FindLaw - Credit Agreement - HealthSouth Corp. and NationsBank NA

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                                      THIRD
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT



                                  by and among



                            HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION,
                                  as Borrower,


                       NATIONSBANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                    as Agent

                                       and

                   THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME




                                 April 18, 1996







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


<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                               Page

                                    ARTICLE I

                              Definitions and Terms

<S>  <C>                                                                                                      <C>
1.1.  Definitions...............................................................................................  2
1.2.  Rules of Interpretation................................................................................... 30
1.3.  Classes and Types of Loans................................................................................ 31

                                   ARTICLE II

                                    The Loans

2.1.  Syndicated Loans.......................................................................................... 32
2.2.  Competitive Bid Loans..................................................................................... 35
2.3.  Payment of Interest....................................................................................... 40
2.4.  Payment of Principal...................................................................................... 40
2.5.  Non-Conforming Payments................................................................................... 41
2.6.  Notes..................................................................................................... 41
2.7.  Pro Rata Payments......................................................................................... 42
2.8.  Reductions................................................................................................ 42
2.9.  Conversions and Elections of Subsequent Interest
      Periods................................................................................................... 43
2.10. Increase and Decrease in Amounts.......................................................................... 44
2.11. Unused Fees............................................................................................... 44
2.12. Deficiency Advances....................................................................................... 44
2.13. Use of Proceeds........................................................................................... 45
2.14. Extension of Stated Termination Date...................................................................... 45

                                   ARTICLE III

                                Letters of Credit

3.1.  Letters of Credit......................................................................................... 48
3.2.  Reimbursement............................................................................................. 48
3.3.  Letter of Credit Facility Fees............................................................................ 52
3.4.  Administrative Fees....................................................................................... 52

                                   ARTICLE IV

               Termination of Eurodollar Rate and Yield Protection

4.1.  Suspension of Loans....................................................................................... 53
4.2.  Compensation.............................................................................................. 54
4.3.  Taxes..................................................................................................... 55

                                    ARTICLE V

     Conditions to Making Loans and Issuing Letters of Credit

5.1.  Conditions of Initial Advance............................................................................. 57
5.2.  Conditions of Loans and Letters of Credit................................................................. 59


<PAGE>


<CAPTION>


                                   ARTICLE VI

                         Representations and Warranties

<S>   <C>                                                                                                      <C>
6.1.  Organization and Authority................................................................................ 61
6.2.  Loan Documents............................................................................................ 61
6.3.  Solvency.................................................................................................. 62
6.4.  Subsidiaries.............................................................................................. 62
6.5.  Ownership Interests....................................................................................... 62
6.6.  Financial Condition....................................................................................... 62
6.7.  Title to Properties....................................................................................... 63
6.8.  Taxes..................................................................................................... 63
6.9.  Other Agreements.......................................................................................... 63
6.10. Litigation................................................................................................ 64
6.11. Margin Stock.............................................................................................. 64
6.12. Investment Company........................................................................................ 65
6.13. Patents, Etc.............................................................................................. 65
6.14. No Untrue Statement....................................................................................... 65
6.15. No Consents, Etc.......................................................................................... 65
6.16. ERISA Requirement......................................................................................... 66
6.17. No Default................................................................................................ 66
6.18. Hazardous Materials....................................................................................... 66
6.19. Employment Matters........................................................................................ 66
6.20. RICO...................................................................................................... 67
6.21. Reimbursement from Third Party Payors..................................................................... 67

