Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned
to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

                  1. Interest. Oxford Health Plans, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("the Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Senior
Note at 11% per annum from May 13, 1998 until maturity and shall pay the
Liquidated Damages payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights
Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Liquidated
Damages semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year (each an
"Interest Payment Date"), or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next
succeeding Business Day. Interest on the Senior Notes will accrue from the most
recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid,
from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the
payment of interest, and if this Senior Note is authenticated between a record
date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment
Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date;
provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be November 15,
1998. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any,
from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate
then in effect; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and
Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to
time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

                  2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the
Senior Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages (as defined
below), if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Senior Notes at the
close of business on the May 1 or November 1 next preceding the Interest Payment
Date, even if such Senior Notes are cancelled after such record date and on or
before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the
Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Senior Notes will be payable
as to principal, premium, interest and Liquidated Damages at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within the City and State of
New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated
Damages may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth
in the register of Holders, provided that payment by wire transfer of
immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and
interest, premium, if any, and Liquidated Damages on, all Global Senior Notes
and all other Senior Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire
transfer instructions to the Company and the Paying Agent prior to the
applicable Record Date for such payment. Such payment shall be in such coin or
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private


                                      A-86
<PAGE>   87
debts.

                  3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, the Trustee under
the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change
any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any
of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

                  4. Indenture. The Company issued the Senior Notes under an
Indenture dated as of May 13, 1998 ("Indenture") between the Company and The
Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The terms of the Senior Notes
include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by
reference to the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code
Sections 77aaa-77bbbb). The Senior Notes are subject to all such terms,
and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such
terms. The Senior Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company limited to
$200.0 million in aggregate principal amount.

                  5.  Optional Redemption.

                  (a) Except as set forth in clauses 5(b) and (c) of this Senior
Note, the Senior Notes shall not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to
May 15, 2002. Thereafter, the Senior Notes shall be subject to redemption for
cash at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days' notice to each Holder of Senior Notes to be redeemed at
the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount
thereof) if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 15, 2002 of
each of the years indicated below, in each case together with any accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable
redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant
record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date):

             YEAR                       PERCENTAGE

             2002                       105.500%
             2003                       102.750%
             2004 and thereafter        100.000%

                  (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause 5(a) of this
Senior Note, at any time on or before May 15, 2001, the Company may (but shall
not have the obligation to) redeem for cash up to 33-1/3% of the original
aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes at a redemption price of 111% of
the principal amount thereof, in each case plus any accrued and unpaid interest
and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the redemption date, with the net
proceeds of a Public Equity Offering; provided that at least 66-2/3% of the
original aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes remains outstanding
immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and provided, further, that
such redemption shall occur within 60 days of the date of the closing of such
Public Equity Offering.


                                      A-87
<PAGE>   88
                  (c) Notices of redemption will be mailed by first class mail
at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
Holder whose Senior Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Senior
Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in
integral multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Senior Notes held by a Holder
are to be redeemed. Unless the Company defaults in making such redemption
payment, on and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Senior
Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

                  6.  Mandatory Redemption.

                  Except as contemplated by clause 7 below, the Company shall
not be required to make any mandatory redemption, purchase or sinking fund
payments with respect to the Senior Notes prior to the maturity date.

                  7.  Repurchase at Option of Holder.

                  (a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of
Senior Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or
any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's
Senior Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the "Change of Control
Offer") at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal
amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any,
thereon to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 30
days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each
Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of
Control and offering to repurchase Senior Notes pursuant to the procedures
required by this Indenture and described in such notice. The Company shall
comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other
securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and
regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Senior Notes
as a result of a Change of Control.

                  On the Change of Control Purchase Date, the Company will, to
the extent lawful, (1) accept for payment all Senior Notes or portions thereof
validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Change of Control
Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of
Control Payment in respect of all Senior Notes or portions thereof so validly
tendered and not properly withdrawn and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to
the Trustee the Senior Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate
stating the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes or portions thereof being
purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of
Senior Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn the Change of
Control Payment for such Senior Notes, and the Trustee will promptly
authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder
a new Senior Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the
Senior Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Senior Note will
be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company
will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on the Change
of Control Purchase Date.

                  (b) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Restricted


                                      A-88
<PAGE>   89
Subsidiaries to, engage in an Asset Sale unless (i) the Company (or
the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the
time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or
Equity Interests sold or otherwise disposed of and, in the case of a lease of
assets, a lease providing for rent and other conditions which are no less
favorable to the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) in
any material respect than the then prevailing market conditions (evidenced in
each case by a resolution of the Board of Directors of such entity set forth in
an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) and (ii) at least 75% (100%
in the case of lease payments) of the consideration therefor received by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash
Equivalents; provided that the amount of any liabilities (as shown on the most
recent balance sheet of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary) of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and
liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Senior Notes) that are
assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation
agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further
liability shall be deemed to be cash for the purposes of clause (ii).

         The Company shall cause its Restricted Subsidiaries to transfer to the
Company all consideration received by the Restricted Subsidiaries from Asset
Sales and Excluded Asset Sales as promptly as practicable, except in the case of
Asset Sales to the extent the proceeds thereof are applied as set forth in
clause (a)(iii) or (b) of the immediately following paragraph.

         Within 364 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset
Sale, the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable) may (a) apply
such Net Proceeds (i) to make an investment in, to make a capital expenditure
relating to, or to acquire other tangible assets in, the commercial group health
benefit business in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, (ii) to the reduction
of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Agreement or the permanent reduction of any
other Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Company or the permanent reduction of any
long-term Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary, or (iii) to make capital
contributions to regulated Restricted Subsidiaries covering commercial lives
operating in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut which contributions are
required by law or requested in writing to be made by the appropriate state
regulatory authorities or (b) with respect to Net Proceeds received from an
Asset Sale by a regulated Restricted Subsidiary which are not permitted by
appropriate state regulatory authorities to be distributed or otherwise
transferred, retain such Net Proceeds as capital of such regulated Restricted
Subsidiary. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested
or committed to be applied or invested, as provided in the preceding sentence of
this paragraph shall be deemed to constitute "Excess Proceeds". On the earlier
of (i) the 365th day after an Asset Sale or (ii) such date as the Board of the
Company or the Restricted Subsidiary determines not to apply the Net Proceeds
relating to such Asset Sale in the manner set forth above, if the aggregate
amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20 million, the Company shall be required to
make an offer to all Holders of Senior Notes (an "Asset Sale Offer") to purchase
the maximum principal amount of Senior Notes that may be purchased out of the
Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated
Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase, in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the


                                      A-89
<PAGE>   90
Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Senior Notes tendered
pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company
may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes. If the
aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes surrendered by Holders thereof
exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Senior Notes
to be purchased on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the
Trustee deems fair and appropriate. Upon completion of such Asset Sale Offer,
the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

                  The Company agrees that (i) a sale of the stock or assets of
FPA Medical Management, Inc. shall be for cash only, (ii) at least 50% of the
consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary from the stock
or assets of Oxford Specialty and Oxford Health Plans (NH), Inc. shall be cash
or Marketable Securities, (iii) there shall be no restrictions on the
consideration received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from the
sale of the stock or assets of or Indebtedness issued by a Minority Investment
or the New York, New Jersey, Florida or Pennsylvania Medicaid business, Oxford
Health Plans (IL), Inc. or Oxford Health Plans (FL), Inc. and (iv) the
consideration received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from all
other Excluded Asset Sales shall be cash. The Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries will sell all such Marketable Securities for cash no later than the
earlier of 60 days from receipt and the termination or expiration of any
governmental limitation of such sale.

                  8. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Senior Notes are in
registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Senior Notes may be registered and Senior
Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the
Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate
endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay
any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company
need not exchange or register the transfer of any Senior Note or portion of a
Senior Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any
Senior Note being redeemed in part. Also, it need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Senior Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of
Senior Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the
corresponding Interest Payment Date.

                  9. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Senior
Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

                  10. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain
exceptions, the Indenture or the Senior Notes may be amended or supplemented
with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of
the Senior Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection
with a tender offer or exchange offer for Senior Notes), and any existing
default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Senior Notes
may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the then outstanding Senior Notes. Without the consent of any Holder of a
Senior Note, the Indenture or the Senior Notes may be amended or supplemented to
cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for





                                      A-90
<PAGE>   91
uncertificated Senior Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Senior
Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to Holders of
the Senior Notes in case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that
would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Senior
Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of
any such Holder, or to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order
to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act or to provide for the succession of a successor Trustee.

                  11. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (i)
default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Liquidated
Damages with respect to, the Senior Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of
the principal of or premium, if any, on the Senior Notes; (iii) failure by the
Company to comply with Sections 4.9, 4.10, 4.11 or 5.1 of the Indenture; (iv)
failure by the Company for 30 days after notice to comply with any of its other
agreements in the Indenture or the Senior Notes; (v) default under any mortgage,
indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be
secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or
guarantee exists on the date of the Indenture, or is created thereafter, which
default (a) is caused by a failure to pay when due (after giving effect to any
grace period related thereto) any principal of or premium, if any, or interest
on such Indebtedness (a "Payment Default") or (b) results in the acceleration of
such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal
amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other
such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity
of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10 million or more; (vi) failure
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments
aggregating in excess of $10.0 million (net of any amounts with respect to which
a reputable and creditworthy insurance company has acknowledged liability in
writing), which judgments are not paid or discharged or stayed for a period of
60 days; and (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to
the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or group of Restricted
Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated
financial statements for the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the
Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Senior Notes may declare all the Senior Notes to be due and payable
immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default
arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the
Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken
together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the
Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all
outstanding Senior Notes will become due and payable without further action or
notice. Holders of the Senior Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Senior
Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations,
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Notes
may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may
withhold from Holders of the Senior Notes notice of any continuing Default or
Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment
of principal or

                                      A-91
<PAGE>   92
interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. In the
event of a declaration of acceleration of the Senior Notes because an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing as a result of the acceleration of any
Indebtedness described in clause (v) of the first sentence of this paragraph,
the declaration of acceleration of the Senior Notes shall be automatically
annulled if the holders of any Indebtedness described in clause (v) of the first
sentence of this paragraph have rescinded the declaration of acceleration in
respect of such Indebtedness within 30 days of the date of such declaration and
if (a) the annulment of the acceleration of Senior Notes would not conflict with
any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (b) all existing
Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal or interest on the Senior
Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Senior Notes,
have been cured or waived. Subject to certain limitations, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes then outstanding by
notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Senior Notes
waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the
Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of
interest on, or the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the
Senior Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a
statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required
upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the
Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

                  12.  Defeasance Prior to Maturity or Redemption.

                  Subject to certain conditions contained in the Indenture, the
Company at any time may terminate some or all of its obligations under the
Senior Notes and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee cash in
U.S. dollars or non-callable Government Obligations or a combination thereof
sufficient to pay the principal of, premium, interest and Liquidated Damages, if
any, on, the Senior Notes to maturity or a particular redemption date, as the
case may be.

                  13. Trustee Dealings with the Company. The Trustee, in its
individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and
perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with
the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

                  14. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Company under the Senior Notes or the
Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such
obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Senior Note waives and
releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the issuance of the Senior Notes.

                  15. GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SENIOR NOTE.

                  16. Authentication. This Senior Note shall not be valid until
authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.


                                      A-92
<PAGE>   93
                  17. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the
name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT
(= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of
survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (=
Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

                  18. Additional Rights of Holders of Transfer Restricted Senior
Notes. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Senior Notes under the
Indenture, Holders of Transferred Restricted Senior Notes (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) shall have all the rights set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the date of the Indenture, between the
Company and the parties named on the signature pages thereof (the "Registration
Rights Agreement").

                  19. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by
the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has
caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Senior Notes and the Trustee may use
CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No
representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on
the Senior Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be
placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

                  The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request
and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights
Agreement. Requests may be made to:

Oxford Health Plans, Inc.
800 Connecticut Avenue
Norwalk, Connecticut  06854
Attention: General Counsel
Telephone No.:  (203) 852-1442
Telecopier No.: (203) 852-2465


                                      A-93
<PAGE>   94
                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Senior Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and
transfer this Senior Note to

               (Insert assignee's Social Security or tax I.D. no.)







              (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint
to transfer this Senior Note on the books of the Company or the agent appointed
by the Company to maintain such books. The agent appointed hereby may substitute
another to act for him.

Date:____________________

                           Your signature:______________________________
                               (Sign exactly as your name appears on the
                                face of this Senior Note)

                       Signature Guarantee:


                                      A-94
<PAGE>   95
                       Option of Holder to Elect Purchase

                  If you want to elect to have this Senior Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.9 or 4.10 of the Indenture, check the box below:

              [ ]  Section 4.9                       [ ]  Section 4.10

                  If you want to elect to have only part of the Senior Note
purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.9 or Section 4.10 of the
Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased: $__________________

Date:____________________                    Your Signature:

                                             (Sign exactly as your name
                                              appears on the Senior Note)

                                             Social Security or
                                             Tax Identification No.:____________

Signature Guarantee.


                                      A-95
<PAGE>   96
            SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SENIOR NOTE3/

                  The following changes in the principal amount of this Global
Senior Note have been recorded:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 Date of Transaction    Amount of decrease in   Amount of increase in   Principal Amount of this       Signature of
 -------------------    Principal Amount of     Principal Amount of       Global Senior Note         authorized officer
                       this Global Senior Note  this Global Senior Note   following such decrease       of Trustee
                       -----------------------  -----------------------      (or increase)              ----------
                                                                             -------------
<S>                    <C>                      <C>                     <C>                           <C>






</TABLE>



- ----------------------
4. This should be included only if the Senior Note is issued in global form.




                                      A-96
<PAGE>   97
                                                                     Exhibit B-1

          FORM OF CERTIFICATE FOR EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER
            FROM U.S. GLOBAL SENIOR NOTE TO REG S GLOBAL SENIOR NOTE
                (Pursuant to Section 2.6(a)(1) of the Indenture)

The Chase Manhattan Bank
450 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001-2697

Attention: Global Trust Services

                  Re:  11% Senior Notes due 2005 of Oxford Health Plans, Inc.

                  Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 13,
1998 (the "Indenture"), between Oxford Health Plans, Inc. ("the Company") and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"). Capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Indenture.

                  This letter relates to $___________ principal amount of Senior
Notes which are evidenced by one or more U.S. Global Senior Notes and held with
the Depository in the name of _____________ (the "Transferor"). The Transferor
has requested a transfer of such beneficial interest in the Senior Notes to a
Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of an equal principal amount
of Senior Notes evidenced by one or more Reg S Global Senior Notes, which
amount, immediately after such transfer, is to be held with the Depository
through Euroclear or Cedel or both.

                  In connection with such request and in respect of such Senior
Notes, the Transferor hereby certifies that such transfer has been effected in
compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Senior Notes
and pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and
accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that:

                  (1)      The offer of the Senior Notes was not made to a
                           person in the United States and, if the Distribution
                           Compliance Period has not yet expired and the
                           Transferor is a dealer (as defined in Section 2(12)
                           of the Securities Act, or a person receiving a
                           selling concession, fee or other remuneration in
                           respect of the Senior Notes being sold (collectively,
                           "Dealers"), (i) neither the Transferor or any person
                           acting on its behalf knows that the transferee is a
                           U.S. person and (ii) if the Transferor or any person
                           acting on its behalf knows that the transferee is a
                           Dealer, the Transferor or person acting on its behalf
                           has sent a confirmation or other notice to the
                           transferee stating that the Senior Notes may be
                           offered or sold during the Distribution Compliance
                           Period only in accordance with the provisions of
                           Regulation S, pursuant to registration under the
                           Securities Act or pursuant to an available exemption
                           from the registration requirements of the Securities
                           Act;
<PAGE>   98
                  (2)      either:

                           (a)      at the time the buy order was originated,
                                    the transferee was outside the United States
                                    or the Transferor and any person acting on
                                    its behalf reasonably believed and believes
                                    that the transferee was outside the United
                                    States; or

                           (b)      the transaction was executed in, on or
                                    through the facilities of a designated
                                    offshore securities market and neither the
                                    Transferor nor any person acting on its
                                    behalf knows that the transaction was
                                    prearranged with a buyer in the United
                                    States;

                  (3)      no directed selling efforts have been made in
                           contravention of the requirements of Rule 904(b) of
                           Regulation S;

                  (4)      the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to
                           evade the registration provisions

                           of the Securities Act; and

                  (5)      upon completion of the transaction, the beneficial
                           interest being transferred as described above is to
                           be held with the Depository through Euroclear or
                           Cedel or both.

                  Upon giving effect to this request to exchange a beneficial
interest in a U.S. Global Senior Note for a beneficial interest in a Reg S
Global Senior Note. the resulting beneficial interest shall be subject to the
restrictions on transfer applicable to Reg S Global Senior Notes pursuant to the
Indenture and the Securities Act.

                  This certificate and the statements contained herein are made
for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation, the Initial Purchaser of such Senior Notes being
transferred. We acknowledge that you, the Company and the Initial Purchaser will
rely upon our confirmations, acknowledgements and agreements set forth herein,
and we agree to notify you promptly in writing if any of our representations or
warranties herein ceases to be accurate and complete. Terms used in this
certificate and not otherwise defined in the Indenture have the meanings set
forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act.

                                                     [Insert Name of Transferor]

                                                     By:_______________________
                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:

Dated:

cc:      Oxford Health Plans, Inc.
         Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation


                                     B-1-98
<PAGE>   99
                                                                     Exhibit B-2

          FORM OF CERTIFICATE FOR EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER
            FROM REG S GLOBAL SENIOR NOTE TO U.S. GLOBAL SENIOR NOTE

                (Pursuant to Section 2.6(a)(ii) of the Indenture)

The Chase Manhattan Bank
450 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001-2697

Attention: Global Trust Services

                  Re:  11% Senior Notes due 2005 of Oxford Health Plans, Inc.

                  Reference is hereby made to the Indenture dated as of May 13,
1998 (the "Indenture"), between Oxford Health Plans, Inc. ("the Company"), and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"). Capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Indenture.

                  This letter relates to $____________ principal amount of
Senior Notes which are evidenced by one or more Reg S Global Senior Notes and
held with the Depository through Euroclear or Cedel in the name of (the
"Transferor"). The Transferor has requested a transfer of such beneficial
interest in the Senior Notes to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the
form of an equal principal amount of Senior Notes evidenced by one or more U.S.
Global Senior Notes, to be held with the Depository.

                  In connection with such request and in respect of such Senior
Notes, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

                                   [CHECK ONE]

[ ]      such transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule
         144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
         "Securities Act") and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further
         certifies that the Senior Notes are being transferred to a Person that
         the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the Senior Notes for
         its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such
         Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each
         such account is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of
         Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A;

                                       or

[ ]      such transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with
         Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
<PAGE>   100
                                       or

[ ]      such transfer is being effected in an offshore transaction pursuant
         to and in accordance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act;

                                       or

[ ]      such transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration
         statement under the Securities Act;

                                       or

[ ]      such transfer is being effected pursuant to an exemption from the
         registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those
         contemplated above, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that
         the Senior Notes are being transferred in compliance with the transfer
         restrictions applicable to the Global Senior Notes and in accordance
         with the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is
         supported by an Opinion of Counsel, provided by the transferor or the
         transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this
         certification) in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the
         Registrar, to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the
         Securities Act;

and such Senior Notes are being transferred in compliance with any applicable
blue sky or securities laws of any state of the United States or any other
applicable jurisdiction.

                  Upon giving effect to this request to exchange a beneficial
interest in Reg S Global Senior Notes for a beneficial interest in U.S. Global
Senior Notes, the resulting beneficial interest shall be subject to the
restrictions on transfer applicable to U.S. Global Senior Notes pursuant to the
Indenture and the Securities Act.


                                    B-2-100
<PAGE>   101
                  This certificate and the statements contained herein are made
for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporations, the Initial Purchaser of such Senior Notes being
transferred. We acknowledge that you, the Company and the Initial Purchaser will
rely upon our confirmations, acknowledgements and agreements set forth herein,
and we agree to notify you promptly in writing if any of our representations or
warranties herein ceases to be accurate and complete. Terms used in this
certificate and not otherwise defined in the Indenture have the meanings set
forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act.

                                                     [Insert Name of Transferor]

                                                     By:_______________________
                                                     Name:
                                                    Title:

Dated:

cc:      Oxford Health Plans, Inc.
         Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation


                                    B-2-101
<PAGE>   102
                                                                     Exhibit B-3

          FORM OF CERTIFICATE FOR EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER
                          OF CERTIFICATED SENIOR NOTES
                  (Pursuant to Section 2.6(b) of the Indenture)

The Chase Manhattan Bank
450 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001-2697

Attention: Global Trust Services

                  Re:  11% Senior Notes due 2005 of Oxford Health Plans, Inc.

                  Reference is hereby made to the Indenture dated as of May 13,
1998 (the "Indenture"), between Oxford Health Plans, Inc. ("the Company"), and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"). Capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Indenture.

                  This relates to $_________ principal amount of Senior Notes
which are evidenced by one or more Certificated Senior Notes in the name of
______________ (the "Transferor"). The Transferor has requested an exchange or
transfer of such Certificated Senior Note(s) in the form of an equal principal
amount of Senior Notes evidenced by one or more Certificated Senior Notes, to be
delivered to the Transferor or, in the case of a transfer of such Senior Notes,
to such Person as the Transferor instructs the Trustee.

                  In connection with such request and in respect of the Senior
Notes surrendered to the Trustee herewith for exchange (the "Surrendered Senior
Notes"), the Holder of such Surrendered Senior Notes hereby certifies that:

                                   [CHECK ONE]

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being acquired for the Transferor's
         own account, without transfer;

                                       or

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred to the Company;

                                       or

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred pursuant to and in
         accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of
         1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and, accordingly, the
         Transferor hereby further certifies that the Surrendered Senior Notes
         are being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably
         believes is
<PAGE>   103
         purchasing the Surrendered Senior Notes for its own account, or for one
         or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole
         investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a
         "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A, in
         each case in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A;

                                       or
[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred in a transaction
         permitted by Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

                                       or

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred in an offshore
         transaction pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 904 under the
         Securities Act;

                                       or

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred to Institutional
         Accredited Investor pursuant to an exemption under the Securities Act
         other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904 and the Transferor further
         certifies that the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions
         applicable to beneficial interests in Global Senior Notes and
         Certificated Senior Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend and the
         requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported
         by a certificate attached hereto executed by the Transferee in the form
         of Exhibit C to the Indenture, and, if the Company should so ---------
         request, an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the
         Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this
         certification), in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the
         Registrar, to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the
         Securities Act to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with
         the Securities Act;

                                       or

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred pursuant to an
         effective registration statement under the Securities Act;

                                       or

[ ]      such transfer is being effected pursuant to an exemption from the
         registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those
         contemplated above, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that
         the Senior Notes are being transferred in compliance with the transfer
         restrictions applicable to the Global Senior Notes and in accordance
         with the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is
         supported by an Opinion of Counsel, provided by the transferor or the
         transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this
         certification) in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the
         Registrar, to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the
         Securities Act;

and the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred in compliance with any
applicable blue

                                    B-3-103
<PAGE>   104
sky or securities laws of any state of the United States or any
other applicable jurisdiction.

                  This certificate and the statements contained herein are made
for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation, the Initial Purchaser of such Senior Notes being
transferred. We acknowledge that you, the Company and the Initial Purchaser will
rely upon our confirmations, acknowledgements and agreements set forth herein,
and we agree to notify you promptly in writing if any of our representations or
warranties herein ceases to be accurate and complete. Terms used in this
certificate and not otherwise defined in the Indenture have the meanings set
forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act.

                                                     [Insert Name of Transferor]

                                                     By:_______________________
                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:

Dated:

cc:      Oxford Health Plans, Inc.
         Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation


                                    B-3-104
<PAGE>   105
                                                                     Exhibit B-4

          FORM OF CERTIFICATE FOR EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER
            FROM U.S. GLOBAL SENIOR NOTE OR REG S GLOBAL SENIOR NOTE
                           TO CERTIFICATED SENIOR NOTE
                  (Pursuant to Section 2.6(c) of the Indenture)

The Chase Manhattan Bank
450 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001-2697

Attention: Global Trust Services

                  Re:  11% Senior Notes due 2005 of Oxford Health Plans, Inc.

                  Reference is hereby made to the Indenture dated as of May 13,
1998 (the "Indenture"), between Oxford Health Plans, Inc. ("the Company"), and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"). Capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Indenture.

                  This letter relates to $_____________ principal amount of
Senior Notes which are evidenced by a beneficial interest in one or more U.S.
Global Senior Notes or Reg S Global Senior Notes in the name of
__________________ (the "Transferor"). The Transferor has requested an exchange
or transfer of such beneficial interest in the form of an equal principal amount
of Senior Notes evidenced by one or more Certificated Senior Notes, to be
delivered to the Transferor or, in the case of a transfer of such Senior Notes,
to such Person as the Transferor instructs the Trustee.

                  In connection with such request and in respect of the Senior
Notes surrendered to the Trustee herewith for exchange (the "Surrendered Senior
Notes"), the Holder of such surrendered Senior Notes hereby certifies that:

                                   [CHECK ONE]

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred to the beneficial
         owner of such Senior Notes;

                                       or

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred pursuant to and in
         accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of
         1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and, accordingly, the
         Transferor hereby further certifies that the Surrendered Senior Notes
         are being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably
         believes is purchasing the Surrendered Senior Notes for its own
         account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person
         exercises sole investment discretion, and such
<PAGE>   106
         Person and each such account is a "qualified institutional buyer"
         within the meaning of Rule 144A, in each case in a transaction meeting
         the requirements of Rule 144A;

                                       or

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred in a transaction
         permitted by Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

                                       or

[ ]      such transfer is being effected in an offshore transaction pursuant to
         and in accordance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act;

                                       or

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred to an Institutional
         Accredited Investor pursuant to an exemption under the Securities Act
         other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904 and the Transferor further
         certifies that the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions
         applicable to beneficial interests in Global Senior Notes and
         Certificated Senior Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend and the
         requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported
         by (x) if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Senior
         Notes at the time of Transfer of $100,000 or more, a certificate
         executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit C to the Indenture,
         or (y) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Senior
         Notes at the time of transfer of less than $100,000, (1) a certificate
         executed in the form of Exhibit C to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion
         of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of
         which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect
         that (1) such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and (2)
         such Transfer complies with any applicable blue sky securities laws of
         any state of the United States;

                                       or

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred pursuant to an
         effective registration statement under the Securities Act;

                                       or

[ ]      the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred pursuant to an
         exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
         other than those contemplated above, and the Transferor hereby further
         certifies that the Senior Notes are being transferred in compliance
         with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Senior Notes
         and in accordance with the requirements of the exemption claimed, which
         certification is supported by an Opinion of Counsel, provided by the
         transferor or the transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has
         attached to this certification) in form reasonably acceptable to the
         Company and to the Registrar, to the effect that such transfer is in
         compliance with the Securities Act;

                                    B-4-106
<PAGE>   107
and the Surrendered Senior Notes are being transferred in compliance with any
applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

                  This certificate and the statements contained herein are made
for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation, the Initial Purchaser of such Senior Notes being
transferred. We acknowledge that you, the Company and the Initial Purchaser will
rely upon our confirmations, acknowledgements and agreements set forth herein,
and we agree to notify you promptly in writing if any of our representations or
warranties herein ceases to be accurate and complete. Terms used in this
certificate and not otherwise defined in the Indenture have the meanings set
forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act.

                                                     [Insert Name of Transferor]

                                                     By:_______________________
                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:

Dated:

cc:      Oxford Health Plans, Inc.
         Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation


                                    B-4-107
<PAGE>   108
                                                                       Exhibit C

                            FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
                   ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

The Chase Manhattan Bank
450 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001-2697

Attention:  Global Trust Services

                  Re:  11% Senior Notes due 2005 of Oxford Health Plans, Inc.

                  Reference is hereby made to the Indenture dated as of May 13,
1998 (the "Indenture"), between Oxford Health Plans, Inc. ("the Company"), and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"). Capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Indenture.

                  In connection with our proposed purchase of $________________
aggregate principal amount of:

         (a)      [ ]        Beneficial interests, or

         (b)      [ ]        Certificated Senior Notes,

we confirm that:

                  (i) we are an entity which is an "accredited investor" within
         the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act
         of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or an entity in which all
         of the equity owners are accredited investors within the meaning of
         Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act (an
         "Institutional Accredited Investor");

                  (ii) any purchase of Senior Notes by us will be for our own
         account or for the account of one or more other Institutional
         Accredited Investors;

                  (iii) in the event that we purchase any Senior Notes, we will
         acquire Senior Notes having a minimum purchase price of at least
         $100,000 for our own account and for each separate account for which we
         are acting;

                  (iv) we have such knowledge and experience in financial and
         business matters that we are capable of evaluating the merits and risks
         of purchasing Senior Notes;

                  (v) we are not acquiring Senior Notes with a view to any
         distribution thereof in a transaction that would violate the Securities
         Act or the securities laws of any
<PAGE>   109
         State of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction;
         provided that the disposition of our property and the property of any
         accounts for which we are acting as fiduciary shall remain at all times
         within our control; and

                     (vi) we have received a copy of the Offering Memorandum and
         acknowledge that we have had access to such financial and other
         information, and have been afforded the opportunity to ask such
         questions of representatives of the Company and receive answers
         thereto, as we deem necessary in connection with our decision to
         purchase Senior Notes.

                  We understand that the Senior Notes are being offered in a
transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the
Securities Act and that the Senior Notes have not been registered under the
Securities Act, and we agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of each account
for which we acquire any notes, that (A) such Senior Notes may be offered,
resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (i) to a person whom we reasonably
believe to be a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under
the Securities Act) in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, in a
transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
outside the United States in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 904
under the Securities Act or in accordance with another exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act (and based upon an opinion of
counsel if the Company so requests), (ii) to the Company or (iii) pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and, in each case, in
accordance with any applicable securities laws of any State of the United States
or any other applicable jurisdiction and (B) that we will, and each subsequent
Holder is required to, notify any subsequent purchaser from it of the resale
restrictions set forth in (A) above. We understand that the registrar and
transfer agent will not be required to accept for registration of transfer any
Senior Notes, except upon presentation of evidence satisfactory to the Company
that the foregoing restrictions on transfer have been complied with. We further
understand that the Senior Notes purchased by us will bear a legend reflecting
the substance of this paragraph.

                  This certificate and the statements contained herein are made
for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation, the Initial Purchaser of such Senior Notes being
transferred. We acknowledge that you, the Company and the Initial Purchaser will
rely upon our confirmations, acknowledgements and agreements set forth herein,
and we agree to notify you promptly in writing if any of our representations or
warranties herein ceases to be accurate and complete. Terms used in this
certificate and not otherwise defined in the Indenture have the meanings set
forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act.

                  THIS LETTER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

____________________________________
         (Name of Purchaser)


                                     C-109
<PAGE>   110
By:__________________________________
   Name:
Title:
Address:

                                     C-110
<PAGE>   111
                             CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trust Indenture
  Act Section     Indenture Section
  -----------     -----------------

<S>               <C>                                                                      <C>
310(a)(1)         ......................................................................   7.10
     (a)(2)       ......................................................................   7.10
     (a)(3)       ......................................................................   N.A.
     (a)(4)       ......................................................................   N.A.
     (b)          ......................................................................   7.3; 7.8; 7.10
     (c)          ......................................................................   N.A.
311(a)            ......................................................................   7.11
     (b)          ......................................................................   7.11
     (c)          ......................................................................   N.A.
312(a)             .....................................................................   2.5
     (b)          ......................................................................   10.3
     (c)          ......................................................................   10.3
313(a)            ......................................................................   7.6
     (b)(1)       ......................................................................   N.A.
     (b)(2)          ...................................................................   7.6
     (c)             ...................................................................   7.6; 10.2
     (d)             ...................................................................   7.6
314(a)             .....................................................................   4.6; 10.2
     (b)             ...................................................................   N.A.
     (c)(1)          ...................................................................   10.4
     (c)(2)          ...................................................................   7.2; 10.4
     (c)(3)          ...................................................................   N.A.
     (d)             ...................................................................   N.A.
     (e)             ...................................................................   10.5
     (f)             ...................................................................   N.A.
315(a)             .....................................................................   7.1(a)
     (b)             ...................................................................   7.5; 10.2
     (c)             ...................................................................   7.1(b)
     (d)             ...................................................................   7.1(c)
     (e)             ...................................................................   6.11
316(a)(last sentence) ..................................................................   2.9
     (a)(1)(A)    ......................................................................   6.5
     (a)(1)(B)    ......................................................................   6.4
     (a)(2)       ......................................................................   N.A.
     (b)          ......................................................................   6.7
317(a)(1)         ......................................................................   6.8
     (a)(2)       ......................................................................   6.9
     (b)          ......................................................................   2.4
318(a)            ......................................................................   10.1
</TABLE>

     -----------------------------------
N.A. means not applicable.
<PAGE>   112
*  This Cross-Reference is not part of the Indenture.
<PAGE>   113
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

                                    as Issuer

                                  $200,000,000

                            11% Senior Notes due 2005

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


                                    INDENTURE

                            Dated as of May 13, 1998

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


                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

                                   as Trustee
<PAGE>   114
                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


ARTICLE 1    DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE               1
SECTION 1.1  DEFINITIONS                                              1
SECTION 1.2  OTHER DEFINITIONS                                       17
SECTION 1.3  INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT       18
SECTION 1.4  RULES OF CONSTRUCTION                                   18

ARTICLE 2    THE SENIOR NOTES                                        19
SECTION 2.1  FORM AND DATING                                         19
SECTION 2.2  EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION                            21
SECTION 2.3  REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT                              22
SECTION 2.4  PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST                     22
SECTION 2.5  HOLDER LISTS                                            23
SECTION 2.6  TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE                                   23
SECTION 2.7  REPLACEMENT OF SENIOR NOTES                             32
SECTION 2.8  OUTSTANDING SENIOR NOTES                                33
SECTION 2.9  TREASURY SENIOR NOTES                                   33
SECTION 2.10  TEMPORARY SENIOR NOTES                                 33
SECTION 2.11  CANCELLATION                                           34
SECTION 2.12  DEFAULTED INTEREST                                     34
SECTION 2.13  RECORD DATE                                            34
SECTION 2.14  COMPUTATION OF INTEREST                                34
SECTION 2.15  CUSIP NUMBER                                           34

ARTICLE 3    REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT                               35
SECTION 3.1  NOTICES TO TRUSTEE                                      35
SECTION 3.2  SELECTION OF SENIOR NOTES TO BE REDEEMED                35
SECTION 3.3  NOTICE OF REDEMPTION                                    35
SECTION 3.4  EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION                          36
SECTION 3.5  DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE                             36
SECTION 3.6  SENIOR NOTES REDEEMED IN PART                           37
SECTION 3.7  OPTIONAL REDEMPTION                                     37
SECTION 3.8  NO MANDATORY REDEMPTION                                 38

ARTICLE 4    COVENANTS                                               38
SECTION 4.1  PAYMENT OF SENIOR NOTES                                 38
SECTION 4.2  MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY                         38
<PAGE>   115
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Page
                                                                                   ----
<S>          <C>                                                                  <C>
SECTION 4.3  CORPORATE EXISTENCE                                                    39
SECTION 4.4  MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES AND INSURANCE                                39
SECTION 4.5  COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS                                                   40
SECTION 4.6  REPORTS                                                                40
SECTION 4.7  TAXES                                                                  40
SECTION 4.8  STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS                                         40
SECTION 4.9  CHANGE OF CONTROL                                                      41
SECTION 4.10 ASSET SALES AND EXCLUDED ASSET                                         42
SECTION 4.11 RESTRICTED PAYMENTS                                                    45
SECTION 4.12 INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK             47
SECTION 4.13 SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS                                        49
SECTION 4.14 LIENS                                                                  50
SECTION 4.15 DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS
             AFFECTING RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES                                      50
SECTION 4.16 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES                                           51
SECTION 4.17 LINE OF BUSINESS                                                       51
SECTION 4.18 LIMITATION AS TO UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES                             52
SECTION 4.19 LIMITATION ON SALE OF STOCK OR ASSETS OF PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES        52
SECTION 4.20 PAYMENTS FOR CONSENTS                                                  52
SECTION 4.21 LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF GUARANTEES                                  52
SECTION 4.22 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE                                                 53

ARTICLE 5    SUCCESSORS                                                             54
SECTION 5.1  MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF ASSETS                                54
SECTION 5.2  SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED                                      54

ARTICLE 6    DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES                                                  55
SECTION 6.1  EVENTS OF DEFAULT                                                      55
SECTION 6.2  ACCELERATION                                                           57
SECTION 6.3  OTHER REMEDIES                                                         57
SECTION 6.4  WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS                                                58
SECTION 6.5  CONTROL BY MAJORITY                                                    58
SECTION 6.6  LIMITATION ON SUITS                                                    58
SECTION 6.7  RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR NOTES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT                   59
SECTION 6.8  COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE                                             59
SECTION 6.9  TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM                                       59
SECTION 6.10 PRIORITIES                                                             60
SECTION 6.11 UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS                                                  60

ARTICLE 7    TRUSTEE                                                                60
</TABLE>


                                     -115-
<PAGE>   116
                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----
SECTION 7.1  DUTIES OF TRUSTEE                                              60
SECTION 7.2  RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE                                              61
SECTION 7.3  INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE                                   62
SECTION 7.4  TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER                                           63
SECTION 7.5  NOTICE OF DEFAULTS                                             63
SECTION 7.6  REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE SENIOR NOTES              63
SECTION 7.7  COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY                                     63
SECTION 7.8  REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE                                         64
SECTION 7.9  SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC                               65
SECTION 7.10  ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION                                 65
SECTION 7.11  PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY         66

ARTICLE 8    LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE                       66
SECTION 8.1  OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE       66
SECTION 8.2  LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE                                 66
SECTION 8.3  COVENANT DEFEASANCE                                            67
SECTION 8.4  CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE                     67
SECTION 8.5  DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
             TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS            68
SECTION 8.6  REPAYMENT TO THE COMPANY                                       69
SECTION 8.7  REINSTATEMENT                                                  69
SECTION 8.8  SURVIVAL OF CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS                                70

ARTICLE 9    AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER                               70
SECTION 9.1  WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR NOTES                     70
SECTION 9.2  WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR NOTES                        71
SECTION 9.3  COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT                            72
SECTION 9.4  REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS                              72
SECTION 9.5  NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF SENIOR NOTES                        72
SECTION 9.6  TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC                                73

ARTICLE 10    MISCELLANEOUS                                                 73
SECTION 10.1  TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS                                  73
SECTION 10.2  NOTICES                                                       73
SECTION 10.3  COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF SENIOR NOTES
              WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF                                         74
SECTION 10.4  CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT            74

                                     -116-
<PAGE>   117
<TABLE>
<S>           <C>                                                                       <C>
SECTION 10.5  STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION                             75
SECTION 10.6  RULES BY TRUSTEE AND AGENTS                                               75
SECTION 10.7  NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS,
              EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS                                                75
SECTION 10.8  GOVERNING LAW                                                             75
SECTION 10.9  AGENT FOR SERVICE; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES       76
SECTION 10.10 NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS                             76
SECTION 10.11 SUCCESSORS                                                                76
SECTION 10.12 SEVERABILITY                                                              77
SECTION 10.13 COUNTERPART ORIGINALS                                                     77
SECTION 10.14 TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC                                          77
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          EXHIBITS

<S>                         <C>
          EXHIBIT A         Form of Senior Note

          EXHIBIT B-1       Form of Certificate for Exchange or Registration of Transfer from U.S.
                            Global Senior Note to Reg S Global Senior Note

          EXHIBIT B-2       Form of Certificate for Exchange or Registration of Transfer from Reg S
                            Global Senior Note to U.S. Global Senior Note

          EXHIBIT B-3       Form of Certificate for Exchange or Registration of Transfer of Certificated
                            Senior Notes

          EXHIBIT B-4       Form of Certificate for Exchange or Registration of Transfer from U.S.
                            Global Senior Note or Reg S Global Senior Note to Certificated Senior Note

          EXHIBIT C         Form of Certificate from acquiring institutional accredited investor
</TABLE>



                                     -117-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.d

                            OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

                                  $150,000,000
                               TERM LOAN AGREEMENT


            This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT is dated as of May 13, 1998 and entered
into by and among OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("COMPANY"),
THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HEREOF (each
individually referred to herein as a "LENDER" and collectively as "LENDERS"),
DLJ CAPITAL FUNDING, INC. ("DLJ CAPITAL FUNDING"), as Syndication Agent (in such
capacity, "SYNDICATION AGENT"), and IBJ SCHRODER BANK & TRUST COMPANY ("IBJ
SCHRODER"), as Facility Manager for Lenders (in such capacity, "FACILITY
MANAGER").


