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                             BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT


                                  by and among


                            HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION,
                                  as Borrower,


                       NATIONSBANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                    as Agent


                                       and


                   THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME


                                October 22, 1997


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<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

                                    ARTICLE I

                              Definitions and Terms

1.1.     Definitions...........................................................2
1.2.     Rules of Interpretation..............................................25
1.3.     Types of Loans.......................................................26

                                   ARTICLE II

                                    The Loans

2.1.     Bridge Loans.........................................................27
2.2.     Payment of Interest..................................................29
2.3.     Payment of Principal.................................................29
2.4.     Non-Conforming Payments..............................................29
2.5.     Notes................................................................30
2.6.     Pro Rata Payments....................................................30
2.7.     Reductions...........................................................30
2.8.     Conversions and Elections of Subsequent Interest Periods.............31
2.9.     Unused Fees..........................................................32
2.10.    Deficiency Advances..................................................32
2.11.    Use of Proceeds......................................................33

                                   ARTICLE III

                                Letters of Credit

3.1.     Letters of Credit....................................................34
3.2.     Reimbursement........................................................34
3.3.     Letter of Credit Facility Fees.......................................37
3.4.     Administrative Fees..................................................38

                                   ARTICLE IV

               Termination of Eurodollar Rate and Yield Protection

4.1.     Suspension of Loans..................................................39
4.2.     Compensation.........................................................40
4.3.     Taxes................................................................40


<PAGE>



                                    ARTICLE V

            Conditions to Making Loans and Issuing Letters of Credit

5.1.     Conditions of Initial Advance........................................43
5.2.     Conditions of Loans and Letters of Credit............................44

                                   ARTICLE VI

                         Representations and Warranties

6.1.     Organization and Authority...........................................47
6.2.     Loan Documents.......................................................47
6.3.     Solvency.............................................................48
6.4.     Subsidiaries.........................................................48
6.5.     Ownership Interests..................................................48
6.6.     Financial Condition..................................................48
6.7.     Title to Properties..................................................49
6.8.     Taxes................................................................49
6.9.     Other Agreements.....................................................49
6.10.    Litigation...........................................................50
6.11.    Margin Stock.........................................................50
6.12.    Investment Company...................................................50
6.13.    Patents, Etc.........................................................51
6.14.    No Untrue Statement..................................................51
6.15.    No Consents, Etc.....................................................51
6.16.    ERISA Requirement....................................................51
6.17.    No Default...........................................................51
6.18.    Hazardous Materials..................................................51
6.19.    Employment Matters...................................................52
6.20.    RICO.................................................................52
6.21.    Reimbursement from Third Party Payors................................52
6.22.    Representations and Warranties from the Related Acquisition

         Transaction Documents................................................52

                                   ARTICLE VII

                              Affirmative Covenants

7.1.     Financial Statements, Reports, Etc...................................53
7.2.     Maintain Properties..................................................54
7.3.     Existence, Qualification, Etc........................................54
7.4.     Regulations and Taxes................................................55
7.5.     Insurance............................................................55
7.6.     True Books...........................................................55
7.7.     Right of Inspection..................................................55


<PAGE>



7.8.     Observe all Laws.....................................................55
7.9.     Governmental Licenses................................................55
7.10.    Covenants Extending to Other Persons.................................56
7.11.    Officer's Knowledge of Default.......................................56
7.12.    Suits or Other Proceedings...........................................56
7.13.    Notice of Discharge of Hazardous Material or Environmental Complaint.56
7.14.    Environmental Compliance.............................................56
7.15.    Continuation of Current Business.....................................57
7.16.    Management Contracts.................................................57

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               Negative Covenants

8.1.     Financial Covenants..................................................58
8.2.     Investments and Loans................................................58
8.3.     Indebtedness.........................................................58
8.4.     Existing Facility....................................................59
8.5.     Consolidation or Merger..............................................59
8.6.     Liens................................................................59
8.7.     Dividends and Distributions..........................................59
8.8.     Acquisitions.........................................................59
8.9.     Restricted Payments..................................................59
8.10.    Compliance with ERISA................................................59
8.11.    Fiscal Year..........................................................60
8.12.    Dissolution, etc.....................................................60

                                   ARTICLE IX

                       Events of Default and Acceleration

9.1.     Events of Default....................................................61
9.2.     Agent to Act.........................................................63
9.3.     Cumulative Rights....................................................63
9.4.     No Waiver............................................................64
9.5.     Allocation of Proceeds...............................................64

                                    ARTICLE X

                                    The Agent

10.1.    Appointment..........................................................65
10.2.    Attorneys-in-fact....................................................65
10.3.    Limitation on Liability..............................................65
10.4.    Reliance.............................................................65
10.5.    Notice of Default....................................................66


<PAGE>



10.6.    No Representations...................................................66
10.7.    Indemnification......................................................66
10.8.    Lender...............................................................67
10.9.    Resignation..........................................................67
10.10.   Sharing of Payments, etc.............................................67
10.11.   Fees.................................................................68
10.12.   Independent Agreements...............................................68

                                   ARTICLE XI

                                  Miscellaneous

11.1.    Assignments and Participations.......................................69
11.2.    Notices..............................................................70
11.3.    No Waiver............................................................71
11.4.    Setoff...............................................................72
11.5.    Survival.............................................................72
11.6.    Expenses.............................................................72
11.7.    Amendments...........................................................73
11.8.    Counterparts.........................................................74
11.9.    Waivers by Borrower..................................................74
11.10.   Termination..........................................................74
11.11.   Governing Law........................................................75
11.12.   Indemnification......................................................75
11.13.   Agreement Controls...................................................76
11.14.   Integration..........................................................76
11.15.   Successors and Assigns...............................................76
11.16.   Severability.........................................................76
11.17.   Usury Savings Clause.................................................76

EXHIBIT A              Applicable Commitment Percentages.....................A-1
EXHIBIT B              Form of Assignment and Acceptance.....................B-1
EXHIBIT C              Notice of Appointment (or Revocation) of Authorized
                       Representative........................................C-1

EXHIBIT D              Form of Borrowing Notice..............................D-1
EXHIBIT E              Form of Interest Rate Selection Notice................E-1
EXHIBIT F              Form of Bridge Note...................................F-1
EXHIBIT G              Investments...........................................G-1
EXHIBIT H              Form of Opinion of Borrower's Counsel.................H-1
EXHIBIT I              Compliance Certificate................................I-1
EXHIBIT J              Executive Officers....................................J-1


Schedule 1.1           Closing Date Prepayable Debt
Schedule 6.4           Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.19          Employment Matters


<PAGE>



Schedule 8.3           Existing Subsidiary Indebtedness


<PAGE>



                             BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT

     THIS  BRIDGE  CREDIT   AGREEMENT   dated  as  of  October  22,  1997  (this
"Agreement") is entered into by and among  HEALTHSOUTH  CORPORATION,  a Delaware
corporation (the "Borrower"), the Lenders signatories hereto (the "Lenders") and
NATIONSBANK, N.A., a national banking association, as agent for the Lenders (the
"Agent").

                                    RECITAL:

     The  Borrower  has  requested  that the Lenders  make bridge loans of up to
$1,250,000,000 to the Borrower, the proceeds of which shall be used (i) to repay
existing short-term indebtedness owed to NationsBank, National Association, (ii)
to purchase ASC Network  Corporation,  (iii) to repay existing  indebtedness  of
Horizon/CMS Healthcare  Corporation,  Borrower's Subsidiary,  and (iv) for other
general  corporate  purposes  and the  Lenders  have  agreed to make such  loans
available to the Borrower on the following terms and conditions:


<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE XXIV

                              Definitions and Terms

     24.1.  Definitions.  For the purposes of this Agreement, in addition to the
definitions  set forth  above,  the  following  terms shall have the  respective
meanings set forth below:

          "Acquisition"  means the  acquisition,  whether  with cash,  property,
     stock or promise to pay,  of all or a portion of a Person or a Facility  or
     Facilities of a Person,  permitted under Section 8.8;  provided such Person
     or Facilities is in  substantially  the same line of business engaged in by
     Borrower or its Consolidated Entities.

          "Actual/360  Basis" shall mean a method of computing interest or other
     charges  hereunder  on the basis of an assumed  year of 360 days for actual
     number of days elapsed,  meaning that interest or other charges accrued for
     each day will be computed by multiplying the rate applicable on that day by
     the  unpaid  principal  balance  (or  other  relevant  sum) on that day and
     dividing the result by 360.

          "Advance" means a borrowing  under the Bridge  Facility  consisting of
     the aggregate principal amount of a Bridge Loan.

          "Affiliate"  of any specified  Person means any other Person (i) which
     directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries  controls,  or is
     controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified  Person;  or
     (ii)  which  beneficially  owns or  holds  5% or more of any  class  of the
     outstanding  voting  stock  (or in the  case  of a  Person  which  is not a
     corporation,  5% or more of the equity interest) of such specified  Person;
     or 5% or more of any class of the outstanding  voting stock (or in the case
     of a Person which is not a corporation,  5% or more of the equity interest)
     of which is beneficially  owned or held by such specified Person.  The term
     "control"  means the  possession,  directly or indirectly,  of the power to
     direct or cause the direction of the  management  and policies of a Person,
     whether through ownership of voting stock, by contract or otherwise.

          "Applicable Commitment Percentage" means, with respect to each Lender,
     that  portion of the Total Bridge  Commitment  allocable to such Lender (a)
     with respect to Lenders as of the Closing  Date, as set forth on Exhibit A,
     and (b) with  respect  to any Person who  becomes a Lender  thereafter,  as
     reflected in each Assignment and Acceptance to which such Lender is a party
     assignee; provided that the Applicable Commitment Percentage of each Lender
     shall be increased or  decreased to reflect any  assignments  to or by such
     Lender effected in accordance with Section 11.1.

          "Applicable  Margin"  means that number of basis  points per annum set
     forth  below  determined  based upon the more  favorable  of either (i) the
     highest Rating of outstanding senior unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower
     from time to time or (ii) the ratio of Consolidated  EBITDA to Consolidated
     Interest  Expense  for the  Four-Quarter  Period  most  recently  ended  as
     specified below:


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                  Ratio of Consolidated              Rating              Applicable
         EBITDA to Consolidated Interest         S&P or Moody's            Margin

          <S>                                          <C>                <C> <C>    
         a) Greater than 7.50 to 1.00                  A-                 A3   25 b.p.

         b) Equal to or Less than 7.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            6.50 to 1.00                               BBB+               Baa1 30

         c) Equal to or Less than 6.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            5.50 to 1.00                               BBB                Baa2 35

         d) Equal to or Less than 5.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            4.50 to 1.00                               BBB-               Baa3 45

         e) Equal to or Less than 4.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            3.50 to 1.00                               BB+                Ba1  55

         f) Equal to or Less than 3.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            3.00 to 1.00                               BB                 Ba2  62.5

         g) Equal to or Less than 3.00
            to 1.00 but Greater than           BB-     Ba3
            2.50 to 1.00                               or Lower           75
</TABLE>

         The Applicable Margin shall be established in the case of a Rating from
         time to time based upon the Rating  then in effect  and, in the case of
         the  ratio,  at the end of each  fiscal  quarter of the  Borrower  (the
         "Ratio  Determination  Date").  Any  change  in the  Applicable  Margin
         following each Ratio  Determination Date shall be determined based upon
         the  computations set forth in the Compliance  Certificate,  subject to
         review and  approval of such  computations  by the Agent,  and shall be
         effective commencing on the date following the date such certificate is
         received  until the date  following the date on which a new  Compliance
         Certificate  is  delivered  or is required to be  delivered,  whichever
         shall first occur;  provided  however,  if the  Borrower  shall fail to
         deliver any such certificate within the time period required by Section
         7.1,  then the  Applicable  Margin  shall be 2% until  the  appropriate
         certificate  is so delivered.  From the Closing Date to the first Ratio
         Determination Date, the Applicable Margin shall be 25 basis points.

               "Applicable  Unused  Fee" means that  number of basis  points per
          annum set forth below,  which shall be determined  based upon the more
          favorable  of either  (i) the  highest  Rating of  outstanding  senior
          unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower from time to time


<PAGE>



         or (ii) the  ratio of  Consolidated  EBITDA  to  Consolidated  Interest
         Expense for the Four- Quarter  Period most recently  ended as specified
         below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                  Ratio of Consolidated          Rating         
         EBITDA to Consolidated Interest       S&P or Moody's       Applicable Unused Fees

         <S>                                    <C>                           <C>                  
         a) Greater than 7.50 to 1.00           A-    A3                      9 b.p.

         b) Equal to or Less than 7.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            6.50 to 1.00                        BBB+  Baa1                      10

         c) Equal to or Less than 6.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            5.50 to 1.00                        BBB   Baa2                      12.5

         d) Equal to or Less than 5.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            4.50 to 1.00                        BBB-  Baa3                      15

         e) Equal to or Less than 4.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            3.50 to 1.00                        BB+   Ba1                       17.5

         f) Equal to or Less than 3.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            3.00 to 1.00                        BB    Ba2                       20

         g) Equal to or Less than 3.00
            to 1.00 but Greater than            BB-   Ba3
            2.50 to 1.00                          or Lower                      25
</TABLE>


          The Applicable Unused Fee shall be established in the case of a Rating
          from time to time  based upon the  Rating  then in effect,  and in the
          case of the ratio,  at the end of each fiscal  quarter of the Borrower
          (the "Ratio Determination  Date"). Any change in the Applicable Unused
          Fee following each Ratio  Determination Date shall be determined based
          upon the computations set forth in the Compliance Certificate, subject
          to review and approval of such  computations by the Agent and shall be
          effective  commencing on the date following the date such  certificate
          is  received  until  the  date  following  the  date  on  which  a new
          Compliance  Certificate  is delivered or is required to be  delivered,
          whichever shall first occur;  provided however,  if the Borrower shall
          fail to deliver any such  certificate  within the time period required
          by Section 7.1, then the  Applicable  Unused Fee shall be 2%. From the
          Closing Date to the first Ratio  Determination  Date,  the  Applicable
          Unused Fee shall be 9 basis points on the Bridge Facility.

               "Applications  and  Agreements  for  Letters  of  Credit"  means,
          collectively,  the  Applications and Agreements for Letters of Credit,
          or similar  documentation,  executed by the Borrower from time to time
          and  delivered  to the Issuing Bank to support the issuance of Letters
          of Credit.

          "ASC" means ASC Network Corporation, a Delaware corporation.


<PAGE>



          "Assignment and Acceptance" shall mean an Assignment and Acceptance in
     the form of Exhibit B (with blanks  appropriately  filled in)  delivered to
     the Agent in connection  with an assignment  of a Lender's  interest  under
     this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1.

          "Authorized Representative" means any of the Executive Officers of the
     Borrower or, with respect to financial matters,  the Treasurer or the chief
     financial officer of the Borrower, or any other Person expressly designated
     by the Board of Directors of the  Borrower  (or the  appropriate  committee
     thereof) as an Authorized Representative of the Borrower, as set forth from
     time to time in a certificate in the form of Exhibit C.

          "Base Rate" means the per annum rate of interest  equal to the greater
     of (i) the  Prime  Rate or (ii)  the  Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate  plus
     one-half of one percent (1/2%).  Any change in the Base Rate resulting from
     a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall become
     effective  as of 12:01 A.M. of the  Business  Day on which each such change
     occurs.  The Base Rate is a reference rate used by the Agent in determining
     interest  rates on certain  loans and is not intended to be the lowest rate
     of interest charged on any extension of credit to any debtor.

          "Base  Rate  Loan"  means a Loan for  which  the rate of  interest  is
     determined by reference to the Base Rate.

          "Base Rate Refunding  Loan" means an Advance under the Bridge Facility
     which  bears  interest  at  a  Base  Rate  made  to  satisfy  Reimbursement
     Obligations arising from a drawing under a Letter of Credit.

          "Base  Rate  Segment"  means a  Segment  bearing  interest  or to bear
     interest at the Base Rate.

          "Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or
     any successor body).

          "Borrowing  Notice"  means  the  notice  delivered  by  an  Authorized
     Representative in connection with an Advance under the Bridge Facility,  in
     the form of Exhibit D.

          "Bridge Commitment" means, with respect to each Lender, the obligation
     of such Lender to make Bridge Loans to the  Borrower in a principal  amount
     equal to such Lender's Applicable Commitment Percentage of the Total Bridge
     Commitment.

          "Bridge  Facility"  means the  facility  described  in Section  2.1(a)
     providing  for Bridge  Loans to the Borrower by the Lenders in the original
     principal amount of the Total Bridge Commitment.

          "Bridge  Loan" means a loan made  pursuant  to the Bridge  Facility in
     accordance with Section 2.1(a).


<PAGE>



          "Bridge  Notes"  means,  collectively,  the  promissory  notes  of the
     Borrower  evidencing  Bridge Loans executed and delivered to the Lenders as
     provided  in  Section  2.5  substantially  in the form of  Exhibit  F, with
     appropriate insertions as to amounts, dates and names of Lenders.

          "Bridge  Outstandings"  means,  as of any date of  determination,  the
     aggregate  principal  amount  of  Bridge  Loans  then  outstanding  and all
     interest accrued thereon.

          "Bridge  Termination  Date" means (i) the Stated  Termination  Date or
     (ii) such earlier date of  termination  of Lenders'  obligations  as may be
     determined  pursuant  to  Section  9.1 upon the  occurrence  of an Event of
     Default, or (iii) such date as the Borrower may voluntarily and permanently
     terminate the Bridge Facility by payment in full of all Bridge Outstandings
     and Letter of Credit Outstandings.

          "Business Day" means, (i) except in the case of a Eurodollar Loan, any
     day which is not a  Saturday,  Sunday or a day on which banks in the States
     of New  York  and  North  Carolina  are  authorized  or  obligated  by law,
     executive order or governmental  decree to be closed and, (ii) with respect
     to any Eurodollar  Rate Loan, any day which is a Business Day, as described
     above, and on which the relevant  international  financial markets are open
     for the  transaction of business  contemplated by this Agreement in London,
     England, New York, New York and Charlotte, North Carolina.

          "Capital  Leases"  means  all  leases  which  have  been or  should be
     capitalized  in  accordance  with  GAAP  as in  effect  from  time  to time
     including Statement No. 13 of the Financial  Accounting Standards Board and
     any successor thereof.

          "Capital  Stock" of any  Person  means any and all  shares,  rights to
     purchase,  warrants  or options  (whether  or not  currently  exercisable),
     participation or other  equivalents of or interest in (however  designated)
     the equity (including without limitation common stock,  preferred stock and
     partnership and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt
     securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).

          "Change of Control" means, at any time:

               (i) any  "person" or "group"  (each as used in Sections  13(d)(3)
          and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange  Act), who are not as of the Closing Date
          owners  of one  percent  (1%)  or  more  of the  Voting  Stock  of the
          Borrower,  either (A)  becomes the  "beneficial  owner" (as defined in
          Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange  Act),  directly or  indirectly,  of Voting
          Stock of the Borrower (or securities  convertible into or exchangeable
          for such Voting Stock) representing 15% or more of the combined voting
          power of all Voting Stock of the Borrower (on a fully  diluted  basis)
          or (B) otherwise has the ability,  directly or indirectly,  to elect a
          majority of the board of directors of the Borrower;

          (ii) during any period of up to 24 consecutive  months,  commencing on
     the Closing  Date,  individuals  who at the  beginning  of such period were
     directors


<PAGE>



     of the  Borrower  shall  cease  for  any  reason  (other  than  the  death,
     disability or retirement of an officer of the Borrower that is serving as a
     director at such time so long as another  officer of the Borrower  replaces
     such  Person  as a  director)  to  constitute  a  majority  of the board of
     directors of the Borrower; or

          (iii) any Person or two or more Persons  acting in concert  shall have
     acquired by contract or otherwise, or shall have entered into a contract or
     arrangement  that, upon consummation  thereof,  will result in its or their
     acquisition,   of  the  power  to  exercise,   directly  or  indirectly,  a
     controlling influence on the management or policies of the Borrower.

     "Closing Date" means the date as of which this Agreement is executed by the
Borrower,  the  Lenders and the Agent and on which the  conditions  set forth in
Section 5.1 have been satisfied.

     "Code"  means  the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as  amended,  and any
regulations promulgated thereunder.

     "Common  Stock" means the common  stock,  par value $.01 per share,  of the
Borrower.

     "Compliance  Certificate" shall have the meaning attributed to that term in
Section 7.1(c).

     "Consistent  Basis"  in  reference  to the  application  of GAAP  means the
accounting  principles  observed in the period referred to are comparable in all
material  respects to those applied in the preparation of the audited  financial
statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 6.6(a).

     "Consolidated  Amortization  Expense" of the  Borrower for any period means
the amortization expense of the Borrower and its Consolidated  Entities for such
period (to the extent included in the  computation of Consolidated  Net Income),
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated  Depreciation Expense" of the Borrower means the depreciation
expense of the  Borrower and its  Consolidated  Entities for such period (to the
extent included in the computation of Consolidated  Net Income of the Borrower),
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated   EBITDA"  means,  with  respect  to  the  Borrower  and  its
Consolidated  Entities  for  any  Four-Quarter  Period  ending  on the  date  of
computation  thereof,  the sum of, without  duplication,  (i)  Consolidated  Net
Income,  (ii)  Consolidated  Interest  Expense,  (iii)  Consolidated  Income Tax
Expense, (iv) Consolidated  Amortization Expense, (v) Consolidated  Depreciation
Expense and (vi) the minority  interest of any Person or Persons in Consolidated
Entities, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP applied
on a Consistent Basis.


<PAGE>




     "Consolidated  Entity" shall mean any Person whose financial statements are
appropriately consolidated with the Borrower's financial statements under GAAP.

     "Consolidated  Indebtedness" means all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Entities, all determined on a consolidated basis.

     "Consolidated  Interest  Expense" means,  with respect to any  Four-Quarter
Period ending on the date of computation  thereof, the gross interest expense of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Entities, including without limitation (i) the
current  amortized  portion of debt  discounts  to the extent  included in gross
interest expense, (ii) the current amortized portion of all fees (including fees
payable in respect of any Rate Hedging  Obligation)  payable in connection  with
the incurrence of Indebtedness to the extent included in gross interest expense,
(iii) the  portion  of any  payments  made in  connection  with  Capital  Leases
allocable  to  interest  expense,  and  (iv)  lease  payments,  other  than  the
Headquarters   Obligations,   made  pursuant  to  the  Headquarters  Lease,  all
determined  on a  consolidated  basis  in  accordance  with  GAAP  applied  on a
Consistent Basis.

     "Consolidated  Net  Income" of the  Borrower  for any period  means the net
income (or loss) of the Borrower and its  Consolidated  Entities for such period
determined on a  consolidated  basis in  accordance  with GAAP,  without  giving
effect to dividends on any series of preferred stock of any Consolidated Entity,
whether or not in cash, to the extent such  consolidated  net income was reduced
thereby;  provided  that there shall be  excluded  from such net income (for all
purposes,  other than compliance with Section  8.1(a),  to the extent  otherwise
included therein), without duplication,  (i) the net income of any Person (other
than a Consolidated  Entity) to the extent that any such income has not actually
been received by the Borrower or a Consolidated  Entity in the form of dividends
or similar  distributions  during such period, but including,  in any event, net
income of any Person who becomes a  Consolidated  Entity  whose  Acquisition  is
accounted  for on a "pooling  of  interests"  basis;  (ii)  except to the extent
includable  in the  consolidated  net income of the  Borrower or a  Consolidated
Entity  pursuant to the foregoing  clause (i), the net income of any Person that
accrued prior to the date that (a) such Person becomes a Consolidated  Entity or
is merged into or consolidated  with a Consolidated  Entity or (b) the assets of
such Person are acquired by the Borrower or a Consolidated Entity; (iii) the net
income of any Consolidated  Entity to the extent that the declaration or payment
of dividends or similar distributions by such Consolidated Entity of that income
is not  permitted  by  operation  of the terms of its charter or any  agreement,
instrument,  judgment,  decree, order, statute, rule or governmental  regulation
applicable to that  Consolidated  Entity  during such period;  (iv) any gain (or
loss), together with any related provisions for taxes on any such gain, realized
during such period by the  Borrower or its  Consolidated  Entities  upon (a) the
acquisition of any securities, or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness, of the
Borrower  or its  Consolidated  Entities  or (b) any asset sale by the  referent
person or any of its Subsidiaries;  (v) any extraordinary gain (or extraordinary
loss),  together with any related  provision for taxes or tax benefit  resulting
from any  such  extraordinary  gain or loss,  realized  by the  Borrower  or its
Consolidated Entities during such period; and (vi) in the case of a successor to
any Person by consolidation,  merger or transfer of its assets,  any earnings of
the successor prior to such merger, consolidation


<PAGE>



or transfer of assets;  provided,  further,  however,  that there shall be added
back to net income  non-recurring,  non-cash expenses and cash transaction costs
relating  to  professional  fees  arising  in  conjunction  with an  Acquisition
provided such expenses do not exceed 10% of the Cost of Acquisition.

     "Consolidated  Net  Worth"  of  the  Borrower  as of  any  date  means  the
Consolidated  Stockholders'  Equity  (including  any  preferred  stock  that  is
classified as equity under GAAP, other than Disqualified  Stock) of the Borrower
and its  Consolidated  Entities  (excluding  any equity  adjustment  for foreign
currency  translation  for any  period  subsequent  to the  Closing  Date)  on a
consolidated basis at such date, as determined in accordance with GAAP, less all
write-ups subsequent to the Closing Date in the book value of any asset owned by
the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Entities.

     "Consolidated  Stockholders' Equity" shall mean at any time as at which the
amount thereof is to be determined,  the sum of the following amounts in respect
of the Borrower and the  Consolidated  Entities:  (i) the par or stated value of
all Capital Stock of the Borrower, (ii) retained earnings, (iii) additional paid
in capital, (iv) capital surplus and (v) earned surplus minus treasury stock.

