CUMBERLAND FARMS INC
10-Q, 1996-08-14
GROCERY STORES
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<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

(MARK ONE)

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

For the quarterly period ended        June 30, 1996
                                  -----------------------

/ /  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
     SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

For the transition period from _______ to _______

                         Commission file number 33-95962
                                                --------

                             Cumberland Farms, Inc.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


         DELAWARE                                          04-2843586
 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                           (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                       IDENTIFICATION NO.)

                       777 Dedham Street, Canton, MA 02021
                    ----------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE (617) 828-4900
                                                   --------------

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (i) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  X      No 
                                               ---        ---

              APPLICABLE ONLY TO REGISTRANTS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
                  PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and
reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan
confirmed by a court.

Yes   X    No 
     ---       ---
                   (APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE REGISTRANTS)

     As of June 30, 1996, the outstanding shares of each class of the
Registrant's common stock was as follows:

                Class A Stock     8 shares
                Class B Stock     121,014 shares

     (Neither class of stock is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.)


<PAGE>   2


                                      INDEX

                             CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.

PART I  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

          Condensed Balance Sheets - June 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995

          Condensed Statements of Operations - For the Three Months and Nine
          Months Ended June 30, 1996 and 1995.

          Condensed Statements of Retained Earnings - For the Three Months and
          Nine Months Ended June 30, 1996 and 1995

          Condensed Statements of Cash Flows - For the Three Months Ended and
          Nine Months Ended June 30, 1996 and 1995

          Notes to Condensed Financial Statements - June 30, 1996

  ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
          RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

PART II

  ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

  ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

SIGNATURES

EXHIBIT INDEX

  10(a)   Loan and Security Agreement between Cumberland Farms, Inc. (as
          Borrower) and Transamerica Business Credit Corporation (as Lender).
          Dated as of June 14, 1996.

  27      Financial Data Schedule


<PAGE>   3
                             CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.
<TABLE>
                            CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (000'S OMITTED)

<CAPTION>
                                                       JUNE 30,   SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                         1996         1995
                                                     -----------  -------------
ASSETS                                               (UNAUDITED)   (AUDITED)
<S>                                                   <C>          <C>
Current Assets:
          Cash                                        $ 22,599     $ 30,016
          Accounts receivable, net                      20,317       19,081
          Inventories, at FIFO cost                     59,657       59,161
             Less: adjustment to LIFO cost              28,132       27,382
                                                      --------     --------
                           Net inventories              31,525       31,779
          Prepaid insurance                                  0        2,500
          Other current assets                           9,652        8,338
                                                      --------     --------
Total current assets                                    84,093       91,714

Net property and equipment                             218,928      219,300
Investment in Gulf Oil L.P. (Note 2)                    32,623       31,240
Prepaid insurance                                            0        6,365
Other assets, net                                       15,942       13,808
                                                      --------     --------
                                                      $351,586     $362,427
                                                      ========     ========
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 
Current Liabilities:
          Current portion of long-term debt           $ 12,275     $ 17,604
          Accounts payable                              40,574       39,329
          Other accrued expenses                        26,479       24,078
                                                      --------     --------
Total current liabilities                               79,328       81,011

Long-term debt  (Note 3)                               222,560      236,661
Deferred credits and other liabilities                  18,843       18,681
                                                      --------     --------
Total liabilities                                      320,731      336,353

Commitments & contingencies 
Stockholders' equity:
          Common stock:
            Class A Voting, $1 par value; 8 shares
              authorized, issued and outstanding
            Class B Non-voting, $1 par value;
              121,014 shares authorized, issued
              and outstanding                              121          121
          Additional paid in capital                     8,617        8,617
          Minimum pension liability                     (1,515)      (1,515)
          Retained earnings                             23,632       18,851
                                                      --------     --------
Total stockholders' equity                              30,855       26,074
                                                      --------     --------
                                                      $351,586     $362,427
                                                      =====================

<FN>
Note: The balance sheet at September 30, 1995 has been derived from the audited
financial statements at that date but does not include all the information and
footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements.
</TABLE>

See notes to condensed financial statements.
<PAGE>   4
                             CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.
<TABLE>
                       CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                                    UNAUDITED
                                 (000'S OMITFED)

<CAPTION>
                                                     QUARTER ENDED          NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                        JUNE 30,                  JUNE 30,
                                                    1996        1995         1996         1995
                                                 ---------------------   -----------------------
<S>                                              <C>          <C>        <C>            <C>
INCOME:
    Revenues (see Note below)                    $363,055     $338,513   $1,017,781     $963,256

    Equity in earnings of Gulf Oil L.P.             1,962        2,594        3,033       10,959

    Gains on sales of property and equipment        3,858        1,586        9,841        7,160

                                                 ---------------------   -----------------------
        Total income                              368,875      342,693    1,030,655      981,375

Costs and expenses:
    Cost of sales                                 280,933      262,016      783,520      735,368

    LIFO charge                                       750            0          750            0

    Operating expenses                             67,878       64,159      200,850      194,998

    Depreciation                                    5,234        4,343       14,408       12,043

                                                 ---------------------   -----------------------
        Total costs & expenses                    354,795      330,518      999,528      942,409
                                                 ---------------------   -----------------------

Operating income                                   14,080       12,175       31,127       38,966

Interest expense                                    5,588        6,173       16,972       19,034
                                                 ---------------------   -----------------------

Income before taxes                                 8,492        6,002       14,155       19,932

State income taxes                                    433            0          792            0
                                                 ---------------------   -----------------------

Net income                                       $  8,059     $  6,002   $   13,363     $ 19,932
                                                 =====================   =======================

<FN>
 Note:  Excise taxes approximating $60,344 and $56,579 collected from
        customers on retail gasoline and cigarette revenues are included in
        Sales and Cost of Sales for the three months ended June 30, 1996 and
        1995 respectively, while $177,590 and $168,092 was collected for the
        nine months ended June 30, 1996 and 1995 respectively.

</TABLE>

See notes to condensed financial statements. 

<PAGE>   5

                             CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.

<TABLE>
               CONDENSED STATEMENT OF RETAINED EARNINGS (DEFICIT)
                                   (UNAUDITED)


<CAPTION>
                                                           Nine Months Ended
                                                                June 30,
                                                           1996          1995
                                                          ---------------------
<S>                                                       <C>          <C>   
                                                             (000's omitted)
Retained earnings (deficit) beginning of period           $18,851      $(13,231)

                Net income                                 13,363        19,932

                Distributions to shareholders              (8,582)       (2,719)
                                                          -------      --------

Retained earnings end of period                           $23,632      $  3,982
                                                          =======      ========
</TABLE>


See notes to condensed financial statements.


<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>
                             CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.
                       CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (UNAUDITED)

<CAPTION>
                                                                 NINE MONTHS ENDED 
                                                                       JUNE 30,
                                                                   1996       1995
                                                                --------------------
                                                                   (000'S omitted)
<S>                                                             <C>         <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES                                                
- - -------------------------------------------

    Net income                                                  $ 13,363    $ 19,932
    Changes not affecting cash:
            Depreciation and amortization                         14,408      12,043
            Gains on sales of property & equipment                (9,841)     (7,160)
            Equity in earnings of Gulf Oil L.P., net of
                  cash distributions                              (3,033)     (5,659)
            Distribution of earnings by Gulf Oil L.P., in
                  the form of notes receivable                     1,650           0
            Changes in assets & liabilities                        8,334       2,965
                                                                --------    --------
Net cash provided by operating activities                         24,881      22,121
                                                                --------    --------

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
- - -------------------------------------------
            Additions to property and equipment                  (21,709)    (16,056)
            Proceeds from sales of property and equipment         17,422      14,014
                                                                --------    --------
Net cash (used) by investing activities                           (4,287)     (2,042)
                                                                --------    --------

FINANCING ACTIVITIES
- - -------------------------------------------
            Payments of debt                                     (24,429)    (16,067)
            Proceeds from new debt                                 5,000           0
            Distributions to shareholders                         (8,582)     (2,719)
                                                                --------    --------
Net cash (used) by financing activities                          (28,011)    (18,786)
                                                                --------    --------

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH                                   (7,417)      1,293

CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD                                       30,016       9,125
                                                                --------    --------

CASH AT END OF PERIOD                                           $ 22,599    $ 10,419
                                                                ========    ========
 
</TABLE>

See notes to condensed financial statements


<PAGE>   7

                             CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.

                     NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                   (Unaudited)

                                  June 30, 1996

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation
- - ------------------------------

The accompanying unaudited, condensed financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial
information and with the instructions to Form 10Q and Article 10 of Regulation
S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required
by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments, (consisting of normal recurring
accruals), considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

Operating results for the nine month period ended June 30, 1996 are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year
ended September 30, 1996. For further information, refer to the audited
financial statements and footnotes thereto for the year ended September 30,
1995.

Note 2 - Joint Venture Investment
- - ---------------------------------

The Company has a 66 2/3% investment in Gulf Oil L.P. and accounts for its
investment using the equity method. As of June 30, 1996, the Company's
investment in Gulf Oil L.P. amounted to approximately $32.6 million which 
represents the Company's cost plus its equity in the earnings of Gulf Oil L.P.
less distributions received from Gulf Oil L.P. Shown below is unaudited 
condensed financial information relative to the Joint Venture.

<TABLE>
The following summarizes the income statements of the Gulf Oil L.P.:

<CAPTION>
                         Quarter ended            Nine Months ended
                           June 30,                    June 30,
                       1996        1995           1996         1995
                  --------------------------  -------------------------
                                    (000's omitted)
<S>                  <C>        <C>           <C>           <C>
Net Sales            $436,510   $417,424      $1,333,727    $1,342,134
Gross Margin            9,845     12,394          26,795        40,945
Operating Expenses      6,190      6,761          19,607        19,616
Interest Expense          715      1,743           2,638         4,890
Net Income              2,940      3,890           4,550        16,439

Equity in Net
Income of Gulf
Oil L.P.             $  1,962   $  2,594      $    3,033    $   10,959
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   8

Note 3 - Long Term Debt
- - -----------------------

In June of 1996, the Company consummated a $30 million working capital and
letter of credit facility with a new lender. The facility provides a revolving
credit line, term loan and a facility for the issuance of letters of credit. As
of June 30, 1996, the Company had drawn down $5 million of the revolving credit
line and anticipates using $20 million in early July to provide letters of
credit for its insurance program. The loan agreement provides for, among other
things, certain financial covenants, leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios,
to be met on a quarterly basis. See also Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings
relating to an action brought by two of the Company's shareholders against,
among others, the new lender.

Note 4 - Income Taxes
- - ---------------------

The Company's Federal income tax returns have been examined by the Internal
Revenue Service through the year ended September 30, 1991. The Internal Revenue
Service is currently examining the fiscal years ended September 30, 1992 and
1993 and has selected the 1994 return for examination.

The Company, commencing in fiscal year 1996, is providing for estimated State
income taxes.

Note 5 - Contingencies
- - ----------------------

There were no material changes during the quarter ended June 30, 1996, except as
described in Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings included elsewhere herein.


<PAGE>   9


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        OF OPERATIONS
        -------------


The following table summarizes the results of operations for the quarter and
nine months ended June 30, 1996 and 1995 which is followed by Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Operating results for the nine months ended June 30, 1996 are not necessarily
indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year ending
September 30, 1996. The financial information set forth below should be read in
conjunction with the Company's financial statements, related notes and other
financial information included elsewhere herein.


<PAGE>   10


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      QUARTER ENDED                    NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                        JUNE 30,       %INCREASE            JUNE 30,       %INCREASE
                                                    1996         1995  (DECREASE)      1996          1995  (DECREASE)
                                                  --------     -------- --------    ----------     -------- --------
                                                  (in thousands except ratios and gross profit per gallon information)
<S>                                               <C>          <C>       <C>        <C>            <C>       <C>               
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA

REVENUES

Retail revenues                                   $286,373     $270,161    6.0 %    $  801,287     $771,012    3.9 %
Other income                                         5,010        5,364   (6.6)%        15,434       16,145   (4.4)%
                                                  --------     --------  -----      ----------     --------  -----
  Total                                           $291,383     $275,525    5.8 %    $  816,721     $787,157    3.8 %

Equity in earnings of Gulf Oil L.P.                  1,962        2,594  (24.4)%         3,033       10,959  (72.3)%
Gains on sales of property and equipment             3,858        1,586  143.3 %         9,841        7,160   37.4 %
                                                  --------     --------  -----      ----------     --------  -----
  Total                                            297,203      279,705    6.3 %       829,595      805,276    3.0 %

Wholesale revenues                                  71,672       62,988   13.8 %       201,060      176,099   14.2 %
                                                  --------     --------  -----      ----------     --------  -----
Total income                                       368,875      342,693    7.6 %     1,030,655      981,375    5.0 %
                                                  --------     --------  -----      ----------     --------  -----
Costs and expenses
  Cost of sales                                    280,933      262,016    7.2 %       783,520      735,368    6.5 %
  LIFO charge                                          750            0    0.0 %           750            0    0.0 %
  Operating expenses                                67,878       64,159    5.8 %       200,850      194,998    3.0 %
  Depreciation and amortization                      5,234        4,343   20.5 %        14,408       12,043   19.6 %
                                                  --------     --------  -----      ----------     --------  -----
  Total                                            354,795      330,518    7.3 %       999,528      942,409    6.1 %
                                                  --------     --------  -----      ----------     --------  -----

Operating income                                  $ 14,080     $ 12,175   15.6 %    $   31,127     $ 38,966  (20.1)%
                                                  ========     ========  =====      ==========     ========  =====

OTHER OPERATING DATA

Merchandise gross profit                          $ 37,646     $ 38,763   (2.9)%    $  108,889     $107,948    0.9 %
Merchandise gross profit 
  as a percentage of sales                            29.5%        30.1%                  30.1%        29.8%

Gasoline gallons sold                              121,992      116,170    5.0 %       362,531      344,463    5.2 %
Gasoline gross profit                             $ 17,164     $ 12,760   34.5 %    $   46,648     $ 44,663    4.4 %
Gasoline gross profit cents per gallon                14.1         11.0   28.2 %          12.9         13.0   (0.8)%

Operating income before depreciation and 
  amortization as a percentage of total revenues       4.2%         4.4%                   3.5%         4.5%

Operating income as a
  percentage of total revenues                         2.7%         3.1%                   2.1%         3.3%

Comparable average store and station data:        

Merchandise sales growth                               0.3%         4.0%                   0.3%         4.1%
Gasoline gallons sold                                  5.0%         7.4%                   5.2%         8.4%

</TABLE>



<PAGE>   11


THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 VERSUS JUNE 30, 1995

Included in retail revenues are convenience store and retail gasoline sales.
Convenience store sales were $127.2 million for the three months ended June 30,
1996, an increase of $.4 million or .3%, from the prior year. Sales gross margin
dollars increased slightly. Gross margin, as a percentage of sales, decreased
from 30.1% to 29.5%.

Retail gasoline sales were $159.2 million, an increase of $15.8 million, or
11.0% over the prior year. Gasoline gallon sales were 122.0 million, an increase
of 5.8 million gallons, or 5.0% over the prior year. The increase in gallons
sold results primarily from continued attention to the convenience retailing
aspects of selling gasoline through improved dispenser amenities and from
competitive marketing strategies. The average cents per gallon gross margin of
14.1[cent] increased 3.1[cent] or 28.2% from the prior year principally due to
an increase in the retail selling price of gasoline, offset to some extent by an
increase in the cost of gasoline.

Other income is comprised of rental income from tenants located at retail and
gasoline sites and has decreased due to fewer tenants.

The Company owns a 66-2/3% limited partnership interest in Gulf Oil, L.P.
Control of the partnership rests with the general partner. The Company accounts
for its investment under the equity method. The decrease in earnings from $2.6
million in the quarter ended June 30, 1995 to $2.0 million for the 1996 quarter,
resulted primarily from higher margins achieved by Gulf Oil L.P. in the 1995
quarter compared to lower margins in the 1996 quarter.

Gains on sales of property increased $2.3 million over the prior year.
Thirty-one properties were sold during the three months ended June 30, 1996,
compared to fourteen sold in the prior year.

Included in wholesale revenues are plant and wholesale petroleum sales. Plant
revenues were $35.9 million, an increase of $6.0 million or 20.0% over the
prior year, due to price increases and the addition of wholesale milk customers.
Wholesale petroleum revenues were $35.8 million, an increase of $2.7 million, or
8.2% from the prior year. The increase results primarily from higher selling
prices of gasoline.

Cost of sales for the quarter ended June 30, 1996 increased over the prior year
as a result of increases in product costs and volumes sold in the gasoline
operations. A LIFO charge of $750,000 was provided to recognize increasing costs
of raw materials purchased during the period. Operating expenses increased from
the prior year as a result of increases in payroll and benefits, and as a result
of increases in the volumes of gasoline sold. Depreciation and amortization
increased as a result of capital expenditures incurred during the prior year.

Interest expense decreased from the prior year principally due to lower debt.
The Company, commencing in fiscal year 1996, is providing for estimated State
income taxes.


<PAGE>   12

NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 VERSUS JUNE 30, 1995

Included in retail revenues are convenience store and retail gasoline sales.
Convenience store sales were $360.6 million for the nine months ended June 30,
1996, an increase of $1.2 million or .3%, from the prior year. Sales gross
margin dollars increased slightly. Gross margin, as a percentage of sales,
increased from 29.8% to 30.1%.

Retail gasoline sales were $440.7 million, an increase of $29.0 million, or 7.1%
over the prior year. Gasoline gallon sales were 362.5 million, an increase of
18.0 million gallons, or 5.3% over the prior year. The increase in gallons sold
results primarily from continued attention to the convenience retailing aspects
of selling gasoline through improved dispenser amenities and from competitive
marketing strategies. The average cents per gallon gross margin of 12.9[cent]
decreased .1[cent] or .8% from the prior period.

Other income is comprised of rental income from tenants located at retail and
gasoline sites and has decreased due to fewer tenants.

The Company owns a 66-2/3% limited partnership interest in Gulf Oil, L.P.
Control of the partnership rests with the general partner. The Company accounts
for its investment under the equity method. The decrease in earnings from $11.0
million for the nine months ended June 30, 1995 to $3.0 million this year
resulted primarily from unusually high margins achieved by Gulf Oil L.P. in the
first quarter of fiscal year 1995.

Gains on sales of property increased $2.7 million over the prior year.
Sixty-eight properties were sold during the nine months ended June 30, 1996,
compared to fifty-eight sold in the prior year.

Included in wholesale revenues are plant and wholesale petroleum sales. Plant
revenues were $106.0 million, an increase of $25.0 million or 30.8% over the
prior year, due to price increases and the addition of wholesale milk customers.
Wholesale petroleum revenues were $95.1 million, a slight increase over the
prior year.

Cost of sales for the nine months ended June 30, 1996 increased over the prior
year as a result of increases in product costs and volumes sold in the gasoline
operations. A LIFO charge was provided to recognize increasing costs of raw
materials purchased. Operating expenses increased from the prior year as a
result of increases in payroll and benefits, and as a result of increases in the
volumes of gasoline sold. Depreciation and amortization increased as a result of
capital expenditures incurred during the prior year.

Interest expense decreased from the prior year principally due to lower debt as
compared to the prior year. The Company, commencing in fiscal year 1996, is
providing for estimated State income taxes

The Company's operating income for the nine months ended June 30, 1996 was
approximately $31.1 million as compared to approximately $39.0 million for the
nine months ended June 30, 1995. The principal reasons 


<PAGE>   13

for the decline were the decrease in the earnings of Gulf Oil L.P. and increases
in operating expenses and depreciation.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company generates substantial operating cash flow because most of its
revenues are received in cash. Based on current projections, the Company
believes that the amount of cash generated from operations, together with
proceeds from anticipated property sales will be sufficient to meet its current
and long-term obligations and future capital expenditure requirements.

In June of 1996, the Company consummated a $30 million working capital and
letter of credit facility with a new lender. The facility provides a revolving
credit line, term loan and a facility for the issuance of letters of credit. The
facility is secured by primarily the Company's accounts receivable, inventory
and certain of the Company's real property.

Notwithstanding the new facility and satisfactory operating results since
emergence from Bankruptcy, the Company remains highly leveraged and its cash
available to meet debt obligations and capital expenditures, although adequate,
continues to be limited. In addition, because $20 million of the availability
under the facility is committed to issuance of letters of credit, the Company
remains dependent on its asset disposition program to fund cash shortfalls. See
also Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings relating to an action brought by two of
the Company's shareholders against, among others, the new lender. Substantially
all net proceeds from asset sales are utilized to pay secured debt. There can be
no assurance that the Company's business will continue to generate income at or
above current projections. Moreover, the Company's ability to generate
sufficient funds to meet its obligations is dependent upon future economic
conditions, general business and industry performance and other matters, many of
which are beyond the control of the Company and which cannot be predicted at
this time. If the Company is unable to generate sufficient income from
operations and proceeds from property sales to service its debt requirements,
including various required target payments, and make necessary capital
expenditures, the Company may be required to seek additional sources of
financing. There can be no assurance that any additional financing could be
achieved. Moreover, additional financing may not be a viable option or may be
viable only with credit enhancement or overcollateralization.

Among those obligations and capital expenditures that now, or in the future may,
require significant commitments of the Company's available cash are (i) debt
service, including principal repayment, Target Payments under the Company's
restructured indebtedness and debt service under the new working capital
facility, (ii) insurance coverage for worker's compensation and general and
automobile liability claims, (iii) costs associated with environmental
compliance, (iv) payments to meet certain tax obligations of the Company's
shareholders and (v) the Company's potential response to the Put or exercise of
the Call with respect to its partners' partnership interests in Gulf Oil L.P.
Those 


<PAGE>   14

items are discussed below.

DEBT SERVICE

The Company's Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan") became effective on December
30, 1993. The Plan restructured the Company's indebtedness and contemplated
improving the Company's operating performance. Nevertheless, the Company has
significant interest expense and principal repayment obligations under the Plan.
As of December 30, 1993, the Effective Date of the Plan, the Company had total
indebtedness of approximately $371 million which has been reduced to
approximately $321 million as of June 30, 1996. Substantially all of the
indebtedness arising under the Plan is secured. Moreover, substantially all of
the major debt instruments, including the Indentures, contain cross-default
provisions.

The Company consummated a new $30 million working capital and letter of credit
facility in June of 1996. The new facility provides a revolving credit line,
term loan and a facility for the issuance of letters of credit. As of June 30,
1996, the Company had drawn down $5 million of the revolving credit line and
anticipates using $20 million in early July to provide letters of credit for its
insurance program. The issuance of these letters of credit will return
approximately $13.5 million in cash to the Company.

Certain of the Company's credit agreements require the Company to make Target
Payments of the outstanding principal amount due each year from the sales
proceeds of certain designated mortgaged properties. The Company's remaining
Target Payments with its Target Payment Lenders aggregated approximately $7.7
million as of June 30, 1996. Remaining Target Payments for the next four fiscal
years are estimated to be $.9, $2.6, $1.8 and $.8 million, respectively, and
$1.6 million thereafter. Aggregate cash requirements for fiscal 1996 are
estimated to be $79 million, including an estimated approximately $7.9 million
in Target Payments, of which $7.0 million was paid from September 30, 1995 to
June 30, 1996. The funding for such anticipated cash requirements is expected to
be provided from earnings of the Company, cash dividends from Gulf Oil L.P. and
proceeds from asset dispositions.

ASSET DISPOSITION PROGRAM

During the nine month periods ended June 30, 1996 and 1995, the Company raised
$17.4 million and $14.0 million respectively, from its asset disposition
program. Proceeds from asset dispositions for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1996 are estimated to be $20.5 million. Substantially all proceeds from
asset dispositions have been or will be used to pay down secured debt.

To date, the Company has generated adequate cash flow from its asset disposition
program and operations to meet its cash flow needs. The Company expects to
generate approximately $20.5 million from its asset disposition program during
fiscal 1996 by selling between 80 and 90 properties. The properties anticipated
to be sold consist of vacant lots, closed locations, underperforming locations
based on a profit-per-


<PAGE>   15

store analysis, and properties located in market areas where the Company has
decided to reduce or eliminate its presence. The objective of the asset
disposition program has been to increase capital resources and liquidity and
improve operations by retaining the better-performing properties of the Company.
The Company's asset disposition program has contemplated disposal, in most
instances, of non-performing or under-performing properties and accordingly has
not had, nor is the program expected to have an adverse effect on the Company's
historical or future results of operations. Although the Company believes that,
to date, the asset disposition program has been beneficial and has both
accelerated debt repayment and contributed to the improvement in average store
sales per week, the asset disposition program could in the future adversely
affect the Company's results of operations if, in order to meet its cash flow
needs or make required Target Payments, the Company found it necessary to sell
properties it did not wish to and would not otherwise sell.

INSURANCE AND BOND PROGRAMS

The Company's insurance program assumes a high degree of risk assumption as a
result of the high retention under its workers' compensation, general liability
and automobile insurance policies. The insurance company providing these
coverages requires the Company to provide collateral in amounts actuarially
determined to be sufficient to pay claims. The Company's current collateral is
comprised of $15.4 million of cash and letters of credit, along with the
pledging of certain real properties. The Company uses working capital to pay
claims as they are settled which, in turn, reduces the collateral requirements.
If the Company's actual liabilities exceed the actuarially determined amounts,
the Company would be obligated to pay such excess and would likely be required
to post additional collateral. Such payments and increased collateral
requirements could have an adverse affect on the cash flow and profitability of
the Company.

The Company is required to post bonds with various regulatory agencies for the
purchase of raw milk, to secure tax payments for motor fuel and cigarette taxes,
and various planning board requirements. The bonding company issuing such bonds
requires the Company to provide an $8 million Letter of Credit as collateral to
secure a $16 million bonding line.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

The Company incurs ongoing costs to comply with federal, state and local
environmental laws and regulations, particularly the comprehensive regulatory
programs governing underground storage tank systems ("USTs") used in its
operations. In addition, the Company had operating expenses for assessment and
remediation activities in connection with releases into the environment of
gasoline or other regulated substances from USTs at the Company's current or
former gasoline facilities, including various of the properties securing the
Notes, a portion of which expenses were reimbursed from state trust fund
programs. Due to the nature of releases, the actual costs incurred may vary from
the Company's estimates, and the ongoing costs of assessment and remediation
activities may vary from year to year.


<PAGE>   16

In addition to annual "expense" type environmental costs, federal and state
regulatory programs mandate that all existing USTs be upgraded or replaced by
December 22, 1998 to meet certain environmental protection requirements.
Approximately 79% of the Company's USTs meet the December 22, 1998 environmental
protection requirements, and approximately 220 more USTs require upgrading or
replacement by December 22, 1998. The Company estimates that it will make
aggregate capital expenditures of approximately $41.5 million through fiscal
year 1999 to comply with upgrading and other UST regulatory requirements and to
enhance its gasoline business. The actual costs incurred may vary substantially
from these estimates.

The Company also incurs certain ongoing environmental costs associated with the
operations of its plants. Among other things, the large quantities of ammonia
used by the fluid milk plants and the wastewater treatment facilities and waste
oil burners located at the plants are subject to federal, state and local
regulations. In addition, the Company may also, from time to time, incur
liability as a result of contamination associated with the operation of the
plants.

TAX DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The Company has negotiated a full settlement with the Internal Revenue Service
for the audit of fiscal years ended September 30, 1988 to 1991. In the quarter
ended June 30, 1996 the Company made distributions of approximately $2.1 million
to the shareholders for payment of their estimated income taxes for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 1996, bringing the total tax distributions for the
year to $8.6 million.

GULF OIL L.P.

In connection with the Plan, a substantial portion of the Company's wholesale
petroleum and gasoline operations was transferred to Gulf Oil L.P. in exchange
for a 66-2/3% Class A limited partnership interest in Gulf Oil L.P.