                                 R E C I T A L S

            WHEREAS, Company desires to make certain Capital Contributions (this
and other capitalized terms used in these recitals without definition being used
as defined in subsection 1.1) to its Regulated Subsidiaries and to obtain
financing for such Capital Contributions;

            WHEREAS, Company is a party to the Bridge Agreement pursuant to
which Company has obtained $200,000,000 in financing for certain Capital
Contributions, which financing is due and payable no later than February 6,
1999;

            WHEREAS, Company desires to refinance its outstanding Indebtedness
under the Bridge Agreement with longer-term financing and to obtain additional
financing to make additional Capital Contributions;

            WHEREAS, on or before the Closing Date, Company will issue and sell
not less than $200,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes;

            WHEREAS, on or before the Closing Date, Company will issue and sell
not less than $350,000,000 in Preferred Stock;

            WHEREAS, Lenders have agreed to extend certain credit facilities to
Company, the proceeds of which will be used, together with the proceeds of the
issuance and sale of the Senior Notes described above and the proceeds of the
issuance and sale of the Preferred Stock described above, to provide financing
for such Capital Contributions and to provide for the general corporate purposes
of Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and



                                       1
<PAGE>   2
            WHEREAS, Company desires to secure all of the Obligations hereunder
and under the other Loan Documents by granting to Facility Manager, on behalf of
Lenders, a First Priority Lien on substantially all of its real, personal and
mixed property, including a pledge of all of the Capital Stock of each of its
Principal Subsidiaries, except to the extent prohibited from doing so by
regulatory restrictions with respect to its Regulated Subsidiaries;

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements,
provisions and covenants herein contained, Company, Lenders and Agents agree as
follows:


SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

1.1   CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS.

            The following terms used in this Agreement shall have the following
meanings:

            "ACQUIRED INDEBTEDNESS" means, with respect to any specified Person,
(i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is
merged with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary or is designated a
Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including without limitation
Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other
Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary or Restricted Subsidiary of
such specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any
asset acquired by such specified Person.

            "ADJUSTED EURODOLLAR RATE" means, for any Interest Rate
Determination Date with respect to an Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate
Loan, the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) the offered rate per annum at
which deposits in Dollars appears on Page 3750 of the Dow Jones & Company
Telerate screen as shown under the heading "USD" (or any successor page),
determined as of 11:00 A.M. (London Time) two Business Days prior to the
beginning of such Interest Period for delivery on the first date of such
Interest Period and with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period by (ii) a
percentage equal to 100% minus the stated maximum rate of all reserve
requirements (including any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other
reserves) applicable on such Interest Rate Determination Date to any member bank
of the Federal Reserve System in respect of "Eurocurrency liabilities" as
defined in Regulation D (or any successor category of liabilities under
Regulation D).

            "AFFECTED LENDER" has the meaning assigned to that term in
subsection 2.6C.

            "AFFECTED LOANS" has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection
2.6C.



                                        2
<PAGE>   3
            "AFFILIATE", as applied to any Person, means any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with,
that Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with
correlative meanings, the terms "controlling", "controlled by" and "under common
control with"), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or
by contract or otherwise, and "AFFILIATES" means such affiliates in the plural;
provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a
Person shall be deemed to be control.

            "AGENTS" means Facility Manager and Syndication Agent.

            "AGREEMENT" means this Term Loan Agreement dated as of May 13, 1998,
as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

            "APPLICABLE MARGIN" means, with respect to the applicable Loan
bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to either the Base Rate or
the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate as set forth below, as of any date of
determination, the corresponding percentage per annum set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Type of Loan                             Applicable Margin
            ------------                             -----------------
<S>                                                             <C>
            Base Rate Loans                                     3.25%
            Eurodollar Rate Loans                               4.25%
</TABLE>

            "APPROVED FUND" means, with respect to any Lender that is a fund or
trust that makes, buys or invests in commercial loans, any other fund or trust
that makes, buys or invests in commercial loans and is managed by the same
investment advisor as such Lender.

            "ASSET SALE" means (i) the sale, lease (other than an operating
lease), conveyance or other disposition of any assets (including, without
limitation, by way of a sale and leaseback, including any disposition by means
of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction and including the issuance,
sale or other transfer of any of the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary
of such Person) other than to Company or to any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries
(including the receipt of proceeds of insurance paid on account of the loss of
or damage to any asset and awards or compensation for any asset taken by
condemnation, eminent domain or similar proceeding) that have a fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of such Person) in
excess of $2,000,000 or for net cash proceeds in excess of $2,000,000); and (ii)
the issuance of Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of
any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in one or a
series of related transactions; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing,
the term "Asset Sale" shall not include: (a) the sale, lease, conveyance,
disposition or other transfers of all or substantially all


                                       3
<PAGE>   4
of the assets of Company, as permitted pursuant to subsection 6.11, (b) the sale
or lease of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, including,
without limitation, the sale of any investments constituting a portion of an
investment portfolio in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practice, (c) a transfer of assets (1) by Company to a Subsidiary Guarantor
which is not a Regulated Subsidiary, (2) by Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
to a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent required to comply with applicable
regulatory requirements or (3) by a Restricted Subsidiary to Company or to a
Subsidiary Guarantor which is not a Regulated Subsidiary, (d) an issuance of
Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to Company or to a Subsidiary
Guarantor which is not a Regulated Subsidiary or to a Restricted Subsidiary to
the extent required to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, (e)
Permitted Investments, (f) any dividend, distribution, Investment or payment
made in Cash pursuant to subsection 6.1(a) or subsection 6.1(b), (g) the sale or
transfer of surplus or obsolete equipment in the ordinary course of business,
(h) a pledge of all or any part of the Capital Stock of any Restricted
Subsidiary to Facility Manager for the benefit of the Lenders or a Lien on any
other property or asset of a Restricted Subsidiary permitted by this Agreement
or (i) Excluded Asset Sales.

            "ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT" means an Assignment Agreement in
substantially the form of Exhibit VII annexed hereto.

            "ATTRIBUTABLE DEBT" means, in respect of a sale and leaseback
transaction, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the
rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with
GAAP) of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the
remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction
(including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the
option of the lessor, be extended, to the extent the lease payments during such
extension period are required to be capitalized on a balance sheet as a
liability in accordance with GAAP).

            "AUDITOR'S LETTER" means a letter, substantially in the form of
Exhibit VIII annexed hereto, acknowledged and agreed to by Company which shall
be delivered to Facility Manager pursuant to subsection 3.1Q.

            "BANKRUPTCY CODE" means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled
"Bankruptcy", as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

            "BASE RATE" means, at any time, the higher of (x) the Prime Rate or
(y) the rate which is 1/2 of 1% in excess of the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

            "BASE RATE LOANS" means Loans bearing interest at rates determined
by reference to the Base Rate as provided in subsection 2.2A.



                                       4
<PAGE>   5
            "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means the Board of Directors of Company, or any
authorized committee of the Board of Directors.

            "BRIDGE AGREEMENT" means that certain Bridge Securities Purchase
Agreement dated as of February 6, 1998, between Company and Oxford Funding,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of March
30, 1998.

            "BUSINESS DAY" means (i) for all purposes other than as covered by
clause (ii) below, any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a
legal holiday under the laws of the States of New York and Connecticut or is a
day on which banking institutions located in such states are authorized or
required by law or other governmental action to close, and (ii) with respect to
all notices, determinations, fundings and payments in connection with the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or any Eurodollar Rate Loans, any day that is a
Business Day described in clause (i) above and that is also a day for trading by
and between banks in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

            "CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS" means the contributions by Company to the
capital of one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy
regulatory requirements for statutory capital levels at such Restricted
Subsidiaries.

            "CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATION" means, at the time any determination
thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease
that would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in
accordance with GAAP.

            "CAPITAL STOCK" means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate
stock, (ii) in the case of a limited liability company or similar entity, any
membership or similar interests therein, (iii) in the case of an association or
business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other
equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, (iv) in the case of a
partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited) and (v) any
other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a
share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing
Person.

            "CASH" means money, currency or a credit balance in any demand,
time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings and loan
association, credit union or like organization, other than an account evidenced
by a negotiable certificate of deposit.

            "CASH EQUIVALENTS" means (i) U.S. Government Obligations or
Securities that would be U.S. Government Obligations if such Securities were not
callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, in each case
maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition; (ii) any
certificate of deposit, maturing not more than one year after the date of
acquisition, issued by, or time deposit of, a commercial banking institution
that has combined capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 or its
equivalent in foreign currency, whose


                                       5
<PAGE>   6
debt is rated at the time as of which any investment therein is made, "A" (or
higher) according to S&P or "Aa" (or higher) according to Moody's, or if neither
S&P nor Moody's shall then exist, the equivalent of such rating by any other
nationally recognized securities rating agency; (iii) obligations issued or
fully guaranteed by any State of the United States of America or any political
subdivision of any such State or any public instrumentality thereof maturing
within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of
acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or
Moody's; (iv) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for
underlying Securities of the types described in clauses (i) and (ii) above
entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified
in clause (ii) above; and (v) commercial paper having one of the two of the
highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or Moody's and in each case maturing
within one year after the date of acquisition.

            "CERTIFICATE RE NON-BANK STATUS" means a certificate in form and
substance satisfactory to Facility Manager delivered by a Lender to Facility
Manager pursuant to subsection 2.7B(iii) pursuant to which such Lender certifies
that it is not (i) a "bank" as such term is defined in subsection 881(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code; (ii) a 10 percent shareholder of Company within the
meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) or Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue
Code; or (iii) a "controlled" foreign corporation related to Company within the
meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

            "CHANGE OF CONTROL" means such time as (i) Company becomes aware
that, a "person" or "group" (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2)
of the Exchange Act) other than the Permitted Holders has become, directly or
indirectly, the "beneficial owner," by way of merger, consolidation or
otherwise, of 35% or more of the voting power of the voting stock of Company on
a fully-diluted basis after giving effect to the conversion and exercise of all
outstanding warrants, options and other securities of Company (whether or not
such securities are then currently convertible or exercisable), (ii) the sale,
lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Company to any
"person" or "group" (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the
Exchange Act) other than the Permitted Holders, or (iii) during any period of
two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constituted the Board of Directors (together with any new directors whose
election by the Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the
shareholders of Company was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors
then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period
or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved or was
approved by the Permitted Holders) cease for any reason to constitute a majority
of the directors of Company then in office.

            "CLOSING DATE" means the date on or before May 30, 1998, on which
the Loans are made.



                                       6
<PAGE>   7
            "COLLATERAL" means, collectively, all the property and assets
(tangible and intangible) of Company and each direct and indirect domestic
Significant Subsidiary of Company and all the Capital Stock of Company's direct
and indirect Significant Subsidiaries, whenever acquired and wherever located,
in which Liens are purported to be granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents
as security for the Obligations, in each case except to the extent applicable
regulatory restrictions with respect to Regulated Subsidiaries do not permit
such Liens to be provided to secure the Obligations.

            "COLLATERAL ACCOUNT AGREEMENT" means the Collateral Account
Agreement executed and delivered by Company and Facility Manager on the Closing
Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit XVI annexed hereto, as such
Collateral Account Agreement may hereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.

            "COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS" means the Company Pledge Agreement, the
Company Security Agreement, the Company Trademark Security Agreement, the
Collateral Account Agreement, the Third-Party Account Agreements, the Subsidiary
Pledge Agreements, the Subsidiary Security Agreements, the Subsidiary Trademark
Security Agreements, any Mortgages and all other instruments or documents
delivered by any Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents in order to grant to Facility Manager, on behalf of Lenders, a Lien on
any real, personal or mixed property of that Loan Party as security for the
Obligations.

            "COMMITMENT" means the commitment of a Lender to make a Loan to
Company pursuant to subsection 2.1A, and "COMMITMENTS" means such commitments of
all Lenders in the aggregate.

            "COMPANY" has the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction
to this Agreement.

            "COMPANY PLEDGE AGREEMENT" means the Company Pledge Agreement
executed and delivered by Company on the Closing Date, substantially in the form
of Exhibit IX annexed hereto, as such Company Pledge Agreement may thereafter be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

            "COMPANY SECURITY AGREEMENT" means the Company Security Agreement
executed and delivered by Company on the Closing Date, substantially in the form
of Exhibit X annexed hereto, as such Company Security Agreement may thereafter
be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

            "COMPANY TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT" means the Company Trademark
Security Agreement executed and delivered by Company on the Closing Date,
substantially in


                                       7
<PAGE>   8
the form of Exhibit XI annexed hereto, as such Company Trademark Security
Agreement may thereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.

            "COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE" means a certificate substantially in the
form of Exhibit IV annexed hereto delivered to Facility Manager and Lenders by
Company pursuant to subsection 5.1(iv).

            "CONFORMING LEASEHOLD INTEREST" means any Recorded Leasehold
Interest as to which the lessor has agreed in writing for the benefit of
Facility Manager (which writing has been delivered to Facility Manager), whether
under the terms of the applicable lease, under the terms of a Landlord Consent
and Estoppel, or otherwise, to the matters described in the definition of
"Landlord Consent and Estoppel," which interest, if a subleasehold or
sub-subleasehold interest, is not subject to any contrary restrictions contained
in a superior lease or sublease.

            "CONSOLIDATED CASHFLOW" means, with respect to Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of, without duplication, (i) the
Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus (ii) to the extent deducted from
Consolidated Net Income for such period, (x) the Fixed Charges for such period,
plus (y) non-cash dividends on Company's preferred stock, plus (iii)
Consolidated Income Taxes for such period, plus (iv) consolidated depreciation,
amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles),
depletion and other non-cash charges of Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
required to be reflected as expenses on the books and records of Company, minus
(v) Cash payments with respect to any nonrecurring, non-cash charges previously
added back pursuant to clause (iv). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision
for taxes based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and
amortization and other non-cash charges of a Restricted Subsidiary of a Person
shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cashflow only
to the extent that the Net Income of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in
calculating the Consolidated Net Income of such Person.

            "CONSOLIDATED INCOME TAXES" means, with respect to any Person for
any period, taxes imposed upon such Person or other payments required to be made
by such Person by any Governmental Entity which taxes or other payments are
calculated by reference to the income or profits of such Person or Person and
its Subsidiaries (to the extent such income or profits were included in
computing Consolidated Net Income for such period), regardless of whether such
taxes or payments are required to be remitted to any Governmental Entity.

            "CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance
with GAAP; provided that (i) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is
not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of
accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or


                                       8
<PAGE>   9
distributions paid in Cash to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary
thereof, (ii) the Net Income of, or any dividends or other distributions from,
any Unrestricted Subsidiary, to the extent otherwise included, shall be
excluded, whether or not distributed to Company or one of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, (iii) without duplication, (x) losses of any Restricted Subsidiary
shall be excluded with respect to the calculation under subsection 6.2, (y) Net
Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded with respect to the
calculation under such subsection 6.2 to the extent that such Net Income has not
been dividended or distributed in Cash to Company and (z) intercompany payments
to Company by Restricted Subsidiaries shall be included in Net Income of Company
and intercompany payments by Company to the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be
deducted from Net Income with respect to the calculation under such subsection
6.2, (iv) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests
transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition shall be
excluded, (v) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall
be excluded, and (vi) income or loss attributable to discontinued operations
shall be excluded.

            "CONSOLIDATED NET WORTH" of a Person at any date means the amount by
which the assets of such Person and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries
(less any revaluation or other write-up subsequent to the date of this Agreement
in any such assets (other than write-ups of tangible assets of a going concern
business made within twelve months after the acquisition of such business))
exceed the sum of (a) the total liabilities of such Person and its consolidated
Subsidiaries, plus (b) any Disqualified Stock of such Person or any consolidated
Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person issued to any Person other than such
Person or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, in each case
determined in accordance with GAAP.

            "CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION", as applied to any Person, means any
provision of any Security issued by that Person or of any material indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, contract, undertaking, agreement or other instrument to
which that Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound or
to which it or any of its properties is subject.

            "DISQUALIFIED STOCK" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or
by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, is convertible
or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or redeemable at the
option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date on
which is 91 days after the date that the Loans mature.

            "DLJ CAPITAL FUNDING" has the meaning assigned to that term in the
introduction to this Agreement.

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

                                       9
<PAGE>   10
             "ELIGIBLE ASSIGNEE" means (A) (i) a commercial bank organized under
the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (ii) a savings and loan
association or savings bank organized under the laws of the United States or any
state thereof; (iii) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other
country or a political subdivision thereof; provided that (x) such bank is
acting through a branch or agency located in the United States or (y) such bank
is organized under the laws of a country that is a member of the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development or a political subdivision of such
country; and (iv) any other entity which is an "accredited investor" (as defined
in Regulation D under the Securities Act) which extends credit or buys or
invests in loans as one of its businesses including insurance companies, funds,
trusts and lease financing companies; and (B) any Lender and any Affiliate of
any Lender or an Approved Fund; provided, however, that "Eligible Assignee"
shall not include any entity which is a competitor of Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries in the Healthcare Service Business.

            "EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN" means any "employee benefit plan" as defined
in Section 3(3) of ERISA other than a Multiemployer Plan which is or was
maintained or contributed to by Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or
any of their respective ERISA Affiliates.

            "ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIM" means any investigation, notice, notice of
violation, claim, action, suit, proceeding, demand, abatement order or other
order or directive (conditional or otherwise), by any Governmental Entity or any
other Person, arising (i) pursuant to or in connection with any actual or
alleged violation of any Environmental Law, (ii) in connection with any
Hazardous Materials or any actual or alleged Hazardous Materials Activity, or
(iii) in connection with any actual or alleged damage, injury, threat or harm to
health, safety, natural resources or the environment.

            "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means any and all current or future statutes,
ordinances, orders, rules, regulations, guidance documents, judgments,
Governmental Authorizations, or any other requirements of Governmental Entities
relating to (i) environmental matters, including those relating to any Hazardous
Materials Activity, (ii) the generation, use, storage, transportation or
disposal of Hazardous Materials, or (iii) occupational safety and health,
industrial hygiene, land use or the protection of human, plant or animal health
or welfare, in any manner applicable to Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or any Facility, including the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.), the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. Section 1801 et seq.), the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.), the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.), the Clean
Air Act (42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15
U.S.C. Section 2601 et seq.), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide
Act (7 U.S.C. Section 136 et seq.), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29
U.S.C. Section 651 et seq.), the Oil Pollution Act (33 U.S.C. Section 2701 et
seq) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C.
Section 11001 et seq.), each as amended or


                                       10
<PAGE>   11
supplemented, any analogous present or future state or local statutes or laws,
and any regulations promulgated pursuant to any of the foregoing.

            "EQUITY CONTRIBUTION" means the $350,000,000 in gross proceeds to be
received by Company from the issuance and sale of the Preferred Stock to TPG.

            "EQUITY INTERESTS" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or
other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt Security that is
convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock).

            "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

            "ERISA AFFILIATE" means, as applied to any Person, (i) any
corporation which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the
meaning of Section 414(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person is a
member; (ii) any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is a
member of a group of trades or businesses under common control within the
meaning of Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person is a
member; and (iii) any member of an affiliated service group within the meaning
of Section 414(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person, any
corporation described in clause (i) above or any trade or business described in
clause (ii) above is a member. Any former ERISA Affiliate of Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries shall continue to be considered an ERISA Affiliate
of Company or such Restricted Subsidiary within the meaning of this definition
with respect to the period such entity was an ERISA Affiliate of Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary and with respect to liabilities arising after such period
for which Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could be liable under the
Internal Revenue Code or ERISA.

            "ERISA EVENT" means (i) a "reportable event" within the meaning of
Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder with respect to any
Pension Plan (excluding those for which the provision for 30-day notice to the
PBGC has been waived by regulation); (ii) the failure to meet the minimum
funding standard of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any
Pension Plan (whether or not waived in accordance with Section 412(d) of the
Internal Revenue Code) or the failure to make by its due date a required
installment under Section 412(m) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to
any Pension Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a
Multiemployer Plan; (iii) the provision by the administrator of any Pension Plan
pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate such
plan in a distress termination described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (iv) the
withdrawal by Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan with two or more contributing
sponsors or the termination of any such Pension Plan that would be reasonably
likely to result in material liability pursuant to Section 4063 or 4064 of
ERISA; (v) the institution by the PBGC of


                                       11
<PAGE>   12
proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan, or the occurrence of any event or
condition which might constitute grounds under ERISA for the termination of, or
the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (vi) the
imposition of liability on Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of
their respective ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4062(e) or 4069 of ERISA
or by reason of the application of Section 4212(c) of ERISA in an amount that
would be material; (vii) the withdrawal of Company, any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in a complete or
partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA) from
any Multiemployer Plan if there is any potential liability therefor, or the
receipt by Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates of notice from any Multiemployer Plan that it is in
reorganization or insolvency pursuant to Section 4241 or 4245 of ERISA, or that
it intends to terminate or has terminated under Section 4041A or 4042 of ERISA;
(viii) the occurrence of an act or omission which could give rise to the
imposition on Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates of material fines, penalties, taxes or related
charges under Chapter 43 of the Internal Revenue Code or under Section 409,
Section 502(c), (i) or (l), or Section 4071 of ERISA in respect of any Employee
Benefit Plan; (ix) the assertion of a material claim (other than routine claims
for benefits) against any Employee Benefit Plan other than a Multiemployer Plan
or the assets thereof, or against Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or
any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in connection with any Employee Benefit
Plan; (x) receipt from the Internal Revenue Service of notice of the failure of
any Pension Plan (or any other Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) to qualify under Section
401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the failure of any trust forming part of
any Pension Plan to qualify for exemption from taxation under Section 501(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code; or (xi) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section
401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or pursuant to ERISA with
respect to any Pension Plan in an amount that would be material.

            "EURODOLLAR RATE LOANS" means Loans bearing interest at rates
determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate as provided in
subsection 2.2A.

            "EVENT OF DEFAULT" means each of the events set forth in Section 7.

            "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, and any successor statute.

            "EXCLUDED ASSET SALES" means the sale of the Capital Stock of, or of
the assets of, the Regulated Subsidiaries or other entities identified on
Schedule 1.1A annexed hereto; provided that (1) to the extent Company, a
Principal Subsidiary or any Subsidiary Guarantor has transferred Cash or other
assets to, made loans to or other Investments in, or made any Capital
Contributions to, any of such Regulated Subsidiaries after the Closing Date, the
value of all such transferred Cash, other assets, loans, other Investments or
Capital Contributions (collectively, the "POST-CLOSING CONTRIBUTIONS") shall
reduce the amount of Excluded Asset


                                       12
<PAGE>   13
Sale Proceeds (as hereinafter defined) on a dollar-for-dollar basis; (2) the
aggregate amount of consideration received from such sales and excluded from the
provisions of subsection 6.9 does not exceed an amount equal to $55,000,000 (the
"EXCLUDED ASSET SALE PROCEEDS"); and (3) the consideration that may be received
with respect to such Excluded Asset Sales is subject to the limitations set
forth in subsection 6.9. To the extent Company makes a Permitted Investment as
described in clause (xiii) of the definition thereof, Cash and Marketable
Securities from Excluded Asset Sales in an amount equal to such Investment shall
be deemed proceeds from Asset Sales and subject to subsection 6.9.

            "EXCLUDED ASSET SALE PROCEEDS" has the meaning assigned to that term
in the definition of "Excluded Asset Sales".

            "EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS" means the Indebtedness of Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement) in
existence on the date of this Agreement and set forth on Schedule 1.1B annexed
hereto, until such amounts are repaid.

            "FACILITIES" means any and all real property (including all
buildings, fixtures or other improvements located thereon) now, hereafter or
heretofore owned, leased, operated or used by Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors or Affiliates.

            "FACILITY MANAGER" has the meaning assigned to that term in the
introduction to this Agreement and also means and includes any successor
Facility Manager appointed pursuant to subsection 8.5.

            "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, with respect to any asset or property,
the sale value that would be obtained in an arm's-length transaction between an
informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and
willing buyer.

            "FEDERAL FUNDS EFFECTIVE RATE" means, for any period, a fluctuating
interest rate equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of
the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or,
if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any
day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such
transactions received by Facility Manager from three Federal funds brokers of
recognized standing selected by Facility Manager.

            "FINANCIAL PLAN" has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection
5.1(xii).

            "FIRST PRIORITY" means, with respect to any Lien purported to be
created in any Collateral pursuant to any Collateral Document, that (i) such
Lien has priority over any other


                                       13
<PAGE>   14
Lien on such Collateral and (ii) such Lien is the only Lien (other than
Permitted Liens) to which such Collateral is subject.

            "FISCAL QUARTER" means a fiscal quarter of any Fiscal Year.

            "FISCAL YEAR" means the fiscal year of Company and its Subsidiaries
ending on December 31 of each calendar year. For purposes of this Agreement, any
particular Fiscal Year shall be designated by reference to the calendar year in
which such Fiscal Year ends.

            "FIXED CHARGES" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the sum without duplication, of (i) the consolidated interest expense of such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued
(including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount,
non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment
obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital
Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in
respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and net payments
(if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations), and (ii) the consolidated interest
expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized
during such period, and (iii) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another
Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries
or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon), and (iv)
all dividend payments, whether or not in Cash, on any series of preferred stock
of any such Person payable to a party other than Company or a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary, other than dividend payments on Equity Interests payable solely in
Equity Interests of Company.

             "FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO" means with respect to any Person for
any period, the ratio of (x) the Consolidated Cashflow of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such Period to (y) the Fixed Charges of such Person
and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period. In the event that Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees or repays any
Indebtedness (other than the incurrence or repayment of revolving credit
borrowings used for working capital, except to the extent that a repayment is
accompanied by a permanent reduction in revolving credit commitments) or issues
preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the four-quarter reference
period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior
to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio is made (the "CALCULATION DATE"), then the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence,
assumption, guarantee or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance or
redemption of preferred stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of
the applicable four-quarter reference period. For purposes of making the
computation referred to above, (i) acquisitions that have been made by Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or
consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the
four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or
prior to the


                                       14
<PAGE>   15
Calculation Date shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the
four-quarter reference period and shall give pro forma effect to the
Consolidated Cashflow and Indebtedness of the Person which is the subject of any
such acquisition (as well as any pro forma expense and cost reductions
attributable thereto), and (ii) the Consolidated Cashflow attributable to
discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations
or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, and
Consolidated Cashflow shall reflect any pro forma expense and cost reductions
relating to such discontinuance, and (iii) the Fixed Charges attributable to
discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations
or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, but
only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will
not be obligations of the referent Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
following the Calculation Date.

            "FORM 8-K" means that certain Form 8-K filed by Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 1998.

            "FORM 10-K" means that certain Form 10-K filed by Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 1998, as amended on April 30,
1998.

            "FUNDING AND PAYMENT OFFICE" means (i) the office of Facility
Manager located at One State Street, New York, New York 10004 or (ii) such other
office of Facility Manager as may hereafter be designated from time to time in a
written notice delivered by Facility Manager to Company and each Lender.

            "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America which are in effect on the Closing Date.

            "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION" means (i) any and all certificates,
permits, licenses, franchises, concessions, grants, consents, approvals, orders,
registrations, authorizations, waivers, variances or clearances from, or filings
or registrations with, any Governmental Entities, and (ii) any and all waiting
periods imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

             "GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY" means any governmental or political
subdivision or department thereof, any governmental or regulatory body,
commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, including without
limitation any Healthcare Regulator, or any court or arbitrator or alternative
dispute resolution body, in each case whether federal, state, local or foreign.

            "GUARANTEE" means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of
negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business),
direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of
credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of
any Indebtedness.

                                       15
<PAGE>   16
            "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS" means (i) any chemical, material or substance
at any time defined as or included in the definition of "hazardous substances",
"hazardous wastes", "hazardous materials", "extremely hazardous waste", acutely
hazardous waste", "radioactive waste", "biohazardous waste", "pollutant", "toxic
pollutant", "contaminant", "restricted hazardous waste", "infectious waste",
"toxic substances", or any other term or expression intended to define, list or
classify substances by reason of properties harmful to health, safety or the
indoor or outdoor environment (including harmful properties such as
ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, carcinogenicity, toxicity, reproductive
toxicity, "TCLP toxicity" or "EP toxicity" or words of similar import under any
applicable Environmental Laws); (ii) any oil, petroleum, petroleum fraction or
petroleum derived substance; (iii) any drilling fluids, produced waters and
other wastes associated with the exploration, development or production of crude
oil, natural gas or geothermal resources; (iv) any flammable substances or
explosives; (v) any radioactive materials; (vi) any asbestos-containing
materials; (vii) urea formaldehyde foam insulation; (viii) electrical equipment
which contains any oil or dielectric fluid containing polychlorinated biphenyls;
(ix) pesticides; and (x) any other chemical, material or substance, exposure to
which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any Governmental Entity or which
might reasonably be expected to pose a hazard to the health and safety of the
owners, occupants or any Persons in the vicinity of any Facility or to the
indoor or outdoor environment.

            "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ACTIVITY" means any past, current, proposed or
threatened activity, event or occurrence involving any Hazardous Materials,
including the use, manufacture, possession, storage, holding, presence,
existence, location, Release, threatened Release, discharge, placement,
generation, transportation, processing, construction, treatment, abatement,
removal, remediation, disposal, disposition or handling of any Hazardous
Materials, and any corrective action or response action with respect to any of
the foregoing.

            "HEALTHCARE AUTHORIZATIONS" means any and all Governmental
Authorizations (i) necessary to enable Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to engage in the Healthcare Service Business, operate as an HMO or
insurance company, participate in the Medicare, Medicaid or comparable state
programs or otherwise continue to conduct its business as it is conducted on the
Closing Date or (ii) required by any Healthcare Regulator or under any
Healthcare Regulation, law or regulation relating to Medicare, Medicaid or
comparable state programs or other law or regulation applicable to HMOs,
insurance companies or other Persons engaged in the Healthcare Service Business.

            "HEALTHCARE REGULATIONS" means all laws, regulations, directives,
administrative orders and decisions applicable to HMOs, healthcare service
providers, healthcare-related insurance companies, Persons engaged in the
Healthcare Service Business or any other similar Persons and any rules,
regulations, orders, directives and decisions promulgated or issued pursuant
thereto.

                                       16
<PAGE>   17
            "HEALTHCARE REGULATOR" means any Person charged with the
administration, oversight or enforcement of any Healthcare Regulation, whether
primarily, secondarily or jointly.

            "HEALTHCARE SERVICE BUSINESS" means a business, the majority of
whose revenues are derived from providing or arranging to provide or
administering, managing or monitoring healthcare services or any business or
activity that is reasonably similar thereto or a reasonable extension,
development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto, including, without
limitation, the issuance of health insurance.

            "HEDGING OBLIGATIONS" means with respect to any Person, the
obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest
rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest rates.

            "HMO" means any Person doing business as a health maintenance
organization (or required to qualify or to be licensed as such) under applicable
Healthcare Regulations.

            "INDEBTEDNESS" means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness
of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or
evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of
credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker's acceptances
or representing Capital Lease Obligations or balance deferred and unpaid of the
purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging Obligations, except
any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, if and to
the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and
Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such
Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as all indebtedness of others
secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person (whether or not such indebtedness
is assumed by such Person), the maximum fixed repurchase price of Disqualified
Stock issued by such Person in each case, if held by any Person other than
Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Company, and, to the extent not
otherwise included, the guarantee by such Person of any indebtedness of any
other Person. For the purposes of this definition the "maximum fixed repurchase
price" of Disqualified Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall
be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such
Disqualified Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be
required to be determined pursuant to this Agreement, and if such price is based
upon, or measured by, the Fair Market Value of such Disqualified Stock, such
Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the board of directors of
the issuer of such Disqualified Stock.

            "INDEMNITEE" has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection
9.3.

                                       17
<PAGE>   18
            "INTEREST PAYMENT DATE" (i) with respect to any Base Rate Loan, each
March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on the
first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and (ii) with respect to any
Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such
Loan; provided that in the case of each Interest Period of longer than three
months "Interest Payment Date" shall also include the date that is three months,
or an integral multiple thereof, after the commencement of such Interest Period.

            "INTEREST PERIOD" has the meaning assigned to that term in
subsection 2.2B.

            "INTEREST RATE DETERMINATION DATE" means, with respect to any
Interest Period, the second Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest
Period.

            "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended to the date hereof and from time to time hereafter, and any successor
statute.

            "INVESTMENT" means, with respect to any Person, any investment by
such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of direct or
indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations),
advances or capital contributions (excluding commissions, travel, relocation and
similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of
business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness,
Equity Interests or other Securities and all other items that are or would be
classified as investments on a balance sheets prepared in accordance with GAAP;
provided that an acquisition of assets, Equity Interests or other Securities by
Company for consideration consisting of common equity Securities of Company
shall not be deemed to be an Investment.

