HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST INC
8-K, 1997-02-07
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
Previous: OM GROUP INC, SC 13G, 1997-02-07
Next: HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST INC, 8-K/A, 1997-02-07



<PAGE>

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 Current Report
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 26, 1996

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

                      Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


  Maryland                        1-11852                         62-1507028
(State or Other                (Commission File                (I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of                    Number)                      Identification
Incorporation)                                                      Number)


                  3310 West End Avenue
                  Fourth Floor
                  Nashville, Tennessee                           37203
                 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)      (Zip Code)

                                  615-269-8175
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)

                                 Not Applicable
                                  (Former Name)

<PAGE>
Item 5.  Other Events.

     On December 26, 1996,  Healthcare  Realty Trust  Incorporated (the Company)
entered into a Modified and Restated Credit  Agreement with  NationsBank,  N.A.,
AmSouth Bank of Alabama,  First  Tennessee  Bank  National  Association  and The
Sumitomo  Bank,  Limited  (the  Amended  Credit  Facility).  The Amended  Credit
Facility modified,  restated and replaced that certain Credit Agreement dated as
of August 3, 1994,  as amended June 1, 1995 and April 23, 1996, by and among the
Company and such lenders (the Prior Credit Facility). Among other modifications,
the credit  available to the Company was  increased  to $100  million  under the
Amended  Credit  Facility,  compared  to $75  million  under  the  Prior  Credit
Facility.  The Senior Credit Facility matures in December 1999,  subject to two,
one-year  extensions  exercisable  by the  Company  upon the terms of the Senior
Credit Facility.  The Company's obligations under the Senior Credit Facility are
guaranteed by each of the subsidiaries of the Company.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

                                  Exhibit Index

Exhibit Number                      Document
                              

10.1                       Modified and Restated Credit  Agreement,  dated as of
                           December 26,  1996,  by and among  Healthcare  Realty
                           Trust Incorporated and NationsBank, N.A., as agent.

10.2                       Form of Subsidiary Guarantee.


                                        2
<PAGE>
                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                    HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED



                              By:  /s/ ROGER O. WEST
                                   Roger O. West
                                   Executive Vice President and General Counsel




Date:  February 3, 1997




                                 EXHIBIT 10.1
                     MODIFIED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

     THIS MODIFIED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (the Credit  Agreement),  dated
as of December 26, 1996, is by and among HEALTHCARE  REALTY TRUST  INCORPORATED,
the banks listed on the signature pages hereof, and NATIONSBANK,  N.A., as agent
for such  banks,  and  modifies,  restates  and  replaces  that  certain  Credit
Agreement  dated as of August 3,  1994,  as  amended  June 1, 1995 and April 23,
1996, by and among such parties.

  The parties hereto agree as follows:

                             ARTICLE I

                            DEFINITION

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

     Acquisition   means  any  purchase  or  acquisition   (including  any  such
transaction  effected by way of merger,  amalgamation or  consolidation)  by the
Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  subsequent  to the  date  hereof,  of any
business or part of a  business,  in any form,  including,  the  acquisition  of
assets or stock of any other Person.

     Adjusted  Eurodollar  Rate  means,  for any  Interest  Period,  a per annum
interest  rate equal to the per annum rate  obtained by dividing (a) the rate of
interest  determined  by the  Agent to be the  average  (rounded  upward  to the
nearest  whole  multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum,  if such average is not such a
multiple)  of the per annum rate at which  Dollar  deposits  are  offered to the
Eurodollar  Reference Bank in the interbank  euroccurrency  market at 11:00 A.M.
Charlotte, North Carolina time two (2) Eurodollar Business Days before the first
day of such Interest Period in an amount  substantially  equal to the Eurodollar
Loan of the Eurodollar  Reference Bank to which such Interest Period is to apply
and for a period of time equal to such Interest Period by (b) a percentage equal
to 100% minus the Adjusted  Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage for such Interest
Period.

     Adjusted Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage means, for any Interest Period,
the percentage  applicable two (2) Eurodollar Business Days before the first day
of such Interest Period under regulations  issued from time to time by the Board
of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve  System (or any  successor  or any other
applicable   authority)  for  determining   the  maximum   reserve   requirement
(including,  without limitation,  any emergency,  supplemental or other marginal
reserve requirement) for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York
City with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurodollar
Liabilities (or with respect to any other category of liabilities which includes
deposits by  reference to which the interest  rate on Adjusted  Eurodollar  Rate
Advances is determined).

                                        1
<PAGE>
     Administrative   Questionnaire   means,  with  respect  to  each  Bank,  an
administrative  questionnaire in the form prepared by the Agent and submitted to
the Agent duly completed by such Bank.

     Affiliate means, with respect to any designated Person, (a) any officers or
directors  of such Person or (b) any other Person  (other than a  Subsidiary  of
such  designated  Person) that has a  relationship  with the  designated  Person
whereby either of such Persons directly or indirectly  controls or is controlled
by or is under common  control with the other of such Persons.  The term control
means the  possession,  directly  or  indirectly,  of the power,  whether or not
exercised to direct or cause the direction of the  management or policies of any
Person,  whether  through  ownership  of  voting  securities,   by  contract  or
otherwise.

     Agent means NationsBank,  in its capacity as agent for the Banks hereunder,
and its successors in such capacity.

     Applicable Fee Percentage shall mean on any date, the applicable percentage
set forth below based upon the ratings  applicable on such date to any Long-Term
Debt of the Borrower then outstanding:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                               UNUSED FEE
                                               PERCENTAGE
<S>                                            <C>

  Category 1  

  A or higher by S&P or                          0.1875%
  A2 or higher by Moody's
  or A or higher by Duff & Phelps

  Category 2

  Lower than A and equal to                        0.20%
  or higher than BBB+ by S&P 
  or lower than A2 and equal to
  or higher than Baa1 by Moody's
  or lower than A and equal to or 
  higher than BBB+ by Duff & Phelps

                                        2
<PAGE>
  Category 3

  Lower than BBB+ and equal to                     0.20%
  or higher than BBB by S&P or
  lower than Baa1 and equal to
  or higher than Baa2 by Moody's or
  lower than BBB+ and equal to
  or higher than BBB by Duff & Phelps

  Category 4

  Lower than BBB and equal to                     0.225%
  or higher than BBB- by S&P or
  lower than Baa2 and equal to
  or higher than Baa3 by Moody's or
  lower than BBB and equal to
  or higher than BBB- by Duff & Phelps

  Category 5

  Lower than BBB- by S&P or                        0.25%
  lower than Baa3 by Moody's or
  lower than BBB- by Duff & Phelps
</TABLE>



     For purposes of the  foregoing,  (a) if no rating for any Long-Term Debt of
the Borrower shall be available from Moody's,  S&P or Duff & Phelps, such rating
agency shall be deemed to have  established a rating for the  Long-Term  Debt of
the Borrower which is one rating grade higher than the subordinated  debt rating
grade of the Borrower,  (b) if no rating for any Long-Term Debt or  subordinated
debt of the Borrower shall be available from Moody's,  S&P or Duff & Phelps, the
Applicable  Fee  Percentage  shall  be as set  forth in  Category  5, (c) if the
ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody's,  S&P and Duff
& Phelps shall fall within different  categories,  the Applicable Fee Percentage
shall be based upon the superior (or  numerically  lowest)  Category unless such
differential  is more  than one  Category  in  which  case  the  Applicable  Fee
Percentage  shall be based upon the inferior (or numerically  highest)  Category
and (d) if any rating established or deemed to have been established by Moody's,
S&P or Duff & Phelps shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the
rating system of Moody's, S&P or Duff & Phelps),  such change shall be effective
as of the date on which such  change is first  announced  by the  rating  agency
making  such  change.  Each such  change  shall apply to all Base Rate Loans and
Eurodollar  Loans that are outstanding at any time during the period  commencing
on the  effective  date  of such  change  and  ending  on the  date  immediately
preceding  the effective  date of the next such change.  If the rating system of
Moody's,  S&P or Duff & Phelps  shall change  prior to the  Maturity  Date,  the
Borrower and the Banks shall  negotiate in good faith to amend the references to
specific ratings in this definition to reflect such changed rating system.

                                        3
<PAGE>
     Applicable  Lending Office means, with respect to any Bank, (a) in the case
of its Base Rate Loans,  its Domestic  Lending Office and (b) in the case of its
Eurodollar Loans, its Eurodollar Lending Office.

     Applicable  Margin shall mean on any date,  with respect to Base Rate Loans
and Eurodollar Loans made to the Borrower, the applicable spread set forth below
based upon the  ratings  applicable  on such date to any  Long-Term  Debt of the
Borrower then outstanding:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                     BASE RATE            EURODOLLAR LOAN
                                      SPREAD                  SPREAD
  Category 1     
  <S>                                <C> 

  A or higher by S&P or                 0.0%                   0.75%
  A2 or higher by Moody's
  or A or higher
  by Duff & Phelps

  Category 2

  Lower than A and equal to             0.0%                  0.875%
  or higher than BBB+ by
  S&P or lower than A2 and equal to
  or higher than Baa1 by Moody's or
  lower than A and equal to
  or higher than BBB+ by Duff & Phelps

  Category 3

  Lower than BBB+ and equal to          0.0%                   1.00%
  or higher than BBB by S&P or                                                   
  lower than Baa1 and equal to
  or higher than Baa2 by Moody's or
  lower than BBB+ and equal to
  or higher than BBB by Duff & Phelps

                                        4
<PAGE>
  Category 4

  Lower than BBB and equal to           0.0%                  1.125%
  or higher than BBB- by S&P or                                     
  lower than Baa2 and equal to
  or higher than Baa3 by Moody's or
  lower than BBB and equal to
  or higher than BBB- by Duff & Phelps

  Category 5

  Lower than BBB- by S&P or             0.0%                  1.25%
  lower than Baa3 by Moody's or
  lower than BBB- by Duff & Phelps
</TABLE>

     For purposes of the  foregoing,  (a) if no rating for any Long-Term Debt of
the Borrower shall be available from Moody's,  S&P or Duff & Phelps, such rating
agency shall be deemed to have  established a rating for the  Long-Term  Debt of
the Borrower which is one rating grade higher than the subordinated  debt rating
grade of the Borrower,  (b) if no rating for any Long-Term Debt or  subordinated
debt of the Borrower shall be available from Moody's,  S&P or Duff & Phelps, the
Applicable  Margin  applicable to any Base Rate Loan or Eurodollar Loan shall be
as set forth in  Category 5, (c) if the  ratings  established  or deemed to have
been  established by Moody's,  S&P and Duff & Phelps shall fall within different
categories, the Applicable Margin applicable to any Base Rate Loan or Eurodollar
Loan shall be based upon the superior (or  numerically  lowest)  Category unless
such  differential is more than one Category in which case the Applicable Margin
applicable  to any Base Rate Loan or  Eurodollar  Loan  shall be based  upon the
inferior (or numerically  highest) Category and (d) if any rating established or
deemed  to have  been  established  by  Moody's,  S&P or Duff & Phelps  shall be
changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of Moody's, S&P
or Duff & Phelps),  such change  shall be effective as of the date on which such
change is first  announced by the rating  agency  making such change.  Each such
change  shall  apply  to all Base  Rate  Loans  and  Eurodollar  Loans  that are
outstanding  at any time during the period  commencing on the effective  date of
such change and ending on the date  immediately  preceding the effective date of
the next such  change.  If the rating  system of  Moody's,  S&P or Duff & Phelps
shall  change  prior to the  Maturity  Date,  the  Borrower  and the Banks shall
negotiate  in good faith to amend the  references  to  specific  ratings in this
definition to reflect such changed rating system.

                                        5
<PAGE>
     Asset Sale means any sale, lease or other  disposition  (including any such
transaction  effected by way of merger,  amalgamation or  consolidation)  by the
Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries or Specified  Affiliates  subsequent to the
date hereof of any asset (including  stock),  including  without  limitation any
Sale-Leaseback  Transaction,  whether  or not  involving  a Capital  Lease,  but
excluding  (a) any sale,  lease or other  disposition  of real  property  in the
ordinary  course of  business  of the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or
Specified Affiliates, (b) any sale, lease or other disposition of raw materials,
supplies or other nonfixed  assets in the ordinary  course of business,  (c) any
sale,  lease or other  disposition  of surplus,  obsolete or worn out machinery,
equipment,  molds or other  manufacturing  equipment in the  ordinary  course of
business to the extent that the aggregate book value of all of such assets sold,
leased or otherwise disposed of in a fiscal year does not exceed $250,000.00 (on
a  non-cumulative  basis),  (d) any  sale,  lease  or other  disposition  to the
Borrower or any Wholly-Owned  Consolidated  Subsidiary or Specified Affiliate of
the  Borrower,  (e) any sale or other  disposition  in the  ordinary  course  of
business  of readily  marketable  securities,  (f) any  disposition  of cash not
prohibited hereunder,  (g) any Securities  Transaction,  and (h) the issuance of
any shares of stock in any  Specified  Affiliate  to any  officer,  director  or
employee of the Borrower.

     Assignee shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 9.06(c).

     Bank means each bank listed on the signature  pages  hereof,  each Assignee
which  becomes  a  Bank  pursuant  to  Section  9.06(c),  and  their  respective
successors.

     Base Rate  means,  for any day,  the per annum  interest  rate equal to the
greater of the (a) Prime Rate or the (b) Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2%.

     Base Rate Borrowing means a Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Loans.

     Base Rate Loan means a Loan hereunder which bears interest at the Base Rate
plus the Applicable  Margin  pursuant to the  applicable  Notice of Borrowing or
Notice of Interest Rate Election or the provisions of Article VIII.

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

     Borrower  means  Healthcare  Realty  Trust   Incorporated,   a  corporation
organized  and  existing  under  the  laws of the  State  of  Maryland,  and its
successors.

     Borrowing means a borrowing under this Credit Agreement consisting of Loans
made to the Borrower by the Banks on a pro rata basis  determined with reference
to each Bank's Commitment Percentage pursuant to Section 2.01.

     Business Day means any day except a Saturday,  Sunday or other day on which
commercial  banks  in  Charlotte,  North  Carolina  or New  York,  New  York are
authorized or required by law to close.

     Buy-Sell  Agreement means a written  agreement  between the Borrower or any
Subsidiary,  as purchaser, and one or more third parties, as seller,  obligating
the  Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  upon  payment of a  definitely  determinable
price, to acquire the real property and improvements  described  therein without
contingency, except that the improvements are constructed in accordance with the
conditions set forth in the particular Buy-Sell Agreement.

                                        6
<PAGE>
     Capital Lease means a lease that would be capitalized on a balance sheet of
the lessee prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

     Capital  Lease  Indebtedness  means  indebtedness  incurred  pursuant  to a
Capital Lease.

     Closing  Date means the date on which the  conditions  set forth in Article
III to the making of the initial Loan hereunder shall have been fulfilled and on
which such initial Loan shall have been made.

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

     Commitment  means, with respect to each Bank, the amount set forth opposite
the name of such Bank  under  the  heading  Commitment  on the  signature  pages
hereof,  as such  amount may be reduced  from time to time  pursuant  to Section
2.06.

     Commitment Percentage means, with respect to each Bank, the percentage that
such Bank's Commitment constitutes of the aggregate amount of the Commitments.

     Consolidated  Capital  Expenditures means, for any period, the additions to
property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of the Borrower and
its Consolidated  Subsidiaries for such period,  as the same are or would be set
forth  in a  consolidated  statement  of  cash  flows  of the  Borrower  and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period.

     Consolidated  EBIT means,  for any period,  the sum of (a) the consolidated
net income of the Borrower  and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for such period
plus (b) to the extent  deducted in determining  such  consolidated  net income,
Consolidated  Interest Expense,  plus (c) the amount of any consolidated  income
taxes (or minus the amount of any consolidated tax benefits) of the Borrower and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period.

     Consolidated   Funded   Indebtedness  means,   without   duplication,   all
obligations,  liabilities and  indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
of the types described in subsections (a)-(f) of the definition of Debt.

     Consolidated  Interest  Coverage  Ratio  means  as of the  last  day of any
quarter of the Borrower,  the ratio of (x) Consolidated EBIT to (y) Consolidated
Interest Expense.

                                        7
<PAGE>

     Consolidated  Interest  Expense  means,  for any period,  the cash interest
expense and letter of credit fee expense of the  Borrower  and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis for such period.

     Consolidated  Senior Debt means all Consolidated  Funded Indebtedness other
than any amount  thereof the  repayment  of which has been  subordinated  to the
repayment of any other Consolidated Funded Indebtedness.

     Consolidated  Subsidiary  means at any date any  Subsidiary or other entity
the  accounts of which would be  consolidated  with those of the Borrower in its
consolidated  financial  statements if such  statements were prepared as of such
date.  For  purposes  of this  Credit  Agreement,  Specified  Affiliates  of the
Borrower shall be classified as Consolidated Subsidiaries.

     Consolidated   Tangible  Net  Worth  means,   at  any  time,   consolidated
stockholders'   equity  of  the  Borrower  and  its  Consolidated   Subsidiaries
determined  as of such time in accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles  applied on a consistent basis,  with no upward  adjustments due to a
revaluation of assets, minus all Intangible Assets.

     Consolidated  Total Capital means, at any time, the sum of (a) Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth plus (b) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness.

     Constitutional  Documents  in relation to any  corporate  Person  means the
Certificate of Incorporation  and By-Laws or other  constitutional  documents of
such corporate Person.

     Credit  Agreement  shall  have  the  meaning  given  to  such  term  in the
introductory paragraph hereof.

     Debt  of any  Person  means  at any  date,  without  duplication,  (a)  all
obligations  of such Person for  borrowed  money,  (b) all  obligations  of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures,  notes or other similar instruments,  (c)
all unconditional  obligations of such Person to pay (as opposed to a contingent
or conditional  obligation of such Person to pay) the deferred purchase price of
property  or  services,  except  security  deposits,  sums  retained  to  secure
performance, trade accounts payable and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary
course of business,  (d) all  Capitalized  Lease  Indebtedness,  (e) all Debt of
others  secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person,  whether or not such Debt
is  assumed  by such  Person  (to the extent of the lesser of the amount of such
Debt and the book value of any assets  subject to such  Lien),  (f) the  maximum
amount of all letters of credit issued or acceptance facilities  established for
the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder
(other than letters of credit and acceptance facilities supporting other Debt of
such Person), (g) obligations under Interest Rate Protection Agreements, (h) all
indebtedness  relating to or arising from any Securities  Transactions,  and (i)
all Debt of others Guaranteed by such Person (to the extent of the lesser of the
amount of such Debt  Guaranteed  or the  amount  of such  Guarantee);  provided,
however, Debt shall not include obligations under Buy-Sell Agreements.

