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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001052045-98-000015.txt : 19980330
<SEC-HEADER>0001052045-98-000015.hdr.sgml : 19980330
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001052045-98-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	10-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		12
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	19971231
FILED AS OF DATE:		19980327
SROS:			NYSE

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SERVICEMASTER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001052045
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MANAGEMENT SERVICES [8741]
		IRS NUMBER:				363858106
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		10-K
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14762
		FILM NUMBER:		98576776

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SERVICEMASTER WAY
		CITY:			DOWNERS GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60515
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6302711300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SERVICEMASTER WAY
		CITY:			DOWNERS GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60515
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>10-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<DESCRIPTION>1997 SERVICEMASTER FORM 10-K
<TEXT>

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

                  Annual Report Pursuant To Section 13 Or 15(d)
                     Of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997. Commission File number 1-14762


                            THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
           (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Certificate)
                (Successor to ServiceMaster Limited Partnership)


        Delaware                                         36-3858106
(State or Other Jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)


One ServiceMaster Way, Downers Grove, Illinois                        60515-1700
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                              (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (630) 271-1300

       Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  195,259,782

                                                           Name of Each Exchange
  Title of Each Class                                        On Which Registered
  -------------------                                    -----------------------
     Common Stock                                        New York Stock Exchange

         Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

     Indicate  by Check Mark  Whether the  Registrant  (1) Has Filed All Reports
Required to Be Filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  Shorter  Period  That the
Registrant Was Required to File Such Reports),  and (2) Has Been Subject to Such
Filing Requirements for the Past 90 Days. Yes X No

     The  Aggregate  Market  Value  of  Shares  Held  by  Non-Affiliates  of the
Registrant As of March 24, 1998 was $4,965,812,051.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     Certain parts of the  Registrant's  Annual Report to  Stockholders  for the
year ended December 31, 1997 are  incorporated  into Part I, Part II and Part IV
of this Form 10-K.

     Certain parts of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement for the May 1,
1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders  is incorporated  into Part III of this Form
10-K.

<PAGE>


                                     PART I

Item 1.  Business

The Company as Successor to ServiceMaster Limited Partnership

         This annual report on Form 10-K is filed by The ServiceMaster  Company,
a Delaware  corporation  (hereinafter  sometimes called the  "Registrant").  The
Registrant is the corporate successor to ServiceMaster  Limited  Partnership,  a
Delaware limited partnership (the "Parent Partnership").  For the period January
1, 1987 to December 26, 1997,  the Parent  Partnership  was the publicly  traded
parent entity in the ServiceMaster enterprise. On December 26, 1997, by means of
a statutory merger in which a subsidiary of the Registrant  merged with and into
the Parent Partnership (the "Reincorporating  Merger"), the Registrant succeeded
to and became  substituted  for the Parent  Partnership  as the publicly  traded
parent entity in the ServiceMaster  enterprise.  Pursuant to the Reincorporating
Merger,  on  December  26,  1997 the shares of limited  partner  interest in the
Parent  Partnership  converted to shares of common stock of the  Registrant on a
one-for-one  basis.  On January 1, 1998, the Parent  Partnership was merged with
and  into  the  Registrant  and  the  Parent  Partnership  thereby  went  out of
existence.

         This Form 10-K for the year  1997,  although  necessarily  filed by the
Registrant,  pertains to the  organization  and  business  of the  ServiceMaster
enterprise  as headed by the Parent  Partnership  for  virtually all of the year
1997.  However,  the  Reincorporating  Merger  provided  for a carryover  to the
Registrant of all directors and officers of ServiceMaster Management Corporation
(the managing general partner of the Parent Partnership), the Parent Partnership
and The  ServiceMaster  Company  Limited  Partnership.  Accordingly,  references
herein  to  directors  and  executive  officers  are to such  persons  in  their
capacities  as directors  and  officers of the  Registrant  and its  predecessor
entities. The Registrant and its affiliated entities are hereinafter referred to
as "ServiceMaster" or the "Company" or the "ServiceMaster enterprise".

Forward-Looking Statements

         In  accordance  with the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of
1995, the Company notes that  statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that
look  forward  in  time,   which  include   everything   other  than  historical
information,  involve  risks and  uncertainties  that may affect  the  Company's
actual results of operations.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the Company's plans or expectations include the following (among
others): weather conditions adverse to certain of the Company's businesses,  the
entry of  additional  competitors  in any of the markets  served by the Company,
labor shortages, consolidation of hospitals in the healthcare market, changes in
Medicare reimbursement regulations,  the condition of the United States economy,
and other  factors  listed from time to time in the  Company's  filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Company; Principal Business Groups

         The Company  itself is a holding  company  whose shares of common stock
are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Through its subsidiaries, the Company
is engaged in  providing  a variety of  specialty  services  to  homeowners  and
commercial  facilities and supportive  management  services in several  markets,
including the healthcare  market,  the education  market and certain segments of
the business and industry market.

         The  Company  is  organized  into  three  principal  operating  groups:
Consumer Services,  Management  Services,  and Employer Services.  Each of these
operating groups is headed by a limited  partnership or a corporation  which has
its own group of operating subsidiaries.  The parent companies for the operating
groups are ServiceMaster Consumer Services Limited Partnership, which was formed
in the summer of 1990;  ServiceMaster  Management Services Limited  Partnership,
which was formed in December 1991; and  ServiceMaster  Employer  Services,  Inc.
which was formed in August 1997. All of the parent companies for the operating

Page 1
<PAGE>
groups are wholly owned by the Company.  All subsidiaries of the operating group
parent  companies are wholly owned.  Reference is made to the information  under
the caption  "Business Unit  Reporting" on page 34 of the  ServiceMaster  Annual
Report  to  Shareholders  for 1997  (the  "1997  Annual  Report")  for  detailed
financial information on these three groups.

Trademarks and Service Marks; Franchises

         The  Company's  trademarks  and  service  marks are  important  for all
elements  of the  Company's  business,  although  such  marks  are  particularly
important  in  the  advertising  and  franchising  activities  conducted  by the
operating  subsidiaries of ServiceMaster  Consumer  Services L.P. Such marks are
registered and are renewed at each registration expiration date.

