FIFTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Exhibit (b)(7)

FIFTH AMENDMENT

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated as of October 2, 2003, is entered into by and among AMN HEALTHCARE, INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Borrower”), AMN HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC. (formerly known as AMN Holdings, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Parent”), the Subsidiary Guarantors signatory hereto, the lenders identified on the signature pages hereto as the Lenders (the “Lenders”) and BANK OF AMERICA, N. A., as Agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Agent”).

RECITALS

A. The Borrower, the Parent, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Lenders and the Agent, are party to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 16, 2001, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 8, 2002, as amended by that certain Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 2, 2002, as amended by that certain Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 8, 2002 and as amended by that certain Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 10, 2003 (as amended, the “Existing Credit Agreement”). Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms used in this Amendment, including its preamble and recitals, have the meanings provided in the Existing Credit Agreement.

B. The Borrower has requested certain modifications to the Existing Credit Agreement.

C. Such modifications require the consent of the Lenders.

D. The Lenders have consented to the requested modifications on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

E. The Borrower has requested an additional $130 million term loan and the Tranche B Lenders (as defined below) have agreed to make such term loan, and to become parties to the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby, on the terms and conditions set forth below.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

I. AMENDMENTS TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4 in Article IV hereof, the Lenders hereby agree that from and after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (as defined below), (i) the Existing Credit Agreement is amended in its entirety to read in the form of such Credit Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A to this Amendment, (ii) Schedule 2.1(a) of the Existing Credit Agreement is amended in its entirety to read in the form of such Schedule 2.1(a) attached hereto as Exhibit B to this Amendment, (iii) Schedule 7.6 of the Existing Credit Agreement is amended in its entirety to read in the form of such Schedule 7.6 attached hereto as Exhibit C to this Amendment, (iv) Exhibit 2.1(b)(i) of the Existing Credit Agreement is amended in its entirety to read in the form of such Exhibit 2.1(b)(i) attached hereto as Exhibit D to this Amendment, (v) the Existing Credit Agreement is amended by adding Exhibit 2.4(f) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E to this Amendment, (vi) Exhibit 3.2 of the Existing Credit Agreement is amended in its entirety to read in the form of such Exhibit 3.2 attached hereto as Exhibit F to this Amendment and (vii) Exhibit 11.3(b) of the Existing Credit Agreement is amended in its entirety to read in the form of such Exhibit 11.3(b) attached hereto as Exhibit G to this Amendment.

II. TRANCHE B TERM LOAN

From and after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, by execution of this Amendment, each Person identified on the signature pages hereto as a Tranche B Lender (a “Tranche B Lender”) hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Amendment, such Person will be deemed to be a party to the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby and a “Tranche B Lender” and “Lender” for all purposes of the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby, and shall have all of the obligations of a Tranche B Lender and Lender thereunder as if it had executed the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby. Such Person hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions applicable to the Tranche B Lenders and the Lenders contained in the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

III. JOINDER OF AMN STAFFING SERVICES, INC.

1. AMN Staffing Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AMN Staffing”) hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms with the Agent and the Lenders that, by its execution of this Amendment, AMN Staffing will be deemed to be a party to the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby and a “Guarantor” for all purposes of the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby, and shall have all of the obligations of a Guarantor thereunder as if it had executed the Existing Credit Agreement. AMN Staffing hereby ratifies, as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions applicable to the Guarantors contained in the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing terms of this paragraph 1, AMN Staffing hereby (i) jointly and severally together with the other Guarantors, guarantees to each Lender and the Agent, as provided in Section 4 of the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby, the prompt payment and performance of the Credit Party Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof.

2. AMN Staffing hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Amendment, AMN Staffing will be deemed to be a party to the Security Agreement, and shall have all the obligations of an “Obligor” (as such term is defined in the Security Agreement) thereunder as if it had executed the Security Agreement. AMN Staffing hereby ratifies, as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Security Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing terms of this paragraph 2, AMN Staffing hereby grants to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a continuing security interest in, and a right of set off against any and all right, title and interest of AMN Staffing in and to the Collateral (as such term is defined in Section 2 of the Security Agreement) of AMN Staffing. AMN Staffing hereby represents and warrants to the Agent that: (i) the chief executive office and chief place of business of AMN Staffing are (and for the prior four months have been) located at the locations set forth on Exhibit H to this Amendment and AMN Staffing keeps its books and records at such locations, (ii) the location of all Collateral owned by the AMN is as shown on Exhibit H to this Amendment, (iii) the legal name of AMN Staffing is as shown on Exhibit H to this Amendment and it has not in the past four months changed its name, been party to a merger, consolidation or other change in structure or used any tradename except as set forth on Exhibit H to this Amendment and (iv) the patents and trademarks listed on Exhibit H to this Amendment constitute all of the registrations and applications for the patents and trademarks owned by AMN Staffing.

3. AMN Staffing hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Amendment, AMN Staffing will be deemed to be a party to the Pledge Agreement, and shall have all the obligations of a “Obligor” thereunder as if it had executed the Pledge Agreement. AMN Staffing hereby ratifies, as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, and agrees to be bound by, all the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Pledge Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing terms of this paragraph 3, (i) AMN Staffing hereby pledges and assigns to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, and grants to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a continuing security interest in any and all right, title and interest of AMN Staffing in and to Pledged Shares (as such term is defined in Section 2 of the Pledge Agreement) listed on Exhibit H to this Amendment and the other Pledged Collateral (as such term is defined in Section 2 of the Pledge Agreement) and (ii) the Borrower hereby pledges and assigns to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, and grants to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a continuing security interest in any and all right, title and interest of the Borrower in and to the Pledged Shares (as such term is defined in Section 2 of the Pledge Agreement) of AMN Staffing listed on Exhibit H to this Amendment and the other Pledged Collateral (as such term is defined in Section 2 of the Pledge Agreement).

4. The address of AMN Staffing for purposes of all notices and other communications is the address listed on Exhibit H to this Amendment.

5. AMN Staffing hereby waives acceptance by the Agent and the Lenders of the guaranty by AMN Staffing under Section 4 of the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby upon the execution of this Amendment by AMN Staffing.

IV. MISCELLANEOUS

1. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Credit Parties represents and warrants to the Lenders and the Agent as follows:

(i) It has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment.

(ii) This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such Credit Party and constitutes such Credit Party’s legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited (x) by general principles of equity and conflicts of laws (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law) or (y) by bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement, of creditors’ rights.

(iii) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or governmental authority or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Credit Party of this Amendment (except for those which have been obtained on or prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date).

(iv) The execution and delivery of this Amendment does not diminish or reduce its obligations under the Credit Documents (including, without limitation, in the case of each Guarantor, such Guarantor’s guaranty pursuant to Section 4 of the Existing Credit Agreement) in any manner, except as specifically set forth herein.

(v) Such Credit Party has no claims, counterclaims, offsets, or defenses to the Credit Documents and the performance of its obligations thereunder, or if such Credit Party has any such claims, counterclaims, offsets, or defenses to the Credit Documents or any transaction related to the Credit Documents, the same are hereby waived, relinquished and released in consideration of the Lenders’ execution and delivery of this Amendment.

(vi) The representations and warranties of the Credit Parties set forth in Section 6 of the Existing Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof (except those that expressly relate to an earlier date) and all of the provisions of the Credit Documents, except as amended hereby, are in full force and effect.

(vii) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Amendment and after giving effect hereto, no unwaived event has occurred and is continuing on the date hereof which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.

2. Liens. Each Credit Party affirms the liens and security interests created and granted by it in the Credit Documents (including, but not limited to, the Pledge Agreement and

the Security Agreement) and agrees that this Amendment shall in no manner adversely affect or impair such liens and security interests.

3. Effect of Amendment. Except as expressly modified and amended in this Amendment, all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Credit Documents shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect. The Credit Documents and any and all other documents heretofore, now or hereafter executed and delivered pursuant to the terms of the Existing Credit Agreement are hereby amended so that any reference to the Existing Credit Agreement shall mean a reference to the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

4. Condition Precedent. This Amendment shall become effective on the day (the “Fifth Amendment Effective Date”) on which each of the following conditions precedent has been satisfied:

(a) Execution of Counterparts of Amendment. The Agent shall have received counterparts of this Amendment, which collectively shall have been duly executed on behalf of each of the Borrower, each of the Guarantors and the Lenders.

(b) Corporate Documents. The Agent shall have received the following:

(i) Resolutions. Copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of each Credit Party approving and adopting this Amendment, the transactions contemplated therein and authorizing execution and delivery thereof, certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Credit Party to be true and correct and in force and effect as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.

(ii) Good Standing. Copies of certificates of good standing, existence or its equivalent with respect to each Credit Party certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authorities of the state or other jurisdiction of incorporation and the state or other jurisdiction of the chief executive office and principal place of business.

(iii) Incumbency. An incumbency certificate of each Credit Party certified by a secretary or assistant secretary to be true and correct as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.

(c) Execution of Tranche B Notes. Each Tranche B Lender requesting a promissory note shall have received a promissory note representing such Tranche B Lender’s commitment which shall have been duly executed on behalf of the Borrower and dated the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.

(d) Opinion of Counsel. The Agent shall have received an opinion of Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, acting as counsel to each of the Credit Parties, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, together with such opinions of special and local counsel for the Credit Parties as may reasonably be requested by counsel for the Agent.

(e) Officer’s Certificate. The Agent shall have received from the Borrower a certificate executed by an Executive Officer to the effect that as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date all representations and warranties made by the Borrower and each other Credit Party in this Amendment and each other Credit Document are true and correct in all material respects (except for those that relate to an earlier date).

(f) No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(g) Fees and Expenses. The payment of the Borrower (i) to each Lender with a Revolving Commitment party to the Existing Credit Agreement who executes this Amendment on or before 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on October 2, 2003 an amendment fee equal to 0.75% of the sum of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment prior to giving effect to transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) on the date hereof, all out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment, including without limitation the fees and expenses of Xxxxx & Xxx Xxxxx PLLC, special counsel to the Agent.

(h) Litigation. There shall not exist any pending or threatened in writing action, suit, investigation or proceeding against the Parent or any Consolidated Party that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(i) No Material Change. Since December 31, 2002, there has been no development or event relating to or affecting the Parent or any Consolidated Party which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(j) Minimum Credit Rating. The Agent shall have received, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it, evidence that the Borrower has received senior secured credit ratings of not less than (i) B2 (stable) from Xxxxx’x and B+ (stable) from S&P respectively or (ii) B1 (stable) from Xxxxx’x and B (stable) from S&P.

(k) Escrow Agreement. The Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to it, an escrow agreement with respect to the Borrower’s deposit of the proceeds of the Tranche B Loans with Mellon Investor Services LLC.

(l) Other Items. The Agent shall have received such other documents, agreements or information which may be reasonably requested by the Agent.

5. Construction. This Amendment is a Credit Document executed pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement and shall (unless otherwise expressly indicated therein) be construed, administered and applied in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

6. Acknowledgment. The Guarantors acknowledge and consent to all of the terms and conditions of this Amendment and agree that this Amendment does not operate to reduce or discharge the Guarantors’ obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby or

the other Credit Documents. The Guarantors further acknowledge and agree that the Guarantors have no claims, counterclaims, offsets, or defenses to the Credit Documents and the performance of the Guarantors’ obligations thereunder or if the Guarantors did have any such claims, counterclaims, offsets or defenses to the Credit Documents or any transaction related to the Credit Documents, the same are hereby waived, relinquished and released in consideration of the Lenders’ execution and delivery of this Amendment.

7. Counterparts. This Amendment 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 deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

8. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

9. Binding Effect. This Amendment, the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby and the other Credit Documents embody the entire agreement between the parties and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, if any, relating to the subject matter hereof. These Credit Documents represent the final agreement between the parties and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous or subsequent oral agreements of the parties. Except as expressly modified and amended in this Amendment, all the terms, provisions and conditions of the Credit Documents shall remain unchanged and shall continue in full force and effect.

10. Severability. If any provision of this Amendment is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed without giving effect to the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

BORROWER:	AMN HEALTHCARE, INC.

	By:	/S/ XXXXXX X. XXXX

	Name:	Xxxxxx X. Xxxx

	Title:	Chief Financial Officer

PARENT:	AMN HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC.

	By:	/S/ XXXXXX X. XXXX

	Name:	Xxxxxx X. Xxxx

	Title:	Chief Financial Officer

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:	WORLDVIEW HEALTHCARE, INC.

	By:	/S/ XXXXXX X. XXXX

	Name:	Xxxxxx X. Xxxx

	Title:	Chief Financial Officer

						X’XXXXX-XXXXXX INTERNATIONAL (USA), INC.

						By:		/S/ XXXXXX X. XXXX

						Name:		Xxxxxx X. Xxxx

						Title:		Chief Financial Officer

						INTERNATIONAL HEALTHCARE RECRUITERS, INC.

						By:		/S/ XXXXXX X. XXXX

						Name:		Xxxxxx X. Xxxx

						Title:		Chief Financial Officer

						AMN STAFFING SERVICES, INC.

						By:		/S/ XXXXXX X. XXXX

						Name:		Xxxxxx X. Xxxx

						Title:		Chief Financial Officer

[Signatures Continued]

AGENT:	BANK OF AMERICA, N. A., in its capacity as Agent

	By:	/S/ XXXXXXX XXXXXX

	Name:	Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

	Title:	Vice President

LENDERS:	BANK OF AMERICA, N. A.

	By:	/S/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

	Name:	Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx

	Title:	Managing Director

[Signatures Continued]

						GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION

						By:		/S/ XXXXXX X. XXXX

						Name:		Xxxxxx X. Xxxx

						Title:		Duly Authorized Signatory

						UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.

						By:		/S/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX

						Name::		Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx

						Title:		Vice President/Senior Credit Manager

						KZH CYPRESSTREE – 1 LLC

						By:		/S/ HI HUA

						Name:		Hi Hua

						Title:		Authorized Agent

						KZH ING – 2 LLC

						By:		/S/ HI HUA

						Name:		Hi Hua

						Title:		Authorized Agent

						KZH STERLING LLC

						By:		/S/ HI HUA

						Name:		Hi Hua

						Title:		Authorized Agent

Exhibit A to Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of November 16, 2001

among

AMN HEALTHCARE, INC.,

as Borrower,

AMN HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC.,

and

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

as Guarantors,

THE SEVERAL LENDERS

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

BANK OF AMERICA, N. A.,

as Agent,

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,

as Lead Arranger and Book Manager,

and

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Syndication Agent

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS			1
	1.1	Definitions	1
	1.2	Computation of Time Periods	31
	1.3	Accounting Terms	31

SECTION 2 CREDIT FACILITIES			32
	2.1	Revolving Loans	32
	2.2	Letter of Credit Subfacility	34
	2.3	Swingline Loan Subfacility of the Revolver	39
	2.4	Tranche B Loan	42

SECTION 3 OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO CREDIT FACILITY			44
	3.1	Default Rate	44
	3.2	Extension and Conversion	44
	3.3	Prepayments	45
	3.4	Termination and Reduction of Revolving Committed Amount	47
	3.5	Fees	48
	3.6	Capital Adequacy	49
	3.7	Limitation on Eurodollar Loans	50
	3.8	Illegality	50
	3.9	Requirements of Law	50
	3.10	Treatment of Affected Loans	51
	3.11	Taxes	52
	3.12	Compensation	54
	3.13	Pro Rata Treatment	55
	3.14	Sharing of Payments	55
	3.15	Payments, Computations, Etc.	56
	3.16	Evidence of Debt	58

SECTION 4 GUARANTY			59
	4.1	The Guaranty	59
	4.2	Obligations Unconditional	60
	4.3	Reinstatement	61
	4.4	Certain Additional Waivers	61
	4.5	Remedies	61
	4.6	Rights of Contribution	62
	4.7	Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee	63

SECTION 5 CONDITIONS			63
	5.1	Closing Conditions	63
	5.2	Conditions to all Extensions of Credit	66

SECTION 6 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES			67
	6.1	Financial Condition	67
	6.2	No Material Change	68
	6.3	Organization and Good Standing	68

	6.4	Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations	68
	6.5	No Conflicts	69
	6.6	No Default	69
	6.7	Ownership	69
	6.8	Indebtedness	69
	6.9	Litigation	69
	6.10	Taxes	70
	6.11	Compliance with Law	70
	6.12	ERISA	70
	6.13	Corporate Structure; Capital Stock, etc	72
	6.14	Governmental Regulations, Etc	72
	6.15	Purpose of Loans and Letters of Credit	72
	6.16	Environmental Matters	73
	6.17	Intellectual Property	74
	6.18	Solvency	74
	6.19	Investments	74
	6.20	Business Locations	74
	6.21	Disclosure	75
	6.22	No Burdensome Restrictions	75
	6.23	Brokers’ Fees	75
	6.24	Labor Matters	75
	6.25	Nature of Business	75
	6.26	Tax Shelter Regulations	75

SECTION 7 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS			76
	7.1	Information Covenants	76
	7.2	Preservation of Existence and Franchises	80
	7.3	Books and Records	80
	7.4	Compliance with Law	80
	7.5	Payment of Taxes and Other Indebtedness	80
	7.6	Insurance	81
	7.7	Maintenance of Property	81
	7.8	Performance of Obligations	82
	7.9	Use of Proceeds	82
	7.10	Audits/Inspections	82
	7.11	Financial Covenants	82
	7.12	Additional Guarantors	83
	7.13	Pledged Assets	84
	7.14	Environmental	84
	7.15	Interest Rate Protection	84

SECTION 8 NEGATIVE COVENANTS			85
	8.1	Indebtedness	85
	8.2	Liens	86
	8.3	Nature of Business	86
	8.4	Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, etc	86
	8.5	Asset Dispositions	87

	8.6	Investments	88
	8.7	Restricted Payments	88
	8.8	Other Indebtedness, etc	89
	8.9	Transactions with Affiliates	89
	8.10	Organizational Documents; Fiscal Year	90
	8.11	Limitation on Restricted Actions	90
	8.12	Ownership of Subsidiaries; Limitations on Parent	90
	8.13	Sale Leasebacks	91
	8.14	Capital Expenditures	91
	8.15	No Further Negative Pledges	91
	8.16	Limitation on Foreign Operations	92

SECTION 9 EVENTS OF DEFAULT			92
	9.1	Events of Default	92
	9.2	Acceleration; Remedies	94

SECTION 10 AGENCY PROVISIONS			95
	10.1	Appointment, Powers and Immunities	95
	10.2	Reliance by Agent	96
	10.3	Defaults	97
	10.4	Rights as a Lender	97
	10.5	Indemnification	97
	10.6	Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders	98
	10.7	Successor Agent	98

SECTION 11 MISCELLANEOUS			99
	11.1	Notices	99
	11.2	Right of Set-Off; Adjustments	100
	11.3	Benefit of Agreement	100
	11.4	No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative	103
	11.5	Expenses; Indemnification	103
	11.6	Amendments, Waivers and Consents	104
	11.7	Counterparts	106
	11.8	Headings	106
	11.9	Survival	106
	11.10	Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue	107
	11.11	Severability	107
	11.12	Entirety	108
	11.13	Binding Effect; Termination	108
	11.14	Confidentiality	108
	11.15	Source of Funds	109
	11.16	Regulation D	110
	11.17	Conflict	110

iii

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1.1B		Excluded Real Property
Schedule 1.1C		Investments
Schedule 1.1D		Existing Liens
Schedule 2.1(a)		Lenders
Schedule 6.1(a)		Financial Disclosures
Schedule 6.4		Required Consents, Authorizations, Notices and Filings
Schedule 6.9		Litigation
Schedule 6.12		ERISA
Schedule 6.13A		Corporate Structure
Schedule 6.13B		Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.17		Intellectual Property
Schedule 6.20(a)		Real Properties
Schedule 6.20(b)		Collateral Locations
Schedule 6.20(c)		Chief Executive Offices/Principal Places of Business
Schedule 6.24		Labor Matters
Schedule 7.6		Insurance
Schedule 8.1		Indebtedness
Schedule 8.9		Affiliate Transactions

EXHIBITS

Exhibit 1.1A		Form of Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement
Exhibit 1.1B		Form of Amended and Restated Security Agreement
Exhibit 2.1(b)(i)		Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit 2.1(e)		Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit 2.3(d)		Form of Swingline Note
Exhibit 2.4(f)		Form of Tranche B Note
Exhibit 3.2		Form of Notice of Extension/Conversion
Exhibit 3.11(d)		Form of Tax Exemption Certificate
Exhibit 7.1(c)		Form of Officer’s Compliance Certificate
Exhibit 7.12		Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit 11.3(b)		Form of Assignment and Assumption

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of November 16, 2001 (as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), is by and among AMN HEALTHCARE, INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Borrower”), AMN HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC. (formerly known as AMN Holdings, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Parent”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined herein), the Lenders (as defined herein) and BANK OF AMERICA, N. A., as Agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Agent”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Borrower is party to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19, 1999, (as amended from time to time through the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), among the Parent, the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Agent, Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A. as Syndication Agent and Fleet National Bank, as Documentation Agent;

WHEREAS, the parties to the Existing Credit Agreement have agreed to amend the Existing Credit Agreement and for ease of reference have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in this Credit Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Parent and the Subsidiary Guarantors have requested, and the Lenders have agreed, to provide a credit facility to the Borrower in an aggregate amount of $205,000,000 (the “Credit Facility”) on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Definitions.

As used in this Credit Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below unless the context otherwise requires:

“Acquisition”, by any Person, means the acquisition by such Person of all of the Capital Stock or all or substantially all of the Property of another Person, whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person.

“Adjusted Base Rate” means the Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage.

“Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” means the Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Percentage.

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person (i) directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person or (ii) directly or indirectly owning or holding ten percent (10%) or more of the Capital Stock in such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the heading hereof, together with any successors or assigns.

“Agent’s Fee Letter” means that certain letter agreement, dated as of September 30, 2003, between the Agent and the Borrower, as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time.

“Applicable Lending Office” means, for each Lender, the office of such Lender (or of an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Agent and the Borrower by written notice as the office by which its Eurodollar Loans are made and maintained (and, for purposes of Section 3.11, shall include any office at which its Base Rate Loans are made and maintained).

“Applicable Percentage” means, for purposes of calculating the applicable interest rate for any day for any Loan (other than any Tranche B Loan), the applicable rate of the Standby Letter of Credit Fee for any day for purposes of Section 3.5(b)(i) or the applicable rate of the Trade Letter of Credit Fee for any day for purposes of Section 3.5(b)(ii), the appropriate applicable percentage corresponding to the Leverage Ratio in effect as of the most recent Calculation Date:

		Applicable Margin For LIBOR Loans	Applicable Margin for Alternate Base Rate Loans	For Standby Letter of Credit Fee	For Trade Letter of Credit Fee
Pricing Level	Leverage Ratio	Revolving Credit Facility	Revolving Credit Facility
I	Less than or equal to 0.75	1.75%	0.75%	1.75%	.875%
II	Less than or equal to 1.25 but greater than 0.75	2.00%	1.00%	2.00%	1.00%
III	Less than or equal to 1.75 but greater than 1.25	2.50%	1.50%	2.50%	1.25%
IV	Less than or equal to 2.25 but greater than 1.75	3.00%	2.00%	3.00%	1.50%
V	Greater than 2.25	3.25%	2.25%	3.25%	1.625%

The Applicable Percentages shall be determined and adjusted quarterly on the date (each a “Calculation Date”) five Business Days after the date by which the Credit Parties are required to provide the Required Financial Information for the most recently ended fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as the case may be, of the Consolidated Parties; provided, however, that (i) the initial Applicable Percentages shall be based on Pricing Level V (as shown above) and shall remain at Pricing Level V until the Calculation Date for the fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties ending on March 31, 2004, on and after which time the Pricing Level shall be determined by the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as the case may be, of the Consolidated Parties preceding the applicable Calculation Date and (ii) if the Credit Parties fail to provide the Required Financial Information to the Agent as required for the fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as the case may be, of the Consolidated Parties preceding the applicable Calculation Date, the Applicable Percentage from such Calculation Date shall be based on Pricing Level V until such time as the Required Financial Information is provided, whereupon the Pricing Level shall be determined by the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as the case may be, of the Consolidated Parties preceding such Calculation Date. Each Applicable Percentage shall be effective from one Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date. Any adjustment in the Applicable Percentages shall be applicable to all existing Loans (other than any Tranche B Loan) and Letters of Credit as well as any new Loans and Letters of Credit made or issued.

“Application Period”, in respect of any Asset Disposition, shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.5.

“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

“Asset Disposition” means any disposition (including pursuant to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction) of any or all of the Property (including without limitation the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary) of the Parent or any Consolidated Party whether by sale, lease, transfer or otherwise, but other than pursuant to any casualty or condemnation event.

“Asset Disposition Prepayment Event” means, with respect to any Asset Disposition other than an Excluded Asset Disposition, the failure of the Credit Parties to apply (or cause to be applied) the Net Cash Proceeds of such Asset Disposition to Eligible Reinvestments during the Application Period for such Asset Disposition.

“Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit 11.3(b).

“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N. A. and its successors.

“Bankruptcy Code” means the Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from time to time.

“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, the occurrence of any of the following with respect to such Person: (i) a court or governmental agency having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of such Person in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its Property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs; or (ii) there shall be commenced against such Person an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or any case, proceeding or other action for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its Property or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such involuntary case or other case, proceeding or other action shall remain undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or (iii) such Person shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, creditor in possession, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its Property or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iv) such Person shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts generally as they become due.

“Base Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate for such day plus one-half of one percent (0.5%) and (b) the Prime Rate for such day. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or Federal Funds Rate.

“Base Rate Loan” means (i) any Revolving Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate or (ii) any Swingline Loan.

“Borrower” means the Person identified as such in the heading hereof, together with any permitted successors and assigns.

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Charlotte, North Carolina, San Diego, California or New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close, except that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, such day shall also be a day on which dealings between banks are carried on in Dollar deposits in London, England.

“Businesses” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.16.

“Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee which, in accordance with GAAP, is required to be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

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

“Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date, (a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (b) Dollar denominated time deposits and certificates of deposit of (i) any Lender, (ii) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (iii) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Xxxxx’x is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Bank”), in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition, (c) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s and maturing within six months of the date of acquisition, (d) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with a bank or trust company (including any of the Lenders) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States in which such Person shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least 100% of the amount of the repurchase obligations and (e) Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000 and the portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character described in the foregoing subdivisions (a) through (d).

“Change in Control” means any of the following events: (i) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) other than the Sponsor Entities becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire (such right, an “option right”), whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 30% or more of the equity securities of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a

fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right), (ii) the Parent shall fail to own directly 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock of the Borrower, or (iii) Continuing Directors shall cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent then in office.

“Closing Date” means the date hereof.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as interpreted by the rules and regulations issued thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time. References to sections of the Code shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.

“Collateral” means a collective reference to all Property with respect to which Liens in favor of the Agent are purported to be granted pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Collateral Documents.

“Collateral Documents” means a collective reference to the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and such other documents executed and delivered in connection with the attachment and perfection of the Agent’s security interests and liens arising thereunder, including without limitation, UCC financing statements and patent and trademark filings.