     "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" means, as of any date on which the amount
thereof is to be determined,  Consolidated  Stockholders'  Equity minus (without
duplication  of deductions  in respect of items already  deducted in arriving at
surplus and retained earnings) (i) all reserves (other than contingency reserves
not allocated to any particular purpose),  including without limitation reserves
for depreciation, depletion, amortization,  obsolescence, deferred income taxes,
insurance  and  inventory  valuation  and (ii) the net book  value of all assets
which  would be treated  as  intangible  assets,  such as  (without  limitation)
goodwill  (whether  representing  the  excess of cost over book  value of assets
acquired or  otherwise),  capitalized  expenses,  unamortized  debt discount and
expense,   consignment  inventory  rights,  patents,  trademarks,  trade  names,
copyrights,  franchises and licenses,  all as determined on a consolidated basis
in accordance with GAAP applied on a Consistent Basis.

     "Consolidated  Total  Assets"  means,  as of any date on which  the  amount
thereof is to be  determined,  the net book value of all assets of the  Borrower
and  its  Consolidated  Entities  as  determined  on  a  consolidated  basis  in
accordance with GAAP applied on a Consistent Basis.

     "Consolidated  Total  Capital"  means,  as of any date on which the  amount
thereof  is  to  be  determined,  the  sum  of  Consolidated  Indebtedness  plus
Consolidated Shareholders' Equity of the Borrower and its Consolidated Entities.

     "Contract Provider" means any Person who provides  professional health care
services under or pursuant to any contract with the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

     "Controlled  Partnership"  shall  mean a general  partnership  of which the
Borrower or a Subsidiary is a general  partner (but not including  Alabama World
Football), or a


<PAGE>



limited  partnership whose general partners include the Borrower or a Subsidiary
(but not including  Vanderbilt),  or a limited  liability  company whose members
include the Borrower or a Subsidiary or another  Controlled  Partnership,  which
partnership, whether general or limited, or limited liability company has assets
with a value in excess of $2,000.00,  and with respect to which  partnership  or
limited  liability  company the Borrower or a Subsidiary  is entitled to receive
not less than 50% of any  distributions  of cash made to the partners or members
thereof, other than any preferred cash distribution  arrangement in existence at
the Closing  Date or approved by the  Required  Lenders in writing,  or which is
otherwise a Consolidated Entity.

     "Cost of Acquisition" means, in respect of any Acquisition,  the sum of (i)
the  amount  of cash  paid by the  Borrower  and its  Consolidated  Entities  in
connection  with such  Acquisition,  (ii) the Fair  Market  Value of all Capital
Stock or other ownership  interests of the Borrower or any  Consolidated  Entity
issued  or  given  in  connection  with  such  Acquisition,   (iii)  the  amount
(determined  by  using  the face  amount  or the  amount  payable  at  maturity,
whichever  is  greater)  of all  Indebtedness  incurred,  assumed or acquired in
connection with such Acquisition,  (iv) all additional purchase price amounts in
the form of earnouts and other contingent obligations that should be recorded on
the  financial  statements  of the  Borrower  and its  Consolidated  Entities in
connection with Generally Accepted Accounting  Principles,  (v) all amounts paid
in  respect  of  covenants  not to  compete,  consulting  agreements  and  other
affiliated  contracts in connection with such Acquisition and (vi) the aggregate
fair  market  value of all other  consideration  given by the  Borrower  and its
Consolidated Entities in connection with such Acquisition.

     "Default" means any event or condition which, with the giving or receipt of
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

     "Default  Rate"  means (i) with  respect to each  Eurodollar  Rate Loan and
Eurodollar  Rate  Segment,  until  the  end of the  Interest  Period  applicable
thereto,  a rate of two percent (2%) plus the Eurodollar Rate applicable to such
Loan or Segment,  and  thereafter at a rate of interest per annum which shall be
two percent  (2%) plus the Base Rate,  (ii) with  respect to Base Rate Loans and
Base Rate  Segments,  at a rate of interest per annum which shall be two percent
(2%) plus the Base Rate and (iii) in any case,  the maximum  rate  permitted  by
applicable law, if lower.

     "Disqualified  Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the
terms  of  any  security  into  which  it is  convertible  or  for  which  it is
exchangeable),  or upon the  happening of any event,  matures or is  mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable
at the option of the  holder  thereof,  in whole or in part,  on or prior to the
Bridge Termination Date.

     "Dollars" and the symbol "$" mean dollars constituting legal tender for the
payment of public and private debts in the United States of America.

     "Employee  Benefit Plan" means any employee benefit plan within the meaning
of Section 3(3) of ERISA which (i) is  maintained  for employees of the Borrower
or any of


<PAGE>



its  ERISA  Affiliates  or is  assumed  by the  Borrower  or  any  of its  ERISA
Affiliates  in  connection  with any  Acquisition  or (ii) has at any time  been
maintained  for the  employees  of the  Borrower or any current or former  ERISA
Affiliate.

     "Environmental Laws" means, collectively,  the Comprehensive  Environmental
Response,  Compensation  and Liability  Act of 1980,  as amended,  the Superfund
Amendments  and  Reauthorization  Act of 1986,  the  Resource  Conservation  and
Recovery  Act, as amended,  the Toxic  Substances  Control Act, as amended,  the
Clean  Air Act,  as  amended,  the  Clean  Water  Act,  as  amended,  any  other
"Superfund" or  "Superlien"  law or any other  federal,  or applicable  state or
local  statute,  law,  ordinance,  code,  rule,  regulation,   order  or  decree
regulating,   relating  to,  or  imposing  liability  or  standards  of  conduct
concerning, any Hazardous Material.

     "ERISA"  means the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974,  as
amended  from  time to  time,  and any  successor  statute  and  all  rules  and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

     "ERISA Affiliate", as applied to the Borrower, means any Person or trade or
business  which is a member of a group which is under  common  control  with the
Borrower, who together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer within
the meaning of Section 414(b) and (c) of the Code.

     "Eurodollar Rate" means the interest rate per annum calculated according to
the following formula:

                 Eurodollar =     Interbank Offered Rate        +    Applicable
                                  _______________________
                     Rate   1- Eurodollar Reserve Percentage      Margin

     "Eurodollar Rate Loan" means a Loan or Segment of a Loan for which the rate
of interest is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate.

     "Eurodollar  Rate  Segment"  means a Segment  bearing  interest  or to bear
interest at the Eurodollar Rate.

     "Eurodollar  Reserve  Percentage"  means,  for  any  day,  that  percentage
(expressed as a decimal) which is in effect from time to time under Regulation D
or any successor regulation,  as the maximum reserve requirement  (including any
basic, supplemental,  emergency,  special, or marginal reserves) applicable with
respect to Eurocurrency  liabilities as that term is defined in Regulation D (or
against any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to
which the interest rate on Eurodollar Rate Loans is determined),  whether or not
the  Agent  or any  Lender  has any  Eurocurrency  liabilities  subject  to such
requirements,  without  benefits of credits or proration,  exceptions or offsets
that  may be  available  from  time to  time to the  Agent  or any  Lender.  The
Eurodollar Rate shall be adjusted  automatically on and as of the effective date
of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

     "Event  of  Default"  means  any of the  occurrences  set  forth as such in
Section 9.1.


<PAGE>




     "Exchange Act" means the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and
the regulations promulgated thereunder.

     "Executive  Officer"  means  any  Person  who from  time to time  holds the
offices with Borrower listed on Exhibit M.

     "Existing  Availability"  means that, at any point in time,  there shall be
available to the Borrower under the Existing  Credit  Agreement for borrowing or
issuance of letters of credit an amount of $5,000,000 or more.

     "Existing  Credit  Agreement"  means the Third Amended and Restated  Credit
Agreement  dated  April 18,  1996  among  the  Borrower,  NationsBank,  National
Association,  as Agent and the  lenders  party  thereto  from  time to time,  as
amended, modified or supplemented.

     "Facility" shall mean an inpatient or outpatient  rehabilitation  facility,
certified  outpatient   rehabilitation   facility,   skilled  nursing  facility,
specialty medical center,  specialty orthopedic hospital or acute care hospital,
subacute  inpatient  facility,   transitional  living  center,   medical  office
building,  outpatient  surgery center or outpatient  diagnostic  center with all
buildings and improvements  associated  therewith,  that is owned or leased,  in
whole or part,  by the Borrower or a Subsidiary  or any  partnership  controlled
directly or indirectly by the Borrower.

     "Fair Market Value" shall mean,  with respect to any capital stock or other
ownership  interests issued or given by the Borrower or any Consolidated  Entity
in  connection  with an  Acquisition,  (i) in the case of capital  stock that is
Common  Stock and such  Common  Stock is then  designated  as a national  market
system security by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")
or is listed on a national securities exchange, the average of the last reported
bid and ask quotations or prices reported thereon for Common Stock or such other
value  as  may be  ascribed  to the  Common  Stock  in a  definitive  merger  or
acquisition  agreement provided such value is determined  according to customary
methods  for like  transactions  and is  approved  (to the  extent  required  by
Borrower's  charter or bylaws) by the  Borrower's  Board of Directors or (ii) in
the case of capital  stock that is not Common  Stock or in the event that Common
Stock is not so designated by NASD or listed on such  national  exchange,  or in
the case of any other ownership interests,  the determination of the fair market
value thereof in good faith by a majority of disinterested  members of the board
of directors of the Borrower or such Consolidated Entity, in each case effective
as of the close of  business  on the  Business  Day  immediately  preceding  the
closing date of such Acquisition.

     "Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate"  means,  for any day,  the rate per annum
(rounded upward to the nearest  1/100th 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
Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate


<PAGE>



on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate
is so  published  on such  next  succeeding  Business  Day,  the  Federal  Funds
Effective  Rate for such day shall be the  average  rate  quoted to the Agent on
such day on such transaction as determined by the Agent.

     "Fiscal Year" means, with respect to the Borrower,  the twelve month fiscal
period of the Borrower  commencing on January 1 of each calendar year and ending
on December 31 of each  calendar  year,  or with respect to Horizon,  the twelve
month fiscal  period of Horizon  commencing  on June 1 of each calendar year and
ending on May 31 of the next succeeding calendar year.

     "Four-Quarter  Period"  means a  period  of four  full  consecutive  fiscal
quarters of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,  taken together as one accounting
period.

     "GAAP"  or  "Generally  Accepted  Accounting  Principles"  means  generally
accepted accounting  principles,  being those principles of accounting set forth
in  pronouncements of the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board or the American
Institute  of  Certified  Public  Accountants  or which have  other  substantial
authoritative  support and are applicable in the circumstances as of the date of
a report.

     "Governmental Authority" shall mean any Federal, state, municipal, national
or other governmental  department,  commission,  board, bureau, court, agency or
instrumentality  or  political  subdivision  thereof  or any  entity or  officer
exercising  executive,  legislative,   judicial,  regulatory  or  administrative
functions of or pertaining to any government or any court,  in each case whether
associated  with a state of the United States,  the United States,  or a foreign
entity or government.

     "Guaranteed Obligations" of any person shall mean all guaranties (including
guaranties  of  guaranties  and  guaranties  of  dividends  and  other  monetary
obligations),  endorsements,  assumptions and other contingent  obligations with
respect to, or to  purchase or to  otherwise  pay or  acquire,  Indebtedness  of
others;  provided,  however,  that such term shall not include obligations under
leases and other  contracts  initially  incurred  directly by another Person and
subsequently  directly  assumed by the Person in  question,  but such term shall
include  obligations  that, if the same had been initially  incurred directly by
the Person in question, would have constituted Guaranteed Obligations.

     "Hazardous  Material" means and includes any hazardous,  toxic or dangerous
waste,  substance or material,  the  generation,  handling,  storage,  disposal,
treatment or emission of which is subject to any Environmental Law.

     "HCFA" means the United States Health Care Financing Administration and any
successor thereto.

     "Headquarters   Lease"  means  the  Lease  Agreement  between   HEALTHSOUTH
Holdings,  Inc., as Lessee,  and First  Security Bank of Utah,  N.A., as Lessor,
dated as of November 16, 1995 providing for the lease to  HEALTHSOUTH  Holdings,
Inc. of the


<PAGE>



land and improvements thereon located on the property described therein, as such
Lease  Agreement  may be  amended,  modified,  supplemented  or  restated in its
entirety from time to time.

     "Headquarters  Obligations"  means all of the Holder Advances and Loans, as
each such term is defined in the Participation Agreement.

     "Horizon" means Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

     "Indebtedness" of any Person at any date means,  without  duplication:  (i)
all  indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money (whether or not the recourse
of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such  Person or only to a portion
thereof);  (ii) all obligations of such Person  evidenced by bonds,  debentures,
notes or  other  similar  instruments;  (iii)  all  obligations  (contingent  or
otherwise)  of such  Person in respect  of  letters  of credit or other  similar
instruments  (or  reimbursement  obligations  with  respect  thereto);  (iv) all
obligations of such Person with respect to Rate Hedging  Obligations (other than
those  that  fix the  interest  rate on  variable  rate  indebtedness  otherwise
permitted  hereunder  or  that  protect  the  Borrower  and or its  Consolidated
Entities  against changes in foreign  exchange  rates);  (v) obligations of such
Person to pay the  deferred and unpaid  purchase  price of property or services,
except trade payables and accrued  expenses  incurred in the ordinary  course of
business;  (vi) all  Capitalized  Lease  Obligations  of such Person;  (vii) all
indebtedness  of others secured by a Lien on any assets of such Person,  whether
or not such  indebtedness  is assumed  by such  Person;  (viii)  all  Guaranteed
Obligations;  (ix) the  Headquarters  Obligations;  and (x) all obligations of a
like  nature  to  those  described  in  clauses  (i)  through  (ix)  above  of a
partnership  of  which  such  Person  is  a  general  partner.   The  amount  of
Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding  balance at such
date of all unconditional  obligations as described above, the maximum liability
of such Person for any such contingent obligations at such date and, in the case
of clause (vii), the amount of the Indebtedness secured.

     "Interbank Offered Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan or
Eurodollar  Rate Segment or  Eurodollar  Market  Loans for the  Interest  Period
applicable  thereto,  the average  (rounded upward to the nearest  one-sixteenth
(1/16) of one percent) per annum rate of interest  determined by the Agent (each
such determination to be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) as of two
Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest  Period,  as the effective
rate at which deposits in immediately available funds in Dollars are being, have
been,  or  would be  offered  or  quoted  by the  Agent  to  major  banks in the
applicable  interbank  market for  Eurodollar  deposits  at any time  during the
Business Day which is the second  Business Day  immediately  preceding the first
day of such Interest  Period,  for a term comparable to such Interest Period and
in the  amount  of such  Eurodollar  Rate Loan or  Eurodollar  Rate  Segment  or
Eurodollar Market Loan. If no such offers or quotes are generally  available for
such amount,  then the Agent shall be entitled to determine the Eurodollar  Rate
by estimating in its reasonable judgment the per annum rate (as described above)
that would be applicable if such quote or offers were generally available.


<PAGE>



     "Interest Period" shall mean with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, each
period  commencing  on the date such  Eurodollar  Rate Loan is made or converted
from a Loan of  another  Type or the  last day of the  next  preceding  Interest
Period  for such Loan and  ending on the  numerically  corresponding  day in the
first,  second,  third or sixth calendar month  thereafter,  as the Borrower may
select as  provided  in Section  2.2,  except  that each  Interest  Period  that
commences on the last Business Day of a calendar  month (or on any day for which
there is no numerically corresponding day in the appropriate subsequent calendar
month) shall end on the last Business Day of the appropriate subsequent calendar
month.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing:  (i) if any  Interest  Period  for  any
Eurodollar Rate Loan would otherwise end after the Bridge Termination Date, such
Interest  Period shall end on the Bridge  Termination  Date;  (ii) each Interest
Period that would  otherwise  end on a day which is not a Business Day shall end
on the next succeeding Business Day (or, in the case of an Interest Period for a
Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  if such next  succeeding  Business Day falls in the next
succeeding  calendar  month,  on the next  preceding  Business  Day);  and (iii)
notwithstanding  clauses  (i) and (ii) above,  no  Interest  Period for any Loan
shall have a duration of less than one month (in the case of a  Eurodollar  Rate
Loan) and, if the Interest  Period for any Eurodollar  Rate Loan would otherwise
be a shorter period, such Loan shall not be available hereunder for such period.

     "Interest Rate Selection  Notice" means the written notice  delivered by an
Authorized  Representative  in  connection  with the  election  of a  subsequent
Interest  Period for any Eurodollar  Rate Loan or Eurodollar Rate Segment or the
conversion of any  Eurodollar  Rate Loan or Eurodollar  Rate Segment into a Base
Rate Loan or Base Rate Segment or the  conversion  of any Base Rate Loan or Base
Rate Segment into a Eurodollar Rate Loan or Eurodollar Rate Segment, in the form
of Exhibit E.

     "Issuing  Bank"  means  NationsBank  as issuer of Letters  of Credit  under
Article III.

     "LC Account  Agreement" means the LC Account Agreement dated as of the date
hereof  between the  Borrower  and the  Issuing  Bank,  as amended,  modified or
supplemented from time to time.

     "Lending  Office"  means,  as to each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the
Lending  Office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender)  designated  for
such  Type  of  Loan on the  signature  pages  hereof  or in an  Assignment  and
Acceptance  or such  other  office of such  Lender (or of an  affiliate  of such
Lender)  as  such  Lender  may  from  time  to  time  specify  to an  Authorized
Representative and the Agent as the office by which its Loans are to be made and
maintained.

     "Letter of Credit"  means a standby  letter of credit issued by the Issuing
Bank pursuant to Article IV for the account of the Borrower in favor of a Person
advancing credit or securing an obligation on behalf of the Borrower.

     "Letter of Credit  Commitment"  means,  with  respect to each  Lender,  the
obligation  of such  Lender to acquire  Participations  in respect of Letters of
Credit and  Reimbursement  Obligations up to an aggregate amount at any one time
outstanding equal to such Lender's


<PAGE>



Applicable Commitment Percentage of the Total Letter of Credit Commitment as the
same may be increased or decreased from time to time pursuant to this Agreement.

     "Letter of Credit  Facility"  means the  facility  described in Article III
providing  for the  issuance by the Issuing Bank for the account of the Borrower
of Letters of Credit in an aggregate  stated amount at any time  outstanding not
exceeding,  together  with all  Reimbursement  Obligations,  the Total Letter of
Credit Commitment.

     "Letter of Credit Outstandings" means, as of any date of determination, the
aggregate   amount   remaining   undrawn   under  all  Letters  of  Credit  plus
Reimbursement Obligations then outstanding.

     "Lien" means any interest in property securing any obligation owed to, or a
claim by, a Person other than the owner of the  property,  whether such interest
is based on the common law,  statute or contract,  and including but not limited
to the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage,  encumbrance,  pledge,
security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or
bailment for security purposes. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower
and any Subsidiary  shall be deemed to be the owner of any property which it has
acquired or holds subject to a conditional  sale agreement,  financing lease, or
other  arrangement  pursuant to which title to the property has been retained by
or vested in some other Person for security purposes.

     "Line  of   Business"   means,   with  respect  to  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries,  any separate and  distinguishable  type of business carried on by
the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, including (but not limited to) long-term care,
institutional  pharmacy  services,  physician  placement  and  contract  therapy
services.

     "Loan" or "Loans"  means any Bridge Loans and all  extensions  and renewals
thereof.

     "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes, the LC Account Agreement,
the Applications  and Agreements for Letter of Credit and all other  instruments
and documents  heretofore  or hereafter  executed or delivered to or in favor of
any Lender or the Agent in  connection  with the Loans  made,  Letters of Credit
issued and transactions  contemplated  under this Agreement,  as the same may be
amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

     "Material  Adverse  Effect"  means a  material  adverse  effect  on (i) the
business,  properties,  operations or condition,  financial or otherwise, of the
Borrower and its Consolidated  Entities,  taken as a whole,  (ii) the ability of
the Borrower to pay or perform its  obligations,  liabilities  and  indebtedness
under  the  Loan  Documents  as  such  payment  or  performance  becomes  due in
accordance with the terms thereof,  or (iii) the rights,  powers and remedies of
the Agent or any Lender  under any Loan  Document or the  validity,  legality or
enforceability  thereof  (including  for  purposes of clauses (ii) and (iii) the
imposition of burdensome conditions thereon).


<PAGE>



     "Material  Group" shall mean, at any time, any group,  whether one or more,
or  combination  of  Consolidated  Entities (a) whose assets,  in the aggregate,
constitute  5% or more  of the  assets  of the  Borrower  and  the  Consolidated
Entities on a  consolidated  basis or (b) whose net revenues,  in the aggregate,
constitute  5% or more of the net revenues of the Borrower and the  Consolidated
Entities on a consolidated basis.

     "Medicaid  Certification"  means certification by HCFA or a state agency or
entity under  contract  with HCFA that a health care  operation is in compliance
with all the conditions of participation set forth in the Medicaid Regulations.

     "Medicaid  Provider  Agreement"  means an agreement  entered into between a
state agency or other  entity  administering  the Medicaid  program and a health
care operation under which the health care operation  agrees to provide services
for Medicaid patients in accordance with the terms of the agreement and Medicaid
Regulations.

     "Medicaid  Regulations"  means,  collectively,  (i)  all  federal  statutes
(whether  set  forth in  Title  XIX of the  Social  Security  Act or  elsewhere)
affecting the medical assistance program  established by Title XIX of the Social
Security Act and any statutes succeeding thereto; (ii) all applicable provisions
of all  federal  rules,  regulations,  manuals  and  orders of all  Governmental
Authorities promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the statutes described
in clause  (i) above and all  federal  administrative,  reimbursement  and other
guidelines of all Governmental  Authorities  having the force of law promulgated
pursuant to or in  connection  with the statutes  described in clause (i) above;
(iii) all state statutes and plans for medical  assistance enacted in connection
with the statutes and  provisions  described in clauses (i) and (ii) above;  and
(iv) all applicable provisions of all rules, regulations,  manuals and orders of
all Governmental  Authorities  promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the
statutes  described  in  clause  (iii)  above  and  all  state   administrative,
reimbursement  and other guidelines of all Governmental  Authorities  having the
force  of  law  promulgated  pursuant  to or in  connection  with  the  statutes
described in clause (ii) above, in each case as may be amended,  supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.

     "Medicare  Certification"  means certification by HCFA or a state agency or
entity under  contract  with HCFA that a health care  operation is in compliance
with all the conditions of participation set forth in the Medicare Regulations.

     "Medicare  Provider  Agreement"  means an agreement  entered into between a
state agency or other  entity  administering  the Medicare  program and a health
care operation under which the health care operation  agrees to provide services
for Medicare patients in accordance with the terms of the agreement and Medicare
Regulations.

     "Medicare Regulations" means,  collectively,  all federal statutes (whether
set forth in Title XVIII of the Social Security Act or elsewhere)  affecting the
health insurance program for the aged and disabled established by Title XVIII of
the Social Security Act and any statutes succeeding  thereto;  together with all
applicable  provisions  of  all  rules,  regulations,  manuals  and  orders  and
administrative, reimbursement and other guidelines


<PAGE>



having  the  force of law of all  Governmental  Authorities  (including  without
limitation, Health and Human Services ("HHS"), HCFA, the Office of the Inspector
General  for  HHS,  or any  Person  succeeding  to the  functions  of any of the
foregoing)  promulgated  pursuant to or in connection  with any of the foregoing
having  the force of law,  as each may be  amended,  supplemented  or  otherwise
modified from time to time.

     "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

     "Multiemployer  Plan"  means a  "multiemployer  plan" as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate is making,  or
is accruing an obligation to make,  contributions or has made, or been obligated
to make, contributions within the preceding six (6) Fiscal Years.

     "NationsBank" means NationsBank, National Association.

     "Notes" means the Bridge Notes.

     "Obligations"  means the  obligations,  liabilities and Indebtedness of the
Borrower  with  respect  to (i) the  principal  and  interest  on the  Loans  as
evidenced by the Notes,  (ii) the  Reimbursement  Obligations  and  otherwise in
respect of the Letters of Credit,  and (iii) the payment and  performance of all
other  obligations,  liabilities and Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders
or the Agent  hereunder,  under any one or more of the other Loan  Documents  or
with respect to the Loans.

     "Participation"  means,  with respect to any Lender (other than the Issuing
Bank)  and a Letter of  Credit,  the  extension  of  credit  represented  by the
participation  of such Lender  hereunder in the liability of the Issuing Bank in
respect of a Letter of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank in accordance  with the
terms hereof.

     "Participation  Agreement" means the Participation Agreement dated November
16, 1995 among  HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation,  as  Construction  Agent,  HEALTHSOUTH
Holdings,  Inc., as Lessee,  First Security Bank of Utah, N.A., as Trustee,  the
Holders identified  therein,  the Lenders identified  therein,  and NationsBank,
National Association,  as Agent, as such Participation Agreement may be amended,
modified, supplemented or restated in its entirety from time to time.

     "PBGC" means the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  and any successor
thereto.

     "Pension Plan" means any employee  pension  benefit plan within the meaning
of Section 3(2) of ERISA,  other than a Multiemployer  Plan, which is subject to
the  provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code and which (i) is
maintained  for  employees of the Borrower or any of its ERISA  Affiliates or is
assumed by the Borrower or any of its ERISA  Affiliates in  connection  with any
Acquisition  or (ii) has at any time been  maintained  for the  employees of the
Borrower or any current or former ERISA Affiliate.