         Within  ServiceMaster  Consumer Services,  franchises are important for
the TruGreen-ChemLawn,  Terminix,  ServiceMaster  Residential/Commercial,  Merry
Maids,  AmeriSpec and Furniture  Medic  businesses.  Nevertheless,  revenues and
profits derived from  franchise-related  activities  constitute less than 10% of
the revenue and profits of the consolidated ServiceMaster enterprise.  Franchise
agreements  made in the course of these  businesses  are generally for a term of
five  years.  ServiceMaster's  renewal  history  is that  most of the  franchise
agreements which expire in any given year are renewed.

ServiceMaster Consumer Services

     ServiceMaster  Consumer Services provides  specialty services to homeowners
and   commercial    facilities   through   eight   companies:    TruGreen   L.P.
("TruGreen-ChemLawn");  The Terminix  International  Company L.P.  ("Terminix");
ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services L.P. ("Res/Com"); Merry Maids L.P.
("Merry  Maids");  American Home Shield  Corporation  ("American Home Shield" or
"AHS"); AmeriSpec, Inc. ("AmeriSpec"); Furniture Medic L.P. ("Furniture Medic");
and Rescue  Rooter  L.L.C.  ("Rescue  Rooter").  Rescue  Rooter was  acquired by
ServiceMaster  Consumer  Services on January 1, 1998.  The services  provided by
these  companies  include:  lawn care,  tree and shrub services and indoor plant
maintenance  services under the  "TruGreen",  "ChemLawn" and "Barefoot"  service
marks;  termite and pest control  services  under the  "Terminix"  service mark;
residential and commercial cleaning and disaster  restoration services under the
"ServiceMaster"  service mark; domestic  housekeeping  services under the "Merry
Maids" service mark;  home systems and appliance  warranty  contracts  under the
"American  Home  Shield"  service  mark;  home  inspection  services  under  the
"AmeriSpec"  service mark;  on-site  furniture repair and restoration  under the
"Furniture  Medic" service mark; and plumbing and drain cleaning  services under
the "Rescue Rooter" service mark.

         The services provided by the eight Consumer Services companies are part
of the  ServiceMaster  "Quality  Service  Network" and are accessed by calling a
single toll-free  telephone  number:  1-800-WE SERVE.  ServiceMaster  focuses on
establishing  relationships  to  provide  one or more  of  these  services  on a
repetitive  basis to customers.  Since 1986,  the number of customers  served by
ServiceMaster  Consumer  Services  has  increased  from fewer  than one  million
domestic customers to more than 9.6 million worldwide customers.

         For most of 1997, the first-tier subsidiary of the ServiceMaster parent
entity was primarily responsible for overseeing the Consumer Services businesses
which  were  conducted  in  foreign  markets.  However,  at  the  end  of  1997,
responsibility for such businesses was transferred to the appropriate subsidiary
of ServiceMaster Consumer Services L.P.

         TruGreen-ChemLawn.  TruGreen-ChemLawn  is a wholly owned  subsidiary of
ServiceMaster Consumer Services L.P. As of December 31, 1997,  TruGreen-ChemLawn
had 206 company-owned  branches and 84 franchised branches.  With over 3 million
residential and commercial customers,  TruGreen-ChemLawn is the leading provider
of lawn care services in the United  States.  TruGreen-ChemLawn  provides  lawn,
tree and shrub care services in Saudi Arabia and Turkey through licensing

Page 2
<PAGE>
arrangements and in Canada through a subsidiary. TruGreen-ChemLawn also provides
interior  plantscape  services to commercial  customers.  The  TruGreen-ChemLawn
businesses are seasonal in nature.

         On February 24, 1997,  the  Company's  predecessor,  for the benefit of
TruGreen-ChemLawn,  completed the acquisition of 99.38% of the outstanding stock
of Barefoot Inc.  ("Barefoot") through a tender offer. On February 26, 1997, the
remaining 0.62% of the Barefoot stock was acquired  through a statutory  merger.
In these transactions, Barefoot stockholders collectively received approximately
$84,800,000 in cash and 8,621,055 limited partner shares (post-June 1997 3-for-2
share split) of the Company's  predecessor.  For purposes of these transactions,
the Barefoot stock was valued at $16.00 per share and the Company's  shares were
valued at $16.9389 per share (post-June 1997 3-for-2 share split). The aggregate
value of the Barefoot  transaction  (including  the amount paid in redemption of
the  Barefoot   shareholders   rights  plan  and   transaction   expenses)   was
approximately  $237,000,000.  At the time of the  transaction,  Barefoot was the
second largest provider of professional lawn care services in the United States.
Subsequent  to the  completion  of this  acquisition,  a portion of the Barefoot
operations were  transferred to  TruGreen-ChemLawn;  the balance of the Barefoot
operations were placed in a new subsidiary corporation of ServiceMaster Consumer
Services  with  headquarters  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  from which  support has been
provided to certain holders of franchises granted by Barefoot.

         Terminix.  Terminix  is a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  ServiceMaster
Consumer Services L.P. With over 3 million residential and commercial customers,
Terminix,  through its company-owned  branches and through  franchisees,  is the
leading provider of termite and pest control  services in the United States.  As
of  December  31,  1997,  Terminix  was  providing  these  services  through 290
company-owned  branches  in 45 states  and  Mexico and  through  241  franchised
branches in 28 states. Terminix also manages the following European pest control
companies,  all of which are  subsidiaries  of  TMX-Europe  B.V., a wholly owned
subsidiary of the  Registrant:  Terminix  Peter Cox Ltd., a leading pest control
and wood  preservation  company  in the United  Kingdom  and  Ireland;  Terminix
Protekta  B.V.  and Riwa  B.V.,  each a  leading  pest  control  company  in the
Netherlands and Belgium;  Anticimex  Development B.V., a holding company for the
leading pest control  company in Sweden and which also  operates in Norway;  and
the Stenglein Group, a group of pest control companies in Germany. Terminix also
provides termite and pest control services through  licensing  arrangements with
local  service  providers in seven other  countries.  The  Terminix  business is
seasonal in nature.