                                   ARTICLE VII

                              Affirmative Covenants

7.1.  Financial Statements, Reports, Etc........................................................................ 68
7.2.  Maintain Properties....................................................................................... 70
7.3.  Existence, Qualification, Etc............................................................................. 70
7.4.  Regulations and Taxes..................................................................................... 70
7.5.  Insurance................................................................................................. 70
7.6.  True Books................................................................................................ 70
7.7.  Right of Inspection....................................................................................... 71
7.8.  Observe all Laws.......................................................................................... 71
7.9.  Governmental Licenses..................................................................................... 71
7.10. Covenants Extending to Other Persons...................................................................... 71
7.11. Officer's Knowledge of Default............................................................................ 71
7.12. Suits or Other Proceedings................................................................................ 71
7.13. Notice of Discharge of Hazardous Material or
      Environmental Complaint................................................................................... 72
7.14. Environmental Compliance.................................................................................. 72
7.15. Continuation of Current Business.......................................................................... 73
7.16. Management Contracts...................................................................................... 73

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               Negative Covenants
8.1.  Financial Covenants....................................................................................... 74
8.2.  Investments and Loans..................................................................................... 74

                                       ii

<PAGE>

<CAPTION>


<S>  <C>                                                                                                        <C>
8.3.  Indebtedness.............................................................................................. 74
8.4.  Disposition of Assets..................................................................................... 75
8.5.  Consolidation or Merger................................................................................... 75
8.6.  Liens..................................................................................................... 75
8.7.  Dividends and Distributions............................................................................... 75
8.8.  Acquisitions.............................................................................................. 75
8.9.  Restricted Payments....................................................................................... 75
8.10. Compliance with ERISA..................................................................................... 76
8.11. Fiscal Year............................................................................................... 76
8.12. Dissolution, etc.......................................................................................... 76

                                   ARTICLE IX

                       Events of Default and Acceleration

9.1.  Events of Default......................................................................................... 78
9.2.  Agent to Act.............................................................................................. 81
9.3.  Cumulative Rights......................................................................................... 81
9.4.  No Waiver................................................................................................. 81
9.5.  Allocation of Proceeds.................................................................................... 81

                                    ARTICLE X

                                    The Agent

10.1.  Appointment.............................................................................................. 83
10.2.  Attorneys-in-fact........................................................................................ 83
10.3.  Limitation on Liability.................................................................................. 83
10.4.  Reliance................................................................................................. 83
10.5.  Notice of Default........................................................................................ 84
10.6.  No Representations....................................................................................... 84
10.7.  Indemnification.......................................................................................... 85
10.8.  Lender................................................................................................... 85
10.9.  Resignation.............................................................................................. 85
10.10. Sharing of Payments, etc................................................................................. 86
10.11. Fees..................................................................................................... 87
10.12. Independent Agreements................................................................................... 87

                                   ARTICLE XI

                                  Miscellaneous

11.1.  Assignments and Participations........................................................................... 88
11.2.  Notices.................................................................................................. 90
11.3.  No Waiver................................................................................................ 91
11.4.  Setoff................................................................................................... 92
11.5.  Survival................................................................................................. 92
11.6.  Expenses................................................................................................. 92
11.7.  Amendments............................................................................................... 93
11.8.  Counterparts............................................................................................. 94
11.9.  Waivers by Borrower...................................................................................... 94
11.10. Termination.............................................................................................. 95
11.11. Governing Law............................................................................................ 96

                                       iii

<PAGE>

<CAPTION>


<S>    <C>                                                                                                     <C>
11.12. Indemnification.......................................................................................... 96
11.13. Agreement Controls....................................................................................... 97
11.14. Integration.............................................................................................. 97
11.15. Successors and Assigns................................................................................... 97
11.16. Severability............................................................................................. 97
11.17. Usury Savings Clause..................................................................................... 97

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 Competitive Bid Note........................................................................E-1
EXHIBIT F   Form of Interest Rate Selection Notice..............................................................F-1
EXHIBIT G   Form of Line of Credit Note.........................................................................G-1
EXHIBIT H   Investments.........................................................................................H-1
EXHIBIT I   Form of Revolving Note..............................................................................I-1
EXHIBIT J   Form of Competitive Bid Quote Request...............................................................J-1
EXHIBIT K   Form of Competitive Bid Quote.......................................................................K-1
EXHIBIT L   Form of Opinion of Borrower's Counsel...............................................................L-1
EXHIBIT M   Compliance Certificate..............................................................................M-1
EXHIBIT N   Executive Officers..................................................................................N-1