“Commitment” means (i) with respect to each Lender, the Revolving Commitment and the Tranche B Loan Commitment of such Lender, (ii) with respect to the Issuing Lender(s), the LOC Commitment and (iii) with respect to the Swingline Lender, the Swingline Commitment.

“Commitment Percentage” means, for any Lender in respect of the Revolving Commitment and/or the Tranche B Loan Commitment of such Lender, the percentage identified as such Lender’s Commitment Percentage for such Revolving Commitment and/or Tranche B Loan Commitment on Schedule 2.1(a), as any such percentage may be modified in connection with any assignment made in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.3.

“Common Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

“Consolidated Capital Expenditures” means, as of any date for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, all capital expenditures, as determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not include (i) Eligible Reinvestments made with proceeds of any Involuntary Disposition and (ii) up to $10,000,000 in capital expenditures related to a new headquarter building.

“Consolidated Cash Interest Expense” means, as of any date for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, interest expense (including the interest component under Capital Leases and the implied interest component under Synthetic Leases), as determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding non-cash components of interest expense (e.g. amortization of deferred financing fees).

“Consolidated Cash Taxes” means,as of any date for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, the aggregate of all Federal, state and foreign income taxes, as determined in accordance with GAAP, to the extent the same are paid in cash.

“Consolidated EBITDA” means,as of any date for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income, plus (ii) an amount which, in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, has been deducted for, without duplication, (A) interest expense, (B) total Federal, state, local and foreign income, value added and similar taxes, (C) depreciation and amortization expense and (D) Consolidated Non-Cash Charges, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, plus (iii) for the fiscal quarter ending as of December 31, 2003, a one-time charge for (x) expense items (other than compensation expenses) relating to, or incurred in connection with, the Fifth Amendment and the Tender Offer in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 and (y) compensation expenses as a result of the repurchase of certain options in connection with the Tender Offer.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, as of any date for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, net income (excluding extraordinary items) after interest expense, income taxes and depreciation and amortization, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Net Working Capital” means, as of any date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to (i) current assets, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents, minus (ii) current liabilities other than current maturities of long term debt, all as determined in accordance with GAAP. Consolidated Net Working Capital as of any date may be a positive or negative number. Consolidated Net Working Capital increases when it becomes more positive or less negative and decreases when it becomes less positive or more negative.

“Consolidated Non-Cash Charges” means the non-cash component of any item of expense other than (i) to the extent requiring an accrual or reserve for future cash expenses, and (ii) write-offs of accounts receivable.

“Consolidated Parties” means a collective reference to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and “Consolidated Party” means any one of them.

“Consolidated Scheduled Funded Debt Payments” means, as of any date for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, the sum of all scheduled payments of principal on Funded Indebtedness (including, without limitation Principal Amortization Payments), as determined in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of this definition, “scheduled payments of principal” (i) shall be determined without giving effect to any reduction of such scheduled payments resulting from the application of any voluntary or mandatory prepayments made during the applicable period, (ii) shall be deemed to include the implied principal component of payments due on Capital Leases and Synthetic Leases and (iii) shall not include any voluntary prepayments or mandatory prepayments required pursuant to Section 3.3.

“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, total assets, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Continue”, “Continuation”, “Continuing”, and “Continued” shall refer to the continuation pursuant to Section 3.2 hereof of a Eurodollar Loan from one Interest Period to the next Interest Period.

“Continuing Directors” means during any period of up to 24 consecutive months commencing after the Closing Date, individuals who at the beginning of such 24 month period were directors of the Parent (together with any new director whose election by the Parent’s board of directors or whose nomination for election by the Parent’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved).

“Convert”, “Conversion”, “Converting” and “Converted” shall refer to a conversion pursuant to Section 3.2 or Sections 3.7 through 3.12, inclusive, of a Base Rate Loan into a Eurodollar Loan.

“Credit Documents” means a collective reference to this Credit Agreement, the Notes, the LOC Documents, each Joinder Agreement, the Agent’s Fee Letter, the Collateral Documents and all other related agreements and documents issued or delivered hereunder or thereunder or pursuant hereto or thereto (in each case as the same may be amended, modified, restated, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time), and “Credit Document” means any one of them.

“Credit Facility” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

“Credit Parties” means a collective reference to the Borrower and the Guarantors, and “Credit Party” means any one of them.

“Credit Party Obligations” means, without duplication, (i) all of the obligations of the Credit Parties to the Lenders (including the Issuing Lender(s) and the Swingline Lender) and the Agent, whenever arising, under this Credit Agreement, the Notes, the Collateral

Documents or any of the other Credit Documents (including, but not limited to, any interest accruing after the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to any Credit Party, regardless of whether such interest is an allowed claim under the Bankruptcy Code) and (ii) all liabilities and obligations, whenever arising, owing from the Borrower to any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, arising under any Hedging Agreement.

“Debt Issuance” means the issuance of any Indebtedness for borrowed money by the Parent or any Consolidated Party.

“Debt Issuance Prepayment Event” means the receipt by any Credit Party of Net Cash Proceeds from any Designated Debt Issuance.

“Default” means any event, act or condition which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that, as determined by the Agent, (a) has failed to make a Loan or purchase a Participation Interest required pursuant to the term of this Credit Agreement within one Business Day of when due, (b) other than as set forth in (a) above, has failed to pay to the Agent or any Lender an amount owed by such Lender pursuant to the terms of this Credit Agreement within one Business Day of when due, unless such amount is subject to a good faith dispute or (c) has been deemed insolvent or has become subject to a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or with respect to which (or with respect to any of the assets of which) a receiver, trustee or similar official has been appointed.

“Designated Debt Issuance” means any Debt Issuance pursuant to Section 8.1(h).

“Dollar”, “Dollars” and “$” means dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Parent which is incorporated or organized under the laws of any State of the United States or the District of Columbia.

“Eligible Assets” means any assets or any business (or any substantial part thereof) used or useful in the same or a substantially similar line of business as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries were engaged in on the Closing Date (or any reasonable extensions or expansions thereof).

“Eligible Assignee” means (i) a Lender; (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender; (iii) an Approved Fund; (iv) with respect to any assignment of a Revolving Commitment, any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by the Agent and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time any assignment is effected in accordance with Section 11.3, the Borrower (such approval by the Agent or the Borrower not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed (it being understood that disapproval of a proposed assignee by the Borrower because an assignment to such assignee may require

the Credit Parties to incur increased costs or pay additional amounts (including Taxes and Other Taxes) under this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Documents shall be deemed to be a reasonable exercise of the Borrower’s rights hereunder) and such approval to be deemed given by the Borrower if no objection is received by the assigning Lender and the Agent from the Borrower within two (2) Business Days after confirmation (such confirmation not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) by an Executive Officer of the Borrower of receipt of notice of such proposed assignment by the assigning Lender); and (v) with respect to any assignment of the Tranche B Loans, any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by the Agent; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor an Affiliate of the Borrower shall qualify as an Eligible Assignee.

“Eligible Reinvestment” means (i) any acquisition (whether or not constituting a capital expenditure, but not constituting an Acquisition) of Eligible Assets and (ii) any Permitted Acquisition.

“Environmental Laws” means any and all lawful and applicable Federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws (including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Water Pollution Control Act, the Clean Air Act and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act), regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or other governmental restrictions relating to the environment or to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes.

“Equity Issuance” means any issuance by the Parent or any Consolidated Party to any Person of (a) shares of its Capital Stock, (b) any shares of its Capital Stock pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants, (c) any shares of its Capital Stock pursuant to the conversion of any debt securities to equity or (d) any options or warrants relating to its Capital Stock. The term “Equity Issuance” shall not include any Asset Disposition.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as interpreted by the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same may be in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.

“ERISA Affiliate” means an entity which is under common control with the Parent or any Consolidated Party within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA, or is a member of a group which includes the Parent or any Consolidated Party and which is treated as a single employer under Sections 414(b) or (c) of the Code.

“ERISA Event” means (i) with respect to any Plan, the occurrence of a Reportable Event not otherwise subject to a waiver or the substantial cessation of operations (within the meaning of Section 4062(e) of ERISA); (ii) the withdrawal by the Parent or any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination of a Multiple Employer Plan; (iii) the distribution of a notice of intent to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) or 4041A of ERISA; (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA; (v) any event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan; (vi) the complete or partial withdrawal of the Parent or any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan; (vii) the conditions for imposition of a lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA exist with respect to any Plan; or (viii) the adoption of an amendment to any Plan requiring the provision of security to such Plan pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA.

“Eurodollar Loan” means any Loan that bears interest at a rate based upon the Eurodollar Rate.

“Eurodollar Rate” means, for any Eurodollar Loan for any Interest Period therefor, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) determined by the Agent to be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the Interbank Offered Rate for such Eurodollar Loan for such Interest Period by (b) 1 minus the Eurodollar Reserve Requirement for such Eurodollar Loan for such Interest Period.

“Eurodollar Reserve Requirement” means, at any time, the maximum rate at which reserves (including, without limitation, any marginal, special, supplemental, or emergency reserves) are required to be maintained under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) by member banks of the Federal Reserve System against “Eurocurrency liabilities” (as such term is used in Regulation D). Without limiting the effect of the foregoing, the Eurodollar Reserve Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to be maintained by such member banks with respect to (i) any category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate is to be determined, or (ii) any category of extensions of credit or other assets which include Eurodollar Loans. The Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Requirement.

“Event of Default” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.1.

“Excess Cash Flow” means, with respect to any fiscal year period of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated EBITDA minus (b) Consolidated Capital Expenditures minus (c) capital expenditures related to the new headquarter building in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000 minus (d) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense minus (e) to the extent not taken into account in the calculation of

Excess Cash Flow for any prior fiscal year, Federal, state and other income taxes accrued or paid (without duplication) by the Parent and the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis minus (f) Consolidated Scheduled Funded Debt Payments minus (g) increases in Consolidated Net Working Capital minus (h) the cash amount of all Investments of the types referred to in clauses (ix) and (xiii) of the definition of “Permitted Investments” set forth in this Section 1.1 minus (i) to the extent included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA, Extraordinary Receipts applied to eligible reinvestments pursuant to Section 7.6(b) or as mandatory prepayments of the Loans pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(iii)(B) plus (j) decreases in Consolidated Net Working Capital.

“Excess Proceeds” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.6(b).

“Excluded Asset Disposition” means, with respect to the Parent or any Consolidated Party, (i) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, (ii) the sale or disposition of machinery and equipment no longer used or useful in the conduct of such Person’s business, (iii) any Equity Issuance by such Person, (iv) any Involuntary Disposition by such Person, (v) any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of Property by such Person to a Credit Party other than the Parent, provided that the Credit Parties shall cause to be executed and delivered such documents, instruments and certificates as the Agent may reasonably request so as to cause the Credit Parties to be in compliance with the terms of Section 7.13 after giving effect to such transaction and (vi) subject to the terms of Section 8.6 and the definition of “Permitted Investments” set forth in this Section 1.1, any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of Property by such Person to a Consolidated Party that is not a Credit Party.

“Excluded Equity Issuance” means (i) any Equity Issuance by any Consolidated Party to any Credit Party or the Sponsors, (ii) any Equity Issuance by the Parent to the seller of a business acquired in a Permitted Acquisition or (iii) any Equity Issuance by the Parent the proceeds of which are used to finance a Permitted Acquisition.

“Excluded Property” means with respect to any Credit Party, including any Person that becomes a Credit Party after the Closing Date as contemplated by Section 7.12, (i) any owned or leased real or personal Property of such Credit Party which is located outside of the United States, (ii) any owned real Property of such Credit Party which has a net book value of less than $50,000, provided that the aggregate net book value of all real Property of all of the Credit Parties excluded pursuant to this clause (ii) shall not exceed $250,000, (iii) any leased real Property of such Credit Party which, at the written request of the Borrower, the Agent has agreed in writing in its sole discretion is not material, (iv) any leased personal Property of such Credit Party, (v) any personal Property of such Credit Party (including, without limitation, motor vehicles) in respect of which perfection of a Lien is not either (A) governed by the Uniform Commercial Code or (B) effected by appropriate evidence of the Lien being filed in either the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, (vi) any Property of such Credit Party which, subject to the terms of Section 8.11 and Section 8.15, is subject to a Lien of the type described in clause (vii) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” set

forth in Section 1.1 pursuant to documents which prohibit such Credit Party from granting any other Liens in such Property and (vii) the leased real property of the Borrower described on Schedule 1.1B.

“Executive Officer” of any Person means any of the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, president, chief financial officer or treasurer of such Person.

“Existing Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

“Extraordinary Receipts” means any cash received by or paid to or for the account of any Person other than in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, tax refunds, pension plan reversions, proceeds of insurance (including Excess Proceeds from Involuntary Dispositions but excluding proceeds of business interruption insurance to the extent such proceeds constitute compensation for lost earnings and proceeds from reinsurance received in the ordinary course of business), condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof including Excess Proceeds from Involuntary Dispositions), indemnity payments, purchase price adjustments received in connection with any purchase agreement or other similar agreement and payments in respect of judgments or settlements of claims, litigation or proceedings; provided, however, that Extraordinary Receipts shall not include (i) cash receipts received from proceeds of insurance, condemnation awards (or payments in lieu thereof), indemnity payments or payments in respect of judgments or settlements of claims, litigation or proceedings to the extent that such proceeds, awards or payments are received by any Person in respect of any third party claim against or loss by such Person and promptly applied to pay (or to reimburse such Person for its prior payment of) such claim or loss and the costs and expenses of such Person with respect thereto and (ii) tax refunds to the extent such amounts are applied by any Consolidated Party to future tax liabilities.

“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to the Agent (in its individual capacity) on such day on such transactions as determined by the Agent.

“Fees” means all fees payable pursuant to Section 3.5.

“Fifth Amendment” means that certain Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2003 by and among the Borrower, the Parent, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Lenders and the Agent.

“Fifth Amendment Effective Date” means October 2, 2003

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such period minus (ii) Consolidated Capital Expenditures for such period minus (iii) Consolidated Cash Taxes for such period to (b) the sum of (i) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such period plus (ii) Consolidated Scheduled Funded Debt Payments for such period (other than Consolidated Scheduled Funded Debt Payments for any period prior to the Closing Date).

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Parent which is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

“Fully Satisfied” means, with respect to the Credit Party Obligations as of any date, that, as of such date, (a) all principal of and interest accrued to such date which constitute Credit Party Obligations shall have been paid in full in cash, (b) all fees, expenses and other amounts then due and payable which constitute Credit Party Obligations shall have been paid in cash, (c) all outstanding Letters of Credit shall have been (i) terminated, (ii) fully cash collateralized or (iii) secured by one or more letters of credit on terms and conditions, and with one or more financial institutions, reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Lender and (d) the Commitments shall have been expired or terminated in full.

“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

“Funded Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all Indebtedness of such Person other than Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (e), (f), (g), (i) and (m) of the definition of “Indebtedness” set forth in this Section 1.1, (b) all Funded Indebtedness of others of the type referred to in clause (a) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Funded Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds of production from, Property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed (or, if less, the aggregate net book value of all Property securing such Funded Indebtedness of others), (c) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person with respect to Funded Indebtedness of the type referred to in clause (a) above of another Person and (d) Funded Indebtedness of the type referred to in clause (a) above of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer to the extent that such Funded Indebtedness is recourse to such Person.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to the terms of Section 1.3 (except, in respect of Synthetic Leases, as otherwise treated herein).

“Governmental Authority” means any Federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory body.

“Guarantors” means a collective reference to the Parent and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, together with their successors and permitted assigns, and “Guarantor “ means any one of them.

“Guaranty Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations of such Person (other than endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any other Person in any manner, whether direct or indirect, and including without limitation any obligation, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such Indebtedness or any Property constituting security therefor, (ii) to advance or provide funds or other support for the payment or purchase of any such Indebtedness or to maintain working capital, solvency or other balance sheet condition of such other Person (including without limitation keep well agreements, maintenance agreements, comfort letters or similar agreements or arrangements) for the benefit of any holder of Indebtedness of such other Person, (iii) to lease or purchase Property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the holder of such Indebtedness, or (iv) to otherwise assure or hold harmless the holder of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any limitations set forth therein) be deemed to be an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount (or maximum principal amount, if larger) of the Indebtedness actually guaranteed by such Guaranty Obligation.

“Hedging Agreements” means any interest rate protection agreement or foreign currency exchange agreement.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, or upon which interest payments are customarily made, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to Property purchased by such Person (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of Property or services purchased by such Person (other than trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business) which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person under take-or-pay or similar arrangements or under commodities agreements, (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds of production from, Property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been

assumed, (g) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person with respect to Indebtedness of another Person, (h) the implied principal component of all obligations of such Person under Capital Leases, (i) all obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements, (j) the maximum amount of all performance and standby letters of credit issued or bankers’ acceptances facilities created for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent unreimbursed), (k) all preferred Capital Stock issued by such Person and which by the terms thereof could be (at the request of the holders thereof or otherwise) subject to mandatory sinking fund payments, redemption or other acceleration (other than as a result of a Change in Control or an Asset Disposition that does not in fact result in a redemption of such preferred Capital Stock) at any time prior to the Maturity Date, (l) the principal portion of all obligations of such Person under Synthetic Leases, (m) the Indebtedness of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer to the extent that such Indebtedness is recourse to such Person and (n) the aggregate amount of uncollected accounts receivable of such Person subject at such time to a sale of receivables (or similar transaction) regardless of whether such transaction is effected without recourse to such Person or in a manner that would not be reflected on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP.

“Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.5(b).

“Interbank Offered Rate” means, for any Eurodollar Loan for any Interest Period therefor, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Page 3750 (or any successor page) of the Dow Xxxxx Market Service as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period. If for any reason such rate is not available, the term “Interbank Offered Rate” shall mean, for any Eurodollar Loan for any Interest Period therefor, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBO Page as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period; provided, however, if more than one rate is specified on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of all such rates (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%).

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) as to Base Rate Loans (including Swingline Loans which are Base Rate Loans), each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, the date of repayment of principal of such Loan and the Maturity Date, and (b) as to Eurodollar Loans, the last day of each applicable Interest Period, the date of repayment of principal of such Loan and the Maturity Date, and in addition where the applicable Interest Period for a Eurodollar Loan is greater than three months, then also the date three months from the beginning of the Interest Period and each three months thereafter.

“Interest Period” means, as to Eurodollar Loans, a period of one, two, three or six months’ duration, as the Borrower may elect, commencing, in each case, on the date of the borrowing (including continuations and conversions thereof); provided, however, (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day (except that where the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, then on the next preceding Business Day), (b) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date and (c) where an Interest Period begins on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which the Interest Period is to end, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such calendar month.

“Investment” in any Person means (a) the acquisition (whether for cash, property, services, assumption of Indebtedness, securities or otherwise) of assets (other than equipment, inventory and supplies in the ordinary course of business and other than any acquisition of assets constituting a Consolidated Capital Expenditure), Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures, partnership, joint ventures or other ownership interests or other securities of such other Person or (b) any deposit with, or advance, loan or other extension of credit to, such Person (other than deposits made in connection with the purchase of equipment inventory, services, leases or supplies in the ordinary course of business) or (c) any other capital contribution to or investment in such Person, including, without limitation, any Guaranty Obligations (including any support for a letter of credit issued on behalf of such Person) incurred for the benefit of such Person and any Asset Disposition to such Person for consideration less than the fair market value of the Property disposed in such transaction, but excluding any Restricted Payment to such Person. Investments which are capital contributions or purchases of Capital Stock which have a right to participate in the profits of the issuer thereof shall be valued at the amount actually contributed or paid to purchase such Capital Stock as of the date of such contribution or payment. Investments which are loans, advances, extensions of credit or Guaranty Obligations shall be valued at the principal amount of such loan, advance or extension of credit outstanding as of the date of determination or, as applicable, the principal amount of the loan or advance outstanding as of the date of determination actually guaranteed by such Guaranty Obligation.

“Involuntary Disposition” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.6(b).

“Issuing Lender” means (i) Bank of America, in its capacity as issuer of any Letter of Credit or (ii) if Bank of America shall be unwilling to issue any Letter of Credit in the form requested by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.2, such other Lender reasonably acceptable to the Agent selected by the Borrower from time to time to issue such Letter of Credit.

“Joinder Agreement” means a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.12 hereto, executed and delivered by a new Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.12.

“Lender” means any of the Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages to the Fifth Amendment, and any Person which may become a Lender by way of assignment in accordance with the terms hereof, together with their successors and permitted assigns.

“Lending Party” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.14.

“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued by the applicable Issuing Lender for the account of the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.2.

“Leverage Ratio” means, as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) Funded Indebtedness of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis on the last day of such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), preference, priority or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any financing or similar statement or notice filed under the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted and in effect in the relevant jurisdiction or other similar recording or notice statute, and any lease in the nature thereof).

“Loan” or “Loans” means the Revolving Loans or the Tranche B Loans (or a portion of any Revolving Loan or Tranche B Loan bearing interest at the Adjusted Base Rate or the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate and referred to as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan) and/or the Swingline Loans, individually or collectively, as appropriate.

“LOC Commitment” means the commitment of the Issuing Lender(s) to issue Letters of Credit in an aggregate face amount at any time outstanding (together with the amounts of any unreimbursed drawings thereon) of up to the LOC Committed Amount.

“LOC Committed Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2.

“LOC Documents” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit, any amendments thereto, any documents delivered in connection therewith, any application therefor, and any agreements, instruments, guarantees or other documents (whether general in application or applicable only to such Letter of Credit) governing or providing for (i) the rights and obligations of the parties concerned or at risk or (ii) any collateral security for such obligations.

“LOC Obligations” means, at any time, the sum of (i) the maximum amount which is, or at any time thereafter may become, available to be drawn under Letters of Credit then outstanding, assuming compliance with all requirements for drawings referred to in such

Letters of Credit plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all drawings under Letters of Credit honored by the Issuing Lender(s) but not theretofore reimbursed by the Borrower.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, assets, liabilities or prospects of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of any Credit Party to perform any material obligation under the Credit Documents to which it is a party or (iii) the material rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders under the Credit Documents.

“Materials of Environmental Concern” means any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum products or any hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes, defined or regulated as such in or under any Environmental Laws, including, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls and urea-formaldehyde insulation.

“Maturity Date” means with respect to the Revolving Loans and the Tranche B Loans, October 2, 2008.

“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

“Multiemployer Plan” means a Plan which is a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Sections 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which the Parent or any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one employer other than the Parent, any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate are contributing sponsors.

“Net Cash Proceeds” means the aggregate proceeds paid in cash or Cash Equivalents received by the Parent or any Consolidated Party in respect of any Asset Disposition, Equity Issuance, Designated Debt Issuance, Extraordinary Receipts or Involuntary Disposition, net of (a) direct costs (including, without limitation, legal, accounting, consulting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions), (b) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof and (c) the amount of liabilities, if any, which are required to be repaid concurrently and in connection with the consummation of such Asset Disposition, Equity Issuance, Designated Debt Issuance, Extraordinary Receipts or Involuntary Disposition out of the proceeds thereof; it being understood that “Net Cash Proceeds” shall include, without limitation, any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received by the Parent or any Consolidated Party in any Asset Disposition, Equity Issuance, Designated Debt Issuance, Extraordinary Receipts or Involuntary Disposition.

“Note” or “Notes” means the Revolving Notes, the Tranche B Notes and/or the Swingline Note, individually or collectively, as appropriate.

“Notice of Borrowing” means a written notice of borrowing in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.1(b)(i), as required by Section 2.1(b)(i) or Section 2.4(b).

“Notice of Extension/Conversion” means the written notice of extension or conversion in substantially the form of Exhibit 3.2, as required by Section 3.2.

“Offer to Purchase” means the Amended and Restated Offer to Purchase for Cash of the Parent, dated as of September 19, 2003, filed as Exhibit (a)(1)(K) to the Parent’s Statement on Schedule TO (File No. 5-57951), as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified.

“Operating Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease (including, without limitation, leases which may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed) which is not a Capital Lease other than any such lease in which that Person is the lessor.

“Other Taxes” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.11(b).

“Parent” means the Person identified as such in the heading hereof, together with any permitted successors and assigns.

“Participation Interest” means a purchase by a Lender of a participation in Letters of Credit or LOC Obligations as provided in Section 2.2, in Swingline Loans as provided in Section 2.3(b)(iii) or in any Loans as provided in Section 3.14.

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA and any successor thereof.

“Permitted Acquisition” means an Acquisition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, provided that (i) the Property acquired (or the Property of the Person acquired) in such Acquisition (x) is used or useful in the same or a similar line of business as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries were engaged in on the Closing Date (or any reasonable extensions or expansions thereof) and (y) has earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the prior four fiscal quarters in an amount greater than $0, (ii) the Agent shall have received all items in respect of the Capital Stock or Property acquired in such Acquisition required to be delivered by the terms of Section 7.12 and/or Section 7.13, (iii) in the case of an Acquisition of the Capital Stock of another Person, the board of directors (or other comparable governing body) of such other Person shall have duly approved such Acquisition, (iv) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that, upon giving effect to such Acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis, no Default or Event of Default would exist as the result of a violation of Section 7.11(a) or Section 7.11(b), (v) the representations and warranties made by the Credit Parties in any Credit Document shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as if made as of the date of such Acquisition (after giving effect thereto) except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, (vi) if such transaction

involves the purchase of an interest in a partnership between the Borrower (or a Subsidiary of the Borrower) as a general partner and entities unaffiliated with the Borrower or such Subsidiary as the other partners, such transaction shall be effected by having such equity interest acquired by a holding company directly or indirectly wholly-owned by the Borrower newly formed for the sole purpose of effecting such transaction and (vii) the total Qualifying Consideration for all such Acquisitions occurring after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date shall not exceed $125,000,000; provided, further, however, prior to and after giving effect to all Permitted Acquisitions, on a pro forma basis, the Unused Revolving Committed Amount shall not be less than $25,000,000.

“Permitted Asset Disposition” means (i) any Asset Disposition permitted by Section 8.5 and (ii) any Excluded Asset Disposition.

“Permitted Investments” means Investments which are (i) cash and Cash Equivalents; (ii) accounts receivable created, acquired or made by the Parent or any Consolidated Party in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; (iii) Investments consisting of Capital Stock, obligations, securities or other property received by the Parent or any Consolidated Party in settlement of accounts receivable (created in the ordinary course of business) from bankrupt obligors or in connection with a work-out or reorganization; (iv) Investments existing as of the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 1.1C; (v) rental deposits made for the benefit of officers, employees or agents; (vi) advances or loans to directors, officers, employees, agents, customers or suppliers that do not exceed $500,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding; (vii) loans to employees to finance the purchase of newly issued or treasury Capital Stock in the Parent; (viii) Investments in any Credit Party other than the Parent; (ix) Investments in Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000; (x) to the extent constituting Investments, transactions permitted under Section 8.7; (xi) Permitted Acquisitions; (xii) Investments not constituting cash or Cash Equivalents received as consideration for any Asset Disposition permitted under Section 8.5; and (xiii) other Investments not to exceed $25,000,000 (less the aggregate amount of Investments of the type set forth in clause (ix) above) in the aggregate at any time outstanding.

