SHOLODGE INC
10-Q, 1996-11-20
HOTELS & MOTELS
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<PAGE>   1


                                   FORM 10-Q

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C. 20549

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

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

 For the Third Quarter Ended October 6, 1996        Commission File No. 0-19840

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

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

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

          Tennessee                                          62-1015641
(State or other jurisdiction                               (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                       Identification Number)


217 West Main Street, Gallatin, Tennessee                       37066
(address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code       (615) 452-7200

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

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 as 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 registrant's classes
of common stock as of the latest practicable date.

             As of November 15, 1996, there were 8,233,318 shares of ShoLodge,
          Inc. common stock outstanding.
<PAGE>   2

                        SHOLODGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   OCTOBER 6,     DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                      1996          1995 (1)
                      ASSETS
<S>                                                                              <C>             <C>
CURRENT ASSETS:
   Cash and cash equivalents                                                     $  3,233,692    $  2,444,990
   Accounts receivable                                                              3,372,723       2,545,108
   Construction contracts                                                             542,549       1,726,844
   Due from related parties                                                                        44,100,071
      Less profits not recognized on installment sales                                             (1,681,312)
                                                                                 ----------------------------
                                                                                                   42,418,759
   Prepaid expenses                                                                 1,004,469         385,615
   Other current assets                                                               439,734         287,871

          Total current assets                                                      8,593,167      49,809,187

DIRECT FINANCING LEASES, less current portion                                         616,459         661,631

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT                                                            244,627,678     176,701,146
   Less accumulated depreciation and amortization                                 (31,883,460)    (27,021,202)
                                                                                 ----------------------------
                                                                                  212,744,218     149,679,944

DEFERRED CHARGES                                                                    3,144,591       3,437,887

SECURITIES HELD TO MATURITY - RESTRICTED                                            8,108,630       7,618,031

SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE                                                       1,180,289       2,090,943

EXCESS OF COST OVER FAIR VALUE
  OF NET ASSETS ACQUIRED                                                            3,171,577       3,286,938
                                                                               
OTHER                                                                               4,767,701       4,205,151
                                                                                 ---------------------------- 
   TOTAL ASSETS                                                                  $242,326,632    $220,789,712
                                                                                 ============================
</TABLE>  



(1)  Derived from fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 audited financial
     statements.  See notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>   3



                        SHOLODGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (Continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  OCTOBER 6,     DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                     1996          1995 (1)
   LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
<S>                                                                              <C>             <C>
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
   Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                         $ 13,368,541    $  7,750,468
   Taxes other than on income                                                       1,179,566         689,564
   Income taxes payable                                                             4,223,135       2,274,693
   Current portion of long-term debt
      and capitalized lease obligations                                            36,497,484      34,308,402
                                                                                 ----------------------------
          Total current liabilities                                                55,268,726      45,023,127

LONG-TERM DEBT ASSOCIATED WITH LODGING FACILITIES                                  37,070,513      33,125,280

OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT                                                               54,084,537      54,112,647

CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS                                                       1,664,894       2,104,765

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES                                                               3,153,751       3,153,751

MINORITY INTERESTS IN EQUITY OF
   CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES AND PARTNERSHIPS                                         454,198         533,642
                                                                                 ----------------------------
   TOTAL LIABILITIES                                                              151,696,619     138,053,212
                                                                                 ----------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
   Series A redeemable nonparticipating stock
      (no par value; 1,000 shares authorized,
        issued and outstanding)                                                     -               -
   Common stock (no par value; 20,000,000 shares
      authorized, 8,233,318 shares issued and outstanding
      as of October 6, 1996 and 8,228,502 shares issued
      and outstanding as of December 31, 1995)                                          1,000           1,000
  Additional paid-in capital                                                       44,275,851      44,235,396
  Retained earnings                                                                46,041,873      37,966,623
  Unrealized gain on securities available for sale (net of tax)                       311,289         533,481
                                                                                 ----------------------------
      TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                   90,630,013      82,736,500
                                                                                 ----------------------------
         TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                              $242,326,632    $220,789,712
                                                                                 ============================
</TABLE>


(1)  Derived from fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 audited financial
     statements.  See notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>   4
                       SHOLODGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)
        FOR THE FORTY WEEKS ENDED OCTOBER 6, 1996 AND OCTOBER 1, 1995




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          12 WEEKS ENDED                  40 WEEKS ENDED
                                                                     OCTOBER 6,      OCTOBER 1,      OCTOBER 6,      OCTOBER 1,
                                                                        1996            1995            1996            1995
                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                  <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
REVENUES:
  Hotel                                                              $16,171,522     $11,075,617     $44,392,537     $34,123,161
  Construction and development                                            14,684       1,142,099         529,157       8,838,011
  Construction and development - other                                   575,000         462,113         775,000      13,899,854
  Sale of hotels                                                               0               0               0       6,173,500
  Profits not Recognized on installment sales                                  0               0               0      (1,955,791)
  Franchising                                                          1,060,099         689,164       3,166,037       2,232,618
  Management                                                              39,319          49,999         154,855         339,141
  Management - previously deferred                                             0               0               0       2,862,000

                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
             Total operating revenues                                 17,860,624      13,418,992      49,017,586      66,512,494

COSTS AND EXPENSES:
  Operating expenses:
    Hotel                                                              8,342,687       6,196,756      23,867,466      19,305,084
    Construction and development                                         409,374       1,599,179       1,100,105       9,184,280
    Cost of hotels sold                                                        0               0               0       4,217,709
    Franchising                                                          872,974         716,893       2,648,621       2,160,675

                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
             Total operating expenses                                  9,625,035       8,512,828      27,616,192      34,867,748
                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------

                Gross operating profits                                8,235,589       4,906,164      21,401,394      31,644,746

  General and administrative                                             492,053         353,845       1,983,557       1,256,207
                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
  Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization       7,743,536       4,552,319      19,417,837      30,388,539

  Depreciation and amortization                                        2,099,047       1,356,724       5,919,472       4,136,196

                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
                Net operating profit (before interest and taxes)       5,644,489       3,195,595      13,498,365      26,252,343

OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES:
  Interest expense                                                     1,306,555         972,942       2,211,629       4,477,318
  Interest income                                                        337,806       1,034,310       1,180,352       4,586,109
                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
    Net interest expense                                                 968,749         (61,368)      1,031,277        (108,791)
  Other income                                                           316,348         110,624         750,189         428,257

                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPEREATIONS BEFORE INCOME
  TAXES AND MINORITY INTERESTS                                         4,992,088       3,367,587      13,217,277      26,789,391

INCOME TAXES                                                           1,807,000       1,209,000       4,769,000       9,900,000  
                                                                                                                                   
MINORITY INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF CONSOLIDATED                          
  SUBSIDIARIES & PARTNERSHIPS                                            143,761         177,551         373,027         268,094  

                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE
  EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS                                                  3,041,327       1,981,036       8,075,250      16,621,297

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
  INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS OF DISCONTINUED
    BUSINESS SEGMENT, net of applicable
      income taxes & minority interests                                        0          23,692               0         (21,690)

EXTRAORDINARY LOSS ON EARLY EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT,
net of income tax benefit                                                      0          (8,464)              0         669,731

                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
NET EARNINGS                                                         $ 3,041,327     $ 2,013,192     $ 8,075,250     $15,899,876
                                                                   ==============================================================

EARNINGS PER COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARE 
  Primary:
      Earnings from continuing operations                            $      0.36     $      0.23     $      0.96     $      1.94
      Net Earnings                                                   $      0.36     $      0.24     $      0.96     $      1.86
                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            
  Fully Diluted:                                                                                            
      Earnings from continuing operations                            $      0.34     $      0.24     $      0.93     $      1.71
      Net Earnings                                                   $      0.34     $      0.24     $      0.93     $      1.64
                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON AND COMMON
  EQUIVALENT SHARES OUTSTANDING
      Primary                                                          8,470,358       8,515,546       8,451,077       8,569,562
      Fully Diluted                                                   10,786,960      10,832,148      10,767,679      10,886,164
                                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>   5

                        SHOLODGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASHFLOWS
        FOR THE FORTY WEEKS ENDED OCTOBER 16, 1996 AND OCTOBER 1, 1995




<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
                                                                        40 WEEKS ENDED
                                                                OCTOBER 6,       OCTOBER 1
                                                                   1996            1995
                                                                ---------------------------
<S>                                                             <C>              <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                           $ 8,075,250      $ 15,899,876 
  NET EARNINGS
  ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE NET EARNINGS TO NET
   CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           EXTRAORDINARY LOSS ON EARLY EXTINQUISHMENT       
            OF DEBT                                                       0         1,128,598
           DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION                          5,919,472         4,136,196
           INCREASE IN DEFERRED INCOME TAXES                              0         3,700,000
           GAIN ON SALE OF SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE           (294,839)                0
           GAIN ON SALE OF PROPERTY & EQUIPMENT                           0            (4,765)
           ACCRETION OF DISCOUNT ON SECURITIES              
            HELD TO MATURITY                                       (490,599)         (644,969)
           MINORITY INTERESTS IN EARNINGS ON CONSOLIDATED   
            SUBSIDIARIES AND PARTNERSHIPS                           373,027           176,221
CHANGES IN ASSETS AND LIABILITIES:
           DECREASE (INCREASE) IN ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE               356,680          (935,054)
           (INCREASE) IN PREPAID EXPENSES                          (618,854)         (480,412)
           (DECREASE) INCREASE PROFITS NOT RECOGNIZED      
           ON INSTALLMENT SALES                                  (1,681,312)       (3,633,128)
           (INCREASE) IN OTHER ASSETS                            (1,093,293)       (1,003,322)
           (INCREASE) IN DEFERRED CHARGES                           (33,682)       (1,183,308)
           INCREASE IN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE                    
            AND ACCRUED EXPENSES                                  5,618,073           949,437
           INCREASE IN INCOME AND OTHER TAXES                     2,438,444           888,872
           INCREASE (DECREASE) IN DEFERRED REVENUE                        0        (2,862,000)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES                      18,568,367        16,132,242

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES                                           (68,026,346)      (24,497,571)
 PROCEEDS FROM SALE OF PROPERTY & EQUIPMENT                               0             4,765
 MATURITY OF SECURITIES HELD TO MATURITY                                  0        10,000,000
 SALE OF SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE                              847,120                 0
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES           (67,179,226)      (14,492,806)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 REPAYMENTS FROM (ADVANCES TO) RELATED PARTIES--NET              44,100,071         1,583,355
 PROCEEDS FROM DIRECT FINANCING LEASES                               45,172            52,185
 PROCEEDS FROM LONG-TERM DEBT                                    63,552,371        32,210,000
 PAYMENTS ON LONG-TERM DEBT                                     (57,446,166)      (31,518,265)
 PAYMENTS ON CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS                         (439,871)         (786,704)
 DISTRIBUTIONS TO MINORITY INTERESTS                               (452,471)         (254,007)
 EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS                                           40,455            88,838
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES                      49,399,561         1,375,402
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCREASE(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS             $   788,702       $ 3,014,838
=============================================================================================
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS-BEGINNING PERIOD                      $ 2,444,990       $ 2,188,185
=============================================================================================
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS-END PERIOD                            $ 3,233,692       $ 5,203,023
=============================================================================================
</TABLE>



See notes to consolidated financial statements.












<PAGE>   6
                        SHOLODGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
         FOR THE FORTY WEEKS ENDED OCTOBER 6, 1996 AND OCTOBER 1, 1995
                                  (UNAUDITED)




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   40 WEEKS ENDED
                                                OCTOBER 6,   OCTOBER 1,
                                                  1996         1995
                                               -----------------------
<S>                                            <C>          <C>       
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT ACQUIRED UNDER
   CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS:                            2,310,743
    PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT                                  (2,310,743)
    CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATION               $     0      $        0
                                               =======================



  SALES OF HOTELS TO RELATED PARTY:                         (6,173,500)
   DUE FROM RELATED PARTIES
   PROFITS NOT RECOGNIZED ON INSTALLMENT                     1,955,791
    SALES                                                    4,217,709
                                               -----------------------
   PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT                      $     0      $        0
                                               =======================
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   7
                        SHOLODGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  (UNAUDITED)




      A.   The consolidated financial statements have been prepared by
           the Company without audit.

           In Management's opinion, the information and amounts furnished in
           this report reflect all adjustments which are necessary for the fair
           presentation of the financial position and results of operations for
           the periods presented.  All adjustments are of a normal and
           recurring nature.  It is suggested that these financial statements
           be read in conjunction with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
           for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 and the Company's
           Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the forty weeks ended October 6,
           1996.

           There have been no changes in accounting policies nor has the
           composition of accounts substantially changed since the year ended
           December 31, 1995.

           The fiscal year consists of a 52/53 week year ending the last Sunday
           of the year.

           The Company has historically reported lower earnings in the first
           and fourth quarters of the year due to the seasonality of the
           Company's business.  The results of operations for the quarters
           ended October 6, 1996 and October 1, 1995 are not necessarily
           indicative of the operating results for the entire year.

      B.   The net earnings per share is computed by dividing net
           earnings by the weighted average number of common and common
           equivalent shares outstanding.
<PAGE>   8


   ShoLodge, Inc. and Subsidiaries Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Results of Operations

For the Fiscal Quarters and Fiscal Year-to-date Periods Ended October 6, 1996
and October 1, 1995

        Total operating revenues for the quarter ended October 6, 1996, were
$17,861,000, or 33.1% more than the total operating revenues for the third
quarter of 1995.  For the three quarters ended October 6, 1996, total operating
revenues were $49,018,000,  for a decrease of  26.3% from the same three
quarters in 1995.

        Revenues from hotel operations in third quarter 1996 increased by
$5,096,000, to $16,172,000, or 46.0%, from $11,076,000 in the same period last
year.  For the 29 same store hotels opened for all of both quarterly periods,
an increase of 6.2% in average daily room rates, from $49.54 in third quarter
1995 to $52.60 in third quarter 1996, partially offset by a decline in average
occupancy rates on these hotels from 69.8% last year to 66.4% this year,
resulted in a net increase in same store hotel revenues of 2.3%, from
$10,669,000 in third quarter 1995 to $10,918,000 in third quarter 1996.  The
four hotels opened during 1995 and the nine hotels opened in first three
quarters 1996 contributed $5,254,000 to hotel operating revenues in third
quarter this year versus $407,000 in the third quarter last year.

        Revenues from hotel operations in the first three quarters of 1996
increased by $10,270,000, to $44,393,000, or 30.1%, from $34,123,000 in the
same period last year.  For the 29 same store hotels opened for all of both
year-to-date periods, an increase of 6.1% in average daily room rates, from
$48.03 in first three quarters 1995 to $50.95 in first three quarters 1996,
partially offset by a decline in average occupancy rates on these hotels from
66.7% last year to 64.2% this year, resulted in a net increase in same store
hotel revenues of 2.2%, from $33,098,000 in first three quarters 1995 to
$33,812,000 in first three quarters 1996.  The 13 hotels opened during 1995 and
first three quarters of 1996 contributed $10,581,000 to hotel revenues in first
three quarters this year versus $475,000 for the comparable period last year.
One hotel which was sold in the first half of 1995 contributed $550,000 to
hotel revenues in the first three quarters of 1995.

        Revenues from regular construction and development activities were
$15,000 in third quarter 1996 compared with $1,142,000 for the same period last
year.  Revenues from this source for the first three quarters of 1996 were
$529,000 in contrast to $8,838,000 for the same period last year.  Revenues
from construction and development can vary widely from quarter to quarter
depending upon the volume of outside contract work and the timing of those
projects.  Three outside construction projects were in progress during the
first three quarters of 1995 compared with only one during the comparable
period in 1996.  No outside construction contracts are currently in progress,
due to the concentration on the Company's own development plans.

<PAGE>   9

        Revenues of $575,000 from "Construction and development - other" in
third quarter 1996, and $775,000 in the first three quarters of 1996, represent
a portion of profits not previously recognized on installment sales in
connection with the termination of the Company's relationship with Suites of
America, Inc. and its parent, Prime Hospitality Corp. in March 1995 (the
"AmeriSuites Transaction").  The $462,000 reported for third quarter last year
and the $13,900,000 reported for the first three quarters of 1995, represented
the earned portion of revenues, a portion of which was deferred from 1993 and
1994, as a result of the consummation of the AmeriSuites Transaction.

        Revenue from the sale of hotels in the first three quarters of 1995
was $4,218,000, net of profits not recognized on installment sales of
$1,956,000, representing the sale of one hotel in first quarter 1995 in
conjunction with the AmeriSuites Transaction.  These net revenues are
completely offset by the cost of hotels sold, resulting in no gross operating
profit from these transactions.

        Franchising revenues increased by $371,000, or 53.8%, in third quarter
1996 from third quarter 1995.  This was due primarily to a 12.6% increase in
franchised hotel revenues upon which royalty and reservation system fees are
based.  The number of franchised Shoney's Inns at the end of third quarter 1996
increased to 57 from the 49 franchised at the same time last year. Also,
initial franchise fees increased by $60,000 from third quarter 1995 to third
quarter 1996.  Initial franchise fees may vary widely from quarter to quarter.  
Franchise revenues increased by $933,000, or 41.8%, in first three quarters 
1996 from the comparable period last year.  This was due to higher royalty and 
reservation center fees resulting from a 15.7% higher sales level of franchised
inns, and to an increase of $88,000 in initial franchise fee revenues.

        Management contract revenues declined  by $11,000, from $50,000 to
$39,000, in third quarter 1996 versus third quarter 1995 due to the
cancellation of one management contract on one Shoney's Inn in the third
quarter of 1996.  Management contract revenues for the first three quarters of
1996 were $155,000, or 54.3%, less than for the same period last year, due to
the cancellation of management contracts on the one Shoney's Inn in third
quarter 1996 and 11 AmeriSuites hotels on March 31, 1995, as a part of the
AmeriSuites Transaction.

        Revenues from "Management - previously deferred" in the first three
quarters of 1995 of $2,862,000 represent fees collected in 1993 and 1994 for
the Company's relinquishment of its profit participation in four hotels owned
by Suites of America, Inc.  These profits were previously deferred due to the
Company's option to acquire a 50% ownership interest in Suites of America, Inc.
In connection with the sale of this option to Suites of America, Inc. in March
1995 as part of the AmeriSuites Transaction, all of this previously deferred
revenues was recognized in the first quarter of 1995.  This is a non-recurring
source of revenue.

        Operating expenses from hotel operations in the third quarter of 1996
increased by $2,146,000, to $8,343,000, or 34.6%, from $6,197,000 in third
quarter 1995, due to operating expenses associated with the 46.0% increase in
hotel operating revenues.  Operating expenses from hotel operations as a
percentage of operating revenues 

<PAGE>   10

decreased from 55.9% in third quarter 1995 to 51.6% in third quarter 1996.  
The increase in hotel gross operating profit margin from 44.1% in third quarter
1995 to 48.4% in third quarter 1996 is due to (1) an increase in profit margin 
on the in third quarter 1995 to 47.3% in third quarter 1996, due to the 6.2% in
average daily room rates combined with improved cost control programs, and
(2) a profit margin of 50.8% for the 13 new hotels, due to their higher average
daily room rates as compared with the older hotels.  Nine of these 13 new
hotels are the new Sumner Suites all-suite properties which generally command
higher room rates than the Shoney's Inn properties and which generally operate
at a higher gross operating profit margin.

        Operating expenses from hotel operations for the first three quarters
of 1996 increased by $4,562,000, to $23,867,000, or 23.6%, from $19,305,000 in
the first three quarters of 1995, due to operating expenses associated with the
30.1% increase in hotel operating revenues.  Operating expenses from hotel
operations as a percentage of hotel operating revenues decreased from 56.6% in
the first three quarters of 1995 to 53.8% in the first three quarters of 1996,
thus increasing the gross profit margin on all hotels from 43.4% in 1995 to
46.2% in 1996.  The gross profit margin on same store hotels for the first
three quarters of 1996, reflected an increase to 45.3% from the 43.4% level for
the same three quarters in 1995.  The new hotels, as a group, reflected higher
profit margins for the first three quarters of 1996, 49.3%, compared with the
same store hotels.

        Costs and expenses of construction and development in third quarter
1996 were $409,000 versus $1,599,000 in third quarter 1995, and for the first
three quarters decreased from $9,184,000 in 1995 to $1,100,000 in 1996.  There
were three outside construction projects in the first three quarters of 1995
versus only one during the comparable period in 1996.

        Franchising operating expenses increased by $156,000, or 21.8%, in
third quarter 1996 from third quarter 1995, and for the first three quarters of
1996 increased by $488,000, or 22.6%, over the same period last year.  The
primary reason for these increases was the additional expenses incurred by the
reservation center in meeting the added demand from additional properties
served by that department, particularly in the areas of personnel costs and
telephone expense.  For the first three quarters of 1996 the reservation
center's operating expenses increased by $411,000, or 35.1%, over the
comparable period last year.  During the first three quarters of 1996,
franchising operating expenses included $860,000 of royalty fees to Shoney's,
Inc.  As a result of a transaction between the Company and Shoney's, Inc.  on
October 25, 1996, the Company will no longer be required to pay a portion of
its franchise fees to Shoney's, Inc. (see Part II, Item 5 of this report.)

        General and administrative expense for third quarter 1996 increased by
$138,000 over the comparable period last year, and for the three quarters, the
increase over the prior year period was $727,000.  These increases were due
primarily to increased outside professional fees and increased payroll and
related expenses associated primarily with increased staffing levels.

<PAGE>   11

        Depreciation and amortization expense in third quarter 1996 increased
by $742,000, or 54.7%, over last year's third quarter.  Thirteen hotels were
opened during 1995 and first three quarters of 1996, which resulted in $693,000
depreciation and amortization expense in third quarter 1996 versus only $35,000
in third quarter 1995 on one of these hotels which opened during the second
quarter of 1995. For the first three quarters of 1996, depreciation and
amortization expense increased by $1,783,000, or 43.1%, over the same period
last year.  Increased depreciation and amortization on the thirteen added
hotels was $1,288,000.  Also, depreciation due to renovations and other
additions to same hotels increased by $534,000 over first three quarters of
last year. On October 25, 1996, the Company paid approximately $5,300,000 for
the cancellation of Shoney's Inc's right to receive a portion of the Company's
franchise fees.  (See Part II, Item 5 of this report.)  This purchase price is
expected to be treated as a deferred asset and amortized over a fixed period of
time.

        Interest expense for the third quarter 1996 increased by $334,000
from 1995's third quarter and interest income declined, by $696,000, for an
increase in net interest expense of $1,030,000.  For the first three quarters
of 1996, the decreases from the same prior year periods in interest expense and
interest income were $2,266,000 and $3,406,000, respectively, for an increase
in net interest expense of $1,140,000.  The primary cause of the decreases in
interest income was the collection of the balance of first mortgage notes
receivable of approximately $44 million from Suites of America in early first
quarter 1996, which resulted in reducing interest income in third quarter 1996
and for the first three quarters of 1996 by $991,000 and $3,219,000,
respectively.  The $44 million proceeds were used to reduce outstanding debt,
significantly reducing interest expense for the first three quarters of 1996
compared with the same prior year period.  However, for the third quarter,
interest expense reflected an increase due to additional borrowings for new
hotels opened in 1996.

        Other income increased by $206,000 and $322,000 from third quarter
1995 and first three quarters 1995, respectively. Minority interest in earnings
and losses of consolidated subsidiaries and partnerships decreased $34,000, or
19.0%, from last year's third quarter due to less profitable consolidated
entities which include minority ownership.  For the first three quarters of
1996, the $105,000 increase is due to such entities being more profitable for
the year-to-date period.

        The 1995 loss from discontinued operations, net of applicable income
taxes and minority interest, was from the restaurant subsidiary of which the
Company sold its 60% interest to the 40% owner in the first quarter 1996.  The
1995 extraordinary loss, net of income tax benefit, represents the
extraordinary non-cash write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs, and
early redemption premiums paid, associated with the refinancing of certain
indebtedness during the first two quarters of 1995.


<PAGE>   12


Liquidity and Capital Resources

        Net cash provided from operations was $31,570,000 in fiscal 1995 and
$5,801,000 in fiscal 1994.  The Company currently has a total of $54,000,000 in
unsecured revolving credit facilities with five banks, of which $47,500,000
expires in January 1997, $5,000,000 expires in February 1997, and $1,500,000
expires in May 1997.  Interest rates on these lines of credit are (i)
$40,000,000 at the lender's prime rate, or two hundred basis points over 30,
60, or 90 day LIBOR rates, at the Company's option; (ii) $10,000,000 at the
lender's prime rate, or one hundred ninety basis points over the 30, 60 or 90
days LIBOR rates, at the Company's option; and (iii) $1,500,000 at the lender's
prime rate.  As of October 6, 1996, the Company had $34,180,000 outstanding
under these credit facilities.  On October 25, 1996 the Company incurred
$7,300,000 in additional revolving credit facility indebtedness in connection
with a transaction with Shoney's, Inc. (see Part II, Item 5 of this report).
On November 12, 1996, the Company completed a public offering of $30,000,000 of
9.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006, Series A and applied the net proceeds
(approximately $28,600,000) to reduced outstanding borrowings under revolving
credit facilities.  The Company anticipates seeking a new $50,000,000 to
$75,000,000 senior revolving credit facility within the next 60 to 90 days to
replace its existing facilities.  Management believes that the Company will be
able to renew the existing lines of credit or secure a new line of credit prior
to January 1997 but there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
do so.

        The Company requires capital principally for the construction and/or
acquisition of new lodging facilities and the purchase of equipment and
leasehold improvements.  Capital expenditures for such purposes were
$67,927,000 for the first three fiscal quarters of 1996, $56,174,000 in fiscal
1995 and $47,126,000 in fiscal 1994.

        To date in 1996, two Shoney's Inns and eight Sumner Suites hotels have
opened and three Sumner Suites hotels are scheduled to open during the
remainder of fiscal 1996.  Additionally, renovations of several existing
properties are underway, scheduled for completion in fiscal 1996 and early 
fiscal 1997.  The Company also plans to develop and open an additional eight to
ten Sumner Suites hotels by the end of fiscal 1997.  A new corporate 
headquarters building is also under construction and is scheduled for 
completion by early 1997.  The Company expects that approximately $100,000,000 
in additional capital funds will be necessary through fiscal 1997 to fulfill 
these plans.

        The Company has principal payments totaling $3,915,000 due under
existing debt instruments, in addition to the repayment of the Company's
revolving credit facilities, through fiscal 1997.  The Company believes that a
combination of net proceeds from the offering of 9.75% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2006, Series A, discussed above, net cash provided from operations,
borrowings under existing or new credit facilities, proceeds from the sale of
excess land and available furniture, fixtures and equipment financing packages
will be sufficient to fund its scheduled development and debt repayments
through fiscal 1997.
<PAGE>   13
                         PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1. Legal Proceedings

        There have been no material developments during the quarter.

Item 2. Changes in securities
        
        Not applicable

Item 3. Defaults upon senior securities

        None.

Item 4. Submission of matters to a vote of security holders

        Not applicable

Item 5. Other information

        On October 25, 1996 the Company repurchased for $2.0 million in cash
        the warrant held by Shoney's Investments, Inc. an affiliate of
        Shoney's, Inc. ("Shoney's"), to acquire 5% of the Company's common
        stock (the "Common Stock") outstanding on the date of exercise of the
        warrant, exercisable through February 20, 1997.  As of October 25,
        1996, the warrant entitled Shoney's to acquire 559,589 shares of Common
        Stock, of which 437,703 warrants were in the money at an average price
        of $9.49.  In addition, the Company paid to Shoney's $5.3 million in
        cash in exchange for (i) the cancellation of Shoney's right to receive
        a portion of the franchise fees collected by the Company equal,  in
        substantially all cases, to 1.5% of 52 Shoney's Inns' gross revenues
        through October 1999 and 0.5% of the remaining and all future Shoney's
        Inns' gross revenues for the first ten years of their operations; (ii)
        the repurchase of all of the Company's Series A Redeemable
        Nonparticipating Stock and all of the Series A Redeemable
        Nonparticipating Stock of the Company's franchising subsidiary; (iii)
        the termination of Shoney's right of first refusal with respect to
        shares of Common Stock owned by Leon Moore, the Company's Chief
        Executive Officer, if he received an offer which would result in his
        owning less than 20% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock; and
        (iv) the amendment of the Company's License Agreement with Shoney's
        (the "License Agreement") to terminate certain of Shoney's approval
        rights over various aspects of the Company's franchise operations,
        including the selection of franchisees, the location and design of
        franchised facilities, the termination of individual franchisees, and
        the maximum fees which the Company may charge franchises.  The Company
        will continue as the exclusive franchisor of Shoney's Inns and Shoney's
        will retain certain rights, including the right to approve the styles,
        shapes, colors and forms in which the "Shoney's Inn" and "Shoney's Inn
        & Suites" marks are displayed and the terms of the franchise agreements
        (other than the maximum fees and other financial terms thereof). 
        Further, Shoney's retains the right to terminate the License Agreement
        under limited circumstances, including bankruptcy of the Company, the
        failure to comply with the terms of the License Agreement and the
        failure to desist from conduct likely to impair Shoney's goodwill and
        reputation.  As a result of the repurchase of the Company's Series A    
        Redeemable Nonparticipating Stock,
        


<PAGE>   14
                Shoney's no longer has the right to designate two members 
                of the Company's board of directors.  Management expects 
                that the repurchase of the warrants will be treated as
                a reduction of shareholders' equity and the cancellation of the
                warrants will reduce the number of common equivalent shares
                outstanding.  The $5.3 million price for the cancellation of
                Shoney's right to receive a portion of the Company's franchise
                fees is expected to be treated as a deferred asset and
                amortized over a fixed period of time.  Franchise operating
                expenses of the Company will no longer reflect an expense for
                the royalty fees to Shoney's.  The transactions described above
                are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the "Shoney's
                Transaction."



Item 6.         Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

                6(a) Exhibits-

                        4.1     Indenture between the Company and Banker's
                                Trust Company dated as of November 15, 1996.

                        4.2     First Supplemental Indenture between the 
                                Company and Banker's Trust Company dated as of 
                                November 15, 1996.

                        10.1    Amendment No. 5 to license agreement between 
                                Shoney's Investments, Inc. and ShoLodge 
                                Franchise Systems, Inc. dated October 25, 1996.

                        10.2    Warrant Purchase Agreement between Shoney's 
                                Investments, Inc. and ShoLodge, Inc. dated 
                                October 25, 1996.

                        10.3    Fifth Amendment to Loan Agreement between 
                                ShoLodge, Inc. and First Union National Bank of
                                Tennessee dated October 18, 1996.

                        10.4    Sixth Amendment to Loan Agreement between 
                                ShoLodge, Inc. and First Union National Bank of
                                Tennessee dated October 24, 1996.

                        10.5    Loan Agreement between ShoLodge, Inc. and 
                                Nations Bank of Tennessee, N.A. dated November 
                                6, 1996.

                        10.6    First Amendment to Amended and Restated Stock 
                                Option Agreement dated as of October 10, 1996 
                                between Leon Moore and Richard L. Johnson.

                        10.7    First Amendment to Registration Rights 
                                Agreement, dated as of October 10, 1996, 
                                between the Company and Richard L. Johnson.

                        11      Computation of per share earnings.

                        27      Financial Data Schedule (for SEC use only)














<PAGE>   15



                            6(b) Reports on Form 8-K


There were no reports on Form 8-K for the quarter ended October 6, 1996:
however, a report on Form 8-K was filed on October 21, 1996, regarding the
proposed Shoney's Transaction (See Part II, Item 5 of this report for further
information).


                                   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.


                              ShoLodge, Inc.

Date:  November 19, 1996      /s/ Leon Moore
                              ---------------------------------------
                              Leon Moore
                              President, Chairman of the Board
                              and Director (Chief Executive Officer)

Date:  November 19, 1996      /s/ Bob Marlowe
                              ---------------------------------------
                              Bob Marlowe
                              Secretary, Treasurer and Director
                              (Chief Accounting Officer)


Date:  November 19, 1996      /s/ Michael A. Corbett
                              ---------------------------------------
                              Michael A. Corbett
                              Chief Financial Officer





<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1




                                 SHOLODGE, INC.

                                      AND

                             BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
                                    TRUSTEE




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

                                   INDENTURE
                          Dated as of November 15, 1996

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

                           SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES





                                 
<PAGE>   2

                                 ShoLodge, Inc.

                           Senior Subordinated Notes


                                   TIE-SHEET

         of provisions of Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and the Indenture
dated as of November 15, 1996, between ShoLodge, Inc. and Bankers Trust 
Company, Trustee.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               TRUST INDENTURE
                 ACT OF 1939
                   SECTION                                                 INDENTURE SECTION
- ------------------------------------------               ------------------------------------------------
 <S>                                                     <C>
 310(a)(1)(2)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . .               11.1 and 11.12
    (a)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               Not applicable
    (b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               11.8 and 11.9
    (c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               Not applicable

 311(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               Not applicable
 
 312(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               5.1(a) and (b)
    (b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               5.1(c)
    (c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               5.1(d)

 313(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               5.3
    (b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               Not applicable
    (c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               5.3
    (d)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               5.3

 314(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               5.2(a) and (b)
    (b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               Not applicable
    (c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               14.3
    (d)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               Not applicable
    (e)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               16.3

 315(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               16.2
    (b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                8.7
    (c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               11.2(b)
    (d)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               11.2(c)
    (e)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                8.8

 316(a)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               8.6
    (a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               Not applicable
    (b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               8.6

 317(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               8.2
    (b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               4.4
                                                        
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
 <S>                                                     <C>
 318(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               16.6
- ---------------                                              
</TABLE>

      This tie-sheet does not constitute a part of the Indenture.
<PAGE>   4

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                   ARTICLE 1

                                  DEFINITIONS
<TABLE>
         <S>     <C>                                                                                                   <C>
         1.1  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
                 "1994 Debentures"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
                 "Accrued Bankruptcy Interest"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "Act"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "affected" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "Affiliate"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "Annual Amount Limitation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "applicable supplemental indenture"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "Associate"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "Authenticating Agent" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "Bankruptcy Act" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "Board of Directors" or "Board"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "business day" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "capital stock"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 "Certified Resolution" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 "Change in Control"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 "Commission" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 "common stock" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 "Company"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 "Company Order" and "Company Request"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 "Consolidated Net Income"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 "Consolidated Net Loss"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 "Consolidated Net Worth" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 "corporation"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "covenant defeasance"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "daily newspaper"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "date of this Indenture" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "day"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "Default"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "Defaulted Interest" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "Equity Securities"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "Event of Default" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "Exchange Act" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "Executive Officer"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "Fair Market Value"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 "Five Percent Limitation"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
</TABLE>





                                       i
<PAGE>   5

<TABLE>
            <S>                                                                                                    <C>
            "Indebtedness" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
            "Indenture"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
            "Interest Payment Date"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
            "legal defeasance" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
            "Lien" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
            "main office"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
            "maturity" or "mature,"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
            "Note" or "Notes"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
            "Note Register", "Note Co-Registrar" and "Note Registrar"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
            "Noteholder," "noteholder," "holder of the Notes," "Holder" or "holder"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
            "Officers' Certificate"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
            "Opinion of Counsel" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
            "Original Issue Date"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
            "outstanding"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
            "paying agent" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
            "person" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
            "place of payment" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
            "predecessor Note" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
            "Proceeding" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
            "Redeemable Capital Stock" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
            "Redemption Date"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
            "Regular Record Date"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
            "Responsible Officers,"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
            "Restricted Payment" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
            "Senior Indebtedness"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
            "Special Record Date"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
            "Stated Maturity"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
            "Subsidiary" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
            "supplemental indenture" or "indenture supplemental hereto"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
            "Total Consolidated Capitalization"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
            "Trustee"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
            "Trust Indenture Act" or "TIA" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
            "U.S. Government Obligations"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
</TABLE>

                                   ARTICLE 2

                  ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION
                             AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES

<TABLE>
         <S>     <C>                                                                                                   <C>
         2.1     Designation, Amount and Issue of Notes.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
         2.2     Form of Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
         2.3     Denominations, Dates, Interest Payment and Record Dates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
         2.4     Numbers and Legends on Notes.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
</TABLE>





                                       ii
<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>
         <S>     <C>                                                                                                   <C>
         2.5     Execution of Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
         2.6     Registration of Transfer of Notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
         2.7     Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
         2.8     Temporary Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
         2.9     Recognition of Registered Holders of Definitive Notes and Temporary Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
         2.10    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
         2.11    Authentication of Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
         2.12    Surrender and Cancellation of Notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13

                                                        ARTICLE 3

                                                  SUBORDINATION OF NOTES

         3.1     Agreement to Subordinate.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
         3.2     Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation, Bankruptcy or Reorganization.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
         3.3     Default on Senior Indebtedness.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
         3.4     When Distribution must Be Paid over  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
         3.5     Subrogation.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
         3.6     Relative Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
         3.7     Payments on Notes Permitted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
         3.8     Authorization of Noteholders to Trustee to Effect Subordination.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
         3.9     Notice to Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
         3.10    Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
         3.11    Modification of Terms of Senior Indebtedness.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
         3.12    Trustee Not Fiduciary for Senior Indebtedness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
         3.13    Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19

                                                        ARTICLE 4

                                           PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

         4.1     Payment of Principal of and Premium, If Any, and Interest on Notes.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
         4.2     Maintenance of Office or Agency for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Notes.   . . .  19
         4.3     Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
         4.4     Provision as to Paying Agent.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
         4.5     Maintenance of Corporate Existence.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
         4.6     Further Assurance.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
         4.7     Officers' Certificate as to Default and Statement as to Compliance.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
         4.8     Will Pay Indebtedness.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
         4.9     Will Keep, and Permit Examination of, Records and Books of Account and Will Permit Visitation of
                 Property.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
</TABLE>





                                      iii
<PAGE>   7

<TABLE>
         <S>     <C>                                                                                                   <C>
         4.10    Maintenance of Properties.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
         4.11    Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
         4.12    Limitations on Dividends and Other Payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
         4.13    Limitation on Other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
         4.14    Restrictions on Additional Indebtedness  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
         4.15    Minimum Consolidated Net Worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24

                                                        ARTICLE 5

                                       NOTEHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY
                                                     AND THE TRUSTEE

         5.1     Noteholder Lists, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
         5.2     Reports by Company.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
         5.3     Reports by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26

                                                        ARTICLE 6

                                         REDEMPTION OF NOTES AT COMPANY'S OPTION

         6.1     Election by Company to Redeem Notes.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
         6.2     Redemption of Part of Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
         6.3     Notice of Redemption.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
         6.4     Deposit of Redemption Price. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
         6.5     Date on Which Notes Cease to Bear Interest, Etc.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
         6.6     All Notes Delivered. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28

                                                        ARTICLE 7

                                          REDEMPTION OF NOTES AT HOLDER'S OPTION

         7.1     Redemption Right at Holder's Option.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
         7.2     Redemption Procedure.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
         7.3     Withdrawal.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
         7.4     Redemption Register. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
         7.5     Deposit of Redemption Price  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
         7.6     Purchase of Notes at Option of the Holder Upon Change in Control.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
         7.7     Redemption of Notes Subject to Article 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
</TABLE>

                                   ARTICLE 8

                REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND NOTEHOLDERS UPON DEFAULT





                                       iv
<PAGE>   8

<TABLE>
         <S>     <C>                                                                                                      <C>
         8.1     Events of Default Defined.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   36
         8.2     Payment of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   38
         8.3     Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   39
         8.4     Limitation on Suits by Holders of Notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   40
         8.5     Proceedings by Trustee; Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not Waiver of Default. . .   40
         8.6     Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Notes to Direct Trustee and to Waive Defaults . . .   41
         8.7     Trustee to Give Notice of Defaults Known to It, but May Withhold in Certain Circumstances. . . . . . . .   41
         8.8     Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee .   41
         8.9     Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   42

                                                        ARTICLE 9

                                            EVIDENCE OF RIGHTS OF NOTEHOLDERS
                                                  AND OWNERSHIP OF NOTES

         9.1     Evidence of Ownership of Definitive Notes and Temporary Notes Issued Hereunder in Registered Form. . . .   42

                                                        ARTICLE 10

                                              CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE

         10.1    Company May Merge, Consolidate, Etc., Upon Certain Terms.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   42
         10.2    Successor Corporation to be Substituted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   43

                                                        ARTICLE 11

                                                  CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

         11.1    Requirement of Corporate Trustee, Eligibility.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   44
         11.2    Acceptance of Trust  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   44
         11.3    Disclaimer.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   46
         11.4    Trustee May Own Notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   46
         11.5    Trustee May Rely on Certificates, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   46
         11.6    Money Held in Trust Not Required to be Segregated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   47
         11.7    Compensation, Reimbursement, Indemnity, Security.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   47
         11.8    Conflict of Interest.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   48
         11.9    Resignation, Removal, Appointment of Successor Trustee.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   53
         11.10   Acceptance by Successor Trustee.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   54
</TABLE>





                                       v
<PAGE>   9

<TABLE>
         <S>     <C>                                                                                                   <C>
         11.11   Cash, Securities, Etc. to be Held by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
         11.12   Merger or Consolidation of Trustee.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
         11.13   Authenticating Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55

                                                        ARTICLE 12

                                            DEFEASANCE; DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

         12.1    Termination of the Company's Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
         12.2    Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
         12.3    Application of Trust Money.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62
         12.4    Repayment to Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62
         12.5    Reinstatement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62

                                                        ARTICLE 13

                                                  MEETING OF NOTEHOLDERS

         13.1    Purposes for Which Meetings May be Called.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
         13.2    Call of Meetings by Trustee; Generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
         13.3    Call of Meetings by Trustee; Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
         13.4    Meetings, Notice and Entitlement to be Present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
         13.5    Regulations May be Made by Trustee.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
         13.6    Manner of Voting at Meetings and Record to be Kept.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
         13.7    Evidence of Action by Holders of Specified Percentage of Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
         13.8    Exercise of Right of Trustee or Noteholders May Not be Hindered or Delayed by Call of Meeting of
                 Noteholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  66

                                                        ARTICLE 14

                                                 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

         14.1    Purposes for Which Supplemental Indentures May be Executed by Company and Trustee.   . . . . . . . .  66
         14.2    Modification of Indenture by Written Consent of Noteholders.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
         14.3    Requirements for Execution; Duties and Immunities of Trustee.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
         14.4    Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
         14.5    Notes Executed After Supplemental Indenture to be Approved by Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
         14.6    Supplemental Indentures Required to Comply with Trust Indenture Act of 1939. . . . . . . . . . . . .  70
</TABLE>





                                       vi
<PAGE>   10

                                   ARTICLE 15

                    IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
                             OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

<TABLE>
         <S>     <C>                                                                                                   <C>
         15.1    Immunity of Certain Persons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  70

                                                        ARTICLE 16

                                                      MISCELLANEOUS

         16.1    Benefits Restricted to Parties and to Holders of Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  70
         16.2    Deposits for Notes Not Claimed for Specified Period to be Returned to Company on Demand. . . . . . .  70
         16.3    Formal Requirements of Certificates and Opinions Hereunder.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  71
         16.4    Evidence of Act of the Noteholders.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  71
         16.5    Parties to Include Successors and Assigns.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72
         16.6    In Event of Conflict with Trust Indenture Act of 1939, Provisions Therein to Control.  . . . . . . .  72
         16.7    Request, Notices, Etc. to Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72
         16.8    Manner of Notice.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
         16.9    Severability.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
         16.10   Payments Due on Days When Banks Closed.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
         16.11   Backup Withholding Forms.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74
         16.12   Titles of Articles of This Indenture Not Part Thereof.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74
         16.13   Execution in Counterparts.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74
         16.14   Governing Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74
</TABLE>

TESTIMONIUM
SIGNATURES AND SEALS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS





                                      vii
<PAGE>   11

         This INDENTURE, dated as of November 15, 1996, between SHOLODGE, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation (herein called the "Company") and BANKERS TRUST
COMPANY, a New York banking corporation (herein, together with each successor
as such trustee hereunder, called the "Trustee").