Schedule 6.4   Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.19  Employment Matters
Schedule 8.3   Existing Subsidiary Indebtedness

</TABLE>


                                                    iv

<PAGE>
                   THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

         THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT  AGREEMENT dated as of April 18,
1996 (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:
                                    --------

         Pursuant to a Credit Agreement dated as of November 20, 1992 as amended
by  Amendments  No. 1 and No. 2 (the  "Original  Agreement"),  the lenders party
thereto  (the  "Original  Lenders")  agreed to make loans and cause to be issued
letters  of  credit  all in an  aggregate  outstanding  amount  of not to exceed
$390,000,000.  Pursuant to the terms of the Original Agreement all Participating
Subsidiaries  and  Participating  Partnerships  (each as defined in the Original
Agreement)  guaranteed  payment of all  Credit  Obligations  (as  defined in the
Original Agreement).  In addition, the Borrower and certain of the Participating
Subsidiaries  executed  and  delivered  to the  Agent,  for the  benefit  of the
Lenders,  Pledge Agreements conveying the property described therein as security
for the Credit  Obligations.  At the  request of the  Borrower,  by Amended  and
Restated Credit  Agreement  dated June 7, 1994 (the "First Restated  Agreement")
the  Borrower,  the Agent and  certain of the  Original  Lenders  together  with
additional  lenders (the "First  Restatement  Lenders") amended and restated the
Original  Agreement  thereby  increasing  the amount of the credit  facility  to
$550,000,000,   changing  certain  provisions  of  the  Original  Agreement  and
resulting in the addition of certain Participating Subsidiaries.  At the request
of the Borrower, by Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated April 11,
1995, as amended by Amendment  No. 1 and  Amendment No. 2 (the "Second  Restated
Agreement"),  the Borrower, the Agent and the First Restatement Lenders together
with additional lenders (the "Second Restated Lenders") amended and restated the
First Restated Agreement thereby increasing the amount of the credit facility to
$1,000,000,000,  changing certain provisions of the First Restated Agreement and
resulting   in  the   addition  of  certain   Participating   Subsidiaries   and
Participating Partnerships.  The Borrower has requested that the Second Restated
Agreement  be further  amended and restated in its entirety in order to increase
the  amount  of  the  credit  facility  and to  further  change  certain  of the
provisions contained therein and to change certain of the lenders  participating
therein.  Accordingly,  the  Borrower,  the Lenders and the Agent agree that the
Second  Restated  Agreement  is hereby  amended and  restated in its entirety as
follows, effective as of the Closing Date:





<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE I

                              Definitions and Terms
                              ---------------------

         1.1.     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:

                  "Absolute  Rate" shall have the meaning  assigned to such term
         in Section 2.2(c)(ii)(D).

                  "Absolute  Rate  Auction"   shall  mean  a   solicitation   of
         Competitive Bid Quotes setting forth Absolute Rates pursuant
         to Section 2.2.

                  "Absolute Rate Loans" shall mean the Competitive Bid Loans the
         interest  rates on which are  determined on the basis of Absolute Rates
         set at Absolute Rate Auctions.

                  "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  Revolving   Credit
         Facility  or  Line  of  Credit  Facility  consisting  of the  aggregate
         principal amount of a Syndicated Loan or a Competitive Bid 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

                                        2

<PAGE>



         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 Line of Credit  Commitment and Total
         Revolving Credit  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:

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

         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


                                        3

<PAGE>
         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 45 basis points
         unless there is an  improvement in the Rating from the Rating in effect
         at the Closing Date.