            "INVESTMENT AGREEMENT" means that certain Investment Agreement dated
as of February 23, 1998 between Company and TPG Oxford, as amended from time to
time after the Closing Date to the extent permitted pursuant to subsection 6.12.

            "INVESTMENT GRADE SECURITIES" means: (i) U.S. Government
Obligations; (ii) any certificate of deposit, maturing not more than 270 days
after the date of acquisition, issued by, or time deposit of, a commercial
banking institution that has combined capital and surplus of not less than
$100,000,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency, whose debt is rated at the
time as of which any investment therein is made, "A" (or higher) according to
S&P or Moody's, or if neither S&P nor Moody's shall then exist, the equivalent
of such rating by any other nationally recognized securities rating agency;
(iii) commercial paper, maturing not more than 270 days after the date of
acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate or Subsidiary of
Company) with a rating, at the time as of which any investment therein is made,
of "A-1" (or higher) according to S&P or "P-1" (or higher) according to Moody's,
or if neither S&P nor Moody's shall then exist, the equivalent of such rating by
any other nationally recognized securities rating agency; (iv) any bankers'
acceptances or any money market deposit accounts, in each case, issued or
offered by any commercial bank having capital and surplus in


                                       18
<PAGE>   19
excess of $100,000,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency, whose debt is
rated at the time as of which any investment therein is made, "A" (or higher)
according to S&P or Moody's, or if neither S&P nor Moody's shall then exist, the
equivalent of such rating by any other nationally recognized securities rating
agency; (v) any other debt Securities or debt instruments with a rating of
"BBB--" or higher by S&P, "Baa-3" or higher by Moody's, Class "2" or higher by
the NAIC or the equivalent of such rating by S&P, Moody's or the NAIC, or if
none of S&P, Moody's and the NAIC shall then exist, the equivalent of such
rating by any other nationally recognized securities rating agency; and (vi) any
fund investing exclusively in investments of the types described in clauses (i)
through (v) above.

            "IP COLLATERAL" means, collectively, the Collateral under the
Company Trademark Security Agreement and the Subsidiary Trademark Security
Agreements.

            "JOINT VENTURE" means a joint venture, partnership or other similar
arrangement, whether in corporate, partnership or other legal form; provided
that in no event shall any corporate Subsidiary of any Person be considered to
be a Joint Venture to which such Person is a party.

            "LANDLORD CONSENT AND ESTOPPEL" means, with respect to any Leasehold
Property, a letter, certificate or other instrument in writing from the lessor
under the related lease, satisfactory in form and substance to Facility Manager,
pursuant to which such lessor agrees, for the benefit of Facility Manager, (i)
that without any further consent of such lessor or any further action on the
part of the Loan Party holding such Leasehold Property, such Leasehold Property
may be encumbered pursuant to a Mortgage and may be assigned to the purchaser at
a foreclosure sale or in a transfer in lieu of such a sale (and to a subsequent
third party assignee if Facility Manager, any Lender, or an Affiliate of either
so acquires such Leasehold Property), (ii) that such lessor shall not terminate
such lease as a result of a default by such Loan Party thereunder without first
giving Facility Manager notice of such default and at least 60 days (or, if such
default cannot reasonably be cured by Facility Manager within such period, such
longer period as may reasonably be required) to cure such default, and (iii) to
such other matters relating to such Leasehold Property as Facility Manager may
reasonably request.

            "LEASEHOLD PROPERTY" means any leasehold interest of any Loan Party
as lessee under any lease of real property.

            "LENDER" and "LENDERS" means the persons identified as "Lenders" and
listed on the signature pages of this Agreement, together with their successors
and permitted assigns pursuant to subsection 9.1.

            "LIEN" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law
(including any conditional sale or other


                                       19
<PAGE>   20
title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other
agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement
to give any financing statement under the UCC).

            "LOAN" or "LOANS" means one or more of the Base Rate Loans or
Eurodollar Rate Loans or any combination thereof.

            "LOAN DOCUMENTS" means this Agreement, the Notes, the Subsidiary
Guaranty and the Collateral Documents.

            "LOAN EXPOSURE" means, with respect to any Lender as of any date of
determination (i) prior to the funding of the Loans on the Closing Date, that
Lender's Commitment and (ii) after the funding of the Loans, the outstanding
principal amount of the Loans of that Lender.

            "LOAN PARTY" means each of Company and any of Company's Subsidiaries
from time to time executing a Loan Document, and "LOAN PARTIES" means all such
Persons, collectively.

            "MARGIN STOCK" has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation U
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as in effect from time
to time.

            "MARKETABLE SECURITIES" means debt or equity Securities that are
registered, and, in the case of debt Securities, are rated in one of the four
highest ratings by one or more nationally recognized rating agencies.

            "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means (i) a material adverse effect upon
the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise)
or prospects of Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) the
impairment in any material respect of the ability of any Loan Party to perform,
or of Agents or Lenders to enforce, the Obligations.

            "MATERIAL CONTRACT" means any contract or other arrangement to which
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party (other than the Loan
Documents) for which breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew
could have a Material Adverse Effect.

            "MINORITY INVESTMENT" means an Investment in an Equity Interest in a
Person which Investment is held by Company or a Restricted Subsidiary such that
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not have more than 50% of the voting
control over all outstanding Equity Interests in such Person.

            "MOODY'S" means Moody's Investors Service Inc. and its successors.



                                       20
<PAGE>   21
            "MORTGAGE" means (i) a security instrument (whether designated as a
deed of trust or a mortgage or by any similar title) executed and delivered by
any Loan Party, in form and substance as may be approved by Facility Manager in
its sole discretion, with such changes thereto as may be recommended by Facility
Manager's local counsel based on local laws or customary local mortgage or deed
of trust practices, or (ii) at Facility Manager's option, in the case of an
Additional Mortgaged Property (as defined in subsection 5.9), an amendment to an
existing Mortgage, in form and substance satisfactory to Facility Manager,
adding such Additional Mortgaged Property to the Real Property Assets and
Leasehold Properties encumbered by such existing Mortgage, in either case as
such security instrument may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time. "MORTGAGES" means all such instruments, including any Additional
Mortgages (as defined in subsection 5.9).

            "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" means any plan which is a "multiemployer plan"
as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.

             "NAIC" means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
and its successors.

            "NET DEBT SECURITIES PROCEEDS" has the meaning assigned to that term
in subsection 2.4B(ii)(b).

            "NET EQUITY SECURITIES PROCEEDS" has the meaning assigned to that
term in subsection 2.4B(ii)(c).

            "NET INCOME" means, with respect to any Person, the net income
(loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP, and, for purposes of
clause (B)(i) of subsection 6.1(a) and for purposes of subsection 6.2, before
reduction for non-cash preferred stock dividends and for purposes of clause
(B)(ii) of subsection 6.1(a), before reduction for preferred stock dividends,
excluding in each case however (i) any gain (but not loss), together with any
related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection
with (a) any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to
sale and leaseback transactions) or (b) the disposition of any Securities by
such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any
Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) any
extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not loss), together with any related
provisions for taxes on such extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not loss)
and (iii) for purposes of subsection 6.2, any capital contribution made or
required to be made by Company.

            "NET PROCEEDS" means the aggregate Cash proceeds received by Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including,
without limitation, any Cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any
non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs
relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation,


                                       21
<PAGE>   22
legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any
relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a
result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or
deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), and any reserve for adjustment in
respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with
GAAP and net of any Purchase Money Obligations relating to the assets comprising
such Asset Sale.

            "NON-INSURANCE LITIGATION" means claims, investigations, proceedings
and litigation arising out of or relating to federal or state law relating to
the purchase or sale of Securities, including without limitation stockholders
derivative actions.

            "NON-RECOURSE DEBT" means Indebtedness (i) as to which neither
Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides any guarantee or
credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, guarantee, indemnity,
keepwell, makewell, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness)
or (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise), (ii) no
default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may
have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit
(upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default under such
other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable
prior to its stated maturity and (iii) as to which such lenders have been
notified in writing that they will not have any recourse against any of the
assets of Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

            "NOTES" means (i) the promissory notes of Company issued pursuant to
subsection 2.1E on the Closing Date and (ii) any promissory notes issued by
Company pursuant to the last sentence of subsection 9.1B(i) in connection with
assignments of the Commitments or Loans of any Lenders, in each case
substantially in the form of Exhibit III annexed hereto, as they may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

            "NOTICE OF BORROWING" means a notice substantially in the form of
Exhibit I annexed hereto delivered by Company to Facility Manager pursuant to
subsection 2.1B with respect to a proposed borrowing.

            "NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION" means a notice substantially in
the form of Exhibit II annexed hereto delivered by Company to Facility Manager
pursuant to subsection 2.2D with respect to a proposed conversion or
continuation of the applicable basis for determining the interest rate with
respect to the Loans specified therein.

            "OBLIGATIONS" means all obligations of every nature of each Loan
Party from time to time owed to Facility Manager, Lenders or any of them under
the Loan Documents, whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses,
indemnification or otherwise.

                                       22
<PAGE>   23
            "OFFERING MEMORANDUM" means that certain Offering Memorandum of
Company dated May 7, 1998 relating to the Senior Notes.

            "OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" means, as applied to any corporation, a
certificate executed on behalf of such corporation by its chairman of the board
(if an officer) or its president or one of its vice presidents and by its chief
financial officer or its treasurer; provided that every Officers' Certificate
with respect to the compliance with a condition precedent to the making of any
Loans hereunder shall include (i) a statement that the officer or officers
making or giving such Officers' Certificate have read such condition and any
definitions or other provisions contained in this Agreement relating thereto,
(ii) a statement that, in the opinion of the signers, they have made or have
caused to be made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable
them to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such condition has been
complied with, and (iii) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of the
signers, such condition has been complied with.

            "OXFORD SPECIALTY" means Oxford Specialty Holdings, Inc., Oxford
Specialty Management, Inc., Specialty Management Company (NY) IPA, Inc.,
Specialty Management Company (PA) IPA, Inc., Specialty Management Company (NJ)
IPA, Inc. and Specialty Management Company (CT) IPA, Inc.

            "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any
successor thereto.

            "PENSION PLAN" means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a
Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code
or Section 302 of ERISA.

            "PERMITTED HOLDERS" means TPG Oxford and its respective Affiliates.

            "PERMITTED INVESTMENT" means (i) any Investments in Company, in any
Subsidiary Guarantor which is not a Regulated Subsidiary, in any Restricted
Subsidiary which is a Regulated Subsidiary to the extent required to comply with
applicable regulatory requirements and in any other Restricted Subsidiary to the
extent such Investment is made to fund operating expenses in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practices; (ii) any Investment in any Person
that becomes a wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantor which is not a Regulated
Subsidiary as a result of such Investment; provided that Company, after giving
pro forma effect to such Investment, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00
of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set
forth in subsection 6.2; (iii) Investments in existence, or made pursuant to
legally binding written commitments in existence, on the Closing Date, in each
case as set forth on Schedule 1.1C annexed hereto; (iv) Investments in Cash,
Cash Equivalents and Investment Grade Securities; (v) loans or advances to
employees made in the ordinary course of business; (vi) receivables owing to
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; (vii)
repurchase agreements


                                       23
<PAGE>   24
and reverse repurchase agreements entered into by a Restricted Subsidiary with
any lender or any primary dealer of United States government securities relating
to Investment Grade Securities maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition thereof; provided that the terms of any such agreement comply with
the guidelines set forth in the Federal Financial Institutions Examination
Council Supervisory Policy-Repurchase Agreements of Depository Institutions with
Securities Dealers and Others, as adopted by the Comptroller of the Currency on
October 31, 1985 and, in the case of a repurchase agreement with a primary
dealer, a Restricted Subsidiary of Company or its duly authorized custodian
shall take possession of the obligations subject to such agreement; (viii)
Investments in Hedging Obligations and other similar agreements or arrangements
designed to protect Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against
fluctuations in the value of Investments of Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, in each case to the extent permitted under this Agreement; (ix)
accounts receivable created or acquired, and prepaid expenses arising, in the
ordinary course of business; (x) the endorsements of negotiable instruments for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business; (xi) Investments made
as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was
made pursuant to and in compliance with subsection 6.9; (xii) Investments in
Securities of trade creditors or customers received in settlement of obligations
or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the
bankruptcy or insolvency of such trade creditors or customers; (xiii)
Investments made after the Closing Date in St. Augustine Health Care, Inc.
(Florida) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $6,000,000; and (xiv) Investments
in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,500,000 at any one time outstanding
which shall be in addition to Investments which may be made pursuant to clauses
(i) through (xiii) above).

            "PERMITTED LIENS" means (i) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred
under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; (ii) Liens in favor of Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary; (iii) Liens on property of a Person existing at
the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor which is not a Regulated Subsidiary of Company; provided
that such Liens were not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of,
such merger or consolidation and such Liens do not extend to any assets of
Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor which is not a Regulated Subsidiary other
than the assets of the Person so merged into or consolidated with Company or
such Subsidiary Guarantor which is not a Regulated Subsidiary; (iv) Liens on
property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor which is not a Regulated Subsidiary; provided that such
Liens were not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such
acquisition and do not extend to any assets of Company or any Subsidiary
Guarantor which is not a Regulated Subsidiary other than the property so
acquired; (v) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety
or appeal bonds or performance bonds, or landlords', carriers', warehousemen's,
mechanics', suppliers', materialmen's or other like Liens, in any case incurred
in the ordinary course of business and with respect to amounts not yet
delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate process of law, if a
reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as is required by GAAP shall
have been made therefor; (vi) Liens existing on the Closing Date, as set forth
on Schedule 1.1D annexed hereto; (vii) Liens for taxes,


                                       24
<PAGE>   25
assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or
that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly
instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other
appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have
been made therefor; (viii) Liens on assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries that
secure Non-Recourse Debt (to the extent permitted under this Agreement) of
Unrestricted Subsidiaries; (ix) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, minor
defects or irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not
interfering in any material respect with the business of Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries; (x) statutory Liens of landlords or of mortgagees of
landlords arising by operation of law; provided that the rental payments secured
thereby are not yet due and payable; (xi) Liens incurred or deposits made in the
ordinary course of business in connection with workers' compensation,
unemployment insurance and other types of social security; (xii) Purchase Money
Liens (including extensions and renewals thereof); (xiii) interest of lessors in
Capital Leases or operating leases; (xiv) Liens on deposits made in connection
with Hedging Obligations; (xv) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure
obligations arising from statutory or regulatory requirements of Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including rights of offset and set-off; (xvi)
prejudgment Liens and judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default or
Potential Event of Default so long as any appropriate legal proceeding that may
have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not have been
finally terminated or so long as the period within which such proceeding may be
initiated shall not have expired; and (xvii) Liens incurred in the ordinary
course of business of Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor which is not a
Regulated Subsidiary of Company with respect to obligations permitted under this
Agreement that do not exceed $1,000,000 in principal amount in the aggregate at
any one time outstanding.

            "PERMITTED REFINANCING INDEBTEDNESS" means any Indebtedness of
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net
proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or
refund other Indebtedness (including the issuance of Disqualified Stock in
exchange for Disqualified Stock) of Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement); provided that: (i)
the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or then current
accreted value, if applicable) and redemption premium of, plus accrued and
unpaid interest on, the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
defeased or refunded (plus the amount of reasonable expenses incurred in
connection therewith); (ii) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final
maturity date at least as late as the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted
Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to
Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
defeased or refunded; (iii) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced,
renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to
the Loans, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date
later than the final maturity date of the Loans and is subordinated in right of
payment to the Loans on terms at least as favorable to the holders of the Loans
as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or


                                       25
<PAGE>   26
refunded; and (v) such Indebtedness is incurred either by Company or by the
Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced defeased or refinanced.

            "PERSON" means and includes natural persons, corporations, limited
partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability companies, limited
liability partnerships, joint stock companies, Joint Ventures, associations,
companies, trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business trusts or other
organizations, whether or not legal entities, and governments (whether federal,
state or local, domestic or foreign, and including political subdivisions
thereof) and agencies or other administrative or regulatory bodies thereof.

            "PLEDGED COLLATERAL" means, collectively, the "Pledged Collateral"
as defined in the Company Pledge Agreement and the Subsidiary Pledge Agreements.

            "POST-CLOSING CONTRIBUTIONS" has the meaning assigned to that term
in the definition of "Excluded Asset Sales".

            "POTENTIAL EVENT OF DEFAULT" means a condition or event that, after
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

            "PREFERRED STOCK" means Company's Series A Cumulative Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share, Company's Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock,
par value $0.01 per share, and Company's Series C Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share, in each case as amended from time to time
after the Closing Date to the extent permitted pursuant to subsection 6.12.

            "PRIME RATE" means the rate that Facility Manager announces from
time to time as its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time. The
Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or
best rate actually charged to any customer. Facility Manager or any Lender may
make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the
Prime Rate.

            "PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARY" means Oxford Health Plans (NY), Inc., Oxford
Health Plans (NJ), Inc., Oxford Health Plans (CT), Inc. and Oxford Health
Insurance, Inc.

            "PRO RATA SHARE" means, with respect to each Lender, the percentage
obtained by dividing (x) the Loan Exposure of that Lender by (y) the aggregate
Loan Exposure of all Lenders, as such percentage may be adjusted by assignments
permitted pursuant to subsection 9.1. The initial Pro Rata Share of each Lender
is set forth opposite the name of that Lender in Schedule 2.1 annexed hereto.


                                       26
<PAGE>   27
            "PTO" means the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any
successor or substitute office in which filings are necessary or, in the opinion
of Facility Manager, desirable in order to create or perfect Liens on any IP
Collateral.

            "PURCHASE MONEY LIEN" means a Lien granted on an asset or property
to secure a Purchase Money Obligation permitted to be incurred under this
Agreement and incurred solely to finance the purchase, or the cost of
construction or improvement, of such asset or property; provided, however, that
such Lien encumbers only such asset or property and is granted within 180 days
of such acquisition.

            "PURCHASE MONEY OBLIGATIONS" means, with respect to any Person, any
obligations of such Person to any seller or any other Person incurred or assumed
to finance the purchase, or the cost of construction or improvement, of real or
personal property to be used in the business of such Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in an amount that is not more than 100% of the cost, or
fair market value, as appropriate, of such property, and incurred within 90 days
after the date of such acquisition (excluding accounts payable to trade
creditors incurred in the ordinary course of business).

             "QUALIFIED INSURANCE PAYMENTS" means payments made by third party
insurers to Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Non-Insurance
Litigation less reimbursement payments required from Company or its Restricted
Subsidiaries in connection with such payments.

            "REAL PROPERTY ASSET" means, at any time of determination, any
interest then owned or leased by any Loan Party in any real property.

            "RECORDED LEASEHOLD INTEREST" means a Leasehold Property with
respect to which a Record Document (as hereinafter defined) has been recorded in
all places necessary or desirable, in Facility Manager's reasonable judgment, to
give constructive notice of such Leasehold Property to third-party purchasers
and encumbrancers of the affected real property. For purposes of this
definition, the term "RECORD DOCUMENT" means, with respect to any Leasehold
Property, (a) the lease evidencing such Leasehold Property or a memorandum
thereof, executed and acknowledged by the owner of the affected real property,
as lessor, or (b) if such Leasehold Property was acquired or subleased from the
holder of a Recorded Leasehold Interest, the applicable assignment or sublease
document, executed and acknowledged by such holder, in each case in form
sufficient to give such constructive notice upon recordation and otherwise in
form reasonably satisfactory to Facility Manager.

            "REGISTER" has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 2.1D.

            "REGULATED SUBSIDIARY" means each of the following Subsidiaries of
Company: Oxford Health Plans (PA), Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NH), Inc., Oxford
Health Plans (NJ),


                                       27
<PAGE>   28
Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NY), Inc., Oxford Health Plans (FL), Inc., Oxford
Health Insurance, Inc., Oxford Health Plans (CT), Inc., Oxford Health Plans
(IL), Inc. and Compass PPA, Inc. and any Person engaged in the Healthcare
Service Business which after the Closing Date becomes a Subsidiary of Company.

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

            "RELATED AGREEMENTS" means, collectively, the Investment Agreement,
the Certificates of Designations with respect to the Preferred Stock, the Senior
Note Indenture, the Senior Notes and the Warrants.

            "RELEASE" means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping,
pouring, injection, escaping, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping,
leaching or migration of Hazardous Materials into the indoor or outdoor
environment (including the abandonment or disposal of any barrels, containers or
other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Materials), including the
uncontrolled or unpermitted movement of any Hazardous Materials through the air,
soil, surface water or groundwater.

            "REQUISITE LENDERS" means Lenders having or holding more than 50% of
the aggregate Loan Exposure of all Lenders.

            "RESTRICTED INVESTMENT" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.

            "RESTRICTED PAYMENT" has the meaning assigned to that term in
subsection 6.1.

            "RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person, any
Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

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

            "SECURITIES" means any stock, shares, partnership interests, voting
trust certificates, certificates of interest or participation in any
profit-sharing agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures,
notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible,
subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as
"securities" or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in
temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any
right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.

            "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time, and any successor statute.



                                       28
<PAGE>   29
            "SENIOR NOTE INDENTURE" means the indenture dated as of May 13,
1998, between Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, pursuant to
which the Senior Notes are issued, as such indenture may be amended from time to
time to the extent permitted under subsection 6.12.

            "SENIOR NOTES" means the $200,000,000 in aggregate principal amount
of senior unsecured notes of Company issued pursuant to the Senior Note
Indenture, as such notes may be amended from time to time to the extent
permitted under subsection 6.12.

            "SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARY" means any Principal Subsidiary or any other
Restricted Subsidiary that either (x) would be a "significant subsidiary" as
defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the
Exchange Act, as such Regulation S-X is in effect on the date hereof or (y)
accounted for more than 10% of the consolidated revenues of Company and its
Subsidiaries as shown on the consolidated audited financial statements of
Company for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year.

            "SOLVENT" means, with respect to any Person, that as of the date of
determination both (A) (i) the then fair saleable value of the property of such
Person is (y) greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent
liabilities) of such Person and (z) not less than the amount that will be
required to pay the probable liabilities on such Person's then existing debts as
they become absolute and matured considering all financing alternatives and
potential asset sales reasonably available to such Person; (ii) such Person's
capital is not unreasonably small in relation to its business or any
contemplated or undertaken transaction; and (iii) such Person does not intend to
incur, or believe (nor should it reasonably believe) that it will incur, debts
beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due; (B) such Person is
"solvent" within the meaning given that term and similar terms under applicable
laws relating to fraudulent transfers and conveyances; and (C) such Person is
"solvent" within the meaning given that term and similar terms under applicable
Healthcare Regulations. For purposes of this definition, the amount of any
contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light
of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the
amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

            "SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other
business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of
stock or other ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of
any contingency) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether
directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions)
having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies
thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that
Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination
thereof.

                                       29
<PAGE>   30
            "SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR" means any Subsidiary of Company that executes
and delivers a counterpart of the Subsidiary Guaranty from time to time after
the Closing Date pursuant to subsection 5.8.

            "SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY" means the Subsidiary Guaranty executed and
delivered by Significant Subsidiaries of Company from time to time after the
Closing Date in accordance with subsection 5.8, substantially in the form of
Exhibit XII annexed hereto, as such Subsidiary Guaranty may hereafter be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

            "SUBSIDIARY PLEDGE AGREEMENT" means each Subsidiary Pledge Agreement
executed and delivered by any Subsidiary Guarantor from time to time after the
Closing Date in accordance with subsection 5.8, substantially in the form of
Exhibit XIII annexed hereto, as such Subsidiary Pledge Agreement may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and "SUBSIDIARY PLEDGE
AGREEMENTS" means all such Subsidiary Pledge Agreements, collectively.

            "SUBSIDIARY SECURITY AGREEMENT" means each Subsidiary Security
Agreement executed and delivered by any Subsidiary Guarantor from time to time
after the Closing Date in accordance with subsection 5.8, substantially in the
form of Exhibit XIV annexed hereto, as such Subsidiary Security Agreement may be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and "SUBSIDIARY
SECURITY AGREEMENTS" means all such Subsidiary Security Agreements,
collectively.

            "SUBSIDIARY TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT" means each Subsidiary
Trademark Security Agreement executed and delivered by any Subsidiary Guarantor
from time to time after the Closing Date in accordance with subsection 5.8,
substantially in the form of Exhibit XV annexed hereto, as such Subsidiary
Trademark Security Agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time, and "SUBSIDIARY TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENTS" means all such
Subsidiary Trademark Security Agreements, collectively.

            "SUPPLEMENTAL COLLATERAL AGENT" has the meaning assigned to that
term in subsection 8.1B.

            "SYNDICATION AGENT" has the meaning assigned to that term in the
introduction to this Agreement.

            "TAX" or "TAXES" means any present or future tax, levy, impost,
duty, charge, fee, deduction or withholding of any nature and whatever called,
by whomsoever, on whomsoever and wherever imposed, levied, collected, withheld
or assessed; provided that "TAX ON THE OVERALL NET INCOME" of a Person shall be
construed as a reference to a tax imposed by the jurisdiction in which that
Person is organized or in which that Person's principal office (and/or, in the
case of a Lender, its lending office) is located or in which that Person
(and/or, in


                                       30
<PAGE>   31
the case of a Lender, its lending office) is deemed to be doing business on all
or part of the net income, net worth, capital, profits or gains (whether
worldwide, or only insofar as such income, profits or gains are considered to
arise in or to relate to a particular jurisdiction, or otherwise) of that Person
(and/or, in the case of a Lender, its lending office).

            "THIRD-PARTY ACCOUNT AGREEMENT" means the Third-Party Account
Agreement executed and delivered by Company, Facility Manager and a third-party
securities intermediary or similar financial institution on the Closing Date,
substantially in the form of Annex A annexed to the Collateral Account
Agreement, as such Third-Party Account Agreement may hereafter be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

            "TPG" means TPG Partners II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

            "TPG OXFORD" means TPG Oxford LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company and an Affiliate of TPG.

            "TPG SECURITIES" means the Securities, including without limitation
the Preferred Stock and the Warrants, issued by Company pursuant to the
Investment Agreement.

            "TRANSACTION COSTS" means the fees, costs and expenses payable by
Company on or before the Closing Date in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Loan Documents and the Related Agreements.

            "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or
equivalent legislation) as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction.

            "UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means any Subsidiary that is designated by
the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board
Resolution; but only to the extent that such Subsidiary: (a) has no Indebtedness
other than Non-Recourse Debt; (b) is not party to any agreement, contract,
arrangement or understanding with Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or
understanding are no less favorable to Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
than those that might be obtained at the time from persons who are not
Affiliates of Company; (c) is a Person with respect to which neither Company nor
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (1) to
subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (2) to maintain or preserve such
Person's financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve or maintain any
specified levels of profitability; (d) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly
or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (e) has no Subsidiaries other than
Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall
be evidenced to Facility Manager by filing with Facility Manager a resolution of
the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officers'
Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing
conditions. If, at any time, any Unrestricted


                                       31
<PAGE>   32
Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for
purposes of this Agreement and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be
deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of Company as of such date. The
Board of Directors may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a
Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation shall be deemed to be an
incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of Company of any
outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation
shall only be permitted if (i) such Indebtedness is permitted under subsection
6.2 and (ii) no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default would be in
existence following such designation.

            "U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS" means Securities that are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its
full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of
America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full
faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either
case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and
shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section
3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), as custodian with respect to
any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or
interest on any such U.S. Government obligation held by such custodian for the
account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as
required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the
amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received
by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific
payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced
by such depository receipt.

            "WARRANTS" means Company's Series A Warrants to purchase shares of
Company's Common Stock in the form attached to Company's Series A Preferred
Stock, and Company's Series B Warrants to purchase shares of Company's Common
Stock in the form attached to Company's Series B Preferred Stock, in each case
as such warrants may be amended from time to time to the extent permitted under
subsection 6.12.

            "WEIGHTED AVERAGE LIFE TO MATURITY" means, when applied to any
Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum
of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding principal
amount of such Indebtedness.

            "WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person, a
Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or
other ownership interests of which (other than directors' qualifying shares or
shares required by applicable law to be held by


                                       32
<PAGE>   33
third parties) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more
Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person. Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall not be
included in the definition of Wholly Owned Subsidiary for any purposes of this
Agreement.

1.2   ACCOUNTING TERMS; UTILIZATION OF GAAP FOR PURPOSES OF CALCULATIONS UNDER
      AGREEMENT.

            Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all
accounting terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
to them in conformity with GAAP.

1.3   OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

      A. Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context otherwise
requires, be used in the singular or the plural, depending on the reference.

      B. References to "Sections" and "subsections" shall be to Sections and
subsections, respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically
provided.

      C. The use in any of the Loan Documents of the word "include" or
"including", when following any general statement, term or matter, shall not be
construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or
matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or
matters, whether or not nonlimiting language (such as "without limitation" or
"but not limited to" or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto,
but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall
within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter.


                                       33
<PAGE>   34
SECTION 2. AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS AND LOANS

2.1   COMMITMENTS; MAKING OF LOANS; THE REGISTER; NOTES.

      A. COMMITMENTS. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and
in reliance upon the representations and warranties of Company set forth herein,
each Lender severally agrees to lend to Company on the Closing Date an amount
not exceeding its Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amount of the Commitments to
be used for the purposes identified in subsection 2.5A. The amount of each
Lender's Commitment is set forth opposite its name on Schedule 2.1 annexed
hereto and the aggregate amount of the Commitments is $150,000,000; provided
that the Commitments of Lenders shall be adjusted to give effect to any
assignments of the Commitments pursuant to subsection 9.1B. Each Lender's
Commitment shall expire immediately and without further action on July 15, 1998
if the Loans are not made on or before that date. Company may make only one
borrowing under the Commitments. Amounts borrowed under this subsection 2.1A and
subsequently repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

      B. BORROWING MECHANICS. Loans made on the Closing Date shall be in an
aggregate minimum amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in
excess of that amount. Company shall deliver to Facility Manager a Notice of
Borrowing no later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) at least three Business
Days in advance of the Closing Date (in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan) or
at least one Business Day in advance of the Closing Date (in the case of a Base
Rate Loan). The Notice of Borrowing shall specify (i) the proposed Closing Date
(which shall be a Business Day), (ii) the amount of Loans requested, (iii)
whether such Loans shall be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, and (iv)
in the case of any Loans requested to be made as Eurodollar Rate Loans, the
initial Interest Period requested therefor. Loans may be continued as or
converted into Base Rate Loans and Eurodollar Rate Loans in the manner provided
in subsection 2.2D. In lieu of delivering the above-described Notice of
Borrowing, Company may give Facility Manager telephonic notice by the required
time of any proposed borrowing under this subsection 2.1B; provided that such
notice shall be promptly confirmed in writing by delivery of a Notice of
Borrowing to Facility Manager on or before the Closing Date.

         Neither Facility Manager nor any Lender shall incur any liability to
Company in acting upon any telephonic notice referred to above that Facility
Manager believes in good faith to have been given by a duly authorized officer
or other person authorized to borrow on behalf of Company or for otherwise
acting in good faith under this subsection 2.1B, and upon funding of Loans by
Lenders in accordance with this Agreement pursuant to any such telephonic notice
Company shall have effected Loans hereunder.

            Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2.6B, 2.6C and 2.6G, a
Notice of Borrowing for a Eurodollar Rate Loan (or telephonic notice in lieu
thereof) shall be irrevocable


                                       34
<PAGE>   35
on and after the related Interest Rate Determination Date, and Company shall be
bound to make a borrowing in accordance therewith.

      C. DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS. All Loans under this Agreement shall be made by
Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their respective Pro Rata Shares,
it being understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any
other Lender in that other Lender's obligation to make a Loan requested
hereunder nor shall the Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a
result of a default by any other Lender in that other Lender's obligation to
make a Loan requested hereunder. Promptly after receipt by Facility Manager of a
Notice of Borrowing pursuant to subsection 2.1B (or telephonic notice in lieu
thereof), Facility Manager shall notify each Lender of the proposed borrowing.
Each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to Facility Manager not
later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the Closing Date, in same day
funds in Dollars, at the Funding and Payment Office. Upon satisfaction or waiver
of the conditions precedent specified in subsection 3.1 and subsection 3.2,
Facility Manager shall make the proceeds of such Loans available to Company on
the Closing Date by causing an amount of same day funds in Dollars equal to the
proceeds of all such Loans received by Facility Manager from Lenders to be
credited to the account of Company at the Funding and Payment Office.

         Unless Facility Manager shall have been notified by any Lender prior to
the Closing Date that such Lender does not intend to make available to Facility
Manager the amount of such Lender's Loan requested on the Closing Date, Facility
Manager may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to Facility
Manager on the Closing Date and Facility Manager may, in its sole discretion,
but shall not be obligated to, make available to Company a corresponding amount
on the Closing Date. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available
to Facility Manager by such Lender, Facility Manager shall be entitled to
recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with
interest thereon, for each day from the Closing Date until the date such amount
is paid to Facility Manager, at the customary rate set by Facility Manager for
the correction of errors among banks for three Business Days and thereafter at
2.00% over the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate. If such Lender does not pay such
corresponding amount forthwith upon Facility Manager's demand therefor, Facility
Manager shall promptly notify Company and Company shall immediately pay such
corresponding amount to Facility Manager together with interest thereon, for
each day from the Closing Date until the date such amount is paid to Facility
Manager, at 2.00% over the rate payable under this Agreement for Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate Loans. Nothing in this subsection 2.1C shall be deemed to
relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitments hereunder or
to prejudice any rights that Company may have against any Lender as a result of
any default by such Lender hereunder.

                                       35
<PAGE>   36
         D. THE REGISTER.

             (i) Facility Manager shall maintain, at its address referred to in
         subsection 9.8, a register for the recordation of the names and
         addresses of Lenders and the Commitments and Loans of each Lender from
         time to time (the "REGISTER"). The Register shall be available for
         inspection by Company or any Lender at any reasonable time and from
         time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

             (ii) Facility Manager shall record in the Register the Commitment
         and the Loan from time to time of each Lender and each repayment or
         prepayment in respect of the principal amount of the Loan of each
         Lender. Any such recordation shall be conclusive and binding on Company
         and each Lender, absent manifest error; provided that failure to make
         any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not
         affect any Lender's Commitments or Company's Obligations in respect of
         any applicable Loans.

             (iii) Each Lender shall record on its internal records (including
         any Notes held by such Lender) the amount of the Loan made by it and
         each payment in respect thereof. Any such recordation shall be
         conclusive and binding on Company, absent manifest error; provided that
         failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation,
         shall not affect any Lender's Commitments or Company's Obligations in
         respect of any applicable Loans; and provided, further that in the
         event of any inconsistency between the Register and any Lender's
         records, the recordations in the Register shall govern.

             (iv) Company, Facility Manager and Lenders shall deem and treat the
         Persons listed as Lenders in the Register as the holders and owners of
         the corresponding Commitments and Loans listed therein for all purposes
         hereof, and no assignment or transfer of any such Commitment or Loan
         shall be effective, in each case unless and until an Assignment
         Agreement effecting the assignment or transfer thereof shall have been
         accepted by Facility Manager and recorded in the Register as provided
         in subsection 9.1B(ii). Prior to such recordation, all amounts owed
         with respect to the applicable Commitment or Loan shall be owed to the
         Lender listed in the Register as the owner thereof, and any request,
         authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such
         request or giving such authority or consent, is listed in the Register
         as a Lender shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder,
         assignee or transferee of the corresponding Commitments or Loans.

             (v) Company hereby designates Facility Manager to serve as
         Company's agent solely for purposes of maintaining the Register as
         provided in this subsection 2.1D, and Company hereby agrees that, to
         the extent Facility Manager serves in such


                                       36
<PAGE>   37
         capacity, Facility Manager and its officers, directors, employees,
         agents and affiliates shall constitute Indemnitees for all purposes
         under subsection 9.3.

      E. NOTES. Unless otherwise requested by a Lender, Company shall execute
and deliver to each Lender (or to Facility Manager for that Lender) on the
Closing Date a Note substantially in the form of Exhibit III annexed hereto to
evidence that Lender's Loan, in the principal amount of that Lender's Loan and
with other appropriate insertions. Facility Manager may deem and treat the payee
of any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until an
Assignment Agreement effecting the assignment or transfer thereof shall have
been accepted by Facility Manager as provided in subsection 9.1B(ii). Any
request, authority or consent of any Person or entity who, at the time of making
such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Note
shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, assignee or transferee
of that Note or of any Note or Notes issued in exchange therefor.