                                  WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company deems it necessary to authorize the issuance from
time to time of certain Senior Subordinated Notes (hereinafter sometimes called
the "Notes") in one or more series, in an aggregate principal amount up to
$125,000,000, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such time or times
and to have such other provisions as shall be provided in this Indenture or in
one or more supplemental indentures in accordance herewith;

         WHEREAS, this Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be part of this
Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions;
and

         WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid
agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed, and the
execution of this Indenture has in all respects been duly authorized;

         NOW THEREFORE:

         That the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal
and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the
Notes, as follows:


                                   ARTICLE 1

                                  DEFINITIONS

         1.1     The terms defined in this Article 1 shall (except as herein
otherwise expressly provided) for all purposes of this Indenture, have the
respective meanings specified in this Article and include the plural as well as
the singular. Any term defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, either
directly or by reference therein, and not defined in this Indenture, unless the
context otherwise specifies or requires, shall have the meaning assigned to
such term therein as in force on the date of this Indenture.

         "1994 Debentures" shall mean the Company's 7 1/2 % Convertible
Subordinated Debentures due 2004, authenticated and delivered under that
certain indenture dated as of June 6, 1994 by and between ShoLodge, Inc. and
Third National Bank in Nashville, Trustee.





                                       1
<PAGE>   12

        "Accrued Bankruptcy Interest" shall mean interest accruing subsequent
to any bankruptcy, insolvency, dissolution, liquidation, reorganization,
winding up or other event or proceeding referred to in Section 3.02, in
accordance with and at the rate (including any rate applicable upon default)
specified in the instrument or agreement evidencing or governing the applicable
Senior Indebtedness, whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a
claim in connection with such bankruptcy, insolvency, dissolution, liquidation,
reorganization, winding up or other event or proceeding.

         "Act" when used with respect to any Noteholder has the meaning
specified in Section 16.4.

         "affected" has the meaning specified in Section 14.2.

         "Affiliate" means any person which directly or indirectly controls, is
controlled by, or is under direct or indirect common control with, the Company.
A person shall be deemed to control a corporation, partnership or other entity,
for the purpose of this definition, if such person possesses, directly or
indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of such corporation, partnership or other entity, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

         "Annual Amount Limitations" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1.

         "applicable supplemental indenture" means, with respect to any series
of Notes, the supplemental indenture which authorized the issuance of such
Notes, and any amendments thereto.

         "Associate" has the meaning specified in Section 7.6.

         "Authenticating Agent" means the agent of the Trustee which at the
time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 11.13.

         "Bankruptcy Act" means Title I of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978,
as amended, and codified at Title 11 of the United States Code, including the
Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure as in effect as of the date hereof or as
hereafter amended, or any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief
of debtors.

         "Board of Directors" or "Board" means the Board of Directors of the
Company or any committee of such Board of Directors, however designated,
authorized to exercise the powers of such Board of Directors in respect of the
matters in question.

         "business day" means any day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or other
day on which banking institutions in the State in which the Trustee shall
maintain its main office are authorized or obligated by law or required by
executive order to close.

         "capital stock" includes any and all shares, interests, participations
or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock of any
corporation.





                                       2
<PAGE>   13


         "Certified Resolution" means a copy of a resolution or resolutions
certified, by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation
referred to, as having been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such
corporation or any committee of such Board of Directors, however designated,
authorized to exercise the powers of such Board of Directors in respect of the
matters in question and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification.

         "Change in Control" has the meaning specified in Section 7.5.

         "Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.

         "common stock" means any capital stock of a corporation which is not
preferred as to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation over shares of any other class of capital
stock of such corporation.

         "Company" shall mean and include ShoLodge, Inc. until any successor
corporation shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of
this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall mean such successor corporation.

         "Company Order" and "Company Request" mean, respectively, a written
order or request signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the
Board, Vice-Chairman of the Board, President or any Vice President and its
Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary and delivered
to the Trustee.

         "Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the Company's
consolidated net income for such period (if, after making the adjustments
described below, the Company's consolidated net income for such period would be
a positive number) as determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles as consistently applied by the Company, adjusted, to the
extent included in calculating such net income, by excluding, without
duplication, (i) all extraordinary non-operating gains or losses and (ii) the
net income or loss of any person combined with the Company or one of its
Subsidiaries on a "pooling of interests" basis attributable to any period prior
to the date of combination.

         "Consolidated Net Loss" means, for any period, the Company's
consolidated net loss (if any) for such period (if, after making the
adjustments described below, the Company's consolidated net income for such
period would be a negative number) as determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles as consistently applied by the Company,
adjusted, to the extent included in calculating such net loss, by excluding,
without duplication, (i) all extraordinary non-operating gains or losses and
(ii) the net income or loss of any person combined with the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries on a pooling of interests basis attributable to any period
prior to the date of combination.

         "Consolidated Net Worth" means, with respect to the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of any date, the net worth of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as of such date as determined on a





                                       3
<PAGE>   14

consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
as consistently applied by the Company.

         "corporation" shall mean and include corporations, associations,
companies and business trusts.

         "covenant defeasance" shall have the meaning as set forth in Section
12.2.

         "daily newspaper" shall mean The Wall Street Journal or another
newspaper in the English language of national circulation in New York, New York
and customarily published on each business day of the year, whether or not such
newspaper is published on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

         "date of this Indenture" means the date set forth on the cover page of
this Indenture.

         "day" means a calendar day.

         "Default" means any act or occurrence of the character specified in
Section 8.1, but excluding any notice or lapse of time, or both, specified
therein.

         "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 2.3.

         "Equity Securities" means any and all shares of the Company's capital
stock (other than Redeemable Capital Stock), and any rights (other than
Indebtedness convertible into capital stock), warrants or options to acquire
the Company's capital stock (other than warrants or options to acquire
Redeemable Capital Stock).

         "Event of Default" means any act or occurrence of the character
specified in Section 8.1.

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

         "Executive Officer" means, with respect to any corporation, the
Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, the
Executive Vice President, any other Vice President or the Treasurer of such
corporation.

         "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to any asset, the price which
could be negotiated in an arm's length free market transaction, for cash,
between a willing seller and a willing buyer, neither of which is under
pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction; provided, however, that,
except with respect to any asset or assets constituting less than $3,000,000,
the Fair Market Value shall be required to be determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company, acting in good faith, and shall be evidenced by
resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company delivered to the Trustee.





                                       4
<PAGE>   15

         "Five Percent Limitation" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1.

         "Indebtedness" means (a) indebtedness for money borrowed (other than
the Notes) for the payment of which the Company or any Subsidiary is
responsible or liable or the payment of which the Company or any Subsidiary has
guaranteed, whether such indebtedness is outstanding as of the date hereof or
thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Company or any
Subsidiary, (b) capital lease obligations of the Company and any Subsidiary
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (c) any
obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary to reimburse banks or others
pursuant to letters of credit or guaranties extended by such banks or others,
advances made by such banks and other credit arrangements entered into with
such banks in connection with tax-exempt obligations issued for the benefit of
the Company or any Subsidiary, (d) all liabilities for the deferred purchase
price of property or services, or under any conditional sale or title retention
agreement, excluding any trade payables and other accrued current liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business and not otherwise constituting
Indebtedness under any other clause of this definition, (e) all Redeemable
Capital Stock and (f) renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any
such indebtedness or obligations; provided, however, that the term
"Indebtedness" does not include any indebtedness that has been irrevocably
defeased in accordance with the applicable terms thereof and an amount in cash
or U.S. Government Obligations or any combination thereof sufficient to pay all
obligations under such indebtedness when and as due has been irrevocably
deposited with a trustee or similar third party in connection therewith.

         "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may
from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.

         "Interest Payment Date" means the Stated Maturity of an installment of
interest on the Notes.

         "legal defeasance" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.2.

         "Lien" means any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge or other security
interest or encumbrance of any kind.

         "main office" with reference to the Trustee shall mean the principal
corporate trust office of the Trustee, which office is, on the date of this
Indenture, located at Bankers Trust Company, Four Albany Street, New York, NY
10006, Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group.

         "maturity" or "mature," when used with respect to any Note, means the
date on which the principal of such Note becomes due and payable as therein or
herein provided, whether at Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration,
call for redemption at the option of the Company pursuant to Article 6 or
presentment for repayment as provided in Article 7 hereof, or otherwise.





                                       5
<PAGE>   16

         "Note" or "Notes" mean one or more of the notes comprising the
Company's issue of Notes issued, authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto creating one or more series of
additional notes.

         "Note Register", "Note Co-Registrar" and "Note Registrar" have the
respective meanings specified in Section 2.6.

         "Noteholder," "noteholder," "holder of the Notes," "Holder" or
"holder" or other similar terms mean any person in whose name, as of any
particular date, a Note is registered on the Note Register.

         "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, President or a Vice President and the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and
delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate, to the extent required, shall
comply with the provisions of Section 16.3 hereof.

         "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by legal
counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company and who shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such Opinion of Counsel shall
include the statements provided for in Section 16.3 if and to the extent
required by the provisions of such Section.

         "Original Issue Date" with respect to any Note (or portion thereof)
means the earlier of (A) the date of such Note or (B) the date of any Note (or
portion thereof) for which such Note was issued (directly or indirectly) on
registration of transfer, exchange or substitution.

         "outstanding" means, as of the date of determination, all Notes which
theretofore shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under
this Indenture, except (A) Notes theretofore canceled by the Trustee or
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, (B) Notes or portions thereof for
the payment or redemption of which money in the necessary amount shall have
been deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent in trust for the holders of
the Notes; provided, however, that in the case of redemption, any notice
required shall have been given or have been provided for to the satisfaction of
the Trustee, and (C) Notes in exchange or substitution for or in lieu of which
other Notes have been authenticated and delivered under any of the provisions
of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing provision of this paragraph,
Notes in exchange or substitution for or in lieu of which other Notes have been
authenticated and delivered under Section 2.10 hereof and which have not been
surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation or the payment of which shall not
have been duly provided for, shall be deemed to be outstanding. In determining
whether the Noteholders of the requisite principal amount of Notes outstanding
have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or
waiver hereunder, Notes owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the
Notes or any Affiliate of the Company, including any Subsidiary, or such other
obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not outstanding, except that, in
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only
Notes which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be disregarded.





                                       6
<PAGE>   17

Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as
outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the
pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is
not the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the
Company or a Subsidiary or such other obligor.

         "paying agent" means any person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on any Notes on behalf of the
Company.

         "person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust,
unincorporated association, joint venture, government or any department or
agency thereof, or any other entity.

         "place of payment" means such place as designated in Section 2.3
hereof.

         "predecessor Note" of any particular Note means every previous Note
evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note
authenticated and delivered under Section 2.10 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or
stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or
stolen Note.

         "Proceeding" means any suit in equity, action at law or other legal,
equitable, administrative or similar proceeding.

         "Redeemable Capital Stock" means any class or series of capital stock
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Subsidiary's capital
stock owned by the Company) that either by its terms, by the terms of any
security into which it is convertible or exchangeable or by contract or
otherwise, is, or upon the happening of an event or passage of time would be,
required to be redeemed or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof or
is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries.

         "Redemption Date" when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed,
means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

         "Regular Record Date" has the meaning specified in Section 2.3.

         "Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the Trustee, means
any officer within the Corporate Trust and Agency Group 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 such officer's
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

         "Restricted Payment" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.12.




                                       7
<PAGE>   18

         "Senior Indebtedness" shall mean the following, whether outstanding as
of the date hereof or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the
Company or any Subsidiary, (a) indebtedness (other than the Notes and the 1994
Debentures) for the payment of which the Company or any Subsidiary is
responsible or liable or the payment of which the Company or any Subsidiary has
guaranteed, (b) capital lease obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (c) any
obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary to reimburse banks or others
pursuant to letters of credit or guaranties extended by such banks or others,
advances made by such banks or others and other credit arrangements entered
into with such banks or others in connection with tax-exempt obligations issued
for the benefit of the Company or any Subsidiary, (d) any obligation of the
Company or any Subsidiary for the deferred purchase price of real or personal
property, including any purchase money indebtedness or conditional sales
obligations and obligations under title retention agreements, and (e) renewals,
extensions, modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness or
obligations, provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include
indebtedness which by its terms refers explicitly to the Notes issued hereunder
and states that such indebtedness shall be subordinate to the Notes issued
hereunder.

         "Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means
a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.3.

         "Stated Maturity" when used with respect to any Note or any
installment of interest thereon, means the date specified in such Note as the
fixed date on which the principal of such Note or such installment of interest
is due and payable.

         "Subsidiary" means any corporation more than fifty percent (50%) of
whose shares of stock having general voting power under ordinary circumstances
to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation irrespective
of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes shall or
might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, is owned
or controlled directly or indirectly by the Company.

         "supplemental indenture" or "indenture supplemental hereto" means any
indenture hereafter duly authorized and entered into in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture.

         "Total Consolidated Capitalization" means, with respect to the Company
and its Subsidiaries as of any date, the sum of (i) the Consolidated Net Worth
of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of such date, plus (ii) the total
Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of such date.

         "Trustee" means Bankers Trust Company, and, subject to the provisions
of the Indenture, shall also include any successor trustee.

         "Trust Indenture Act" or "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed.





                                       8
<PAGE>   19

         "U.S. Government Obligations" has the meaning provided in Section
12.2(d)(i) hereof.

         All accounting terms used in this Indenture shall have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
and practices employed at the time by the Company.


                                   ARTICLE 2

                  ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION
                             AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES

         2.1     Designation, Amount and Issue of Notes. The Notes shall be
designated as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Notes in
an aggregate principal amount up to $125,000,000, to bear such rates of
interest, to mature at such time or times and to have such other provisions as
may be provided in this Indenture and in the applicable supplemental indenture,
may be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication,
and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Notes to or upon
the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board, the
President or an Executive Vice President or any Vice President. Prior to such
authentication the Trustee shall be entitled to receive an executed
supplemental indenture, an Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel
satisfactory to the Trustee.

         2.2     Form of Notes. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication to be borne by the Notes shall be substantially in the form set
forth in any supplemental indenture under which such Notes are issued. Any of
the Notes may have imprinted thereon such legends or endorsements as the
officer or officers executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be
conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture under which the
Notes are issued, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule
or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock
exchange on which the Notes may be listed, or to conform to usage. With respect
to the Notes of any particular series, the Company may incorporate in, add to
or delete from the general title of such Notes any words, letters or figures
designed to distinguish that series, pursuant to the applicable supplemental
indenture or a Certified Resolution.

         2.3     Denominations, Dates, Interest Payment and Record Dates. The
Notes shall be issuable as registered Notes without coupons in the
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000, and shall be
numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance
with such plan as the officers of the Company executing the same may determine
with the approval of the Trustee. The Notes shall be dated the date of
authentication thereof by the Trustee. Notes may be issued at a discount, and
shall bear interest, as set forth in the applicable supplemental indenture
establishing the form of such Note.





                                       9
<PAGE>   20

         The term "Regular Record Date" as used with respect to an interest
payment date for any series of Notes shall mean such day or days as shall be
specified in any supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Notes are issued;
provided, however, that in the absence of any such provisions with respect to
any series of Notes, such term shall mean (1) the last day of the calendar
month preceding such interest payment date if such interest payment date is the
fifteenth day of a calendar month; or (2) the fifteenth day of the calendar
month preceding such interest payment date if such interest payment date is the
first day of a calendar month.

         Any interest on any Note which is payable, but is not punctually paid
or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted
Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the
relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such holder; and such
Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as
provided in clause (a) or clause (b) below:

                 (a)      The Company may elect to make payment of any
         Defaulted Interest to the persons in whose names the Notes (or their
         respective predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business
         on a special record date (the "Special Record Date") for the payment
         of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following
         manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount
         of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of
         the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit
         with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount
         proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall
         make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior
         to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be
         held in trust for the benefit of the persons entitled to such
         Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee
         shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted
         Interest which shall be not more than twenty (20) nor less than ten
         (10) days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than
         thirty-five (35) days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice
         of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company
         of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the
         Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted
         Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first
         class postage prepaid, to each Noteholder at his address as it appears
         in the Note Register, not less than ten (10) days prior to such
         Special Record Date. The Trustee may, in its discretion, in the name
         and at the expense of the Company, cause a similar notice to be
         published at least once in a Daily Newspaper in each place of payment,
         but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to the
         establishment of such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed
         payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date
         therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest
         shall be paid to the persons in whose names the Notes (or their
         respective predecessor Notes) are registered on such Special Record
         Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause
         (b).





                                       10
<PAGE>   21

                 (b)      The Company may make payment of any Defaulted
         Interest in any other lawful manner if, after notice given by the
         Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this
         clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

         Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Note
delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu
of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to
accrue which were carried by such other Note.

         The principal of and the premium, if any, and the interest on the
Notes shall be paid at the office or agency of the Company which shall be
located at the main office of the Trustee (the "place of payment") in such coin
or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be
legal tender for the payment of public and private debts; provided, however,
that interest on any Notes may be payable, at the option of the Company, by
check mailed to the person entitled thereto as such person's address shall
appear on the Note Register.

         2.4     Numbers and Legends on Notes. Notes may bear such numbers,
letters or other marks of identification or designation, may be endorsed with
or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals with respect
to transferability or in respect of the Note or Notes for which they are
exchangeable, and may contain such provisions, specifications and descriptive
words, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, as may be
determined by the Company or as may be required to comply with any law or with
any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto.

         2.5     Execution of Notes. Each Note shall be signed in the name and
on behalf of the Company by one or more of its officers. The signature of an
officer of the Company may, if permitted by law, be in the form of a facsimile
signature and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Notes. In case
any officer of the Company who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature
shall be borne by, any of the Notes shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before the Notes so executed shall be actually authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee, such Notes shall nevertheless bind the Company and
may be authenticated and delivered as though the person whose signature appears
on such Notes had not ceased to be such officer of the Company.

         2.6     Registration of Transfer of Notes. The Company shall keep or
cause to be kept at the main office of the Trustee books for the registration
of transfer of Notes issued hereunder (herein sometimes referred to as the
"Note Register") and upon presentation for such purpose at such office the
Company will register or cause to be registered the transfer therein, under
such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, of such Notes. The Trustee is
hereby appointed "Note Registrar" for the purpose of registering Notes and
transfers of Notes as herein provided. The Company may appoint one or more
"Note Co-Registrars" for such purpose as the Board of Directors may determine
where Notes may be presented or surrendered for registration, registration of
transfer or exchange and such books, at all reasonable times, shall be open for
inspection by the Trustee.

         2.7     Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes. Whenever any
Note shall be surrendered to the Company at an office or agency referred to in
Section 4.2 hereof, for registration





                                       11
<PAGE>   22

of transfer or exchange, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper written
instrument or instruments of assignment and transfer thereof or for exchange in
form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee, or any Note Registrar or Note
Co- Registrar, duly executed by the holder thereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, in exchange therefor, a Note or Notes in the name of
the designated transferee, as the case may require, for a like aggregate
principal amount and of such authorized denomination or denominations as may be
requested. All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt,
and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Notes
surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

         The Company, at its option, may require the payment of a sum
sufficient to reimburse it for any stamp tax or other governmental charge or
expense that may be imposed in connection with any exchange or transfer of
Notes other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.8 or 14.5 not involving any
transfer. No service charge will be made for any such transaction.

         The Company shall not be required to issue or to make registrations of
transfer or exchanges of Notes for a period of fifteen (15) days immediately
preceding the date of any selection of Notes to be redeemed. The Company shall
not be required to issue or to make registrations of transfer or exchanges of
any Notes which have been selected for redemption in whole or in part, except
in the case of any Note to be redeemed in part, for which the Company shall
register transfers and make exchanges of the portion thereof not so to be
redeemed.

         Upon delivery by any Note Co-Registrar of a Note in exchange for a
Note surrendered to it in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, the
Note so delivered shall for all purposes of this Indenture be deemed to be duly
registered in the Note Register; provided, however, that in making any
determination as to the identity of persons who are holders, the Trustee shall,
subject to the provisions of Section 11.2, be fully protected in relying on the
Note Register kept at the main office of the Trustee.

         2.8     Temporary Notes. Pending the preparation of definitive Notes
the Company may execute and, upon Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver temporary Notes which may be printed, lithographed, typewritten,
mimeographed or otherwise reproduced. Temporary Notes shall be issuable in any
authorized denomination, and substantially of the tenor of the definitive Notes
in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and
variations as may be appropriate for temporary Notes, all as may be determined
by the officers of the Company executing such Notes as evidenced by their
execution of such Notes. Every such temporary Note shall be authenticated by
the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and
with the same effect, as the definitive Notes. If temporary Notes are issued,
without unreasonable delay, the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee
definitive Notes and thereupon any and all temporary Notes may be surrendered
in exchange therefor, at the offices referred to in Section 4.2, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Notes an
equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Notes of authorized





                                       12
<PAGE>   23

denominations. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense
and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall
in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as
definitive Notes authenticated and delivered hereunder.

         2.9     Recognition of Registered Holders of Definitive Notes and
Temporary Notes. The Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the
Trustee may deem and treat (A) the registered holder of any temporary Note, and
(B) the registered holder of any definitive Note, as the absolute owner of such
Note in accordance with Section 9.1.

         2.10    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes. In case any Note
shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, then upon the
satisfaction of the conditions hereinafter set forth in this Section 2.10 the
Company (A) shall, in the case of any mutilated Note, and (B) shall, in the
case of any destroyed, lost or stolen Note, in the absence of notice to the
Company or the Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, execute, and upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver, a new Note of like principal amount bearing a
number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for and
upon surrender and cancellation of the mutilated Note or in lieu of and
substitution for the Note so destroyed, lost or stolen; provided, however, that
if any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall have become or
shall be about to become due and payable, or shall have been selected or called
for redemption, the Company may instead of issuing a substituted Note, pay such
Note without requiring the surrender thereof, except that such mutilated Note
shall be surrendered. The applicant for such substituted Note shall furnish to
the Company and to the Trustee evidence satisfactory to them, in their
discretion, of the ownership of and the destruction, loss or theft of such Note
and shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee and any Note Registrar such
security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless,
and, if required, shall reimburse the Company for all expenses (including any
tax or other governmental charge and the fees and expenses of the Trustee) in
connection with the preparation, authentication and delivery of such
substituted Note, and shall comply with such other reasonable regulations as
the Company, the Trustee, or either of them, may prescribe.

         Every new Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.10 in lieu of any
destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional
contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or
stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled
to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionally with any and
all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

         The provisions of this Section 2.10 are exclusive and shall preclude
(to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the
replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.

         2.11    Authentication of Notes. Subject to the qualifications
hereinbefore set forth, the Notes to be issued hereby shall be substantially of
the tenor and effect set forth in the supplemental indenture providing for
their issuance, and no Notes shall be entitled to the benefit hereof, or shall





                                       13
<PAGE>   24

be or become valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there shall be endorsed
thereon an authentication certificate executed by the Trustee; and such
certificate on any Note issued by the Company shall be conclusive evidence and
the only competent evidence that it has been duly authenticated and delivered
hereunder.

         2.12    Surrender and Cancellation of Notes. All Notes surrendered for
payment, redemption, transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any person
other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not already
canceled, shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver
to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and
delivered hereunder, which the Company may have acquired in any manner
whatsoever, and all Notes so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the
Trustee. No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any
Notes canceled as provided in this Section 2.12, except as expressly permitted
by this Indenture. The Trustee shall destroy all canceled Notes held by it and
deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company.


                                   ARTICLE 3

                             SUBORDINATION OF NOTES

         3.1     Agreement to Subordinate. The Company, for itself, its
successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each holder of Notes, by his
acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest on each and all of the Notes is
hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set
forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness (including Accrued Bankruptcy Interest). This Article 3
constitutes a continuing offer to all persons or entities who become holders
of, or continue to hold, Senior Indebtedness, each of whom is an obligee
hereunder and is entitled to enforce such holder's rights hereunder, subject to
the provisions hereof, without any act or notice of acceptance hereof or
reliance hereon.

         For purposes of this Article 3, (a) no Senior Indebtedness shall be
deemed to have been paid in full unless and until all commitments or other
obligations of the lenders thereunder to make advances or otherwise extend
credit shall have terminated and the holders thereof shall have received
payment in full in cash or other consideration accepted by the holders of the
Senior Indebtedness, and (b) the term "Representative" shall mean the indenture
trustee or other trustee, agent or representative for any Senior Indebtedness.

         3.2     Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation, Bankruptcy or
Reorganization. Upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any total
or partial dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the
Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership
proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other
marshaling of the assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise,





                                       14
<PAGE>   25

                 (a)      the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be
         entitled to receive payment in full of the amounts due on or in
         respect of such Senior Indebtedness before the holders of the Notes
         are entitled to receive any direct or indirect payment or distribution
         on or in respect of the Notes; and

                 (b)      any payment or distribution of assets of the Company
         of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to
         which the holders of the Notes or the Trustee (except those sums to
         which the Trustee is entitled under Section 11.7) would be entitled
         except for the provisions of this Section 3.2 shall be paid by the
         liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such payment or
         distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or
         liquidating trustee or otherwise (collectively, a "trustee in
         bankruptcy"), directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their
         respective Representatives, ratably according to the aggregate amounts
         remaining unpaid on account of such Senior Indebtedness held or
         represented by each, for application to or to be held as collateral
         for the payment or prepayment of such Senior Indebtedness until all
         such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full after giving
         effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of
         such Senior Indebtedness.

         The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company
into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company
following the sale or conveyance of its property or assets as an entirety, or
substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and
conditions provided in Article 10 shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding
up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company for the purposes of this
Article 3 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation,
merger, sale or conveyance, comply with the conditions stated in Article 10.

         If the Trustee or any holder of Notes does not file a proper claim or
proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to above prior to
30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim in such
proceeding, then the holder of any Senior Indebtedness (or its Representative)
is hereby authorized, and has the right, to file an appropriate claim or claims
for or on behalf of such holder of Notes.

         3.3     Default on Senior Indebtedness. No direct or indirect payment
or distribution (other than payments or distributions of amounts previously
deposited in accordance with the defeasance provisions of the Indenture) shall
be made by or on behalf of the Company on account or in respect of principal of
or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes or on account or in respect of the
purchase, redemption or other acquisition or deposits in trust in respect of
defeasance of Notes (including without limitation any purchase of a Note
required as a result of a Change in Control), if there shall have occurred and
be continuing any default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon
acceleration of maturity, upon mandatory prepayment, or otherwise) in respect
of any Senior Indebtedness continuing beyond the period of grace, if any,
specified in the instrument or agreement creating or evidencing such Senior
Indebtedness (a "Payment Default"), unless such default shall have been
effectively waived in writing by the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in
default or





                                       15
<PAGE>   26

unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in default shall have delivered
to the Trustee a written notice of waiver of the benefits of this sentence. In
addition, if any event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness,
other than a Payment Default occurs and is continuing and as a result thereof
the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness may be accelerated (such an event of
default being referred to herein as a "Covenant Default"), and the Company and
the Trustee receive written notice (such notice being herein referred to as a
"Deferral Notice") thereof from the holders of at least 10% in principal amount
of Senior Indebtedness, then no direct or indirect payment or distribution
(other than payments or distributions of amounts previously deposited in
accordance with the defeasance provisions of the Indenture) shall be made by or
on behalf of the Company on account or in respect of principal of or premium,
if any, or interest on the Notes or on account of the purchase, redemption or
other acquisition or deposits in trust in respect of defeasance of Notes
(including without limitation any purchase of a Note required as a result of a
Change in Control) until the earlier to occur of (x) the date such Covenant
Default is cured, effectively waived in writing by the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness or otherwise ceases to exist in accordance with the terms of the
instruments or agreements creating or evidencing such Senior Indebtedness, (y)
the date the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their respective
Representatives shall have delivered to the Trustee a written notice of waiver
of the benefits of this sentence, or (z) the 179th day after receipt by the
Company or the Trustee of such Deferral Notice, if in any such case this
Article 3 otherwise permits such payment at such time; provided, however, that
any number of Deferral Notices may be given, but during any 365 consecutive day
period only one such period during which such payments on the Notes may not be
made may commence and the duration of such period may not exceed 179 days, and
provided, further, that no subsequent Deferral Notice relating to the same or
any other Covenant Default existing or continuing on the date of receipt of any
prior Deferral Notice, whether or not such subsequent Deferral Notice is
received by the Company or Trustee within 365 days shall further prohibit such
payments on the Notes unless all events of default in respect of such Senior
Indebtedness shall have been cured or waived after the date of receipt of such
prior Deferral Notice for a period of not less than 180 consecutive days.

         The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any payment with
respect to which Section 3.2 would be applicable.

         3.4     When Distribution must Be Paid over. In the event that any
payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities, shall be made to the Trustee or any
holder of the Notes that because of this Article 3 should not have been made to
it, the Trustee or such holder who receives such payment or distribution shall
hold it in trust for, and shall immediately pay it over to, the trustee in
bankruptcy or the holders of Senior Indebtedness for application to or to be
held as collateral for the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid
until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving
effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company
referred to in this Article 3, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of
Section 11.2, and the holders of the Notes shall be entitled to conclusively
rely upon any order or decree made by a court of competent jurisdiction or upon
any certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any
distribution to the Trustee or the holders of





                                       16
<PAGE>   27

the Notes for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate
in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness
of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts
paid or distribution thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this
Article 3.

         3.5     Subrogation. After all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and
until the Notes are paid in full, the holders of the Notes shall be subrogated
to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or
distributions of assets of the Company made on behalf of such Senior
Indebtedness until the Notes are paid in full. A distribution made under this
Article 3 to holders of Senior Indebtedness which otherwise would have been
made to holders of the Notes, and a payment over to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness by holders of the Notes, is not, as between the Company and the
holders of the Notes and the other creditors of the Company, a payment by the
Company on the Senior Indebtedness.

         3.6     Relative Rights. It is understood that the provisions of this
Article 3 are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative
rights of the holders of the Notes, on the one hand, and the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article 3 or
elsewhere in this Indenture, any supplemental indenture or in the Notes is
intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than
the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the Notes, the
obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the
holders of the Notes the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the
Notes as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with
their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the holders of the Notes and
creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor
shall anything herein, in any supplemental indenture or in the Notes prevent
the Trustee or the holder of any Note from exercising all remedies otherwise
permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the
rights, if any, under this Article 3 of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in
respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the
exercise of any such remedy.

         3.7     Payments on Notes Permitted. Nothing contained in this
Indenture, any supplemental indenture or in any of the Notes shall (a) affect
the obligation of the Company to make, or prevent the Company from making, at
any time, except as provided in Sections 3.2 and 3.3, payments of principal of
or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, or (b) prevent the application by
the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on
account of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes,
unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received at its main
office written notice of the existence of any event prohibiting the making of
such payment more than one business day prior to the date of such payment.

         3.8     Authorization of Noteholders to Trustee to Effect
Subordination. Each holder of Notes by the acceptance thereof authorizes and
directs the Trustee on behalf of such holder to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this
Article 3 and appoints the Trustee the attorney-in-fact of such holder for any
and all such purposes.





                                       17
<PAGE>   28

         3.9     Notice to Trustee. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Article 3 or any other provisions of this Indenture, neither the Trustee not
any paying agent (other than the Company) shall be charged with knowledge of
the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any event which would prohibit
the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee or such paying agent,
unless and until the Trustee or such paying agent shall have received (in the
case of the Trustee, at its main office) written notice thereof from the
Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness, together with proof
reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness;
provided, however, that if at least one business day prior to the date upon
which by the terms hereof any such moneys may become payable for any purpose
(including without limitation, the payment of either the principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on any Note) the Trustee shall not have received
with respect to such moneys the notice provided for in this Section 3.9, then,
anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall
have full power and authority to receive such moneys and to apply the same to
the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any
notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such one
business day prior to such date. The Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively
rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a person representing himself
to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness to establish that such a notice has been
given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness. In the event that the Trustee
determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the
authority or right of any person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to deliver
notice or participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article
3, then the Trustee may request such person to furnish evidence to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the authority of such person, the
amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such person, the extent to which such
person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other
facts pertinent to the authority or rights of such person under this Article 3
and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to
such person pending judicial determination as to the authority or right of such
person to deliver notice or receive such payment. Upon request of the Trustee,
the Company will provide it with an Officers' Certificate setting forth the
identity of any holder of Senior Indebtedness and the amount of such Senior
Indebtedness and the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon such
Officers' Certificate.

         The Company shall promptly deliver an Officer's Certificate notifying
the Trustee and each other paying agent of any facts known to the Company that
would cause any payment or distribution with respect to the Notes to violate
this Article 3, but failure to give such notice shall not affect the
subordination of the Notes to the Senior Indebtedness provided in this Article
3.

         3.10    Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness.  Subject to the
applicable provisions of the TIA, the Trustee shall be entitled to all the
rights set forth in this Article 3 in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at
anytime held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior
Indebtedness.

         3.11    Modification of Terms of Senior Indebtedness. Any renewal or
extension of the time of payment of any Senior Indebtedness or the exercise by
the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any of their rights under any instrument
creating or evidencing Senior Indebtedness, including without





                                       18
<PAGE>   29

limitation the waiver of default thereunder, may be made or done all without
notice to or assent from the holders of the Notes or the Trustee.

         No compromise, alteration, amendment, supplement, modification,
restructuring, extension, renewal or other change of, and no waiver, consent,
release or other disposition of collateral or other security, or other action
or inaction in respect of, any liability or obligation under or in respect of
any Senior Indebtedness, or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any
indenture or other instrument or agreement under which any Senior Indebtedness
is outstanding, whether or not such action or inaction is in accordance with
the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way alter or affect any
of the provisions of this Article 3 or of the Notes relating to the
subordination thereof.

         The provisions of this Article 3 shall be effective or be
automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any
Senior Indebtedness is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any holders
of Senior Indebtedness upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the
Company or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

         3.12    Trustee Not Fiduciary for Senior Indebtedness. With respect to
the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to
observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set
forth in this Article 3, and no implicit covenants or obligations with respect
to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against
the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holder if it
shall pay over or distribute in good faith to or on behalf of holders of Notes
or the Company moneys or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness
shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 3 or otherwise, except if such
payment or distribution is made as a result of the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Trustee.

         3.13    Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company. No right of any
holder of Senior Indebtedness to enforce the subordination of the indebtedness
evidenced by the Notes shall be impaired by any act or failure to act of the
Company or by its failure to comply with this Indenture.


                                   ARTICLE 4

                      PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

         The Company covenants as follows:

         4.1     Payment of Principal of and Premium, If Any, and Interest on
Notes. The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest on each of the Notes at the time
and place and in the manner provided in the Notes and this Indenture.





                                       19
<PAGE>   30

         4.2     Maintenance of Office or Agency for Registration of Transfer,
Exchange and Payment of Notes. So long as any of the Notes shall remain
outstanding, the Company will maintain an office or agency, where the Notes may
be surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer as in this Indenture
provided, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect to
the Notes may be served, and where the Notes may be presented or surrendered
for payment.  The Company may also from time to time designate one or more
other offices or agencies where Notes may be presented or surrendered for any
and all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The
Company will give to the Trustee notice of the location of any such office or
agency and of any change of location thereof. In case the Company shall fail to
maintain any such office or agency or shall fail to give such notice of the
location or of any change in the location thereof, such surrenders,
presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the main
office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to
receive at the aforesaid office all such surrenders, presentations, notices and
demands. The Trustee will give the Company prompt notice of any change in
location of the Trustee's main office.

         4.3     Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee. The
Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of
Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 11.9, a Trustee, so
that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

         4.4     Provision as to Paying Agent.

         (a)     If the Company appoints a paying agent other than the Trustee,
it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an
instrument in which such agent shall undertake, subject to the provisions of
this Section 4.4,

                 (1)      that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent
         for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on
         the Notes whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company (or by
         any other obligor on the Notes) in trust for the benefit of the
         holders of the Notes and will notify the Trustee of the receipt of
         sums to be so held,

                 (2)      that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure
         by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Notes) to make any
         payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the
         Notes when the same shall be due and payable, and

                 (3)      that it will at any time during the continuance of
         any Event of Default specified in Section 8.1, upon the written
         request of the Trustee, deliver to the Trustee all sums so held in
         trust by it.

         (b)     If the Company does not act as its own paying agent, it will,
prior to each due date of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on
any Notes, deposit with such paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal
or premium, if any, or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust
for the benefit of the holders of Notes entitled to such principal of or
premium, if any, or





                                       20
<PAGE>   31

interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will
promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.

         (c)     If the Company acts as its own paying agent, it will, on or
before each due date of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the
Notes, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the persons
entitled thereto, a sum sufficient to pay such principal or premium or interest
so becoming due and will notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.

         (d)     Anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Company may, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture in accordance with Article 12 hereof but only if and to the
extent permitted thereby, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to
the Trustee all sums held in trust by it, or any paying agent hereunder, as
required by this Section 4.4, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the
trusts herein contained.


         4.5     Maintenance of Corporate Existence. So long as any of the
Notes shall remain outstanding, the Company will at all times (except as
otherwise provided or permitted in this Section 4.5 or elsewhere in this
Indenture) do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in
full force and effect its corporate existence and franchises and the corporate
existence and franchises of each Subsidiary; provided that nothing herein shall
require the Company to continue the corporate existence or franchises of any
Subsidiary if in the judgment of the Company it shall be necessary, advisable
or in the interest of the Company to discontinue the same.

         4.6     Further Assurance. From time to time whenever reasonably
demanded by the Trustee the Company will make, execute and deliver or cause to
be made, executed and delivered any and all such further and other instruments
and assurances as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out the
intention of or to facilitate the performance of the terms of this Indenture or
to secure the rights and remedies hereunder of the holders of the Notes.

         4.7     Officers' Certificate as to Default and Statement as to
Compliance. The Company will, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding,

         (a)     deliver to the Trustee within 105 days after the end of each
fiscal year of the Company, beginning with the fiscal year ending in December,
1996, a brief certificate as to compliance signed by the principal executive
officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the
Company, stating that:

                 (1)      a review of the activities of the Company during such
         year and of the Company's performance under this Indenture and any and
         all supplemental indentures has been made under his or her
         supervision; and

                 (2)      to the best of such officer's knowledge, based on
         such review, the Company has complied with all conditions and
         covenants under this Indenture throughout such year,





                                       21
<PAGE>   32
         or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such
         condition or covenant, specifying each such default known to such
         officer and the nature and status thereof (determined without regard
         to any grace period or requirement of notice); and

         (b)     deliver to the Trustee within five days after the occurrence
thereof written notice of any event which, with the giving of notice and the
lapse of time, would be an Event of Default within the meaning of Section 8.1.

         4.8     Will Pay Indebtedness. The Company will pay or cause to be
paid all Indebtedness of the Company and of each Subsidiary, as and when same
shall become due and payable, and will observe, perform and discharge or cause
to be observed, performed or discharged in accordance with their terms all of
the covenants, conditions and obligations which are imposed on it by any and
all mortgages, indentures and other agreements evidencing or securing
Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary or pursuant to which such
Indebtedness is issued, so as to prevent the occurrence of any act or omission
which is a default thereunder, and which remains uncured or is not waived for a
period of thirty (30) days beyond any applicable notice and/or cure period. The
Company will notify the Trustee of any breach of the covenants contained in
this Section 4.8 within ten (10) days after the Company has knowledge of such
breach.

         4.9     Will Keep, and Permit Examination of, Records and Books of
Account and Will Permit Visitation of Property. The Company will (A) keep
proper records and books of account in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied, reflecting all financial
transactions of the Company and each Subsidiary, and (B) permit or cause to
permit the Trustee, personally or by its agents, accountants and attorneys, to
visit or inspect any of the properties, examine the records and books of
account and discuss the affairs, finances and accounts, of the Company and each
Subsidiary, with the officers of the Company and Subsidiaries at such
reasonable times as may be requested by the Trustee. The Trustee shall be under
no duty to make any such visit, inspection or examination.

         The Company covenants that books of record and account will be kept in
which full, true and correct entries will be made of all dealings or
transactions of, or in relation to, the properties, business and affairs of the
Company.

         4.10    Maintenance of Properties. The Company will cause all
properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any
Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working
order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all
necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements
thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the
business carried on in the connection therewith may be properly and
advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from discontinuing the
operation and maintenance of any such properties, or disposing of any of them,
if such discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment of the Company or of the
Subsidiary concerned,





                                       22
<PAGE>   33

desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary and
not disadvantageous in any material respect to the holders of the Notes.