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


                                             Rating           Applicable Unused Fee
                                             ------           ---------------------
              Ratio of Consolidated                         Line of        Revolving
         EBITDA to Consolidated Interest  S&P or Moody's Credit Facility Credit Facility
         -------------------------------  -------------- --------------- ---------------

          <S>                           <C>    <C>       <C>          <C>         
         a) Greater than 7.50 to 1.00     A-    A3           8 b.p.        9 b.p.

         b) Equal to or Less than 7.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            6.50 to 1.00                  BBB+  Baa1         9            10

         c) Equal to or Less than 6.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            5.50 to 1.00                  BBB   Baa2        10            12.5

         d) Equal to or Less than 5.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            4.50 to 1.00                  BBB-  Baa3        12.5          15

         e) Equal to or Less than 4.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            3.50 to 1.00                  BB+   Ba1         15            17.5

         f) Equal to or Less than 3.50
            to 1.00 but Greater than
            3.00 to 1.00                  BB    Ba2         17.5          20

         g) Equal to or Less than 3.00
            to 1.00 but Greater than      BB-   Ba3
            2.50 to 1.00                   or Lower         22.5          25

</TABLE>


                                        4

<PAGE>
         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 15 basis  points on the  Revolving  Credit  Facility  and 12.5 basis
         points on the Line of Credit Facility unless there is an improvement in
         the Rating from the Rating in effect at the Closing Date.

                  "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.

                  "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.


                                        5

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

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

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

                  "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 Revolving Credit
         Facility or Line of Credit Facility, in the form of Exhibit D.

                  "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

                                        6

<PAGE>



                  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 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.

                  "Commitment"  shall mean, as to each Lender, the obligation of
         such  Lender to make  Loans  pursuant  to Section  2.1 in an  aggregate
         amount at any one time  outstanding  up to but not exceeding the amount
         set opposite such Lender's name on the signature pages hereof under the
         caption "Commitment" (as the same may be limited or reduced at any time
         or from  time to time  pursuant  to  Section  2.8);  provided  that the
         Commitment  of each Lender  shall be  increased or decreased to reflect
         any  assignments  to or by such  Lender  effected  in  accordance  with
         Section 11.1.

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

                  "Competitive Bid Borrowing" shall have the meaning assigned to
         such term in Section 2.2(b).

                  "Competitive  Bid Loans" shall mean the Loans  provided for by
         Section 2.2.


                                        7

<PAGE>
                  "Competitive  Bid  Notes"  shall  mean  the  promissory  notes
         provided for by Section 2.6(c)  substantially  in the form of Exhibit E
         and  all  promissory   notes  delivered  in  substitution  or  exchange
         therefor,  in each case as the same shall be modified and  supplemented
         and in effect from time to time.

                  "Competitive Bid Quote" shall mean an offer in accordance with
         Section  2.2(c)  by a Lender  to make a  Competitive  Bid Loan with one
         single specified interest rate.

                  "Competitive   Bid  Quote  Request"  shall  have  the  meaning
         assigned to such term in Section 2.2(b).

                  "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.

                  "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.


                                        8

<PAGE>
                  "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

                                        9

<PAGE>
         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  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

                                       10

<PAGE>
         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 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.



                                       11

<PAGE>
                  "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  Revolving  Credit
         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 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

                                       12

<PAGE>
         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  Auction" shall mean a solicitation of Competitive
         Bid Quotes  setting  forth  Eurodollar  Margins  based on the Interbank
         Offered Rate pursuant to Section 2.2.

                  "Eurodollar  Margin"  shall have the meaning  assigned to such
         term in Section 2.2(c)(ii)(C).

                  "Eurodollar  Market  Loans" shall mean  Competitive  Bid Loans
         interest  rates on  which  are  determined  on the  basis of  Interbank
         Offered Rate pursuant to a Eurodollar Auction.

                  "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.

                  "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 N.

                                       13
<PAGE>
                  "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.

                  "Facility  Termination  Date" means the date on which both the
         Revolving Credit  Termination  Date and the Line of Credit  Termination
         Date shall have occurred, no Letters of Credit shall remain outstanding
         and the Borrower  shall have fully,  finally and  irrevocably  paid and
         satisfied all Obligations.

                  "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 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

                                       14

<PAGE>
         quoted to the Agent on such day on such  transaction  as  determined by
         the Agent.