2.2   INTEREST ON THE LOANS.

      A. RATE OF INTEREST. Subject to the provisions of subsections 2.6 and 2.7,
each Loan shall bear interest on the unpaid principal amount thereof from the
date made through maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate
determined by reference to the Base Rate or the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate. The
applicable basis for determining the rate of interest with respect to any Loan
shall be selected by Company initially at the time a Notice of Borrowing is
given with respect to such Loan pursuant to subsection 2.1B, and the basis for
determining the interest rate with respect to any Loan may be changed from time
to time pursuant to subsection 2.2D. If on any day a Loan is outstanding with
respect to which notice has not been delivered to Facility Manager in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement specifying the applicable basis for determining
the rate of interest, then for that day that Loan shall bear interest determined
by reference to the Base Rate.

         Subject to the provisions of subsections 2.2E and 2.7, the Loans shall
bear interest through maturity as follows:

             (i) if a Base Rate Loan, then at the sum of the Base Rate plus the
         Applicable Margin; or

             (ii) if a Eurodollar Rate Loan, then at the sum of the Adjusted
         Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

      B. INTEREST PERIODS. In connection with each Eurodollar Rate Loan, Company
may, pursuant to the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of
Conversion/Continuation, as the case may be, select an interest period (each an
"INTEREST PERIOD") to be applicable to such Loan, which Interest Period shall
be, at Company's option, either a one, two, three or six month period, or if
available, twelve months; provided that:

                                       37
<PAGE>   38
             (i) the initial Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Loan shall
         commence on the date of funding in respect of such Loan, in the case of
         a Loan initially made as a Eurodollar Rate Loan, or on the date
         specified in the applicable Notice of Conversion/Continuation, in the
         case of a Loan converted to a Eurodollar Rate Loan;

             (ii) in the case of immediately successive Interest Periods
         applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan continued as such pursuant to a
         Notice of Conversion/Continuation, each successive Interest Period
         shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period
         expires;

             (iii) if an Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is
         not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next
         succeeding Business Day; provided that, if any Interest Period would
         otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of
         the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month,
         such Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day;

             (iv) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a
         calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
         corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest
         Period) shall, subject to clause (v) of this subsection 2.2B, end on
         the last Business Day of a calendar month;

             (v) no Interest Period with respect to any portion of the Loans
         shall extend beyond May 13, 2003;

             (vi) there shall be no more than three Interest Periods outstanding
         at any time; and

             (vii) in the event Company fails to specify an Interest Period for
         any Eurodollar Rate Loan in the applicable Notice of Borrowing or
         Notice of Conversion/Continuation, Company shall be deemed to have
         selected an Interest Period of one month.

                                       38
<PAGE>   39
      C. INTEREST PAYMENTS. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.2E,
interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on and to each Interest
Payment Date applicable to that Loan, upon any prepayment of that Loan (to the
extent accrued on the amount being prepaid) and at maturity (including final
maturity).

      D. CONVERSION OR CONTINUATION. Subject to the provisions of subsection
2.6, Company shall have the option (i) to convert at any time all or any part of
its outstanding Loans equal to $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000
in excess of that amount from Loans bearing interest at a rate determined by
reference to one basis to Loans bearing interest at a rate determined by
reference to an alternative basis or (ii) upon the expiration of any Interest
Period applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, to continue all or any portion of
such Loan equal to $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess of
that amount as a Eurodollar Rate Loan; provided, however, that a Eurodollar Rate
Loan may only be converted into a Base Rate Loan on the expiration date of an
Interest Period applicable thereto.

         Company shall deliver a Notice of Conversion/Continuation to Facility
Manager no later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) at least one Business Day
in advance of the proposed conversion date (in the case of a conversion to a
Base Rate Loan) and at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed
conversion/continuation date (in the case of a conversion to, or a continuation
of, a Eurodollar Rate Loan). A Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall specify
(i) the proposed conversion/continuation date (which shall be a Business Day),
(ii) the amount of the Loan to be converted/continued, (iii) the nature of the
proposed conversion/continuation, (iv) in the case of a conversion to, or a
continuation of, a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the requested Interest Period, and (v)
in the case of a conversion to, or a continuation of, a Eurodollar Rate Loan,
that no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing. In lieu of delivering the above-described Notice of
Conversion/Continuation, Company may give Facility Manager telephonic notice by
the required time of any proposed conversion/continuation under this subsection
2.2D; provided that such notice shall be confirmed in writing by delivery of a
Notice of Conversion/Continuation to Facility Manager no later than 10:00 A.M.
(New York City time) at least one Business Day in advance of the proposed
conversion date (in the case of a conversion to a Base Rate Loan) and at least
three Business Days in advance of the proposed conversion/continuation date (in
the case of a conversion to, or a continuation of, a Eurodollar Rate Loan). Upon
receipt of written or telephonic notice of any proposed conversion/continuation
under this subsection 2.2D, Facility Manager shall promptly transmit such notice
by telefacsimile or telephone to each Lender.

         Neither Facility Manager nor any Lender shall incur any liability to
Company in acting upon any telephonic notice referred to above that Facility
Manager believes in good faith to have been given by a duly authorized officer
or other person authorized to act on behalf of Company or for otherwise acting
in good faith under this subsection 2.2D, and upon conversion


                                       39
<PAGE>   40
or continuation of the applicable basis for determining the interest rate with
respect to any Loans in accordance with this Agreement pursuant to any such
telephonic notice Company shall have effected a conversion or continuation, as
the case may be, hereunder.

         Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2.6B, 2.6C and 2.6G, a
Notice of Conversion/Continuation for conversion to, or continuation of, a
Eurodollar Rate Loan (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof) shall be irrevocable
on and after the related Interest Rate Determination Date, and Company shall be
bound to effect a conversion or continuation in accordance therewith.

      E. DEFAULT RATE. Any principal payments or premiums on the Loans not paid
when due and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any interest payments
on the Loans or any fees or other amounts owed hereunder not paid when due, in
each case whether at stated maturity, by notice of prepayment, by acceleration
or otherwise, shall thereafter bear interest (including post-petition interest
in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable bankruptcy laws)
payable on demand at a rate which is 2.00% per annum in excess of the interest
rate otherwise payable under this Agreement with respect to the applicable Loans
(or, in the case of any such fees and other amounts, at a rate which is 2.00%
per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable under this Agreement
for Base Rate Loans); provided that in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, upon
the expiration of the Interest Period in effect at the time any such increase in
interest rate is effective such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall thereupon become
Base Rate Loans and shall thereafter bear interest payable upon demand at a rate
which is 2.00% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable under
this Agreement for Base Rate Loans. Payment or acceptance of the increased rates
of interest provided for in this subsection 2.2E is not a permitted alternative
to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or
otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of Facility Manager or any
Lender.

      F. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST. Interest on the Loans shall be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year, in each case for the actual number of days elapsed in
the period during which it accrues. In computing interest on any Loan, the date
of the making of such Loan or the first day of an Interest Period applicable to
such Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted from a Eurodollar
Rate Loan, the date of conversion of such Eurodollar Rate Loan to such Base Rate
Loan, as the case may be, shall be included, and the date of payment of such
Loan or the expiration date of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or,
with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the
date of conversion of such Base Rate Loan to such Eurodollar Rate Loan, as the
case may be, shall be excluded; provided that if a Loan is repaid on the same
day on which it is made, one day's interest shall be paid on that Loan.

2.3   FEES.

                                       40
<PAGE>   41
      A. ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE FEES. Company agrees to pay to Facility Manager
an annual administrative fee in such amount as is agreed upon between Company
and Facility Manager, such administrative fee to be payable in advance on the
Closing Date and on each anniversary of the Closing Date.

      B. OTHER FEES. Company agrees to pay to Agents such other fees in the
amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between Company and Agents.

2.4   REPAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS; GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING PAYMENTS.

      A. SCHEDULED PAYMENTS OF LOANS. The Loans are not subject to any scheduled
amortization. Full repayment of the outstanding principal amount of all Loans is
due on May 13, 2003.

                                       41
<PAGE>   42
         B. PREPAYMENTS.

             (i) Voluntary Prepayments. Company may, at any time after the
         one-year anniversary of the Closing Date, upon not less than one
         Business Day's prior written or telephonic notice, in the case of Base
         Rate Loans, and three Business Days' prior written or telephonic
         notice, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, in each case given to
         Facility Manager by 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the date
         required and if given by telephone, confirmed in writing to Facility
         Manager at least one Business Day in advance of such prepayment (which
         original written or telephonic notice Facility Manager will promptly
         transmit by telefacsimile or telephone to each Lender), prepay any
         Loans on any Business Day in whole or in part in an aggregate minimum
         amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess of
         that amount; provided, however, that a Eurodollar Rate Loan may only be
         prepaid on the expiration of the Interest Period applicable thereto
         unless Company pays any additional compensation required by subsection
         2.6D. Any voluntary prepayment of Loans made by Company (i) after the
         first anniversary of the Closing Date and on or prior to the second
         anniversary of the Closing Date shall be subject to the payment of a
         premium of 5.00% of the principal amount of Loans so prepaid, (ii)
         after the second anniversary of the Closing Date and on or prior to the
         third anniversary of the Closing Date shall be subject to the payment
         of a premium of 2.50% of the principal amount of Loans so prepaid and
         (iii) after the third anniversary of the Closing Date shall not be
         subject to any prepayment penalties. Notice of prepayment having been
         given as aforesaid, the principal amount of the Loans specified in such
         notice shall become due and payable on the prepayment date specified
         therein. Any such voluntary prepayment shall be applied as specified in
         subsection 2.4B(iii). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
         contained in this subsection 2.4B(i), subsection 9.5 or any other
         provision of this Agreement, Company may purchase all or any portion of
         the Loans of any Lender pursuant to an agreement between such Lender
         and Company and such purchase shall not be deemed to be a voluntary
         prepayment hereunder; provided that (x) an Event of Default has not
         then occurred and is not then continuing or would not occur as a result
         of such purchase, (y) Facility Manager acknowledges receipt of a copy
         of such agreement and (z) the Loans so purchased or held by any
         Affiliate of Company are disregarded and not deemed outstanding (as to
         which Company hereby agrees) for purposes of (1) the making of, or the
         application of, any payments to the Lenders hereunder or under any
         other Loan Document, (2) the making of any request, demand,
         authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or under
         any other Loan Document or (3) the determination of Requisite Lenders,
         or for any similar or related purpose hereunder or under any other Loan
         Document.

             (ii) Mandatory Prepayments. The Loans shall be prepaid in the
         amounts and under the circumstances set forth below, all such
         prepayments to be applied as set forth below or as more specifically
         provided in subsection 2.4B(iii). No prepayment penalty,


                                       42
<PAGE>   43
         other than any compensation required under subsection 2.6D, will be
         payable with respect to the mandatory prepayments described in clauses
         (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection 2.4B(ii). Prepayments made as a
         result of a Change of Control, as described in clause (d) of this
         subsection 2.4B(ii), will be subject to a prepayment premium equal to
         1.00% of the principal amount of the Loans so prepaid.

                       (a) Prepayments From Asset Sales. Company and any
                Restricted Subsidiary making an Asset Sale shall prepay the
                Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such Net Proceeds to the
                extent required by and in accordance with the provisions of
                subsection 6.9. If Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary
                would otherwise be required to apply any portion of such Net
                Proceeds to prepay the Senior Notes or any other Indebtedness,
                then notwithstanding anything contained in this subsection
                2.4B(ii)(a) or subsection 6.9 to the contrary, Company or such
                Restricted Subsidiary shall apply such Net Proceeds toward the
                prepayment of the Loans as provided in this subsection
                2.4B(ii)(a) so as to eliminate the obligation to prepay such
                other Indebtedness. Company shall deliver to Facility Manager
                concurrently with the receipt of any such Net Proceeds an
                Officers' Certificate certifying as to the facts giving rise to
                any exclusion from the prepayment requirements set forth in this
                subsection 2.4B(ii)(a) and setting forth the proposed use of
                such Net Proceeds and such other information with respect to
                such proposed use as Facility Manager may reasonably request;
                provided that any mandatory prepayments required to be made from
                Asset Sales by Regulated Subsidiaries will be subject to
                compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including
                without limitation under any Healthcare Regulations.

                       (b) Prepayments Due to Issuance of Debt Securities. On
                the date of receipt by Company or any of its Restricted
                Subsidiaries of the Cash proceeds (any such proceeds, net of
                reasonable and customary underwriting discounts and commissions,
                financial advisory or placement fees and other reasonable costs
                and expenses associated therewith, including reasonable legal
                fees and expenses, being "NET DEBT SECURITIES PROCEEDS") from
                the issuance of any debt Securities of Company or any of its
                Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date, Company shall
                prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such
                Net Debt Securities Proceeds.

                       (c) Prepayments Due to Issuance of Equity Securities. On
                the date of receipt by Company or any of its Restricted
                Subsidiaries of the Cash proceeds (any such proceeds, net of (x)
                reasonable and customary under writing discounts and
                commissions, financial advisory or placement fees and other
                reasonable costs and expenses associated therewith, including
                reasonable legal fees and expenses, (y) any Capital
                Contributions required to be made from such proceeds to


                                       43
<PAGE>   44
                Company's Principal Subsidiaries and (z) payments from such
                proceeds made in connection with any settlement or resolution of
                any Non-Insurance Litigation, being "NET EQUITY SECURITIES
                PROCEEDS") from the issuance of any equity Securities of Company
                or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date,
                Company shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to
                50% of such Net Equity Securities Proceeds; provided that
                Company shall have delivered to Facility Manager, on or before
                such date of receipt, an Officers' Certificate certifying as to
                the facts giving rise to any Capital Contributions required to
                be made with such Net Equity Securities Proceeds.

                       (d) Prepayments Due to Change of Control. Upon the
                occurrence of a Change of Control, Company shall prepay the
                Loans in full, together with a premium equal to 1.00% of the
                aggregate principal amount of Loans so prepaid.

                       (e) Calculations of Net Proceeds Amounts; Additional
                Prepayments Based on Subsequent Calculations. Concurrently with
                any prepayment of the Loans pursuant to subsections
                2.4B(ii)(a)-(c), Company shall deliver to Facility Manager an
                Officers' Certificate demonstrating the calculation of the
                amount (the "NET PROCEEDS AMOUNT") of the applicable Net
                Proceeds, Net Debt Securities Proceeds or Net Equity Securities
                Proceeds, as the case may be, that gave rise to such prepayment.
                In the event that Company shall subsequently determine that the
                actual Net Proceeds Amount was greater than the amount set forth
                in such Officers' Certificate, Company shall promptly make an
                additional prepayment of the Loans in an amount equal to the
                amount of such excess, and Company shall concurrently therewith
                deliver to Facility Manager an Officers' Certificate
                demonstrating the derivation of the additional Net Proceeds
                Amount resulting in such excess.

                       (f) Waivable Mandatory Prepayments. With respect to
                prepayments under subsections 2.4B(ii)(a)-(d), Company shall
                notify Facility Manager in writing of such prepayment not less
                than ten Business Days before any prepayment is due under such
                subsections 2.4B(ii)(a)-(d) (a "WAIVABLE MANDATORY PREPAYMENT")
                and each Lender shall have the option to waive their rights to
                receive such Waivable Mandatory Prepayment. Facility Manager
                shall, upon receipt of such notice, notify each Lender thereof
                and of the amount of such Waivable Mandatory Prepayment to be
                applied to such Lender's Loan. In the event any Lender desires
                to waive such Lender's right to receive such Waivable Mandatory
                Prepayment, such Lender shall so advise Facility Manager in
                writing no later than the close of business not more than five
                Business Days after it receives such notice from Facility
                Manager.

               (iii) Application of Prepayments

                                       44
<PAGE>   45
                       (a) Application of Voluntary Prepayments. Any voluntary
                prepayments pursuant to subsection 2.4B(i) shall be applied to
                reduce the outstanding principal amounts of the Loans that are
                unpaid at the time of such prepayment.

                       (b) Application of Mandatory Prepayments. Any mandatory
                prepayments of the Loans pursuant to subsection 2.4B(ii) shall
                be applied to reduce the outstanding principal amounts of the
                Loans that are unpaid at the time of such prepayment.

                       (c) Application of Prepayments to Base Rate Loans and
                Eurodollar Rate Loans. Any prepayments of any Loans shall be
                applied first to Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof
                before application to Eurodollar Rate Loans, in each case in a
                manner which minimizes the amount of any payments required to be
                made by Company pursuant to subsection 2.6D.

         C. GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING PAYMENTS.

            (i) Manner and Time of Payment. All payments by Company of
         principal, interest, fees and other Obligations hereunder and under the
         Notes shall be made in Dollars in same day funds, without defense,
         setoff or counterclaim, free of any restriction or condition, and
         delivered to Facility Manager not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City
         time) on the date due at the Funding and Payment Office for the account
         of Lenders; funds received by Facility Manager after that time on such
         due date shall be deemed to have been paid by Company on the next
         succeeding Business Day. Company hereby authorizes Facility Manager to
         charge its accounts with Facility Manager in order to cause timely
         payment to be made to Facility Manager of all principal, interest, fees
         and expenses due hereunder (subject to sufficient funds being available
         in its accounts for that purpose).

            (ii) Application of Payments to Principal and Interest. All payments
         in respect of the principal amount of any Loan shall include payment of
         premiums, if any, and accrued interest on the principal amount being
         repaid or prepaid, and all such payments shall be applied to the
         payment of interest before application to principal.

            (iii) Apportionment of Payments. Aggregate principal and interest
         payments received by Facility Manager shall be apportioned among all
         outstanding Loans to which such payments relate, in each case
         proportionately to Lenders' respective Pro Rata Shares. Facility
         Manager shall promptly distribute to each Lender, at its primary
         address set forth below its name on the appropriate signature page
         hereof or at such other address as such Lender may request, its Pro
         Rata Share of all such payments received by


                                       45
<PAGE>   46
         Facility Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
         subsection 2.4C(iii), if, pursuant to the provisions of subsection
         2.6C, any Notice of Conversion/Continuation is withdrawn as to any
         Affected Lender or if any Affected Lender makes Base Rate Loans in lieu
         of its Pro Rata Share of any Eurodollar Rate Loans, Facility Manager
         shall give effect thereto in apportioning payments received thereafter.

            (iv) Payments on Business Days. Whenever any payment to be made
         hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business
         Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and
         such extension of time shall be included in the computation of the
         payment of interest hereunder.

            (v) Notation of Payment. Each Lender agrees that before disposing of
         any Note held by it, or any part thereof (other than by granting
         participations therein), that Lender will make a notation thereon of
         all Loans evidenced by that Note and all principal payments previously
         made thereon and of the date to which interest thereon has been paid;
         provided that the failure to make (or any error in the making of) a
         notation of any Loan made under such Note shall not limit or otherwise
         affect the obligations of Company hereunder or under such Note with
         respect to any Loan or any payments of principal or interest on such
         Note.

         D.  APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS OF COLLATERAL AND PAYMENTS UNDER
             SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY.

            (i) Application of Proceeds of Collateral. Except as provided in
         subsection 2.4B(ii)(a) with respect to prepayments from Net Proceeds,
         all proceeds received by Facility Manager in respect of any sale of,
         collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the
         Collateral under any Collateral Document may, in the discretion of
         Facility Manager, be held by Facility Manager as Collateral for, and/or
         (then or at any time thereafter) applied in full or in part by Facility
         Manager against, the applicable Secured Obligations (as defined in such
         Collateral Document) in the following order of priority:

                (a) To the payment of all costs and expenses of such sale,
            collection or other realization, including reasonable compensation
            to Facility Manager and its agents and counsel, and all other
            expenses, liabilities and advances made or incurred by Facility
            Manager in connection therewith, and all amounts for which Facility
            Manager is entitled to indemnification under such Collateral
            Document and all advances made by Facility Manager thereunder for
            the account of the applicable Loan Party, and to the payment of all
            costs and expenses paid or incurred by Facility Manager in
            connection with the exercise of any right or remedy under such
            Collateral Document, all in accordance with the terms of this
            Agreement and such Collateral Document;

                                       46
<PAGE>   47
                (b) thereafter, to the extent of any excess such proceeds, to
            the payment of all other such Secured Obligations for the ratable
            benefit of the holders thereof; and

                (c) thereafter, to the extent of any excess such proceeds, to
            the payment to or upon the order of such Loan Party or to whosoever
            may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of
            competent jurisdiction may direct.

            (ii) Application of Payments Under Subsidiary Guaranty. All payments
      received by Facility Manager under the Subsidiary Guaranty shall be
      applied promptly from time to time by Facility Manager in the following
      order of priority:

                (a) To the payment of the costs and expenses of any collection
            or other realization under the Subsidiary Guaranty, including
            reasonable compensation to Facility Manager and its agents and
            counsel, and all expenses, liabilities and advances made or incurred
            by Facility Manager in connection therewith, all in accordance with
            the terms of this Agreement and the Subsidiary Guaranty;

                (b) thereafter, to the extent of any excess such payments, to
            the payment of all other Guarantied Obligations (as defined in the
            Subsidiary Guaranty) for the ratable benefit of the holders thereof;
            and

                (c) thereafter, to the extent of any excess such payments, to
            the payment to the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor or to whosoever
            may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of
            competent jurisdiction may direct.

2.5   USE OF PROCEEDS.

      A.    LOANS. The proceeds of the Loans, together with the $200,000,000 in
proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Senior Notes and the $350,000,000 in
Equity Contribution, shall be used for (i) current and future reserve and
regulatory capital requirements of Company's Regulated Subsidiaries as required
to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, including without limitation
any applicable Healthcare Regulations, (ii) the repayment in full of the
existing Indebtedness under the Bridge Agreement, (iii) the making of capital
expenditures, (iv) the payment of interest on Indebtedness in an amount which
does not exceed the amount of such interest net of the amount of interest
income, (v) the payment of Transaction Costs and (vi) other general corporate
purposes.


                                       47
<PAGE>   48
      B. MARGIN REGULATIONS. No portion of the proceeds of any borrowing under
this Agreement shall be used by Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in
any manner that might cause the borrowing or the application of such proceeds to
violate Regulation G, Regulation U, Regulation T or Regulation X of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board or
to violate the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect on the date or dates of
such borrowing and such use of proceeds.

2.6   SPECIAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING EURODOLLAR RATE LOANS.

         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
the following provisions shall govern with respect to the Eurodollar Rate Loans
as to the matters covered:

      A. DETERMINATION OF APPLICABLE INTEREST RATE. As soon as practicable after
12:00 Noon (New York City time) on each Interest Rate Determination Date,
Facility Manager shall determine (which determination shall, absent manifest
error, be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties) the interest rate that
shall apply to the Eurodollar Rate Loans for which an interest rate is then
being determined for the applicable Interest Period and shall promptly give
notice thereof (in writing or by telephone confirmed in writing) to Company and
each Lender.

      B. INABILITY TO DETERMINE APPLICABLE INTEREST RATE. In the event that
Facility Manager shall have determined (which determination shall be final and
conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto), on any Interest Rate
Determination Date with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loans, that by reason of
circumstances affecting the interbank Eurodollar market adequate and fair means
do not exist for ascertaining the interest rate applicable to such Loans on the
basis provided for in the definition of Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, Facility
Manager shall on such date give notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone
confirmed in writing) to Company and each Lender of such determination,
whereupon (i) no Loans may be made as, or converted to, Eurodollar Rate Loans
until such time as Facility Manager notifies Company and Lenders that the
circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist and (ii) any Notice of
Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation given by Company with respect to
the Loans in respect of which such determination was made shall be deemed to be
rescinded by Company.

      C. ILLEGALITY OR IMPRACTICABILITY OF EURODOLLAR RATE LOANS. In the event
that on any date any Lender shall have reasonably determined (which
determination shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto
but shall be made only after consultation with Company and Facility Manager)
that the making, maintaining or continuation of its Eurodollar Rate Loans (i)
has become unlawful as a result of compliance by such Lender in good faith with
any law, treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order enacted,
modified or amended after the date hereof (or would conflict with any such
treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order not having the force
of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful) or
(ii) has become impracticable, or would cause such Lender material


                                       48
<PAGE>   49
hardship, as a result of contingencies occurring after the date of this
Agreement which materially and adversely affect the interbank Eurodollar market
or the position of such Lender in that market, then, and in any such event, such
Lender shall be an "AFFECTED LENDER" and it shall on that day give notice (by
telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to Company and Facility
Manager of such determination (which notice Facility Manager shall promptly
transmit to each other Lender). Thereafter (a) the obligation of the Affected
Lender to make Loans as, or to convert Loans to, Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be
suspended until such notice shall be withdrawn by the Affected Lender, (b) to
the extent such determination by the Affected Lender relates to a Eurodollar
Rate Loan then being requested by Company pursuant to a Notice of Borrowing or a
Notice of Conversion/Continuation, the Affected Lender shall make such Loan as
(or convert such Loan to, as the case may be) a Base Rate Loan, (c) the Affected
Lender's obligation to maintain its outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans (the
"AFFECTED LOANS") shall be terminated at the earlier to occur of the expiration
of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the Affected Loans or when
required by law, and (d) the Affected Loans shall automatically convert into
Base Rate Loans on the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
to the extent a determination by an Affected Lender as described above relates
to a Eurodollar Rate Loan then being requested by Company pursuant to a Notice
of Borrowing or a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, Company shall have the
option, subject to the provisions of subsection 2.6D, to rescind such Notice of
Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation as to all Lenders by giving
notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to Facility
Manager of such rescission on the date on which the Affected Lender gives notice
of its determination as described above (which notice of rescission Facility
Manager shall promptly transmit to each other Lender). Except as provided in the
immediately preceding sentence, nothing in this subsection 2.6C shall affect the
obligation of any Lender other than an Affected Lender to make or maintain Loans
as, or to convert Loans to, Eurodollar Rate Loans in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement.

      D. COMPENSATION FOR BREAKAGE OR NON-COMMENCEMENT OF INTEREST PERIODS.
Company shall compensate each Lender, upon written request by that Lender (which
request shall set forth the basis for requesting such amounts), for all
reasonable losses, expenses and liabilities (including any interest paid by that
Lender to lenders of funds borrowed by it to make or carry its Eurodollar Rate
Loans and any loss, expense or liability sustained by that Lender in connection
with the liquidation or re-employment of such funds) which that Lender may
sustain: (i) if for any reason (other than a default by that Lender) a borrowing
of any Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a
Notice of Borrowing or a telephonic request for borrowing, or a conversion to or
continuation of any Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified
therefor in a Notice of Conversion/Continuation or a telephonic request for
conversion or continuation, (ii) if any prepayment (including any prepayment
pursuant to subsection 2.4B(i)) or other principal payment or any conversion of
any of its Eurodollar Rate Loans occurs on a date prior to the last day of an
Interest Period applicable to that Loan, (iii) if any prepayment of any of its
Eurodollar Rate Loans is not made on any date specified in a notice of
prepayment given by Company, or (iv) as a consequence of any other


                                       49
<PAGE>   50
default by Company in the repayment of its Eurodollar Rate Loans when required
by the terms of this Agreement.

      E. BOOKING OF EURODOLLAR RATE LOANS. Any Lender may make, carry or
transfer Eurodollar Rate Loans at, to, or for the account of any of its branch
offices or the office of an Affiliate of that Lender.

      F. ASSUMPTIONS CONCERNING FUNDING OF EURODOLLAR RATE LOANS. Calculation of
all amounts payable to a Lender under this subsection 2.6 and under subsection
2.7A shall be made as though that Lender had actually funded each of its
relevant Eurodollar Rate Loans through the purchase of a Eurodollar deposit
bearing interest at the rate obtained pursuant to clause (i) of the definition
of Adjusted Eurodollar Rate in an amount equal to the amount of such Eurodollar
Rate Loan and having a maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period and
through the transfer of such Eurodollar deposit from an offshore office of that
Lender to a domestic office of that Lender in the United States of America;
provided, however, that each Lender may fund each of its Eurodollar Rate Loans
in any manner it sees fit and the foregoing assumptions shall be utilized only
for the purposes of calculating amounts payable under this subsection 2.6 and
under subsection 2.7A.

      G. EURODOLLAR RATE LOANS AFTER DEFAULT. After the occurrence of and during
the continuation of a Potential Event of Default or an Event of Default, (i)
Company may not elect to have a Loan be made or maintained as, or converted to,
a Eurodollar Rate Loan after the expiration of any Interest Period then in
effect for that Loan and (ii) subject to the provisions of subsection 2.6D, any
Notice of Conversion/Continuation given by Company with respect to a requested
conversion/continuation that has not yet occurred shall be deemed to be
rescinded by Company.

2.7   INCREASED COSTS; TAXES; CAPITAL ADEQUACY.

      A. COMPENSATION FOR INCREASED COSTS AND TAXES. Subject to the provisions
of subsection 2.7B (which shall be controlling with respect to the matters
covered thereby), in the event that any Lender shall determine (which
determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding
upon all parties hereto) that any law, treaty or govern mental rule, regulation
or order, or any change therein or in the interpretation, administration or
application thereof (including the introduction of any new law, treaty or
governmental rule, regulation or order), or any determination of a court or
Governmental Entity, in each case that becomes effective after the date hereof,
or compliance by such Lender with any guideline, request or directive issued or
made after the date hereof by any central bank or other Governmental Entity or
quasi-governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law):

         (i) subjects such Lender (or its applicable lending office) to any
      additional Tax (other than any Tax on the overall net income of such
      Lender) with respect to this


                                       50
<PAGE>   51
      Agreement or any of its obligations hereunder or any payments to such
      Lender (or its applicable lending office) of principal, interest, fees or
      any other amount payable hereunder;

         (ii) imposes, modifies or holds applicable any reserve (including any
      marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other reserve), special
      deposit, compulsory loan, FDIC insurance or similar requirement against
      assets held by, or deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of,
      or advances or loans by, or other credit extended by, or any other
      acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender (other than any such
      reserve or other requirements with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans that
      are reflected in the definition of Adjusted Eurodollar Rate); or

         (iii) imposes any other condition (other than with respect to a Tax
      matter) on or affecting such Lender (or its applicable lending office) or
      its obligations hereunder or the interbank Eurodollar market;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of
agreeing to make, making or maintaining Loans hereunder or to reduce any amount
received or receivable by such Lender (or its applicable lending office) with
respect thereto; then, in any such case, Company shall promptly pay to such
Lender, upon receipt of the statement referred to in the next sentence, such
additional amount or amounts (in the form of an increased rate of, or a
different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Lender shall
determine) as may be necessary to compensate such Lender for any such increased
cost or reduction in amounts received or receivable hereunder. Such Lender shall
deliver to Company (with a copy to Facility Manager) a written statement,
setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for calculating the additional
amounts owed to such Lender under this subsection 2.7A, which statement shall be
conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto absent manifest error.

      B. WITHHOLDING OF TAXES.

         (i) Payments to Be Free and Clear. All sums payable by Company under
      this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall (except to the extent
      required by law) be paid free and clear of, and without any deduction or
      withholding on account of, any Tax (other than a Tax on the overall net
      income of any Lender) imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by
      or within the United States of America or any political subdivision in or
      of the United States of America.

         (ii) Grossing-up of Payments. If Company or any other Person is
      required by law to make any deduction or withholding on account of any
      such Tax from any sum paid or payable by Company to Facility Manager or
      any Lender under any of the Loan Documents:

                                       51
<PAGE>   52
                  (a) Company shall notify Facility Manager of any such
            requirement or any change in any such requirement within a
            reasonable time after Company becomes aware of it;

                  (b) Company shall pay any such Tax before the date on which
            penalties attach thereto, such payment to be made (if the liability
            to pay is imposed on Company) for its own account or (if that
            liability is imposed on Facility Manager or such Lender, as the case
            may be) on behalf of and in the name of Facility Manager or such
            Lender;

                  (c) the sum payable by Company in respect of which the
            relevant deduction, withholding or payment is required shall be
            increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making
            of that deduction, withholding or payment, Facility Manager or such
            Lender, as the case may be, receives on the due date a net sum equal
            to what it would have received had no such deduction, withholding or
            payment been required or made; and

                  (d) within 30 days after paying any sum from which it is
            required by law to make any deduction or withholding, and within 30
            days after the due date of payment of any Tax which it is required
            by clause (b) above to pay, Company shall deliver to Facility
            Manager evidence satisfactory to the other affected parties of such
            deduction, withholding or payment and of the remittance thereof to
            the relevant taxing or other authority;

      provided that no such additional amount shall be required to be paid to
      any Lender under clause (c) above except to the extent that any change
      after the date hereof (in the case of each Lender listed on the signature
      pages hereof) or after the date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to
      which such Lender became a Lender (in the case of each other Lender) in
      any such requirement for a deduction, withholding or payment as is
      mentioned therein shall result in an increase in the rate of such
      deduction, withholding or payment from that in effect at the date of this
      Agreement or at the date of such Assignment Agreement, as the case may be,
      in respect of payments to such Lender.

                                       52
<PAGE>   53
            (iii) Evidence of Exemption from U.S. Withholding Tax.

                  (a) Each Lender that is organized under the laws of any
            jurisdiction other than the United States or any state or other
            political subdivision thereof (for purposes of this subsection
            2.7B(iii), a "NON-US LENDER") shall deliver to Facility Manager for
            transmission to Company, on or prior to the Closing Date (in the
            case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof) or on or
            prior to the date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which it
            becomes a Lender (in the case of each other Lender), and at such
            other times as may be necessary in the determination of Company or
            Facility Manager (each in the reasonable exercise of its
            discretion), (1) two original copies of Internal Revenue Service
            Form 1001 or 4224 (or any successor forms), properly completed and
            duly executed by such Lender, together with any other certificate or
            statement of exemption required under the Internal Revenue Code or
            the regulations issued thereunder to establish that such Lender is
            not subject to deduction or withholding of United States federal
            income tax with respect to any payments to such Lender of principal,
            interest, fees or other amounts payable under any of the Loan
            Documents or (2) if such Lender is not a "bank" or other Person
            described in Section 881(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and
            cannot deliver either Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or 4224
            pursuant to clause (1) above, a Certificate re Non-Bank Status
            together with two original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form
            W-8 (or any successor form), properly completed and duly executed by
            such Lender, together with any other certificate or statement of
            exemption required under the Internal Revenue Code or the
            regulations issued thereunder to establish that such Lender is not
            subject to deduction or withholding of United States federal income
            tax with respect to any payments to such Lender of interest payable
            under any of the Loan Documents.


                  (b) Each Lender required to deliver any forms, certificates or
            other evidence with respect to United States federal income tax
            withholding matters pursuant to subsection 2.7B(iii)(a) hereby
            agrees, from time to time after the initial delivery by such Lender
            of such forms, certificates or other evidence, whenever a lapse in
            time or change in circumstances renders such forms, certificates or
            other evidence obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, that
            such Lender shall promptly (1) deliver to Facility Manager for
            transmission to Company two new original copies of Internal Revenue
            Service Form 1001 or 4224, or a Certificate re Non-Bank Status and
            two original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8, as the
            case may be, properly completed and duly executed by such Lender,
            together with any other certificate or statement of exemption
            required in order to confirm or establish that such Lender is not
            subject to deduction or withholding of United States federal income
            tax with


                                       53
<PAGE>   54
            respect to payments to such Lender under the Loan Documents or (2)
            notify Facility Manager and Company of its inability to deliver any
            such forms, certificates or other evidence.

                  (c) Company shall not be required to pay any additional amount
            to any Non-US Lender under clause (c) of subsection 2.7B(ii) if such
            Lender shall have failed to satisfy the requirements of clause (a)
            or (b)(1) of this subsection 2.7B(iii); provided that if such Lender
            shall have satisfied the requirements of subsection 2.7B(iii)(a) on
            the Closing Date (in the case of each Lender listed on the signature
            pages hereof) or on the date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to
            which it became a Lender (in the case of each other Lender), nothing
            in this subsection 2.7B(iii)(c) shall relieve Company of its
            obligation to pay any additional amounts pursuant to clause (c) of
            subsection 2.7B(ii) in the event that, as a result of any change in
            any applicable law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or
            order, or any change in the interpretation, administration or
            application thereof, such Lender is no longer properly entitled to
            deliver forms, certificates or other evidence at a subsequent date
            establishing the fact that such Lender is not subject to withholding
            as described in subsection 2.7B(iii)(a).

      C.    CAPITAL ADEQUACY ADJUSTMENT. If any Lender shall have determined
that the adoption, effectiveness, phase-in or applicability after the date
hereof of any law, rule or regulation (or any provision thereof) regarding
capital adequacy, or any change therein or in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Governmental Entity, central bank or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance
by any Lender (or its applicable lending office) with any guideline, request or
directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of
any such Governmental Entity, central bank or comparable agency, has or would
have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or
any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of, or with reference
to, such Lender's Loans or Commitments or other obligations hereunder with
respect to the Loans to a level below that which such Lender or such controlling
corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, effectiveness, phase-in,
applicability, change or compliance (taking into consideration the policies of
such Lender or such controlling corporation with regard to capital adequacy),
then from time to time, within five Business Days after receipt by Company from
such Lender of the statement referred to in the next sentence, Company shall pay
to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender
or such controlling corporation on an after-tax basis for such reduction. Such
Lender shall deliver to Company (with a copy to Facility Manager) a written
statement, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis of the calculation of
such additional amounts, which statement shall be conclusive and binding upon
all parties hereto absent manifest error.