         4.11    Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company will pay or
discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become
delinquent, (i) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or
imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or
property of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (ii) all lawful claims for
labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon
the property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or
discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount,
applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and the Company shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves
with respect thereto (segregated to the extent required by generally accepted
accounting principles).

         4.12    Limitations on Dividends and Other Payments. The Company
will not, and will cause its Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly, do
any of the following (each, a "Restricted Payment"): (i) declare or pay any
dividend or other distribution of property or assets in respect of the capital
stock of the Company other than a dividend payable solely in shares of capital
stock of the Company; (ii) repurchase any shares of the Company's capital
stock; (iii) repay or defease any Indebtedness subordinate in right of payment
of interest or principal to the Notes (except so long as the Notes are not in
default, required payments of principal and interest may be made in accordance
with the terms of such subordinated Indebtedness); or (iv) exchange any shares
of capital stock of the Company for newly-issued Indebtedness of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company (and any of
its Subsidiaries) may declare or make a Restricted Payment, if such Restricted
Payment when aggregated with all other Restricted Payments made by the Company
and its Subsidiaries after November 15, 1996 is less than the sum of: (A)
$8,500,000, plus (B) fifty percent (50%) of the Company's aggregate
Consolidated Net Income earned in each fiscal quarter during the period
commencing on October 7, 1996 and ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter
immediately preceding such Restricted Payment, (or minus 100% of the Company's
aggregate Consolidated Net Loss (if any) incurred in each fiscal quarter during
the period commencing on October 7, 1996 and ending on the last day of the
fiscal quarter immediately preceding such Restricted Payment), plus (C) the
aggregate net proceeds (including the Fair Market Value of non-cash proceeds)
received by the Company from public or private offerings of Equity Securities
after the date of this Indenture (including the issuance of Equity Securities
upon the conversion of convertible Indebtedness or upon the exercise of
options, warrants or rights to acquire Equity Securities) to any person other
than a Subsidiary; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
will not, and will cause its Subsidiaries not to, make any Restricted Payment
if the making of the Restricted Payment would cause the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries not to be in compliance with the terms, conditions and provisions
of the Indenture or any indenture or loan agreement to which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party.

         4.13    Limitation on Other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness. The
Company will not, and will cause its Subsidiaries not to, incur, create,
assume, guarantee or in any other manner become





                                       23
<PAGE>   34

directly or indirectly liable with respect to or responsible for, any
Indebtedness, other than the Notes, that (i) is expressly by its terms
subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Indebtedness and (ii)
does not expressly provide by its terms that it is subordinate or junior in
right of payment to the Notes.

         4.14    Restrictions on Additional Indebtedness. The Company will not,
and will cause its Subsidiaries not to, incur, create, assume, guarantee or in
any other manner become directly or indirectly liable with respect to or
responsible for, any Indebtedness if, at the time of such incurrence, and after
giving pro forma effect thereto, the total Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, including the Notes, would exceed seventy percent (70%) of the
Company's Total Consolidated Capitalization.

         4.15    Minimum Consolidated Net Worth. The Company will not permit
its Consolidated Net Worth on the last day of any fiscal quarter to be less
than the sum of (i) $75,000,000, plus (ii) fifty percent (50%) of the Company's
cumulative Consolidated Net Income since October 6, 1996.

                                   ARTICLE 5

                  NOTEHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY
                                AND THE TRUSTEE

         5.1     Noteholder Lists, Etc.

         (a)     The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Trustee, monthly, not more than fifteen (15) days after each Regular Record
Date for any series a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require,
of the names and addresses of the holders of Notes of such series as of such
Regular Record Date, and at such other times, as the Trustee may request in
writing, within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of any such
request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than fifteen
(15) days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that so
long as the Trustee is the sole Note Registrar, no such list shall be required
to be furnished.

         (b)     The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is
reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of the holders of Notes
received by the Trustee in its capacity as Note Registrar contained in the most
recent list furnished to it as provided in subsection (a) of this Section 5.1.
The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in subsection (a)
of this Section 5.1, upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

         (c)     In case three (3) or more holders of Notes of any series
(hereinafter called "Applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish
to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such Applicant has owned a Note for a
period of at least six (6) months preceding the date of such application, and
such application states that the Applicants desire to communicate with other
holders of Notes of such series with respect to their rights under this
Indenture, any supplemental indenture or under the Notes, and is accompanied by
a copy of the form of proxy or other communication





                                       24
<PAGE>   35

which such Applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five
(5) business days after the receipt of such application, at its election,
either

                 (1)      afford to such Applicants access to the information
         preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions
         of subsection (b) of this Section 5.1; or

                 (2)      inform such Applicants as to the approximate number
         of holders of Notes whose names and addresses appear in the
         information preserved at the time by the Trustee, in accordance with
         the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 5.1, and as to the
         approximate cost of mailing to such Noteholders the form of proxy or
         other communication, if any, specified in such application.

         If the Trustee shall elect not to afford to such Applicants access to
         such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such
         Applicants, mail to each Noteholder whose name and address appears in
         the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance
         with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 5.1, a copy of
         the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such
         request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of
         the material to be mailed and of payment or provision for the payment
         of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five (5) days
         after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such Applicants and file
         with the Commission together with a copy of the material to be mailed,
         a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee,
         such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of
         Notes, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written
         statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission,
         after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the
         written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain
         any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining
         one (1) or more of such objections, the Commission shall find, after
         notice and opportunity for a hearing, that all the objections so
         sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the
         Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Noteholders
         with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the
         renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any
         obligation or duty to such Applicants respecting their application.

         (d)     Every holder of the Notes, by receiving and holding the same,
agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the
Trustee, nor any paying agent shall be held accountable by reason of the
disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the holders
of Notes in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this Section
5.1, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that
the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material
pursuant to a request made under said subsection (c).





                                       25
<PAGE>   36

         5.2      Reports by Company. The Company covenants and agrees:

         (a)     To file with the Trustee within fifteen (15) days after the
Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual
reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such
portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by
rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with
the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or,
if the Company is not required to file information, documents, or reports
pursuant to either of such Sections, then the Company will file with the
Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed
from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic
information, documents, and reports which may be required pursuant to Section
13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a
national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such
rules and regulations;

         (b)     To file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance
with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission,
such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance
by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture
as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations;

         (c)     To transmit to the holders of the Notes, in the manner and to
the extent provided in subsection (c) Section 313 of the TIA, such summaries of
any information, documents, and reports required to be filed by the Company
pursuant to subsection (a) or subsection (b) as may be required by the rules
and regulations promulgated by the Commission; and

         (d)     To furnish to the Trustee with or as a part of each annual
report and each other document or report filed with the Trustee pursuant to
subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 5.2, an Officers' Certificate
stating that in the opinion of each of the signers such annual report or other
document or report complies with the requirements of such subsection (a), (b)
or (c).

         Each certificate furnished to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions
of this Section 5.2 shall conform to the requirements of Section 16.3 hereof.

         5.3     Reports by Trustee. The Trustee shall as provided in TIA
Section 313(c), if required thereunder, transmit within sixty (60) days after
January 1, 1997 and each January 1 thereafter, a brief report if required
pursuant to TIA Section 313(a) to the Noteholders of any series of Notes then
outstanding. A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission
to the Noteholders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which
the Notes are listed and also with the Commission. The Company will notify the
Trustee if any Notes are listed.





                                       26
<PAGE>   37

                                   ARTICLE 6

                    REDEMPTION OF NOTES AT COMPANY'S OPTION

         6.1     Election by Company to Redeem Notes. The Notes of any series
shall be redeemable at any time prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, upon
notice as provided in this Article 6, as a whole at any time, or in part from
time to time (but only in principal amounts of $1,000 or any integral multiple
thereof), at the option of the Company, commencing on the date or dates set
forth in the applicable supplemental indenture for each series of Notes, on not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice given as provided in the Indenture
or any applicable supplemental indenture upon payment of the then applicable
redemption price (expressed in percentages of the principal amount) set forth
in the applicable supplemental indenture, together in each case with accrued
and unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption, all subject to the
conditions more fully set forth in the applicable supplemental indenture.

         The election of the Company to redeem any Notes shall be evidenced by
an Officer's Certificate. Whenever any of the Notes outstanding are to be
redeemed pursuant to this Section 6.1, the Company shall give the Trustee at
least sixty (60) days' written notice (or such shorter period of time as is
acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the Redemption Date of such Redemption Date
and of the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed.

         6.2     Redemption of Part of Notes. In case of the redemption of less
than all of the outstanding Notes of any series, the Notes to be redeemed shall
be selected by the Trustee by lot or any other method deemed reasonable by the
Trustee, not more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, from the
outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption, which method may
provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to $1,000 or any
integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such series of Notes of a
principal amount larger than $1,000.

         In the case of any partial redemption, the Trustee shall promptly
notify the Company in writing of the serial numbers (and, in the case of any
Note which is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed) of the Notes selected for redemption.

         For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Notes shall relate, in
the case of any Note redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of
the principal of such Note which has been or is to be redeemed.

         6.3     Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than thirty (30) nor more
than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, to each holder of Notes to
be redeemed, at his last address appearing in the Note Register.





                                       27
<PAGE>   38

         All notices of redemption shall state:

                 (a)      The Redemption Date;

                 (b)      The redemption price plus accrued interest, if any;

                 (c)      If less than all outstanding Notes of any series are
         to be redeemed, the serial numbers (and, in the case of any Note which
         is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount
         thereof to be redeemed) of the Notes to be redeemed;

                 (d)      That on the Redemption Date the redemption price of
         each of the Notes to be redeemed will become due and payable, and that
         interest thereon shall cease to accrue from and after said date; and

                 (e)      The place where such Notes are to be surrendered for
         payment of the redemption price, which shall be the office or agency
         of the Company in the place of payment.

         Notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed shall be given by the
Company or, at the Company's request, by the Trustee in the name and at the
expense of the Company.

         Failure to give notice of redemption, or any defect therein, to any
holder of any Note selected for redemption shall not impair or affect the
validity of the redemption of any other Note.

         6.4     Deposit of Redemption Price. On or before 10:00 a.m. on any
Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a paying
agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold
in trust as provided in Section 4.4(c) hereof) an amount of money sufficient to
pay the redemption price of all principal of, and (unless such Redemption Date
is an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, the Notes which are to be
redeemed on that date.

         6.5     Date on Which Notes Cease to Bear Interest, Etc. Notice of
redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Notes so to be redeemed shall,
on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the redemption price therein
specified and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the
payment of the redemption price) such Notes shall cease to bear interest. Upon
surrender of any such Note for redemption in accordance with said notice, such
Note shall be paid by the Company at the redemption price together with accrued
interest thereon to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments
of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall
be payable to the holders of such Notes, or one or more predecessor Notes,
registered as such on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to the terms
and provisions of Section 2.3 hereof.





                                       28
<PAGE>   39

         If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender
thereof for redemption, the principal, and premium, if any, shall, until paid,
bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Note.

         Any Note which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at
the office or agency designated pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof (with, if the
Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument
of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed
by, the holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
holder of such Note, without service charge, a new Note or Notes of such series
of any authorized denomination or denominations as requested by such holder in
an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed
portion of the principal of the Note so surrendered.

         6.6     All Notes Delivered. All Notes redeemed pursuant to Section
6.1 hereof shall be canceled and destroyed by the Trustee in accordance with
its standard procedures, and the Trustee shall deliver its certificate of
destruction thereof to the Company.


                                   ARTICLE 7

                     REDEMPTION OF NOTES AT HOLDER'S OPTION


         7.1     Redemption Right at Holder's Option.

         (a)     Unless pursuant to the terms of Section 8.1 the Notes have
been declared due and payable prior to their maturity by reason of an Event of
Default and such Event of Default has not been waived and such declaration has
not been rescinded or annulled, a holder has the right to present Notes for
payment prior to their maturity, and the Company will redeem the same (or any
portion of the principal amount thereof which is $1,000 or an integral multiple
thereof, as the holder may specify) subject to the following limitations: (1)
the Company will have no obligation to redeem any Notes prior to December 1,
1999, except on the death of a holder as described in Section 7.1(b) below and
(2) the Company will have no obligation to redeem Notes (on the death of a
holder or otherwise pursuant to this Section 7.1) in excess of the following
annual maximum amounts (collectively, the "Annual Amount Limitations") of (A)
$50,000 per holder and (B) an aggregate amount for all Notes submitted for
redemption equal to five percent (5%) of the aggregate original principal
amount of the Notes of all series theretofore issued under the Indenture (the
"Five Percent Limitation").  Notes submitted for redemption pursuant to this
Section 7.1, except for Notes submitted for redemption following the death of a
holder, must be submitted by November 1 of any year, commencing on November 1,
1999, for redemption on the following December 1. If the $50,000 per holder
limitation has been reached and the Five Percent Limitation has not been
reached, if Notes have been properly presented for payment, each in an
aggregate principal amount exceeding $50,000, the Company will redeem such
Notes in order of their receipt (except Notes presented for





                                       29
<PAGE>   40

payment in the event of death of a holder, which will be given priority in
order of their receipt), up to the aggregate limitation of five percent (5%) of
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of all series issued under this
Indenture, notwithstanding the $50,000 limitation.

         (b)     Subject to the Annual Amount Limitations (and unless the Notes
have been declared due and payable prior to their maturity by reason of an
Event of Default and such Event of Default has not been waived and such
declaration has not been rescinded or annulled), Notes submitted for redemption
upon the death of any holder (or any portion of the principal amount of such
Notes which is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, as the holder may
specify), will be redeemed within sixty (60) days following receipt by the
Trustee of a written request therefor from such holder's personal
representative, or surviving joint tenant(s), tenant by the entirety or
tenant(s) in common.

         7.2     Redemption Procedure.  Notes presented for redemption pursuant
to Section 7.1(a) or (b) will be redeemed in order of their receipt by the
Trustee, except that Notes presented for payment in the event of death of a
holder pursuant to Section 7.1(b), will be given priority in order of their
receipt, over other Notes.  Notes not redeemed in any such period because they
have not been presented prior to November 1 of that period or because of the
Annual Amount Limitations will be held in order of their receipt for redemption
during the following twelve (12) month period(s) until redeemed, unless sooner
withdrawn by the holder. Holders of Notes presented for redemption shall be
entitled to and shall receive scheduled monthly payments of interest thereon on
scheduled Interest Payment Dates until their Notes are redeemed. In the event
that a holder or his or her duly authorized representative notifies the Trustee
of such person's desire to redeem all or any portion of the Notes pursuant to
Section 7.1 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall furnish such person with the
form set forth in Exhibit A hereto (for redemptions pursuant to Section 7.1(a)
of the Indenture) or Exhibit B hereto (for redemptions pursuant to Section
7.1(b) of the Indenture).

         Notes may be presented for redemption by delivering to the Trustee by
hand delivery or registered mail at its main office: (A) a written request for 
redemption, in the form provided by the Trustee upon written request, signed by
the registered holder(s) or his or her duly authorized representative, (B) the
Note to be redeemed, free and clear of any liens or encumbrances of any kind,
and (C) in the case of a request made pursuant to Section 7.1(b), appropriate
evidence of such death and, if made by a representative of a deceased holder,
appropriate evidence of authority to make such request. The price to be paid by
the Company for all Notes or portions thereof presented to it pursuant to the
provisions described in this Section 7.1 is 100% of the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed, plus accrued but unpaid interest on such principal
amount to the date of payment. Any acquisition of Notes by the Company other
than by redemption at the option of any holder pursuant to Section 7.1 shall
not be included in the computation of Annual Amount Limitations for any period.

         For purposes of Section 7.1(a) and (b) and this Section 7.2, (i) a Note
held in tenancy by the entirety, joint tenancy or tenancy in common will be
deemed to be held by a single holder, (ii) the death of a tenant by the 
entirety, joint tenant or tenant in common will be deemed the death of a 
holder, (iii) a person who is entitled to substantially all of the beneficial
interests of ownership of a Note will be deemed to be the holder and (iv) the
death of such person will be deemed to be the death of the holder, regardless
of the registered holder. For





                                       30
<PAGE>   41

purposes of a holder's request for redemption and a request for redemption on
behalf of a deceased holder, such beneficial interest shall be deemed to exist
if the holder certifies street name or nominee ownership, ownership under the
Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, community property or other joint ownership
arrangements between a husband and wife (including individual retirement
accounts or Keogh [H.R. 10] plans maintained solely by or for the holder or
decedent, or by or for the holder or decedent and his or her spouse), and
trusts and certain other arrangements where a person has substantially all of
the power to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of a Note and the right to
receive the proceeds therefrom, as well as interest and principal payable with
respect thereto. The Trustee or the Company may request such information as
either of them deems reasonably necessary to determine whether any given
request for redemption satisfies the conditions of the Indenture and any
applicable supplemental indenture. However, the Trustee shall be entitled to
rely upon a written request for redemption in proper form executed by a holder
and an Officers' Certificate authorizing the requested redemption.

         In the case of Notes registered in the names of banks, trust companies
or broker-dealers who are members of a national securities exchange or the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("Qualified Institutions"),
the $50,000 limitation shall apply to each beneficial owner of Notes held by a
Qualified Institution and the death of such beneficial owner shall entitle a
Qualified Institution to seek redemption of such Notes as if the deceased
beneficial owner were the record holder. Such Qualified Institution, in its
request for redemption on behalf of such beneficial owners, must certify that
the aggregate amount of requests for redemption tendered by such Qualified
Institution on behalf of each beneficial owner in the initial period or in any
subsequent twelve (12) month period does not exceed $50,000.

         In the case of any Notes which are presented for redemption in part
only, upon such redemption the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the holder of such Notes,
without service charge, a new Note(s), of any authorized denomination or
denominations as requested by such holder, in aggregate principal amount equal
to the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Notes so presented.

         Whenever any of the Notes outstanding are to be redeemed pursuant to
Section 7.1, the Company's approval of a holder's redemption notice shall be
evidenced by an Officer's Certificate and the Company shall give the Trustee at
least three (3) business days' written notice (or such shorter period of time
as is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the Redemption Date of such
Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed.

         Nothing herein shall prohibit the Company from redeeming, in
acceptance of tenders made pursuant hereto, Notes in excess of the principal
amount that the Company is obligated to redeem, nor from purchasing any Notes
in the open market. However, the Company may not use any Notes purchased in the
open market as a credit against its redemption obligations hereunder.

         7.3     Withdrawal. Any Notes presented for redemption at the option
of the holder may be withdrawn by the person(s) presenting the same upon
delivery of a written request for such





                                       31
<PAGE>   42
withdrawal to the Trustee at least three (3) business days prior to the
issuance of a check in payment thereof.

         7.4     Redemption Register. The Trustee shall maintain at its main
office a register (the "Redemption Register") in which it shall record, in
order of receipt, all requests for redemption received by the Trustee under
Section 7.2. Unless withdrawn, all such requests shall remain in effect during
the period in which they are received and thereafter from period to period,
until the Notes which are the subject of such request have been redeemed.

         7.5     Deposit of Redemption Price. On or before 10:00 a.m. on any
Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a paying
agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold
in trust as provided in Section 4.4(c) hereof) an amount of money sufficient to
pay the redemption price of all principal of, and (unless such Redemption Date
is an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, the Notes which are to be
redeemed on that date.

         7.6     Purchase of Notes at Option of the Holder Upon Change in
Control.
         (a)     If on or prior to maturity, there shall have occurred a Change
in Control, each holder shall have the right to cause the Company to purchase
all or a portion of the Notes of such holder on the date that is 35 business
days after the occurrence of the Change of Control (the "Change in Control
Purchase Date"), for a purchase price equal to the outstanding principal amount
thereof plus accrued interest thereon to the Change in Control Purchase Date
(the "Change in Control Purchase Price") subject to Article 3 and satisfaction
by or on behalf of the holder of the requirements set forth in Section 7.6(c)
below.

         A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as
either of the following events shall occur:

                 (i)      The Company consolidates with or merges into another
         corporation, or conveys, transfers or leases all or substantially all
         of its assets to any person, or any other corporation merges into the
         Company, other than, in any case, a transaction in which the
         shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction
         owned, directly or indirectly, immediately following such transaction,
         at least 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding Voting
         Stock of the corporation resulting from such transaction in
         substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Voting
         Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; or

                 (ii)     There is a report filed by any person, including its
         Affiliates and Associates (as defined herein), other than the Company
         or its Subsidiaries or employee stock ownership plans or employee
         benefit plans of the Company or its Subsidiaries, on Schedule 13D or
         14D-1 (or any successor schedule, form or report) pursuant to the
         Exchange Act, disclosing that such person (for the purposes of this
         Section 7.6 only, the term "person" shall include a "person" within
         the meaning of Sections 13(d)(3) and 13(d)(5) or Section 14(d)(2) of
         the





                                       32
<PAGE>   43

         Exchange Act) has become the beneficial owner (as the term "beneficial
         owner" is defined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more
         than 50% of the voting power of the Company's Voting Stock then
         outstanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the
         beneficial owner of, or to own beneficially, (A) any securities
         tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf
         of such person or any of such person's Affiliates or Associates until
         such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange
         thereunder, or (B) any securities if such beneficial ownership (1)
         arises solely as a result of a revocable proxy delivered in response
         to a proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance
         with, the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, and
         (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D (or any successor
         schedule, form or report) under the Exchange Act.

         "Voting Stock" means, with respect to any person, the capital stock of
such person having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect
at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such
person (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any other
class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency).

         "Associate" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2
of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on
the date hereof.

         (b)     Within 15 business days after the occurrence of a Change in
Control, the Company shall mail a written notice of Change in Control by
first-class mail to the Trustee and to each holder (and to beneficial owners as
required by applicable law) and shall cause a copy of such notice to be
published once in The Wall Street Journal or another daily newspaper of
national circulation. The notice shall be accompanied by a form of Change in
Control Purchase Notice to be completed by the holder and shall state:

                 (1)      the events causing a Change in Control and the date
         of such Change in Control;

                 (2)      the date by which the Change in Control Purchase
         Notice pursuant to this Section 7.6 must be given;

                 (3)      the Change in Control Purchase Date;

                 (4)      the Change in Control Purchase Price;

                 (5)      the name and address of the Trustee and the office or
         agency referred to in Section 4.2;

                 (6)      that the Notes must be surrendered to the Trustee or
         the office or agency referred to in Section 4.2 to collect payment;





                                       33
<PAGE>   44


                 (7)      that the Change in Control Purchase Price for any
         Note as to which a Change in Control Purchase Notice has been duly
         given and not withdrawn will be paid promptly following the later of
         the Change in Control Purchase Date and the time of surrender of such
         Note described as in (6);

                 (8)      the procedures the holder must follow to exercise
         rights under this Section 7.6 and a brief description of those rights;
         and

                 (9)      the procedures for withdrawing a Change in Control
         Purchase Notice.

         (c)     A holder may exercise its rights specified in Section 7.6 upon
delivery of a written notice of purchase (a "Change in Control Purchase
Notice") to the Trustee or to the office or agency referred to in Section 4.2
at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately
prior to the Change in Control Purchase Date, stating:

                 (1)      the certificate number of the Note which the holder
         will deliver to be purchased;

                 (2)      the portion of the principal amount of the Note which
         the holder will deliver to be purchased, which portion must be $1,000
         or an integral multiple thereof; and

                 (3)      that such Note will be submitted for purchase on the
         Change in Control Purchase Date pursuant to the terms and conditions
         specified in the Notes or in any applicable supplemental indenture.

         The delivery of the Note, by hand or by registered mail prior to, on
or after the Change in Control Purchase Date (together with all necessary
endorsements), to the Trustee or to the office or agency referred to in Section
4.2 shall be a condition to the receipt by the holder of the Change in Control
Purchase Price therefor; provided, however, that such Change in Control
Purchase Price shall be so paid pursuant to this Section 7.6 only if the Note
so delivered to the Trustee or such office or agency shall conform in all
respects to the description thereof set forth in the related Change in Control
Purchase Notice.

         The Company shall purchase from the holder thereof, pursuant to this
Section 7.6, a portion of a Note if the principal amount of such portion is
$1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that
apply to the purchase of all of a Note also apply to the purchase of such
portion of such Note.

         Any purchase by the Company contemplated pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 7.6 shall be consummated by the delivery of the consideration to
be received by the holder promptly following the later of the Change in Control
Purchase Date and the time of delivery of the Note.





                                       34
<PAGE>   45

                 (d)      Effect of Change in Control Purchase Notice. Upon
         receipt by the Company of the Change in Control Purchase Notice
         specified in Section 7.6(c), the holder of the Note in respect to
         which such Change in Control Purchase Notice was given shall (unless
         such Change in Control Purchase Notice is withdrawn as specified in
         the following paragraph) thereafter be entitled to receive solely the
         Change in Control Purchase Price with respect to such Note. Such
         Change in Control Purchase Price shall be due and payable as of the
         Change in Control Purchase Date and shall be paid to such holder
         promptly following the later of (x) the Change in Control Purchase
         Date (provided the conditions of Section 7.6(c), as applicable, have
         been satisfied) and (y) the time of delivery of such Note to the
         Trustee or to the office or agency referred to in Section 4.2 by the
         holder thereof in the manner required by Section 7.6(c).

         A Change in Control Purchase Notice may be withdrawn by means of a
written notice of withdrawal delivered to the main office of the Trustee or to
the office or agency referred to in Section 4.2 at any time before the close of
business on the business day immediately preceding the Change in Control
Purchase Date, specifying:

                 (1)      the certificate number of the Note or Notes in
         respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted;

                 (2)      the principal amount of the Note or Notes with
         respect to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted; and

                 (3)      the principal amount, if any, of such Note or Notes
         which remains subject to the original Change in Control Purchase
         Notice, and which has been or will be delivered for purchase by the
         Company.

         There shall be no purchase of any Notes pursuant to Section 7.6 if
there has occurred (prior to, on or after, as the case may be, the giving, by
the holders of such Notes, of the required Change in Control Purchase Notice)
and is continuing an Event of Default (other than a default in the payment of
the Change in Control Purchase Price with respect to such Notes).

         (e)     Deposit of Change in Control Purchase Price. On or prior to
10:00 a.m. on the Change in Control Purchase Date, the Company shall deposit
with the Trustee (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of either
of them is acting as paying agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in
Section 4.4(c)) an amount of cash in immediately available funds, if expressly
permitted hereunder, sufficient to pay the aggregate Change in Control Purchase
Price, of all the Notes or portions thereof which are to be purchased.

         (f)     Covenant to comply with securities laws upon purchase of
Notes. In connection with any purchase of Notes under this Section 7.6 hereof,
the Company shall make all filings required under and comply with all Federal
and State securities laws regulating the purchase of the Notes so as to permit
the rights and obligations under this Section 7.6 to be exercised in the time
and in the manner specified in this Section 7.6.





                                       35
<PAGE>   46


         (g)     Repayment to the Company. Subject to Section 16.2, the Trustee
shall return to the Company any cash, together with interest or dividends, if
any, thereon (subject to the provisions of Section 11.6) held by it for the
payment of the Change in Control Purchase Price of the Notes, which remains
unclaimed; provided, however, that to the extent that the aggregate amount of
cash deposited by the Company pursuant to Section 7.5(e) exceeds the aggregate
Change in Control Purchase Price of the Notes or portions thereof to be
purchased, then promptly after the Change in Control Purchase Date the Trustee
shall return any such excess to the Company together with interest or
dividends, if any, thereon (subject to the provisions of Section 11.6).

         7.7     Redemption of Notes Subject to Article 6. In the case of any
Notes or portion thereof which are presented for redemption pursuant to this
Article 7 and which have not been redeemed at the time the Company gives notice
of its election to redeem Notes pursuant to Article 6, such Notes or portion
thereof shall first be subject to redemption pursuant to Article 6 and if any
such Notes or portion thereof are not redeemed pursuant to Article 6 they shall
remain subject to redemption pursuant to Article 7.

                                   ARTICLE 8

                REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND NOTEHOLDERS UPON DEFAULT

         8.1     Events of Default Defined. In case one or more of the
following Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

                 (a)      default in the payment, whether or not prohibited by
         the provisions of Article 3, of any installment of interest upon any
         of the Notes as and when the same shall become due and payable and
         continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

                 (b)      default in the payment, whether or not prohibited by
         the provisions of Article 3, of the principal of and premium, if any,
         on any of the Notes as and when the same shall become due and payable
         either at maturity, upon redemption or purchase by the Company by
         declaration or otherwise; or

                 (c)      failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or
         perform in any material respect any other of the covenants or
         agreements on the part of the Company in the Notes or in this
         Indenture contained for a period of 60 days after the date on which
         written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied,
         shall have been given (i) to the Company by the Trustee by registered
         or certified mail, which the Trustee shall do upon receipt of requests
         to do so by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
         Notes at the time outstanding, or (ii) to the Company and the Trustee
         by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the
         time outstanding; or

                 (d)      an event or events of default as defined in any
         mortgage, bond, indenture, loan agreement or other evidence of
         Indebtedness under which there may be issued or by which





                                       36
<PAGE>   47

         there may be secured or evidenced any outstanding Indebtedness of the
         Company or any Subsidiary in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate,
         which default or defaults extend beyond any period of grace provided
         with respect thereto and which default or defaults relate to (i) the
         obligation to pay the principal of or interest on any such
         Indebtedness, in either case, at the final maturity date set forth in
         the agreement under which such Indebtedness is issued or (ii) any
         other obligation which shall have resulted in the holders of such
         Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become or to be declared due
         and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due
         and payable; or

                 (e)      the entry of a final non-appealable judgment for the
         payment of money against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by a
         court having competent jurisdiction which results in a liability
         (after provision for the proceeds of any policy of insurance with
         respect to such liability) in excess of $5,000,000, which remains
         unpaid for a period of 60 days; or

                 (f)      a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall
         have entered a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in
         an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or
         other law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver,
         liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar
         official) of the Company or for all or any substantial part of its
         property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs,
         and such decree or order shall have remained unstayed and in effect
         for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

                 (g)      the Company shall have commenced a voluntary case
         under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now
         or hereafter in effect, or shall have consented to the entry of an
         order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall
         have consented to the appointment of or taking possession by a
         receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or
         similar official) of the Company or for all or any substantial part of
         its property, or shall have made an assignment for the benefit of
         creditors, or shall have failed generally to pay its debts as they
         become due or shall have taken any corporate action in furtherance of
         any of the foregoing;

then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Notes
shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of
not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding
hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by
Noteholders), may, and the Trustee shall if requested to do so by the holders
of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding hereunder, declare to be due and payable immediately the entire
amount of principal of and premium, if any, and interest owing and unpaid in
respect of the Notes. Upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall
be immediately due and payable, anything contained in this Indenture, any
supplemental indenture or in the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding. This
provision, however, is subject to the condition that if, at any time after such
principal amount of the Notes shall have been so declared due and payable, and
before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been





                                       37
<PAGE>   48

obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall
deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of
interest upon all the Notes and the principal of and premium, if any, on any
and all Notes which shall have become due otherwise than by declaration (with
interest on overdue installments of interest to the extent permitted by law,
and on such principal and premium, if any, at the rate of interest borne by the
Notes to the date of such payment or deposit) and the expenses of the Trustee,
and any and all defaults under the Indenture, other than the nonpayment of
principal of and premium, if any, and accrued interest on Notes which shall
have become due by declaration, shall have been remedied, then and in every
such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes
then outstanding by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee as
provided in Section 16.4, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such
declaration and its consequences; but no such waiver or rescission and
annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall
impair any right consequent thereon.

         In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under
this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned
because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have
been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the
Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Notes shall be restored
respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights,
remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no
such proceedings had been taken.

         8.2     Payment of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor. The Company
covenants that (1) in case default shall be made in the payment of any
installment of interest on any of the Notes as and when the same shall become
due and payable and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days,
or (2) in case default shall be made in the payment of the principal of and
premium, if any, on any of the Notes when the same shall have become due and
payable, whether upon maturity of the Notes or upon redemption or purchase by
the Company pursuant to Article 6 or upon declaration or otherwise, then, upon
demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee for the benefit of
the holders of the Notes the whole amount that then shall have become due and
payable, on all such Notes for principal of and premium, if any, or interest,
or any or all of them, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue
principal and installments of interest (to the extent permitted by law) at the
rate of interest borne by the Notes; and, in addition thereto, such further
amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection,
including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and
counsel, and any expense or liabilities incurred by the Trustee hereunder other
than through its negligence or bad faith.

         In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such
demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall
be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in
equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any
such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such
judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor upon the
Notes, and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the
Company or any other obligor upon the Notes wherever situated the moneys
adjudged or decreed to be payable.





                                       38
<PAGE>   49

         In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for
the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes under any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or in case a receiver or
trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other
obligor, or in case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the
Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, or to creditors or property of the
Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the
principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have
made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 8.2, shall be
entitled and empowered by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to
file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal of and
premium, if any, and any interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes, and
to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in
order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the noteholders allowed in any
judicial proceeding relating to the Company or any other obligor upon the
Notes, its creditors, or its property, and to collect and receive any moneys or
other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the
same after the deduction of its charges and expenses; and any receiver,
assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by
each of the noteholders 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
noteholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for compensation and
expenses, including counsel fees incurred by it up to the date of such
distribution. To the extent that such payment of reasonable compensation,
expenses, liabilities and counsel fees out of the estate in any such
proceedings 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,
dividends, moneys, securities and other property which the holders of the Notes
may be entitled to receive in such proceedings, whether in liquidation or under
any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.

         All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, any
supplemental indenture or under any of the Notes, may be enforced by the
Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes, or the production thereof
on any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or
proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as
trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment, subject to the
payment of the reasonable expenses, disbursements and compensation of the
Trustee, its agents and attorneys, shall be for the ratable benefit of the
holders of the Notes.

         8.3     Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys
collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.2 shall be applied in the
following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution
of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Notes, and stamping thereon
the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

                 FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee pursuant
         to Section 11.7;

                 SECOND: In case no principal of the outstanding Notes shall
         have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on the
         Notes, in the order of the maturity of the installments of such
         interest, with interest upon the overdue installments of interest (so
         far





                                       39
<PAGE>   50

         as permitted by law and to the extent that such interest has been
         collected by the Trustee) at the rate of interest borne by the Notes,
         such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled thereto,
         without discrimination or preference; in case any principal and
         premium, if any, of the outstanding Notes shall have become due, by
         declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then
         owing and unpaid upon the Notes for principal and interest, with
         interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and
         installments of interest (so far as permitted by law and to the extent
         that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) at the rate of
         interest borne by the Notes; and in case such moneys shall be
         insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon
         the Notes, then to the payment of such principal and premium, if any,
         and interest, without preference or priority of principal and premium,
         if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if
         any, or of any installment of interest over any other installments of
         interest, ratably to the persons entitled thereto, based on the
         aggregate of such principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid
         interest; and

                 THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the
         Company, its successors or assigns or to whosoever may be lawfully
         entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction
         may direct.

         8.4     Limitation on Suits by Holders of Notes. No holder of any Note
shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this
Indenture or any supplemental indenture to institute any suit, action or
proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture
or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy
hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee
written notice of default and of the continuance thereof, as hereinabove
provided, and unless also the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall have made written request
upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name
as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable
indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of
such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to
institute any such action, suit or proceeding and no direction inconsistent
with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to
Section 8.6; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted
by the taker and holder of every Note with every other taker and holder and the
Trustee, that no one or more holders of Notes shall have any right in any
manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture or
any supplemental indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the
holders of any other of such Notes, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority
over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this
Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and
common benefit of all holders of Notes.  For the protection and enforcement of
the provisions of this Section 8.4, each and every noteholder and the Trustee
shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.





                                       40
<PAGE>   51

         8.5     Proceedings by Trustee; Remedies Cumulative and Continuing;
Delay or Omission Not Waiver of Default. In case of a default hereunder the
Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested
in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee
shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by
suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise,
whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in
this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture
or any supplemental indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right
vested in the Trustee by this Indenture, any supplemental indenture or by law.
All powers and remedies given by this Article 8 to the Trustee or to the
Noteholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not
exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the
Trustee or the holders of the Notes, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to
enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained
in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of
any of the Notes to exercise any right or power accruing upon any default
occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or
shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence
therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 8.4, every power and remedy
given by this Article 8 or by law to the Trustee or to the Noteholders may be
exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the
Trustee or by the Noteholders.

         8.6     Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Notes to
Direct Trustee and to Waive Defaults. The holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding shall have the right to
direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the
Trustee; provided, however, that subject to the provisions of Section 11.2 the
Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the
Trustee being advised by counsel shall determine that the action so directed
may not lawfully be taken, or if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a
Responsible Officer or officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceedings
so directed would be illegal or involve it in personal liability or be unjustly
prejudicial to the Noteholders. Prior to the declaration of the maturity of the
Notes as provided in Section 8.1, the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may on behalf of the
holders of all of the Notes waive any past default hereunder and its
consequences, except a default in the payment of interest or premium on, or the
principal of, any of the Notes or default in respect of a covenant or provision
hereof which under Section 14.2 cannot be modified or amended without consent
of the holder of each outstanding Note. In the case of any such waiver, the
Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Notes shall be restored to their
former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent
thereon.

         8.7     Trustee to Give Notice of Defaults Known to It, but May
Withhold in Certain Circumstances. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of a default hereunder of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee
has actual notice, give to the Noteholders, in the manner and to the extent
provided in Section 5.3 with respect to reports pursuant to Section 5.3, notice
of such defaults known to the Trustee unless such defaults shall have been
cured or waived before the giving of such notice (the terms "defaults" for the
purposes of this Section 8.7 being hereby defined





                                       41
<PAGE>   52

to be the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of
Section 8.1, not including any notice or periods of grace provided for in
clauses (a), (c), (d) and (e), respectively, and irrespective of the giving of
notice specified in clauses (c) and (d); provided that, except in the case of
default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on
any of the Notes, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if
and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines
that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Noteholders.

         8.8     Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits
under the Indenture or Against the Trustee.  All parties to this Indenture
agree, and each holder of any Note by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to
have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, 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, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the
filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of
such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs,
including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit,
having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made
by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 8.8 shall not apply
to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Noteholder
or group of Noteholders, holding in the aggregate more than ten percent in
aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding, or to any suit instituted
by any Noteholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on any Note, on or after the due date expressed in
such Note.

         8.9     Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants (to
the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist
upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or
advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time
hereafter in force, which 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 benefits or advantages of any such law, and covenants that
it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted
to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as
though no such law had been enacted.



                                   ARTICLE 9

                       EVIDENCE OF RIGHTS OF NOTEHOLDERS
                             AND OWNERSHIP OF NOTES

         9.1     Evidence of Ownership of Definitive Notes and Temporary Notes
Issued Hereunder in Registered Form.  Prior to due presentment for registration
of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, any Note Registrar, or any
agent of the Company or the Trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name
any Note shall be registered at any given time upon the Note Register as the
absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving any payment of, or on
account of, the principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Note and for
all other purposes whether or not such





                                       42
<PAGE>   53

Note be overdue; and neither the Company nor the Trustee, nor any agent of the
Company or the Trustee shall be bound by any notice to the contrary. All such
payments made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.1 shall be
valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and
discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Note.


                                   ARTICLE 10

                         CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE

         10.1    Company May Merge, Consolidate, Etc., Upon Certain Terms. The
Company covenants that it will not merge or consolidate with any other
corporation or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to any
person, firm or corporation, unless (i) either the Company shall be the
continuing corporation, or the successor corporation (if other than the
Company) shall be a corporation organized under the laws of the United States
of America or any State thereof and shall expressly assume the due and punctual
payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes,
according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance
of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture and any applicable
supplemental indenture to be performed by the Company, by supplemental
indenture satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by
such corporation, and (ii) the Company or such successor corporation, as the
case may be, shall not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such
sale or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such covenant or
condition.  If at any time there shall be any consolidation or merger or sale
or conveyance of property to which the covenant of this Section 10.1 is
applicable, then in any such event the successor corporation will promptly
deliver to the Trustee in connection with the closing thereon:

                 (1)      an Officers' Certificate stating that as of the time
         immediately after the effective date of any such transaction the
         covenants of the Company contained in this Section 10.1 have been
         complied with and the successor corporation is not in default under
         the provisions of the Indenture; and

                 (2)      an Opinion of Counsel stating that in his opinion
         such covenants have been complied with and that any instrument or
         instruments executed in the performance of such covenants comply with
         the requirements thereof.


         10.2    Successor Corporation to be Substituted. In case of any such
consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, and upon any such assumption by the
successor corporation, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named
herein as the Company, and the Company shall thereupon be released from all
obligations hereunder and under the Notes and the Company as the predecessor
corporation may thereupon or at any time thereafter be dissolved, wound up or
liquidated. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be signed, and
may issue either in its own name or in the name of ShoLodge,





                                       43
<PAGE>   54

Inc. any or all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not
have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the
order of such successor corporation instead of the Company and subject to all
the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee
shall authenticate and shall deliver any Notes which previously shall have been
signed and delivered by the officer or officers of the Company to the Trustee
for authentication, and any Notes which such successor corporation thereafter
shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose.

         In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance such
changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Notes
thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.


         10.3    Article 10 Subject to Change in Control. The transactions
contemplated by Section 10.1 will be subject to the redemption provisions of
Section 7.6, if a Change in Control has occurred, notwithstanding compliance
with Section 10.1.


                                   ARTICLE 11

                             CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

         11.1    Requirement of Corporate Trustee, Eligibility. There shall at
all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a banking corporation organized
and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any
State, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $60,000,000 subject to supervision or
examination by Federal or State authority, or any affiliate of such a banking
corporation, which also is a corporation organized and doing business under the
laws of the United States of America or of any State, authorized under such
laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus
of at least $10,000,000 subject to supervision or examination by Federal or
State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising
or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 11.1 the combined
capital and surplus of the Trustee shall be deemed to be its combined capital
and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 11.1, it shall resign immediately in the manner and
with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article 11.