<PAGE>




     "Permitted Encumbrances" shall mean:

     (1) liens for taxes,  assessments and other  governmental  charges that are
     not  delinquent  or that are being  contested in good faith by  appropriate
     proceedings duly pursued;

     (2) mechanics',  materialmen's,  contractor's,  landlord's or other similar
     liens arising in the ordinary course of business, securing obligations that
     are not delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate
     proceedings duly pursued;

     (3)  restrictions,   exceptions,   reservations,   easements,   conditions,
     limitations  and other  matters  of record  other  than  Liens  that do not
     materially adversely affect the value or utility of the affected property;

     (4) Liens on assets securing Indebtedness the proceeds of which are used to
     acquire such assets;

     (5) Liens and other  matters  approved in writing by the Required  Lenders;
     and

     (6) Liens in favor of  landlords,  the amount  secured by which  landlords'
     Liens, in the aggregate, would not materially adversely affect the Borrower
     or a Material Group.

     "Permitted Investments" shall mean:

     (1)  direct  obligations  of,  or  obligations  the  payment  of  which  is
     guaranteed  by, the United States of America or an interest in any trust or
     fund that invests  solely in such  obligations  or  repurchase  agreements,
     properly secured, with respect to such obligations.

     (2) direct  obligations  of  agencies  or  instrumentalities  of the United
     States of America  having a rating of A or higher by S&P or A2 or higher by
     Moody's;

     (3) a certificate of deposit issued by, or other interest-bearing  deposits
     with, a bank having its principal place of business in the United States of
     America and having equity capital of not less than $250,000,000;

     (4) a certificate of deposit issued by, or other interest-bearing  deposits
     with,  any other  bank  organized  under the laws of the  United  States of
     America  or any state  thereof,  provided  that such  deposit is either (i)
     insured by the  Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  or (ii)  properly
     secured by such bank by pledging direct obligations of the United States of
     America  having  a market  value  not less  than  the face  amount  of such
     deposits;


<PAGE>



     (5) the capital  stock of and  partnership  interests in, and loans made by
     the Borrower to, Controlled Partnerships and Subsidiaries;

     (6) prime  commercial  paper  maturing  within 270 days of the  acquisition
     thereof and, at the time of  acquisition,  having a rating of A-1 or higher
     by S&P, or P-1 or higher by Moody's;

     (7) eligible  banker's  acceptances,  repurchase  agreements and tax-exempt
     municipal  bonds  having a  maturity  of less than one  year,  in each case
     having a rating, or that is the full recourse  obligation of a person whose
     senior debt is rated, A or higher by S&P or A2 or higher by Moody's;

     (8) loans made by the  Borrower or a  Consolidated  Entity in an  aggregate
     amount  of  $2,000,000  or  less  to  employees  of  the  Borrower  or of a
     Consolidated Entity;

     (9) loans made by the Borrower or a Controlled  Partnership in an aggregate
     amount of  $1,000,000  or less to limited  partners (or  potential  limited
     partners)  of  Controlled  Partnerships  for the purpose of  enabling  such
     limited  partners to acquire  limited  partnership  interests in Controlled
     Partnerships,  to operate  their  practices or to  restructure  partnership
     interests;

     (10) loans in an aggregate amount of up to $20,000,000 made by the Borrower
     to the HEALTHSOUTH Employee Stock Benefit Plan;

     (11)  scholarship  loans made by the  Borrower in an  aggregate  amount not
     exceeding   $1,000,000  to   individuals   who  meet  certain   eligibility
     requirements as established by the Borrower from time to time;

     (12)  up to  100%  of  the  outstanding  shares  of  stock  of  Caretenders
     Healthcorp  (formerly  known  as  Senior  Services,   Inc.)  provided  that
     aggregate   costs  incurred  to  purchase  such  shares  shall  not  exceed
     $12,000,000;

     (13) other  investments of less than $5,000,000 in the aggregate  expressly
     approved in writing by the Agent and  investments  of $5,000,000 or greater
     expressly approved in writing by the Required Lenders;

     (14) any other  investment  having a rating of A or higher or A-1 or higher
     by S&P or A2 or higher or P-1 or higher by Moody's;

     (15) loans to health care  practitioners and other persons not to exceed in
     the aggregate $5,000,000;

     (16)  investments  in  Acacia  Venture  Partners,  Wellmark,   HEALTHSMART,
     MedPartners  and Austin Medical  Office  Building which in the aggregate do
     not exceed $5,000,000; and


<PAGE>




     (17) additional  investments  existing on the Closing Date and described in
     Exhibit H.

     "Person" means an individual,  partnership,  corporation, limited liability
company, trust,  unincorporated  organization,  association,  joint venture or a
government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

     "Prepayable   Debt"   means  the   Indebtedness   described   in   Schedule
1.1--Prepayable Debt.

     "Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum announced publicly by the
Agent as its prime rate from time to time.

     "Principal  Office" means the office of the Agent at NationsBank,  National
Association,  Independence Center, 15th Floor, NC1 001-15-04,  Charlotte,  North
Carolina 28255, Attention:  Agency Services, or such other office and address as
the Agent may  from time to time designate.

     "Pro  Forma  Historical  Statements"  means (i) the pro forma  consolidated
balance  sheet as at March 31, 1997 and (ii) the pro forma  consolidated  income
statements  for Fiscal  Year ended  December  31,  1994,  December  31, 1995 and
December 31, 1996  prepared in  accordance  with GAAP by  independent  certified
public accountants of national reputation, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
giving  historical pro forma effect to the Related  Acquisition,  which shall be
furnished to the Agent and the Lenders prior to the Closing Date.

     "Rate Hedging Obligations" means any and all obligations of the Borrower or
any  Consolidated  Entity,  whether  absolute or  contingent  and  howsoever and
whensoever  created,  arising,  evidenced or acquired  (including  all renewals,
extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor),  under (i) any
and all agreements,  devices or arrangements designed to protect at least one of
the parties thereto from the  fluctuations of interest rates,  exchange rates or
forward  rates  applicable  to such  party's  assets,  liabilities  or  exchange
transactions,   including,   but   not   limited   to,   Dollar-denominated   or
cross-currency  interest rate exchange  agreements,  forward  currency  exchange
agreements,  interest  rate cap or collar  protection  agreements,  forward rate
currency or interest rate options,  puts,  warrants and those  commonly known as
interest rate "swap" agreements;  and (ii) any and all cancellations,  buybacks,
reversals, terminations or assignments of any of the foregoing.

     "Rating" means the rating of senior unsecured  Indebtedness of the Borrower
in effect at any time which rating is made by either of Moody's or S&P.

     "Registration  Statement"  means the Borrower's  Registration  Statement on
Form S-4 Registration  No.  33336419,  as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  on  September   25,  1997,  as  amended,   including  all  documents
incorporated therein by reference.


<PAGE>




     "Regulation  D" means  Regulation D of the Board as the same may be amended
or supplemented from time to time.

     "Reimbursement  Obligation"  shall mean, at any time, the obligation of the
Borrower  with respect to any Letter of Credit to reimburse the Issuing Bank and
the Lenders to the extent of their respective  Participations  (including by the
receipt by the Issuing  Bank of proceeds of Loans  pursuant to Section  3.2) for
amounts  theretofore  paid by the Issuing Bank  pursuant to a drawing under such
Letter of Credit.

     "Related  Acquisition"  means the acquisition by the Borrower of Horizon in
accordance  with  the  terms  of the  Related  Acquisition  Agreement,  as  such
transaction is further described in the Registration Statement.

     "Related  Acquisition  Agreement"  means that certain Plan and Agreement of
Merger dated as of February 17, 1997 by and among the Borrower, Horizon and Reid
Acquisition Corporation, and all schedules, annexes and exhibits thereto, as the
same may be amended or supplemented in a manner acceptable to the Administrative
Agent and the Required Lenders in their discretion.

     "Related Acquisition  Transaction  Documents" means the Related Acquisition
Agreement  and each  document,  agreement,  instrument,  opinion or  certificate
incorporated  therein or delivered in  connection  therewith,  including in each
case all  annexes,  schedules  and exhibits  thereto,  as any of the same may be
amended or  supplemented  in a manner  acceptable  to the Agent and the Required
Lenders in their discretion.

     "Required  Lenders"  means,  as of any date,  Lenders  on such date  having
Credit  Exposures (as defined  below)  aggregating at least 51% of the aggregate
Credit  Exposures of all the Lenders on such date. For purposes of the preceding
sentence,  the amount of the "Credit  Exposure" of each Lender shall be equal to
the  aggregate  principal  amount of the Loans,  owing to such  Lender  plus the
aggregate  unutilized amounts of such Lender's Bridge Commitment plus the amount
of  such  Lender's  Applicable   Commitment   Percentage  of  Letter  of  Credit
Outstandings;  provided  that,  if any Lender  shall  have  failed to pay to the
Issuing  Bank its  Applicable  Commitment  Percentage  of any drawing  under any
Letter of Credit  resulting in an  outstanding  Reimbursement  Obligation,  such
Lender's  Credit Exposure  attributable  to Letters of Credit and  Reimbursement
Obligations  shall be deemed to be held by the Issuing Bank for purposes of this
definition.

     "Restricted  Payment" means (a) any dividend or other distribution,  direct
or  indirect,  on account of any shares of any class of stock of Borrower or any
of its Consolidated  Entities (other than those payable or distributable  solely
to the Borrower) now or hereafter outstanding,  except a dividend payable solely
in shares of a class of stock to the holders of that class;  (b) any redemption,
conversion,   exchange,   retirement  or  similar  payment,  purchase  or  other
acquisition for value,  direct or indirect,  of any shares of any class of stock
of the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Entities (other than those payable or
distributable  solely to the  Borrower)  now or hereafter  outstanding;  (c) any
payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants,
options or other rights


<PAGE>



to  acquire  shares  of  any  class  of  stock  of  the  Borrower  or any of its
Consolidated  Entities  now or hereafter  outstanding;  and (d) any issuance and
sale of capital stock of any Consolidated Entity of the Borrower (or any option,
warrant or right to acquire such stock) other than to the Borrower.

     "S&P" means Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies.

     "Segment"  means a portion of a Loan (or all thereof) with respect to which
a particular interest rate is (or is proposed to be) applicable.

     "Short Term Credit Facility" means the short-term loan of $500,000,000 made
by NationsBank,  National  Association to the Borrower evidenced by a promissory
note dated September 25, 1997.

     "Single  Employer Plan" means any employee  pension benefit plan covered by
Title IV of ERISA in  respect  of which the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  is an
"employer"  as  described  in  Section  4001(b)  of  ERISA  and  which  is not a
Multiemployer Plan.

     "Solvent" means, when used with respect to any Person,  that at the time of
determination:

          (i) the  fair  value of its  assets  (both  at fair  valuation  and at
     present fair saleable  value on an orderly basis) is in excess of the total
     amount of its liabilities, including contingent obligations; and

          (ii) it is then able and  expects  to be able to pay its debts as they
     mature; and

          (iii) it has capital  sufficient to carry on its business as conducted
     and as proposed to be conducted.

          "Stated Termination Date" means October 21, 1998.

          "Subordinated  Debt" means any unsecured  Indebtedness of the Borrower
     or any Consolidated Entity (other than inter-company Indebtedness) which is
     subordinated  in right of payment in all respects to the  Obligations  in a
     manner reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

     "Subsidiary"  means any  corporation or other entity in which more than 50%
of its  outstanding  voting  stock or more than 50% of all equity  interests  is
owned  directly  or  indirectly  by the  Borrower  and/or  by one or more of the
Borrower's Subsidiaries.

     "Swap Agreement" means one or more agreements  between the Borrower and any
Person with respect to  Indebtedness  evidenced  by any or all of the Notes,  on
terms  mutually  acceptable  to Borrower and such Person and approved by each of
the  Lenders,  which  agreements  create  Rate  Hedging  Obligations;  provided,
however, that no such


<PAGE>



approval of the Lenders  shall be  required  to the extent such  agreements  are
entered into between the Borrower and any Lender.

     "Termination  Event" means:  (i) a "Reportable  Event" described in Section
4043  of  ERISA  and  the  regulations  issued  thereunder  (unless  the  notice
requirement has been waived by applicable regulation); or (ii) the withdrawal of
the  Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate  from a Pension Plan during a plan year in
which it was a "substantial  employer" as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA
or was deemed such under Section 4068(f) of ERISA; or (iii) the termination of a
Pension  Plan,  the filing of a notice of intent to  terminate a Pension Plan or
the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of
ERISA; or (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan by the
PBGC; or (v) any other event or condition which would  constitute  grounds under
Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee
to administer,  any Pension Plan; or (vi) the partial or complete  withdrawal of
the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate  from a  Multiemployer  Plan;  or (vii) the
imposition  of a Lien  pursuant  to Section  412 of the Code or  Section  302 of
ERISA; or (viii) any event or condition which results in the  reorganization  or
insolvency of a Multiemployer  Plan under Section 4241 or Section 4245 of ERISA,
respectively; or (ix) any event or condition which results in the termination of
a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the institution by the PBGC
of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA.

     "Total  Letter  of  Credit  Commitment"  means  an  amount  not  to  exceed
$50,000,000.

     "Total Bridge Commitment" means a principal amount equal to $1,250,000,000,
as reduced from time to time in accordance with Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.7.

     "Type" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.3.

     "Vanderbilt"  shall mean  Vanderbilt  Stallworth  Rehabilitation  Hospital,
L.P.,  the  partners  of  which  are the  Borrower,  Vanderbilt  University  and
Vanderbilt Health Services.

     "Voting  Stock" means shares of Capital Stock issued by a  corporation,  or
equivalent  interests in any other 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 if the right so
to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

     24.2. Rules of Interpretation.

          (a) All accounting  terms not  specifically  defined herein shall have
     the meanings  assigned to such terms and shall be interpreted in accordance
     with GAAP applied on a Consistent Basis.


<PAGE>



          (b) The headings,  subheadings and table of contents used herein or in
     any other Loan Document are solely for  convenience  of reference and shall
     not  constitute  a  part  of any  such  document  or  affect  the  meaning,
     construction or effect of any provision thereof.

          (c)  Except as  otherwise  expressly  provided,  references  herein to
     articles, sections, paragraphs,  clauses, annexes, appendices, exhibits and
     schedules  are  references  to  articles,  sections,  paragraphs,  clauses,
     annexes, appendices, exhibits and schedules in or to this Agreement.

          (d) All  definitions  set forth  herein or in any other Loan  Document
     shall  apply to the  singular  as well as the plural  form of such  defined
     term, and all references to the masculine gender shall include reference to
     the feminine or neuter gender, and vice versa, as the context may require.

          (e) When used  herein or in any other  Loan  Document,  words  such as
     "hereunder", "hereto", "hereof" and "herein" and other words of like import
     shall,  unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary,  refer to the
     whole  of the  applicable  document  and  not to  any  particular  article,
     section, subsection, paragraph or clause thereof.

          (f) References to "including"  means  including  without  limiting the
     generality of any description  preceding such term, and for purposes hereof
     the rule of  ejusdem  generis  shall not be  applicable  to limit a general
     statement,  followed by or referable to an enumeration of specific matters,
     to matters similar to those specifically mentioned.

          (g) All dates and times of day  specified  herein  shall refer to such
     dates and times at Charlotte, North Carolina.

          (h) Each of the parties to the Loan  Documents  and their counsel have
     reviewed and  revised,  or requested  (or had the  opportunity  to request)
     revisions  to,  the  Loan  Documents,  and any  rule of  construction  that
     ambiguities  are  to be  resolved  against  the  drafting  party  shall  be
     inapplicable in the construing and interpretation of the Loan Documents and
     all exhibits, schedules and appendices thereto.

          (i) Any reference to an officer of the Borrower or any other Person by
     reference  to the  title of such  officer  shall be deemed to refer to each
     other  officer  of such  Person,  however  titled,  exercising  the same or
     substantially similar functions.

          (j) All  references to any agreement or document as amended,  modified
     or  supplemented,  or words of similar effect,  shall mean such document or
     agreement,  as the case may be, as amended,  modified or supplemented  from
     time to time only as and to the extent  permitted  therein  and in the Loan
     Documents.

     24.3.  Types of Loans.  Loans hereunder are  distinguished  by "Type".  The
"Type" of a Loan refers to whether such Loan is a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar
Rate Loan, each of which constitutes a Type.


<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE XXV

                                    The Loans

     25.1. Bridge Loans.

     (a) Bridge Facility. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
each Lender  severally  agrees to make Advances to the Borrower under the Bridge
Facility  from time to time from the Closing  Date until the Bridge  Termination
Date on a pro rata basis as to the total borrowing  requested by the Borrower on
any day determined by such Lender's Applicable  Commitment  Percentage up to but
not exceeding the Bridge Commitment of such Lender, provided,  however, that the
Lenders  will not be  required  and shall  have no  obligation  to make any such
Advance  (i) so long as a Default or an Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing or (ii) if the maturity of any of the Notes has been accelerated as a
result  of an Event of  Default  or  (iii)  if there is  Existing  Availability;
provided  further,  however,  that immediately  after giving effect to each such
Advance,  the  principal  amount of Bridge  Outstandings  plus Letters of Credit
Outstandings shall not exceed the Total Bridge  Commitment.  Within such limits,
the  Borrower  may borrow,  repay and  reborrow  under the Bridge  Facility on a
Business  Day  from  the  Closing  Date  until,   but  (as  to  borrowings   and
reborrowings) not including,  the Bridge  Termination Date;  provided,  however,
that (y) no Bridge Loan that is a  Eurodollar  Rate Loan shall be made which has
an Interest Period that extends beyond the Bridge  Termination Date and (z) each
Bridge Loan that is a Eurodollar  Rate Loan may,  subject to the  provisions  of
Section 2.3, be repaid only on the last day of the Interest  Period with respect
thereto unless such payment is accompanied  by the additional  payment,  if any,
required by Section 4.2.

     (b)  Amounts.   The  aggregate   unpaid  principal  amount  of  the  Bridge
Outstandings  shall not exceed the Total  Bridge  Commitment  and,  in the event
there shall be outstanding any such excess,  the Borrower shall immediately make
such  payments  and  prepayments  as shall be  necessary  to  comply  with  this
restriction.  Each Bridge Loan hereunder and each conversion  under Section 2.8,
shall be in an amount of at least  $5,000,000,  and, if greater than $5,000,000,
an integral multiple of $1,000,000.

     (c) Advances. (i) An Authorized  Representative shall give the Agent (1) at
least three (3)  Business  Days'  irrevocable  written  notice by  telefacsimile
transmission  of a  Borrowing  Notice or  Interest  Rate  Selection  Notice  (as
applicable) with appropriate insertions,  effective upon receipt, of each Bridge
Loan  that  is a  Eurodollar  Rate  Loan  (whether  representing  an  additional
borrowing  hereunder or the  conversion of a borrowing  hereunder from Base Rate
Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans) prior to 10:30 A.M. and (2) irrevocable  written
notice by  telefacsimile  transmission  of a Borrowing  Notice or Interest  Rate
Selection  Notice (as applicable) with  appropriate  insertions,  effective upon
receipt,  of each Bridge Loan that is a Base Rate Loan (whether  representing an
additional  borrowing  hereunder or the  conversion of borrowing  hereunder from
Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans) prior to 10:30 A.M. on the day of such
proposed Bridge Loan. Each such notice shall specify the amount of the borrowing
the Type of Loan (Base Rate or Eurodollar Rate), the date of borrowing and, if a
Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  the  Interest  Period to be used in the  computation  of
interest.  Notice of receipt of such Borrowing Notice or Interest Rate Selection
Notice, as the case may be, together with the amount


<PAGE>



of each Lender's portion of an Advance requested  thereunder,  shall be provided
by the  Agent to each  Lender  by  telefacsimile  transmission  with  reasonable
promptness,  but  (provided  the Agent shall have  received such notice by 10:30
A.M.) not later than 1:00 P.M.  on the same day as the  Agent's  receipt of such
notice.

     (ii) Not later  than 2:00 P.M.  on the date  specified  for each  borrowing
under this Section 2.1, each Lender shall,  pursuant to the terms and subject to
the  conditions  of this  Agreement,  make the amount of the Loan or Loans to be
made by it on such day  available by wire transfer to the Agent in the amount of
its pro rata share,  determined according to such Lender's Applicable Commitment
Percentage  of the Bridge Loan or Bridge Loans to be made on such day. Such wire
transfer shall be directed to the Agent at the Principal  Office and shall be in
the form of Dollars  constituting  immediately  available  funds.  The amount so
received  by the  Agent  shall,  subject  to the terms  and  conditions  of this
Agreement, be made available to the Borrower by delivery of the proceeds thereof
as shall be  directed  in the  applicable  Borrowing  Notice  by the  Authorized
Representative and reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

     (iii) The  Borrower  shall  have the  option to elect the  duration  of the
initial and any subsequent  Interest  Periods and to convert the Bridge Loans in
accordance  with Section 2.8.  Eurodollar  Rate Loans and Base Rate Loans may be
outstanding at the same time, provided,  however, there shall not be outstanding
at any one time Loans having more than eight (8) different Interest Periods.  If
the Agent does not receive a  Borrowing  Notice or an  Interest  Rate  Selection
Notice  giving  notice of election of the  duration of an Interest  Period or of
conversion of any Loan to or continuation of a Loan as a Eurodollar Rate Loan by
the time  prescribed by Section  2.1(c) or 2.8, the Borrower  shall be deemed to
have elected to convert  such  Segment to (or  continue  such Segment as) a Base
Rate Loan until the Borrower notifies the Agent in accordance with Section 2.8.

     (iv)  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  if a drawing is made under any Letter
of Credit,  such  drawing is  honored  by the  Issuing  Bank prior to the Bridge
Termination  Date, and the Borrower shall not  immediately  fully  reimburse the
Issuing Bank in respect of such  drawing,  (A) provided  that the  conditions to
making  a  Bridge  Loan  as  herein  provided  shall  then  be  satisfied,   the
Reimbursement  Obligation arising from such drawing shall be paid to the Issuing
Bank by the Agent without the requirement of notice to or from the Borrower from
immediately  available  funds which  shall be advanced as a Base Rate  Refunding
Loan by each  Lender  under  the  Bridge  Facility  in an  amount  equal to such
Lender's Applicable Commitment Percentage of such Reimbursement Obligation,  and
(B) if the conditions to making a Bridge Loan as herein  provided shall not then
be  satisfied,  each of the Lenders  shall fund by payment to the Agent (for the
benefit of the Issuing Bank) in  immediately  available  funds the purchase from
the Issuing Bank of their respective Participations in the related Reimbursement
Obligation based on their respective  Applicable  Commitment  Percentages.  If a
drawing is  presented  under any Letter of Credit in  accordance  with the terms
thereof and the Borrower  shall not  immediately  reimburse  the Issuing Bank in
respect  thereof,  then  notice of such  drawing  or payment  shall be  provided
promptly by the Issuing Bank to the Agent and the Agent shall provide  notice to
each Lender by telephone or telefacsimile transmission. If notice to the Lenders
of a drawing under any Letter of Credit is given by the Agent at or before 12:00
noon  on any  Business  Day,  each  Lender  shall,  pursuant  to the  conditions
specified in this Section 2.1(c)(iv), either make a Base Rate Refunding


<PAGE>



Loan or fund the purchase of its  Participation  in the amount of such  Lender's
Applicable  Commitment  Percentage of such drawing or payment and shall pay such
amount to the Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank at the Principal  Office
in Dollars  and in  immediately  available  funds  before  2:30 P.M. on the same
Business  Day. If notice to the Lenders of a drawing under a Letter of Credit is
given by the Agent  after 12:00 noon on any  Business  Day,  each Lender  shall,
pursuant to the conditions  specified in this Section 2.1(c)(iv),  either make a
Base Rate Refunding Loan or fund the purchase of its Participation in the amount
of such Lender's Applicable Commitment Percentage of such drawing or payment and
shall pay such amount to the Agent for the  account of the  Issuing  Bank at the
Principal Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds before 12:00 noon
on the next  following  Business Day. Any such Base Rate Refunding Loan shall be
advanced  as,  and shall  continue  as, a Base Rate  Loan  unless  and until the
Borrower  converts such Base Rate Loan in  accordance  with the terms of Section
2.8.

     25.2. Payment of Interest. (a) The Borrower shall pay interest to the Agent
for the account of each Lender on the outstanding and unpaid principal amount of
each Loan made by such Lender for the period commencing on the date of such Loan
until  such  Loan  shall be due at the then  applicable  Base Rate for Base Rate
Loans or applicable  Eurodollar Rate for Eurodollar Rate Loans, as designated by
the Authorized  Representative pursuant to Section 2.1; provided,  however, that
if any  amount  payable  under  this  Agreement  shall  not be paid when due (at
maturity,  by  acceleration  or otherwise,  subject to the provisions of Section
9.1(a)), all amounts outstanding hereunder shall bear interest thereafter at the
Default Rate.

     (b)  Interest  on each  Loan  shall be  computed  on an  Actual/360  Basis.
Interest  on each  Loan  shall  be paid (i)  quarterly  in  arrears  on the last
Business Day of each March, June,  September and December,  commencing September
30,  1997,  for each  Base  Rate  Loan,  (ii) on the last day of the  applicable
Interest  Period for each  Eurodollar  Rate Loan and,  if such  Interest  Period
extends for more than three (3) months,  at  intervals of three (3) months after
the first day of such  Interest  Period,  and (iii) upon the Bridge  Termination
Date. Interest payable at the Default Rate shall be payable on demand.

     25.3. Payment of Principal.  The principal amount of each Bridge Loan shall
be due and  payable to the Agent for the  benefit of each  Lender in full on the
Stated  Termination  Date,  or  earlier  as  specifically  provided  herein.  In
addition,  if at any time there shall be any Existing  Availability the Borrower
shall  promptly  reduce  the  Bridge  Outstandings  by an  amount  equal  to the
difference  between  $1,250,000,000  and the  amount  of  outstanding  loans and
letters of credit under the Existing Credit  Agreement.  The principal amount of
any Base Rate Loan may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time. The principal
amount  of any  Eurodollar  Rate  Loan  may be  prepaid  only  at the end of the
applicable  Interest  Period unless the Borrower  shall pay to the Agent for the
account of the Lenders the  additional  amount,  if any,  required under Section
4.2. All prepayments of Bridge Loans made by the Borrower shall be in the amount
of  $5,000,000  or  such  greater  amount  which  is  an  integral  multiple  of
$1,000,000, or the amount equal to all Bridge Outstandings,  as the case may be,
or such other amount as necessary to comply with Section 2.1(b) or Section 2.8.