                                       54
<PAGE>   55
2.8   OBLIGATION OF LENDERS TO MITIGATE; REPLACEMENT LENDERS.

            A. Each Lender agrees that, as promptly as practicable after the
officer of such Lender responsible for administering the Loans of such Lender
becomes aware of the occurrence of an event or the existence of a condition that
would cause such Lender to become an Affected Lender or that would entitle such
Lender to receive payments under subsection 2.7, it will, to the extent not
inconsistent with the internal policies of such Lender and any applicable legal
or regulatory restrictions, use reasonable efforts (i) to make, fund or maintain
the Commitments of such Lender or the affected Loans of such Lender through
another lending office of such Lender, or (ii) take such other measures as such
Lender may deem reasonable, if as a result thereof the circumstances which would
cause such Lender to be an Affected Lender would cease to exist or the
additional amounts which would otherwise be required to be paid to such Lender
pursuant to subsection 2.7 would be materially reduced and if, as determined by
such Lender in its sole discretion, the making, issuing, funding or maintaining
of such Commitments or Loans through such other lending office or in accordance
with such other measures, as the case may be, would not otherwise materially
adversely affect such Commitments or Loans or the interests of such Lender;
provided that such Lender will not be obligated to utilize such other lending
office pursuant to this subsection 2.8A unless Company agrees to pay all
incremental expenses incurred by such Lender as a result of utilizing such other
lending as described in clause (i) above. A certificate as to the amount of any
such expenses payable by Company pursuant to this subsection 2.8A (setting forth
in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount) submitted by such
Lender to Company (with a copy to Facility Manager) shall be conclusive absent
manifest error.

            B. In the event that any Lender shall give notice to Company that
such Lender is an Affected Lender pursuant to subsection 2.6C or that such
Lender is entitled to receive payments under subsection 2.7, and unless the
circumstances which have caused such Lender to be an Affected Lender or which
entitle such Lender to receive such payments are no longer in effect, Company
shall have the right, if no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default then
exists, to replace such Lender (a "REPLACED LENDER") with one or more Eligible
Assignees (collectively, the "REPLACEMENT LENDER") acceptable to Facility
Manager; provided that (i) at the time of any replacement pursuant to this
subsection 2.8B, the Replacement Lender shall enter into one or more Assignment
Agreements pursuant to subsection 9.1B (and with all fees payable pursuant to
such subsection 9.1B to be paid by the Replacement Lender) pursuant to which the
Replacement Lender shall acquire all of the outstanding Loans of the Replaced
Lender and, in connection therewith, shall pay to the Replaced Lender in respect
thereof an amount equal to the sum of (A) an amount equal to the principal of,
and all accrued interest on, all outstanding Loans of the Replaced Lender and
(B) an amount equal to all accrued, but theretofore unpaid, fees owing to the
Replaced Lender with respect thereto, and (ii) all obligations (including
without limitation all such amounts, if any, owing under subsection 2.6D and
subsection 2.7) of Company owing to the Replaced Lender (other than those
specifically described in clause (i) above in respect of which the assignment
purchase price has been, or is


                                       55
<PAGE>   56
concurrently being, paid), shall be paid in full to such Replaced Lender
concurrently with such replacement. Upon the execution of the respective
Assignment Agreements, recordation of such assignment in the Register by
Facility Manager pursuant to subsection 2.1D, the payment of amounts referred to
in clauses (i) and (ii) above and delivery to the Replacement Lender of the
appropriate Note or Notes executed by Company, the Replacement Lender shall
become a Lender hereunder and the Replaced Lender shall cease to constitute a
Lender hereunder except with respect to indemnification provisions under this
Agreement which by the terms of this Agreement survive the termination of this
Agreement, which indemnification provisions shall survive as to such Replaced
Lender.


SECTION 3. CONDITIONS TO LOANS

           The obligations of Lenders to make the Loans are subject to the
prior or concurrent satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section 3:

3.1   CONDITIONS TO LOANS.

           The obligations of Lenders to make the Loans to be made on the
Closing Date are, in addition to the conditions precedent specified in
subsection 3.2, subject to prior or concurrent satisfaction of the following
conditions:

         A. LOAN PARTY DOCUMENTS. On or before the Closing Date, Company shall,
and shall cause each other Loan Party to, deliver to Lenders (or to Facility
Manager for Lenders with sufficient originally executed copies, where
appropriate, for each Lender and its counsel) the following with respect to
Company or such Loan Party, as the case may be, each, unless otherwise noted,
dated the Closing Date:

         (i) Certified copies of the Certificate or Articles of Incorporation of
      such Person, together with a good standing certificate from the Secretary
      of State of its jurisdiction of incorporation and each other state in
      which such Person is qualified as a foreign corporation to do business
      and, to the extent generally available, a certificate or other evidence of
      good standing as to payment of any applicable franchise or similar taxes
      from the appropriate taxing authority of each of such jurisdictions, each
      dated a recent date prior to the Closing Date;

         (ii) Copies of the Bylaws of such Person, certified as of the Closing
      Date by such Person's corporate secretary or an assistant secretary;

         (iii) Resolutions of the Board of Directors of such Person approving
      and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan
      Documents and Related Agreements to which it is a party, certified as of
      the Closing Date by the corporate


                                       56
<PAGE>   57
      secretary or an assistant secretary of such Person as being in full force
      and effect without modification or amendment;

         (iv) Signature and incumbency certificates of the officers of such
      Person executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party;

         (v) Executed originals of the Loan Documents to which such Person is a
      party; and

         (vi) Such other documents as Facility Manager may reasonably request.

      B. NO MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT. Since March 30, 1998, no Material Adverse
Effect (in the reasonable opinion of Syndication Agent) shall have occurred.

      C. CORPORATE STRUCTURE, OWNERSHIP, ETC. Schedule 4.1D sets forth the
corporate structure of Company and its Subsidiaries. Facility Manager shall have
received an Officers' Certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to Agents,
to the effect that Schedule 4.1D accurately and correctly identifies all
Regulated Subsidiaries of Company which not permitted by applicable regulatory
restrictions to execute and deliver the Subsidiary Guaranty and/or any
Collateral Documents with respect to the Obligations.

      D. PROCEEDS OF DEBT AND EQUITY CAPITALIZATION OF COMPANY.

         (i) Equity Contribution; Preferred Stock. On or before the Closing
      Date, Company shall have received not less than $350,000,000 in gross
      proceeds from the Equity Contribution. The terms and conditions of the
      Preferred Stock and the other TPG Securities, including the type and
      amount of dividend payments and any redemption provisions, shall be
      substantially as set forth in Exhibits A and C to the Investment Agreement
      as in effect on March 30, 1998, or as is otherwise satisfactory to Agents
      and Requisite Lenders. On the Closing Date, not less than $200,000,000 of
      such Preferred Stock shall be directly or indirectly controlled by TPG.

         (ii) Senior Note Proceeds; Senior Note Indenture. On or before the
      Closing Date, Company shall have received not less than $200,000,000 in
      gross proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Senior Notes. The terms
      and conditions of the Senior Notes and of the Senior Note Indenture shall
      be substantially as set forth in the Offering Memorandum or as is
      otherwise satisfactory to Agents and Requisite Lenders.

         (iii) Use of Proceeds by Company. Company shall have provided evidence
      satisfactory to Agents that (x) the proceeds from the Equity Contribution
      described in the preceding clause (i) and (y) the proceeds from the sale
      and issuance of Senior Notes described in the immediately preceding clause
      (ii) have been irrevocably committed,


                                       57
<PAGE>   58
      prior to the application of the proceeds of the Loans on the Closing Date,
      to (1) the Capital Contributions, (2) the repayment of the outstanding
      Indebtedness of Company under the Bridge Agreement and (3) the payment of
      the Transaction Costs.

      E. RELATED AGREEMENTS. Facility Manager shall have received (a) a fully
executed or conformed copy of each Related Agreement and any documents executed
in connection therewith, and each Related Agreement shall be in full force and
effect and no provision thereof shall have been modified or waived in any
respect determined by Facility Manager to be material, in each case without the
consent of Agents and Requisite Lenders and (b) an Officers' Certificate from
Company, in form and substance satisfactory to Agents, certifying to the effect
that each such agreement (which shall be attached thereto) is correct and
complete and is in full force and effect and certifying as to such matters with
respect to each of the Related Agreements.

      F. MATTERS RELATING TO EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS.

         (i) Termination of Bridge Agreement. On the Closing Date, Company shall
      have (a) repaid in full all Indebtedness outstanding under the Bridge
      Agreement, (b) terminated any commitments to lend or make other extensions
      of credit thereunder and (c) delivered to Facility Manager all documents
      or instruments necessary to release all Liens securing Indebtedness or
      other obligations of Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder, in each case
      on terms and conditions satisfactory to Agents.

         (ii) No Existing Indebtedness to Remain Outstanding. Facility Manager
      shall have received an Officers' Certificate of Company, in form and
      substance satisfactory to Agents, to the effect that, after giving effect
      to the transactions described in this subsection 3.1F, Company and its
      Restricted Subsidiaries have no outstanding Indebtedness other than
      Indebtedness under the Loan Documents and Related Agreements except as set
      forth in Schedule 1.1B annexed hereto.

      G. NECESSARY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS AND CONSENTS; EXPIRATION OF
WAITING PERIODS, ETC. Company shall have obtained all Governmental
Authorizations, Healthcare Authorizations and all approvals or consents of any
other Persons, including without limitation Healthcare Regulators, in each case
that are necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated
by the Loan Documents and the Related Agreements, and each of the foregoing
shall be in full force and effect, in each case other than those the failure to
obtain or maintain which, either individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All applicable waiting
periods shall have expired without any action being taken or threatened by any
competent authority, including without limitation any Healthcare Regulators,
which would restrain, prevent or otherwise impose material adverse conditions on
the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or the Related Agreements.
No action, request for stay, petition for review or rehearing, reconsideration,
or appeal with



                                       58
<PAGE>   59
respect to any of the foregoing shall be pending, and the time for any
applicable agency to take action to set aside its consent on its own motion
shall have expired.

      H. INVESTMENT AGREEMENT, EQUITY CONTRIBUTION AND CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS.

         (i) the Investment Agreement shall be in full force and effect and
      shall not have been amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified in
      any material respect without the consent of Agents and Requisite Lenders,
      including without limitation any Closing Date supplements, amendments or
      modifications to such Investment Agreement, and executed or conformed
      copies thereof (including all exhibits and schedules thereto) and any
      amendments or modifications thereto and all documents executed in
      connection therewith have been delivered to Facility Manager;

         (ii) all conditions to the Equity Contribution set forth in the
      Investment Agreement shall have been satisfied or the fulfillment of such
      conditions shall have been waived with the consent of Syndication Agent;

         (iii) the Equity Contribution shall have become effective in accordance
      with the terms of the Investment Agreement;

         (iv) the aggregate gross amount of the Equity Contribution shall not be
      less than $350,000,000; and

         (v) Facility Manager shall have received and Officers' Certificate of
      Company, in form and substance satisfactory to Agents, to the effect set
      forth in clauses (i) - (iv) and stating that Company shall proceed to
      consummate the Capital Contributions immediately upon the making of the
      Loans.

      I. MORTGAGES. With respect to the Real Property Assets and Leasehold
Properties of Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date, as
identified in Schedule 4.5B annexed hereto, no Mortgages will be placed on such
Real Property Assets or Leasehold Properties for the benefit of Lenders.

      J. SECURITY INTERESTS IN PERSONAL AND MIXED PROPERTY. Facility Manager
shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that Company shall have taken or
caused to be taken all such actions, executed and delivered or caused to be
executed and delivered all such agreements, documents and instruments, and made
or caused to be made all such filings and recordings (other than the filing or
recording of items described in clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) below) that may be
necessary or, in the opinion of Facility Manager, desirable in order to create
in favor of Facility Manager, for the benefit of Lenders, a valid and (upon such
filing and recording) perfected First Priority security interest in the entire
personal and mixed property Collateral. Such actions shall include the
following:



                                       59
<PAGE>   60
         (i) Schedules to Collateral Documents. Delivery to Facility Manager of
      accurate and complete schedules to all of the applicable Collateral
      Documents.

         (ii) Stock Certificates and Instruments. Delivery to Facility Manager
      of (a) certificates (which certificates shall be accompanied by
      irrevocable undated stock powers, duly endorsed in blank and otherwise
      satisfactory in form and substance to Facility Manager) representing all
      capital stock pledged pursuant to the Company Pledge Agreement and (b) all
      promissory notes or other instruments (duly endorsed, where appropriate,
      in a manner satisfactory to Facility Manager) evidencing any Collateral;

         (iii) Lien Searches and UCC Termination Statements. Delivery to
      Facility Manager of (a) the results of a recent search, by a Person
      satisfactory to Facility Manager, of all effective UCC financing
      statements and fixture filings and all judgment and tax lien filings which
      may have been made with respect to any personal or mixed property of
      Company, together with copies of all such filings disclosed by such
      search, and (b) UCC termination statements duly executed by all applicable
      Persons for filing in all applicable jurisdictions as may be necessary to
      terminate any effective UCC financing statements or fixture filings
      disclosed in such search (other than any such financing statements or
      fixture filings in respect of Liens permitted to remain outstanding
      pursuant to the terms of this Agreement).

         (iv) UCC Financing Statements and Fixture Filings. Delivery to Facility
      Manager of UCC financing statements and, where appropriate, fixture
      filings, duly executed by Company with respect to all personal and mixed
      property Collateral of Company, for filing in all jurisdictions as may be
      necessary or, in the opinion of Facility Manager, desirable to perfect the
      security interests created in such Collateral pursuant to the Collateral
      Documents;

         (v) PTO Cover Sheets, Etc. Delivery to Facility Manager of all cover
      sheets or other documents or instruments required to be filed with the PTO
      in order to create or perfect Liens in respect of any IP Collateral;

         (vi) Opinions of Local Counsel. To the extent requested by Syndication
      Agent, delivery to Facility Manager of an opinion of counsel (which
      counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to Facility Manager) under the
      laws of each jurisdiction in which Company or any personal or mixed
      property Collateral is located with respect to the creation and perfection
      of the security interests in favor of Facility Manager in such Collateral
      and such other matters governed by the laws of such jurisdiction regarding
      such security interests as Facility Manager may reasonably request, in
      each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Facility
      Manager.

                                       60
<PAGE>   61
         (vii) Other Documents. Delivery to Facility Manager of such other
      documents and instruments that Facility Manager reasonably deems necessary
      or advisable to establish, preserve and perfect First Priority Liens
      granted to Facility Manager on behalf of Lenders under the Collateral
      Documents.

      K. FEES. Company shall have paid to Syndication Agent, for distribution
(as appropriate) to Agents and Lenders, the fees payable on the Closing Date
referred to in subsection 2.3.

      L. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; PRO FORMA BALANCE SHEET. On or before the Closing
Date, Lenders shall have received from Company:

         (i) audited financial statements of Company and its Subsidiaries for
      the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 1997, consisting of a consolidated
      balance sheet and the related consolidated statements of operations,
      shareholders' equity and cash flows for such Fiscal Year, all in
      reasonable detail and certified by the chief financial officer of Company
      that they fairly present in all material respects the financial condition
      of Company and its Subsidiaries as at such date and the results of the
      operations of Company and its Subsidiaries for the period ended on such
      date, all in accordance with GAAP; provided that such audited financial
      statements shall not differ in any material respect from the draft audited
      financial statements previously delivered to Syndication Agent;

         (ii) unaudited financial statements of Company and its Subsidiaries as
      at March 31, 1998, consisting of a balance sheet and the related
      consolidated and consolidating statements of operations, stockholders'
      equity and cash flows for the three-month period ending on such date, all
      in reasonable detail and certified by the chief financial officer of
      Company that they fairly present in all material respects the financial
      condition of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and
      the results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods
      indicated, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end
      adjustments; (iii) pro forma consolidated balance sheet of Company and its
      Subsidiaries as at March 31, 1998, prepared in accordance with GAAP and
      reflecting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan
      Documents and the Related Agreements, which pro forma financial statements
      shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Lenders; and

         (iv) projected consolidated and consolidating financial statements of
      Company and its Subsidiaries, consisting of balance sheets and the related
      consolidated and consolidating statements of income, stockholders' equity
      and cash flows, for the five-year period after the Closing Date, each of
      which shall be (x) substantially consistent


                                       61
<PAGE>   62
      with any financial statements for the same periods previously delivered to
      Syndication Agent and (y) otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to
      Syndication Agent.

      M. EVIDENCE OF INSURANCE. Facility Manager shall have received a
certificate or certificates from Company's insurance broker or other evidence
satisfactory to it that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to
subsection 5.4B is in full force and effect and that Facility Manager on behalf
of Lenders has been named as additional insured and/or loss payee thereunder to
the extent required under subsection 5.4B.

      N. OPINION OF COUNSEL TO COMPANY. Lenders and their respective counsel
shall have received (i) originally executed copies of one or more favorable
written opinions of Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel for Company, and of Jeffery H.
Boyd, General Counsel to Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to Agents and their respective counsel, dated as of the Closing Date and setting
forth substantially the matters in the opinions designated in Exhibit V annexed
hereto and as to such other matters as Agents acting on behalf of Lenders may
reasonably request and (ii) evidence satisfactory to Agents that Company has
requested such counsel to deliver such opinions to Lenders.

      O. OPINION OF AGENTS' COUNSEL. Lenders shall have received originally
executed copies of one or more favorable written opinions of O'Melveny & Myers
LLP, counsel to Agents, dated as of the Closing Date, substantially in the form
of Exhibit VI annexed hereto and as to such other matters as Agents acting on
behalf of Lenders may reasonably request.

      P. OPINIONS OF COUNSEL DELIVERED UNDER RELATED AGREEMENTS. Facility
Manager and its counsel shall have received copies of each of the opinions of
counsel delivered to the parties under the Related Agreements, together with a
letter from each such counsel (to the extent not inconsistent with such
counsel's established internal policies) authorizing Lenders to rely upon such
opinion to the same extent as though it were addressed to Lenders; provided that
Agents and Lenders shall not be able to rely upon the disclosure opinion.

      Q. AUDITOR'S LETTER. Facility Manager shall have received an executed
Auditor's Letter from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

      R. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; PERFORMANCE OF AGREEMENTS. Company
shall have delivered to Facility Manager an Officers' Certificate, in form and
substance satisfactory to Agents, to the effect that the representations and
warranties in Section 4 hereof are true, correct and complete in all material
respects on and as of the Closing Date to the same extent as though made on and
as of that date (or,to the extent such representations and warranties
specifically relate to an earlier date, that such representations and warranties
were true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of such
earlier date) and that Company shall have performed in all material respects all
agreements and satisfied all conditions


                                       62
<PAGE>   63
which this Agreement provides shall be performed or satisfied by it on or before
the Closing Date, except as otherwise disclosed and agreed to in writing by
Agents and Requisite Lenders.

      S. NO DISRUPTION OF FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL MARKETS. There shall have been
no material disruption of or material adverse change after March 30, 1998 in
current financial, banking or capital markets that would materially impair the
satisfactory syndication of the Loans, as determined in the good faith judgment
of Syndication Agent.

      T. COMPLETION OF PROCEEDINGS. All corporate and other proceedings taken or
to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and all
documents incidental thereto not previously found acceptable by Agents, acting
on behalf of Lenders, and their respective counsel shall be satisfactory in form
and substance to Agents and such counsel, and Agents and such counsel shall have
received all such counterpart originals or certified copies of such documents as
Agents may reasonably request.

            Each Lender hereby agrees that by its execution and delivery of its
signature page hereto and by the funding of its Loans to be made on the Closing
Date, such Lender approves of and consents to each of the matters set forth in
this Section 3 which must be approved by, or which must be satisfactory to,
Requisite Lenders; provided that, in the case of any agreement or document which
must be approved by, or which must be satisfactory to, Requisite Lenders,
Facility Manager or Company shall have delivered a copy of such agreement or
document to such Lender on or prior to the Closing Date.

3.2   ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS.

      A. NOTICE OF BORROWING. Facility Manager shall have received on or before
the Closing Date, in accordance with the provisions of subsection 2.1B, an
originally executed Notice of Borrowing executed by the chief executive officer,
the chief financial officer or the treasurer of Company.

      B. NO DEFAULT. No event shall have occurred and be continuing or would
result from the consummation of the borrowing contemplated by such Notice of
Borrowing that would constitute an Event of Default or Potential Event of
Default.

      C. NO ORDERS, JUDGMENTS OR DECREES. No order, judgment or decree of any
court, arbitrator or other Governmental Entity shall purport to enjoin or
restrain any Lender from making the Loans to be made by it.

      D. NO VIOLATION OF LAW. The making of the Loans shall not violate any law
including, without limitation, Regulation G, Regulation T, Regulation U or
Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any
other comparable or similar law of any Governmental Entity.

                                       63
<PAGE>   64
      E. NO PENDING OR THREATENED ACTIONS, SUITS, ETC. There shall not be
pending or, to the knowledge of Company, threatened, any action, suit,
proceeding, governmental investigation or arbitration against or affecting
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any property of Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries that has not been disclosed by Company in writing
pursuant to subsection 4.6 or 5.1(ix) prior to the execution of this Agreement,
and there shall have occurred no development not so disclosed in any such
action, suit, proceeding, governmental investigation or arbitration so
disclosed, that, in either event, in the opinion of either Agent or of Requisite
Lenders, would be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no injunction
or other restraining order shall have been issued and no hearing to cause an
injunction or other restraining order to be issued shall be pending or noticed
with respect to any action, suit or proceeding seeking to enjoin or otherwise
prevent the consummation of, or to recover any damages or obtain relief as a
result of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the making of
Loans hereunder.


SECTION 4. COMPANY'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

            In order to induce Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make
the Loans, Company represents and warrants to each Lender, on the date of this
Agreement and on the Closing Date, that the following statements are true,
correct and complete:

4.1   ORGANIZATION, POWERS, QUALIFICATION, GOOD STANDING, BUSINESS AND
      SUBSIDIARIES.

      A. ORGANIZATION AND POWERS. Each Loan Party is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation as specified in Schedule 4.1D annexed hereto. Each
Loan Party has all requisite corporate power and authority to own and operate
its properties, to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be
conducted, to enter into the Loan Documents and Related Agreements to which it
is a party and to carry out the transactions contemplated thereby.

      B. QUALIFICATION AND GOOD STANDING. Each Loan Party is qualified to do
business and in good standing in every jurisdiction where its assets are located
and wherever necessary to carry out its business and operations, except in
jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing has not
had and will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

      C. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged only in
the businesses permitted to be engaged in pursuant to subsection 6.10.

      D. SUBSIDIARIES. All of the Subsidiaries of Company are identified in
Schedule 4.1D annexed hereto, as said Schedule 4.1D may be supplemented from
time to time pursuant to the provisions of subsection 5.1(xv). Schedule 4.1D
shall identify which


                                       64
<PAGE>   65
Subsidiaries of Company are Restricted Subsidiaries, Unrestricted Subsidiaries,
Regulated Subsidiaries, Principal Subsidiaries and Significant Subsidiaries and
which Subsidiaries of Company are Loan Parties hereunder. Based on efforts made
by Company including discussions between officers of Company and Healthcare
Regulators, in the judgment of Company any Significant Subsidiary of Company
which is not identified as a Loan Party in Schedule 4.1D would not be permitted
by applicable Healthcare Regulators or regulatory restrictions to execute and
deliver the Subsidiary Guaranty and/or any Collateral Documents with respect to
the Obligations. The Capital Stock of each of the Subsidiaries of Company
identified in Schedule 4.1D annexed hereto is duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable and none of such capital stock constitutes Margin
Stock. Each of the Subsidiaries of Company identified in Schedule 4.1D annexed
hereto is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation set forth
therein, has all requisite corporate power and authority to own and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be
conducted, and is qualified to do business and in good standing in every
jurisdiction where its assets are located and wherever necessary to carry out
its business and operations, in each case except where failure to be so
qualified or in good standing or a lack of such corporate power and authority
has not had and will not have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 4.1D annexed
hereto correctly sets forth the jurisdiction of incorporation and the ownership
interest of Company and each of its Subsidiaries in each of the Subsidiaries of
Company identified therein.

                                       65
<PAGE>   66
4.2   AUTHORIZATION OF BORROWING, ETC.

      A. AUTHORIZATION OF BORROWING. The execution, delivery and performance of
the Loan Documents and the Related Agreements have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of each Loan Party that is a party
thereto.

      B. NO CONFLICT. The execution, delivery and performance by Loan Parties of
the Loan Documents and the Related Agreements to which they are parties and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and such
Related Agreements do not and will not (i) violate any provision of any law or
any governmental rule or regulation, including without limitation any Healthcare
Regulation, applicable to Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Certificate or
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Entity binding on Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute
(with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any Contractual
Obligation of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) result in or require the
creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Liens created under any of
the Loan Documents in favor of Facility Manager on behalf of Lenders), or (iv)
require any approval of stockholders or any approval or consent of any Person,
including without limitation any Healthcare Regulator, under any Contractual
Obligation of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for such approvals or
consents which will be obtained on or before the Closing Date and disclosed in
writing to Lenders.

      C. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS; GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS.

         (a) Except in each case as is not reasonably likely to have, either
      individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and except in
      connection with the matters disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, the Form
      10-K, the Form 8-K or on Schedule 4.6 annexed hereto, each of Company and
      its Subsidiaries is in compliance with the requirements of all applicable
      Healthcare Authorizations, laws, rules, regulations and orders (including
      without limitation all Environmental Laws) of any Governmental Entity.

         (b) Except in each case as is not reasonably likely to have, either
      individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, all
      Healthcare Authorizations have been duly obtained and are in full force
      and effect without any known conflict with the rights of others and free
      from any unduly burdensome restrictions. Except in each case as is not
      reasonably likely to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a
      Material Adverse Effect and except in connection with the matters
      disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, the Form 10-K or the Form 8-K, since
      December 31, 1997, none of Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received
      any written notice or other written communications from


                                       66
<PAGE>   67
      any Governmental Entity regarding (i) any revocation, withdrawal,
      suspension, termination or modification of, or the imposition of any
      material conditions with respect to, any Healthcare Authorizations, (ii)
      any violation by Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any applicable law,
      rule, regulation or order (including without limitation any Environmental
      Law) of any Governmental Entity or (iii) any other limitations on the
      conduct of business by Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

      D. GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS. The execution, delivery and performance by Loan
Parties of the Loan Documents and the Related Agreements to which they are
parties and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan
Documents and such Related Agreements do not and will not require any
Governmental Authorizations or notice to, or other action to, with or by, any
Governmental Entity or registration, consent or approval or other action under
any Healthcare Regulations, except for such Governmental Authorizations,
registrations, consents, approvals or notices which will be obtained or taken on
or before the Closing Date and disclosed in writing to Lenders.

      E. BINDING OBLIGATION. Each of the Loan Documents and Related Agreements
has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party thereto
and is the legally valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable
against such Loan Party in accordance with its respective terms, except as may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
relating to or limiting creditors' rights generally or by equitable principles
relating to enforceability.

      F. VALID ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK AND SENIOR NOTES.

        (i) Preferred Stock. The shares of Preferred Stock sold on or before the
Closing Date are duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. No
stockholder of Company has or will have any preemptive rights to subscribe for
any additional equity Securities of Company. The issuance and sale of such
shares of Preferred Stock (a) have been registered or qualified under applicable
federal and state securities laws or (b) are exempt therefrom.

        (ii) Senior Notes. Company has the corporate power and authority to
issue the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes, when issued and paid for, will be the
legally valid and binding obligations of Company, enforceable against Company in
accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting
creditors' rights generally or by equitable principles relating to
enforceability. The Senior Notes, when issued and sold, will either (a) have
been registered or qualified under applicable federal and state securities laws
or (b) be exempt therefrom.

4.3   FINANCIAL CONDITION.

                                       67
<PAGE>   68
            Company has heretofore delivered to Lenders, at Lenders' request,
the following financial statements and information: (i) audited financial
statements of Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1997, (ii) unaudited financial statements of Company and its Subsidiaries as
at March 31, 1998 and (iii) pro forma consolidated and consolidating balance
sheets of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the Closing Date. All such
statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP and fairly present, in all
material respects, the financial position (on a consolidated and, where
applicable, consolidating basis) of the entities described in such financial
statements as at the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and
cash flows (on a consolidated and, where applicable, consolidating basis) of the
entities described therein for each of the periods then ended, subject, in the
case of any such unaudited financial statements, to changes resulting from audit
and normal year-end adjustments. None of the Loan Parties (and will not
following the funding of the Loans) have any contingent liability or liability
for taxes, long-term lease or unusual forward or long-term commitment that is
not reflected in the foregoing financial statements or the notes thereto and
which in any such case is material in relation to the business, operations,
properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

4.4 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE.

            Since March 30, 1998, no event or change has occurred that has
caused, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

4.5 TITLE TO PROPERTIES; LIENS; REAL PROPERTY.

    A. TITLE TO PROPERTIES; LIENS. Company and its Subsidiaries have (i) good,
sufficient and legal title to (in the case of fee interests in real property),
(ii) valid leasehold interests in (in the case of leasehold interests in real or
personal property), or (iii) good title to (in the case of all other personal
property), all of their respective properties and assets reflected in the
financial statements referred to in subsection 4.3 or in the most recent
financial statements delivered pursuant to subsection 5.1, in each case except
for assets disposed of since the date of such financial statements in the
ordinary course of business or as otherwise permitted under subsection 6.9 or
subsection 6.11. Except as permitted by this Agreement, all such properties and
assets are free and clear of Liens.

    B. REAL PROPERTY. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 4.5B annexed hereto
contains a true, accurate and complete list of (i) all fee properties and (ii)
all leases, subleases or assignments of leases (together with all amendments,
modifications, supplements, renewals or extensions of any thereof) affecting
each Leasehold Property of Company or any Subsidiary, regardless of whether
Company or such Subsidiary is the landlord or tenant (whether directly or as an
assignee or successor in interest) under such lease, sublease or assignment.
Except as


                                       68
<PAGE>   69
specified in Schedule 4.5B annexed hereto, each agreement listed in clause (ii)
of the immediately preceding sentence is in full force and effect and Company
does not have knowledge of any default that has occurred and is continuing
thereunder which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and each such agreement constitutes the
legally valid and binding obligation of Company or each applicable Subsidiary,
enforceable against Company or such Subsidiary in accordance with its terms,
except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors' rights generally
or by equitable principles.

4.6 LITIGATION.

            Except as set forth in Schedule 4.6 annexed hereto, there are no
actions, suits, proceedings, arbitrations or governmental investigations
(including any Environmental Claims) (whether or not purportedly on behalf of
Company or any of its Subsidiaries) at law or in equity, before or by any
Governmental Entity or pursuant to any Healthcare Regulations that are pending
or, to the knowledge of Company, threatened against or affecting Company or any
of its Subsidiaries or any property of Company or any of its Subsidiaries and
that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.

4.7 PAYMENT OF TAXES.

            Except to the extent permitted by subsection 5.3, all tax returns
and reports of Company and its Subsidiaries required to be filed by any of them
have been or will be filed on or before the date due, and all taxes shown on
such tax returns to be due and payable and all assessments, fees and other
governmental charges upon Company and its Subsidiaries and upon their respective
properties, assets, income, businesses and franchises which are due and payable
have been paid when due and payable. Company knows of no proposed tax assessment
against Company or any of its Subsidiaries which is not being actively contested
by Company or such Subsidiary in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;
provided that such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be
required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made or provided therefor.

4.8 PERFORMANCE OF AGREEMENTS; MATERIALLY ADVERSE AGREEMENTS; MATERIAL
    CONTRACTS.

    A. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default in the
performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or
conditions contained in any of its Contractual Obligations, and no condition
exists that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would
constitute such a default, except where the consequences, direct or indirect, of
such default or defaults, if any, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       69
<PAGE>   70
    B. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or is
otherwise subject to any agreements or instruments or any charter or other
internal restrictions which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

    C. All Material Contracts of Company and its Subsidiaries are in full
force and effect and no material defaults currently exist thereunder.

4.9 GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION.

            Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to regulation
under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the
Interstate Commerce Act or the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under any other
federal or state statute or regulation which may limit its ability to incur
Indebtedness (other than with respect to Regulated Subsidiaries, applicable
Healthcare Regulations) or which may otherwise render all or any portion of the
Obligations unenforceable.

4.10 SECURITIES ACTIVITIES.

     A. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or
as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the
purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock.

     B. Following application of the proceeds of each Loan, not more than 25%
of the value of the assets (either of Company only or of Company and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of subsection
6.4 or 6.9 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or
instrument between Company and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender
relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of subsection 7.2, will be Margin
Stock.

4.11 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.

     A. Each Employer Benefit Plan is in substantial compliance with all
applicable provisions and requirements of ERISA and the regulations and
published interpretations thereunder with respect to each Employee Benefit Plan.
Company, each of its Subsidiaries and each of their respective ERISA Affiliates
have performed substantially all their obligations under each Employee Benefit
Plan. Each Employee Benefit Plan which is intended to qualify under Section
401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code is so qualified.

     B. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur.

     C. Except to the extent required under Section 4980B of the Internal
Revenue Code or except as set forth in Schedule 4.11 annexed hereto, no Employee
Benefit Plan provides


                                       70
<PAGE>   71


health or welfare benefits (through the purchase of insurance or otherwise) for
any retired or former employee of Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     D. As of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the amount
of unfunded benefit liabilities (as defined in Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA),
individually or in the aggregate for all Pension Plans (excluding for purposes
of such computation any Pension Plans with respect to which assets exceed
benefit liabilities), does not exceed $1,000,000.

     E. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary contributes to, or has ever
contributed to any Multiemployer Plan.

4.12 CERTAIN FEES.

     No broker's or finder's fee or commission will be payable with respect to
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and Company
hereby indemnifies Lenders against, and agrees that it will hold Lenders
harmless from, any claim, demand or liability for any such broker's or finder's
fees alleged to have been incurred in connection herewith or therewith and any
expenses (including reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel)
arising in connection with any such claim, demand or liability.


4.13  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

          Except as set forth in Schedule 4.13 annexed hereto:

          (i) neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their
     respective Facilities or operations are subject to any outstanding written
     order, consent decree or settlement agreement with any Person relating to
     (a) any Environmental Law, (b) any Environmental Claim, or (c) any
     Hazardous Materials Activity that, individually or in the aggregate, could
     reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (ii) neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
     letter or request for information under Section 104 of the Comprehensive
     Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. Section
     9604) or any comparable state law;

          (iii) there are and, to Company's knowledge, have been no conditions,
     occurrences, or Hazardous Materials Activities which could reasonably be
     expected to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against Company or
     any of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, could
     reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and




                                   71

<PAGE>   72





     (iv) compliance with all current or reasonably foreseeable future
     requirements pursuant to or under Environmental Laws will not,
     individually or in the aggregate, have a reasonable possibility of giving
     rise to a Material Adverse Effect.

     Notwithstanding anything in this subsection 4.13 to the contrary, no event
or condition has occurred or is occurring with respect to the past or present
activities of Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to any Environmental
Law, any Release of Hazardous Materials, or any Hazardous Materials Activity,
including any matter disclosed on Schedule 4.13 annexed hereto, which
individually or in the aggregate has had or could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

4.14 EMPLOYEE MATTERS.

     There is no strike or work stoppage in existence or threatened involving
Company or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

4.15 SOLVENCY.

     Each Loan Party is and, upon the incurrence of any Obligations by such
Loan Party on any date on which this representation is made, will be, Solvent.

4.16 MATTERS RELATING TO COLLATERAL.

     A. CREATION, PERFECTION AND PRIORITY OF LIENS.  The execution and delivery
of the Collateral Documents by the Loan Parties, together with (i) the actions
taken on or prior to the date hereof pursuant to subsections 3.1J, 5.8 and 5.9
and (ii) the delivery to Facility Manager of any Pledged Collateral not
delivered to Facility Manager at the time of execution and delivery of the
applicable Collateral Document (all of which Pledged Collateral has been so
delivered) are effective to create in favor of Facility Manager for the benefit
of Lenders, as security for the respective Secured Obligations (as defined in
the applicable Collateral Document in respect of any Collateral), a valid and
perfected First Priority Lien on all of the Collateral, and all filings and
other actions necessary or desirable to perfect and maintain the perfection and
First Priority status of such Liens have been duly made or taken and remain in
full force and effect, other than the filing of any UCC financing statements
delivered to Facility Manager for filing (but not yet filed) and the periodic
filing of UCC continuation statements in respect of UCC financing statements
filed by or on behalf of Facility Manager.