                                        8
<PAGE>

     Default means any condition or event which  constitutes an Event of Default
or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would,  unless cured
or waived, become an Event of Default.

     Dollars and $ means lawful money of the United States of America.

     Dollar Amount means,  in relation to any Debt  denominated in Dollars,  the
amount of such Debt.

     Domestic  Lending Office means,  as to each Bank, its office located at its
address set forth in its  Administrative  Questionnaire  (or  identified  in its
Administrative  Questionnaire  as its  Domestic  Lending  Office)  or such other
office as such Bank may hereafter  designate as its Domestic  Lending  office by
notice to the Borrower and the Agent.

     Environmental  Laws means any and all  federal,  state,  local and  foreign
statutes,  laws, regulations,  ordinances,  rules,  judgments,  orders, decrees,
permits,  grants,  licenses,   agreements  or  other  governmental  restrictions
including,   without  limitation,  the  Comprehensive   Environmental  Response,
Compensation  and Liability Act, the Superfund  Amendments  and  Reauthorization
Act, the Resource  Conservation and Recovery Act, the Toxic  Substances  Control
Act, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act relating to the environment or to
emissions,  discharges  or releases of  pollutants,  contaminants,  petroleum or
petroleum products,  chemicals or industrial,  toxic or hazardous  substances or
wastes into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface
water,  ground  water  or  land)  or  otherwise  relating  to  the  manufacture,
processing,  distribution,  use,  treatment,  storage,  disposal,  transport  or
handling of pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals
or industrial,  toxic or hazardous substances or wastes or the clean-up or other
remediation thereof.

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

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

     Eurodollar Borrowing means any Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Loans.

     Eurodollar  Business  Day means any Business Day on which the Agent and the
Eurodollar  Reference  Bank  are  open  for  international  business  (including
dealings in Dollar deposits) in London.  Eurodollar  Lending Office means, as to
each Bank, its office,  branch or affiliate  located at its address set forth in
its   Administrative   Questionnaire   (or  identified  in  its   Administrative
Questionnaire as its Eurodollar Lending Office) or such other office,  branch or
affiliate of such Bank as it may hereafter  designate as its Eurodollar  Lending
Office by notice to the Agent.

                                        9
<PAGE>

     Eurodollar  Loan  means  a  Loan  which  bears  interest  at  the  Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable  Margin pursuant to the applicable Notice of
Borrowing or Notice of Interest Rate Election.

     Eurodollar Reference Bank means NationsBank.

     Event of  Acceleration  means any of the events or conditions  set forth in
Sections 6.01(g) or (h) with respect to the Borrower.

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

     Federal Funds Rate means,  for any day, the rate per annum (rounded  upward
to the nearest  1/100th of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple)
equal  to  the  weighted  average  of  the  rates  on  overnight  federal  funds
transactions  with  members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by federal
funds brokers on such date, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
on the Business Day next succeeding  such day,  provided that (a) if such day is
not a Business  Day,  the Federal  Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on
such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next
succeeding  Business  Day,  and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next
succeeding  Business  Day,  the  Federal  Funds  Rate for such date shall be the
average  rate  quoted  to  NationsBank  on such  date on  such  transactions  as
determined by the Agent.

     Financing  Documents  means  the  Credit  Agreement,   the  Notes  and  the
Subsidiaries  Guarantees,  in each case as  amended  and in effect  from time to
time.

     Foreign  Government  means any  government  other  than that of the  United
States of America or any political subdivision thereof.

     Foreign  Person  means  (a) any  Foreign  Government,  (b) any  agency of a
Foreign Government, (c) any form of business enterprise organized under the laws
of any country other than the United States of America or its possessions or any
political  subdivision  thereof or (d) any form of business  enterprise owned or
controlled  by any of the Persons  described  in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this
definition.

     Funds From  Operations  means the Borrower's  net income (loss),  excluding
gains (losses) from  restructuring of indebtedness  and sales of property,  plus
depreciation  and  amortization,   and  after  adjustments  for   unconsolidated
partnerships and joint ventures. Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and
joint ventures are to be calculated to reflect Funds From Operations on the same
basis.

                                       10
<PAGE>

     Government means the federal  government of the United States of America or
any agency thereof.

     Group or Group of Loans  means at any time a group of Loans  consisting  of
(a) all Base Rate Loans at such time or (b) all Eurodollar Loans having the same
Interest Period at such time; provided that, if a Loan of any particular Bank is
converted to or made as a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Sections 8.02 or 8.04, such
Loan shall be included in the same Group or Groups of Loans from time to time as
if it had not been so converted or made as a Base Rate Loan.

     Guarantee by any Person means any obligation,  contingent or otherwise,  of
such Person directly or indirectly  guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of
any other Person and,  without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing,  any
obligation,  direct or indirect,  contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Debt or other  obligation  (whether by virtue of  partnership  arrangements,  by
agreement to keep-well,  to purchase assets,  goods,  securities or services, to
take-or-pay,  or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (b)
entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such
Debt or other  obligation  of the  payment  thereof or to protect  such  obligee
against loss in respect  thereof (in whole or in part);  provided  that the term
Guarantee  shall not include  endorsement  for  collection  or deposit in the or
course of business.

     Hazardous  Substance  means any  toxic or  hazardous  substance,  including
petroleum and its derivatives presently regulated under the Environmental Laws.

     Intangible Assets shall mean, as of the date of any determination  thereof,
the total amount of all assets of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  consisting
of  goodwill  patents,   trade  names,   trademarks,   copyrights,   franchises,
experimental  expense,  organization  expense,  unamortized  debt  discount  and
expense,  deferred assets (other than prepaid insurance and prepaid taxes),  the
excess of cost of shares  acquired  over book value of  related  assets and such
other assets as are properly  classified as intangible assets in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.

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

     (i) any Interest  Period which would  otherwise end on a day which is not a
     Eurodollar Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Eurodollar
     Business  Day unless  such  Eurodollar  Business  Day falls in another  
     calendar month,  in which  case such  Interest  Period  shall  end on the
     next  preceding Eurodollar Business Day.,

                                       11
<PAGE>

     (ii) any Interest Period which begins on the last  Eurodollar  Business Day
     of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically 
     corresponding day in the calendar  month at the end of such Interest 
     Period) shall end on the last Eurodollar Business Day of a calendar month; 
     and

     (iii) any  Interest  Period  with  respect to a Loan that  would  otherwise
     extend beyond the Maturity Date shall end on the Maturity Date.

     Interest Rate  Protection  Agreement  means interest rate swap agreement or
interest rate future, option, cap, collar or other hedging arrangements.

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

     Investment  Policy  means the  Borrower's  investment  policy  currently in
effect as of the date  hereof  and as  previously  disclosed  in  writing to the
Banks,  and as  amended  from  time to time by  Borrower  with the  approval  of
Majority  Banks,  which approval  shall not be  unreasonably  delayed,  it being
agreed and understood  that in the event Agent does not notify in writing within
ten (10) days  following the date of Agent's  receipt of Borrower's  request for
approval of an amendment to the  Investment  Policy that the Majority Banks have
disapproved the requested amendment,  the Majority Banks shall be deemed to have
approved the amended investment Policy.

     Liens means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge,
security  interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset.  For the
purposes  of this  Credit  Agreement,  the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  of the
Borrower  shall  be  deemed  to own  subject  to a Lien any  asset  which it has
acquired  or holds  subject  to the  interest  of a vendor or  lessor  under any
conditional  sales agreement,  capital lease or other title retention  agreement
relating to such asset.

     Loan means a Eurodollar Loan or a Base Rate Loan and Loans means Eurodollar
Loans or Base Rate Loans or any combination of the foregoing.

     Long-Term Debt shall mean, at any time, any publicly-held  senior unsecured
debt obligations outstanding at such time with a maturity more than one (1) year
after the date of any determination hereunder.

     Majority  Banks means Banks having 66 2/3% of the  aggregate  amount of the
Commitments or, if the  Commitments  shall have been  terminated,  holding Notes
evidencing 66 2/3% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans.

     Margin  Stock has the  meaning  assigned  to such term in  Regulation  U or
Regulation G (to the extent applicable).

                                       12
<PAGE>

     Material Plan means a Plan or Plans having aggregate  Unfunded  Liabilities
in excess of $1,000,000.

     Material Subsidiary means the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 1.01 attached
hereto and any  Subsidiary  which  subsequent  to the  Closing  Date owns assets
(including stock) having an aggregate market value in excess of $2,500,000.

     Maturity Date shall have the meaning given to such term in Section  2.04(a)
hereof.

     Moody's means Moody's Investor Services, Inc.

     Multiemployer  Plan  means at any time an  employee  pension  benefit  plan
within the  meaning of  Section  4001(a)(3)  of ERISA to which any member of the
ERISA Group is then making or accruing an  obligation to make  contributions  or
has within the preceding five (5) plan years made  contributions,  including for
these  purposes any Person which ceased to be a member of the ERISA Group during
such five (5) year period.

     NationsBank  means  NationsBank  of  Georgia,   N.A.,  a  national  banking
association.

     Net Sale  Proceeds  means,  with  respect to any Asset  Sale,  (a) the cash
proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,  minus (b) the sum
of (i)  fees  and  expenses  incurred  by the  Borrower  or such  Subsidiary  in
connection with such Asset Sale,  (ii) cash or incremental  taxes payable by the
Borrower or such  Subsidiary  as a result of and in  connection  with such Asset
Sale,  (iii) any Debt secured by a Lien on any assets subject to such Asset Sale
and  required  to be repaid in  connection  with  such  Asset  Sale and (iv) any
portion of such  proceeds  payable to any holder (other than the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates) of any direct or indirect minority
interest in such assets.

     Notes means the promissory notes of the Borrower evidencing the obligations
of the Borrower to repay the Loans, in the form of Exhibit A, as the same may be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     Notice of Borrowing has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.02(a).

     Notice of Interest  Rate  Election  has the  meaning  given to such term in
Section 2.08(a).

     Obligor  means the Borrower and any of its  Subsidiaries  from time to time
party to any Financing Document, and their respective successors.

     Parent means, with respect to any Bank, any Person as to which such Bank is
a Subsidiary.  

                                       13
<PAGE>

     Participant means a bank or other  institution which assumes,  in
accordance with Section  9.06(b),  a participating  interest with respect to the
Loans, the Notes and this Credit Agreement.

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

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

     Plan  means at any time an  employee  pension  benefit  plan as  defined in
Subsection 3(2) of ERISA (other than a  Multiemployer  Plan) which is covered by
Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding  standards under Section 412
of the Code and either (a) is maintained,  or  contributed  to, by any member of
the ERISA Group for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (b) has at any
time within the preceding five (5) years been  maintained or contributed  to, by
any Person  which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for  employees of
any Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.

     Prime Rate means the rate of interest publicly  announced by NationsBank in
Atlanta,  Georgia  from  time  to  time  as its  prime  rate,  which  shall  not
necessarily be the best or lowest rate of interest offered by NationsBank.

     Quarterly Period means a three month period ending on the last Business Day
of each March, June, September and December.

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

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

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

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

     Release has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.06(a) hereof.

     Sale-Leaseback  Transaction means any arrangement with any Person providing
for the leasing by the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries of any property that
(or of any property similar to and used for  substantially  the same purposes as
any other  property  that) has been or is to be sold,  assigned,  transferred or
otherwise  disposed of by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to such Person
with the intention of entering into such lease.

                                       14
<PAGE>

     Securities  Transaction means any purchase or other acquisition  (including
any such transaction effected by way of partnership  formation,  upreit, merger,
amalgamation  or  consolidation)  by the  Borrower  or  any of its  Subsidiaries
subsequent  to the date hereof of any real estate  asset or any entity which has
as its  principal  assets,  real estate,  through  which  Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries issue consideration  comprised  principally of its respective stock
or securities,  including,  without limitation,  common stock,  preferred stock,
bonds, and hybrid securities.

     S&P means Standard & Poor's Corporation.

     Solvent  means,  with respect to any person on a particular  date,  that on
such date (a) the fair value of the  property of such Person is greater than the
total  amount  of  liabilities,   including,   without  limitation,   contingent
liabilities,  of such Person,  (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets
of such  Person is not less than the  amount  that will be  required  to pay the
probable  liability  of such  Person on its debts as they  become  absolute  and
matured,  (c) such  Person is able to realize  upon its assets and pay its debts
and other  liabilities,  contingent  obligations  and other  commitments as they
mature,  (d) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe  that it will,
incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person's ability to pay as such debts and
liabilities  mature,  and (e) such  Person is not  engaged  in a  business  or a
transaction,  and is not about to engage in a  business  or a  transaction,  for
which such Person's property would constitute  unreasonably  small capital after
giving due  consideration  to the  prevailing  practice in the industry in which
such Person is engaged. In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any
time, it is intended that such  liabilities wig be computed at the amount which,
in light of all the facts and  circumstances  existing at such time,  represents
the  amount  that can  reasonably  be  expected  to become an actual or  matured
liability.

     Specified  Affiliate means any  corporation,  association or other business
entity formed for the purpose of earning income not qualified as rents from real
property  under  applicable  provisions  of the Code, in which the Borrower owns
substantially  all of the  economic  interest  but less  than 10% of the  voting
interests,  and the  remaining  economic  and voting  interests  are  subject to
restrictions  requiring  that  ownership of such  interests be held by officers,
directors or employees of the Borrower.

     Subsidiaries  Guarantee means the Subsidiaries Guarantee to be executed and
delivered by each of the  Material  Subsidiaries,  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit B as the same may be amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified from
time to time.

     Subsidiary  means,  with respect to any Person,  any  corporation  or other
entity of which  securities or other ownership  interests having ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons  performing
similar functions are at such time directly or indirectly owned by such Person.

                                       15
<PAGE>

     UCC means, with respect to any jurisdiction, the Uniform Commercial Code as
then in effect in that jurisdiction.

     Unfunded  Liabilities  means,  with  respect  to any Plan at any time,  the
amount (if any) by which (a) the present  value of all benefits  under such Plan
exceeds (b) the fair market value of all Plan assets  allocable to such benefits
(excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions),  all determined as of the then
most  recent  valuation  date for such Plan,  but only to the  extent  that such
excess  represents  a potential  liability of a member of the ERISA Group to the
PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA.

     Unused Fee shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.13(a).

     Wholly-Owned Consolidated Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any
Consolidated  Subsidiary  of such  Person all of the shares of capital  stock or
other ownership interests of which (except directors'  qualifying shares) are at
the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person.

     SECTION 1.02 Accounting  Terms.  Unless  otherwise  specified  herein,  all
accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations
hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates  required
to be  delivered  hereunder  shall be  prepared  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  in effect as of the Closing Date  consistently
applied;  provided  that,  if the Borrower  notifies the Agent that the Borrower
wishes to amend any covenant in Article V to eliminate  the effect of any change
in generally  accepted  accounting  principles on the operation of such covenant
(or if the Agent  notifies  the Borrower  that the Majority  Banks wish to amend
Article V for such purpose),  then the Borrower's  compliance with such covenant
shall be determined on the basis of generally accepted accounting  principals in
effect immediately  before the relevant change in generally accepted  accounting
principles  became  effective,  until  either such notice is  withdrawn  or such
covenant is amended in a manner  satisfactory  to the  Borrower and the Majority
Banks.

     SECTION  1.03  Other  Definitional  Provisions.   References  to  Articles,
Sections  subsections,  Schedules and Exhibits  shall be to Articles,  Sections,
subsections,  Schedules and  Exhibits,  respectively,  of this Credit  Agreement
unless otherwise specifically provided. Any of the terms defined in Section 1.01
or referred to in Section 1.02 may, unless the context  otherwise  requires,  be
used in the singular or the plural  depending on the  reference.  In this Credit
Agreement,  the word including means including  without  limitation and the word
includes  means  includes  without  limitation.  Terms  defined  in this  Credit
Agreement  and used,  but not otherwise  defined in the Exhibits and  Schedules,
shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in this Credit Agreement

                                       16
<PAGE>

                              ARTICLE II

                              THE LOANS

     SECTION 2.01 Loans. Each Bank severally agrees, on the terms and conditions
set  forth in this  Credit  Agreement  (including  the  conditions  set forth in
Section 3.02 hereof) and in reliance on the  representations  and warranties set
forth herein,  to make Loans to the Borrower  pursuant to this Section 2.01 from
time to time and  including  the Closing Date to but not  including the Maturity
Date in amounts such that the aggregate  principal  amount of such Loans by such
Bank at any one time  outstanding  shall not exceed the Commitment of such Bank.
Within the  foregoing  limits,  the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01,
prepay Loans and reborrow  pursuant to this Section 2.01.  Each Borrowing  under
this Section 2.01 which  consists of  Eurodollar  Loans shall be in an aggregate
principal  amount of  $500,000.00  or, at the election of  Borrower,  any larger
multiple  of  $100,000.00  and shall be made from the several  Banks  ratably in
proportion to their  respective  Commitments.  Each Borrowing under this Section
2.01 which consists of Base Rate Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount
of  $500,000.00  or,  at the  election  of  Borrower,  any  larger  multiple  of
$100,000.00  and shall be made from the several  Banks  ratably in proportion to
their respective Commitments.

     SECTION 2.02 Method of Borrowing.

     (a) The  Borrower  shall  give the Agent and each Bank  notice (a Notice of
Borrowing) not later than (i) 11:00 A.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the
date of each Base Rate Borrowing and (ii) 11:00 A.M. (Charlotte,  North Carolina
time)  on the  third  (3rd)  Eurodollar  Business  Day  before  each  Eurodollar
Borrowing, specifying:

     (i) the amount of the proposed Borrowing;

     (ii) the date of such Borrowing,  which shall be a Business Day in the case
     of a  Base  Rate  Borrowing  or a  Eurodollar  Business  Day in  the  case
     of a Eurodollar Borrowing;

     (iii) whether  the Loans  comprising  such  Borrowing  are to be Base  Rate
     Loans or Eurodollar Loans, or a combination thereof, and

     (iv)  in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the duration of the initial 
     Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of the 
     definition of Interest Period.

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

     (c) Not later than (i) 2:00 P.M.,  (Charlotte,  North Carolina time) on the
date of each Base Rate Borrowing, and (ii) 11:00 A.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina
time) on the date of each Eurodollar  Borrowing,  each Bank shall make available
its  ratable  share of such  Borrowing,  in federal or other  funds  immediately
available in Charlotte, North Carolina, to the Agent at its address specified in
or  pursuant to Section  9.01.  Unless any  applicable  condition  specified  in
Article  III has not been  satisfied,  the Agent will make the funds so received
from the Banks  available to the Borrower at an account of the Borrower with the
Agent  immediately  after  being  made  available  to the  Agent at the  Agent's
aforesaid address in immediately available funds.

                                       17
<PAGE>

     SECTION 2.03 Notes.