<PAGE>



     25.4. Non-Conforming Payments. (a) Each payment of principal (including any
prepayment)  and payment of interest and fees, and any other amount  required to
be paid to the Lenders with respect to the Loans,  shall be made to the Agent at
the  Principal  Office,  for the  account  of each  Lender,  in  Dollars  and in
immediately  available  funds before 10:00 A.M. on the date such payment is due.
The Agent  may,  but shall not be  obligated  to,  debit the  amount of any such
payment which is not made by such time to any ordinary deposit account,  if any,
of the Borrower with the Agent.  The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of
any such  debit;  however,  failure  to give such  notice  shall not  affect the
validity of such debit.

     (b) The Agent shall deem any payment  made by or on behalf of the  Borrower
hereunder  that is not made both in Dollars and in immediately  available  funds
and prior to 10:00 A.M. to be a non-conforming  payment.  Any such payment shall
not be deemed to be  received  by the Agent until the later of (i) the time such
funds become available funds and (ii) the next Business Day. Any  non-conforming
payment may  constitute or become a Default or Event of Default.  Interest shall
continue to accrue on any principal as to which a non-conforming payment is made
until the later of (x) the date such  funds  become  available  funds or (y) the
next  Business  Day at the  Default  Rate from the date such  amount was due and
payable.

     (c) In the event that any payment  hereunder or under the Notes becomes due
and  payable  on a day other than a  Business  Day,  then such due date shall be
extended to the next  succeeding  Business Day unless  provided  otherwise under
clause (ii) of the definition of "Interest Period"; provided that interest shall
continue to accrue during the period of any such extension and provided further,
that in no  event  shall  any  such  due  date be  extended  beyond  the  Bridge
Termination Date.

     25.5.  Notes.  Bridge  Loans made by each Lender  shall be evidenced by the
Bridge Note payable to the order of such Lender in the respective  amount of its
Applicable  Commitment  Percentage of the Bridge  Commitment,  which Bridge Note
shall be dated the Closing Date or a later date  pursuant to an  Assignment  and
Acceptance and shall be duly completed, executed and delivered by the Borrower.

     25.6.  Pro Rata Payments.  Except as otherwise  provided  herein,  (a) each
payment on account of the  principal  of and  interest on the Loans and the fees
described  in  Section  2.9 shall be made to the Agent  for the  account  of the
Lenders  pro rata  based on their  Applicable  Commitment  Percentages,  (b) all
payments  to be made by the  Borrower  for the account of each of the Lenders on
account of  principal,  interest  and fees,  shall be made  without  diminution,
setoff,  recoupment or counterclaim,  and (c) the Agent will promptly distribute
to the  Lenders  in  immediately  available  funds  payments  received  in fully
collected, immediately available funds from the Borrower.

     25.7.  Reductions.  (a) The Borrower shall,  by irrevocable  notice from an
Authorized  Representative,  have  the  right  from  time to time  but not  more
frequently than once each calendar month,  upon not less than three (3) Business
Days' written notice to the Agent, effective upon receipt, to permanently reduce
the Total Bridge  Commitment.  The Agent shall give each Lender,  within one (1)
Business  Day of receipt of such notice,  telefacsimile  notice,  or  telephonic
notice (confirmed in writing),  of such reduction.  Each such reduction shall be
in the aggregate amount


<PAGE>



of  $10,000,000  or such  greater  amount  which is in an  integral  multiple of
$1,000,000,  or  the  entire  remaining  Total  Bridge  Commitment,   and  shall
permanently  reduce the Total  Bridge  Commitment.  Each  reduction of the Total
Bridge  Commitment shall be accompanied by payment of Bridge Loans to the extent
that  the  principal  amount  of  Bridge  Outstandings  plus  Letter  of  Credit
Outstanding  exceeds the Total Bridge  Commitment  after  giving  effect to such
reduction,  together with accrued and unpaid interest on the amounts prepaid. If
any such reduction shall result in the payment of any Eurodollar Rate Loan other
than on the last day of the Interest  Period of such  Eurodollar  Rate Loan such
prepayment shall be accompanied by amounts due, if any, under Section 4.2.

     (b) The Borrower shall make the following mandatory permanent reductions of
the Total Bridge  Commitment,  each such payment to be made to the Agent for the
benefit of the Lenders within the time period specified below:

          (i) With respect to the sale, lease,  transfer or other disposition of
     any Line of Business  where the sales price for such Line of Business shall
     exceed $35,000,000, 100% of the net cash proceeds of the first $500,000,000
     derived from all such transactions in the aggregate and 50% of the net cash
     proceeds of the next $500,000,000 derived from all such transactions in the
     aggregate,  less expenses of such sale,  any taxes actually paid or payable
     as a result of such sale and any secured Indebtedness required to be repaid
     in  connection  with such sale,  lease or transfer,  if the sales price for
     such Line of Business shall exceed  $35,000,000,  such reduction to be made
     within 30 days of the receipt of such proceeds;  the Company shall give not
     less than five (5) Business  Days' prior written notice to the Agent of any
     such prepayment resulting as a result of such reduction, which notice shall
     include a  certificate  of an  Authorized  Representative  setting forth in
     reasonable detail the calculations utilized in computing the amount of such
     prepayment or other reduction; and

          (ii)  with   respect  to  the  issuance  and  sale  for  cash  of  any
     Indebtedness or equity securities of the Borrower or (but only if the sales
     proceeds shall exceed  $5,000,000) any of its  Subsidiaries,  the principal
     amount of any Indebtedness or the cash proceeds of any securities, less any
     costs of issuance and any original  issue  discount,  such  reduction to be
     made within 30 days of the receipt of such proceeds; the Company shall give
     the Agent not less than five (5) days written notice of any such prepayment
     resulting as a result of such reduction.

     25.8.  Conversions and Elections of Subsequent  Interest Periods.  Provided
that no Default or Event of Default shall have  occurred and be  continuing  and
subject to the limitations set forth below and in Article IV, the Borrower may:

            (a) upon delivery,  effective upon receipt,  of a properly completed
Interest  Rate  Selection  Notice to the Agent on or before  10:30  A.M.  on any
Business Day,  convert all or a part of  Eurodollar  Rate Loans under the Bridge
Facility  to Base Rate  Loans on the last day of the  Interest  Period  for such
Eurodollar Rate Loans; and


<PAGE>



            (b) upon delivery,  effective upon receipt,  of a properly completed
Interest Rate  Selection  Notice to the Agent on or before 10:30 A.M.  three (3)
Business Days prior to the date of such election or conversion:

               (i) elect a  subsequent  Interest  Period for all or a portion of
          Eurodollar  Rate Loans under the Bridge  Facility to begin on the last
          day of the then  current  Interest  Period  for such  Eurodollar  Rate
          Loans; and

               (ii)  convert  Base Rate  Loans  under  the  Bridge  Facility  to
          Eurodollar Rate Loans on any Business Day.

     Each election and conversion  pursuant to this Section 2.8 shall be subject
to the  limitations  on  Eurodollar  Rate Loans set forth in the  definition  of
"Interest  Period"  herein and in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 and Article IV. The Agent
shall  give  written  notice  to each  Lender  of such  notice  of  election  or
conversion  prior to 3:00 P.M. on the day such notice of election or  conversion
is received.  All such  continuations  or conversions of Loans shall be effected
pro rata based on the Applicable Commitment Percentages of the Lenders.

     25.9. Unused Fees.

     (a) For the period  beginning  on the Closing Date and ending on the Bridge
Termination  Date,  the  Borrower  agrees to pay to the Agent,  for the pro rata
benefit of the Lenders  based on their  Applicable  Commitment  Percentages,  an
unused fee equal to the  Applicable  Unused Fee  multiplied by the average daily
amount by which the Total  Bridge  Commitment  exceeds the  aggregate  principal
amount of Bridge  Outstandings  plus  Letter of Credit  Outstandings.  Such fees
shall be due in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June,  September
and  December  commencing  September  30, 1997 to and on the Bridge  Termination
Date.

     (b)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  so long as any Lender  fails to make
available any portion of its Bridge Commitment when requested, such Lender shall
not be entitled to receive payment of its pro rata share of such fees until such
Lender shall make  available  such  portion.  All fees payable  pursuant to this
Section 2.9 shall be calculated on an Actual/360 Basis.

     25.10.  Deficiency Advances. No Lender shall be responsible for any default
of any other  Lender in respect of such other  Lender's  obligation  to make any
Loan or fund its purchase of any  Participation  hereunder  nor shall the Bridge
Commitment  of any Lender  hereunder be increased as a result of such default of
any other Lender. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event
any Lender shall fail to advance funds to the Borrower under the Bridge Facility
as herein provided, the Agent may in its discretion,  but shall not be obligated
to, advance under the Bridge Note in its favor as a Lender all or any portion of
such amount or amounts  (each, a "deficiency  advance") and shall  thereafter be
entitled to payments of principal of and interest on such deficiency  advance in
the same  manner  and at the same  interest  rate or rates to which  such  other
Lender would have been  entitled had it made such advance under its Bridge Note;
provided  that,  upon  payment to the Agent from such other Lender of the entire
outstanding  amount of each such deficiency  advance,  together with accrued and
unpaid interest thereon, from the most recent


<PAGE>



date or dates  interest  was  paid to the  Agent by the  Borrower  on each  Loan
comprising such deficiency  advance at the interest rate per annum for overnight
borrowing by the Agent from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Virginia, then
such payment shall be credited  against the applicable Note of the Agent in full
payment of such  deficiency  advance  and the  Borrower  shall be deemed to have
borrowed the amount of such deficiency  advance from such other Lender as of the
most  recent  date or dates,  as the case may be,  upon  which any  payments  of
interest were made by the Borrower thereon.

     25.11.  Use of Proceeds.  The  proceeds of the Loans made  pursuant to this
Agreement shall be used by the Borrower (i) to repay  Prepayable  Debt, (ii) pay
in full the Short Term  Facility,  (iii) to purchase ASC, to provide  funding in
connection  with the  acquisition of Horizon and (iv) to provide for the working
capital needs and other corporate  purposes of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Entities.


<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE XXVI

                                Letters of Credit

     26.1. Letters of Credit. The Issuing Bank agrees,  subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, upon request of the Borrower to issue from time to
time for the  account of the  Borrower  Letters of Credit  upon  delivery to the
Issuing  Bank of an  Application  and  Agreement  for Letter of Credit  relating
thereto in form and content acceptable to the Issuing Bank;  provided,  that (i)
the Letter of Credit  Outstandings  shall not exceed the Total  Letter of Credit
Commitment,  (ii) no Letter of Credit shall be issued so long as a Default or an
Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or if the  applicable  conditions
set forth in Article V shall not have been satisfied,  (iii) no Letter of Credit
shall be issued if, after giving effect thereto,  Letter of Credit  Outstandings
plus the  aggregate  principal  amount of Bridge  Outstandings  shall exceed the
Total Bridge Commitment and (iv) no Letter of Credit shall be issued if there is
Existing Availability.  No Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date (including
all rights of the Borrower or any beneficiary  named in such Letter of Credit to
require  renewal) or payment date  occurring  later than the fifth  Business Day
prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

     26.2. Reimbursement.

     (a) The Borrower hereby  unconditionally  agrees to pay to the Issuing Bank
immediately  on demand at the Principal  Office all amounts  required to pay all
drafts  drawn or  purporting  to be drawn  under the  Letters  of Credit and all
reasonable  expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with the Letters
of Credit,  and in any event and without  demand to place in  possession  of the
Issuing  Bank  (which  shall  include  Advances  under the  Bridge  Facility  if
permitted by Section 2.1(c))  sufficient  funds to pay all debts and liabilities
arising in respect of any Letter of Credit.  The Issuing Bank agrees to give the
Borrower  prompt notice of any request for a draw under a Letter of Credit.  The
Issuing  Bank may charge any account the  Borrower  may have with it for any and
all  amounts the Issuing  Bank pays under a Letter of Credit,  plus  charges and
reasonable  expenses as from time to time agreed to by the Issuing  Bank and the
Borrower;  provided that to the extent permitted by Section 2.1(c)(iv),  amounts
shall be paid  pursuant  to Advances  under the Bridge  Facility.  The  Borrower
agrees to pay the Issuing Bank  interest on any  Reimbursement  Obligations  not
paid when due hereunder at the Base Rate plus two percent (2.0%), or the maximum
rate  permitted by  applicable  law, if lower,  such rate to be calculated on an
Actual/360 Basis.

     (b) In accordance with the provisions of Section  2.1(c),  the Issuing Bank
shall  notify  the  Agent of any  drawing  under any  Letter of Credit  promptly
following the receipt by the Issuing Bank of such drawing.

     (c) Each Lender (other than the Issuing Bank) shall  automatically  acquire
on the date of issuance  thereof a Participation in the liability of the Issuing
Bank in respect  of each  Letter of Credit in an amount  equal to such  Lender's
Applicable Commitment  Percentage of such liability,  and to the extent that the
Borrower is obligated to pay the Issuing Bank under Section 3.2(a),  each Lender
(other than the Issuing  Bank)  thereby shall  absolutely,  unconditionally  and
irrevocably assume, and shall be unconditionally obligated to pay to the Issuing
Bank as


<PAGE>



hereinafter described,  its Applicable Commitment Percentage of the liability of
the Issuing Bank under such Letter of Credit.

               (i) Each Lender  (including the Issuing Bank in its capacity as a
          Lender) shall,  subject to the terms and conditions of Article II, pay
          to the Agent for the  account  of the  Issuing  Bank at the  Principal
          Office in Dollars and in immediately  available funds, an amount equal
          to its Applicable  Commitment Percentage of any drawing under a Letter
          of  Credit,  such funds to be  provided  in the  manner  described  in
          Section 2.1(c)(iv).

               (ii)  Simultaneously  with the making of each payment by a Lender
          to the Issuing  Bank  pursuant to Section  2.1(c)(iv)(B),  such Lender
          shall, automatically and without any further action on the part of the
          Issuing  Bank or such  Lender,  acquire a  Participation  in an amount
          equal to such  payment  (excluding  the portion  thereof  constituting
          interest  accrued  prior to the date such Lender made its  payment) in
          the   related   Reimbursement   Obligation   of  the   Borrower.   The
          Reimbursement Obligations of the Borrower shall be immediately due and
          payable whether by Advances made in accordance with Section 2.1(c)(iv)
          or otherwise.

               (iii) Each  Lender's  obligation to make payment to the Agent for
          the account of the Issuing  Bank  pursuant to Section  2.1(c)(iv)  and
          this Section 3.2(c),  and the right of the Issuing Bank to receive the
          same,  shall be absolute and  unconditional,  shall not be affected by
          any  circumstance  whatsoever  and shall be made  without  any offset,
          abatement,  withholding  or  reduction  whatsoever.  If any  Lender is
          obligated to pay but does not pay amounts to the Agent for the account
          of the Issuing  Bank in full upon such  request as required by Section
          2.1(c)(iv) or this Section 3.2(c),  such Lender shall, on demand,  pay
          to the Agent for the  account  of the  Issuing  Bank  interest  on the
          unpaid amount for each day during the period commencing on the date of
          notice  given to such  Lender  pursuant to Section  2.1(c)  until such
          Lender  pays such  amount to the Agent for the  account of the Issuing
          Bank in full at the interest rate per annum for overnight borrowing by
          the Agent from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Virginia.

               (iv) In the event the Lenders have  purchased  Participations  in
          any  Reimbursement  Obligation as set forth in clause (ii) above, then
          at any time payment (in fully collected,  immediately available funds)
          of such Reimbursement  Obligation, in whole or in part, is received by
          Issuing Bank from the Borrower, the Issuing Bank shall promptly pay to
          each Lender an amount equal to its Applicable Commitment Percentage of
          such payment from the Borrower.

     (d) Promptly  following the end of each calendar quarter,  the Issuing Bank
shall  deliver to the Agent and the Agent shall  deliver to each Lender a notice
describing  the aggregate  undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit at the end of
such quarter.  The Agent shall promptly  notify each Lender of the issuance of a
Letter of Credit.

     (e) The  issuance by the Issuing  Bank of each Letter of Credit  shall,  in
addition to the  conditions  precedent set forth in Article V, be subject to the
conditions  that such Letter of Credit be in such form and contain such terms as
shall be reasonably  satisfactory  to the Issuing Bank  consistent with the then
current practices and procedures of the Issuing Bank with respect


<PAGE>



to similar letters of credit, and the Borrower shall have executed and delivered
such other instruments and agreements  relating to such Letters of Credit as the
Issuing Bank shall have reasonably  requested consistent with such practices and
procedures  and shall not be in conflict  with any of the express  terms  herein
contained.  All Letters of Credit shall be issued pursuant to and subject to the
Uniform   Customs  and  Practice  for   Documentary   Credits,   1993  revision,
International  Chamber  of  Commerce  Publication  No.  500 and  all  subsequent
amendments and revisions thereto.

     (f) The  Borrower  agrees that  Issuing  Bank may, in its sole  discretion,
accept or pay, as complying  with the terms of any Letter of Credit,  any drafts
or other  documents  otherwise  in order  which  may be  signed  or issued by an
administrator,  executor, trustee in bankruptcy, debtor in possession,  assignee
for the benefit of creditors,  liquidator,  receiver,  attorney in fact or other
legal representative of a party who is authorized under such Letter of Credit to
draw or issue any drafts or other documents.

     (g) Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 11.12, the
Borrower  hereby agrees to indemnify  and hold  harmless the Issuing Bank,  each
other  Lender and the Agent  from and  against  any and all claims and  damages,
losses, liabilities,  reasonable costs and expenses which the Issuing Bank, such
other Lender or the Agent may incur (or which may be claimed against the Issuing
Bank,  such  other  Lender  or the  Agent)  by any  Person  by  reason  of or in
connection  with the  issuance or transfer of or payment or failure to pay under
any  Letter of Credit;  provided  that the  Borrower  shall not be  required  to
indemnify  the  Issuing  Bank,  any other  Lender  or the Agent for any  claims,
damages, losses,  liabilities,  costs or expenses to the extent, but only to the
extent,  (i) caused by the willful  misconduct  or negligence of the party to be
indemnified  or (ii) in the case of the Issuing  Bank,  caused by the failure of
the Issuing Bank to pay under any Letter of Credit after the  presentation to it
of a request for payment  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. The  indemnification and hold harmless provisions of this
Section  3.2(g) shall survive  repayment of the  Obligations,  occurrence of the
Bridge Termination Date and expiration or termination of this Agreement.

     (h) Without limiting the Borrower's  rights as set forth in Section 3.2(g),
the  obligation  of the Borrower to  immediately  reimburse the Issuing Bank for
drawings  made under  Letters of Credit  and to repay  Loans made under  Section
2.1(c) and the Issuing  Bank's and each  Lender's  right to receive such payment
shall be absolute,  unconditional  and irrevocable,  and such obligations of the
Borrower  shall be  performed  strictly  in  accordance  with the  terms of this
Agreement and such Letters of Credit and the related  Applications and Agreement
for any Letter of Credit,  under all  circumstances  whatsoever,  including  the
following circumstances:

          (i) any lack of  validity or  enforceability  of any Letter of Credit,
     the obligation  supported by any Letter of Credit or any other agreement or
     instrument relating thereto (collectively, the "Related LC Documents");

          (ii) any  amendment or waiver of or any consent to or  departure  from
     all or any of the Related LC Documents;


<PAGE>



          (iii) the  existence  of any claim,  setoff,  defense  (other than the
     defense of payment in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) or other
     rights which the Borrower may have at any time against any  beneficiary  or
     any  transferee  of a Letter of Credit (or any persons or entities for whom
     any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting),  the Agent, the
     Lenders or any other Person, whether in connection with the Loan Documents,
     the Related LC Documents or any unrelated transaction;

          (iv) any breach of contract or other dispute  between the Borrower and
     any  beneficiary or any transferee of a Letter of Credit (or any persons or
     entities for whom such  beneficiary or any such  transferee may be acting),
     the Agent, the Lenders or any other Person;

          (v) any draft,  statement or any other  document  presented  under any
     Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent,  invalid or insufficient
     in any respect or any  statement  therein being untrue or inaccurate in any
     respect whatsoever;

          (vi) any  delay,  extension  of  time,  renewal,  compromise  or other
     indulgence  or  modification  granted  or  agreed  to by the  Agent  or the
     requisite  number of Lenders,  with or without notice to or approval by the
     Borrower in respect of any of Borrower's  Obligations under this Agreement;
     or

          (vii) any other circumstance or happening  whatsoever,  whether or not
     similar to any of the foregoing;  provided,  however,  that nothing in this
     Section 3.2(h) shall give the Issuing Bank any right to  reimbursement  for
     drawings made under a Letter of Credit otherwise than pursuant to a request
     for payment strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter
     of  Credit  unless  the  Borrower  has  specifically   waived  such  strict
     compliance in writing.

     26.3.  Letter of Credit  Facility  Fees.  (a) The Borrower shall pay to the
Agent,  for the pro rata  benefit  of the  Lenders  based  on  their  Applicable
Commitment  Percentages,  a fee on the aggregate amount available to be drawn on
each outstanding  Letter of Credit at a rate equal to the Applicable  Margin. In
addition, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the benefit of the Issuing
Bank an issuance fee equal to one-eighth  of one percent  (1/8%) per annum times
the amount of outstanding Letters of Credit. Such fees shall be due with respect
to each Letter of Credit  quarterly in arrears on the last  Business Day of each
March,  June,  September and December,  the first such payment to be made on the
first such date occurring after the date of issuance of a Letter of Credit.  The
fees described in this Section 3.3 shall be calculated on the basis of a year of
360 days for the actual number of days elapsed.

     (b) The  Borrower  acknowledges  that the  Issuing  Bank as  issuer of each
Letter of Credit will be required by  applicable  rules and  regulations  of the
Board to maintain  reserves for its  liability to honor draws made pursuant to a
Letter  of  Credit   notwithstanding   the  obligation  of  the  Lenders  for  a
Participation in such liability.  The Borrower agrees to promptly  reimburse the
Issuing Bank for all  additional  costs which it may  hereafter  incur solely by
reason of its acting as issuer of the  Letters of Credit and its being  required
to reserve for such liability, it being


<PAGE>



understood  by the Borrower  that other  interest  and fees  payable  under this
Agreement do not include compensation of the Issuing Bank for such reserves. The
Issuing Bank shall furnish to the Borrower at the time of its demand for payment
of such additional costs, the computation of such additional cost which shall be
conclusive absent manifest error,  provided that such computations are made on a
reasonable basis.

     26.4.  Administrative Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Issuing Bank such
administrative  fee and other fees,  if any, in  connection  with the Letters of
Credit in such  amounts and at such times as the Issuing  Bank and the  Borrower
shall agree from time to time.


<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE XXVII

               Termination of Eurodollar Rate and Yield Protection

27.1. Suspension of Loans.

     (a)  If  at  any  time  the  Agent  shall   reasonably   determine   (which
determination,  if reasonable,  shall be final,  conclusive and binding upon all
parties) that:

          (i) by reason of any changes  arising after the Closing Date affecting
     the applicable  interbank market or affecting the position of any Lender or
     the  Agent in such  market,  adequate  and  fair  means  do not  exist  for
     ascertaining  the Interbank  Offered Rate with respect to a Eurodollar Rate
     Loan; or

          (ii) the  continuation  by any Lender of any Eurodollar  Rate Loans or
     the funding thereof in the applicable interbank market would be unlawful by
     reason of any law, governmental rule, regulation, guidelines or order; or

          (iii) the  continuation  by any Lender of any Eurodollar Rate Loans or
     the  funding   thereof  in  the  applicable   interbank   market  would  be
     impracticable as a result of a contingency occurring after the date of this
     Agreement that  materially and adversely  affects the applicable  interbank
     market;

then,  and in any such  event,  the Agent  shall on such date  give  notice  (by
telephone and confirmed in writing) to the Borrower of such  determination.  The
obligation  of any  Lender  to make or  maintain  Eurodollar  Rate  Segments  so
affected or to permit  interest to be computed  thereon based upon the Interbank
Offered Rate shall be terminated,  and interest shall  thereafter be computed on
the affected Segment or Segments at the then applicable Base Rate.

     (b) It is the  intention  of the parties  that the  Eurodollar  Rates shall
accurately  reflect the cost to each Lender of maintaining  any Eurodollar  Rate
Segment  during any period in which  interest  accrues  thereon at a  Eurodollar
Rate. Accordingly:

          (i) if by reason of any change after the date hereof in any applicable
     law or  governmental  rule,  regulation  or  order  (or any  interpretation
     thereof and including the introduction of any new law or governmental rule,
     regulation  or  order),  including  any  change in the  Eurodollar  Reserve
     Percentage,  the cost to any  Lender of  maintaining  any  Eurodollar  Rate
     Segment or funding the same by means of an interbank market time deposit in
     the  relevant   interbank  market  shall  increase,   the  Eurodollar  Rate
     applicable to such  Eurodollar  Rate Segment shall be adjusted as necessary
     to reflect such change in cost to such Lender,  effective as of the date on
     which such change in any applicable law,  governmental rule,  regulation or
     order becomes effective; and

          (ii) If any Lender shall have  determined  that the adoption after the
     date of this Agreement of any law, rule,  regulation or guideline regarding
     capital  adequacy,  or  any  change  in  any  of  the  foregoing  or in the
     interpretation   or   administration   of  any  of  the  foregoing  by  any
     Governmental Authority, central


<PAGE>



     bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration
     thereof,  or compliance by any Lender (or any lending office of any Lender)
     or such Lender's  holding  company 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 on the capital
     of such  Lender's  holding  company,  as a  consequence  of  such  Lender's
     obligations  under  this  Agreement  or the  Advances  made by such  Lender
     pursuant  hereto,  to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender's
     holding  company  could  have  achieved  but for such  adoption,  change or
     compliance (taking into consideration such Lender's guidelines with respect
     to capital  adequacy) by an amount  reasonably  deemed by such Lender to be
     material, then from time to time the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such
     additional  amount  or  amounts  as will  compensate  such  Lender  or such
     Lender's holding company for any such reduction suffered.