     B. GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS.  No authorization, approval or other
action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required
for either (i) the pledge or grant by any Loan Party of the Liens purported to
be created in favor of Facility Manager pursuant to any of the Collateral
Documents or (ii) the exercise by Facility Manager of any



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rights or remedies in respect of any Collateral (whether specifically granted
or created pursuant to any of the Collateral Documents or created or provided
for by applicable law), except for filings or recordings contemplated by
subsection 4.16A, except as may be required, in connection with the disposition
of any Pledged Collateral, by laws generally affecting the offering and sale of
securities and except for such authorizations, approvals, notices, filings or
other actions as may be required under any Healthcare Regulations in connection
with the pledge of the shares of Regulated Subsidiaries all of which
authorizations, approvals, notices, filings or other actions have been made or
obtained or will be made or obtained as soon as practicable after the Closing
Date, but in any event within ten Business Days thereafter, or in connection
with the exercise by Facility Manager of any rights or remedies in respect of
any Collateral.

     C. ABSENCE OF THIRD-PARTY FILINGS.  Except such as may have been filed in
favor of Facility Manager as contemplated by subsection 4.16A, (i) no effective
UCC financing statement, fixture filing or other instrument similar in effect
covering all or any part of the Collateral is on file in any filing or
recording office and (ii) no effective filing covering all or any part of the
IP Collateral is on file in the PTO.

     D. MARGIN REGULATIONS.  The pledge of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to
the Collateral Documents does not violate Regulation G, T, U or X of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

     E. INFORMATION REGARDING COLLATERAL.  All information supplied to Facility
Manager by or on behalf of any Loan Party with respect to any of the Collateral
(in each case taken as a whole with respect to any particular Collateral) is
accurate and complete in all material respects.

4.17 RELATED AGREEMENTS.

     A. DELIVERY OF RELATED AGREEMENTS.  Company has delivered to Lenders
complete and correct copies of each Related Agreement and of all exhibits and
schedules thereto.

     B. WARRANTIES OF TPG OXFORD.  To the knowledge of Company and except to
the extent otherwise set forth herein or in the schedules hereto, each of the
representations and warranties given by TPG Oxford to Company in the Investment
Agreement is true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof
(or as of any earlier date to which such representation and warranty
specifically relates) and will be true and correct in all material respects as
of the Closing Date (or as of such earlier date, as the case may be ), in each
case subject to the qualifications set forth in the schedules to the Investment
Agreement.

     C. WARRANTIES OF COMPANY.  Subject to the qualifications set forth
therein, each of the representations and warranties given by Company in the
Investment Agreement is true and



                                   73

<PAGE>   74





correct in all material respects as of the date thereof and will be true and
correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date.

     D. SURVIVAL. The representations and warranties of TPG Oxford and Company
set forth in subsections 4.17B and 4.17C, respectively, shall, solely for
purposes of this Agreement, survive the Closing Date for the benefit of
Lenders.

4.18 DISCLOSURE.

     No representation or warranty of Company or any of its Subsidiaries
contained in any Loan Document or Related Agreement, the Form 10-K, the Form
8-K or the Offering Memorandum or in any other document, certificate or written
statement furnished to Lenders by or on behalf of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement or the Related Agreements contains any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact (known to
Company, in the case of any document not furnished by it) necessary in order to
make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which the same were made.  Any projections and pro forma
financial information contained in such materials are based upon good faith
estimates and assumptions believed by Company to be reasonable at the time
made, it being recognized by Lenders that such projections as to future events
are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or
periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected results.
There are no facts known (or which should upon the reasonable exercise of
diligence be known) to Company (other than matters of a general economic
nature) that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect and that have not been disclosed herein or
in such other documents, certificates and statements furnished to Lenders for
use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.


SECTION 5. COMPANY'S AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     Company covenants and agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments
hereunder shall remain in effect and until payment in full of all of the Loans
and other Obligations, unless Requisite Lenders shall otherwise give prior
written consent, Company shall perform, and shall cause each of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to perform, all covenants in this Section 5.

5.1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER REPORTS.

     Company will maintain, and cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to
maintain, a system of accounting established and administered in accordance
with sound business practices to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with GAAP.  Company will deliver to Facility Manager and Lenders:



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<PAGE>   75






          (i) Monthly Financials:  as soon as available and in any event within
     45 days after the end of each month ending after the Closing Date, the
     consolidated balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end
     of such month and the related consolidated and consolidating (to the
     extent such consolidating statements are prepared by Company for internal
     purposes) statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of
     Company and its Subsidiaries for such month and for the period from the
     beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such month,
     setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures
     for the corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal Year and the
     corresponding figures from the Financial Plan for the current Fiscal Year,
     to the extent prepared on a monthly basis, all in reasonable detail and
     certified by the chief financial officer of Company that they fairly
     present, in all material respects, the financial condition of Company and
     its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their
     operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated, subject to
     changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments;

          (ii) Quarterly Financials:  as soon as available and in any event
     within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter, (a) the consolidated
     and consolidating balance sheets of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the
     end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related consolidated and consolidating
     statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of Company
     and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period from the
     beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal
     Quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding
     figures for the corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal Year and the
     corresponding figures from the Financial Plan for the current Fiscal Year,
     all in reasonable detail and certified by the chief financial officer of
     Company that they fairly present, in all material respects, the financial
     condition of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and
     the results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods
     indicated, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end
     adjustments, and (b) a narrative report describing the operations of
     Company and its Subsidiaries in the form prepared for presentation to
     senior management for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period from the
     beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal
     Quarter;

          (iii) Year-End Financials:  as soon as available and in any event
     within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, (a) the consolidated and
     consolidating balance sheets of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end
     of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated and consolidating
     statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of Company
     and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in
     comparative form the corresponding figures for the previous Fiscal Year
     and the corresponding figures from the Financial Plan for the Fiscal Year
     covered by such financial statements, all in reasonable detail and
     certified by the chief financial officer of Company that they fairly
     present, in all material respects, the financial condition of



                                   75

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     Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of
     their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated, (b) a 
     narrative report describing the operations of Company and its Subsidiaries 
     in the form prepared for presentation to senior management for such Fiscal
     Year, and (c) in the case of such consolidated financial statements, a
     report thereon of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP or other independent certified
     public accountants of recognized national standing selected by Company and
     reasonably satisfactory to Facility Manager, which report shall be
     unqualified and shall state that such consolidated financial statements
     fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial
     position of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the
     results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated
     in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years
     (except as otherwise disclosed in such financial statements) and that the
     examination by such accountants in connection with such consolidated
     financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted   
     auditing standards;                                                     

          (iv) Officers' and Compliance Certificates:  together with each
     delivery of financial statements of Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant
     to subdivisions (ii) and (iii) above, (a) an Officers' Certificate of
     Company stating that the signers have reviewed the terms of this Agreement
     and have made, or caused to be made under their supervision, a review in
     reasonable detail of the transactions and condition of Company and its
     Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by such financial
     statements and that such review has not disclosed the existence during or
     at the end of such accounting period, and that the signers do not have
     knowledge of the existence as at the date of such Officers' Certificate,
     of any condition or event that constitutes an Event of Default or
     Potential Event of Default, or, if any such condition or event existed or
     exists, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what
     action Company has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect
     thereto; and (b) a Compliance Certificate demonstrating in reasonable
     detail compliance during and at the end of the applicable accounting
     periods with the restrictions contained in Section 6 and setting forth the
     information as to Post-Closing Contributions as described in the
     definition of "Excluded Asset Sales";

          (v) Accountants' Certification:  together with each delivery of
     consolidated financial statements of Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant
     to subdivision (iii) above, a written statement by the independent
     certified public accountants giving the report thereon (a) stating that
     their audit examination has included a review of the terms of this
     Agreement and the other Loan Documents as they relate to accounting
     matters, (b) stating whether, in connection with their audit examination,
     any condition or event that constitutes an Event of Default or Potential
     Event of Default has come to their attention and, if such a condition or
     event has come to their attention, specifying the nature and period of
     existence thereof; provided that such accountants shall not be liable by
     reason of any failure to obtain knowledge of any such Event of Default or
     Potential Event of



                                   76

<PAGE>   77





     Default that would not be disclosed in the course of their audit
     examination, and (c) stating that based on their audit examination nothing
     has come to their attention that causes them to believe either or both
     that the information contained in the certificates delivered therewith
     pursuant to subdivision (iv) above is not correct or that the matters set
     forth in the Compliance Certificates delivered therewith pursuant to
     clause (b) of subdivision (iv) above for the applicable Fiscal Year are
     not stated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;  

          (vi) Accountants' Reports:  promptly upon receipt thereof (unless
     restricted by applicable professional standards), copies of all reports
     submitted to Company by independent certified public accountants in
     connection with each annual, interim or special audit of the financial
     statements of Company and its Subsidiaries made by such accountants,
     including any comment letter submitted by such accountants to management
     in connection with their annual audit;

          (vii) SEC Filings and Press Releases:  promptly upon their becoming
     available, copies of (a) all financial statements, reports, notices and
     proxy statements sent or made available generally by Company to its
     security holders or by any Subsidiary of Company to its security holders
     other than Company or another Subsidiary of Company, (b) all regular and
     periodic reports and all registration statements (other than on Form S-8
     or a similar form) and prospectuses, if any, filed by Company or any of
     its Subsidiaries with any securities exchange or with the Securities and
     Exchange Commission or any Governmental Entity or private regulatory
     authority, and (c) all press releases and other statements made available
     generally by Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the public concerning
     material developments in the business of Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries;

          (viii) Events of Default, etc.:  promptly upon any officer of Company
     obtaining knowledge (a) of any condition or event that constitutes an
     Event of Default or Potential Event of Default, or becoming aware that any
     Lender has given any notice (other than to Facility Manager) or taken any
     other action with respect to a claimed Event of Default or Potential Event
     of Default, (b) that any Person has given any notice to Company or any of
     its Subsidiaries or taken any other action with respect to a claimed
     default or event or condition of the type referred to in subsection 7.2,
     (c) of any condition or event that would be required to be disclosed in a
     current report filed by Company with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission on Form 8-K (Items 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 of such Form as in effect
     on the date hereof) if Company were required to file such reports under
     the Exchange Act, or (d) of the occurrence of any event or change that has
     caused or evidences, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material
     Adverse Effect, an Officers' Certificate specifying the nature and period
     of existence of such condition, event or change, or specifying the notice
     given or action taken by any such Person and the nature of such claimed
     Event of Default, Potential Event of Default,



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<PAGE>   78





     default, event or condition, and what action Company has taken, is taking
     and proposes to take with respect thereto;

          (ix) Litigation or Other Proceedings:  promptly upon any officer of
     Company obtaining knowledge of (X) the institution of, or non-frivolous
     threat of, any action, suit, proceeding (whether administrative, judicial
     or otherwise), governmental investigation or arbitration against or
     affecting Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any property of Company or
     any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, "PROCEEDINGS") not previously
     disclosed in writing by Company to Lenders or (Y) any material development
     in any Proceeding that, in any case:

                (1) if adversely determined, has a reasonable possibility of
           giving rise to a Material Adverse Effect; or

                (2) seeks to enjoin or otherwise prevent the consummation of,
           or to recover any damages or obtain relief as a result of, the
           transactions contemplated hereby;

     written notice thereof together with such other information as may be
     reasonably available to Company to enable Lenders and their counsel to
     evaluate such matters; and (b) within twenty days after the end of each
     Fiscal Quarter, a schedule of all Proceedings involving an alleged
     liability of, or claims against or affecting, Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries equal to or greater than $10,000,000 (except for frivolous
     assertions of damages), and promptly after request by Facility Manager
     such other information as may be reasonably requested by Facility Manager
     to enable Facility Manager and its counsel to evaluate any of such
     Proceedings;

          (x) ERISA Events:  promptly upon becoming aware of the occurrence of
     or forthcoming occurrence of any ERISA Event, a written notice specifying
     the nature thereof, what action Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of
     their respective ERISA Affiliates has taken, is taking or proposes to take
     with respect thereto and, when known, any action taken or threatened by
     the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or the PBGC with
     respect thereto;

          (xi) ERISA Notices:  with reasonable promptness, copies of (a) each
     Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series)
     filed by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA
     Affiliates with the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each Pension
     Plan; (b) all notices received by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any
     of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor
     concerning an ERISA Event; and (c) copies of such other documents or
     governmental reports or filings relating to any Employee Benefit Plan as
     Facility Manager shall reasonably request;




                                   78

<PAGE>   79





     (xii) Financial Plans:  as soon as practicable and in any event no later
     than 30 days prior to the beginning of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated
     and consolidating plan and financial forecast for such Fiscal Year (the
     "FINANCIAL PLAN" for such Fiscal Year), including (a) forecasted
     consolidated and consolidating balance sheets and forecasted consolidated
     and consolidating statements of income and cash flows of Company and its
     Subsidiaries for each such Fiscal Year, together with an explanation of
     the assumptions on which such forecasts are based, (b) forecasted
     consolidated and consolidating statements of income and cash flows of
     Company and its Subsidiaries for each month of each such Fiscal Year,
     together with an explanation of the assumptions on which such forecasts
     are based, (c) the amount of forecasted unallocated overhead for each such
     Fiscal Year, and (d) such other information and projections as any Lender
     may reasonably request;

          (xiii) Insurance:  as soon as practicable and in any event by the
     last day of each Fiscal Year, a report in form and substance satisfactory
     to Facility Manager outlining all material insurance coverage maintained
     as of the date of such report by Company and its Subsidiaries and all
     material insurance coverage planned to be maintained by Company and its
     Subsidiaries in the immediately succeeding Fiscal Year;

          (xiv) Board of Directors:  with reasonable promptness, written notice
     of any change in the Board of Directors;

          (xv) New Subsidiaries:  promptly upon any Person becoming a
     Subsidiary of Company, a written notice setting forth with respect to such
     Person (a) the date on which such Person became a Subsidiary of Company
     and (b) all of the data required to be set forth in Schedule 4.1D annexed
     hereto with respect to all Subsidiaries of Company (it being understood
     that such written notice shall be deemed to supplement Schedule 4.1D
     annexed hereto for all purposes of this Agreement);

          (xvi) Health Care Compliance:  promptly upon any officer of Company
     obtaining knowledge of (i) any material claim, complaint, notice or
     request for information received by Company or any of its Subsidiaries
     with respect to compliance with Healthcare Regulations relating to the
     delivery of healthcare services of the type provided by Company or any of
     its Subsidiaries and payment therefor (excluding malpractice claims and
     routine license and certification surveys, unless such surveys include a
     recommendation that the Medicare, Medicaid or comparable state program
     certification or license of a Facility should be terminated, revoked or
     suspended), including, but not limited to, any violation or alleged
     violation of any federal, state or local statute, regulation or ordinance,
     including without limitation any Healthcare Regulation, relating to the
     delivery of medical services and payment therefor, including, but not
     limited to, the requirements set forth under federal Medicare and Medicaid



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    statutes, 42 U.S.C. Section Section  1320a-7, 1320a-7a, 1320a-7b and 1395nn,
     and the regulations promulgated thereunder and related state or local
     statutes or regulations (or any successor federal or state statute or
     regulation) or (ii) the suspension, termination, revocation or restriction
     or proposed suspension, termination, revocation or restriction of any
     material Healthcare Authorization by any Governmental Entity;

          (xvii) UCC Search Report:  as promptly as practicable after the date
     of delivery to Facility Manager of any UCC financing statement executed by
     any Loan Party pursuant to subsection 3.1J(iv) or 5.8A, copies of
     completed UCC searches evidencing the proper filing, recording and
     indexing of all such UCC financing statement and listing all other
     effective financing statements that name such Loan Party as debtor,
     together with copies of all such other financing statements not previously
     delivered to Facility Manager by or on behalf of Company or such Loan
     Party; and

          (xviii) Other Information:  with reasonable promptness, such other
     information and data with respect to Company or any of its Subsidiaries as
     from time to time may be reasonably requested by any Lender.

5.2 CORPORATE EXISTENCE, ETC.

     (a) Except as permitted under subsection 6.11, Company will, and will
cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, at all times preserve and keep in
full force and effect its corporate existence and all rights and franchises
material to its business; provided, however, that neither Company nor any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve any such right or
franchise if the Board of Directors of Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the
conduct of the business of Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may be, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material
respect to Company, such Restricted Subsidiary or Lenders.

     (b) Company will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
at all times preserve and maintain and keep in full force and effect all
Healthcare Authorizations, except where the failure to do so would not result
in a Material Adverse Effect.

5.3 PAYMENT OF TAXES AND CLAIMS; TAX CONSOLIDATION.

     A. Company will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
pay all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges imposed upon it or
any of its properties or assets or in respect of any of its income, businesses
or franchises before any penalty accrues thereon, and all claims (including
claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums that have become
due and payable and that by law have or may become a Lien upon any of its
properties or assets, prior to the time when any penalty or fine shall be
incurred with respect thereto; provided that no such charge or claim need be
paid if it is being contested in good faith by



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appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, so long
as (1) such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be
required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor and (2) in the
case of a charge or claim which has or may become a Lien against any of the
Collateral, such contest proceedings conclusively operate to stay the sale of
any portion of the Collateral to satisfy such charge or claim.

     B. Company will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, file or consent to the filing of any consolidated income tax return with
any Person (other than Company or any of its Subsidiaries).

5.4  MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES; INSURANCE.

     A. MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES.  Company will, and will cause each of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair,
working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, all material
properties used or useful in the business of Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (including all intellectual property) and from time to time will
make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals and replacements
thereof.

     B. INSURANCE.  Company will maintain or cause to be maintained, with
financially sound and reputable insurers, such public liability insurance,
third party property damage insurance, business interruption insurance and
casualty insurance with respect to liabilities, losses or damage in respect of
the assets, properties and businesses of Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries as may customarily be carried or maintained under similar
circumstances by corporations of established reputation engaged in similar
businesses, in each case in such amounts (giving effect to self-insurance),
with such deductibles, covering such risks and otherwise on such terms and
conditions as shall be customary for corporations similarly situated in the
industry.  Each such policy of insurance shall (a) name Facility Manager for
the benefit of Lenders as an additional insured thereunder as its interests may
appear and (b) in the case of each business interruption and casualty insurance
policy, contain a loss payable clause or endorsement, satisfactory in form and
substance to Facility Manager, that names Facility Manager for the benefit of
Lenders as the loss payee thereunder for any covered loss in excess of
$1,000,000 and provides for at least 30 days prior written notice to Facility
Manager of any modification or cancellation of such policy.

5.5  INSPECTION RIGHTS; LENDER MEETING.

     A. INSPECTION RIGHTS.  Company shall, and shall cause each of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit any authorized representatives designated by
any Lender to visit and inspect any of the properties of Company or of any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries, to inspect, copy and take extracts from its and
their financial and accounting records, and to discuss its and their affairs,
finances and accounts with its and their officers and independent public
accountants (provided that Company may, if it so chooses, be present at or
participate in any such



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discussion), all upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times during
normal business hours and as often as may reasonably be requested.

     B. LENDER MEETING.  Company will, upon the request of Facility Manager or
Requisite Lenders, participate in a meeting of Facility Manager and Lenders
once during each Fiscal Year to be held at Company's corporate offices (or at
such other location as may be agreed to by Company and Facility Manager) at
such time as may be agreed to by Company and Facility Manager.

5.6 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, ETC.

     Company shall comply, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to comply, with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations and
orders of any Governmental Entity (including without limitation all Healthcare
Regulations and Environmental Laws), except (i) where compliance therewith is
contested reasonably and in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) where,
in the case of any non-compliance known to an officer of the Company,
corrective actions are being taken with respect thereto, or (iii) for such
noncompliance as could not reasonably be expected to cause, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.




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5.7  ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND INVESTIGATION, DISCLOSURE, ETC.; COMPANY'S
     ACTIONS REGARDING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ACTIVITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS AND
     VIOLATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.

     A. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND INVESTIGATION.  Company agrees that Facility
Manager may, upon an Event of Default or upon a reasonable belief that an event
has occurred that could result in a material Environmental Claim or in a
Material Adverse Effect, (i) retain, at Company's expense, an independent
professional consultant to review any environmental audits, investigations,
analyses and reports relating to Hazardous Materials prepared by or for Company
and (ii) conduct its own investigation of any Facility; provided that, in the
case of any Facility no longer owned, leased, operated or used by Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, Company shall only be obligated to use
reasonable efforts to obtain permission for Facility Manager's professional
consultant to conduct an investigation of such Facility.  For purposes of
conducting such a review and/or investigation, Company hereby grants to
Facility Manager and its agents, employees, consultants and contractors the
right to enter into or onto any Facilities currently owned, leased, operated or
used by Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and to perform such tests
on such property (including taking samples of soil, groundwater and suspected
asbestos-containing materials) as are reasonably necessary in connection
therewith.  Any such investigation of any Facility shall be conducted, unless
otherwise agreed to by Company and Facility Manager, during normal business
hours and, to the extent reasonably practicable, shall be conducted so as not
to interfere with the ongoing operations at such Facility or to cause any
damage or loss to any property at such Facility.  Company and Facility Manager
hereby acknowledge and agree that any report of any investigation conducted at
the request of Facility Manager pursuant to this subsection 5.7A will be
obtained and shall be used by Facility Manager and Lenders for the purposes of
Lenders' internal credit decisions, to monitor and police the Loans and to
protect Lenders' security interests, if any, created by the Loan Documents.
Facility Manager agrees to deliver a copy of any such report to Company with
the understanding that Company acknowledges and agrees that (x) it will
indemnify and hold harmless Facility Manager and each Lender from any costs,
losses or liabilities relating to Company's use of or reliance on such report,
(y) neither Facility Manager nor any Lender makes any representation or
warranty with respect to such report, and (z) by delivering such report to
Company, neither Facility Manager nor any Lender is requiring or recommending
the implementation of any suggestions or recommendations contained in such
report.

     B. ENVIRONMENTAL DISCLOSURE.  Company will deliver to Facility Manager and
Lenders:

          (i) Environmental Audits and Reports.  As soon as practicable
     following receipt thereof, copies of all environmental audits,
     investigations, analyses and reports of any kind or character in its
     possession or control, whether prepared by personnel of



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     Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or by independent
     consultants, Governmental Entities or any other Persons, with respect to
     significant environmental matters at any Facility which, individually or
     in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
     Adverse Effect or with respect to any Environmental Claims which,
     individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result
     in a Material Adverse Effect;
        
          (ii) Notice of Certain Releases, Remedial Actions, Etc.  Promptly
     upon the occurrence thereof, written notice describing in reasonable
     detail (a) any Release required to be reported to any Governmental Entity
     under any applicable Environmental Laws, (b) any remedial action taken by
     Company or any other Person in response to (1) any Hazardous Materials
     Activities the existence of which has a reasonable possibility of
     resulting in one or more Environmental Claims having, individually or in
     the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (2) any Environmental Claims
     that, individually or in the aggregate, have a reasonable possibility of
     resulting in a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) Company's discovery of any
     material occurrence or condition on any real property adjoining or in the
     vicinity of any Facility that could cause such Facility or any part
     thereof to be subject to any restrictions on the ownership, occupancy,
     transferability or use thereof under any Environmental Laws.

          (iii) Written Communications Regarding Environmental Claims,
     Releases, Etc.  As soon as practicable following the sending or receipt
     thereof by Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, a copy of any
     and all written communications with respect to (a) any Environmental
     Claims that, individually or in the aggregate, have a reasonable
     possibility of giving rise to a Material Adverse Effect, (b) any Release
     required to be reported to any Governmental Entity, and (c) any request
     for information from any governmental agency that suggests such agency is
     investigating whether Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be
     potentially responsible for any Hazardous Materials Activity.

          (iv) Notice of Certain Proposed Actions Having Environmental Impact.
     Prompt written notice describing in reasonable detail (a) any proposed
     acquisition of stock, assets, or property by Company or any of its
     Restricted Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to (1) expose
     Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, or result in,
     Environmental Claims that could reasonably be expected to have,
     individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (2) affect
     the ability of Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to maintain
     in full force and effect all material Governmental Authorizations required
     under any Environmental Laws for their respective operations and (b) any
     proposed action to be taken by Company or any of its Restricted
     Subsidiaries to modify current operations in a manner that could
     reasonably be expected to subject Company or any of its Restricted
     Subsidiaries to any additional obligations or requirements under any
     Environmental Laws that could reasonably be expected to have, individually
     or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.




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     (v) Other Information.  With reasonable promptness, such other documents
     and information as from time to time may be reasonably requested by
     Facility Manager in relation to any matters disclosed pursuant to this
     subsection 5.7.

     C. COMPANY'S ACTIONS REGARDING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ACTIVITIES,
ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS AND VIOLATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.

          (i) Remedial Actions Relating to Hazardous Materials Activities.
     Company shall promptly undertake, and shall cause each of its Restricted
     Subsidiaries promptly to undertake, any and all investigations, studies,
     sampling, testing, abatement, cleanup, removal, remediation or other
     response actions necessary to remove, remediate, clean up or abate any
     Hazardous Materials Activity on, under or about any Facility that is in
     violation of any Environmental Laws or that presents a risk of giving rise
     to a Material Environmental Claim.  In the event Company or any of its
     Restricted Subsidiaries undertakes any such action with respect to any
     Hazardous Materials, Company or such Restricted Subsidiary shall conduct
     and complete such action in compliance with all applicable Environmental
     Laws and in accordance with the policies, orders and directives of all
     Governmental Entities except when, and only to the extent that, Company's
     or such Restricted Subsidiary's liability with respect to such Hazardous
     Materials Activity is being contested in good faith by Company or such
     Restricted Subsidiary.

          (ii) Actions with Respect to Environmental Claims and Violations of
     Environmental Laws.  Company shall promptly take, and shall cause each of
     its Restricted Subsidiaries promptly to take, any and all actions
     necessary to (i) cure any violation of applicable Environmental Laws by
     Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected
     to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and
     (ii) make an appropriate response to any Environmental Claim against
     Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and discharge any
     obligations it may have to any Person thereunder where failure to do so
     could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
     Material Adverse Effect.




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5.8  EXECUTION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AND PERSONAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL
     DOCUMENTS BY CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES AND FUTURE SUBSIDIARIES; SECURITY
     INTEREST IN TRADEMARKS.

     A. EXECUTION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AND PERSONAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL
DOCUMENTS.  In the event that (i) any Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary
which is a Significant Subsidiary of Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries after the date hereof other than any such Restricted Subsidiary
which is a Regulated Subsidiary which is prohibited from undertaking the
actions described below because of applicable regulatory restrictions, (ii)
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries transfers or causes to be
transferred in one or a series of transactions (whether or not related), any
assets, businesses, divisions, real property or equipment having an aggregate
fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) in
excess of $2,000,000 to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary
Guarantor or to any Regulated Subsidiary (other than in connection with a
Permitted Investment) or (iii) any Restricted Subsidiary of Company that is not
a Subsidiary Guarantor guarantees any Indebtedness of Company or pledges any of
its assets to secure any Indebtedness of Company other than the Indebtedness
under this Agreement, Company will promptly notify Facility Manager of that
fact and (1) execute, or cause the applicable Restricted Subsidiary to execute,
a Pledge Amendment (as such term is defined in the Company Pledge Agreement and
Subsidiary Pledge Agreements) and (2) cause such new Restricted Subsidiary to
execute and deliver to Facility Manager a counterpart of the Subsidiary
Guaranty and a Subsidiary Pledge Agreement, a Subsidiary Security Agreement and
a Subsidiary Trademark Security Agreement and to take all such further actions
and execute all such further documents and instruments (including actions,
documents and instruments comparable to those described in subsection 3.1J) as
may be necessary or, in the opinion of Facility Manager, desirable to create in
favor of Facility Manager, for the benefit of Lenders, a valid and perfected
First Priority Lien on all of the personal and mixed property assets of such
Restricted Subsidiary described in the applicable forms of Collateral
Documents.

     B. SUBSIDIARY CHARTER DOCUMENTS, LEGAL OPINIONS, ETC.  Company shall
deliver to Facility Manager, together with such Loan Documents, (i) certified
copies of such Restricted Subsidiary's Certificate or Articles of
Incorporation, together with a good standing certificate from the Secretary of
State of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and each other state in which
such Person is qualified as a foreign corporation to do business and, to the
extent generally available, a certificate or other evidence of good standing as
to payment of any applicable franchise or similar taxes from the appropriate
taxing authority of each of such jurisdictions, each to be dated a recent date
prior to their delivery to Facility Manager, (ii) a copy of such Restricted
Subsidiary's Bylaws, certified by its corporate secretary or an assistant
secretary as of a recent date prior to their delivery to Facility Manager,
(iii) a certificate executed by the secretary or an assistant secretary of such
Restricted Subsidiary as to (a) the fact that the attached resolutions of the
Board of Directors of such Restricted Subsidiary approving and authorizing the
execution, delivery and performance of such Loan Documents are in full force



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and effect and have not been modified or amended and (b) the incumbency and
signatures of the officers of such Restricted Subsidiary executing such Loan
Documents, and (iv) a favorable opinion of counsel to such Restricted
Subsidiary, in form and substance satisfactory to Facility Manager and its
counsel, as to (a) the due organization and good standing of such Restricted
Subsidiary, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery by such
Restricted Subsidiary of such Loan Documents, (c) the enforceability of such
Loan Documents against such Restricted Subsidiary, (d) such other matters
(including matters relating to the creation and perfection of Liens in any
Collateral pursuant to such Loan Documents) as Facility Manager may reasonably
request, all of the foregoing to be satisfactory in form and substance to
Facility Manager and its counsel.

     C. COMPANY TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT.  In the event that Company
registers the name "Oxford" or "Oxford Health" or any similar trademark, trade
name, service mark, corporate name or other intangible asset with the United
States Patent & Trademark Office or otherwise acquires any material
intellectual property rights, Company will promptly notify Facility Manager of
that fact and execute the Company Trademark Security Agreement, or deliver an
amended schedule to the Company Trademark Security Agreement to Facility
Manager, and take all such further actions and execute all such further
documents and instruments (including actions, documents and instruments
comparable to those described in subsection 3.1J) as may be necessary or, in
the opinion of Facility Manager, desirable to create in favor of Facility
Manager, for the benefit of Lenders, a valid and perfected First Priority Lien
on all of such intellectual property assets of Company.


5.9  CONFORMING LEASEHOLD INTERESTS; MATTERS RELATING TO ADDITIONAL REAL
     PROPERTY COLLATERAL.

     A. CONFORMING LEASEHOLD INTERESTS.  If Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries acquires any Leasehold Property, Company shall, or shall cause
such Restricted Subsidiary to, use its best efforts (without requiring Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary to relinquish any material rights or incur any
material obligations or to expend more than a nominal amount of money over and
above the reimbursement, if required, of the landlord's out-of-pocket costs,
including attorneys fees) to cause such Leasehold Property to be a Conforming
Leasehold Interest.

     B. ADDITIONAL MORTGAGES, ETC.  From and after the Closing Date, in the
event that (i) Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor which is a Significant
Subsidiary acquires any fee interest in any Real Property Asset or any
Leasehold Property or (ii) at the time any Person becomes a Subsidiary
Guarantor which is a Significant Subsidiary, such Person holds or owns any fee
interest in any Real Property Asset or any leasehold interest in any Leasehold
Property, in either case excluding any Real Property Asset or Leasehold
Property the encumbrancing of which is prohibited by regulatory restrictions
applicable to such Subsidiary Guarantor or which



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requires the consent of any applicable lessor or (in the case of clause (ii)
above) then-existing senior lienholder, where Company and its Subsidiaries are
unable to obtain such lessor's or senior lienholder's consent (any such
non-excluded Real Property Asset or Leasehold Property described in the
foregoing clause (i) or (ii) being an "ADDITIONAL MORTGAGED PROPERTY"), Company
or such Subsidiary Guarantor shall promptly notify Facility Manager of the
acquisition of such Additional Mortgaged Property or such Subsidiary Guarantor
and, upon request, of Facility Manager, shall deliver to Facility Manager, as
soon as practicable thereafter, the following:

          (i) Additional Mortgage.  A fully executed and notarized Mortgage (an
     "ADDITIONAL MORTGAGE"), duly recorded in all appropriate places in all
     applicable jurisdictions, encumbering the interest of such Loan Party in
     such Additional Mortgaged Property;

          (ii) Opinions of Counsel.  (a)  A favorable opinion of counsel to
     such Loan Party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Facility
     Manager and its counsel, as to the due authorization, execution and
     delivery by such Loan Party of such Additional Mortgage and such other
     matters as Facility Manager may reasonably request, and (b) if required by
     Facility Manager, an opinion of counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably
     satisfactory to Facility Manager) in the state in which such Additional
     Mortgaged Property is located with respect to the enforceability of such
     Additional Mortgage and such other matters (including any matters governed
     by the laws of such state regarding personal property security interests
     in respect of any Collateral) as Facility Manager may reasonably request,
     in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Facility
     Manager;

          (iii) Landlord Consent and Estoppel; Recorded Leasehold Interest.  In
     the case of an Additional Mortgaged Property consisting of a Leasehold
     Property, (a) a Landlord Consent and Estoppel and (b) evidence that such
     Leasehold Property is a Recorded Leasehold Interest;

          (iv) Title Insurance.  (a) If required by Facility Manager, an ALTA
     mortgagee title insurance policy or an unconditional commitment therefor
     (an "ADDITIONAL MORTGAGE POLICY") issued by the a title company
     satisfactory to Facility Manager with respect to such Additional Mortgaged
     Property, in an amount satisfactory to Facility Manager, insuring fee
     simple title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, such Additional
     Mortgaged Property vested in such Loan Party and assuring Facility Manager
     that such Additional Mortgage creates a valid and enforceable First
     Priority mortgage Lien on such Additional Mortgaged Property, subject only
     to a standard survey exception, which Additional Mortgage Policy (1) shall
     include an endorsement for mechanics' liens, for future advances under
     this Agreement and for any other matters reasonably requested by Facility
     Manager and (2) shall provide for affirmative insurance



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    and  such reinsurance as Facility Manager may reasonably request, all of the
     foregoing in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Facility
     Manager; and (b) evidence satisfactory to Facility Manager that such Loan
     Party has (i) delivered to the Title Company all certificates and
     affidavits required by the Title Company in connection with the issuance
     of the Additional Mortgage Policy and (ii) paid to the Title Company or to
     the appropriate Governmental Entities all expenses and premiums of the
     Title Company in connection with the issuance of the Additional Mortgage
     Policy and all recording and stamp taxes (including mortgage recording and
     intangible taxes) payable in connection with recording the Additional
     Mortgage in the appropriate real estate records;

          (v) Title Report.  If no Additional Mortgage Policy is required with
     respect to such Additional Mortgaged Property, a title report issued by
     the Title Company with respect thereto, dated not more than 30 days prior
     to the date such Additional Mortgage is to be recorded and satisfactory in
     form and substance to Facility Manager;

          (vi) Copies of Documents Relating to Title Exceptions.  Copies of all
     recorded documents listed as exceptions to title or otherwise referred to
     in the Additional Mortgage Policy or title report delivered pursuant to
     clause (v) or (vi) above; and

          (vii) Environmental Audit.  If required by Facility Manager, reports
     and other information, in form, scope and substance satisfactory to
     Facility Manager and prepared by environmental consultants satisfactory to
     Facility Manager, concerning any environmental hazards or liabilities to
     which Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be subject with respect to
     such Additional Mortgaged Property.


5.10 CERTAIN PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS.

     Company shall deliver to Lenders no later than May 19, 1998, a pro forma
consolidating balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries as at March 31,
1998, prepared in accordance with GAAP and reflecting the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and the Related Agreements,
which pro forma financial statements shall be in form and substance
satisfactory to Lenders.


SECTION 6. COMPANY'S NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     Company covenants and agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments
hereunder shall remain in effect and until payment in full of all of the Loans
and other Obligations, unless Requisite Lenders shall otherwise give prior
written consent, Company shall perform, and shall cause each of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to perform, all covenants in this Section 6.




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6.1  RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.