The Company's equity in the earnings of Gulf Oil L.P. was approximately $3.0
million and $11.0 million for the nine months ended June 30, 1996 and 1995
respectively. The Gulf Oil L.P.'s earnings are dependent upon volumes and
margins from wholesale sales of petroleum products, which may fluctuate
depending upon economic conditions and other factors that may exist in the
future. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company's equity in Gulf
Oil L.P. will generate earnings consistent with prior year's levels. 

Although the Partnership Agreement of Gulf Oil L.P. provides for certain
distributions to partners, such distributions are subject to restrictive
covenants in Gulf Oil L.P.'s agreements with its lenders, which permit
distributions only for tax payments and only if no defaults exist. As a result,
the Company currently receives distributions of only approximately 40% of the
cash attributable to its pro rata share of partnership earnings. During the
nine months ended June 30, 1996, the Company received subordinated promissory
notes from Gulf Oil L.P. in the amount of $1,650,000 bearing interest at a rate
of prime plus 2% payable upon demand. Interest is paid to the Company monthly.


<PAGE>   17

Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, the Company has certain calendar year
minimum purchase and brand maintenance cost requirements. The Company has and
expects to exceed its minimum purchase requirements. Brand maintenance costs,
which are based upon quantities purchased from and earnings of the Gulf Oil,
L.P. Joint Venture, have resulted in additional brand maintenance costs payable
to the Joint Venture. The ultimate amount of brand maintenance cost will be
determined based upon the calendar year 1996. The Partnership Agreement of Gulf
Oil L.P. also provides that at any time on or after January 1, 1999, the General
Partner and related interests have the right, but not the obligation, to Put
their partnership interests to the Company and the Company has the right, but
not the obligation, to Call such interests at a formula price based upon a
multiple of an average of the prior three years' earnings of Gulf Oil L.P. at
the time of the exercise of the Put or Call. Because the price is based on a
fixed multiple, the Company cannot determine at this time whether it will
exercise the Call or elect to purchase upon exercise of the Put. Among other
things, any such exercise would require the Company to secure funds not only to
purchase the interests of the other partners but also to obtain a working
capital facility sufficient to fund operations. If the Company is unable or
determines it is not in its best interests to consummate the Put or to exercise
the Call, the Partnership Agreement provides that Gulf Oil L.P. will be sold by
an investment banker as a going concern.


<PAGE>   18




               PART II

ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
           -----------------

     In civil actions that the Company has brought against Demetrios B.
Haseotes, a shareholder and Director of the Company, the Company has obtained
(a) an injunction barring Mr. Haseotes' involvement in the Company's management,
and (b) Judgment in the amount of $663,267, plus interest, which sum reflects
funds distributed to Mr. Haseotes to pay certain tax liabilities which he
diverted to other uses. The Company also has pending an action against Mr.
Haseotes seeking an accounting and possible disgorgement of funds received by
him in connection with the sale of a crude oil refinery in Canada. Mr. Haseotes
has filed an action seeking reinstatement of his compensation which the Board of
Directors suspended when Mr. Haseotes refused to comply with its request for a
complete accounting of the funds described above. The Company has since learned
that there was cause to treat Mr. Haseotes' employment as terminated on or about
November, 1994, when Mr. Haseotes violated the terms of an agreement with the
Company relating to his affiliates, and has counterclaimed for damages in his
action. The Company had also commenced a proceeding in Bankruptcy Court to
expand the scope of the existing injunction, seeking to prevent Mr. Haseotes
from further interfering in the day-to-day operations of the Company by
intervening between the Company and third parties, but on the successful
completion of a transaction with which Mr. Haseotes had attempted to interfere,
the Company voluntarily stipulated to dismiss this action. Finally, Mr. Haseotes
has brought two actions in the Delaware Chancery Court, the first in his
capacity as Director of the Company, for indemnification and advancement of fees
incurred in defending the various proceedings in which he is or was involved (in
which the Delaware Court has considered Mr. Haseotes' requests and granted them
in part and denied them in part), and the second, together with another
shareholder, alleging breach of fiduciary duty against the Company and certain
Directors, aided and abetted by the new lender (see Other Information, below),
in connection with the Company's completion of a working capital and letter of
credit facility. The Company is required to indemnify the Directors and the new
lender for any and all expenses, costs or other liabilities incurred in
connection with this matter under its by-laws. The Directors have requested that
the Company set aside funds to be available for the payment of such
indemnification obligations. In the opinion of management, the ultimate
resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse affect on the
Company's financial statements.

ITEM 5.    OTHER INFORMATION
           -----------------

     In June, 1996, the Company consummated a new working capital and letter of
credit facility. The facility contemplates a revolving credit line, term loan
and issuance of letters of credit. Borrowing availability is based upon certain
percentages of eligible inventory, eligible accounts receivable and the value of
certain real estate. The facility is secured by all of the Company's inventory,
accounts receivable and certain real estate. Two of the Company's shareholders
have filed an action in Delaware Chancery Court seeking, among other things,
unspecified damages and, particularly, recision of certain provisions of the
terms of the Credit Agreement. See Item 1 "Legal Proceedings".


<PAGE>   19


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 14th day of August, 1996.


                                CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.

Date:  August 14, 1996          By: /s/ Arthur G. Koumantzelis
                                    ------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Arthur G. Koumantzelis
                                    Title: Sr. Vice President and
                                           Chief Financial Officer

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  Exhibit 10.(a)

================================================================================


                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT


                                     BETWEEN


                             CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.

                                   AS BORROWER


                                       AND


                    TRANSAMERICA BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION

                                    AS LENDER




                            DATED AS OF JUNE 14, 1996


================================================================================
<PAGE>   2

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----
                                  ARTICLE I.

                                 DEFINITIONS
                                                                     
SECTION 1.1.   General Definitions...................................  1
SECTION 1.2.   Accounting Terms and Determinations................... 21
SECTION 1.3.   Other Terms; Headings................................. 21
                                                                     
                                 ARTICLE II.
                                                                     
                            THE CREDIT FACILITIES
                                                                     
SECTION 2.1.   The Revolving Credit Loans............................ 21
SECTION 2.2.   The Real Estate Term Loans............................ 23
SECTION 2.3.   Procedure for Borrowing; Notices of Borrowing;        
               Notices of Continuation; Notices of Conversion........ 23
SECTION 2.4.   Application of Proceeds............................... 26
SECTION 2.5.   Maximum Amount of the Facility; Mandatory             
               Prepayments; Additional Collateral; Optional          
               Prepayments........................................... 26
SECTION 2.6.   Maintenance of Loan Account; Statements of            
               Account............................................... 28
SECTION 2.7.   Collection of Receivables............................. 28
SECTION 2.8.   Term.................................................. 29
SECTION 2.9.   Payments; Collection.................................. 29
SECTION 2.10.  Letters of Credit..................................... 30
                                                                     
                                 ARTICLE III.
                                                                     
                                   SECURITY
                                                                     
SECTION 3.1.   General............................................... 31
SECTION 3.2.   Termination........................................... 31
SECTION 3.3.   Recourse to Security.................................. 32
SECTION 3.4.   Special Provisions Relating to Inventory.............. 32
SECTION 3.5.   Special Provisions Relating to Receivables............ 34
SECTION 3.6.   Continuation of Liens, Etc............................ 35
SECTION 3.7.   Power of Attorney..................................... 35
                                                                     
                                 ARTICLE IV.
                                                                     
                         INTEREST, FEES AND EXPENSES
                                                                     
SECTION 4.1.   Interest.............................................. 36
SECTION 4.2.   Interest and Fees After Event of Default.............. 36
SECTION 4.3.   Closing Fee........................................... 36
SECTION 4.4.   Minimum Charge........................................ 36
SECTION 4.5.   Unused Line Fee; Collateral Management Fee; Letter    
               of Credit Fees........................................ 37
SECTION 4.6.   Early Termination Fee................................. 37
SECTION 4.7.   Calculations.......................................... 38
                                                                     
               
<PAGE>   3
                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----

SECTION 4.8.   Indemnification in Certain Events..................... 38
                                                                     
                                  ARTICLE V.                         
                                                                     
                            CONDITIONS OF LENDING                    
                                                                     
SECTION 5.1.   Conditions to Initial Borrowing or Initial Letter     
               of Credit............................................. 39
SECTION 5.2.   Conditions Precedent to Each Loan and Each Letter     
               of Credit............................................. 44
                                                                     
                                 ARTICLE VI.                         
                                                                     
                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES               
                                                                     
SECTION 6.1.   Representations and Warranties of the Borrower........ 45
                                                                     
                                 ARTICLE VII.                        
                                                                     
                          COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER                  
                                                                     
SECTION 7.1.   Affirmative Covenants................................. 53
SECTION 7.2.   Negative Covenants.................................... 66
                                                                     
                                ARTICLE VIII.                        
                                                                     
                             FINANCIAL COVENANTS                     
                                                                     
                                                                     
SECTION 8.1.   Leverage.............................................. 72
SECTION 8.2.   Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio........................... 73
SECTION 8.3.   Capital Expenditures.................................. 73
SECTION 8.4.   Business Plan......................................... 73
                                                                     
                                 ARTICLE IX.                         
                                                                     
                              EVENTS OF DEFAULT                      
                                                                     
SECTION 9.1.   Events of Default..................................... 74
SECTION 9.2.   Acceleration and Cash Collateralization............... 76
SECTION 9.3.   Remedies.............................................. 77
SECTION 9.4.   Right of Setoff....................................... 79
SECTION 9.5.   License for Use of Software and Other Intellectual    
               Property.............................................. 79
SECTION 9.6.   No Marshalling; Deficiencies; Remedies Cumulative..... 79
SECTION 9.7.   Waivers............................................... 80
SECTION 9.8.   Further Rights of the Lender.......................... 80
                                                                     
                                                                     
                                     -ii-

<PAGE>   4
                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----

                                  ARTICLE X.

                        ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS

SECTION 10.1.  Assignments........................................... 81
SECTION 10.2.  Participations........................................ 81
SECTION 10.3.  Disclosure............................................ 81
SECTION 10.4.  Security Interest to Federal Reserve Bank............. 82
                                                                     
                                 ARTICLE XI.                         
                                                                     
                              GENERAL PROVISIONS                     
                                                                     
SECTION 11.1.  GOVERNING LAW......................................... 82
SECTION 11.2.  SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION............................ 82
SECTION 11.3.  SERVICE OF PROCESS.................................... 82
SECTION 11.4.  JURY TRIAL............................................ 83
SECTION 11.5.  LIMITATION OF LIABILITY............................... 83
SECTION 11.6.  Delays; Partial Exercise of Remedies.................. 83
SECTION 11.7.  Notices............................................... 83
SECTION 11.8.  Indemnification; Reimbursement of Expenses of         
               Collection............................................ 83
SECTION 11.9.  Amendments and Waivers................................ 85
SECTION 11.10. Counterparts; Telecopied Signatures................... 86
SECTION 11.11. Severability.......................................... 86
SECTION 11.12. Maximum Rate.......................................... 86
SECTION 11.13. Entire Agreement; Successors and Assigns.............. 87
                                                                     
               
                                    -iii-

<PAGE>   5

Schedules
- - ---------

Schedule 1               -    Initial Mortgaged Properties
Schedule 2               -    Approved Facilities
Schedule 3               -    Real Estate Index
Schedule 3.4(b)          -    List of Inventory Locations
Schedule 4               -    Material Affiliate Exclusions
Schedule 5               -    Non-Family Directors
Schedule 5.1(a)(xxi)     -    Collateral Access Agreements
Schedule 5.1(a)(xxii)    -    Phase I Assessment Properties
Schedule 5.1(a)(xxiii)   -    Appraisal Properties
Schedule 6.1(a)          -    List of Jurisdictions Where Borrower is
                              Qualified to do Business
Schedule 6.1(b)          -    List of Jurisdictions Where Collateral
                              is Located
Schedule 6.1(f)          -    Consents or Authorizations
Schedule 6.1(g)          -    Ownership of Capital Stock
Schedule 6.1(i)          -    Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 6.1(k)          -    Joint Ventures or Partnerships
Schedule 6.1(l)          -    Corporate and Trade Names
Schedule 6.1(q)          -    Open Tax Returns
Schedule 6.1(r)          -    Pending Litigation, Etc.
Schedule 6.1(u)          -    Investments
Schedule 6.1(x)          -    ERISA Plans
Schedule 6.1(y)          -    Patents, Trademarks, Etc.
Schedule 6.1(z)          -    Labor Matters
Schedule 6.1(aa)         -    Environmental Actions
Schedule 6.1(dd)         -    Material Contracts
Schedule 6.1(gg)         -    Affiliate Transactions
Schedule 7.1(p)          -    Upgrade Timetable for Underground
                              Storage Tanks
Schedule 7.2(a)          -    Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 7.2(g)          -    Loans to Other Parties
Schedule 7.2(h)          -    Existing Liens
Schedule 7.2(q)          -    Sales Practices
                         
Exhibits                 
- - --------
                         
Exhibit A                -    Revolving Credit Note
Exhibit B                -    Real Estate Term Note
Exhibit C                -    Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit D                -    Collateral Access Agreement
Exhibit E                -    Assignment of Leases
Exhibit F                -    Environmental Guaranty and Indemnity
                              Agreement
Exhibit G                -    Concentration Account Agreement
Exhibit H                -    Mortgage
Exhibit I                -    Compliance Certificate
Exhibit J                -    Environmental Reserve Pledge Agreement
Exhibit K                -    Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit L                -    Notice of Continuation
Exhibit M                -    Notice of Conversion
Exhibit N                -    Support Letter
                         
                                       -iv-
                         
<PAGE>   6


                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT


     THIS LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT is entered into as of June 14, 1996,
between CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC., a Delaware corporation having its chief
executive office and principal place of business at 777 Dedham Street, Canton,
Massachusetts 02021 (the "Borrower"), and TRANSAMERICA BUSINESS CREDIT
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation having its principal office at 9399 West
Higgins Road, Suite 600, Rosemont, Illinois 60018 and having an office at 555
Theodore Fremd Avenue, Rye, New York 10580 (the "Lender").


                              W I T N E S S E T H :
                              - - - - - - - - - - 

     WHEREAS, the Borrower wishes to obtain a revolving credit facility for
general working capital purposes; and

     WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the
Lender is willing to make loans and other extensions of credit to the Borrower
in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000,000;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the Borrower and the Lender hereby agree as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I.

                                   DEFINITIONS
                                   -----------

     SECTION 1.1. GENERAL DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following terms shall
have the meanings herein specified (to be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

     "ADJUSTED EARNINGS" means, for any period, (i) net income (as that term is
determined in accordance with GAAP but adjusted for any change in the Borrower's
last-in-first-out reserve) after tax distributions but excluding tax liabilities
attributable to fiscal years prior to such period that relate solely to the
audit of the Borrower by the Internal Revenue Service pending on the date
hereof, PLUS (ii) the amount of depreciation and amortization of fixed and
intangible assets deducted in determining such Adjusted Earnings as computed in
accordance with GAAP, PLUS (iii) all interest and fees for the use of money or
the availability of money, including commitment, facility and like fees and
charges upon Indebtedness (including Indebtedness to the Lender) payable by the
Borrower during such period whether or not such interest or fees are actually
paid, PLUS (iv) cash distributions actually received from Gulf Oil or


<PAGE>   7

any other joint venture or partnership in which the Borrower has an interest (as
permitted by the terms of this Agreement), LESS (v) the amount of all gains
realized by the Borrower during such period upon the sale or other disposition
of property or assets that are sold or otherwise disposed of outside the
ordinary course of business, LESS (vi) amounts representing the equity of the
Borrower in the undistributed earnings of Gulf Oil or any other joint venture or
partnership in which the Borrower has an interest (as permitted by the terms of
this Agreement).

     "ADVANCE" means a Base Rate Advance or a LIBOR Rate Advance.

     "AFFILIATE" means as to any Person, any other Person who directly or
indirectly controls, is under common control with, is controlled by or is a
director or officer of such Person. As used in this definition, "control"
(including its correlative meanings, "controlled by" and "under common control
with") means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of voting
securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or
otherwise), provided that, in any event, any Person who owns directly or
indirectly twenty percent (20%) or more of the securities having ordinary voting
power for the election of the members of the board of directors or other
governing body of a corporation or twenty percent (20%) or more of the
partnership or other ownership interests of any other Person (other than as a
limited partner of such other Person) will be deemed to control such
corporation, partnership or other Person.

     "AGREEMENT" means this Loan and Security Agreement, as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     "APPROVED FACILITIES" means the facilities specified on Schedule 2, as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and any other
facility for which the Lender has received a Collateral Access Agreement within
a jurisdiction in which the Lender has taken all acts specified in Section
9.8(a) with respect to all Collateral in such jurisdiction.

     "ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES" means, collectively, each Assignment of Leases and
Rents between the Borrower, as assignor, and the Lender, as assignee,
substantially in the form of Exhibit E, as amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.

     "AUDITORS" means a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants selected by the Borrower and reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

     "BANKRUPTCY CODE" means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled
"Bankruptcy," as that title may be amended from time to time, or any successor
statute.

                                       -2-

<PAGE>   8


     "BANKRUPTCY COURT" means the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
District of Massachusetts, Western Division.

     "BASE RATE" means the higher of (a) the highest prime, base or equivalent
rate of interest announced from time to time by Citibank, N.A., First National
Bank of Chicago and Bank of America of Illinois (which may not be the lowest
rate of interest charged by such bank) and (b) the published annualized rate for
90-day dealer commercial paper which appears in the "Money Rates" section of THE
WALL STREET JOURNAL.

     "BASE RATE ADVANCE" means an Advance that bears interest as provided in
Section 4.1(a) hereof.

     "BENEFIT PLAN" means a "defined benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(35)
of ERISA for which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has been an "employer" as
defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA within the past six years.

     "BORROWING" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Advances of the
same Type pursuant to Section 2.3(a).

     "BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE" has the meaning specified in Section
7.1(k)(v).

     "BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, VJ Day or any
other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Chicago, Illinois
are required or permitted by law to close. When used in connection with any
LIBOR Rate Advance, a Business Day shall also exclude any day on which
commercial banks are not to open for dealings in Dollar deposits in the London
interbank market.

     "BUSINESS PLAN" means a business plan, consisting of projected balance
sheets and related cash flow statements and income statements and availability
forecasts, together with appropriate supporting details and a statement of the
underlying assumptions which covers the three-year period commencing October 1,
1995 and which is prepared on a monthly basis for the first year and an annual
basis thereafter.

     "CAPITAL EXPENDITURES" means expenditures for any fixed assets or
improvements, replacements, substitutions or additions thereto which have a
useful life of more than one year, including the direct or indirect acquisition
of such assets by way of increased product service charges, offset items or
otherwise and shall include all payments in respect of Capitalized Lease
Obligations and leasehold improvements, but shall not include (a) interest,
whether or not capitalized, (b) amortization or depreciation with respect to any
Capital Expenditure, (c) any Capital Expenditure made, directly or indirectly,
out of (i) insurance proceeds or with respect to an insured loss, including,
without limitation, self-insurance, without regard to

                                       -3-

<PAGE>   9

timing of payments, deductibles or coverage limitations or (ii) proceeds of any
eminent domain or other governmental taking, or conveyance in lieu thereof and
(d) any acquisition of a going business, whether through merger, consolidation
or acquisition and whether of a Person or a division or other operating unit of
a Person, so long any such acquisition is permitted pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement.

     "CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS" means any rental obligation which, under
GAAP, is or will be required to be capitalized on the books of the lessee, taken
at the amount thereof accounted for as indebtedness (net of interest expense) in
accordance with GAAP.

     "CASH EQUIVALENTS" means (i) securities issued, guaranteed or insured by
the United States or any of its agencies with maturities of not more than one
year from the date acquired; (ii) certificates of deposit with maturities of not
more than one year from the date acquired, issued by a U.S. federal or state
chartered commercial bank of recognized standing, which has capital and
unimpaired surplus in excess of $200,000,000 and which bank or its holding
company has a short-term commercial paper rating of at least A-1 or the
equivalent by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or at least P-1 or the equivalent
by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.; (iii) repurchase agreements and reverse
repurchase agreements with terms of not more than seven days from the date
acquired, for securities of the type described in clause (i) above and entered
into only with commercial banks having the qualifications described in clause
(ii) above or such other financial institutions with a short-term commercial
paper rating of at least A-1 or the equivalent by Standard & Poor's Ratings
Group or at least P-1 or the equivalent by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.; (iv)
commercial paper, other than commercial paper issued by the Borrower or any of
its Affiliates, issued by any Person incorporated under the laws of the United
States or any state thereof and rated at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof by
Moody's Investors Service, Inc., in each case with maturities of not more than
one year from the date acquired; (v) investments in money market funds
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which have net assets of at
least $200,000,000 and at least eighty-five percent (85%) of whose assets
consist of securities and other obligations of the type described in clauses (i)
through (iv) above; and (vi) other instruments, commercial paper or investments
acceptable to the Lender in its sole discretion.

     "CLASS 12 HOLDERS" means the holders of the certificates of indebtedness
issued by the Borrower under the Indenture.

     "CLOSING DATE" means the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement.


                                       -4-

<PAGE>   10

     "CODE" has the meaning specified in Section 1.3.

     "COLLATERAL" means Receivables, Inventory, Mortgaged Property and the other
collateral specified in this Agreement and the collateral specified in the
Security Documents.

     "COLLATERAL ACCESS AGREEMENTS" means any landlord waiver, mortgagee waiver,
bailee letter or similar acknowledgment of any warehouseman or processor in
possession of Inventory, in each case substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

     "COLLECTIONS" means all cash, funds, checks, notes, instruments and any
other form of remittance tendered by account debtors in respect of payment of
Receivables.

     "COMMITMENT PERIOD" means the period from the Effective Date to but not
including the Expiration Date.

     "COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1(k)(i).

     "CONCENTRATION ACCOUNT" has the meaning specified in Section 2.7.

     "CONCENTRATION ACCOUNT AGREEMENT" has the meaning specified in Section 2.7.

     "CONCENTRATION ACCOUNT BANK" means Fleet Bank, N.A., a national banking
association, or any successor or any other bank acceptable to the Lender to act
as such.

     "CONTINGENT OBLIGATION" means any direct, indirect, contingent or
non-contingent guaranty or obligation for the Indebtedness of another Person,
except endorsements in the ordinary course of business.

     "CONTINUATION" has the meaning specified in Section 2.3(b).

     "CONVERT," "CONVERSION" AND "CONVERTED" each refers to conversion of
Advances of one Type into Advances of another Type pursuant to Section 2.3(d).

     "CURRENT ASSET BORROWING BASE" means the collective reference to the
Receivables Borrowing Base, the Wholesale Inventory Borrowing Base and the
Retail Inventory Borrowing Base.

     "DEFAULT" means any of the events specified in Section 9.1, whether or not
any of the requirements for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or
any other condition, has been satisfied.

     "DISCLOSURE STATEMENT" means the Borrower's Second Amended and Restated
Disclosure Statement With Respect To The

                                       -5-

<PAGE>   11

Debtor's Third Amended and Restated Plan of Reorganization dated July 1, 1993.

     "DOLLARS" and the sign "$" means freely transferable lawful currency of the
United States.

     "EFFECTIVE DATE" means the date on which all of the conditions specified in
Section 5.1 shall have been satisfied.

     "ELIGIBLE INVENTORY" means only such wholesale and manufacturing inventory
located at Approved Facilities (other than (i) baked goods, ice cream and milk
and (ii) supplies, ingredients and other raw materials (with the exception of
resin) used to produce wholesale and manufacturing inventory) and such retail
inventory located at a retail convenience store or gas station owned and
operated by the Borrower (other than tobacco goods, beer and wine) which is free
from any claim of title or Lien in favor of any Person (other than the Lender)
and with respect to which no event has occurred and no condition exists which
would substantially impair the Borrower's ability to use or sell such Inventory
in the ordinary course of its business and which the Lender, in its discretion,
shall deem eligible to serve as collateral for Loans, based on such
considerations as the Lender may deem appropriate from time to time and less any
such reserves as the Lender, in its discretion, may require. The value of
Eligible Inventory shall be computed at the lower of cost (computed on a "first
in, first out" basis) or market. Any Inventory of the Borrower that is not in
the control or possession of the Borrower and is covered by a warehouse receipt,
a bill of lading or other document of title shall in no event be Eligible
Inventory unless such warehouse receipt, bill of lading or document of title is
in the name of or held by the Lender. The Lender may treat any Inventory as
ineligible if (a) (i) it is not located on property owned by the Borrower; or
(ii) it is not (A) located on property leased by the Borrower or in a contract
warehouse or (B) in the possession of a consignee of the Borrower, in each case
subject to a Collateral Access Agreement executed by the lessor, contract
warehouseman or consignee, as the case may be, and it is not segregated or
otherwise separately identifiable from goods of others stored on the premises;
or (b) it is not subject to a valid and perfected first priority (subject to
Permitted Liens) Lien of the Lender.

     "ELIGIBLE RECEIVABLES" means and includes only those unpaid Receivables,
without duplication, which (i) arise out of a bona fide sale of goods of the
kind ordinarily sold by the Borrower in the ordinary course of its business and
are evidenced by an invoice, (ii) are made to a Person competent to contract
therefor who is not an Affiliate of the Borrower and is not controlled by an
Affiliate of the Borrower, (iii) are not in dispute, (iv) are not subject to
renegotiation or redating, (v) are free and clear of any Lien in favor of any
Person other than the Lender, (vi) mature as stated in the invoice or other
supporting data covering such sale, and (vii) are not subject to

                                       -6-

<PAGE>   12

any deduction, offset, counterclaim, claim of payment or similar condition of
which the Borrower or the Lender is aware. No Receivable of the Borrower shall
be an Eligible Receivable if, in the case of Wholesale Receivables, it is more
than ninety days past the date of the original invoice or, in the case of
Petroleum Receivables, it is more than thirty days past the date of the original
invoice. The Lender may treat any Receivable as ineligible if:

          (a) any warranty contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan
     Document with respect to such Receivable or in any assignment or statement
     of warranties or representations relating to such Receivable delivered by
     the Borrower to the Lender has been breached or is untrue in any material
     respect; or

          (b) the account debtor or any Affiliate of the account debtor has
     disputed liability, or made any claim with respect to any other Receivable
     due from such account debtor or Affiliate to the Borrower; or

          (c) the account debtor or any of its assets or any Affiliate of the
     account debtor is the subject of an Insolvency Event or, in the discretion
     of the Lender, likely to become the subject of an Insolvency Event, unless
     the payment of such Receivable is supported by a letter of credit or
     bankers acceptance issued by a financial institution acceptable to the
     Lender, but only to the extent of the available amount of such letter of
     credit or bankers acceptance; or

          (d) the account debtor or any Affiliate of the account debtor has
     called a meeting of its creditors to obtain any general financial
     accommodation, unless the payment of such Receivable is supported by a
     letter of credit or bankers acceptance issued by a financial institution
     acceptable to the Lender, but only to the extent of the available amount of
     such letter of credit or bankers acceptance; or

          (e) the account debtor is also a supplier to or creditor of the
     Borrower, but only to the extent of the obligation owed by the Borrower to
     such supplier or creditor; or

          (f) the sale is to an account debtor outside the United States, unless
     the sale is on letter of credit, acceptance or other terms acceptable to
     the Lender; or

          (g) fifty percent (50%) or more of the accounts of the account debtor
     and its Affiliates to the Borrower (other than rent under leases in bona
     fide dispute) are unpaid more than (x) ninety days past the date of the
     applicable invoice in the case of Wholesale

                                       -7-

<PAGE>   13

     Receivables and (y) thirty days past the date of the applicable invoice in
     the case of Petroleum Receivables, unless, in each case, payment of such
     Receivable is supported by a letter of credit or bankers acceptance issued
     by a financial institution acceptable to the Lender, but only to the extent
     of the available amount of such letter of credit or bankers acceptance; or

          (h) the account debtor is the United States of America or any
     department, agency or instrumentality thereof, and, such Receivable, when
     added to all other similar Receivables of the Borrower, exceeds $500,000,
     unless the Borrower assigns its right to payment of such Receivable to the
     Lender as collateral hereunder in full compliance with (including, without
     limitation, the filing of a written notice of the assignment and a copy of
     the assignment with, and receipt of acknowledgment thereof by, the
     appropriate contracting and disbursing offices pursuant to) the Assignment
     of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C.[Section] 203); or

          (i) the Lender believes, in its discretion, that collection of such
     Receivable is insecure or that such Receivable may not be paid by reason of
     the account debtor's inability or unwillingness to pay.