         Res/Com. Res/Com is a wholly owned subsidiary of ServiceMaster Consumer
Services L.P.  ServiceMaster,  through Res/Com, is the leading franchisor in the
United States in the residential and commercial cleaning field. Res/Com provides
carpet and upholstery  cleaning and janitorial  services,  disaster  restoration
services and window cleaning  services.  As of December 31, 1997, these services
were provided to approximately 1.7 million residential and commercial  customers
worldwide  through a network  of over  4,500  independent  franchisees.  Res/Com
provides its services through subsidiaries in Canada,  Germany,  Ireland and the
United Kingdom, and through licensing  arrangements with local service providers
in six other countries.

         Merry Maids.  Merry Maids is a wholly owned subsidiary of ServiceMaster
Consumer  Services  L.  P.  Merry  Maids  is  the  organization   through  which
ServiceMaster  provides  domestic house cleaning  services.  With  approximately
352,000  worldwide  customers,  Merry Maids is the leading  provider of domestic
house  cleaning  services in the United States.  As of December 31, 1997,  these
services  were  provided  through  27  company-owned  branches  in 19 states and
through 797  licensees  operating  in all 50 states.  Merry Maids also  provides
domestic house cleaning  services through  subsidiaries in Canada and the United
Kingdom and through licensing arrangements with local service providers in three
other countries.

         American Home Shield. AHS is a wholly owned subsidiary of ServiceMaster
Consumer  Services L.P. AHS is a leading  provider of home systems and appliance
warranty  contracts  ("warranty  contracts")  in the  United  States,  providing
homeowners  with  contracts  covering  the  repair or  replacement  of  built-in
appliances,  hot water heaters and electrical,  plumbing,  central heating,  and
central air conditioning  systems which malfunction by reason of normal wear and
tear. Warranty contracts are sold through participating real estate brokerage

Page 3
<PAGE>
offices in conjunction with resales of  single-family  residences to homeowners.
AHS also sells warranty contracts directly to non-moving  homeowners by renewing
existing  contracts and through  various other  distribution  channels which are
currently  being  expanded.  As of December  31, 1997,  AHS  warranty  contracts
provided for  services to  approximately  568,000  homes  through  approximately
13,000 independent repair maintenance  contractors in 49 states and the District
of Columbia,  with  operations in California,  Texas and Arizona  accounting for
27%,  18% and 6%,  respectively,  of gross  contracts  written by AHS.  AHS also
provides home service warranty  contracts  through  licensing  arrangements with
local service providers in three other countries.

         AmeriSpec.  AmeriSpec is a wholly owned subsidiary of AHS. AmeriSpec is
a leading  provider of home  inspection  services in the United  States.  During
1997,  AmeriSpec conducted  approximately  100,000 home inspections in 42 states
and Canada, with operations in California,  New York and Illinois accounting for
23%,  6%, and 5%,  respectively,  of the gross number of  inspections  conducted
through AmeriSpec.

         Furniture  Medic.  Furniture  Medic is a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of
ServiceMaster  Consumer Services L.P. Furniture Medic provides on-site furniture
repair and  restoration  services in 47 states.  As of December 31, 1997,  these
services were provided through 513 licensees.  Furniture Medic also provides its
services  through  subsidiaries  in Canada and the United  Kingdom  and  through
licensing arrangements with local service providers in two other countries.

         Rescue  Rooter.   Rescue  Rooter  is  a   wholly-owned   subsidiary  of
ServiceMaster  Consumer  Services L.P.  Rescue Rooter  acquired the business and
assets of Rescue  Industries,  Inc. on January 1, 1998.  Rescue Rooter  provides
plumbing  and drain  cleaning  services in ten states  through 20  company-owned
branches  and one  franchise  location.  In 1997,  Rescue  Rooter's  predecessor
performed services for approximately 400,000 customers. ServiceMaster expects to
put into place in the Spring of 1998 a plan under which certain key employees of
Rescue Rooter will be afforded the opportunity to collectively  purchase up to a
10% equity interest in Rescue Rooter pursuant to a management  equity plan. Such
interest  will be subject to  reciprocal  put and call rights  which will become
exercisable on January 1, 2003 and which will be consummated on the basis of the
then fair market value.

ServiceMaster Management Services

         ServiceMaster pioneered the providing of supportive management services
to health care  facilities by instituting  housekeeping  management  services in
1962. Since then,  ServiceMaster  has expanded its management  services business
such that it now provides a variety of supportive  management services to health
care,  education and business and industrial customers (including the management
of housekeeping,  plant operations and maintenance,  laundry and linen,  grounds
and  landscaping,   clinical  equipment   maintenance,   food  service,   energy
management, and total facility management). ServiceMaster's general programs and
systems free the customer to focus on its core business activity with confidence
that the support  services  are being  managed  and  performed  in an  efficient
manner.

     Management  Services L.P. is organized into three divisions,  each of which
provides  service on a nationwide  basis within its market.  These  markets are:
Healthcare Management Services;  Education Management Services; and Business and
Industry Management Services.

         For most of 1997, the first-tier subsidiary of the ServiceMaster parent
entity  was  primarily   responsible  for  overseeing  the  Management  Services
businesses which were conducted in foreign markets. However, at the end of 1997,
responsibility  for such businesses was transferred to ServiceMaster  Management
Services L.P.

         As  of  December  31,  1997,  ServiceMaster  was  providing  supportive
management  services  to  approximately  1,568  health  care  customers  and  to
approximately  375  educational  and commercial  customers.  These services were
being  provided in all 50 states and the  District of  Columbia.  Outside of the
United  States,   ServiceMaster  was  providing   management   services  through
subsidiaries in Canada and Japan,  through an affiliated  company in Mexico, and
through  licensing  arrangements  with local service providers in nineteen other
countries.