     (a) Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

          (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution
     on account of Company's or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries' Equity
     Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with
     any merger or consolidation involving Company (other than dividends or
     distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock)
     of Company or dividends or distributions payable to Company or any Wholly
     Owned Subsidiary of Company) or dividends payable in shares of Preferred
     Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Preferred Stock
     as in effect on the Closing Date); or make any payment (other than in
     Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock)) in connection with any
     settlement or resolution of any Non-Insurance Litigation involving Company
     or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Qualified Insurance
     Payments);

          (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any
     Equity Interests of Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Company (other
     than any such Equity Interests owned by Company or, to the extent
     permitted under the definition of Permitted Investments, any other
     Restricted Subsidiary of Company);

          (iii) prepay, purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or
     retire for value prior to its stated maturity (x) any Indebtedness that is
     subordinated to the Loans, (y) any Senior Notes or (z) with respect to
     prepayments, purchases, redemptions, defeasance or other acquisitions or
     retirements for value by Company, any Indebtedness of any Restricted
     Subsidiary; or

          (iv) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv)
above being collectively referred to as "RESTRICTED PAYMENTS"), unless, at the
time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

          (A) no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default shall have
     occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; and

          (B) (i) at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro
     forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the
     beginning of the applicable four Fiscal Quarter period, the Fixed Charge
     Coverage Ratio for Company's most recently ended four-full Fiscal Quarters
     for which internal financial statements are



                                   90

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    available immediately preceding the date on which such Restricted Payment is
     made would have been at least 2.25:1.00; and (ii) such Restricted Payment,
     together with the aggregate of all other Restricted Payments made by
     Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such four-Fiscal Quarter
     period, shall not exceed 50% of Consolidated Net Income of Company for the
     most recently ended four-Fiscal Quarters for which internal financial
     statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such
     Restricted Payment is made.

     (b) Subsection 6.1(a) shall not prohibit:

          (i) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of
     declaration thereof, if at said date of declaration such payment would
     have complied with the provisions of this Agreement;

          (ii) the making of any Restricted Payment (other than the payment of
     a dividend) in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially
     concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of Company) of, or from
     substantially concurrent additional capital contributions in respect of,
     Equity Interests of Company (other than Disqualified Stock);

          (iii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of
     any Equity Interests of Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds
     of, the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of
     Company) of, or from substantially concurrent additional capital
     contributions in respect of, other Equity Interests of Company (other than
     any Disqualified Stock);

          (iv) the defeasance, redemption or repurchase of subordinated
     Indebtedness or any Senior Notes with the net cash proceeds from (x) an
     incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or (y) the substantially
     concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of Company) of, or from
     substantially concurrent additional capital contributions in respect of,
     Equity Interests of Company (other than Disqualified Stock);

          (v) an exchange of Disqualified Stock for Disqualified Stock that
     constitutes Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; and

          (vi) any dividend or other distribution made by any Wholly Owned
     Subsidiary of Company to Company;

provided, however, that in the case of any transaction described in clauses
(ii) through (vi) of this subsection 6.1(b) no Event of Default or Potential
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately after such
transaction.




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     (c) The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary other than a
Principal Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such designation would
not cause an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default.  For purposes of
making such determination, all outstanding Investments after the Closing Date
by Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid in
Cash) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments
at the time of such designation and will reduce the amount available for
Restricted Payments under subsection 6.1(a).  Such designation will only be
permitted if such Restricted Payment would be permitted at such time and if
such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

     (d) The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than Cash) will be the
fair market value (evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set
forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to Facility Manager) on the date of
the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) proposed to be transferred by Company or
the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the
Restricted Payment.  Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment,
Company will deliver to Facility Manager an Officers' Certificate stating that
such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the
calculations required by this subsection 6.1 were computed, which calculations
may be based upon Company's latest available financial statements.

6.2 INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK.

     (a) Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume,
guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or
otherwise, with respect to (collectively, "INCUR") any Indebtedness (including
Acquired Indebtedness) and Company shall not issue any Disqualified Stock and
shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of
preferred stock; provided, however, that Company may incur Indebtedness
(including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock if: (i)
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for Company's most recently ended four full
Fiscal Quarters for which internal financial statements are available
immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is
incurred or such Disqualified Stock is issued would have been at least
2.00:1.00, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application
of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been
incurred, or the Disqualified Stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the
beginning of such four-quarter period; and (ii) no Event of Default or
Potential Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing or would occur
as a consequence thereof.

     (b) Subsection 6.2(a) shall not apply to:

          (i) the incurrence by Company of Indebtedness under this Agreement or
     by Subsidiary Guarantors under the Subsidiary Guaranty;




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          (ii) the incurrence by Company of Indebtedness represented by the
     Senior Notes in an original principal amount not in excess of $200,000,000
     minus the amount of any prepayments, redemptions, repurchases, defeasances
     or other acquisitions or retirements for value by Company or any of its
     Restricted Subsidiaries of such Senior Notes (other than any exchanges of
     such Senior Notes made pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated
     as of May 13, 1998 between Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
     Securities Corporation);

          (iii) all Existing Indebtedness;

          (iv) the incurrence by Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of
     Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, Purchase Money
     Obligations or similar financing transactions relating to its properties,
     assets and rights acquired after the Closing Date; provided that the
     aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness under this clause does not
     exceed 100% of the cost of such properties, assets and rights;

          (v) the incurrence by Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
     Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of
     which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund,
     Indebtedness of such entity permitted under this Agreement;

          (vi) other than with respect to the incurrence of any Indebtedness
     which would constitute a Permitted Investment, the incurrence by Company
     or any Subsidiary Guarantors which are not Regulated Subsidiaries or, to
     the extent required to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, any
     other Restricted Subsidiary of intercompany Indebtedness between or among
     Company and any such Subsidiary Guarantors and any such Restricted
     Subsidiaries or between or among any such Subsidiary Guarantors and any
     such Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (i) any subsequent
     issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such
     Indebtedness being held by a Person other than a Subsidiary Guarantor
     which is not a Regulated Subsidiary or, unless required to comply with
     applicable regulatory requirements, other Restricted Subsidiary and (ii)
     any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is
     not either Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor which is not a Regulated
     Subsidiary or, unless required to comply with applicable regulatory
     requirements, other Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed, in each case, to
     constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by Company or such
     Subsidiary Guarantor or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;

          (vii) the incurrence, assumption or creation of Hedging Obligations
     of Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to interest rate protection
     obligations, but only to the extent that the stated aggregate notional
     amounts of such obligations do not



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     exceed 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness covered
     by such interest rate protection obligations;

          (viii) the incurrence by Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries of
     Indebtedness in an aggregate amount of up to $10,000,000 constituting
     reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the
     ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, letters of
     credit in respect of workers' compensation claims or self-insurance, or
     other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations
     regarding workers' compensation claims;

          (ix) the incurrence by Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries of
     obligations in an aggregate amount of up to $2,000,000 in respect of
     performance and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by Company
     or any Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

          (x) the incurrence or assumption by Company or any Restricted
     Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from agreements of Company or a
     Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of
     purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed
     by Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the disposition
     of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than Guarantees of
     Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such
     business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such
     acquisition or otherwise; provided that the maximum assumable liability in
     respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross
     proceeds actually received by Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in
     connection with such disposition; and

          (xi) the incurrence by Company and any Subsidiary Guarantors which
     are not Regulated Subsidiaries and, to the extent required to comply with
     applicable regulatory requirements, other Restricted Subsidiaries, of
     Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount of up to $25,000,000, which
     shall be in addition to amounts which may be incurred pursuant to clauses
     (i) through (x) of this subsection 6.2(b).

     (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection 6.2, a
Guarantee of Indebtedness permitted under this Agreement at the time such
Indebtedness was incurred will not constitute a separate incurrence of
Indebtedness.

     (d) In the event that Indebtedness falls within more than one category of
permitted Indebtedness under this Agreement, Company will determine the
applicable category and such Indebtedness will only be counted once.  If
Indebtedness is issued at less than the principal amount thereof, the amount of
such Indebtedness for purposes of the above limitations shall equal the amount
of the liability as determined in accordance with GAAP.  Accrual of interest,
the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of
additional



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Indebtedness will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for
purposes of this covenant.

     (e) Company shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to incur any
Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; provided, however, if any such
Indebtedness ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt, such event shall be deemed to
constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

6.3 SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS.

     Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided, however, that
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a sale and leaseback
transaction if (i) Company could have (a) incurred Indebtedness in an amount
equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such sale and leaseback transaction
pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in subsection 6.2
and (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to subsection 6.4,
(ii) the net cash proceeds of such sale and leaseback transaction are at least
equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors and set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to Facility
Manager) of the property that is the subject of such sale and leaseback
transaction and (iii) the transfer of assets in such sale and leaseback
transaction is permitted by, and the proceeds of such transaction are applied
in compliance with, subsection 6.9.

6.4 LIENS.

     Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become
effective any Lien securing Indebtedness of any kind (other than Permitted
Liens) upon any of its property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, or
upon any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive
income therefrom, unless contemporaneously therewith effective provision is
made to secure the Obligations on an equal and ratable basis with the
Indebtedness so secured for so long as such Indebtedness is secured by such
Lien.

6.5 LIMITATION ON SALE OF STOCK OR ASSETS OF PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES.

     (a) Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or
indirectly, sell, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of (other than to
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
Company) any Capital Stock of a Principal Subsidiary or any Securities
convertible into or warrants, rights or options to subscribe for Capital Stock
of any Principal Subsidiary.

     (b) Company shall not permit any Principal Subsidiary to issue, sell,
transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of (other than to Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary that is a



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Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Company) any of its Capital Stock or Securities
convertible into, or rights, warrants or options to subscribe for, its Capital
Stock.

     (c) Company shall not permit any Principal Subsidiary to sell, transfer,
convey or otherwise dispose of any of its group contracts or subscriber
contracts relating to commercial group health benefit plans, whether or not
such sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition may be otherwise permitted
by any other provision of this Agreement.

6.6 DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES.

     Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or
become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Subsidiary to:  (i) (x) pay dividends or make any other
distributions to Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its
Capital Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or
measured by, its profits, or (y) pay any Indebtedness owed to Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries; (ii) make loans or advances to Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries; or (iii) transfer any of its properties or assets
to Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except for such encumbrances
or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

          (a) Existing Indebtedness as in effect on the Closing Date;

          (b) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

          (c) the Senior Note Indenture and the Senior Notes, in each case as
     in effect on the Closing Date;

          (d) any instrument governing Acquired Indebtedness or Capital Stock
     of a Person acquired by Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as
     in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such
     Acquired Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in contemplation
     of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable
     to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the
     Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired;

          (e) Purchase Money Obligations for property acquired in the ordinary
     course of business that impose restrictions of the nature described in
     clause (iii) above on the property so acquired;

          (f) customary non-assignment provisions in licenses, leases and
     agreements relating to intellectual property entered into in the ordinary
     course of business and consistent with past practices;




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     (g) agreements relating to the financing of the acquisition of real or
     tangible personal property acquired after the Closing Date; provided that
     such encumbrance or restriction relates only to the property which is
     acquired and in the case of any encumbrance or restriction that
     constitutes a Lien, such Lien constitutes a Purchase Money Lien;

          (h) any law or any governmental regulation or order or pursuant to
     any agreement or understanding with any Governmental Entity; provided
     that, if such order would prevent Company from making a payment under this
     Agreement, Company has used its reasonable efforts to have any such order
     diminished or removed by any Governmental Entity authorized to do so and
     to obtain any exemptive orders from the relevant Governmental Entity with
     respect to such encumbrance or restriction to the extent such exemptive
     orders are reasonably practicable under applicable laws and regulations;
     or

          (i) contracts for the sale of assets, including, without limitation,
     customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary pursuant to an
     agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or
     substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary.

6.7 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.

     Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or
assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make any
contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the
benefit of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an "AFFILIATE TRANSACTION"),
unless:

          (i) such Affiliate Transaction is in the ordinary course of business;

          (ii) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction are fair and reasonable
     to Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, and are at
     least as favorable as the terms which could be obtained by Company or such
     Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in a comparable transaction
     made on an arm's-length basis between unaffiliated parties; and

          (iii) Company delivers to Facility Manager:  (a) with respect to any
     Affiliate Transaction entered into after the Closing Date involving
     aggregate consideration in excess of $1,000,000, a resolution of the Board
     of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate certifying that such
     Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above and that such
     Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested
     members of the Board of Directors; and (b) with respect to any Affiliate
     Transaction



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     involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5,000,000, an opinion
     as to the fairness to Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of such
     Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an
     investment banking firm or appraisal firm of national standing;

provided that the following will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions:
(1) the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement and the TPG
Securities or any exchange of Disqualified Stock under subsection 6.1(b)(v) or
amendment to the Certificates of Designations in lieu of any such exchange; (2)
reasonable fees and compensation paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of,
officers and directors of Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as determined in
good faith by the appropriate Board of Directors or senior management; (3)
transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, Joint Venture partners or
purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course
of business (including, without limitation, pursuant to Joint Venture
agreements) and otherwise in compliance with this Agreement and which comply
with the terms of clause (ii) above; (4) transactions constituting Permitted
Investments; (5) any employment agreement entered into by Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
the past practice of Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (including, without
limitation, any such employment agreements entered into prior to the Closing
Date); and (6) transactions between or among Company and/or its Restricted
Subsidiaries.

6.8 LIMITATION AS TO UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES.

     Company shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to create, assume,
incur, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of any Indebtedness
except Non-Recourse Debt; provided, however, if any such Indebtedness ceases to
be Non-Recourse Debt, such event shall be deemed to constitute an issuance of
Indebtedness by Company or a Restricted Subsidiary subject to subsection 6.2.
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not designate, create or purchase
any Unrestricted Subsidiary, unless the Board of Directors shall have made a
determination (as set forth in the resolution approving such designation,
creation or purchase) that the designation, creation and operation of the
Unrestricted Subsidiary is not reasonably expected to materially and adversely
affect the financial condition, business or operations of Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries taken together as a whole (which resolution shall be
conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision).




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6.9 LIMITATION ON SALE OF ASSETS.

     (a) Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, engage in an Asset Sale unless (i) Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal
to the fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests sold or otherwise
disposed of and, in the case of a lease of assets, a lease providing for rent
and other conditions which are no less favorable to Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary in any material respect than the then prevailing market conditions
(evidenced in each case by a resolution of the Board of Directors of such
entity set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to Facility Manager) and
(ii) at least 75% (100% in the case of lease payments) of the consideration
therefor received by Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of
Cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of any liabilities (as shown
on the most recent balance sheet of Company or such Restricted Subsidiary) of
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and
liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Obligations or to a
Restricted Subsidiary's Subsidiary Guaranty thereof) that are assumed by the
transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that
releases Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability shall be
deemed to be Cash for the purposes of clause (ii).

     (b) With respect to the consideration Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries may receive in connection with any Asset Sale or Excluded Asset
Sale:

          (1) Not less than 75% (100% in the case of lease payments) of the
     consideration received by Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in
     connection with such Asset Sale or Excluded Asset Sale is in the form of
     Cash or Cash Equivalents; provided, however, that (i) any sale by Company
     or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Capital Stock or assets of FPA Medical
     Management, Inc. shall be for Cash only; (ii) at least 50% of the
     consideration received by Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the
     sale of the Capital Stock or assets of Oxford Specialty and Oxford Health
     Plans (NH), Inc. shall be Cash or Marketable Securities; (iii) there shall
     be no restrictions on the consideration received by Company or any of its
     Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of the Capital Stock or assets of or
     Indebtedness issued by a Minority Investment or the New York, New Jersey,
     Florida or Pennsylvania Medicaid businesses, Oxford Health Plans (IL),
     Inc. or Oxford Health Plans (FL), Inc.; and (iv) the type of consideration
     received by Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from all other
     Excluded Asset Sales shall be Cash only.

          (2) Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary shall sell for
     Cash all Marketable Securities received as consideration in an Asset Sale
     no later than the earlier of 60 days from receipt of such Marketable
     Securities and (y) the termination or expiration of any governmental
     limitation on such sale of Marketable Securities.




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          (3) Company shall cause its Restricted Subsidiaries to transfer to
     Company all Cash and non-cash consideration received by such Restricted
     Subsidiaries from Asset Sales and Excluded Asset Sales as promptly as
     practicable, except in the case of Asset Sales to the extent the proceeds
     thereof are applied pursuant to subsection 6.9(c)(1)(ii) or 6.9(c)(2);
     provided, however, that, with respect to any consideration received by
     Company (whether directly or from its Restricted Subsidiaries) in
     connection with any Asset Sale or Excluded Asset Sale, Company shall
     pledge such consideration pursuant to the Collateral Documents and shall
     take all actions necessary, including without limitation the execution and
     delivery of any amendments to any Collateral Documents and the filing of
     any UCC financing statements or amendments, to perfect or continue to
     perfect the security interests granted to Facility Manager on behalf of
     Lenders in such Collateral.

     (c) Within 364 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset
Sale, Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, may (1) apply
such Net Proceeds (i) to make an investment in, to make a capital expenditure
relating to, or to acquire other tangible assets in, the commercial group
health benefit business in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut, or (ii) to make
capital contributions to Principal Subsidiaries covering commercial lives
operating in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut, which contributions are
required to be made under applicable Healthcare Regulations or requested in
writing to be made by the applicable Healthcare Regulators, or (2) with respect
to Net Proceeds received from an Asset Sale by a Regulated Subsidiary which are
not permitted under applicable Healthcare Regulations to be distributed or
otherwise transferred, to retain such Net Proceeds as capital of such Regulated
Subsidiary.  Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested
as provided in this subsection 6.9(c) shall, on the earlier of (i) the 365th
day after such Asset Sale or (ii) such date as the Board of Directors of
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary determines not to apply the Net Proceeds
relating to such Asset Sale in the manner set forth above, be applied to the
prepayment of the Loans at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount
thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of prepayment in
accordance with the provisions of subsection 2.4B(ii).

6.10 LIMITATION ON BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.

     Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, engage in any business other than (i) the Healthcare Service Business and
such business activities incidental or related thereto and (ii) acting as a
holding company for companies engaged in the business specified in (i) above.

6.11 MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF ASSETS.

     (a) Company shall not, in a single transaction or series of related
transactions, consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not Company is the
surviving



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corporation), or directly and/or indirectly through its Restricted Subsidiaries
sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of its properties or assets determined on a consolidated
basis for Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole in one or
more related transactions, to another corporation, Person or entity unless:

          (i) Company is the surviving corporation or the entity or the Person
     formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
     Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
     other disposition will have been made is a corporation organized or
     existing under the laws of one of the States of the United States of
     America or the District of Columbia;

          (ii) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such
     consolidation or merger (if other than Company) or the entity or Person to
     which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other
     disposition will have been made assumes all the Obligations of Company
     under the Loan Documents pursuant to an agreement or instrument in a form
     reasonably satisfactory to Facility Manager;

          (iii) immediately after such transaction no Event of Default or
     Potential Event of Default will occur and be continuing or result as a
     consequence thereof;

          (iv) except in the case of a merger of Company with or into a Wholly
     Owned Subsidiary of Company that is a Restricted Subsidiary, Company or
     the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or
     merger (if other than Company), or to which such sale, assignment,
     transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made (A)
     will have Consolidated Net Worth immediately after the transaction equal
     to or greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of Company immediately
     preceding the transaction and (B) will, at the time of such transaction
     and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such transaction had
     occurred at the beginning of the applicable four Fiscal Quarter period, be
     permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to
     the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in subsection 6.2;

          (v) if any of the property or assets of Company would thereupon
     become subject to any Lien, the Obligations shall be secured equally and
     ratably with the obligation or liability secured by such Lien, unless
     Company could create such Lien without equally and ratably securing the
     Obligations;

          (vi) each Subsidiary Guarantor, unless a party to the transactions
     described above, shall have by supplemental agreement confirmed that its
     Subsidiary Guaranty shall apply to Company's or the surviving Person's
     Obligations under the Loan Documents;




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          (vii) the surviving corporation or the entity or Person formed by or
     surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than Company) or to which
     such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition will
     have been made shall not be subject to any Healthcare Regulations other
     than those Healthcare Regulations which were applicable to such surviving
     corporation, entity or Person prior to such consolidation or merger or
     such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition; and

          (viii) Company delivers to Facility Manager an Officers' Certificate
     and a legal opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to Facility
     Manager addressed to Facility Manager with respect to the foregoing
     matters.

     (b) Company shall not, in a single transaction or series of related
transactions, permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or
into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving corporation),
or directly and/or indirectly to sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in
one or more related transactions, to another corporation, Person or entity
unless:

          (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving corporation or the
     entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or
     merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) or to which such sale,
     assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have
     been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of one of
     the states of the United States or the District of Columbia;

          (ii) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such
     consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) or the
     entity or Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease,
     conveyance or other disposition will have been made assumes all the
     Obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guaranty and
     any other Loan Documents pursuant to an agreement or instrument in a form
     reasonably satisfactory to Facility Manager;

          (iii) immediately after such transaction no Event of Default or
     Potential Event of Default will occur and be continuing or result as a
     consequence thereof;

          (iv) such Subsidiary Guarantor or the entity or Person formed by or
     surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary
     Guarantor), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance
     or other disposition will have been made (A) will have Consolidated Net
     Worth immediately after the transaction equal to or greater than the
     Consolidated Net Worth of such Subsidiary Guarantor immediately



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     preceding the transaction and (B) will, at the time of such transaction
     and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such transaction had
     occurred at the beginning of the applicable four Fiscal Quarter period, be
     permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to
     the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in subsection 6.2;

          (v) if any of the property or assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor
     would thereupon become subject to any Lien, the Obligations shall be
     secured equally and ratably with the obligation or liability secured by
     such Lien, unless such Subsidiary Guarantor could create such Lien without
     equally and ratably securing the Obligations;

          (vi) the surviving corporation or the entity or Person formed by or
     surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary
     Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance
     or disposition will have been made shall not be subject to any Healthcare
     Regulations, other than those Healthcare Regulations which were applicable
     to such Subsidiary Guarantor prior to such consolidation or merger or such
     sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition; and

          (vii) Company delivers to Facility Manager an Officers' Certificate
     and a legal opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to Facility
     Manager addressed to Facility Manager with respect to the foregoing
     matters.

     (c) In the event of a sale or disposition of all of the assets of any
Subsidiary Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise or a sale or
other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary Guarantor, then
such Subsidiary Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way
of a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the Capital Stock of such
Subsidiary Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event
of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets of such Subsidiary
Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under its
Subsidiary Guaranty; provided that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other
disposition are applied in accordance with the provisions of subsection 6.9.

6.12 AMENDMENTS OR WAIVERS OF CERTAIN RELATED AGREEMENTS; AMENDMENTS OF
     DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SENIOR NOTES.

     A. AMENDMENTS OR WAIVERS OF CERTAIN RELATED AGREEMENTS.  Neither Company
nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries will agree to any amendment to or waiver
of its rights under, any Related Agreement (excluding any Related Agreement
evidencing or governing the Senior Notes) after the Closing Date, which
amendment or waiver, individually or in the aggregate with all other amendments
and waivers, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the Lenders under this Agreement, without in each case obtaining the prior
written consent of Requisite Lenders to such amendment or waiver.




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     B. AMENDMENTS OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SENIOR NOTES.  Company shall
not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, amend or
otherwise change the terms of the Senior Notes, or make any payment consistent
with an amendment thereof or change thereto, if the effect of such amendment or
change is to increase the interest rate on such Senior Notes, change (to
earlier dates) any dates upon which payments of principal or interest are due
thereon, change any event of default or condition to an event of default with
respect thereto (other than to eliminate any such event of default or increase
any grace period related thereto), change the redemption, prepayment or
defeasance provisions thereof, change the provisions of any guaranty thereof or
change any collateral therefor (other than to release such guaranty or
collateral), or if the effect of such amendment or change, together with all
other amendments or changes made, is to increase materially the obligations of
the obligor thereunder or to confer any additional rights on the holders of
such Senior Notes (or a trustee or other representative on their behalf) which
would be adverse to Company or Lenders or to otherwise adversely affect the
Lenders under this Agreement.

6.13 COMMERCIAL LIVES.

     Company shall not permit the aggregate number of individuals covered by
group contracts or subscriber contracts relating to commercial group health
benefit plans provided by the Principal Subsidiaries to be less than 800,000 at
any time.


SECTION 7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     If any of the following conditions or events ("EVENTS OF DEFAULT") shall
occur and be continuing:

7.1  FAILURE TO MAKE PAYMENTS WHEN DUE.

     Failure by Company to pay any installment of principal of or premium on
any Loan when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, by notice of
voluntary prepayment, by mandatory prepayment or otherwise; or failure by
Company to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount due
under this Agreement within 5 days after the date due; or




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7.2 DEFAULT IN OTHER AGREEMENTS.

          (i) Failure of Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay
     when due any principal of or interest on one or more items of Indebtedness
     (other than Indebtedness referred to in subsection 7.1) in an aggregate
     principal amount of $10,000,000 or more; or (ii) breach or default by
     Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any other
     material term of (a) one or more items of Indebtedness in the aggregate
     principal amounts referred to in clause (i) above or (b) any loan
     agreement, mortgage, indenture or other agreement relating to such item(s)
     of Indebtedness, if the effect of such breach or default is to cause, or
     to permit the holder or holders of that Indebtedness (or a trustee on
     behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, that Indebtedness to become or
     be declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity or the stated
     maturity of any underlying obligation, as the case may be (upon the giving
     or receiving of notice, lapse of time, both, or otherwise); or

7.3 BREACH OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.

     Failure by Company to perform or comply with any term or condition
contained in subsections 2.4B(ii)(a)-(d), 6.1, 6.9, 6.11 or 6.13; or

7.4 BREACH OF WARRANTY.

     Any representation, warranty, certification or other statement made by
Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any Loan Document or in any statement or
certificate at any time given by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in writing
pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall be
false in any material respect on the date as of which made; or

7.5 OTHER DEFAULTS UNDER LOAN DOCUMENTS.

     Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall default in the
performance of or compliance with any term contained in this Agreement or any
of the other Loan Documents, other than any such term referred to in any other
subsection of this Section 7, and such default shall not have been remedied or
waived within 30 days after the earlier of (i) an officer of Company becoming
aware of such default or (ii) receipt by Company of notice from Facility
Manager or any Lender of such default; or

7.6 JUDGMENTS.

     Any money judgment, writ or warrant of attachment or similar process
involving in the aggregate at any time an amount in excess of $10,000,000 (in
either case not adequately covered by insurance as to which a solvent and
unaffiliated insurance company has



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acknowledged coverage) shall be entered or filed against Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets and shall remain
undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of 30 days (or in
any event later than five days prior to the date of any proposed sale
thereunder); or

7.7 INVOLUNTARY BANKRUPTCY; APPOINTMENT OF RECEIVER, ETC.

     (i) A court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or
order for relief in respect of Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
(or group of Restricted Subsidiaries (as of the latest audited consolidated
financial statements for Company and its Subsidiaries) that would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary) in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or
under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or
hereafter in effect, which decree or order is not stayed within 20 consecutive
days; or any other similar relief shall be granted under any applicable federal
or state law; or (ii) an involuntary case shall be commenced against Company or
any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries (as of
the latest audited consolidated financial statements for Company and its
Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) under the Bankruptcy
Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or
hereafter in effect; or a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the
premises for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee,
custodian or other officer having similar powers over Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries (as of the latest
audited consolidated financial statements for Company and its Subsidiaries),
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), or over all or a substantial part
of its property, shall have been entered; or there shall have occurred the
involuntary appointment of an interim receiver, trustee or other custodian of
Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or group of Restricted
Subsidiaries (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for
Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) for
all or a substantial part of its property; or a warrant of attachment,
execution or similar process shall have been issued against any substantial
part of the property of Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or
group of Restricted Subsidiaries (as of the latest audited consolidated
financial statements for Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary), and any such event described in this clause (ii) shall
continue for 20 consecutive days unless dismissed, bonded or discharged; or




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7.8 VOLUNTARY BANKRUPTCY; APPOINTMENT OF RECEIVER, ETC.

     (i) Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or group of Restricted
Subsidiaries (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for
Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall
have an order for relief entered with respect to it or commence a voluntary
case under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the
entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case, or to the conversion of an
involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any such law, or shall consent to
the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, trustee or other
custodian for all or a substantial part of its property; or Company or any of
its Significant Subsidiaries (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries (as of the
latest audited consolidated financial statements for Company and its
Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall make any
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (ii) Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries (as of the latest
audited consolidated financial statements for Company and its Subsidiaries),
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall be unable, or shall fail
generally, or shall admit in writing its inability, to pay its debts as such
debts become due; or the Board of Directors of Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries (or group of Restricted Subsidiaries (as of the latest
audited consolidated financial statements for Company and its Subsidiaries),
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) (or any committee thereof) shall
adopt any resolution or otherwise authorize any action to approve any of the
actions referred to in clause (i) above or this clause (ii); or

7.9 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN HEALTHCARE AUTHORIZATIONS.

     Any material Healthcare Authorization of Company or any of its Principal
Subsidiaries is suspended, rescinded, revoked or terminated and Company or such
Principal Subsidiary is unable to remedy or otherwise correct the situation
within any permitted time; or

7.10 INVALIDITY OR REPUDIATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY; FAILURE OF SECURITY;
     REPUDIATION OF OBLIGATIONS.

     At any time after the execution and delivery thereof, (i) the Subsidiary
Guaranty for any reason, other than the satisfaction in full of all
Obligations, shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in
accordance with its terms) or shall be declared to be null and void, (ii) any
Collateral Document shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than by
reason of a release of Collateral thereunder in accordance with the terms
hereof or thereof, the satisfaction in full of the Obligations or any other
termination of such Collateral Documents in accordance with the terms hereof or
thereof) or shall be declared null and void, or Facility Manager shall not have
or shall cease to have a valid and perfected First Priority Lien in any
significant part of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby or (iii) any
Loan Party shall contest the validity



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or enforceability of any Loan Document in writing or deny in writing that it
has any further liability under any Loan Document to which it is a party:

THEN: (i) upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in subsection
7.7 or 7.8, each of (a) the unpaid principal amount of and premium, if any, and
accrued interest on the Loans, and (b) all other Obligations shall
automatically become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand,
protest or other requirements of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by Company, and the obligation of each Lender to make any Loan, and (ii)
upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any other Event of Default,
Facility Manager shall, upon the written request or with the written consent of
Requisite Lenders, by written notice to Company, declare all or any portion of
the amounts described in clauses (a) and (b) above to be, and the same shall
forthwith become, immediately due and payable.

     Notwithstanding anything contained in the preceding paragraph, if at any
time within 30 days after an acceleration of the Loans pursuant to clause (ii)
of such paragraph Company shall pay all arrears of interest and all payments on
account of principal and premium which shall have become due otherwise than as
a result of such acceleration (with interest on principal and premium and, to
the extent permitted by law, on overdue interest, at the rates specified in
this Agreement) and all Events of Default and Potential Events of Default
(other than non-payment of the principal of and premium and accrued interest on
the Loans, in each case which is due and payable solely by virtue of
acceleration) shall be remedied or waived pursuant to subsection 9.6, then
Requisite Lenders, by written notice to Company, may at their option rescind
and annul such acceleration and its consequences; but such action shall not
affect any subsequent Event of Default or Potential Event of Default or impair
any right consequent thereon.  The provisions of this paragraph are intended
merely to bind Lenders to a decision which may be made at the election of
Requisite Lenders and are not intended, directly or indirectly, to benefit
Company, and such provisions shall not at any time be construed so as to grant
Company the right to require Lenders to rescind or annul any acceleration
hereunder or to preclude Facility Manager or Lenders from exercising any of the
rights or remedies available to them under any of the Loan Documents, even if
the conditions set forth in this paragraph are met.




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SECTION 8.THE AGENTS

8.1         APPOINTMENT.

     A. APPOINTMENT OF AGENT.  Each Lender hereby appoints (i) DLJ Capital as
Syndication Agent under this Agreement, and (ii) IBJ Schroder as Facility
Manager under this Agreement.  Each Lender hereby authorizes each Agent to take
such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are
expressly delegated to such Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents.  Facility Manager agrees to act upon the express conditions
contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as applicable.  The
provisions of this Section 8 are solely for the benefit of the Agents and
Lenders and Company shall have no rights as a third party beneficiary of any of
the provisions thereof.  In performing its functions and duties under this
Agreement, each Agent shall act solely as an agent of Lenders and does not
assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation towards or
relationship of agency or trust with or for Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     B. APPOINTMENT OF SUPPLEMENTAL COLLATERAL AGENTS.  It is the purpose of
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that there shall be no violation of
any law of any jurisdiction denying or restricting the right of banking
corporations or associations to transact business as agent or trustee in such
jurisdiction.  It is recognized that in case of litigation under this Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents, and in particular in case of the
enforcement of any of the Loan Documents, or in case Facility Manager deems
that by reason of any present or future law of any jurisdiction it may not
exercise any of the rights, powers or remedies granted herein or in any of the
other Loan Documents or take any other action which may be desirable or
necessary in connection therewith, it may be necessary that Facility Manager
appoint an additional individual or institution as a separate trustee,
co-trustee, collateral agent or collateral co-agent (any such additional
individual or institution being referred to herein individually as a
"SUPPLEMENTAL COLLATERAL AGENT" and collectively as "SUPPLEMENTAL COLLATERAL
AGENTS").

     In the event that Facility Manager appoints a Supplemental Collateral
Agent with respect to any Collateral, (i) each and every right, power,
privilege or duty expressed or intended by this Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents to be exercised by or vested in or conveyed to Facility Manager
with respect to such Collateral shall be exercisable by and vest in such
Supplemental Collateral Agent to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary
to enable such Supplemental Collateral Agent to exercise such rights, powers
and privileges with respect to such Collateral and to perform such duties with
respect to such Collateral, and every covenant and obligation contained in the
Loan Documents and necessary to the exercise or performance thereof by such
Supplemental Collateral Agent shall run to and be enforceable by either
Facility Manager or such Supplemental Collateral Agent, and (ii) the provisions
of this Section 8 and of subsections 9.2 and 9.3 that refer to Facility Manager
shall inure to the benefit of such




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<PAGE>   110


Supplemental Collateral Agent and all references therein to Facility Manager
shall be deemed to be references to Facility Manager and/or such Supplemental
Collateral Agent, as the context may require.

     Should any instrument in writing from Company or any other Loan Party be
required by any Supplemental Collateral Agent so appointed by Facility Manager
for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such
rights, powers, privileges and duties, Company shall, or shall cause such Loan
Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments
promptly upon request by Facility Manager.  In case any Supplemental Collateral
Agent, or a successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or
be removed, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Supplemental
Collateral Agent, to the extent permitted by law, shall vest in and be
exercised by Facility Manager until the appointment of a new Supplemental
Collateral Agent.

8.2 POWERS AND DUTIES; GENERAL IMMUNITY.

     A. POWERS; DUTIES SPECIFIED.  Each Lender irrevocably authorizes Agents to
take such action on such Lender's behalf and to exercise such powers, rights
and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents as are specifically
delegated or granted to each Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together
with such powers, rights and remedies as are reasonably incidental thereto.
Agents shall have only those duties and responsibilities that are expressly
specified in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Agents may exercise
such powers, rights and remedies and perform such duties by or through their
agents or employees.  Agents shall not have, by reason of this Agreement or any
of the other Loan Documents, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender;
and nothing in this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, expressed or
implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon Agents any
obligations in respect of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents
except as expressly set forth herein or therein.

     B. NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR CERTAIN MATTERS.  Agents shall not be responsible
to any Lender for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity,
enforceability, collectibility or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other
Loan Document or for any representations, warranties, recitals or statements
made herein or therein or made in any written or oral statements or in any
financial or other statements, instruments, reports or certificates or any
other documents furnished or made by Agents to Lenders or by or on behalf of
Company to Agents or any Lender in connection with the Loan Documents and the
transactions contemplated thereby or for the financial condition or business
affairs of Company or any other Person liable for the payment of any
Obligations, nor shall Agents be required to ascertain or inquire as to the
performance or observance of any of the terms, conditions, provisions,
covenants or agreements contained in any of the Loan Documents or as to the use
of the proceeds of the Loans or as to the existence or possible existence of
any Event of Default or Potential Event of Default.



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Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, Agents
shall not have any liability arising from confirmations of the amount of
outstanding Loans.

     C. EXCULPATORY PROVISIONS.  None of the Agents nor any of their respective
officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable to Lenders for any
action taken or omitted by such Agents under or in connection with any of the
Loan Documents except to the extent caused by Agent's gross negligence or
willful misconduct.  Agents shall be entitled to refrain from any act or the
taking of any action (including the failure to take an action) in connection
with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or from the exercise of
any power, discretion or authority vested in it hereunder or thereunder unless
and until Agents shall have received instructions in respect thereof from
Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such
instructions under subsection 9.6) and, upon receipt of such instructions from
Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders, as the case may be), Agents shall be
entitled to act or (where so instructed) refrain from acting, or to exercise
such power, discretion or authority, in accordance with such instructions.
Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, (i) Agents shall be
entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any
communication, instrument or document believed by it to be genuine and correct
and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons, and shall be
entitled to rely and shall be protected in relying on opinions and judgments of
attorneys (who may be attorneys for Company and its Subsidiaries), accountants,
experts and other professional advisors selected by it; and (ii) no Lender
shall have any right of action whatsoever against Agents as a result of Agents
acting or (where so instructed) refraining from acting under this Agreement or
any of the other Loan Documents in accordance with the instructions of
Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such
instructions under subsection 9.6).