     "ENVIRONMENTAL GUARANTY AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT" means the Environmental
Guaranty and Indemnity Agreement made by the Borrower in favor of the Lender
substantially in the form of Exhibit F, as amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.

     "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means all federal, state and local statutes, laws
(including common or case law), rulings, regulations or governmental,
administrative or judicial policies, directives, orders or interpretations
applicable to the business or property of the Borrower relating to pollution or
protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation,
ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata)
including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions,
discharges, releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Materials, or otherwise
relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling of any Hazardous Materials.

     "ENVIRONMENTAL RESERVE PLEDGE AGREEMENT" means the Environmental Reserve
Pledge Agreement among the Borrower, the Concentration Account Bank and the
Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit K, as amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.


                                       -8-

<PAGE>   14

     "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29
U.S.C.[Section][Section] 1000 et seq., amendments thereto, successor statutes,
and regulations or guidelines promulgated thereunder.

     "ERISA AFFILIATE" means any entity required to be aggregated with the
Borrower under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code.

     "EVENT OF DEFAULT" means the occurrence of any of the events specified in
Section 9.1.

     "EXCESS AVAILABILITY" means, as of the date of determination thereof, the
aggregate amount of Loans the Borrower would be permitted to have outstanding,
based on the formulas and the other provisions set forth in this Agreement,
which exceeds the aggregate amount of Loans then outstanding.

     "EXCESS CASH FLOW" means, with respect to the Borrower for any applicable
fiscal period, Adjusted Earnings for such period, LESS (i) all Net Capital
Expenditures paid or payable in cash during such period, LESS (ii) principal
payments on all Indebtedness paid or payable during such period other than
principal payments made by the Borrower during its fiscal year ending September
30, 1996 on Indebtedness paid or payable under the Indenture or the IBJTC Loan
Facility or to Chevron U.S.A., Inc., LESS (iii) all interest and fees for the
use of money or the availability of money, including commitment, facility and
like fees and charges upon Indebtedness (including Indebtedness to the Lender)
payable by the Borrower during such period whether or not such interest or fees
are actually paid.

     "EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS" means the Indebtedness of the Borrower existing on
the date of the initial Loan hereunder as specified in Schedule 7.2(a).

     "EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT" means all letters of credit issued for the
account of Conven-Petro Insurance Company that are outstanding prior to the
Effective Date, which Existing Letters of Credit are set forth on Schedule
6.1(i).

     "EXPIRATION DATE" means the earlier of (a) December 30, 1998, unless this
Agreement is extended in accordance with Section 2.8, in which case it shall
mean the first anniversary of the date on which this Agreement would otherwise
terminate and (b) the date of termination of the Lender's obligations to make
Loans pursuant to the terms hereof.

     "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means the most recent fair market value of a Mortgaged
Property or a Qualified Property as determined by the Lender's appraiser and, in
the case of a Mortgaged Property, as such value may be adjusted in accordance
with the terms of Section 2.1(e).


                                       -9-

<PAGE>   15

     "FINANCIAL COVENANTS" means those covenants set forth in Article VIII.

     "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" means the balance sheets, income statements,
statements of cash flow, and statements of changes in shareholder's equity of
the Borrower for the period specified, prepared in accordance with GAAP and
consistent with prior practices.

     "FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO" means (without duplication), with respect to
the Borrower, as of the date of determination thereof, the ratio of (X) (i)
Adjusted Earnings of the Borrower for such period, LESS (ii) all Net Capital
Expenditures paid or payable by the Borrower during such period, to (Y) (i)
principal amounts of all Indebtedness (other than payments of principal on the
Revolving Credit Loans and, for each of the first five periods specified in
Section 8.2, $3,000,000 of repayments of other Indebtedness) paid or payable by
such Person in such period, whether or not such payments are actually made, PLUS
(ii) all interest and fees for the use of money or the availability of money,
including commitment, facility and like fees and charges upon Indebtedness
(including Indebtedness to the Lender) payable by the Borrower during such
period whether or not such interest or fees are actually paid, PLUS (iii) all
loans and Investments by the Borrower to any Person made during such period.

     "FNBB" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1(v).

     "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board that are applicable to the
circumstances as of the date of determination. Whenever any accounting term is
used herein which is not otherwise defined, it shall be interpreted in
accordance with GAAP.

     "GOVERNING DOCUMENTS" means the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of
the Borrower.

     "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means any nation or government, any state or other
political subdivision thereof or any entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions thereof or pertaining thereto.

     "GULF OIL" means Gulf Oil L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

     "GULF OIL DEMAND LOANS" has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(g)(iv).


                                      -10-

<PAGE>   16


     "GULF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT" means the Second Amended and Restated Limited
Partnership Agreement of Catamount Petroleum Limited Partnership (now known as
Gulf Oil Limited Partnership), dated as of December 29, 1993, as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS" means any and all pollutants and contaminants and any
and all toxic, caustic, radioactive or hazardous materials, substances or wastes
that are regulated under any Environmental Laws.

     "IBJTC LOAN FACILITY" means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement,
dated as of December 29, 1993, between The Industrial Bank of Japan Trust
Company and the Borrower, and all other agreements, documents and instruments
executed and delivered by the Borrower in connection therewith, each as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     "INDEBTEDNESS" means, with respect to any Person, as of the date of
determination thereof (without duplication), (i) all obligations of such Person
to borrow money or for borrowed money of any kind or nature, including funded
and unfunded debt, and hedging or swap agreements or arrangements therefor and
regardless of whether the same is evidenced by any note, debenture, bond or
other instrument, (ii) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred
purchase price of property or services (other than current trade accounts
payable under normal trade terms and which arise in the ordinary course of
business), (iii) all obligations of such Person to acquire or for the
acquisition or use of any fixed asset, including Capitalized Lease Obligations
(other than, in any such case, any portion thereof representing interest or
deemed interest or payments in respect of taxes, insurance, maintenance or
service), or improvements which are payable over a period longer than one year,
regardless of the term thereof or the Person or Persons to whom the same are
payable, (iv) the then outstanding amount of withdrawal or termination liability
incurred under ERISA, (v) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any
asset of such Person whether or not the Indebtedness is assumed by such Person,
PROVIDED that for the purpose of determining the amount of Indebtedness of the
type described in this clause (v), if recourse with respect to such Indebtedness
is limited to the assets of such Person, then the amount of Indebtedness shall
be limited to the fair market value of such assets, (vi) all Indebtedness of
others to the extent guaranteed by such Person and (vii) all obligations of such
Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers acceptances or similar
instruments issued or accepted by banks or other financial institutions for the
account of such Person.

     "INDENTURE" means the Indenture dated as of December 29, 1993 between the
Borrower and Fleet National Bank (formerly known as Shawmut Bank, N.A.), as
Trustee, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>   17

     "INSOLVENCY EVENT" means, with respect to any Person, the occurrence of any
of the following: (a) such Person shall be adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt, or
shall generally fail to pay or admit in writing its inability to pay its debts
as they become due, (b) such Person shall seek dissolution or reorganization or
the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator for it or a
substantial portion of its property, assets or business or to effect a plan or
other arrangement with its creditors, (c) such Person shall make a general
assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or consent to or acquiesce in the
appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator for a substantial
portion of its property, assets or business, (d) such Person shall file a
voluntary petition under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or take any
corporate or similar act in furtherance thereof, or (e) such Person, or a
substantial portion of its property, assets or business shall become the subject
of an involuntary proceeding or petition for its dissolution, reorganization, or
the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator or shall become
subject to any writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar
process.

     "INTEREST INCREMENT" means (a) with respect to Base Rate Advances, 1.00%
PER ANNUM and (b) with respect to LIBOR Rate Advances, 3.00% PER ANNUM.

     "INTEREST PERIOD" means the period commencing on the date of a LIBOR Rate
Advance and ending on the 89th day thereafter; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) the
Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Expiration Date;
and (ii) whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a
day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be
extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, EXCEPT that if such
extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next
following calendar month, then the last day of such Interest Period shall occur
on the next preceding Business Day.

     "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any
amendments thereto, any successor statute and any regulations and guidelines
promulgated thereunder.

     "INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE" or "IRS" means the United States Internal
Revenue Service and any successor agency.

     "INVENTORY" means, as of the date of determination thereof, all present and
future goods intended for sale, lease or other disposition by the Borrower,
including, without limitation, all raw materials, work in process, finished
goods and other retail inventory, goods in the possession of outside processors
or other third parties, goods consigned to the Borrower to the extent of its
interest therein as consignee, materials and supplies of any kind, nature or
description which are or might be used in connection with the manufacture,
packing, shipping, advertising, selling or finishing of any such goods, all

                                      -12-

<PAGE>   18


documents of title or documents representing the same and all records, files and
writings with respect thereto.

     "INVESTMENT" in any Person means, as of the date of determination thereof,
any payment or contribution, or commitment to make a payment or contribution, by
any Person including, without limitation, property contributed or committed to
be contributed by any Person, on its account for or in connection with its
acquisition of any stock, bonds, notes, debentures, partnership or other
ownership interest or any other security of the Person in whom such Investment
is made or any evidence of indebtedness by reason of a loan, advance, extension
of credit, guaranty or other similar obligation of any debt, liability or
indebtedness of such Person in whom the Investment is made. In determining the
aggregate amount of Investments outstanding at any particular time, (i) a
guaranty shall be valued at not less than the principal amount outstanding of
the guaranteed obligation; (ii) returns of capital (but only by repurchase,
redemption, retirement, repayment, liquidating dividend or liquidating
distribution) shall be deducted; (iii) earnings, whether as dividends, interest
or otherwise, shall not be deducted; and (iv) decreases in the market value
shall not be deducted unless such decreases are computed in accordance with
GAAP.

     "LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENT" means the collective reference to any and all
agreements from time to time entered into by the Lender and a bank or financial
institution (each, an "issuing bank") pursuant to which the Lender causes such
issuing bank to issue Letters of Credit for the account or benefit of the
Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

     "LETTERS OF CREDIT" means all letters of credit issued for the account or
benefit of the Borrower pursuant to Article II of this Agreement and all
amendments, renewals, extensions or replacements thereof.

     "LIABILITIES" of a Person as of the date of determination thereof means the
liabilities of such Person on such date as determined in accordance with GAAP.
Liabilities to Affiliates of such Person shall be treated as Liabilities except
where eliminated by consolidation in financial statements prepared in accordance
with GAAP or as otherwise provided herein.

     "LIBOR RATE" means, with respect to each Interest Period, the rate PER
ANNUM equal to the 90 day LIBOR that appears in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL on the
first day of such Interest Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if THE WALL STREET
JOURNAL no longer publishes the 90 day LIBOR, reference shall be made to the
Reuters Screen ISDA Page for the 90 day LIBOR.

     "LIBOR RATE ADVANCE" means an Advance that bears interest as provided in
Section 4.1(b) hereof.


                                      -13-

<PAGE>   19

     "LIEN" means any lien, claim, charge, pledge, security interest,
assignment, hypothecation, deed of trust, mortgage, lease, conditional sale,
retention of title or other preferential arrangement having substantially the
same economic effect as any of the foregoing, whether voluntary or imposed by
law.

     "LOAN ACCOUNT" has the meaning specified in Section 2.6.

     "LOAN DOCUMENTS" means this Agreement and all documents and instruments to
be delivered by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates under or in connection
with this Agreement, as each of the same may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, including, without limitation, the Notes,
the Mortgages, each Assignment of Leases, the Environmental Guaranty and
Indemnity, the Environmental Reserve Pledge Agreement, any subordination
agreement covering Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.2(a)(vii), the Letter
of Credit Agreement, the Concentration Account Agreement, the Collateral Access
Agreements and the Support Agreements.

     "LOANS" means the loans and financial accommodations made by the Lender
hereunder or under any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Agreement including,
without limitation, the Real Estate Term Loans and the Revolving Credit Loans.

     "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means (i) a material adverse effect on the
business, prospects, operations, results of operations, assets, liabilities or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (ii) the impairment of the
Borrower's ability to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which
it is a party or of the Lender to enforce the Obligations or realize upon the
Collateral or (iii) a material adverse effect on the value of the Collateral or
the amount which the Lender would be likely to receive (after giving
consideration to delays in payment and costs of enforcement) in the liquidation
of the Collateral.

     "MATERIAL AFFILIATE" means Gulf Oil and each other Affiliate of the
Borrower that at any time has assets with a value in excess of $10,000,000 other
than the Affiliates of the Borrower specified in Schedule 4 hereto.

     "MATERIAL CONTRACT" means the S Corporation Agreement and any other
contract or other arrangement to which the Borrower is a party (other than the
Loan Documents) for which breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to
renew could have a Material Adverse Effect.

     "MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF THE FACILITY" means Thirty Million Dollars
($30,000,000), as such amount may be reduced in accordance with Sections 2.2(e)
and 2.5(c)(i).


                                    -14-

<PAGE>   20

     "MORTGAGE" means the Amended and Restated Mortgage made by the Borrower for
the benefit of the Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit H, relating to
each of the Mortgaged Properties, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time.

     "MORTGAGED PROPERTIES" means the real property described on Schedule 1, as
such Schedule may be modified in accordance with the terms of Section 7.2(e),
and all other real property on which the Lender from time to time receives a
Mortgage under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

     "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has
contributed within the past six years or with respect to which the Borrower may
incur any liability.

     "NET CAPITAL EXPENDITURES" means, for any period, (i) all Capital
Expenditures (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations), LESS (ii) all proceeds
from sales or other dispositions of property or assets that are sold or
otherwise disposed of outside the ordinary course of business.

     "NON-FAMILY DIRECTORS" means, collectively, each of the persons specified
in Schedule 5 hereto and his or her direct or indirect successor who has been
selected in accordance with the procedures described in Section 6.1(h)(9) of the
Reorganization Plan which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set
forth herein to the extent applicable.

     "NOTES" means the Real Estate Term Note and the Revolving Credit Note.

     "OBLIGATIONS" means and includes all loans (including the Loans), advances
(including the Advances), debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties
owing by the Borrower to the Lender of any kind or nature, present or future,
whether or not evidenced by any note, guaranty or other instrument, which may
arise under, out of, or in connection with, this Agreement, the Notes, the other
Loan Documents or any other agreement executed in connection herewith or
therewith, whether or not for the payment of money, whether arising by reason of
an extension of credit, opening, guaranteeing or confirming of a letter of
credit (including, without limitation, the Letters of Credit), loan, guaranty,
indemnification or in any other manner, whether direct or indirect (including
those acquired by assignment, purchase, discount or otherwise), whether absolute
or contingent, due or to become due, now due or hereafter arising and however
acquired. The term includes, without limitation, all interest (including
interest accruing on or after an Insolvency Event, whether or not an allowed
claim), charges, expenses, commitment, facility, closing and collateral
management fees, letter of credit fees, attorneys' fees, and any other sum
properly chargeable to the Borrower under this Agreement, the

                                      -15-

<PAGE>   21

Notes, the other Loan Documents or any other agreement executed in connection
herewith or therewith.

     "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any Person
succeeding to the functions thereof.

     "PERMITTED LIENS" means such of the following as to which no enforcement,
collection, execution, levy or foreclosure proceeding shall have been commenced
and be continuing: (i) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental
charges or levies or the claims or demands of landlords, carriers, warehousemen,
mechanics, laborers, materialmen and other like Persons arising by operation of
law in the ordinary course of business for sums which are not yet due and
payable, or Liens the enforcement of which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, (ii) Liens for prepetition taxes
being paid in accordance with the Reorganization Plan, (iii) deposits or pledges
(but nothing in this clause (iii) shall permit the creation of Liens on
Receivables or Inventory) to secure the payment of workmen's compensation,
unemployment insurance or other social security benefits or obligations, public
or statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, bid or performance bonds, or
other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business,
(iv) inchoate Liens arising by operation of law out of the sale of Inventory in
the ordinary course of business for sums which are not yet due and payable or
the enforcement of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings diligently conducted, (v) zoning restrictions, easements,
encroachments, licenses, restrictions or covenants on the use of the Property
which do not materially impair either the use of the Property in the operation
of the business of the Borrower or the value of the Property, (vi) inchoate
Liens arising under ERISA to secure current service pension liabilities as they
are incurred under the provisions of employee benefit plans from time to time in
effect, (vii) rights of general application reserved to or vested in any
municipality or other governmental, statutory or public authority to control or
regulate the Property, or to use the Property in a manner which does not
materially impair the use of the Property for the purposes for which it is held
by the Borrower and (viii) state and municipal Liens for personal property taxes
where no enforcement or execution proceedings have been taken in respect
thereof, provided that the same do not exceed $750,000 in the aggregate at any
time.

     "PERSON" means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint
venture, trust, unincorporated organization, joint stock company, association,
corporation, institution, entity, party or government (including any division,
agency or department thereof) a court or any other legal entity, whether acting
in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity, and, as applicable, the
successors, heirs and assigns of each.


                                      -16-
<PAGE>   22

     "PETROLEUM RECEIVABLES" means (i) Receivables that arise out of the sale of
gasoline and related petroleum products and (ii) rents under leases of real
property by the Borrower, as lessor, to gasoline station operators.

     "PLAN" means any employee benefit plan, program or arrangement maintained
or contributed to by the Borrower or with respect to which it may incur
liability.

     "PROHIBITED TRANSACTION" has the meaning specified in Section 6.1(y)(v).

     "PROPERTY" or "THE PROPERTY" means and includes the real property owned,
leased or controlled by the Borrower.

     "PURCHASE MONEY LIENS" has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(a)(v).

     "QUALIFICATION" or "QUALIFIED" means, with respect to any report of
independent public accountants covering Financial Statements, a material
qualification to such report (i) resulting from a limitation on the scope of
examination of such Financial Statements or the underlying data, (ii) as to the
capability of the Borrower to continue operations as a going concern or (iii)
which could be eliminated by changes in Financial Statements or notes thereto
covered by such report (such as by the creation of or increase in a reserve or a
decrease in the carrying value of assets) and which if so eliminated by the
making of any such change and after giving effect thereto would result in a
Default or an Event of Default.

     "QUALIFIED PROPERTY" means real property being used in the operation of the
Borrower and anticipated to be so used that is (a) owned with good and clear
record and marketable fee simple title by the Borrower at the time it is
proposed to be used, (b) free of any Hazardous Materials except for those which
can be remediated through remedial actions costing no more than the lesser of
(x) 10% of the Fair Market Value of such property or (y) $100,000 (as
established by a report of an independent environmental remediation firm
approved by the Lender) and is in the process of being, or is scheduled to be,
remediated in connection with the Borrower's ongoing remedial programs before
the Expiration Date, and (c) located within one of the states where another
Mortgaged Property is located.

     "REAL ESTATE BORROWING BASE" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(a).

     "REAL ESTATE INDEX" has the meaning specified in Schedule 3 hereto.

     "REAL ESTATE TERM LOANS" means the terms loans made under Section 2.2(a)
and the term loans deemed made under Sections 2.2(b) and 2.10(c).

                                      -17-

<PAGE>   23


     "REAL ESTATE TERM NOTE" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(d).

     "RECEIVABLES" means all present and future accounts, contract rights,
promissory notes, chattel paper, documents, tax refunds, rights to receive tax
refunds, bonds, certificates, insurance policies, insurance proceeds, patents,
patent applications, copyrights (registered and unregistered), royalties,
licenses, permits, franchise rights, authorizations, customer lists, rights of
indemnification, contribution and subrogation, leases, drafts, computer tapes,
programs, discs and software, trade secrets, computer service contracts,
trademarks, trade names, service marks and names, logos, goodwill, deposits,
causes of action, choses in action, judgments, designs, blueprints, plans,
know-how, all other general intangibles, claims against third parties of every
kind or nature, investment securities, notes, drafts, acceptances, letters of
credit and rights to receive proceeds of letters of credit, instruments and
deposit accounts, book accounts, credits and reserves and all forms of
obligations whatsoever owing, together with all instruments, all documents of
title representing any of the foregoing (including, without limitation, all Gulf
Oil Demand Loans and any instrument or note evidencing the obligations of Gulf
Oil in respect of such Loans), and all leasehold rights in any merchandise or
goods which any of the same may represent, all books, ledgers, files and records
with respect to any Collateral or security given by the Borrower to the Lender
together with all right, title, security and guaranties with respect to each
Receivable, including any right of stoppage in transit, PROVIDED that the term
"Receivables" shall exclude the "Cumberland" and "Gulf" trademarks, trade names,
logos and service marks and names.

     "RECEIVABLES BORROWING BASE" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(a).

     "REORGANIZATION PLAN" means the Third Amended and Restated Plan of
Reorganization of the Borrower dated July 1, 1993, as modified by the Omnibus
Amended and Restated Modification dated as of October 15, 1993 and as further
modified by the Borrower's Motion for Order Substituting Attached "Appendix C"
for Appendix C to the Omnibus Modification dated October 29, 1993, and the Order
of the Bankruptcy Court, dated November 19, 1993, approving said motion, which
Plan of Reorganization was confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court on October 22,
1993.

     "REPORTABLE EVENT" means any of the events described in Section 4043 of
ERISA and the regulations thereunder, other than a reportable event for which
the 30-day notice requirement to the PBGC has been waived.

     "REQUIREMENT OF LAW" means (a) the Governing Documents, (b) any law,
treaty, rule, regulation, order or determination of

                                    -18-

<PAGE>   24

an arbitrator, court or other Governmental Authority or (c) any franchise,
license, lease, permit, certificate, authorization, qualification, easement,
right of way, right or approval binding on the Borrower or any of its property.

     "RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" means the President, Chief Executive Officer, the
Chief Financial Officer or the Chief Operating Officer of the Borrower.

     "RETAIL INVENTORY BORROWING BASE" has the meaning specified in Section
2.1(a).

     "RETAIL INVENTORY SUBLIMIT" means Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000), as
such amount may be reduced in accordance with Section 2.5(c)(iii).

     "RETIREE HEALTH PLAN" means an "employee welfare benefit plan" within the
meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA that provides benefits to persons after
termination of employment, other than as required by Section 601 of ERISA.

     "REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(a).

     "REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(c).

     "S CORPORATION AGREEMENT" means the agreement, dated September 14, 1984,
among the Borrower and its shareholders, as supplemented by Supplement No. 1
thereto, dated September 10, 1993, among the Borrower and its shareholders, and
as further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     "SECURITY DOCUMENTS" means the Mortgages, the Concentration Account
Agreements, the Environmental Reserve Pledge Agreement and any other agreement
delivered in connection herewith which purports to grant a Lien in favor of the
Lender to secure the Obligations.

     "SOLVENT" means when used with respect to any Person that as of the date as
to which such Person's solvency is to be measured:

          (a) the fair saleable value of its assets is in excess of the total
     amount of its liabilities (including contingent liabilities as valued in
     accordance with applicable law) as they become absolute and matured;

          (b) it has sufficient capital to conduct its business; and

          (c) it is able to meet its debts as they mature.

                                      -19-

<PAGE>   25


     "SUBSIDIARY" means, as to any Person, a corporation or other entity in
which that Person directly or indirectly owns or controls the shares of stock or
other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of
the board of directors or appoint other managers of such corporation or other
entity.

     "SUPPORT LETTERS" means the letter agreements executed respectively by Lily
H. Bentas, Harry Brenner, Arthur Koumantzelis and Donald Holt and referred to in
Section 5.1(a)(vi), substantially in the form of Exhibit P, as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     "TANGIBLE NET WORTH" means, with respect to any Person, as of the date of
determination thereof, (i) total assets determined in accordance with GAAP and
on a first-in-first-out basis (excluding therefrom intangible assets, net
operating loss carryforwards, organizational expenses, patents, trademarks,
copyrights, goodwill, covenants not to compete, research and development costs
that are capitalized, training costs, treasury stock and all unamortized debt
discount and deferred charges), LESS (ii) total Liabilities, LESS (iii) the
difference, if positive, between (A) the amount of all obligations due to such
Person from its Affiliates and (B) the amount of all obligations owed by such
Person to its Affiliates.

     "TERMINATION EVENT" means (i) a Reportable Event with respect to any
Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (ii) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate from a Benefit Plan during a plan year in which it was a
"substantial employer" (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA); (iii) the
providing of notice of intent to terminate a Benefit Plan in a distress
termination (as described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA); (iv) the institution by
the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (v)
any event or condition (a) which is reasonably likely to constitute grounds
under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a
trustee to administer, any Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or (b) that is
reasonably likely to result in termination of a Multiemployer Plan pursuant to
Section 4041A of ERISA; or (vi) the partial or complete withdrawal, within the
meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA, of the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan.

     "TYPE" means a Base Rate Advance or a LIBOR Rate Advance.

     "WHOLESALE INVENTORY BORROWING BASE" has the meaning specified in Section
2.1(a).

     "WHOLESALE RECEIVABLES" means Receivables that arise out of the sale of
goods on a wholesale basis.


                                      -20-

<PAGE>   26

     SECTION 1.2. ACCOUNTING TERMS AND DETERMINATIONS. Unless otherwise defined
or specified herein, all accounting terms used in this Agreement shall be
construed in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent in all material
respects with the Financial Statements delivered to the Lender on or before the
Closing Date. All accounting determinations for purposes of determining
compliance with Article VIII shall be made in accordance with GAAP as in effect
on the Closing Date and applied on a basis consistent in all material respects
with the audited Financial Statements delivered to the Lender on or before the
Closing Date. The Financial Statements required to be delivered hereunder from
and after the Closing Date, and all financial records, shall be maintained in
accordance with GAAP. If GAAP shall change from the basis used in preparing the
audited Financial Statements delivered to the Lender on or before the Closing
Date, the Compliance Certificates required to be delivered pursuant to Section
7.1 shall include calculations setting forth the adjustments necessary to
demonstrate how the Borrower is in compliance with the Financial Covenants based
upon GAAP as in effect on the Closing Date.

     SECTION 1.3. OTHER TERMS; HEADINGS. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms
used herein that are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code, from time to time,
in effect in the State of New York (the "CODE") shall have the meanings given in
the Code. Each of the words "hereof," "herein," and "hereunder" refer to this
Agreement as a whole. An Event of Default shall "continue" or be "continuing"
unless and until such Event of Default has been waived in accordance with
Section 12.9 hereof. References to Articles, Sections, Annexes, Schedules, and
Exhibits are internal references to this Agreement, and to its attachments,
unless otherwise specified. The headings and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or construction of any
provision of this Agreement.


                                 ARTICLE II.