     (a) The Loans of each Bank shall be  evidenced  by one Note  payable to the
order of such Bank for the account of its Applicable Lending Office in an amount
equal to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Bank's Loan.

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

     SECTION 2.04 Scheduled Termination of Commitments; Maturity of Loans.

     (a) The  Commitments  shall  terminate on December  30, 1999 (the  Maturity
Date) and any Loans then outstanding  (together with accrued  interest  thereon)
and all accrued fees and other amounts payable hereunder  (including all amounts
payable  under  Section  2.10)  shall be due and  payable  in full on such date;
provided,  however,  that  within  ninety  (90) days before the first and second
anniversary  of the Closing Date,  upon the request of the Borrower and with the
consent of all of the Banks,  the current  Maturity  Date may be extended for an
additional one (1) year period.  Each repayment pursuant to this Section 2.04(a)
shall be made together with accrued  interest to the date of payment,  and shall
be applied ratably to payment of the Loans of the several Banks in proportion to
the aggregate outstanding principal amounts of their Loans.

     (b) Within the foregoing limits of this Section 2.04, each required payment
or prepayment  shall be applied to the  outstanding  Group or Groups of Loans as
the Borrower may  designate to the Agent not less than five (5) Business Days or
five  (5)  Eurodollar  Business  Days,  as the  case  may be,  prior to the date
required  for such payment or  prepayment  or failing  such  designation  by the
Borrower, as the Agent may specify by notice to the Borrower and the Banks.

     SECTION 2.05 Interest Rates.

     (a) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear  interest on the  outstanding  principal
amount  thereof,  for each day from the date such Loan is made  until it becomes
due, at a rate equal to the Base Rate for such day plus the  Applicable  Margin.
Such  interest  shall be  payable  quarterly  in arrears on the last day of each
Quarterly  Period and on each date a Base Rate Loan is converted to a Eurodollar
Loan.  Any  overdue  principal  of or  interest on any Base Rate Loan shall bear
interest,  payable on demand,  for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal
to the sum of 2.000% plus the rate  otherwise  applicable to Base Rate Loans for
such day.

                                       18
<PAGE>

     (b) Each Eurodollar  Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding  principal
amount thereof,  for the Interest Period applicable  thereto, at a rate equal to
the  Adjusted  Eurodollar  Rate for such  Interest  Period  plus the  Applicable
Margin.  Such interest shall be payable for each Interest Period on the last day
thereof and, if such Interest Period is longer than 3 months,  at intervals of 3
months after the first day thereof.  Any overdue principal of or interest on any
Eurodollar  Loan shall bear interest,  payable on demand for each day until paid
at a rate per annum  equal to the sum of 2.000% plus (i) for each day during any
Interest Period  applicable to such Eurodollar Loan, the rate applicable to such
Eurodollar  Loan for such  day,  and  (ii)  for each day  after  the end of such
Interest  Period,  the sum of 2.000% plus the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans
for such day.

     (c) The Agent shall  determine  each interest rate  applicable to the Loans
hereunder.  The Agent shall give prompt  notice to the Borrower and the Banks by
facsimile,  telex or cable  of each  rate of  interest  so  determined,  and its
determination thereof shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

     (d) The Eurodollar Reference Bank agrees to use its best efforts to furnish
quotations to the Agent as  contemplated by this Section 2.05. If the Eurodollar
Reference Bank does not a timely quotation, the provisions of Section 8.01 shall
apply.

     SECTION 2.06 Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitment.  The Borrower
may at any time,  upon at least three (3) Business  Days' written  notice to the
Agent,  terminate the  Commitments in whole or reduce the Commitments in part up
to the amount by which the Commitments exceed the aggregate  principal amount of
the Loans;  provided,  however, any such partial reduction shall be in a minimum
amount of  $5,000,000.00  (or such lesser aggregate amount of the Commitments as
may  then be in  effect)  or any  larger  multiple  of  $1,000,000.00,  provided
further, any such reduction shall be made ratably among the Banks.

     SECTION 2.07 Prepayments.

     (a) Optional Prepayments.

         (i) The Borrower may, upon written notice  delivered to the Agent not 
         later than 2:00 P.M. (Charlotte,  North Carolina time) on the first 
         Business Day prior to the date of such  prepayment,  prepay a Group of 
         Base Rate  Loans in whole at any time, or from time to time in part in 
         amounts aggregating $500,000.00 or any larger multiple of $100,000.00 
         by paying (in Dollars) the principal amount to be prepaid together with
         accrued interest thereon to the date of prepayment.Each such optional 
         prepayment shall be applied to prepay ratably the Base Rate Loans
         of the several Banks included in such Group.

                                       19
<PAGE>

         (ii)  The  Borrower  may,  upon at  least  three  (3) Eurodollar  
         Business Days' notice to the Agent, prepay a Group of Eurodollar  Loans
         in whole at any time,  or from time to time in part in amounts  
         aggregating $500,000.00  or any larger  multiple  of  $100,000.00, by 
         paying the  principal amount to be  prepaid  together  with  accrued  
         interest  thereon to the date of prepayment, as designated by Borrower
         pursuant to Section 2.04(b); provided that the Borrower shall reimburse
         each Bank for any loss or expense incurred by it as a result of any 
         such  prepayment  in  accordance  with Section  2.10.  Each such
         optional  prepayment shall be applied to prepay ratably the Loans of 
         the several Banks included in such Group.

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

     (b) Mandatory Prepayments.

         i) Mandatory  Prepayments  from Asset Sales.  Within five (5)
         Business Days (or such longer period of time agreed to by the Banks) of
         each  receipt by the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  or Specified
         Affiliates of any Net Sale  Proceeds from any Asset Sale,  the Borrower
         shall prepay, or cause such Subsidiary or Specified Affiliate to prepay
         on behalf of the Borrower, to the Agent for the account of the Banks an
         amount  equal to 100% of all Net  Sale  Proceeds  from  all such  Asset
         Sales.  Prepayments pursuant to this subsection (b)(i) shall be applied
         to prepay the Loans, together with interest accrued thereon to the date
         of  prepayment;  provided,  however,  that  in the  event  of any  such
         prepayment  of a  Eurodollar  Loan  other  than on the  last day of the
         Interest Period therefor,  the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse
         the Banks in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.10.

                                       20
<PAGE>

         (ii)  Mandatory   Prepayment   from  the  Proceeds  of  Equity
         Contributions  or the Issuance of Stock.  Within five (5) Business Days
         (or such longer  period of time agreed to by the Banks) of each date on
         which the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  receives  cash proceeds
         from any equity  contributions  or cash  proceeds  from the issuance of
         stock,  the Borrower  shall pay, or shall cause any such  Subsidiary to
         pay, such cash proceeds  less any actual out of pocket  expenses,  fees
         and other  sums paid or  incurred  by  Borrower  or its  Subsidiary  in
         connection  therewith,  to the Agent  for the  ratable  account  of the
         Banks;  provided  however,  that this provision  shall not apply to any
         Dividend  Reinvestment  Plan or any  successor  or similar  plan of the
         Borrower.  Prepayments  pursuant to this  subsection  (b)(ii)  shall be
         applied to prepay the Loans,  together with interest accrued thereon to
         the date of prepayment,  as designated by Borrower  pursuant to Section
         2.04(b); provided, however, that in the event of any such prepayment of
         a  Eurodollar  Loan other than on the last day of the  Interest  Period
         therefor,  the Borrower  shall be  obligated to reimburse  the Banks in
         respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.10.

         (iii) Mandatory Prepayment from the Proceeds of Debt.
         Within five (5) Business  Days (or such longer period of time agreed to
         by the  Banks)  of  each  date  on  which  the  Borrower  or any of its
         Subsidiaries  receives cash proceeds from the issuance of any Debt, the
         Borrower  shall pay, or shall cause any such  Subsidiary  to pay,  such
         cash proceeds,  less any actual out of pocket expenses,  fees and other
         sums paid or  incurred by Borrower  or such  Subsidiary  in  connection
         therewith,  to  the  Agent  for  the  ratable  account  of  the  Banks.
         Prepayments  pursuant to this  subsection  (b)(iii) shall be applied to
         prepay the Loans, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of
         prepayment,  as  designated  by Borrower  pursuant to Section  2.04(b);
         provided,  however,  that in the  event  of any  such  prepayment  of a
         Eurodollar  Loan  other  than on the  last day of the  Interest  Period
         therefor,  the Borrower  shall be  obligated to reimburse  the Banks in
         respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.10.

         (iv) Notice of  Mandatory  Prepayment.  The  Borrower shall notify the 
         Agent of any prepayment  pursuant to this Section 2.07 at least two (2)
         Business  Days  prior  to the  date on  which  such prepayment is 
         required to be made; provided,  however, that the failure to give such 
         notice shall not affect the  obligation of the Borrower to make such 
         prepayment on such date.

     SECTION 2.08 Method of Electing Interest Rates.

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

         (i)  if such Loans are Base Rate  Loans, the Borrower may elect to  
         convert  such Loans to Eurodollar Loans as of any Eurodollar Business 
         Day; and

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

provided,  that the Borrower may not elect to continue  any  Eurodollar  Loan or
convert  any Loan into a  Eurodollar  Loan after the  occurrence  and during the
continuation  of a Default.  Each such  election  shall be made by  delivering a
notice (a Notice of  Interest  Rate  Election)  to the Agent no later than 11:00
A.M.  (Charlotte,  North  Carolina  time)  (x) if the  relevant  Loans are to be
converted to Base Rate Loans,  the second Business Day before such conversion or
continuation  is to be  effective  and  (y)  if  the  relevant  Loans  are to be
converted to Eurodollar Loans or continued as Eurodollar Loans for an additional
Interest  Period,  the third  Eurodollar  Business Day before such conversion or
continuation  is to be effective.  A Notice of Interest Rate Election may, if it
so specifies,  apply to only a portion of the aggregate  principal amount of the
relevant  Group of Loans;  provided  that (i) such portion is allocated  ratably
among the Loans  comprising such Group and (ii) the portion to which such Notice
applies, and the remaining portion to which it does not apply, are each at least
$500,000.00  and no more than one of such  portions  is other than a multiple of
$100,000.00.

                                       21
<PAGE>

     (b) Each Notice of Interest Rate Election shall  specify:  (i) the Group of
Loans (or portion thereof) to which such notice applies;

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

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

         (iv) if such Loans are to be continued as  Eurodollar Loans for an  
         additional  Interest  Period, the duration  of such additional 
         Interest Period.

Each  Interest  Period  specified in a Notice of Interest  Rate  Election  shall
comply with the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.  No more than 4
Groups of Loans shall be outstanding at any one time.

     (c) Upon  receipt  of a  Notice  of  Interest  Rate  Election  from the
Borrower pursuant to Section 2.08(a) above, the Agent shall promptly notify each
Bank of the contents  thereof and such notice shall not  thereafter be revocable
by the  Borrower.  If the Borrower  fails to deliver a timely Notice of Interest
Rate Election to the Agent for any Group of Eurodollar  Loans,  such Loans shall
be converted  into Base Rate Loans on the last day of the then current  Interest
Period applicable thereto.

     SECTION 2.09 General Provisions as to Payments.

     (a) The Borrower  shall make each payment of principal of, and interest on,
the Loans and of fees  hereunder,  not later  than 3:00 p.m.  (Charlotte,  North
Carolina  time) on the date when due,  in  federal  or other  funds  immediately
available in Charlotte,  North Carolina, to the Agent at its address referred to
in  Section  9.01 and any of such  payments  received  after  3:00  p.m.  on the
required  due date shall be deemed to have been paid by the Borrower on the next
succeeding  Business  Day. Any such payment with respect to a Loan shall be made
in Dollars. The Agent will promptly distribute to each Bank its ratable share of
each such payment  received by the Agent for the account of the Banks.  Whenever
any  payment of  principal  of, or  interest  on, the Base Rate Loans or of fees
shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day, the date for payment  thereof
shall be extended to the next succeeding  Business Day.  Whenever any payment of
principal of, or interest on, the  Eurodollar  Loans shall be due on a day which
is not a Eurodollar Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended
to the next succeeding  Eurodollar  Business Day unless such Eurodollar Business
Day falls in another  calendar month, in which case the date for payment thereof
shall be the next preceding Eurodollar Business Day. If the date for any payment
of  principal is extended by operation  of law or  otherwise,  interest  thereon
shall be payable for such extended time.

                                       22
<PAGE>

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

     SECTION  2.10  Funding  Losses.  If the  Borrower  makes  any  payments  of
principal with respect to any Eurodollar Loan or any Eurodollar Loan a converted
to is converted to another type of Loan  (pursuant to Articles II, VI, VIII,  or
otherwise) on any day other than the last day of an Interest  Period  applicable
thereto, or if the Borrower fails to borrow or prepay any Eurodollar Loans after
notice  has been  given to any Bank in  accordance  with the terms  hereof,  the
Borrower  shall  reimburse  each  applicable  Bank on demand  for any  resulting
reasonable  out of  pocket  loss or  expense  incurred  by it (or  any  existing
Participant  in the related Loan,  provided that the amount  collected by a Bank
and its  Participant  shall not exceed the amount which the Bank would have been
entitled to collect absent such  participation),  including (without limitation)
any such loss  incurred in  obtaining,  liquidating  or employing  deposits from
third parties to fund or maintain such Loan or proposed Loan, but excluding loss
of margin for the period  after any such  payment  or  conversion  or failure to
borrow or prepay,  provided that such Bank shall have  delivered to the Borrower
(with a copy to the  Agent)  a  certificate  prior to  requesting  reimbursement
setting forth in reasonable detail its calculation of the amount of such loss or
expense, which certificate shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
NOTWITHSTANDING  THE FOREGOING  PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 2.10 TO THE CONTRARY,
THE TERM LOSS SHALL NOT INCLUDE AND BORROWER  SHALL NOT BE  RESPONSIBLE  FOR THE
PAYMENT OF ANY LOST  PROFITS  (IN  EXCESS OF THE  AMOUNTS  OTHERWISE  PAYABLE BY
BORROWER  HEREUNDER  AS  A  PART  OF  THE  ADJUSTED   EURODOLLAR  RATE)  OR  ANY
CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECULATIVE, PUNITIVE OR OTHER DAMAGES.

     SECTION  2.11  Computation  of Interest  and Fees.  All  interest  and fees
hereunder  shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and paid for the
actual  number of days elapsed  (including  the first day but excluding the last
day).

                                       23
<PAGE>

     SECTION 2.12  Withholding  Tax  Exemption.  At least five (5) Business Days
prior to the first date on which interest or fees are payable  hereunder for the
account of any Bank,  each Bank that is not  incorporated  under the laws of the
United States of America or a state  thereof  agrees that it will deliver to the
Borrower and the Agent two duly and properly  completed  copies of United States
Internal  Revenue  Service Form 1001 or 4224 (or any  successor  form, in either
case),  certifying in either case that such Bank is entitled to receive payments
under this Credit  Agreement and the Notes without  deduction or  withholding of
any United States federal income taxes.  Each Bank which so delivers a Form 1001
or 4224 (or any successor form, in either case) further undertakes to deliver to
the  Borrower  and the  Agent  two (2)  additional  copies  of such  form  (or a
successor form) on or before the date that such form expires or becomes obsolete
or after the occurrence of any event  requiring a change in the most recent form
so  delivered  by it, and such  amendments  thereto or  extensions  or  renewals
thereof as may be  reasonably  requested by the  Borrower or the Agent,  in each
case certifying that such Bank is entitled to receive payments under this Credit
Agreement and the Notes without  deduction or  withholding  of any United States
federal income taxes,  unless an event (including  without limitation any change
in treaty,  law or regulation)  has occurred prior to the date on which any such
delivery would  otherwise be required which renders all such forms  inapplicable
or which would prevent such Bank from duly  completing  and  delivering any such
form with respect to it and such Bank advises the Borrower and the Agent that it
is not capable of receiving  payments  without any  deductions or withholding of
United States federal income tax, in which case such Bank shall have appropriate
amounts  withheld  pursuant to  applicable  law.  Notwithstanding  any provision
contained in this Credit  Agreement to the contrary,  if Borrower,  on advice of
counsel,  reasonably  believes  that  Borrower  should  withhold  an amount with
respect  to any  Bank  on  account  of any  applicable  Government  requirement,
Borrower  shall  be  entitled  to  withhold  such  sum in  accordance  with  the
applicable Government requirement.  If Borrower fails to withhold an amount with
respect to any Bank which  Borrower  should have withheld  under any  applicable
Government  requirement,  such Bank shall  indemnity and hold Borrower  harmless
from  and  against  all  costs,  liabilities,   expenses  (including  reasonable
attorneys fees), penalties and interest incurred by or asserted against Borrower
in connection therewith.

     SECTION 2.13 Fees.

     (a) Unused Fee. From and after the Closing Date, the Borrower agrees to pay
the Agent for the ratable  benefit of the Banks an unused fee for each  calendar
quarter, prorated for partial quarters, in an amount equal to the Applicable Fee
Percentage multiplied by the average daily unused amount of the Commitments (the
Unused  Fee).  The Unused Fee shall be payable  quarterly in arrears on the last
day of each  Quarterly  Period  commencing  March  31,  1997.  The  Agent  shall
distribute  the  Unused  Fee to the  Banks  pro  rata  in  accordance  with  the
respective Commitments of the Banks.

     (b) Upfront Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay each Bank an upfront fee on the
Closing Date in an amount agreed to by the Borrower and such Bank.

     (c) Agent's Fees. The Borrower  agrees to pay the Agent such fees as may be
agreed upon by the Agent and the Borrower from time to time.