                  "Fiscal  Year"  means 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.

                  "Fixed  Rate" shall mean the  Absolute  Rate or the  Interbank
         Offered Rate plus the Applicable  Margin or the Eurodollar  Margin,  as
         the case may be.

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

                  "Fixed  Rate  Segment"  shall  mean a Segment to which a Fixed
         Rate is (or is proposed to be) applicable.

                  "Four-Quarter  Period" means a period of four full consecutive
         fiscal quarters of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken together as
         one  accounting  period;  provided,   however,  for  purposes  of  this
         Agreement,  for  periods  prior to  December  31,  1996 the  results of
         operations  shall be determined for the  Four-Quarter  Period ending on
         the  last  day  of (i)  the  first  quarter  of  Fiscal  Year  1996  by
         multiplying  the results of  operations  for the first  quarter by four
         (4),  (ii) the second  quarter of Fiscal Year 1996 by  multiplying  the
         results of operations for the first and second quarters by two (2), and
         (iii) for the third  quarter  of Fiscal  Year 1996 by  multiplying  the
         results  of  operations  of the  sum of the  first,  second  and  third
         quarters by four-thirds (4/3's).

                  "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,

                                       15

<PAGE>
         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 land and  improvements  thereon
         located on the property described therein,  as such Lease Agreement may
         be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

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

                  "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

                                       16

<PAGE>
         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.

                  "Interest Period" shall mean:

                  (i) 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  2.3,
         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;

                  (ii) with  respect  to any  Absolute  Rate  Loan,  the  period
         commencing  on the date such  Absolute  Rate Loan is made and ending on
         any Business Day up to 180 days thereafter,  as the Borrower may select
         as provided in Section 2.2(b); and

                  (iii) with respect to any  Eurodollar  Market Loan, the period
         commencing on the date such  Eurodollar  Market Loan is made and ending
         on the numerically  corresponding  day in the first,  second,  third or
         sixth calendar month thereafter, as

                                       17

<PAGE>
         the Borrower may select as provided in Section 2.2(b), except that each
         Interest  Period that  commences on the last Business Day of a calendar
         month (or 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
         Competitive  Bid Loan would  otherwise end after the  Revolving  Credit
         Termination  Date,  such  Interest  Period  shall end on the  Revolving
         Credit Termination Date; (ii) if any Interest Period for any Eurodollar
         Rate Loan would  otherwise end after the Revolving  Credit  Termination
         Date or Line of Credit Termination Date, such Interest Period shall end
         on the Revolving Credit  Termination Date or Line of Credit Termination
         Date, respectively; (iii) 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 or a Eurodollar Market Loan, if such next succeeding Business
         Day falls in the next succeeding  calendar month, on the next preceding
         Business  Day);  and (iv)  notwithstanding  clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)
         above,  no Interest  Period for any Loan  (other than an Absolute  Rate
         Loan)  shall have a  duration  of less than one month (in the case of a
         Eurodollar Rate Loan or a Eurodollar  Market Loan) and, if the Interest
         Period for any  Eurodollar  Rate Loan or  Eurodollar  Market 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 F.

                  "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

                                       18

<PAGE>
         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  III 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
         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  Credit  Commitment"  means,  with  respect  to each
         Lender,  the  obligation of such Lender to make Line of Credit Loans to
         the Borrower in a principal  amount equal to such  Lender's  Applicable
         Commitment Percentage of the Total Line of
         Credit Commitment.

                  "Line of Credit  Facility"  means the  facility  described  in
         Section 2.1(b) providing for Line of Credit Loans to the

                                       19

<PAGE>
Borrower by the Lenders in the  original  principal  amount of the Total Line of
Credit Commitment.

                  "Line of Credit  Loan" means a loan made  pursuant to the Line
         of Credit Facility in accordance with Section 2.1(b).