                            THE CREDIT FACILITIES
                            ---------------------

     SECTION 2.1. The Revolving Credit Loans.
                  --------------------------

     (a) The Lender, subject to Section 2.5 and the other terms and conditions
of this Agreement, agrees to make revolving credit loans (the "Revolving Credit
Loans"), from time to time during the Commitment Period at the Borrower's
request to the Lender, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time
outstanding not to exceed an aggregate amount equal to (i) up to 85% of the
Borrower's Eligible Receivables (the "Receivables Borrowing Base"), PLUS (ii) up
to 65% of the Borrower's Eligible Inventory located at the Approved Facilities
(the "Wholesale Inventory Borrowing Base"), PLUS (iii) up to the lesser of the
Retail Inventory Sublimit and 20% of the Borrower's Eligible

                                      -21-

<PAGE>   27

Inventory located at the retail convenience stores owned and operated by the
Borrower (the "Retail Inventory Borrowing Base"), PLUS (iv) the lesser of
$15,000,000 and 40% of the Fair Market Value of the Mortgaged Properties in the
aggregate (as such amount shall be reduced in accordance with Sections 2.2(e)
and 2.5(c), the "Real Estate Borrowing Base"), all of the foregoing less such
reserves as the Lender, in its sole and reasonable discretion, shall deem
proper; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall the aggregate amount of
Revolving Credit Loans outstanding at any time in respect of Eligible Inventory
exceed $14,000,000.

     (b) The Lender, at any time in the exercise of its sole and absolute
discretion, may (i) establish and increase or decrease reserves against Eligible
Receivables and Eligible Inventory (including, without limitation, reserves in
respect of dealer deposits), (ii) reduce the advance rates against Eligible
Receivables and Eligible Inventory, or restore such advance rates to any level
equal to or below the advance rates in effect as of the date of this Agreement,
and (iii) impose additional restrictions (or eliminate the same) to the
standards of eligibility set forth in the definitions of Eligible Receivables
and Eligible Inventory.

     (c) The Revolving Credit Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by a
promissory note payable to the order of the Lender, substantially in the form of
Exhibit A (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Revolving Credit Note"), executed by the Borrower and delivered to the Lender
on the Effective Date. The Revolving Credit Note shall be in a stated maximum
principal amount equal to $30,000,000.

     (d) The Revolving Credit Loans shall be payable in full, with all interest
accrued thereon, on the Expiration Date. The Borrower may borrow, repay and
reborrow Revolving Credit Loans, in whole or in part, in accordance with the
terms hereof.

     (e) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a decline of more
than 25% in "Present Value" of the Mortgaged Properties as determined in
accordance with the Real Estate Index, the Lender may redetermine the fair
market value of the Mortgage Properties and, in connection therewith, the Real
Estate Borrowing Base shall be readjusted.

     SECTION 2.2. The Real Estate Term Loans.
                  --------------------------

     (a) The Lender, subject to Section 2.5 and the other terms and conditions
of this Agreement, agrees to make term loans to the Borrower from time to time
during the Commitment Period.

     (b) If, at any time and from time to time, the outstanding principal amount
of the Revolving Credit Loans exceeds the Current Asset Borrowing Base, the
amount of such

                                      -22-

<PAGE>   28


excess, if not prepaid in accordance with Section 2.5(b)(i), shall, subject to
Section 2.2(c), be converted from a Revolving Credit Loan into a Real Estate
Term Loan and, if so converted, the outstanding principal amount of the
Revolving Credit Loans shall be deemed to be reduced by an amount equal to such
excess.

     (c) The maximum amount of the aggregate of the principal amount of all Real
Estate Term Loans outstanding and all amounts reserved under Section 2.10(b)(i)
and (ii) shall in no event exceed the Real Estate Borrowing Base.

     (d) The Real Estate Term Loans (whether made by the Lender pursuant to
Section 2.2(a) or deemed made by the Lender pursuant to Section 2.2(b) or
2.10(c)(i)) shall consist only of Base Rate Advances and shall be evidenced by a
promissory note payable to the order of the Lender, substantially in the form of
Exhibit B (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Real Estate Term Note"), executed by the Borrower and delivered to the Lender
on the Effective Date. The Term Note shall be in a stated maximum principal
amount equal to $15,000,000.

     (e) The principal amount of each Real Estate Term Loan (whether made by the
Lender pursuant to Section 2.2(a) or deemed made by the Lender pursuant to
Section 2.2(b) or 2.10(c)(i)) shall be payable in 84 equal monthly installments,
which shall be payable on the first Business Day of each month, commencing with
the month immediately following the date on which such Real Estate Term Loan was
made or deemed to have been made, PROVIDED that the entire outstanding principal
amount of each Real Estate Term Loan, together with all accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, shall become due and payable on the Expiration Date. Amounts
repaid or prepaid on account of the Real Estate Term Loans may not be reborrowed
and shall permanently reduce the Real Estate Borrowing Base and the Maximum
Amount of the Facility.

     SECTION 2.3. PROCEDURE FOR BORROWING; NOTICES OF BORROWING; NOTICES OF
CONTINUATION; NOTICES OF CONVERSION.

     (a) Each Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than 12:00 Noon
(Chicago time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed
Borrowing in the case of a LIBOR Rate Advance, and on the Business Day prior to
the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Base Rate Advance, by the
Borrower to the Lender. Each such notice of a Borrowing (a "Notice of
Borrowing") shall be by telecopier, confirmed immediately in writing, in
substantially the form of Exhibit K, specifying therein the requested (i) date
of such Borrowing, (ii) Type of Advance comprising such Borrowing, (iii)
aggregate amount of such Borrowing and (iv) whether such Borrowing is a
Revolving Credit Loan or a Real Estate Term Loan.

     (b) With respect to any Borrowing consisting of a LIBOR Rate Advance, the
Borrower may, subject to the provisions

                                      -23-

<PAGE>   29

of Section 2.3(d) and so long as all the conditions set forth in Article V have
been fulfilled, elect to maintain such Borrowing or any portion thereof as
consisting of a LIBOR Rate Advance by selecting a new Interest Period for such
Borrowing, which new Interest Period shall commence on the last day of the
immediately preceding Interest Period. Each selection of a new Interest Period
(a "Continuation") shall be made by notice given not later than 12:00 Noon
(Chicago time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of any such
Continuation by the Borrower to the Lender. Such notice by the Borrower of a
Continuation (a "Notice of Continuation") shall be by telephone or telecopier,
confirmed immediately in writing if by telephone, in substantially the form of
Exhibit L, specifying the requested (i) date of such Continuation and (ii)
aggregate amount of the Advance subject to such Continuation which shall be
specified in such manner as is necessary to comply with all limitations on Loans
outstanding hereunder. Unless, on or before 12:00 Noon (Chicago time) of the
third Business Day prior to the expiration of an Interest Period, the Lender
shall have received a Notice of Continuation from the Borrower for the entire
Borrowing consisting of the LIBOR Rate Advance outstanding during such Interest
Period, any amount of such Advance comprising such Borrowing remaining
outstanding at the end of such Interest Period (or any unpaid portion of such
Advance not covered by a timely Notice of Continuation) shall, upon the
expiration of such Interest Period, be a Base Rate Advance

     (c) The Borrower may on any Business Day upon notice (each such notice, a
"Notice of Conversion") given to the Lender, and subject to the provisions of
Section 2.3(d), Convert the entire amount of or a portion of all Loans of one
Type comprising the same Borrowing into Loans of another Type; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Borrower may not Convert Base Rate Advances into LIBOR Rate
Advances if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and that any
Conversion of any LIBOR Rate Advances into Loans of another Type shall be made
on, and only on, the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Rate
Advances. Each such Notice of Conversion shall be given not later than 12:00
P.M. (Chicago time) on the Business Day prior to the date of any proposed
Conversion into Base Rate Advances and on the third Business Day prior to the
date of any proposed Conversion into LIBOR Rate Advances. Subject to the
restrictions specified above, each Notice of Conversion shall be by telephone,
confirmed immediately in writing, or by facsimile transmission, in substantially
the form of Exhibit M, specifying (i) the requested date of such Conversion,
(ii) the Type of Loans to be Converted and (iii) the portion of such Type of
Loan to be Converted. Each Conversion shall be in an aggregate amount not less
than $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.

     (d) Anything in subsection (b) or (c) above to the contrary
notwithstanding,


                                      -24-

<PAGE>   30

          (i) if, at least one Business Day before the date of any requested
     LIBOR Rate Advance, the introduction of or any change in or in the
     interpretation of any law or regulation makes it unlawful, or any central
     bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is unlawful, for the
     Lender or any of its Affiliates to perform its obligations hereunder to
     make a LIBOR Rate Advance or to fund or maintain a LIBOR Rate Advance
     hereunder (including in the case of a Continuation or a Conversion), the
     right of the Borrower to select a LIBOR Rate Advance for such Borrowing or
     any subsequent Borrowing (including a Continuation or a Conversion) shall
     be suspended until the circumstances causing such suspension no longer
     exist, and any Advance comprising such requested Borrowing shall be a Base
     Rate Advance;

          (ii) if the Lender is unable to determine the LIBOR Rate for LIBOR
     Rate Advances comprising any requested Borrowing, Continuation or
     Conversion, the right of the Borrower to select or maintain LIBOR Rate
     Advances for such Borrowing or any subsequent Borrowing shall be suspended
     until the Lender shall notify the Borrower that the circumstances causing
     such suspension no longer exist, and any Advance comprising such Borrowing
     shall be a Base Rate Advance;

          (iii) if the Lender shall, at least one Business Day before the date
     of any requested Borrowing or Continuation of, or Conversion into, a LIBOR
     Rate Advance, notify the Lender that the LIBOR Rate for Advances comprising
     such Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion will not adequately reflect the
     cost to the Lender of making or funding Advances for such Borrowing, the
     right of the Borrower to select LIBOR Rate Advances shall be suspended
     until the Lender shall notify the Borrower that the circumstances causing
     such suspension no longer exist, and any Advance comprising such Borrowing
     shall be a Base Rate Advance;

          (iv) there shall not be outstanding at any time more than five
     Borrowings which consist of LIBOR Rate Advances;

          (v) each Borrowing which consists of LIBOR Rate Advances shall be in
     an amount equal to $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess
     thereof; and

          (vi) the outstanding principal amount of all LIBOR Rate Advances shall
     in no event exceed 80% of the outstanding principal amount of all Advances
     at such time.


                                      -25-

<PAGE>   31

     (e) Each Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Continuation and Notice of
Conversion shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. The Borrower agrees
to indemnify the Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by the Lender
as a result of (i) default by the Borrower in making a Borrowing of, Conversion
into or Continuation of a LIBOR Rate Advance after the Borrower has given notice
requesting the same, (ii) default by the Borrower in payment when due of the
principal amount of or interest on any LIBOR Rate Advance or (iii) the making of
a payment or prepayment of a LIBOR Rate Advance on a day which is not the last
day of an Interest Period with respect thereto, including, without limitation,
any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by
reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by
the Lender to fund such Advance.

     (f) All Real Estate Term Loans shall consist of Base Rate Advances and may
not be Converted into LIBOR Rate Advances.

     SECTION 2.4. APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS. The proceeds of all Loans shall be
used by the Borrower to repay other Indebtedness of the Borrower, for its
general working capital purposes, for permitted Capital Expenditures and for
expenses incurred by the Borrower in connection herewith.

     SECTION 2.5. MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF THE FACILITY; MANDATORY PREPAYMENTS;
ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL; OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS.

     (a) In no event shall the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal
balances of the Revolving Credit Loans, the Real Estate Term Loans and the
aggregate undrawn amount of all unexpired Letters of Credit exceed the Maximum
Amount of the Facility.

     (b) In addition to any prepayment required as a result of an Event of
Default hereunder, the Loans shall be subject to mandatory prepayment as
follows:

          (i) immediately upon discovery by or notice to the Borrower that any
     of the lending limits set forth in Section 2.1(a), 2.2(c) or 2.5(a) has
     been exceeded, an amount sufficient to reduce the outstanding balances to
     the applicable maximum allowed amount shall become due and payable by the
     Borrower without the necessity of a demand by the Lender (which amount may,
     at the option of the Borrower, be deemed to be repaid, in the case of the
     lending limit set forth in Section 2.1(a), by a conversion of such excess
     to a Real Estate Term Loan pursuant to Section 2.2(b) to the extent
     permitted under Section 2.2(c)); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, so long as no
     Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
     Borrower shall not be required to make a mandatory prepayment solely on
     account of the lending limit in Section 2.1(a)(iv) being exceeded if

                                      -26-

<PAGE>   32

     the Borrower immediately notifies the Lender in writing of the Borrower's
     intention to comply with the terms of this proviso and not later than sixty
     days thereafter (A) the Borrower grants to the Lender a Mortgage on
     Qualified Property having a Fair Market Value sufficient to increase the
     Real Estate Borrowing Base so that such lending limit is not exceeded
     pursuant to documentation in the same form as the documentation executed
     and delivered to the Lender in connection with the initial Mortgaged
     Properties and (B) the Borrower delivers a legal opinion of counsel to the
     Borrower (which may be from in-house counsel), a certificate of an
     appraiser for the Lender setting forth the value of such Qualified
     Property, a report from an independent environmental engineer setting forth
     the environmental costs and liabilities associated with such Qualified
     Property and title insurance, all in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Lender; and

          (ii) the entire outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit
     Loans and the Real Estate Term Loans, together with all accrued and unpaid
     interest thereon, shall become due and payable on the Expiration Date.

     (c)  (i) The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, prepay the
Real Estate Term Loans, in whole or in part, subject to Section 4.6 and the
other terms of this Agreement, upon at least one Business Day's irrevocable
notice to the Lender in the case of Base Rate Advances, and four Business Days'
irrevocable notice to the Lender in the case of LIBOR Rate Advances, specifying
the date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of Base Rate
Advances or LIBOR Rate Advances, provided that LIBOR Rate Advances may not be
optionally prepaid other than on the last day of an Interest Period with respect
thereto. If such notice is given, the Borrower shall make such prepayment, and
the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date
specified therein. Amounts prepaid on account of the Real Estate Term Loans may
not be reborrowed and shall permanently reduce the Real Estate Borrowing Base
and the Maximum Amount of the Facility.

     (ii) Any prepayment of a Real Estate Term Loan shall be accompanied by the
amount of accrued and unpaid interest thereon and shall be applied to the
installments thereof in the inverse order of maturity.

     (iii) In connection with any proposed prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant
to Section 2.5(c)(i) in an amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of
$5,000,000 in excess thereof (the "Release Amount"), the Borrower may request,
in the notice delivered in connection with such prepayment, that the Lender
release its Lien on Mortgaged Properties having an aggregate Fair Market Value
of not more than 250% of the Release

                                      -27-

<PAGE>   33

Amount (the "Release Property"). On the date specified for prepayment pursuant
to Section 2.5(c)(i), the Borrower shall pay to the Lender, in addition to the
Release Amount and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, a fee in an amount
equal to (A) 3% of the Release Amount if such prepayment occurs prior to the
first anniversary of the Closing Date, (B) 2% of the Release Amount if such
prepayment occurs on or after the first anniversary of the Closing Date but
prior to the third anniversary of the Closing Date and (C) 1% of the Release
Amount, if such prepayment occurs on or after the second anniversary of the
Closing Date but prior to the third anniversary of the Closing Date. Upon the
payment of all amounts required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to Section
2.5(c) on the date specified for prepayment, (A) the Lender agrees, within
fifteen days of such prepayment, to execute releases (in form and substance
satisfactory to the Lender) with respect to the Release Property and (B) the
Retail Inventory Sublimit shall be permanently reduced ratably, in the
proportion that the Release Price bears to the Real Estate Borrowing Base in
effect immediately prior to the date specified for such prepayment.

     SECTION 2.6. MAINTENANCE OF LOAN ACCOUNT; STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNT. The Lender
shall maintain an account on its books in the name of the Borrower (the "Loan
Account") in which the Borrower will be charged with all loans and advances made
by the Lender to the Borrower or for the Borrower's account, including the Real
Estate Term Loans, the Revolving Credit Loans, fees, expenses and any other
Obligations. The Loan Account will be credited with all amounts received by the
Lender from the Borrower or for the Borrower's account, including, as set forth
below, all amounts received from the Concentration Account Bank. The Lender
shall send the Borrower a monthly statement reflecting the activity in the Loan
Account. The monthly statement shall be an account stated and shall be final,
conclusive and binding on the Borrower, absent manifest error.

     SECTION 2.7. COLLECTION OF RECEIVABLES. The Borrower shall at all times
maintain a concentration account (the "Concentration Account") and shall remit
all Collections to the Concentration Account. The Borrower, the Lender and the
Concentration Account Bank shall enter into an agreement substantially in the
form of Exhibit F (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the "Concentration Account Agreement"), which, among other things, shall
provide for the opening of the Concentration Account for the deposit of
Collections at the Concentration Account Bank. All Collections and other amounts
including, without limitation, cash proceeds of retail sales received by the
Borrower from any of its customers and account debtors shall promptly upon
receipt be deposited into the Concentration Account. Upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default, the Lender shall be deemed to have full dominion and control
over the Concentration Account and, upon notice by the Lender to the
Concentration Account Bank, the Concentration Account Bank shall turn over to
the Lender all amounts on deposit

                                      -28-

<PAGE>   34

in the Concentration Account which the Lender may apply to such of the
Obligations and in such order as provided in this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.

     SECTION 2.8. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall be for a period from
the Effective Date to December 30, 1998 unless sooner terminated in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement, PROVIDED that the term of this Agreement may
be extended for successive one-year periods beyond the then effective expiration
date if, not less than 60 days prior to such time, the parties hereto agree to
such extension in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall
have no right to terminate this Agreement at any time that any principal of or
interest on any of the Loans is outstanding, except upon prepayment of all
Obligations and the satisfaction of all other conditions set forth in the Loan
Documents with respect thereto.

     SECTION 2.9. Payments; Collection.
                  --------------------

     (a) All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrower
hereunder and under the Notes, whether on account of principal, interest, fees
or otherwise, shall be made without setoff, deduction or counterclaim and shall
be made prior to 4:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the due date thereof to the Lender
(except as expressly otherwise provided), at the Lender's account at The First
National Bank of Chicago (Account #5295297184) in Dollars and in immediately
available funds. The Lender may, but shall not be obligated to, charge any such
payment due to the Loan Account. The Lender shall credit all such payments to
the Loan Account, conditional upon final collection; credit will be given for
cleared funds received during business hours after receipt thereof by the Lender
at its account at The First National Bank of Chicago (Account #5295297184).

     (b) If (i) the Lender's commitment to make Advances has been terminated in
accordance with Section 9.2(b), (ii) the Lender reasonably believes that fraud
has occurred and the Lender has given the Borrower ten days' written notice of
the basis of such belief or (iii) the Obligations shall have become due and
payable (whether by declaration or automatically) pursuant to Section 9.2(a),
the Lender or its designee may notify customers or account debtors of the
Borrower that Receivables have been assigned to the Lender or of the Lender's
security interest therein, collect the same directly and charge all collection
costs and expenses to the Loan Account, but unless and until it does so or gives
the Borrower other instructions, the Borrower shall make collection of all
Receivables for the Lender in a prudent and business-like manner and in
accordance with the terms of the Concentration Account Agreement, and if the
Borrower shall itself receive any such payments, it shall receive and segregate
all of such payments as the Lender's trustee and immediately deliver them to the
Lender's designee in their original form, together with any endorsements
requested by the Lender. Promptly after the Lender has so notified customers or
account debtors,

                                      -29-

<PAGE>   35

the Lender shall give notice thereof to the Borrower. In all cases, the Loan
Account will be credited only with the net amounts actually received in payment
of Receivables.

     (c) Whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be stated to be due on
a day that is not a Business Day, the payment may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in the computation of
the amount of interest due hereunder.

     SECTION 2.10. Letters of Credit.
                   -----------------

     (a) The Lender, upon the request of the Borrower, shall, subject to
Sections 2.1(a), 2.2(c) and 2.5 and the other terms and conditions of this
Agreement, cause a bank or financial institution acceptable to the Lender to
issue for the account or benefit of the Borrower Letters of Credit of a tenor
and containing terms acceptable to the Lender and the issuer of such Letter of
Credit, in a maximum aggregate face amount outstanding at any time not to exceed
Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000); PROVIDED, that no Letter of Credit shall
have an expiration date after the Expiration Date; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that
no Letter of Credit shall replace an Existing Letter of Credit unless the Lender
shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that all cash which
collateralizes such Existing Letter of Credit will be released and paid over to
the Borrower. The term of any standby Letter of Credit shall not exceed three
hundred sixty days from the date of issuance (subject to renewal in accordance
with the terms thereof, but in no event to a date beyond the Expiration Date).
The term of any documentary Letter of Credit shall not exceed one hundred twenty
days from the date of issuance.

     (b) It is further agreed that (i) an amount equal to 105% of the aggregate
undrawn face amount of Letters of Credit covering goods imported to the United
States shall be reserved out of amounts available for borrowing FIRST, under
Section 2.2 and SECOND, under Section 2.1 (such additional five percent being
reserved for the sole purpose of covering landing costs), (ii) an amount equal
to 100% of the aggregate unpaid face amount of all other Letters of Credit shall
be reserved out of amounts available for borrowing under FIRST, Section 2.2 and
SECOND, under Section 2.1, and (iii) a sum equal to the aggregate undrawn face
amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit shall be included in calculating
outstanding amounts for purposes of calculating the Maximum Amount of the
Facility.

     (c) Upon each drawing or payment under a Letter of Credit, the amount of
such drawing or payment for all purposes under this Agreement shall, (i)
together with the amount of all other drawings and payments under Letters of
Credit up to Fifteen Million Dollars $15,000,000 (collectively, "Drawn
Amounts"), become and be deemed to be, subject to Section 2.2(c), without any
further action on the part of any Person, a Real Estate Term

                                      -30-

<PAGE>   36

Loan and (ii) together with all other Drawn Amounts in excess of $15,000,000,
become and be deemed to be, subject to Section 2.1(a), without any further
action on the part of any Person, a Revolving Credit Loan, in each case on the
date of such drawing or payment (but without any requirement for compliance with
the conditions precedent to the making of Loans contained in this Agreement).


                                  ARTICLE III.

                                    SECURITY
                                    --------

     SECTION 3.1. GENERAL. To secure the prompt and complete payment and
performance when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise)
of all of the Obligations, the Borrower hereby grants to the Lender a Lien on
and security interest in all of its present and future Receivables and
Inventory, wherever located, and all additions and accessions thereto and
substitutions and replacements therefor and improvements thereon, and all
proceeds (whether cash or other property) and products thereof including,
without limitation, all proceeds of insurance covering the same and all tort
claims in connection therewith. As further security for the Obligations, and to
provide other assurances to the Lender the Lender shall receive, among other
things:

     (a) the Support Letters;

     (b) the Concentration Account Agreements;

     (c) the Mortgages;

     (d) the Assignment of Leases; and

     (e) the Environmental Reserve Pledge Agreement.

     SECTION 3.2. TERMINATION. Upon the termination of this Agreement, the
indefeasible payment in cash in full of all Obligations and the written
acknowledgement of all beneficiaries of Letters of Credit as to the termination
of each Letter of Credit, the Lender shall promptly deliver to the Borrower,
upon the request and at the expense of the Borrower, releases and satisfactions
of all financing statements, mortgages, notices of assignment and other
registrations of security and the Borrower shall deliver to the Lender a general
release of all of the Lender's liabilities and obligations under all Loan
Documents and an acknowledgment that the same have been terminated (except for
those provisions which are expressly stated to survive the termination of this
Agreement).


                                      -31-

<PAGE>   37


     SECTION 3.3. RECOURSE TO SECURITY. Recourse to security shall not be
required for any Obligation hereunder and the Borrower hereby waives any
requirement that the Lender exhaust any right or take any action against any of
the Collateral before proceeding to enforce the Obligations against the
Borrower.

     SECTION 3.4. Special Provisions Relating to Inventory.
                  ----------------------------------------

     (a) ALL INVENTORY. The security interest in the Inventory granted to the
Lender shall continue through all steps of manufacture and sale and attach
without further act to raw materials, work in process, finished goods, returned
goods, documents of title, warehouse receipts, and to proceeds resulting from
the sale or other disposition of Inventory. Until all of the Obligations have
been satisfied, the Lender's security interest in Inventory and in all proceeds
thereof shall continue in full force and effect and the Lender shall have, in
its sole and absolute discretion and at any time if (i) the Lender's commitment
to make Advances has been terminated in accordance with Section 9.2(b), (ii) the
Lender reasonably believes that fraud has occurred and the Lender has given the
Borrower ten days' written notice of the basis of such belief or (iii) the
Obligations shall have become due and payable (whether by declaration or
automatically) pursuant to Section 9.2(a), the right to take physical possession
of Inventory and to maintain it on the premises of the Borrower, in a public
warehouse, or at such other place as the Lender may deem appropriate. If the
Lender exercises such right to take possession of the Inventory, the Borrower
will, upon demand, and at the Borrower's cost and expense, assemble the
Inventory and make it available to the Lender at a place or places convenient to
the Lender.

     (b) NO LIENS. The Borrower represents and warrants that all of its
Inventory is, and will be, owned by the Borrower free and clear of all Liens,
other than Permitted Liens and Liens in favor of the Lender. All Inventory shall
be maintained at the locations shown on Schedule 3.4(b) hereto, except for (i)
Inventory moved from such locations solely for the purpose of sale in the
ordinary course of the Borrower's business or (ii) Inventory moved from a retail
location to another retail location in the ordinary course of business, and
except for any sale referred to in the foregoing clause (i), the Borrower will
not sell, encumber, grant a security interest in, dispose of or permit the sale,
encumbrance, return or disposal of any Inventory without the prior written
consent of the Lender. If sales are made for cash, the Borrower shall, if (i)
the Lender's commitment to make Advances has been terminated in accordance with
Section 9.2(b), (ii) the Lender reasonably believes that fraud has occurred and
the Lender has given the Borrower ten days' written notice of the basis of such
belief or (iii) the Obligations shall have become due and payable (whether by
declaration or automatically) pursuant to Section 9.2(a), immediately deliver to

                                      -32-

<PAGE>   38

the Lender the checks or other forms of payment which it receives, together with
any necessary endorsements.

     (c) FURTHER ASSURANCES. The Borrower will perform any and all steps that
the Lender may request to perfect the Lender's security interests in the
Inventory, including, without limitation, placing and maintaining signs,
executing and filing financing or continuation statements in form and substance
satisfactory to the Lender, maintaining stock records and conducting lien
searches. In each case, the Borrower shall take such action as promptly as
possible after requested by the Lender but in any event within ten Business Days
after any such request is made except that the Borrower shall take such action
immediately upon the Lender's request following the occurrence of an Event of
Default. If any Inventory is in the possession or control of any Person other
than a purchaser in the ordinary course of business or a public warehouseman
where the warehouse receipt is in the name of or held by the Lender, the
Borrower shall notify such Person of the Lender's security interest therein and,
upon request, instruct such Person or Persons to hold all such Inventory for the
account of the Lender and subject to the Lender's instructions. If so requested
by the Lender, the Borrower (as promptly as possible after requested by the
Lender but in any event within ten Business Days after any such request is made)
will deliver to the Lender warehouse receipts covering any Inventory located in
warehouses showing the Lender as the beneficiary thereof and will also deliver
to the warehouseman such agreements relating to the release of warehouse
Inventory as the Lender may reasonably request. A physical verification of all
Inventory wherever located will be taken by the Borrower at least every twelve
months and, in any case, as often as reasonably requested by the Lender. The
Borrower shall submit to the Lender, at least every twelve months, a letter as
to any material discrepancies that have been found by the Borrower in the most
recent physical Inventory observed by them in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards and GAAP. The Borrower shall, upon request by the Lender,
deliver a report of Inventory which shall describe the Inventory by category and
report the value (at lower of cost or market) of such Inventory.

     (d) INVENTORY RECORDS. The Borrower shall maintain full, accurate and
complete records respecting the Inventory describing the kind, type and quantity
of the Inventory and the Borrower's cost therefor.