                                        24
<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE III

                                   CONDITIONS

     SECTION 3.01  Conditions to Initial  Loans.  The obligation of each Bank to
make its initial Loan  hereunder is subject to the  satisfaction  of such of the
following conditions in all material respects on or prior to the Closing Date as
shall not have been expressly waived in accordance with Section 9.05:

     (a) The Agent shall have received counterparts hereof signed by each of the
parties  hereto (or, in the case of any party  (other than the  Borrower)  as to
which an executed counterpart shall not have been received, receipt by the Agent
in form  satisfactory  to it of telegraphic,  facsimile,  telex or other written
confirmation  from  such  party of  execution  of a  counterpart  hereof by such
party); provided, however, in any event, the Agent shall distribute to each Bank
promptly  after the Closing Date an original  Credit  Agreement  executed by the
Borrower, the Banks and the Agent;

     (b) The Agent shall have  received a duly  executed Note for the account of
each Bank, comply with Section 2.03;

     (c)  The  Agent  shall  have  received  the  duly   executed   Subsidiaries
Guarantees;

     (d) The Agent and each Bank shall have received  legal  opinions of counsel
to the Borrower, substantially to the effect of Exhibit C hereto;

     (e) The Agent shall have received all documents it may  reasonably  request
relating to the  existence  of the  Borrower  and each  Obligor,  the  corporate
authority for and the validity of each of the Financing Documents, and any other
matters relevant hereto, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent;

     (f) The Agent shall receive the applicable Notice of Borrowing  relating to
such Loan;

     (g) No Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately before the
making of such Loan and no Default shall exist immediately thereafter;

     (h) The  representations and warranties of the Borrower made in or pursuant
to the Financing  Documents to which it is a party shall be true in all material
respects as of the date of the making of such Loan;

     (i) The  proceeds  of the Loans will be  extended  in  compliance  with all
applicable  governmental  laws and  regulations  (including  without  limitation
Regulations U, G, T and X);

     (j) The Agent shall have received a certificate of the Borrower,  signed on
behalf of Borrower by the Borrower's chief executive  officer or chief financial
officer,  confirming  to the  knowledge  of  such  officer  that no  Default  is
continuing,  the  solvency of the  Borrower  and  satisfaction  in all  material
respects of all other conditions precedent to the initial borrowing hereunder;

                                       25
<PAGE>

     (k) The Agent and the Banks  shall have been paid all fees due and  payable
pursuant to Sections 2.13(b) and (c) hereof,

     (l) No  litigation  shall  be  pending  or to  the  knowledge  of  Borrower
threatened  against Borrower or its Material  Subsidiaries which would be likely
to  materially  and  adversely  affect  the  assets,  operations,   business  or
condition,   financial   or   otherwise,   of  the  Borrower  and  its  Material
Subsidiaries,  or which could  reasonably be expected to affect  materially  and
adversely the ability of the Borrower to fulfill its obligations hereunder; and

     (m) There shall not have  occurred  or become  known any  material  adverse
change with  respect to the  condition  (financial  or  otherwise),  operations,
business or assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole, since
December 31, 1993.

     The  certificates  and opinions  referred to in this Section shall be dated
not  earlier  than the date  hereof and not later than the date of such  initial
Loans.

     SECTION 3.02  Conditions to Loans.  The  obligation of any Bank to make any
Loan  subsequent to the initial Loan is subject to the  satisfaction  of such of
the following  conditions on or prior to the proposed date of the making of such
Loan:

     (a) The Agent shall receive the applicable Notice of Borrowing  relating to
such loan pursuant to Section 2.02(a) hereof;

     (b) No Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately before the
making of such Loan and no Default shall exist immediately thereafter;

     (c) The  representations and warranties of the Borrower made in or pursuant
to the Financing  Documents to which it is a party shall be true in all material
respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing; and

     (d)  Immediately  following  the  making  of  such  Loan  the  sum  of  the
outstanding principal balance of the Loans shall not exceed the Commitments.

     The making of such Loan  hereunder  shall be deemed to be a  representation
and warranty by the  Borrower on the date  thereof as to the facts  specified in
clauses (b), (c) and (d) of this Section.

                                        26
<PAGE>

                                ARTICLE IV

                       EPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     The Borrower represents and warrants that: 

     SECTION 4.01  Corporate  Existence and Power.  The Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries is a corporation  duly  incorporated,  validly existing and in good
standing  under  the  laws of its  jurisdiction  of  incorporation,  and has all
corporate  powers  and  all  material  governmental  licenses,   authorizations,
consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.

     SECTION 4.02 Corporate and Governmental Authorization;No Contravention. The
execution  and  delivery by the  Obligors  of the  Financing  Documents  and the
performance  by the  Obligors of their  respective  obligations  thereunder  are
within the  corporate  power of the Obligors,  have been duly  authorized by all
necessary  corporate  action,  require no action by or in respect  of, or filing
with, any governmental  body,  agency or official (except for any such action or
filing  that  has  been  taken  and is in  full  force  and  effect)  and do not
contravene,  or constitute a default  under,  any provision of applicable law or
regulation or of the Constitutional  Documents of any Obligor or of any material
agreement,  judgment,  injunction,  order,  decree or other material  instrument
binding upon any Obligor or result in the creation or  imposition of any Lien on
any asset of any Obligor  other than Liens  created  pursuant  to the  Financing
Documents.

     SECTION 4.03 Binding Effect. The Financing  Documents  constitute valid and
binding  agreements  of  the  Obligors   enforceable  against  the  Obligors  in
accordance with their terms.

     SECTION  4.04  Litigation.  Except as set forth on Schedule  4.04  attached
hereto,  there is no  action,  suit or  proceeding  pending  against,  or to the
knowledge of the Borrower  threatened against or affecting,  the Borrower or any
of its  Subsidiaries  before any court or arbitrator or any  governmental  body,
agency or  official  in which there is a  reasonable  possibility  of an adverse
decision  which  would   materially   adversely   affect  the  business  or  the
consolidated  results of  operations  of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  or
which in any manner draws into question the validity of any Financing Document.

     SECTION 4.05  Compliance  with ERISA.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.05
attached hereto, each member of the ERISA Group has fulfilled its obligations in
all material  aspects under the minimum funding  standards of ERISA and the Code
with respect to each Plan and is in compliance in all material respects with the
presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan.
Except as previously disclosed to the Banks in writing prior to the date hereof,
no member of the ERISA  Group  has (i)  sought a waiver of the  minimum  funding
standard  under  Section 412 of the Code in respect of any Plan,  (ii) failed to
make any contribution or payment to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect
of any  Benefit  Arrangement,  or made  any  amendment  to any  Plan or  Benefit
Arrangement,  which in either event has resulted or could reasonably be expected
to result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security
under ERISA or the Code or (iii) incurred any liability  under Title IV of ERISA
other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums or similar  items under  Section
4007 of ERISA.

     SECTION 4.06  Environmental  Matters.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.06
hereto:

                                       27
<PAGE>

     (a) No written  notice,  notification,  demand,  request  for  information,
citation,  summons,  complaint or order has been received by the Borrower and to
the knowledge of the Borrower, no penalty has been assessed and no investigation
or review is pending or threatened by any governmental or other entity, (i) with
respect to any alleged  violation of any  Environmental  Laws in connection with
the conduct of the Borrower  and relating to a Hazardous  Substance or (ii) with
respect  to any  alleged  failure  to have  any  permit,  certificate,  license,
approval,  registration or authorization required in connection with the conduct
of the Borrower  relating to a Hazardous  Substance or (iii) with respect to any
generation, treatment, storage, recycling,  transportation,  disposal or release
(including a release as defined in 42 U.S.C Section  9601(22))  (Release) of any
Hazardous  Substance  used by the  Borrower,  which alleged  violation,  alleged
failure  to  have  any  required  permit,  certificate,  license,  approval,  or
registration,  or generation,  treatment,  storage,  recycling,  transportation,
disposal or release,  individually or in the aggregate,  is reasonably likely to
result in liability to the Borrower in excess of $1,000,000.00.

     (b)  (i) To the  Borrower's  knowledge,  there  has  been no  Release  of a
Hazardous  Substance  at, on or under any  property  used by the Borrower or for
which the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  would be liable,  which Release,
individually,  is  reasonably  likely to result in  liability to the Borrower in
excess of $1,000,000.00;  (ii) to the Borrower's knowledge, neither the Borrower
nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has,  other than as a generator or in a manner not
regulated or  prohibited  under the  Environmental  Laws,  stored or treated any
hazardous waste (as defined in 42 U.S.C Section 6903(5)) on any property used by
the  Borrower  or for which the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  would be
liable,  except  for such  storage or  treatment  which  individually  or in the
aggregate is not reasonably likely to result in liability to the Borrower or any
of its  Subsidiaries  in excess of  $1,000,000.00;  and (iii) to the  Borrower's
knowledge no  polychlorinated  biphenyl (PCB) in concentrations  greater than 50
parts per million,  friable  asbestos,  or  underground  storage tank (in use or
abandoned)  is at any property used by the Borrower or for which the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries would be liable,  except for such PCBS, friable asbestos
or underground storage tanks that are not reasonably likely,  individually or in
the aggregate, to result in liability to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
in excess of $1,000,000.00.

     (c) To the knowledge of the  Borrower,  neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries  has  transported or arranged for the  transportation  (directly or
indirectly) of any Hazardous Substance to any location which is listed under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as
amended (CERCLA), on the Comprehensive Environmental Response,  Compensation and
Liability Information System, as amended (CERCLIS), or on any similar state list
or which is the  subject of any  federal  state or local  enforcement  action or
other investigation which may lead to claims for clean-up costs,  remedial work,
damages to natural resources or for personal injury claims,  including,  but not
limited to, claims under CERCLA, that are reasonably likely,  individually or in
the aggregate, to result in liability to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
in excess of $1,000,000.00.

     (d) No written  notification of a Release of a Hazardous Substance has been
filed  by or on  behalf  of the  Borrower  or any  of  its  Subsidiaries,  which
individually or in combination with other such Releases, is reasonably likely to
result in  liability  for the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  in excess of
$1,000,000.00.

                                       28
<PAGE>

     (e) There  have been no  environmental  audits  or  similar  investigations
conducted  by or  which  are in the  possession  of the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries  in relation to any property  used by the Borrower or for which the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries would be liable,  which identify one or more
environmental  liabilities of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  which are
reasonably likely to exceed $1,000,000.00 individually or in the aggregate.

     SECTION 4.07 Subsidiaries.  Set forth on Schedule 4.07 hereto is a complete
and accurate list of all of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower, showing as to each
such Subsidiary the  jurisdiction of its  organization,  the number of shares of
each  class of  capital  stock or other  equity  interests  outstanding  and the
percentage  of the  outstanding  shares of each such class  owned  (directly  or
indirectly)  by the  Borrower or any other  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower and the
number  of  shares  covered  by all  outstanding  options,  warrants,  rights of
conversion or purchase, and similar rights. All of the outstanding capital stock
or  other  equity  interests  of all of  such  Subsidiaries  identified  in such
Schedule 4.07 as being owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has been
validly  issued,  is fully  paid and  nonassessable  and is  owned  directly  or
indirectly by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,  as the case may be, free
and clear of all Liens other than a Lien  described in and  permitted by Section
5.07 hereof.  Each  corporate  Subsidiary of the Borrower is a corporation  duly
incorporated,  validly  existing  and in good  standing  under  the  laws of its
jurisdiction  of  incorporation,  and has all corporate  powers and all material
governmental licenses, authorizations,  consents and approvals required to carry
on its business as now conducted.

     SECTION 4.08 Not an Investment Company. Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries  is an  investment  company  within the  meaning of the  Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     SECTION 4.09 Margin Stock. No proceeds of any Loan will be used to purchase
or carry any  Margin  Stock or to extend  credit to others  for the  purpose  of
purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock in violation of  Regulations  U, G, T or
X.

     SECTION 4.10  Compliance  With Laws.  Except as set forth on Schedule  4.10
attached hereto and made a part hereof or as previously  disclosed in writing to
the Banks prior to the date hereof,  to the Borrower's  knowledge,  the Borrower
and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material  respects with all
applicable  laws,  rules  and  regulations,  and is not in  violation  of, or in
default under, any term or provision of any charter, bylaw, mortgage, indenture,
agreement,  instrument, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, order, writ
or injunction  applicable to it, except for any such  noncompliance,  violation,
default  or  failure  to  comply  which  would  not  be   reasonably   expected,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  to have a  material  adverse  effect on the
business,  financial position or results of operations of the Borrower or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  or on the ability of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
to perform its obligations under the Financing Documents.

     SECTION 4.11 Absence of Liens.  There are no liens of any nature whatsoever
on any properties or assets of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,  except
as otherwise permitted under Section 5.07 hereof.

                                       29
<PAGE>

     SECTION 4.12 Debt.  Other than as set forth on Schedule 4.12 hereto,  there
is no material Debt of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  outstanding as of the
date hereof  (except for Debt  incurred  in the  ordinary  course of business of
Borrower or its Subsidiaries).

     SECTION 4.13 Contingent Liabilities.  As of the Closing Date, other than as
set on Schedule 4.13 there are no material  contingent  liabilities  (other than
contingent  liabilities that constitute Debt and material contingent liabilities
arising  out  of  customary  indemnifications  given  by  the  Borrower  or  its
Subsidiaries to its officers and directors,  its underwriters or its lenders) of
the Borrower or its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof.

     SECTION  4.14  Investments.  Set forth on Schedule  4.14 is a complete  and
accurate  list,  in  all  material  respects,  as of  the  date  hereof  of  all
investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any Person, other than
investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in a Subsidiary.

     SECTION 4.15  Solvency.  Each Obligor is Solvent after giving effect to the
transactions contemplated by the Financing Documents.

     SECTION 4.16 Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed, or caused
to be flied,  all  material  tax returns  (federal,  state,  local and  foreign)
required  to be filed and paid all  amounts  of taxes  shown  thereon  to be due
(including  interest  and  penalties)  and have  paid  all  other  taxes,  fees,
assessments and other governmental  charges owing by them, except for such taxes
(i) which are not yet  delinquent  or (ii) as are being  contested in good faith
and by  proper  proceedings,  and  against  which  adequate  reserves  are being
maintained in accordance  with generally  accepted  accounting  principles.  The
Borrower is not aware of any proposed material tax assessments against it or any
of its Subsidiaries.

     SECTION 4.17 REIT Status. The Borrower is taxed as a real estate investment
trust within the meaning of Section 856 (a) of the Code.

     SECTION 4.18  Specified  Affiliates.  Except as set forth on Schedule 1.01,
there are no Specified Affiliates as of the date hereof.


                                    ARTICLE V

                                    COVENANTS

     The Borrower  hereby  covenants  and agrees that until the Loans,  together
with interest, fees and other obligations hereunder,  have been paid in full and
the Commitments  hereunder shall have terminated,  the Borrower shall, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries to, perform and comply with the following covenants:

     SECTION 5.01 Information. The Borrower will deliver to Agent:

                                        30
<PAGE>

     (a) as soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days after the
end of each  fiscal  year of the  Borrower,  a  consolidated  and  consolidating
balance sheet of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal
year and the related  consolidated  and  consolidating  statements of income and
consolidated statement of cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each
case in  comparative  form the figures for the previous  fiscal year,  and, with
respect  to such  financial  information  for the  Borrower,  such  consolidated
statements  shall be audited  statements  by Ernst & Young or other  independent
public  accountants  of  nationally   recognized   standing  and  containing  an
unqualified opinion of such accountants;

     (b) as soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) days after
the end of each of the first  three (3) fiscal  quarters  of each fiscal year of
the Borrower, a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and the related  consolidated and
consolidating  statements of income and consolidated statement of cash flows for
such quarter and for the portion of the Borrower's  fiscal year ended at the end
of such quarter,  setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for
the corresponding  quarter and the corresponding  portion of the previous fiscal
year, all certified  (subject to normal year-end  adjustments) as to fairness of
presentation,  generally accepted  accounting  principles and consistency by the
chief financial officer of the Borrower;

     (c) simultaneously  with the delivery of each set of financial  statements
referred  to in  subsections  (a) and  (b) of this  Section,  a  certificate  of
Borrower,  signed on behalf of  Borrower by the chief  financial  officer of the
Borrower (i) stating whether, to such officer's  knowledge,  there exists on the
date of such  certificate  any Default and, if any Default then exists,  setting
forth the details thereof and the action that the Borrower is taking or proposes
to take with respect thereto,  (ii) stating whether,  since the date of the most
recent financial  statements  previously delivered pursuant to subsection (a) or
(b) of  this  Section,  there  has  been a  change  in  the  generally  accepted
accounting  principles applied in preparing the financial  statements then being
delivered  from those  applied in preparing  the most recent  audited  financial
statements so delivered which is material to the financial statements then being
delivered,  (iii) stating how much of the outstanding  principal  balance of the
Loans as of the end of the  applicable  fiscal  quarter  has  been  used for the
general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (iv) furnishing
calculations  demonstrating  the  compliance  by the  Borrower of the  covenants
contained in Sections 5.18, 5.19 and 5.20 hereof, and (v) attaching management's
summary of the results contained in such financial statements;

     (d)  simultaneously  with the delivery of each set of financial  statements
referred  to in clause (a) above,  a statement  (addressed  to the Agent for the
benefit  of the  Banks)  of the firm of  independent  public  accountants  which
reported on such  statements  whether  anything  has come to their  attention to
cause them to believe that any Default existed on the date of such statements;

     (e) within five (5) Business  Days after any officer  obtains  knowledge of
any Default,  if such Default is then  continuing,  a  certificate  of Borrower,
signed on behalf of Borrower  by the chief  financial  officer of the  Borrower,
setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto;

                                        31
<PAGE>

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

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

     (h) if and when any member of the ERISA  Group (i) gives or is  required to
give notice to the PBGC of any  reportable  event (as defined in Section 4043 of
ERISA) with respect to any Plan which might constitute grounds for a termination
of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA,  or knows that the plan  administrator  of
any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event, a
copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the
PBGC;  (ii) receives  notice of complete or partial  withdrawal  liability  with
respect to any  Multiemployer  Plan under  Title IV of ERISA or notice  that any
Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization,  is not Solvent or has been terminated,
a copy of such  notice;  (iii)  receives  notice from the PBGC under Title IV of
ERISA of its intent to  terminate,  impose  liability  (other than for  premiums
under  Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or appoint a trustee to  administer
any Plan,  a copy of such  notice;  (iv)  applies  for a waiver  of the  minimum
funding standard under Section 412 of the Code, a copy of such application;  (v)
gives notice of intent to terminate any Plan under Section  4041(c) of ERISA,  a
copy of such notice and other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives notice
of withdrawal  from any Plan  pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA,  a copy of such
notice; or (vii) except as previously disclosed to the Banks in writing prior to
the date  hereof,  fails  to make any  payment  or  contribution  to any Plan or
Multiemployer  Plan or in  respect  of any  Benefit  Arrangement  or  makes  any
amendment to any Plan or Benefit  Arrangement which has resulted or could result
in the  imposition  of a lien or the posting of a bond or other  security  under
ERISA or the Code, a  certificate  of Borrower,  signed on behalf of Borrower by
the chief financial  officer,  the chief accounting  officer or the treasurer of
the Borrower,  setting forth details as to such  occurrence  and the action,  if
any, which the Borrower or any applicable  member of the ERISA Group is required
or proposes;

     (i) as soon as possible after any officer of the Borrower obtains knowledge
of the  commencement  of, or of a  material  threat of the  commencement  of, an
action,  suit or  proceeding  against the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries
before any court or arbitrator or any governmental  body,  agency or official in
which there is a reasonable  likelihood of an adverse decision which would after
the  application of applicable  insurance  materially  and adversely  affect the
business,  financial  position or results of  operations of the Borrower and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  in each case considered as a whole, or which in any
manner  questions  the  validity of any  Financing  Document,  a written  report
informing  the Banks in  reasonable  detail of the  nature  of such  pending  or
threatened action, suit or proceeding;

     (j) from time to time such additional  information  regarding the financial
position or business of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  as the Agent or any
Bank may reasonably request; and

                                       32
<PAGE>

     (k) simultaneously  with the delivery of each set of statements referred to
in  clauses  (a) and (b)  above,  a detailed  listing  of all  current  Buy-Sell
Agreements,  setting  forth the  parties,  the  facility to be acquired  and the
purchase price,  together with a statement of all Buy-Sell  Agreements that have
been consummated since the date of the last statement.