     27.2.  Compensation.  The  Borrower  shall  compensate  any  Lender for all
reasonable losses, expenses and liabilities (including any interest owed by such
Lender  to  lenders  on funds  borrowed  by such  Lender  to make or  carry  any
Eurodollar Rate Segment and any loss sustained by such Lender in connection with
the re-employment of such funds),  that such Lender may sustain:  (a) if for any
reason  (other than a default by such Lender)  following  agreement  between the
Borrower and the Agent or the  Borrower and such Lender,  as the case may be, as
to the  Eurodollar  Rate  applicable  to a Eurodollar  Rate Segment the Borrower
fails to accept  such  Eurodollar  Rate  Segment,  (b) as a  consequence  of any
unauthorized  action  taken or default by the  Borrower in the  repayment of any
Eurodollar Rate Segment when required by the terms of this Agreement or (c) with
respect  to any  loss  of  income  incurred  by a  Lender  (as  determined  in a
reasonable manner by such Lender) associated with the payment of principal other
than the last day of an Interest  Period  with  respect to any  Eurodollar  Rate
Loan. A certificate as to the amount of any additional  amounts payable pursuant
to this Section 4.2 (setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting
such amounts)  submitted by such Lender to the Borrower shall be conclusive,  in
the absence of manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay to such Lender the amount
shown as due on any such  certificate  delivered  by such Lender  within 30 days
after the Borrower's receipt of the same.

     27.3. Taxes. All payments by the Borrower of principal of, and interest on,
the Loans and all other amounts  payable  hereunder shall be made free and clear
of and without  deduction for any present or future  excise,  stamp or franchise
taxes or other taxes, whatsoever imposed by any taxing authority,  but excluding
franchise  taxes and taxes  imposed on or measured by any Lender's net income or
receipts (such non-excluded  items being called "Taxes").  In the event that any
withholding or deduction  from any payment to be made by the Borrower  hereunder
is required  in respect of any Taxes  pursuant to any  applicable  law,  rule or
regulation, then the Borrower will

          (a) pay directly to the relevant authority the full amount required to
     be so withheld or deducted;

          (b)  promptly  forward  to the  Agent  an  official  receipt  or other
     documentation  satisfactory  to the Agent  evidencing  such payment to such
     authority; and


<PAGE>



          (c) pay to the Agent for the  account  of each  affected  Lender  such
     additional  amount or amounts as is necessary to ensure that the net amount
     actually  received  by each  Lender  will equal the full amount such Lender
     would have received had no such withholding or deduction been required.

Moreover,  if any Taxes are  directly  asserted  against the Agent or any Lender
with respect to any payment received by the Agent or such Lender hereunder,  the
Agent or such Lender may pay such Taxes and the Borrower  will promptly pay such
additional  amounts  (including  any  penalties,  interest  or  expenses)  as is
necessary  in order that the net  amount  received  by the Agent or such  Lender
after the payment of such Taxes (including any Taxes on such additional  amount)
shall equal the amount the Agent or such Lender would have  received had no such
Taxes been asserted.  Upon the request of the Borrower or the Agent, each Lender
and each  participant  that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction  other
than the United States shall, prior to the due date of any payments hereunder or
under the Notes,  execute and deliver to the  Borrower and the Agent one or more
(as the Borrower or the Agent may  reasonably  request)  United States  Internal
Revenue  Service  Forms 4224 or Forms 1001 or such other forms or documents  (or
successor forms or documents), appropriately completed, as may be applicable (if
any are) to establish  the extent,  if any, to which a payment to such Lender or
participant is exempt from withholding or deduction of Taxes.

     If the Borrower fails to pay any Taxes when due to the  appropriate  taxing
authority  or fails to remit to the Agent,  for the  account  of the  respective
Lender, the required amounts,  receipts or other required documentary  evidence,
the Borrower shall indemnify the Lenders for any incremental Taxes,  interest or
penalties that may become payable by any Lender as a result of any such failure.
For purposes of this Section 4.3, a  distribution  hereunder by the Agent or any
Lender to or for the  account  of any  Lenders  shall be deemed a payment by the
Borrower.

     If Taxes are  incorrectly or illegally paid or assessed,  and if any Lender
or the Agent  contests the  assessment  of such Taxes,  such Lender or the Agent
shall refund,  to the extent of any refund made to such Lender or the Agent, any
amounts paid by the  Borrower  under this Section in respect of such Taxes (less
the costs and expenses  incurred by such Lender in connection with such contest,
including legal fees).

     Without  prejudice to the survival of any other  agreements of the Borrower
hereunder  or under any other Loan  Document,  the  agreements  of the  Borrower
contained  in  this  Section  shall  survive  the  payment  in  full  of all its
Obligations and the termination of all Bridge Commitments.

     To the extent any Lender shall  become  liable for the payment of any Taxes
hereunder and shall seek  reimbursement  therefor  pursuant to this Section 4.3,
the Borrower shall be entitled, upon the giving of five Business Days' notice to
the Agent and such Lender,  (i) to replace such Lender with a substitute lender,
and (ii) in connection with such substitution,  cause the payment in full of the
outstanding  Obligation  due  to the  Lender  requesting  reimbursement  without
penalty or payment other than under Section 4.2;  provided,  all  obligations to
such assigning Lender shall be paid in full, no


<PAGE>



assignment  fee shall be payable by such  assigning  Lender but shall be paid by
Borrower  and such  assigning  Lender  shall be entitled to the benefits of this
Agreement set forth in Sections 3.2(g), 11.6 and 11.12 and Article IV.


<PAGE>



                                 ARTICLE XXVIII

            Conditions to Making Loans and Issuing Letters of Credit

     28.1.  Conditions  of  Initial  Advance.  This  Agreement  shall not become
effective  until the following  conditions  precedent have been satisfied in the
sole judgment of the Agent:

          (a) the Agent shall have  received on the  Closing  Date,  in form and
     substance satisfactory to the Agent and Lenders, the following:

               (i) executed originals of each of this Agreement,  the Notes, the
          LC Account  Agreement and the other Loan Documents,  together with all
          schedules and exhibits thereto;

               (ii) the  favorable  written  opinion or opinions with respect to
          the  Loan  Documents  and the  transactions  contemplated  thereby  of
          counsel to the Borrower dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Agent
          and the  Lenders  and  satisfactory  to Smith  Helms  Mulliss & Moore,
          L.L.P.,  special  counsel to the Agent,  substantially  in the form of
          Exhibit H;

               (iii)  resolutions  of the  board of  directors  of the  Borrower
          certified by its  secretary  or assistant  secretary as of the Closing
          Date,  approving and adopting the Loan Documents to be executed by the
          Borrower,  and  authorizing the execution and delivery and performance
          thereof;

               (iv) specimen  signatures  of officers of the Borrower  executing
          the  Loan  Documents  on  behalf  of the  Borrower,  certified  by the
          secretary or assistant secretary of the Borrower;

               (v) the  charter  documents  of the  Borrower  certified  as of a
          recent date by the Secretary of State of its state of organization;

               (vi) the bylaws of the Borrower  certified as of the Closing Date
          as true and correct by its secretary or assistant secretary;

               (vii) certificates issued as of a recent date by the Secretary of
          State of the jurisdiction of formation of the Borrower as to the valid
          existence and good standing of the Borrower;

               (viii) appropriate  certificates of qualification to do business,
          good standing and, where  appropriate,  authority to conduct  business
          under assumed  name,  issued in respect of the Borrower as of a recent
          date  by the  Secretary  of  State  or  comparable  official  of  each
          jurisdiction  in which the failure to be  qualified  to do business or
          authorized  so to  conduct  business  could  have a  Material  Adverse
          Effect;

               (ix)   notice   of   appointment   of  the   initial   Authorized
          Representative(s);


<PAGE>



               (x) evidence of all insurance required by the Loan Documents;

               (xi) a certificate  in the form of Exhibit I completed as of June
          30, 1997;

               (xii)  evidence  that all fees  payable  by the  Borrower  on the
          Closing Date to the Agent and the Lenders have been paid in full;

               (xiii)  Pro  Forma   Historical   Statement   and  the  financial
          statements described in Section 6.6(d) and (e);

               (xiv) true copies of the  Registration  Statement and the Related
          Transaction Documents;

               (xv) such other documents, instruments, certificates and opinions
          as the Agent or any Lender may  reasonably  request on or prior to the
          Closing Date in connection with the  consummation of the  transactions
          contemplated hereby; and

     (b) In the good faith judgment of the Agent and the Lenders:

               (i) there shall not have occurred or become known to the Agent or
          the Lenders any event,  condition,  situation or status since the date
          of  the   information   contained  in  the   financial   and  business
          projections,  budgets,  pro forma data and  forecasts  concerning  the
          Borrower and its Consolidated Entities delivered to the Agent prior to
          the  Closing  Date that has had or could  reasonably  be  expected  to
          result in a Material Adverse Effect;

               (ii)  no  litigation,   action,  suit,   investigation  or  other
          arbitral,  administrative  or judicial  proceeding shall be pending or
          threatened  which could  reasonably  be likely to result in a Material
          Adverse Effect; and

               (iii) the  Borrower  and its  Consolidated  Entities  shall  have
          received all approvals,  consents and waivers,  and shall have made or
          given all  necessary  filings  and  notices,  as shall be  required to
          consummate the transactions contemplated hereby without the occurrence
          of any default under, conflict with or violation of (A) any applicable
          law, rule,  regulation,  order or decree of any Governmental Authority
          or arbitral authority or (B) any agreement,  document or instrument to
          which any of the Borrower or any Consolidated  Entity is a party or by
          which  any of them or  their  properties  is  bound,  except  for such
          approvals,  consents, waivers, filings and notices the receipt, making
          or giving of which will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     28.2.  Conditions of Loans and Letters of Credit.  The  obligations  of the
Lenders  to make any Loans,  and the  Issuing  Bank to issue  Letters of Credit,
hereunder on or subsequent to the Closing Date, are subject to the  satisfaction
of the following conditions:

          (a) the Agent shall have  received a  Borrowing  Notice if required by
     Article II;


<PAGE>



     (b)  simultaneously   with  the  making  of  a  second  Advance,   evidence
satisfactory to the Agent (which may include the appropriate  written request or
direction of the Borrower to the Agent  delivered as of the Closing Date) of the
use of Advances, together with other funds supplied by the Borrower (if any), to
the repayment in full of the  Prepayable  Debt,  and the making of  satisfactory
arrangements for the effective release and termination of all Liens securing any
Prepayable Debt substantially simultaneously with such payment;

     (c) the  proceeds of the initial  Advance  shall be used to pay in full the
Short Term Facility and up to $190,000,000 shall be used to acquire ASC;

     (d) the representations and warranties of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
set forth in Article VI and in each of the other  Loan  Documents  shall be true
and  correct  in all  material  respects  on and as of the date of such  Advance
Letter  of Credit  issuance  or  renewal,  with the same  effect as though  such
representations  and warranties had been made on and as of such date,  except to
the extent  that such  representations  and  warranties  expressly  relate to an
earlier  date and except that the  financial  statements  referred to in Section
6.6(a) shall be deemed to be those financial  statements most recently delivered
to the Agent and the Lenders  pursuant  to Section  7.1 from the date  financial
statements  are delivered to the Agent and the Lenders in  accordance  with such
Section;

     (e) in the case of the issuance of a Letter of Credit,  the Borrower  shall
have executed and delivered to the Issuing Bank an Application and Agreement for
the Letter of Credit in form and content acceptable to the Issuing Bank together
with such other instruments and documents as it shall request;

     (f) at the  time of (and  after  giving  effect  to)  each  Advance  or the
issuance  of a Letter of  Credit,  no  Default  or Event of  Default  shall have
occurred and be continuing; and

     (g) immediately after giving effect to:

     (i) a Bridge  Loan,  the  aggregate  principal  balance of all  outstanding
Bridge Loans for each Lender shall not exceed such Lender's Bridge Commitment;

     (ii) a Letter of Credit or renewal thereof, the aggregate principal balance
of all  outstanding  Participations  in  Letters  of  Credit  and  Reimbursement
Obligations  (or in the case of the Issuing Bank,  its remaining  interest after
deduction  of  all   Participations  in  Letters  of  Credit  and  Reimbursement
Obligations  of other  Lenders) for each Lender and in the  aggregate  shall not
exceed,  respectively,  (X) such Lender's Letter of Credit Commitment or (Y) the
Total Letter of Credit Commitment; and

     (iii) a Bridge  Loan or a Letter of Credit or renewal  thereof,  the sum of
Letter of Credit  Outstandings  plus the  aggregate  principal  amount of Bridge
Outstandings shall not exceed the Total Bridge Commitment.


<PAGE>



     Each borrowing  hereunder and each issuance of a Letter of Credit hereunder
shall  constitute  a  representation  and warranty by the Borrower to the effect
that the  conditions  set forth in clauses (d) and (f) have been satisfied as of
the date of such borrowing.


<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE XXIX

                         Representations and Warranties

     The Borrower  represents  and  warrants  with respect to itself and (to the
extent   expressly   set  forth   below)  its   Consolidated   Entities   (which
representations  and  warranties  shall  survive the  delivery of the  documents
mentioned  herein  and the  making  of Loans  and the  issuance  of a Letter  of
Credit), that:

     29.1. Organization and Authority.

          (a) The  Borrower  and  each  Consolidated  Entity  is a  corporation,
     partnership  or  limited  liability  company  duly  organized  and  validly
     existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation;

          (b) The Borrower and each  Consolidated  Entity (x) has the  requisite
     power and  authority to own its  properties  and assets and to carry on its
     business as now being  conducted and as contemplated in the Loan Documents,
     and (y) is qualified to do business in every  jurisdiction in which failure
     so to qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (c) The Borrower has the power and  authority to execute,  deliver and
     perform  this  Agreement  and the Notes,  and to borrow  and  obtain  other
     extensions of credit hereunder, and to execute, deliver and perform each of
     the other Loan Documents to which it is a party; and

          (d) When executed and  delivered,  each of the Loan Documents to which
     the Borrower is a party will be the legal,  valid and binding obligation or
     agreement,  as the case may be, of the  Borrower,  enforceable  against the
     Borrower  in  accordance  with its  terms,  subject  to the  effect  of any
     applicable  bankruptcy,  moratorium,  insolvency,  reorganization  or other
     similar law affecting the enforceability of creditors' rights generally and
     to the effect of general  principles  of equity  (whether  considered  in a
     proceeding at law or in equity).

     29.2.  Loan  Documents.  The  execution,  delivery and  performance  by the
Borrower of each of the Loan Documents and the credit extensions hereunder:

          (a) have been  duly  authorized  by all  requisite  corporate  actions
     (including any required shareholder  approval) of the Borrower required for
     the lawful execution, delivery and performance thereof;

          (b) do not violate  any  provisions  of (i)  applicable  law,  rule or
     regulation,  (ii) any  judgment,  writ,  order,  determination,  decree  or
     arbitral award of any Governmental  Authority or arbitral authority binding
     on the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its or any Subsidiary's properties, or
     (iii) the charter documents or bylaws of the Borrower;

          (c) do not and will not be in conflict with,  result in a breach of or
     constitute an event of default,  or an event which, with notice or lapse of
     time or both,  would  constitute  an event of default,  under any contract,
     indenture, agreement or other instrument or


<PAGE>



     document to which  Borrower or any  Consolidated  Entity is a party,  or by
     which the properties or assets of the Borrower or any  Consolidated  Entity
     are bound; and

          (d) do not and will not result in the  creation or  imposition  of any
     Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Borrower or any Subsidiary.

     29.3.  Solvency.   The  Borrower  is  Solvent  and  the  Borrower  and  its
Consolidated  Entities  taken as a whole are Solvent,  in each case after giving
effect to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.

     29.4.  Subsidiaries.  The  Borrower  has no  Subsidiaries  other than those
Persons  listed as  Subsidiaries  in Schedule  6.4 and  additional  Subsidiaries
created or acquired after the Closing Date.

     29.5.  Ownership  Interests.  Borrower owns no interest in any Person other
than the  Persons  listed in Schedule  6.4,  equity  investments  in Persons not
constituting   Subsidiaries   permitted   under   Section  7.2  and   additional
Subsidiaries created or acquired after the Closing Date.

     29.6. Financial Condition.

          (a) The  Registration  Statement  incorporates by reference  financial
     statements  of the Borrower and Horizon  contained in the periodic  reports
     descried therein under the caption "INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY
     REFERENCE". Such financial statements (including the notes thereto) present
     fairly the  financial  condition of (i) the  Borrower and its  Consolidated
     Subsidiaries  (before  giving effect to the Related  Acquisition)  and (ii)
     Horizon and its  Subsidiaries  as of the end of the Fiscal  Years and three
     month periods set forth and results of their  operations and the changes in
     their  stockholders'  equity and cash flow for the  Fiscal  Years and three
     month  periods  then  ended,  all in  conformity  with  Generally  Accepted
     Accounting Principles applied on a Consistent Basis;

          (b) since June 30, 1997 (in the case of the  Borrower) or May 31, 1997
     (in the case of Horizon)  there has been no material  adverse change in the
     condition,  financial  or  otherwise,  of (i)  the  Borrower  or any of its
     Consolidated Subsidiaries (before giving effect to the Related Acquisition)
     or (ii) Horizon and its  Subsidiaries,  or in the  businesses,  properties,
     performance,  prospects  or  operations  of (x) the  Borrower or any of its
     Consolidated Subsidiaries (before giving effect to the Related Acquisition)
     or (y) Horizon and its Subsidiaries, nor have such businesses or properties
     been  materially  adversely  affected  as a result of any fire,  explosion,
     earthquake,  accident,  strike,  lockout,  combination  of workers,  flood,
     embargo or act of God;

          (c) except as set forth in the  financial  statements  referred  to in
     Section  6.6(a) or  permitted  by Section  8.3,  neither  Borrower  nor any
     Subsidiary has incurred, other than in the ordinary course of business, any
     material  Indebtedness  or other  commitment  or  liability  which  remains
     outstanding or unsatisfied;

          (d) the Pro Forma Historical  Statements provided to the Agent and the
     Lenders  fairly  present in accordance  with GAAP the  historical pro forma
     financial condition and


<PAGE>



     results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for
     the respective  periods covered  thereby,  after giving pro forma effect to
     the Related Acquisition and making the adjustments described therein;

          (e) the pro forma  projections  of the Borrower  and its  Consolidated
     Subsidiaries  giving effect to the Related Acquisition for the Fiscal Years
     ending December 31, 1997,  December 31, 1998 and December 31, 1999 provided
     to the Agent and the Lenders  were  prepared by the  Borrower in good faith
     and are based upon  assumptions  which the  Borrower  believes to have been
     reasonable  as of the time of  preparation  thereof  and as of the  Closing
     Date; and

          (f) neither the Borrower nor any Consolidated  Entity has any material
     Indebtedness,  Guaranteed  Obligations or other obligations or liabilities,
     direct or  contingent,  in an aggregate  amount in excess of $300,000 other
     than (a) the  liabilities  reflected  in such  balance  sheet and the notes
     thereto or (b) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business.

     29.7. Title to Properties.  The Borrower and each  Consolidated  Entity has
good and marketable title to all its real and personal properties, subject to no
transfer restrictions or Liens of any kind, except for the transfer restrictions
and Liens permitted by this Agreement.

     29.8. Taxes. The Borrower and each Consolidated Entity have filed or caused
to be filed all  federal,  state and local tax returns  which are required to be
filed by it and, except for taxes and assessments  being contested in good faith
by  appropriate  proceedings  diligently  conducted and against  which  reserves
reflected  in  the  financial   statements   described  in  Section  6.6(a)  and
satisfactory to the Borrower's  independent  certified  public  accountants have
been  established,  have  paid or  caused  to be paid all taxes as shown on said
returns or on any assessment  received by it, to the extent that such taxes have
become due.

     29.9. Other Agreements. Except as disclosed in or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement:

          (a) Neither the Borrower nor any Consolidated  Entity is a party to or
     subject to any judgment, order, decree, agreement,  lease or instrument, or
     subject  to  other  restrictions,   compliance  with  the  terms  of  which
     individually  or in the  aggregate  could  reasonably be expected to have a
     Material Adverse Effect;

          (b) neither the Borrower nor any Consolidated  Entity is in default in
     the  performance,  observance  or  fulfillment  of any of the  obligations,
     covenants or conditions  contained in (i) any Medicaid Provider  Agreement,
     Medicare  Provider  Agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the
     Borrower or any Consolidated  Entity is a party, which default has resulted
     in, or if not remedied within any applicable  grace period could result in,
     the  revocation,  termination,   cancellation  or  suspension  of  Medicaid
     Certification  or Medicare  Certification  of Borrower or any  Consolidated
     Entity  which  could  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  or (ii) any  other
     agreement or instrument to which the Borrower or any Consolidated Entity is
     a party,  which default has, or if not remedied within any applicable grace
     period could reasonably be likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect;


<PAGE>



          (c) to the knowledge of  Borrower's  Executive  Officers,  no Contract
     Provider  is  a  party  to  any  judgment,   order,  decree,  agreement  or
     instrument, or subject to restrictions,  compliance with the terms of which
     could  individually  or in the  aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a
     Material Adverse Effect; and

          (d) to the knowledge of  Borrower's  Executive  Officers,  no Contract
     Provider is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any
     of the  obligations,  covenants  or  conditions  contained  in any Medicaid
     Provider  Agreement,  Medicare  Provider  Agreement  or other  agreement or
     instrument to which such Person is a party,  which default has resulted in,
     or if not remedied within any applicable  grace period could result in, the
     revocation,   termination,   cancellation   or   suspension   of   Medicaid
     Certification or Medicare  Certification of such Person,  which revocation,
     termination,  cancellation or suspension could reasonably be likely to have
     a Material Adverse Effect.

     29.10.  Litigation.  Except as disclosed in or incorporated by reference in
the  Registration  Statement,   there  is  no  action,  suit,  investigation  or
proceeding at law or in equity or by or before any governmental  instrumentality
or  agency or  arbitral  body  pending  or, to the  knowledge  of the  Borrower,
threatened  by or against  the  Borrower or any  Consolidated  Entity or, to the
knowledge  of the  Borrower,  pending or  threatened  by or against any Contract
Provider,  or  affecting  the  Borrower  or any  Consolidated  Entity or, to the
knowledge of the Borrower,  any Contract Provider or any properties or rights of
the Borrower or any  Consolidated  Entity or, to the  knowledge of the Borrower,
any Contract  Provider,  which could reasonably be expected (i) to result in the
revocation, termination, cancellation or suspension of Medicaid Certification or
Medicare   Certification  of  such  Person,   which   revocation,   termination,
cancellation or suspension could reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect, or (ii) to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     29.11. Margin Stock. The proceeds of the borrowings and other extensions of
credit  made  hereunder  will be  used by the  Borrower  only  for the  purposes
expressly  authorized  herein.  None of such proceeds will be used,  directly or
indirectly,  for the purpose of  purchasing  or carrying any margin stock or for
the  purpose of  reducing  or retiring  any  Indebtedness  which was  originally
incurred to purchase or carry margin stock or for any other  purpose which might
constitute any of the Loans or Letters of Credit under this Agreement a "purpose
credit" within the meaning of Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board. Neither
the  Borrower  nor any  agent  acting in its  behalf  has taken or will take any
action which might cause this  Agreement or any of the documents or  instruments
delivered  pursuant  hereto to violate any regulation of the Board or to violate
the  Exchange  Act or the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  or any  state
securities laws, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.

     29.12. Investment Company. Neither the Borrower nor any Consolidated Entity
is an  "investment  company," or an  "affiliated  person" of, or  "promoter"  or
"principal  underwriter" for, an "investment company", as such terms are defined
in the  Investment  Company Act of 1940,  as amended (15 U.S.C.  ss.  80a-1,  et
seq.). The application of the proceeds of the Loans and repayment thereof by the
Borrower  and the  issuance  of  Letters of Credit  and the  performance  by the
Borrower and any  Consolidated  Entity of the  transactions  contemplated by the
Loan  Documents  will not  violate  any  provision  of said  Act,  or any  rule,
regulation or order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder,
in each case as in effect on the date hereof.


<PAGE>



     29.13.  Patents, Etc. The Borrower and each Consolidated Entity owns or has
the right to use,  under valid license  agreements  or  otherwise,  all material
patents, licenses, franchises,  trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade
name rights,  trade secrets,  service marks,  service mark rights and copyrights
necessary to or used in the conduct of its  businesses  as now  conducted and as
contemplated  by the Loan  Documents,  without known  conflict by, or with,  any
patent, license,  franchise,  trademark, trade secret, trade name, service mark,
copyright or other proprietary right of, any other Person.

     29.14. No Untrue  Statement.  Neither (a) this Agreement nor any other Loan
Document or  certificate  or document  executed and delivered by or on behalf of
the Borrower or any  Consolidated  Entity in accordance  with or pursuant to any
Loan Document nor (b) any statement, representation, or warranty provided to the
Agent or any Lender in connection  with the  negotiation  or  preparation of the
Loan Documents  contains any  misrepresentation  or untrue statement of material
fact or omits to state a material fact necessary,  in light of the  circumstance
under which it was made, in order to make any such warranty,  representation  or
statement contained therein not misleading.