         11.2    Acceptance of Trust. The Trustee accepts the trusts hereby
created upon the terms and conditions in this Indenture specified, to all of
which the Company and the holders of Outstanding Notes by their acceptance
thereof agree:

                 (a)      Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,





                                       44
<PAGE>   55

                          (1)     the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties
                 and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
                 Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be
                 read into this Indenture against the Trustee, and;

                          (2)     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 it, and
                 conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the
                 case of any such certificates or opinions which by any
                 provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to
                 the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the
                 same to determine whether or not they conform to the
                 requirements of this Indenture.

                 (b)      In case 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 their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under
         the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

                 (c)      No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to
         relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its
         own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
         that

                          (1)     this subdivision shall not be construed to
                 limit the effect of subsection (a) of this Section;

                          (2)     the Trustee shall not be liable for any error
                 of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer unless
                 it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in
                 ascertaining pertinent facts;

                          (3)     the Trustee shall not be liable with respect
                 to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith
                 in accordance with the direction of the holders of not less
                 than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time
                 Outstanding relating to the time, method, and place of
                 conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
                 Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
                 Trustee under this Indenture;

                          (4)     none of the provisions contained in this
                 Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own
                 funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
                 performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise
                 of any of its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground
                 for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate
                 indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably
                 assured to it; and





                                       45
<PAGE>   56

                          (5)     the permissive right of the Trustee to do
                 things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as
                 a duty, and the Trustee shall not be answerable for other than
                 its negligence or willful default.

                 (d)      Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every
         provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the
         liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject
         to the provisions of this Section.

                 (e)      The Trustee shall not be required to take notice or
         be deemed to have notice of any Event of Default hereunder except
         failure by the Company to cause to be made any of the payments to the
         Trustee required to be made to the Trustee by any provision hereof or
         failure by the Company to file with the Trustee any document required
         by this Indenture to be so filed subsequent to the issuance of the
         Notes, unless the Trustee shall be specifically notified in writing of
         such Event of Default by the Company or by the holders of at least
         twenty-five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of outstanding
         Notes, and all notices or other instruments required by this Indenture
         to be delivered to the Trustee must, in order to be effective, be
         delivered at the main office of the Trustee, and in the absence of
         such notice so delivered the Trustee may conclusively assume there is
         no Event of Default except as aforesaid.

         11.3    Disclaimer. The recitals contained herein, in the Notes and in
any supplemental indenture (except as contained in the Trustee's certificate of
authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the
Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee
makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture,
any supplemental indenture or of the Notes issued hereunder. The Trustee shall
be under no responsibility or duty with respect to the disposition of any Notes
authenticated and delivered hereunder or the application or use of the proceeds
thereof or the application or use of any moneys paid to the Company under any
of the provisions hereof.

         11.4    Trustee May Own Notes. The Trustee, the paying agent, the Note
Registrar or any Note Co-Registrar or other agent of the Company or of the
Trustee may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and, subject to Sections 11.9
and 11.10, if operative, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same
rights it would have if it were not a Trustee, paying agent, Note Registrar,
Note Co-Registrar or other agent of the Company or of the Trustee.

         11.5    Trustee May Rely on Certificates, Etc. To the extent permitted
by Section 11.2 hereof:

                 (a)      The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting
         upon any resolution, certificate, opinion, notice, request, consent,
         order, appraisal, report, note or other paper or document believed by
         it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper
         party or parties;





                                       46
<PAGE>   57

                 (b)      The Trustee may consult with counsel, who may be of
         counsel to the Company, and the written advice of such counsel or any
         Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
         protection in respect of any action taken or suffered by it hereunder
         in good faith and in reliance thereon;

                 (c)      Any request or direction of the Company mentioned
         herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company
         Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently
         evidenced by a Certified Resolution;

                 (d)      Whenever in the administration of this Indenture the
         Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established
         prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
         Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may,
         in the absence of bad faith, rely upon an Officers' Certificate;

                 (e)      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 pursuant to this Indenture,
         unless such holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable
         security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
         which might be incurred, as the case may be, in compliance with such
         request or direction;

                 (f)      The Trustee shall not be bound to make any
         investigation into the facts or matters stated in any such document
         set forth in Section 11.5(a), but the Trustee, in its exercise of
         discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such
         facts or matters as may seem necessary, and, if the Trustee shall
         determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, the Trustee
         shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the
         Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

                 (g)      The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
         hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or
         through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible
         for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney
         appointed with due care hereunder; and

                 (h)      The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or
         surety in respect of the execution of the said trusts and powers or
         otherwise in respect of the premises.

         11.6    Money Held in Trust Not Required to be Segregated. Subject to
the provisions of Section 16.2 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee
hereunder or in respect of the Notes shall, until used or applied as herein
provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but
need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on moneys received by it except as
the Trustee may separately agree in writing with the Company.





                                       47
<PAGE>   58

         11.7    Compensation, Reimbursement, Indemnity, Security. The Company
covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee
shall be entitled to receive, reasonable compensation as separately agreed in
writing for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby
created and in the exercise and performance of all services rendered hereunder,
which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to
the compensation of a trustee of an express trust, and except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, the Company will upon request of the Trustee
reimburse the Trustee for all reasonable advances made or incurred by the
Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the
reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and
counsel, except any such expense or disbursement as may be attributable to
negligence or bad faith). The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee
for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred
without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the
costs and expenses of defending against any claim or liability in connection
with the exercise or performance of any of the powers or duties hereunder.

         To secure the Company's obligations under this Section 11.7, the
Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or
collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and
interest on particular Notes.  If, and to the extent that the Trustee and its
counsel and other agents do not receive compensation for services rendered,
reimbursements of its advances, expenses and disbursements, or indemnity, as
herein provided, as the result of allowances made in any reorganization,
bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation or other proceeding or by any plan of
reorganization or readjustment of obligations of the Company, the Trustee shall
be entitled, in priority to the holders of the Notes, to receive any
distributions of any securities, dividends or other disbursements which would
otherwise be made to the holders of Notes in any such proceeding or proceedings
and the Trustee is hereby constituted and appointed, irrevocably, the attorney
in fact for the holders of the Notes and each of them to collect and receive,
in their name, place and stead, such distributions, dividends or other
disbursements, to deduct therefrom the amounts due to the Trustee its counsel
and other agents on account of services rendered, advances, expenses, and
disbursements made or incurred, or indemnity, and to pay and distribute the
balance, pro rata, to the holders of the Notes.

         The obligations of the Company under this Section 11.7 shall survive 
defeasance and satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture and resignation of
the Trustee.

         11.8    Conflict of Interest.

                 (a)      If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting
         interest, as defined in this Section 11.8, the Trustee shall within
         ninety (90) days after ascertaining that there is such conflicting
         interest, either eliminate such conflicting interest or resign in the
         manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article 11.





                                       48
<PAGE>   59

                 (b)      In the event that the Trustee shall fail to comply
         with the provisions of the preceding subsection (a) of this Section
         11.8, the Trustee shall within ten (10) days after the expiration of
         such ninety (90) day period transmit notice of such failure to the
         Noteholders, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 5.3.

                 (c)      For the purposes of this Section, the Trustee shall
         be deemed to have a conflicting interest if there is an Event of
         Default (as defined in Section 8.1 but exclusive of any grace period
         or notice requirement) and:

                          (1)     the Trustee is trustee under another
                 indenture under which any other securities, or certificates of
                 interest or participation in any other securities, of the
                 Company, are outstanding unless such other indenture is a
                 collateral trust indenture under which the only collateral
                 consists of Notes issued under this Indenture; provided,
                 however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of
                 this clause (1) any indenture under which other securities, or
                 certificates of interest or participation in other securities,
                 of the Company are outstanding, if the Company shall have
                 sustained the burden of proving, on application to the
                 Commission and after opportunity for hearing thereon, that
                 trusteeship under this Indenture and such other indenture is
                 not so likely to involve a material conflict of interest as to
                 make it necessary in the public interest or for the protection
                 of investors to disqualify the Trustee from acting as such
                 under this Indenture or such other indenture or indentures;

                          (2)     the Trustee or any of the directors or
                 executive officers of the Trustee is an obligor upon the Notes
                 or an underwriter for the Company;

                          (3)     the Trustee directly or indirectly controls
                 or is directly or indirectly controlled by or is under direct
                 or indirect common control with the Company or an underwriter
                 for the Company;

                          (4)     the Trustee or any of the directors or
                 executive officers of the Trustee is a director, officer,
                 employee, appointee or representative of the Company, or of an
                 underwriter (other than the Trustee) for the Company who is
                 currently engaged in the business of underwriting, except that
                 (a) one (1) individual may be a director or an executive
                 officer, or both, of the Trustee and a director or an
                 executive officer, or both, of the Company, but may not be at
                 the same time an executive officer of the Trustee and the
                 Company; (b) if and so long as the number of directors of any
                 Trustee in office is more than nine (9), one (1) additional
                 individual may be a director or an executive officer, or both,
                 of such Trustee and a director of the Company; and (c) the
                 Trustee may be designated by the Company or by an underwriter
                 for the Company to act in the capacity of transfer agent,
                 registrar, custodian, paying agent, fiscal agent, escrow agent
                 or depositary or in any other similar capacity or, subject





                                       49
<PAGE>   60

                 to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection (c), to
                 act as trustee, whether under an indenture or otherwise;

                          (5)     ten percent (10%) or more of the voting
                 securities of the Trustee is beneficially owned either by the
                 Company or by any director, or executive officer thereof, or
                 twenty percent (20%) or more of such voting securities is
                 beneficially owned, collectively, by any two (2) or more of
                 such persons; or ten percent (10%) or more of the voting
                 securities of the Trustee is beneficially owned either by an
                 underwriter for the Company or by any director or executive
                 officer thereof, or is beneficially owned, collectively, by
                 any two (2) or more such persons;

                          (6)     the Trustee is the beneficial owner of or
                 holds as collateral security for an obligation which is in
                 default (as hereinafter in this subsection (c) of this Section
                 10.8 defined), (a) five percent (5%) or more of the voting
                 securities or ten percent (10%) or more of any other class of
                 security of the Company, not including the Notes issued under
                 this Indenture and securities issued under any other indenture
                 under which the Trustee is also trustee, or (b) ten percent
                 (10%) or more of any class of securities of an underwriter for
                 the Company;

                          (7)     the Trustee is the beneficial owner of, or
                 holds as collateral security for an obligation which is in
                 default (as hereinafter in this subsection (c) of this Section
                 10.8 defined), five percent (5%) or more of the voting
                 securities of any person who, to the knowledge of the Trustee
                 owns ten percent (10%) or more of the voting securities of, or
                 controls directly or indirectly or is under direct or indirect
                 common control with, the Company;

                          (8)     the Trustee is the beneficial owner of or
                 holds as collateral security for an obligation which is in
                 default (as hereinafter in this subsection (c) of this Section
                 11.8 defined), ten percent (10%) or more of any class of
                 securities of any person who, to the knowledge of the Trustee
                 owns fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting securities of
                 the Company;

                          (9)     the Trustee owns on the date of any Default
                 on the Notes, or any anniversary of such Default so long as
                 such Default remains uncured in the capacity of executor,
                 administrator, testamentary or inter vivos trustee, guardian,
                 committee or conservator, or in any other similar capacity, an
                 aggregate of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the voting
                 securities or of any class of security, of any person, the
                 beneficial ownership of a specified percentage of which would
                 have constituted a conflicting interest under clause (6), (7)
                 or (8) of this subsection (c). As to any such securities of
                 which the Trustee acquired ownership through becoming
                 executor, administrator or testamentary trustee of an estate
                 which included them, the provisions of the preceding sentence
                 shall not apply for a period of two (2) years from the date of
                 such acquisition, to the extent that such securities included
                 in such estate do not





                                       50
<PAGE>   61

                 exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of such voting securities or
                 twenty-five percent (25%) of any such class of security.
                 Promptly after the dates of any Default on the Notes and
                 annually in each succeeding year that the Notes remain in
                 Default, the Trustee shall make a check of its or his holdings
                 of such securities in any of the above-mentioned capacities as
                 of January 1. If the Company fails to make payment in full of
                 principal or interest upon the Notes when and as the same
                 becomes due and payable, and such failure continues for thirty
                 (30) days thereafter, the Trustee shall make a prompt check of
                 its holdings of such securities in any of the above-mentioned
                 capacities as of the date of the expiration of such thirty-day
                 period and after such date, notwithstanding the foregoing
                 provisions of this clause (9), all such securities so held by
                 the Trustee with sole or joint control over such securities
                 vested in it or him, shall, but only so long as such failure
                 shall continue, be considered as though beneficially owned by
                 the Trustee for the purposes of clauses (6), (7) and (8) of
                 this subsection (c); or

                          (10)    the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of
         the Company (except under the circumstances described under paragraphs
         (1), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of Section 311(b) of the TIA.

         The specifications of percentages in clauses (5) to (9), inclusive, of
this subsection (c) shall not be construed as indicating that the ownership of
such percentages of the securities of a person is or is not necessary or
sufficient to constitute direct or indirect control for the purposes of clause
(3) or (7) of this subsection (c).

         For the purposes of clauses (6), (7), (8) and (9) of this subsection
(c) only, (a) the terms "security" and "securities" shall include only such
securities as are generally known as corporate securities, but shall not
include any note or other evidence of indebtedness issued to evidence an
obligation to repay moneys lent to a person by one or more banks, trust
companies or banking firms or any certificate of interest or participation in
any such note or evidence of indebtedness, (b) an obligation shall be deemed to
be in default when a default in payment of principal shall have continued for
thirty (30) days or more and shall not have been cured; and (c) the Trustee
shall not be deemed to be the owner or holder of (i) any security which it
holds as collateral security (as trustee or otherwise) for an obligation which
is not in default as above defined, or (ii) any security which it holds as
collateral security under this Indenture, irrespective of any Default
hereunder, or (iii) any security which it holds as agent for collection, or as
custodian, escrow agent or depositary, or in any similar representative
capacity.

                 (d)      The percentages of voting securities and other
         securities specified in this Section 11.8 shall be calculated in
         accordance with the following provisions:

                          (1)     A specified percentage of the voting
                 securities of the Trustee, the Company or any other person
                 referred to in this Section 11.8 (each of whom is referred to
                 as a "person" in this subsection (d)) means such amount of the
                 outstanding





                                       51
<PAGE>   62

                 voting securities of such person as entitles the holder or
                 holders thereof to cast such specified percentage of the
                 aggregate votes which the holders of all the outstanding
                 voting securities of such person are entitled to cast in the
                 direction or management of the affairs of such person.

                          (2)     A specified percentage of a class of
                 securities of a person means such percentage of the aggregate
                 amount of securities of the class outstanding.

                          (3)     The term "amount," when used in regard to
                 securities, means the principal amount if relating to
                 evidences of indebtedness, the number of shares if relating to
                 capital shares, and the number of units if relating to any
                 other kind of security.

                          (4)     The term "outstanding" means issued and not
                 held by or for the account of the issuer.  The following
                 securities shall not be deemed outstanding within the meaning
                 of this definition:

                                  (i)      securities of an issuer held in a
                          sinking fund relating to securities of the issuer of
                          the same class;

                                  (ii)     securities of an issuer held in a
                          sinking fund relating to another class of securities
                          of the issuer, if the obligation evidenced by such
                          other class of securities is not in default as to
                          principal or interest or otherwise;

                                  (iii)    securities pledged by the issuer
                          thereof as security for an obligation of the issuer
                          not in default as to principal or interest or
                          otherwise; or

                                  (iv)     securities held in escrow if placed
                          in escrow by the issuer thereof;

         provided, however, that any voting securities of an issuer shall be
         deemed outstanding if any person other than the issuer is entitled to
         exercise the voting rights thereof.

                          (5)     A security shall be deemed to be of the same
                 class as another security if both securities confer upon the
                 holder or holders thereof substantially the same rights and
                 privileges; provided, however, that, in the case of secured
                 evidences of indebtedness, all of which are issued under a
                 single indenture, differences in the interest rates or
                 maturity dates of various series thereof shall not be deemed
                 sufficient to constitute such series different classes; and
                 provided, further, that, in the case of unsecured evidences of
                 indebtedness, differences in the interest rates or maturity
                 dates thereof shall not be deemed sufficient to constitute
                 them securities of different classes, whether or not they are
                 issued under a single indenture.





                                       52
<PAGE>   63


                 (e)      For the purposes of this Section 11.8, unless
         otherwise provided:

                          (1)     The term "underwriter" when used with
                 reference to the Company means every person, who, within one
                 (1) year prior to the time as of which the determination is
                 made, has purchased from the Company with a view to, or has
                 offered or has sold for the Company in connection with, the
                 distribution of any security of the Company outstanding at
                 such time, or has participated or has had a direct or indirect
                 participation in any such undertaking, or has participated or
                 has had a participation in the direct or indirect underwriting
                 of any such undertaking, but such term shall not include a
                 person whose interest was limited to a commission from an
                 underwriter or dealer not in excess of the usual and customary
                 distributors' or sellers' commission.

                          (2)     The term "director" means any director of a
                 corporation, or any individual performing similar functions
                 with respect to any organization whether incorporated or
                 unincorporated.

                          (3)     The term "person" means an individual, a
                 corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint-stock
                 company, a trust, an unincorporated organization, or a
                 government or political subdivision thereof. As used in this
                 clause, the term "trust" shall include only a trust where the
                 interest or interests of the beneficiary or beneficiaries are
                 evidenced by a security.

                          (4)     The term "voting security" means any security
                 presently entitling the owner or holder thereof to vote in the
                 direction or management of the affairs of a person, or any
                 security issued under or pursuant to any trust, agreement or
                 arrangement whereby a trustee or trustees or agent or agents
                 for the owner or holder of such security are presently
                 entitled to vote in the direction or management of the affairs
                 of a person.

                          (5)     The term "Company" means any obligor upon the
                 Notes.

                          (6)     The term "executive officer" means the
                 president, every vice president, every trust officer, the
                 cashier, the secretary, and the treasurer of a corporation,
                 and any individual customarily performing similar functions
                 with respect to any organization whether incorporated or
                 unincorporated, but shall not include the chairman of the
                 board of directors.

         11.9    Resignation, Removal, Appointment of Successor Trustee.

                 (a)      No resignation or removal of the Trustee, and no
         appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article 11 shall
         become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor
         Trustee under this Section 11.9 and Section 11.10.





                                       53
<PAGE>   64


                 (b)      The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written
         notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a
         successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within
         thirty (30) days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the
         resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
         the appointment of a successor Trustee.

                 (c)      The Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the
         holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes,
         delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

                 (d)      If at any time:

                          (1)     the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section
                 11.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any
                 Noteholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at
                 least six (6) months, or

                          (2)     the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under
                 Section 11.1 and shall fail to resign after written request
                 therefor by the Company or by any such Noteholder, or

                          (3)     the Trustee shall become incapable of acting
                 or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of
                 the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any
                 public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or
                 of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
                 conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (a) the Company by a Certified Resolution may remove
the Trustee or (b) subject to Section 8.8, any Noteholder who has been a bona
fide holder of a Note for at least six (6) months may, on behalf of himself and
all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

                 (e)      If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become
         incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the
         Trustee for any cause, the Company, by a Certified Resolution, shall
         promptly appoint a successor Trustee. If, within one (1) year after
         such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such
         vacancy, a successor Trustee shall be appointed by Act of the holders
         of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes delivered
         to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so
         appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment,
         become the successor Trustee and supersede the successor Trustee
         appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee shall have been so
         appointed by the Company or the Noteholders and accepted appointment
         in the manner hereinafter provided, any Noteholder who has been a bona
         fide holder of a Note for at least six months may, on behalf of
         himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
         competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.





                                       54
<PAGE>   65

                 (f)      The Company shall give notice of each resignation and
         each removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee
         by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage
         prepaid, to the holders of Notes in the manner and to the extent
         provided in Section 5.3. Each notice shall include the name of the
         successor Trustee and address of the main office of the successor
         Trustee.

         11.10   Acceptance by Successor Trustee. Every successor Trustee
appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and
to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon
the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and
such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall
become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring
Trustee; but, on request of the Company or the respective successor Trustee,
the respective retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and
deliver an instrument transferring to such respective successor Trustee all the
rights, powers and trusts of the retiring respective Trustee, and shall duly
assign, transfer and deliver to such respective successor Trustee all property
and money held by such respective retiring Trustee hereunder. Upon request of
any such respective successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all
instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such
successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts.

         No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time
of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under
this Article 11 to the extent operative.

         11.11   Cash, Securities, Etc. to be Held by Trustee. Whenever any
moneys, debentures, shares of stock or other obligations are, under any
provisions of this Indenture, paid or delivered to or deposited with the
Trustee, the same shall be deemed for all purposes hereunder to be part of the
security for the Notes issued hereunder, but nothing contained in this Section
11.11 shall be deemed to affect or impair any power or right conferred by any
provision of this Indenture upon the Trustee to apply, disburse or otherwise
act or deal with respect to any moneys, debentures, shares of stock or other
obligations received or held by it as aforesaid.

         11.12   Merger or Consolidation of Trustee. Any corporation into which
the Trustee may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any
corporation resulting from any merger, conversion, or consolidation to which
the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or
substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee shall be the
successor of the Trustee hereunder provided such corporation shall be otherwise
qualified and eligible under this Article 11, to the extent operative, without
the execution or filing of any paper or the performance of any further act on
the part of any other parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding. In case any of the Notes shall have been authenticated, but
not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any such successor to the Trustee
by merger, conversion or consolidation may adopt such authentication and
deliver the said Notes so authenticated with the same effect as if such
successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Notes.





                                       55
<PAGE>   66

         11.13    Authenticating Agent. As long as any of the Notes remain 
outstanding, upon a Company Order there shall be an authenticating agent
appointed by the Trustee for such period as the Company shall elect, to act on
behalf of the Trustee and subject to its direction in connection with the
authentication of the Notes as set forth in this Indenture. Such authenticating
agent shall at all times be a banking corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States or any State, authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at
least $60,000,000 subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State
authority, or an affiliate of such banking corporation, which is also a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of any State, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers,
having a combined capital and surplus of at least $10,000,000 subject to
supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the
purposes of this Section 11.13 the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth
in its most recent report of condition so published.

         Whenever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and
delivery of Notes by the Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of
authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and
delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an authenticating agent and a certificate
of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an authenticating agent.

         Any corporation in which any authenticating agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which any authenticating agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency
business of any authenticating agent, shall continue to be the authenticating
agent without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of the Trustee or the authenticating agent.

         Any authenticating agent may at any time resign by giving written
notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any
time terminate the agency of any authenticating agent by giving written notice
of termination to such authenticating agent and to the Company. Upon receiving
such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time
any authenticating agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 11.13, the Trustee promptly shall appoint a
successor authenticating agent, shall give written notice of such appointment
to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all holders of
Notes as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the Note Register.
Any successor authenticating agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder
shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and responsibilities of
its predecessor hereunder. No successor authenticating agent shall be appointed
unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 11.13.

         The Trustee agrees to pay to the authenticating agent from time to
time reasonable compensation for its services, and the Trustee shall be
entitled to be reimbursed for such payments





                                       56
<PAGE>   67

from the Company subject to the provisions of Section 11.7. The provisions of
Section 9.1, 11.4 and 11.5 shall be applicable to any authenticating agent.


                                   ARTICLE 12

                       DEFEASANCE; DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

         12.1    Termination of the Company's Obligations. Unless otherwise
specified in a supplemental indenture as contemplated by Section 2.1 with
respect to any series of Notes, the Company may terminate its obligations under
this Indenture with respect to any series of Notes, except those obligations
referred to in the penultimate paragraph of this Section 12.1, if all Notes of
such series previously authenticated and delivered (other than destroyed, lost
or stolen Notes which have been replaced or paid or Notes for whose payment
money has theretofore been deposited with the Trustee or the paying agent in
trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to
the Company, as provided in Section 12.4) have been delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation and the Company has paid all sums payable by it hereunder, or
if:

                 (a)      either (i) pursuant to Article Six, the Company shall
         have given notice to the Trustee and mailed a notice of redemption to
         each Noteholder of such series of the redemption of all of the Notes
         of such series under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the
         giving of such notice, or (ii) all Notes of such series have otherwise
         become due and payable hereunder;

                 (b)      the Company shall have irrevocably deposited or
         caused to be deposited with the Trustee or a trustee satisfactory to
         the Trustee, under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form
         and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, as trust funds in trust
         solely for the benefit of the holders of such series of notes for that
         purpose, money in such amount as is sufficient without consideration
         of reinvestment of such interest, to pay principal of, premium, if
         any, and interest on the outstanding Notes of such series to maturity
         or redemption; provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably
         instructed to apply such money to the payment of said principal,
         premium, if any, and interest with respect to such Notes and,
         provided, further, that from and after the time of deposit, the money
         deposited shall not be subject to the rights of holders of any other
         Senior Indebtedness pursuant to any subordination provision;

                 (c)      no Default or Event of Default with respect to this
         Indenture applicable to such series or the Notes of such series shall
         have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall
         occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in
         a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other
         instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

                 (d)      the Company shall have paid all other sums payable by
         it hereunder; and





                                       57
<PAGE>   68


                 (e)      the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
         Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all
         conditions precedent providing for the termination of the Company's
         obligation under such Notes and this Indenture applicable to such
         Notes have been complied with. Such Opinion of Counsel shall also
         state that such satisfaction and discharge does not result in a
         default under any agreement or instrument then known to such counsel
         that binds or affects the Company.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, the Company's obligations in
Sections 2.7, 2.10, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 11.7 and 12.1 shall survive until the Notes
of such series are no longer outstanding pursuant to Section 12.6. After the
Notes are no longer outstanding, the Company's obligations in Section 11.7
shall survive.

         After such delivery or irrevocable deposit the Trustee upon request
shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Company's obligations under
the Notes of such series and this Indenture applicable to such Notes except for
those surviving obligations specified above.

         12.2    Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.

                 (a)      Unless otherwise specified in a supplemental
         indenture as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to any series of
         Notes, (a) the Company may, at its option by Certified Resolution, at
         any time, with respect to the Notes of any series, elect to have either
         paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) below be applied to the
         outstanding Notes of such series upon compliance with the conditions
         set forth in paragraph (d).

                 (b)      Upon the Company's exercise under paragraph (a) of
         the option applicable to this paragraph (b), the Company shall be
         deemed to have been released and discharged from its obligations with
         respect to the outstanding Notes of such series on the date the
         conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "legal
         defeasance"). For this purpose, such legal defeasance means that the
         Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire
         indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes of such series,
         which shall thereafter be deemed to be "outstanding" only for the
         purposes of paragraph (e) below and the other Sections of and matters
         under this Indenture applicable to such Notes referred to in (i) and
         (ii) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such
         Notes and this Indenture applicable to such Notes insofar as such
         Notes are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company,
         shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), and holders
         of such Notes and any amounts deposited under paragraph (d) below
         shall cease to be subject to any obligations to, or the rights of, any
         holder of Senior Indebtedness or under any applicable subordination
         provisions or otherwise, except for the following which shall survive
         until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of
         holders of outstanding Notes of such series to receive solely from the
         trust fund described in paragraph (d) below and as more folly set
         forth in such paragraph, payments in respect of the principal of,
         premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are
         due, (ii) the





                                       58
<PAGE>   69

         Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 2.7,
         2.10 and 4.2, and, with respect to the Trustee, under Section 11.7,
         (iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee
         hereunder and (iv) this Section 12.2 and Section 12.5. Subject to
         compliance with this Section 12.2, the Company may exercise its option
         under this paragraph (b) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its
         option under paragraph (c) below with respect to Notes of any series.

                 (c)      Upon the Company's exercise under paragraph (a) of
         the option applicable to this paragraph (c), the Company shall be
         released and discharged from its obligations under any covenant
         contained in Article Ten, any applicable subordination provisions, any
         covenants contained in Sections 4.5, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12,
         4.13, 4.14, 4.15 and 5.2 and any covenants contained in certain other
         sections with respect to the outstanding Notes of such series
         identified in any supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 2.1 on
         and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied
         (hereinafter, "covenant defeasance"), and such Notes shall thereafter
         be deemed to be not "outstanding" for the purpose 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 and
         holders of such Notes and any amounts deposited under paragraph (d)
         below shall cease to be subject to any obligations to, or the rights
         of, any holder of Senior Indebtedness under any subordination
         provisions or otherwise. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance
         means that, with respect to such outstanding 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 8.1(c) with respect to such series of Notes,
         but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture
         applicable to such Notes and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby.

                 (d)      The following shall be the conditions to application
         of either paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) above to the outstanding
         Notes of such series:

                          (i)     the Company shall irrevocably have deposited
                 or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee
                 satisfying the requirements of Section 11.1 who shall agree to
                 comply with the provisions of this Section 12.2 applicable to
                 it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the
                 following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and
                 dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders of Notes of
                 such series, (x) money in an amount or (y) direct non-callable
                 obligations of, or noncallable obligations guaranteed by, the
                 United States of America for the payment of which guarantee or
                 obligation the full faith and credit of the United States is
                 pledged ("U.S. Government Obligations") maturing as to
                 principal, premium, if any, and interest in such amounts of
                 money and at such times as are sufficient without
                 consideration of any reinvestment of such interest, to pay
                 principal of and





                                       59
<PAGE>   70
                  
                 interest on the outstanding Notes of such series not later
                 than one day before the due date of any payment, or (z) a
                 combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a
                 nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
                 expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the
                 Trustee, to pay and discharge and which shall be applied by
                 the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge
                 principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding
                 Notes of such series on the Stated Maturity or redemption date
                 otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and
                 of the Notes of such series; provided, however, that the
                 Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) shall have received an
                 irrevocable written order from the Company instructing the
                 Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to apply such money or
                 the proceeds of such U.S. Government Obligations to said
                 payments with respect to the Notes of such series;

                          (ii)    no Default or Event of Default with respect
                 to such series of Notes or event which with notice or lapse of
                 time or both would become a Default or an Event of Default
                 with respect to the Notes of such series shall have occurred
                 and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as
                 Section 8.l(a) is concerned, at any time during the period
                 ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it
                 being understood that this condition shall not be deemed
                 satisfied until the expiration of such period);

                          (iii)   such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance
                 shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest
                 with respect to any Notes of the Company;

                          (iv)    such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance
                 shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
                 Default or Event of Default under, this Indenture applicable
                 to such Notes or any other agreement or instrument to which
                 the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

                          (v)     in the case of an election under paragraph
                 (b) above, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
                 Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received
                 from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue
                 Service a ruling or (y) since the date of this Indenture,
                 there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax
                 law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such
                 opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the outstanding
                 Notes of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss
                 for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such legal
                 defeasance and will be subject to 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;

                          (vi)    in the case of an election under paragraph
                 (c) above, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
                 Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders of the
                 outstanding Notes of such series will not recognize income,
                 gain or





                                       60
<PAGE>   71

                 loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such
                 covenant defeasance and will be subject to 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;

                          (vii)   in the case of an election under either
                 paragraph (b) or (c) above, an Opinion of Counsel to the
                 effect that, (x) the trust funds will not be subject to any
                 rights of any other holders of indebtedness of the Company or
                 any of its Subsidiaries, and (y) after the 91st day following
                 the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect
                 of any applicable Bankruptcy Act; provided, however, that if a
                 court were to rule under any such law in any case or
                 proceeding that the trust funds remained property of the
                 Company, no Opinion of Counsel needs to be given as to the
                 effect of such laws on the trust funds except the following:
                 (A) assuming such trust funds remained in the Trustee's
                 possession prior to such court ruling to the extent not paid
                 to holders of Notes of such series, the Trustee will hold, for
                 the benefit of the holders of Notes of such series, a valid
                 and enforceable security interest in such trust funds that is
                 not avoidable in bankruptcy or otherwise, subject only to
                 principles of equitable subordination, (B) the holders of
                 Notes of such series will be entitled to receive adequate
                 protection of their interests in such trust funds if such
                 trust funds are used, and (C) no property, rights in property
                 or other interests granted to the Trustee or the holders of
                 Notes of such series in exchange for or with respect to any of
                 such funds will be subject to any prior rights of any other
                 person, subject only to prior Liens granted under Section 364
                 of Title 11 of the U.S.  Bankruptcy Code (or any section of
                 any other Bankruptcy Act having the same effect), but still
                 subject to the foregoing clause (B);

                          (viii)  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 of Notes over the other creditors of the Company with
                 the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding
                 creditors of the Company or others;

                          (ix)    the Company shall have delivered to the
                 Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel,
                 each stating that (x) all conditions precedent provided for
                 relating to either the legal defeasance under paragraph (b)
                 above or the covenant defeasance under paragraph (c) above, as
                 the case may be, have been complied with and (y) if any other
                 indebtedness of the Company shall then be outstanding or
                 committed, such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will
                 not violate the provisions of the agreements or instruments
                 evidencing such indebtedness; and

                          (x)     the Company shall have delivered to the
                 Trustee an amount sufficient to cover its fees and expenses as
                 Trustee under the Indenture through the term of the





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<PAGE>   72

                 series of Notes to be defeased, or made adequate provision
                 therefor to the satisfaction of the Trustee.

                 (e)      All money and U.S. Government Obligations (including
         the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying
         trustee, collectively for purposes of this Paragraph (e), the
         "Trustee") pursuant to paragraph (d) above in respect of the
         outstanding Notes of such series shall be held in trust and applied by
         the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this
         Indenture applicable to such Notes, to the payment, either directly or
         through any paying agent (other then the Company or any Affiliate of
         the Company) as the Trustee may determine, to the holders of such
         Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of
         principal, premium 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 U.S. Government Obligations
deposited pursuant to paragraph (d) above or the principal, premium, if any,
and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other
charge which by law is for the account of the holders of the outstanding Notes
of such series.

         Anything in this Section 12.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request,
in writing, by the Company any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it
as provided in paragraph (d) above which, in the opinion of a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written
certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount
thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent
legal defeasance or covenant defeasance.

         12.3    Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust
money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Sections
12.1 and 12.2, and shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S.
Government Obligations in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes of such series.

         12.4    Repayment to Company. Subject to Sections 11.7, 12.1 and 12.2,
the Trustee shall promptly pay to the Company, upon receipt by the Trustee of
an Officers' Certificate, any excess money, determined in accordance with
Section 12.2, held by it at any time. The Trustee and the paying agent shall
pay to the Company, upon receipt by the Trustee or the paying agent, as the
case may be, of an Officers' Certificate, any money held by it for the payment
of principal, premium, if any, or interest that remains unclaimed for two years
after payment to the Noteholders of such series is required; provided, however,
that the Trustee and the paying agent before being required to make any payment
may, but need not, at the expense of the Company cause to be published once in
a daily newspaper, as defined herein, or mail to each Noteholder of Notes of
such series entitled to such money notice that such money remains unclaimed and
that after a date specified therein, which shall be at least 30 days from the
date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then
remaining will be repaid to the Company. After payment to the Company,
Noteholders





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<PAGE>   73

entitled to money must look solely to the Company for payment as general
creditors unless an applicable abandoned properly law designates another
person, and all liability of the Trustee or paying agent with respect to such
money shall thereupon cease.

         12.5    Reinstatement. If the Trustee or paying agent is unable to
apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations to any payment in respect of
Notes of any series in accordance with this Indenture by reason of any legal
proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental
authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application,
then and only then the Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes
of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had been
made pursuant to this Indenture until such time as the Trustee is permitted to
apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this
Indenture; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes of such series because
of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be, subrogated to
the rights of the holders of Notes of such series to receive such payment from
the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or paying agent.


                                   ARTICLE 13

                             MEETING OF NOTEHOLDERS

         13.1    Purposes for Which Meetings May be Called. A meeting of the
Noteholders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the
provisions of this Article 13 for any of the following purposes:

                 (a)      To give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee,
         or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving
         of any Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any
         other action authorized to be taken by the Noteholders pursuant to any
         of the provisions of Article 8;

                 (b)      To remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee
         pursuant to any of the provisions of Article 11;

                 (c)      To consent to the execution of an indenture or
         indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Article
         14; or

                 (d)      To take any other action authorized to be taken by or
         on behalf of Noteholders of any specified aggregate principal amount
         of the Notes under any other provisions of this Indenture, or
         authorized or permitted by law.





                                       63
<PAGE>   74

         13.2    Call of Meetings by Trustee; Generally. Meetings of
Noteholders may be held at such place or places and at such time or times in
any place as the Trustee or, in case of its failure to act, the Company or the
Noteholders calling the meeting, shall from time to time determine.

         13.3    Call of Meetings by Trustee; Notice. The Trustee may at any
time call a meeting of the Noteholders to take any action specified in Section
13.1, to be held at such time and at such place designated in Section 13.2 as
the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Noteholders,
setting forth the time and place of such meeting and in general terms the
action proposed to be taken at such meeting, and specifying each series of
Notes which would be affected by the proposed action, shall be mailed by the
Trustee at the expense of the Company, first class postage prepaid, to the
Noteholders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Note
Register, not less than twenty (20) nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days
prior to the date fixed for the meeting. Any defect in said notice shall not,
however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such meeting.

         The Trustee may in its discretion determine, subject to the meaning of
the term "affected" as set forth in Section 14.2(c), whether or not Notes of
any particular series would be affected by action proposed to be taken at a
meeting and any such determination shall be conclusive upon the holders of
Notes of such series and all other series.  Subject to the provisions of
Section 11.2, the Trustee shall not be liable for any such determination made
in good faith.

         Any meeting of the Noteholders shall be valid without notice if
Noteholders, holding all Notes then outstanding, which would be affected by the
action proposed to be undertaken, are present in person or by proxy or have
waived notice before or after the meeting by Noteholders, and if the Company
and the Trustee are either present by duly authorized representatives or have,
before or after the meeting, waived notice.

         In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Certified Resolution,
or Noteholders holding at least ten percent (10%) in aggregate principal amount
of the Notes then outstanding, which would be affected by the action proposed
to be undertaken, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the
Noteholders to take any action authorized by Section 13.1, by written request
setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the
meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting
within twenty (20) days after receipt of such request, then the Company or
Noteholders holding the amount above specified may determine the time and the
place for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purpose by giving
notice thereof in the manner provided in this Section 13.3.

         13.4    Meetings, Notice and Entitlement to be Present. Only
Noteholders holding Notes, which would be affected by the action proposed to be
undertaken, and persons appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for such
a Noteholder by such a Noteholder are entitled to notice of and to vote at any
meeting of the Noteholders. The only persons who shall be entitled to be
present or to speak at any meeting of the Noteholders shall be the persons
entitled to vote at such meeting





                                       64
<PAGE>   75

and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel, and any
representatives of the Company and its counsel.

         13.5    Regulations May be Made by Trustee. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations
as it may deem advisable for any meeting of the Noteholders, in regard to proof
of the holding of Notes and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the
appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination
of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such
other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem
appropriate.

         Such regulations (a) may provide for the closing of the Note Register
for such period as the Trustee may deem necessary or (b) may fix a record and
time for determining the record Noteholders of the Notes entitled to vote at
such meeting. All Noteholders seeking to attend or vote at a meeting in person
or by proxy must, if required by any authorized representative of the Trustee
or the Company or by any other Noteholder, produce the Notes claimed to be
owned or represented at such meeting, and every one seeking to attend or vote
shall, if required as aforesaid, produce such further proof of Note ownership
or personal identity as shall be satisfactory to the authorized representative
of the Trustee, or if none be present then to the inspectors of votes
hereinafter provided for.

         The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary
chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the
Company or by the Noteholders as provided in Section 13.3, in which case the
Company or the Noteholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in
like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent
secretary of the meeting may be elected by vote of Noteholders holding a
majority in principal amount of the Notes represented at the meeting and
entitled to vote.

         At any meeting each Noteholder or proxy shall be entitled to one vote
for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes then outstanding owned by such
Noteholder or represented by such proxy; provided, however, that no vote shall
be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Notes challenged as not
outstanding and ruled by the temporary or permanent chairman of the meeting to
be not outstanding. The temporary or permanent chairman of the meeting shall
have no right to vote other than by virtue of Notes held by him or instruments
in writing as aforesaid duly designating him as the person to vote on behalf of
other Noteholders.

         At any meeting of Noteholders, the presence of persons holding or
representing Notes in an aggregate principal amount sufficient under the
appropriate provision of this Indenture to take action upon the business for
the transaction of which such meeting was called shall constitute a quorum. Any
meeting of holders duly called pursuant to Section 13.3 may be adjourned from
time to time by vote of the holders (or proxies for the holders) of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented at the meeting and
entitled to vote, whether or not a quorum shall be present; and the meeting may
be held as so adjourned without further notice.





                                       65
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         13.6    Manner of Voting at Meetings and Record to be Kept. The vote
upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of the Noteholders shall be by
written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Noteholders
or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amount of the Notes
voted by the ballot. The temporary or permanent chairman of the meeting shall
appoint two (2) inspectors of votes, who shall count all votes cast at the
meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the
secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all
votes cast at the meeting. A record at least in duplicate of the proceedings of
each meeting of the Noteholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the
meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the
inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one
(1) or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the
notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in
Section 13.3. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the
permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one copy thereof shall be
delivered to the Company and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the
Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.

         Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the
matters therein stated.

         13.7    Evidence of Action by Holders of Specified Percentage of
Notes. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a
specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series
may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving
of any notice, consent, or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact
that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified
percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (A) by any instrument or any
number of instruments of similar tenor executed by holders in person or by
agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (B) by the record of the holders of
Notes voting in favor thereof at any meeting of holders duly called and held in
accordance with the provisions of this Article 13, or (C) by a combination of
such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of
holders.

         13.8    Exercise of Right of Trustee or Noteholders May Not be
Hindered or Delayed by Call of Meeting of Noteholders. Nothing in this Article
13 contained shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of
any call of a meeting of the Noteholders or any rights expressly or impliedly
conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise
of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the
Noteholders under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Notes.