     For purposes of the foregoing:

        (i) during any period when generally accepted accounting principles or 
        related auditing standards requires  that a Specified Affiliate of the 
        Borrower be accounted for as a Subsidiary for purposes of the 
        consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
        the term Subsidiary shall include a Specified Affiliate of the Borrower
        for purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) above; and

        (ii)  during any period  when  generally  accepted  accounting
        principles  or  related  auditing  standards  does not  require  that a
        Specified  Affiliate of the  Borrower be accounted  for as a Subsidiary
        for purposes of the consolidated  financial  statements of the Borrower
        and  its  Subsidiaries,  the  terms  Subsidiary  shall  not  include  a
        Specified  Affiliate of the Borrower for purposes of paragraphs (a) and
        (b) above and,  if the  Borrower  shall have any  Specified  Affiliates
        during  any  period  covered  by  the  financial  statements  delivered
        pursuant to paragraphs (a) or (b) above, the Borrower shall deliver (A)
        financial  statements of the character  specified in paragraphs (a) and
        (b) above for such  Specified  Affiliates  within the time  periods set
        forth in  paragraphs  (a) and (b) above,  and (B) on a combined  basis,
        financial  statements of the character  specified in paragraphs (a) and
        (b)  above  for the  Borrower,  its  Subsidiaries  and  such  Specified
        Affiliates  accompanied by the opinions and  certificates  specified in
        paragraphs  (b) and (c)  above  within  the time  periods  set forth in
        paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above.

     SECTION 5.02 Payment of  Obligations.  The Borrower will pay and discharge,
and will  cause  each of its  Subsidiaries  to pay and  discharge,  at or before
maturity,  or prior to  expiration  of  applicable  notice,  grace and  curative
periods, all their respective material  obligations and liabilities,  including,
without limitation,  tax liabilities,  except where the same may be contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings, and will maintain, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries to maintain,  in accordance with generally accepted  accounting
principles, appropriate reserves for the accrual of any of the same.

     SECTION 5.03 Maintenance of Property; Insurance.

     (a) The  Borrower  will keep,  and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to
keep, or will in the ordinary course of business cause the tenants of respective
properties to keep, all property materially useful and necessary in its business
in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

     (b) The Borrower will maintain,  and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to
maintain, with financially sound and responsible insurance companies,  insurance
on all their  respective  properties  in at least such  amounts and against such
risks (and with such risk  retention) as are usually insured against in the same
general area by companies of established repute engaged in the same or a similar
business,  and  will  furnish  to  the  Banks,  upon  request  from  the  Agent,
information  presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried.  The
insurance described in this Section 5.03 may be carried by the tenants under the
respective  tenant  leases  of such  properties  in lieu of by  Borrower  or its
Subsidiaries.

                                        33
<PAGE>

     SECTION 5.04 Conduct of Business and  Maintenance  of Existence.  Except as
contemplated otherwise by the Investment Policy, the Borrower will continue, and
will  cause each  Subsidiary  to  continue,  to engage in  business  of the same
general type as now conducted by the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries,  and
will preserve,  renew and keep in full force and effect,  and will cause each of
its  Subsidiaries  to  preserve,  renew and keep in full force and effect  their
respective corporate existences and, except for any such rights,  privileges and
franchises  the failure to  preserve  which  would not in the  aggregate  have a
material  adverse effect on the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries or the ability of
the Borrower or any  Subsidiary to perform any of their  respective  obligations
under any Financing Document, their respective rights, privileges and franchises
necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of business;  provided that nothing
in this  Section  5.04  shall  prohibit  (a) the merger of a  Subsidiary  of the
Borrower into the Borrower or the merger or  consolidation  of any Subsidiary of
the  Borrower  with or into another  Person if the  corporation  surviving  such
consolidation  or  merger  is a  Wholly-Owned  Consolidated  Subsidiary  of  the
Borrower and if, in each case,  after giving  effect  thereto,  no Default shall
have  occurred  and  be  continuing  or (b)  the  termination  of the  corporate
existence of any Subsidiary of the Borrower or the  discontinuation  of any line
of business of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  if the Borrower in good
faith  determines that such  termination is in the best interest of the Borrower
or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and is not materially disadvantageous to
the Banks.

     SECTION 5.05 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will comply, and cause each
of its  Subsidiaries  to comply,  in all material  respects with all  applicable
laws,  ordinances,   rules,   regulations,   and  requirements  of  governmental
authorities (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws and ERISA and the
rules and regulations  thereunder) the failure to comply with which would have a
material adverse effect on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or their ability to
perform any of its obligations  under any Financing  Document,  except where the
necessity of  compliance  therewith  is  contested in good faith by  appropriate
proceedings.

                                        34
<PAGE>

     SECTION 5.06 Inspection of Property,  Books and Records.  The Borrower will
keep, and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to keep,  proper books of record
and  account  in which  full,  true  and  correct  entries  shall be made of all
material  dealings and  transactions in relation to its business and activities;
and,  except to the extent  prohibited by applicable  law, rule,  regulations or
orders,  will  permit,  and  will  cause  each of its  Subsidiaries  to  permit,
representatives  of any Bank at such Bank's  expense (which expense shall not be
subject to  reimbursement  by  Borrower  hereunder)  to visit and inspect any of
their  respective  properties  (subject  to the rights of tenants in  possession
thereof  and  to any  limitations  on  the  inspection  rights  of  Borrower  in
connection  therewith),  to  examine  and  make  abstracts  from  any  of  their
respective books and records and to discuss their respective  affairs,  finances
and accounts with their respective  officers,  employees and independent  public
accountants,  upon  reasonable  prior  written  notice to Borrower,  all at such
reasonable  times  and as often  as may  reasonably  be  desired.  

     SECTION 5.07 Negative Pledge.  The Borrower will not nor will it permit any
of its  Subsidiaries to create,  assume or suffer to exist any lien on any asset
now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

     (a) (i) Liens existing on the date of this Credit  Agreement  securing Debt
outstanding  on such date and identified on Schedule 5.07 and (ii) Liens created
by and existing under the Financing Documents;

     (b)  carriers',  warehousemen's,   mechanics',  landlords',  materialmen's,
repairmen's,  statutory  banker's  or other like Liens  arising in the  ordinary
course of  business  and which are not  overdue for a period of more than thirty
(30) days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

     (c) Liens for taxes,  assessments or other governmental charges not yet due
or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;

     (d)  Liens  imposed  by law on  pledges  or  deposits  in  connection  with
workmen's  compensation,   unemployment  insurance  and  other  social  security
legislation  which do not  interfere  with or  adversely  affect in any material
respect  the  or  conduct  of  the  business  of  the  Borrower  or  any  of its
Subsidiaries;

     (e)  deposits  to  secure  the  performance  of  bids,  tenders,  trade  or
government  contracts  (other  than  for  borrowed  money),  leases,   licenses,
statutory  obligations,  surety  bonds  (other than in  relation to  judgments),
performance  bonds  and  other  obligations  of a like  nature  incurred  in the
ordinary course of business;

     (f) easements,  rights-of-way,  zoning and similar  restrictions  and other
encumbrances or title defects incurred, or leases or subleases granted to others
which are in existence  as of the date hereof,  or if not in existence as of the
date hereof,  do not interfere with or adversely  affect in any material respect
the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

     (g) Liens securing reimbursement  obligations with respect to trade letters
of credit  issued in the ordinary  course of business;  provided that such Liens
only attach to the assets  being  acquired  with the proceeds of such letters of
credit;

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

                                       35
<PAGE>

     (i) Liens on properties  securing  security  deposits of tenants,  provided
that the aggregate amount of such security  deposits secured by such Liens shall
not exceed 5% of Consolidated Total Capital at any time outstanding;

     (j) Liens not otherwise  permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section
securing  Debt  in  an  amount  no  greater  than   $1,000,000.00  at  any  time
outstanding;

     (k) Liens securing Debt in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000.00
(i)  encumbering  assets  directly or  indirectly  purchased  by Borrower or any
Subsidiary in any transaction  relating to or arising from a Buy-Sell  Agreement
or Securities  Transaction or other  transaction  after the date hereof; or (ii)
encumbering real property  acquired by Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date
hereof; provided, however, any Lien on any of such assets or real property shall
only  secure  the  Debt  assumed  or taken  subject  to in  connection  with the
acquisition thereof; and

     (l) Liens  securing Debt of any  Subsidiary  or Specified  Affiliate to the
Borrower.

     SECTION 5.08 Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.

     (a) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
consolidate  or merge  with or into any  other  Person  except as  permitted  in
accordance with Section 5.04.

     (b) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
make any Asset Sale except the sale of any asset listed in Schedule 5.08 hereof,
unless in connection  with such Asset Sale,  Borrower or such  Subsidiary  makes
provision for the Mandatory Prepayments described in Section 2.07.

     SECTION 5.09 Creation of  Subsidiaries.  The Borrower will not, nor will it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create any Subsidiary except for the creation
of a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower or a Specified  Affiliate  provided
that (i) such Subsidiary or Specified Affiliate is organized under the laws of a
jurisdiction within the United States of America,  (ii) such Specified Affiliate
and such Subsidiary,  if such Subsidiary is a Material  Subsidiary,  executes at
the time of its creation a guaranty in favor of the Banks in the form of Exhibit
B attached hereto, and (iii) no Default exists immediately prior to or after the
creation of such Subsidiary or Specified Affiliate.

     SECTION 5.10 [lntentionally Omitted].

     SECTION 5.11 Transactions  with Affiliates.  The Borrower will not and will
not permit any  Subsidiary  to enter into  directly or  indirectly  any material
transaction  or  material  group  of  related  transactions  (including  without
limitation  the purchase,  lease,  sale or exchange of properties of any kind or
the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate  (other than the Borrower,  any
Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary or Specified Affiliate),  except in the ordinary course
and  pursuant  to  the  reasonable   requirements  of  the  Borrower's  or  such
Subsidiary's  business and upon fair and  reasonable  terms no less favorable to
the  Borrower  or such  Subsidiary  than  would be  obtainable  in a  comparable
arm's-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

                                        36
<PAGE>

     SECTION 5.12 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used (i) to
finance the acquisition of healthcare real estate properties by the Borrower and
its  Subsidiaries  and (ii) to finance  the  general  corporate  purposes of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, no more than $10,000,000.00 of
the  proceeds  of the  Loans at any one time  outstanding  shall be used for the
general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

     SECTION 5.13 Constitutional  Documents.  Subject to changes,  including any
dissolutions permitted pursuant to this Credit Agreement:  (i) the Borrower will
not, nor will it permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  amend its  Constitutional
Documents in any manner which could  materially  adversely  affect the rights of
the Banks under the  Financing  Documents or their  ability to enforce the same;
and (ii) the Borrower  will not amend its  Constitutional  Documents in a manner
which would permit a single  shareholder  (as  determined  for  purposes  hereof
pursuant to the attribution provisions of Section 544 of the Code as modified by
Section  856  of  the  Code)  to own  more  than  thirty  percent  (30%)  of the
outstanding stock in Borrower.

     SECTION 5.14 Investments.  The Borrower shall not make, nor shall it permit
any of its  Subsidiaries  to make, any Investment in any other Person except for
Investments  made in accordance  Borrowers  Investment  Policy,  except that the
Borrower  may make and own  Investments  in (i)  marketable  direct  obligations
issued or  unconditionally  guaranteed by the Government or issued by any agency
thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America,
in each case maturing within one (1) year from the date of acquisition  thereof,
(ii) marketable direct  obligations  issued by any state of the United States of
America  or  any  political   subdivision  of  any  such  state  or  any  public
instrumentality   thereof  maturing  within  one  (1)  year  from  the  date  of
acquisition  thereof and, at the time of acquisition,  having the highest rating
obtainable from either S&P or Moody's,  (iii)  commercial paper maturing no more
than  one (1)  year  from  the  date of  creation  thereof  and,  at the time of
acquisition,  having a rating in one of the two highest rating categories of S&P
or Moody's,  (iv) certificates of deposit,  bankers acceptances or time deposits
maturing within one (1) year from the date of acquisition  thereof issued by any
of the Banks, (v) certificates of deposit or bankers acceptances maturing within
one (1) year from the date of  acquisition  thereof  or time  deposits  maturing
within  thirty (30) days from the date of  acquisition  thereof  issued by other
commercial banks organized under the laws of the United States of America or any
state thereof or the District of Columbia,  each having  shareholders' equity of
not less than $600,000,000,  or (vi) repurchase agreements with commercial banks
or with  securities  dealers,  in any case  fully  secured as to  principal  and
interests by obligations described in clauses (i)-(v) of this Section.

     SECTION 5.15  Prepayments  of Debt.  The  Borrower  shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, prepay,  redeem, defease (whether actually or
in  substance)  or purchase in any manner (or deposit or set aside funds for the
purpose of any of the  foregoing),  make any payment in respect of principal of,
or make any payment in respect of interest on, or permit any of its Subsidiaries
to prepay,  redeem,  or  purchase  in an manner,  make any payment in respect of
principal  of, or make any  payment in respect of  interest  on, any Debt of the
Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  except  for  (i)  payments  of  principal
interest or other sums required in accordance  with the terms of the instruments
governing  such Debt,  (ii)  payments  with  respect  to Debt under this  Credit
Agreement or any of the Financing Documents, (iii) payments with respect to Debt
assumed or taken subject to in connection  with any  Securities  Transaction  or
asset purchase after the date hereof,  and (iv) payments with respect to Debt of
any Subsidiary to the Borrower.

                                       37
<PAGE>

     SECTION 5.16  Capital  Expenditures.  The Borrower  shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any capital expenditures in an aggregate
amount in excess of $2,500,000.00 per fiscal year; provided, however (i) capital
expenditures  incurred to  acquire,  expand or improve  facilities  shall not be
deemed to be capital expenditures for purposes of the foregoing requirement, and
(ii) capital expenditures required pursuant to any lease or other contract shall
not  be  deemed  to be  capital  expenditures  for  purposes  of  the  foregoing
requirement.

     SECTION  5.17  Repurchase,  Retirement  or  Redemption  of  Capital  Stock;
Dividends.  The Borrower  will not,  nor will it permit any of its  Subsidiaries
(other than its  wholly-owned  Subsidiaries  or the  Specified  Affiliates)  to,
repurchase, retire or redeem any of its capital stock. The Borrower will not pay
dividends  on any of its stock in any  fiscal  year in  excess  of  ninety  five
percent (95%) of Funds From Operations for such fiscal year.

     SECTION 5.18 Ratio of  Consolidated  Funded  Indebtedness  to  Consolidated
Total  Capital.  The Borrower will not permit its ratio of  Consolidated  Funded
Indebtedness  to  Consolidated  Total Capital to exceed (i) .45 to 1.0 as of the
last day of the fiscal quarter ending  December 31, 1996,  (ii) .45 to 1.0 as of
the last day of the fiscal  quarter  ending  March 31, 1997 (or .40 to 1.0 as of
the last day of such fiscal quarter if the Borrower has issued additional equity
of at least  $50,000,000 prior to March 31, 1997) and (iii) .40 to 1.0 as of the
last day of each fiscal quarter ending thereafter.

     SECTION 5.19  Consolidated  Tangible Net Worth. The Borrower shall maintain
Consolidated  Tangible  Net  Worth at all  times  of at  least  $200,000,000.00;
provided,  however,  such amount  shall be  increased  by an amount equal to (a)
ninety-five  percent  (95%) of the net  proceeds  received  by the  Borrower  on
account of any additional  equity offerings made subsequent to the Closing Date;
and (b) ninety-five  percent (95%) of the net proceeds  received by the Borrower
on account of any  Securities  Transaction  completed  subsequent to the Closing
Date.

     SECTION 5.20  Consolidated  Interest  Coverage  Ratio.  The  Borrower  will
maintain a ratio of Consolidated  EBIT to Consolidated  Interest  Expense of not
less than 3.0 to 1.0 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter (computed for the
four (4) quarterly periods then ending).

     SECTION 5.21 Material Subsidiaries. The Borrower will give the Agent prompt
notice of any  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  which to the  Borrower's  knowledge
becomes a Material  Subsidiary  subsequent to the Closing Date and will take the
following steps with respect to each such Material Subsidiary:  (i) the Borrower
will cause each such  Material  Subsidiary to execute a guaranty in favor of the
Banks in the form of Exhibit B attached  hereto and (ii) the  Borrower  will pay
all reasonable  costs and expenses  incurred in connection with the requirements
set  forth in this  Section  5.21.  The  Borrower  will  satisfy  the  foregoing
requirements  within  thirty (30) days after any  Subsidiary  becomes a Material
Subsidiary.

                                       38
<PAGE>

     SECTION 5.22  Specified  Affiliates.  The Borrower  will take the following
steps with respect to each Specified Affiliate: (i) the Borrower will cause each
Specified  Affiliate  to execute a guaranty in favor of the Banks in the form of
Exhibit B attached  hereto and (ii) the Borrower will pay all  reasonable  costs
and expenses  incurred in  connection  with the  requirements  set forth in this
Section 5.22. The Borrower will satisfy the foregoing requirements within thirty
(30) days after the creation of any Specified Affiliate.

     SECTION  5.23 REIT  Status.  The  Borrower  will meet the  requirements  of
Section 857(a) of the Code and regulations thereunder.

     SECTION 5.24 Leases.  The Borrower will not modify or amend any lease where
the Borrower is the lessor  thereunder if such  modification  or amendment would
have a material adverse effect on the Borrower.