                  "Line of Credit Notes"  means,  collectively,  the  promissory
         notes of the  Borrower  evidencing  Line of Credit  Loans  executed and
         delivered to the Lenders as provided in Section 2.6(b) substantially in
         the form of Exhibit G, with appropriate insertions as to amounts, dates
         and names of Lenders.

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

                  "Line  of  Credit  Termination  Date"  means  (i)  the  Stated
         Termination  Date or (ii) such earlier date of  termination of Lenders'
         obligations  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 Line of Credit Facility by payment in full of
         all Line of Credit Outstandings.

                  "Loan" or "Loans" means any Syndicated Loans,  Competitive Bid
         Loans,  Reimbursement Obligations and Letter of Credit Outstandings 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).

                  "Material  Group" shall mean, at any time, any group,  whether
         one or more, or combination of Consolidated Entities

                                       20
<PAGE>
         (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

                                       21

<PAGE>
         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  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, collectively,  the Line of Credit Notes and the
         Revolving Notes and the Competitive Bid 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

                                       22

<PAGE>



         Trustee,   the  Holders  identified  therein,  the  Lenders  identified
         therein, and NationsBank, National Association, as Agent.

                  "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.

                  "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.

                                       23

<PAGE>
                  (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;

                  (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;


                                       24

<PAGE>
                  (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

                  (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.

                  "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.

                  "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

                                       25

<PAGE>
         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.

                  "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.

                  "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  without  regard to any  Competitive  Bid Loan,  so long as there
         exists no Event of Default,  owing to such  Lender  plus the  aggregate
         unutilized  amounts  of such  Lender's  Line of Credit  Commitment  and
         Revolving Credit 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

                                       26

<PAGE>
         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 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.

                  "Revolving  Credit  Commitment"  means,  with  respect to each
         Lender,  the obligation of such Lender to make  Revolving  Loans to the
         Borrower  up  to  an  aggregate   principal  amount  at  any  one  time
         outstanding equal to such Lender's Applicable  Commitment Percentage of
         the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.

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

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

                  "Revolving  Credit  Termination Date" means (i) March 31, 2001
         or (ii)  such  earlier  date of  termination  of  Lenders'  obligations
         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  Revolving  Credit  Facility  by  payment in full of all
         Revolving  Credit  Outstandings,  Competitive  Bid Loans and  Letter of
         Credit Outstandings and cancellation of all Letters of Credit.

                  "Revolving  Loan" means any  borrowing  pursuant to an Advance
         under the Revolving Credit Facility in accordance with Section 2.1(a).

                  "Revolving Notes" means, collectively, the promissory notes of
         the Borrower  evidencing  Revolving Loans executed and delivered to the
         Lenders as  provided  in Section  2.6(a)  substantially  in the form of
         Exhibit I, with appropriate  insertions as to amounts,  dates and names
         of Lenders.

                  "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.


                                       27

<PAGE>
                  "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 March 31, 1997 or such later
         date as the parties may agree pursuant to Section 2.14.

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

                  "Syndicated  Loans" shall mean the Revolving Loans and Line of
         Credit Loans  provided for by Section 2.1, which may be Base Rate Loans
         or Eurodollar Rate Loans.

              "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

                                       28

<PAGE>
         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
         $75,000,000.

                  "Total Line of Credit  Commitment"  means a  principal  amount
         equal to $350,000,000,  as reduced from time to time in accordance with
         Section 2.1(b) and Section 2.8.

                  "Total Revolving Credit  Commitment"  means a principal amount
         equal to $900,000,000,  as reduced from time to time in accordance with
         Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.8.

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

                  "Unused  Amount"  shall mean with respect to each Lender,  (a)
         the Revolving  Credit  Commitment of such Lender less (b) such Lender's
         pro rata  share of  outstanding  Revolving  Loans and  Letter of Credit
         Outstandings   less  (c)  the  outstanding   principal  amount  of  all
         Competitive  Bid Loans then held by such Lender;  provided,  that in no
         event shall such amount be a negative number.

                  "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

                                       29

<PAGE>
         if  the  right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a
         contingency.

         1.2        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.