                                   ARTICLE 14

                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

         14.1    Purposes for Which Supplemental Indentures May be Executed by
Company and Trustee. Without the consent of the holders of any Notes, the
Company and the Trustee may at any time and from time to time, enter into an
indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the
Trustee, for one or more of the following purposes:





                                       66
<PAGE>   77


                 (a)      To evidence the succession of another corporation to
         the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the
         successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of
         the Company pursuant to Article 10 hereof;

                 (b)      To add to the covenants of the Company such further
         covenants for the protection of the Noteholders, to insure the
         enforcement of the remedies of the Trustee and Noteholders upon an
         Event of Default by the Company, or to surrender any right or power
         herein conferred upon the Company as the Company, as set forth in a
         Company Request shall consider to be necessary for the protection of
         the Noteholders, and to make the occurrence and continuance of a
         default under any of such additional covenants a Default permitting
         the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this
         Indenture; provided, however, that in respect of any such additional
         covenant, such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular
         period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer
         than that allowed in the case of other Defaults) or may provide for an
         immediate enforcement of said remedy or remedies upon such default or
         may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or
         may authorize the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
         principal amount of the outstanding Notes to waive such default and
         prescribe limitations on such rights of waiver;

                 (c)      To cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any
         provision contained in this Indenture which may be inconsistent with
         any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture,
         or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions
         arising under this Indenture as shall not be inconsistent with the
         provisions and purposes of this Indenture, provided any such action
         shall not adversely affect the interest of the Noteholders; or

                 (d)      to provide for the creation of any series of Notes.

         Nothing contained in this Article 14 shall affect or limit the right
or obligation of the Company to execute and deliver to the Trustee any
instrument of further assurance or other instrument which elsewhere in this
Indenture it is provided shall be delivered to the Trustee.

         The Trustee is hereby authorized and directed to join with the Company
in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further
appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be herein contained and to
accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but
the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental
indenture which, in its opinion, does not afford adequate protection to the
Trustee or adversely affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities
under this Indenture or otherwise or adversely affects the interests of the
Noteholders.

         14.2    Modification of Indenture by Written Consent of Noteholders.





                                       67
<PAGE>   78

         (a)     With the consent (evidenced as provided in Article 13) of the 
holders of not less than fifty-one percent (51%) in aggregate principal amount
of the Notes then outstanding, by Act of said holders delivered to the Company
and the Trustee, the Company and the Trustee at any time and from time to time,
by entering into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, may modify,
alter, add to or eliminate in any manner (with the approval of any governmental
agency if required by law) any provisions of this Indenture, any applicable
supplemental indenture or the rights of the Noteholders or the rights and
obligations of the Company; provided, however, that no such supplemental
indenture shall, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note
affected thereby:

                 (1)      change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or
         any installment of interest on, any Note, or reduce the principal
         amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable
         upon redemption thereof, or the coin or currency in which, any Note or
         the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit
         for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated
         Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
         Redemption Date), or impair the right to require redemption as set
         forth in Section 7.5, or

                 (2)      reduce the percentage(s) of the aggregate principal
         amount of outstanding Notes, the consent of the holders of which is
         required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose
         holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain
         provisions of this Indenture or certain Defaults hereunder and their
         consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or

                 (3)      modify any of the provisions of this Section 14.2,
         except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain
         other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived
         without the consent of the holder of each Note affected thereby.

         (b)     With respect to changes affecting one or more, but less than
all, series of Notes then outstanding, with the consent (evidenced as provided
in Article 13) of the holders of not less than fifty-one percent (51%) in
aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such affected series then
outstanding, by Act of said holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee,
the Company and the Trustee at any time and from time to time, by entering into
an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, may modify, alter, add to or
eliminate in any manner (with the approval of any governmental agency if
required by law) any provisions of this Indenture, any applicable supplemental
indenture or the rights of such Noteholders or the rights and obligations of
the Company; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall,
without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note of such series
affected thereby:

                 (1)      change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or
         any installment of interest on, any Note of such series, or reduce the
         principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any
         premium payable upon redemption thereof, or the coin or currency in
         which, any Note or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the
         right to institute suit for the





                                       68
<PAGE>   79

         enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity
         thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption
         Date), or impair the right to require redemption as set forth in
         Section 7.6, or

                 (2)      reduce the percentage(s) of the aggregate principal
         amount of outstanding Notes of such series, the consent of the holders
         of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the
         consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance
         with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain Defaults
         hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or

                 (3)      modify any of the provisions of this Section 14.2,
         except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain
         other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived
         without the consent of the holder of each Note of such series affected
         thereby.

         (c)     Notes shall be deemed to be "affected" by a supplemental
indenture, if such supplemental indenture adversely affects or diminishes the
rights of holders thereof against the Company or against the property of the
Company. The Trustee may in the exercise of its discretion, subject to Section
11.2, determine whether or not any Notes would be affected by any supplemental
indenture and any such determination shall be conclusive upon the holders of
all Notes, whether theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered
hereunder. It shall not be necessary for any Act of Noteholders under this
Section 14.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental
indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance
thereof. Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this
Section 14.2 shall be executed by the Company and the Trustee in accordance
with the terms of Section 14.3.  Promptly after the execution by the Company
and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of
Section 14.3, the Company shall mail to the holders of the Notes at their last
addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register of the Company a notice
setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.
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 supplemental
indenture.

         14.3    Requirements for Execution; Duties and Immunities of Trustee.
Prior to the execution of any supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall receive
a Company Request, accompanied by a Certified Resolution authorizing the
execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 14.1 or Section
14.2, and, if pursuant to Section 14.2, evidence filed with the Trustee of the
Act of Noteholders as aforesaid.

         In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby
of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to
receive, and subject to Section 11.2 shall be fully protected in relying upon,
an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture
is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and stating such other matters as
the Trustee may reasonably request. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated
to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.





                                       69
<PAGE>   80


         14.4    Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Upon the execution
of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 14,
this Indenture shall be, and shall be deemed to be, modified and amended in
accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations, duties and
obligations under this Indenture of the Company, the Trustee and the
Noteholders, and each of them, shall thereafter be determined, exercised and
enforced hereunder, subject in all respects to such modifications and
amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture
shall be, and shall be deemed to be, part of the terms and conditions of this
Indenture for any and all purposes, as if originally contained herein.

         14.5    Notes Executed After Supplemental Indenture to be Approved by
Trustee. Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 14 may, and
shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the
Trustee, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the
Company and the Trustee shall so determine, new Notes modified so as to
conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any modification of
this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture, may be prepared by
the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered without expense to the
holders of the outstanding Notes, upon surrender of such Notes, the new Notes
so issued to be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of those so surrendered.

         14.6    Supplemental Indentures Required to Comply with Trust
Indenture Act of 1939. No supplemental indenture shall be entered into pursuant
to any authorization contained in this Indenture which shall not comply with
the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as then in effect.


                                   ARTICLE 15

                    IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
                             OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

         15.1    Immunity of Certain Persons. No recourse for the payment of
the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Note, or for any claim
based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon
any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company, contained in this
Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any Note, or because of the
creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or
future, of the Company or any successor corporation, either directly or through
the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any
constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment
or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability
is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a
consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Notes.





                                       70
<PAGE>   81

                                   ARTICLE 16

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

         16.1    Benefits Restricted to Parties and to Holders of Notes. Except
as provided herein, nothing in this Indenture, expressed or implied, is
intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or to give to, any person
other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Notes outstanding
hereunder any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or
any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all the
covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this
Indenture by and on behalf of the Company shall be for the sole and exclusive
benefit of the parties hereto, and of the holders of the Notes outstanding
hereunder.

         16.2    Deposits for Notes Not Claimed for Specified Period to be
Returned to Company on Demand. Any moneys deposited with the Trustee or any
paying agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the
principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining
unclaimed for three (3) years after the date upon which the principal of and
premium, if any, or interest on such Notes shall have become due and payable,
shall be paid to the Company upon Company Request, or, if then held by the
Company, shall be discharged from such trust; and the holder shall thereafter,
as an unsecured general creditor, be entitled to look only to the Company for
payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or any paying agent with
respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee
thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that, before being required
to make any such payment to the Company, the Trustee, or any paying agent, may,
at the expense of the Company, cause to be published once in a daily newspaper
in such areas as the Trustee, or any paying agent, as the case may be, may deem
necessary a notice that such moneys remain unclaimed and that, after a date
named in said notice, the balance of such moneys then unclaimed will be
returned to the Company.

         16.3    Formal Requirements of Certificates and Opinions Hereunder.

                 (a)      Each certificate or opinion which is specifically
         required by the provisions of this Indenture to be delivered to the
         Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant herein
         contained shall include (1) a statement that each person signing such
         certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) 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 opinions are based; (3) a statement that, in the
         opinion of each such person, he has made such examination or
         investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed
         opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
         complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not in the opinion
         of each such person such condition or covenant has been complied with.

                 (b)      Every request or application by the Company for
         action by the Trustee shall be accompanied by an Officers' Certificate
         stating that all conditions precedent, if any, to





                                       71
<PAGE>   82

         such action, provided for in this Indenture (including any covenants
         compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) have been
         complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of
         such counsel all conditions precedent, if any, to such action,
         provided for in this Indenture (including any covenants compliance
         with which constitutes a condition precedent) have been complied with,
         except that in the case of any such request or application as to which
         the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any
         provision of this Indenture relating to such particular request or
         application, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

                 (c)      In any case where several matters are required to be
         certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified person, it is
         not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the
         opinion of, only one such person, or that they be so certified or
         covered by only one document, but one such person may certify or give
         an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such
         persons as to other matters, and any such person may certify or give
         an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

         16.4    Evidence of Act of the Noteholders. Any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by
this Indenture to be given or taken by Noteholders may be embodied in and
evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by
such Noteholders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except
as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when
such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is
hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and
the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes
referred to as the "Act" of the Noteholders signing such instrument or
instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing
appointing any such agent, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this
Indenture and (subject to Section 11.2) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and
the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

         The fact and date of the execution by any person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer
authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the
individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution
thereof. Where such execution is by an officer of a corporation or a member of
a partnership, on behalf of such corporation or partnership, or by a fiduciary,
such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his
authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or
writing, or the authority of the person executing the same, may also be proved
in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

         Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action by the holder of any Note shall bind every future holder to the
same Note and the holder of every Note issued upon the transfer thereof or in
exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of anything done or suffered
to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not
notation of such action is made upon such Note.





                                       72
<PAGE>   83


         16.5    Parties to Include Successors and Assigns. Subject to the
provisions of Articles 9 and 10 hereof, whenever in this Indenture any of the
parties hereto is named or referred to, such name or reference shall be deemed
to include the successors or assigns of such party, and all the covenants and
agreements in this Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company or by or
on behalf of the Trustee shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective
successors and assigns of such parties whether so expressed or not.

         16.6    In Event of Conflict with Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
Provisions Therein to Control. If any provision of this Indenture limits,
qualifies, or conflicts with another provision of this Indenture required to be
included herein by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
such required provision shall control. Provisions required by said Trust
Indenture Act to be included herein which are not included herein are hereby
incorporated herein by reference to said Trust Indenture Act.

         16.7    Request, Notices, Etc. to Trustee. Any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of the Noteholders or
other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given
or furnished to, or filed with:

                 (a)      the Trustee by any Noteholder or by the Company shall
         be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or
         filed in writing, first class, postage prepaid, to or with the Trustee
         at its main office, or

                 (b)      the Company by the Trustee or by any Noteholders
         shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (except as herein
         otherwise provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class, postage
         prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at 217 West Main Street,
         Gallatin, Tennessee 37066, or at any other address furnished in
         writing to the Trustee by the Company.

         16.8    Manner of Notice. Where this Indenture provides for notice to
Noteholders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless
otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class,
postage prepaid, to each Noteholder affected by such event, at his address as
it appears on the Note Register, not later than the latest date, and not
earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In
any case where notice to Noteholders is given by mail, neither the failure to
mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular
Noteholder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other
Noteholders, and any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall
be conclusively presumed to have been duly given.

         Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice
may be waived in writing by the person entitled to receive such notice, either
before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such
notice. Waivers of notice by Noteholders shall be filed with the Trustee, but
such filing shall not be condition precedent to the validity of any action
taken in reliance upon such waiver.





                                       73
<PAGE>   84


         In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service as a
result of a strike, work stoppage or similar activity, it shall be impractical
to mail notice of any event to Noteholders when such notice is required to be
given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving
such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a
sufficient giving of such notice.

         16.9    Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in
the 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.

         16.10   Payments Due on Days When Banks Closed. In any case where the
date of any Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or the Stated Maturity of
any Note, or any date on which any Defaulted Interest is proposed to be paid or
any date on which any other payment is to be made or any action is to be taken
shall not be a business day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the
Notes or this Indenture) payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or
interest on, any Notes or other payment or action need not be made or taken on
such date, but may be made or taken on the next succeeding business day with
the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of any such Interest
Payment Date or Redemption Date or Stated Maturity or date for the payment of
Defaulted Interest or date for any other payment or action, as the case may be,
and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after any such nominal
date.

         16.11   Backup Withholding Forms. The Company shall provide the
Trustee with Backup Withholding Forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue
Service and shall indemnify the Trustee for any penalties, expenses, costs and
liabilities assessed against the Trustee for using improper forms.

         16.12   Titles of Articles of This Indenture Not Part Thereof. The
titles of the several Articles of this Indenture and the table of contents
shall not be deemed to be any part hereof.

         16.13   Execution in Counterparts. This Indenture is being executed in
several counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an
original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.

         16.14   Governing Law. This Indenture and each Note issued hereunder
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee as to all matters
affecting the duties, liabilities, privileges, rights and obligations of the
Noteholders, the Company and any agents of the foregoing, including but not
limited to, matters of validity, construction, effect and performance; however,
the duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be governed by the laws of
the State of New York.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SHOLODGE, INC. has caused its name to be hereunto
affixed, and this instrument to be signed by its Chairman of the Board,
President or any Vice President and its corporate seal to be affixed hereto,
and the same to be attested by its Secretary; and Bankers Trust Company, in
token of its acceptance of the trust hereby created, has caused its corporate
name to be





                                       74
<PAGE>   85

hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by one of its
corporate trust officers and its corporate seal to be attested, as of the day
and year first written above.


                                           SHOLODGE, INC.


ATTEST:                                    By:  /s/ Michael A. Corbett
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Name:  Michael A. Corbett       
                                              Title: Chief Financial Officer
/s/ Bob Marlowe
- ----------------------------
Attesting Officer

[Seal]


                                           BANKERS TRUST COMPANY


ATTEST:                                    By:  /s/ Susan Johnson
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Name:  Susan Johnson
                                              Title: Assistant Vice President

/s/ Terence Rawlins
- ---------------------------                                  
Name:  Terence Rawlins
Title: Assistant Treasurer


[Seal]





                                       75
<PAGE>   86

                                                          Exhibit A to Indenture

                           OPTION TO ELECT REDEMPTION
                 (pursuant to Section 7.1(a) of the Indenture)

via hand delivery or registered mail, return receipt requested

Bankers Trust Company, Corporate Trust and Agency Group
Four Albany St.
New York, NY 10006

         The undersigned hereby elects to have the Company redeem the enclosed
Note pursuant to Section 7.1(a) of the Indenture (REDEMPTIONS NOT INVOLVING THE
DEATH OF A HOLDER).(1)

If you are effecting this redemption on behalf of a registered holder or
beneficial owner of a Note, identify such registered holder or beneficial owner
____________________________.(2) If you wish to redeem less than all of the
principal amount of the Note, state the amount that you wish to redeem (which
may be $1000 or any integral multiple thereof): _____________________. State
the amount of the requested redemption, if any that exceeds the $50,000 per
holder Annual Amount Limitation(3) for this annual redemption period
____________.

THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT:

(1) The undersigned hereby elects to redeem the enclosed Note in the principal
amount set forth above pursuant to Section 7.1(a) of the Indenture;

(2) The Note is free and clear of any liens or encumbrances of any kind; and

(3) The undersigned hereby certifies that it has the actual authority to effect
this redemption and that such redemption does not exceed the $50,000 Annual
Amount Limitations for the current annual redemption period except as and to
the extent set forth above.

                    SO CERTIFIED, this the _____ day of ___________, ________.

                    By:_________________________________

                    Title:_________________________

Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution which is a
member of a recognized signature program, i.e., Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program ("STAMP"), Stock Exchange Medallion Program ("SEMP") or New
York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program ("MSP"). Sign exactly as your
name appears on the Note.





____________________

     (1)    The undersigned understands and agrees that the Company or
the Trustee may request additional information or documentation if
necessary to determine the appropriate resolution of this request for
redemption.

     (2)    For purposes of a holder s request for redemption and a
request for redemption on behalf of a deceased holder, such
beneficial interest shall be deemed to exist in cases of street name
or nominee ownership, ownership under the Uniform Gift to Minors Act,
community property or other joint ownership arrangements between a
husband and wife (including individual retirement accounts or Keogh
[H.R.10] plans maintained solely by or for the holder or decedent or
by or for the holder or decedent and his spouse), and trusts and
certain other arrangements where a person has substantially all of
the power to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of a Note and the
right to receive the proceeds therefrom, as well as interest and
principal payable with respect thereto.

     (3)    Redemptions in any annual period are subject to a $50,000
per holder limitation, among other limitations and restrictions.

                                       76
<PAGE>   87

                                                          Exhibit B to Indenture
                           OPTION TO ELECT REDEMPTION
                 (pursuant to Section 7.1(b) of the Indenture)

via hand delivery or registered mail, return receipt requested

Bankers Trust Company, Corporate Trust and Agency Group
Four Albany St.
New York, NY 10006

        The undersigned hereby elects to redeem the enclosed Note pursuant to
Section 7.1(b) of the Indenture (REDEMPTIONS INVOLVING THE DEATH OF A
HOLDER).(1) The name of the deceased holder or beneficial owner is
________________________.

If you are effecting this redemption on behalf of a registered holder or
beneficial owner of a Note, identify such registered holder or beneficial owner
____________________________.(2) If you wish to redeem less than all of the
principal amount of the Note, state the amount that you wish to redeem (which
may be $1000 or any integral multiple thereof): _____________________. State
the amount of the requested redemption, if any that exceeds the $50,000 per
holder Annual Amount Limitation(3) for this annual redemption period
____________.

THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT: (1) The undersigned hereby elects to
redeem the enclosed Note in the principal amount set forth above pursuant to
Section 7.1(b) of the Indenture; (2) The person identified above is a deceased
registered holder or beneficial owner of the enclosed Note within the meaning
set forth in the Indenture; (3) If executed on behalf of a registered holder or
beneficial owner of the Note other than the undersigned, the undersigned hereby
certifies that it has the actual authority to effect this redemption and that
such redemption does not exceed the $50,000 Annual Amount Limitation for the
current annual redemption period except as and to the extent set forth above;
(4)The enclosed Note is free and clear of any liens or encumbrances of any
kind; (5) Enclosed is a certified true and accurate certificate of death
pertaining to such deceased registered holder or beneficial owner; (6) If the
undersigned is not a registered holder of the Note, the undersigned has
enclosed appropriate evidence of authority to effect this redemption; and (7)
The undersigned is the authorized representative of such deceased registered
holder or beneficial owner, or a surviving tenant by the entirety, joint tenant
or tenant in common of such deceased registered holder.

                      SO CERTIFIED, this the _____ day of ___________, ________.

                      By:_________________________________

                      Title:_________________________

Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution which is a
member of a recognized signature program, i.e., Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program ("STAMP"), Stock Exchange Medallion Program ("SEMP") or New
York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program ("MSP"). Sign exactly as your
name appears on the Note.



_______________________

     (1)    The undersigned understands and agrees that the Company or
the Trustee may request additional information or documentation if
necessary to determine the appropriate resolution of this request for
redemption.

     (2)    For purposes of a holder s request for redemption and a
request for redemption on behalf of a deceased holder, such
beneficial interest shall be deemed to exist in cases of street name
or nominee ownership, ownership under the Uniform Gift to Minors Act,
community property or other joint ownership arrangements between a
husband and wife (including individual retirement accounts or Keogh
[H.R.10] plans maintained solely by or for the holder or decedent or
by or for the holder or decedent and his spouse), and trusts and
certain other arrangements where a person has substantially all of
the power to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of a Note and the
right to receive the proceeds therefrom, as well as interest and
principal payable with respect thereto.

     (3)    Redemptions in any annual period are subject to a $50,000
per holder limitation, among other limitations and restrictions.

                                       77

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.2


                                 SHOLODGE, INC.

                                      AND

                             BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
                                    TRUSTEE




                           _________________________

                          FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                          Dated as of November 15, 1996

             9 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006, Series A


           Supplemental to Indenture dated as of November 15, 1996





                                 
<PAGE>   2

         FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of November 15, 1996 (the "First
Supplemental Indenture"), to the Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1996 (the
"Indenture"), between ShoLodge, Inc., a corporation duly organized under the
laws of the State of Tennessee (the "Company"), having its principal office at
217 West Main Street, Gallatin, Tennessee 37066, and Bankers Trust Company, a
New York banking corporation (the "Trustee"), having a corporate trust office
at Four Albany Street, New York, NY 10006.

                            RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

         WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of
the Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of one or more
series of its senior subordinated notes (the "Notes") to be issued in one or
more series as in the Indenture provided;

         WHEREAS, the Company desires and has requested the Trustee to join it
in the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture in order to
establish and provide for the issuance by the Company of a series of Notes
designated as its 9 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006, Series A in the
aggregate principal amount of up to $34,500,000, substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit "A" (the "Series A Notes"), on the terms set forth
herein;

         WHEREAS, Section 14.1 of the Indenture provides that a supplemental
Indenture may be entered into by the Company and the Trustee without the
consent of any holder of any Notes for such purpose provided certain conditions
are met;

         WHEREAS, the conditions set forth in the Indenture for the execution
and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture have been complied with; and

         WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this First Supplemental
Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and the Trustee, in accordance with
its terms, and a valid amendment of, and supplement to, the Indenture have been
done;

         NOW THEREFORE:

         In consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of
the Series A Notes by the holders thereof the Company mutually covenants and
agrees with the Trustee, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all holders
of the Series A Notes, that the Indenture is supplemented and amended, to the
extent and for the purposes expressed herein, as follows:

         1.      Establishment of Series A Notes under the Indenture. The
Company hereby establishes the Series A Notes in the form of Exhibit A hereto
in an aggregate principal amount up to $34,500,000 and on the terms set forth
therein as a series of Notes under the Indenture pursuant to this First
Supplemental Indenture.

         2.      Optional Redemption by the Company. In accordance with Section
6.1 of the Indenture, the Series A Notes will be subject to optional redemption
by the Company as provided in the form of Series A Note attached as Exhibit A
hereto.
<PAGE>   3

         3.      Redemption at Option of Holder. In the event that a holder or
his or her duly authorized representative notifies the Trustee of such person's
desire to redeem all or any portion of a Series A Note pursuant to Section
7.1(a) or (b) of the Indenture, the Trustee shall furnish such holder with the
form set forth in Exhibit A to the Indenture (for redemptions pursuant to
Section 7.1(a) of the Indenture) or Exhibit B to the Indenture (for redemptions
pursuant to Section 7.1(b) of the Indenture).

         4.      Trustee Disclaimer. The Trustee makes no representations as to
the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or the Series
A Notes, and assumes no responsibility for the recitals contained herein or
therein which shall be taken as the statements of the Company.

         5.      Governing Law. This First Supplemental Indenture and the
Series A Notes shall be governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee as to
all matters affecting the duties, liabilities, privileges, rights and
obligations of the Noteholders, the Company and any agents of the foregoing,
including but not limited to, matters of validity, construction, effect and
performance; however, the duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be
governed by the laws of the State of New York.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SHOLODGE, INC. has caused this First Supplemental
Indenture to be signed and acknowledged by its Chairman of the Board, President
or one of its Vice Presidents, and its corporate seal to be affixed hereunto,
and the same to be attested by its Secretary; and Bankers Trust Company has
caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be signed and acknowledged, and its
corporate seal to be affixed hereunto, and the same to be attested; all as of
the day and year first above written.


                                      SHOLODGE, INC.
Attest:                               
                                      

   /s/ Bob Marlowe                    By: /s/ Michael A. Corbett
   --------------------                  --------------------------
        Secretary                     Its: Chief Financial Officer
                                          -------------------------
                                      
                                      
[Corporate Seal]                      
                                      BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
Attest:                               
                                      
   /s/ Terence Rawlins                By: /s/ Susan Johnson
   --------------------                  --------------------------
         Title: Assistant Tresurer    Its: Assistant Vice President
                                          -------------------------


[Corporate Seal]
<PAGE>   4

                                       Exhibit A to First Supplemental Indenture

                            [FORM OF FACE OF NOTES]

No.                              ShoLodge, Inc.                         $

               9 3/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE DUE 2006, SERIES A

         ShoLodge, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Tennessee (hereinafter called the "Company," which term shall
include any successor corporation as defined in the Indenture referred to on
the reverse side hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to[
], or registered assigns, the sum of [           ] Dollars on or before 
November 1, 2006, in such coin or currency of the United States of America 
as at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts, and to 
pay interest (calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months)
on the unpaid principal amount hereof in like coin or currency from the
Interest Payment Date to which interest hereon has been paid immediately
preceding the date hereof (unless the date hereof is an Interest Payment Date
to which interest has been paid, in which case from the date hereof) or, if no
interest has been paid on this Note since the Original Issue Date hereof, as
defined in the Indenture referred to on the reverse side hereof, from such
Original Issue Date, at the rate of 9 3/4% per annum, payable quarterly on
February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, commencing February 1, 1997, until
the principal hereof shall have been paid or duly provided for. The interest so
payable on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to the person in whose name
this Note is registered at the close of business on the fifteenth day of the
month immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not such
fifteenth day shall be a regular business day), unless the Company shall
default in the payment of interest due on such Interest Payment Date, in which
case such defaulted interest shall be paid to the person in whose name this
Note is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the
payment of such defaulted interest established by notice to the registered
holders of Notes given by mail to said holders as their names and addresses
appear in the Note Register (as defined in the Indenture referred to on the
reverse side hereof) not less than 10 days preceding such Special Record Date.
The principal hereof and the interest hereon shall be payable at an office or
agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in New York, New York or such
other office or agency maintained for that purpose; provided, however, that the
interest on this Note may be payable, at the option of the Company, by check
mailed to the person entitled thereto as such person's address shall appear on
the Note Register (including the records of any Note Co-Registrar).

         Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set
forth on the reverse side hereof, and such further provisions shall for all
purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

         This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture
referred to on the reverse side hereof, or be or become valid or obligatory for
any purpose, until the authentication certificate endorsed hereon shall have
been signed by Bankers Trust Company, Trustee under such Indenture, or a
successor trustee thereto under such Indenture.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SHOLODGE, INC. has caused this Note to be signed
in its name by its Chairman of the Board, President or one of its Vice
Presidents by his signature or a facsimile
<PAGE>   5

thereof, and its corporate seal to be affixed or printed or engraved hereon, or
a facsimile thereof, and attested by its Secretary by his signature or a
facsimile thereof.

Dated:                                     SHOLODGE, INC.

                                           By:
                                              -------------------

                                           Title:
                                                 ----------------
[CORPORATE SEAL]

Attest:


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

Title: Secretary


                 [FORM OF TRUSTEE'S AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE]

                      TRUSTEE'S AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE

         This is one of the Notes described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                             Bankers Trust Company
                                   as Trustee


                             By:
                                ----------------------  
                              Authorized Signatory

                           [FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

                                 ShoLodge, Inc.

                9 3/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE DUE 2006, SERIES A

         This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company
designated as its 9 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006, Series A (herein
called the "Notes"), limited in aggregate principal amount of up to $34,500,000
(except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon transfer of, or in exchange
for or in lieu of other Notes), all issued and to be issued only in fully
registered form without coupons under an Indenture and First Supplemental
Indenture (such Indenture and First Supplemental Indenture, together with any
indenture supplemental thereto, called the "Indenture"), each dated as of
November 15, 1996 and duly executed and delivered by ShoLodge, Inc. to Bankers
Trust Company, New York, New York, Trustee (the Trustee, together with its
successors being herein called the "Trustee"), to which Indenture (which is
hereby made a part hereof and to all of which the holder by acceptance hereof
assents) reference is hereby made for a description of the

<PAGE>   6

respective rights of and restrictions upon the Company and the holders of the
Notes, and the rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities of the
Trustee in respect thereof.

         The Notes are redeemable at the option of the Company as a whole at
any time, or in part from time to time, prior to maturity, commencing December
1, 1999, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice given as provided in
the Indenture, upon payment of the then applicable redemption price (expressed
in percentages of the principal amount) set forth below under the heading
"General Redemption Prices," together in each case with accrued and unpaid
interest to the date fixed for redemption, all subject to the conditions more
fully set forth in the Indenture. The General Redemption Prices (expressed in
percentages of the principal amount) applicable during the 12-month period
beginning December 1 in the years indicated below are as follows:

                           General Redemption Prices

If redeemed during the 12 month period beginning December 1,
                     1999 ......................... 104%
                                      
                     2000 ......................... 103%
                                      
                     2001.......................... 102%
                                      
                     2002.......................... 101%
                                      
                     2003 and thereafter .......... 100%

         Unless the Notes have been declared due and payable prior to their
maturity by reason of an Event of Default and such Event of Default has not
been waived and such declaration has not been rescinded or annulled, a holder
has the right under Section 7.1 of the Indenture to present Notes for payment
prior to their maturity, and the Company will redeem the same (or any portion
of the principal amount thereof which is $1,000 or an integral multiple
thereof, as the holder may specify), subject to the following limitations: (a)
the Company will have no obligation to redeem any Notes prior to December 1,
1999, except on the death of a holder as described below, and (b) the Company
will have no obligation to redeem Notes (on the death of a holder or otherwise)
in excess of the following annual maximum amounts (collectively, the "Annual
Amount Limitations") of (i) $50,000 per holder and (ii) an aggregate amount for
all Notes submitted for redemption equal to five percent (5%) of the aggregate
original principal amount of the notes of all series theretofore issued under
the Indenture (the "Five Percent Limitation"). Notes submitted for redemption,
except for Notes submitted for redemption following the death of a holder, must
be submitted by November 1 of any year, commencing on November 1, 1999, for
redemption on the following December 1. If the $50,000 per holder limitation
has been reached and the Five Percent Limitation has not been reached, if Notes
have been properly presented for payment each in an aggregate principal amount
exceeding $50,000, the Company will redeem such Notes in order of their receipt
(except Notes presented for payment in the event of death of a holder, which
will be given priority in order of their receipt), up to the aggregate
limitation of five percent (5%) of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes
of all series issued under this Indenture, notwithstanding the $50,000
limitation.

<PAGE>   7

         Subject to the Annual Amount Limitations (and unless the Notes have
been declared due and payable prior to their maturity by reason of an Event of
Default and such Event of Default has not been waived and such declaration has
not been rescinded or annulled), Notes submitted for redemption upon the death
of any holder (or any portion of the principal amount of such Notes which is
$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, as the holder may specify), will be
redeemed within sixty (60) days following receipt by the Trustee of a written
request therefor from such holder's personal representative, or surviving joint
tenant(s), tenant by the entirety or tenant(s) in common.

         The price to be paid by the Company for all Notes presented to it for
redemption pursuant to these provisions is 100% of the principal amount thereof
to be redeemed, plus accrued but unpaid interest on such principal amount to
the date of payment.

         In the case of Notes registered in the name of banks, trust companies
or broker-dealers who are members of a national securities exchange or the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("Qualified Institutions"),
the $50,000 per holder limitation applies to each beneficial owner of Notes
held by any Qualified Institution as if such beneficial owner were a separate
holder. A Note held in tenancy by the entirety, joint tenancy or tenancy in
common will be deemed to be held by a single holder, and the death of a tenant
by the entirety, joint tenant or tenant in common will be deemed the death of a
holder. The death of a person who, during his or her lifetime, was entitled to
substantially all of the beneficial ownership interest of a Note, will be
deemed the death of the holder, regardless of the registered holder. For
purposes of a holder's request for redemption and a request for redemption on
behalf of a deceased holder, such beneficial interest shall be deemed to exist
if the holder certifies street name or nominee ownership, ownership by a
custodian for the benefit of a minor under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act,
community property or other joint ownership arrangements between a husband and
wife (including individual retirement accounts or Keogh plans maintained solely
by or for the holder or decedent, or by or for the holder or decedent and his
or her spouse) and trusts and certain other arrangements whereby a person has
substantially all of the beneficial ownership interests in the Note during his
or her lifetime. Beneficial interests shall include the power to sell, transfer
or otherwise dispose of a Note and the right to receive the proceeds therefrom,
as well as interest and principal payable with respect thereto.

         Notes may be presented for redemption by delivering to the Trustee at
its main office as defined in the Indenture: (a) a written request for
redemption, in the form attached to the Indenture and provided by the Trustee
upon written request, signed by the registered holder or his or her duly
authorized representative, (b) the Note to be redeemed, (c) in the case of a
surviving tenant or personal representative of a deceased holder or beneficial
owner, appropriate evidence of death and such other additional documents as the
Trustee shall require, including, but not limited to, inheritance or estate tax
waivers and evidence of authority of the personal representative and (d)
certification that the aggregate requests for prepayment tendered on behalf of
a registered holder or beneficial owner do not exceed (or a description of the
amount by which such aggregate requests exceed) the $50,000 per holder
limitation for the applicable annual redemption period. In addition, any
request for prepayment must be delivered to the Trustee by hand or registered
mail, return receipt requested.

<PAGE>   8

         Any Notes tendered or any request for prepayment may be withdrawn by
written request received by the Trustee three (3) business days prior to the
issuance of a check in payment thereof.

         Notes presented for redemption as set forth above will be redeemed in
order of their receipt by the Trustee, except that Notes presented for payment
in the event of death of a holder will be given priority in order of their
receipt over other Notes.  Notes not redeemed in any such period because they
have not been presented prior to November 1 of that period or because of the
Annual Amount Limitations will be held in order of their receipt for redemption
during the following twelve (12) month period(s) until redeemed, unless sooner
withdrawn by the holder. Holders of Notes presented for redemption shall be
entitled to and shall receive scheduled monthly payments of interest thereon on
scheduled Interest Payment Dates until their Notes are redeemed.

         In the case of any Notes which are presented for redemption in part
only, upon such redemption the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the holder of such Notes,
without service charge, a new Note or Notes, of any authorized denomination or
denominations as requested by such holder, in aggregate principal amount equal
to the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Notes so presented. The
Company may redeem, in acceptance of tenders made pursuant hereto, Notes in
excess of the principal amount that the Company is obligated to redeem, and may
purchase Notes in the open market. However, the Company may not use any Notes
purchased in the open market as a credit against its redemption obligations
hereunder.

         In the event that there shall occur a Change in Control (as defined in
the Indenture), the holder of this Note shall have the right, subject to
certain conditions stated in the Indenture, to present it for payment prior to
maturity, and the Company will redeem the same (or any portion of the principal
amount thereof which is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, as the holder
shall specify). The $50,000 per holder limitation and the Five Percent
Limitation shall not apply to any such redemption.

         To the extent permitted by, and as provided in, the Indenture, the
Company may, by entering into an indenture or indentures supplemental to the
Indenture, modify, alter, add to or eliminate in any manner any provisions of
the Indenture, or the rights of the holders or the rights and obligations of
the Company, upon the consent, as in the Indenture provided, of the holders of
not less than fifty-one percent (51%) in principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no supplemental indenture shall,
without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby,
change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest
on any Note, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest
thereon, reduce the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding
Notes the consent of the holders of which is required for any supplemental
indenture or for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the
Indenture, or modify any of the provisions of the Indenture relating to the
foregoing, all except as provided in the Indenture.

         If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have
occurred and be continuing, the principal of and all interest accrued on all
the Notes at any such time outstanding under the Indenture may be declared, and
upon such declaration shall become, immediately due and payable, in the manner,
with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The
Indenture
<PAGE>   9

provides that such declaration and its consequence may be waived by the holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

         The Notes are issuable as registered Notes without coupons in
denominations of integral multiples of $1,000.  Subject to the provisions of
the Indenture, the transfer of this Note is registrable by the registered
holder hereof, in person or by his attorney duly authorized in writing, at the
office or agency of the Company in New York, New York or at any other office or
agency the Company maintains for that purpose on books of the Company to be
kept for that purpose at said office, upon surrender and cancellation of this
Note duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in
form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee, and thereupon a new fully
registered Note of the same series, of the same aggregate principal amount and
in authorized denominations, will be issued to the transferee or transferees in
exchange therefor; and this Note, with or without others of the same series,
may in like manner be exchanged for one or more new fully registered Notes of
the same series of other authorized denominations but of the same aggregate
principal amount; all as provided in the Indenture. No service charge shall be
made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge or expense that may be
imposed in relation thereto.

         Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company,
the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee may deem and treat the
person in whose name this Note shall be registered at any given time upon the
Note Register as the absolute owner of this Note for the purpose of receiving
any payment of, or on account of, the principal and interest on this Note and
for all other purposes whether or not this Note be overdue; and neither the
Company nor the Trustee, nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be
bound by any notice to the contrary.

         No recourse under any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in
the Indenture or in any Note, or because of the creation of the indebtedness
represented hereby, shall be had against any incorporator, any past, present or
future stockholder, or any officer or director of the Company or any successor
corporation, as such under any rule of law, statute or constitution.

         In any case where the date fixed for the payment of principal or
interest on any of the Notes or the date fixed for redemption thereof shall not
be a business day, then payment of such principal or interest need not be made
on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding business day with the same
force and effect as if made on the date fixed for such payment or redemption,
and no interest shall accrue for the period from or after such date.

         All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.





<PAGE>   10
                                ASSIGNMENT FORM
         Via Hand Delivery or Registered Mail, Return Receipt Requested
            Bankers Trust Company, Corporate Trust and Agency Group
                               Four Albany Street
                               New York, NY 10006

 To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 I or we assign and transfer this Note to




 (Insert assignee's Soc. Sec. or tax I.D. No.)


 _______________________
 _______________________
 _______________________
 _______________________
 (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code) and irrevocably appoint
 ________________ agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The
 agent may substitute another to act for him.
 ____________________________________________________________________________

 Date________________________  Your signature:_______________________________

                             ________________________________________________

 Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution which is
 a member of a recognized signature program, i.e., Securities Transfer Agents
 Medallion Program ("STAMP"), Stock Exchange Medallion Program ("SEMP") or New
 York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program ("MSP"). Sign exactly as your
 name appears on the Note. If the Assignment Form is executed by a person other
 than a registered holder, enclose appropriate evidence of your authority to
 effect the assignment.
 ______________________________________________________________________________

 TO REDEEM A NOTE PURSUANT TO SECTION 7.1 OF THE INDENTURE, REQUEST A
 REDEMPTION FORM AND PROVIDE YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS, VIA HAND DELIVERY
 OR REGISTERED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED TO:

                             BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
                        CORPORATE TRUST AND AGENCY GROUP
                               FOUR ALBANY STREET
                               NEW YORK, NY 10006



<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10.1

                                AMENDMENT NO. 5
                                      TO
                               LICENSE AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO LICENSE AGREEMENT (the "Amendment") is entered
into this 25th day of October, 1996, by and between SHONEY'S INVESTMENTS, INC.,
a Nevada corporation with offices at Suite 1400, 300 South Fourth Street, Las
Vegas, Nevada 89101 ("Licensor"), and SHOLODGE FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.
(formerly known as Shoney's Lodging, Inc.), a Tennessee corporation with
offices at 217 West Main Street, Gallatin, Tennessee 37066 ("Licensee").
SHOLODGE, INC. (formerly known as Gulf Coast Development, Inc.), a Tennessee
corporation with offices at 217 West Main Street, Gallatin, Tennessee 37066 and
the parent corporation of Licensee ("ShoLodge"), is executing this Amendment
for the purposes set forth in the Existing License Agreement (as hereinafter
defined) as amended hereby.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Licensor and Licensee entered into that certain License
Agreement on October 25, 1991 (the "Original License Agreement") pursuant to
which Licensor granted to Licensee a license to use the service mark SHONEY'S
INN (and design) which was registered on February 16, 1982 with the United
States Patent and Trademark Office (the "USPTO") at Registration No. 1,190,289;
and

         WHEREAS, Licensor and Licensee entered into that certain Amendment No.
1 to License Agreement on September 16, 1992 (the "First Amendment") pursuant
to which Licensor added the service mark SHONEY'S INN (block letters) which was
registered by Licensor on August 4, 1992 with the USPTO at Registration No.
1,705,676 to be licensed to Licensee pursuant to the terms and conditions of
the Original License Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, Licensor and Licensee entered into that certain Amendment No.
2 to License Agreement on March 18, 1994 (the "Second Amendment") pursuant to
which certain Tennessee counties were added to the "Territory" covered by the
Original License Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, Licensor and Licensee entered into that certain Amendment No.
3 to License Agreement on March 31, 1995 (the "Third Amendment") pursuant to
which Licensor added the service mark


                                     


<PAGE>   2


SHONEY'S SUITES (block letters) for which an intent-to-use application was
filed with the USPTO on January 23, 1995 and the service mark SHONEY'S INN &
SUITES (block letters) for which an intent-to-use application was filed with
the USPTO on February 6, 1995 to be licensed to Licensee pursuant to the terms
and conditions of the Original License Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, Licensor and Licensee entered into that certain
Amendment No. 4 to License Agreement on June 26, 1996 (the "Fourth Amendment")
(the Original License Agreement as amended by the First Amendment, the Second
Amendment, the Third Amendment and the Fourth Amendment is hereinafter referred
to as the "Existing License Agreement") pursuant to which, among other things,
the parties revised certain provisions of Section 4.5(d) of the Original
License Agreement regarding the provision of food items to guests at Motels
operated or licensed by Licensee;

         WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to modify and amend the Existing
License Agreement in certain other respects as set forth herein;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and covenants
contained herein and in the Existing License Agreement, the payment by Licensee
to Licensor of the sum of Five Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100
Dollars ($5,250,000) on even date herewith, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
Licensor and Licensee agree as follows:

         1.       The Existing License Agreement is hereby amended by:

                  (a)      deleting the existing Section 1.5 in its entirety.

                  (b)      deleting the existing Section 4.1 in its entirety.