     SECTION 5.25 Buy-Sell Agreements. The Borrower shall not, nor permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, enter Buy-Sell Agreements creating obligations in excess of
$25,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     SECTION  6.01 Events of Default.  The  occurrence  of any of the  following
events shall constitute an event of default hereunder (individually, an Event of
Default and collectively the Events of Default):

     (a) The Borrower  shall fail to pay (i) when due any  principal of any Loan
or (ii) within five (5) days after the same shall  become due,  any  interest on
any Loan or any fees or any other amount payable hereunder;

     (b) The Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant contained in
Section  5.01 hereof for thirty (30) days after  written  notice of such failure
shall have been given to the Borrower by the Agent or any Bank;

     (c) Any Obligor  shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement
contained in any Financing Document (other than those covered by clause (a), (b)
or (c) above) for thirty (30) days after  written  notice of such failure  shall
have been given to the Borrower by the Agent or any Bank;
     (d) Any representation, warranty, certification or statement made or deemed
made by any Obligor in any Financing  Document or in any certificate,  financial
statement or other document  delivered pursuant thereto shall prove to have been
incorrect  in  any  material  respect  when  made  (or  deemed  made)  and  such
representation,  warranty, certification or statement shall remain incorrect for
thirty (30) days after  written  notice of such failure shall have been given to
the Borrower by the Agent or any Bank;

                                        39
<PAGE>

     (e) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  shall fail to make any payment
in respect of any Debt in an aggregate  amount in excess of $2,500,000  when due
or within any applicable grace period;

     (f) Any event or condition shall occur which results in the acceleration of
the maturity of any Debt of Borrower or any Subsidiary in an aggregate amount in
excess of  $2,500,000.00 or enables the holder of such Debt or any Person acting
on such holder's behalf to accelerate the maturity thereof;

     (g) The  Borrower  or any of its  Material  Subsidiaries  shall  commence a
voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation,  reorganization or other
relief with respect to itself or its debts under any  bankruptcy,  insolvency or
other  similar law now or  hereafter in effect or seeking the  appointment  of a
trustee, receiver, liquidator,  custodian or other similar official of it or any
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;

     (h) An involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced  against the
Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries seeking liquidation, reorganization
or other relief with respect to it or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency
or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the  appointment of a
trustee, receiver, liquidator,  custodian or other similar official of it or any
substantial part of its property,  and such involuntary case or other proceeding
shall remain  undismissed  and unstayed for a period of thirty (30) days;  or an
order for relief  shall be entered  against the  Borrower or any of its Material
Subsidiaries under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect;

     (i) The  Borrower  or any  Material  Subsidiary  shall admit in writing its
inability to pay its debts as and when they fall due;

     (j) Except as  previously  disclosed  to the Banks in writing  prior to the
date hereof:  any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an amount
or amounts  aggregating  in excess of  $500,000.00  which it shall  have  become
liable to pay under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to terminate any Plan
which is then a  Material  Plan  shall be filed  under  Title IV of ERISA by any
member of the ERISA Group,  any plan  administrator  or any  combination  of the
foregoing;  or the PBGC shall institute  proceedings  under Title IV of ERISA to
terminate,  to impose  liability  (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of
ERISA) in respect of, or to cause a trustee to be  appointed to  administer  any
Plan which is then a Material  Plan;  or a  condition  shall  exist by reason of
which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree  adjudicating  that any Plan
which  is then a  Material  Plan  must be  terminated;  or there  shall  occur a
complete or partial withdrawal from, or a default, within the meaning of Section
4219(c)(5)  of ERISA,  with  respect to, one or more  Multiemployer  Plans which
could cause one or more  members of the ERISA  Group to incur a current  payment
obligation,  that is, an  obligation  or series of  obligations  payable  within
twelve (12) months, in excess of $500,000.00;

                                        40
<PAGE>

     (k) An  uninsured  judgment  or order for the payment of money in excess of
$500,000.00  shall be rendered  against the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
and such judgment or order shall continue  unsatisfied and unstayed for a period
of thirty (30) days;

     (l) (i) The voting interests in any Specified  Affiliate shall be held by a
Person  other than a director,  officer or employee  of the  Borrower,  (ii) the
Borrower  shall fail to own  substantially  all of the economic  interest in any
Specified Affiliate and the remainder of such economic interest shall be held by
a Person other than directors,  officers  and/or  employees or (iii) a Specified
Affiliate  shall engage in any of the actions or activities  that are limited or
restricted by Article 5 hereof.

then,  and in every such event,  the Agent shall during the  continuance of such
Event of  Default  (i) if  requested  by the  Majority  Banks,  by notice to the
Borrower terminate the Commitments,  (ii) if requested by the Majority Banks, by
notice  to the  Borrower  declare  the Notes  (together  with  accrued  interest
thereon) and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder to be, and such
Notes and amounts shall  thereupon  become,  immediately due and payable without
presentment,  demand,  protest  or other  notice of any  kind,  all of which are
hereby waived by the Borrower, and (iii) take such other actions as are directed
by the Majority Banks;  provided that in the case of any Event of  Acceleration,
without any notice to any Obligor or any other act by the Agent or any Bank, the
Commitments  shall  thereupon  terminate  and the Notes  (together  with accrued
interest thereon) shall become immediately due and payable without  presentment,
demand,  protest or other notice of any kind,  all of which are hereby waived by
the  Borrower.  Subject to the request or  direction  of the  Majority  Banks as
provided  above,  Agent shall have the  exclusive  right to enforce the remedies
available  under this Credit  Agreement  during the  continuance of any Event of
Default  hereunder.  No Bank, acting alone, or with the other Banks,  shall have
the right to enforce such remedies.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                                    THE AGENT

     SECTION 7.01 Appointment and Authorization. Each Bank appoints the Agent to
act as its  agent  in  connection  herewith  and  each  of the  other  Financing
Documents.

     SECTION 7.02 Agents and Affiliates.  NationsBank shall have the same rights
and powers  under this Credit  Agreement  as any other Bank and may  exercise or
refrain  from  exercising  the  same as  though  it  were  not  the  Agent,  and
NationsBank  and each of its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to,
and  generally  engage in any kind of  business  with the  Borrower,  any of its
Subsidiaries and any of its or their respective Affiliates as if it were not the
Agent.

                                        41
<PAGE>

     SECTION  7.03  Action  by Agent.  The  obligations  of the Agent  under the
Financing  Documents  are only those  expressly set forth herein with respect to
it.  Without  limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing the Agent shall not be
required  to take any action  with  respect to any  Default or Event of Default,
except as expressly provided in Article VI.

     SECTION 7.04  Consultation  with Experts.  The Agent may consult with legal
counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower),  independent  public  accountants
and other  experts  selected by the Agent and shall not be liable for any action
taken or omitted to be taken by the Agent in good faith in  accordance  with the
advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

     SECTION  7.05  Liability  of  Agent.  Neither  the  Agent  nor  any  of its
directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or
not taken by it in connection with the Financing  Documents (a) with the consent
or at the  request  of the  Majority  Banks;  or (b)  in the  absence  of  gross
negligence  or  misconduct  of the  Agent.  Neither  the  Agent  nor  any of its
directors,  officers,  agents or employees  shall be responsible for or have any
duty to  ascertain,  inquire  into or  verify  (i) any  statement,  warranty  or
representation  made  in  connection  with  any  Financing  Document;  (ii)  the
performance or observance of any of the covenants or agreements of the Borrower,
(iii) the satisfaction of any condition specified in Article III, except receipt
of  items  required  to be  delivered  to  the  Agent;  or  (iv)  the  validity,
effectiveness  or genuineness of any Financing  Document or any other instrument
or writing  furnished  in  connection  therewith.  The Agent shall not incur any
liability by acting in reliance upon any notice, consent, certificate, statement
or other writing (which may be a bank wire, facsimile, telex or similar writing)
believed by it to be genuine or to be signed by the proper party or parties.

     SECTION 7.06  Indemnification.  Each Bank shall, ratably in accordance with
its  Commitment,  indemnify  the  Agent (to the  extent  not  reimbursed  by the
Borrower)  against any cost,  expense  (including  reasonable  counsel  fees and
disbursements),  claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such as result
from the Agent's  gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct)  that the Agent may
suffer or incur in connection  with the Financing  Documents or any action taken
or omitted by the Agent thereunder.

     SECTION  7.07  Credit  Decision.   Each  Bank  acknowledges  that  it  has,
independently  and without  reliance upon the Agent or any other Bank, and based
on such  documents and  information as it has deemed  appropriate,  made its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Credit Agreement. Each Bank also
acknowledges that it will,  independently and without reliance upon the Agent or
any other Bank,  and based on such  documents and  information  as it shall deem
appropriate at the time,  continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or
not taking any action under the Financing Documents.

                                        42
<PAGE>

     SECTION 7.08  Successor  Agent.  The Agent may resign at any time by giving
thirty (30) days prior written notice thereof to the Banks and the Borrower. The
Majority Banks may remove the Agent at any time by giving thirty (30) days prior
written  notice to the Agent,  the other Banks and the  Borrower.  Upon any such
resignation or removal of the Agent,  the Majority Banks shall have the right to
appoint a successor Agent, with the consent of the Borrower (which consent shall
not unreasonably be withheld, but which may in any event be withheld if (a) such
proposed  successor Agent fails to deliver evidence  reasonably  satisfactory to
the Borrower that such proposed successor Agent is not a Foreign Person, (b) the
Borrower in good faith concludes that the appointment of such proposed successor
Agent could result in a violation of any law, rule, guideline or regulation,  or
a violation of,  revocation of, failure to renew or  modification  of any order,
facility security clearance or permit or (c) the credit standing of the proposed
successor Agent is lower than that of the preceding Agent);  provided,  however,
such  consent of the  Borrower  shall not be required  upon the  occurrence  and
during the continuance of an Event of Default.  If no successor Agent shall have
been  so  appointed  by  the  Majority  Banks,  and  shall  have  accepted  such
appointment,  within  thirty (30) days after the retiring  Agent gives notice of
resignation,  then the  retiring  Agent may, on behalf of the Banks and with the
consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld except
as aforesaid),  appoint a successor  Agent,  which shall have core capital of at
least $500,000,000. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Agent hereunder by
a successor  Agent the retiring  Agent shall be  discharged  from its duties and
obligations  hereunder.  After any  retiring  Agent's  resignation  hereunder as
Agent,  the  provisions  of this  Article  shall  inure to its benefit as to any
actions  taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent.  In the event of
any successor  agent to  NationsBank,  (i) all references  herein to NationsBank
shall be deemed to refer to such  successor  agent  and (ii) all  references  to
Charlotte,  North  Carolina  shall be  deemed  to mean  the  city in  which  the
successor Agent's headquarters is located.

     SECTION 7.09  Agent's Fee. The Borrower  shall pay to the Agent for its own
account  fees in the amounts and at the time  previously  agreed upon in writing
between the Borrower and the Agent.


                           ARTICLE VIII

                      CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

     SECTION 8.01 Basis for Determining  Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair.  If
on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Loan:

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

     (b) the Majority Banks advise the Agent that the Adjusted  Eurodollar  Rate
as determined by the Agent will not  adequately  and fairly  reflect the cost to
such Banks of funding their Eurodollar Loans for such Interest Period, the Agent
shall  forthwith  give notice  thereof to the Borrower and the Banks,  whereupon
until the Agent notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such
suspension  no  longer  exist,  (i) the  obligations  of the  Banks  to make new
Eurodollar Loans or to convert  outstanding Loans into Eurodollar Loans shall be
suspended and (ii) each  outstanding  Eurodollar Loan, as the case may be, shall
be converted into a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the then current  Interest
Period applicable  thereto.  Unless the Borrower notifies the Agent at least one
(1) Business Day before the date of any Eurodollar  Borrowing for which a Notice
of  Borrowing  has  previously  been  given that it elects not to borrow on such
date, such Borrowing shall instead be made as a Base Rate Borrowing.

                                        43
<PAGE>

     SECTION 8.02 Illegality. If, on or after the date of this Credit Agreement,
the adoption of any applicable  law, rule or regulation,  or any change therein,
or  any  change  in  the   interpretation  or  administration   thereof  by  any
governmental  authority,  central  bank or  comparable  agency  charged with the
interpretation  or  administration  thereof  or  compliance  by any Bank (or its
Eurodollar  Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having
the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency shall
make it unlawful or impossible for any Bank (or its Eurodollar  Lending  Office)
to make, maintain or fund its Eurodollar Loans and such Bank shall so notify the
Agent,  the Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the other Banks and the
Borrower, whereupon until such Bank notifies the Borrower and the Agent that the
circumstances  giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of
such Bank to make new Eurodollar  Loans,  or to convert  outstanding  Loans into
Eurodollar  Loans,  shall be  suspended.  Before  giving any notice to the Agent
pursuant to this  Section,  such Bank shall  designate  a  different  Eurodollar
Lending  Office if such  designation  will avoid the need for giving such notice
and will not, in the judgment of such Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such
Bank.  If  such  notice  is  given,  each  Eurodollar  Loan of  such  Bank  then
outstanding shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan either (a) on the last day of
the then current Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan if such Bank
may  lawfully  continue  to  maintain  and  fund  such  Loan to such  day or (b)
immediately if such Bank shall  determine  that it may not lawfully  continue to
maintain and fund such Loan to such day.

     SECTION 8.03 Increased Cost and Reduced Return.

     (a) If on or after the date  hereof,  the adoption of any  applicable  law,
rule or regulation,  or any change therein,  or any change in the interpretation
or  administration  thereof  by any  governmental  authority,  central  bank  or
comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration  thereof, or
compliance by any Bank (or its  Eurodollar  Lending  Office) with any request or
directive  (whether  or not  having  the  force of law) of any  such  authority,
central bank or comparable agency:

        (i) shall subject any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) to any 
        tax, duty or other charge with respect to its Eurodollar Loans, or its 
        obligation to make Eurodollar  Loans, or shall change the basis of 
        taxation of  payments to any Bank (or its Eurodollar Lending Office) of
        the principal of or interest on its Eurodollar Loans or any other 
        amounts  due under  this  Credit  Agreement  in  respect  of its
        Eurodollar Loans or its obligation to make Eurodollar Loans (except for
        changes in the rate of tax imposed on, or contemplated with respect to,
        the  income of such Bank or its  Eurodollar  Lending  Office or changes
        generally  affecting the manner in which the income of such Bank or its
        Applicable Lending Office is subjected to taxation, by the jurisdiction
        in which such Bank's principal  executive office or Eurodollar  Lending
        Office is located or the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Bank
        is organized); or

                                             44
<PAGE>

        (ii)  shall  impose,  modify or deem  applicable  any reserve, special 
        deposit or similar  requirement (including, without limitation, any such
        requirement  imposed by the Board of Governors of  the  Federal  Reserve
        System, but excluding  with  respect to any Eurodollar  Loan  any  such
        requirement  included in an applicable Eurodollar Reserve  Percentage) 
        against assets of, deposits with or for the  account  of, or credit  
        extended by,any Bank (or its  Applicable Lending Office) or shall impose
        on any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) or on the United States 
        market for certificates of deposit or the  London interbank  market  any
        other condition  affecting  its Eurodollar Loans, its Note or its 
        obligation to make Eurodollar Loans;

and the result of any of the  foregoing is to increase the cost to such Bank (or
its Eurodollar  Lending Office) of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan, or
to reduce  the amount of any sum  received  or  receivable  by such Bank (or its
Eurodollar  Lending  Office) under this Credit  Agreement or under its Note with
respect thereto,  by an amount deemed by such Bank to be material (except to the
extent that such  increased cost or reduction of a sum received or receivable is
attributable  to such  Bank's  failure to perform any of its  obligations  under
Section  2.12 or is  otherwise  attributable  to any act or  action of such Bank
other than the  loaning of funds  under this  Credit  Agreement),  then,  within
fifteen  (15)  days  after  demand  by such  Bank  (with  a copy  to the  Agent)
accompanied by a certificate  setting forth in reasonable detail its calculation
of such  increased  cost or reduction,  the Borrower shall pay to such Bank such
additional  amount or amounts as will  compensate  such Bank for such  increased
cost or reduction.

     (b) If any Bank shall have  determined  that,  after the date  hereof,  the
adoption  or  change  of any  applicable  law,  rule,  guideline  or  regulation
regarding  capital  adequacy,  or  any  change  therein,  or any  change  in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority,  central
bank or comparable  agency  charged with the  interpretation  or  administration
thereof or any request or directive  regarding  capital adequacy (whether or not
having  the  force of law) of any such  authority,  central  bank or  comparable
agency,  has or would have the effect of reducing  the rate of return on capital
of such  Bank  (or its  Parent)  as a  consequence  of such  Bank's  obligations
hereunder  to a level  below  that which  such Bank (or its  Parent)  could have
achieved  but for such  adoption,  change,  request or  directive  (taking  into
consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed
by such Bank to be material  then from time to time,  within  fifteen  (15) days
after  demand  by  such  Bank  (with  a copy  to  the  Agent)  accompanied  by a
certificate   setting  forth  in  reasonable  detail  its  calculation  of  such
reduction, the Borrower shall pay such Bank such additional amount or amounts as
will compensate such Bank (or its Parent) for such reduction.

                                        45
<PAGE>

     (c) Each Bank will promptly  notify the Borrower and the Agent of any event
of which it has knowledge,  occurring after the date hereof,  which will entitle
such  Bank to  compensation  pursuant  to this  Section  and  will  designate  a
different Applicable Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for,
or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the judgment of such
Bank,  be  otherwise  disadvantageous  to such Bank. A  certificate  of any Bank
claiming  compensation under this Section and setting forth in reasonable detail
its  calculation of the additional  amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder
shall be  conclusive  in the  absence of manifest  error.  In  determining  such
amount,  such Bank may use any  reasonable  averaging and  attribution  methods.
Failure on the part of any Bank to demand  compensation  under subsection (a) or
(b) with  respect to any period  shall not  constitute  a waiver of such  Bank's
right to demand  compensation  with respect to such period or any other  period;
provided, however, that no Bank shall be entitled to compensation for the period
which is more than thirty (30) days prior to the date the Borrower  receives the
certificate  described in this  subsection (c) via  facsimile.  Each Bank agrees
that it will  send the  certificate  described  above  via  facsimile  to insure
immediate receipt by the Borrower.

     SECTION 8.04 Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected  Eurodollar Loans. If
(i) the  obligation  of any Bank to make or maintain  Eurodollar  Loans has been
suspended  pursuant to Section 8.02 or (ii) any Bank has  demanded  compensation
under  Section  8.03 and the  Borrower  shall by at  least  five (5)  Eurodollar
Business Days' prior notice to such Bank through the Agent have elected that the
provisions of this Section shall apply to such Bank, then, unless and until such
Bank notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension
or demand for compensation no longer apply:

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

     (b) after each of its  Eurodollar  Loans has been repaid (or converted to a
Base Rate Loan),  all payments of principal  which would otherwise be applied to
repay  such  Eurodollar  Loans  shall be  applied  to repay its Base Rate  Loans
instead.

If such Bank  notifies the Borrower that the  circumstances  giving rise to such
notice no longer apply,  unless Borrower elects otherwise,  the principal amount
of each such Base Rate Loan shall be  converted  into a  Eurodollar  Loan on the
first day of the next  succeeding  Interest  Period  applicable  to the  related
Eurodollar Loan of the other Banks.