“Permitted Liens” means:

(i) Liens in favor of the Agent to secure the Credit Party Obligations;

(ii) Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies not yet due or Liens for taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the Property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof);

(iii) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and suppliers and other Liens imposed by law or pursuant to

customary reservations or retentions of title arising in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Liens (a) secure only amounts not yet due and payable or, if due and payable, are either unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce the same or (b) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the Property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof);

(iv) Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) incurred or deposits made by the Parent or any Consolidated Party in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, bids, leases, contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money);

(v) Liens in connection with attachments or judgments (including judgment or appeal bonds) provided that the judgments secured shall, within 30 days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or shall have been discharged within 30 days after the expiration of any such stay;

(vi) easements, rights-of-way, licenses, covenants, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances, in the aggregate, not, in any material respect, impairing the use of the encumbered Property in the operations of the Consolidated Parties;

(vii) Liens on Property of any Person securing purchase money Indebtedness (including Capital Leases and Synthetic Leases) of such Person permitted under Section 8.1(c), provided that any such Lien attaches to such Property concurrently with or within 90 days after the acquisition thereof;

(viii) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(g);

(ix) leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Parent or any Consolidated Party;

(x) any interest of title of a lessor under, and Liens arising from UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings, registrations or agreements in foreign jurisdictions) relating to, leases permitted by this Credit Agreement;

(xi) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

(xii) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 8.6;

(xiii) normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions;

(xiv) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;

(xv) Liens of sellers of goods to the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries arising under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code or similar provisions of applicable law in the ordinary course of business, covering only the goods sold and securing only the unpaid purchase price for such goods and related expenses; and

(xvi) Liens existing as of the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 1.1D; provided that (a) no such Lien shall at any time be extended to or cover any Property other than the Property subject thereto on the Closing Date and (b) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Liens shall not be increased.

“Person” means any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust or other enterprise (whether or not incorporated) or any Governmental Authority.

“Plan” means any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is covered by ERISA and with respect to which the Parent or any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” within the meaning of Section 3(5) of ERISA.

“Pledge Agreement” means the amended and restated pledge agreement dated as of the Closing Date in the form of Exhibit 1.1A executed in favor of the Agent by each of the Credit Parties, as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time.

“Prime Rate” means the per annum rate of interest established from time to time by Bank of America as its prime rate, which rate may not be the lowest rate of interest charged by Bank of America to its customers.

“Principal Amortization Payment” means a principal payment on the Tranche B Loans as set forth in Section 2.4(d).

“Principal Office” means the principal office of Bank of America, presently located at Charlotte, North Carolina.

“Pro Forma Basis” means, for purposes of calculating (utilizing the principles set forth in the second paragraph of Section 1.3), in respect of a proposed transaction, compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11(a) and Section 7.11(b), that such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the four fiscal-quarter period ending as of the most recent fiscal quarter end preceding

the date of such transaction with respect to which the Agent has received the Required Financial Information (such period in respect of any transaction being referred to in this definition as the “Pro Forma Period” for such transaction). As used herein, “transaction” shall mean (i) any Asset disposition or (ii) any Acquisition as referred to in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition” set forth in this Section 1.1. In connection with any calculation of the Leverage Ratio and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio upon giving effect to a transaction on a Pro Forma Basis:

(a) for purposes of any such calculation in respect of any Asset Disposition, (i) income statement items (whether positive or negative) and capital expenditures attributable to the Property disposed of shall be excluded and (ii) any Indebtedness which is retired in connection with such transaction shall be excluded and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of the applicable period; and

(b) for purposes of any such calculation in respect of any Acquisition as referred to in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition” set forth in this Section 1.1, (i) any Indebtedness incurred by any Consolidated Party in connection with such transaction (A) shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period and (B) if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination, (ii) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Person or Property acquired shall be included beginning as of the first day of the applicable period, provided, however, that income statement items attributable to such Person or Property shall not be included in any calculation of Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA unless the applicable income statement for such Person or Property is a Qualifying Financial Statement which shall have been delivered to the Agent, and (iii) pro forma adjustments may be included to the extent that such adjustments (A) are made in the good faith judgment of the management of the Consolidated Parties and (B) give effect to events that are (1) directly attributable to such transaction, (2) expected to have a continuing impact on the Consolidated Parties, (3) verifiable and supportable and (4) realizable within 180 days following the consummation of the related Acquisition (or later if such additional time is acceptable to the Agent).

“Pro Forma Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of an Executive Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Agent in connection with (i) any Asset Disposition or (ii) any Acquisition as referred to in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition” set forth in this Section 1.1, as applicable, containing reasonably detailed calculations, upon giving effect to the applicable transaction on a Pro Forma Basis, of (a) the Leverage Ratio and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the most recent fiscal quarter end preceding the date of the applicable transaction with respect to which the Agent shall have received the Required Financial Information and (b) in the case of any Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for the four fiscal-quarter period ending as of the most recent fiscal quarter end preceding the date of such transaction with respect to which the Agent has received the

Required Financial Information (such calculations of Consolidated EBITDA to include a break-down in reasonable detail of any pro forma adjustments).

“Projected Consolidated EBITDA” means the projected Consolidated EBITDA with respect to the fiscal quarter of the Parent immediately following the most recent fiscal quarter end with respect to which the Agent has received the Required Financial Information, to be delivered to the Agent no later than 45 days after the close of the prior fiscal quarter of the Parent, such projected Consolidated EBITDA to be (x) prepared in good faith, (y) based upon the most recent Revenue and Earning Guidance or comparable information (to the extent such information is made publicly available by the Parent) and otherwise based upon reasonable assumptions and (z) in a form and detail reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

“Property” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

“Qualifying Consideration” shall mean, with respect to any Acquisition, all cash consideration paid by the Parent and the Consolidated Parties, other than consideration consisting of (A) Capital Stock of the Parent issued to the seller of the Capital Stock or Property acquired in such Acquisition, (B) the proceeds of any Equity Issuance by the Parent consummated in connection with and for the purpose of financing such Acquisition, (C) the proceeds of Subordinated Indebtedness issued by the Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(f) and (D) the principal amount of any assumed Indebtedness.

“Qualifying Financial Statements” means, in respect of the Person or Property acquired in any Acquisition, a consolidated balance sheet and income statement of such Person or Property as of, and for the four quarter period ending on, the last day of the most recently ended fiscal year of such Person or Property preceding the date of such Acquisition, which financial statements either (i) shall have been audited by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing reasonably acceptable to the Agent and whose opinion shall be to the effect that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and shall not be limited as to the scope of the audit or qualified as to the status of the Person or Property acquired as a going concern or any other material qualifications or exceptions or (ii) shall be reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

“Real Properties” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.16.

“Register” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(c).

“Regulation D, T, U, or X” means Regulation D, T, U or X, respectively, of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof.

“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Sponsor, a collective reference to (i) each Person which is a controlling stockholder or partner of such Sponsor, (ii) each Person at least 80% of whose Voting Stock is owned by such Sponsor, directly or indirectly, (iii) each trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the controlling beneficiaries, stockholders, partners or owners of which, directly or indirectly, consist of such Sponsor and/or such other Persons referred to in the preceding clauses (i) or (ii) and/or in the succeeding clause (v), (iv) each partner or stockholder of such Sponsor as of the Closing Date who acquires any assets or Voting Stock of the Parent pursuant to a general distribution by such Sponsor to each of its partners or stockholders and (v) each officer or director of such Sponsor.

“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than those events as to which the notice requirement has been waived by regulation.

“Required Financial Information” means (i) the financial statements of the Consolidated Parties required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or (b) for the most recently completed fiscal period or quarter end, and (ii) the certificate of an Executive Officer of the Borrower required by Section 7.1(c) to be delivered with the financial statements described in clause (i) above.

“Requirement of Law” means, as to any Person, the certificate of incorporation and by-laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or to which any of its material property is subject.

“Requisite Lenders” means, at any time, two or more Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders) holding in the aggregate at least a majority of (i) the Revolving Commitments (and Participation Interests therein) and the outstanding Tranche B Loans (and Participation Interests therein) or (ii) if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the outstanding Revolving Loans, Tranche B Loans, LOC Obligations and Participation Interests (including the Participation Interests of the applicable Issuing Lender in any Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender and the Participation Interests of the Swingline Lender in any Swingline Loans).

“Restricted Payment” by the Parent or any Consolidated Party means (i) any dividend or other payment or distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of such Person, now or hereafter outstanding (including without limitation any payment in connection with any dissolution, merger, consolidation or disposition involving such Person), or to the holders, in their capacity as such, of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of such Person, now or hereafter outstanding (other than dividends or distributions payable in Capital Stock of the applicable Person and other than dividends or distributions payable (directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries) to any Credit Party other than the Parent), (ii) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares of any

class of Capital Stock of such Person, now or hereafter outstanding, (iii) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of Capital Stock of such Person, now or hereafter outstanding (excluding the issuance of Capital Stock by such Person), (iv) any payment or prepayment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, including any redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund or similar payment with respect to, any Subordinated Indebtedness and (v) in the case of any Consolidated Party, any loan or advance to the Parent.

“Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Revolving Lender, the commitment of such Revolving Lender in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding of up to such Revolving Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Committed Amount, (i) to make Revolving Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1(a), (ii) to purchase Participation Interests in Letters of Credit in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2(c) and (iii) to purchase Participation Interests in the Swingline Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3(b)(iii).

“Revolving Committed Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1(a).

“Revolving Lenders” means a collective reference to the Lenders holding Revolving Loans or Revolving Commitments.

“Revolving Loans” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1(a).

“Revolving Note” or “Revolving Notes” means the promissory notes of the Borrower in favor of each Revolving Lender provided pursuant to Section 2.1(e) and evidencing the Revolving Loans of such Revolving Lender, individually or collectively, as appropriate, as such promissory notes may be amended, modified, restated, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to the Parent or any Consolidated Party, any arrangement pursuant to which such Person, directly or indirectly, becomes liable as lessee, guarantor or other surety with respect to any lease, whether an Operating Lease or a Capital Lease, of any Property (a) which such Person has sold or transferred (or is to sell or transfer) to a Person which is not a Credit Party or (b) which such Person intends to use for substantially the same purpose as any other Property which has been sold or transferred (or is to be sold or transferred) by such Person to another Person which is not a Credit Party in connection with such lease.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all regulations issued pursuant thereto.

“Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all regulations issued pursuant thereto.

“Security Agreement” means the amended and restated security agreement dated as of the Closing Date in the form of Exhibit 1.1B to be executed in favor of the Agent by each of the Credit Parties, as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time.

“Shares” means the outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

“Single Employer Plan” means any Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.

“Solvent” or “Solvency” means, with respect to any Person as of a particular date, that on such date (i) such Person is able to pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (ii) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature in their ordinary course, (iii) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which such Person’s Property would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which such Person is engaged or is to engage, (iv) the fair value of the Property of such Person on a going concern basis is greater than the fair value of the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of such Person and (v) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured. In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

“Sponsor Entity” means any Person that is (i) a Sponsor or (ii) a Related Party.

“Sponsors” means a collective reference to HWH Capital Partners, L.P., HWP Capital Partners II, L.P., HWH Nightingale Partners, L.P., HWP – II Nightingale Partners, L.P. and Xxxx Wheat & Partners, L.P., together with their successors and permitted assigns, and “Sponsor” means any one of them.

“Standby Letter of Credit Fee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5(b)(i).

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower which (i) is subordinated to the Credit Party Obligations in a

manner reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and (ii) has a maturity date which is at least six months after the Maturity Date.

“Subsidiary” means, as to any Person at any time, (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose Capital Stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at such time, any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at such time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, and (b) any partnership, association, joint venture or other entity of which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries owns at such time more than 50% of the Capital Stock.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each of the Persons identified as a “Subsidiary Guarantor” on the signature pages hereto and each Person which may hereafter execute a Joinder Agreement pursuant to Section 7.12, together with their successors and permitted assigns, and “Subsidiary Guarantor” means any one of them.

“Swingline Commitment” means the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding of up to the Swingline Committed Amount.

“Swingline Committed Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.3(a).

“Swingline Lender” means Bank of America.

“Swingline Loan” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.3(a).

“Swingline Note” means the promissory note of the Borrower in favor of the Swingline Lender evidencing the Swingline Loans provided pursuant to Section 2.3(d), as such promissory notes may be amended, modified, restated, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

“Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an Operating Lease under GAAP.

“Taxes” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.11(a).

“Tender Offer” means the offer by the Parent to purchase up to $180,000,000, in the aggregate, of Shares and certain options to purchase Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions specified in the Offer to Purchase.

“Tender Offer Prepayment Event” means, with respect to the Tender Offer, the failure of the Parent to accept for purchase the Tendered Securities pursuant to the Offer to Purchase within thirty (30) days following the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.

“Tendered Securities” means Shares and options to purchase Shares validly tendered into the Tender Offer and not withdrawn prior to the expiration date of the Tender Offer (including, without limitation, Shares or options currently held by any Sponsor Entity or other Affiliate of the Parent, which will be subject to proration as set forth in the Offer to Purchase, and Shares and options tendered by the holders thereof pursuant to Notices of Guaranteed Delivery).

“Trade Letter of Credit Fee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5(b)(ii).

“Tranche B Lenders” means a collective reference to the Lenders holding Tranche B Loans or Tranche B Loan Commitments.

“Tranche B Loan” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.4(a).

“Tranche B Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Tranche B Lender, the commitment of such Tranche B Lender to make its portion of the Tranche B Loan in a principal amount equal to such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the Tranche B Loan Committed Amount.

“Tranche B Loan Committed Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.4(a).

“Tranche B Note” or “Tranche B Notes” means the promissory notes, if any, of the Borrower in favor of each Tranche B Lender provided pursuant to Section 2.4(f) and evidencing the Tranche B Loans of such Tranche B Lender, individually or collectively, as appropriate, as such promissory notes may be amended, modified, restated, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

“Unused Fee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5(a).

“Unused Fee Calculation Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5(a).

“Unused Revolving Committed Amount” means, for any period, the amount by which (a) the then applicable Revolving Committed Amount exceeds (b) the daily average sum for such period of (i) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans (but not including any Swingline Loans) plus (ii) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all LOC Obligations.

“Used Revolving Committed Amount” means, as of any date, the sum of (i) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans plus (ii) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all LOC Obligations.

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, Capital Stock issued by such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means any Person 100% of whose Voting Stock is at the time owned by the Borrower directly or indirectly through other Persons 100% of whose Voting Stock is at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower.

1.2 Computation of Time Periods.

For purposes of computation of periods of time hereunder, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding.”

1.3 Accounting Terms.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be delivered to the Agent hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis; provided, however, that calculations of the implied principal component of all obligations under any Synthetic Lease or the implied interest component of any rent paid under any Synthetic Lease shall be made by the Borrower in accordance with accepted financial practice and consistent with the terms of such Synthetic Lease. All calculations made for the purposes of determining compliance with this Credit Agreement shall (except as otherwise expressly provided herein) be made by application of GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the most recent annual or quarterly financial statements of the Consolidated Parties delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 (or, prior to the delivery of the first financial statements pursuant to Section 7.1, consistent with the financial statements as at December 31, 2000); provided, however, if (a) the Credit Parties shall object to determining such compliance on such basis at the time of delivery of such financial statements due to any change in GAAP or the rules promulgated with respect thereto or (b) the Agent or the Requisite Lenders shall so object in writing within 60 days after delivery of such financial statements, then such calculations shall be made on a basis consistent with the most recent financial statements delivered by the Credit Parties to the Lenders as to which no such objection shall have been made.

Notwithstanding the above, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, for purposes of all calculations made under the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11 (including without limitation for purposes of the definition of “Pro Forma Basis” set forth in Section 1.1), (a) following consummation of any Asset Disposition (i) income statement items (whether positive or negative) and capital expenditures attributable to the Property disposed of shall be excluded to the extent relating to any period occurring prior to the date of the transaction for

which such calculation is determined and (ii) Indebtedness which is retired shall be excluded and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of the applicable period and (b) following consummation of any Acquisition (i) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Person or Property acquired shall, to the extent not otherwise included in such income statement items for the Consolidated Parties in accordance with GAAP or in accordance with any defined terms set forth in Section 1.1, be included to the extent relating to any period applicable in such calculations, provided, however, that income statement items attributable to such Person or Property shall not be included in any calculation of Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA unless the applicable income statement for such Person or Property is a Qualifying Financial Statement which shall have been delivered to the Agent, (ii) Indebtedness of the Person or Property acquired shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period and (iii) pro forma adjustments may be included to the extent that such adjustments (A) are made in the good faith judgment of the management of the Consolidated Parties and (B) give effect to events that are (1) directly attributable to such transaction, (2) expected to have a continuing impact on the Consolidated Parties, (3) verifiable and supportable and (4) realizable within 180 days following the consummation of the related Acquisition (or later if such additional time is acceptable to the Agent).

SECTION 2

CREDIT FACILITIES

2.1 Revolving Loans.

(a) Revolving Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make available to the Borrower such Revolving Lender’s Commitment Percentage of revolving credit loans requested by the Borrower in Dollars (“Revolving Loans”) from time to time from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date, or such earlier date as the Revolving Commitments shall have been terminated as provided herein; provided, however, that the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans shall not exceed SEVENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($75,000,000) (as such aggregate maximum amount may be reduced from time to time as provided in Section 3.4, the “Revolving Committed Amount”); provided, further, (A) with regard to each Revolving Lender individually, such Revolving Lender’s outstanding Revolving Loans shall not exceed such Revolving Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Committed Amount, and (B) the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans plus LOC Obligations plus Swingline Loans shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount. Revolving Loans may consist of Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, or a combination thereof, as the Borrower may request; provided, however, that no more than 6 Eurodollar Loans which are Revolving Loans shall be outstanding hereunder at any time (it being understood that, for purposes hereof, Eurodollar Loans with different Interest Periods shall be considered as separate Eurodollar Loans, even if they begin on the same date, although borrowings, extensions and conversions may, in accordance with the provisions hereof, be

combined at the end of existing Interest Periods to constitute a new Eurodollar Loan with a single Interest Period). Revolving Loans hereunder may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof.

(b) Revolving Loan Borrowings.

(i) Notice of Borrowing.

(A) The Borrower shall submit an appropriate Notice of Borrowing to the Agent with respect to the initial borrowing of Revolving Loans on the Closing Date no later than 12:00 Noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Closing Date. Such Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loan to be borrowed. The full amount of the Revolving Loan disbursed on the Closing Date shall be a Base Rate Loan.

(B) With respect to each borrowing of Revolving Loans disbursed after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall request such Revolving Loan borrowing by written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Agent not later than 12:30 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date of the requested borrowing in the case of Base Rate Loans, and on the third Business Day prior to the date of the requested borrowing in the case of Eurodollar Loans. Each such request for borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (A) that a Revolving Loan is requested, (B) the date of the requested borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the aggregate principal amount to be borrowed, and (D) whether the borrowing shall be comprised of Base Rate Loans, Eurodollar Loans or a combination thereof, and if Eurodollar Loans are requested, the Interest Period(s) therefor. If the Borrower shall fail to specify in any such Notice of Borrowing (I) an applicable Interest Period in the case of a Eurodollar Loan, then such notice shall be deemed to be a request for an Interest Period of one month, or (II) the type of Revolving Loan requested, then such notice shall be deemed to be a request for a Base Rate Loan hereunder. The Agent shall give notice to each affected Revolving Lender promptly upon receipt of each Notice of Borrowing pursuant to this Section 2.1(b)(i), the contents thereof and each such Revolving Lender’s share of any borrowing to be made pursuant thereto.

(ii) Minimum Amounts. Each Eurodollar Loan or Base Rate Loan that is a Revolving Loan shall be in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000 and integral multiples of $250,000 in excess thereof (or the remaining amount of the Revolving Committed Amount, if less).

(iii) Advances. Each Revolving Lender will make its Commitment Percentage of each Revolving Loan borrowing available to the Agent for the account

of the Borrower as specified in Section 3.15(a), or in such other manner as the Agent may specify in writing, by 2:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing in Dollars and in funds immediately available to the Agent. Such borrowing will then be made available to the Borrower by the Agent by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of such office with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Agent by the Revolving Lenders and in like funds as received by the Agent; provided, however, that the Agent shall, if requested by the Borrower, make the initial advance of Revolving Loans on the Closing Date available to Borrower as provided above prior to the Agent’s receipt of corresponding amounts from the Revolving Lenders.

(c) Repayment. The principal amount of all Revolving Loans shall be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date, unless accelerated sooner pursuant to Section 9.2.

(d) Interest. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1,

(i) Base Rate Loans. During such periods as Revolving Loans shall be comprised in whole or in part of Base Rate Loans, such Base Rate Loans shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the Adjusted Base Rate.

(ii) Eurodollar Loans. During such periods as Revolving Loans shall be comprised in whole or in part of Eurodollar Loans, such Eurodollar Loans shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.

Interest on Revolving Loans shall be payable in arrears on each applicable Interest Payment Date (or at such other times as may be specified herein).

(e) Revolving Notes. The Revolving Loans made by each Revolving Lender shall be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note of the Borrower to such Revolving Lender in an original principal amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Committed Amount and in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.1(e) .

2.2 Letter of Credit Subfacility.

(a) Issuance. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, the applicable Issuing Lender agrees to issue, and each Revolving Lender severally agrees to participate in the issuance by each Issuing Lender of, standby and trade Letters of Credit in Dollars from time to time from the Closing Date until the date thirty (30) days prior to the Maturity Date as the Borrower may request, in a form acceptable to the applicable Issuing Lender; provided, however, that (i) the LOC Obligations outstanding shall not at any time exceed FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS ($15,000,000) (the “LOC Committed Amount”) and (ii) the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans plus LOC Obligations plus Swingline Loans shall not at any time exceed the Revolving Committed Amount. No Letter of Credit

shall (x) have an original expiry date more than one year from the date of issuance (provided that any such Letter of Credit may contain customary “evergreen” provisions pursuant to which the expiry date is automatically extended by a specific time period unless the applicable Issuing Lender gives notice to the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit at least a specified time period prior to the expiry date then in effect) or (y) as originally issued or as extended, have an expiry date extending beyond the date thirty (30) days prior to the Maturity Date. The issuance and expiry dates of each Letter of Credit shall be a Business Day.

(b) Notice and Reports. The request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall be submitted by the Borrower to the applicable Issuing Lender at least three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance. At least quarterly (and more frequently upon request), each Issuing Lender shall provide to the Agent a detailed report specifying the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender which are then issued and outstanding and any activity with respect thereto which may have occurred since the date of the prior report, and including therein, among other things, the beneficiary, the face amount and the expiry date, as well as any payment or expirations which may have occurred. The Agent shall disseminate promptly to each of the Revolving Lenders the information provided by the Issuing Lender(s) pursuant to this subsection (b).

(c) Participation. Each Revolving Lender, upon issuance of a Letter of Credit, shall be deemed to have purchased without recourse a Participation Interest from the applicable Issuing Lender in such Letter of Credit and the obligations arising thereunder and any collateral relating thereto, in each case in an amount equal to its pro rata share of the obligations under such Letter of Credit (based on the respective Commitment Percentages of the Revolving Lenders) and shall absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably assume and be obligated to pay to the applicable Issuing Lender and discharge when due, its pro rata share of the obligations arising under such Letter of Credit. Without limiting the scope and nature of each Revolving Lender’s Participation Interest in any Letter of Credit, to the extent that the applicable Issuing Lender has not been reimbursed as required hereunder or under any such Letter of Credit, each such Revolving Lender shall pay to the Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender its pro rata share of such unreimbursed drawing in same day funds on the day of notification by the Agent of an unreimbursed drawing pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d) below. The obligation of each Revolving Lender to so reimburse the applicable Issuing Lender shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by the occurrence of a Default, an Event of Default or any other occurrence or event. Any such reimbursement shall not relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as hereinafter provided.

(d) Reimbursement. In the event of any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Lender will promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent. Unless the Borrower shall promptly notify the Agent and the applicable Issuing Lender that the Borrower intends to otherwise reimburse the applicable Issuing Lender for such drawing, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested that the Revolving Lenders make a

Revolving Loan in the amount of such drawing as provided in subsection (e) below, the proceeds of which will be used to satisfy the related reimbursement obligations. The Borrower promises to reimburse the applicable Issuing Lender (such reimbursement to made to the Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender) for each drawing under any Letter of Credit (either with the proceeds of a Revolving Loan obtained hereunder or otherwise) in same day funds (i) if it shall receive notice of such drawing from the applicable Issuing Lender prior to 1:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on any Business Day, on such Business Day and (ii) if it shall receive such notice after 1:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on any day, on the next Business Day after it shall receive such notice. The unreimbursed amount of any drawing shall bear interest from the date of such drawing through the date upon which reimbursement thereof is required as provided above at the Federal Funds Rate. If the Borrower shall fail to reimburse the applicable Issuing Lender as provided hereinabove, the unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall thereafter bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the Adjusted Base Rate plus 2%. The Borrower’s reimbursement obligations hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under all circumstances irrespective of any rights of setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment the Borrower may claim or have against the applicable Issuing Lender, the Agent, the Lenders, the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit drawn upon or any other Person, including without limitation any defense based on any failure of the Borrower or any other Credit Party to receive consideration or the legality, validity, regularity or unenforceability of the Letter of Credit. The applicable Issuing Lender will promptly notify the Agent, who shall, in turn, promptly notify the other Revolving Lenders of the amount of any unreimbursed drawing and each Revolving Lender shall promptly pay to the Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender in Dollars and in immediately available funds, the amount of such Revolving Lender’s pro rata share of such unreimbursed drawing. Such payment shall be made on the day such notice is received by such Revolving Lender from the Agent if such notice is received at or before 2:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time), and otherwise such payment shall be made at or before 12:00 Noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Business Day next succeeding the day such notice is received. If such Revolving Lender does not pay such amount to the Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender in full upon such request, such Revolving Lender shall, on demand, pay to the Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender interest on the unpaid amount during the period from the date of such drawing until such Revolving Lender pays such amount to the Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender in full at a rate per annum equal to, if paid within two (2) Business Days of the date that such Revolving Lender is required to make payments of such amount pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Federal Funds Rate and thereafter at a rate equal to the Base Rate. Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make such payment to the applicable Issuing Lender, and the right of the applicable Issuing Lender to receive the same, shall be absolute and unconditional, shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever and without regard to the termination of this Credit Agreement or the Commitments hereunder, the existence of a Default or Event of Default or the acceleration of the obligations of the Borrower hereunder and shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Simultaneously with the making of each such payment by a Revolving Lender to the Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender, such Revolving Lender shall, automatically and without any further action

on the part of the Agent, the applicable Issuing Lender or such Revolving Lender, acquire a Participation Interest in an amount equal to such payment (excluding the portion of such payment constituting interest owing to the applicable Issuing Lender) in the related unreimbursed drawing portion of the LOC Obligation and in the interest thereon, and shall have a claim against the Borrower with respect thereto.