Page 4
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         ServiceMaster   Healthcare   Management  Services.   The  ServiceMaster
Healthcare Services division of ServiceMaster Management Services L. P. combines
the resources of the healthcare  segment of  ServiceMaster  Management  Services
L.P., Diversified Health Services,  and their respective  subsidiaries to form a
comprehensive health services organization which provides management services to
acute care and long-term  care  facilities;  freestanding,  hospital-based,  and
government-owned  nursing homes;  skilled  nursing  facilities;  assisted living
facilities;  and hospital-based home health care agencies (as well as the direct
operation of freestanding  home health care agencies).  Various other healthcare
related services are provided by operating units within the Healthcare  Services
division.  As of  December  31,  1997,  the  ServiceMaster  Healthcare  Services
companies  had  management  services  contracts  with 1,568  customers in all 50
states.

         ServiceMaster  Education Management Services. The Education division of
ServiceMaster  Management  Services L.P. is a leading  provider to the education
market of  maintenance,  custodial and grounds  services.  The facilities  which
comprise the education  market include primary  schools,  secondary  schools and
school districts, private specialty schools and colleges and universities. As of
December  31,  1997,   ServiceMaster  was  serving  273  educational  customers.
ServiceMaster  believes there is potential for expansion in the education market
due to its current  relatively  low  penetration of that market and the trend of
educational   facilities   to  consider   outsourcing   more  of  their  service
requirements.  However,  a majority of the  educational  facilities  continue to
assume direct responsibility for managing their support functions.

         ServiceMaster  Business & Industry Management Services.  The Business &
Industry  division  of  ServiceMaster  Management  Services  L.P.  is a  leading
provider of plant operations and maintenance,  custodial and grounds  management
services to business and industrial customers in selected markets.  Such markets
include the food processing, transportation,  healthcare products and automotive
markets.  ServiceMaster  believes that there is potential for expansion in these
business and industrial markets due to  ServiceMaster's  current low penetration
of those markets,  the trend of businesses to consider outsourcing more of their
service  requirements and the trend of governmental  units to privatize parts of
their  operations.  As of  December  31,  1997,  ServiceMaster  was  serving  in
approximately 100 business or industrial customers.

ServiceMaster Employer Services

         ServiceMaster  Employer  Services,  through its  subsidiary,  Certified
Systems,   Inc.,  is  one  of  the  nation's   largest   professional   employer
organizations.  It provides more than 790 clients with administrative processing
of payroll,  worker's  compensation  insurance,  health insurance,  unemployment
insurance and other employee benefits.

International Operations

         Supportive  management  services and consumer services in international
markets are provided through licensing arrangements with local service providers
and  ownership of foreign  operating  companies.  Except as noted  below,  these
activities in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East are administered as part
of the operations of ServiceMaster  Management  Services L.P. and  ServiceMaster
Consumer  Services  L.P.,   respectively.   Operating  arrangements  and  market
expansion efforts in the Pacific Rim are administered by the parent company.

     In   1997,    ServiceMaster    disposed   of   its    interests    in   the
Tarmac/ServiceMaster  management  services joint venture in England and the Raab
Karcher/ServiceMaster  management  services  joint  venture  in  Germany.  These
dispositions resulted in a small profit on the Company's investment.

Page 5
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Other Activities

         Supporting Departments. The Company has various departments responsible
for  technical,   engineering,   management  information,  planning  and  market
services, and product and process development activities. Various administrative
support  departments  provide  personnel,   public  relations,   administrative,
education, accounting, financial and legal services.

         Manufacturing  Division.  ServiceMaster  has a  manufacturing  division
which formulates, combines and distributes supplies, products and equipment that
are used internally in providing  management services to customers and which are
sold to licensees  for use in the operation of their  businesses.  ServiceMaster
has a small share of the market for the manufacture and distribution of cleaning
equipment, chemicals and supplies.

         Venture Fund.  ServiceMaster  Venture Fund L.L.C.,  a subsidiary of the
parent company (the "Venture Fund"),  invests in emerging growth companies which
show an ability to provide  innovative  service  technologies to ServiceMaster's
current and new customers. The Venture Fund is managed so as not to be intrusive
to the ongoing operations of the Company's operating units.

Industry Position, Competition and Customers

         The following  information  is based solely upon  estimates made by the
management   of   ServiceMaster   and  cannot  be   verified.   In   considering
ServiceMaster's industry and competitive positions, it should be recognized that
ServiceMaster  competes  with many other  companies in the sale of its services,
franchises  and products and that some of these  competitors  are larger or have
greater financial and marketing strength than ServiceMaster.

         The principal  methods of competition  employed by ServiceMaster in the
Consumer  Services   business  are  name  recognition,   assurance  of  customer
satisfaction  and a history of providing  quality  services to  homeowners.  The
principal  methods  of  competition  employed  by  ServiceMaster  in each of the
operating  units in the  Management  Services  business  are  price,  quality of
service and experience in providing management  services.  The principal methods
of competition  employed by ServiceMaster in the Employer  Services business are
name recognition, assurance of customer satisfaction and financial strength.

Consumer Services

         Subsidiaries of Consumer  Services provide a variety of residential and
commercial  services  under  their  respective  names on the  basis of their and
ServiceMaster's  reputation, the strength of their service marks, their size and
financial  capability,  and their training and technical support  services.  The
markets served by Terminix and TruGreen-ChemLawn are seasonal in nature.

         Lawn  Care  Services.  TruGreen-ChemLawn,  both  directly  and  through
franchisees,   provides  lawn  care  services  to  residential   and  commercial
customers. Competition within the lawn care market is strong, coming mainly from
regional and local,  independently  owned firms and from homeowners who elect to
care for their lawns through their own personal  efforts.  TruGreen-ChemLawn  is
the leading  national  lawn care company  within this market.  TruGreen-ChemLawn
also provides indoor plant maintenance to commercial customers.

         Lawn care  services are regulated by law in most of the states in which
TruGreen-ChemLawn  provides such services. These laws require licensing which is
conditional  on a showing of  technical  competence  and  adequate  bonding  and
insurance.  The lawn care  industry is regulated at the federal  level under the
Federal  Insecticide,  Fungicide and  Rodenticide  Act, and lawn care  companies
(such as TruGreen-ChemLawn)  which apply herbicides and pesticides are regulated
under the  Federal  Environmental  Pesticide  Control  Act of 1972.  Such  laws,
together  with a variety of state and local laws and  regulations,  may limit or
prohibit the use of certain herbicides and pesticides, and such restrictions may
adversely affect the business of TruGreen-ChemLawn.