     SECTION 8.05  Substitution  of Bank.  If (i) the  obligation of any Bank to
make  Eurodollar  Loans has been suspended  pursuant to Section 8.02 or (ii) any
Bank has demanded  compensation  under Section 8.03, the Borrower shall have the
right,  with the  assistance  of the Agent,  to seek a substitute  bank or banks
reasonably  satisfactory to the Agent and the Borrower (which may be one or more
of the Banks) to purchase the Note of such Bank and the interest of such Bank in
the Unused Fees and to assume the  Commitment of such Bank for a purchase  price
equal to all amounts  payable to such Bank hereunder and under the Note, and the
Borrower,  the Agent,  such Bank and such substitute bank or banks shall execute
and deliver an  appropriately  completed  Assignment  and  Assumption  Agreement
pursuant to Section  9.06(c)  hereof to effect the  assignment  of rights to and
assumption of obligations by such substitute bank or banks.

                                       46
<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     SECTION 9.01 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any
party  hereunder  shall be in writing  (including  bank wire,  telex,  facsimile
transmission  or similar  writing) and shall be given to such party:  (a) at its
address,  facsimile  number or telex  number  set forth on the  signature  pages
hereof (b) at such other address, facsimile number or telex number as such party
may  hereafter  specify for the purpose of notice to the Agent and the Borrower.
Each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (i) if given
by telex,  when such telex is  transmitted  to the telex number  specified in or
pursuant to this Section and the  appropriate  answerback  is received,  (ii) if
given by mail, 72 hours after such  communication is deposited in the mails with
first class  postage  prepaid,  addressed  as aforesaid or (iii) if given by any
other  means,  when  delivered  at the address  specified in or pursuant to this
Section;  provided  that  notices to the Agent or the Borrower or any Bank under
Article II or Article VIII shall not be effective until received.

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

     SECTION 9.03 Expenses.

     (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the
Agent associated with the preparation and due diligence of the Loans,  including
reasonable  fees  and  disbursements  of  special  counsel  for the  Agent  (but
excluding  administration and syndication  costs), in connection with any waiver
or consent requested by Borrower  hereunder or any amendment hereof requested by
Borrower  or any  Default  hereunder,  any  waiver or consent  hereunder  or any
amendment  hereof or any  Default or alleged  Default  hereunder  and (ii) if an
Event of Default occurs, all reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses incurred by the
Agent and each Bank,  including  reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in
connection with such Event of Default and collection, bankruptcy, insolvency and
other enforcement  proceedings resulting therefrom.  The Borrower shall also pay
up to  $2,500.00  of the  attorneys'  fees  of  First  Tennessee  Bank  National
Association and AmSouth Bank of Alabama  incurred in connection with the closing
of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                                        47
<PAGE>

     (b) The Borrower  shall  indemnify and defend the Agent and each other Bank
and their respective directors,  officers,  agents, employees,  Subsidiaries and
Affiliates  (the  Indemnified  Parties)  from,  and hold  each of them  harmless
against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses incurred by
any of them  arising  out of,  by reason of or in  connection  with this  Credit
Agreement  (but  excluding  any such  losses,  liabilities,  claims,  damages or
expenses incurred by reason of (i) the gross negligence,  willful  misconduct or
breach of this Credit Agreement by the indemnitee, and/or (ii) any claim made by
Agent or any Bank against the other), including, but without limitation, amounts
paid in settlement,  court costs, and fees and disbursements of no more than one
separate  law firm acting as counsel  for any or all of the parties  indemnified
hereunder,  in each case  incurred in  connection  with any such  investigation,
litigation or other proceedings; provided, that the Indemnified Parties shall be
entitled to  reimbursement of the expenses of more than one separate law firm if
the Indemnified Parties, in their reasonable discretion, determine that a single
law  firm  would  not be able  to  adequately  represent  the  interests  of the
Indemnified  Parties in a matter.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing  provisions of
this  paragraph  to the  contrary,  each  Indemnified  Party  shall use its best
efforts to mitigate any losses,  liabilities,  claims, damages or expenses as to
which it is entitled to seek indemnity pursuant to the provisions hereof.

     SECTION  9.04 Sharing of  Set-Offs.  Each Bank agrees that if it shall,  by
exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, receive payment of
a proportion of the aggregate  amount of principal and interest due with respect
to any Note held by it which is  greater  than the  proportion  received  by any
other Bank in respect of the aggregate amount of principal and interest due with
respect  to  any  Note  held  by  such  other  Bank,  the  Bank  receiving  such
proportionately  greater payment shall purchase such  participation in the Notes
held by the other Banks,  and such other  adjustments  shall be made,  as may be
required so that all such payments of principal and interest with respect to the
Notes  held by the Banks  shall be shared  by the Banks pro rata.  The  Borrower
agrees,  to the fullest extent it may  effectively do so under  applicable  law,
that any holder of a participation in a Note,  whether or not acquired  pursuant
to the foregoing  arrangements,  may exercise  rights of set-off or counterclaim
and other rights with respect to such  participation  as fully as if such holder
of a participation  were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such
participation.

     SECTION 9.O5 Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Credit Agreement
or any of the other Financing  Documents may be modified,  amended or waived if,
but only if, such modification,  amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed
by the  Borrower  and the  Majority  Banks (and,  if the rights or duties of the
Agent are affected thereby,  by the Agent);  provided that no such modification,
amendment  or waiver  shall,  unless  signed by all the Banks,  (a) increase the
Commitment  of any Bank or subject any Bank to any  additional  obligation,  (b)
reduce the  principal  of or rate of  interest  on any Loan or any fees or other
amounts  payable  to any Bank  hereunder,  (c)  postpone  the date fixed for any
scheduled  payment of principal of or interest on any Loan or any fees hereunder
or for any scheduled reduction or termination of any Commitment,  (d) change the
percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Notes,  or the number of Banks,  which shall be required for the Banks or any of
them to take any action under this Section or any other provision of this Credit
Agreement  or  (e)  release  all  or  substantially   all  of  the  Subsidiaries
Guarantees.

                                        48
<PAGE>

     SECTION 9.06 Successors and Assigns.

     (a) The provisions of this Credit Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the  benefit  of the  parties  hereto  and their  respective  successors  and
assigns,  except that the Borrower  may not assign or otherwise  transfer any of
its rights or obligations  under this Credit Agreement without the prior written
consent of all the Banks,  and no Bank may assign or  otherwise  transfer any of
its rights or obligations  under this Credit Agreement except in compliance with
this Section 9.06.

     (b) Any Bank at any time may, upon prior notice to the  Borrower,  grant to
one or more  banks  or other  institutions  (each a  Participant)  participating
interests in its Commitment or any or all of its Loans. In the event of any such
grant by a Bank of a  participating  interest to a  Participant,  whether or not
upon notice to the  Borrower and the Agent,  such Bank shall remain  responsible
for the performance of its obligations hereunder, and the Borrower and the Agent
shall  continue to deal solely and directly  with such Bank in  connection  with
such Bank's rights and obligations  under this Credit  Agreement.  Any agreement
pursuant to which any Bank may grant such a participating interest shall provide
that such Bank shall  retain the sole right and  responsibility  to enforce  the
obligations of the Borrower hereunder including,  without limitation,  the right
to  approve  any  amendment,  modification  or  waiver of any  provision  of the
Financing Documents; provided that such participation agreement may provide that
such Bank will not agree to any modification, amendment or waiver of this Credit
Agreement  described  in clause  (a),  (b) or (c) of Section  9.05,  without the
consent  of the  Participant.  An  assignment  or  other  transfer  which is not
permitted by  subsection  (c) or (d) below shall be given effect for purposes of
this Credit Agreement only to the extent of a participating  interest granted in
accordance with this subsection (b).
        
     (c)  Any  Bank  may at any  time  assign  to one or  more  banks  or  other
institutions  (each an Assignee) all, or a  proportionate  part (such portion to
comprise  a portion  of a  Commitment  in an  aggregate  amount of not less than
$5,000,000) of all of its rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement and
the Notes, and such Assignee shall assume such rights and obligations,  pursuant
to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit D
hereto executed by such Assignee and such transferor Bank, with (and subject to)
the subscribed  consent of the Borrower and the Agent which consent shall not be
unreasonably  withheld.  Upon  execution  and  delivery of such  investment  and
payment  by such  Assignee  to such  transferor  Bank of an amount  equal to the
purchase  price agreed  between such  transferor  Bank and such  Assignee,  such
Assignee  shall be a Bank party to this Credit  Agreement and shall have all the
rights  and  obligations  of a Bank  with a  Commitment  as set  forth  in  such
instrument of  assumption,  and the  transferor  Bank shall be released from its
obligations  hereunder  to a  corresponding  extent,  and no further  consent or
action by any party shall be required.  Upon the  consummation of any assignment
pursuant to this subsection (c), the transferor Bank, the Agent and the Borrower
shall make appropriate  arrangements so that, if required,  a new Note is issued
to the Assignee.  In connection  with any such  assignment the  transferor  Bank
shall pay to the Agent an  administrative  fee for processing such assignment in
the amount of $2,500. If the Assignee is not incorporated  under the laws of the
United States of America or a state thereof it shall, prior to the first date on
which  interest or fees are payable  hereunder  for its account,  deliver to the
Borrower  and  the  Agent  certification  as  to  exemption  from  deduction  or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes in accordance with Section
2.12.

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

                                       49
<PAGE>
     (e) The Borrower agrees that each Participant  shall to the extent provided
in its participation  agreement, be entitled to the benefits of Section 8.03 and
2.11 with respect to its participating interest; provided that no Participant or
other  transferee  of any Bank's rights shall be entitled to receive any greater
payment under Section 8.03 or 2.10 (whether  individually  or in aggregate  with
any such payments received by such Bank) than such Bank would have been entitled
to receive  with respect to the rights  transferred  if such rights had not been
transferred.

     (f)  Borrower  shall  not be  required  to pay any  costs  or  expenses  in
connection  with any  participation,  assignment  or transfer  described in this
Section 9.06. No such  participation  or, except as provided in Section  9.06(c)
above  with  respect  to an  assignment  which  is  consented  to  by  Borrower,
assignment or transfer shall release any Bank from liability for its obligations
hereunder.

     SECTION 9.07 Collateral.  Each of the Banks represents to the Borrower, the
Agent and each of the other Banks that it in good faith is not relying  upon any
Margin Stock (as defined in  Regulation  U) as  collateral  in the  extension or
maintenance of the credit provided for in the Financing Documents.

     SECTION  9.08  Governing  Law;  Submission  to  Jurisdiction.  This  Credit
Agreement and each Note shall be governed by and  construed in  accordance  with
the laws of the  State of North  Carolina.  The  Borrower,  Agent  and each Bank
hereby submits to the  nonexclusive  jurisdiction  of the United States District
Court of the Western  District of North Carolina and of any North Carolina State
court sitting in Charlotte for purposes of all legal proceedings  arising out of
or relating to this Credit  Agreement or the transactions  contemplated  hereby.
The Borrower,  Agent and each Bank  irrevocably  waives,  to the fullest  extent
permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying
of the venue of any such  proceeding  brought in such a court and any claim that
any such proceeding  brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum.

     SECTION  9.09  Counterparts;   Integration;   Effectiveness.   This  Credit
Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an
original with the same effect as if the signatures  thereto and hereto were upon
the same instrument.  This Credit Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and
understanding  among  the  parties  hereto  and  supersedes  any and  all  prior
agreements and understandings,  oral or written,  relating to the subject matter
hereof.  This Credit  Agreement shall become effective when the Agent shall have
received counterparts hereof signed by all of the parties hereto.

     SECTION 9.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE AGENT AND EACH
BANK HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
PROCEEDING  ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS CREDIT  AGREEMENT,  ANY FINANCING
DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

                                        50
<PAGE>


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

                                        HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST
                                        INCORPORATED

                                        By:___________________________
                                        Name:____________________
                                        Title:___________________


Address:
3310 West End Avenue
Suite 400
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Attn: Vice President Finance

Facsimile No.: (615) 269-8122
Telephone No.: (615) 269-8175


                                       51

<PAGE>


                               NATIONSBANK, N.A., in its capacity as Agent and
                               in its individual capacity
                               as a Bank


                               By:___________________________
                               Name:____________________
                               Title:___________________

Commitment:       $35,000,000.00
Percentage:       35%

Address:
One NationsBank Plaza
Fifth Floor
Nashville, Tennessee 37239
Attn: Ashley Crabtree

Facsimile No.: (615) 749-4112
Telephone No.: (615) 749-3469


 

                              AMSOUTH BANK OF ALABAMA
                              By:___________________________
                              Name:____________________
                              Title:___________________

Commitment:       $35,000,000.00
Percentage:       35%

Address:
1900 Fifth Avenue North, Seventh Floor
Birmingham, Alabama  35203
Attn:  William Page Barnes

Facsimile No.:  (205) 326-4790
Telephone No.:  (205) 326-4081

                                        52
<PAGE>




                              FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                              By:___________________________
                              Name:____________________
                              Title:___________________


Commitment:       $15,000,000.00
Percentage:       15%

Address:
511 Union Street
Nashville, Tennessee 37219
Attn: Lynn Spencer

Facsimile No.: (615) 734-6148
Telephone No.: (615) 734-6300






                              THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED
                              By:___________________________
                              Name:____________________
                              Title:___________________
                              By:___________________________
                              Name:____________________
                              Title:___________________

Commitment:       $15,000,000.00
Percentage:       15%

Address:
305 Peachtree Street, Suite 4420
Atlanta, Georgia  30308
Attn:  Diane Rhoades

Facsimile No.:  (404) 523-7983
Telephone No.:  (404) 524-6544


                                        53



                              EXHIBIT 10.2
                               GUARANTEE  
     THIS GUARANTEE, dated as of December 26, 1996 (the Guarantee), is given by

     HR OF TEXAS, INC., a Maryland corporation; HRT OF ALABAMA, INC., an Alabama
corporation;  HRT OF TENNESSEE, INC., a Tennessee corporation;  HRT OF VIRGINIA,
INC., a Virginia corporation;  HRT OF ROANOKE, INC., a Virginia corporation; HRT
OF FLORIDA, INC., a Florida corporation;  HEALTHCARE REALTY MANAGEMENT,  INC., a
Maryland corporation; DURHAM MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING, INC., a Texas corporation;
HR ASSETS, INC., a Texas corporation; HR FUNDING, INC., a Texas corporation; and
HR CAPITAL,  INC., a Texas corporation  (hereinafter referred to collectively as
the Guarantors or individually as a Guarantor); in favor of

     NATIONSBANK, N.A., a national banking association, in its capacity as agent
(in 20such capacity, hereinafter referred to as the Agent) for the various banks
from time to time parties to that certain Modified and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of the date hereof (such Modified and Restated Credit  Agreement as the
same may be modified or amended from time to time being hereinafter  referred to
as the Credit Agreement) among Healthcare Realty Trust  Incorporated,  the Agent
and the Banks  (capitalized  terms used but not otherwise  defined  herein shall
have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement);for the benefit of

    HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED, a Maryland corporation (the Borrower).

RECITALS:

     1.  Pursuant to the Credit  Agreement,  the Banks have  agreed,  subject to
certain terms and  conditions,  to make available loans and letters of credit to
the Borrower.

     2. Each of the Guarantors is a Material  Subsidiary or Specified  Affiliate
of the Borrower (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement).

     3. As a condition  precedent to executing the Credit  Agreement,  the Banks
have  required,  among other things,  each of the Guarantors to guarantee all of
the  Borrower's  obligations  arising  under the Credit  Agreement and the other
Financing Documents referred to therein.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  for and in consideration of the execution and delivery by
the Banks of the Credit  Agreement,  and other good and valuable  consideration,
receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the Guarantors hereby agree as follows:

                               GUARANTEE - Page 1
<PAGE>

     1.  Guarantee  of  Payment.   The   Guarantors   hereby   irrevocably   and
unconditionally guarantee, jointly and severally, to the Agent and the Banks the
prompt payment, when due, by acceleration or otherwise, of the Indebtedness. For
the  purposes  hereof  Indebtedness  means  all  indebtedness,  obligations  and
liabilities  of the Borrower  under (i) the Credit  Agreement,  (ii) any Note or
Notes issued by the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement or (iii) any other
of the  Financing  Documents  to which the  Borrower  is a party,  whether  such
Indebtedness is now existing or hereafter arising,  due or to become due, direct
or indirect,  absolute or contingent, and howsoever evidenced, held or acquired,
as such Indebtedness may be modified, extended, renewed or replaced from time to
time.  The guaranty of the Guarantors as set forth in this section is a guaranty
of payment and not of collection.

     Notwithstanding  any provision to the contrary  contained  herein or in any
other of the Financing  Documents,  the obligations of each Guarantor  hereunder
shall be limited to an aggregate  amount equal to the largest  amount that would
not render its obligations  hereunder  subject to avoidance under Section 548 of
the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any applicable
state law.

     2. Release of  Collateral,  Parties  Liable,  etc.  Each of the  Guarantors
agrees that the whole or any part of the security now or hereafter  held for the
Indebtedness may be exchanged, compromised, released or surrendered from time to
time; that neither the Agent nor the Banks shall have any obligation to protect,
perfect,  secure or insure any Liens now or hereafter held for the  Indebtedness
or the  properties  subject  thereto;  that the time or place of  payment of the
Indebtedness may be changed or extended,  in whole or in part, to a time certain
or otherwise,  and may be renewed or accelerated,  in whole or in part; that the
Borrower  may be  granted  indulgences  generally;  that any  provisions  of the
Financing  Documents or any other  documents  executed in  connection  with this
transaction,  may be modified,  amended or waived; that any party liable for the
payment of the Indebtedness may be granted indulgences or released; and that any
deposit balance for the credit of the Borrower or any other party liable for the
payment  of the  Indebtedness  or  liable  upon  any  security  therefor  may be
released,  in whole or in part, at, before and/or after the stated,  extended or
accelerated  maturity  of the  Indebtedness,  all  without  notice to or further
assent by the Guarantors,  who shall remain bound thereon,  notwithstanding  any
such  exchange,   compromise,   surrender,   extension,  renewal,  acceleration,
modification, indulgence or release.

     3. Waiver of Rights. Each of the Guarantors expressly waives: (a) notice of
acceptance of this Guarantee by the Agent and the Banks and of all extensions of
credit to the Borrower by the Agent or any Bank; (b)  presentment and demand for
payment of any of the  Indebtedness;  (c)  protest  and notice of dishonor or of
default to such Guarantor or to any other party with respect to the Indebtedness
or with  respect to any security  therefor;  (d) notice of the Agent or any Bank
obtaining,  amending,  substituting  for,  releasing,  waiving or modifying  any
security  interest,  liens, or the  encumbrances  now or hereafter  securing the
Indebtedness,  or  the  Agent's  or  any  Bank's  subordinating,   compromising,
discharging or releasing such security interests, liens or encumbrances: (e) all
other notices to which such Guarantor  might  otherwise be entitled;  (f) demand
for payment under this Guarantee;  and (g) any right to assert against the Agent
or any Bank, as a defense,  counterclaim,  set-off,  or cross-claim  any defense
(legal or equitable),  set-off,  counterclaim  or claim which such Guarantor may
now or hereafter  have against the Agent or any Bank or the  Borrower,  but such
waiver shall not prevent such Guarantor from asserting  against the Agent or any
Bank in a separate action,  any claim,  action,  cause of action, or demand that
such Guarantor might have, whether or not arising out of this Guarantee.