     SECTION 3.5. Special Provisions Relating to Receivables.
                  ------------------------------------------

     (a) INVOICES, LETTERS OF CREDIT, INSTRUMENTS, ETC. On the Lender's request
therefor, the Borrower shall furnish to the Lender copies of invoices to
customers and shipping and delivery receipts or warehouse receipts thereof and
such other documents and instruments (including, without limitation, any note or
instrument which evidences the obligation of Gulf Oil in respect

                                      -33-

<PAGE>   39

of a Gulf Oil Demand Loan) the Lender may reasonably request in connection with
any Receivables. The Borrower shall deliver to the Lender the originals of all
letters of credit, notes, and instruments in its favor and such endorsements or
assignments as the Lender may request upon the occurrence and continuance of an
Event of Default.

     (b) RECORDS, COLLECTIONS, ETC. The Borrower shall promptly report all
material credits to the Lender. The Borrower shall notify the Lender of all
material returns and recoveries of merchandise and of all claims asserted with
respect to merchandise. The Borrower shall promptly report to the Lender each
such material return, repossession or recovery of merchandise, advising the
Lender of the location thereof and providing it with a description of such goods
and their location. The Borrower shall settle or adjust any dispute or claim, or
grant any discount (except ordinary trade discounts), credit or allowance or
accept any return of merchandise, except in the ordinary course of its business,
without the Lender's consent. The Lender may at any time, if (i) the Lender's
commitment to make Advances has been terminated in accordance with Section
9.2(b), (ii) the Lender reasonably believes that fraud has occurred and the
Lender has given the Borrower ten days' written notice of the basis of such
belief or (iii) the Obligations shall have become due and payable (whether by
declaration or automatically) pursuant to Section 9.2(a), (A) settle or adjust
disputes or claims directly with account debtors for amounts and upon terms
which it considers advisable unless the Borrower shall first have substituted
other Receivables or collateral acceptable to the Lender in form and amount, and
(B) notify account debtors on the Receivables that the Receivables have been
assigned to the Lender, and that payments in respect thereof shall be made
directly to the Lender. Where the Borrower receives collateral of any kind or
nature by reason of transactions between itself and its customers or account
debtors, the Borrower will hold the same on the Lender's behalf, subject to the
Lender's instructions, and as property forming part of the Receivables. Where
the Borrower sells goods or services to a customer which also sells goods or
services to it or which may have other claims against it, the Borrower will so
advise the Lender, promptly upon being notified of such order and in time to
permit the Lender to establish a reserve therefor. The Borrower hereby
irrevocably authorizes and appoints the Lender, or any Person the Lender may
designate, as its attorney-in-fact, at the Borrower's sole cost and expense, to
exercise, if (i) the Lender's commitment to make Advances has been terminated in
accordance with Section 9.2(b), (ii) at any time the Lender reasonably believes
that fraud has occurred and the Lender has given the Borrower ten days' written
notice of the basis of such belief or (iii) the Obligations shall have become
due and payable (whether by declaration or automatically) pursuant to Section
9.2(a), all of the following powers, which being coupled with an interest, shall
be irrevocable until all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and
satisfied in full in cash: (A) to receive, take,

                                      -34-

<PAGE>   40

endorse, sign, assign and deliver, all in the name of the Lender or the
Borrower, any and all checks, notes, drafts, and other documents or instruments
relating to the Collateral; (B) to receive, open and dispose of all mail
addressed to the Borrower and to notify postal authorities to change the address
for delivery thereof to such address as the Lender may designate; and (C) to
take or bring, in the name of the Lender or the Borrower, all steps, actions,
suits or proceedings deemed by the Lender necessary or desirable to enforce or
effect collection of Receivables or file and sign the Borrower's name on a proof
of claim in bankruptcy or similar document against any obligor of the Borrower.

     SECTION 3.6. CONTINUATION OF LIENS, ETC. The Borrower shall defend the
Collateral against all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming
any interest therein, other than claims relating to Liens permitted by the Loan
Documents. The Borrower agrees to comply with the requirements of all state and
federal laws to grant to the Lender valid and perfected first security interests
in the Collateral. The Lender is hereby authorized by the Borrower to sign the
Borrower's name and or file any financing statements or similar documents or
instruments covering the Collateral whether or not the Borrower's signature
appears thereon. The Borrower agrees, from time to time, at the Lender's
request, to file notices of Liens, financing statements similar document or
instruments, and amendments, renewals and continuations thereof, and cooperate
with the Lender's representatives, in connection with the continued perfection
and protection of the Collateral.

     SECTION 3.7. POWER OF ATTORNEY. In addition to all of the powers granted to
the Lender in this Article III, the Borrower hereby appoints and constitutes the
Lender as the Borrower's attorney-in-fact to, upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, (i) to convey any item of Collateral to any
purchaser thereof, (ii) to request at any time from customers indebted on
Receivables verification of information concerning Receivables and the amount
owing thereon, (iii) give or sign the Borrower's name to any notices or
statements necessary or desirable to create or continue the Lien on any
Collateral granted hereunder and (iv) make any payment or take any act necessary
or desirable to protect or preserve any Collateral, PROVIDED that prior to
making such payment or taking such act the Lender shall provide the Borrower ten
Business Days' prior written notice and the opportunity during such period to
make such payment or take such action. The Lender's authority hereunder shall
include, without limitation, the authority to execute and give receipt for any
certificate of ownership or any document, transfer title to any item of
Collateral and take any other actions arising from or incident to the powers
granted to the Lender under this Agreement. This power of attorney is coupled
with an interest and is irrevocable.

                                      -35-

<PAGE>   41
                                   ARTICLE IV.

                           INTEREST, FEES AND EXPENSES
                           ---------------------------

     SECTION 4.1. INTEREST. The Borrower shall pay to the Lender interest on the
Advances, payable monthly in arrears on the first Business Day of each month,
commencing with the month immediately following the Effective Date, and on the
Expiration Date, at the following rates PER ANNUM:

     (a) BASE RATE ADVANCES. If such Advance is a Base Rate Advance, at a
fluctuating rate which is equal to (i) the Base Rate then in effect PLUS (ii)
the Interest Increment, each change in such fluctuating rate to take effect
simultaneously with the corresponding change in the Base Rate.

     (b) LIBOR RATE ADVANCES. If such Advance is a LIBOR Rate Advance, at a rate
which is equal at all times during the Interest Period for such LIBOR Rate
Advance to (i) the LIBOR Rate PLUS (ii) the Interest Increment.

     SECTION 4.2. INTEREST AND FEES AFTER EVENT OF DEFAULT. From the date of
occurrence of any Event of Default until the earlier of the date upon which (i)
all Obligations shall have been paid and satisfied in full or (ii) such Event of
Default shall have been cured or waived, interest on the Loans (and the fees
payable under the second sentence of Section 4.5(c)) shall be payable on demand
at a rate PER ANNUM equal to the rate that would be otherwise applicable thereto
under Section 4.1 (or 4.5(c)) PLUS up to an additional two percent (2%).

     SECTION 4.3. CLOSING FEE. The Borrower shall pay to the Lender a
non-refundable closing fee in the amount of $200,000.

     SECTION 4.4. MINIMUM CHARGE. The Borrower agrees that, to induce the Lender
to enter into this Agreement, the Borrower shall at all times during the term of
this Agreement have an aggregate average outstanding principal amount of the
Loans (excluding the undrawn face amount of outstanding Letters of Credit) of at
least Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) (the "Minimum Loan Amount"). If, in any
calendar month, the average daily outstanding principal amount of the Loans
(excluding the undrawn face amount of outstanding Letters of Credit) does not
equal or exceed the Minimum Loan Amount, the Borrower, in addition to the
payment of interest on the Obligations pursuant to Section 4.1, shall pay to the
Lender on the date such interest is due, a fee equal to the difference between
(x) the amount of interest that would have been payable by the Borrower to the
Lender during such month pursuant to Section 4.1 if the average daily unpaid
principal amount had been equal to the Minimum Loan

                                    -36-

<PAGE>   42

Amount and if all Advances during such month were Base Rate Advances, and (y)
the amount of interest actually paid by the Borrower to the Lender for such
month pursuant to Section 4.1.

     SECTION 4.5. UNUSED LINE FEE; COLLATERAL MANAGEMENT FEE; LETTER OF CREDIT
FEES.

     (a) UNUSED LINE FEE. The Borrower shall pay to the Lender on the first
Business Day of each month, commencing with the month immediately following the
Effective Date, and on the Expiration Date, in arrears, an unused line fee equal
to (i) one quarter of one percent (.25%) PER ANNUM of the difference, if
positive, between (A) the Maximum Amount of the Facility and (B) the average
daily outstanding amount of the Loans during such month or portion thereof plus
any reserve taken pursuant to Section 11.8(b) to the extent such reserve results
in the reduction of amounts available to the Borrower under Sections 2.1(a) and
2.5(a) LESS (ii) any amount paid or payable by the Borrower under Section 4.4
during such month or portion thereof.

     (b) COLLATERAL MANAGEMENT FEE. The Borrower shall pay to the Lender on the
first Business Day of each month, commencing with the month immediately
following the Effective Date, and on the Expiration Date, in arrears, a
collateral management fee equal to one half of one percent (.50%) PER ANNUM of
the Maximum Amount of the Facility.

     (c) LETTER OF CREDIT FEES. The Borrower shall promptly pay to the Lender
all fees charged to the Lender by any issuer of a Letter of Credit which relate
directly to the opening, amending or drawing under Letters of Credit (which fees
shall not exceed one-half of one percent (.50%) of the face amount of each
Letter of Credit). In addition, the Borrower shall pay to the Lender on the
first Business Day of each month, commencing with the month immediately
following the Effective Date, and on the Expiration Date, in arrears, a fee
equal to two percent (2%) PER ANNUM of the daily average of the face amount of
the Letters of Credit outstanding during the preceding month or during the
interim period ending on the Expiration Date, as the case may be.

     SECTION 4.6. EARLY TERMINATION FEE. The Borrower shall have the right to
terminate this Agreement or to pay the Loans in full or substantially in full at
any time on 120 days' prior written notice to the Lender, PROVIDED that on the
date of such termination all Obligations, including all interest and fees
payable to the date of such termination, shall be paid in full. If the Borrower
gives such notice to terminate or pay the Loans in full or substantially in
full, or the Lender terminates its obligations to make Loans pursuant to Section
9.2(b) following the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 9.1(b)(ii)
(insofar as such Event of Default relates to the Borrower's breach of Section
7.2(r)(ii)), 9.1(h), 9.1(o) or

                                      -37-

<PAGE>   43

9.1(p), in each case prior to the third anniversary of the date of this
Agreement, the Borrower shall pay a fee to the Lender in an amount equal to (a)
$900,000 if such termination or payment occurs prior to the first anniversary of
the Closing Date, (b) $600,000 if such termination or payment occurs on or after
the first anniversary but prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date
and (c) $300,000, if such termination or payment occurs on or after the second
anniversary but prior to the Expiration Date, PROVIDED that (i) such fee shall
be reduced by all early termination fees paid to the Lender under Section
2.5(c)(iii) and (ii) no fee shall be payable under this Section 4.6 if (A) the
Borrower is required to make a prepayment of the Loans solely as a result of the
Lender's exercise of its rights set forth in Section 2.1(b)(ii) or (iii) or (B)
the Lender shall have made a demand upon the Borrower for amounts in respect of
increased costs or reduction in amounts receivable in an amount more than
$50,000 in the aggregate pursuant to Section 4.8.

     SECTION 4.7. CALCULATIONS. All calculations of interest and fees hereunder
shall be made by the Lender on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual
number of days elapsed in the period for which such interest or fees are
payable. Each determination by the Lender of an interest rate, fee or other
payment hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error.

     SECTION 4.8. INDEMNIFICATION IN CERTAIN EVENTS. If, after the Closing Date,
(i) any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation is
introduced, including, without limitation, with respect to reserve requirements,
applicable to the Lender or any other banking or financial institution from
which the Lender borrows funds or obtains credit, (ii) the Lender complies with
any future guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental
Authority or (iii) the Lender determines that the adoption of any applicable
law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein, or
any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental
Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof has or would have the effect described below, or the
Lender complies with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy
(whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or
comparable agency, and in the case of any event set forth in this clause (iii),
such adoption, change or compliance has or would have the direct or indirect
effect of reducing the rate of return on the Lender's capital as a consequence
of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which the Lender could have
achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration
the Lender's policies as the case may be with respect to capital adequacy) by an
amount deemed by the Lender to be material, and any of the foregoing events
described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) increases the cost to the Lender of
funding or maintaining the

                                    -38-

<PAGE>   44

Loans, or reduces the amount receivable in respect thereof by the Lender, then
the Borrower shall upon demand by the Lender pay to the Lender additional
amounts sufficient to indemnify the Lender against such increase in cost or
reduction in amount receivable. A certificate as to the amount of such increased
cost and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation thereof shall be
submitted to the Borrower by the Lender, and shall be conclusive absent manifest
error.

                                   ARTICLE V.

                              CONDITIONS OF LENDING
                              ---------------------

     SECTION 5.1. CONDITIONS TO INITIAL BORROWING OR INITIAL LETTER OF CREDIT.
The obligation of the Lender to make the initial Advance or cause to be issued
the initial Letter of Credit hereunder is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions prior to or concurrent with such initial Advance or Letter
of Credit:

     (a) the Lender shall have received the following, each dated the date of
the initial Advance or Letter of Credit or as of an earlier date acceptable to
the Lender, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender and its counsel:

          (i) the Revolving Credit Note and the Term Note, each duly executed by
     the Borrower;

          (ii) each Mortgage, duly executed by the Borrower and, where required,
     each Assignment of Leases, duly executed by the Borrower;

          (iii) the Environmental Guaranty and Indemnity Agreement, duly
     executed by the Borrower;

          (iv) the Environmental Reserve Pledge Agreement, duly executed by the
     Borrower and the Concentration Account Bank;

          (v) the Concentration Account Agreement, duly executed by the Borrower
     and the Concentration Account Bank;

          (vi) the Support Letters, duly executed by Lily H. Bentas, Harry
     Brenner, Arthur Koumantzelis and Donald Holt;

          (vii) acknowledgement copies of Uniform Commercial Code financing
     statements (naming the Lender as secured party and the Borrower as debtor)
     and termination statements, in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Lender, duly filed in all

                                      -39-

<PAGE>   45


     jurisdictions that the Lender deems necessary or desirable to perfect and
     protect the Liens created hereunder and under the Security Documents;

          (viii) completed requests for information, dated on or before the date
     of the initial Advance or Letter of Credit, listing all effective financing
     statements filed in the jurisdictions referred to in clause (vii) above,
     that name the Borrower as debtor, together with copies of such financing
     statements;

          (ix) evidence of (A) the recording of each Mortgage with all offices
     that the Lender deems necessary or desirable to perfect and protect the
     Liens created thereunder and (B) the release of all mortgages, security
     agreements and assignments previously encumbering any of the Collateral
     covered thereby in all offices as the Lender may deem necessary or
     desirable to perfect and protect the Liens created under the Security
     Documents;

          (x) (A) a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer certifying
     that since September 30, 1995, no change, event, occurrence or development
     or event involving a prospective change has occurred which has had or could
     reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and that all
     information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Lender
     hereunder or in connection herewith is true and correct in all respects,
     (B) the unaudited Financial Statements of the Borrower for the fiscal
     period ended March 31, 1996 and (c) copies of all registration statements
     and regular periodic reports filed by the Borrower since November 1, 1995
     with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

          (xi) the opinions of New York counsel, Massachusetts counsel, New
     Jersey counsel, Connecticut counsel, Rhode Island counsel, Maine counsel
     and New Hampshire counsel for the Borrower, in each case covering such
     matters incident to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the
     Lender may reasonably require;

          (xii) copies of all policies of insurance required by this Agreement
     and the other Loan Documents, together with loss payee endorsements for all
     such policies naming the Lender as lender loss payee;

          (xiii) in respect of each Mortgage, a mortgagee's title policy (A)
     dated the Effective Date in an amount satisfactory to the Lender; (B)
     insuring that such Mortgage creates a valid first Lien on the Mortgaged

                                      -40-

<PAGE>   46

     Property subject thereto, free and clear of all Liens except the Lien in
     favor of the Lender, Liens permitted hereunder and other Liens that are
     satisfactory to the Lender; (C) naming the Lender as the insured
     thereunder; (D) in the form of ALTA Loan Policy-1992 or such other form as
     is acceptable to the Lender; and (E) containing revolving credit, usury,
     tie-in, last dollar, first loss, ALTA-9, variable rate and doing business
     endorsements, and other affirmative coverages as the Lender may reasonably
     request, together with evidence that all premiums in respect of such policy
     have been paid by or on behalf of the Borrower;

          (xiv) a copy of the Business Plan, accompanied by a certificate
     executed by a Responsible Officer certifying to the Lender that the
     Business Plan has been prepared in good faith based upon the assumptions
     contained therein and all information currently available and, as of the
     date of such certificate, such Responsible Officer is not aware of any
     information contained in the Business Plan which is false or misleading;

          (xv) copies of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the
     Borrower and a copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
     Borrower authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this
     Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the transactions contemplated
     hereby and thereby, attached to which is a certificate of the Secretary or
     Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying (A) that such copies of the
     certificate of incorporation, bylaws and resolutions are true, complete and
     accurate copies thereof, have not been amended or modified and are in full
     force and effect and (B) the incumbency, names and true signatures of the
     officers of the Borrower authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it
     is a party;

          (xvi) a certified copy of the certificate of the Secretary of State of
     Delaware, dated within five days of the Effective Date, listing the
     certificate of incorporation of the Borrower and each amendment thereto on
     file in such official's office and certifying that (A) such amendments are
     the only amendments to such certificate of incorporation on file in that
     office, (B) to the extent relevant, that the Borrower has paid all
     franchise taxes to the date of such certificate and (C) the Borrower is in
     good standing in that jurisdiction;


                                      -41-

<PAGE>   47

          (xvii) a good standing certificate from the Secretary of State of each
     state in which the Borrower is qualified as a foreign corporation, each
     dated within ten days of the Effective Date;

          (xviii) a certificate, duly executed by the Chief Financial Officer of
     the Borrower to the effect that the Borrower is Solvent and will be Solvent
     after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
     the Loan Documents and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Lender;

          (xix) copies of audited Financial Statements of the Borrower as of
     September 30, 1995 without Qualification, certified by the Auditors
     reflecting results consistent with interim statements previously furnished
     to the Lender;

          (xx) evidence satisfactory to the Lender that there will be Excess
     Availability of at least $10,000,000 on the Effective Date after giving
     effect to all of the Borrowings to be made on the Effective Date, the
     repayment of the Existing Loan Facility, the replacement of all Existing
     Letters of Credit, the payment of closing costs and the establishment of
     appropriate reserves for past due accounts payable;

          (xxi) Collateral Access Agreements for the properties specified on
     Schedule 5.1(a)(xxi) duly executed by any party in possession of the
     Borrower's property;

          (xxii) a phase I environmental assessment of the Mortgaged Properties
     specified in Schedule 5.1(a)(xxii) which shall reveal no condition or state
     of facts that is unsatisfactory to the Lender;

          (xxiii) a copy of an appraisal conducted in accordance with sound
     appraisal standards by Keen Realty Consultants, Inc. of each of the initial
     Mortgaged Properties, showing the fair market value and orderly disposal
     value of such property as of the Effective Date;

          (xxiv) such agreements and instruments as any issuer of Letters of
     Credit deems necessary to issue Letters of Credit; and

          (xxv) such other agreements and instruments as the Lender deems
     necessary in its sole and absolute discretion in connection with the
     transactions contemplated hereby.


                                      -42-

<PAGE>   48

     (b) There shall be no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower after
due inquiry, threatened litigation, proceeding, inquiry or other action (i)
seeking an injunction or other restraining order, damages or other relief with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (ii) which
affects or could affect the business, prospects, operations, assets, liabilities
or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, except, in the case of
clause (ii), where such litigation, proceeding, inquiry or other action could
not be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect in the judgment of the Lender.

     (c) The Borrower shall have paid all reasonable (i) fees and expenses of
the Lender in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and
delivery of the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all of the
Lender's examination, audit, appraisal, and travel expenses and the fees and
expenses of counsel to the Lender) upon presentation of invoices therefor in
reasonable detail and (ii) fees to be paid on the Effective Date referred to in
this Agreement.

     (d) Except for (i) the filing of financing and termination statements under
the Code and the recording of the releases specified in Section 5.1(a)(ix) and
(ii) consents or authorizations which have been obtained and are specified in
Schedule 6.1(f) hereto, no consent or authorization of, filing with or other act
by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required
in connection, with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or
enforceability of this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the
continuing operations of the Borrower following the consummation of such
transactions.

     (e) No change, occurrence, event or development or event involving a
prospective change that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect shall have occurred and be continuing since September 30, 1995.

     (f) The Lender and its counsel shall have performed (i) a review
satisfactory to the Lender of all of the Material Contracts and other assets of
the Borrower, the financial condition of the Borrower, including all of its tax,
litigation, environmental and other potential contingent liabilities, and the
corporate and capital structure of the Borrower and (ii) a pre-closing audit
and collateral review, in each case with results satisfactory to the Lender.

     (g) The Borrower shall be in compliance with all Requirements of Law and
Material Contracts.


                                      -43-

<PAGE>   49

     (h) The Liens in favor of the Lender shall have been duly perfected and
shall constitute first priority Liens, except as otherwise expressly permitted
in the Loan Documents.

     (i) The Lender shall be satisfied with the composition of the Borrower's
board of directors.

     (j) The Lender and its counsel shall have performed a review satisfactory
to the Lender of all documents and correspondences pertaining to the pending
audit of the Borrower by the IRS.

     (k) The Lender shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that
Conven-Petro Insurance Company has irrevocably agreed to release and pay over to
the Borrower not less than $12,000,000 of cash collateral deposited in respect
of the Existing Letters of Credit immediately upon the issuance of Letters of
Credit that replace the Existing Letters of Credit.

     (l) The Lender shall have received evidence satisfactory to it, including
the appraisals specified in Section 5.1(a)(xxiii), that the Mortgaged Properties
have a fair market value equal to approximately $37,500,000 in the aggregate,
and the Lender shall otherwise be satisfied with the location and nature of each
of the Mortgaged Properties.

     SECTION 5.2. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EACH LOAN AND EACH LETTER OF CREDIT.
The obligation of the Lender to make any Advance or cause to be issued any
Letter of Credit is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions
precedent:

     (a) all representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such
Advance or issuance of such Letter of Credit as if then made, other than
representations and warranties that expressly relate solely to an earlier date,
in which case they shall have been true and correct as of such earlier date;

     (b) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or
would result from the making of the requested Advance or the issuance of the
requested Letter of Credit as of the date of such request; and

     (c) no Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred.


                                      -44-

<PAGE>   50


                                   ARTICLE VI.

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                         ------------------------------

     SECTION 6.1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER. The Borrower
represents and warrants as follows:

     (a) ORGANIZATION, GOOD STANDING AND QUALIFICATION. The Borrower (i) is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the state of Delaware, (ii) has the power and authority to own its properties
and assets and to transact the businesses in which it presently is, or proposes
to be, engaged and (iii) is duly qualified, authorized to do business and in
good standing in each jurisdiction where it presently is, or proposes to be,
engaged in business. Schedule 6.1(a) specifies all the jurisdictions in which
the Borrower is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation as of the
Closing Date.

     (b) LOCATIONS OF OFFICES, RECORDS AND COLLATERAL. The address of the
principal place of business and chief executive office of the Borrower is, and
the books and records of the Borrower and all of its chattel paper and records
of Receivables are maintained exclusively in the possession of the Borrower at,
the address of the Borrower specified in the introductory paragraph of this
Agreement. There is no jurisdiction in which the Borrower maintains any
Collateral (except for vehicles and Inventory in transit for processing) other
than those jurisdictions specified in Schedule 6.1(b). The legal name and
address of each location at which the Borrower's Inventory is located are
specified in Schedule 6.1(b). Schedule 6.1(b) indicates whether each location
specified therein is leased or owned by the Borrower. None of the receipts
received and to be received by the Borrower from any warehouseman states that
the Inventory covered thereby is to be delivered to bearer or to the order of a
named Person or to a named Person and such named Person's assigns.

     (c) AUTHORITY. The Borrower has the requisite corporate power and authority
to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Loan
Documents. All corporate action necessary for the execution, delivery and
performance by the Borrower of the Loan Documents (including the consent of
shareholders where required) has been taken.

     (d) ENFORCEABILITY. This Agreement is and, when executed and delivered,
each other Loan Document will be, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Borrower enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may
be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity.


                                      -45-

<PAGE>   51

     (e) NO CONFLICT. The execution, delivery and performance of each Loan
Document by the Borrower does not and will not contravene (i) any of the
Governing Documents, (ii) any Requirement of Law or (iii) any Material Contract
and will not, except as expressly specified herein, result in the imposition of
any Liens upon any of its properties.

     (f) CONSENTS AND FILINGS. No consent, authorization or approval of, or
filing with or other act by, any shareholders of the Borrower or any
Governmental Authority or other Person is required in connection with the
execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement
or any other Loan Document, the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby or the continuing operations of the Borrower following such
consummation, except (i) those that have been obtained or made and are specified
in Schedule 6.1(f), (ii) the filing of financing and termination statements
under the Code and (iii) the recording of the Mortgages and related releases.

     (g) NO SUBSIDIARIES; OWNERSHIP. The Borrower has no Subsidiaries. The
capital stock of the Borrower is owned by the Persons and in the amounts
specified in Schedule 6.1(g).

     (h) SOLVENCY. The Borrower is Solvent and will be Solvent upon the
completion of all transactions contemplated to occur on or before the Effective
Date (including, without limitation, the Loans to be made on the Effective
Date).

     (i) FINANCIAL DATA. The Borrower has provided to the Lender complete and
accurate copies of annual audited Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1995, certified by the Auditors, and unaudited Financial
Statements for the fiscal period ended December 31, 1995. Such Financial
Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
throughout the periods involved and fairly present the financial position,
results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower for each of the periods
covered. The Borrower has no Contingent Obligation or liability for taxes,
unrealized losses, unusual forward or long-term commitments or long-term leases,
which is not reflected in such Financial Statements or the footnotes thereto.
During the period from September 30, 1995 to and including the date hereof there
has been no sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower of any material
part of its business or property and no purchase or other acquisition of any
business or property (including any capital stock of any other Person) material
in relation to the financial condition of the Borrower at September 30, 1995.
Since September 30, 1995, (i) there has been no change, occurrence, development
or event which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect and (ii) none of the capital stock of the Borrower has been
redeemed, retired, purchased or otherwise acquired for value by the Borrower.
Schedule 6.1(i) sets forth a true and complete description of all Existing
Letters of Credit.

                                      -46-

<PAGE>   52

     (j) ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF INFORMATION. All data, reports and
information heretofore, contemporaneously or hereafter furnished by or on behalf
of the Borrower in writing to the Lender or the Auditors for purposes of or in
connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any transaction
contemplated hereby or thereby, are or will be true and accurate in all material
respects on the date as of which such data, reports and information are dated or
certified and not incomplete by omitting to state any material fact necessary to
make such data, reports and information not misleading at such time. There are
no facts now known to any Responsible Officer of the Borrower which individually
or in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect and which have not been specified herein, in the Financial Statements, or
any certificate, opinion or other written statement previously furnished by the
Borrower to the Lender.

     (k) NO JOINT VENTURES OR PARTNERSHIPS. Except as specified in Schedule
6.1(k), the Borrower is not engaged in any joint venture or partnership with any
other Person.

     (l) CORPORATE AND TRADE NAME. During the past five years, the Borrower has
not been known by or used any other corporate, trade or fictitious name except
for its name as set forth on the signature page of this Agreement and the other
names specified in Schedule 6.1(l).

     (m) NO ACTUAL OR PENDING MATERIAL MODIFICATION OF BUSINESS. There exists no
actual or, to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, threatened termination,
cancellation or limitation of, or any modification or change in the business
relationship of the Borrower with any customer or group of customers whose
purchases individually or in the aggregate are material to the operation of the
Borrower's business or with any material supplier.