     D. AGENTS ENTITLED TO ACT AS LENDERS.  The agency hereby created shall in
no way impair or affect any of the rights and powers of, or impose any duties
or obligations upon, either Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender
hereunder.  With respect to its participation in the Loans, each Agent shall
have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise
the same as though it were not performing the duties and functions delegated to
it hereunder, and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" or any similar term shall,
unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include such Agent in its
individual capacity.  Each Agent and its respective Affiliates may accept
deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking,
trust, financial advisory or other business with Company or any of its
Affiliates as if it were not performing the duties specified herein, and may
accept fees and other consideration from Company for services in connection
with this Agreement and otherwise without having to account for the same to
Lenders.




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8.3  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR APPRAISAL OF
     CREDITWORTHINESS.

     Each Lender represents and warrants that it has made its own independent
investigation of the financial condition and affairs of Company and its
Subsidiaries in connection with the making of the Loans hereunder and that it
has made and shall continue to make its own appraisal of the creditworthiness
of Company and its Subsidiaries.  Agents shall not have any duty or
responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to make any such
investigation or any such appraisal on behalf of Lenders or to provide any
Lender with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether
coming into its possession before the making of the Loans or at any time or
times thereafter, and Agents shall not have any responsibility with respect to
the accuracy of or the completeness of any information provided to Lenders.

8.4 RIGHT TO INDEMNITY.

     Each Lender, in proportion to its Pro Rata Share, severally agrees to
indemnify Agents, to the extent that Agents shall not have been reimbursed by
Company, for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including counsel fees
and disbursements) or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may
be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against Agents in exercising its powers,
rights and remedies or performing its duties hereunder or under the other Loan
Documents or otherwise in their capacity as Agents in any way relating to or
arising out of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; provided that no
Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or
disbursements resulting from such Agent's gross negligence or willful
misconduct.  If any indemnity furnished to any Agent for any purpose shall, in
the opinion of such Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, such Agent may
call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts
indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished.




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8.5 SUCCESSOR AGENT.

     Either Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days' prior written
notice thereof to Lenders and Company, and either Agent may be removed at any
time with or without cause by an instrument or concurrent instruments in
writing delivered to Company and such Agent and signed by Requisite Lenders.
Upon any such notice of resignation or any such removal, Requisite Lenders
shall have the right, upon five Business Days' notice to Company, to appoint an
appropriate successor Agent.  Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent
hereunder by a successor Agent, that successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to
and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the
retiring or removed Agent and the retiring or removed Agent shall be discharged
from its duties and obligations under this Agreement.  After any retiring or
removed Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as Agent, the provisions of
this Section 8 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to
be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.




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8.6 COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS AND SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY.

     Each Lender hereby further authorizes Facility Manager, on behalf of and
for the benefit of Lenders, to enter into each Collateral Document as secured
party and to be the agent for and representative of Lenders under the
Subsidiary Guaranty, and each Lender agrees to be bound by the terms of each
Collateral Document and the Subsidiary Guaranty; provided that Facility Manager
shall not (i) enter into or consent to any material amendment, modification,
termination or waiver of any provision contained in any Collateral Document or
the Subsidiary Guaranty or (ii) release any Collateral (except as otherwise
expressly permitted or required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the
applicable Collateral Document), in each case without the prior consent of
Requisite Lenders (or, if required pursuant to subsection 9.6, all Lenders);
provided further, however, that, without further written consent or
authorization from Lenders, Facility Manager may execute any documents or
instruments necessary to (a) release any Lien encumbering any item of
Collateral that is the subject of a sale or other disposition of assets
permitted by this Agreement or to which Requisite Lenders have otherwise
consented or (b) release any Subsidiary Guarantor from the Subsidiary Guaranty
if all of the capital stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor is sold to any Person
(other than an Affiliate of Company) pursuant to a sale or other disposition
permitted hereunder or to which Requisite Lenders have otherwise consented.
Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary
notwithstanding, Company, Facility Manager and each Lender hereby agree that
(x) no Lender shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the
Collateral under any Collateral Document or to enforce the Subsidiary Guaranty,
it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the
Collateral Documents and the Subsidiary Guaranty may be exercised solely by
Facility Manager for the benefit of Lenders in accordance with the terms
thereof, and (y) in the event of a foreclosure by Facility Manager on any of
the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale, Facility Manager or any
Lender may be the purchaser of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale
and Facility Manager, as agent for and representative of Lenders (but not any
Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless
Requisite Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the
purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for
all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and
apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for
any collateral payable by Facility Manager at such sale.





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SECTION 9.MISCELLANEOUS

9.1           ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS IN LOANS.

     A. GENERAL.  Subject to subsection 9.1B, each Lender shall have the right
at any time to (i) sell, assign or transfer to any Eligible Assignee, or (ii)
sell participations to any Person in, all or any part of its Commitments or any
Loan or Loans made by it or any other interest herein or in any other
Obligations owed to it; provided that no such sale, assignment, transfer or
participation shall, without the consent of Company, require Company to file a
registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission or apply to
qualify such sale, assignment, transfer or participation under the securities
laws of any state; provided further that no such sale, assignment or transfer
described in clause (i) above shall be effective unless and until an Assignment
Agreement effecting such sale, assignment or transfer shall have been accepted
by Facility Manager and recorded in the Register as provided in subsection
9.1B(ii).  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection 9.1, no Lender
shall, as between Company and such Lender, be relieved of any of its
obligations hereunder as a result of any sale, assignment or transfer of, or
any granting of participations in, all or any part of its Commitments or the
Loans, or the other Obligations owed to such Lender.




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B. ASSIGNMENTS.

          (i) Amounts and Terms of Assignments.  Each Commitment, Loan or other
     Obligation may (a) be assigned in any amount to another Lender, to an
     Affiliate of the assigning Lender or another Lender or an Approved Fund,
     with the giving of notice to Company and Facility Manager or (b) be
     assigned in an aggregate amount of not less than $1,000,000 (or such
     lesser amount as shall constitute the aggregate amount of the Commitments,
     Loans and other Obligations of the assigning Lender) to any other Eligible
     Assignee with the consent of Company and Facility Manager (which consent
     of Company and Facility Manager shall not be unreasonably withheld or
     delayed).  To the extent of any such assignment in accordance with either
     clause (a) or (b) above, the assigning Lender shall be relieved of its
     obligations with respect to its Commitments, Loans or other Obligations or
     the portion thereof so assigned.  The parties to each such assignment
     shall execute and deliver to Facility Manager, for its acceptance and
     recording in the Register, an Assignment Agreement, together with a
     processing and recordation fee of $500 and such forms, certificates or
     other evidence, if any, with respect to United States federal income tax
     withholding matters as the assignee under such Assignment Agreement may be
     required to deliver to Facility Manager pursuant to subsection
     2.7B(iii)(a).  Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recordation,
     from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment Agreement,
     (y) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent
     that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to
     such Assignment Agreement, shall have the rights and obligations of a
     Lender hereunder and (z) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the
     extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it
     pursuant to such Assignment Agreement, relinquish its rights (other than
     any rights which survive the termination of this Agreement under
     subsection 9.9B) and be released from its obligations under this Agreement
     (and, in the case of an Assignment Agreement covering all or the remaining
     portion of an assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this
     Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto).  The Commitments
     hereunder shall be modified to reflect the Commitment of such assignee and
     any remaining Commitment of such assigning Lender and, if any such
     assignment occurs after the issuance of any Notes hereunder, the assigning
     Lender shall, upon the effectiveness of such assignment or as promptly
     thereafter as practicable, surrender its Note, if any, to Facility Manager
     for cancellation, and thereupon, unless otherwise requested by the
     assignee or the assigning Lender, new Notes shall be issued to the
     assignee and/or to the assigning Lender, substantially in the form of
     Exhibit III annexed hereto with appropriate insertions, to reflect the
     outstanding Loans of the assignee and/or the assigning Lender.

          (ii) Acceptance by Facility Manager; Recordation in Register.  Upon
     its receipt of an Assignment Agreement executed by an assigning Lender and
     an assignee representing that it is an Eligible Assignee, together with
     the processing and recordation



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     fee referred to in subsection 9.1B(i) and any forms, certificates or other
     evidence with respect to United States federal income tax withholding
     matters that such assignee may be required to deliver to Facility Manager
     pursuant to subsection 2.7B(iii)(a), Facility Manager shall, if Facility
     Manager and Company have consented to the assignment evidenced thereby (in
     each case to the extent such consent is required pursuant to subsection
     9.1B(i)), (a) accept such Assignment Agreement by executing a counterpart
     thereof as provided therein (which acceptance shall evidence any required
     consent of Facility Manager to such assignment), (b) record the
     information contained therein in the Register, and (c) give prompt notice
     thereof to Company.  Facility Manager shall maintain a copy of each
     Assignment Agreement delivered to and accepted by it as provided in this
     subsection 9.1B(ii).

     C. PARTICIPATIONS.  The holder of any participation, other than an
Affiliate of the Lender granting such participation or an Approved Fund of such
Lender, shall not be entitled to require such Lender to take or omit to take
any action hereunder except action directly affecting (i) the extension of the
scheduled final maturity date of any Loan allocated to such participation or
(ii) a reduction of the principal amount of or the rate of interest payable on
any Loan allocated to such participation, and all amounts payable by Company
hereunder (including amounts payable to such Lender pursuant to subsections
2.6D and 2.7) shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such
participation.  Company and each Lender hereby acknowledge and agree that,
solely for purposes of subsections 9.4 and 9.5, (a) any participation will give
rise to a direct obligation of Company to the participant and (b) the
participant shall be considered to be a "Lender".

     D. ASSIGNMENTS TO FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS.  In addition to the assignments
and participations permitted under the foregoing provisions of this subsection
9.1, (i) any Lender may assign and pledge all or any portion of its Loans, the
other Obligations owed to such Lender, and its Note to any Federal Reserve Bank
as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System and any operating circular issued by such Federal
Reserve Bank, (ii) any Lender that is an investment fund that invests in bank
loans may, without the consent of the Facility Manager or Company, pledge all
or any portion of its Loans and its Notes to any trustee or any other
representative of holders of obligations owed or securities issued by such
investment fund as security for such obligations or securities, and (iii) such
pledge or assignment shall not be subject to the provisions of subsection 9.1B
above; provided that (x) no Lender shall, as between Company and such Lender,
be relieved of any of its obligations hereunder as a result of any such
assignment and pledge and (y) in no event shall such Federal Reserve Bank be
considered to be a "Lender" or be entitled to require the assigning Lender to
take or omit to take any action hereunder.

     E. INFORMATION.  Each Lender may furnish any information concerning
Company and its Subsidiaries in the possession of that Lender from time to time
to assignees and participants (including prospective assignees and
participants, but excluding participants that are



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competitors of Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Healthcare
Service Business), subject to subsection 9.19.

     F. REPRESENTATIONS OF LENDERS.  Each Lender listed on the signature pages
hereof hereby represents and warrants (i) that it is an Eligible Assignee
described in clause (A) of the definition thereof; (ii) that it has experience
and expertise in the making of loans such as the Loans; and (iii) that it will
make its Loans for its own account in the ordinary course of its business and
without a view to distribution of such Loans within the meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act or other federal securities laws (it being
understood that, subject to the provisions of this subsection 9.1, the
disposition of such Loans or any interests therein shall at all times remain
within its exclusive control).  Each Lender that becomes a party hereto
pursuant to an Assignment Agreement shall be deemed to agree that the
representations and warranties of such Lender contained in Section 2(c) of such
Assignment Agreement are incorporated herein by this reference.




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9.2 EXPENSES.

     Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated,
Company agrees to pay promptly (i) all the actual and reasonable costs and
expenses of preparation of the Loan Documents and any consents, amendments,
waivers or other modifications thereto; (ii) all the costs of furnishing all
opinions by counsel for Company (including any opinions requested by Lenders as
to any legal matters arising hereunder) and of Company's performance of and
compliance with all agreements and conditions on its part to be performed or
complied with under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents including with
respect to confirming compliance with environmental, insurance and solvency
requirements; (iii) the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel
(including allocated costs of internal counsel) to Syndication Agent and, with
respect to such actions after the Closing Date, Facility Manager, in connection
with the negotiation, preparation, execution and administration of the Loan
Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto
and any other documents or matters requested by Company; (iv) all the actual
costs and reasonable expenses of creating and perfecting Liens in favor of
Facility Manager on behalf of Lenders pursuant to any Collateral Document,
including filing and recording fees, expenses and taxes, stamp or documentary
taxes, search fees, title insurance premiums, and reasonable fees, expenses and
disbursements of counsel to Syndication Agent and, with respect to such actions
after the Closing Date, Facility Manager, and of counsel providing any opinions
that Syndication Agent, Facility Manager or Requisite Lenders may request in
respect of the Collateral Documents or the Liens created pursuant thereto; (v)
all the actual costs and reasonable expenses (including the reasonable fees,
expenses and disbursements of any auditors, accountants or appraisers and any
environmental or other consultants, advisors and agents employed or retained by
Syndication Agent and, with respect to such actions after the Closing Date,
Facility Manager, or their respective counsel) of obtaining and reviewing any
environmental audits or reports; (vi) the custody or preservation of any of the
Collateral; (vii) all other actual and reasonable costs and expenses incurred
by Syndication Agent in connection with the syndication of the Commitments and
the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Loan Documents and any
consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the
transactions contemplated thereby; and (viii) after the occurrence of an Event
of Default, all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees
(including allocated costs of internal counsel) and costs of settlement,
incurred by Syndication Agent and, with respect to such actions after the
Closing Date, Facility Manager, and Lenders in enforcing any Obligations of or
in collecting any payments due from any Loan Party hereunder or under the other
Loan Documents by reason of such Event of Default (including in connection with
the sale of, collection from, or other realization upon any of the Collateral
or the enforcement of the Subsidiary Guaranty) or in connection with any
refinancing or restructuring of the credit arrangements provided under this
Agreement in the nature of a "work-out" or pursuant to any insolvency or
bankruptcy proceedings.




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9.3 INDEMNITY.

     In addition to the payment of expenses pursuant to subsection 9.2, whether
or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, Company
agrees to defend (subject to Indemnitees' selection of counsel), indemnify, pay
and hold harmless Facility Manager and Lenders, and the officers, directors,
employees, agents and affiliates of Facility Manager and Lenders (collectively
called the "INDEMNITEES"), from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities
(as hereinafter defined); provided that Company shall not have any obligation
to any Indemnitee hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liabilities to the
extent such Indemnified Liabilities arise solely from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of that Indemnitee as determined by a final judgment of a
court of competent jurisdiction.

     As used herein, "INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES" means, collectively, any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages (including natural resource damages),
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, claims (including Environmental Claims),
costs (including the costs of any investigation, study, sampling, testing,
abatement, cleanup, removal, remediation or other response action necessary to
remove, remediate, clean up or abate any Release), expenses and disbursements
of any kind or nature whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for Indemnities in connection with any investigative,
administrative or judicial proceeding commenced or threatened by any Person,
whether or not any such Indemnitee shall be designated as a party or a
potential party thereto, and any fees or expenses incurred by Indemnities in
enforcing this indemnity), whether direct, indirect or consequential and
whether based on any federal, state or foreign laws, statutes, rules or
regulations (including securities and commercial laws, statutes, rules or
regulations and Environmental Laws), on common law or equitable cause or on
contract or otherwise, that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against
any such Indemnitee, in any manner relating to or arising out of (i) this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the Related Agreements or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including Lenders' agreement to
make the Loans hereunder or the use or intended use of the proceeds thereof or
any enforcement of any of the Loan Documents (including any sale of, collection
from, or other realization upon any of the Collateral or the enforcement of the
Subsidiary Guaranty), (ii) the statements contained in the commitment letter
delivered by any Lender to Company with respect thereto, or (iii) any
Environmental Claim or any Release relating to or arising from, directly or
indirectly, any past or present activity, operation, land ownership, or
practice of Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     To the extent that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold
harmless set forth in this subsection 9.3 may be unenforceable in whole or in
part because they are violative of any law or public policy, Company shall
contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under
applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities
incurred by Indemnities or any of them.




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9.4 SET-OFF; SECURITY INTEREST IN DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS.

     In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law
and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence of any
Event of Default each Lender is hereby authorized by Company at any time or
from time to time, without notice to Company or to any other Person, any such
notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to
apply any and all deposits (general or special, including Indebtedness
evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured or unmatured, but not
including trust accounts) and any other Indebtedness at any time held or owing
by that Lender to or for the credit or the account of Company against and on
account of the obligations and liabilities of Company to that Lender under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including all claims of any nature or
description arising out of or connected with this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, irrespective of whether or not (i) that Lender shall have made any
demand hereunder or (ii) the principal of or the interest on the Loans or any
other amounts due hereunder shall have become due and payable pursuant to
Section 7 and although said obligations and liabilities, or any of them, may be
contingent or unmatured.  Company hereby further grants to Facility Manager and
each Lender a security interest in all deposits and accounts maintained with
Facility Manager or such Lender as security for the Obligations.




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9.5 RATABLE SHARING.

     Lenders hereby agree among themselves that if any of them shall, whether
by voluntary payment (other than a voluntary prepayment of Loans made and
applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), by realization upon
security, through the exercise of any right of set-off or banker's lien, by
counterclaim or cross action or by the enforcement of any right under the Loan
Documents or otherwise, or as adequate protection of a deposit treated as cash
collateral under the Bankruptcy Code, receive payment or reduction of a
proportion of the aggregate amount of principal, premium, interest, amounts
then due and owing to that Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents
(collectively, the "AGGREGATE AMOUNTS DUE" to such Lender) which is greater
than the proportion received by any other Lender in respect of the Aggregate
Amounts Due to such other Lender, then the Lender receiving such
proportionately greater payment shall (i) notify Facility Manager and each
other Lender of the receipt of such payment and (ii) apply a portion of such
payment to purchase participations (which it shall be deemed to have purchased
from each seller of a participation simultaneously upon the receipt by such
seller of its portion of such payment) in the Aggregate Amounts Due to the
other Lenders so that all such recoveries of Aggregate Amounts Due shall be
shared by all Lenders in proportion to the Aggregate Amounts Due to them;
provided that if all or part of such proportionately greater payment received
by such purchasing Lender is thereafter recovered from such Lender upon the
bankruptcy or reorganization of Company or otherwise, those purchases shall be
rescinded and the purchase prices paid for such participations shall be
returned to such purchasing Lender ratably to the extent of such recovery, but
without interest.  Company expressly consents to the foregoing arrangement and
agrees that any holder of a participation so purchased may exercise any and all
rights of banker's lien, set-off or counterclaim with respect to any and all
monies owing by Company to that holder with respect thereto as fully as if that
holder were owed the amount of the participation held by that holder.




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9.6 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.

     No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement or of the Notes, and no consent to any departure by Company
therefrom, shall in any event be effective without the written concurrence of
Requisite Lenders; provided that no such amendment, modification, termination,
waiver or consent shall, without the consent of each Lender or, with respect to
the following clause (a), each Lender with obligations directly affected
thereby: (a) increase the amount of the Commitments of such Lender or reduce
the principal amount of or premium on the Loans; postpone the scheduled final
maturity date of the Loans; postpone the date on which any interest or any fees
are payable; decrease the interest rate borne by any of the Loans (other than
any waiver of any increase in the interest rate applicable to any of the Loans
pursuant to subsection 2.2E) or the amount of any fees payable hereunder; or
(b) release any Lien granted in favor of Facility Manager with respect to all
or substantially all of the Collateral (it being understood and agreed that an
increase in the amount of any Indebtedness of Company under this Agreement
secured ratably by the Collateral shall not be deemed to be a release of
Collateral), or release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the
Subsidiary Guaranty, in each case other than in accordance with the terms of
the Loan Documents; change in any manner the definition of "Pro Rata Share" or
the definition of "Requisite Lenders"; change in any manner any provision of
this Agreement which, by its terms, expressly requires the approval or
concurrence of all Lenders; or change in any manner the provisions contained in
subsection 7.1 or this subsection 9.6.  In addition, (i) no amendment,
modification, termination or waiver of any provision of any Note shall be
effective without the written concurrence of the Lender which is the holder of
that Note, and (ii) no amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any
provision of Section 8 or of any other provision of this Agreement which, by
its terms, expressly requires the approval or concurrence of Facility Manager
or Syndication Agent shall be effective without the written concurrence of
Facility Manager or Syndication Agent.  Facility Manager may, but shall have no
obligation to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments,
modifications, waivers or consents on behalf of that Lender.  Any waiver or
consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which it was given.  No notice to or demand on Company in any case
shall entitle Company to any other or further notice or demand in similar or
other circumstances.  Any amendment, modification, termination, waiver or
consent effected in accordance with this subsection 9.6 shall be binding upon
each Lender at the time outstanding, each future Lender and, if signed by
Company, on Company.




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9.7 INDEPENDENCE OF COVENANTS.

     All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a
particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the
fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be
within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of
an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default if such action is taken or
condition exists.

9.8 NOTICES.

     Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, any notice or other
communication herein required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and
may be personally served, telexed or sent by telefacsimile or United States
mail or courier service and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered
in person or by courier service, upon receipt of telefacsimile or telex, or
three Business Days after depositing it in the United States mail with postage
prepaid and properly addressed; provided that notices to Facility Manager shall
not be effective until received.  For the purposes hereof, the address of each
party hereto shall be as set forth under such party's name on the signature
pages hereof or (i) as to Company and Facility Manager, such other address as
shall be designated by such Person in a written notice delivered to the other
parties hereto and (ii) as to each other party, such other address as shall be
designated by such party in a written notice delivered to Facility Manager.

9.9 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS.

     A. All representations, warranties and agreements made herein shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the
Loans hereunder.

     B. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or implied by law to the
contrary, the agreements of Company set forth in subsections 2.6D, 2.7, 9.2,
9.3 and 9.4 and the agreements of Lenders set forth in subsections 8.2C, 8.4
and 9.5 shall survive the payment of the Loans and the termination of this
Agreement.

9.10 FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER; REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.

     No failure or delay on the part of Facility Manager or any Lender in the
exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan
Document shall impair such power, right or privilege or be construed to be a
waiver of any default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further
exercise thereof or of any other power, right or privilege.  All rights and
remedies existing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are
cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise
available.




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9.11 MARSHALLING; PAYMENTS SET ASIDE.

     Neither Facility Manager nor any Lender shall be under any obligation to
marshal any assets in favor of Company or any other party or against or in
payment of any or all of the Obligations.  To the extent that Company makes a
payment or payments to Facility Manager or Lenders (or to Facility Manager for
the benefit of Lenders), or Facility Manager or Lenders enforce any security
interests or exercise their rights of setoff, and such payment or payments or
the proceeds of such enforcement or setoff or any part thereof are subsequently
invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or
required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any
bankruptcy law, any other state or federal law, common law or any equitable
cause, then, to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof
originally intended to be satisfied, and all Liens, rights and remedies
therefor or related thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and
effect as if such payment or payments had not been made or such enforcement or
setoff had not occurred.

9.12 SEVERABILITY.

     In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement or the Notes
shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of
such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.

9.13 OBLIGATIONS SEVERAL; INDEPENDENT NATURE OF LENDERS' RIGHTS.

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

9.14 HEADINGS.

     Section and subsection headings in this Agreement are included herein for
convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement
for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.




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9.15 APPLICABLE LAW.

     THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH,
THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE
GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK), WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS
OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.

9.16 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

     This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and the successors and assigns of Lenders (it being understood that
Lenders' rights of assignment are subject to subsection 9.1).  Neither
Company's rights or obligations hereunder nor any interest therein may be
assigned or delegated by Company without the prior written consent of all
Lenders.

9.17 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS.

     ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST COMPANY ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR ANY OBLIGATIONS
THEREUNDER, MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT
JURISDICTION IN THE STATE, COUNTY AND CITY OF NEW YORK.  BY EXECUTING AND
DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, COMPANY, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS
PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY

          (I) ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE NONEXCLUSIVE
     JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS;

          (II) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS;

          (III) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN
     ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT
     REQUESTED, TO COMPANY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
     SUBSECTION 9.8;

          (IV) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (III) ABOVE IS
     SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER COMPANY IN ANY SUCH
     PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND



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OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT;

          (V) AGREES THAT LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY
     OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST COMPANY IN
     THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION; AND

          (VI) AGREES THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION 9.17 RELATING TO
     JURISDICTION AND VENUE SHALL BE BINDING AND ENFORCEABLE TO THE FULLEST
     EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW SECTION 5-1402
     OR OTHERWISE.

9.18 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

     EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS
RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR
ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY
DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS LOAN TRANSACTION
OR THE LENDER/BORROWER RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING ESTABLISHED.  The scope of
this waiver is intended to be all-encompassing of any and all disputes that may
be filed in any court and that relate to the subject matter of this
transaction, including contract claims, tort claims, breach of duty claims and
all other common law and statutory claims.  Each party hereto acknowledges that
this waiver is a material inducement to enter into a business relationship,
that each has already relied on this waiver in entering into this Agreement,
and that each will continue to rely on this waiver in their related future
dealings.  Each party hereto further warrants and represents that it has
reviewed this waiver with its legal counsel and that it knowingly and
voluntarily waives its jury trial rights following consultation with legal
counsel.  THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED
EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY
REFERRING TO THIS SUBSECTION 9.18 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO),
AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS
OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY
OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE LOANS MADE HEREUNDER.  In the
event of litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to a
trial by the court.



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9.19 CONFIDENTIALITY.

     Each Lender shall hold all non-public information obtained pursuant to the
requirements of this Agreement which has been identified as confidential by
Company in accordance with such Lender's customary procedures for handling
confidential information of this nature and in accordance with safe and sound
banking or lending practices, it being understood and agreed by Company that in
any event a Lender may make disclosures to Affiliates of such Lender, to an
Approved Fund or to the related investment advisor or disclosures reasonably
required by any bona fide assignee, transferee or participant in connection
with the contemplated assignment or transfer by such Lender of any Loans or any
participations therein or disclosures required or requested by any Governmental
Entity or representative thereof or pursuant to legal process; provided that,
unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, each Lender
shall notify Company of any request by any Governmental Entity or
representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with any
examination of the financial condition of such Lender by such Governmental
Entity) for disclosure of any such non-public information prior to disclosure
of such information; and provided further that in no event shall any Lender be
obligated or required to return any materials furnished by Company or any of
its Subsidiaries.

9.20 COUNTERPARTS; EFFECTIVENESS.

     This Agreement and any amendments, waivers, consents or supplements hereto
or in connection herewith may be executed in any number of counterparts and by
different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts
together shall constitute but one and the same instrument; signature pages may
be detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached to a single
counterpart so that all signature pages are physically attached to the same
document.  This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution of a
counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by Company and
Facility Manager of written or telephonic notification of such execution and
authorization of delivery thereof.



              [Remainder of page intentionally left blank]



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

                               OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.





                                  By:
                                  Name:
                                  Title:



                                  Notice Address:

                                  800 Connecticut Avenue
                                  Norwalk, Connecticut  06854
                                  Attention:  Jeffery H. Boyd,
                                  Executive Vice President
                                  and General Counsel


                                  Telephone:  203-852-1442
                                  Fax:        203-852-2464






                                  S-1

<PAGE>   130





                                  DLJ CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.,
                                  as Syndication Agent and as a Lender





                                  By:
                                      Eric Swanson
                                      Managing Director



                                  Notice Address:


                                      2121 Avenue of the Stars
                                      Los Angeles, California  90067
                                      Attention:  Eric Swanson
                                      Telephone:       310-282-7447
                                      Fax:             310-282-6178





                                  S-2

<PAGE>   131




                                  IBJ SCHRODER BANK & TRUST COMPANY,
                                  as Facility Manager





                                  By:
                                       Douglas Magnolia
                                       Vice President



                                  Notice Address:


                                       One State Street, 11th Floor
                                       New York, New York  10004
                                       Attention:  Douglas Magnolia,
                                                      Vice President
                                       Telephone:       212-858-2743
                                       Fax:             212-858-2895






                                  S-3

<PAGE>   132





                                                        O'M&M DRAFT
                                                           05/14/98






                              $150,000,000
                          TERM LOAN AGREEMENT


                        DATED AS OF MAY 13, 1998


                                 AMONG


                       OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.,
                              AS BORROWER,

                       THE LENDERS LISTED HEREIN,
                              AS LENDERS,

                       DLJ CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.,
                         AS SYNDICATION AGENT,

                                  AND

                   IBJ SCHRODER BANK & TRUST COMPANY,
                          AS FACILITY MANAGER



                              ARRANGED BY:

          DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORPORATION







<PAGE>   133





                       OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.

                              $150,000,000
                          TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

                           TABLE OF CONTENTS





<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        PAGE
<S>             <C>                                                                      <C>  
SECTION 1.      DEFINITIONS                                                               2
      1.1       Certain Defined Terms                                                     2
      1.2       Accounting Terms; Utilization of GAAP for Purposes of Calculations
                Under Agreement                                                          32
      1.3       Other Definitional Provisions and Rules of Construction                  32

SECTION 2.      AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS AND LOANS                               33
      2.1       Commitments; Making of Loans; the Register; Notes                        33
      2.2       Interest on the Loans                                                    36
      2.3       Fees                                                                     39
      2.4       Repayments and Prepayments; General Provisions Regarding Payments        39
      2.5       Use of Proceeds                                                          45
      2.6       Special Provisions Governing Eurodollar Rate Loans                       46
      2.7       Increased Costs; Taxes; Capital Adequacy                                 48
      2.8       Obligation of Lenders to Mitigate; Replacement Lenders                   52

SECTION 3.      CONDITIONS TO LOANS                                                      53
      3.1       CONDITIONS TO LOANS                                                      54
      3.2       Additional Conditions                                                    61

SECTION 4.      COMPANY'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES                                 61
      4.1       Organization, Powers, Qualification, Good Standing, Business and
                Subsidiaries                                                             62
      4.2       Authorization of Borrowing, etc.                                         63
      4.3       Financial Condition                                                      64
      4.4       No Material Adverse Change                                               65
      4.5       Title to Properties; Liens; Real Property                                65
      4.6       Litigation                                                               66
      4.7       Payment of Taxes                                                         66
      4.8       Performance of Agreements; Materially Adverse Agreements; Material
                Contracts                                                                66
      4.9       Governmental Regulation                                                  67
      4.10      Securities Activities                                                    67
      4.11      Employee Benefit Plans                                                   67
      4.12      Certain Fees                                                             68
      4.13      Environmental Protection                                                 68
      4.14      Employee Matters                                                         69
</TABLE>





                                  (1)

<PAGE>   134


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Page
<S>             <C>                                                                      <C>
      4.15      Solvency                                                                 69
      4.16      Matters Relating to Collateral                                           69
      4.17      Related Agreements                                                       70
      4.18      Disclosure                                                               71

SECTION 5.      COMPANY'S AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS                                          71
      5.1       Financial Statements and Other Reports                                   71
      5.2       Corporate Existence, etc.                                                77
      5.3       Payment of Taxes and Claims; Tax Consolidation                           77
      5.4       Maintenance of Properties; Insurance                                     78
      5.5       Inspection Rights; Lender Meeting                                        78
      5.6       Compliance with Laws, etc.                                               79
      5.7       ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND INVESTIGATION, DISCLOSURE, ETC.; COMPANY'S
                ACTIONS REGARDING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ACTIVITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL
                CLAIMS AND VIOLATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS                              79
      5.8       Execution of Subsidiary Guaranty and Personal Property Collateral
                Documents by Certain Subsidiaries and Future Subsidiaries; Security
                Interest in Trademarks                                                   82
      5.9       Conforming Leasehold Interests; Matters Relating to Additional Real
                Property Collateral                                                      83
      5.10      Certain Pro Forma Consolidating Balancing Sheets                         85

SECTION 6.      COMPANY'S NEGATIVE COVENANTS                                             85
      6.1       Restricted Payments                                                      86
      6.2       Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock               88
      6.3       Sale and Leaseback Transactions                                          91
      6.4       Liens.                                                                   91
      6.5       Limitation on Sale of Stock or Assets of Principal Subsidiaries          91
      6.6       Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted
                Subsidiaries                                                             92
      6.7       Transactions with Affiliates                                             93
      6.8       Limitation as to Unrestricted Subsidiaries                               94
      6.9       Limitation on Sale of Assets                                             94
      6.10      Limitation on Business Activities                                        96
      6.11      Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets                                  96
      6.12      Amendments or Waivers of Certain Related Agreements; Amendments of
                Documents Relating to the Senior Notes                                   99
      6.13      Commercial Lives.                                                        100

SECTION 7.      EVENTS OF DEFAULT                                                        100
      7.1       Failure to Make Payments When Due                                        100
      7.2       Default in Other Agreements.                                             100
      7.3                                                                                100
Breach of Certain Covenants                                                              100
      7.4       Breach of Warranty                                                       100
      7.5       Other Defaults Under Loan Documents                                      101
      7.6       Judgments.                                                               101
</TABLE>





                                  (2)

<PAGE>   135

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Page
<S>             <C>                                                                      <C>
      7.7       Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc.                    101
      7.8       Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc.                      102
      7.9       Failure to Maintain Healthcare Authorizations                            102
      7.10      Invalidity or Repudiation of Subsidiary Guaranty; Failure of
                Security; Repudiation of Obligations                                     102

SECTION 8.      THE AGENTS                                                               104
      8.1       Appointment                                                              104
      8.2       Powers and Duties; General Immunity                                      105
      8.3       Representations and Warranties; No Responsibility For Appraisal of
                Creditworthiness                                                         107
      8.4       Right to Indemnity                                                       107
      8.6       Collateral Documents and Subsidiary Guaranty.                            108

SECTION 9.      MISCELLANEOUS                                                            109
      9.1       Assignments and Participations in Loans                                  109
      9.2       Expenses                                                                 111
      9.3       Indemnity                                                                112
      9.4       Set-Off; Security Interest in Deposit Accounts                           113
      9.5       Ratable Sharing                                                          114
      9.6       Amendments and Waivers                                                   114
      9.7       Independence of Covenants                                                115
      9.8       Notices                                                                  115
      9.9       Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements                   116
      9.10      Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver; Remedies Cumulative                    116
      9.11      Marshalling; Payments Set Aside                                          116
      9.12      Severability                                                             117
      9.13      Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders' Rights               117
      9.14      Headings                                                                 117
      9.15      Applicable Law                                                           117
      9.16      Successors and Assigns                                                   117
      9.17      Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process                           118
      9.18      Waiver of Jury Trial                                                     118
      9.19      Confidentiality                                                          119
      9.20      Counterparts; Effectiveness                                              119

                Signature pages                                                          S-1
</TABLE>




                                  (3)

<PAGE>   136





                                EXHIBITS



<TABLE>
             <S>   <C>
             I     FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING
             II    FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION
             III   FORM OF NOTE
             IV    FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
             V     FORM OF OPINION OF SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
             VI    FORM OF OPINION OF O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP
             VII   FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
             VIII  FORM OF AUDITOR'S LETTER
             IX    FORM OF COMPANY PLEDGE AGREEMENT
             X     FORM OF COMPANY SECURITY AGREEMENT
             XI    FORM OF COMPANY TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT
             XII   FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY
             XIII  FORM OF SUBSIDIARY PLEDGE AGREEMENT
             XIV   FORM OF SUBSIDIARY SECURITY AGREEMENT
             XV    FORM OF SUBSIDIARY TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT
             XVI   FORM OF COLLATERAL ACCOUNT AGREEMENT
</TABLE>

                                  (4)


<PAGE>   137



                               SCHEDULES



<TABLE>
                 <S>   <C>
                 1.1A  EXCLUDED ASSET SALES
                 1.1B  EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS
                 1.1C  EXISTING INVESTMENTS
                 1.1D  EXISTING LIENS
                 2.1   LENDERS' COMMITMENTS AND PRO RATA SHARES
                 4.1D  SUBSIDIARIES OF COMPANY
                 4.5B  FEE PROPERTIES AND LEASEHOLD PROPERTIES
                 4.6   LITIGATION
                 4.11  CERTAIN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
                 4.13  ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
</TABLE>





                                  (5)

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACATED FROM the
Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 1998 (Unaudited) and the Consolidated
Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 1998 (Unaudited)
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000865084
<NAME> OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          61,053
<SECURITIES>                                   635,270
<RECEIVABLES>                                  304,549
<ALLOWANCES>                                    15,000
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,163,674
<PP&E>                                         171,801
<DEPRECIATION>                                 139,999
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,491,730
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,176,338
<BONDS>                                         14,123
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           795
<OTHER-SE>                                     300,474
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,491,730
<SALES>                                      1,218,087
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,229,623
<CGS>                                        1,066,437
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,292,470
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,849
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (69,696)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (24,394)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (45,302)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                         0
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        

</TABLE>


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