(e) Repayment with Revolving Loans. On any day on which the Borrower shall have requested, or been deemed to have requested, a Revolving Loan advance to reimburse a drawing under a Letter of Credit, the Agent shall give notice to the Revolving Lenders that a Revolving Loan has been requested or deemed requested by the Borrower to be made in connection with a drawing under a Letter of Credit, in which case a Revolving Loan advance comprised of Base Rate Loans shall be immediately made to the Borrower by all Revolving Lenders (notwithstanding any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 9.2) pro rata based on the respective Commitment Percentages of the Revolving Lenders (determined before giving effect to any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 9.2) and the proceeds thereof shall be paid directly to the Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender for application to the respective LOC Obligations. Each such Revolving Lender hereby irrevocably agrees to make its pro rata share of each such Revolving Loan immediately upon any such request or deemed request in the amount, in the manner and on the date specified in the preceding sentence notwithstanding (i) the amount of such borrowing may not comply with the minimum amount for advances of Revolving Loans otherwise required hereunder, (ii) whether any conditions specified in Section 5.2 are then satisfied, (iii) whether a Default or an Event of Default then exists, (iv) failure of any such request or deemed request for Revolving Loan to be made by the time otherwise required hereunder, (v) whether the date of such borrowing is a date on which Revolving Loans are otherwise permitted to be made hereunder or (vi) any termination of the Commitments immediately prior to or contemporaneously with such borrowing. In the event that any Revolving Loan cannot for any reason be made on the date otherwise required above (including, without limitation, as a result of the commencement of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code with respect to the Borrower or any other Credit Party), then each such Revolving Lender hereby agrees that it shall forthwith purchase (as of the date such borrowing would otherwise have occurred, but adjusted for any payments received from the Borrower on or after such date and prior to such purchase) from the applicable Issuing Lender such Participation Interests in the outstanding LOC Obligations as shall be necessary to cause each such Revolving Lender to share in such LOC Obligations ratably (based upon the respective Commitment Percentages of the Revolving Lenders (determined before giving effect to any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 9.2)), provided that at the time any purchase of Participation Interests pursuant to this sentence is actually made, the purchasing Revolving Lender shall be required to pay to the Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender, to the extent not paid to the applicable Issuing Lender by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of subsection (d) above, interest on the principal amount of Participation Interests purchased for each day from and including the day upon which such borrowing would otherwise have occurred to but excluding the date of payment for such Participation Interests, at the rate equal to, if paid

within two (2) Business Days of the date of the Revolving Loan advance, the Federal Funds Rate, and thereafter at a rate equal to the Base Rate.

(f) Designation of Consolidated Parties as Account Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Credit Agreement, including without limitation Section 2.2(a), a Letter of Credit issued hereunder may be issued for the account of a Consolidated Party other than the Borrower, provided that notwithstanding such statement, the Borrower shall be the actual account party for all purposes of this Credit Agreement for such Letter of Credit and such statement shall not affect the Borrower’s reimbursement obligations hereunder with respect to such Letter of Credit.

(g) Renewal, Extension. The renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit shall, for purposes hereof, be treated in all respects the same as the issuance of a new Letter of Credit hereunder.

(h) Uniform Customs and Practices. The applicable Issuing Lender may have the Letters of Credit be subject to The Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as published as of the date of issue by the International Chamber of Commerce (the “UCP”), in which case the UCP may be incorporated therein and deemed in all respects to be a part thereof. Standby Letters of Credit may also be subject to ISP98 (International Standby Practice).

(i) Indemnification; Nature of Issuing Lender’s Duties.

(i) In addition to its other obligations under this Section 2.2, the Borrower hereby agrees to pay, and protect, indemnify and save each Lender harmless from and against, any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that such Lender may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (A) the issuance of any Letter of Credit or (B) the failure of such Lender to honor a drawing under a Letter of Credit as a result of any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or Governmental Authority (all such acts or omissions, herein called “Government Acts”).

(ii) As between the Borrower and the Lenders (including the applicable Issuing Lender), the Borrower shall assume all risks of the acts, omissions or misuse of any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof. No Lender (including the applicable Issuing Lender) shall be responsible: (A) for the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of any Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (B) for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, that may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (C) for errors, omissions,

interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (D) for any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under a Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; and (E) for any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of such Lender, including, without limitation, any Government Acts. None of the above shall affect, impair, or prevent the vesting of the applicable Issuing Lender’s rights or powers hereunder.

(iii) Nothing in this subsection (i) is intended to limit the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower contained in subsection (d) above. The obligations of the Borrower under this subsection (i) shall survive the termination of this Credit Agreement. No act or omission of any current or prior beneficiary of a Letter of Credit shall in any way affect or impair the rights of the Lenders (including the applicable Issuing Lender) to enforce any right, power or benefit under this Credit Agreement.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this subsection (i), the Borrower shall have no obligation to indemnify any Lender (including the applicable Issuing Lender) in respect of any liability incurred by such Lender (A) arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Lender, or (B) caused by such Lender’s failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit, unless such payment is prohibited by any law, regulation, court order or decree.

(j) Responsibility of Issuing Lender. It is expressly understood and agreed that the obligations of the applicable Issuing Lender hereunder to the Lenders are only those expressly set forth in this Credit Agreement and that the applicable Issuing Lender shall be entitled to assume that the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.2 have been satisfied unless it shall have acquired actual knowledge that any such condition precedent has not been satisfied; provided, however, that nothing set forth in this Section 2.2 shall be deemed to prejudice the right of any Lender to recover from the applicable Issuing Lender any amounts made available by such Lender to the applicable Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 2.2 in the event that it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the payment with respect to a Letter of Credit constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the applicable Issuing Lender.

(k) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application. In the event of any conflict between this Credit Agreement and the letter of credit application, this Credit Agreement shall control.

2.3 Swingline Loan Subfacility of the Revolver.

(a) Swingline Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, the Swingline Lender, in its

individual capacity, agrees to make certain revolving credit loans requested by the Borrower in Dollars to the Borrower (each a “Swingline Loan” and, collectively, the “Swingline Loans”) from time to time from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date for the purposes hereinafter set forth; provided, however, (i) the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed TEN MILLION DOLLARS($10,000,000) (the “Swingline Committed Amount”), and (ii) the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans plus LOC Obligations plus Swingline Loans shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount. Swingline Loans hereunder may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof.

(b) Swingline Loan Advances.

(i) Notices; Disbursement. Whenever the Borrower desires a Swingline Loan advance hereunder it shall give written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Swingline Lender not later than 3:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Business Day of the requested Swingline Loan advance. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify (A) that a Swingline Loan advance is requested, (B) the date of the requested Swingline Loan advance (which shall be a Business Day) and (C) the principal amount of the Swingline Loan advance requested. Each Swingline Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan and shall have such maturity date as the Swingline Lender and the Borrower shall agree upon receipt by the Swingline Lender of any such notice from the Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall initiate the transfer of funds representing the Swingline Loan advance to the Borrower by 3:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Business Day of the requested borrowing.

(ii) Minimum Amounts. Each Swingline Loan advance shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 (or the remaining amount of the Swingline Committed Amount, if less).

(iii) Repayment of Swingline Loans. The principal amount of all Swingline Loans shall be due and payable on the earlier of (A) the maturity date agreed to by the Swingline Lender and the Borrower with respect to such Loan (which maturity date shall not be a date more than seven (7) Business Days from the date of advance thereof) or (B) the Maturity Date. The Swingline Lender may, at any time, in its sole discretion, by written notice to the Borrower and the Revolving Lenders, demand repayment of its Swingline Loans by way of a Revolving Loan advance, in which case the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Loan advance comprised solely of Base Rate Loans in the amount of such Swingline Loans; provided, however, that any such demand shall be deemed to have been given one Business Day prior to the Maturity Date and on the date of the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Section 9.1 and upon acceleration of the indebtedness hereunder and the exercise of remedies in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2. Each Revolving Lender hereby irrevocably agrees to make its pro rata share of each such Revolving Loan in the amount, in the manner

and on the date specified in the preceding sentence notwithstanding (I) the amount of such borrowing may not comply with the minimum amount for advances of Revolving Loans otherwise required hereunder, (II) whether any conditions specified in Section 5.2 are then satisfied, (III) whether a Default or an Event of Default then exists, (IV) failure of any such request or deemed request for Revolving Loan to be made by the time otherwise required hereunder, (V) whether the date of such borrowing is a date on which Revolving Loans are otherwise permitted to be made hereunder or (VI) any termination of the Commitments relating thereto immediately prior to or contemporaneously with such borrowing. In the event that any Revolving Loan cannot for any reason be made on the date otherwise required above (including, without limitation, as a result of the commencement of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code with respect to the Borrower or any other Credit Party), then each Revolving Lender hereby agrees that it shall forthwith purchase (as of the date such borrowing would otherwise have occurred, but adjusted for any payments received from the Borrower on or after such date and prior to such purchase) from the Swingline Lender such Participation Interests in the outstanding Swingline Loans as shall be necessary to cause each such Revolving Lender to share in such Swingline Loans ratably based upon its Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Committed Amount (determined before giving effect to any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 3.4), provided that (A) all interest payable on the Swingline Loans shall be for the account of the Swingline Lender until the date as of which the respective Participation Interest is purchased and (B) at the time any purchase of Participation Interests pursuant to this sentence is actually made, the purchasing Revolving Lender shall be required to pay to the Swingline Lender, to the extent not paid to the Swingline Lender by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of subsection (c)(ii) below, interest on the principal amount of Participation Interests purchased for each day from and including the day upon which such borrowing would otherwise have occurred to but excluding the date of payment for such Participation Interests, at the rate equal to the Federal Funds Rate.

(i) Rate of Interest. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1, each Swingline Loan shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the Base Rate.

(ii) Payment of Interest. Interest on Swingline Loans shall be payable in arrears on each applicable Interest Payment Date (or at such other times as may be specified herein), unless accelerated sooner pursuant to Section 9.2.

(d) Swingline Note. The Swingline Loans shall be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note of the Borrower to the Swingline Lender in an original principal amount equal to the Swingline Committed Amount substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.3(d).

2.4 Tranche B Loan.

(a) Tranche B Loan Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth herein each Tranche B Lender severally agrees to make available to the Borrower on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date such Tranche B Lender’s Commitment Percentage of a term loan in Dollars (the “Tranche B Loan”) in the aggregate principal amount of ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS ($130,000,000) (the “Tranche B Loan Committed Amount”). The Tranche B Loan may consist of Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, or a combination thereof, as the Borrower may request; provided, however, that no more than 4 Eurodollar Loans which are Tranche B Loans shall be outstanding hereunder at any time (it being understood that, for purposes hereof, Eurodollar Loans with different Interest Periods shall be considered as separate Eurodollar Loans, even if they begin on the same date, although borrowings, extensions and conversions may, in accordance with the provisions hereof, be combined at the end of existing Interest Periods to constitute a new Eurodollar Loan with a single Interest Period). Amounts repaid on the Tranche B Loan may not be reborrowed.

(b) Borrowing Procedures. The Borrower shall submit an appropriate Notice of Borrowing to the Agent with respect to the Tranche B Loan not later than 12:00 Noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date. Such Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable. The full amount of the Tranche B Loan shall be disbursed on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date as a Base Rate Loan. Each Tranche B Lender shall make its Commitment Percentage of the Tranche B Loan available to the Agent for the account of the Borrower at the office of the Agent specified in Schedule 2.1(a), or at such other office as the Agent may designate in writing, by 2:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date in Dollars and in funds immediately available to the Agent; provided, however, that the Agent shall, if requested by the Borrower, make the Tranche B Loan available to Borrower as provided above prior to the Agent’s receipt of corresponding amounts from the Tranche B Lenders.

(c) Minimum Amounts. Each Eurodollar Loan or Base Rate Loan that is part of the Tranche B Loan shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $500,000 and integral multiples of $25,000 (or the then remaining principal balance of the Tranche B Loan, if less).

(d) Repayment of Tranche B Loan. The principal amount of the Tranche B Loan shall be repaid in eighteen (18) consecutive quarterly installments as follows, unless accelerated sooner pursuant to Section 9.2:

Principal Amortization Payment Dates	Principal Amortization Payment
June 30, 2004	$	1,500,000
September 30, 2004	$	1,500,000
December 31, 2004	$	1,500,000
March 31, 2005	$	1,500,000
June 30, 2005	$	1,500,000
September 30, 2005	$	1,500,000
December 31, 2005	$	1,500,000
March 31, 2006	$	1,500,000
June 30, 2006	$	1,500,000
September 30, 2006	$	1,500,000
December 31, 2006	$	1,500,000
March 31, 2007	$	1,500,000
June 30, 2007	$	1,500,000
September 30, 2007	$	1,500,000
December 31, 2007	$	1,500,000
March 31, 2008	$	1,500,000
June 30, 2008	$	53,000,000
September 30, 2008	$	53,000,000

(e) Interest. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1, the Tranche B Loan shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to:

(i) Base Rate Loans. During such periods as the Tranche B Loan shall be comprised in whole or in part of Base Rate Loans, such Base Rate Loans shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus 2.00%.

(ii) Eurodollar Loans. During such periods as the Tranche B Loan shall be comprised in whole or in part of Eurodollar Loans, such Eurodollar Loans shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus 3.00%;

Interest on the Tranche B Loan shall be payable in arrears on each applicable Interest Payment Date (or at such other times as may be specified herein).

(f) Tranche B Notes. Upon the request of any Tranche B Lender made through the Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Tranche B Lender (through the Agent) a promissory note, substantially the form of Exhibit 2.4(f), which shall evidence such Tranche B Lender’s Tranche B Loans in addition to such accounts or records.

SECTION 3

OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO CREDIT FACILITY

3.1 Default Rate.

Upon the occurrence, and during the continuance, of a default in the payment of any amount hereunder, under the Notes or under any of the other Credit Documents, such overdue amount shall bear interest, payable on demand, at a per annum rate 2% greater than the rate which would otherwise be applicable (or if no rate is applicable, whether in respect of interest, fees or other amounts, then the Adjusted Base Rate plus 2%).

3.2 Extension and Conversion.

The Borrower shall have the option, on any Business Day, to extend existing Loans into a subsequent permissible Interest Period or to convert Loans into Loans of another interest rate type; provided, however, that (i) except as provided in Section 3.8, Eurodollar Loans may be converted into Base Rate Loans or extended as Eurodollar Loans for new Interest Periods only on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) without the consent of the Requisite Lenders, Eurodollar Loans may be extended, and Base Rate Loans may be converted into Eurodollar Loans, only if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.2 are satisfied on the date of extension or conversion, (iii) Loans extended as, or converted into, Eurodollar Loans shall be subject to the terms of the definition of “Interest Period” set forth in Section 1.1 and shall be in such minimum amounts as provided in, with respect to Revolving Loans, Section 2.1(b)(ii) or with respect to the Tranche B Loans, Section 2.4(c), (iv) no more than 6 Eurodollar Loans which are Revolving Loans and no more than 4 Eurodollar Loans which are Tranche B Loans shall be outstanding hereunder at any time (it being understood that, for purposes hereof, Eurodollar Loans with different Interest Periods shall be considered as separate Eurodollar Loans, even if they begin on the same date, although borrowings, extensions and conversions may, in accordance with the provisions hereof, be combined at the end of existing Interest Periods to constitute a new Eurodollar Loan with a single Interest Period), (v) any request for extension or conversion of a Eurodollar Loan which shall fail to specify an Interest Period shall be deemed to be a request for an Interest Period of one month and (vi) Swingline Loans may not be extended or converted pursuant to this Section 3.2. Each such extension or conversion shall be effected by the Borrower by giving a Notice of Extension/Conversion (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the office of the Agent specified in Schedule 2.1(a), or at such other office as the Agent may designate in writing, prior to 12:00 Noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Business Day of, in the case of the conversion of a Eurodollar Loan into a Base Rate Loan, and on the third Business Day prior to, in the case of the extension of a Eurodollar Loan as, or conversion of a Base Rate Loan into, a Eurodollar Loan, the date of the proposed extension or conversion, specifying the date of the proposed extension or conversion, the Loans to be so extended or converted, the types of Loans into which such Loans are to be converted and, if appropriate, the applicable Interest Periods with respect thereto. Each request for extension or conversion shall be irrevocable and shall constitute a

representation and warranty by the Borrower of the matters specified in clauses (b), (c), (d) and (e) of Section 5.2. In the event the Borrower fails to request extension or conversion of any Eurodollar Loan in accordance with this Section 3.2, or any such conversion or extension is not permitted or required by this Credit Agreement, then such Eurodollar Loan shall be automatically converted into a Base Rate Loan at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto. The Agent shall give each Lender notice as promptly as practicable of any such proposed extension or conversion affecting any Loan.

3.3 Prepayments.

(a) Voluntary Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right to prepay Loans in whole or in part from time to time; provided, however, that each partial prepayment of Loans (other than Swingline Loans) shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $250,000 in excess thereof (or the then remaining principal balance of the Revolving Loans or the Tranche B Loan, as applicable, if less). Voluntary prepayments of the Tranche B Loan shall be applied ratably to the remaining Principal Amortization Payments. Subject to the foregoing terms, amounts prepaid under this Section 3.3(a) shall be applied as the Borrower may elect; provided that if the Borrower shall fail to specify, voluntary prepayments shall be applied first to Revolving Loans and then to the Tranche B Loan (ratably to the remaining Principal Amortization Payments), in each case first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities. All prepayments under this Section 3.3(a) shall be subject to Section 3.12, but otherwise without premium or penalty, and shall be accompanied by interest on the principal amount prepaid through the date of prepayment.

(b) Mandatory Prepayments.

(i)(A) Revolving Committed Amount. If at any time, the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans plus LOC Obligations plus Swingline Loans shall exceed the Revolving Committed Amount, the Borrower immediately shall prepay the Revolving Loans and (after all Revolving Loans have been repaid) cash collateralize the LOC Obligations, in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.

(B) LOC Committed Amount. If at any time, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of LOC Obligations shall exceed the LOC Committed Amount, the Borrower immediately shall cash collateralize the LOC Obligations in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.

(ii) Excess Cash Flow. Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004), the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to (a) 50% of Excess Cash Flow minus (b) the amount of any voluntary prepayments of the Tranche B Loan or (to the extent accompanied by a reduction in the Revolving Committed Amount) the Revolving

Loans, for such prior fiscal year (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (vii) below).

(iii)(A) Asset Dispositions. Immediately upon the occurrence of any Asset Disposition Prepayment Event, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds of the related Asset Disposition not applied (or caused to be applied) by the Credit Parties during the related Application Period to make Eligible Reinvestments as contemplated by the terms of Section 8.5(g) (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (vii) below).

(B) Extraordinary Receipts. Immediately upon the receipt of Extraordinary Receipts received by or paid to or for the account of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and not otherwise included in clauses (ii), (iii)(A), (iv) or (v) of this Section 3.3(b) and, in the case of Extraordinary Receipts from any Involuntary Disposition requiring application of any insurance proceeds to the prepayment of Loans (and cash collateralization of LOC Obligations) pursuant to Section 7.6(b), the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (vii) below).

(iv) Designated Debt Issuances. Immediately upon the occurrence of any Debt Issuance Prepayment Event, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds of the related Designated Debt Issuance (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (vii) below).

(v) Equity Issuances. Immediately upon receipt by a Consolidated Party of proceeds from any Equity Issuance other than an Excluded Equity Issuance, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 50% of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Equity Issuance (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (vii) below).

(vi) Tender Offer Prepayment Event. Immediately upon the occurrence of the Tender Offer Prepayment Event, the Borrower shall prepay (or direct the Agent to apply amounts released to the Agent from the escrow account established on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date in connection with the Tender Offer to prepay) the Tranche B Loans in full (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (vii) below).

(vii) Application of Mandatory Prepayments. All amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Section 3.3(b) shall be applied as follows: (A) with respect to all amounts prepaid pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(i)(A), to Revolving Loans (without any reduction in the Revolving Committed Amount) and (after all Revolving Loans have been repaid) to a cash collateral account in respect of LOC Obligations, (B) with respect to all amounts prepaid pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(i)(B), to a cash

collateral account in respect of LOC Obligations and (C) with respect to all amounts prepaid pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(ii), (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) to the Tranche B Loan, ratably to the remaining Principal Amortization Payments. After the Tranche B Loan has been repaid in full, all prepayments under Section 3.3(b)(ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) shall be applied, first, to the Swingline Loans, second (after all Swingline Loans have been repaid), to Revolving Loans and, third (after all Revolving Loans have been repaid), to a cash collateral account in respect of LOC Obligations (without any reduction in the Revolving Committed Amount in connection with any application required pursuant to this sentence). Within the parameters of the applications set forth above, prepayments shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Loans subject to Section 3.3(b)(vii) in direct order of Interest Period maturities. All prepayments under this Section 3.3(b) shall be subject to Section 3.12, but otherwise without premium or penalty, and shall be accompanied by interest on the principal amount prepaid through the date of prepayment.

(viii) Prepayment Account. If the Borrower is required to make a mandatory prepayment of Eurodollar Loans under this Section 3.3(b), the Borrower shall have the right, in lieu of making such prepayment in full, to deposit an amount equal to such mandatory prepayment with the Agent in a cash collateral account maintained (pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) by and in the sole dominion and control of the Agent. Any amounts so deposited shall be held by the Agent as collateral for the prepayment of such Eurodollar Loans and shall be applied to the prepayment of the applicable Eurodollar Loans at the end of the current Interest Periods applicable thereto. At the request of the Borrower, amounts so deposited shall be invested by the Agent in Cash Equivalents maturing prior to the date or dates on which it is anticipated that such amounts will be applied to prepay such Eurodollar Loans; any interest earned on such Cash Equivalents will be for the account of the Borrower and the Borrower will deposit with the Agent the amount of any loss on any such Cash Equivalents to the extent necessary in order that the amount of the prepayment to be made with the deposited amounts may not be reduced.

3.4 Termination and Reduction of Revolving Committed Amount.

(a) Voluntary Reductions. The Borrower may from time to time permanently reduce or terminate the Revolving Committed Amount in whole or in part (in minimum aggregate amounts of $5,000,000 or in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the full remaining amount of the then applicable Revolving Committed Amount)) upon five Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent; provided, however, no such termination or reduction shall be made which would cause the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans plus LOC Obligations plus Swingline Loans to exceed the Revolving Committed Amount unless, concurrently with such termination or reduction, the Revolving Loans are repaid to the extent necessary to eliminate such excess. The Agent shall promptly notify each affected Lender of receipt by the Agent of any notice from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.4(a).

(b) Tranche B Loan Commitments. The Tranche B Loan Commitment of each Tranche B Lender shall automatically terminate at such time as such Tranche B Lender shall have made available to the Borrower such Tranche B Lender’s share of the Tranche B Loan.

(c) Maturity Date. The Revolving Commitments of the Lenders, the LOC Commitment of the Issuing Lender(s) and the Swingline Commitment of the Swingline Lender shall automatically terminate on the Maturity Date.

(d) General. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of the Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 3.5(a), on the date of each termination or reduction of the Revolving Committed Amount, the Unused Fee accrued through the date of such termination or reduction on the amount of the Revolving Committed Amount so terminated or reduced.

3.5 Fees.

(a) Unused Fee. In consideration of the Revolving Commitments of the Lenders hereunder, the Borrower promises to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a fee (the “Unused Fee”) on the Unused Revolving Committed Amount computed at a per annum rate for each day during the applicable Unused Fee Calculation Period (hereinafter defined) at a rate equal to .50%. The Unused Fee shall commence to accrue on the Closing Date and shall be due and payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December (and on any date that the Revolving Committed Amount is reduced and on the Maturity Date) for the immediately preceding quarter (or portion thereof) (each such quarter or portion thereof for which the Unused Fee is payable hereunder being herein referred to as an “Unused Fee Calculation Period”), beginning with the first of such dates to occur after the Closing Date.

(b) Letter of Credit Fees.

(i) Standby Letter of Credit Issuance Fee. In consideration of the issuance of standby Letters of Credit hereunder, the Borrower promises to pay to the Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a fee (the “Standby Letter of Credit Fee”) on such Revolving Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the average daily maximum amount available to be drawn under each such standby Letter of Credit computed at a per annum rate for each day from the date of issuance to the date of expiration equal to the Applicable Percentage. The Standby Letter of Credit Fee will be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December for the immediately preceding quarter (or a portion thereof).

(ii) Trade Letter of Credit Drawing Fee. In consideration of the issuance of trade Letters of Credit hereunder, the Borrower promises to pay to the Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a fee (the “Trade Letter of Credit Fee”) on

such Revolving Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the average daily maximum amount available to be drawn under each such trade Letter of Credit computed at a per annum rate for each day from the date of issuance to the date of expiration equal to the Applicable Percentage. The Trade Letter of Credit Fee will be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December for the immediately preceding quarter (or a portion thereof).

(iii) Issuing Lender Fees. In addition to the Standby Letter of Credit Fee payable pursuant to clause (i) above and the Trade Letter of Credit Fee payable pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower promises to pay to the Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender, without sharing by the other Lenders, (i) a letter of credit fronting fee of 1/4% on the average daily maximum amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit computed at a per annum rate for each day from the date of issuance to the date of expiration (which fronting fee shall be payable on the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) and (ii) the customary charges from time to time of the applicable Issuing Lender with respect to the issuance, amendment, transfer, administration, cancellation and conversion of, and drawings under, such Letters of Credit.

(c) Administrative Fees. The Borrower promises to pay to the Agent, for its own account, the fees referred to in the Agent’s Fee Letter.

3.6 Capital Adequacy.

If any Lender has determined, after the date hereof, that the adoption or the becoming effective of, or any change in, or any change by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof in the interpretation or administration of, any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or compliance by such Lender 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, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or assets as a consequence of its commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender could have achieved but for such adoption, effectiveness, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies with respect to capital adequacy), then, upon notice from such Lender to the Borrower, the Borrower shall be obligated to pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction. Each determination by any such Lender of amounts owing under this Section shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the parties hereto. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Section 3.6, none of the Lenders shall be entitled to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.6, if it shall not be the general practice of such Lender to demand such compensation in similar circumstances under comparable provisions of other comparable credit agreements.

3.7 Limitation on Eurodollar Loans.

If on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Loan:

(a) the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive) that by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period; or

(b) the Requisite Lenders determine (which determination shall be conclusive) and notify the Agent that the Eurodollar Rate will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding Eurodollar Loans for such Interest Period;

then the Agent shall give the Borrower prompt notice thereof, and so long as such condition remains in effect, the Lenders shall be under no obligation to make additional Eurodollar Loans, Continue Eurodollar Loans, or to Convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Loans and the Borrower shall, on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for the outstanding Eurodollar Loans, either prepay such Eurodollar Loans or Convert such Eurodollar Loans into Base Rate Loans in accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement.