     (n) NO BROKER'S OR FINDER'S FEES. No broker or finder brought about the
obtaining, making or closing of the Loans or financial accommodations afforded
hereunder or in connection herewith by the Lender or by any of its Affiliates.
No broker's or finder's fees or commissions will be payable by the Borrower to
any Person in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (o) INVESTMENT COMPANY. The Borrower is not an "investment company," or an
"affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for, an
"investment company," as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended. Neither the making of any Loans or the application of the
proceeds or repayment thereof by the Borrower, nor the consummation of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, will
violate any provision of such Act or any rule, regulation or order of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                      -47-

<PAGE>   53

     (p) MARGIN STOCK. The Borrower does not own any "margin stock" as that term
is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (the "FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD") and the proceeds of Advances will be used
only for the purposes contemplated hereunder. None of such proceeds will be
used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any
margin stock or for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which
was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin stock or for any other
purpose which might constitute any of the Loans under this Agreement as a
"purpose credit" within the meaning of Regulation G, T, U or X of the Federal
Reserve Board. The Borrower will not take, or permit any Person acting on its
behalf to take, any action which could reasonably be expected to cause this
Agreement or any document or instrument delivered pursuant hereto to violate any
regulation of the Federal Reserve Board.

     (q) TAXES AND TAX RETURNS.
         ---------------------

          (i) The Borrower has properly completed and timely filed, without any
     pending request for extension except as specified in Schedule 6.1(q), all
     income tax returns it is required to file. The information filed is
     complete and accurate in all material respects. All deductions taken in
     such income tax returns are appropriate and in accordance with applicable
     laws and regulations, except deductions that may have been disallowed but
     are being challenged in good faith and for which adequate reserves have
     been made in accordance with GAAP.

          (ii) All taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges for
     periods beginning prior to the date hereof have been timely paid (or, if
     not yet due, adequate reserves therefor have been established) and the
     Borrower has no liability for taxes in excess of the amounts so paid or
     reserves so established.

          (iii) No deficiencies for taxes have been claimed, proposed or
     assessed by any taxing or other Governmental Authority against the Borrower
     and no tax Liens have been filed. There are no pending or threatened
     audits, investigations or claims for or relating to any liability for taxes
     and there are no matters under discussion with any Governmental Authority
     which could result in an additional liability for taxes. Except as
     specified in Schedule 6.1(q), the federal income tax returns of the
     Borrower have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service and such audits
     have been closed or the period during which any assessments may be made by
     the Internal Revenue Service has expired without waiver or extension.
     Except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(q), no extension of a statute of
     limitations relating to taxes, assessments, fees or

                                      -48-

<PAGE>   54

          other governmental charges is in effect with respect to the Borrower.

          (iv) The Borrower is not a party to and does not have any obligations
     under any written tax sharing agreement or agreement regarding payments in
     lieu of taxes.

     (r) NO JUDGMENTS OR LITIGATION. Except as specified in Schedule 6.1(r), no
judgments, orders, writs or decrees are outstanding against the Borrower, nor is
there now pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower after due inquiry,
threatened litigation, contested claim, investigation, arbitration, or
governmental proceeding by or against the Borrower that (i) could individually
or in the aggregate be likely in the judgment of the Lender to have a Material
Adverse Effect or (ii) purports to affect the legality, validity or
enforceability of this Agreement, the Notes any other Loan Document or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

     (s) TITLE TO PROPERTY. The Borrower has (i) good and marketable fee simple
title to or valid leasehold interests in all of the Mortgaged Properties and
(ii) good and marketable title to all of its other property, in each case
subject to no Liens other than those Liens permitted by Section 7.2(i).

     (t) NO OTHER INDEBTEDNESS. After giving effect to the closing of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, the Borrower has no
Indebtedness other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.2(a).

     (u) INVESTMENTS; CONTRACTS. Except as specified in Schedule 6.1(u), the
Borrower (i) has not committed to make any Investment; (ii) is not a party to
any indenture, agreement, contract, instrument or lease or subject to any
charter, by-law or other corporate restriction or any injunction, order,
restriction or decree, which would materially and adversely affect its business,
operations, assets or financial condition; (iii) is not a party to any "take or
pay" contract as to which it is the purchaser; or (iv) has no material
contingent or long-term liability, including management contracts (excluding
employment contracts of full-time individual officers or employees disclosed to
the Lender), which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (v) NO DEFAULTS. After giving effect to the closing of the transactions
contemplated herein, the Borrower is not in default under any term of any
Material Contract or Requirement of Law.

     (w) RIGHTS IN COLLATERAL; PRIORITY OF LIENS. All property consisting of
Collateral is owned or leased by the Borrower, free and clear of any and all
Liens in favor of third parties, other than Permitted Liens, and to the extent
such Collateral consists of real estate, the Borrower has good record

                                      -49-

<PAGE>   55


and marketable title in fee simple to such real estate. Upon the proper filing
and recording of the financing and termination statements specified in Section
5.1(a)(vii) and the Security Documents and releases specified in Section
5.1(a)(ix), the Liens granted pursuant to the Loan Documents constitute valid,
enforceable and perfected first priority Liens on the Collateral, except as
otherwise expressly permitted in the Loan Documents.

     (x) ERISA.

          (i) Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or
     contributes to any Plan, other than those specified in Schedule 6.1(x).

          (ii) The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have fulfilled all
     contribution obligations for each Plan (including obligations related to
     the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code).

          (iii) No Termination Event has occurred nor has any other event
     occurred that is likely to result in a Termination Event. Neither the
     Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, nor any fiduciary of any Plan, is subject
     to any direct or indirect liability with respect to any Plan under any
     Requirement of Law or agreement, except for ordinary funding obligations
     which are not past due.

          (iv) Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate is required to or
     reasonably expects to be required to provide security to any Plan under
     Section 401(a)(29) of the Internal Revenue Code.

          (v) The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate are in compliance in all
     material respects with any applicable provisions of ERISA with respect to
     all Plans. There has been no prohibited transaction as defined in Section
     406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code (a "Prohibited
     Transaction") with respect to any Plan or any Multiemployer Plan, except as
     specified in Section II(A)(1)(o) of the Disclosure Statement. The Borrower
     and each ERISA Affiliate have made when due any and all payments required
     to be made under any agreement relating to a Multiemployer Plan or any
     Requirement of Law pertaining thereto. With respect to each Plan and
     Multiemployer Plan, the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have not incurred
     any liability to the PBGC and have not had asserted against them any
     penalty for failure to fulfill the minimum funding requirements of ERISA
     other than for payments of premium in the ordinary course of business.


                                      -50-

<PAGE>   56

          (vi) The Borrower is able to pay benefits under each Multiemployer
     Plan when due.

          (vii) Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has instituted or
     intends to institute proceedings to terminate any Plan.

          (viii) The aggregate actuarial present value of all benefit
     liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Plan, determined on a plan
     termination basis, as disclosed in, and as of the date of, the most recent
     actuarial report for such Plan, does not exceed the aggregate fair market
     value of the assets of such Plan.

          (ix) Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or
     reasonably expects to incur any material Withdrawal Liability to any
     Multiemployer Plan.

          (x) To the extent that any Plan is insured, the Borrower and all ERISA
     Affiliates have paid when due all premiums required to be paid for all
     periods through and including the Closing Date. To the extent that any Plan
     is funded other than with insurance, the Borrower and all ERISA Affiliates
     have made when due all contributions required to be paid for all periods
     through and including the Closing Date.

     (y) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Set forth on Schedule 6.1(y) is a complete and
accurate list of all patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks and
copyrights, and all applications therefor and licenses thereof, of the Borrower,
showing as of the date hereof the jurisdiction in which registered, the
registration number, the date of registration and the expiration date. The
Borrower owns or licenses all material patents, trademarks, service-marks,
logos, tradenames, trade secrets, know-how, copyrights, or licenses and other
rights with respect to any of the foregoing, which are necessary or advisable
for the operation of its business as presently conducted or proposed to be
conducted. The Borrower has not infringed any patent, trademark, service-mark,
tradename, copyright, license or other right owned by any other Person by the
sale or use of any product, process, method, substance, part or other material
presently contemplated to be sold or used, where such sale or use would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and no claim or
litigation is pending, or to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, threatened
against or affecting the Borrower that contests its right to sell or use any
such product, process, method, substance, part or other material.

     (z) LABOR MATTERS. Schedule 6.1(z) accurately sets forth all labor
contracts to which the Borrower is a party as of the Closing Date, and their
dates of expiration. There are no existing or threatened strikes, lockouts or
other disputes

                                      -51-

<PAGE>   57


relating to any collective bargaining or similar agreement to which the Borrower
is a party which would, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (aa) COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. Except as specified in Schedule
6.1(aa), (i) the Borrower is not the subject of a judicial or administrative
proceeding or investigation relating to the violation of any Environmental Law
or asserting potential liability arising from the release or disposal by any
Person of any Hazardous Materials, (ii) the Borrower has not filed or received
any notice under any Environmental Law concerning the treatment, storage,
disposal, spill or release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials at,
on, beneath or adjacent to property owned or leased by the Borrower, or the
release or threatened release at any other location of any Hazardous Material
generated, used, stored, treated, transported or released by or on behalf of the
Borrower and (iii) the Borrower has no knowledge of any contingent liability for
any release of any Hazardous Materials, in each case which could reasonably be
expected to result in a liability or involve remediation costs in excess of
$250,000 per violation or $2,500,000 in the aggregate.

     (bb) LICENSES AND PERMITS. The Borrower has obtained and holds in full
force and effect, all franchises, licenses, leases, permits, certificates,
authorizations, qualifications, easements, rights of way and other rights and
approvals which are necessary or advisable for the operation of its business as
presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

     (cc) GOVERNMENT REGULATION. The Borrower is not subject to regulation under
the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the
Interstate Commerce Act, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or any other
Requirement of Law that limits its ability to incur indebtedness or its ability
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.

     (dd) MATERIAL CONTRACTS. Set forth on Schedule 6.1(dd) is a complete and
accurate list of all Material Contracts, showing as of the date hereof the
parties, subject matter and term thereof. Each such contract has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Borrower and each other party thereto.
Except as specified in Schedule 6.1(ee), none of the Material Contracts contains
any burdensome restrictions on the Borrower or any of its properties, and each
Material Contract is in full force and effect and is binding upon and
enforceable against all parties thereto in accordance with its terms, and there
exists no default under such contract by any party thereto.

     (ee) BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES. The business of the Borrower is not affected
by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute,
drought, storm, hail,

                                      -52-

<PAGE>   58

earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty
(whether or not covered by insurance) that could reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect.

     (ff) BUSINESS PLAN. The Business Plan and the Financial Statements
delivered to the Lender on the Closing Date were prepared in good faith on the
basis of assumptions which were fair in light of the conditions existing at the
time of delivery thereof, and, with respect to the Business Plan, represented,
at the time of delivery, the Borrower's best estimate of its future financial
performance.

     (gg) AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. Except as specified in Schedule 6.1(gg), the
Borrower is not a party to or bound by any agreement or arrangement (whether
oral or written) to which any Affiliate of the Borrower is a party except (i) in
the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the
business of the Borrower and (ii) upon fair and reasonable terms no less
favorable to the Borrower than it could obtain in a comparable arm's-length
transaction with an unaffiliated Person.

     (hh) SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS. All representations made by the Borrower
in this Agreement and in any other Loan Document executed and delivered by it in
connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof
and the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.


                                ARTICLE VII.

                          COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER
                          -------------------------

     SECTION 7.1. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. Until termination of this Agreement and
payment and satisfaction of all Obligations:

     (a) CORPORATE EXISTENCE. The Borrower shall, (i) maintain its corporate
existence, (ii) maintain in full force and effect all material licenses, bonds,
franchises, leases, trademarks, qualifications and authorizations to do
business, and all material patents, contracts and other rights necessary or
advisable to the profitable conduct of its businesses, and (iii) continue in,
and limit its operations to, the same lines of business as presently conducted
by it.

     (b) MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY. The Borrower shall keep all property useful
and necessary to its business in good working order and condition (ordinary wear
and tear excepted) in accordance with its past operating practices.

     (c) AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. The Borrower shall conduct transactions with
any of its Affiliates on an arm's-length basis or other basis no less favorable
to the

                                      -53-

<PAGE>   59

Borrower and which are approved by the board of directors of the Borrower;
PROVIDED HOWEVER, that approval of the board of directors shall not be required
for the Borrower to (i) pay reasonable and customary fees and grant reasonable
and customary stock options to the Borrower's directors; (ii) enter into
transactions with Conven-Petro Insurance Company substantially on the terms and
conditions heretofore conducted; (iii) enter into transactions with Gulf Oil to
the extent contemplated by the Joint Venture Agreement dated as of June 30,
1993, as amended, among the Borrower, Catamount Petroleum, Limited Partnership
and Catamount Management Corporation; (iv) make advances to officers, including
Affiliates, of the Borrower for reasonable travel and other expenses in the
ordinary course of business; (v) subject to Section 7.2(o), pay salaries,
bonuses and other compensation and provide reasonable fringe benefits,
including, without limitation, deferred compensation and stock plans, to
officers of the Borrower; and (vi) subject to Sections 7.2(c), (e), (g) and (j),
make sales, leases, transfers or other dispositions to or purchases, leases or
other acquisitions from, and render services to or receive services from, or
engage in other transactions with (including, without limitation, Investments
in) any Affiliate and, in connection therewith, extend credit or make payments.

     (d) TAXES. The Borrower shall pay, when due, (i) all tax assessments, and
other governmental charges and levies imposed against it or any of its property
and (ii) all lawful claims that, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon its
property; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, unless such tax assessment, charge, levy or
claim has become a Lien on any of the property of the Borrower, it need not be
paid if it is being contested in good faith, by appropriate proceedings
diligently conducted and an adequate reserve or other appropriate provision
shall have been made therefor as required in accordance with GAAP.

     (e) GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. The Borrower shall comply with all Requirements
of Law applicable to it, including, without limitation, all applicable Federal,
State, local or foreign laws and regulations, including, without limitation,
those relating to environmental matters, employee matters (including the
collection, payment and deposit of employees' income, unemployment and social
security taxes) and with respect to pension liabilities, except where the
failure to comply could not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (f) Insurance.
         ---------

          (i) The Borrower shall keep or cause to be kept all Collateral insured
     against fire or other casualty to the extent that such property is insured
     as of the date hereof, in amounts not less than in existence as of the date
     hereof, as adjusted for inflation and deflation, and with insurance
     companies with ratings not less favorable than those of the Borrower's
     existing insurance carriers as of the date of this

                                      -54-

<PAGE>   60

     Agreement, any loss to be made payable to the Lender as its interest may 
     appear.

          (ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower
     will keep its property and assets (including, without limitation, the
     Mortgaged Properties and any other Collateral) which are of an insurable
     character and which are customarily insured by companies of established
     reputation engaged in the same or similar businesses similarly situated
     insured by financially sound and reputable insurers who, if required by
     law, are licensed or authorized to do business in the jurisdiction in which
     such property and assets are located against loss or damage by fire, loss
     in transit, explosion and hazards insured against by extended coverage, in
     amounts sufficient to prevent the Borrower from becoming a co-insurer
     (other than maintaining reasonable deductibles but not in excess of
     $100,000 per occurrence) and not in any event less than eighty percent
     (80%) of the full insurable value of the property and assets insured
     (replacement value if available). All such property insurance coverages
     with respect to Collateral shall name the Lender as loss payee, as its
     interest may appear. The Borrower will maintain insurance with financially
     sound and reputable insurers who, if required by law, are licensed or
     authorized to do business in the jurisdiction in which the Borrower's
     property and assets are located, against other hazards and risks and
     liability to Persons and property, including, without limitation, business
     interruption insurance, to the extent and in the manner customary for
     companies of established reputation engaged in the same or similar
     businesses similarly situated, but in any event shall insure with general
     liability coverage in an amount of not less than $10,000,000. The insurance
     maintained by the Borrower shall be designed to compensate for the risk of
     any reasonably foreseeable type of occurrence or development which could
     have a Material Adverse Effect which is customarily insured against by
     companies of established reputation similarly situated.

          (iii) All liability policies held or maintained by the Borrower shall
     name the Lender as an additional insured as its interests may appear. Such
     policies and all property insurance policies shall waive any recourse
     against the Lender for the payment of premiums, commissions, calls or
     assessments thereunder. Each insurance policy naming the Lender as an
     additional insured and all property insurance policies shall provide for at
     least ten days' prior written notice to the Lender by the respective
     insurance underwriter in the event of cancellation or the failure of the
     Borrower to pay any premium which would suspend

                                      -55-

<PAGE>   61
     coverage under such policy. On the Closing Date and thereafter upon the
     request of the Lender, the Borrower shall cause each underwriter of each
     insurance policy naming the Lender as an additional insured or as loss
     payee/mortgagee to furnish the Lender with a certificate of insurance as to
     the coverage of each such insurance policy.

          (iv) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7.1(f), the
     Borrower may supplement the insurance required to be kept in accordance
     with this Section, in whole or in part, by adopting some other method or
     plan of protection against loss by fire or other casualty at least equal in
     protection to the method or plan of protection against loss by fire or
     other casualty maintained by companies similarly situated and operating
     properties subject to similar hazards or on which properties an equal
     primary fire and other casualty insurance rate has been set by reputable
     insurance companies, and that if it shall adopt such other method or plan,
     it will pay to the Lender on account of any loss sustained by reason of the
     destruction or damage of such property by fire or other casualty, an amount
     of cash equal to such loss less any amounts otherwise paid to the Lender;
     PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Borrower shall keep in full force and effect
     (i) insurance policies with third party re-insurers or through reinsurance
     policies with third party re-insurers directly accessible to the Lender
     (such accessibility to be reasonably satisfactory to the Lender and its
     counsel), (ii) blanket property insurance coverage of at least $50,000,000
     in the aggregate and (iii) general liability insurance of at least
     $10,000,000 and with such other terms as are included in such insurance
     coverages of the Borrower in existence on the date of this Agreement and
     the other Loan Documents and otherwise complying with the terms of clause
     (iii) of this Section 7.1(f). Any amounts of cash required to be paid by
     the Borrower pursuant to any such method or plan shall for the purposes of
     this Agreement be deemed to be proceeds of insurance. In case of the
     adoption of such other method or plan of protection, the Borrower shall
     also furnish to the Lender a certificate of an actuary or other qualified
     Person appointed by the Borrower (and reasonably acceptable to the Lender)
     with respect to the adequacy of such method or plan.

          (v) The Borrower agrees to deliver to the Lender, on or before July 31
     of each year, and also whenever the Lender shall reasonably request, a
     detailed statement, signed by a Responsible Officer, of any fire or other
     casualty insurance policies then outstanding and in force upon the
     Borrower's property

                                      -56-

<PAGE>   62

     and assets, or any part thereof, including, or by reference to former
     statements, the names of the insurance companies which have issued the
     policies, and the amounts, deductibles and expiration dates thereof,
     together with (A) a detailed statement, signed by a Responsible Officer, of
     such other method or plan, if any, permitted by this Section 7.1(f), and
     (B) a certificate of such Responsible Officer to the effect that such
     insurance, method or plan in effect complies in all material respect with
     the requirements of this Section 7.1(f).

     (g) BOOKS AND RECORDS; INSPECTIONS. The Borrower shall (i) maintain books
and records (including computer printouts and programs) pertaining to the
Collateral in such detail, form and scope as is consistent with good business
practice and (ii) provide the Lender and its agents access to the premises of
the Borrower at any time and from time to time, during normal business hours and
upon reasonable notice under the circumstances (and, before the occurrence and
continuance of an Event of Default, not more than three times in any
twelve-month period), and at any time on and after the occurrence of a Default
or Event of Default, for the purposes of (A) inspecting and verifying the
Collateral, (B) inspecting and copying (at the Borrower's expense) any and all
records pertaining thereto, and (C) discussing the affairs, finances and
business of the Borrower with any executive officer and, if under the
supervision of an executive officer, any other officer, employee or director of
the Borrower or with the Auditors. The Borrower shall reimburse the Lender for
the travel and related expenses of the Lender's employees or, at the Lender's
option, of such outside accountants or examiners as may be retained by the
Lender to verify or inspect collateral, records or documents of the Borrower on
a regular basis or for a special inspection if the Lender deems the same
appropriate, which expenses shall not, before the occurrence and continuance of
an Event of Default, exceed $50,000 in the aggregate in any twelve-month period.
If the Lender's own employees are used, the Borrower shall also pay such
reasonable PER DIEM allowance as the Lender may from time to time establish, or,
if outside examiners or accountants are used, the Borrower shall also pay the
Lender such sum as the Lender may be obligated to pay as fees therefor. All such
Obligations may be charged to the Loan Account or any other account of the
Borrower with the Lender or any of its affiliates.

     (h) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. The Borrower shall timely give the Lender
the following notices and other documents:

          (i) NOTICE OF DEFAULTS. Promptly, and in any event within two Business
     Days after becoming aware of the occurrence of a Default or Event of
     Default, a certificate of a Responsible Officer specifying the nature
     thereof and the Borrower's proposed response thereto, each in reasonable
     detail.

                                      -57-

<PAGE>   63

          (ii) PROCEEDINGS OR ADVERSE CHANGES. Promptly, and in any event within
     five Business Days after the Borrower becomes aware of (A) any proceeding
     being instituted or threatened to be instituted by or against it in any
     federal, state, local or foreign court or before any commission or other
     regulatory body (federal, state, local or foreign) involving a sum,
     together with the sum involved in all other similar proceedings, in excess
     of $1,000,000 in the aggregate, (B) any order, judgment or decree involving
     a sum, together with the sum of all other orders, judgments or decrees, in
     excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate being entered against the Borrower or
     any of its properties or assets, (C) any actual or prospective change,
     development or event which has had or could reasonably be expected to have
     a Material Adverse Effect, a written statement describing such proceeding,
     order, judgment, decree, change, development or event and any action being
     taken with respect thereto by the Borrower, (D) a change in the Collateral
     securing the Obligations from the places listed on Schedule 6.1(b) or (E) a
     proposed or actual change of the Borrower's name, identity or corporate
     structure, a written statement describing such proceeding, order, judgment,
     decree, change, development or event.

          (iii) ERISA NOTICES.

               (A) Promptly, and in any event within ten Business Days after a
     Termination Event has occurred, a written statement of a Responsible
     Officer describing such Termination Event and any action that is being
     taken with respect thereto by the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate, and any
     action taken or threatened by the Internal Revenue Service, Department of
     Labor or PBGC;

               (B) promptly, and in any event within three Business Days after
     the filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service, a copy of each
     funding waiver request filed with respect to any Benefit Plan and all
     communications received by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate with respect
     to such request;

               (C) promptly, and in any event within three Business Days after
     receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC's intention to
     terminate a Benefit Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer a
     Benefit Plan, copies of each such notice;

               (D) promptly, and in any event within three Business Days after
     receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, notice (including the
     nature of the event and, when known, any action taken or threatened

                                      -58-

<PAGE>   64

     by the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC with respect thereto) of:

                    (1) any Prohibited Transaction which could subject the
          Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to a civil penalty assessed pursuant
          to Section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed by Section 4975 of the
          Internal Revenue Code in connection with any Plan, or any trust
          created thereunder,

                    (2) any cessation of operations (by the Borrower or any
          ERISA Affiliate) at a facility in the circumstances described in
          Section 4063(e) of ERISA,

                    (3) a failure by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to make
          a payment to a Plan required to avoid imposition of a Lien under
          Section 302(f) of ERISA,

                    (4) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring the
          provision of security to such Plan pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA,
          or

                    (5) any change in the actuarial assumptions or funding
          methods used for any Plan, where the effect of such change is to
          materially increase or materially reduce the unfunded benefit
          liability or obligation to make periodic contributions;

               (E) promptly upon the request of the Lender, each annual report
     (IRS Form 5500 series) and all accompanying schedules, the most recent
     actuarial reports, the most recent financial information concerning the
     financial status of each Plan administered or maintained by the Borrower or
     any ERISA Affiliate, and schedules showing the amounts contributed to each
     such Plan by or on behalf of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in which
     any of its personnel participate or from which such personnel may derive a
     benefit, and each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report
     filed by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate with the Internal Revenue
     Service with respect to each such Plan; and

               (F) promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of any Form 5310, or
     any successor or equivalent form to Form 5310, filed with the PBGC in
     connection with the termination of any Plan.


                                      -59-

<PAGE>   65

          (iv) MATERIAL CONTRACTS. Promptly, and in any event within ten
     Business Days after any Material Contract is terminated or amended or any
     new Material Contract is entered into, a written statement describing such
     event, with copies of amendments or new contracts, and an explanation of
     any actions being taken with respect thereto.

          (v) ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Promptly, and in any event within ten days
     after receipt by the Borrower thereof, copies of each (A) written notice
     that any violation of any Environmental Law may have been committed or is
     about to be committed by the Borrower which violation could reasonably be
     expected to result in a liability or involve remediation costs in excess of
     $250,000 per violation or $1,000,000 in the aggregate, (B) written notice
     that any administrative or judicial complaint or order has been filed or is
     about to be filed against the Borrower alleging violations of any
     Environmental Law or requiring the Borrower to take any action in
     connection with the release of toxic or Hazardous Materials into the
     environment which violation or action could reasonably be expected to
     result in a liability or involve remediation costs in excess of $250,000
     per violation or action or $1,000,000 in the aggregate, (C) written notice
     from a Governmental Authority or other Person alleging that the Borrower
     may be liable or responsible for costs associated with a response to or
     cleanup of a release of a Hazardous Material into the environment or any
     damages caused thereby in excess of $250,000 or (D) any Environmental Law
     adopted, enacted or issued after the date hereof of which the Borrower
     becomes aware which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
     Effect.

          (vi) UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK REMOVAL. Within thirty days before the
     removal thereof, written notice of the Borrower's intention to remove an
     underground storage tank on a Mortgaged Property for a period of more than
     thirty days without replacing such underground storage tank (which in all
     cases shall be subject to Section 7.2(w)).

          (vii) PUBLIC FILINGS. Promptly upon their becoming available, copies
     of all registration statements and regular periodic reports, if any, that
     the Borrower shall have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
     (or any governmental agency substituted therefor) or any national
     securities exchange.

     (i) NEW STORE OPENINGS; STORE CLOSINGS. (a) Promptly, and in any event
within ten Business Days thereof, notice of

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<PAGE>   66

(i) the opening of new retail locations outside the jurisdictions specified on
Schedule 3.4(b) and (ii) the closing of any retail location which is a Mortgaged
Property and (b) on each six-month anniversary of the Closing Date, a list of
all new retail locations opened and retail stores closed since the most recent
six-month period.

     (j) QUALIFY TO TRANSACT BUSINESS. The Borrower shall qualify to transact
business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the nature or
extent of its business or the ownership of its property requires it to be so
qualified or authorized and where failure to qualify or be authorized would have
a Material Adverse Effect.

     (k) FINANCIAL REPORTING. The Borrower shall timely deliver to the Lender
the following financial information:

          (i) ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. As soon as available, but not later
     than 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal
     year ended September 30, 1996, (A) the Borrower's annual audited Financial
     Statements; (B) a comparison in reasonable detail to the prior year's
     audited Financial Statements; (C) the Auditors' opinion without
     Qualification and a statement indicating that the Auditors have not
     obtained knowledge of the existence of any Default or Event of Default
     during their audit; (D) a narrative discussion of the Borrower's financial
     condition and results of operations and the liquidity and capital resources
     for such fiscal year, prepared by a Responsible Officer; and (E) a
     compliance certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit J (the
     "Compliance Certificate"), signed by a Responsible Officer, with an
     attached schedule of calculations demonstrating compliance with the
     Financial Covenants.