Page 6
<PAGE>
         Termite  and Pest  Control  Services.  The market for  termite and pest
control  services  to  commercial  and  residential   customers   includes  many
competitors.  Terminix is the leading  national termite and pest control company
within this market.  Competition  within the termite and pest control  market is
strong,  coming  mainly  from  regional  and local,  independently  owned  firms
throughout  the United States and from one other large company which operates on
a national basis.

         Termite and pest control  services are  regulated by law in most of the
states in which Terminix  provides such services.  These laws require  licensing
which is conditional on a showing of technical  competence and adequate  bonding
and  insurance.  The  extermination  industry is regulated at the federal  level
under the Federal  Insecticide,  Fungicide  and  Rodenticide  Act, and pesticide
applicators  (such as Terminix)  are regulated  under the Federal  Environmental
Pesticide  Control Act of 1972. Such laws,  together with a variety of state and
local laws and regulations, may limit or prohibit the use of certain pesticides,
and such restrictions may adversely affect the business of Terminix.

         House  Cleaning  Services.  The  market  for  domestic  house  cleaning
services  is highly  competitive.  In urban areas the market  involves  numerous
local companies and a few national  companies.  ServiceMaster  believes that its
share of the total potential market for such services is small and that there is
significant  potential  for  further  expansion  of its  housecleaning  business
through   continued   internal   expansion  and  greater   penetration   of  the
housecleaning  market.  Through its company-owned  branches and its franchisees,
ServiceMaster  has a small share of the market for the  cleaning of  residential
and commercial buildings.

         Home  Systems and  Appliance  Warranty  Contracts.  The market for home
systems and  appliance  warranty  contracts  is  relatively  new.  ServiceMaster
believes  that AHS  maintains a favorable  position in its  industry  due to the
system  developed  and used by AHS for  accepting,  dispatching  and  fulfilling
service  calls from  homeowners  through a  nationwide  network  of  independent
contractors.  AHS also has a computerized information system developed and owned
by AHS, and an electronic digital voice  communication  system through which AHS
handled more than 7.5 million calls in 1997.

         Home  Inspection  Services.  AmeriSpec  is a leading  provider  of home
inspection  services  in the United  States.  Competition  within this market is
strong, coming mainly from regional and local, independently owned firms.

         Furniture  Repair  Services.  The market for on-site  furniture  repair
services  is  relatively  new.   ServiceMaster  believes  that  Furniture  Medic
maintains  a  favorable   position  in  its   industry   due  to  its   patented
environmentally  sensitive  procedure for repairing  furniture in the customer's
home.

         Plumbing and Drain Cleaning Services. The market for plumbing and drain
cleaning  services is highly  competitive in both the residential and commercial
sectors. Rescue Rooter believes that its share of the total potential market for
such  services  is small and that  there is  significant  potential  for  future
expansion and penetration.  Plumbing is regulated by most states in which Rescue
Rooter  provides  such  services.  The level of  licensing  varies from state to
state.  There  are no state or  federal  guidelines  regulating  drain  cleaning
services.

Management Services

         Health  Care.  Within the market  consisting  of  general  health  care
facilities  having 50 or more beds,  ServiceMaster  is the  leading  supplier of
plant operations and maintenance,  housekeeping, clinical equipment maintenance,
and  laundry  and  linen   management   services.   As  of  December  31,  1997,
ServiceMaster   was  serving   approximately   1,568   customers   and  managing
approximately  1,900  health  care  facilities.  The  majority  of  health  care
facilities  within  this market not  currently  served by  ServiceMaster  assume
direct responsibility for managing their own non-medical support functions.

Page 7
<PAGE>
         ServiceMaster  believes  that its  management  services for health care
facilities  may expand by the addition of facilities  not presently  served,  by
initiating  additional  services at  facilities  which use only a portion of the
services now offered,  by the  development  of new services and by growth in the
size of facilities served. At the same time, industry consolidation,  changes in
use and methods of health care  delivery and payment for services  (including in
particular changes in Medicare reimbursement regulations) continue to affect the
health care environment.

         Education.  ServiceMaster is a leading provider to the education market
of maintenance,  custodial and grounds  services.  The facilities which comprise
the education market served by ServiceMaster include primary schools,  secondary
schools  and school  districts,  private  specialty  schools  and  colleges  and
universities.  As of December 31, 1997,  ServiceMaster was serving approximately
273  customers  and  managing  approximately  5,362  facilities.   ServiceMaster
believes  there is potential for  expansion in the  education  market due to its
current  relatively low  penetration of that market and the trend of educational
facilities to consider outsourcing more of their service requirements.  However,
a  majority  of  the   educational   facilities   continue   to  assume   direct
responsibility for managing their support functions.

         Business and  Industry.  ServiceMaster  is a leading  provider of plant
operations  and  maintenance,  custodial  and  grounds  management  services  to
business and industrial  customers in selected markets.  ServiceMaster  believes
that there is potential for expansion in those business and  industrial  markets
which  ServiceMaster has elected to emphasize due to ServiceMaster's low current
penetration  of those markets,  the trend of businesses to consider  outsourcing
more of  their  service  requirements  and the  trend of  governmental  units to
privatize  parts of their  operations.  The emphasized  markets include the food
processing,  transportation,  healthcare products, and automotive markets. As of
December 31, 1997,  ServiceMaster  was serving  approximately  100 customers and
managing approximately 530 business or industrial facilities.

Major Customers

         ServiceMaster  has no single  customer which accounts for more than 10%
of its total  revenues.  No part of the  Company's  business is  dependent  on a
single  customer  or a few  customers,  the loss of which  would have a material
adverse effect on the Company as a whole. Revenues from governmental sources are
not material.

Employees

         On December 31, 1997, ServiceMaster had a total of approximately 45,825
employees.