     29.15. No Consents, Etc. Neither the respective businesses or properties of
the  Borrower  or any  Consolidated  Entity,  nor any  relationship  between the
Borrower or any Consolidated  Entity and any other Person,  nor any circumstance
in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents
and the  transactions  contemplated  thereby,  is such as to  require a consent,
approval or authorization of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any
Governmental  Authority  or any other  Person on the part of the Borrower or any
Consolidated  Entity as a condition to the execution,  delivery and  performance
of, or  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  by, or the validity or
enforceability of, the Loan Documents, which, if not obtained or effected, would
be reasonably  likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, or if so, such consent,
approval,  authorization,  filing,  registration or qualification  has been duly
obtained or effected, as the case may be;

     29.16.  ERISA  Requirement.  (i) The  execution  and  delivery  of the Loan
Documents  will not involve  any  prohibited  transaction  within the meaning of
ERISA,  (ii) the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate has fulfilled its obligations
under the minimum funding  standards  imposed by ERISA and each is in compliance
in all material  respects with the applicable  provisions of ERISA, and (iii) no
"Reportable  Event," as defined  in  Section  4043(b) of Title IV of ERISA,  has
occurred with respect to any plan maintained by the Borrower or any of its ERISA
Affiliate.

     29.17. No Default. As of the date hereof,  there does not exist any Default
or Event of Default.

     29.18. Hazardous Materials. The Borrower and each Consolidated Entity is in
compliance  with all  applicable  Environmental  Laws in all material  respects.
Neither  the  Borrower  nor any  Consolidated  Entity has been  notified  of any
action,  suit,  proceeding or investigation  which, and neither the Borrower nor
any Consolidated Entity is aware of any facts which, (i) calls into question, or
could  reasonably be expected to call into question,  compliance in all material
respects by the Borrower or any Consolidated Entity with any Environmental Laws,
(ii)  which  seeks,  or could  reasonably  be  expected  to form the  basis of a
meritorious  proceeding,  to suspend,  revoke or terminate any material license,
permit or approval necessary for the generation, handling, storage, treatment or
disposal of any Hazardous Material, or (iii) seeks to cause, or could


<PAGE>



reasonably be expected to form the basis of a  meritorious  proceeding to cause,
any  property of the  Borrower or any  Consolidated  Entity to be subject to any
material restrictions on ownership,  use, occupancy or transferability under any
Environmental Law.

     29.19.  Employment Matters.  (a) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.19, none
of the  employees of the Borrower or any  Consolidated  Entity is subject to any
collective  bargaining  agreement  and there  are no  strikes,  work  stoppages,
election or  decertification  petitions or  proceedings,  unfair labor  charges,
equal  opportunity   proceedings,   or  other  material  labor/employee  related
controversies or proceedings  pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower,
threatened  against  the  Borrower  or any  Consolidated  Entity or between  the
Borrower  or any  Consolidated  Entity  and  any of its  employees,  other  than
employee grievances, controversies or proceedings arising in the ordinary course
of business  which could not  reasonably  be  expected,  individually  or in the
aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

     (b) Except to the extent a failure to maintain  compliance would not have a
Material  Adverse  Effect,  the  Borrower  and each  Consolidated  Entity  is in
compliance  in all respects  with all  applicable  laws,  rules and  regulations
pertaining to labor or employment  matters,  including without  limitation those
pertaining  to wages,  hours,  occupational  safety  and  taxation  and there is
neither pending nor threatened any litigation,  administrative proceeding or, to
the knowledge of the  Borrower,  any  investigation,  in respect of such matters
which, if decided adversely, could reasonably be likely,  individually or in the
aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     29.20. RICO. Neither the Borrower nor any Consolidated Entity is engaged in
or has  engaged  in any  course  of  conduct  that  could  subject  any of their
respective  properties  to any  Lien,  seizure  or other  forfeiture  under  any
criminal law,  racketeer  influenced  and corrupt  organizations  law,  civil or
criminal, or other similar laws.

     29.21.  Reimbursement from Third Party Payors.  The accounts  receivable of
the Borrower and each  Consolidated  Entity and each Contract Provider have been
and will  continue  to be adjusted  to reflect  reimbursement  policies of third
party  payors  such as  Medicare,  Medicaid,  Blue  Cross/Blue  Shield,  private
insurance  companies,  health  maintenance  organizations,   preferred  provider
organizations,  alternative delivery systems,  managed care systems,  government
contracting  agencies  and other third party  payors.  In  particular,  accounts
receivable  relating  to such  third  party  payors do not and shall not  exceed
amounts any obligee is entitled to receive under any capitation arrangement, fee
schedule,  discount  formula,  cost-based  reimbursement  or other adjustment or
limitation to its usual charges.

     29.22.   Representations   and  Warranties  from  the  Related  Acquisition
Transaction  Documents.  As of the Closing Date (and immediately prior to giving
effect to the Related  Acquisition),  each of the representations and warranties
made by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary in the Related  Acquisition  Transaction
Documents  are true and correct in all material  respects as of the date hereof,
and, except as such  representations  or warranties are modified by certificates
provided by Horizon at the closing of the Restated Acquisition,  the Borrower is
not  aware  of  any  facts  or   circumstances   indicating   that  any  of  the
representations or warranties of Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries contained in
the Related  Acquisition  Transaction  Documents are not true and correct in all
material respects as of the date hereof.


<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE XXX

                              Affirmative Covenants

     Until the Bridge  Termination  Date and  termination  of this  Agreement in
accordance  with the terms hereof,  unless the Required  Lenders shall otherwise
consent in writing,  the Borrower  will,  and where  applicable  will cause each
Consolidated Entity to:

     30.1.  Financial  Statements,  Reports,  Etc. The Borrower shall deliver or
cause to be delivered to the Agent and each Lender:

          (a) Not later  than 50 days  after the end of each of the first  three
     quarters of each Fiscal Year, a balance  sheet and a statement of income of
     the Borrower and its  Consolidated  Entities on a consolidated  basis and a
     statement of cash flow of the Borrower and its  Consolidated  Entities on a
     consolidated  basis for such calendar  quarter and for the period beginning
     on the first  day of such  Fiscal  Year and  ending on the last day of such
     quarter  (in  sufficient   detail  to  indicate  the  Borrower's  and  each
     Consolidated  Entity's compliance with the financial covenants set forth in
     Section  8.1),  together  with  statements  in  comparative  form  for  the
     corresponding  date or period in the preceding Fiscal Year as summarized in
     the Borrower's Form 10-Q for the corresponding  period, and certified as to
     fairness,  accuracy and completeness by the chief executive officer,  chief
     financial officer or Treasurer of the Borrower.

          (b) Not  later  than  100  days  after  the end of each  Fiscal  Year,
     financial  statements  (including a balance sheet, a statement of income, a
     statement of changes in shareholders'  equity and a statement of cash flow)
     of the Borrower and its Consolidated  Entities on a consolidated  basis for
     such Fiscal Year (in sufficient  detail to indicate the Borrower's and each
     Consolidated  Entity's compliance with the financial covenants set forth in
     Section 8.1), together with statements in comparative form as of the end of
     and for the preceding Fiscal Year as summarized in the Borrower's Form 10-K
     for the  corresponding  period,  and accompanied by an opinion of certified
     public  accountants  acceptable to the Agent,  which opinion shall state in
     effect that such  financial  statements  (A) were audited  using  generally
     accepted auditing standards, (B) were prepared in accordance with generally
     accepted  accounting  principles  applied on a  Consistent  Basis,  and (C)
     present  fairly the  financial  condition  and results of operations of the
     Borrower and its Consolidated Entities for the periods covered.

          (c) Together with the financial  statements required by paragraphs (1)
     and (2) above a compliance certificate duly executed by the chief executive
     officer or chief financial officer or Treasurer of the Borrower in the form
     of Exhibit L ("Compliance Certificate").

          (d) Contemporaneously  with the distribution thereof to the Borrower's
     or any Consolidated Entity's stockholders or partners or the filing thereof
     with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  as the case may be, copies of
     all statements, reports, notices and filings distributed by the Borrower or
     any  Consolidated  Entity to its stockholders or partners or filed with the
     Securities and Exchange  Commission  (including  reports on SEC Forms 10-K,
     10-Q and 8-K).


<PAGE>




          (e)  Promptly  after the  Borrower  knows or has reason to know of the
     occurrence of any "reportable event" under Section 4043 of ERISA applicable
     to the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate,  a certificate of the president or
     chief  financial  officer of the Borrower  setting  forth the details as to
     such  "reportable  event" and the  action  that the  Borrower  or the ERISA
     Affiliate has taken or will take with respect  thereto,  and promptly after
     the filing or receiving thereof, copies of all reports and notices that the
     Borrower and each  Consolidated  Entity files under ERISA with the Internal
     Revenue Service or the PBGC or the United States Department of Labor.

          (f) Promptly  after the Borrower or any of its  Consolidated  Entities
     becomes aware of the  commencement  thereof,  notice of any  investigation,
     action, suit or proceeding before any Governmental  Authority involving the
     condemnation  or taking  under the  power of  eminent  domain of any of its
     property  or  the   revocation  or  suspension  of  any  permit,   license,
     certificate  of need or other  governmental  requirement  applicable to any
     Facility.

          (g)  Within  10  days of the  receipt  by the  Borrower  or any of its
     Consolidated   Entities,   copies  of  all  material   deficiency  notices,
     compliance  orders or adverse reports issued by any Governmental  Authority
     or   accreditation   commission   having   jurisdiction   over   licensing,
     accreditation or operation of a Facility or by any  Governmental  Authority
     or private  insurance company pursuant to a provider  agreement,  which, if
     not promptly  complied  with or cured,  could result in the  suspension  or
     forfeiture  of any license,  certification  or  accreditation  necessary in
     order for such  Facility to carry on its business as then  conducted or the
     termination of any material insurance or reimbursement program available to
     such Facility.

          (h) Such other  information  regarding  any Facility or the  financial
     condition or operations of the Borrower or its Consolidated Entities as the
     Agent shall reasonably request from time to time or at any time.

     30.2.  Maintain  Properties.  Maintain  all  properties  necessary  to  its
operations  in good  working  order  and  condition,  make all  needed  repairs,
replacements and renewals to such  properties,  and maintain free from Liens all
trademarks,  trade names,  service marks,  patents,  copyrights,  trade secrets,
know-how,  and other  intellectual  property  and  proprietary  information  (or
adequate licenses thereto),  in each case as are reasonably necessary to conduct
its business as currently conducted or as contemplated hereby, all in accordance
with customary and prudent business practices.

     30.3.  Existence,   Qualification,   Etc.  Except  as  otherwise  expressly
permitted  under  Section  8.4, do or cause to be done all things  necessary  to
preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and all material rights
and franchises,  and maintain its license or  qualification  to do business as a
foreign  corporation  and  good  standing  in each  jurisdiction  in  which  its
ownership or lease of property or the nature of its business  makes such license
or qualification necessary.

     30.4.  Regulations  and  Taxes.  Comply in all  material  respects  with or
contest in good faith all  statutes  and  governmental  regulations  and pay all
taxes,  assessments,  governmental charges, claims for labor, supplies, rent and
any other obligation which, if unpaid, would become


<PAGE>



a Lien against any of its properties except  liabilities being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and against which adequate
reserves acceptable to the Borrower's  independent  certified public accountants
have been established unless and until any Lien resulting  therefrom attaches to
any of its property and becomes enforceable by its creditors.

     30.5.  Insurance.  At all times maintain in force, and pay all premiums and
costs related to, insurance coverages in amounts deemed by the management of the
Borrower  to be  sufficient  in  accordance  with usual and  customary  business
practices  and  any  other  coverages  required  under  applicable  governmental
requirements. The Borrower shall deliver to the Agent annually on or before each
anniversary date of this Agreement, and at such other time or times as the Agent
may request (but not more often than monthly), a certificate of the president or
chief financial  officer of the Borrower setting out in such detail as the Agent
may reasonably  require a description of all insurance  coverages  maintained by
the Borrower and each Consolidated Entity. The Agent shall have no obligation to
give the Borrower or any Consolidated Entity notice of any notification received
by the Agent with respect to any insurance policies or take any steps to protect
the Borrower's or any Consolidated Entity's interests under such policies.

     30.6. True Books. Keep true books of record and account in which full, true
and correct  entries will be made of all of its dealings and  transactions,  and
set up on its books such  reserves as may be  required  by GAAP with  respect to
doubtful  accounts and all taxes,  assessments,  charges,  levies and claims and
with respect to its business in general, and include such reserves in interim as
well as year-end financial statements.

     30.7.  Right of  Inspection.  Permit any Person  designated by the Agent to
visit and inspect any of the properties,  corporate books and financial  reports
of the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  and to discuss its  affairs,  finances  and
accounts  with  its  principal   officers  and  independent   certified   public
accountants,   all  at  reasonable  times,  at  reasonable  intervals  and  with
reasonable prior notice.

     30.8. Observe all Laws. Conform to and duly observe, and cause all Contract
Providers to conform to and duly  observe,  in all  material  respects all laws,
rules  and  regulations  and all  other  valid  requirements  of any  regulatory
authority  with  respect  to the  conduct  of its  business,  including  without
limitation   Titles  XVIII  and  XIX  of  the  Social  Security  Act,   Medicare
Regulations,  Medicaid  Regulations,  and all  laws,  rules and  regulations  of
Governmental  Authorities  pertaining to the licensing of professional and other
health care providers, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     30.9. Governmental Licenses. Obtain and maintain, and use reasonable effort
to cause all Contract Providers to obtain and maintain,  all licenses,  permits,
certifications and approvals of all applicable  Governmental  Authorities as are
required  for the conduct of its  business  as  currently  conducted  and herein
contemplated,  including  without  limitation  professional  licenses,  Medicaid
Certifications  and Medicare  Certifications,  except where the failure to do so
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     30.10. Covenants Extending to Other Persons. Cause each of its Consolidated
Entities to do with respect to itself, its business and its assets,  each of the
things  required  of the  Borrower in Sections  7.2 through  7.9,  7.15 and 7.16
inclusive.


<PAGE>



     30.11.  Officer's  Knowledge of Default.  Upon any Executive Officer of the
Borrower  obtaining  knowledge of any Default or Event of Default or any default
or  event  of  default  under  any  other  obligation  of  the  Borrower  or any
Consolidated Entity to any Lender, or any event, development or occurrence which
could  reasonably  be expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  cause such
Executive  Officer or an Authorized  Representative to promptly notify the Agent
of the nature  thereof,  the period of  existence  thereof,  and what action the
Borrower or such Consolidated Entity proposes to take with respect thereto.  The
Agent shall notify the Lenders of receipt of such notice.

     30.12.  Suits  or Other  Proceedings.  Upon any  Executive  Officer  of the
Borrower  obtaining  knowledge  of any  litigation  or other  proceedings  being
instituted (i) against the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any attachment,  levy,
execution or other process being  instituted  against any assets of the Borrower
or any Subsidiary or Controlled Partnership, which if adversely determined could
reasonably  be likely to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect or (ii)  against  the
Borrower,  any  Subsidiary  or any Contract  Provider  (but only with respect to
services provided to the Borrower or any Consolidated Entity) to suspend, revoke
or terminate any Medicaid Provider Agreement,  Medicaid Certification,  Medicare
Provider Agreement or Medicare  Certification,  which suspension,  revocation or
termination could reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect,  cause
such Executive  Officer or an Authorized  Representative  to promptly deliver to
the  Agent  written  notice  thereof  stating  the  nature  and  status  of such
litigation, dispute, proceeding, levy, execution or other process.

     30.13.   Notice  of  Discharge  of  Hazardous   Material  or  Environmental
Complaint.  Promptly provide to the Agent true,  accurate and complete copies of
any and all  notices,  complaints,  orders,  directives,  claims,  or  citations
received  by the  Borrower  or any  Consolidated  Entity  relating to any of the
following which is likely to have a Material  Adverse  Effect:  (a) violation or
alleged  violation by the Borrower or any Consolidated  Entity of any applicable
Environmental  Law;  (b) release or  threatened  release by the  Borrower or any
Consolidated  Entity, or at any Facility or property owned or leased or operated
by the Borrower or any Consolidated  Entity, of any Hazardous  Material,  except
where occurring  legally;  or (c) liability or alleged liability of the Borrower
or any Consolidated  Entity for the costs of cleaning up, removing,  remediating
or responding to a release of Hazardous Materials.

     30.14. Environmental Compliance. If the Borrower or any Consolidated Entity
shall receive any letter, notice, complaint, order, directive, claim or citation
from any Governmental  Authority  alleging that the Borrower or any Consolidated
Entity has violated any Environmental Law or is liable for the costs of cleaning
up,  removing,  remediating  or responding  to a release of Hazardous  Materials
within the time period  permitted  by the  applicable  Environmental  Law or the
Governmental  Authority responsible for enforcing such Environmental Law, remove
or remedy, or cause the applicable Consolidated Entity to remove or remedy, such
violation or release or satisfy such liability unless and only during the period
that the applicability of such  Environmental Law, the fact of such violation or
liability  or what is  required  to  remove or remedy  such  violation  is being
contested by the Borrower or the applicable  Consolidated  Entity by appropriate
proceedings diligently conducted and all reserves with respect thereto as may be
required under GAAP, if any, have been made, and no Lien in connection therewith
shall  have  attached  to  any  property  of  the  Borrower  or  the  applicable
Consolidated  Entity which shall have become  enforceable  against  creditors of
such Person.


<PAGE>



     30.15.  Continuation of Current Business.  Not engage in any business other
than the  business now being  conducted  by the  Borrower  and other  businesses
directly related to such services.

     30.16.  Management  Contracts.  Not enter into any  agreement  whereby  the
management,  supervision  or control of its  business or any  Facility  shall be
delegated  to or  placed  in any  persons  other  than  its  governing  body and
officers,  the Borrower or a Consolidated Entity,  except that management of the
Facility owned by Vanderbilt Stallworth  Rehabilitation Hospital, L.P. is vested
in part in a Governance  Committee  and in part in a Subsidiary  of the Borrower
pursuant  to the  applicable  limited  partnership  agreement  and a  management
agreement.


<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE XXXI

                               Negative Covenants

     Until the Bridge  Termination  Date and  termination  of this  Agreement in
accordance  with the terms hereof,  unless the Required  Lenders shall otherwise
consent in writing,  the  Borrower  will not, nor (to the extent  expressly  set
forth below) will it permit any Consolidated Entity to:

     31.1. Financial Covenants.

          (a) Minimum Net Worth.  Permit  Consolidated Net Worth to be less than
     $917,711,000  plus (A) 50% of  Consolidated  Net  Income (if  positive  and
     including for purposes of this Section 8.1(a) only any extraordinary gain),
     on an  ongoing  basis for each  fiscal  quarter  beginning  with the fiscal
     quarter  ended  March  31,  1996,  plus  (B) the  aggregate  amount  of all
     increases,  if any, in its capital accounts  resulting from the issuance of
     Capital Stock or conversion of debt into Capital Stock or other  securities
     properly  classified  as  equity  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
     accounting  principles,  or from the sale or other  disposition of treasury
     shares,  from the date of this Agreement  through the date of determination
     plus (c) without  duplication,  any addition to Consolidated  Stockholders'
     Equity resulting from an Acquisition  after the Closing Date which shall be
     accounted for on a pooling-of-interests basis.

          (b) Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio. Permit
     the ratio of Consolidated  EBITDA to Consolidated  Interest  Expense at any
     time to be less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00.

          (c) Consolidated  Indebtedness to Consolidated  Total Capital.  Permit
     the ratio of Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated Total Capital at any
     time to equal or exceed .65 to 1.00.

     31.2.  Investments  and Loans.  Purchase  or  otherwise  acquire any stock,
security,   obligation  or  evidence  of  indebtedness   of,  make  any  capital
contribution to, own any equity interest in, or make any loan or advance to, any
other Person; provided, however, that the Borrower and its Consolidated Entities
may (A)  continue  to hold all  stock of and own  partnership  interests  in the
Persons that  constitute  Consolidated  Entities on the Closing Date and Persons
that  thereafter  become  Consolidated  Entities  as a  result  of  Acquisitions
permitted  under  Section  8.8;  (B) make  Permitted  Investments;  and (C) make
investments in an amount not exceeding 15% of Consolidated Total Assets.

     31.3. Indebtedness.  Permit to exist Indebtedness,  howsoever evidenced, of
Subsidiaries  and  Controlled  Partnerships  (exclusive of  Indebtedness  to the
Borrower)  in  an  aggregate  amount  at  any  time  exceeding  the  greater  of
$70,000,000  or 15% of  Consolidated  Tangible  Net Worth,  excluding,  however,
Indebtedness of Subsidiaries and Controlled Partnerships existing as of the date
hereof and described on Schedule 8.3.

     31.4.  Existing  Facility.  Make any  payment of the  principal  portion of
Indebtedness   (other  than  amounts   which  are   simultaneously   reborrowed)
outstanding under the Existing Agreement if there are any Bridge Outstandings.


<PAGE>




     31.5.  Consolidation  or Merger.  Merge or consolidate  with another Person
unless  (i) in the  case of a  merger  or  consolidation  of the  Borrower,  the
Borrower is the continuing or surviving entity,  (ii) in the case of a merger or
consolidation  involving a  Consolidated  Entity,  the  continuing  or surviving
entity  is  majority-owned  by  the  Borrower  (with  such  majority   ownership
constituting a controlling  interest),  and (iii) before and after giving effect
to the proposed  merger or  consolidation,  no Default or Event of Default shall
exist.

     31.6. Liens. Incur, create,  assume or permit to exist any Lien upon any of
its accounts receivable,  contract rights, chattel paper, inventory,  equipment,
instruments,  general  intangibles  or other  personal  or real  property of any
character,  whether now owned or hereafter  acquired,  other than (i) Liens that
constitute  Permitted  Encumbrances,  and (ii) Liens on assets  which at no time
have a book value of greater than 5% of Consolidated Total Assets.

     31.7. Dividends and Distributions.  Permit any Consolidated Entity to be or
become subject to any restrictions on the ability of such Consolidated Entity to
pay  dividends or to make  partnership  distributions  other than as required by
this Agreement or restrictions imposed by applicable law.

     31.8.  Acquisitions.  Enter into any  agreement  to  acquire  any Person or
Facility  unless (i) the Person or Facility  to be acquired is in  substantially
the  same  line  of  business  presently  engaged  in by  the  Borrower  or  its
Consolidated  Entities, and (ii) if the Cost of Acquisition exceeds $150,000,000
the  Borrower  shall  have  furnished  to the  Agent  (A) pro  forma  historical
financial statements as of the end of the most recently completed Fiscal Year of
the Borrower and most recent  interim  fiscal  quarter,  if  applicable,  giving
effect to such  Acquisition  and (B) a  Compliance  Certificate  prepared  on an
historical pro forma basis giving effect to such Acquisition,  which certificate
shall  demonstrate  that no Default or Event of Default would exist  immediately
after giving effect thereto.

     31.9.  Restricted  Payments.  Make any  Restricted  Payment or apply or set
apart  any of  their  assets  therefor  or  agree  to do  any of the  foregoing;
provided,  however,  the Borrower may make the Restricted Payments in any Fiscal
Year (on a  non-cumulative  basis,  with the effect that amounts not paid in any
Fiscal  Year may not be  carried  over for  payment in a  subsequent  period) if
immediately  prior and  immediately  after giving  effect  thereto no Default or
Event of Default shall exist or occur and be continuing.

     31.10.  Compliance with ERISA.  With respect to any Pension Plan,  Employee
Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan:

          (a) permit the occurrence of any Termination  Event which would result
     in a liability  on the part of the  Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate to the
     PBGC which liability would have a Material Adverse Effect; or

          (b) permit the  present  value of all  benefit  liabilities  under all
     Pension  Plans to exceed the  current  value of the assets of such  Pension
     Plans allocable to such benefit liabilities; or


<PAGE>



          (c) permit any accumulated  funding  deficiency (as defined in Section
     302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code) with respect to any Pension Plan,
     whether or not waived; or

          (d) fail to make any contribution or payment to any Multiemployer Plan
     which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate may be required to make under any
     agreement  relating  to such  Multiemployer  Plan,  or any  law  pertaining
     thereto; or

          (e) engage, or permit any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to engage,
     in any prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of
     the Code for which a civil penalty pursuant to Section 502(I) of ERISA or a
     tax pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code may be imposed; or

          (f) permit the  establishment  of any Employee  Benefit Plan providing
     post-retirement welfare benefits or establish or amend any Employee Benefit
     Plan which  establishment  or  amendment  could  result in liability to the
     Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate or increase the obligation of the Borrower
     or any ERISA Affiliate to a Multiemployer Plan which liability or increase,
     individually or together with all similar liabilities and increases,  is in
     excess of $5,000,000; or

          (g) fail, or permit any Subsidiary or any ERISA  Affiliate to fail, to
     establish, maintain and operate each Employee Benefit Plan in compliance in
     all  material  respects  with  the  provisions  of  ERISA,  the  Code,  all
     applicable  Foreign  Benefit  Laws and all  other  applicable  laws and the
     regulations and interpretations thereof.

     31.11.  Fiscal Year. Change its Fiscal Year (other than a change to conform
the fiscal year of a Consolidated Entity to that of the Borrower).

     31.12.  Dissolution,  etc. Wind up,  liquidate or dissolve  (voluntarily or
involuntarily)  or commence or suffer any  proceedings  seeking any such winding
up,  liquidation  or  dissolution,   except  in  connection  with  a  merger  or
consolidation permitted pursuant to Section 8.5.