                    (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.


                                       30

<PAGE>
                    (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.

         1.3.     Classes and Types of Loans.  Loans hereunder are distinguished
by "Class" and by "Type". The "Class" of a Loan refers to whether such Loan is a
Competitive Bid Loan or a Syndicated Loan (and if a Syndicated Loan, a Revolving
Loan or Line of Credit Loan), each of which constitutes a Class. The "Type" of a
Loan refers to whether such Loan is a Base Rate Loan, a Eurodollar Rate Loan, an
Absolute  Rate Loan or a Eurodollar  Market Loan,  each of which  constitutes  a
Type. Loans may be identified by both Class and Type.


                                       31

<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE II

                                    The Loans
                                    ---------

         2.1.       Syndicated Loans.
                    ----------------
                    (a)     Revolving Credit Facility.  Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement,  each Lender  severally agrees to make Advances to
the Borrower  under the  Revolving  Credit  Facility  from time to time from the
Closing Date until the Revolving Credit  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 Revolving
Credit 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; provided further, however, that immediately after giving effect to each
such Advance,  the aggregate  principal amount of Revolving Credit  Outstandings
plus Letter of Credit Outstandings plus outstanding  Competitive Bid Loans shall
not exceed the Total  Revolving  Credit  Commitment.  Within  such  limits,  the
Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow under the Revolving Credit Facility on a
Business  Day  from  the  Closing  Date  until,   but  (as  to  borrowings   and
reborrowings) not including,  the Revolving Credit  Termination Date;  provided,
however, that (y) no Revolving Loan that is a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be made
which  has  an  Interest  Period  that  extends  beyond  the  Revolving   Credit
Termination Date and (z) each Revolving Loan that is a Eurodollar Rate Loan may,
subject to the  provisions of Section 2.4, 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)       Line of Credit Facility.  Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement,  each Lender  severally agrees to make Advances to
the  Borrower  under  the Line of  Credit  Facility  from  time to time from the
Closing Date until the Line of Credit 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 Line of
Credit 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; provided further, however, that immediately after giving effect to each
such Advance,  the  principal  amount of Line of Credit  Outstandings  shall not
exceed the Total Line of Credit Commitment. Within such limits, the Borrower may
borrow,  repay and reborrow under the Line of Credit  Facility on a Business Day
from the Closing Date until, but (as to borrowings and reborrowings) not

                                       32

<PAGE>
including,  the Line of Credit Termination Date; provided,  however, that (y) no
Line of Credit  Loan that is a  Eurodollar  Rate Loan shall be made which has an
Interest Period that extends beyond the Line of Credit  Termination Date and (z)
each Line of Credit  Loan that is a  Eurodollar  Rate Loan may,  subject  to the
provisions of Section 2.4, 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.

                    (c)       Amounts.  The aggregate unpaid principal amount of
the  Revolving  Credit  Outstandings  plus  Letter of Credit  Outstandings  plus
outstanding  Competitive  Bid  Loans  shall  not  exceed  at any time the  Total
Revolving  Credit  Commitment,  and the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Line of Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Total Line of Credit 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 Syndicated  Loan  hereunder,  other than Base Rate
Refunding Loans, and each conversion under Section 2.9, 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.

                    (d)      Advances.   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  Syndicated  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 Syndicated Loan (other than Base Rate Refunding
Loans to the extent the same are  effected  without  notice  pursuant to Section
2.1(d)(iv))  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
Syndicated  Loan.  Each such notice shall  specify the amount of the  borrowing,
whether the Loan is a Revolving Loan or Line of Credit Loan, 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  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.


                                       33

<PAGE>
         (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 Syndicated Loan or Syndicated 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 Syndicated Loans
in accordance with Section 2.9. 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 (whether Syndicated Loans or Competitive Bid 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(d) or 2.9, 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 2.9.

         (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
Revolving Credit  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  Revolving  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 Revolving  Credit  Facility in an
amount  equal  to  such  Lender's  Applicable   Commit