                               GUARANTEE - Page 2
<PAGE>

     4. Primary Liability of Guarantors. Each of the Guarantors agrees that this
Guarantee  may be enforced by the Agent and the Banks  without the  necessity at
any time of resorting to or  exhausting  any other  security or  collateral  and
without  the  necessity  at any  time of  having  recourse  to the  Notes or any
collateral now or hereafter securing the Indebtedness or otherwise,  and each of
the  Guarantors  hereby  waives the right to require  the Agent and the Banks to
proceed against the Borrower or any other person  (including a co-guarantor)  or
to  require  the Agent and the Banks to pursue any other  remedy or enforce  any
other right.  Without  limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing,  each of the
Guarantors  hereby  specifically  waives,  to the extent permitted by applicable
law, the benefits of North Carolina General Statutes Sections 26-7 through 26-9,
inclusive.  In addition,  each of the Guarantors hereby waives and renounces any
and all rights it has or may have for subrogation,  indemnity,  reimbursement or
contribution  against the Borrower for amounts paid under this  Guarantee.  This
waiver is expressly intended to prevent the existence of any claim in respect of
such  subrogation,  indemnity,  reimbursement  or  contribution  by a  Guarantor
against  the estate of the  Borrower  within the  meaning of Section  101 of the
United States Bankruptcy Code, and to prevent such Guarantor from being deemed a
creditor   of  the   Borrower  in  respect  of  such   subrogation,   indemnity,
reimbursement or contribution within the meaning of Section 547(b) of the United
States Bankruptcy Code in the event of a subsequent case involving the Borrower.
Each of the  Guarantors  further  agrees that  nothing  contained  herein  shall
prevent  the  Agent or the Banks  from  suing on the  Notes or  foreclosing  its
security  interest in or lien on any  collateral  now or hereafter  securing the
Indebtedness or from  exercising any other rights  available to the Agent or the
Banks  under the Notes,  or any other  instrument  of  security  if neither  the
Borrower nor the  Guarantors  timely  performs the  obligations  of the Borrower
thereunder,  and the exercise of any of the aforesaid  rights and the completion
of  any  foreclosure  proceedings  shall  not  constitute  a  discharge  of  any
Guarantor's  obligations  hereunder;  it being the purpose and intent of each of
the Guarantors that such  Guarantor's  obligations  hereunder shall be absolute,
independent  and  unconditional  under any and all  circumstances.  Neither  the
Guarantors'  obligations under this Guarantee nor any remedy for the enforcement
thereof  shall  be  impaired,  modified,  changed  or  released  in  any  manner
whatsoever by an impairment,  modification, change, release or limitation of the
liability of the Borrower,  by reason of the Borrower's bankruptcy or insolvency
or by reason of the invalidity or  unenforceability of all or any portion of the
Indebtedness.  Each of the Guarantors acknowledges that the term Indebtedness as
used herein  includes any payments made by the Borrower to the Agent or any Bank
and  subsequently  recovered  by the  Borrower  or a  trustee  for the  Borrower
pursuant to the  Borrower's  bankruptcy or  insolvency  and that the guaranty of
each of the  Guarantors  hereunder  shall be  reinstated  to the  extent of such
recovery.

     5. Attorneys'  Fees and Costs of Collection.  If at any time or times after
the  occurrence of an Event of Default the Agent or the Banks employ  counsel to
pursue collection,  to intervene,  to sue for enforcement of the terms hereof or
of the Notes, or to file a petition, complaint, answer, motion or other pleading
in any suit or proceeding  relating to this Guarantee or the Notes, then in such
event,  all of the  reasonable  attorneys'  fees  relating  thereto  shall be an
additional  liability of the  Guarantors  to the Agent and the Banks  hereunder,
payable on demand.

                               GUARANTEE - Page 3
<PAGE>
             
     6.  Security  Interests  and  Setoff.  As  security  for  such  Guarantor's
obligations  hereunder,  each Guarantor  agrees that in the event such Guarantor
fails  to pay  its  obligations  hereunder  when  due  and  payable  under  this
Guarantee, (a) any of such Guarantor's assets of any kind, nature or description
(including,  without limitation, deposit accounts) in the possession, control or
custody  of the  Agent or any Bank  may,  without  prior  notice  (but  promptly
confirmed  in  writing  by the  Agent  or  such  Bank,  as  applicable,  to such
Guarantor,  provided that failure to provide such written  confirmation will not
affect the  liabilities  of such  Guarantor  hereunder)  to such  Guarantor,  be
reduced to cash or the like and  applied by the Agent or such Bank in  reduction
or payment of such Guarantor's obligations hereunder; and (b) the Agent and each
Bank shall have the right,  immediately  and without  further action by them, to
set off pro tanto against the  Indebtedness  all money owed by the Agent or such
Bank in any  capacity to such  Guarantor,  whether or not due,  and the Agent or
such  Bank  shall be  deemed  to have  made a  charge  against  any  such  money
immediately upon the occurrence of such obligation becoming due even though such
charge is made or  entered  on the  books of the  Agent or such Bank  subsequent
thereto.

     7. Term of Guarantee;  Warranties.  This  Guarantee  shall continue in full
force  and  effect  until  the  Indebtedness  is fully  and  indefeasibly  paid,
performed  and  discharged.  This  Guarantee  covers  the  Indebtedness  whether
presently  outstanding  or arising  subsequent to the date hereof  including all
amounts  advanced  by the  Agent or any Bank in  stages  or  installments.  Each
Guarantor  warrants  and  represents  to the Agent (i) that such  Guarantor is a
corporation duly  incorporated,  validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its  jurisdiction  of  incorporation,  (ii) that such  Guarantor has all
corporate  powers  and  all  material  governmental  licenses,   authorizations,
consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted, (iii)
that the  execution  and delivery by such  Guarantor of this  Guarantee  and the
other  Financing  Documents to which it is a party and the  performance  by such
Guarantor of its  obligations  hereunder and thereunder are within the corporate
power of such Guarantor,  have been duly  authorized by all necessary  corporate
action,  require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental
body,  agency or  official  (except  for any such action or filing that has been
taken and is in full force and effect) and do not  contravene,  or  constitute a
default  under,  any  provision  of  applicable  law  or  regulation  or of  the
certificate of  incorporation or bylaws (or other  constitutional  documents) of
such  Guarantor  or of any  material  agreement,  judgment,  injunction,  order,
decree,  or other material  instrument  binding upon such Guarantor or result in
the creation or imposition  (other than pursuant to the Financing  Documents) of
any Lien on any asset of such  Guarantor  and (iv) that this  Guarantee  and the
other Financing  Documents to which such Guarantor is a party  constitute  valid
and binding  agreements of such  Guarantor and, when executed and delivered will
constitute valid and binding obligations of such Guarantor.

     8. Further  Representations and Warranties.  Each Guarantor agrees that the
Agent and the  Banks  will  have no  obligation  to  investigate  the  financial
condition or affairs of the Borrower  for the benefit of such  Guarantor  nor to
advise such  Guarantor of any fact  respecting,  or any change in, the financial
condition  or affairs of the Borrower  which might come to the  knowledge of the
Agent or any Bank at any time,  whether  or not the  Agent or any Bank  knows or
believes  or has  reason  to know or  believe  that any such  fact or  change is
unknown to such  Guarantor  or might (or does)  materially  increase the risk of
such  Guarantor as guarantor or might (or would) affect the  willingness of such
Guarantor to continue as guarantor with respect to the Indebtedness.

                               GUARANTEE - Page 4
<PAGE>

     9.  Additional  Liability  of  Guarantors.  If any  Guarantor is or becomes
liable for any  indebtedness  owing by the  Borrower to the Agent or any Bank by
endorsement or otherwise other than under this  Guarantee,  such liability shall
not be in any manner  impaired or reduced hereby but shall have all and the same
force and effect it would have had if this  Guarantee  had not  existed and such
Guarantor's  liability  hereunder shall not be in any manner impaired or reduced
thereby.

     10. Cumulative  Rights.  All rights of the Agent and the Banks hereunder or
otherwise arising under any documents executed in connection with or as security
for the Indebtedness are separate and cumulative and may be pursued  separately,
successively or concurrently,  or not pursued, without affecting or limiting any
other  right of the Agent or any Bank and without  affecting  or  impairing  the
liability of the Guarantors.

     11.  Usury.  Notwithstanding  any other  provisions  herein  contained,  no
provision of this  Guarantee  shall  require or permit the  collection  from any
Guarantor  of  interest  in  excess  of the  maximum  rate or  amount  that such
Guarantor may be required or permitted to pay pursuant to any applicable law. In
the event any such  interest is  collected,  it shall be applied in reduction of
the  Guarantor's  obligations  hereunder,  and  the  remainder  of  such  excess
collected  shall be returned to the Guarantors once such  obligations  have been
fully satisfied.

     12. The Agent. In acting under or by virtue of this Security Agreement, the
Agent shall be entitled to all the rights, authority,  privileges and immunities
provided in Article VII of the Credit  Agreement,  all of which  provisions  are
incorporated by reference  herein with the same force and effect as if set forth
herein.  The Agent hereby disclaims any  representation or warranty to the Banks
concerning  the  perfection of the security  interest  granted  hereunder or the
value of the Collateral.  Each of the Guarantors  hereby releases the Agent from
any liability for any act or omission relating to this Guarantee, except such as
may result from the Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

     13.  Successors  and  Assigns.  This  Guarantee  shall  be  binding  on and
enforceable  against  each  Guarantor  and  its  successors  and  assigns.  This
Guarantee  is intended  for and shall inure to the benefit of the Agent and each
Bank and each and  every  person  who shall  from time to time be or become  the
owner or holder of any of the Indebtedness,  and each and every reference herein
to Agent or Bank shall include and refer to each and every successor or assignee
of the Agent or any Bank at any time  holding or owning any part of or  interest
in any  part of the  Indebtedness.  This  Guarantee  shall be  transferable  and
negotiable  with the same force and  effect,  and to the same  extent,  that the
Indebtedness is transferable and negotiable,  it being understood and stipulated
that  upon  assignment  or  transfer  by the  Agent  or any  Bank  of any of the
Indebtedness the legal holder or owner of the Indebtedness (or a part thereof or
interest  therein thus  transferred  or assigned by the Agent or any Bank) shall
(except as otherwise stipulated by the Agent or any such Bank in its assignment)
have and may exercise all of the rights  granted to the Agent or such Bank under
this  Guarantee  to the extent of that part of or interest  in the  Indebtedness
thus assigned or transferred to said person.  Each  Guarantor  expressly  waives
notice of transfer or assignment of the Indebtedness, or any part thereof, or of
the rights of the Agent or any Bank  hereunder.  Failure to give notice will not
affect the liabilities of the Guarantors hereunder.

                               GUARANTEE - Page 5
<PAGE>

     14.  Application  of  Payments.  The Agent and each  Bank  shall  apply any
payments received pursuant to this Guarantee as follows: first, to all costs and
expenses of the Agent (including without limitation  reasonable  attorneys' fees
and expenses) incurred in connection with the implementation  and/or enforcement
of this Guarantee and/or any of the other Financing  Documents;  second,  to all
costs  and  expenses  of the  Banks  (including  without  limitation  reasonable
attorneys'  fees and expenses)  incurred in connection  with the  implementation
and/or  enforcement  of  this  Guarantee  and/or  any  of  the  other  Financing
Documents; third, to the principal amount of the Indebtedness (including without
limitation to the cash collateralization term of the available undrawn amount of
outstanding Letters of Credit);  fourth, to such of the Indebtedness  consisting
of accrued but unpaid interest and fees; fifth to all other amounts payable with
respect to the Indebtedness;  and sixth, to the payment of the surplus,  if any,
to whoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

     15. Modifications. This Guarantee and the provisions hereof may be changed,
discharged or terminated  only by an instrument in writing signed by each of the
Guarantors affected thereby and the Agent.

     16.  Discharge and Release.  In the event that (i) any Guarantor is sold as
contemplated by Section 2.08(b)(ii) of the Credit Agreement, (ii) this Guarantee
or any  portion  hereof is released as  contemplated  by Section  9.05(f) of the
Credit Agreement or (iii) the indebtedness  shall have been paid in full and the
obligations  of the Banks to  extend  credit to the  Borrower  under the  Credit
Agreement  shall  have  terminated,  the Agent,  on behalf of the  Banks,  shall
discharge  and release the  relevant  Guarantor(s)  from all of its  obligations
under this Guarantee.  Upon any such release and discharge, the Agent, on behalf
of the Banks,  will  execute  and  deliver  to the  relevant  Guarantor(s)  such
documents  as such  Guarantor(s)  shall  reasonably  request  to  evidence  such
discharge and release.

     17.  Notices.  All  communications  provided for herein shall be in writing
(including bank wire,  telex,  facsimile  transmission  or similar  writing) and
shall be given to such  party  (a) at its  address,  facsimile  number  or telex
number  shown  below or (b) at such  other  address,  facsimile  number or telex
number as such  party may  hereafter  specify  for the  purpose by notice to the
other party hereto:

             if to any Guarantor:

                  c/o Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated
                  3310 West End Avenue
                  Suite 400
                  Nashville, Tennessee 37203
                  Attention: Vice President Finance
                  Fax No.: (615) 269-8122

                               GUARANTEE - Page 6
<PAGE>

             if to the Agent:

                  NationsBank, N.A.
                  One NationsBank Plaza
                  Fifth Floor
                  Nashville, Tennessee 37239
                  Attention: Ashley Crabtree
                  Fax No.: (615) 749-4112

Each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (i) if given
by telex,  when such telex is  transmitted  to the telex number  specified in or
pursuant to this Section and the  appropriate  answerback  is received,  (ii) if
given by mail, 72 hours after such  communication is deposited in the mails with
first class  postage  prepaid,  addressed  as aforesaid or (iii) if given by any
other  means,  when  delivered  at the address  specified in or pursuant to this
Section.

     18. Severability. In the event that any provision hereof shall be deemed to
be  invalid  by  reason  of  the  operation  of  any  law  or by  reason  of the
interpretation placed thereon by any court, this Guarantee shall be construed as
not containing such provision,  but only as to such jurisdictions where such law
or interpretation  is operative,  and the invalidity of such provision shall not
affect the validity of any  remaining  provision  hereof,  and any and all other
provisions  hereof  which are  otherwise  lawful and valid shall  remain in full
force and effect.

     19.  Applicable  Law;  Consent to  Jurisdiction  and Venue;  Waiver of Jury
Trial. THIS GUARANTEE AND THE OTHER FINANCING DOCUMENTS AND ALL MATTERS RELATING
THERETO SHALL,  EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT  OTHERWISE  REQUIRED BY APPlICABLE  LAW, BE
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED  AND  INTERPRETED  IN ACCORDANCE  WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS  PRINCIPLES.  EACH OF
THE  GUARANTORS  HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE  JURISDICTION  AND VENUE OF THE STATE AND
FEDERAL COURTS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND AGREES THAT THE AGENT AND THE BANKS MAY, AT
THEIR OPTION,  ENFORCE  THEIR  RESPECTIVE  RIGHTS  HEREUNDER AND UNDER THE OTHER
FINANCING  DOCUMENTS IN SUCH COURTS.  EACH OF THE GUARANTORS HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES THE DEFENSE OF AN  INCONVENIENT  FORUM FOR  MAINTENANCE  OF ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING BY THE AGENT OR THE BANKS IN SUCH COURTS.  EACH OF THE GUARANTORS AND
THE AGENT (ON  BEHALF OF ITSELF  AND THE BANKS)  HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES ALL
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,  PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF
OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTEE OR ANY OTHER OF THE FINANCING  DOCUMENTS OR ANY OF
THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

     20.  Headings.  The  headings in this  instrument  are for  convenience  of
reference  only and shall not  limit or  otherwise  affect  the  meaning  of any
provisions hereof.

                               GUARANTEE - Page 7
<PAGE>

     21.   Counterparts.This   Guarantee  may  be  executed  in  any  number  of
counterparts  and by different  parties  hereto on separate  counterparts,  each
constituting an original, but all together one and the same instrument.

     22. Rights of the Majority Banks. All rights of the Agent  hereunder,if not
exercised by the Agent, may be exercised by the Majority Banks.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  each of the Guarantors has caused this Guarantee to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.

                                       HR OF TEXAS, INC.,
                                       a Maryland corporation

                                       By:___________________________
                                       Timothy G. Wallace,
                                       Vice President



                                       HRT OF ALABAMA, INC.,
                                       an Alabama corporation

                                       By:___________________________
                                       Timothy G. Wallace,
                                       Vice President



                                       HRT OF TENNESSEE, INC.,
                                       a Tennessee corporation

                                       By:___________________________
                                       Timothy G. Wallace,
                                       Vice President



                                       HRT OF VIRGINIA, INC.,
                                       a Virginia corporation
 
                                       By:___________________________
                                       Timothy G. Wallace,
                                       Vice President

                               GUARANTEE - Page 8
<PAGE>


                                       HRT OF ROANOKE, INC.,
                                       a Virginia corporation

                                       By:___________________________
                                       Timothy G. Wallace,
                                       Vice President


 
                                       HRT OF FLORIDA, INC.,
                                       a Florida corporation

                                       By:___________________________
                                       Timothy G. Wallace,
                                       Vice President




                                       HEALTHCARE REALTY MANAGEMENT,
                                       INC., a Maryland corporation

                                       By:___________________________
                                       Timothy G. Wallace,
                                       Vice President



                                       DURHAM MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING,
                                       INC., a Texas corporation
 
                                       By:___________________________
                                       Timothy G. Wallace,
                                       Vice President



                                       HR FUNDING, INC.,
                                       a Texas corporation

                                       By:___________________________
                                       Timothy G. Wallace,
                                       Vice President

                               GUARANTEE - Page 9
<PAGE>

                                       HR ASSETS, INC.,
                                       a Texas corporation

                                       By:___________________________
                                       Timothy G. Wallace,
                                       Vice President



                                       HR CAPITAL, INC.,
                                       a Texas corporation
  
                                       By:___________________________
                                       Timothy G. Wallace,
                                       Vice President

                              GUARANTEE - Page 10



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