<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE XXXII

                       Events of Default and Acceleration

     32.1. Events of Default. If any one or more of the following events (herein
called "Events of Default")  shall occur for any reason  whatsoever (and whether
such  occurrence  shall be voluntary or involuntary or come about or be effected
by operation of law or pursuant to or in compliance with any judgment, decree or
order  of any  court  or any  order,  rule  or  regulation  of any  Governmental
Authority), that is to say:

          (a) the Borrower shall fail to pay (i) when due any principal  payable
     under the  terms of any Note or any  Reimbursement  Obligation  or (ii) not
     later than five  Business  Days of the date when due any  interest  or fees
     payable under the terms of any Note or any other amount  payable under this
     Agreement or any other of the other Obligations or any other amount owed to
     the  Agent  or any of the  Lenders  under  or in  connection  with the Loan
     Documents; or

          (b)  The  Borrower  or  any  Material   Group  shall  default  in  the
     performance or observance of any other  provision of this Agreement  (other
     than the provisions of Article VII and Article VIII),  except as covered by
     clause (a) above,  and shall not cure such default within thirty days after
     the first to occur of (i) the date the Agent or any Lender gives written or
     telephonic  notice of such  default  to the  Borrower  or (ii) the date the
     Borrower otherwise has notice thereof; or

          (c) the Borrower or any Material Group shall default in the observance
     or performance of any provision in Article VII or Article VIII; or

          (d)  the  Agent  shall   reasonably   determine  that  any  statement,
     certification,  representation  or warranty  contained herein, or in any of
     the other Loan Documents or in any report, financial statement, certificate
     or other instrument delivered to the Agent or any Lender by or on behalf of
     the Borrower or any  Consolidated  Entity,  was misleading or untrue in any
     material respect at the time it was made or deemed made; or

          (e)  default  shall be made  (i) in the  payment  of any  Indebtedness
     exceeding  $5,000,000  (other than the  Obligations) of the Borrower or any
     Consolidated  Entity  when due or (ii) in the  performance,  observance  or
     fulfillment  of  any  term  or  covenant  contained  in  any  agreement  or
     instrument  under or pursuant to which any such  Indebtedness may have been
     issued,  created,  assumed,  guaranteed  or  secured  by  Borrower  or  any
     Consolidated  Entity,  if the effect of such  default  in the  performance,
     observance  or   fulfillment   is  to  accelerate   the  maturity  of  such
     Indebtedness or to permit the holder thereof to cause such  Indebtedness to
     become  due prior to its stated  maturity,  and such  default  shall not be
     cured within 10 days after the  occurrence of such default,  and the amount
     of the Indebtedness involved exceeds $5,000,000; or

          (f) the Borrower or any  Material  Group shall fail to pay or admit in
     writing its inability to pay its or their debts generally as they come due,
     or a receiver,  trustee,  liquidator or other  custodian shall be appointed
     for the  Borrower or any  Material  Group or for any of the property of the
     Borrower or any Material Group or a petition in


<PAGE>



     bankruptcy,  or under any insolvency  law, shall be filed by or against the
     Borrower or any Material  Group or the Borrower or any Material Group shall
     apply for the  benefit  of, or take  advantage  of,  any law for  relief of
     debtors,  or enter into an  arrangement  or  composition  with,  or make an
     assignment for the benefit of, creditors; or

          (g) final judgment for the payment of money in excess of any aggregate
     of $500,000 shall be rendered  against the Borrower or any Material  Group,
     and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 days during which
     execution shall not be effectively stayed; or

          (h) an event of  default,  as therein  defined,  shall occur under any
     other Loan Document; or

          (i)  any  of  the  Notes  or LC  Account  Agreement  shall  be  deemed
     unenforceable  by a court of competent  jurisdiction  or shall no longer be
     effective; or

          (j) the Borrower or any Consolidated  Entity shall,  other than in the
     ordinary course of business (as determined by past practices),  suspend all
     or any part of its  operations  material to the conduct of the  business of
     the Borrower and its Consolidated Entities,  taken as a whole, for a period
     of more than 60 days;

          (k) the  Borrower or any  Consolidated  Entity shall breach any of the
     material terms or conditions of any agreement  under which any Rate Hedging
     Obligations  are created and such breach  shall  continue  beyond any grace
     period,  if any,  relating thereto pursuant to the terms of such agreement,
     or the  Borrower or any  Consolidated  Entity  shall  disaffirm  or seek to
     disaffirm any such agreement or any of its obligations thereunder;

          (l) there shall occur (i) any cancellation,  revocation, suspension or
     termination of any Medicare  Certification,  Medicare  Provider  Agreement,
     Medicaid   Certification  or  Medicaid  Provider  Agreement  affecting  the
     Borrower,  any Subsidiary or any Contract Provider, or (ii) the loss of any
     other permits, licenses,  authorizations,  certifications or approvals from
     any federal,  state or local  Governmental  Authority or termination of any
     contract  with any such  authority,  in  either  case  which  cancellation,
     revocation,  suspension,  termination  or  loss  (X)  in  the  case  of any
     suspension or temporary  loss only,  continues for a period greater than 60
     days and (Y) results in the  suspension or termination of operations of the
     Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  or in the  failure  of  the  Borrower  or any
     Subsidiaries  or any  Contract  Provider to be eligible to  participate  in
     Medicare  or  Medicaid  programs  or to  accept  assignments  of  rights to
     reimbursement under Medicaid  Regulations or Medicare  Regulations,  if and
     only if such Person,  in the ordinary  course of business,  participates in
     the  Medicare or  Medicare  programs  or accepts  assignments  of rights to
     reimbursement  thereunder;  provided that any such events described in this
     Section  9.1(l)  shall  constitute  an Event of Default  only if such event
     shall  result  either  singly  or in  the  aggregate  in  the  termination,
     cancellation,  suspension or material impairment of operations or rights to
     reimbursement which produce 5% or more of the Borrower's gross revenues (on
     an annualized basis); or

          (m) there shall occur a Change of Control;


<PAGE>



then, and in any such event and at any time thereafter, if such Event of Default
or any other Event of Default shall then be  continuing  and shall have not been
waived,

          (A)  either or both of the  following  actions  may be taken:  (i) the
     Agent, with the consent of the Required Lenders,  may, and at the direction
     of the Required  Lenders  shall,  declare any obligation of the Lenders and
     the Issuing Bank to make further  Loans or to issue  additional  Letters of
     Credit terminated,  whereupon the obligation of each Lender to make further
     Loans  and of the  Issuing  Bank to  issue  additional  Letters  of  Credit
     hereunder  shall  terminate  immediately,  and (ii) the Agent  shall at the
     direction of the Required  Lenders,  at their option,  declare by notice to
     the  Borrower  any or all of the  Obligations  to be  immediately  due  and
     payable, and the same, including all interest accrued thereon and all other
     obligations of the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders,  shall  forthwith
     become immediately due and payable without  presentment,  demand,  protest,
     notice or other  formality of any kind,  all of which are hereby  expressly
     waived,  anything  contained  herein or in any  instrument  evidencing  the
     Obligations  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding;  provided,  however,  that
     notwithstanding  the above,  if there shall occur an Event of Default under
     clause (f) above,  then the  obligation of the Lenders to make Loans and of
     the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit  hereunder shall  automatically
     terminate and any and all of the  Obligations  shall be immediately due and
     payable  without the  necessity  of any action by the Agent or the Required
     Lenders or notice to the Agent or the Lenders; and

          (B) the  Borrower  shall,  upon  demand of the  Agent or the  Required
     Lenders,  deposit cash with the Agent in an amount  equal to the  aggregate
     amount  remaining  undrawn  under all  outstanding  Letters of  Credit,  as
     collateral  security for the  repayment of any future  drawings or payments
     under such Letters of Credit,  and such amounts  shall be held by the Agent
     pursuant to the terms of the LC Account Agreement; and

          (C) the Agent and each of the Lenders shall have all of the rights and
     remedies available under the Loan Documents or under any applicable law.

     32.2.  Agent to Act. In case any one or more Events of Default  shall occur
and be continuing and not have been waived,  the Agent may, and at the direction
of the Required  Lenders  shall,  proceed to protect and enforce their rights or
remedies either by suit in equity or by action at law, or both,  whether for the
specific  performance of any covenant,  agreement or other  provision  contained
herein  or in  any  other  Loan  Document,  or to  enforce  the  payment  of the
Obligations or any other legal or equitable right or remedy.

     32.3.  Cumulative  Rights.  No right or remedy  herein  conferred  upon the
Lenders or the Agent is intended to be exclusive of any other rights or remedies
contained  herein or in any other Loan Document,  and every such right or remedy
shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other such right or remedy
contained herein and therein or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or
by statute, or otherwise.

     32.4. No Waiver.  No course of dealing  between the Borrower and any Lender
or the Agent or any  failure  or delay on the part of any Lender or the Agent in
exercising any rights or remedies under any Loan Document or otherwise available
to it shall  operate  as a waiver  of any  rights or  remedies  and no single or
partial exercise of any rights or remedies shall operate as a


<PAGE>



waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies  hereunder or of
the same right or remedy on a future occasion.

     32.5.  Allocation of Proceeds.  If an Event of Default has occurred and not
been waived, and the maturity of the Notes has been accelerated pursuant to this
Article  IX, all  payments  received by the Agent  hereunder,  in respect of any
principal of or interest on the  Obligations or any other amounts payable by the
Borrower hereunder, shall be applied by the Agent in the following order:

          (i)  amounts due to the  Lenders  pursuant to Section  2.11 or Section
     11.6;

          (ii) amounts due to the Agent and the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section
     10.11, Section 3.3 and Section 3.4;

          (iii)  payments  of  interest,  to be  applied  pro rata  based on the
     proportion   which  the   principal   amount  of   outstanding   Loans  and
     Reimbursement  Obligations  of  each  Lender  bears  to  the  total  of all
     outstanding Loans and Reimbursement Obligations;

          (iv)  payments  of  principal,  to be  applied  pro rata  based on the
     proportion   which  the   principal   amount  of   outstanding   Loans  and
     Reimbursement  Obligations  of  each  Lender  bears  to  the  total  of all
     outstanding Loans and Reimbursement Obligations;

          (v) payment of cash amounts to the Agent pursuant to Section 9.1;

          (vi) payments of all other amounts due under this  Agreement,  if any,
     to be applied in  accordance  with each Lender's pro rata share of all such
     other amounts due to the Lenders; and

          (vii) any surplus  remaining after application as provided for herein,
     to the Borrower or otherwise as may be required by applicable law.


<PAGE>



                                 ARTICLE XXXIII

                                    The Agent

     33.1.  Appointment.  Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints
NationsBank as the Agent for the Lenders under this  Agreement,  and each of the
Lenders hereby irrevocably  authorizes NationsBank as the Agent for such Lender,
to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the
other Loan  Documents and to exercise such powers as are expressly  delegated to
the Agent by the terms of this Agreement and such other Loan Documents, together
with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Agent shall not
have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or
any fiduciary  relationship with any of the Lenders,  and no implied  covenants,
functions,  responsibilities,  duties,  obligations or liabilities shall be read
into this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document or otherwise  exist against the
Agent.

     33.2. Attorneys-in-fact.  The Agent may execute any of its duties under the
Loan Documents by or through agents or  attorneys-in-fact  and shall be entitled
to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Agent
shall  not be  responsible  for the  negligence,  gross  negligence  or  willful
misconduct  of any agents or  attorneys-in-fact  selected by it with  reasonable
care.

     33.3.  Limitation on Liability.  Neither the Agent nor any of its officers,
directors, employees, agents or attorneys-in-fact shall be liable to the Lenders
for any action  lawfully  taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in
connection with the Loan Documents  except for its or their own gross negligence
or willful  misconduct.  Neither  the Agent nor any of its  Affiliates  shall be
responsible  in any manner to any of the Lenders for any  recitals,  statements,
representations   or  warranties   made  by  the  Borrower  or  any  officer  or
representative  thereof  contained in any Loan Document,  or in any certificate,
report,  statement or other document  referred to or provided for in or received
by the Agent under or in connection  with any Loan  Document,  or for the value,
validity, effectiveness,  genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of any Loan
Document,  or for any failure of the Borrower to perform its  obligations  under
any  Loan  Document,  or  for  any  recitals,  statements,   representations  or
warranties  made,  or  for  the  value,  validity,  effectiveness,  genuineness,
enforceability  or sufficiency of any  collateral.  The Agent shall not be under
any  obligation  to any of the  Lenders  to  ascertain  or to  inquire as to the
observance or  performance  of any of the terms,  covenants or conditions of any
Loan Document on the part of the Borrower or to inspect the properties, books or
records of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

     33.4.  Reliance.  The Agent shall be  entitled to rely,  and shall be fully
protected  in  relying,  upon any note,  writing,  resolution,  notice,  consent
certificate,  affidavit,  letter,  cablegram,  telegram,  telefacsimile or telex
message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to be
genuine and correct and to have been signed,  sent or made by the proper  Person
or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel  (including,  without
limitation, counsel to the Borrower),  independent accountants and other experts
selected by the Agent. The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the
owner thereof for all purposes  unless an Assignment and  Acceptance  shall have
been filed with and accepted by the Agent. The Agent shall be fully justified in
failing or refusing to take any action under the Loan Documents  unless it shall
first receive advice or  concurrence  of the Lenders or the Required  Lenders as
provided


<PAGE>



in this Agreement or 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 the Loan
Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders or all Lenders as
required in this Agreement,  and such request and any action taken or failure to
act pursuant  thereto  shall be binding upon all the Lenders and all present and
future holders of the Notes.

     33.5. Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or
notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless the Agent has
received  notice from a Lender,  an  Authorized  Representative  or the Borrower
referring  to this  Agreement,  describing  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,  the Agent shall  promptly  give notice  thereof to the
Lenders.  The Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event
of  Default  as shall be  reasonably  directed  by the  Required  Lenders or all
Lenders as required in this Agreement; 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
Event of  Default  as it shall  deem  advisable  in the  best  interests  of the
Lenders.

     33.6. No Representations.  Each Lender expressly  acknowledges that neither
the Agent nor any of its affiliates has made any  representations  or warranties
to it and that no act by the Agent hereafter taken,  including any review of the
affairs  of the  Borrower  or its  Consolidated  Entities,  shall be  deemed  to
constitute  any  representation  or warranty  by the Agent to any  Lender.  Each
Lender  represents to the Agent that it has,  independently and without reliance
upon the Agent or any other Lender,  and based on such documents and information
as it has deemed  appropriate,  made its own appraisal of and investigation into
the financial  condition,  creditworthiness,  affairs,  status and nature of the
Borrower  and each  Consolidated  Entity and made its own decision to enter into
this  Agreement.  Each Lender also represents  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 credit  analysis,  appraisals  and  decisions in taking or not taking action
under the Loan Documents and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to
inform  itself as to the status and  affairs,  financial  or  otherwise,  of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries.  Except for notices,  reports and other documents
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 the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which may come into the possession
of the Agent or any of its affiliates.

     33.7. Indemnification. Each of the Lenders agrees to indemnify the Agent in
its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower or any of its
Consolidated  Entities and without  limiting any  obligations of the Borrower or
any of its Consolidated  Entities to do so), ratably according to the respective
principal  amount of the Notes  held by them (or,  if no Notes are  outstanding,
ratably in accordance with their respective Applicable Commitment Percentages as
then in effect) from and against any and all  liabilities,  obligations,  losses
(excluding  any  losses  suffered  by the  Agent as a result  of the  Borrower's
failure  to pay  any fee  owing  to the  Agent),  damages,  penalties,  actions,
judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses  or  disbursements  of any  kind or  nature
whatsoever  which  may at any time  (including  without  limitation  at any time
following  the  payment of the Notes) be imposed  on,  incurred  by or  asserted
against the Agent in any way


<PAGE>



relating  to or  arising  out  of  any  Loan  Document  or  any  other  document
contemplated by or referred to therein or the transactions  contemplated thereby
or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under or in  connection  with any of
the  foregoing;  provided  that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any
portion of such liabilities,  obligations,  losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments,  suits, costs,  expenses or disbursements  resulting from the Agent's
gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct.  The  agreements in this Section 10.7
shall  survive  the  payment  of  the   Obligations  and  following  the  Bridge
Termination Date.

     33.8.  Lender.  The  Agent and its  Affiliates  may make  loans to,  accept
deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries as though it were not the Agent hereunder.  With respect to its
Loans made or renewed by it and any Note  issued to it, the Agent shall have the
same rights and powers  under this  Agreement as any Lender and may exercise the
same as  though it were not the  Agent,  and the terms  "Lender"  and  "Lenders"
shall,  unless  the  context  otherwise  indicates,  include  the  Agent  in its
individual capacity.

     33.9. Resignation. If the Agent shall resign as Agent under this Agreement,
then the Required Lenders may appoint,  with the consent, so long as there shall
not have  occurred  and be  continuing  a Default  or Event of  Default,  of the
Borrower,  which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld,  a successor Agent
for the Lenders,  which  successor  Agent shall be a commercial  bank  organized
under the laws of the  United  States or any state  thereof,  having a  combined
surplus  and capital of not less than  $500,000,000,  whereupon  such  successor
Agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the former Agent and the
obligations  of the former Agent shall be terminated  and canceled,  without any
other  or  further  act or deed on the part of such  former  Agent or any of the
parties  to  this  Agreement;   provided,   however,  that  the  former  Agent's
resignation  shall not  become  effective  until such  successor  Agent has been
appointed  and has  succeeded of record to all right,  title and interest in any
collateral held by the Agent;  provided,  further,  that if the Required Lenders
and, if  applicable,  the Borrower  cannot agree as to a successor  Agent within
ninety (90) days after such  resignation,  the Agent  shall  appoint a successor
Agent which  satisfies  the  criteria set forth above in this Section 10.9 for a
successor Agent and the parties hereto agree to execute  whatever  documents are
necessary  to effect  such action  under this  Agreement  or any other  document
executed  pursuant to this Agreement;  provided,  however that in such event all
provisions of the Loan Documents,  shall remain in full force and effect.  After
any retiring  Agent's  resignation  hereunder as Agent,  the  provisions of this
Article X shall inure to its  benefit as to any  actions  taken or omitted to be
taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.

     33.10.  Sharing of  Payments,  etc.  Each  Lender  agrees that if it shall,
through the  exercise  of a right of banker's  lien,  set-off,  counterclaim  or
otherwise,  obtain payment with respect to its Obligations  (other than pursuant
to Section 2.10 or Article IV) which results in its receiving  more than its pro
rata share of the  aggregate  payments  with  respect to all of the  Obligations
(other than any payment expressly  provided hereunder to be distributed on other
than a pro rata basis and payments pursuant to Article IV), then (a) such Lender
shall be deemed to have simultaneously  purchased from the other Lenders a share
in their  Obligations so that the amount of the Obligations  held by each of the
Lenders shall be pro rata and (b) such other adjustments shall be made from time
to time as shall be  equitable  to insure that the Lenders  share such  payments
ratably;  provided,  however,  that for purposes of this Section  10.10 the term
"pro rata" shall be  determined  with respect to the Bridge  Commitment  of each
Lender and to the Total  Bridge  Commitment  after  subtraction  in each case of
amounts, if any, by which any such Lender has not


<PAGE>



funded its share of the outstanding Loans and Obligations. If all or any portion
of any such  excess  payment  is  thereafter  recovered  from the  Lender  which
received  the  same,  the  purchase  provided  in this  Section  10.10  shall be
rescinded  to the  extent  of such  recovery,  without  interest.  The  Borrower
expressly consents to the foregoing  arrangements and agrees that each Lender so
purchasing a portion of the other Lenders'  Obligations  may exercise all rights
of payment (including,  without limitation, all rights of set-off, banker's lien
or  counterclaim)  with  respect to such portion as fully as if such Lender were
the direct holder of such portion.

     33.11.  Fees. The Borrower  agrees to pay to the Agent,  for its individual
account,  in advance a quarterly Agent's fee in such amount as from time to time
agreed to by the Borrower and Agent in writing.

     33.12.  Independent  Agreements.  The provisions contained in Sections 10.1
through  10.8  and  10.10  (other  than the last  sentence  thereof)  constitute
independent  obligations  and  agreements  of the Agent and the  Lenders and the
Borrower  shall not be deemed a party thereto nor bound  thereby.  Borrower does
acknowledge  the rights of Lenders and Agent under  Sections  10.9 and 10.11 and
the last sentence of Section 10.10.


<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE XXXIV

                                  Miscellaneous

     34.1.  Assignments  and  Participations.  (a) At any time after the Closing
Date each  Lender  may,  with the prior  consent of the Agent and (so long as no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing) the Borrower,
which consents shall not be unreasonably  withheld,  assign to one or more banks
or financial  institutions all or a portion of its rights and obligations  under
the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all or a portion of any Notes
payable to its order);  provided,  that (i) each such  assignment  shall be of a
constant and not a varying  percentage of all of the assigning  Lender's  rights
and  obligations  under the Letter of Credit  Facility and the Bridge  Facility,
(ii) for each  assignment  involving  the issuance  and  transfer of Notes,  the
assigning  Lender shall execute an Assignment  and  Acceptance  and the Borrower
hereby agrees to execute  replacement  Notes to give effect to such  assignment,
(iii) the minimum Bridge  Commitment  which shall be assigned is (x) $5,000,000,
in the case of an assignment by one existing Lender to another  existing Lender,
and (y) $10,000,000 in all other cases, and in multiples of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof  (together  with  which the  assigning  Lender's  applicable  portion of
Participations and the Letter of Credit Commitment shall also be assigned), (iv)
such  assignee  shall have an office  located in the United  States,  and (v) no
consent of the  Borrower or the Agent shall be required in  connection  with any
assignment  by a Lender to an  affiliate of such  Lender.  Upon such  execution,
delivery,  approval and acceptance,  from and after the effective date specified
in each Assignment and Acceptance,  (x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party
hereto and, to the extent that  rights and  obligations  hereunder  or under any
such Notes have been assigned or  negotiated  to it pursuant to such  Assignment
and  Acceptance,  have the rights and  obligations  of a Lender  hereunder and a
holder of such Notes and (y) the assignor  thereunder  shall, to the extent that
rights  and  obligations  hereunder  or under  such Note have been  assigned  or
negotiated by it pursuant to such  Assignment  and  Acceptance,  relinquish  its
rights,  other than those set forth in Section 3.2(g),  Article IV, Section 11.6
and Section 11.12 of this Agreement and be released from its  obligations  under
this Agreement.  Except as otherwise  provided  herein,  any Lender who makes an
assignment shall pay to the Agent a one-time  administrative fee of $3,000 which
fee shall not be reimbursed by the Borrower.

     (b) By executing and  delivering an Assignment and  Acceptance,  the Lender
assignor  thereunder and the assignee  thereunder confirm to and agree with each
other and the other parties  hereto as follows:  (i) the  assignment  made under
such  Assignment  and  Acceptance is made under such  Assignment  and Acceptance
without  recourse  to  such  assignor;  (ii)  such  assigning  Lender  makes  no
representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to (x) the
statements,  warranties or  representations  made in or in connection  with this
Agreement  or any other  Loan  Document  or any  other  instrument  or  document
furnished   pursuant   hereto,   (y)   the   execution,    legality,   validity,
enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency  or value of this Agreement or any of
the other Loan Documents or any other document or instrument  furnished pursuant
hereto,  or (z) the financial  condition of the Borrower or its  Subsidiaries or
the  performance  or observance by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary of any of its
obligations  under  any  Loan  Document  or any  other  instrument  or  document
furnished  pursuant hereto;  (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a
copy of  this  Agreement,  together  with  copies  of the  financial  statements
delivered  pursuant  to Section  6.6(a) or Section  7.1, as the case may be, and
such other Loan Documents and other  documents and  information as it has deemed
appropriate  to make its own credit  analysis  and  decision  to enter into such
Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such


<PAGE>



assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, such assigning
Lender 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 any Loan Document;  (v) such assignee appoints
and  authorizes  the Agent to take such  action  as Agent on its  behalf  and to
exercise  such powers under the Loan  Documents as are delegated to the Agent by
the terms  hereof  and  thereof,  together  with such  powers as are  reasonably
incidental  thereto;  and (vi) such  assignee  agrees  that it will  perform  in
accordance  with their  terms all of the  obligations  which by the terms of the
Loan  Documents  are  required to be performed by it as a Lender and a holder of
such Notes.

     (c) The Agent shall  maintain  at its address  referred to herein a copy of
each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it.

     (d) Upon  its  receipt  of an  Assignment  and  Acceptance  executed  by an
assigning Lender, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to Borrower.

     (e) Nothing  herein shall  prohibit any Lender from  pledging or assigning,
without  notice to or  consent  of the  Borrower  or the Agent and  without  the
payment of the  administrative  fee referred to in Section 13.1(a),  any Note to
any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with applicable law.

     (f) Each Lender may sell participations at its expense to one or more banks
or other  entities  as to all or a portion of its rights and  obligations  under
this  Agreement;  provided,  that  (i)  such  Lender's  obligations  under  this
Agreement  shall  remain  unchanged,   (ii)  such  Lender  shall  remain  solely
responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations,
(iii) such  Lender  shall  remain  the  holder of any Note  issued to it for the
purpose of this Agreement, (iv) such participations shall be in a minimum amount
of  $5,000,000  and, if  greater,  an amount  which is an  integral  multiple of
$1,000,000   and  shall   include  an   allocable   portion  of  such   Lender's
Participations, (v) the Borrower, the Agent and the other Lenders shall continue
to deal solely and directly  with such Lender in  connection  with such Lender's
rights and  obligations  under  this  Agreement  and with  regard to any and all
payments  to be made  under this  Agreement;  provided,  that the  participation
agreement  between a Lender and its  participants  may provide  that such Lender
will obtain the approval of such participant  prior to such Lender's agreeing to
any amendment or waiver of any  provisions of any Loan Document  which would (A)
extend the maturity of any Note or  scheduled  payment of any  Obligations,  (B)
reduce  the  interest  rates,  unused  fees or letter of  credit  facility  fees
hereunder  or (C)  increase  or  extend  the  termination  date  of  the  Bridge
Commitment of the Lender  granting the  participation,  and (vi) the sale of any
such participations which require Borrower to file a registration statement with
the United States  Securities  and Exchange  Commission or under the  securities
regulations or laws of any state shall not be permitted.

     (g) The Borrower may not assign any rights,  powers,  duties or obligations
under this  Agreement  or the other Loan  Documents  without  the prior  written
consent of all the Lenders.