         ServiceMaster  provides its employees  with annual  vacation,  medical,
hospital and life insurance  benefits and the right to participate in additional
benefit plans which are described in the Notes to Financial  Statements included
in the 1997 Annual Report.

Year 2000 Computer Program Compliance

         Certain computer programs use two digits rather than four to define the
applicable year and consequently  many systems may not function  properly beyond
the year 1999 unless they are remediated. In addition, certain computer programs
are  unable  to  recognize  the  year  2000 as a leap  year.  ServiceMaster  has
conducted a review of its  computer  systems to identify  systems  that could be
affected by the year 2000 problem and has determined  that the Company will need
to replace or  remediate  many of its  systems to  facilitate  their  continuing
reliable  operation.  The Company  currently  believes  that  expenses  directly
related to this  effort  will not have a material  impact on the  results of its
operations.

         Although the Company believes that critical remediation efforts will be
completed  prior to the year 2000,  the  untimely  completion  of these  efforts
could,  in  certain  circumstances,  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the
operations of the Company.

Page 8
<PAGE>
         In addition,  the Company is in the process of determining  whether the
external  parties and  systems  with which the Company  interacts  and  external
systems for which the Company has certain  maintenance  responsibilities  are in
compliance  and whether  non-compliance  of these  systems could have a material
adverse impact on the Company.


Item 2.  Properties

         The  headquarters  facility  of  ServiceMaster,  which  also  serves as
headquarters   for   ServiceMaster   Management   Services,   is  owned  by  The
ServiceMaster  Company and is located on a ten-acre  tract at One  ServiceMaster
Way, Downers Grove,  Illinois.  The initial structure was built in 1963, and two
additions  were  completed  in 1968  and  1976.  In  early  1988,  ServiceMaster
completed  construction  of a two-story  15,000  square foot addition for office
space, food service demonstrations and dining facilities.  The building contains
approximately  118,900  square feet of air  conditioned  office  space and 2,100
square feet of laboratory space. In the Spring of 1992,  ServiceMaster completed
the conversion of  approximately  30,000 square feet of space formerly used as a
warehouse  to offices  for  Management  Services  and for The  Kenneth and Norma
Wessner Training Center.

         ServiceMaster  owns a seven-acre,  improved  tract at 2500  Warrenville
Road, Downers Grove,  Illinois,  which is adjacent to its headquarters facility.
In 1993,  ServiceMaster  substantially  remodeled  the building  and  thereafter
leased approximately half the space (50,000 square feet) to a commercial tenant.
The balance of the space is utilized by ServiceMaster personnel.

         ServiceMaster  leases  a  50,000  square  foot  facility  near  Aurora,
Illinois which is used by ServiceMaster as a warehouse/distribution center.

         ServiceMaster  believes that the facilities  described in the preceding
three  paragraphs  will  satisfy  the  Company's  needs for  administrative  and
warehouse space in the Chicago area for the immediate future.

         ServiceMaster owns four properties in Cairo, Illinois,  consisting of a
36,000 square foot,  three-story building used for manufacturing and warehousing
equipment,  supplies and products used in the business;  a warehouse and package
facility   comprising   30,000   square  feet;  a   three-story   warehouse  and
manufacturing building consisting of 43,000 square feet; and a 2,500 square foot
building  used for a machine  shop.  ServiceMaster  leases a 44,000  square foot
manufacturing  facility  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  which is used to provide
products and  equipment  primarily to  customers of  Management  Services in the
eastern  part of the  United  States.  Management  believes  that the  foregoing
manufacturing and warehouse facilities are adequate to support the current needs
of ServiceMaster.

         The headquarters for  ServiceMaster  Consumer Services L.P. are located
in leased  premises at 860 Ridge Lake  Boulevard,  Memphis,  Tennessee.  The 860
Ridge  Lake   Boulevard   facility   also   serves  as  the   headquarters   for
TruGreen-ChemLawn,   Terminix,  Res/Com,  Merry  Maids,  American  Home  Shield,
AmeriSpec and Furniture Medic. The headquarters for Rescue Rooter are located in
leased premises at 4850 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California.

         TruGreen-ChemLawn  owns 5 buildings  which are used as branch sites for
lawn care  services.  These  facilities  are  located  in Texas (2  properties),
Colorado (1 property), Ohio (1 property), and Georgia (1 property).

         Terminix  owns 20 buildings  which are used as branch sites for termite
and pest control  services.  These  properties are all one-story  buildings that
contain  both  office and storage  space.  These  properties  are located in New
Jersey (2  properties),  California  (2  properties),  Florida (10  properties),
Georgia (1 property), Illinois (1 property) and Texas (4 properties).

Page 9
<PAGE>
         American  Home Shield has retained some leased space in the building at
90  South E  Street,  Santa  Rosa,  California,  for  administrative  and  sales
operations.  Certain of  American  Home  Shield's  service  and data  processing
departments are located in premises owned by the company in Carroll,  Iowa. This
facility consists of a 43,000 square foot building on a seven-acre site.

         American Home Shield owns approximately 56 acres of land in Santa Rosa,
California  of which 39 acres are under  contracts  for sales to occur in mid to
late  1998.  This  land is held for  investment  purposes  and has been and will
continue to be offered for sale,  with the timing of sales  being  affected  by,
among other things, market demand,  zoning regulations,  and the availability of
financing to purchasers.

         Rescue Rooter owns two buildings  which are used for branch  operations
to provide plumbing and drain cleaning  services.  These facilities are located,
respectively in Phoenix, Arizona and St. Louis, Missouri.

         In 1997,  Diversified  Health Services  completed the construction of a
new headquarters  facility at 3839 Forest Hill-Irene Road,  Memphis,  Tennessee.
This  facility  also  serves  as  the  headquarters  of  ServiceMaster  Employer
Services. DHS leases other administrative facilities in St. Augustine,  Florida;
Atlanta,  Georgia;  Minneapolis,   Minnesota;  Plymouth  Meeting,  Pennsylvania;
Memphis,  Tennessee;  and Dallas,  Texas.  As of December 31,  1997,  DHS had an
ownership   interest  in  a  nursing  home  facility  through  a  joint  venture
arrangement in which DHS has a 50% interest.