3.8 Illegality.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Credit Agreement, in the event that it becomes unlawful for any Lender or its Applicable Lending Office to make, maintain, or fund Eurodollar Loans hereunder, then such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower thereof and such Lender’s obligation to make or Continue Eurodollar Loans and to Convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended until such time as such Lender may again make, maintain, and fund Eurodollar Loans (in which case the provisions of Section 3.10 shall be applicable).

3.9 Requirements of Law.

If, after the date hereof, the adoption of any applicable law, rule, or regulation, or any change in any applicable law, rule, or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable agency:

(i) shall subject such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) to any tax, duty, or other charge with respect to any Eurodollar Loans, its Notes, or its obligation to make Eurodollar Loans, or change the basis of taxation of any amounts payable to such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) under this Credit Agreement or its Notes in respect of any Eurodollar Loans (other than franchise taxes and taxes imposed on the overall net income of such Lender by the jurisdiction in which such Lender is organized or any political subdivision thereof or therein or has its principal office or such Applicable Lending Office);

(ii) shall impose, modify, or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, assessment, or similar requirement (other than the Eurodollar Reserve Requirement utilized in the determination of the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate) relating to any extensions of credit or other assets of, or any deposits with or other liabilities or commitments of, such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office), including the Commitment of such Lender hereunder; or

(iii) shall impose on such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Credit Agreement or its Notes or any of such extensions of credit or liabilities or commitments;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) of making, Converting into, Continuing, or maintaining any Eurodollar Loans or to reduce any sum received or receivable by such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) under this Credit Agreement or its Notes with respect to any Eurodollar Loans, then the Borrower shall pay to such Lender within 5 Business Days following demand such amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction; provided that such increases or reductions shall not include any increased costs or reductions in respect of taxes that are governed by the provisions of Section 3.11, and the provisions of this Section 3.9 shall not be interpreted to cause a duplication in payment or treatment of any taxes in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of Section 3.11. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under this Section 3.9, the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or Continue Eurodollar Loans, or to Convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.10 shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested. Each Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent of any event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof, which will entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 3.9 and will designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to it. Any Lender claiming compensation under this Section 3.9 shall furnish to the Borrower and the Agent a statement setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

3.10 Treatment of Affected Loans.

If the obligation of any Lender to make any Eurodollar Loan or to Continue, or to Convert Base Rate Loans into, Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.7, 3.8 or 3.9 hereof, such Lender’s Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically Converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Eurodollar Loans (or, in the case of a Conversion, on such earlier date as such Lender may specify to the Borrower with a copy to the Agent) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Section 3.7, 3.8 or 3.9 hereof that gave rise to such Conversion no longer exist:

(a) to the extent that such Lender’s Eurodollar Loans have been so Converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s Eurodollar Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and

(b) all Loans that would otherwise be made or Continued by such Lender as Eurodollar Loans shall be made or Continued instead as Base Rate Loans, and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be Converted into Eurodollar Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.

If such Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.7, 3.8 or 3.9 hereof that gave rise to the Conversion of such Lender’s Eurodollar Loans pursuant to this Section 3.10 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Eurodollar Loans made by other Lenders are outstanding, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically Converted, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Eurodollar Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Eurodollar Loans and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods of Revolving Loans) in accordance with their respective Commitments of Revolving Loans and/or Tranche B Loans, as the case may be.

3.11 Taxes.

(a) Any and all payments by any Credit Party to or for the account of any Lender or the Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender and the Agent, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or the Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof or therein (all such non-excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings, and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”). If any Credit Party shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document to any Lender or the Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.11) such Lender or the Agent receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Credit Party shall make such deductions, (iii) such Credit Party shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law, and (iv) such Credit Party shall furnish to the Agent, at its address referred to in Section 11.1, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.

(b) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes or charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made under this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document or

from the execution or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to, this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

(c) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender and the Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 3.11) paid by such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest, and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto.

(d) Each Lender on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof and on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender in the case of each other Lender, and from time to time thereafter if requested in writing by the Borrower or the Agent (but only so long as such Lender remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide the Borrower and the Agent with (A) if such Lender is a United States person under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (other than any such Lender that is a financial institution whose name includes the word “Bank”, “Credit Union”, “Savings and Loan” or “Mutual Savings Bank”), Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or any successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service or (B) if such Lender is not a United States person under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 BEN or W-8 ECI, as appropriate, or any successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying that such Lender is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party which reduces to zero the rate of withholding tax on payments of hereunder or under any other Credit Document or certifying that the income receivable hereunder or under any other Credit Document is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States or (ii) with respect to payments of interest, if such Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 3.11(d) and Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 BEN. The Borrower shall be entitled to rely on such forms in its possession until receipt of any revised or successor form pursuant to this Section 3.11(d).

(e) For any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide the Borrower and the Agent with the appropriate form pursuant to Section 3.11(d) (unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law, or regulation occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be provided), (i) the Borrower shall be entitled to deduct or withhold on payments to the Agent or such Lender as a result of such failure, as required by law, and (ii) the Borrower shall not be required to make payments of additional amounts with respect to such withheld amounts pursuant to Section 3.11(a) (or to indemnify a Lender pursuant to Section 3.11(c)) to the extent such withholding (or liability for Tax) is required solely by reason of the failure of the Agent or such Lender to provide the necessary certificate, document or other evidence of an exemption from withholding; provided, however, that should a Lender, which is otherwise exempt from withholding tax, become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as such Lender shall reasonably request to assist such Lender to recover such Taxes.

(f) If any Credit Party is required to pay additional amounts to or for the account of any Lender pursuant to this Section 3.11, then such Lender will agree to use reasonable efforts to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office so as to eliminate or reduce any such additional payment which may thereafter accrue if such change, in the judgment of such Lender, is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

(g) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Credit Parties hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Credit Parties contained in this Section 3.11 shall survive the repayment of the Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations under the Credit Documents and the termination of the Commitments hereunder.

3.12 Compensation.

Upon the request of any Lender, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such amount or amounts as shall be sufficient (in the reasonable opinion of such Lender) to compensate it for any loss, cost, or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any payment, prepayment, or Conversion of a Eurodollar Loan for any reason (including, without limitation, (i) in connection with any assignment by Bank of America pursuant to Section 11.3(b) as part of the primary syndication of the Tranche B Loans during the 180-day period immediately following the Fifth Amendment Effective Date and (ii) the acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 9.2) on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan; or

(b) any failure by the Borrower for any reason (including, without limitation, the failure of any condition precedent specified in Section 5 to be satisfied) to borrow, Convert, Continue, or prepay a Eurodollar Loan on the date for such borrowing, Conversion, Continuation, or prepayment specified in the relevant notice of borrowing, prepayment, Continuation, or Conversion under this Credit Agreement.

With respect to Eurodollar Loans, such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, Converted or Continued, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, Convert or Continue to the last day of the applicable Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, Convert or Continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest for such Eurodollar Loans provided for herein (excluding, however, the Applicable Percentage included therein, if any) over (b) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by such Lender) which would have accrued to such Lender on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the interbank Eurodollar market. The covenants of the Borrower set forth in this Section 3.12 shall survive the repayment of the Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations under the Credit Documents and the termination of the Commitments hereunder.

3.13 Pro Rata Treatment.

Except to the extent otherwise provided herein:

(a) Loans. Each Loan, each payment or (subject to the terms of Section 3.3) prepayment of principal of any Loan or reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit, each payment of interest on the Loans or reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit, each payment of Unused Fees, each payment of the Standby Letter of Credit Fee, each payment of the Trade Letter of Credit Fee, each reduction of the Revolving Committed Amount and each conversion or extension of any Loan, shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts of their outstanding Loans of the applicable type and Participation Interests in Loans of the applicable type and Letters of Credit.

(b) Advances. No Lender shall be responsible for the failure or delay by any other Lender in its obligation to make its ratable share of a borrowing hereunder; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender to fulfill its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder. Unless the Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the date of any requested borrowing that such Lender does not intend to make available to the Agent its ratable share of such borrowing to be made on such date, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Agent on the date of such borrowing, and the Agent in reliance upon such assumption, may (in its sole discretion but without any obligation to do so) make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Agent, the Agent shall be able to recover such corresponding amount from such Lender. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Agent’s demand therefor, the Agent will promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall within 3 Business Days after demand pay such corresponding amount to the Agent. The Agent shall also be entitled to recover from the Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, interest on such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date such corresponding amount was made available by the Agent to the Borrower to the date such corresponding amount is recovered by the Agent at a per annum rate equal to (i) from the Borrower at the applicable rate for the applicable borrowing pursuant to the Notice of Borrowing and (ii) from a Lender at the Federal Funds Rate.

3.14 Sharing of Payments.

The Lenders agree among themselves that, in the event that any Lender shall obtain payment in respect of any Loan, LOC Obligations or any other obligation owing to such Lender under this Credit Agreement through the exercise of a right of setoff, banker’s lien or counterclaim, or pursuant to a secured claim under Section 506 of Title 11 of the United States Code or other security or interest arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received by such Lender under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, or by any other means, in excess of its pro rata share of such payment as provided for in this Credit Agreement, such Lender shall promptly purchase from the other Lenders a Participation Interest in such Loans, LOC

Obligations and other obligations in such amounts, and make such other adjustments from time to time, as shall be equitable to the end that all Lenders share such payment in accordance with their respective ratable shares as provided for in this Credit Agreement. The Lenders further agree among themselves that if payment to a Lender obtained by such Lender through the exercise of a right of setoff, banker’s lien, counterclaim or other event as aforesaid shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored, each Lender which shall have shared the benefit of such payment shall, by repurchase of a Participation Interest theretofore sold, return its share of that benefit (together with its share of any accrued interest payable with respect thereto) to each Lender whose payment shall have been rescinded or otherwise restored. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing such a Participation Interest may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all rights of payment, including setoff, banker’s lien or counterclaim, with respect to such Participation Interest as fully as if such Lender were a holder of such Loan, LOC Obligations or other obligation in the amount of such Participation Interest. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Credit Agreement, if any Lender shall fail to remit to the Agent or any other Lender an amount payable by such Lender to the Agent or such other Lender pursuant to this Credit Agreement on the date when such amount is due, such payments shall be made together with interest thereon for each date from the date such amount is due until the date such amount is paid to the Agent or such other Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. If under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu of a setoff to which this Section 3.14 applies, such Lender shall, to the extent practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders under this Section 3.14 to share in the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

3.15 Payments, Computations, Etc.

(a) Generally. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all payments hereunder shall be made to the Agent in Dollars in immediately available funds, without setoff, deduction, counterclaim or withholding of any kind, at the Agent’s office specified in Schedule 2.1(a) not later than 2:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date when due. Payments received after such time shall be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day. The Borrower shall, at the time it makes any payment under this Credit Agreement, specify to the Agent the Loans, LOC Obligations, Fees, interest or other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder to which such payment is to be applied (and in the event that it fails so to specify, the Agent shall distribute such payments first to Swingline Loans, second to Revolving Loans (first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities), and, after all Revolving Loans have been repaid, to a cash collateral account in respect of LOC Obligations and third to the Tranche B Loan, ratably to the remaining Principal Amortization Payments (in each case first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities). The Agent will distribute such payments to such Lenders, if any such payment is received prior to 2:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on a Business Day in like funds as received prior to the end of such Business Day and otherwise the Agent will distribute such payment to such Lenders on the next succeeding Business Day. Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day (subject to accrual of interest and Fees for the period of such extension), except that in the case of Eurodollar Loans, if the extension would cause the

payment to be made in the next following calendar month, then such payment shall instead be made on the next preceding Business Day. Except as expressly provided otherwise herein, all computations of interest and fees shall be made on the basis of actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days, except with respect to computation of interest on Base Rate Loans which shall be calculated based on a year of 365 or 366 days, as appropriate. Interest shall accrue from and include the date of borrowing, but exclude the date of payment.

(b) Allocation of Payments After Event of Default. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Credit Agreement to the contrary, after acceleration of the Credit Party Obligations pursuant to Section 9.2, all amounts collected or received by the Agent or any Lender on account of the Credit Party Obligations or any other amounts outstanding under any of the Credit Documents or in respect of the Collateral shall be paid over or delivered as follows:

FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) of the Agent in connection with enforcing the rights of the Lenders under the Credit Documents and any protective advances made by the Agent with respect to the Collateral under or pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents;

SECOND, to payment of any fees owed to the Agent;

THIRD, to the payment of all of the Credit Party Obligations consisting of accrued fees and interest;

FOURTH, to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Credit Party Obligations (including the payment or cash collateralization of the outstanding LOC Obligations);

FIFTH, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) of each of the Lenders in connection with enforcing its rights under the Credit Documents or otherwise with respect to the Credit Party Obligations owing to such Lender;

SIXTH, to all other Credit Party Obligations and other obligations which shall have become due and payable under the Credit Documents or otherwise and not repaid pursuant to clauses ”FIRST” through “FIFTH” above; and

SEVENTH, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

In carrying out the foregoing, (i) amounts received shall be applied in the numerical order provided until exhausted prior to application to the next succeeding category; (ii) each of the Lenders shall receive an amount equal to its pro rata share (based on the proportion that the then outstanding Loans and LOC Obligations held by such Lender bears to the aggregate then outstanding Loans and LOC Obligations) of amounts available to be

applied pursuant to clauses ”THIRD”, “FOURTH”, “FIFTH” and “SIXTH” above; and (iii) to the extent that any amounts available for distribution pursuant to clause ”FIFTH” above are attributable to the issued but undrawn amount of outstanding Letters of Credit, such amounts shall be held by the Agent in a cash collateral account and applied (A) first, to reimburse the Issuing Lender(s) from time to time for any drawings under such Letters of Credit and (B) then, following the expiration of all Letters of Credit, to all other obligations of the types described in clauses ”FIFTH” and “SIXTH” above in the manner provided in this Section 3.15(b).

3.16 Evidence of Debt.

(a) Each Lender shall maintain an account or accounts evidencing each Loan made by such Lender to the Borrower from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Credit Agreement. Each Lender will make reasonable efforts to maintain the accuracy of its account or accounts and to promptly update its account or accounts from time to time, as necessary.

(b) The Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 11.3(c), and a subaccount for each Lender, in which Register and subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount, type and Interest Period of each such Loan hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Agent hereunder from or for the account of any Credit Party and each Lender’s share thereof. The Agent will make reasonable efforts to maintain the accuracy of the subaccounts referred to in the preceding sentence and to promptly update such subaccounts from time to time, as necessary.

(c) The entries made in the accounts, Register and subaccounts maintained pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 3.16 (and, if consistent with the entries of the Agent, clause (a)) shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Credit Parties therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender or the Agent to maintain any such account, such Register or such subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Credit Parties to repay the Credit Party Obligations owing to such Lender.

3.17 Replacement of Affected Lenders.

If any Lender having a Revolving Commitment becomes a Defaulting Lender or otherwise defaults in its Revolving Commitment or if any Lender is owed increased costs under Section 3.6, Section 3.8 or Section 3.9, or the Borrower is required to make any payments under Section 3.11 to any Lender in excess of those to the other Lenders or if any Lender elects not to enter into any amendment, modification, consent or waiver with respect to the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document requested by the Borrower, which amendment, modification, consent or waiver cannot become effective without the consent of such Lender, the Borrower shall have the right, if no Event of Default then exists, to replace such Lender (the “Replaced Lender”) with one or more other Eligible Assignee or Eligible Assignees, none of whom shall

constitute a Defaulting Lender at the time of such replacement (collectively, the “Replacement Lender”), provided that (i) at the time of any replacement pursuant to this Section 3.17, the Replaced Lender and Replacement Lender shall enter into an Assignment and Assumption in the form of Exhibit 11.3(b), pursuant to which the Replacement Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the Commitments and outstanding Loans of, and participation in Letters of Credit by, the Replaced Lender and (ii) all obligations of the Borrower owing to the Replaced Lender relating to the Loans so replaced (including, without limitation, such increased costs and excluding those specifically described in clause (i) above in respect of which the assignment purchase price has been, or is concurrently being paid) shall be paid in full to such Replaced Lender concurrently with such replacement. Upon the execution of the assignment documentation, the payment of amounts referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above and, if so requested by the Replacement Lender, delivery to the Replacement Lender of the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrower, the Replacement Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the Replaced Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such replaced Loans, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Credit Agreement, which shall survive as to such Replaced Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, (1) any Lender that acts as an Issuing Lender may not be replaced hereunder at any time that it has Letters of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements satisfactory to such Lender (including the furnishing of a back-up standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer satisfactory to such Lender or the depositing of cash collateral into a cash collateral account maintained with the Agent in amounts and pursuant to arrangements satisfactory to such Lender) have been made with respect to such outstanding Letters of Credit and (2) the Lender that acts as the Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 10.7. The Replaced Lender shall be required to deliver for cancellation its applicable Notes to be canceled on the date of replacement, or if any such Note is lost or unavailable, such other assurances or indemnification therefor as the Borrower may reasonably request.

SECTION 4

GUARANTY

4.1 The Guaranty.

Each of the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally guarantees to each Lender, each Affiliate of a Lender that enters into a Hedging Agreement, and the Agent as hereinafter provided, as primary obligor and not as surety, the prompt payment of the Credit Party Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof. The Guarantors hereby further agree that if any of the Credit Party Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise), the Guarantors will, jointly and severally, promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Credit Party Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due

(whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Credit Documents or Hedging Agreements, the obligations of each Guarantor under this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any applicable state law.

4.2 Obligations Unconditional.

The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 4.1 are joint and several, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Credit Documents or Hedging Agreements, or any other agreement or instrument referred to therein, or any substitution, release, impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Credit Party Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 4.2 that the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against the Borrower or any other Guarantor for amounts paid under this Section 4 until such time as the Credit Party Obligations have been Fully Satisfied. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of any Guarantor hereunder which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:

(a) at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Credit Party Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(b) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Credit Documents, any Hedging Agreement between the Borrower and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Credit Documents or such Hedging Agreements shall be done or omitted;

(c) the maturity of any of the Credit Party Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Credit Party Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under any of the Credit Documents, any Hedging Agreement between the Borrower and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Credit Documents or such Hedging Agreements shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Credit Party Obligations or any security therefor shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

(d) any Lien granted to, or in favor of, the Agent or any Lender or Lenders as security for any of the Credit Party Obligations shall fail to attach or be perfected; or

(e) any of the Credit Party Obligations shall be determined to be void or voidable (including, without limitation, for the benefit of any creditor of any Guarantor) or shall be subordinated to the claims of any Person (including, without limitation, any creditor of any Guarantor).

With respect to its obligations hereunder, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Agent or any Lender exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against any Person under any of the Credit Documents, any Hedging Agreement between the Borrower and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Credit Documents or such Hedging Agreements, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Credit Party Obligations.

4.3 Reinstatement.

The obligations of the Guarantors under this Section 4 shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Credit Party Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Credit Party Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, and each Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify the Agent and each Lender on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by the Agent or such Lender in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

4.4 Certain Additional Waivers.

In the event that North Carolina law is determined to be controlling in any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Section 4 notwithstanding the parties’ contractual choice of New York law pursuant to Section 11.10(a), each Guarantor hereby specifically waives the benefits of N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 26-7 through 26-9, inclusive, to the extent applicable. Each Guarantor further agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of recourse to security for the Credit Party Obligations, except through the exercise of rights of subrogation pursuant to Section 4.2 and through the exercise of rights of contribution pursuant to Section 4.6.

4.5 Remedies.

The Guarantors agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, the Credit Party Obligations may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 9.2 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in said Section 9.2) for purposes of Section 4.1 notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing the Credit Party Obligations from becoming automatically due and

payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or the Credit Party Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), the Credit Party Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 4.1. The Guarantors acknowledge and agree that their obligations hereunder are secured in accordance with the terms of the Collateral Documents and that the Lenders may exercise their remedies thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof.

4.6 Rights of Contribution.

The Guarantors hereby agree as among themselves that, if any Guarantor shall make an Excess Payment (as defined below), such Guarantor shall have a right of contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s Contribution Share (as defined below) of such Excess Payment. The payment obligations of any Guarantor under this Section 4.6 shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Credit Party Obligations until such time as the Credit Party Obligations have been Fully Satisfied, and none of the Guarantors shall exercise any right or remedy under this Section 4.6 against any other Guarantor until such Credit Party Obligations have been Fully Satisfied. For purposes of this Section 4.6, (a) ”Excess Payment” shall mean the amount paid by any Guarantor in excess of its Pro Rata Share of any Credit Party Obligations; (b) ”Pro Rata Share” shall mean, for any Guarantor in respect of any payment of Credit Party Obligations, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such payment of Credit Party Obligations of (i) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value on a going concern basis of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of all debts and liabilities of such Guarantor (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder) to (ii) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value on a going concern basis of all assets and other properties of all of the Credit Parties exceeds the amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Credit Parties hereunder) of the Credit Parties; provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Pro Rata Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any payment of Credit Party Obligations, any Guarantor that became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such payment shall be deemed to have been a Guarantor on the date of such payment and the financial information for such Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be utilized for such Guarantor in connection with such payment; and (e) ”Contribution Share” shall mean, for any Guarantor in respect of any Excess Payment made by any other Guarantor, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such Excess Payment of (i) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value on a going concern basis of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of all debts and liabilities of such Guarantor (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder) to (ii) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value on a going concern basis of all assets and other properties of the Credit Parties other than the maker of such Excess Payment exceeds the amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Credit Parties) of the Credit Parties other than the maker of such Excess Payment; provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Contribution Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any Excess Payment, any Guarantor that became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such Excess Payment shall be deemed to have been a Guarantor on the date of such

Excess Payment and the financial information for such Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be utilized for such Guarantor in connection with such Excess Payment. This Section 4.6 shall not be deemed to affect any right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution that any Guarantor may have under applicable law against the Borrower in respect of any payment of Credit Party Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all rights of contribution against any Guarantor shall terminate from and after such time, if ever, that such Guarantor shall be relieved of its obligations pursuant to Section 8.5.

4.7 Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee.

The guarantee in this Section 4 is a guaranty of payment and not of collection, is a continuing guarantee, and shall apply to all Credit Party Obligations whenever arising.

SECTION 5

CONDITIONS

5.1 Closing Conditions.

[The Closing Conditions set forth in this Section 5.1 of this Credit Agreement have been satisfied by the Credit Parties and remain in the Credit Agreement solely for reference purposes.]

The obligation of the Lenders to enter into this Credit Agreement and to make the initial Loans or the applicable Issuing Lender to issue the initial Letter of Credit, whichever shall occur first, shall be subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) Executed Credit Documents. Receipt by the Agent of duly executed copies of: (i) this Credit Agreement, (ii) the Notes, (iii) the Security Agreement and (iv) the Agent’s Fee Letter.

(b) Corporate Documents. Receipt by the Agent of the following:

(i) Charter Documents. Copies of the articles or certificates of incorporation or other charter documents of each Credit Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation and certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Credit Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.

(ii) Bylaws. A copy of the bylaws of each Credit Party certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Credit Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.

(iii) Resolutions. Copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of each Credit Party approving and adopting the Credit Documents to which it is a

party, the transactions contemplated therein and authorizing execution and delivery thereof, certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Credit Party to be true and correct and in force and effect as of the Closing Date.

(iv) Good Standing. Copies of (A) certificates of good standing, existence or its equivalent with respect to each Credit Party certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authorities of the state or other jurisdiction of incorporation and the state or other jurisdiction of the chief executive office and principal place of business and (B) to the extent available, a certificate indicating payment of all corporate or comparable franchise taxes certified as of a recent date by the appropriate governmental taxing authorities.

(v) Incumbency. An incumbency certificate of each Credit Party certified by a secretary or assistant secretary to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.

(i) a legal opinion of Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent; and

(ii) a legal opinion of special Nevada counsel for the Borrower, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

(d) Personal Property Collateral. The Agent shall have received:

(i) searches of Uniform Commercial Code filings in the jurisdiction of the chief executive office of each Credit Party and each jurisdiction where any Collateral is located or where a filing would need to be made in order to perfect the Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, copies of the financing statements on file in such jurisdictions and evidence that no Liens exist other than Permitted Liens;

(ii) duly executed UCC financing statements for each appropriate jurisdiction as is necessary, in the Agent’s sole discretion, to perfect the Agent’s security interest in the Collateral;

(iii) searches of ownership of, and Liens on, intellectual property of each Credit Party in the appropriate governmental offices;

(iv) all certificates evidencing any certificated Capital Stock pledged to the Agent pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, together with duly executed in blank, undated stock powers attached thereto;

(v) such patent/trademark/copyright filings as requested by the Agent in order to perfect the Agent’s security interest in the Collateral;

(vi) all instruments and chattel paper in the possession of any of the Credit Parties, together with allonges or assignments as may be necessary or appropriate to perfect the Agent’s security interest in the Collateral; and

(vii) duly executed consents as are necessary, in the Agent’s sole discretion, to perfect the Agent’s security interest in the Collateral.

(e) [Intentionally Omitted].

(f) Litigation. There shall not exist any pending or threatened in writing action, suit, investigation or proceeding against the Parent or any Consolidated Party that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) [Intentionally Omitted].

(h) [Intentionally Omitted].

(i) [Intentionally Omitted].

(j) Officer’s Certificates. The Agent shall have received a certificate or certificates executed by an Executive Officer of the Borrower as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, stating that (i) all governmental, shareholder and third party consents and approvals, if any, with respect to the Credit Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby have been obtained, (ii) no action, suit, investigation or proceeding is pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental instrumentality that purports to affect any Credit Party or any transaction contemplated by the Credit Documents, if such action, suit, investigation or proceeding could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) (A) no Default or Event of Default exists and (B) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (except for such representations and warranties which expressly relate to an earlier date).

(k) Fees and Expenses. Payment by the Credit Parties to the Lenders and the Agent of all fees and expenses relating to the Credit Facility which are due and payable on the Closing Date, including, without limitation, payment to the Agent of the fees set forth in the Agent’s Fee Letter.

(l) Other. Receipt by the Agent of such other documents, instruments, agreements or information as reasonably requested by the Agent, including, but not limited to, information regarding litigation, tax, accounting, labor, insurance, pension liabilities

(actual or contingent), real estate leases, material contracts, debt agreements, property ownership and contingent liabilities of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties.