     34.2.  Notices.  Any  notice  shall be  conclusively  deemed  to have  been
received by any party hereto and be effective (i) on the day on which  delivered
(including hand delivery by commercial  courier  service) to such party (against
receipt  therefor),  (ii) on the date of receipt at such address,  telefacsimile
number or telex number as may from time to time be specified by


<PAGE>



such party in written notice to the other parties hereto or otherwise received),
in the case of notice by telegram,  telefacsimile or telex,  respectively (where
the  receipt  of such  message is  verified  by  return),  or (iii) on the fifth
Business  Day after the day on which  mailed,  if sent  prepaid by  certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested,  in each case delivered,  transmitted
or mailed,  as the case may be, to the address,  telex  number or  telefacsimile
number, as appropriate,  set forth below or such other address or number as such
party shall specify by notice hereunder:

                  (a)      if to the Borrower:

                           Michael D. Martin, Executive Vice President, Chief
                              Financial Officer and Treasurer

                           HEALTHSOUTH Corporation
                           One HealthSouth Parkway
                           Birmingham, Alabama  35243

                           with a copy to:

                           William W. Horton
                           HEALTHSOUTH Corporation
                           One HealthSouth Parkway
                           Birmingham, Alabama  35243

                  (b)      if to the Agent at:

                           One Independence Center
                           15th Floor
                           101 North Tryon Street
                           Charlotte, North Carolina  28255
                           Attention:  Agency Services

                  (c) if to NationsBank in its capacity as issuer of the Letters
of Credit:

                           NationsBank, N.A.
                           One Independence Center, 15th Floor
                           101 North Tryon Street
                           Charlotte, North Carolina  28255
                           Attention:  Letter of Credit Department

                  (d)      if to the Lenders:

                           At the  addresses  set forth on the  signature  pages
                           hereof and on the signature  page of each  Assignment
                           and Acceptance.

     34.3. No Waiver.  No failure or delay on the part of the Agent,  any Lender
or the Borrower in the exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall
operate as a waiver of any such  right,  power or  privilege  nor shall any such
failure or delay preclude any other or


<PAGE>



further exercise thereof. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative
and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

     34.4. Setoff. The Borrower agrees that the Agent and each Lender shall have
a lien for all the  Obligations  of the  Borrower  upon all  deposits or deposit
accounts,  of any kind,  or any  interest in any  deposits  or deposit  accounts
thereof,  now or hereafter  pledged,  mortgaged,  transferred or assigned to the
Agent or such Lender or otherwise in the  possession  or control of the Agent or
such  Lender  (other  than for  safekeeping)  for any purpose for the account or
benefit of the Borrower and including  any balance of any deposit  account or of
any credit of the Borrower  with the Agent or such Lender,  whether now existing
or hereafter  established,  hereby  authorizing the Agent and each Lender at any
time or times from and after the  occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default
with or without  prior notice to set off against and apply such  balances or any
part thereof to such of the Obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders then past
due and in such amounts as they may elect,  and whether or not the collateral or
the responsibility of other Persons  primarily,  secondarily or otherwise liable
may be deemed adequate. For the purposes of this paragraph,  all remittances and
property  shall be deemed to be in the possession of the Agent or such Lender as
soon as the  same may be put in  transit  to it by mail or  carrier  or by other
bailee.

     34.5. Survival. All covenants,  agreements,  representations and warranties
made  herein  shall  survive  the  making  by the  Lenders  of the Loans and the
issuance of the Letters of Credit and the  execution and delivery to the Lenders
of this  Agreement and the Notes and shall  continue in full force and effect so
long as any of Obligations  remain  outstanding or any Lender has any commitment
hereunder or the Borrower has continuing  obligations hereunder unless otherwise
provided  herein.  Whenever  in this  Agreement  any of the  parties  hereto  is
referred  to,  such  reference  shall be deemed to include  the  successors  and
permitted assigns of such party and all covenants,  provisions and agreements by
or on behalf of the Borrower  which are  contained in the Loan  Documents  shall
inure to the benefit of the successors  and permitted  assigns of the Lenders or
any of them.

     34.6.  Expenses.  The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Agent for
all its reasonable and customary  out-of-pocket  costs and expenses  incurred in
connection  with  the  preparation,   negotiation  and  execution  of,  and  any
amendment,  supplement or  modification  to, this  Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby,  including,  without limitation,  the reasonable and customary fees and
disbursements  of counsel to the Agent,  (b) to pay or reimburse  the Agent and,
after an Event of  Default,  each  Lender  for all  their  reasonable  costs and
expenses  incurred in connection  with the  enforcement or  preservation  of any
rights under this Agreement,  including without limitation,  the reasonable fees
and disbursements of their counsel,  (c) to pay, indemnify and hold harmless the
Agent and each Lender from any and all recording and filing fees and any and all
liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any failure of Borrower to pay or
delay of Borrower in paying,  documentary,  stamp, excise, withholding and other
similar  taxes,  if any,  which may be  payable or  determined  to be payable in
connection with the execution and delivery of, or consummation of any amendment,
supplement or modification  of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of,
this Agreement, and (d) from and after the occurrence of any Event of Default to
pay, and indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and each Lender from and against,
any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses  or  disbursements  of any  kind or  nature
whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery,


<PAGE>



enforcement,  performance and administration of this Agreement or in any respect
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (all the foregoing,
collectively,  the  "indemnified  liabilities");  provided,  however,  that  the
Borrower  shall  have  no  obligation  hereunder  with  respect  to  indemnified
liabilities  arising from (i) the willful  misconduct or negligence of the party
seeking  indemnification,  (ii) legal proceedings commenced against the Agent or
any Lender by any security  holder or creditor  thereof arising out of and based
upon rights afforded any such security holder or creditor solely in its capacity
as such,  (iii) any taxes  imposed  upon the Agent or any Lender  other than the
documentary,  stamp,  excise,  withholding and similar taxes described in clause
(c) above or any tax resulting  from any change  described in Section 4.1, which
tax would be payable to Lenders by  Borrower  pursuant to Article IV, (iv) taxes
imposed as a result of a transfer or  assignment of any Note,  participation  or
assignment of a portion of its rights, (v) any taxes imposed upon any transferee
of any  Note,  or (vi) by reason of the  failure  of the Agent or any  Lender to
perform its or their  obligations  under this Agreement.  The agreements in this
subsection shall survive the Bridge Termination Date.

     34.7. Amendments. No amendment,  modification or waiver of any provision of
this  Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and no consent by the Lenders
to any  departure  therefrom  by the  Borrower  shall be  effective  unless such
amendment,  modification  or waiver  shall be in writing and signed by the Agent
and the  Borrower,  but only upon having  received  the  written  consent of the
Required  Lenders,  and the same shall then be effective only for the period and
on the conditions and for the specific  instances and purposes specified in such
writing; provided, however, that no such amendment, modification or waiver

          (i) which  changes,  extends or waives any  provision  of Section 2.6,
     Section 2.9, Section 3.3(a),  Section 5.1(a),  Section 7.11, Section 10.10,
     this  Section 11.7 or Section  11.15,  the amount of or the due date of any
     scheduled  installment  or other payment of or reduces the rate of interest
     or other  amounts  payable  on or with  respect  to any  Obligation,  which
     changes the definition of Required Lenders,  which increases or extends the
     Bridge  Commitment  of any Lender or which  increases or extends the Stated
     Termination Date (including any extension of the expiry date of a Letter of
     Credit beyond the Stated Termination Date) or which waives any condition to
     the making of any Loan or the  issuance  of any  Letter of Credit  shall be
     effective  unless in writing and signed by each of the  Lenders;  provided,
     however,  the  Required  Lenders  may in their  sole  discretion  waive any
     Default or Event of Default  (other than any Event of Default under Section
     9.1(a) as to which only the  Lender  which is the payee of a Note may waive
     the failure to make a payment of principal or interest due on such Note and
     Section 9.1(f) as to which all Lenders must waive such Event of Default);

          (ii) which affects the rights,  privileges,  immunities or indemnities
     of the Agent, shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the Agent.

Notwithstanding  any provision of the other Loan  Documents to the contrary,  as
between the Agent and the  Lenders,  execution  by the Agent shall not be deemed
conclusive  evidence  that the Agent has  obtained  the  written  consent of the
Required  Lenders;  however,  the  Borrower  shall  be  entitled  to rely on the
signature  of the Agent as evidence  of  consent.  No notice to or demand on the
Borrower in any case shall  entitle the Borrower to any other or further  notice
or demand in similar or other  circumstances,  except as  provided  by law or as
otherwise  expressly provided herein. No delay or omission on any Lender's,  the
Agent's or the Borrower's part in exercising


<PAGE>



any  right,  remedy or  option  shall  operate  as a waiver of such or any other
right, remedy or option or of any Default or Event of Default.

     34.8.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any  number  of
counterparts,  each of which when so executed and  delivered  shall be deemed an
original,  and it shall not be necessary  in making  proof of this  Agreement to
produce or account for more than one such fully- executed counterpart.

     34.9. Waivers by Borrower.  IN ANY LITIGATION IN ANY COURT WITH RESPECT TO,
IN CONNECTION  WITH,  OR ARISING OUT OF THIS  AGREEMENT,  THE LOANS,  ANY OF THE
NOTES, ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS,  THE  OBLIGATIONS,  OR ANY INSTRUMENT OR
DOCUMENT  DELIVERED  PURSUANT TO THIS  AGREEMENT,  OR THE VALIDITY,  PROTECTION,
INTERPRETATION, COLLECTION OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF, OR ANY OTHER CLAIM OR DISPUTE
HOWSOEVER  ARISING  BETWEEN  THE  BORROWER  AND THE  LENDERS OR THE  AGENT,  THE
BORROWER AND EACH LENDER AND THE AGENT HEREBY WAIVE, TO THE EXTENT  PERMITTED BY
LAW, TRIAL BY JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH LITIGATION.

     The  Borrower,  the Agent and the Lenders  believe  that,  inasmuch as this
Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby have been entered into and
consummated  outside  the  State  of  Alabama,   such  transactions   constitute
transactions  in interstate  commerce,  so that neither the Agent nor any of the
Lenders is required, solely by entering into this Agreement and consummating the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  to  qualify  to do  business  as a  foreign
corporation within the State of Alabama. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however,
the Borrower hereby  irrevocably waives all rights that it may have to raise, in
any action  brought by any of the  Lenders or the Agent to enforce the rights of
the Lenders and the Agent hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents, or
the  obligations of the Borrower  hereunder or thereunder,  any defense which is
based  upon the  failure  of any of the  Lenders  or the Agent to  qualify to do
business as a foreign  corporation in the State of Alabama,  including,  but not
limited to, any defenses based upon ss. 232 of the Alabama Constitution of 1901,
ss.  10-2B-15.01  of the Code of  Alabama  (1975) or ss.  40-14-4 of the Code of
Alabama (1975), or any successor provision to any thereof.  The foregoing waiver
is made knowingly and voluntarily and is a material inducement for the Agent and
the Lenders to enter into the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any
of the other Loan Documents.

     34.10. Termination.  The termination of this Agreement shall not affect any
rights  of the  Borrower,  the  Lenders  or the Agent or any  obligation  of the
Borrower,  the Lenders or the Agent, arising prior to the effective date of such
termination,  and the  provisions  hereof shall  continue to be fully  operative
until all  transactions  entered into or rights created or obligations  incurred
prior to such  termination  have been fully disposed of, concluded or liquidated
and the  Obligations  arising  prior  to or after  such  termination  have  been
irrevocably paid in full. The rights granted to the Agent for the benefit of the
Lenders  hereunder  and under the other Loan  Documents  shall  continue in full
force and effect,  notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement,  until all
of the Obligations  have been paid in full after the  termination  hereof or the
Borrower  has  furnished  the  Lenders  and the  Agent  with an  indemnification
satisfactory   to  the  Agent  and  each  Lender  with  respect   thereto.   All
representations,  warranties, covenants, waivers and agreements contained herein
shall survive termination hereof until payment in full of the Obligations unless
otherwise provided herein.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if after receipt of
any payment of all or any part of the Obligations,  any Lender is for any reason
compelled  to  surrender  such  payment to any Person  because  such  payment is
determined to be void or voidable as a preference,


<PAGE>



impermissible  setoff, a diversion of trust funds or for any other reason,  this
Agreement  shall continue in full force and the Borrower shall be liable to, and
shall  indemnify  and hold such Lender  harmless for, the amount of such payment
surrendered  until such Lender shall have been finally and  irrevocably  paid in
full.  The provisions of the foregoing  sentence  shall be and remain  effective
notwithstanding  any contrary action which may have been taken by the Lenders in
reliance  upon such  payment,  and any such  contrary  action so taken  shall be
without  prejudice to the  Lenders'  rights  under this  Agreement  and shall be
deemed to have  been  conditioned  upon such  payment  having  become  final and
irrevocable.

     34.11.  Governing Law. ALL DOCUMENTS  EXECUTED PURSUANT TO THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREIN, INCLUDING,  WITHOUT LIMITATION,  THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OF
THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE CONTRACTS MADE UNDER, AND FOR ALL
PURPOSES  SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE  WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS AND JUDICIAL
DECISIONS OF THE STATE OF NORTH  CAROLINA.  THE BORROWER  HEREBY  SUBMITS TO THE
JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS OF NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE
PURPOSES OF  RESOLVING  DISPUTES  HEREUNDER  OR ARISING  OUT OF THE  TRANSACTION
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR FOR THE PURPOSES OF COLLECTION.

     34.12.  Indemnification.  In consideration of the execution and delivery of
this  Agreement  by the Agent and each  Lender and the  extension  of the Bridge
Commitments,  and  so  long  as the  Agent  and  Lenders  have  fulfilled  their
obligations  hereunder,  the Borrower hereby  indemnifies,  exonerates and holds
free and  harmless  the  Agent  and  each  Lender  and each of their  respective
officers,  directors,  employees,  affiliates  and  agents  (collectively,   the
"Indemnified  Parties") from and against any and all actions,  causes of action,
claims, suits, losses, costs,  liabilities and damages, and expenses incurred in
connection  therewith  (irrespective of whether any such Indemnified  Party is a
party to the action for which  indemnification  hereunder is sought),  including
reasonable  attorneys' fees and  disbursements  (collectively,  the "Indemnified
Liabilities"),  incurred by the  Indemnified  Parties or any of them as a result
of, or arising out of, or relating to, any of the following:

          (a) any  transaction  financed  or to be financed in whole or in part,
     directly or  indirectly,  with the proceeds of any Loan or supported by any
     Letter of Credit;

          (b) the entering into and  performance of this Agreement and any other
     Loan Document by any of the Indemnified Parties;

          (c) provided  Lenders have no ownership  interest in real  property of
     Borrower,  any  investigation,  litigation  or  proceeding  related  to any
     environmental  cleanup,  audit,  compliance or other matter relating to the
     protection of the  environment or the release by the Borrower or any of its
     Subsidiaries or Controlled Partnerships of any hazardous waste material; or

          (d) provided  Lenders have no ownership  interest in real  property of
     Borrower,  the  presence  on or under,  or the  escape,  seepage,  leakage,
     spillage,  discharge,  emission,  discharging  or  releases  from  any real
     property  owned or operated by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Controlled
     Partnership  of  any  hazardous  waste  material   (including  any  losses,
     liabilities,  damages,  injuries,  costs,  expenses  or claims  asserted or
     arising under any environmental laws),  regardless of whether caused by, or
     within the  control  of, the  Borrower  or such  Subsidiary  or  Controlled
     Partnerships,


<PAGE>




except  for any  such  Indemnified  Liabilities  arising  for the  account  of a
particular  Indemnified  Party by reason  of the  relevant  Indemnified  Party's
negligence  or willful  misconduct,  and if and to the extent that the foregoing
undertaking may be unenforceable  for any reason,  the Borrower hereby agrees to
make the maximum  contribution  to the payment and  satisfaction  of each of the
Indemnified   Liabilities   which  is  permissible  under  applicable  law.  The
agreements in this Section 11.12 shall survive the Bridge Termination Date.

     34.13.  Agreement  Controls.  In the event that any term of any of the Loan
Documents  other than this Agreement  conflicts with any term of this Agreement,
the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall control.

     34.14.  Integration.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent
the final  agreement  between  the parties as to the  subject  matter  hereof or
thereof and may not be  contradicted by evidence of prior,  contemporaneous,  or
subsequent oral agreements of the parties.  There are no oral agreements between
the parties.

     34.15.  Successors and Assigns.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and assigns; provided, however, that the Borrower may not assign or transfer its
rights or obligations  hereunder  without the prior written consent of the Agent
and all Lenders. The Agent and the Lenders may assign or transfer their interest
hereunder but only as provided herein.

     34.16.  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents  shall be determined to be illegal or invalid as to one or more of the
parties  hereto,  then such provision shall remain in effect with respect to all
parties,  if any, as to whom such provision is neither illegal nor invalid,  and
in any event all other  provisions  hereof shall remain effective and binding on
the parties hereto.

     34.17.  Usury Savings Clause.  Notwithstanding  any other provision herein,
the  aggregate  interest  rate  charged  under any of the Notes,  including  all
charges or fees in connection  therewith  deemed in the nature of interest under
North  Carolina law,  shall not exceed the Highest  Lawful Rate (as such term is
defined  below).  If the rate of  interest  (determined  without  regard  to the
preceding  sentence) under this Agreement at any time exceeds the Highest Lawful
Rate (as defined  below),  the  outstanding  amount of the Loans made  hereunder
shall  bear  interest  at the  Highest  Lawful  Rate  until the total  amount of
interest due hereunder  equals the amount of interest  which would have been due
hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all
times been in effect.  In addition,  if when the Loans made hereunder are repaid
in full the total  interest  due  hereunder  (taking  into  account the increase
provided for above) is less than the total  amount of interest  which would have
been due  hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this  Agreement
had at all times  been in  effect,  then to the  extent  permitted  by law,  the
Borrower  shall pay to the Agent an amount equal to the  difference  between the
amount of the  interest  paid and the amount of  interest  which would have been
paid if the Highest Lawful Rate had at all times been in effect. Notwithstanding
the  foregoing,  it is the  intention of the Lenders and the Borrower to conform
strictly to any applicable usury laws. Accordingly, if any Lender contracts for,
charges, or receives any consideration  which constitutes  interest in excess of
the Highest  Lawful Rate,  then any such excess shall be canceled  automatically
and,  if  previously  paid,  shall at such  Lender's  option be  applied  to the
outstanding  amount of the Loans made  hereunder or be refunded to the Borrower.
As used in this paragraph, the term "Highest


<PAGE>



Lawful Rate" means, as to any Lender,  the maximum lawful interest rate, if any,
that at any  time  or from  time to time  may be  contracted  for,  charged,  or
received under the laws  applicable to such Lender which are presently in effect
or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter
be in effect and which allow a higher  maximum  nonusurious  interest  rate than
applicable laws now allow.


<PAGE>



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



                                            HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

WITNESS:

  /s/  WILLIAM W. HORTON                    By:     /s/  MICHAEL D. MARTIN
-------------------------                       --------------------------------
  /s/  STACEY S. FLEENOR                    Name:   /s/  Michael D. Martin
------------------------                        --------------------------------
                                                     Executive Vice President
                                            Title:   and Chief Financial Officer


<PAGE>



                                           NATIONSBANK N.A.,
                                           as Agent for the Lenders

                                           By:      /s/  SCOTT S. WARD
                                             --------------------------------
                                           Name:    Scott S. Ward
                                               ------------------------------
                                           Title:   Senior Vice President
                                                 --------------------------- 



COMMITMENT:                               NATIONSBANK, N.A.
$350,000,000

                                           By:      /s/  SCOTT S. WARD
                                             --------------------------------
                                           Name:    Scott S. Ward
                                               ------------------------------
                                           Title:   Senior Vice President
                                                 ----------------------------


                                            Lending Office:
                                              100 South Tryon Street
                                              Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

                                            Wire Transfer Instructions:
                                              NationsBank, N.A.
                                              Charlotte, North Carolina
                                              ABA #053000196
                                              Reference: HEALTHSOUTH Corporation
                                              Attention: Agency Services


<PAGE>



COMMITMENT:                                SCOTIABANC INC.
$100,000,000
                                          
                                           By:      /s/  DANA MALONEY
                                              --------------------------
                                           Name:    Dana Maloney
                                              --------------------------
                                           Title:   Relationship Manager

                                             Lending Office:
                                               600 Peachtree Street, N.E.
                                               Suite 2700
                                               Atlanta, Georgia 30308

                                             Wire Transfer Instructions:
                                               The Bank of Nova Scotia
                                               New York Agency, for further
                                                    credit to BNS-Atlanta Agency
                                               New York, New York
                                               ABA #026002532
                                               Account #0606634
                                               Attention: Houston-Atlanta Team
                                               Reference: HEALTHSOUTH


<PAGE>



COMMITMENT:                                FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
$100,000,000
                                          
                                           By:      /s/  THOMAS L. JAMES
                                             ------------------------------
                                           Name:    Thomas L. James
                                               ----------------------------
                                           Title:   Senior Vice President

                                             Lending Office:
                                               One First Union Plaza
                                               Charlotte, North Carolina 28288

                                             Wire Transfer Instructions:
                                               First Union National Bank
                                               Charlotte, North Carolina
                                               ABA #053000219
                                               Account #465906 0001802
                                               Reference: HEALTHSOUTH
                                               Attention: Sue Patterson


<PAGE>



COMMITMENT:                                 WACHOVIA BANK OF GEORGIA, N.A.
$100,000,000

                                            By:      /s/  JOHN C. CANTY
                                              ----------------------------
                                            Name:    John C. Canty
                                               ---------------------------
                                            Title:   Banking Officer

                                              Lending Office:
                                                191 Peachtree Street, N.E.
                                                Atlanta, Georgia  30303

                                              Wire Transfer Instructions:
                                                Wachovia Bank of Georgia
                                                Atlanta, Georgia
                                                ABA #061000010
                                                Account #18-800-621
                                                Attention: Becky Creel


<PAGE>



COMMITMENT:                  BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST COMPANY
$100,000,000
                            
                             By:      /s/  DOUGLAS J. WEIR
                               -------------------------------
                             Name:    Douglas J. Weir
                                 -----------------------------
                             Title:   Vice President

                               Lending Office:
                                 1251 Avenue of the Americas
                                 New York, New York 10029-1104

                               Wire Transfer Instructions:
                                 The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd., NY, NY
                                 Further Credit: Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd.
                                 ABA #0260-0963
                                 Reference: HEALTHSOUTH Corporation
                                 Attention:


<PAGE>



COMMITMENT:                        DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK AND/OR
$100,000,000                                CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCHES

                                            By:      /s/  ANDREAS DIRNAGI
                                               ------------------------------
                                            Name:    Andreas Dirnagi
                                                -----------------------------
                                            Title:   Vice President

                                            By:      /s/  SUSAN L. PEARSON
                                               ------------------------------
                                            Name:    Susan L. Pearson
                                               -------------------------------
                                            Title:   Vice President

                                              Lending Office:
                                                31 W. 52nd Street
                                                New York, New York  10019

                                              Wire Transfer Instructions:
                                                Deutsche Bank AG
                                                New York, New York  10019
                                                ABA #026003780
                                                Reference: HEALTHSOUTH
                                                Account #0479733


<PAGE>



COMMITMENT:                THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN, LIMITED,
$100,000,000                    ATLANTA AGENCY

                                By:      /s/  KAZUO JIDA
                                  ----------------------------
                                Name:    Kazuo Jida
                                    --------------------------
                                Title:   General Manager

                                  Lending Office:
                                    Atlanta Agency
                                    One Ninety One Peachtree Tower, Suite 3600
                                    191 Peachtree Street, N.E.
                                    Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1757
                                    Attention: James Masters

                                  Wire Transfer Instructions:
                                    Industrial    Bank   of
                                    Japan,   Limited,   New
                                    York     Branch     ABA
                                    #026008345    For   the
                                    account of:

                                         IBJ Atlanta Agency

                                         A/C 2601-21014

                                         Reference: HEALTHSOUTH Corporation


<PAGE>



COMMITMENT:                                 PNC BANK, KENTUCKY, INC.
$100,000,000                               

                                            By:      /s/  BENJAMIN A. WILLINGHAM
                                               ---------------------------------
                                            Name:    Benjamin A. Willingham
                                               ---------------------------------
                                            Title:   Vice President

                                              Lending Office:
                                                500 West Jefferson Street
                                                Louisville, Kentucky 40202

                                              Wire Transfer Instructions:
                                                PNC Bank, Kentucky, Inc.
                                                Louisville, Kentucky
                                                ABA #083-000-108
                                                Account #3000990597
                                                Reference: HEALTHSOUTH
                                                Attention: Margie Pate


<PAGE>



COMMITMENT:                               MELLON BANK, N.A.
$100,000,000                           

                                          By:      /s/  MARSHA WICKER
                                            ---------------------------------
                                          Name:    Marsha Wicker
                                             --------------------------------
                                          Title:   Vice President

                                            Lending Office:
                                              2 Mellon Bank Center
                                              Room 152-0270
                                              Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15259

                                            Wire Transfer Instructions:
                                              Mellon Bank, N.A.
                                              Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15259
                                              ABA #0430-0026-1
                                              Account #990873800
                                              Attention: Christine Bissell
                                              Reference: HEALTHSOUTH Corp.


<PAGE>



COMMITMENT:                              BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
$100,000,000

                                         By:      /s/  MARY JO JOLLY
                                           --------------------------------
                                         Name:    Mary Jo Jolly
                                             ------------------------------
                                         Title:   Assistant Vice President

                                           Lending Office:
                                             1 Bankers Trust Plaza
                                             130 Liberty Street
                                             New York, New York  10006

                                           Wire Transfer Instructions:
                                             Bankers Trust Company
                                             New York, New York  10006
                                             ABA #021-001-033
                                             Reference: HEALTHSOUTH
                                             Attention: Commercial Loan Division