                  (c)      deleting the existing Section 4.2 in its entirety.

                  (d)      deleting the text of existing Section 4.4(a) in its
                           entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the
                           following:

                                            (a) Licensee shall display and
                                    shall require that its franchisees display
                                    the Licensed Mark only in the styles,
                                    shapes, 

                                      -2-

<PAGE>   3

                                    colors and forms set forth in
                                    Schedule 1, attached hereto and
                                    incorporated herein by reference, in all
                                    signs, literature, packages, labels,
                                    artwork, advertising or promotional
                                    materials prepared by or for Licensee or
                                    its franchisees. Any alteration or
                                    deviation from the displays set forth in
                                    Schedule 1 must be approved in advance by
                                    Licensor. Licensor shall have thirty (30)
                                    days to approve or disapprove such
                                    alterations or deviations. If Licensor
                                    fails to notify Licensee in writing of its
                                    objection to such alterations or deviations
                                    within such thirty (30) day period, such
                                    alterations or deviations shall be deemed
                                    to have been approved. Licensee shall
                                    require that each of its franchisees agree
                                    to allow Licensor or its authorized
                                    representative at any time to enter upon
                                    the premises of any Motel and remove any
                                    signs or advertising materials that display
                                    the mark in a manner that has not been
                                    approved. Licensee agrees to refrain, and
                                    to require its franchisees to refrain, from
                                    using the Licensed Mark in any fashion
                                    which would cast disfavor upon the
                                    Licensor. Licensee will permit, and require
                                    its franchisees to permit, Licensor or its
                                    authorized representatives to inspect the
                                    premises of all Motels during business
                                    hours for the purpose of ascertaining or
                                    determining compliance with the terms of
                                    the Agreement.

                  (e)      deleting the existing Section 4.4(b) in its
                           entirety.

                  (f)      deleting the existing Section 4.4(c) in its
                           entirety.


                                      -3-


<PAGE>   4

                  (g)      deleting the phrase "subject to the limitations set
                           forth below" as it appears in the second sentence
                           of Section 4.4(d).

                  (h)      deleting the fourth sentence of Section 4.4(d) in
                           its entirety and inserting the following in lieu
                           thereof:

                                    Licensor shall not object to a form of
                                    agreement, offering circular or other
                                    promotional items because of the fees,
                                    royalties, advertising fees or similar
                                    financial obligations proposed to be
                                    charged thereunder.

                  (i)      inserting the words "Upon Licensor's request" at
                           the beginning of the first sentence in Section
                           4.5(a).

                  (j)      deleting the words "their execution" as they appear
                           in the first sentence of Section 4.5(a) and
                           inserting in lieu thereof the words "such request."

                  (k)      deleting the second, third, fourth and fifth
                           sentences of Section 4.5(a).

                  (l)      deleting the words "no more than three (3)
                           breakfast `breads' such as donuts, bagels, muffins,
                           sweet rolls, danish and similar items and one bowl
                           containing one type of fresh whole fruit, and (iii)
                           so long as Licensee or its franchisee (as
                           applicable) shall have first offered the catering
                           work to the adjacent `Shoney's Restaurant' operator,
                           if any," as they appear in the second sentence of
                           Section 4.5(d) and inserting the following language
                           in lieu thereof:

                                    "hot or cold continental breakfast foods
                                    consisting of breads, fruits, cereals,
                                    waffles, pancakes, poptarts and other items
                                    popularly known as `continental breakfast'
                                    foods; provided, however, that, except as
                                    provided above, in no event shall the term
                                    `continental
   
                                    -4-
 
<PAGE>   5

                                    breakfast foods' be deemed to include any
                                    other hot breakfast foods including, 
                                    without limitation: (a) any meat or meat 
                                    products (including pork and pork
                                    products); and (b) eggs, and (iii)"

                  (m)      deleting the third sentence in Section 4.5(d) in
                           its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the
                           following:

                                    No food products showing brand names (such
                                    as Dunkin' Donuts) shall be allowed,
                                    although brand name products may be used as
                                    long as the brand name itself is not
                                    displayed.

                  (n)      deleting the fifth sentence in Section 4.5(d) in
                           its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the
                           following:

                                    Licensee agrees, and shall require its
                                    franchisees to agree, to place menus for
                                    the adjacent "Shoney's Restaurant," if any,
                                    (which must be approved by Licensor and any
                                    expense borne by the adjacent restaurant
                                    operator) in each guest room of all Motels
                                    and shall not allow any other restaurant or
                                    food service organization to place
                                    promotional material in the guest rooms of
                                    any Motels adjacent to a "Shoney's
                                    Restaurant" without the prior written
                                    consent of Licensor. For purposes of this
                                    Section 4.5(d) the term "adjacent to" shall
                                    mean within a one mile radius."

                  (o)      deleting the text of existing Section 4.10 in its
                           entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the
                           following:

                           Section 4.10.  Assignment.

                                            (a) Licensee shall not sublicense
                                    (except to a franchisee as permitted
   

                                      -5-
   
<PAGE>   6

                                    herein), sell, assign, transfer, convey or
                                    encumber its rights and obligations
                                    hereunder or suffer or permit any such
                                    assignment, transfer or encumbrance to
                                    occur by operation of law without the prior
                                    express written consent of Licensor. In the
                                    event Licensee is a corporation, limited
                                    partnership, business trust, partnership or
                                    similar association, the shareholders,
                                    limited partners, beneficiaries, partners
                                    or investors, as the case may be, may not
                                    sell, assign or otherwise transfer their
                                    shares or interests in such corporation,
                                    limited partnership, business trust,
                                    partnership or similar association, without
                                    the prior written consent of Licensor. In
                                    the event Licensee is a corporation, all
                                    stock certificates shall have conspicuously
                                    endorsed upon them a legend in
                                    substantially the following form:

                                            "A transfer of this stock is
                                            subject to the terms and
                                            conditions of a License
                                            Agreement between Shoney's
                                            Investments, Inc. and ShoLodge
                                            Franchise Systems, Inc. (then
                                            known as Shoney's Lodging,
                                            Inc.) dated the 25th day of
                                            October, 1991, as amended.

                                    Licensor agrees that it will not
                                    unreasonably withhold its consent to a
                                    sale, assignment, transfer or conveyance
                                    contemplated by this paragraph to a person
                                    or entity who has experience in the
                                    operation of motels and who is, in the sole
                                    judgment of Licensor, of good character and
                                    reputation and capable, financially and
                                    otherwise, of performing the duties and
                                    obligations of Licensee hereunder. Any
                                    approval by Licensor of



                                      -6-
 
<PAGE>   7

                                    such transfer or assignment shall be
                                    subject to the assignee's agreement in
                                    writing to assume and perform all of the
                                    transferor's duties and obligations
                                    hereunder.

                                            (b) In the event of the death of
                                    the Licensee or if the Licensee is a
                                    corporation or similar entity, then in the
                                    event of the death of any stockholder,
                                    investor or similar person of Licensee,
                                    Licensor shall not unreasonably withhold
                                    its consent to a transfer or assignment of
                                    Licensee's interest herein, or if Licensee
                                    is a corporation, the transfer of the
                                    deceased stockholder's stock in such
                                    corporation to a descendant, heir or
                                    legatee of the decedent, who shall in the
                                    sole judgment of Licensor be capable of
                                    performing the duties and obligations of
                                    Licensee hereunder, or to a responsible
                                    bona fide purchaser acceptable to Licensor.
                                    Any approval by Licensor of such transfer
                                    or assignment shall be subject to the
                                    assignee's agreement in writing to assume
                                    and perform all of the transferor's duties
                                    and obligations hereunder.

                                            (c) In the event that a sale, 
                                    assignment, transfer or conveyance of the 
                                    stock of Licensee by the shareholder of 
                                    Licensee is approved in accordance with 
                                    Section 4.10(a) above, Licensor will (i)
                                    amend this Agreement to delete (A) the
                                    provisions of Section 7.2 hereof pertaining
                                    to defaults caused by Gulf (now known as 
                                    ShoLodge, Inc.) and (B) all other references
                                    to Gulf, including, without limitation,
                                    those in Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, and 
                                    7.3 hereof, and to make conforming 
                                    amendments in connection with such 
                                    deletions, and (ii) terminate and cancel 
                                    the Guaranty Agreement except for 
                                    obligations guaranteed by Gulf thereunder
                                    relating to events occurring


                                      -7-
   

<PAGE>   8

                                    prior to the effective date of such sale,
                                    assignment, transfer or conveyance.

                  (p)      deleting the phrase "that consent may be given by
                           any of Licensor's representatives to the board of
                           directors of Gulf or Licensee" as it appears in
                           Section 4.11(b) and inserting in lieu thereof the
                           words "a request for consent shall be made by
                           Licensee in writing addressed to the Secretary of
                           Licensor's parent corporation Shoney's, Inc. and 
                           written approval may be given by the Secretary,
                           Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer of Licensor's
                           parent corporation Shoney's, Inc."

                  (q)      deleting the existing Section 5.1 in its entirety.

                  (r)      deleting the date "October 27, 1991" as it appears
                           in Section 5.2 and inserting in lieu thereof the
                           date "October 25, 1996."

                  (s)      inserting the words ", as amended" immediately
                           following the words "attached hereto" as they appear
                           in the second line of Section 5.3.

                  (t)      deleting the existing Section 5.4 in its entirety.

                  (u)      deleting the existing Section 5.5 in its entirety.

                  (v)      inserting the words "subject to the provisions of
                           Section 4.10" immediately before the words "Gulf
                           will continue" as they appear in the third line of
                           Section 6.1 and deleting the parenthetical "(except
                           any security interests granted to Licensor herein)"
                           as it appears in the sixth and seventh lines of
                           Section 6.1.

                  (w)      deleting the second and third sentences of Section
                           6.3.

                  (x)      deleting Section 6.5 in its entirety.

                  (aa)     deleting the words ", as modified by Section 5.1
                           hereof" as they appear in the last line of Section
                           6.6.



                                      -8-
   
<PAGE>   9

                  (bb)     deleting the words "(except for the payment of any
                           royalty fees) or any other agreement between
                           Licensor and Licensee (including, without
                           limitation, the Security Agreement) executed
                           contemporaneously with the execution of this
                           Agreement" as they appear in Section 7.1(a).

                  (cc)     deleting the existing Section 7.1(f) in its
                           entirety.

                  (dd)     deleting the existing Section 7.1(g) in its
                           entirety.

                  (ee)     deleting the word "report" as it appears in Section
                           7.1(h) and inserting in lieu thereof the word
                           "document."

                  (ff)     deleting the term "ten (10)" as it appears in
                           Section 7.1(j) and inserting the term "thirty (30)"
                           in lieu thereof.

                  (gg)     deleting the words "and the Stock Pledge Agreement"
                           as they appear in the parenthetical in the fourth
                           line of Section 7.2(a).

                  (hh)     deleting the existing Section 7.2(f) in its
                           entirety.

                  (ii)     deleting the existing Section 7.2(g) in its
                           entirety.

                  (jj)     deleting the term "ten (10)" as it appears in
                           Section 7.2(i) and inserting the term "thirty (30)"
                           in lieu thereof.

                  (kk)     deleting the parenthetical "(with the exception of
                           those set forth in Section 7.4(f) hereof)" as it
                           appears in the third and fourth lines of Section
                           7.4(a).

                  (ll)     deleting the words "assignment of all agreements
                           then existing between Licensee and any franchisee,
                           assignment of any leases for Motels in existence on
                           the date hereof and" as they appear in the

   
                                    -9-


<PAGE>   10

                           parenthetical in the last sentence of Section
                           7.4(a).

                  (mm)     deleting the existing Section 7.4(c) in its
                           entirety.

                  (nn)     deleting the existing Section 7.4(d) in its
                           entirety.

                  (oo)     deleting the existing Section 7.4(f) in its
                           entirety.

                  (pp)     deleting the address for Licensor as it appears in
                           Section 8.6 and inserting the following address in
                           lieu thereof:

                                    Shoney's Investments, Inc.
                                    Suite 1400
                                    300 South Fourth Street
                                    Las Vegas, Nevada  89101

         2. Except as herein specifically amended, all terms and
provisions of the Existing License Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect.

         3. This Amendment may be executed simultaneously in two (2) or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         4. The terms of this Amendment shall be interpreted and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada.

         5. The parties hereto agree that the termination of the royalty
payment obligation created by this Amendment pertains only to future royalties
accruing after the date of this Amendment and that Licensee and ShoLodge shall
be liable for the payment of all royalties accrued through and including
October 25, 1996 in accordance with the terms of the Existing License
Agreement. Licensee shall pay such royalties to Licensor in such amounts, at
such times and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Existing License
Agreement.

                     [SIGNATURES APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE]


                                      -10-


<PAGE>   11


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment all
as of the day and date first above written.

                                      LICENSOR:

                                      SHONEY'S INVESTMENTS, INC.

 

                                      By: /s/ John H. Mowbray
                                          ---------------------------
                                          John H. Mowbray

                                      Title: Assistant Secretary

 

                                      LICENSEE:

                                      SHOLODGE FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.

                                      By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                          ---------------------------

                                      Title: President
                                             ------------------------


                                      SHOLODGE, INC.

                                      By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                          ---------------------------
                                           
                                      Title: President
                                             ------------------------



                                     -11-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  Exhibit 10.2

                           WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                  THIS WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT (sometimes herein the
"Agreement") is executed this 25th day of October, 1996, between SHONEY'S 
INVESTMENTS, INC. ("SII") and SHOLODGE, INC. ("ShoLodge").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Stock Purchase and Warrant
Agreement dated as of October 25, 1991 between ShoLodge (then known as Gulf
Coast Development, Inc.) and SII (the "Warrant Agreement"), SII obtained
certain warrants to acquire shares of common stock of ShoLodge (the
"Warrants"); and

                  WHEREAS, the Warrants are evidenced by that certain Warrant
Certificate dated October 25, 1991 (the "Warrant Certificate") executed by
ShoLodge (then known as Gulf Coast Development, Inc.) in favor of SII, the
Warrant Certificate having been executed and issued pursuant to the Warrant
Agreement; and

                  WHEREAS, SII desires to transfer the Warrants to ShoLodge for
the sum of $2,050,000 in good and collected funds, on the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth herein.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the
mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                                  DEFINITIONS

                  1.1  Definitions.  Except as specified otherwise, when used 
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified:

                  "Agreement" shall mean this Warrant Purchase Agreement, as
the same shall be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof.

                  "Warrants" shall mean the warrants to acquire common stock of
ShoLodge evidenced by the Warrant Certificate and to be acquired by ShoLodge
from SII pursuant to this Agreement.

                  1.2  Singular/plural; gender.  Where the context so requires 
or permits, the useof the singular form includes the plural, and use of the 
plural form includes the singular, and the


                                                   


<PAGE>   2



use of any gender includes any and all genders.

                                   ARTICLE II

                       PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE WARRANTS

                  2.1 Purchase and Sale of the Warrants. SII hereby sells,
assigns and delivers to ShoLodge the Warrants, and ShoLodge hereby purchases
the Warrants from SII. Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, SII
has delivered, or caused to be delivered, to ShoLodge a Lost Warrant
Certificate Affidavit, which includes a transfer of rights of SII to the
Warrant Certificate.

                  2.2 Purchase Price for Warrants. In consideration of the
aforesaid sale, assignment and delivery of the Warrants, ShoLodge, in full
payment for the aforesaid sale, assignment and delivery, has paid to SII in
immediately available funds the sum of Two Million Fifty Thousand Dollars
($2,050,000), the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.

                                  ARTICLE III

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SII

                  SII hereby represents and warrants to ShoLodge as follows,
which representations and warranties shall survive the closing of the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement:

                  3.1 Title to the Warrant Certificate.  SII is the true and 
lawful owner and holder of the Warrant Certificate and the Warrants evidenced 
thereby.

                  3.2 Transfer of Warrant Certificate. SII has good right and
lawful authority to transfer and convey the Warrants and to execute the Lost
Warrant Certificate Affidavit to ShoLodge, and the Warrant Certificate and the
Warrants evidenced thereby have not been previously transferred, conveyed or
endorsed to any other person.

                  3.3 No Liens on Warrant Certificate.  The Warrant Certificate
and the Warrants evidenced thereby are free and clear of any and all liens,
encumbrances or security interests of any kind.

                  3.4 Valid and Binding Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a
valid and binding agreement of SII, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
subject as to enforceability to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and to the availability of equitable
remedies.

                  3.5 No Violation. Neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement nor the 


                                      -2-


<PAGE>   3

consummation by SII of the transactions contemplated hereby
violates or conflicts with any agreement or other restriction of any kind to
which either SII is a party or by which SII is bound.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SHOLODGE

                  ShoLodge hereby represents and warrants to SH as follows,
which representations and warranties shall survive the closing of the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement:

                  4.1 Valid and Binding Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a
valid and binding agreement of ShoLodge, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject as to enforceability to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and to the availability of equitable
remedies.

                  4.2 No Violation. Neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement nor the consummation by ShoLodge of the transactions contemplated
hereby violates or conflicts with any agreement or other restriction of any
kind to which Sholodge is as a party or by which ShoLodge is bound.

                                   ARTICLE V

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

                  5.1 Expenses. All fees and expenses incurred by SII in
connection with this Agreement shall be paid by SII. All fees and expenses
incurred by ShoLodge in connection with this Agreement will be paid by
ShoLodge.

                  5.2 Further Assurances. From time to time, at the request of
either party, and without further consideration, SII will execute and deliver
to ShoLodge or ShoLodge will execute and deliver to SII, as the case may be,
such documents and take such action as may reasonably be requested in order to
consummate more effectively the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  5.3 Parties in Interest. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, all the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by the
respective heirs, beneficiaries, personal and legal representatives, successors
and assigns of the parties hereto.

                  5.4 Entire Agreement, Amendments. This Agreement contains the
entire understanding of the parties with respect to this subject matter. There
are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or
undertakings other than those expressly set forth herein. This Agreement
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with
respect to its subject matter. This Agreement may be amended only by a written
instrument 


                                      -3-

<PAGE>   4

duly executed by the parties or their respective successors or assigns.

                  5.5 Headings, etc. The section and paragraph headings
contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not
affect in any way the meaning or interpretations of this Agreement.

                  5.6 Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications hereunder ("Notices") shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given if hand- delivered, sent via overnight delivery service or
mailed (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested) as follows:

                  As to SII:

                           Suite 1400
                           300 South Fourth Street
                           Las Vegas, NV 89101

                  With a copy to:

                           Tuke, Yopp & Sweeney
                           414 Union Street
                           Suite 1100
                           Nashville, TN 37219
                           Attn: Robert P. Felber, Jr., Esq.

                  As to ShoLodge:

                           217 West Main Street
                           Gallatin, TN 37066

                  With a copy to:

                           Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry, PLC
                           414 Union Street
                           Suite 1600
                           Nashville, TN 37219
                           Attn: Patrick L. Alexander, Esq.

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that Notices of change of address shall
only be effective upon receipt. All Notices shall be deemed received on the
date of delivery or, if mailed, on the date appearing on the return receipt
therefore



                                      -4-


<PAGE>   5

                  5.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
simultaneously in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

                  5.8 Severability. If any provision, clause or part of this
Agreement or the application thereof under certain circumstances is held
invalid, the remainder of this Agreement or the application of such provision,
clause or part under other circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

                  5.9 No Reliance. No third party is entitled to rely on any of
the representations, warranties and agreements of any party contained in this
Agreement; the parties to this Agreement assume no liability to any third party
because of any reliance on the representations, warranties and agreements
contained in this Agreement.

                  5.10 Time of Essence.  Time is of the essence in this 
Agreement, and all dates and time periods specified herein shall be strictly 
observed.

                  5.11 Enforcement Expenses.  The prevailing party in any action
commenced due to the breach hereof shall be entitled to recover its costs,
expenses and reasonable attorney's fees incurred in the enforcement of this 
Agreement.



                                      -5-


<PAGE>   6



                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this, Agreement has been duly executed
and by the parties hereto on the date first above written.


                                       SHONEY'S INVESTMENTS, INC



                                       By: /s/ John H. Mowbray
                                           ----------------------------
                                       Title: Assistant Secretary
                                              -------------------------


                                       SHOLODGE, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ----------------------------
                                       Title:  President
                                               ------------------------
                                             

                                      -6-






<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10.3


                               FIFTH AMENDMENT TO
                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

         THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT made and entered into as of
this 18th day of October, 1996, ("this Fifth Amendment"), by and between
SHOLODGE, INC., a Tennessee corporation ("Borrower"); SHONEY'S INN OF LEBANON,
INC., a Tennessee corporation; SHONEY'S INN, INC., a Tennessee corporation;
NASHVILLE AIR ASSOCIATES, INC., a Tennessee corporation; MOORE AND ASSOCIATES,
INC., a Tennessee corporation; SUNSHINE INNS, INC. (successor by change of name
to PenTal Inns, Inc. and successor by merger to Tampa Inn, Inc.), a Tennessee
corporation; LAFLA INN, INC., a Tennessee corporation; SOUTHEAST TEXAS INNS,
INC., a Tennessee corporation; DELAWARE INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation;
ALABAMA LODGING CORPORATION (successor by change of name to Birmingham Inn,
Inc.), a Tennessee corporation; CAROLINA INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation;
MIDWEST INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation; FAR WEST INNS, INC., a Tennessee
corporation; SHONEY'S INN OF BATON ROUGE, a Tennessee general partnership; and
FRONT RANGE SUITES, INC., a Tennessee corporation (individually and
collectively "Co-Obligors"); and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF TENNESSEE, a
national banking corporation ("Lender").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, Borrower and Lender entered into that certain Loan Agreement
dated January 7, 1994 ("the Loan Agreement"), the terms of which are
incorporated herein by this reference;

         WHEREAS, Borrower and Lender entered into that certain First Amendment
to Loan Agreement dated March 21, 1994 ("the First Amendment"), the terms of
which are incorporated herein by this reference;

         WHEREAS, Borrower, Lender, and certain of Co-Obligors entered into
that certain Second Amendment to Loan Agreement dated June 20, 1994 ("the
Second Amendment"), the terms of which are incorporated herein by this
reference;

         WHEREAS, Borrower, Lender, and certain of Co-Obligors entered into
that certain Third Amendment to Loan Agreement dated August 17, 1995 ("the
Third Amendment"), the terms of which are incorporated herein by this
reference;


<PAGE>   2



         WHEREAS, Borrower, Lender, and certain of Co-Obligors entered into
that certain Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated November 14, 1995 ("the
Fourth Amendment"), the terms of which are incorporated herein by this
reference;

         WHEREAS, Co-Obligors are Subsidiaries (as defined in the Loan
Agreement) of Borrower and Co-Obligors have and will directly or indirectly
benefit from extensions of credit made by Lender to Borrower;

         WHEREAS, Borrower and Co-Obligors have requested that Lender consent
to a series of Twenty Five Million to Fifty Million Dollar ($25,000,000 -
$50,000,000) offerings of retail debt from a shelf registration in the maximum
aggregate amount of One Hundred Twenty Five Million Dollars ($125,000,000),
which is to be structured as senior subordinated unsecured Indebtedness, which
is prohibited under the terms of the Loan Agreement, as amended;

         WHEREAS, in order to induce Lender to consent to the above described
issuance of senior unsecured subordinated Indebtedness and amend the Loan
Agreement, as amended, as outlined in this Fifth Amendment, Borrower and
Co-Obligors have made certain representations to Lender; and

         WHEREAS, Lender, in reliance on representations and inducements of
Borrower and Co-Obligors, has agreed to further amend the Loan Agreement as
outlined in this Fifth Amendment.

         NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the agreement of Lender to
amend the Loan Agreement as set out in this Fifth Amendment, the mutual
covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
Lender, relying on the representations and warranties contained in the Loan
Agreement, as amended, agrees to further amend the Loan Agreement as follows:

         1.       Definitions.  All terms used herein will be further
defined in the Loan Agreement, as amended.  The defined terms
"Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio," "Obligations," "Pro Forma Debt
Service," and "Solvent"  will be deleted in their entirety and the
following will be substituted in lieu thereof:



                                       2
<PAGE>   3



                  "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" will mean the quotient obtained
         by dividing (a) the sum of net after tax income, net interest,
         depreciation, amortization, and net rental expenses, by (b) the sum of
         net interest, net rents, the current maturities of long term
         Indebtedness (including any indebtedness of any consolidated
         Affiliate), and capitalized leases.

                  "Obligations" will mean and include the Note and all loans,
         advances, Indebtedness, liabilities, obligations, covenants, and
         duties owing by Borrower to Lender of any kind or nature, present or
         future, whether or not evidenced by any note, guaranty, or other
         instrument, arising under this Agreement or under the Note whether or
         not for the payment of money, whether arising by reason of an
         extension of credit, opening of a letter of credit, loan, lease,
         guaranty, indemnification, or in any other manner, whether direct or
         indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, including
         without limitation, all interest, charges, expenses, fees, attorneys'
         fees, and any other sums chargeable to Borrower under this Agreement
         or any of the other Loan Documents.

                  "Pro Forma Debt Service" will mean the sum of current
         principal maturities of long term Indebtedness and capitalized leases
         plus assumed amortization of the average principal of all outstanding
         revolving credit and line of credit facilities based on a seven (7)
         year amortization.

                  "Solvent" will mean, as to any Person, that such Person has
         capital sufficient to carry on its business and transactions and all
         business and transactions in which it is about to engage and is able
         to pay any of its Indebtedness, or indebtedness, as applicable, as it
         matures and owns property having a value, at fair market value,
         greater than the amount required to pay its Indebtedness, or
         indebtedness, as applicable.

         Section 1 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended to include the
following additional defined terms:



                                       3
<PAGE>   4



                  "Funded Debt" will mean all Indebtedness evidenced by any
         promissory note or other debenture, and obligations or liabilities
         created or arising under any lease if capitalized for General Accepted
         Accounting Principles.

                  "Total Capitalization" will mean Funded Debt of Borrower plus
         Tangible Net Worth of Borrower, on a consolidated basis.

         2. Borrower's Representations and Warranties.  Section 3.5 of the Loan
Agreement, as amended, is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:

                  3.5 Financial Condition. The financial statements of Borrower
         dated July 14, 1996, ("the Financial Statements") which have been
         delivered to Lender present fairly the financial condition of Borrower
         as of the date or dates thereof and are true and correct in all
         material respects, have been prepared in accordance with Generally
         Accepted Accounting Principles consistently applied, and present
         fairly the financial condition of Borrower at the date(s) or for the
         period or periods therein stated. No material adverse change has
         occurred in the financial condition of Borrower since the date(s)
         thereof and no additional borrowings have been made since the date
         thereof, except as disclosed in writing to Lender, or otherwise
         allowed under the provisions of this Agreement.

         Section 3.21 of the Loan Agreement, as amended, (including Exhibit C
referenced therein and attached to the Loan Agreement, as amended) is hereby
deleted in its entirety and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:

                  3.21 Subsidiaries. Attached as Exhibit C is a correct and
         complete list as of the date of the Fifth Amendment of all
         Subsidiaries of Borrower showing, as to each Subsidiary, its name, the
         type of entity, the jurisdiction of its incorporation, or
         organization, and the ownership of the capital stock or partnership
         interest of such Subsidiary owned by Borrower.



                                       4
<PAGE>   5



         3. Borrower's Covenants and Agreements. The last sentence of Paragraph
(a) of Section 4.2 of the Loan Agreement, as amended, and the last sentence of
Paragraph (b) of Section 4.2 of the Loan Agreement, as amended, are hereby
deleted in their entirety and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:

                  The failure of Borrower to keep, observe, perform, or fulfill
         any financial covenant set out in Sections 4.7, 4.8, 4.18, 4.19, 4.20,
         4.21, 4.22, 4.24, 4.26, or 4.27 will be a material failure of Borrower
         to perform.

         Sections 4.7 and 4.8 of the Loan Agreement, as amended, are hereby
deleted in their entirety and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:

                  4.7 Indebtedness. Without the express prior written consent
         of Lender, except for: (i) additional subordinated unsecured
         Indebtedness not in excess of Fifty Seven Million Five Hundred
         Thousand Dollars ($57,500,000), in the aggregate (Fifty Four Million
         Dollars ($54,000,000) of which has been incurred as of the date of the
         Fifth Amendment); (ii) additional senior subordinated unsecured
         Indebtedness not in excess of One Hundred Twenty Five Million Dollars
         ($125,000,000), in the aggregate; provided, that, Borrower will allow
         Lender an opportunity to review the Form S-3 Registration Statement,
         and any supplements or amendments thereto, related to this
         Indebtedness prior to closing and will deliver a draft of this
         documentation to Lender on October 18, 1996, and will deliver any
         revisions thereto to Lender no later than one (1) day following the
         filing of same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; (iii)
         additional unsecured Indebtedness not in excess of Three Million Five
         Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000) to the Bank of Nashville and
         pursuant to terms and conditions no more restrictive than the terms
         and conditions of the Loan (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
         ($1,500,000) of which has been incurred as of the date of the Fifth
         Amendment); (iv) additional acquisition Indebtedness that is secured
         by the assets purchased and is not in excess of the lesser of Five
         Million Dollars ($5,000,000), in the aggregate, or seventy five
         percent (75%) of the total aggregate purchase price; and (v)



                                       5
<PAGE>   6



         additional acquisition Indebtedness incurred to acquire the furniture,
         fixtures, equipment, and other personal property located in any hotel
         owned by Borrower, or any Subsidiary of Borrower, Borrower will not,
         during the term of the Loan, create, incur, assume, or permit to exist
         (except as otherwise allowed by the Loan Agreement) any Indebtedness
         for borrowed money of any description whatsoever (excluding: (a) the
         Obligations; (b) the endorsement of negotiable instruments payable to
         Borrower, or any consolidated Affiliate of Borrower, for deposit or
         collection in the ordinary course of business; and (c) long term (a
         maturity of more than one (1) year) mortgage loans the proceeds of
         which are used to repay the Loan, or any portion thereof. The
         following will not be considered Indebtedness for purposes of the
         calculations in this Section 4.7: (x) any additional Indebtedness
         incurred by Borrower pursuant to advances made under a credit facility
         or line of credit in existence on July 14, 1996, and shown on the
         Financial Statements or otherwise disclosed in writing to Lender; (y)
         any refinancing of any existing Indebtedness, or any Indebtedness that
         is permitted under the Loan Agreement (so long as the refinanced
         amount does not increase and the terms of any refinancing do not
         otherwise violate the terms of the Loan Agreement); and (z)
         Indebtedness incurred by Borrower pursuant to advances made under a
         credit facility or line of credit in existence on the date of the
         Fifth Amendment with First American National Bank (so long as the
         outstanding maximum principal amount does not exceed Ten Million
         Dollars ($10,000,000) and/or First Tennessee Bank National Association
         (so long as the maximum principal amount does not exceed Five Million
         Dollars ($5,000,000)). The total amount of all obligations guaranteed
         in accordance with Section 4.8 of the Loan Agreement will not be
         deemed "Indebtedness" for purposes of making the calculations in this
         Section 4.7.

                  4.8 Guaranties; Loans; Investments.  Borrower will not
         guarantee or be liable in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, 
         or make itself liable in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, 
         or become contingently liable after the date of this Agreement for
         the obligations or indebtedness of any Person or Persons



                                       6
<PAGE>   7



         whomsoever, except for: (i) the endorsement of negotiable instruments
         payable to Borrower for deposit or collection in the ordinary course
         of business; (ii) guaranties of the obligations of Affiliates that are
         included in Borrower's consolidated Financial Statements; and (iii)
         long term (a maturity of more than one (1) year) mortgage loans the
         proceeds of which are used to repay the Loan, or any portion thereof.
         Borrower may also guarantee the obligations of Persons who are not
         Affiliates, provided that such guaranties are in the ordinary course
         of business, are reasonably necessary to promote some portion of
         Borrower's business or the business of its Affiliates and do not
         exceed, in the aggregate, the amount of Four Million Dollars
         ($4,000,000) at any one time. The total amount of all of the
         obligations so guaranteed will not be deemed "Indebtedness" for
         purposes of making the calculations in Section 4.7. Guaranties of any
         obligations which are merely refinances of existing obligations (so
         long as the refinanced amount does not increase) will not be
         prohibited by this Section 4.8. Borrower will not make any loan,
         advance, or extension of credit to any Person who is not an Affiliate
         in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in the aggregate
         (other than a loan in the original principal amount of Eight Hundred
         Forty Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety Seven Dollars ($847,897)
         from Borrower to Don Knight).

         Section 4.9 of the Loan Agreement, as amended, (including Exhibit D
referenced therein and attached to the Loan Agreement, as amended) is hereby
deleted in its entirety and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:

                  4.9 Subsidiaries as Co-Obligors. All Subsidiaries of Borrower
         of which Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries own more than seventy five
         percent (75%) of the outstanding voting stock or partnership interest,
         with the exception of Shoney's Inns Group IV, Inc.; Two Seventeen,
         Inc.; MOBAT, Inc.; MURJAC, Inc.; Security Financial Corporation;
         Airport Inn, Inc.; ShoLodge Franchise Systems, Inc.; Clearwater Inn,
         Inc.; Inn Partners, Inc.; Virginia Inns, Inc. (successor by change of
         name to Richmond Inn, Inc.); Desert Inns, Inc. (successor by



                                       7
<PAGE>   8



         change of name to CFO, Inc.); ShoLodge Beverage Corporation; and all
         general partnerships, limited partnership, and joint ventures in
         existence on the date of the Second Amendment (other than Shoney's Inn
         of Baton Rouge), will be co-obligors of the Obligations. Borrower and
         Co-Obligors represent and warrant that as of the date of the Fifth
         Amendment, these Subsidiaries are as shown on Exhibit D.

         Section 4.18 of the Loan Agreement, as amended, is hereby deleted in
its entirety and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:

                  4.18 Capital Expenditures. Except in the normal course of
         business, consistent with past practice, Borrower will not incur any
         capital expenditures without the consent of Lender other than capital
         expenditures of no more than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) in the
         aggregate for the acquisition, construction, furnishing, and equipping
         of new office facilities of Borrower in Hendersonville, Tennessee. For
         purposes of this covenant, capital expenditures will be computed in
         accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

         Section 4.19 of the Loan Agreement, as amended, is hereby deleted in
its entirety and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:

                  4.19 Current Ratio. Borrower will at all times maintain, on a
         consolidated basis, a ratio of Current Assets to Current Liabilities
         not less than 0 to 1.0, computed quarterly. Provided, however, that
         for purposes of computing this ratio for the quarter ending July 9,
         1995, and for each quarter thereafter through the Maturity Date, all
         outstanding Indebtedness of Borrower under existing revolving credit
         and line of credit facilities with Lender, First American National
         Bank, The Bank of Nashville, and First Tennessee Bank National
         Association will be excluded from "Current Liabilities."

         Section 4.21 of the Loan Agreement, as amended, is hereby deleted in
its entirety and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:



                                       8
<PAGE>   9



                  4.21 Funded Debt to Total Capitalization Ratio.
         Borrower will at all times maintain, on a consolidated
         basis, a ratio of Funded Debt to Total Capitalization
         equal to or less than .7 to 1.0.

         The following Section 4.27 is hereby added to the Loan Agreement, as
amended:

                  4.27 Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth Ratio. Borrower will
         at all times maintain, on a consolidated basis, a ratio of
         Indebtedness (including any indebtedness of any consolidated
         Affiliate), excluding the senior subordinated unsecured Indebtedness
         permitted under Items (i) and (ii) of Section 4.7, to Tangible Net
         Worth of less than 0.75 to 1.0.

         3. Conditions Precedent. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this 
Fifth Amendment, it is understood and agreed that Lender will have no
obligation to fund at any time unless and until the following conditions have
been met and continue to be met, to the reasonable satisfaction of Lender and
its counsel:

                  (a) Lender will have received such documents, instruments,
and agreements, including, but not limited to, the Fifth Amendment and all
modifications and/or amendments thereto, in form satisfactory to Lender, as
Lender will reasonably request to evidence the agreement set out herein;

                  (b) A Certificate of Existence of Borrower and each of
the Co-Obligors (other than Shoney's Inn of Baton Rouge) issued by
the Secretary of State of Tennessee; and

                  (c) Opinion of counsel for Borrower and each of the Co-
Obligors in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.

         4. Costs.  Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable fees and costs
incurred by Lender in connection with the preparation, execution, and delivery
of all documentation reasonably required to evidence the agreement set out
herein, including Lender's counsel fees.

         5. Continuing Representation and Warranty by Borrower and Co-Obligors.
Borrower and Co-Obligors represent and warrant to


                                       9
<PAGE>   10



Lender that all of the covenants, agreements, representations, and warranties
made by Borrower and Co-Obligors in the Loan Agreement, as amended, in any
writing delivered pursuant to the Loan Agreement, as amended, and in this Fifth
Amendment, are true and correct, and have been fully complied with, in all
material respects, as of such date.

         6. Continuing Effect.  Except as specifically set forth in this Fifth
Amendment, the Loan Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment, the Second
Amendment, the Third Amendment, and the Fourth Amendment, and all of the Loan
Documents remain in full force and effect as originally written.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fifth
Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized officers effective as of the
day and year first above written.

                                        LENDER:

                                        First Union National Bank of
                                        Tennessee

                                        By: /s/ Orville W. Kronk
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Orville W. Kronk
                                            Vice President


                                        BORROWER:

                                        ShoLodge, Inc.

                                                    
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------ 
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        CO-OBLIGORS:

                                        Shoney's Inn of Lebanon, Inc.

                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------



                                      10
<PAGE>   11



                                        Leon Moore, President

                                        Shoney's Inn, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------ 
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Nashville Air Associates, Inc.

 
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Moore and Associates, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Sunshine Inns, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------ 
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        LAFLA Inn, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Southeast Texas Inns, Inc.

                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                      11
<PAGE>   12



                                        Delaware Inns, Inc.

                                      
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------ 
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Alabama Lodging Corporation

 
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Carolina Inns, Inc.

 
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Midwest Inns, Inc.

 
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Far West Inns, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                      12
<PAGE>   13


                                        Shoney's Inn of Baton Rouge

                                        By:      Two Seventeen, Inc.
                                                 General Partner

                                                 By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                                     --------------------------
                                                 Its: President
                                                      -------------------------
                                        By:      Inn Partners, Inc.
                                                 General Partner

                                                 By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                                     --------------------------
                                                 Its: President
                                                      -------------------------

                                        Front Range Suites, Inc.

                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10.4

                               SIXTH AMENDMENT TO
                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

         THIS SIXTH AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT made and entered into as of
this 24th day of October, 1996, ("this Sixth Amendment"), by and between
SHOLODGE, INC., a Tennessee corporation ("Borrower"); SHONEY'S INN OF LEBANON,
INC., a Tennessee corporation; SHONEY'S INN, INC., a Tennessee corporation;
NASHVILLE AIR ASSOCIATES, INC., a Tennessee corporation; MOORE AND ASSOCIATES,
INC., a Tennessee corporation; SUNSHINE INNS, INC. (successor by change of name
to PenTal Inns, Inc. and successor by merger to Tampa Inn, Inc.), a Tennessee
corporation; LAFLA INN, INC., a Tennessee corporation; SOUTHEAST TEXAS INNS,
INC., a Tennessee corporation; DELAWARE INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation;
ALABAMA LODGING CORPORATION (successor by change of name to Birmingham Inn,
Inc.), a Tennessee corporation; CAROLINA INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation;
MIDWEST INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation; FAR WEST INNS, INC., a Tennessee
corporation; SHONEY'S INN OF BATON ROUGE, a Tennessee general partnership; and
FRONT RANGE SUITES, INC., a Tennessee corporation (individually and
collectively "Co-Obligors"); and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF TENNESSEE, a
national banking corporation ("Lender").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, Borrower and Lender entered into that certain Loan Agreement
dated January 7, 1994 ("the Loan Agreement"), the terms of which are
incorporated herein by this reference;

         WHEREAS, Borrower and Lender entered into that certain First Amendment
to Loan Agreement dated March 21, 1994 ("the First Amendment"), the terms of
which are incorporated herein by this reference;

         WHEREAS, Borrower, Lender, and certain of Co-Obligors entered into
that certain Second Amendment to Loan Agreement dated June 20, 1994 ("the
Second Amendment"), the terms of which are incorporated herein by this
reference;

         WHEREAS, Borrower, Lender, and certain of Co-Obligors entered into
that certain Third Amendment to Loan Agreement dated August 17, 1995 ("the
Third Amendment"), the terms of which are incorporated herein by this
reference;


<PAGE>   2



         WHEREAS, Borrower, Lender, and certain of Co-Obligors entered into
that certain Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated November 14, 1995 ("the
Fourth Amendment"), the terms of which are incorporated herein by this
reference;

         WHEREAS, Borrower, Lender, and Co-Obligors entered into that certain
Fifth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated October 18, 1996 ("the Fifth
Amendment"), the terms of which are incorporated herein by this reference;

         WHEREAS, Co-Obligors are Subsidiaries (as defined in the Loan
Agreement) of Borrower and Co-Obligors have and will directly or indirectly
benefit from extensions of credit made by Lender to Borrower;

         WHEREAS, Borrower and Co-Obligors have requested that Lender make an
additional loan to Borrower in the original principal amount of Two Million
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000) on the terms and conditions of the
Loan Agreement, as amended, and upon the terms and conditions of this Sixth
Amendment;

         WHEREAS, in order to induce Lender to extend the above described
additional credit to Borrower and amend the Loan Agreement, as amended, as
outlined in this Sixth Amendment, Borrower and Co-Obligors have made certain
representations to Lender; and

         WHEREAS, Lender, in reliance on representations and inducements of
Borrower and Co-Obligors, has agreed to make this additional Two Million Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000) loan to Borrower and further amend the
Loan Agreement as provided in this Sixth Amendment.

         NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the agreement of Lender to
amend the Loan Agreement as set out in this Sixth Amendment, the mutual
covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
Lender, relying on the representations and warranties contained in the Loan
Agreement, as amended, agrees to further amend the Loan Agreement as follows:

         1.       Definitions.  All terms used herein will be further
defined in the Loan Agreement, as amended.



                                       2
<PAGE>   3



         2.       The Loan.  Section 2.1 of the Loan Agreement, as amended,
is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following is substituted
in lieu thereof:

                  2.1      Evidence of Indebtedness; Repayment.

                           (a) The Loan will be evidenced by the Note, which
         will include: (i) Promissory Note dated November 14, 1995, in the
         original principal amount of Twenty Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000)
         made and executed by Borrower and Co-Obligors, payable to Lender and
         having been delivered to Lender by Borrower and Co-Obligors (other
         than Carolina Inns, Inc., Midwest Inns, Inc., Far West Inns, Inc.,
         Shoney's Inn of Baton Rouge, and Front Range Suites, Inc.); (ii)
         Addendum to Promissory Note dated December 27, 1995, executed by
         Carolina Inns, Inc., Midwest Inns, Inc., Far West Inns, Inc., and
         Shoney's Inn of Baton Rouge, as additional co-obligors; (iii) Second
         Addendum to Promissory Note dated October 18,1996, executed by Front
         Range Suites, Inc., as an additional co-obligor; and (iv) First
         Amendment to Promissory Note of even date, wherein the principal
         amount of the Note is increased to Twenty Seven Million Five Hundred
         Thousand Dollars ($27,500,000) made and executed contemporaneously
         herewith by Borrower and Co- Obligors, payable to Lender and having
         been delivered to Lender by Borrower and Co-Obligors. Interest on
         LIBOR Rate Loans will be payable on the earlier of quarterly (i.e.
         January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1) or the last day of the
         Interest Period. Interest on Prime Rate Loans will be payable
         quarterly (i.e. January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1). The entire
         outstanding principal amount of the Note, plus all accrued and unpaid
         interest, will be due and payable on or before the Maturity Date. The
         Loan will be repayable in accordance with the additional terms set out
         in the Note.

                           (b) So long as no Event of Default has occurred and
         is continuing hereunder, and so long as no event has occurred that
         with the giving of notice, the passage of time or both, will
         constitute an Event of Default hereunder, and, subject to the
         restrictions set forth herein, Borrower may borrow, repay, and
         re-borrow



                                       3
<PAGE>   4



         funds under the Loan as needed, so long as the maximum principal
         amount outstanding does not exceed Twenty Seven Million Five Hundred
         Thousand Dollars ($27,500,000) during the time period beginning on the
         date hereof, and except as hereinafter provided, ending on the
         Maturity Date. Provided, however, Borrower will be required to make a
         mandatory prepayment in the principal amount of Two Million Five
         Hundred Thousand ($2,500,000) on November 22,1996; Borrower will not
         be permitted to re- borrow this Two Million Five Hundred Thousand
         Dollars ($2,500,000) and thereafter the maximum principal amount that
         may be outstanding under the Note at anytime will be reduced to Twenty
         Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000).

         3. Conditions Precedent.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Sixth Amendment, it is understood and agreed that Lender will have no
obligation to fund at any time unless and until the following conditions have
been met and continue to be met, to the reasonable satisfaction of Lender and
its counsel:

                  (a) Lender will have received such documents, instruments,
and agreements, including, but not limited to, the Sixth Amendment and all
modifications and/or amendments thereto, in form satisfactory to Lender, as
Lender will reasonably request to evidence the agreement set out herein, which
will include a First Amendment to Promissory Note, in form acceptable to
Lender;

                  (b) A Certificate of Existence of Borrower and each of
the Co-Obligors (other than Shoney's Inn of Baton Rouge) issued by
the Secretary of State of Tennessee; and

                  (c) Opinion of counsel for Borrower and each of the Co-
Obligors in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.

         4. Costs.  Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable fees and costs 
incurred by Lender in connection with the preparation, execution, and delivery
of all documentation reasonably required to evidence the agreement set out
herein, including Lender's counsel fees.

         5. Continuing Representation and Warranty by Borrower and Co-Obligors.
Borrower and Co-Obligors represent and warrant to Lender that all of the
covenants, agreements, representations, and


                                       4
<PAGE>   5




warranties made by Borrower and Co-Obligors in the Loan Agreement, as amended,
in any writing delivered pursuant to the Loan Agreement, as amended, and in
this Sixth Amendment, are true and correct, and have been fully complied with,
in all material respects, as of such date.

         6. Continuing Effect.  Except as specifically set forth in this Sixth
Amendment, the Loan Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment, the Second
Amendment, the Third Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, and the Fifth Amendment,
and all of the Loan Documents remain in full force and effect as originally
written.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Sixth
Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized officers effective as of the
day and year first above written.

                                        LENDER:

                                        First Union National Bank of
                                        Tennessee

                                        By: /s/ Orville W. Kronk
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Orville W. Kronk
                                            Vice President


                                        BORROWER:

                                        ShoLodge, Inc.

                                                    
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------ 
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        CO-OBLIGORS:

                                        Shoney's Inn of Lebanon, Inc.

                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                      5
<PAGE>   6




                                        Shoney's Inn, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------ 
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Nashville Air Associates, Inc.

 
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Moore and Associates, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Sunshine Inns, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------ 
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        LAFLA Inn, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Southeast Texas Inns, Inc.

                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                      6
<PAGE>   7



                                        Delaware Inns, Inc.

                                      
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------ 
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Alabama Lodging Corporation

 
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Carolina Inns, Inc.

 
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Midwest Inns, Inc.

 
                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Far West Inns, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President


                                        Shoney's Inn of Baton Rouge

                                        By:      Two Seventeen, Inc.
                                                 General Partner


                                      7
<PAGE>   8



                                                 By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                                     --------------------------
                                                 Its: President
                                                      -------------------------
                                        By:      Inn Partners, Inc.
                                                 General Partner

                                                 By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                                     --------------------------
                                                 Its: President
                                                      -------------------------

                                        Front Range Suites, Inc.

                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Leon Moore, President




                                      8
<PAGE>   9
                       FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROMISSORY NOTE

                                  $27,500,000

Nashville, Tennessee                                           October 24, 1996

         WHEREAS, on November 14, 1995, SHOLODGE, INC. ("Borrower"); SHONEY'S
INN OF LEBANON, INC., SHONEY'S INN, INC., NASHVILLE AIR ASSOCIATES, INC., MOORE
AND ASSOCIATES, INC., SUNSHINE INNS, INC. (successor by name change to PenTal
Inns, Inc. and successor by merger to Tampa Inn, Inc.), LAFLA INN, INC.,
SOUTHEAST TEXAS INNS, INC., DELAWARE INNS, INC., ALABAMA LODGING CORPORATION
(successor by name change to Birmingham Inns, Inc.), as co-obligors
(individually and collectively "Co-Obligors"), executed a certain Promissory
Note in the original principal amount of Twenty Five Million Dollars
($25,000,000),payable to FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF TENNESSEE ("Payee") ("the
Note");

         WHEREAS, on December 27, 1995, CAROLINA INNS, INC., MIDWEST INNS,
INC., FAR WEST INNS, INC., and SHONEY'S INN OF BATON ROUGE, as co-obligors
(included in the defined term, individually and collectively, "Co-Obligors"),
executed an Addendum to Promissory Note (included in the defined term "the
Note");

         WHEREAS, on October 18, 1996, FRONT RANGE SUITES, INC., as co-obligor
(included in the defined term, individually and collectively, "Co-Obligors"),
executed a Second Addendum to Promissory Note (included in the defined term
"the Note"); and

         WHEREAS, Borrower and Co-Obligors have requested that Payee make an
additional loan to Borrower in the original principal amount of Two Million
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000) on the terms and conditions of that
certain Loan Agreement dated January 7, 1994, as amended by: (i) First
Amendment to Loan Agreement dated March 21, 1994, (ii) Second Amendment to Loan
Agreement dated June 20, 1994 , (iii) Third Amendment to Loan Agreement dated
August 17, 1995, (iv) Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated November 14,
1995, (v) Fifth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated October 18, 1996, and
(vi)Sixth Amendment to Loan Agreement of even date with this First Amendment to
Promissory Note.

         NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the agreement of Payee to
accept this First Amendment to Promissory Note, the mutual covenants and
agreements hereinafter set forth and other good and


<PAGE>   10



valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the Note is amended as follows:

         Borrower, Co-Obligors, and Payee hereby delete the first paragraph of
the Note in its entirety and substitute the following in lieu thereof:

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, SHOLODGE, INC., a
         Tennessee corporation ("Borrower"); SHONEY'S INN OF LEBANON, INC., a
         Tennessee corporation; SHONEY'S INN, INC., a Tennessee corporation;
         NASHVILLE AIR ASSOCIATES, INC., a Tennessee corporation; MOORE AND
         ASSOCIATES, INC., a Tennessee corporation; SUNSHINE INNS, INC.
         (successor by change of name to PenTal Inns, Inc. and successor by
         merger to Tampa Inn, Inc.), a Tennessee corporation; LAFLA INN, INC.,
         a Tennessee corporation; SOUTHEAST TEXAS INNS, INC., a Tennessee
         corporation; DELAWARE INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation; ALABAMA
         LODGING CORPORATION (successor by change of name to Birmingham Inn,
         Inc.), a Tennessee corporation; FAR WEST INNS, INC., a Tennessee
         corporation; SHONEY'S INN OF BATON ROUGE, a Tennessee general
         partnership; and FRONT RANGE SUITES, INC., a Tennessee corporation
         (individually and collectively "Co- Obligors"), promise to pay to the
         order of FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF TENNESSEE, a national banking
         corporation ("Payee"; Payee and/or any subsequent holder(s) hereof,
         "Holder"), at Payee's address P.O. Box 2648, Nashville, Tennessee
         37219-0648, or at such other place as Holder will designate from time
         to time in writing, the principal sum of Twenty Seven Million Five
         Hundred Thousand Dollars ($27,500,000), or so much thereof as may have
         been advanced, together with interest on the unpaid principal balance
         of such indebtedness from time to time outstanding from the date
         hereof at the rates hereinafter set forth, in lawful money of the
         United States of America, such principal and interest being due and
         payable as provided in the Note.

         Section 3 of the Note is hereby deleted in its entirety and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof:

                  3. Payment Terms.  Interest on LIBOR Rate Loans will be
         payable the earlier of quarterly (i.e. January 1, April 1, July 1, and
         October 1) or the last day of each Interest Period.  Interest on Prime 
         Rate Loans will be payable


                                       2
<PAGE>   11



         quarterly (i.e. January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1). The entire
         outstanding principal amount of the Note, plus all accrued and unpaid
         interest, penalties, and fees will be due and payable on or before the
         Maturity Date. Borrower will be required to make a mandatory
         prepayment in the principal amount of Two Million Five Hundred
         Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000) on November 22, 1996; Borrower will not
         be permitted to re-borrow this Two Million Five Hundred Thousand
         Dollars ($2,500,000) and thereafter the maximum principal amount that
         may be outstanding under the Note at anytime will be reduced to Twenty
         Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000).

         Except as specifically set out in this First Amendment, the Note will
remain in full force and effect as originally written.

         SIGNED, SEALED, AND DELIVERED, as of the 24th day of October, 1996.

                                         BORROWER:

                                         ShoLodge, Inc.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President
          
 
                                         CO-OBLIGORS:

                                         Shoney's Inn of Lebanon, Inc.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President


                                         Shoney's Inn, Inc.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President 

                                       3
<PAGE>   12



                                         Nashville Air Associates, Inc.

                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President

                                         Moore and Associates, Inc.

                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President

                                         Sunshine Inns, Inc.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President

                                         LAFLA Inn, Inc.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             -------------------------------- 
                                             Leon Moore, President
 
                                         Southeast Texas Inns, Inc.

 
                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President

                                         Delaware Inns, Inc.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President

                                         Alabama Lodging Corporation


                                       4
<PAGE>   13





                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President

                                         Carolina Inns, Inc.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             -------------------------------- 
                                             Leon Moore, President     

                                         Midwest Inns, Inc.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President

                                         Far West Inns, Inc.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President

                                         Shoney's Inn of Baton Rouge

                                         By: Two Seventeen, Inc.
                                             General Partner

                                             By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                                 ----------------------------
                                             Its: President
                                                 ----------------------------   

                                         By: Inn Partners, Inc.
                                             General Partner



                                       5
<PAGE>   14
                                             By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                                 ----------------------------
                                             Its: President
                                                 ----------------------------   



                                         Front Range Suites, Inc.

                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                             ---------------------------------
                                             Leon Moore, President




         The undersigned Payee hereby consents to this First amendment to
Promissory Note.

                                         PAYEE:

                                         First Union National Bank of
                                         Tennessee

                                         By: /s/ Orville W. Kronk
                                             ---------------------------------
                                             Orville W. Kronk
                                             Vice President


                                       6

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  Exhibit 10.5

                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

         This Loan Agreement ("Agreement") entered into the 6th day of November,
1996, by and among SHOLODGE, INC., a Tennessee corporation ("Borrower"),
SHONEY'S INN OF LEBANON, INC., a Tennessee corporation, SHONEY'S INN, INC., a
Tennessee corporation, NASHVILLE AIR ASSOCIATES, INC., a Tennessee corporation,
MOORE AND ASSOCIATES, INC., a Tennessee corporation, SUNSHINE INNS, INC., a
Tennessee corporation, LAFLA INN, INC., a Tennessee corporation, SOUTHEAST
TEXAS INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation, DELAWARE INNS, INC., a Tennessee
corporation, ALABAMA LODGING CORPORATION, a Tennessee corporation, FRONT RANGE
SUITES, INC., a Tennessee corporation, MIDWEST INNS, INC., a Tennessee
corporation, FAR WEST INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation, CAROLINA INNS, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation, and SHONEY'S INN OF BATON ROUGE, a Tennessee general
partnership (collectively the "Co-Obligors" and individually a "Co-Obligor"),
jointly and severally, and NATIONSBANK OF TENNESSEE, N.A. ("Lender"), a
national banking association.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, to evidence the indebtedness owed by Borrower and Co-
Obligors to Lender, Borrower and Co-Obligors executed and delivered to Lender a
promissory note, being a Line of Credit Note having an original maximum
principal amount of $10,000,000 dated November 6, 1996; and

         WHEREAS, Lender and Borrower and Co-Obligors hereby enter into a
comprehensive agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of Borrower's
and Co-Obligor's line of credit;

         NOW, THEREFORE, as an inducement to cause Lender to extend credit to
Borrower and Co-Obligors, and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are acknowledged, it is agreed as follows:

         1. Line of Credit.  Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, 
Lender shall make a line of credit (the "Line of Credit") available to Borrower
and Co-Obligors under the following terms:


<PAGE>   2

                  a. Amount.  The principal indebtedness of Borrower and
         Co-Obligors to Lender under the Line of Credit shall not
         exceed Ten Million and No/100 Dollars ($10,000,000).

                  b. Interest Rate.  The principal amount outstanding
         under the Line of Credit shall bear interest at Borrower's
         option at either (i) the Lender's Prime Rate, as it may change
         from time to time, or (ii) Lender's LIBOR Rate for 30, 60, or
         90-day periods (a "LIBOR Period") plus 190 basis points.  As
         more particularly described below, Borrower may elect that a portion
         of the outstanding principal balance of the Line of Credit bear
         interest at the Prime Rate and that a portion bear interest at a LIBOR
         Rate plus the spread described above.

         i. As used in this Agreement, Lender's "Prime Rate" is the fluctuating
         rate of interest established by Lender from time to time as its "Prime
         Rate", whether or not such rate shall be otherwise published. Such
         Prime Rate is established by Lender as an index or base rate and may
         or may not at any time be the best or lowest rate charged by Lender on
         any loan. If at any time or from time to time the Prime Rate increases
         or decreases, then the rate of interest hereunder shall be
         correspondingly increased or decreased effective on the day on which
         any such increase or decrease of the Prime Rate changes, unless
         otherwise herein provided. In the event that Lender, during the term
         hereof, shall abolish or abandon the practice of establishing a Prime
         Rate, or should the same become unascertainable, Lender shall
         designate a reasonably comparable reference rate which shall be deemed
         to be the Prime Rate.

         ii. For purposes hereof, the "LIBOR Rate" shall mean the rate per
         annum announced by Lender as its LIBOR Rate for a period equal to the
         length of such LIBOR Period as adjusted, without duplication, to
         reflect Lender's reserve requirements, all as calculated and announced
         from time to time by Lender, whose announcement shall be binding
         absent manifest error. To elect the LIBOR Rate for a LIBOR Period,
         Borrower shall deliver a written election to Lender at least three (3)
         business days in advance of the effective date of such election, which
         notice shall specify which LIBOR Period is selected and the amount of
         the Line of Credit that is to bear interest based upon the 


                                       2
 


<PAGE>   3

         LIBOR Rate. Interest shall be calculated based upon a 360-day year in 
         the case of LIBOR Rate loans and 365 days in the case of Prime Rate 
         loans and actual days elapsed. If the adoption of or change in any
         applicable legal requirement or any change in the interpretation or 
         administration thereof by any governmental authority or compliance by 
         the Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the 
         force of law) from any central bank or other governmental authority, 
         shall at any time as a result of any portion of the principal balance 
         of the Line of Credit being maintained on the LIBOR Rate:

                  A. Subject the Lender to any tax (including without limitation
         any United States Interest Equalization Tax), levy, impost, duty,
         charge, fee (collectively "Taxes"), other than income and franchise
         taxes of the United States and its political subdivisions; or

                  B. Change the basis of taxation on payments due from the
         Borrower and Co-Obligors to the Lender under any LIBOR Rate borrowing
         (otherwise than by a change in the rate of taxation of the overall net
         income of the Lender); or

                  C. Impose, modify, increase or make applicable any reserve
         requirement, special deposit requirement or similar requirement
         (including, but not limited to, state law requirements and Regulation
         D) against assets held by the Lender, or against deposits or accounts
         in or for the account of the Lender, or against any loans made by the
         Lender, or against any other funds, obligations or other property
         owned or held by Lender; or

                  D. Impose on the Lender any other condition regarding any
         LIBOR Rate borrowing;

         and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to the
         Lender of agreeing to make or of making, renewing or maintaining such
         borrowing on the basis of the LIBOR Rate, or reduce the amount of
         principal or interest received by the Lender, then, upon demand by the
         Lender, the Borrowers and Co-Obligors shall pay to the Lender, from
         time to time as specified by the Lender, additional amounts which
         shall 


                                       3
 

<PAGE>   4

         reasonably compensate the Lender for such increased cost or
         reduced amount relating to LIBOR Rate borrowings outstanding after
         Lender's demand. The Lender's reasonable determination of the amount
         of any such increased cost, increased reserve requirement or reduced
         amount shall be conclusive and binding, absent manifest error.

(iv) In no event shall the interest rate charged on the Line of Credit
exceed the maximum rate allowed under applicable law. Any amounts paid in
excess of the maximum lawful rate shall be applied to reduce the principal
amount of Borrower's and Co-Obligors' obligations to Lender or shall be
refunded to Borrower and Co-Obligors, at Lender's election. After maturity (by
acceleration or otherwise), the principal amount under the Line of Credit shall
bear interest at the rate of interest in effect immediately before maturity
plus four percent (4%).

                  c. Payments.  Payment of all obligations arising under
         the Line of Credit shall be made as follows:

                           (1) Interest. Interest on the outstanding principal
                  balance under the Line of Credit shall be paid in arrears on
                  the 1st day of each quarter beginning on December 1, 1996
                  except, in the case of a LIBOR Rate borrowing at Borrower and
                  Co-Obligors' option, interest shall be payable on the earlier 
                  of the quarter as set forth above or at the end of the 
                  applicable LIBOR Period.

                           (2) Voluntary Prepayment. Voluntary prepayments of
                  principal or accrued interest may be made, in whole or in
                  part, at any time without penalty, except, in the case of a
                  LIBOR Rate borrowing, a payment prior to the end of the LIBOR
                  Period will require Borrower and Co-Obligors to pay Lender
                  any breakage costs associated with such prepayment.

                           (3) Mandatory Prepayment.  Borrower and Co-Obligors
                  must immediately prepay any amount by which the principal
                  balance of the Line of Credit exceeds $10,000,000.


                                       4
 


<PAGE>   5

                          (4) All Amounts Due.  All remaining principal,
                  interest and expenses outstanding under the Line of
                  Credit shall become due January 31, 1997.

                  d.   Use of Proceeds.  Advances under the Line of Credit
         shall be used by Borrower and Co-Obligors for working capital,
         to finance the construction of new inns and for a one-time
         repurchase of warrants with a repurchase price not to exceed
         $7,500,000, and for no other purpose.

                  e.  Revolving Loans; Disbursements.  During the term of
         this Agreement, Borrower and Co-Obligors may from time to time
         request, repay and reborrow advances under the Line of Credit,
         provided that the total principal amount outstanding under the
         Line of Credit shall not at any time exceed $10,000,000 and
         that no Default (as hereinafter defined) or any event which
         with the giving of notice, the passage of time, or both, would
         constitute a Default, then exists hereunder.  Disbursements
         shall be made as follows:

                           (1) Disbursement Requests. Lender may honor requests
                  for advances made on Borrower's and Co-Obligors' behalf by
                  Borrower's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
                  Chief Accounting Officer, or other officer designated by
                  Borrower, whether such request is made in person, by
                  telephone, or in writing. Lender may require that requests
                  for advances be submitted in writing, and may also require
                  that Borrower submit with such requests written warranties or
                  other reasonable assurances acceptable to Lender showing that
                  Borrower and Co-Obligors are not then in default hereunder
                  and Borrower is otherwise entitled to receive the requested
                  advance.

                           (2)  Funding.  As long as Borrower and Co-Obligors
                  meet the conditions for funding stated herein, Lender
                  shall fund advances requested under the Line of Credit
                  within one (1) business day of the actual receipt of
                  Borrower's request by Lender. All funds shall be disbursed
                  directly into an account maintained by Borrower with Lender.
                  Borrower and Co-Obligors agree that if Lender elects to fund
                  any requested advance(s) sooner after requested than is
                  required of Lender hereunder, 


                                       5



<PAGE>   6

                  Lender may nevertheless use the entire response period allowed
                  hereunder upon receipt of any subsequent request, at Lender's
                  sole option.

                           (3) Conditions to Funding. Lender shall not be
                  obligated to make any advance under the Line of Credit unless
                  all of the following conditions are satisfied as of the time
                  of the request and of funding.

                                    A. All of the Loan Documents (as
                           hereinafter defined) provided for herein (or
                           otherwise requested by Lender pursuant to the
                           "Further Assurances" provision hereof) to evidence
                           the Line of Credit must have been executed and
                           delivered to Lender.

                                    B. All warranties made in the Loan
                           Documents must be true as of the dates of the
                           advance request and as of the date of funding
                           thereof except those that by their terms speak of a
                           particular date (the submission of a request for
                           advance by Borrower shall be deemed a reaffirmation
                           of such warranties as of the date of the request).

                                    C. All covenants made in the Loan Documents
                           must have been complied with as of the dates of the
                           advance request and funding thereof.

                                    D. Borrower and Co-Obligors must not
                           otherwise be in Default hereunder and no condition
                           shall exist which, with the giving of notice, the
                           passing of time, or both, would constitute a Default
                           hereunder.

                           (4) Advance Not Waiver. Lender's making of any
                  advance under the Line of Credit that it is not obligated to
                  make under Paragraph 1e(3) above shall not be construed as a
                  waiver of Lender's right to withhold future advances, declare
                  a Default, or otherwise demand strict compliance with this
                  Agreement.

                           (5) Draws by Debit Memorandum.  Lender may, without
                  prior notice, draw amounts available under the Line of


                                       6


<PAGE>   7

                  Credit to pay any obligation of Borrower and Co-Obligors
                  to Lender that is not timely paid.  Lender shall notify
                  Borrower within two (2) days of the taking of any such
                  action.

                           (6) LIBOR Rate Election. No more than three (3)
                  LIBOR Rate borrowings may be outstanding at any time. Each
                  LIBOR Rate draw must be at least One Million and 00/100
                  Dollars ($1,000,000) and, if greater, shall be in $250,000
                  increments.

         2.  Loan Documents.  Concurrently with the execution hereof,
Borrower and Co-Obligors shall deliver to Lender the following documents in form
and substance acceptable to Lender (the "Loan Documents"):

                           (a) This Agreement;

                           (b) Line of Credit Note made by Borrower and Co-
                  Obligors in the principal amount of $10,000,000 payable
                  to the order of Lender ("Line of Credit Note");

                           (c) Certificates of Borrower's and Co-Obligors'
                  (other than Shoney's Inn of Baton Rouge) Good Standing
                  under Tennessee law issued by the Tennessee Secretary of
                  State;

                           (d) Certified copy of resolutions of Borrower's and
                  each Co-Obligor's Board of Directors authorizing a named
                  officer of Borrower and each Co-Obligor to enter into this
                  Agreement and to execute all related documents on Borrower's
                  and Co-Obligors' behalf;

                           (e) The Lender shall have received Borrower's 10Q
                  Report for the period ended July 14, 1996 or such other
                  information as Lender may reasonably require; and

                           (f) Legal opinion executed by Borrower's counsel
                  addressing such matters as Lender shall require.

         3. Capacity. Borrower and each Co-Obligor (other than Shoney's Inn of
Baton Rouge) warrants that each is and shall remain a duly organized Tennessee
corporation in good standing under the 


                                       7

<PAGE>   8

laws of Tennessee, and that Borrower and each Co-Obligor is and shall remain
duly qualified to do business in each state other than Tennessee in which the
failure to qualify would result in a material adverse impact on Borrower or any
Co-Obligor or their business. Borrower and each Co-Obligor warrants that its
execution of and performance under this Agreement and all related documents are
permitted under and will not violate any provision of Borrower's and each
Co-Obligor's Charter or By-Laws (or, as to Shoney's Inn of Baton Rouge, its
partnership agreement) or any agreement to which Borrower or any Co-Obligor is
a party or any law, rule, ordinance, regulation or Court Order to which
Borrower or any Co-Obligor is subject. Borrower and each Co-Obligor further
warrants that the execution of all necessary resolutions and other
prerequisites of corporate action or partnership, as applicable, have been duly
performed so that the individual executing this Agreement and related documents
on behalf of Borrower and each Co-Obligor is duly authorized to bind Borrower
and each Co-Obligor by his signature.

         4. No Subsidiaries.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4, Borrower and
Co-Obligors warrant that they presently have no subsidiaries or interests in
any partnership or other business entity.

         5. Corporate Records.  Borrower and each Co-Obligor covenants to 
maintain current corporate minute books and stock ledgers and agree to allow
Lender to inspect the same at any time during normal business hours upon
reasonable notice.

         6.  Accounting.  Borrower and Co-Obligors warrant that Borrower's and 
Co-Obligors' accounting complies with applicable generally acceptable
accounting principles ("GAAP") and covenant that they will continue to apply
GAAP throughout the life of the loan.

         7. ERISA. Borrower and Co-Obligors have not incurred and shall not
incur a material accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") and have
not incurred any material liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
established under ERISA (or any successor thereto under ERISA) in connection
with any retirement plan, and no reportable event has occurred and is
continuing or shall occur with respect to any such plans.


                                       8

<PAGE>   9

         8. Books, Records and Property. Borrower and Co-Obligors covenant to
maintain financial books and records in a manner that will allow financial
statements to be prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, and
shall allow Lender to inspect such records during normal business hours upon
reasonable notice. Lender has full authority to inspect all property of
Borrower and Co-Obligors during normal business hours upon reasonable notice.

         9. Insurance. In addition to any specific insurance requirements
contained herein or in any other document pertaining to the Line of Credit,
Borrower and Co-Obligors agree to generally maintain adequate insurance against
casualty and liability losses in accordance with customary practices in
Borrower's and Co-Obligors' field of enterprise. Borrower and Co-Obligors
agree to provide Lender with proof of the existence of such insurance upon
demand.

         10. Chief Executive Office.  Borrower and Co-Obligors warrant
that the address designated herein to which notices are to be sent
to Borrower and Co-Obligors is Borrower's and Co-Obligors' chief executive
office. Borrower and Co-Obligors agree to notify Lender in writing of any
change thereof and agree that the same shall not in any event be moved outside
Sumner County, Tennessee, without Lender's prior written consent.

         11. No Defaults Under Other Agreements. Borrower and Co-Obligors
warrant that neither Borrower nor any Co-Obligor, to the best of Borrower's and
Co-Obligors' knowledge, information, and belief, nor any other party thereto is
presently in default beyond any applicable notice and/or cure periods in any
material respect under any material contract or agreement to which Borrower or
any Co-Obligor is a party, and no condition presently exists which, with the
giving of notice, the passing of time, or both, would cause such a default.

         12. Disclosure of Litigation. Except as disclosed on Schedule 12,
there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending (including, but not limited
to, matters relating to any Environmental Laws), or, to the best of knowledge
of Borrower or any Co-Obligor, threatened, against or affecting Borrower or any
Co-Obligor or involving the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan
Documents, at law or in equity, or before any governmental or administrative
agency, except actions, suits and proceedings 


                                       9

<PAGE>   10

that are covered by insurance in all material respects and that, if adversely
determined, would not impair the ability of Borrower or any Co-Obligor to
perform each and every one of its obligations under this Agreement; or
materially and adversely affect Borrower's or any Co-Obligor's business or
Borrower's or any Co-Obligor's ability to carry on its business substantially
in the manners now conducted (individually or in the aggregate).

         13. Financial Statements.

                  a. Warranties. Borrower and Co-Obligors warrant that
         Borrower's consolidated quarterly and annual financial statements
         delivered to Lender in connection with the Line of Credit have been
         prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
         consistently applied, and present fairly the financial condition of
         Borrower as of the date or dates thereof and are true and correct in
         all material respect. Without limiting the foregoing, Borrower and Co-
         Obligors warrant that such financial statements disclose all known
         material contingent liabilities as well as material direct
         liabilities. Borrower and Co-Obligors acknowledge that Lender has
         advanced (or shall advance) the Line of Credit in reliance upon such
         financial statements, and Borrower and Co- Obligors warrant that no
         material adverse change has occurred in the financial condition of
         Borrower and Co-Obligors as set forth in the most recent financial
         statements.

                  b. Reporting Requirements. Borrower covenants to furnish
         Lender annual audited financial statements and annual budget and cash
         flow projections for the upcoming year within one hundred twenty (120)
         days of the close of the preceding fiscal year. Each audit must be
         performed by a certified public accountant reasonably acceptable to
         Lender, at Borrower's expense. In addition, Borrower covenants to
         furnish to Lender, on or before the forty-fifth (45th) day following
         the end of each fiscal quarter, income statements, cash flow
         statements and balance sheets together with an officer's certificate
         executed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer or
         chief accounting officer of Borrower certifying compliance with the
         financial covenants set forth herein and further stating that, to the
         best of his knowledge, information and belief, no Default exists
         hereunder as of the date of the certification. Borrower and
         Co-Obligors

                                      10


<PAGE>   11

         also covenant to furnish to Lender, upon demand, copies of
         Borrower's and Co-Obligors' tax returns and additional financial
         information in form and substance acceptable to Lender.

         14. Notice of Changes in Financial Condition and Defaults. Borrower
and Co-Obligors covenant to give Lender prompt written notice of (i) the
creation or discovery of any material additional contingent liability or the
occurrence of any other material adverse change in the financial condition of
Borrower or Co- Obligors, and (ii) the occurrence of any event, or presence of
any condition, which constitutes a Default hereunder or which with the giving
of notice, the passing of time, or both, would constitute a Default. Borrower
and Co-Obligors covenant that they will not change their fiscal year without
obtaining the prior written consent of Lender.

         15. No Unpaid Taxes. Borrower and Co-Obligors have filed all tax
returns and reports required to be filed and have paid all taxes, assessments,
fees and other governmental charges levied upon them or upon any of their
properties or income, which are due and payable, including interest and
penalties, or have provided adequate reserves for the payment thereof, other
than any taxes or assessments that could not impair the ability of Borrower and
Co- Obligors to perform each and every one of their obligations hereunder; or
materially and adversely affect the ability of Borrower or any Co-Obligor to
carry on its business in the manner as now conducted. To the best knowledge of
Borrower and each Co- Obligor, no tax liens have been filed against Borrower,
any Co- Obligor or any of their properties, that could impair the ability of
Borrower or any Co-Obligor to perform each and every one of their obligations
hereunder; or materially and adversely affect the business of Borrower or any
Co-Obligor.

         16. No Untrue or Misleading Representations. Borrower and Co-Obligors
warrant that no information, exhibit or report furnished in writing by Borrower
or a Co-Obligor to Lender in connection with the Line of Credit contains any
untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements contained therein not misleading in any material
respect.



                                      11

<PAGE>   12

         17. Compliance with Law. To the best of their knowledge, Borrower and
Co-Obligors warrant that the business activities of Borrower and each
Co-Obligor are conducted in material compliance with all applicable laws and
regulations. Borrower and Co-Obligors covenant that such activities shall
continue to be so conducted.

         18. Assistance in Litigation.  Borrower and Co-Obligors covenant to,
upon request, cooperatively participate in any proceeding in which Borrower and
Co-Obligors are not an adverse party to Lender and which concerns Lender's
rights regarding the Line of Credit.

         19. Name. Borrower warrants that during the past five (5) years,
Borrower has not been known under or done business under any name other than
the name used by Borrower in executing this Agreement. Borrower and Co-Obligors
agree to give Lender written notice no later than 15 days after a Borrower or
Co-Obligor begins using any name other than that used in executing this
Agreement.

         20. Negative Pledge. Except for any liens permitted under Section 29
hereof, Permitted Encumbrances and easements or minor encumbrances relating to
real estate, Borrower and Co-Obligors covenant and agree that they will not
suffer, permit or grant any lien, security interest, deed of trust, mortgage,
deed to secured debt, pledge, assignment or other collateral assignment of any
of their assets in favor of any party other than Lender without the prior
written consent of Lender. For purposes of this Agreement, "Permitted
Encumbrances" will mean deposits under worker's compensation, unemployment
insurance and social security laws or to secure statutory obligations or surety
or appeal bonds or performance or other similar bonds in the ordinary course of
business; statutory liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, and
materialmen and other similar liens, in respect of liabilities which are not
yet due or which are being contested in good faith (and for which adequate
reserves have been established in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles); Liens for taxes not yet due and payable; and liens for taxes due
and payable, the validity or amount of which is currently being contested in
good faith (and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance
with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) by appropriate proceedings and
as to which foreclosure and other enforcement proceedings will not have been
commenced (unless fully bonded or otherwise effectively stayed).


                                       12


<PAGE>   13


         21. Expenses.  Upon demand, Borrower and Co-Obligors will advance to
Lender or, at Lender's option, reimburse Lender for, the following expenses:

                  a.  Taxes.  All taxes (other than income taxes) that
         Lender may be required to pay because of the Line of Credit;

                  b.  Administration.  All expenses that Lender may incur
         in connection with the preparation, execution, or enforcement
         of this Agreement or of any other document pertaining to the
         Line of Credit;

                  c.  Costs of Collection.  All court costs and other costs
         of collecting any debt, overdraft or other obligation included
         in the Line of Credit;

                  d. Litigation. All costs arising from any litigation,
         investigation, or administrative proceeding (whether or not Lender is
         a party thereto) that Lender may incur as a result of the Line of
         Credit or as a result of Lender's association with Borrower and
         Co-Obligors, including, but not limited to, expenses incurred by
         Lender in connection with a case or proceeding involving Borrower or
         any Co-Obligor under any chapter of the Bankruptcy Code or any
         successor statute thereto;

                  e.  Attorneys Fees.  Reasonable attorneys' fees incurred
         in connection with any of the foregoing.

If Lender pays any of the foregoing expenses, they shall become a part of the
Line of Credit and shall bear interest at the rate of interest then in effect.
This paragraph shall remain in full effect regardless of the full payment of
the Line of Credit, the purported termination of this Agreement, the delivery
of the executed original of this Agreement to Borrower and Co-Obligors, or the
content or accuracy of any representation made by Borrower and Co-Obligors to
Lender; provided, however, Lender may terminate this Paragraph by executing and
delivering to Borrower and Co-Obligors a written instrument of termination
specifically referring to this Paragraph.


                                      13
<PAGE>   14

         22. Further Assurances.  Borrower and Co-Obligors covenant to execute
such other documents that Lender may reasonably deem necessary to further 
evidence the obligations provided for herein.

         23. Default Certificates. Borrower and Co-Obligors covenant to deliver
to Lender, within five (5) business days after request, the certificate of
Borrower, of Co-Obligors or of Borrower's appropriate representative (as
specified by Lender) stating whether, to the best of the person's knowledge,
information, and belief and after due investigation, a Default exists under
this Agreement. The certificate shall describe with particularity any Default
and shall address with particularity any circumstances or subjects described by
Lender in its request. Borrower and Co-Obligors covenant that they will
promptly forward to Lender a copy of any notice of default Borrowers receives
from any party with which any Borrower has a contract, where the amount of such
contract exceeds $250,000.

         24. Recitals.  Borrower and Co-Obligors warrant and agree that the 
recitals set forth at the beginning of this Agreement are true.

         25. No Burdensome Agreements. Borrower and Co-Obligors warrant that
Borrower and each Co-Obligor is not a party to any material contract or
agreement and is not subject to any material contingent liability that does or
may impair the ability of Borrower or any Co-Obligor to perform under the terms
of this Agreement. Borrower and Co-Obligors further warrant that the execution
and performance of this Agreement will not cause a default, acceleration or
other event under any other contract or agreement to which Borrower or any
Co-Obligor or any property of Borrower or any Co-Obligor is subject, and will
not result in the imposition of any charge, penalty, lien or other encumbrance
against any property of Borrower or any Co-Obligor except in favor of Lender.

         26. Legal and Binding Agreement. Borrower and Co-Obligors warrant that
the execution and performance of this Agreement will not violate any judicial
or administrative order or governmental law or regulation, and that this
Agreement is valid, binding and enforceable according to its terms, subject to
bankruptcy and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.



                                      14

<PAGE>   15

         27. No Consent Required. Borrower and Co-Obligors warrant that
Borrower's and Co-Obligors' execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement do not require the consent of or the giving of notice to any third
party including, but not limited to, any other lender, governmental body or
regulatory authority, which has not been obtained.

         28. No Default.  Borrower and Co-Obligors warrant that, as of the
execution of this Agreement, no Default exits hereunder and no condition exists
which, with the giving of notice, the passing of time, or both, would
constitute such a Default.

         29. Negative Covenants.  Without Lender's prior written consent,
Borrower and Co-Obligors shall not do any of the following:

                  a.  Other Debt.  Incur, create, assume or permit to
         exist any indebtedness for borrowed money except:

                           (1) Indebtedness to Lender.

                           (2) Debts existing as of the execution hereof and
                  disclosed in the financial statements delivered to Lender and
                  any modifications, renewals or extensions thereof and any
                  refinancing of such debt with no increase in the amount of
                  such refinanced debt.

                           (3) Unsecured debts on open account incurred in the
                  ordinary course of business.

                           (4) Up to $55,000,000 of subordinated indebtedness
                  which is subordinated to the obligations owed to Lender
                  hereunder pursuant to an existing subordinated debt offering.

                           (5) Up to $125,000,000 of additional Senior
                  Subordinated Notes which is subordinated to the obligations
                  owed to Lender hereunder and on such terms and conditions
                  that are satisfactory to Lender.

                           (6) Indebtedness incurred to acquire additional
                  assets or entities; provided such purchase money 


                                      15

<PAGE>   16

                  indebtedness may be secured by liens in the assets or
                  entities so acquired.

                           (7) Indebtedness arising from the negotiation and
                  deposit of instruments received in the ordinary course of
                  business.

                           (8) Indebtedness incurred by Borrower pursuant to
                  advances made under a credit facility or line of credit in
                  existence on the date hereof or any extension or renewal
                  thereof which does not increase the maximum amount available.

                           (9) Long-term (a maturity of more than one year)
                  mortgage loans which do not exceed in the aggregate
                  $10,000,000.

                           (10) Indebtedness incurred by Borrower which is used
                  to repay the Line of Credit and which permanently reduces the
                  maximum amount available under the Line of Credit dollar for
                  dollar by such paydown.

                  b. Pledge or Mortgage of Assets. Except as allowed under this
         Agreement, pledge or mortgage any of its existing, or future acquired
         assets to any other party, except liens that exist on the date hereof,
         together with renewals, extensions, refinancings and modification
         thereof.

                  c. Stock Transactions. Redeem any stock, subordinated debt,
         warrants, or debt securities convertible into stock; provided Borrower
         may redeem warrants in a one-time transaction having an aggregate cost
         of no more than $7,500,000 and Borrower may redeem stock in a one-time
         transaction having an aggregate cost of no more than $2,500,000.

                  d. Reorganization.  Enter into any agreement to merge, 
         consolidate, or otherwise reorganize or recapitalize; provided, 
         however, this shall not apply to any transaction where Borrower and/or
         a Co-Obligor is the surviving corporation.


                                      16

<PAGE>   17

                  e. Disposition of Assets.  Sell, lease, or otherwise transfer 
         all or substantially all of its assets in any transaction which is not
         in the ordinary course of business; provided, this restriction shall
         not apply to transfers among Borrower and/or any Co-Obligors.

                  f. Guaranties. Guarantee any obligations of any other
         business or individual, except through the endorsement of items
         tendered to Borrower and Co-Obligors as payment in the ordinary course
         of business, where the aggregate of such guaranties exceeds
         $4,000,000. This guaranty liability shall not be considered as debt
         for purposes of Paragraph 30a. Any guaranty by Borrower of a debt of a
         Co-Obligor shall not be counted toward the $4,000,000 so long as the
         debt of the Co-Obligor is shown on the Borrower's consolidated
         financial statements.

                  h. Creation of New Subsidiaries.  Acquire an interest in any
         subsidiary corporation unless, within 15 days after the acquisition of
         such ownership interest, the new subsidiary executes the Line of Credit
         Note and becomes a party to this Agreement.

                  i.Dividends.  Co-Obligors shall not declare any dividends, 
         other than dividends payable to ShoLodge, Inc., without the prior
         written consent of Lender.