          (ii) MANAGEMENT LETTER. As soon as available, but not later than 180
     days after the end of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year
     ended September 30, 1996, a "Management Letter."

          (iii) PROJECTIONS. Not later than forty-five days after the end of
     each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Business Plan of the Borrower for the
     three-year period commencing with the next succeeding fiscal year of the
     Borrower certified by a Responsible Officer.

          (iv) MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. As soon as available, but not later
     than forty-five days after the end of each month, commencing with the month
     in which the Closing Date occurs, (A) the Borrower's interim Financial
     Statements as at the end of such month and for the fiscal year to date; (B)
     a comparison to the Financial Statements for the same periods in the prior

                                    -61-

<PAGE>   67


     year; and (C) a certification by a Responsible Officer that such Financial
     Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and are fairly stated
     in all material respects (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments).

          (v) MONTHLY COMPARISON TO PRIOR PROJECTIONS. As soon as available, but
     not later than forty-five days after the end of each month, commencing with
     the month in which the Closing Date occurs, a comparison of actual results
     of operations, cash flow and capital expenditures for the Borrower for such
     month and for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year
     through the end of such month with amounts previously projected for those
     periods and with actual results for corresponding periods in the previous
     fiscal year.

          (vi) BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATES. Weekly, not later than the close of
     business on each Friday, a borrowing base certificate, substantially in the
     form of Exhibit C (the "Borrowing Base Certificate"), detailing the
     Eligible Receivables as of Friday of the immediately preceding week, the
     Eligible Inventory as of the last day of the immediately preceding month
     and, if there have been any changes thereto, the Real Estate Borrowing Base
     as of the Friday of the immediately preceding week, and which shall be
     prepared by or under the supervision of the Chief Financial Officer, Vice
     President-Corporate Controller or Treasurer of the Borrower and certified
     by such officer subject only to adjustment upon completion of a normal
     year-end audit of physical inventory.

          (vii) RECEIVABLES AGINGS. Monthly, not later than the 15th day of each
     month, agings of Receivables, in scope and detail satisfactory to the
     Lender, as of the end of the prior month.

          (viii) GULF OIL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. (A) As soon as available, but
     not later than 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of Gulf Oil
     commencing September 30, 1996, the balance sheet, income statement,
     statement of cash flow and statement of changes in partner's equity for and
     as at the end of such year, certified by an auditor and prepared in
     accordance with GAAP; and (B) as soon as available, but not later than
     forty-five days after the end of each fiscal quarter of Gulf Oil, the
     balance sheet, statement of operations, cash flows, profits and losses and
     partner's equity for and as of the end of such quarter, certified by a
     responsible officer of Gulf Oil and prepared in accordance with GAAP.


                                      -62-

<PAGE>   68

          (ix) COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE. As soon as available, but not later than
     forty-five days after the end of each fiscal quarter, beginning with the
     fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1996, a Compliance Certificate signed by a
     Responsible Officer, with an attached schedule of calculations
     demonstrating compliance with the Financial Covenants.

     (l) OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION. The Borrower shall timely deliver to the
Lender, when requested by the Lender, any further information respecting the
financial condition of the Borrower or any Mortgaged Property. The Borrower
authorizes the Lender to communicate directly with its executive officers and,
if under the supervision of an executive officer, its other officers, employees
and Auditors and to examine and make abstracts from its books and records. The
Borrower authorizes its Auditors to disclose to the Lender any and all financial
statements, work, papers and other information of any kind that they may have
with respect to the Borrower and its business and financial and other affairs,
but only to the extent permitted by generally accepted standards of professional
accounting practice. The Lender shall treat such information as confidential.
The Borrower shall deliver a letter addressed to the Auditors requesting them to
comply with the provisions of this paragraph when requested by the Lender.

     (m) PUNCTUAL PAYMENT. The Borrower shall timely pay the principal and
interest and any other amount due under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.

     (n) PAYMENT OF LIABILITIES. The Borrower shall pay and discharge, in the
ordinary course of business, all obligations and liabilities (including, without
limitation, tax liabilities and other governmental charges), except where the
same may be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate
reserves with respect thereto have been provided on the books and records of the
Borrower in accordance with GAAP.

     (o) ERISA. The Borrower shall (a) maintain each Plan intended to qualify
under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code so as to satisfy the
qualification requirements thereof, (b) contribute, or require that
contributions be made, in a timely manner (i) to each Plan in amounts sufficient
(A) to satisfy the minimum funding requirements of Section 302 of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, if applicable, (B) to satisfy any
other requirements of the law and (C) to satisfy the terms and conditions of
each such Plan, and (ii) to each Foreign Plan in amounts sufficient to satisfy
the minimum funding requirements of any applicable law or regulation, without
any application for a waiver from any such funding requirements, (c) cause each
Plan or Foreign Plan to comply in all material respects with applicable law
(including all applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations), (d) pay in a
timely manner, in all material respects, all required premiums to the PBGC,

                                      -63-

<PAGE>   69


(e) deliver a copy to the Lender within thirty days of the receipt by, or the
requisite filing or notification date for, the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
of any: (i) notice of a Reportable Event for a Plan to the PBGC, (ii) notice of
an intent to terminate a Plan to the PBGC, (iii) notice from the PBGC relating
to the failure of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to timely pay premiums to
the PBGC, the PBGC's intent to terminate any Plan, the appointment of a trustee
to administer a Plan or the imposition of Employer Liability, computed under
Sections 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA, on the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate,
(iv) notice and demand for payment of Withdrawal Liability, described in Section
4201 of ERISA, by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan,
(v) notice of any claim made against the Borrower or any related Person for
unpaid contributions with respect to a Plan, (vi) notice to the PBGC or any Plan
participant or beneficiary of any failure to make a required contribution to a
Plan, (vii) notice by the Department of Labor of any penalty, audit,
investigation or any purported violation of ERISA with respect to a Plan, (viii)
notice by the Internal Revenue Service or the Treasury Department of any income
tax deficiency or delinquency, excise tax, penalty, audit or investigation with
respect to a Plan, (ix) an application for a waiver of the minimum funding
requirement for any Plan or Foreign Plan or a request for any exemption from a
Prohibited Transaction with respect to any Plan, and (x) a complaint filed in
court, judgment, award or settlement agreement with respect to a Plan that may
result in material liability to the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, or may have
a Material Adverse Effect and (f) furnish to the Lender, upon request from the
Lender, whichever of the following may be applicable: (i) a certificate of the
Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate signed on its behalf by the Chief Executive
Officer or Chief Financial Officer of such Person setting forth details as to
the termination of a Plan, an application for a waiver of a minimum funding
requirement or an application for an exemption from a Prohibited Transaction,
and the action that such Person is taking or proposes to take with respect
thereto, (ii) a copy of each annual report or summary annual report with respect
to any Plan, (iii) copies of all actuarial valuations received by the Borrower
or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to any Plan or Foreign Plan and (iv) copies
of all correspondence with the PBGC, the Secretary of Labor or any
representative of the Internal Revenue Service with respect to any Plan or any
other governmental agency with respect to any Foreign Plan relating to an actual
or threatened change or development that could have a Material Adverse Effect on
the property, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower
or an ERISA Affiliate.

     As used in this Section 7.1(o) and in Section 6.1(y)(ix), the following
terms shall have the following meanings:


                                      -64-

<PAGE>   70

          (i) "Employer Liability" means the liability computed under Section
     4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA.

          (ii) "Foreign Plan" means a plan that provides retirement or health
     benefits and that is maintained by, or otherwise contributed to, the
     Borrower for the benefit of employees outside the United States.

          (iii) "Withdrawal Liability" means the liability described in Section
     4201 of ERISA.

     (p) ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. The Borrower shall conduct its business so as to
comply in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws
including, without limitation, compliance with the terms and conditions of all
permits, governmental authorizations and the schedule for the replacement of
steel underground storage tanks with noncorrosive underground storage tanks or
the upgrade of such tanks with cathodic protectors, as set forth on Schedule
7.1(p).

     (q) TRADEMARKS. The Borrower shall do and cause to be done all things
necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect all of its material
registrations of trademarks, service marks and other marks, trade names and
other trade rights.

     (r) SOLVENCY. The Borrower shall be and remain Solvent at all times.

     (s) EXCESS AVAILABILITY. The Borrower shall maintain Excess Availability of
at least $10,000,000 until not less than $12,000,000 of cash collateral
deposited in respect of the Existing Letters of Credit has been released and
paid over to the Borrower.

     (t) FURTHER ASSURANCES. The Borrower shall take all such further actions
and execute all such further documents and instruments as the Lender may
reasonably determine to be necessary or desirable to perfect or protect the
Liens (and the priority status thereof) of the Lender on the Collateral.

     (u) GULF OIL DEMAND LOANS. The Borrower shall (i) demand payment under the
Gulf Oil Demand Loans as soon as payment thereunder would not result in a
default under the Discretionary Demand Line of Credit Letter Agreement dated as
of December 29, 1993 among Gulf Oil, The First National Bank of Boston ("FNBB"),
Banque Paribas and FNBB, as agent, and (ii) if Gulf Oil does not make full
payment thereunder within ten days of demand therefor, diligently enforce its
rights and remedies against Gulf Oil to the fullest extent permitted thereunder
and under applicable law.


                                      -65-

<PAGE>   71

     SECTION 7.2. NEGATIVE COVENANTS. Until termination of this Agreement and
payment and satisfaction of all Obligations:

     (a) INDEBTEDNESS. The Borrower will not, directly or indirectly, at any
time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness other than:

          (i) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

          (ii) Existing Indebtedness (which amount shall not exceed
     $255,000,000) and, if on terms no less favorable to the Borrower, any
     refinancings, extensions and replacements of any such Indebtedness
     constituting mortgage Indebtedness;

          (iii) endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection
     in the ordinary course of business;

          (iv) Indebtedness secured by purchase money Liens on Equipment
     acquired after the date of this Agreement which may be deemed to arise
     under operating leases;

          (v) Indebtedness under Capitalized Lease Obligations, additional
     mortgage Indebtedness and Indebtedness secured by purchase money Liens in
     an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed $45,000,000 at any time;

          (vi) Indebtedness arising from hedging or swap agreements in an
     aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed $2,500,000 at any time; and

          (vii) other Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding amount not to
     exceed $7,500,000 at any time which shall be subordinated on terms and
     under documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender.

     (b) CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS. The Borrower will not, directly or indirectly,
incur, assume, or suffer to exist any Contingent Obligation, excluding (i)
indemnities given in connection with the sale of Inventory or other asset
dispositions permitted hereunder and (ii) Contingent Obligations for
Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 7.2(a).

     (c) CORPORATE CHANGES, ETC. The Borrower will not, directly or indirectly,
merge or consolidate with any Person or amend, alter or modify the Governing
Documents or its corporate name, mailing address, principal places of business,
structure, status or existence, or liquidate or dissolve itself (or suffer any
liquidation or dissolution) or issue any capital stock, except for a merger or
consolidation in which the Borrower is the surviving entity and the amount of
any consideration (whether in

                                      -66-

<PAGE>   72

cash or otherwise) paid by the Borrower in connection therewith does not exceed
$10,000,000, PROVIDED that, after giving effect to such merger or consolidation,
the sum of Excess Availability and the Borrower's cash and Cash Equivalents on
hand exceeds $10,000,000.

     (d) CHANGE IN NATURE OF BUSINESS. The Borrower will not at any time make
any material change in the lines of its business as carried on at the date
hereof or enter into any new line of business.

     (e) SALES, ETC. OF ASSETS. The Borrower will not, directly or indirectly,
in any fiscal year, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets, or grant
any option or other right to purchase or otherwise acquire any assets, with an
aggregate value in excess of $1,000,000, except (i) sales of Inventory in the
ordinary course of business, (ii) sales of Inventory in connection with the sale
of a retail location, (iii) sales of obsolete equipment or Inventory in the
ordinary course of its business, (iv) sales of real property not constituting
Collateral in the ordinary course of business, (v) sales of other assets not
constituting Collateral in any fiscal year with an aggregate value of up to
$5,000,000, (vi) sales of Mortgaged Properties in the ordinary course of
business if prior to or simultaneously with any such sale, (A) the Borrower
grants to the Lender a mortgage on Qualified Property having a Fair Market Value
at least equal to 100% of the Fair Market Value of the property proposed to be
sold pursuant to documentation in the same form as the documentation executed
and delivered in connection with the initial Mortgaged Properties and (B) the
Borrower delivers a legal opinion of counsel to the Borrower (which may be from
in-house counsel), a certificate of an appraiser for the Lender setting forth
the value of such Qualified Property, a report of an environmental engineer
setting forth the environmental costs and liabilities associated with such
Qualified Property and title insurance, in each case in form and substance
satisfactory to the Lender and (vii) sales of Mortgaged Properties in the
ordinary course of business so long as all net cash proceeds thereof (which
shall not be less than 70% of the Fair Market Value of the Mortgaged Properties
sold) are used to reduce the outstanding amount of the Revolving Credit Loans
whereupon the Lender shall take a reserve (not to exceed $15,000,000 in the
aggregate) in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Mortgaged
Properties sold until such Mortgaged Property has been replaced with Qualified
Property on the terms set forth in clause (v) thereof whereupon such reserve
shall be reduced by the Fair Market Value of such Qualified Property.

     (f) CANCELLATION OF DEBT. The Borrower will not cancel any claim or debt
owed to it, except for consideration in the ordinary course of business.


                                      -67-

<PAGE>   73


     (g) LOANS TO OTHER PERSONS. The Borrower will not at any time make a loan
or advance any credit (except to trade debtors in the ordinary course of
business) to any Person, except (i) loans existing on the date hereof and
specified in Schedule 7.2(g), (ii) loans and advances made to employees in the
ordinary course of business in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed
$350,000 at any time, (iii) loans in the ordinary course of business made to
purchasers of Properties to finance the purchase price of such Properties on
commercially reasonable terms, (iv) demand loans to Gulf Oil (the "GULF OIL
DEMAND LOANS") in any fiscal year on terms satisfactory to the Lender (but
subordinated in liquidation to the obligations of Gulf Oil under the
Discretionary Demand Line of Credit Letter Agreement dated December 29, 1993
among Gulf Oil, FNBB, Banque Paribas and FNBB, as agent) not to exceed (A) the
amount distributable to the Borrower in such fiscal year under Section 4.6 of
the Gulf Partnership Agreement and (B) $2,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding
at any time and (v) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing, additional loans in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not
to exceed $3,000,000.

     (h) LIENS, ETC. The Borrower will not, directly or indirectly, at any time
create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on or with respect to any of
the Collateral, other than:

          (i) Liens created hereunder and by the Security Documents;

          (ii) Permitted Liens;

          (iii) the Liens existing on the date hereof and specified in Schedule
     7.2(h);

          (iv) Liens securing Indebtedness under Capitalized Lease Obligations,
     additional mortgage Indebtedness and Indebtedness secured by purchase money
     Liens permitted under Section 7.2(a)(iv) and (v); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
     no such Lien shall extend to cover any property other than the property
     acquired or leased in connection therewith; and

          (v) the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by
     Section 7.2(h)(iii) upon or in the same property theretofore subject
     thereto and in respect of the replacement, extension or renewal (without
     increase in the amount or any change in the obligor) of the Indebtedness
     secured thereby.

     (I) DIVIDENDS, STOCK REDEMPTIONS, STOCK ISSUANCES, EXCHANGE, DISTRIBUTIONS,
ETC. The Borrower will not, directly or indirectly, declare or pay any dividends
or distributions on, purchase, redeem, retire or issue any shares of any class
of its capital stock or any warrants, options or rights to purchase any such
capital stock, whether now or hereafter outstanding

                                      -68-

<PAGE>   74

("Stock"), or make any payment on account of or set apart assets for a sinking
or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or
other acquisition of its Stock, or make any other distribution in respect
thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in
obligations of the Borrower, except that, so long as (i) no Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result thereof and
(ii) the shareholders of the Borrower shall have complied with all of their
obligations under the S Corporation Agreement, the Borrower may pay
distributions in accordance with the S Corporation Agreement (A) to its
shareholders in amounts required for such shareholders to pay Federal, state and
local income taxes, interest and penalties but only to the extent such income
taxes, interest and penalties are directly attributable to the income of the
Borrower and (B) commencing on the date that is ten Business Days after the date
on which the Lender receives the Financial Statement referred to in Section
7.1(k)(i) for the fiscal year then ended until the last day of the following
fiscal year, the Borrower may pay dividends or distributions to its shareholders
in an aggregate amount equal to the lesser of (x) 20% of Excess Cash Flow for
such fiscal year and (y) $5,000,000.

     (j) INVESTMENTS IN OTHER PERSONS. Except as specified in Schedule 6.1(u),
the Borrower will not, directly or indirectly, at any time make or hold any
Investment in any Person (whether in cash, securities or other property of any
kind) other than (i) Investments in Cash Equivalents and Investments permitted
by Section 7.2(g), (ii) Investments permitted by Section 7.2(c) and (iii) other
Investments of up to $1,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year that have
been approved by the Borrower's board of directors in the exercise of such
board's good faith business judgment.

     (k) PARTNERSHIPS; SUBSIDIARIES; JOINT VENTURES; MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS. The
Borrower will not at any time create any direct or indirect Subsidiary, enter
into any joint venture or similar arrangement or become a partner in any general
or limited partnership or enter into any management contract (other than an
employment contract for the full-time employment of an officer or employee
entered into in the regular course of the Borrower's business) permitting third
party management rights with respect to the Borrower's business.

     (l) FISCAL YEAR. The Borrower will not change its fiscal year from a year
ending September 30.

     (m) ACCOUNTING CHANGES. The Borrower will not at any time make or permit
any change in accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required by
GAAP.

     (n) BROKER'S OR FINDER'S FEES. The Borrower will not pay or incur any
broker's or finder's fees in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.

                                      -69-

<PAGE>   75


     (o) EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. The Borrower will
not pay any salary, management, director or other fee or other direct or
indirect remuneration or compensation to its voting stockholders (excluding
reasonable fringe benefits including, without limitation, reasonable automobile
allowances, health benefits, insurance coverage and stock plans and accruals
with respect to health plans) in excess of (i) $3,000,000 in the aggregate in
the fiscal year of the Borrower ending September 30, 1996 or (ii) $3,000,000
plus an increment consistent with any increase in the consumer price index in
the aggregate in any subsequent fiscal year of the Borrower.

     (p) NO PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS UNDER ERISA. The Borrower will not, directly
or indirectly:

          (i) Engage in any prohibited transaction which could reasonably be
     expected to result in a civil penalty or excise tax described in Sections
     406 of ERISA or 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code for which a statutory or
     class exemption is not available or a private exemption has not been
     previously obtained from the Department of Labor;

          (ii) permit to exist with respect to any Benefit Plan any accumulated
     funding deficiency (as defined in Sections 302 of ERISA and 412 of the
     Internal Revenue Code), whether or not waived;

          (iii) fail to pay timely required contributions or annual installments
     due with respect to any waived funding deficiency to any Benefit Plan;

          (iv) terminate any Benefit Plan where such event would result in any
     liability of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate under Title IV of ERISA;

          (v) fail to make any required contribution or payment to any
     Multiemployer Plan;

          (vi) fail to pay any required installment or any other payment
     required under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code on or before the
     due date for such installment or other payment;

          (vii) amend a Plan resulting in an increase in current liability for
     the plan year such that the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to
     provide security to such Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the Internal
     Revenue Code; or


                                      -70-

<PAGE>   76

          (viii) withdraw from any Multiemployer Plan where such withdrawal is
     reasonably likely to result in any liability of any such entity under Title
     IV of ERISA.

     (q) UNUSUAL TERMS OF SALE. The Borrower will not sell goods or products for
which payment is due more than seventy days from the date of invoice, except for
sales of goods or products of up to $1,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal
year for which payment is due up to 180 days from the date of invoice.

     (r) PREPAYMENTS AND AMENDMENTS OF MATERIAL CONTRACTS. The Borrower will not
at any time (i) make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any
Indebtedness, other than the prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, (ii) prepay or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled
maturity thereof in any manner the Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Class 12
Holders (it being understood that the payment of "Target Payments" (as defined
in the Reorganization Plan) shall be deemed to be made upon scheduled maturity)
or (iii) amend, modify, cancel or terminate, or permit the amendment,
modification, cancellation or termination of, any Material Contract, except in
the event that such amendments or modifications could not have a Material
Adverse Effect, or amend, modify, cancel or terminate, or permit the amendment,
modification, cancellation or termination of any provision of (A) the Gulf
Partnership Agreement relating to or affecting distributions or dividends or (B)
the S Corporation Agreement, except that the Borrower shall be permitted to
terminate the S Corporation Agreement if the Borrower has used all tax loss
carryovers available to it that are attributable to the ownership by the
shareholders of the shares of the Borrower.

     (s) LEASES. The Borrower will not lease to any Person any of the Mortgaged
Properties, except that so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Borrower may enter into leases with terms of not more
than ten years and with market rate rents so long as (i) the Borrower shall have
granted to the Lender an assignment of rents and leases pursuant to an
assignment substantially in the form of Exhibit R, (ii) such lease does not
prohibit assignment of the Borrower's rights thereunder to the Lender and (iii)
the Borrower shall have taken all such further actions and executes all such
further documents and instruments as the Lender may reasonably determine to be
necessary or desirable to cause the execution, delivery and performance of such
documentation to be duly authorized, executed and delivered and to perfect,
enforce and protect the Liens (and the priority status thereof) of the Lender
thereon.

     (t) ACQUISITION OF STOCK OR ASSETS. The Borrower will not acquire or commit
or agree to acquire all or any material portion of the stock, securities or
assets of any other Person other than Investments permitted under Section
7.2(j).


                                      -71-

<PAGE>   77

     (u) USE OF PROCEEDS. The Borrower will not use any portion of the proceeds
of any Revolving Credit Loan or Real Estate Term Loan in violation of Section
2.4 or for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any "margin stock" (as defined
in Regulation G of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) in any
manner which violates the provisions of Regulation G, T, U or X of such Board of
Governors or for any other purpose in violation of any applicable statute or
regulation, or of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

     (v) COLLATERAL ACCESS AGREEMENTS. The Borrower will not suffer to be
terminated any Collateral Access Agreement.

     (w) REMOVAL OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS. The Borrower will not remove any
underground storage tank on any Mortgaged Property for a period greater than
thirty days without replacing such underground storage tank unless (i) it has
given the notice required under Section 7.1(h)(vi) and (ii) such Mortgaged
Property, together with all other Mortgaged Properties on which underground
storage tanks have been removed, have an aggregate Fair Market Value of less
than $2,000,000.

     (x) STORE CLOSINGS. The Borrower will not cease operations on any
Mortgaged Property which, together with all other Mortgaged Properties at which
operations have ceased, have a Fair Market Value as of the date of this
Agreement in excess of $3,000,000 unless prior thereto or simultaneously
therewith the Borrower grants to the Lender Mortgages on Qualified Properties
having an aggregate Fair Market Value not less than the Fair Market Value of
the Mortgaged Properties (determined as of the date of this Agreement) on which
operations have ceased.


                                  ARTICLE VIII.

                               FINANCIAL COVENANTS
                               -------------------

       Until termination of this Agreement and payment and satisfaction of all
Obligations:

<TABLE> 
    SECTION 8.1. LEVERAGE. The ratio of the Borrower's Liabilities to the
Borrower's Tangible Net Worth, on the last day of any fiscal quarter, shall not
be more than the ratio set forth below opposite such date:

<CAPTION>
          Period                                            Leverage Ratio
          ------                                            --------------
    <S>                                                         <C>
                                                                6.8:1
                                         
    September 30, 1996                                          6.6:1
                                         
     December 31, 1996                                          6.4:1
                                                            
      March 31, 1997                                            6.2:1
</TABLE>
                                     -72-

<PAGE>   78

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    <S>                                                         <C>
      June 30, 1997                                             6.0:1
                                                                
    September 30, 1997                                          5.8:1
                                                                
    December 31, 1997                                           5.6:1
                                                                
      March 31, 1998                                            5.4:1
                                                                
      June 30, 1998                                             5.2:1
                                                                
    September 30, 1998                                          5.0:1
                                                                
    December 31, 1998                                           4.8:1
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
    SECTION 8.2. FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO. The Borrower's Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio, for each fiscal period set forth below, shall not be less than
the ratio set forth below opposite such period.

<CAPTION>
  <S>                                                        <C>
  April 1, 1996 through June 30, 1996                        0.80:1
                                                             
  July 1, 1996 through September 30, 1996                    1.05:1
                                                             
  October 1, 1996 through December 31, 1996                  1.05:1
                                                             
  October 1, 1996 through March 31, 1997                     1.05:1
                                                             
  July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997                         1.05:1
                                                             
  October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1997                 1.05:1
                                                             
  January 1, 1997 through December 31, 1997                  1.05:1
                                                             
  April 1, 1997 through March 31, 1998                       1.05:1
                                                             
  July 1, 1997 through June 30, 1998                         1.05:1
                                                             
  October 1, 1997 through September 30, 1998                 1.05:1
                                                             
  January 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998                  1.05:1
                                                             
</TABLE>

     SECTION 8.3. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. The aggregate amount of the Borrower's
Capital Expenditures made in any fiscal year commencing with the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1996 shall not exceed $30,000,000; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
any amount of Capital Expenditures not made in any fiscal year may be made in
the next fiscal year, but not in any subsequent fiscal year.
                              
     SECTION 8.4. BUSINESS PLAN. The Lender and the Borrower acknowledge that
the foregoing financial covenants were established by the Lender and the
Borrower on the basis of the Business Plan provided to the Lender by the
Borrower in accordance with Section 5.1(a)(xiv) of this Agreement, after leaving
a margin in favor of the Borrower which the Lender and the Borrower have agreed
is fair. Accordingly, the Lender and the Borrower have agreed that any failure
by the Borrower to comply with the express terms of any Financial Covenant shall
be deemed material for purposes of this Agreement.
                              
                                      -73-
                              
<PAGE>   79
                                 ARTICLE IX.