5.2 Conditions to all Extensions of Credit.

The obligations of each Lender to make, convert or extend any Loan and of the applicable Issuing Lender to issue or extend any Letter of Credit (including the initial Loans and the initial Letter of Credit) are subject to satisfaction of the following conditions in addition to satisfaction on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date of the conditions set forth in the Fifth Amendment:

(a) The Borrower shall have delivered (i) in the case of any Revolving Loan or any portion of the Tranche B Loan, an appropriate Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Extension/Conversion or (ii) in the case of any Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Lender shall have received an appropriate request for issuance in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2(b);

(b) The representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 shall, subject to the limitations set forth therein, be true and correct in all material respects as of such date (except for those which expressly relate to an earlier date);

(c) There shall not have been commenced against the Parent or any Consolidated Party an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or any case, proceeding or other action for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its Property or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such involuntary case or other case, proceeding or other action shall remain undismissed, undischarged or unbonded;

(d) No Default or Event of Default shall exist and be continuing either prior to or after giving effect thereto;

(e) Immediately after giving effect to the making of such Loan (and the application of the proceeds thereof) or to the issuance of such Letter of Credit, as the case may be, (i) the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans plus LOC Obligations plus Swingline Loans shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount and (ii) the LOC Obligations shall not exceed the LOC Committed Amount; and

(f) Immediately after giving effect to the making of such Loan (and the application of the proceeds thereof) or to the issuance of such Letter of Credit, as the case may be (the “Borrowing”), the ratio of (a) Funded Indebtedness of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis on the day of such Borrowing to (b) the sum of (x) Consolidated EBITDA for the three fiscal-quarter period ending as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding the date of such Borrowing for which the Agent has received the Required Financial Information plus (y) Projected Consolidated EBITDA for the applicable fiscal quarter with respect to which the Parent has provided the Projected

Consolidated EBITDA, shall not exceed the then applicable ratio set forth in Section 7.11(a) for the last day of the applicable fiscal quarter with respect to which the Parent has provided the Projected Consolidated EBITDA.

The delivery of each Notice of Borrowing, each Notice of Extension/Conversion and each request for a Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.2(b) shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Credit Parties of the correctness of the matters specified in clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) above.

SECTION 6

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Credit Parties hereby represent to the Agent and each Lender that:

6.1 Financial Condition.

(a) The audited consolidated balance sheets and income statements of the Consolidated Parties for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 (including the notes thereto) (i) have been audited by KPMG LLP, (ii) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby and (iii) present fairly in all material respects (on the basis disclosed in the footnotes to such financial statements) the consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Consolidated Parties as of such date and for such periods. The unaudited interim balance sheets of the Consolidated Parties as at the end of, and the related unaudited interim statements of earnings and of cash flows for, each fiscal quarterly period ended after December 31, 2002 and prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (i) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, and (ii) present fairly in all material respects the consolidated and consolidating financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Consolidated Parties as of such date and for such periods except that they do not contain the materials and disclosures to be found in notes to financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP nor do they reflect year-end adjustments. During the period from December 31, 2002 to and including the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, there has been no sale, transfer or other disposition by any Consolidated Party of any material part of the business or property of the Consolidated Parties, taken as a whole, and no purchase or other acquisition by any of them of any business or property (including any Capital Stock of any other Person) material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of the Consolidated Parties, taken as a whole, in each case, which is not reflected in the foregoing financial statements or in the notes thereto. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(a), as of the Closing Date, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have no material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) that are not reflected in the foregoing financial statements or in the notes thereto.

(b) The financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(a) and (b) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as may otherwise be permitted under

Section 7.1(a) and (b)) and present fairly in all material respects (on the basis disclosed in the footnotes, if any, to such financial statements) the consolidated and consolidating financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Consolidated Parties as of such date and for such periods.

6.2 No Material Change.

Since December 31, 2002, there has been no development or event relating to or affecting the Parent or any Consolidated Party which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.3 Organization and Good Standing.

Each of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties (a) is duly organized, validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has the corporate or other necessary power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged and (c) is duly qualified as a foreign entity and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.4 Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.

Each of the Credit Parties has the corporate or other necessary power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform the Credit Documents to which it is a party, and in the case of the Borrower, to obtain extensions of credit hereunder, and has taken all necessary corporate or other necessary action to authorize the borrowings and other extensions of credit on the terms and conditions of this Credit Agreement and to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to which it is a party. No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other similar act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required to be obtained or made by or on behalf of any Credit Party in connection with the borrowings or other extensions of credit hereunder, with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of the Credit Documents to which such Credit Party is a party, except for (i) consents, authorizations, notices and filings described in Schedule 6.4, all of which have been obtained or made or have the status described in such Schedule 6.4 and (ii) filings to perfect the Liens created by the Collateral Documents. This Credit Agreement has been, and each other Credit Document to which any Credit Party is a party will be, duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Credit Parties. This Credit Agreement constitutes, and each other Credit Document to which any Credit Party is a party when executed and delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

6.5 No Conflicts.

Neither the execution and delivery of the Credit Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor performance of and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof by such Credit Party will (a) violate or conflict with any provision of its articles or certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, (b) violate, contravene or materially conflict with any material Requirement of Law or any other law, regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation U or Regulation X), order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or permit applicable to it, (c) violate, contravene or conflict with contractual provisions of, or cause an event of default under, any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, contract or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound, the violation, contravention, conflict or default of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (d) result in or require the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon or with respect to its properties.

6.6 No Default.

Neither the Parent nor any Consolidated Party is in default in any respect under any contract, lease, loan agreement, indenture, mortgage, security agreement or other agreement or obligation to which it is a party or by which any of its properties is bound which default could have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred or exists except as previously disclosed in writing to the Agent.

6.7 Ownership.

Except to the extent the failure of which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties is the owner of, and has good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all of its respective assets shown on the balance sheet dated June 30, 2003 and all assets and properties acquired since the date of such balance sheet, except for such properties as are no longer used or useful in the conduct of such Person’s business or as have been disposed of in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise permitted by this Credit Agreement, and except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with the ability of such Person to conduct its business as now conducted, and none of such assets is subject to any Lien other than Permitted Liens.

6.8 Indebtedness.

Except as otherwise permitted under Section 8.1, the Parent and the Consolidated Parties have no Indebtedness.

6.9 Litigation.

Except as disclosed in Schedule 6.9, there are no actions, suits or legal, equitable, arbitration or administrative proceedings, pending or, to the knowledge of any Executive Officer of any Credit

Party, threatened in writing against the Parent or any Consolidated Party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.10 Taxes.

Each of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties has filed, or caused to be filed, all material tax returns (Federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed and paid (a) all amounts of taxes shown thereon to be due (including interest and penalties) and (b) all other material taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges (including mortgage recording taxes, documentary stamp taxes and intangibles taxes) owing by it, except for such taxes (i) which are not yet delinquent or (ii) that are being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings, and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP. No Credit Party is aware as of the Closing Date of any proposed tax assessments by any taxing authority against the Parent or any Consolidated Party.

6.11 Compliance with Law.

Each of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties is in compliance with all Requirements of Law and all other laws, rules, regulations, orders and decrees (including without limitation Environmental Laws) applicable to it, or to its properties, unless such failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Requirement of Law could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect.

6.12 ERISA.

Except as disclosed and described in Schedule 6.12 attached hereto:

(a) During the five-year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made: (i) no ERISA Event has occurred, and, to the best knowledge of the Executive Officers of the Credit Parties, no event or condition has occurred or exists as a result of which any ERISA Event could reasonably be expected to occur, with respect to any Plan; (ii) no “accumulated funding deficiency,” as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, has occurred with respect to any Plan; (iii) each Plan has been maintained, operated, and funded in compliance with its own terms and in material compliance with the provisions of ERISA, the Code, and any other applicable Federal or state laws; and (iv) no lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan has arisen or is reasonably likely to arise on account of any Plan.

(b) The actuarial present value of all “benefit liabilities” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA), whether or not vested, under each Single Employer Plan, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made (determined, in each case, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 87, utilizing the actuarial assumptions used in such Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report), did not exceed as of such valuation date the fair market value of the assets of such Plan.

(c) Neither the Parent, any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or, to the best knowledge of the Executive Officers of the Credit Parties, could be reasonably expected to incur, any withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan. Neither the Parent, any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliate would become subject to any withdrawal liability under ERISA if the Parent, any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate were to withdraw completely from all Multiemployer Plans and Multiple Employer Plans as of the valuation date most closely preceding the date on which this representation is made or deemed made. Neither the Parent, any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has received any notification that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), is insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or has been terminated (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA), and no Multiemployer Plan is, to the best knowledge of the Executive Officers of the Credit Parties, reasonably expected to be in reorganization, insolvent, or terminated.

(d) No prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility has occurred with respect to a Plan which has subjected or may subject the Parent, any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which the Parent, any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any Person against any such liability.

(e) Neither the Parent, any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliates has any material liability with respect to “expected post-retirement benefit obligations” within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 106. Each Plan which is a welfare plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) to which Sections 601-609 of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code apply has been administered in compliance in all material respects of such sections.

(f) Neither the execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement nor the consummation of the financing transactions contemplated thereunder will involve any transaction which is subject to the prohibitions of Sections 404, 406 or 407 of ERISA or in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code. The representation by the Credit Parties in the preceding sentence is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of the Lenders’ representation in Section 11.15 with respect to their source of funds and is subject, in the event that the source of the funds used by the Lenders in connection with this transaction is an insurance company’s general asset account, to the application of Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 95-60, 60 Fed. Reg. 35,925 (1995), compliance with the regulations issued under Section 401(c)(1)(A) of ERISA, or the issuance of any other prohibited transaction exemption or similar relief, to the effect that assets in an insurance company’s general asset account do not constitute assets of an “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA or a “plan” within the meaning of Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code.

6.13 Corporate Structure; Capital Stock, etc.

The capital and ownership structure of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties as of the Closing Date is as described in Schedule 6.13A. Set forth on Schedule 6.13B is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date with respect to the Borrower and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries of (i) jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii) number of shares of each class of Capital Stock outstanding, (iii) number and percentage of outstanding shares of each class owned (directly or indirectly) by the Parent and the Consolidated Parties and (iv) number and effect, if exercised, of all outstanding options, warrants, rights of conversion or purchase and all other similar rights with respect thereto. The outstanding Capital Stock of all such Persons is validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and as of the Closing Date is owned by the Parent and the Consolidated Parties, directly or indirectly, in the manner set forth on Schedule 6.13B, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens). As of the Closing Date, other than as set forth in Schedule 6.13B, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has outstanding any securities convertible into or exchangeable for its Capital Stock nor does any such Person have outstanding any rights to subscribe for or to purchase any options for the purchase of, or any agreements providing for the issuance (contingent or otherwise) of, or any calls, commitments or claims of any character relating to, its Capital Stock.

6.14 Governmental Regulations, Etc.

(a) None of the transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, the direct or indirect use of the proceeds of the Loans) will violate or result in a violation of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act or any of Regulations U and X. If requested by any Lender or the Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Agent and each Lender a statement, in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U, that no part of the Letters of Credit or proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of “buying” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulations U and X, or for the purpose of purchasing or carrying or trading in any securities.

(b) Neither the Parent nor any of the Consolidated Parties is (i) an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) a “holding company” as defined in, or otherwise subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended or (iii) subject to regulation under any other Federal or state statute or regulation which limits its ability to incur Indebtedness.

6.15 Purpose of Loans and Letters of Credit.

The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans to (a) provide for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, Permitted Acquisitions and to advance the redemption price with respect to the Tender Offer; provided, however that such Tendered Securities are promptly cancelled or retired by the Parent (or become unissued but authorized shares of Capital Stock of the Parent) following such

repurchase or acquisition). The Letters of Credit shall be used only for or in connection with appeal bonds, reimbursement obligations arising in connection with surety and reclamation bonds, reinsurance, domestic or international trade transactions and obligations not otherwise aforementioned relating to transactions entered into by the applicable account party in the ordinary course of business.

6.16 Environmental Matters.

Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) Each of the facilities and properties owned, leased or operated by the Parent and the Consolidated Parties (the “Real Properties”) and all operations at the Real Properties are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, there is no violation of any Environmental Law with respect to the Real Properties or the businesses operated by the Parent and the Consolidated Parties (the “Businesses”), and there are no conditions relating to the Real Properties or the Businesses that are reasonably likely to give rise to liability under any applicable Environmental Laws.

(b) None of the Real Properties contains, or has previously contained, any Materials of Environmental Concern at, on or under the Real Properties in amounts or concentrations that constitute or constituted a violation of, or are reasonably likely to give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws.

(c) Neither the Parent nor any Consolidated Party has received any written or verbal notice of, or inquiry from any Governmental Authority regarding, any violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability regarding environmental matters or compliance with Environmental Laws with regard to any of the Real Properties or the Businesses, nor does any Executive Officer of any Credit Party have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened.

(d) Materials of Environmental Concern have not been transported or disposed of from the Real Properties, or generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Real Properties or any other location, in each case by or on behalf of the Parent or any Consolidated Party in violation of, or in a manner that are reasonably likely to give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Law.

(e) No judicial proceeding or governmental or administrative action is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Executive Officers of the Credit Parties, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which the Parent or any Consolidated Party is or will be named as a party, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to the Parent or the Consolidated Parties, the Real Properties or the Businesses.

(f) There has been no release, or threat of release, of Materials of Environmental Concern at or from the Real Properties, or arising from or related to the operations (including, without limitation, disposal) of the Parent or any Consolidated Party in connection with the Real Properties or otherwise in connection with the Businesses, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that are reasonably likely to give rise to liability under Environmental Laws.

6.17 Intellectual Property.

Each of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties owns, or has the legal right to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, technology, know-how and processes (the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for each of them to conduct its business as currently conducted except for those the failure to own or have such legal right to use could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Set forth on Schedule 6.17 is a list of all Intellectual Property registered with the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office and owned by each of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties or that the Parent or any Consolidated Party has the right to use. Except as provided on Schedule 6.17, no claim has been asserted in writing and is pending by any Person challenging or questioning the use of any such Intellectual Property or the validity or effectiveness of any such Intellectual Property, nor does any Credit Party know of any such claim, and, to the knowledge of the Executive Officers of the Credit Parties, the use of such Intellectual Property by the Parent or any Consolidated Party does not infringe on the rights of any Person, except for such claims and infringements that, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.18 Solvency.

The Credit Parties, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

6.19 Investments.

All Investments of each of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties are Permitted Investments.

6.20 Business Locations.

Set forth on Schedule 6.20(a) is a list as of the Closing Date of all real property located in the United States and owned or leased by any Credit Party with street address and state where located. Set forth on Schedule 6.20(b) is a list as of the Closing Date of all locations where any tangible personal property of a Credit Party is located, including street address and state where located. Set forth on Schedule 6.20(c) is the chief executive office and principal place of business of each Credit Party as of the Closing Date.

6.21 Disclosure.

Taken as whole, this Credit Agreement, the financial statements referred to in Section 6.1(a) and the other documents, certificates or statements furnished by or on behalf of the Parent or any Consolidated Party in connection with this Credit Agreement do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein or herein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.

6.22 No Burdensome Restrictions.

Neither the Parent nor any Consolidated Party is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any other obligation or any charter or corporate restriction or any provision of any applicable law, rule or regulation which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.23 Brokers’ Fees.

Other than in connection with the Tender Offer, neither the Parent nor any Consolidated Party has any obligation to any Person in respect of any finder’s, broker’s, investment banking or other similar fee in connection with any of the transactions contemplated under the Credit Documents.

6.24 Labor Matters.

Other than as set forth on Schedule 6.24, there are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of the Parent or any Consolidated Party as of the Closing Date and neither the Parent nor any of the Consolidated Parties has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years.

6.25 Nature of Business.

As of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Consolidated Parties are engaged in the business of providing temporary medical staffing services.

6.26 Tax Shelter Regulations.

Borrower does not intend to treat the Loans and/or Letters of Credit and related transactions as being a “reportable transaction” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4). In the event Borrower determines to take any action inconsistent with such intention, it will promptly notify Agent thereof. If Borrower so notifies Agent, Borrower acknowledges that one or more of the Lenders may treat its Commitments and/or Loans and/or its interest in Swingline Loans and/or Letters of Credit as part of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 301.6112-1, and such Lender or Lenders, as applicable, will maintain the lists and other records required by such Treasury Regulation.

SECTION 7

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Each Credit Party hereby covenants and agrees that, so long as this Credit Agreement is in effect or any amounts payable hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall remain outstanding or any Letter of Credit is outstanding, and until all of the Commitments hereunder shall have terminated:

7.1 Information Covenants.

The Credit Parties will furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Agent:

(a) Annual Financial Statements.

(i) As soon as available, and in any event within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Consolidated Parties, a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and income statement of the Consolidated Parties as of the end of such fiscal year, together with related consolidated statements of retained earnings and cash flows for such fiscal year, in each case setting forth in comparative form figures for the preceding fiscal year, all such financial information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and reasonably acceptable to the Agent, and accompanied by a certificate of an Executive Officer of the Borrower to the effect that such annual financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Consolidated Parties and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and the absence of footnotes.

(ii) As soon as available, and in any event within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Parent, a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and income statement of the Parent as of the end of such fiscal year, together with related consolidated statements of retained earnings and cash flows for such fiscal year, in each case setting forth in comparative form figures for the preceding fiscal year, all such financial information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and audited by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing reasonably acceptable to the Agent and whose opinion shall be to the effect that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except for changes with which such accountants concur) and shall not be limited as to the scope of the audit or qualified as to the status of the Parent as a going concern or any other material qualifications or exceptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lenders agree that, to the extent that the requirements of this paragraph (ii) are contained in the annual report of the Parent for such fiscal year on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC (the “Annual Report”), the obligations of the Credit Parties under this

paragraph (ii) will be satisfied by delivering to the Agent, within 90 days after the end of such fiscal year, the Annual Report, with copies for each Lender.

(b) Quarterly Statements. As soon as available, and in any event within 45 days after the close of each of the first three fiscal quarters of the Parent, (i) a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and income statement of the Parent as of the end of such fiscal quarter, together with related consolidated statements of retained earnings and cash flows for such fiscal quarter, in each case setting forth in comparative form figures for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year, all such financial information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and reasonably acceptable to the Agent, and accompanied by a certificate of an Executive Officer of the Borrower to the effect that such quarterly financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Parent and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes (the Lenders agree that, to the extent that the requirements of this clause (i) are contained in the quarterly report of the Parent for such fiscal quarter on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC (the “Quarterly Report”), the obligations of the Credit Parties under this clause (i) will be satisfied by delivering to the Agent, within 45 days after the end of such fiscal quarter, the Quarterly Report, with copies for each Lender) and (ii) a disclosure statement (the “Disclosure Statement”) in reasonable form and detail and reasonably acceptable to the Agent setting forth the adjustments to the financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (i) above necessary to determine the consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and income statement and the related consolidated statements of retained earnings and cash flows of the Consolidated Parties as of the end of such fiscal quarter, and accompanied by a certificate of an Executive Officer of the Borrower to the effect that such Disclosure Statement when combined with the Quarterly Report present in all material respects the financial condition of the Consolidated Parties and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(c) Officer’s Certificate. At the time of delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 7.1(a)(i) and 7.1(b) above, a certificate of an Executive Officer of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.1(c), (i) demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section 7.11 by calculation thereof as of the end of each such fiscal period and (ii) stating that no Default or Event of Default exists, or, if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent thereof and what action the Credit Parties propose to take with respect thereto.

(d) Annual Business Plan and Budgets. As soon as available but in any event no later than 45 days following the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, an annual business plan and budget of the Consolidated Parties containing, among other things, pro forma financial statements for the next four fiscal quarters and the next fiscal year.

(e) Compliance With Certain Provisions of the Credit Agreement. Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Credit Parties, a certificate executed by an Executive Officer of the Borrower regarding the amount of all Asset Dispositions that were made during the prior fiscal year.

(f) Accountant’s Certificate. Within the period for delivery of the annual financial statements provided in Section 7.1(a)(ii), a certification of the accountants conducting the annual audit stating that they have reviewed this Credit Agreement as it relates to accounting and other financial matters and stating further whether, in the course of their audit, they have become aware of any Default or Event of Default and, if any such Default or Event of Default exists, specifying the nature and extent thereof, provided that such accountants shall not be liable by reason of any failure to obtain knowledge of any such Default or Event of Default that would not be disclosed in the course of their audit examination.

(g) Auditor’s Reports. Within a reasonable time period after receipt, a copy of any “management letter” submitted by independent accountants to the Parent or any Consolidated Party in connection with any annual audit of the books of such Person.

(h) Reports. Promptly upon transmission or receipt thereof, (i) copies of any filings and registrations with, and reports to or from, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor agency (other than exhibits and registration statements on Form S-8) and (ii) upon the request of the Agent, all reports and written information to and from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or any state or local agency responsible for environmental matters, the United States Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or any state or local agency responsible for health and safety matters, or any successor agencies or authorities concerning environmental, health or safety matters.

(i) Notices. Upon any Executive Officer of a Credit Party obtaining knowledge thereof, the Credit Parties will give written notice to the Agent immediately of (i) the occurrence of an event or condition consisting of a Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature and existence thereof and what action the Credit Parties propose to take with respect thereto, (ii) the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Parent or any Consolidated Party (A) the pendency or commencement of any litigation, arbitral or governmental proceeding against such Person which if adversely determined is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or (B) the institution of any proceedings against such Person with respect to, or the receipt of notice by such Person of potential liability or responsibility for violation, or alleged violation of any Federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, including but not limited to, Environmental Laws, the violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) any intention by Borrower to treat the Loans and/or Letters of Credit and related transactions as being a “reportable transaction” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4), a duly completed copy of IRS Form 8886 or any successor form.

(j) ERISA. Upon any Executive Officer of a Credit Party obtaining knowledge thereof, the Credit Parties will give written notice to the Agent promptly (and in any event within five Business Days) of: (i) any event or condition, including, but not limited to, any Reportable Event, that constitutes, or might reasonably lead to, an ERISA Event; (ii) with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the receipt of notice as prescribed in ERISA or otherwise of any withdrawal liability assessed against the Credit Parties or any ERISA Affiliates, or of a determination that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or insolvent (both within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA); (iii) the failure to make full payment on or before the due date (including extensions) thereof of all amounts which the Parent, any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute to each Plan pursuant to its terms and as required to meet the minimum funding standard set forth in ERISA and the Code with respect thereto; or (iv) any change in the funding status of any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, together with a description of any such event or condition or a copy of any such notice and a statement by an Executive Officer of the Borrower briefly setting forth the details regarding such event, condition, or notice, and the action, if any, which has been or is being taken or is proposed to be taken by the Credit Parties with respect thereto. Promptly upon request, the Credit Parties shall furnish the Agent and the Lenders with such additional information concerning any Plan as may be reasonably requested, including, but not limited to, copies of each annual report/return (Form 5500 series), as well as all schedules and attachments thereto required to be filed with the Department of Labor and/or the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to ERISA and the Code, respectively, for each “plan year” (within the meaning of Section 3(39) of ERISA).

(k) Environmental. Upon the reasonable written request of the Agent following the occurrence of any event or the discovery of any condition which the Agent reasonably believes has caused (or could be reasonably expected to cause) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6.16 to be untrue in any material respect, the Credit Parties will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agent, at the Credit Parties’ expense, a report of an environmental assessment of reasonable scope, form and depth, (including, where appropriate, invasive soil or groundwater sampling) by a consultant reasonably acceptable to the Agent as to the nature and extent of the presence of any Materials of Environmental Concern on any Real Properties (as defined in Section 6.16) and as to the compliance by the Parent, any Consolidated Party with Environmental Laws at such Real Properties. If the Credit Parties fail to deliver such an environmental report within seventy-five (75) days after receipt of such written request then the Agent may arrange for same, and the Credit Parties hereby grant to the Agent and their representatives access to the Real Properties to reasonably undertake such an assessment (including, where appropriate, invasive soil or groundwater sampling). The reasonable cost of any assessment arranged for by the Agent pursuant to this provision will be payable by the Credit Parties on demand and added to the obligations secured by the Collateral Documents.

(l) Additional Patents and Trademarks. At the time of delivery of the financial statements and reports provided for in Section 7.1(a), a report signed by an Executive Officer of the Borrower setting forth (i) a list of registration numbers for all patents,

trademarks, service marks, tradenames and copyrights awarded to the Parent or any Consolidated Party since the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (ii) a list of all patent applications, trademark applications, service xxxx applications, trade name applications and copyright applications submitted by the Parent or any Consolidated Party since the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and the status of each such application, all in such form as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

(m) Other Information. With reasonable promptness upon any such request, such other information regarding the business, properties or financial condition of the Parent or any Consolidated Party as the Agent may reasonably request.

7.2 Preservation of Existence and Franchises.

Except as a result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger or disposition of a Subsidiary not prohibited by Section 8.4 or Section 8.5, each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, authority and material rights and franchises.

7.3 Books and Records.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep complete and accurate books and records of its transactions in accordance with good accounting practices on the basis of GAAP (including the establishment and maintenance of appropriate reserves).

7.4 Compliance with Law.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders, and all applicable restrictions imposed by all Governmental Authorities, applicable to it and its Property if noncompliance with any such law, rule, regulation, order or restriction could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.5 Payment of Taxes and Other Indebtedness.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge (a) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it, or upon its income or profits, or upon any of its properties, before they shall become delinquent, (b) all lawful claims (including claims for labor, materials and supplies) which, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon any of its properties, and (c) except as prohibited hereunder, all of its other Indebtedness as it shall become due; provided, however, that neither the Parent nor any Consolidated Party shall be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy, claim or Indebtedness which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves therefor have been established in accordance with GAAP, unless the failure to make any such payment (i) could give rise to an immediate right to foreclose on a Lien securing such amounts or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.6 Insurance.

(a) Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain in full force and effect insurance (including worker’s compensation insurance, liability insurance, casualty insurance and business interruption insurance) in such amounts, covering such risks and liabilities and with such deductibles or self-insurance retentions as are in accordance with normal industry practice (or as otherwise required by the Collateral Documents). The Agent shall be named as loss payee or mortgagee, as its interest may appear, and/or additional insured with respect to any such insurance providing coverage in respect of any Collateral, and each provider of any such insurance shall agree, by endorsement upon the policy or policies issued by it or by independent instruments furnished to the Agent, that it will give the Agent thirty (30) days prior written notice before any such policy or policies shall be altered or canceled. The present insurance coverage of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date is outlined as to carrier, policy number, expiration date, type and amount on Schedule 7.6.

(b) In the event that the Parent or any of the Consolidated Parties receive Net Cash Proceeds of any Extraordinary Receipts in excess of $100,000 in aggregate amount during any fiscal year of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties (“Excess Proceeds”) on account of any loss of, damage to or destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking for public use of, any Property of the Parent or the Consolidated Parties (with respect to the Parent or any Consolidated Party, an “Involuntary Disposition”), the Credit Parties shall, within the period of 360 days following the date of receipt of such Excess Proceeds, apply (or cause to be applied) an amount equal to such Excess Proceeds to (i) make Eligible Reinvestments (including but not limited to the repair or replacement of the related Property) or (ii) prepay the Loans (and cash collateralize LOC Obligations) in accordance with the terms of Section 3.3(b)(ii)(B); provided, however, that such Person shall not undertake replacement or restoration of such Property unless, after giving pro forma effect to any Funded Indebtedness to be incurred in connection with such replacement or restoration, no Default or Event of Default would have occurred as of the most recent fiscal quarter end preceding the date of determination with respect to which the Agent has received the Required Financial Information (assuming, for purposes hereof, that such Funded Indebtedness was incurred as of the first day of the four fiscal-quarter period ending as of such fiscal quarter end). All insurance proceeds shall be subject to the security interest of the Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Lenders) under the Collateral Documents. Pending final application of any Excess Proceeds, the Credit Parties may apply such Excess Proceeds to temporarily reduce the Revolving Loans or to make Permitted Investments.