         The headquarters  for  ServiceMaster  Employer  Services are located at
3839 Forest  Hill-Irene  Road,  Memphis,  Tennessee.  The company  leases  other
administrative  facilities in Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis,  Tennessee. Its
subsidiary,   Certified  Systems,  Inc.,  leases  administrative  facilities  in
Mesquite, Texas.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

         In  the  ordinary   course  of  conducting  its  business   activities,
ServiceMaster becomes involved in judicial and administrative  proceedings which
involve both private parties and governmental authorities.  As of March 6, 1998,
these   proceedings   included  a  number  of  general   liability  actions  and
employment-related proceedings.

         Environmental Matters.  Terminix was one of several defendants named in
a suit filed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") on
November 3, 1986 in the United States District Court for the Western District of
Tennessee,  to recover the costs of remediation at two sites in Tennessee  which
had been  designated  by the EPA as  "Superfund  sites" under the  Comprehensive
Environmental  Response  Compensation  and Liability Act ("CERCLA").  In January
1992, the EPA issued a Unilateral  Administrative  Order for Remedial Design and
Remedial Action which required  Terminix and other initial  defendants and third
party defendants to clean up one of these sites.  Terminix agreed, on an interim
basis, to a 10% allocation of the cost of the  remediation  work. The parties to
the interim allocation  agreement remained in disagreement with the EPA over the
most appropriate remediation procedures to be followed at the site and they were
in   disagreement   among   themselves   regarding  the  final   allocations  of
responsibility.  With respect to the second site, the companies cited by the EPA
all  disclaimed  responsibility.  Two of the  defendant  parties  settled  their
disagreement  with the EPA but, until March 20, 1997,  Terminix had not resolved
its disagreement  with the other two defendant  parties as to Terminix's  proper
participation. However, on March 20, 1997, Terminix settled this matter with the
other two parties as to all past costs and agreed to arbitrate any  disagreement
over the  allocation of future costs.  On October 22, 1997,  the time expired in
which a demand for arbitration could be filed. Accordingly,  Terminix's share of
future  remediation  costs  was  established  at 10%.  The  aggregate  financial
commitment  of  Terminix  is  well  within  the  parameters  set  forth  in  the
discussions  of this matter in previous Form 10-K reports and is not material to
Terminix's business, financial condition or results of operations.


Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

         No matters were submitted  during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year
covered by this report to a vote of security holders.

Page 10
<PAGE>

                                     PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Shares and Related Shareholder Matters

         Except for the  information set forth in the second and third sentences
of this Item 5, the portions of the ServiceMaster  Annual Report to Shareholders
for 1997 under the captions  "Statements of Shareholders'  Equity" (page 33) and
"Cash  Distributions Per Share" and "Price Per Share" in the Quarterly Operating
Results  table (page 41) supply the  information  required by this item and such
portions are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The Registrant's shares of
common  stock are listed and  traded on the New York  Stock  Exchange  under the
symbol "SVM".  At March 6, 1998,  the  Registrant's  shares of common stock were
held of record by approximately 71,000 persons.


Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

         The portion of the ServiceMaster Annual Report to Shareholders for 1997
in the Financial  Statements and Management  Discussion section ("FSMD Section")
under the caption  "Eleven Year Financial  Summary"  (pages 26-27)  supplies the
information required by this item and such portion is hereby incorporated herein
by reference.


Item 7.  Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
         of Operations

         Management  Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition and Results
of Operations  for the three years ended  December 31, 1997, is contained in the
FSMD Section of the  ServiceMaster  Annual  Report to  Shareholders  for 1997 on
pages 21-25 and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.


Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

         The consolidated  statements of financial  position of ServiceMaster as
of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the consolidated  statements of income,  cash
flows and shareholders'  equity for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996, and
1995 and notes to the  consolidated  financial  statements  are contained in the
FSMD Section of the  ServiceMaster  Annual  Report to  Shareholders  for 1997 on
pages 28-41 are incorporated herein by reference.  The report of Arthur Andersen
LLP thereon dated January 26, 1998,  and the summary of  significant  accounting
policies are contained in the FSMD Section of the ServiceMaster Annual Report to
Shareholders  for 1997 on pages  28-29  and are  hereby  incorporated  herein by
reference.


Item 9.  Disagreements on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

         None.


Page 11
<PAGE>

                                    PART III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Directors

         The information  contained under the heading "Election of Directors" in
the definitive  proxy  statement for the Company's May 1, 1998 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

Senior Management Advisers

         The  Bylaws of the  Company  provide  that the Board of  Directors  may
appoint  officers  of the Company or a  subsidiary  and other  persons  having a
special  relationship to ServiceMaster to serve as Senior  Management  Advisers.
Senior Management Advisers attend the meetings of the Board and advise the Board
but do not have the power to vote.  The Board has  determined  that  providing a
greater number of officers the opportunity to advise and interact with the Board
is in the best interest of ServiceMaster as well as the individual officers. The
Senior Management Advisers receive no special compensation for their services in
this capacity.

         The Board of Directors has appointed the persons listed below as Senior
Management  Advisers effective as of the 1997 annual meeting of the shareholders
of  ServiceMaster  Management  Corporation  to serve in such capacity  until the
annual  meeting  of  stockholders  of the  Company  in 1998 or  until  otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors.

         Robert  D.  Erickson,  age 54,  is an  Executive  Vice  President.  Mr.
Erickson  was a  director  of  ServiceMaster  from  May  1987  to May  1993.  He
previously served as a director of ServiceMaster  from May 1981 to June 1984. He
served  as  the  President  and  Chief  Operating  Officer  of   ServiceMaster's
International  business unit from October 1993 to December 1997,  Executive Vice
President  and  Chief  Operating  Officer  of  the  International   division  of
ServiceMaster from November 1992 to October 1993 and as Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer, People Services, from January 1990 to October 1992.