                              EVENTS OF DEFAULT
                              -----------------



     SECTION 9.1. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. The occurrence of any of the following
events shall constitute an "Event of Default":

     (a) the Borrower shall fail to pay (i) all amounts payable under Section
2.5(a)(i), upon demand therefor and (ii) any principal, interest, fees, expenses
or other Obligations, within ten days of the date on which such amounts are
payable, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, or otherwise; or

     (b) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, condition,
covenant or agreement contained in (i) Section 7.2(a), (b), (d), (e), (f), (g),
(h), (i)(A), (q), (w) or (x) within thirty days of the initial date on which
such failure occurred or (ii) any other Section of this Agreement or any of the
other Loan Documents; or

     (c) the Borrower or any Material Affiliate shall dissolve, wind up or
otherwise cease to conduct its business; or

     (d) the Borrower or any Material Affiliate shall become the subject of (i)
an Insolvency Event except as set forth in clause (e) of the definition of
Insolvency Event or (ii) an Insolvency Event as set forth in clause (e) of the
definition of Insolvency Event that is not resolved or dismissed within sixty
days; or

     (e) the Borrower shall fail to pay any Indebtedness under the Indenture or
under the Indenture dated as of October 1, 1993 between the Borrower and State
Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee, as amended supplemental or otherwise
modified from time to time or other Indebtedness in excess of $7,500,000 in the
aggregate (other than the Indebtedness hereunder) or any interest or premium
thereon, when due (whether at scheduled maturity or by required prepayment,
acceleration, demand or otherwise), or (iii) shall otherwise be in breach or
default in any of its obligations under any agreement with respect to any such
Indebtedness, if the effect of such breach, default or failure to pay is to
cause such Indebtedness to become due or redeemed or permit the holder or
holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or
holders) to declare such Indebtedness due or require such Indebtedness to be
redeemed prior to its stated maturity; or

     (f) any representation or warranty made by the Borrower under or in
connection with any Loan Document, Financial Statement or certificate delivered
in connection therewith shall

                                    -74-

<PAGE>   80


prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
or

     (g) any Federal tax lien for more than $250,000 is filed of record against
the Borrower and is not bonded or discharged within ten Business Days or any tax
assessment for more than $7,500,000 is rendered against the Borrower that is not
bonded or discharged within ten Business Days; or

     (h) less than a majority of the members of the Borrower's board of
directors shall be Non-Family Directors; or

     (i) more than 50% in the aggregate of the voting stock of the Borrower
shall become subject to any contractual, judicial or statutory Lien (other than
any Lien in favor of Coven-Petro Insurance Company existing on the date of this
Agreement) which Lien shall not be discharged within forty-five days; or

     (j) any judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of, (i)
$500,000 in the aggregate in the case of judgments and orders in favor of
vendors, suppliers or other trade creditors or (ii) $5,000,000 in the aggregate
in the case of all other judgments and orders, shall be rendered against the
Borrower and shall not be stayed, vacated, bonded or discharged within thirty
days; or

     (k) any covenant, agreement or obligation of the Borrower contained in or
evidenced by any of the Loan Documents shall cease to be enforceable, or shall
be determined to be unenforceable, in accordance with its terms; the Borrower
shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under any of the Loan Documents or any
Liens granted in connection therewith; or any Liens granted in any of the
Collateral shall be determined to be void, voidable or invalid, are subordinated
or are not given the priority contemplated by this Agreement; or

     (l) a Security Document shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the
terms thereof) cease to create a valid and, except as a result of the failure to
file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements, perfected first priority
(except as otherwise permitted under Section 7.2(h)) Lien on the Collateral
purported to be covered thereby; or

     (m) the independent public accountants for the Borrower shall deliver a
Qualified opinion on any Financial Statement; or

     (n) the occurrence of any event or condition that, in the Lender's
reasonable judgment, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect; or

     (o) any of the chief executive officer, chief operating officer or chief
financial officer of the Borrower is terminated or resigns from his or her
office and is not replaced with a person reasonably acceptable to the Lender; or


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<PAGE>   81

     (p) D.B. Haseotes shall be involved in any of the daily operations or
management of the Borrower except (i) as expressly authorized by the president
or chief executive officer of the Borrower or (ii) in connection with overseeing
the Borrower's interests in Gulf Oil or the Borrower's relationships with Vitol
S.A. Inc., Newfoundland Processing Ltd. or the refinery operations of either of
such companies; or

     (q) the failure of the Borrower to receive all distributions declared by
Gulf Oil when payable; or

     (r) the Borrower ceases to be an eligible corporation under Subchapter S of
the Internal Revenue Code for any reason whatsoever unless the Borrower has used
all tax loss carryovers available to it that are attributable to the ownership
by the shareholders of the shares of the Borrower; or

     (s) the shareholders of the Borrower as of the date of this Agreement shall
cease to own or control, beneficially and of record, at least 50% of the voting
stock in the Borrower, except for any transfer of voting stock by any such
shareholder to a member of its immediate family solely for estate planning
purposes where such shareholder retains the right to control the voting interest
in such voting stock; or

     (t) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower is amended
or otherwise modified and such amendment or other modification directly or
indirectly affects this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any of the
matters or transactions contemplated or covered hereby or thereby.

     SECTION 9.2. ACCELERATION AND CASH COLLATERALIZATION. Upon the occurrence
and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Lender may take any or
all of the following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Lender to
enforce its claims against the Borrower:

     (a) ACCELERATION. Upon delivery of written notice to the Borrower from the
Lender, all Obligations shall be declared to be immediately due and payable
(except with respect to any Event of Default under Section 9.1(b)(ii) (only
insofar as such Event of Default arises from the Borrower's breach of Section
7.2(r)(ii)), 9.1(d), 9.1(h), 9.1(o) or 9.1(p), in which case all Obligations
shall automatically become immediately due and payable without the necessity of
any notice or other demand to the Borrower) without presentment, demand, protest
or any other action or obligation of the Lender.

     (b) TERMINATION OF COMMITMENT. Upon delivery of written notice to the
Borrower from the Lender, the Lender's obligation to make Advances hereunder
shall be immediately terminated and, at all times thereafter, all Loans made by
the Lender pursuant to this Agreement shall be in the Lender's sole discretion.
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, until all Obligations shall
have been fully and indefeasibly paid and satisfied, the Lender shall retain all
security in all guaranties and in all existing and future Receivables,
Inventory,

                                      -76-

<PAGE>   82

and other collateral held by it hereunder or under any other agreement, and the
Borrower shall continue to assign Receivables and consign Inventory to the
Lender and continue to turn over collections to it.

     (c) CASH COLLATERALIZATION. With respect to all Letters of Credit
outstanding at the time of an acceleration pursuant to Section 9.2(a), the
Borrower shall at such time deposit in a cash collateral account established by
the Lender an amount equal to 100% of the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired
amount of such Letters of Credit. Amounts held in such cash collateral account
shall be (i) under the sole dominion and control of the Lender, (ii) invested in
Cash Equivalents and (iii) applied by the Lender to the payment of drafts drawn
under such Letters of Credit, and the balance, if any, in such cash collateral
account, after all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn
upon shall be applied to repay the other Obligations. After all such Letters of
Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, all Letter of Credit
obligations shall have been satisfied and all other Obligations shall have been
indefeasibly paid in full in cash, the balance, if any, in such cash collateral
account shall be returned to the Borrower.

     (d) RELEASE OF LIENS. Upon (i) the full and final indefeasible payment in
cash of the Loans and all other Obligations other than Obligations in respect of
Letters of Credit and (ii) the deposit by the Borrower of cash pursuant to
Section 9.2(c), the Lender agrees, at the request of the Borrower, to reassign
and redeliver to the Borrower all of the Collateral hereunder (other than cash
and Cash Equivalents which shall be held by the Lender pursuant to Section
9.2(c) and the other terms of this Agreement) which has not been sold or
disposed of or applied by the Lender in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. Such reassignment and redelivery shall be without warranty by or
recourse to the Lender, except as to the absence of any prior assignments by the
Lender of its interest in such Collateral, and shall be at the sole expense of
the Borrower. The Lender shall also execute and deliver to the Borrower, at the
sole expense of the Borrower, such Uniform Commercial Code termination
statements, mortgage discharges and other documents as may be reasonably
requested by the Borrower to effect the reassignment and redelivery of such
Collateral.

     SECTION 9.3. REMEDIES.

     (a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
the Lender shall have all rights and remedies with respect to the Obligations
and the Collateral under applicable law and the Loan Documents, and the Lender
may do any or all of the following:


                                      -77-

<PAGE>   83

          (i) remove for copying all documents, instruments, files and records
     (including the copying of any computer records) relating to the Receivables
     or use (at the expense of the Borrower) such supplies or space of the
     Borrower at the Borrower's places of business necessary to administer and
     collect the Receivables;

          (ii) accelerate or extend the time of payment, compromise, issue
     credits, or bring suit on the Receivables (in the name of the Borrower or
     the Lender) and otherwise administer and collect the Receivables;

          (iii) sell, assign and deliver the Receivables and any returned,
     reclaimed or repossessed merchandise, with or without advertisement, at
     public or private sale, for cash, on credit or otherwise, subject to
     applicable law; and

          (iv) foreclose the security interests created pursuant to the Loan
     Documents by any available procedure, or take possession of any or all of
     the Collateral, without judicial process and enter any premises where any
     Collateral may be located for the purpose of taking possession of or
     removing the same.

The Lender may bid or become a purchaser at any sale, free from any right of
redemption, which right is expressly waived by the Borrower. If notice of
intended disposition of any Collateral is required by law, it is agreed that
five Business Days notice shall constitute reasonable notification. The Borrower
will assemble the Collateral and make it available at such locations as the
Lender may specify, whether at the premises of the Borrower or elsewhere, and
will make available to the Lender the premises and facilities of the Borrower
for the purpose of the Lender's taking possession of or removing the Collateral
or putting the Collateral in saleable form.

     (b) The proceeds of all Collateral granted to the Lender pursuant to the
Loan Documents or otherwise shall be applied by the Lender to the payment of the
Obligations in the following order:

          (i) FIRST, to the payment of all costs and expenses of the Lender
     incurred in connection with the preservation, collection and enforcement of
     the Obligations or of any of the liens granted to the Lender pursuant to
     the Loan Documents or otherwise;

          (ii) SECOND, to the payment of that portion of the Obligations
     constituting accrued and unpaid interest and fees and indemnities payable
     under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;


                                      -78-

<PAGE>   84

          (iii) THIRD, to the payment of the principal of the Real Estate Term
     Loans until the outstanding principal amount of the Real Estate Term Loans
     shall be paid in full;

          (iv) FOURTH, to the payment of the principal of the Revolving Credit
     Loans until the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans
     shall be paid in full;

          (v) FIFTH, to the payment of all other Obligations until such other
     Obligations shall be paid in full; and

          (vi) SIXTH, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have
     been fully paid and satisfied, shall, except as otherwise provided in the
     Loan Documents, be deposited by the Lender in an account designated by the
     Borrower, or paid over to such other Person or Persons as may be required
     by law.

     SECTION 9.4. RIGHT OF SETOFF. In addition to and not in limitation of all
rights of offset that the Lender may have under applicable law, upon the
occurrence of any Event of Default, and whether or not the Lender has made any
demand or the Obligations of the Borrower have matured, the Lender shall have
the right to appropriate and apply to the payment of the Obligations of the
Borrower all deposits and other obligations then or thereafter owing by the
Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower. In the event that
the Lender exercises any of its rights under this Section 9.4, the Lender shall
provide notice to the Borrower of such exercise, PROVIDED that the failure to
give such notice shall not affect the validity of the exercise of such rights.

     SECTION 9.5. LICENSE FOR USE OF SOFTWARE AND OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
Unless expressly prohibited by any licensor thereof, the Lender is hereby
granted a license to use all computer software programs, data bases, processes,
trademarks, tradenames (including the tradename "Cumberland" and "Gulf") and
materials used by the Borrower in connection with its businesses or in
connection with the Collateral. The Lender agrees not to use any such license
prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default.

     SECTION 9.6. NO MARSHALLING; DEFICIENCIES; REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. The net
cash proceeds resulting from the Lender's exercise of any of the foregoing
rights to liquidate all or substantially all of the Collateral (after deducting
all of the Lender's expenses related thereto) shall be applied by the Lender in
accordance with Section 9.3, whether due or to become due. The Borrower shall
remain liable to the Lender for any deficiencies and the Lender in turn agrees
to remit to the Borrower or its successor or assign, any surplus resulting

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<PAGE>   85

therefrom. The foregoing remedies are cumulative, may be exercised in such order
and with respect to such Collateral as the Lender may deem desirable and are not
intended to be exhaustive and the full or partial exercise of any of them shall
not preclude the full or partial exercise of any other available remedy under
this Agreement, under any other Loan Document, at equity or at law.

     SECTION 9.7. WAIVERS. Except as may be otherwise specifically provided
herein or in any other Loan Document, the Borrower hereby waives any right, to
the extent applicable law permits, to receive prior notice of or a judicial or
other hearing with respect to any action or prejudgment remedy or proceeding by
the Lender to take possession, exercise control over, or dispose of any item of
Collateral in any instance (regardless of where the same may be located) where
such action is permitted under the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or by applicable law or of the time, place or terms of sale in
connection with the exercise of the Lender's rights hereunder and also waives,
to the extent permitted by law, any bonds, security or sureties required by any
statute, rule or any other law as an incident to any taking of possession by the
Lender of any Collateral. The Borrower also waives any damages (direct,
consequential or otherwise) occasioned by the enforcement of the Lender's rights
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document including the taking of
possession of any Collateral or the giving of notice to any account debtor or
the collection of any Receivable, all to the extent that such waiver is
permitted by law. The Borrower also consents that the Lender may enter upon any
premises owned by or leased to it without obligations to pay rent or for use and
occupancy, through self-help, without judicial process and without having first
obtained an order of any court. These waivers and all other waivers provided for
in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been negotiated by the
parties and the Borrower acknowledges that it has been represented by counsel of
its own choice and has consulted such counsel with respect to its rights
hereunder.

     SECTION 9.8. FURTHER RIGHTS OF THE LENDER.

     (a) FURTHER ASSURANCES. The Borrower shall do all things and shall deliver
all instruments reasonably requested by the Lender to protect or perfect any
Lien given hereunder including, without limitation, financing statements under
the Uniform Commercial Code.

     (b) INSURANCE; ETC. In the event that the Borrower shall fail to purchase
or maintain insurance (where applicable), or to pay any tax, assessment,
government charge or levy, except as the same may be otherwise permitted
hereunder or which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings,
or in the event that any Lien prohibited hereby shall not be paid in full or
discharged, or in the event that the Borrower shall fail

                                      -80-

<PAGE>   86


to perform or comply with any other covenant, promise or obligation to the
Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document, the Lender may upon ten days'
prior written notice (but shall not be required to) perform, pay, satisfy,
discharge or bond the same for the account of the Borrower, and all amounts so
paid by the Lender shall be treated as an Advance hereunder to the Borrower and
shall constitute Obligations.


                                 ARTICLE X.
                                      
                       ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS
                       ------------------------------

     SECTION 10.1. ASSIGNMENTS. Neither the Borrower nor the Lender may assign
this Agreement or any right or obligation hereunder without the prior written
consent of the other party, PROVIDED that the Lender may assign this Agreement
or any right or obligation hereunder (including, without limitation, all or a
portion of the Loans and the Notes) without the prior consent of the Borrower in
connection with the sale of all or substantially all of the Lender's finance
business to one or more Persons.

     SECTION 10.2. PARTICIPATIONS. The Lender may sell participations in or to
all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including,
without limitation, all or a portion of the Loans and the Notes); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that (i) the Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain
unchanged, (ii) the Lender shall remain solely responsible to the Borrower for
the performance of such obligations, (iii) the Lender shall remain the holder of
the Notes for all purposes of this Agreement and (iv) no participant under any
such participation shall have any right to approve any amendment or waiver of
any provision of any Loan Document, or any consent to any departure by the
Borrower therefrom, except to the extent that such amendment, waiver or consent
would reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other
amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such
participation, postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or
interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in each
case to the extent subject to such participation, or release all or
substantially all of the Collateral. No participant shall be a Lender for any
purpose hereunder by reason of such participant's participation.

     SECTION 10.3. DISCLOSURE. The Lender may, in connection with any permitted
assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to
this Article X, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or
participant any information relating to the Borrower furnished to the Lender by
or on behalf of the Borrower if such assignee or participant or proposed
assignee or participant shall have agreed in writing to keep such information
confidential.


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<PAGE>   87



     SECTION 10.4. SECURITY INTEREST TO FEDERAL RESERVE BANK. Notwithstanding
any other provision set forth in this Agreement, the Lender may at any time
create a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Loans and the Notes) in favor of
any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System.


                                 ARTICLE XI.

                             GENERAL PROVISIONS
                             ------------------

     SECTION 11.1. GOVERNING LAW. THE VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT
OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, WHETHER
SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE
INTERNAL LAWS (AS OPPOSED TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PROVISIONS OTHER THAN SECTION
5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW) AND DECISIONS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.

     SECTION 11.2. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. ALL DISPUTES BETWEEN THE BORROWER
AND THE LENDER, WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE, SHALL
BE RESOLVED ONLY BY STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK, AND
THE COURTS TO WHICH AN APPEAL THEREFROM MAY BE TAKEN; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
THE LENDER SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, TO
PROCEED AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTY IN ANY LOCATION REASONABLY SELECTED
BY THE LENDER IN GOOD FAITH TO ENABLE THE LENDER TO REALIZE ON SUCH PROPERTY, OR
TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT OR OTHER COURT ORDER IN FAVOR OF THE LENDER. THE BORROWER
AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT ANY PERMISSIVE COUNTERCLAIMS, SETOFFS OR
CROSS-CLAIMS IN ANY PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY THE LENDER. THE BORROWER WAIVES ANY
OBJECTION THAT IT MAY HAVE TO THE LOCATION OF THE COURT IN WHICH THE LENDER HAS
COMMENCED A PROCEEDING, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION TO THE
LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON FORUM NON CONVENIENS.

     SECTION 11.3. SERVICE OF PROCESS. THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
DESIGNATES GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR, 101 FEDERAL STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
02110, ATTN: ALLAN VAN GESTEL, ESQ. AS THE DESIGNEE AND AGENT OF THE BORROWER TO
RECEIVE, FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER, SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY LEGAL
ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT.
IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT A COPY OF SUCH PROCESS SERVED ON SUCH AGENT AT ITS ADDRESS
WILL BE PROMPTLY FORWARDED BY MAIL TO THE BORROWER, BUT THE FAILURE OF THE
BORROWER TO RECEIVE SUCH COPY SHALL NOT AFFECT IN ANY WAY THE SERVICE OF SUCH
PROCESS. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE LENDER TO SERVE LEGAL
PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.


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<PAGE>   88


     SECTION 11.4. JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY.

     SECTION 11.5. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. THE LENDER SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY
TO THE BORROWER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE) FOR LOSSES
SUFFERED BY THE BORROWER IN CONNECTION WITH, ARISING OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY
RELATED TO THE TRANSACTIONS OR RELATIONSHIPS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, OR
ANY ACT, OMISSION OR EVENT OCCURRING IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, UNLESS IT IS
DETERMINED BY A FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT OR COURT ORDER BINDING ON THE
LENDER THAT THE LOSSES WERE THE RESULT OF ACTS OR OMISSIONS CONSTITUTING GROSS
NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE LENDER. THE BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES ALL
FUTURE CLAIMS AGAINST THE LENDER FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR
PUNITIVE DAMAGES UNLESS RESULTING FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL
MISCONDUCT OF THE LENDER.

     SECTION 11.6. DELAYS; PARTIAL EXERCISE OF REMEDIES. No delay or omission of
the Lender to exercise any right or remedy hereunder shall impair any such right
or operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise by the Lender of
any right or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or
preclude any other right or remedy.

     SECTION 11.7. NOTICES. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices and
correspondences hereunder shall be in writing and sent by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested, by overnight delivery service, with
all charges prepaid, or by telecopier followed by a hard copy sent by regular
mail, if to the Lender, then to Transamerica Business Credit Corporation, 555
Theodore Fremd Avenue, Suite C-301, Rye, New York 10580, Telecopy: (914)
921-0110, Attn.: Mr. Steven R. Fischer, Senior Vice President, with a copy to
Luskin & Stern, 330 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Telecopy: (212)
293-2705, Attn: Nathan M. Eisler, Esq., and if to the Borrower, then to
Cumberland Farms, Inc., 777 Dedham Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021,
Telecopy: (617) 821-5723, Attn: Ms. Lily H. Bentas, President, with a copy to
Cumberland Farms, Inc., 777 Dedham Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021,
Telecopy: (617) 821-5723, Attn: General Counsel. All such notices and
correspondence shall be deemed given (i) if sent by certified or registered
mail, three Business Days after being postmarked, (ii) if sent by overnight
delivery service, when received at the above stated addresses or when delivery
is refused and (iii) if sent by telecopier transmission, when receipt of such
transmission is acknowledged.

     SECTION 11.8. INDEMNIFICATION; REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES OF COLLECTION.

     (a) The Borrower hereby indemnifies and agrees, whether or not any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents are
consummated, to defend

                                      -83-

<PAGE>   89

and hold harmless (on an after-tax basis) the Lender, its successors and assigns
and their respective directors, officers, agents, employees, advisors,
shareholders, attorneys and Affiliates (each, an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY") from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages, (other than consequential damages
and loss of anticipated profits or earnings) liabilities, deficiencies,
obligations, fines, penalties, actions (whether threatened or existing),
judgments, suits (whether threatened or existing), settlement payments, costs or
expenses (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel,
experts, consultants and other professionals) incurred by any of them
(collectively, "CLAIMS" (except, in the case of each Indemnified Party, to the
extent that any Claim is determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a
court of competent jurisdiction to have directly resulted from such Indemnified
Party's gross negligence or willful misconduct) arising out of or by reason of
(i) any litigation, investigation, claim or proceeding which arises out of or is
related to (A) this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, (B) any actual or proposed use by the Borrower
of the proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans or the Real Estate Term Loans or
(C) the Lender's entering into this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any
other agreements and documents relating hereto, including, without limitation,
amounts paid in settlement, court costs and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel incurred in connection with any such litigation,
investigation, claim or proceeding, (ii) any remedial or other action taken by
the Borrower in connection with compliance by the Borrower, or any of its
properties, with any federal, state or local Environmental Laws and (iii) any
pending, threatened or actual action, claim, proceeding or suit by any
shareholder or director of the Borrower or any actual or purported violation of
the Borrower's charter, by-laws or any other agreement or instrument to which
the Borrower is a party or by which any of its properties is bound. None of the
Lender or any other Indemnified Party shall be responsible to the Borrower or
any successor, assign or third-party beneficiary of the Borrower for indirect,
punitive, exemplary or consequential damages that may be alleged as a result of
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. In addition, the Borrower shall,
upon demand, pay to the Lender all costs and expenses incurred by the Lender
(including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and other
professionals) in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery,
administration (other than ordinary expenses of the Lender in administering the
Loans), modification and amendment of the Loan Documents, and pay to the Lender
all costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel and other professionals) paid or incurred by the Lender in (A) enforcing
or defending its rights under or in respect of this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents or any other document or instrument now or hereafter executed and
delivered in connection herewith, (B) collecting the Obligations or otherwise
administering this Agreement and (C) foreclosing or otherwise

                                      -84-

<PAGE>   90

realizing upon the Collateral or any part thereof. If and to the extent that the
Obligations of the Borrower hereunder are unenforceable for any reason, the
Borrower hereby agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and
satisfaction of the Obligations which is permissible under applicable law.

     (b) The Lender shall be entitled to establish, in its sole and absolute
discretion, a reserve out of amounts available for borrowing under Section 2.1,
in the amount of any Claims in connection with a Claim arising under Section
11.8(a)(iii) incurred by or asserted against an Indemnified Party, whether
matured or unmatured, contingent or liquidated, other than for threatened Claims
for which such Indemnified Party has not incurred any out-of-pocket expenses.

     (c) The Borrower shall be entitled to, and if requested by any Indemnified
Party shall, assume and defend any action, claim, proceeding, suit, violation or
any other matter for which indemnification is sought under Section 11.8(a), with
counsel of its choice at its sole cost and expense, PROVIDED that (i) such
counsel shall be satisfactory to each affected Indemnified Party and (ii) such
affected Indemnified Party shall be entitled to employ separate counsel and to
participate in the defense of any action, claim, proceeding, suit, violation or
other matter at the sole cost and expense of the Borrower and, PROVIDED,
FURTHER, that the Borrower shall not assume or defend any such action, claim,
proceeding, suit, violation or other matter, and shall discontinue any
assumption or defense of such action, claim, proceeding, suit, violation or
other matter, if requested by any Indemnified Party in its sole discretion.
Nothing contained in this Section 11.8(c) shall be deemed to require an
Indemnified Party to contest any Claim or to assume responsibility for or
control of any action, claim, proceeding, suit, violation or other matter with
respect thereto.

     (d) The Borrower agrees that it shall not enter into any settlement or
other compromise with respect to, or appeal any adverse determination of, any
action, claim, proceeding, suit, violation or any other matter to which an
Indemnified Party is a named party or which affects an Indemnified Party without
the prior written consent of such Indemnified Party.

     (e) The Borrower's obligations under Sections 4.8, 4.9 and this Section
11.8 shall survive any termination of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and the payment in full of the Obligations, and are in addition to,
and not in substitution of, any other of the other Obligations.

     SECTION 11.9. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. Any provision of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment
or waiver is in writing and signed by the Borrower and the Lender and then any
such amendment or waiver shall be effective only to the extent set forth
therein.

                                      -85-

<PAGE>   91


     SECTION 11.10. COUNTERPARTS; TELECOPIED SIGNATURES. This Agreement and any
waiver or amendment hereto may be executed in any number of counterparts and by
the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and
delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one
and the same instrument. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents and
any notices given in connection herewith or therewith may be executed and
delivered by telecopier or other facsimile transmission all with the same force
and effect as if the same was a fully executed and delivered original
counterpart.

     SECTION 11.11. SEVERABILITY. In case any provision in or obligation under
this Agreement or any Revolving Note, any Term Note or any other Loan Document
shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of
such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.

     SECTION 11.12. MAXIMUM RATE. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document,
the parties hereto hereby agree that all agreements between them under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, whether now existing or hereafter
arising and whether written or oral, are expressly limited so that in no
contingency or event whatsoever shall the amount paid, or agreed to be paid, to
the Lender for the use, forbearance, or detention of the money loaned to the
Borrower and evidenced hereby or thereby or for the performance or payment of
any covenant or obligation contained herein or therein, exceed the maximum
non-usurious interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be
contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the Obligations, under
the laws of the State of New York (or the laws of any other jurisdiction whose
laws may be mandatorily applicable notwithstanding other provisions of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents), or under applicable federal laws which
may presently or hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum
non-usurious interest rate than under the laws of the State of New York (or such
other jurisdiction), in any case after taking into account, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, any and all relevant payments or charges under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents executed in connection herewith, and any
available exemptions, exceptions and exclusions (the "Highest Lawful Rate"). If
due to any circumstance whatsoever, fulfillment of any provisions of this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents at the time performance of such
provision shall be due shall exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, then,
automatically, the obligation to be fulfilled shall be modified or reduced to
the extent necessary to limit such interest to the Highest Lawful Rate, and if
from any such circumstance the Lender should ever receive anything of value
deemed interest by applicable law which would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate,
such excessive interest shall be applied to the reduction of the

                                      -86-

<PAGE>   92

principal amount then outstanding hereunder or on account of any other then
outstanding Obligations and not to the payment of interest, or if such excessive
interest exceeds the principal unpaid balance then outstanding hereunder and
such other then outstanding Obligations, such excess shall be refunded to the
Borrower. All sums paid or agreed to be paid to the Lender for the use,
forbearance, or detention of the Obligations and other indebtedness of the
Borrower to the Lender shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be
amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full term of such
indebtedness, until payment in full thereof, so that the actual rate of interest
on account of all such indebtedness does not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate
throughout the entire term of such indebtedness. The terms and provisions of
this Section shall control every other provision of this Agreement, the other
Loan Documents and all other agreements between the parties hereto.

     SECTION 11.13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement and
the other Loan Documents constitute the entire agreement between the parties,
supersede any prior written and verbal agreements between them, and shall bind
and benefit the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.


                                      -87-

<PAGE>   93


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their proper and duly authorized officers as of the date first set
forth above.


 
                                         CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.



                                         By: /s/ Lily H Bentas
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Name: Lily H Bentas
                                            Title: President


                                         TRANSAMERICA BUSINESS CREDIT
                                           CORPORATION



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

                                    -88-

<PAGE>   94
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their proper and duly authorized officers as of the date first set
forth above.


 
                                         CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.



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


                                         TRANSAMERICA BUSINESS CREDIT
                                           CORPORATION



                                         By: /s/ Steven Fischer 
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Name: Steven Fischer 
                                            Title: Senior Vice President

                                    -88-


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE JUNE
30, 1996 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          22,599
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   21,865
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,548
<INVENTORY>                                     31,525
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                84,093
<PP&E>                                         339,912
<DEPRECIATION>                                 120,984
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 351,586
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           79,328
<BONDS>                                              0
<COMMON>                                           121
                                0
                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                      30,734
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   351,586
<SALES>                                      1,017,781
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,030,655
<CGS>                                          784,720
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  999,528
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              16,972
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,155
<INCOME-TAX>                                       792
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             13,363
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,363
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        

</TABLE>


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