7.7 Maintenance of Property.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain and preserve its properties and equipment material to the conduct of its business in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear and casualty and condemnation excepted, and will make, or cause to be made, in such properties and equipment from time to time all repairs, renewals, replacements,

extensions, additions, betterments and improvements thereto as may be needed or proper, to the extent and in the manner customary for companies in similar businesses.

7.8 Performance of Obligations.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, perform in all material respects all of its material obligations under the terms of all material agreements, indentures, mortgages, security agreements or other debt instruments to which it is a party or by which it is bound.

7.9 Use of Proceeds.

The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans and will use the Letters of Credit solely for the purposes set forth in Section 6.15.

7.10 Audits/Inspections.

Upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit representatives appointed by the Agent, including, without limitation, independent accountants, agents, attorneys, and appraisers to visit and inspect its property, including its books and records, its accounts receivable and inventory, its facilities and its other business assets, and to make photocopies or photographs thereof and to write down and record any information such representative obtains and shall permit the Agent or its representatives to investigate and verify the accuracy of information provided to the Lenders and to discuss all such matters with the officers, employees and representatives of such Person; provided, however, that, unless an Event of Default shall be in existence, the Agent shall not exercise it rights under this sentence more often than one time during any calendar year. The Credit Parties agree that the Agent, and its representatives, may conduct an annual audit of the Collateral, at the expense of the Credit Parties not to exceed $10,000 per annum.

7.11 Financial Covenants.

(a) Leverage Ratio. The Credit Parties shall not permit the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties to be greater than:

Fiscal Year	March 31	June 30	September 30	December 31
2003	1.50x	1.50x	1.50x	2.50x
2004	2.50x	2.75x	2.50x	2.25x
2005	1.75x	1.75x	1.75x	1.75x
2006 and Thereafter	1.50x	1.50x	1.50x	1.50x

(b) Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Credit Parties shall not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties to be less than 3.00 to 1.00.

7.12 Additional Guarantors.

As soon as practicable and in any event within 30 days after any Person becomes a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Parent, the Borrower shall provide the Agent with written notice thereof setting forth information in reasonable detail describing all of the assets of such Person and shall (a) if such Person is a Domestic Subsidiary, (i) cause such Person to execute a Joinder Agreement in substantially the same form as Exhibit 7.12 and (ii) cause 100% of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of such Person to be delivered (if certificated) to the Agent (together with undated stock powers signed in blank) and pledged to the Agent pursuant to an appropriate pledge agreement(s) in substantially the form of the Pledge Agreement and otherwise in form reasonably acceptable to the Agent, (b) if such Person is a direct Foreign Subsidiary of a Credit Party, cause 65% (or such greater percentage that, due to a change in an applicable Requirement of Law after the date hereof, (i) could not reasonably be expected to cause the undistributed earnings of such Foreign Subsidiary as determined for United States federal income tax purposes to be treated as a deemed dividend to such Foreign Subsidiary’s United States parent and (ii) could not reasonably be expected to cause any material adverse tax consequences) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and 100% of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) of such Person to be delivered (if certificated) to the Agent (together with undated stock powers signed in blank (unless, with respect to a Foreign Subsidiary, such stock powers are deemed unnecessary by the Agent in its reasonable discretion under the law of the jurisdiction of incorporation of such Person)) and pledged to the Agent pursuant to an appropriate pledge agreement(s) in substantially the form of the Pledge Agreement and otherwise in form acceptable to the Agent and (c) cause such Person to (i) if such Person is a Domestic Subsidiary which has any real Property required by Section 7.13 to be pledged to the Agent, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be delivered to the Agent with respect to such real Property, such real property documents, instruments and other items, in form reasonably acceptable to the Agent, as the Agent shall reasonably request in order the provide the Agent with a first priority, perfected and title insured Lien in such real Property to secure the Credit Party Obligations and (ii) deliver such other documentation as the Agent may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing, including, without limitation, appropriate UCC-1 financing statements, real estate title insurance policies, environmental reports, landlord’s waivers, certified resolutions and other organizational and authorizing documents of such Person, favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to above and the perfection of the Agent’s Liens thereunder) and other items of the types required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(b), (c) and (d), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

7.13 Pledged Assets.

Each Credit Party will (i) cause all of its owned Property other than Excluded Property, and (ii) to the extent deemed to be material by the Agent or the Requisite Lender in its or their sole reasonable discretion, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all of its leased Property other than Excluded Property, to be subject at all times to first priority, perfected and, in the case of owned real Property, title insured Liens in favor of the Agent to secure the Credit Party Obligations pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents or, with respect to any such Property acquired subsequent to the Closing Date, such other additional security documents as the Agent shall reasonably request, subject in any case to Permitted Liens. In keeping with the requirements of the preceding sentence, each Credit Party will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be delivered to the Agent, with respect to any real Property acquired by such Person subsequent to the Closing Date and required by this Section 7.13 to be pledged to the Agent, such real property documents, instruments and other items, in form reasonably acceptable to the Agent, as the Agent shall reasonably request in order the provide the Agent with a first priority, perfected and title insured Lien in such real Property to secure the Credit Party Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the above, the Credit Parties will cause (i) 100% of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Borrower, (ii) 100% of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of each Domestic Subsidiary and (iii) 65% (or such greater percentage that, due to a change in an applicable Requirement of Law after the date hereof, (i) could not reasonably be expected to cause the undistributed earnings of such Foreign Subsidiary as determined for United States federal income tax purposes to be treated as a deemed dividend to such Foreign Subsidiary’s United States parent and (ii) could not reasonably be expected to cause any material adverse tax consequences) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and 100% of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) of each Foreign Subsidiary directly owned by the Parent or any Domestic Subsidiary to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of the Agent pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents or such other security documents as the Agent shall reasonably request.

7.14 Environmental.

The Parent and the Consolidated Parties will conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling, and testing and all remedial, removal, and other actions necessary to address all Materials of Environmental Concern on, from or affecting any of the Real Properties to the extent necessary to be in compliance with all Environmental Laws and with the validly issued orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities with jurisdiction over such Real Properties to the extent any failure to undertake such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.15 Interest Rate Protection.

During the period beginning 90 days after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date and ending 90 days following the second anniversary of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, the Credit Parties

shall cause the Borrower to maintain protection against fluctuations in interest rates pursuant to one or more Hedging Agreements reasonably acceptable to the Agent providing coverage in an aggregate notional amount equal to at least 50% of outstanding Tranche B Loans.

SECTION 8

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

8.1 Indebtedness.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness arising under this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents;

(b) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries set forth in Schedule 8.1 (and renewals, refinancings and extensions thereof on terms and conditions no less favorable to such Person than such existing Indebtedness);

(c) purchase money Indebtedness (including obligations in respect of Capital Leases or Synthetic Leases) hereafter incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to finance the purchase of fixed assets provided that (i) the total of all such Indebtedness under this clause (c) for all such Persons taken together shall not exceed an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding; (ii) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price of the asset(s) financed; and (iii) no such Indebtedness shall be refinanced for a principal amount in excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such refinancing;

(d) obligations of the Borrower in respect of Hedging Agreements entered into in order to manage existing or anticipated interest rate or exchange rate risks and not for speculative purposes;

(e) intercompany Indebtedness arising out of loans, advances and Guaranty Obligations permitted under Section 8.6;

(f) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Parent in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding plus any accumulated accrued pay-

in-kind interest on such Indebtedness; provided, that such Subordinated Indebtedness does not provide for the payment of cash interest prior to six months after the Maturity Date;

(g) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Borrower that existed at the time such Person became a Subsidiary of the Borrower in connection with a Permitted Acquisition and Indebtedness assumed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in connection with a Permitted Acquisition; provided that (i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition; (ii) the total of all such Indebtedness under this clause (g) for all such Persons taken together shall not exceed an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding; and (iii) no such Indebtedness shall be refinanced for a principal amount in excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such refinancing;

(h) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding plus any accumulated accrued pay-in-kind interest on such Indebtedness;

(i) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding; and

(j) Guaranty Obligations of the Parent, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower with respect to any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries permitted by this Section 8.1.

8.2 Liens.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien with respect to any of its Property, whether now owned or after acquired, except for Permitted Liens.

8.3 Nature of Business.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to engage at any time in any business or business activity other than the business conducted by such Person as of the Closing Date and any business reasonably related or similar thereto.

8.4 Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, etc.

Except in connection with a Permitted Asset Disposition, the Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to merge or consolidate or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.4 but subject to the terms of Sections 7.12 and 7.13, (a) the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any of its Subsidiaries; provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, (b) any Credit Party other than the Parent or the Borrower may merge or

consolidate with any other Credit Party other than the Parent or the Borrower, (c) any Consolidated Party which is not a Credit Party may be merged or consolidated with or into any Credit Party other than the Parent provided that such Credit Party shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, (d) any Consolidated Party which is not a Credit Party may be merged or consolidated with or into any other Consolidated Party which is not a Credit Party, (e) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge with any Person that is not a Credit Party in connection with an Asset Disposition permitted under Section 8.5, (f) the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge with any Person other than a Consolidated Party in connection with a Permitted Acquisition provided that, if such transaction involves the Borrower, the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation and (g) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may dissolve, liquidate or wind up its affairs at any time provided that such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as applicable, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. It is understood that this Section 8.4 shall not prohibit the Parent or any Consolidated Party from entering into any agreement of merger or consolidation, but shall prohibit the consummation of any such merger or consolidation (except as permitted pursuant to this Section 8.4).

8.5 Asset Dispositions.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to make any Asset Disposition other than an Excluded Asset Disposition unless (a) at least 80% of the consideration paid in connection therewith shall consist of cash or Cash Equivalents, (b) if such transaction is a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, such transaction is not prohibited by the terms of Section 8.13, (c) such transaction does not involve the sale or other disposition of a minority equity interest in any Consolidated Party, (d) such transaction does not involve a sale or other disposition of receivables other than receivables owned by or attributable to other Property concurrently being disposed of in a transaction otherwise permitted under this Section 8.5, (e) the aggregate net book value of all of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of by the Parent and the Consolidated Parties in all such transactions after the Closing Date shall not exceed $5,000,000, (f) if the aggregate net book value of the assets being sold or otherwise disposed of by the Parent and the Consolidated Parties in such transaction exceeds $250,000, a certificate of an Executive Officer of the Borrower specifying the anticipated date of such Asset Disposition, briefly describing the assets to be sold or otherwise disposed of and setting forth the net book value of such assets, the aggregate consideration and the Net Cash Proceeds to be received for such assets in connection with such Asset Disposition and (g) the Credit Parties shall, within the period of 360 days following the consummation of such Asset Disposition (with respect to any such Asset Disposition, the “Application Period”), apply (or cause to be applied) an amount equal to the Net Cash Proceeds of such Asset Disposition to (i) make Eligible Reinvestments or (ii) prepay the Loans (and cash collateralize LOC Obligations) in accordance with the terms of Section 3.3(b)(iii)(A). Pending final application of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Disposition in accordance with the terms of Section 3.3(b)(iii)(A), the Parent and the Consolidated Parties may apply such Net Cash Proceeds to temporarily reduce the Revolving Loans or to make Investments in Cash Equivalents.

Upon a sale of assets or the sale of Capital Stock of a Consolidated Party permitted by this Section 8.5, the Agent shall (to the extent applicable) deliver to the Credit Parties, upon the Credit Parties’ request and at the Credit Parties’ expense, such documentation as is reasonably necessary to

evidence the release of the Agent’s security interest, if any, in such assets or Capital Stock, including, without limitation, amendments or terminations of UCC financing statements, if any, the return of stock certificates, if any, and the release of such Consolidated Party from all of its obligations, if any, under the Credit Documents.

8.6 Investments.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to make Investments in or to any Person, except for Permitted Investments.

8.7 Restricted Payments.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to, directly or indirectly, declare, order, make or set apart any sum for or pay any Restricted Payment, except (a) to make dividends or other distributions payable to any Credit Party other than the Parent (directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries), (b) payments by any Consolidated Parties to the Parent in respect of the tax liability of the affiliated group of corporations that file consolidated federal income tax returns (or that file state or local income tax returns on a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar basis), (c) loans, advances, dividends or distributions by any Consolidated Party to the Parent not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year to enable the Parent to pay its costs (including all professional fees and expenses) incurred to comply with its reporting obligations under federal or state laws or in connection with reporting obligations in respect of any Indebtedness of the Parent permitted under Section 8.1, (d) loans, advances, dividends or distributions by any Consolidated Party to the Parent to enable the Parent to pay for corporate, administrative and operating expenses in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, costs and expenses in connection with the Initial Public Offering and advisory fees, commissions and expenses incurred by a Credit Party in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other business combination permitted under this Credit Agreement) not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year (exclusive of costs and expenses in connection with the Initial Public Offering), (e) loans, advances, dividends or distributions by a Consolidated Party to enable the Parent to pay an annual management fee to the Sponsor Entities in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year, (f) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock or any option to acquire Capital Stock of the Parent (other than the Tendered Securities) held by members of senior management and other key employees of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate cash amount not to exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate following the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, (g) as permitted by Section 8.8 or Section 8.9, (h) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions or retirements for value of the Tendered Securities, (i) payments in kind of interest accrued in respect of any Subordinated Indebtedness, (j) the refinancing of any Subordinated Indebtedness with the proceeds received from any Equity Issuance or other Subordinated Indebtedness to the extent not required to be applied to the Loans hereunder pursuant to Section 3.3, (k) [intentionally omitted], (l) loans, advances, dividends or distributions by any Consolidated Party to the Parent to enable the Parent to make the payments or reimbursements of fees and expenses to the extent permitted by Section 8.9(f) and 8.7(h) and (m) loans, advances, dividends or distributions by any Consolidated Party to the Parent to enable the Parent to effect any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or

retirement for value of any Capital Stock or any option to acquire Capital Stock of the Parent to the extent permitted by Section 8.7(f) or 8.7(h).

8.8 Other Indebtedness, etc.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to (a) if any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be directly or indirectly caused as a result thereof, (i) after the issuance thereof, amend or modify any of the terms of any Indebtedness of any such Person if such amendment or modification would add or change any terms in a manner adverse to such Person, or shorten the final maturity or average life to maturity or require any payment to be made sooner than originally scheduled or increase the interest rate applicable thereto or change any subordination provision thereof, or (ii) make (or give any notice with respect thereto) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment or redemption or acquisition for value of (including without limitation, by way of depositing money or securities with the trustee with respect thereto before due for the purpose of paying when due), refund, refinance or exchange of any other Indebtedness of such Person, (b) shorten the final maturity of any Subordinated Indebtedness or amend or modify any of the subordination provisions of any Subordinated Indebtedness, (c) make interest payments in respect of any Subordinated Indebtedness in violation of the subordination provisions of the documents evidencing and/or governing such Subordinated Indebtedness or (d) except as otherwise permitted under Section 8.7, make (or give any notice with respect thereto) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment, redemption, acquisition for value or defeasance of (including without limitation, by way of depositing money or securities with the trustee with respect thereto before due for the purpose of paying when due), refund, refinance or exchange of any Subordinated Indebtedness.

8.9 Transactions with Affiliates.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to enter into or permit to exist any transaction or series of transactions with any officer, director, shareholder, Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Person other than (a) advances of working capital to any Credit Party other than the Parent, (b) transfers of cash and assets to any Credit Party other than the Parent, (c) transactions expressly permitted by Section 8.1, Section 8.4, Section 8.5, Section 8.6, or Section 8.7, (d) customary compensation and reimbursement of expenses of officers and directors, (e) transactions described on Schedule 8.9, (f) payment or reimbursement of fees and expenses of the Parent and any of its shareholders in connection with any registration of the Capital Stock of the Parent pursuant to registration rights agreements or as otherwise approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower or Parent in an amount not to exceed $3,500,000 in any fiscal year, and (g) except as otherwise specifically limited in this Credit Agreement, other transactions which are entered into in the ordinary course of such Person’s business on terms and conditions substantially as favorable to such Person as would be obtainable by it in a comparable arms-length transaction with a Person other than an officer, director, shareholder, Subsidiary or Affiliate.

8.10 Organizational Documents; Fiscal Year.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to (i) amend, modify or change its articles of incorporation (or corporate charter or other similar organizational document) or bylaws (or other similar document) in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders or (ii) change its fiscal year.

8.11 Limitation on Restricted Actions.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any such Person to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Credit Party on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, (b) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Credit Party, (c) make loans or advances to any Credit Party, (d) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to any Credit Party, or (e) act as a Credit Party and pledge its assets pursuant to the Credit Documents or any renewals, refinancings, exchanges, refundings or extension thereof, except (in respect of any of the matters referred to in clauses (a)-(d) above) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (ii) documents evidencing and/or governing any Subordinated Indebtedness to the extent consistent with the restrictions in this Section 8.11, (iii) applicable law, (iv) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.1(c) or Section 8.1(g), provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (v) any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien or (vi) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any Property permitted under Section 8.5 pending the consummation of such sale.

8.12 Ownership of Subsidiaries; Limitations on Parent.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Credit Agreement to the contrary:

(a) The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to (i) permit any Person (other than the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower) to own any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, except (A) to qualify directors where required by applicable law or to satisfy other requirements of applicable law with respect to the ownership of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries or (B) as a result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger, consolidation or disposition of a Subsidiary not prohibited by Section 8.4 or Section 8.5, (ii) permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower to issue or have outstanding any shares of preferred Capital Stock or (iii) permit, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, except for Permitted Liens.

(b) The Parent shall not (i) hold any material assets other than (A) the Capital Stock of the Borrower, (B) the Capital Stock of the Parent repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired or retired for value by the Parent to the extent permitted by Section 8.7 and (C) cash to the extent permitted by Section 8.7, (ii) have any liabilities other than (A) Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.1, (B) tax liabilities in the ordinary course of business, (C) loans, advances and payments permitted under Section 8.9, (D) corporate, administrative and operating expenses in the ordinary course of business and (E) other liabilities under (1) the Credit Documents, (2) the documents evidencing and/or governing any Subordinated Indebtedness, (3) registration rights agreements, (4) stock option plans (including, without limitation, those in existence on the Closing Date), or (5) any other agreement, document or instrument related to any of the foregoing or (iii) engage in any business other than (A) owning the Capital Stock of the Borrower and activities incidental or related thereto, (B) acting as a Guarantor hereunder and pledging its assets to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, pursuant to the Collateral Documents to which it is a party, (C) activities related to its obligations under the Securities Exchange Act, (D) acting as a borrower or guarantor, as applicable, in respect of Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.1, (E) in connection with the exercise of its rights under and its compliance with the obligations applicable to it under the documents listed in clause (ii)(E) above and (F) activities relating to any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock or any option to acquire Capital Stock of the Parent to the extent permitted by Section 8.7.

8.13 Sale Leasebacks.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction.

8.14 Capital Expenditures.

The Credit Parties will not permit Consolidated Capital Expenditures for any fiscal year to exceed $10,000,000 plus the unused amount available for Consolidated Capital Expenditures under this Section 8.14 for the immediately preceding fiscal year (excluding any carry forward available from any prior fiscal year).

8.15 No Further Negative Pledges.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Parent or any Consolidated Party to enter into, assume or become subject to any agreement prohibiting or otherwise restricting the existence of any Lien upon any of its Property in favor of the Agent (for the benefit of the Lenders) for the purpose of securing the Credit Party Obligations, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or requiring the grant of any security for any obligation if such Property is given as security for the Credit Party Obligations, except (a) pursuant to any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.1(c), provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (b) pursuant to any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.1(g), (c) in connection with any

Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien and (d) pursuant to customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any Property permitted under Section 8.5, pending the consummation of such sale.

8.16 Limitation on Foreign Operations.

The Credit Parties will not permit (i) the Borrower and the Domestic Subsidiaries to own at any time less than 90% of Consolidated Total Assets or (ii) the portion of Consolidated EBITDA attributable to the Borrower and the Domestic Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any four quarter period to be less than 90% of total Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

SECTION 9

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

9.1 Events of Default.

An Event of Default shall exist upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any of the following specified events (each an “Event of Default”):

(a) Payment. Any Credit Party shall

(i) default in the payment when due of any principal of any of the Loans or of any reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit, or

(ii) default, and such default shall continue for three (3) or more Business Days, in the payment when due of any interest on the Loans or on any reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit, or of any Fees or other amounts owing hereunder, under any of the other Credit Documents or in connection herewith or therewith; or

(b) Representations. Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed to be made by any Credit Party herein, in any of the other Credit Documents, or in any statement or certificate delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove untrue in any material respect on the date as of which it was deemed to have been made; or

(i) default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 7.2, 7.9 or 7.11 or Section 8;

(ii) default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 7.1(a) or (b), 7.12 or 7.13 and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 15 days after the earlier of an Executive Officer of a Credit Party becoming aware of such default or notice thereof by the Agent; or

(iii) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c)(i) or (c)(ii) of this Section 9.1) contained in this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after the earlier of an Executive Officer of a Credit Party becoming aware of such default or notice thereof by the Agent; or

(d) Other Credit Documents. Except as a result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger or disposition of a Subsidiary not prohibited by Section 8.4 or Section 8.5, any Credit Document shall fail to be in full force and effect or to give the Agent and/or the Lenders the Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created thereby, or any Credit Party shall so state in writing; or

(e) Guaranties. Except as the result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger or disposition of a Subsidiary not prohibited by Section 8.4 or Section 8.5, the guaranty given by any Guarantor hereunder (including any Person after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 7.12) or any provision thereof shall cease to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor (including any Person after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 7.12) hereunder or any Person acting by or on behalf of such Guarantor shall deny or disaffirm such Guarantor’s obligations under such guaranty, or any Guarantor shall default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or observed pursuant to any guaranty; or

(f) Bankruptcy, etc. Any Bankruptcy Event shall occur with respect to the Parent or any Consolidated Party; or

(g) Defaults under Other Indebtedness. With respect to any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness outstanding under this Credit Agreement) in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate for the Parent and the Consolidated Parties taken as a whole, either (1) a default in any payment shall occur and continue (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any) with respect to any such Indebtedness, or (2) a default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event or condition shall occur or exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or permit, the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or trustee or agent on behalf of such holders) to cause (with the giving of notice, if required), any such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity, or, in the case of any such Indebtedness constituting a Guaranty Obligation, to become due and payable; or

(h) Judgments. One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against one or more of the Parent and the Consolidated Parties involving a liability of $2,000,000 or more in the aggregate (to the extent not paid or fully covered by insurance provided by a carrier who has acknowledged coverage and has the ability to perform) and any such judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 30 days from the entry thereof; or

(i) ERISA. Any of the following events or conditions, if such event or condition could involve possible taxes, penalties, and other liabilities in an aggregate amount in excess of $2,000,000: (i) any “accumulated funding deficiency,” as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan, or any lien shall arise on the assets of the Parent, any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate in favor of the PBGC or a Plan; (ii) an ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a Single Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA; (iii) an ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, likely to result in (A) the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, or (B) the Parent, any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate incurring any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, reorganization of (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or insolvency (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) of such Plan; or (iv) any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility shall occur which may subject the Parent, any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which the Parent, any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any person against any such liability; or

(j) Ownership. There shall occur a Change in Control.

9.2 Acceleration; Remedies.

Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent shall, upon the request and direction of the Requisite Lenders, by written notice to the Credit Parties take any of the following actions:

(a) Termination of Commitments. Declare the Commitments terminated whereupon the Commitments shall be immediately terminated.

(b) Acceleration. Declare the unpaid principal of and any accrued interest in respect of all Loans, any reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit and any and all other indebtedness or obligations of any and every kind owing by the Credit Parties to the Agent and/or any of the Lenders hereunder to be due whereupon the

same shall be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Credit Parties.

(c) Cash Collateral. Direct the Credit Parties to pay (and the Credit Parties agree that upon receipt of such notice they will immediately pay) to the Agent additional cash, to be held by the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, in a cash collateral account as additional security for the LOC Obligations in respect of subsequent drawings under all then outstanding Letters of Credit in an amount equal to the maximum aggregate amount which may be drawn under all Letters of Credits then outstanding.

(d) Enforcement of Rights. Enforce any and all rights and interests created and existing under the Credit Documents including, without limitation, all rights and remedies existing under the Collateral Documents, all rights and remedies against a Guarantor and all rights of set-off.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(f) shall occur with respect to the Borrower, then, without the giving of any notice or other action by the Agent or the Lenders, (i) the Commitments automatically shall terminate, (ii) all Loans, all reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit, all accrued interest in respect thereof, all accrued and unpaid Fees and other indebtedness or obligations owing to the Agent and/or any of the Lenders hereunder automatically shall immediately become due and payable and (iii) the Credit Parties automatically shall be obligated to pay to the Agent additional cash, to be held by the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, in a cash collateral account as additional security for the LOC Obligations in respect of subsequent drawings under all then outstanding Letters of Credit in an amount equal to the maximum aggregate amount which may be drawn under all Letters of Credits then outstanding.

SECTION 10

AGENCY PROVISIONS

10.1 Appointment, Powers and Immunities.

(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Agent to act as its agent under this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents with such powers and discretion as are specifically delegated to the Agent by the terms of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Agent (which term as used in this sentence and in Section 10.5 and the first sentence of Section 10.6 hereof shall include its Affiliates and its own and its Affiliates’ officers, directors, employees, and agents): (i) shall not have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Credit Agreement and shall not be a trustee or fiduciary for any Lender; (ii) shall not be responsible to the Lenders for any recital, statement, representation, or warranty (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Credit Document or any certificate or other document

referred to or provided for in, or received by any of them under, any Credit Document, or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability, or sufficiency of any Credit Document, or any other document referred to or provided for therein or for any failure by any Credit Party or any other Person to perform any of its obligations thereunder; (iii) shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, or verify the performance or observance of any covenants or agreements by any Credit Party or the satisfaction of any condition or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates; and (iv) shall not be responsible for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with any Credit Document, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Agent may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.

(b) The Issuing Lender shall act on behalf of the Revolving Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the Issuing Lender shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agent in this Section 10 with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the Issuing Lender in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the applications and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in this Section 10 included the Issuing Lender with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to the Issuing Lender.

10.2 Reliance by Agent.

The Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any certification, notice, instrument, writing, or other communication (including, without limitation, any thereof by telephone or telecopy) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by or on behalf of the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel for any Credit Party), independent accountants, and other experts selected by the Agent. The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until the Agent receives and accepts an Assignment and Assumption executed in accordance with Section 11.3(b) hereof. The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Credit Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Requisite Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Requisite Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.

10.3 Defaults.

The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default unless the Agent has received written notice from a Lender or a Credit Party specifying such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default”. In the event that the Agent receives such a notice of the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders. The Agent shall (subject to Section 10.2 hereof) take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall reasonably be directed by the Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as required by Section 11.6), provided that, unless and until the Agent shall have received such directions, the Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interest of the Lenders.