         30.  Financial Covenants.  Borrower and Co-Obligors shall maintain the 
following financial requirements as determined by GAAP on a consolidated basis
(unless otherwise noted):

                  a. Tangible Net Worth.  at all times maintain a minimum
         Tangible Net Worth of not less than $74,000,000 computed quarterly.

                  b. Debt to Tangible-Net-Worth Ratio. From and after January
         31, 1997, at all times maintain a ratio of total debt to Tangible Net
         Worth of not more than 1.75 to 1.00 computed quarterly; provided,
         however, that for purposes of computing this ratio, "revenue
         participation bonds" (as those terms are used in Borrower's Financial
         Statements) will be subtracted from total liabilities, and any
         minority shareholder interest


 
                                      17

<PAGE>   18

         of a subsidiary of Borrower will be excluded from Borrower's total 
         liabilities.

                  c. Current Ratio.  From and after January 31, 1997, maintain
         at all times a ratio of Current Assets to Current Liabilities not less
         than 1.0 to 1.0, computed quarterly.

                  d. Fixed-Charge Coverage Ratio.  Maintain a Fixed-Charge 
         Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.25 to 1.0 computed quarterly based
         on a trailing four quarters.

                  e. Definitions.  For purposes of this Section 31 and
         this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

                           (i) "Current Assets" will have the meaning given in
                  accordance with Generally-Accepted Accounting Principles.

                           (ii) "Current Liabilities" will have the meaning
                  given in accordance with Generally-Accepted Accounting
                  Principles.

                           (iii) "Fixed-Charge Coverage Ratio" will mean the
                  quotient obtained by dividing (a) the sum of net-after- tax
                  income, net interest, depreciation, amortization and net
                  rental expenses by (b) the sum of net interest, net rents,
                  the current maturities of long-term debt and capitalized
                  leases.

                           (iv) "Generally-Accepted Accounting Principles" will
                  mean generally-accepted accounting principles set forth in
                  opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles
                  Board of the American Institute of Certified Public
                  Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the
                  Financial Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied
                  and maintained throughout the period indicated and consistent
                  with the prior financial practice of Borrowers and any
                  predecessors.

                           (v) "Tangible Net Worth" will mean the excess of 
                  total assets (excluding intangible assets) over total
                  liabilities (exclusive of capital stock and surplus), all
                  determined in accordance with Generally-Accepted Accounting
                  Principles consistently applied.


                                      18

<PAGE>   19

         31.      Environmental Matters

                  a.  Definitions

                           (1) "Environmental Laws" means the Environmental
                  Protection Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
                  1976, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
                  and Liability Act of 1980, the Hazardous Materials
                  Transportation Act and any other federal, state or municipal
                  law, rule or regulation relating to air emissions, water
                  discharge, noise emissions, solid or liquid waste disposal,
                  hazardous or toxic waste or materials, or other environmental
                  or health matters.

                           (2) "Hazardous Materials" means those substances
                  included from time to time within the definition of hazardous
                  substances, hazardous materials, toxic substances, or solid
                  waste under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
                  Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 as amended, 42 U.S.C.
                  ss. 9601 et seq.; the Resource Conversation and Recovery Act
                  of 1976, 42 U.S.C. ss. 1801 et seq., and in the regulations
                  promulgated pursuant to such acts and laws; and such other
                  substances that are or become regulated under any applicable
                  local, state or federal law or regulation addressing
                  environmental hazards.

                  b. Environmental Law Compliance. Borrower and Co-Obligors
         warrant and covenant that the conduct of Borrower's and Co-Obligors'
         business operations do not and will not violate, in any material
         respect, any federal laws, rules, or ordinance for environmental
         protection, regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency and any
         applicable local or state law, rule, regulation, or rule of common law
         and any judicial interpretation thereof relating primarily to the
         environmental or Hazardous Materials and Borrower and Co-Obligors
         will not use or permit any other party to use any Hazardous Materials
         at any of Borrower's or Co-Obligors' places of business or at any
         other property owned by Borrower and Co-Obligors except such materials
         as are incidental to Borrower's and Co-Obligors' normal course of
         business, maintenance and repairs and which are handled in material


                                      19

<PAGE>   20

         compliance with all applicable environmental laws. Borrower and
         Co-Obligors agree to permit Lender, its agents, contractors, and
         employees to enter and inspect any of Borrower's and Co-Obligors'
         places of business or any other property of Borrower and Co-Obligors 
         at any reasonable times upon five (5) days prior notice for the purpose
         of conducting an environmental investigation and audit (including
         taking physical samples) to insure that Borrower and Co-Obligors are
         complying with this covenant and Borrower and Co-Obligors shall
         reimburse Lender on demand for the costs of any such environmental
         investigation and audit. Borrowers and Co- Obligors shall provide
         Lender, its agents, contractors, employees, and representatives with
         access to and copies of any and all data and documents relating to or
         dealing with any Hazardous Materials used, generated, manufactured,
         stored or disposed of by Borrower's and Co-Obligors' business
         operations within five (5) days of the request thereof.

                  c. Notification of Environmental Claims. Borrower and
         Co-Obligors shall immediately advise Lender in writing of (i) any and
         all material enforcement, cleanup, remedial, removal, or other
         governmental or regulatory actions instituted, completed, or
         threatened pursuant to any applicable federal, state, or local laws,
         ordinances or regulations relating to any Hazardous Materials
         affecting Borrower's and Co-Obligors' business operations; and (ii)
         all material claims made or threatened by any third party against
         Borrower or any Co- Obligor relating to damages, contribution, cost
         recovery, compensation, loss or injury resulting from any Hazardous
         Materials. Borrower and Co-Obligors shall immediately notify Lender of
         any material remedial action taken by Borrower or any Co-Obligor with
         respect to Borrower's and Co-Obligors' business operations.

                  d. Indemnification. Borrower and Co-Obligors shall indemnify,
         defend, and hold Lender and its successors and assigns harmless from
         and against any and all claims, demands, suits, losses, damages,
         assessments, fines, penalties, costs, or other expenses (including
         reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs) arising from or in any way
         related to actual or threatened damage to the environment, agency
         costs of investigation, personal injury or death, or property damage,
         due to a release or alleged release of Hazardous Materials,

                                      20

<PAGE>   21

         arising from Borrower's and Co-Obligors' business operations, any other
         property owned by Borrower or any Co-Obligor or in the surface or
         ground water arising from Borrower's or any Co-Obligors' business
         operations, or gaseous emissions arising from Borrower's or any
         Co-Obligors' business operations or any other condition existing from
         Borrower's and Co-Obligors' business operations resulting from the use
         or existence of Hazardous Materials, whether such claim proves to be
         true or false. Borrower and Co-Obligors further agree that their
         indemnity obligations shall include, but are not limited to, liability
         for damages resulting from the personal injury or death of an employee
         of the Borrower or any Co-Obligor, regardless of whether the Borrower
         or any Co-Obligor has paid the employee under the workmen's 
         compensation laws of any state or other similar federal or state 
         legislation for the protection of employees. The term "property damage"
         as used in this paragraph includes, but is not limited to, damage to 
         any real or personal property of the Borrower or any Co-Obligor, the 
         Lender, and of any third parties. The Borrower's and Co-Obligors' 
         obligations under this paragraph shall survive the repayment of the 
         Loan.

         32. Default Defined.  The occurrence of any one or more of the 
following events shall constitute a Default under this Agreement:

         a. Monetary Default.  The failure of Borrower and Co-Obligors to
         timely pay any amount due Lender under the Line of Credit or under any
         other obligation to Lender if such failure continues for ten (10) days
         after notice of nonpayment from Bank to Borrower and Co-Obligors.

         b. Breach of Covenant. The failure of Borrower or any Co- Obligor to
         comply with any of the terms and obligations of this Agreement (other
         than those addressed in a, c, d, e, f or g hereof) for a period of 20
         days; provided, however, that Borrower and Co-Obligors will not be
         deemed in default hereunder if such failure is curable, but cannot be
         cured within such 20-day period and Borrower or any Co-Obligor
         commences to cure such failure within such 20-day period and
         diligently pursues curing such failure and does in fact cure such
         failure within a reasonable time, not to exceed 45 days (or such
         longer period of time if such failure cannot 


                                      21



<PAGE>   22

         reasonably be cured in 45 days and such failure to cure could not 
         materially and adversely affect Lender).

         c. Breach of Warranty.  Lender's discovery that any representation or
         warranty in connection with this Agreement or the Line of Credit or
         any other Loan Document was materially false when made.

         d. Default Under Other Document.  Subject to applicable cure periods,
         the occurrence of a default under the terms of any document evidencing 
         or otherwise pertaining to the Line of Credit, including, without
         limitation, the Loan Documents.

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

         f. Involuntary Bankruptcy. An involuntary case or other proceeding
         shall be commenced against Borrower or any Co- Obligor seeking
         liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to it or its
         debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter
         in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
         liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any
         substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other
         proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of
         ninety (90) days; or an order for relief shall be entered against the
         Borrower and any Co-Obligor under the bankruptcy laws as now or
         hereafter in effect.

         g. Default Under Other Loans. Subject to any grace or cure periods,
         the occurrence of a default under the terms of any 

  
                                       22

<PAGE>   23

         document or agreement evidencing, securing or otherwise pertaining to 
         the extension of credit by any other party to Borrower or any 
         Co-Obligor, the default, which if not cured, would permit the
         acceleration of the debt.

         33. Remedies Upon Default.  Upon a Default under Section 33, Lender
may exercise any or all of the following remedies:

                  a. Remedies.  Lender may exercise any right that it may
         have at law or equity, including an action to collect the Line
         of Credit Loan.  All obligations of Bank to advance or
         readvance under the Line of Credit will terminate.

                  b. Application of Proceeds. All amounts received by Lender
         for Borrower's or Co-Obligors' account by exercise of its remedies
         hereunder shall be applied as follows: First, to the payment of all
         reasonable expenses incurred by Lender in exercising its rights
         hereunder, including reasonable attorney's fees, and any other
         expenses due Lender from Borrower and Co-Obligors; Second, to the
         payment of all interest included in the Line of Credit, in such order
         as Lender may elect; Third, to the payment of all principal included
         in the Line of Credit, in such order as Lender may elect; and Fourth,
         surplus to Borrower, the Co-Obligors or other party entitled thereto.

         34. Resolution of Disputes.

                  a. Arbitration. Any controversy or claim between or
         among the parties to the Loan Documents or any related
         agreements or instruments, including any claim based on or arising
         from an alleged tort, shall be determined by binding arbitration in
         accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (or if not applicable, the
         applicable state law), the Rules of Practice and Procedure for the
         arbitration of commercial disputes of Judicial Arbitration and
         Mediation Services, Inc. (J.A.M.S.), and the "special rules" set forth
         below. In the event of any inconsistency, the special rules shall
         control. Judgment upon any arbitration award may be entered in any


                                      23

<PAGE>   24

         court having jurisdiction. Any party to the Loan Documents may bring
         an action, including a summary or expedited proceeding, to compel
         arbitration of any controversy or claim to which this agreement
         applies in any court having jurisdiction over such action.

                  b.  Special Rules.  The arbitration shall be conducted
         in Nashville, Tennessee and administered by J.A.M.S. who will
         appoint an arbitrator; if J.A.M.S. is unable or legally
         precluded from administering the arbitration, then the
         American Arbitration Association will serve.  All arbitration
         hearings will be commenced within 90 days of the demand for
         arbitration; further, the arbitrator shall only, upon a
         showing of cause, be permitted to extend the commencement of
         such hearing for up to an additional 60 days.

                  c. Reservations of Rights. Nothing in foregoing arbitration
         shall be deemed to (i) limit the applicability of any otherwise
         applicable statutes of limitation or repose and any waivers contained
         in the Loan Documents; or (ii) be a waiver by Lender of the protection
         afforded to it by 12 U.S.C. Sec. 91 or any substantially equivalent
         state law; or (iii) limit the rights of Lender under the Loan
         Documents (a) to exercise self help remedies such as (but not limited
         to) set-off, or (b) to obtain from a court provisional or ancillary
         remedies such as (but not limited to) injunctive relief, or the
         appointment of a receiver. Lender may exercise such self help rights,
         or obtain such provisional or ancillary remedies before, during or
         after the pendency of any arbitration proceeding brought pursuant to
         the Loan Documents.

         35. Not Partners; No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing contained
herein or in any related document shall be deemed to render Lender a partner of
Borrower and Co-Obligors for any purpose. This Agreement has been executed for
the sole benefit of Lender, Borrower and Co-Obligors and no third party is
authorized to rely upon Lender's rights hereunder or to rely upon an assumption
that Lender has or will exercise its rights under this Agreement or under any
document referred to herein.

         36. Regulation U.  Borrower and each Co-Obligor warrants that
none of the proceeds of the loan evidenced by the Note will be used


                                      24


<PAGE>   25

to purchase or carry "margin stock," as defined in Regulation U issued by the
Federal Reserve Board.

         37.  Business Days.  If any payment date under the Line of Credit
fails on a day that is not a business day of Lender, or if the last day of any
notice period falls on such a day, the payment shall be due and the notice
period shall end on the next succeeding Lender business day.

         38.  Notices.  Any communications concerning this Agreement or the 
credit described herein shall be addressed as follows:



                                       25


<PAGE>   26



                        As to Borrower and Co-Obligors:

                        ShoLodge, Inc.
                        Attention:  Leon Moore
                        217 West Main Street
                        Gallatin, TN 37066

                        With a Copy to:

                        BOULT, CUMMINGS, CONNERS & BERRY, PLC

                        Attention: Patrick L. Alexander
                        414 Union Street, Suite 1600
                        Nashville, Tennessee 37219

                        As to Lender:

                        NationsBank of Tennessee, N.A.
                        Attention: Sam Belk, Vice President
                        One NationsBank Plaza
                        Nashville, Tennessee 37239

                        With a copy to:

                        Neal & Harwell
                        Attn:  James R. Kelley
                        2000 First Union Tower
                        150 Fourth Avenue North
                        Nashville, Tennessee 37219

Communications to be given to a party shall be effective when actually or
constructively received by such party or three (3) days after when set forth in
writing and mailed or delivered to such party's address stated above. Any party
may change its address for receipt of notices by submitting the change in
writing to the other party.

         39. Participations. Prior to a Default, Lender agrees that it will not
assign or participate an interest in the Line of Credit Note and this Agreement
without the prior approval of Borrower. Thereafter, Lender may, from time to
time, in its sole discretion, and without notice to Borrower and Co-Obligors,
sell participations in any credit subject hereto to such other investors or
financial institutions as it may elect. Such participants will have no


                                      26

<PAGE>   27

direct relationship with Borrower and Co-Obligors and will have no right with 
respect to waivers or amendments or default declarations. Lender may from time 
to time disclose to any participant or prospective participant such information 
as Lender may have regarding the financial condition, operations, and prospects
of Borrower and Co-Obligors, but Lender shall take reasonable precautions to
require such participant or prospective participant to keep such information
confidential.

         40. Incorporation of Exhibits.  All Exhibits referred to in this 
Agreement are incorporated herein by this reference.

         41. Indulgence Not Waiver.  Lender's indulgence in the existence of a
default hereunder or any other departure from the terms of this Agreement shall
not prejudice Lender's rights to declare a default or otherwise demand strict
compliance with this Agreement.

         42. Cumulative Remedies.  The remedies provided Lender in this
Agreement are not exclusive of any other remedies that may be available to 
Lender under any other document or at law or equity.

         43. Amendment and Waiver in Writing.  No provision of this Agreement 
can be amended or waived, except by a statement in writing signed by the party 
against which enforcement of the amendment or waiver is sought.

         44. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the respective heirs, successors and assigns of Borrower and
Co-Obligors and Lender, except that Borrower and Co-Obligors shall not assign
any rights or delegate any obligations arising hereunder without the prior
written consent of Lender. Any attempted assignment or delegation by Borrower
and Co-Obligors without the required prior consent shall be void.

         45. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the other written agreements 
between Borrower, Co-Obligors and Lender represent the entire agreement between
the parties concerning the subject matter hereof, and all oral discussions and 
prior agreements are merged herein.


                                      27

<PAGE>   28

         46. Severability.  Should any provision of this Agreement be invalid or
unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in 
full effect.

         47. Time of Essence.  Time is of the essence of this Agreement, and 
all dates and time periods specified herein shall be strictly observed, except
that Lender may permit specific deviations therefrom by its written consent.

         48. Applicable Law. The validity, construction and enforcement of this
Agreement and all other documents executed with respect to the Line of Credit
shall be determined according to the laws of Tennessee applicable to contracts
executed and performed entirely within that state, in which state this
Agreement has been executed and delivered.

         49. Gender and Number.  Words used herein indicating gender or number 
shall be read as context may require.

         50.  Captions Not Controlling.  Captions and headings have been 
included in this Agreement for the convenience of the parties, and shall not be
construed as affecting the content of the respective paragraphs.

         Executed the date first written above.

                                         THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGE A
                                         THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE TERMS
                                         OF THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREE TO BE
                                         BOUND THEREBY:

                                         NATIONSBANK OF TENNESSEE, N.A.

                                         By: /s/ John L. Stringfield
                                            ----------------------------------
                                         Title: Banking Officer
                                                ------------------------------


                                         SHOLODGE, INC.



                                      28

<PAGE>   29

                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                         Title: President
                                                ------------------------------

                                         SHONEY'S INN OF LEBANON, INC.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                         Title: President
                                                ------------------------------

                                         SHONEY'S INN, INC.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                         Its: President
                                              --------------------------------


                                       29


<PAGE>   30



                                         NASHVILLE AIR ASSOCIATES, INC.

                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                         Title: President
                                                ------------------------------

                                         MOORE AND ASSOCIATES, INC.

                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                         Title: President
                                                ------------------------------

                                         SUNSHINE INNS, INC.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                         Title: President
                                                ------------------------------

                                         LAFLA INN, INC.


                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                         Title: President
                                                ------------------------------

                                         SOUTHEAST TEXAS INNS, INC.

                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                         Title: President
                                                ------------------------------

                                         DELAWARE INNS, INC.

 


                                       30


<PAGE>   31
                                         By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                         Title: President
                                                ------------------------------
  

                                    31




<PAGE>   32

                                        ALABAMA LODGING CORPORATION

                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                        Title:  President
                                                ------------------------------

                                        FRONT RANGE SUITES, INC.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                        Title:  President
                                                ------------------------------

                                        MIDWEST INNS, INC.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                        Title:  President
                                                ------------------------------
 
                                        FAR WEST INNS, INC.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                        Title:  President
                                                ------------------------------

                                        CAROLINA INNS, INC.


                                        By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                            ----------------------------------
                                        Title:  President
                                                ------------------------------


                                        SHONEY'S INN OF BATON ROUGE, A
                                        A TENNESSEE GENERAL PARTNERSHIP

                                             By: Two Seventeen, Inc.,
                                                   General Partner


                                      32

<PAGE>   33

                                             By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                                 -----------------------------
                                             Its: President
                                                 ----------------------------- 


                                       33



<PAGE>   34

                                             By: Inn Partners, Inc.,
                                                   General Partner

                                             By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                                 -----------------------------
                                             Its: President
                                                 ----------------------------- 

                                       34




<PAGE>   35
                              LINE OF CREDIT NOTE

$10,000,000.00                      Nashville, Tennessee      November 6, 1996


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, SHOLODGE, INC., a Tennessee corporation, SHONEY'S
INN OF LEBANON, INC., a Tennessee corporation, SHONEY'S INN, INC., a Tennessee
corporation, NASHVILLE AIR ASSOCIATES, INC., a Tennessee corporation, MOORE AND
ASSOCIATES, INC., a Tennessee corporation, SUNSHINE INNS, INC., a Tennessee
corporation, LAFLA INN, INC., a Tennessee corporation, SOUTHEAST TEXAS INNS,
INC., a Tennessee corporation, DELAWARE INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation,
ALABAMA LODGING CORPORATION, a Tennessee corporation, FRONT RANGE SUITES, INC.,
a Tennessee corporation, MIDWEST INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation, FAR WEST
INNS, INC., a Tennessee corporation, CAROLINA INNS, INC., a Tennessee
corporation, and SHONEY'S INN OF BATON ROUGE, a Tennessee general partnership
(collectively the "Maker") jointly and severally promise to pay to the order of
NATIONSBANK OF TENNESSEE, N.A. ("Payee" or "NationsBank"), the sum of Ten
Million and No/100 Dollars ($10,000,000.00), or as much thereof as may be
outstanding from time to time, together with interest thereon as set forth
below.

         Advances under this Note shall be governed by that certain Loan
Agreement dated November 6, 1996 ("Loan Agreement"). Subject to the
provisions of the Loan Agreement, Maker may borrow, repay and reborrow and
there is no limit on the number of advances against this Note as long as the
total unpaid principal balance at any time outstanding does not exceed Ten
Million and No/100 Dollars ($10,000,000.00).

         Interest shall accrue at either (i) the NationsBank Prime Rate, as it
may change from time to time; or (ii) upon Maker's written election, for any
given period of 30, 60, or 90 days (a "LIBOR Period") the LIBOR Rate plus 190
basis points.

         Interest in arrears shall be due and payable on the first (1st) day of
each quarter beginning on December 1, 1996, except in the case of a LIBOR Rate
Borrowing, interest shall be payable at the earlier of each quarter as set
forth above or at the end of the LIBOR Period.



<PAGE>   36

         All remaining principal and interest shall become due on January 31,
1997.

         Should Maker elect in writing to use the LIBOR Rate option for a LIBOR
Period, the following restrictions will apply. No more than three (3) LIBOR
Rate Borrowings may be outstanding at any time. The borrowings will be in
minimum amounts of One Million and 00/100 Dollars ($1,000,000.00) each or
greater amounts in Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($250,000.00)
increments.

         As used herein, the term "NationsBank Prime Rate" shall mean the
fluctuating rate of interest established by NationsBank from time to time as
its "Prime Rate", whether or not such rate shall be otherwise published. Such
Prime Rate is established by NationsBank as an index or base rate and may or
may not at any time be the best or lowest rate charged by NationsBank on any
loan. If at any time or from time to time the Prime Rate increases or
decreases, then the rate of interest hereunder shall be correspondingly
increased or decreased effective on the day on which any such increase or
decrease of the Prime Rate changes, unless otherwise herein provided. In the
event that NationsBank, during the term hereof, shall abolish or abandon the
practice of establishing a Prime Rate, or should the same become
unascertainable, NationsBank shall designate a comparable reference rate which
shall be deemed to be the Prime Rate for purposes hereof.

         For purposes hereof, the "LIBOR Rate" shall mean the rate per annum
announced by NationsBank as its LIBOR Rate for a period equal to the length of
such LIBOR Period and in an amount comparable to the then aggregate unpaid
principal balance hereunder (or will be outstanding by the commencement of the
LIBOR Period requested by Maker) as adjusted to reflect NationsBank's reserve
requirements, all as calculated and announced from time to time by Payee, whose
announcement shall be binding absent manifest error.

         Interest hereunder shall be calculated based upon a 360 day year in
the case of LIBOR Rate loans and a 365 day year in the case of Prime Rate loans
and actual days elapsed. The interest rate required hereby shall not exceed the
maximum rate permissible under applicable law, and any amounts paid in excess
of such rate shall be applied to reduce the principal amount hereof or shall be
refunded to Maker, at the option of the holder of this Note.


                                       2
<PAGE>   37

         All amounts due under this Note are payable at par in lawful money of
the United States of America, at the principal place of business of Payee in
Nashville, Tennessee, or at such other address as the Payee or other holder
hereof (herein "Holder") may direct.

         Any payment not made within fifteen (15) days of its due date will be
subject to assessment of a late charge equal to five percent (5%) of such
payment. Holder's right to impose a late charge does not evidence a grace
period for the making of payments hereunder.

         The occurrence of a Default under the Loan Agreement shall constitute
an event of default under this Note.

         Upon the occurrence of an event of default, as defined above, Holder
may, at its option and without notice, terminate any obligation to advance
funds under this Note, declare all principal and interest provided for under
this Note, and any other obligations of Maker to Holder, to be presently due
and payable, and Holder may enforce any remedies available to Holder under any
documents securing or evidencing debts of Maker to Holder. Holder may waive any
default before or after it occurs and may restore this Note in full effect
without impairing the right to declare it due for a subsequent default, this
right being a continuing one. Upon default, at Holder's election, the remaining
unpaid principal balance of the indebtedness evidenced hereby and all expenses
due Holder shall bear interest at the Prime Rate in effect immediately before
the default plus four percent (4%).

         All amounts received for payment of this Note shall be first applied
to any expenses due Holder under this Note or under any other documents
evidencing obligations of Maker to Holder relating to the indebtedness
evidenced by this Note, then to accrued interest, and finally to the reduction
of principal. Prepayment of principal or accrued interest may be made, in whole
or in part, at any time without penalty.

         Maker and all sureties, guarantors, endorsers and other parties to
this instrument hereby consent to any and all renewals, waivers, modifications,
or extensions of time (of any duration) that may be granted by Holder with
respect to this Note and severally waive demand, presentment, protest, notice
of dishonor, and all other notices that might otherwise be required by law. All



                                       3

<PAGE>   38

parties hereto waive the defense of impairment of collateral and all other
defenses of suretyship.

         Maker's performance under this Note is unsecured.

         Maker and all sureties, guarantors, endorsers and other parties hereto
agree to pay reasonable attorneys' fees and all court and other costs that
Holder may incur in the course of efforts to collect the debt evidenced hereby.

         The validity and construction of this Note shall be determined
according to the laws of Tennessee applicable to contracts executed and
performed within that state. If any provision of this Note should for any
reason be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof shall
remain in full effect.

         The provisions of this Note may be amended or waived only by
instrument in writing signed by the Holder and Maker and attached to this Note.

         Any controversy or claim between or among the parties to this Note or
any related loan or collateral agreements or instruments (collectively, "Loan
Documents"), including any claim based on or arising from an alleged tort,
shall be determined by binding arbitration in accordance with the Federal
Arbitration Act (or if not applicable, the applicable state law), the Rules of
Practice and Procedure for the arbitration of commercial disputes of Judicial
Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (J.A.M.S.), and the "special rules"
set forth below. In the event of any inconsistency, the special rules shall
control. Judgment upon any arbitration award may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction. Any party to the Loan Documents may bring an action, including a
summary or expedited proceeding, to compel arbitration of any controversy or
claim to which this agreement applies in any court having jurisdiction over
such action.

                  The following "Special Rules" shall apply. The arbitration
shall be conducted in Nashville, Tennessee and administered by J.A.M.S. who
will appoint an arbitrator; if J.A.M.S. is unable or legally precluded from
administering the arbitration, then the American Arbitration Association will
serve. All arbitration hearings will be commenced within 90 days of the demand
for arbitration; further, the arbitrator shall only, upon a 


                                       4

<PAGE>   39

showing of cause, be permitted to extend the commencement of such hearing for
up to an additional 60 days.

         Nothing in foregoing arbitration shall be deemed to (i) limit the
applicability of any otherwise applicable statutes of limitation or repose and
any waivers contained in the Loan Documents; or (ii) be a waiver by NationsBank
of the protection afforded to it by 12 U.S.C. Sec. 91 or any substantially
equivalent state law; or (iii) limit the rights of NationsBank under the Loan
Documents (a) to exercise self help remedies such as (but not limited to)
set-off, or (b) to obtain from a court provisional or ancillary remedies such
as (but not limited to) injunctive relief, or the appointment of a receiver.
NationsBank may exercise such self help rights, or obtain such provisional or
ancillary remedies before, during or after the pendency of any arbitration
proceeding brought pursuant to the Loan Documents. Neither this exercise or
self help remedies nor the institution or maintenance of an action for
provisional or ancillary remedies shall constitute a waiver of the right of any
party, including the claimant in any such action, to arbitrate the merits of
the controversy or claim occasioning resort to such remedies.

         Words used herein indicating gender or number shall be read as context
may require.

                                      SHOLODGE, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------

                                       


                                       5
<PAGE>   40

                                      SHONEY'S INN OF LEBANON, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------

                                      SHONEY'S INN, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------

                                      NASHVILLE AIR ASSOCIATES, INC.

                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------
 
                                      MOORE AND ASSOCIATES, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------


                                      SUNSHINE INNS, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------


                                      LAFLA INN, INC.



                                       6


<PAGE>   41
                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------
 

                                       7
<PAGE>   42


                                      SOUTHEAST TEXAS INNS, INC.

                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------


                                      DELAWARE INNS, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------
 

                                      ALABAMA LODGING CORPORATION


                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------


                                      FRONT RANGE SUITES, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------



                                      MIDWEST INNS, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------

                                      FAR WEST INNS, INC.



                                       8


<PAGE>   43

                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------


                                      9

<PAGE>   44

                                      CAROLINA INNS, INC.

      
                                      By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ------------------------------------
                                      Title: President
                                             ----------------------------------

                                      SHONEY'S INN OF BATON ROUGE, A
                                      A TENNESSEE GENERAL PARTNERSHIP

                                          By: Two Seventeen, Inc.,
                                               General Partner

                                              By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                                   ----------------------------
                                              Its: President
                                                   ----------------------------


                                          By: Inn Partners, Inc.
                                               General Partner

                                              By:  /s/ Leon Moore
                                                   ----------------------------
                                              Its: President
                                                   ---------------------------- 

                                      10




<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10.6

                               FIRST AMENDMENT TO
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                  THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK OPTION
AGREEMENT (sometimes herein this "Amendment") is made and entered into as of
the 10th day of October, 1996, by and between LEON MOORE (hereinafter referred
to as "Moore") and RICHARD L. JOHNSON (hereinafter referred to as "Johnson").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS, ShoLodge, Inc., (formerly Gulf Coast Development,
Inc.) (herein "ShoLodge") and Johnson entered into that certain Employment
Contract (the "Employment Contract") dated June 15, 1987, but effective as of
April 1, 1984; and

                  WHEREAS, pursuant to paragraph 7 of the Employment Contract,
ShoLodge granted Johnson the right and option to purchase an aggregate of three
hundred thirty-three (333) shares of the authorized, no par value, common stock
of ShoLodge; and

                  WHEREAS, by Agreement (the "Prior Agreement") dated June 15,
1987, but effective as of April 1, 1984, between Moore and Johnson, Johnson
agreed that prior to exercising any option to acquire shares of ShoLodge
pursuant to paragraph 7 of the Employment Contract, he would first offer to
acquire such shares from Moore on the same terms and conditions, with a
resulting reduction in option shares so that Johnson's option would be for a
total of only twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares of common stock of
ShoLodge outstanding on June 15, 1987 (adjusted for stock splits and stock
dividends); and

                  WHEREAS, Johnson and ShoLodge entered into that certain First
Amendment to Employment Contract dated December 11, 1991 whereby they
eliminated the option of Johnson to acquire shares of ShoLodge's common stock
from ShoLodge; and

                  WHEREAS, Johnson and Moore entered into that certain Stock
Option Agreement (the "Stock Option Agreement") dated December 11, 1991, but
effective as of April 1, 1984, whereby Moore granted to Johnson an option to
acquire five hundred seventy-five thousand (575,000) shares of ShoLodge's
common stock from Moore; and

                  WHEREAS, on February 21, 1992, Johnson acquired twelve
thousand two hundred twenty-four (12,224) shares of ShoLodge's common stock as
a result of the exercise by Johnson of his option under the Stock Option
Agreement, resulting in a total of five hundred sixty-two thousand seven
hundred seventy-six (562,776) shares of ShoLodge common stock remaining
available under the option; and

                  WHEREAS, Moore and Johnson entered into that certain Amended
and Restated Stock Option Agreement dated March 9, 1992, but effective as of
April 1, 1984 (the "Amended Agreement"), which Amended Agreement amended and
restated the Stock Option Agreement; and

                                                       


<PAGE>   2



                  WHEREAS, on April 28, 1993, Johnson acquired one hundred
forty thousand seven hundred sixty-five (140,765) shares of ShoLodge's common
stock as a result of the exercise by Johnson of his option under the Amended
Agreement, resulting in a total of four hundred twenty-two thousand eleven
(422,011) shares of ShoLodge common stock remaining available under the option;
and

                  WHEREAS, effective May 14, 1993, ShoLodge effected a stock
split in the form of a dividend to holders of its common stock whereby
one-quarter (1/4) share of common stock was issued for each share held of
record at the close of business on April 30, 1993, resulting in five hundred
twenty-seven thousand five hundred fourteen (527,514) shares of ShoLodge common
stock remaining available under the option; and

                  WHEREAS, effective March 28, 1994, ShoLodge effected a stock
split in the form of a dividend to holders of its common stock whereby
one-third (1/3) share of common stock was issued for each share held of record
at the close of business on March 14, 1994, resulting in seven hundred three
thousand three hundred fifty-two (703,352) shares of ShoLodge common stock
remaining available under the option; and

                  WHEREAS, Johnson and Moore desire to amend the Amended
Agreement to reflect the stock acquisitions and stock splits as set forth above
and in certain other respects as set forth below.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual
promises and covenants herein contained, the parties do hereby agree as
follows:

                  1.  The Amended Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
subparagraph 1(a) thereof in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the
following:

                           (a) Grant of Option. Moore hereby grants to Johnson
                  the right and option to purchase from Moore, on the terms and
                  conditions following, all or any part of an aggregate of
                  seven hundred three thousand three hundred fifty-two
                  (703,352) shares of the authorized no par value common shares
                  of ShoLodge. The purchase price shall be determined as 
                  follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           Purchase Date                              Price
                           -------------                              -----                       
                           <S>                                     <C> 
                           If the purchase date occurs             $4.72/share
                           after June 30, 1996, but
                           on or before September 30, 1996

                           If the purchase date occurs             $4.82/share
                           after September 30, 1996, but
                           on or before December 31, 1996

                           If the purchase date occurs             $4.92/share
</TABLE>

                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
                           <S>                                     <C> 
                           after December 31, 1996, but on
                           or before March 31, 1997

                           If the purchase date occurs             $5.02/share
                           after March 31, 1997, but on
                           or before June 30, 1997

                           If the purchase date occurs             $5.12/share
                           after June 30, 1997, but on
                           or before September 30, 1997

                           If the purchase date occurs             $5.23/share
                           after September 30, 1997, but
                           on or before December 11, 1997
</TABLE>

                           Johnson shall be entitled to elect to exercise the
                  option, in whole or in part, at any time prior to December
                  11, 1997. However, if Johnson does not purchase the full
                  number of shares to which he is entitled, he shall be
                  permitted those remaining shares through and including
                  December 11, 1997. No partial exercise of such option may be
                  for less than twenty-five (25) full shares, without Moore's
                  written consent, and in no event shall Moore be required to
                  transfer fractional shares to Johnson, without Moore's
                  written approval.

                  2. The Amended Agreement is hereby amended by changing the
date "December 11, 1996" in the first and third sentences of subparagraph 1(c)
thereof to "December 11, 1997".

                  3. The Amended Agreement is hereby amended by deleting 
subparagraph 1(j)(iii) thereof in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof 
the following:

                           (iii) Notice. Each stock certificate issued to
                  Johnson as a result of the exercise of the option set forth
                  herein shall be endorsed with the following legend:

                           Notice is hereby given that the sale, assignment,
                  transfer, pledge or other disposition of shares of capital
                  stock represented by this Certificate is subject to a right
                  of first refusal to Leon Moore pursuant to the terms of that
                  certain Amended and Restated Stock Option Agreement dated
                  March 9, 1992, but effective as of April 1, 1984, as amended
                  by that certain First Amendment to Amended and Restated Stock
                  Option Agreement dated as of October 10, 1996, both by and
                  between Leon Moore and Richard L. Johnson.

                  4. Except as hereby modified and amended, the Amended
Agreement shall in all other respects remain in full force and effect.


                                     - 3 -


<PAGE>   4


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this First
Amendment to Amended and Restated Stock Option Agreement on the day and year
first above written.

                                     /s/ Leon Moore
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     LEON MOORE

                                     /s/ Richard L. Johnson
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     RICHARD L. JOHNSON



                                    - 4 -



<PAGE>   1
                                                                  Exhibit 10.7

                              FIRST AMENDMENT TO
                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                  THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(sometimes herein this "Amendment") is made and entered into as of the 10th day
of October, 1996, by and between SHOLODGE, INC., a Tennessee corporation with
its principal place of business at 217 West Main Street, Gallatin, Tennessee
37066 (hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), and RICHARD L. JOHNSON, a
resident of the State of Tennessee (hereinafter referred to as "Johnson").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS, the Company and Johnson entered into that certain
Registration Rights Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement")
dated as of December 11, 1991; and

                  WHEREAS, the Company and Johnson now desire to amend certain
provisions of the Agreement as set forth herein.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual
promises and covenants herein contained, the parties do hereby agree as
follows:

                  1. The definition of "Stock Option Agreement" in paragraph 1 
of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following is hereby
inserted in its place:

                           "Stock Option Agreement" means that certain Amended
                  and Restated Stock Option Agreement dated March 9, 1992, but
                  effective as of April 1, 1984, as amended by that certain
                  First Amendment to Amended and Restated Stock Option
                  Agreement dated as of October 10, 1996, both between Leon
                  Moore and Johnson.

                  2. Paragraph 2(a) of the Agreement is hereby amended by 
changing the date "December 11, 1996" in the first sentence thereof to
"December 11, 1997".

                  3. Paragraph 2(b) of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its 
entirety and the following is hereby inserted in its place:

                           (b) The Company shall be obligated to prepare, file
                  and cause to become effective only two (2) registration
                  statements pursuant to this Section 2; provided, however,
                  that the Company shall not be obligated to prepare, file and
                  cause to become effective a registration statement unless the
                  aggregate market value of the Registrable Securities to be
                  registered thereby is at least One Million Dollars
                  ($1,000,000).

                  4. Paragraph 3(a) of the Agreement is hereby amended by 
changing the date "December 11, 1996" in the first sentence thereof to
"December 11, 1997".

                                                      


<PAGE>   2


                  5. Paragraph 9(b) of the Agreement is hereby ameded by
changing the street address for Patrick L. Alexander as set forth therein from
"222 Third Avenue North" to "414 Union Street, Suite 1600".

                  6. Except as hereby modified and amended, the Agreement shall
in all other respects remain in full force and effect.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this First
Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement on the day and year first above
written.

                                       SHOLODGE, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Leon Moore
                                           ----------------------------------
                                       Title: President
                                              -------------------------------

                                       /s/ Richard L. Johnson
                                       --------------------------------------   
                                       RICHARD L. JOHNSON




                                     - 2 -





<PAGE>   1

                                                                      EXHIBIT 11

                         SHOLODGE, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
                       PRIMARY AND ASSUMING FULL DILUTION


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              12 WEEKS ENDED                40 WEEKS ENDED
                                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         OCTOBER 6,      OCTOBER 1,     OCTOBER 6,      OCTOBER 1,
                                                                            1996            1995           1996            1995
                                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------
PRIMARY:
<S>                                                                     <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK (PRIMARY):
   FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS,
         BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS                                       3,041,327      1,981,036     $ 8,075,250     $16,621,297
   INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS,
         NET OF INCOME TAXES                                                                23,692                         (21,690)
   EXTRAORDINARY INCOME (LOSS), NET OF INCOME TAXES                                          8,464                        (699,731)
                                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------
   NET EARNINGS                                                         $ 3,041,327    $ 2,013,192     $ 8,075,250     $15,899,876
                                                                        ==========================================================
SHARES:
   WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON AND COMMON
    EQUIVALENT SHARES OUTSTANDING                                         8,470,358      8,515,546       8,451,077       8,569,562
                                                                        ==========================================================
PRIMARY EARNINGS PER SHARE:
   FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS,
         BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS                                     $      0.36    $      0.23     $      0.96     $      1.94
   INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS,
         NET OF INCOME TAXES                                                           $      0.01                     $     (0.00)
   EXTRAORDINARY LOSS, NET OF INCOME TAXES                                             $      0.00                     $     (0.08)
                                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------
   NET EARNINGS                                                         $      0.36    $      0.24     $      0.96     $      1.86
                                                                        ==========================================================
FULLY DILUTED:

EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK (PRIMARY):
   FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS,
         BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS                                     $ 3,041,327    $ 1,981,036     $ 8,075,250     $16,621,297
   INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS,
         NET OF INCOME TAXES                                                                23,692                         -21,690
   EXTRAORDINARY INCOME (LOSS), NET OF INCOME TAXES                                          8,464                        -699,731
                                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------
   NET EARNINGS                                                         $ 3,041,327    $ 2,013,192     $ 8,075,250     $15,899,876

INTEREST (LESS TAX) ON CONVERTIBLE
  SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES                                               $   586,278        580,405     $ 1,958,673       1,952,473

ADJUSTED EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK:
   FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS,
         BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS                                     $ 3,627,605    $ 2,561,441     $10,033,923     $18,573,770
   INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS,
         NET OF INCOME TAXES                                                                23,692                         (21,690)
   EXTRAORDINARY INCOME (LOSS), NET OF INCOME TAXES                                          8,464                        (699,731)
                                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------
   NET EARNINGS                                                         $ 3,627,605    $ 2,593,597     $10,033,923     $17,852,349
                                                                        ==========================================================
SHARES:
   WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON AND COMMON
    EQUIVALENT SHARES OUTSTANDING                                         8,470,358      8,515,546       8,451,077       8,569,562

   SHARES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF CONVERTIBLE
     SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES                                              2,316,602      2,316,602       2,316,602       2,316,602
                                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         10,786,960     10,832,148      10,767,679      10,886,164
                                                                        ==========================================================
 FULLY DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
   FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS,
         BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS                                     $      0.34    $      0.24     $      0.93     $      1.71
   INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS,
         NET OF INCOME TAXES                                                           $      0.00                     $     (0.00)
   EXTRAORDINARY LOSS, NET OF INCOME TAXES                                             $      0.00                     $     (0.07)
                                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------
   NET EARNINGS                                                         $      0.34    $      0.24     $      0.93     $      1.64
                                                                        ==========================================================
</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE QUARTERLY
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED OCTOBER 6, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-06-1996
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-06-1996
<CASH>                                       3,233,692
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                3,915,272
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             8,593,167
<PP&E>                                     244,627,678
<DEPRECIATION>                              31,883,460
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             242,326,632
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       55,268,726
<BONDS>                                     92,819,944
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,000
<OTHER-SE>                                  90,629,013
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               242,326,632
<SALES>                                     17,860,624
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            17,860,624
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               12,216,135
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,306,555
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              4,848,327
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,807,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          3,041,327
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 3,041,327
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.34
        

</TABLE>


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