10.4 Rights as a Lender.

With respect to its Commitment and the Loans made by it, Bank of America (and any successor acting as Agent) in its capacity as a Lender hereunder shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not acting as the Agent, and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, include the Agent in its individual capacity. Bank of America (and any successor acting as Agent) and its Affiliates may (without having to account therefor to any Lender) accept deposits from, lend money to, make investments in, provide services to, and generally engage in any kind of lending, trust, or other business with any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates as if it were not acting as Agent, and Bank of America (and any successor acting as Agent) and its Affiliates may accept fees and other consideration from any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates for services in connection with this Credit Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to the Lenders.

10.5 Indemnification.

The Lenders agree to indemnify the Agent (to the extent not reimbursed under Section 11.5 hereof, but without limiting the obligations of the Credit Parties under such Section) ratably (in accordance with their respective (i) Revolving Commitments (or, if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the outstanding Revolving Loans and Participation Interests in Letters of Credit (including the Participation Interests of the Issuing Lender(s) in Letters of Credit)) and (ii) outstanding Tranche B Loans (and Participation Interests therein)), for any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees), or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent (including by any Lender) in any way relating to or arising out of any Credit Document or the transactions contemplated thereby or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under any Credit Document; provided that no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent they arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Person to be indemnified. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or

expenses payable by the Credit Parties under Section 11.5, to the extent that the Agent is not promptly reimbursed for such costs and expenses by the Credit Parties. The agreements in this Section 10.5 shall survive the repayment of the Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations under the Credit Documents and the termination of the Commitments hereunder.

10.6 Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders.

Each Lender agrees that it has, independently and without reliance on the Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries and decision to enter into this Credit Agreement and that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own analysis and decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Documents. Except for financial statements, notices and other information delivered to the Agent by any of the Credit Parties pursuant to the terms of Section 7.1 (which the Agent shall be required to deliver to each of the Lenders promptly following receipt thereof by the Agent) and except for any other notices, reports, and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Agent hereunder, the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition, or business of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates that may come into the possession of the Agent or any of its Affiliates.

10.7 Successor Agent.

The Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the Lenders and the Credit Parties. Upon any such resignation, the Requisite Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent; provided that, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time such appointment, such successor Agent shall be approved by the Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Requisite Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States having combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Section 10 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Agent. If no successor Agent has accepted appointment as Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days following a retiring Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Requisite Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above; provided that, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time such appointment, such successor Agent shall be approved by the Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

SECTION 11

MISCELLANEOUS

11.1 Notices.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications shall have been duly given and shall be effective (a) when delivered, (b) when transmitted via telecopy (or other facsimile device) to the number set out below, (c) the Business Day following the day on which the same has been delivered prepaid to a reputable national overnight air courier service, or (d) the third Business Day following the day on which the same is sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, in each case to the respective parties at the address, in the case of the Credit Parties and the Agent, set forth below, and, in the case of the Lenders, set forth on Schedule 2.1(a), or at such other address as such party may specify by written notice to the other parties hereto:

if to any Credit Party:

AMN Healthcare, Inc.

00000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx

Xxxxx 000

Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000

Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx

Telephone: (000) 000-0000

Telecopy: (000) 000-0000

if to the Agent:

for notices regarding borrowings, payments, conversions, fees, interest, and other administrative matters:

Bank of America, N. A.

000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx

Location Code: NC1-001-15-04

Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000

Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx

Telephone: (000) 000-0000

Telecopy: (000) 000-0000

for all other notices (including with respect to Defaults and Events of Default, amendments, waivers and modifications of the Credit Documents, assignments):

Xxxx xx Xxxxxxx, X. A.

Agency Management

0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0^xx Xxxxx

Location Code: CA5-701-05-19

Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000

Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Vice President

Telephone: (000) 000-0000

Telecopy: (000) 000-0000

Bank of America, N. A.

Location Code: NC1-007-17-11

000 Xxxxx Xxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx

Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000

Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx

Telephone: (000) 000-0000

Telecopy: (000) 000-0000

11.2 Right of Set-Off; Adjustments.

Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to or for the credit or the account of any Credit Party against any and all of the obligations of such Person now or hereafter existing under this Credit Agreement, under the Notes, under any other Credit Document or otherwise, irrespective of whether such Lender shall have made any demand hereunder or thereunder and although such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify any affected Credit Party after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender under this Section 11.2 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender may have.

11.3 Benefit of Agreement.

(a) This Credit Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto; provided that none of the Credit Parties may assign or transfer any of its interests and obligations without prior written consent of each of the Lenders; provided further that the rights of each Lender to transfer, assign or grant participations in its rights and/or obligations hereunder shall be limited as set forth in this Section 11.3.

(b) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b),

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participations in LOC Obligations and in Swingline Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that (i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $2,500,000 ($1,000,000 in the case of Tranche B Loans), unless each of the Agent and, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); (ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not (x) apply to rights in respect of Swingline Loans or (y) prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate tranches on a non-pro rata basis; (iii) any assignment of a Revolving Commitment must be approved by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender unless the Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender (whether or not the proposed assignee would otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee); and (iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee is not payable by the Borrower, except to the extent specified in Section 3.17); provided, however, that only a single processing fee shall be payable in the event of simultaneous assignments to Approved Funds of a single Lender. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Credit Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Credit Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Credit Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.9, 3.11 and 11.5 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender; provided, that any Note of the assigning Lender is correspondingly modified or replaced. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Credit Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Credit Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (f) of this Section.

(c) The Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 11.1 a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to and accepted by it and a register for the

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recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Credit Parties, the Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Credit Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Credit Parties or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. Any assignment of any Loan or other Credit Party Obligations shall be effective only upon an entry with respect thereto being made in the Register.

(d) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Assumption executed by the parties thereto, together with any Note subject to such assignment and payment of the processing fee, the Agent shall, if such Assignment and Assumption has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit 11.3(b) hereto, (i) accept such Assignment and Assumption, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the parties thereto.

(e) Each Lender may sell participations to one or more Persons in all or a portion of its rights, obligations or rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment or its Loans); provided, however, that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Credit Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) the participant shall be entitled to the benefit of the yield protection provisions contained in Sections 3.6, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11 and 3.12 (but only to the extent that the selling Lender is so entitled) and (iv) the Credit Parties shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement, and such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the obligations of the Credit Parties relating to the Credit Party Obligations owing to such Lender and to approve any amendment, modification, or waiver of any provision of this Credit Agreement (other than amendments, modifications, or waivers (A) decreasing the amount of principal of or the rate at which interest is payable on such Loans or Notes, (B) extending any scheduled principal payment date or date fixed for the payment of interest on such Loans or Notes, (C) extending its Commitment, (D) except as the result of or in connection with an Asset Disposition not prohibited by Section 8.5, releasing all or substantially all of the Collateral or (E) except as the result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger or disposition of a Consolidated Party not prohibited by Section 8.4 or Section 8.5, releasing the Borrower or substantially all of the other Credit Parties from its or their obligations under the Credit Documents).

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this Credit Agreement, any Lender may at any time assign and pledge all or any portion of its Loans and its Notes to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

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(g) Any Lender may furnish any information concerning the Parent or any of the Consolidated Parties in the possession of such Lender from time to time to assignees and participants (including prospective assignees and participants), subject, however, to the provisions of Section 11.14 hereof.

11.4 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.

No failure or delay on the part of the Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document and no course of dealing between the Agent or any Lender and any of the Credit Parties shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which the Agent or any Lender would otherwise have. No notice to or demand on any Credit Party in any case shall entitle the Credit Parties to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the Agent or the Lenders to any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand.

11.5 Expenses; Indemnification.

(a) The Credit Parties jointly and severally agree to pay on demand all reasonable costs and expenses of the Agent in connection with the syndication, preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, and amendment of this Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents, and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under the Credit Documents. The Credit Parties further jointly and severally agree to pay on demand all costs and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders, if any (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees of a single counsel for the Agent and the Lenders), in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings, or otherwise) of the Credit Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder.

(b) The Credit Parties jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and each Lender and each of their Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and advisors (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation, or proceeding or preparation of defense in connection therewith) the Credit Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans, except to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability, cost, or expense is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of

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competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 11.5 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any of the Credit Parties, their respective directors, shareholders or creditors or an Indemnified Party or any other Person or any Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated. The Credit Parties agree not to assert any claim against the Agent, any Lender, any of their Affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents, and advisers, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to the Credit Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans.

(c) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Credit Parties hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Credit Parties contained in this Section 11.5 shall survive the repayment of the Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations under the Credit Documents and the termination of the Commitments hereunder.

11.6 Amendments, Waivers and Consents.

Neither this Credit Agreement nor any other Credit Document nor any of the terms hereof or thereof may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or terminated unless such amendment, change, waiver, discharge or termination is in writing entered into by, or approved in writing by, each of the Credit Parties party thereto and the Requisite Lenders, provided, however, that:

(a) without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, neither this Credit Agreement nor any other Credit Document may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or terminated so as to

(i) extend the final maturity of any Loan or of any reimbursement obligation, or any portion thereof, arising from drawings under Letters of Credit, or extend or waive any Principal Amortization Payment of any Tranche B Loan, or any portion thereof,

(ii) reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest on any Loan or of any reimbursement obligation, or any portion thereof, arising from drawings under Letters of Credit or of any Fees,

(iii) reduce or waive the principal amount of any Loan or of any reimbursement obligation, or any portion thereof, arising from drawings under Letters of Credit,

(iv) increase the Commitment of a Lender over the amount thereof in effect (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or

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mandatory reduction in the Commitments shall not constitute a change in the terms of any Commitment of any Lender),

(v) except as the result of or in connection with an Asset Disposition not prohibited by Section 8.5, release all or substantially all of the Collateral,

(vi) except as the result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger or disposition of a Consolidated Party not prohibited by Section 8.4 or Section 8.5, release the Borrower or substantially all of the other Credit Parties from its or their obligations under the Credit Documents,

(vii) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 11.6,

(viii) reduce any percentage specified in, or otherwise modify, the definition of Requisite Lenders, or

(ix) consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower or all or substantially all of the other Credit Parties of any of its or their rights and obligations under (or in respect of) the Credit Documents except as permitted thereby;

(b) without the written consent of the Agent, no provision of Section 10 or any other provision of any Credit Agreement pertaining to the duties and responsibilities of the Agent may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or terminated;

(c) without the written consent of the Issuing Lender(s), no provision of Section 2.2 may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or terminated;

(d) without the written consent of the Swingline Lender, no provision of Section 2.3 may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or terminated;

(e) unless also signed by Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders) holding in the aggregate at least a majority of the Revolving Commitments (or if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the outstanding Revolving Loans (and participations in any LOC Obligations)), no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(i) waive any Default or Event of Default for purposes of Section 5.2,

(ii) amend or waive any mandatory prepayment on the Revolving Obligations under Section 3.3(b) or the manner of application thereof to the Revolving Obligations under Section 3.3(b)(vii),

(iii) amend or waive the provisions of Section 5.2 (Conditions to all Extensions of Credit), Section 7.11 (Financial Covenants), Section 8 (Negative Covenants), Section 9 (Events of Default) or this Section 11.6(e); or

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(f) unless also signed by Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders) holding in the aggregate at least a majority of the outstanding Tranche B Loan (and participations therein), no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(i) amend or waive any mandatory prepayment on the Tranche B Loans under Section 3.3(b) or the manner of application thereof to the Tranche B Loans under Section 3.3(b)(vii), or

(ii) amend or waive the provisions of this Section 11.6(f);

Notwithstanding the fact that the consent of all the Lenders is required in certain circumstances as set forth above, (x) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code supersedes the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein and (y) the Requisite Lenders shall determine whether or not to allow a Credit Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding and such determination shall be binding on all of the Lenders.

11.7 Counterparts.

This Credit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Credit Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart for each of the parties hereto. Delivery by facsimile by any of the parties hereto of an executed counterpart of this Credit Agreement shall be as effective as an original executed counterpart hereof and shall be deemed a representation that an original executed counterpart hereof will be delivered.

11.8 Headings.

The headings of the sections hereof are provided for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Credit Agreement.

11.9 Survival.

All indemnities set forth herein, including, without limitation, in Section 2.2(i), 3.11, 3.12, 10.5 or 11.5 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement, the making of the Loans, the issuance of the Letters of Credit, the repayment of the Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations under the Credit Documents and the termination of the Commitments hereunder, and all representations and warranties made by the Credit Parties herein shall survive until this Credit Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with the terms of Section 11.13(b).

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11.10 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue.

(a) THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED THEREIN, THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document may be brought in the courts of the State of New York, or of the United States for the Southern District of New York, and, by execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement, each of the Credit Parties hereby irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such courts. Each of the Credit Parties further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to it at the address set out for notices pursuant to Section 11.1, such service to become effective three (3) days after such mailing. Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Agent or any Lender to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or to otherwise proceed against any Credit Party in any other jurisdiction.

(b) Each of the Credit Parties hereby irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document brought in the courts referred to in clause (a) above and hereby further irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

(c) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, EACH OF THE AGENT, THE LENDERS (INCLUDING THE ISSUING LENDER AND THE SWINGLINE LENDER), EACH OF THE CREDIT PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

11.11 Severability.

If any provision of any of the Credit Documents is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed without giving effect to the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.

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11.12 Entirety.

This Credit Agreement together with the other Credit Documents represent the entire agreement of the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, including any commitment letters or correspondence relating to the Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated herein and therein.

11.13 Binding Effect; Termination.

(a) This Credit Agreement shall become effective at such time on or after the Closing Date upon satisfaction of all of the conditions in Section 5.1 and when it shall have been executed by each Credit Party and the Agent, and the Agent shall have received copies hereof (telefaxed or otherwise) which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each Lender, and thereafter this Credit Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Credit Party, the Agent and each Lender (including the Issuing Lender(s) and the Swingline Lender) and their respective successors and assigns.

(b) The term of this Credit Agreement shall be until the Credit Party Obligations are Fully Satisfied.

11.14 Confidentiality.

The Agent and each Lender (each, a “Lending Party”) agrees to keep confidential (and to use reasonable efforts to cause their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives to keep confidential) any information, materials and documents furnished or made available to it by or on behalf of the Credit Parties pursuant to this Credit Agreement; provided that nothing herein shall prevent any Lending Party from disclosing such information (a) to any other Lending Party or any Affiliate of any Lending Party, or any officer, director, employee, agent, or advisor of any Lending Party or Affiliate of any Lending Party or to any other Person if reasonably incidental to the administration of the Credit Facility, in each case, on a need to know basis in accordance with customary banking practices and who receive such information having been made aware of the restrictions of this Section 11.14, (b) as required by any law, rule, or regulation, (c) upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (d) upon the request or demand of any regulatory agency or authority, (e) that is or becomes available to the public or that is or becomes available to any Lending Party other than as a result of a disclosure by any Lending Party prohibited by this Credit Agreement, (f) in connection with any litigation to which such Lending Party or any of its Affiliates may be a party, (g) to the extent necessary in connection with the exercise of any remedy under this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document, (h) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about a Lender’s investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender, (i) to any direct or indirect contractual counterparty in swap agreements or such contractual counterparty’s professional advisor (so long as such contractual counterparty or professional advisor to such contractual counterparty (i) has been approved in writing by the Borrower and (ii) agrees in a writing enforceable by the Borrower to be bound by the provisions

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of this Section 11.14) and (j) subject to provisions substantially similar to those contained in this Section 11.14, to any actual or proposed participant or assignee; provided, however, that with respect to clauses (b), (c), (d), (f) and (h), the Agent or such Lender shall, to the extent practicable, use reasonable efforts to give notice to the Borrower of the release of such information. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, “Information” shall not include, and Agent and each Lender may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, any information with respect to the “tax treatment” and “tax structure” (in each case, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4) of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Agent or such Lender relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided that with respect to any document or similar item that in either case contains information concerning the tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction as well as other information, this sentence shall only apply to such portions of the document or similar item that relate to the tax treatment or tax structure of the Loans, Letters of Credit and transactions contemplated hereby.

11.15 Source of Funds.

Each of the Lenders hereby represents and warrants to the Borrower that at least one of the following statements is an accurate representation as to the source of funds to be used by such Lender in connection with the financing hereunder:

(a) no part of such funds constitutes assets allocated to any separate account maintained by such Lender in which any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) has any interest;

(b) to the extent that any part of such funds constitutes assets allocated to any separate account maintained by such Lender, such Lender has disclosed to the Borrower the name of each employee benefit plan whose assets in such account exceed 10% of the total assets of such account as of the date of such purchase (and, for purposes of this clause (b), all employee benefit plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization are deemed to be a single plan);

(c) to the extent that any part of such funds constitutes assets of an insurance company’s general account, such insurance company has complied with all of the requirements of the regulations issued under Section 401(c)(1)(A) of ERISA such that the assets of such general account do not constitute assets of an employee benefit plan; or

(d) such funds constitute assets of one or more specific benefit plans which such Lender has identified in writing to the Borrower.

As used in this Section 11.15, the terms “employee benefit plan” and “separate account” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.

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11.16 Regulation D.

Each of the Lenders hereby represents and warrants to the Borrower that it is a commercial lender, other financial institution or other “accredited” investor (as defined in SEC Regulation D) which makes or acquires or loans on the ordinary course of business and that it will make or acquire Loans for its own account in the ordinary course of business.

11.17 Conflict.

To the extent that there is a conflict or inconsistency between any provision hereof, on the one hand, and any provision of any Credit Document, on the other hand, this Credit Agreement shall control.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

BORROWER:						AMN HEALTHCARE, INC.

						By:
						Name:
						Title:

PARENT:						AMN HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC.

						By:
						Name:
						Title:

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:						WORLDVIEW HEALTHCARE, INC.

						By:
						Name:
						Title:

						X’XXXXX-XXXXXX INTERNATIONAL (USA), INC.

						By:
						Name:
						Title:

						INTERNATIONAL HEALTHCARE RECRUITERS, INC.

						By:
						Name:
						Title:

						AMN STAFFING SERVICES, INC.

						By:
						Name:
						Title:

[Signatures Continued]

AGENT:						BANK OF AMERICA, N. A., in its capacity as Agent

						By:
						Name:
						Title:

LENDERS:						BANK OF AMERICA, N. A.

						By:
						Name:
						Title:

[Signatures Continued]

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION

By:
Name:
Title:

UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.

By:
Name:
Title:

Exhibit B to Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Schedule 2.1(a)

LENDER ADDRESSES AND COMMITMENTS

Operations Contact	Credit Contact	Revolving Commitment		Commitment Percentage		Tranche B Commitment		Tranche B Percentage
Bank of America 000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx 00^xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Ph: (000) 000-0000 Fax: (000) 000-0000	Bank of America, N.A. Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Associate NC1-007-17-11 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Fax: 000-000-0000 Phone: 000-000-0000 Email: xxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx	$	26,250,000	35.0000000	%	$	123,000,000	94.615384615	%

Union Bank of California, N.A. 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx 00^xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Ph: (000) 000-0000 Fax: (000) 000-0000	Union Bank of California N.A. Xxxx Xxxxxxx 4^th Floor 000 X Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 Work Email: xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx Fax Phone : (000) 000-0000 Office Phone : (000) 000-0000	$	22,500,000	30.0000000	%	$	0.00	0.000000000	%

General Electric Capital Corporation Xxxx Xxxxxxx 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 Fax: (000) 000-0000 Ph: (000) 000-0000	General Electric Capital Corporation Care Of: GE Capital Commercial Finance Xxx X. Xxxxx 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 Fax: (000) 000-0000 Ph: (000) 000-0000 Email: xxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx	$	26,250,000	35.0000000	%	$	0.00	0.000000000	%

Operations Contact	Credit Contact	Revolving Commitment		Commitment Percentage		Tranche B Commitment		Tranche B Percentage
KZH CypressTree-1 LLC c/o XX Xxxxxx Chase Bank 0 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx 00^xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Fax: 000-000-0000 Ph.: 000-000-0000 Xxxxxxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx	KZH CypressTree-1 LLC c/o XX Xxxxxx Chase Bank 0 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx 00^xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Fax: 000-000-0000 Ph.: 000-000-0000 Xxxxxxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx					$	2,750,000	2.115384616	%
KZH ING-2 LLC c/o XX Xxxxxx Chase Bank 0 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx 00^xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Fax: 000-000-0000 Ph.: 000-000-0000 Xxxxxxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx	KZH ING-2 LLC c/o XX Xxxxxx Chase Bank 0 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx 00^xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Fax: 000-000-0000 Ph.: 000-000-0000 Xxxxxxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx			.		$	2,750,000	2.115384616	%
KZH Sterling LLC c/o XX Xxxxxx Chase Bank 0 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx 00^xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Fax: 000-000-0000 Ph.: 000-000-0000 Xxxxxxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx	KZH Sterling LLC c/o XX Xxxxxx Chase Bank 0 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx 00^xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Fax: 000-000-0000 Ph.: 000-000-0000 Xxxxxxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx					$	1,500,000	1.153846153	%

TOTAL:		$	75,000,000	100	%	$	130,000,000	100	%

Exhibit C to Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Schedule 7.6

INSURANCE

Exhibit D to Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Exhibit 2.1(b)(i)

FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING

Bank of America, N. A.,

as Agent for the Lenders

000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx

Independence Center, 00xx Xxxxx

XX0-000-00-00

Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000

Attention: Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, AMN HEALTHCARE, INC. (the “Borrower”), refers to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 16, 2001 (as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Lenders and Bank of America, N. A., as Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement. [The Borrower hereby gives notice pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement that it requests a Revolving Loan advance under the Credit Agreement, and in connection therewith sets forth below the terms on which such Loan advance is requested to be made:]* [The Borrower hereby gives notice pursuant to Section 2.4 of the Credit Agreement that it requests the Tranche B Loan under the Credit Agreement on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, and in connection therewith sets forth below the terms on which such Loan advance is requested to be made:]**

[(A)	Date of Borrowing (which is a Business Day)	]*

[(B)	Principal Amount of Borrowing	]*

(C)	Interest rate basis

(D)	Interest Period and the last day thereof

In accordance with the requirements of Section 5.2, the Borrower hereby reaffirms the representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Agreement as provided in clause (b) of such Section, and confirms that the matters referenced in clauses (c), (d), (e) and (f) of such Section, are true and correct.

AMN HEALTHCARE, INC.

By:
Name:
Title:

*For all Revolving Loans

**For the initial advance of the Tranche B Loan on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date

Exhibit E to Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Exhibit 2.4(f)

FORM OF TRANCHE B NOTE

October , 2003

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, AMN HEALTHCARE, INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of , its successors and assigns (the “Lender”), at the office of Bank of America, N. A., as Agent (the “Agent”), at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx Center, NC1-001-15-04, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000 (or at such other place or places as the Agent may designate), at the times set forth in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 16, 2001 among the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Lenders and the Agent (as it may be as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; all capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement), but in no event later than the Maturity Date, in Dollars and in immediately available funds, the principal amount of DOLLARS ($ ), and to pay interest from the date hereof on the unpaid principal amount hereof, in like money, at said office, on the dates and at the rates selected in accordance with Section 2.4(e) of the Credit Agreement.

Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default of the type described in Section 9.1(a) of the Credit Agreement, such overdue amount shall bear interest as provided in Section 3.1 of the Credit Agreement. Further, in the event the payment of all sums due hereunder is accelerated under the terms of the Credit Agreement, this Note, and all other indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lender shall become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

In the event this Note is not paid when due at any stated or accelerated maturity, the Borrower agrees to pay, in addition to the principal and interest, all costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, as provided in the Credit Agreement.

This Note and the Loans evidenced hereby may be transferred in whole or in part only by registration of such transfer on the Register as provided in Section 11.3(c) of the Credit Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Note to be duly executed by its duly authorized officer as of the day and year first above written.

AMN HEALTHCARE, INC.


By:
Name:
Title:

Exhibit F to Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Exhibit 3.2

FORM OF NOTICE OF EXTENSION/CONVERSION

Bank of America, N. A.,

as Agent for the Lenders

000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx

Independence Center, 00xx Xxxxx

XX0-000-00-00

Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000

Attention: Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, AMN HEALTHCARE, INC. (the “Borrower”), refers to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 16, 2001 (as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Lenders and Bank of America, N. A., as Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement. The Borrower hereby gives notice pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Credit Agreement that it requests an extension or conversion of a [Revolving Loan] [Tranche B Loan] outstanding under the Credit Agreement, and in connection therewith sets forth below the terms on which such extension or conversion is requested to be made:


(A	)	Loan Type/Tranche

(B	)	Date of Extension or Conversion (which is the last day of the the applicable Interest Period)

(C	)	Principal Amount of Extension or Conversion

(D	)	Interest rate basis

(E	)	Interest Period and the last day thereof

AMN HEALTHCARE, INC.


By:
Name:
Title:

Exhibit G to Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Exhibit 11.3(b)

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (this “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including, without limitation, Letters of Credit and guarantees included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as, the “Assigned Interest”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

1.	Assignor:

2.	Assignee:	[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of ]

3.	Borrower:	AMN Healthcare, Inc.

4	Agent:	Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement (the “Agent”)

5.	Credit Agreement:	The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 16, 2001 (as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time) among AMN Healthcare, Inc., the Subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Agent

6. Assigned Interest:

Facility Assigned1	Aggregate Amount of Commitment/Loans for all Lenders*	Amount of Commitment/Loans Assigned*	Percentage Assigned of Commitment/Loans2
	$	[$]	%
	$	[$]	%
	$	[$]	%

[7. Trade Date: ]3

Effective Date: , 20 [TO BE INSERTED BY AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

ASSIGNOR [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]


By:
Title:

ASSIGNEE [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]


By:
Title:

Consented to and Accepted:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. as Agent


By
Title:

1 Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Assignment (e.g. “Revolving Commitment”, etc.)

* Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.

2 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

3 To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the the Trade Date.

Consented to:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Issuing Lender


By
Title:

[AMN HEALTHCARE, INC.


By:
Name:
Title:		]4

4 So long as no Event of Default has occurred or if the Assignee is not an Eligible Assignee (i), (i) or (ii) thereof.

ANNEX 1

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.1. Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Credit Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Credit Document.

1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all requirements of an Eligible Assignee under the Credit Agreement (subject to receipt of such consents as may be required under the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a not a United States person under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

Exhibit H to Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

JOINDER OF AMN STAFFING SERVICES, INC.

1.	Chief Executive Office and Chief Place of Business of AMN Staffing:

00000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000

Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000

2.	Types and Locations of Collateral of AMN Staffing:

00000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000

Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000

3.	Tradenames of AMN Staffing:

None

4.	Patents and Trademarks of AMN Staffing

None

5.	Pledged Shares of the Borrower in AMN Staffing and the Pledged Shares owned by AMN Staffing:

AMN Staffing Services, Inc. does not own any stock.

AMN Healthcare, Inc. owns 100% of the outstanding stock of AMN Staffing Services, Inc. – Certificate No. 1 for 100 shares of common stock.

6.	Notice Address of AMN Staffing:

00000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000

Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000

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Table of Contents

FIFTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

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