         Donald K. Karnes, age 47, is Group President of  TruGreen-ChemLawn  and
Terminix.   He   served   as   President   and  Chief   Operating   Officer   of
TruGreen-ChemLawn  from January 1992 to December  1995.  From January 1, 1990 to
December 31, 1991, he was Senior Vice President, TruGreen Limited Partnership.

         Robert F. Keith,  age 41, is  President  and Chief  Operating  Officer,
ServiceMaster  Management  Services.  He served as President and Chief Operating
Officer, ServiceMaster Consumer Services from July 1994 to December 31, 1996 and
as Group President,  ServiceMaster Consumer Services, from November 1992 to July
1994.  He was Vice  President,  Treasurer  and Chief  Financial  Officer  of The
ServiceMaster Company L. P. from November 1989 to October 1992.

         Jerry D. Mooney,  age 44, is  President  and Chief  Operating  Officer,
ServiceMaster Employer Services.  Previously, he was President,  Health Care New
Business Initiatives, and President and Chief Executive Officer of ServiceMaster
Diversified Health Services,  Inc. He is also a director,  chairman of the audit
committee  and  member of the  compensation  committee  of  Concord  EFS,  Inc.,
Memphis, Tennessee, involved primarily in the electronic processing of debit and
credit card  transactions.  He also serves on an Advisory  Board for  SouthTrust
Corporation.

Page 12
<PAGE>
         Ernest J. Mrozek,  age 44, is President  and Chief  Operating  Officer,
ServiceMaster  Consumer  Services.  He served as Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial  Officer of the Registrant  from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1996.
He served as Vice President and Chief  Financial  Officer of the Registrant from
May 1994 to December  1994, as Vice  President,  Treasurer  and Chief  Financial
Officer from November 1, 1992 to April 30, 1994, and as Vice President and Chief
Accounting Officer, from January 1, 1990 to October 31, 1992.

         Brian D. Oxley,  age 47, is  Executive  Vice  President,  New  Business
Initiatives. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer of ServiceMaster
Management  Services and ServiceMaster  Healthcare Services from January 1994 to
December 31, 1996.  From  November  1992 to December 31, 1993,  he served as the
President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the  International  and New Business
Development  Group.  He  served  as  Executive  Vice  President,   New  Business
Development  from  January  1991  to  November  11,  1992  and as  President  of
International Services from January 1, 1988 to November 11, 1992.

         Steven C.  Preston,  age 37, has served as Senior  Vice  President  and
Chief Financial  Officer since April 1, 1997. From August 1993 to March 1997, he
was Senior Vice  President and Corporate  Treasurer for First Data  Corporation,
Atlanta,  Georgia.  From October 1985 to August 1993, he served as an investment
banker at Lehman Brothers, New York, New York.

Page 13
<PAGE>
Executive Officers of ServiceMaster

         The following table shows: (i) the names and ages (as of March 6, 1998)
of the present executive officers of the Company;  (ii) all positions  presently
held by each  officer;  and (iii) the year each person  became an officer.  Each
person named has served as an officer of the Company and its predecessor company
continuously  since the year shown.  There are no arrangements or understandings
between any executive officer and any other person pursuant to which the officer
was or is to be selected as an officer.
<TABLE>
<S>                        <C>      <C>                                                                        <C>


                                                                                                       First Became
 Name                      Age      Present Position                                                     An Officer

C. William Pollard         59       Chairman and Director                                                      1977

Carlos H. Cantu            64       President and Chief Executive Officer and Director                         1986

Charles W. Stair           57       Vice Chairman and Director                                                 1973

Phillip B. Rooney          53       Vice Chairman and Director                                                 1997

Ernest J. Mrozek           44       President and Chief Operating Officer, Consumer Services, and a
                                    Senior Management Adviser                                                  1987

Robert F. Keith            41       President and Chief Operating Officer, Management Services, and            1986
                                    a Senior Management Adviser

Robert D. Erickson         54       Executive Vice President and a Senior Management Adviser                   1976

Brian D. Oxley             47       Executive Vice President and a Senior Management Adviser                   1983

Vernon T. Squires          63       Senior Vice President and General Counsel                                  1987

Steven C. Preston          37       Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer                          1997

Eric R. Zarnikow           38       Vice President and Treasurer                                               1994

Deborah A. O'Connor        35       Vice President and Controller                                              1993
</TABLE>


     Messrs. Pollard, Cantu, Stair and Rooney are also Directors of the Company.
See "Election of Directors" in the definitive  proxy statement for the Company's
1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders for biographical information with respect to
these persons.  Messrs.  Mrozek, Keith,  Erickson,  Oxley and Preston are Senior
Management Advisers.  See pages 12-13 for biographical  information with respect
to these persons.

         Vernon T.  Squires,  age 63, has served as Senior  Vice  President  and
General  Counsel since January 1, 1988. He served as Vice  President and General
Counsel  from April 1, 1987 until  December 31,  1987.  He was an associate  and
partner  with the law firm of Wilson &  McIlvaine  in Chicago,  specializing  in
corporate and tax law, from 1960 to April 1, 1987. He is presently of counsel to
that firm.

         Eric R.  Zarnikow,  age 38, has served as Vice  President and Treasurer
since May 1, 1994.  From August 1991 to April 1994, he served as Vice  President
and Treasurer of Gaylord Container Corporation.

Page 14
<PAGE>
         Deborah  A.  O'Connor,  age  35,  has  served  as  Vice  President  and
Controller  since  January 1, 1993.  From July 1991 to  December  1992,  she was
Manager of Financial  Projects.  She previously had practiced public  accounting
with Arthur Andersen LLP since 1984.

Compliance With Section 16(a) of The Exchange Act of 1934

         Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  requires  the
Company's  officers and directors,  and persons who own more than ten percent of
ServiceMaster's  shares,  to file reports of ownership  and changes in ownership
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "Commission") and the New York
Stock Exchange. The Commission's regulations require certain officers, directors
and  greater-than-ten-percent  shareholders  to furnish to the Company copies of
all Section 16(a) forms that they file.  During 1997, the Company's  predecessor
received Section 16(a) forms from such officers and directors.  As of January 1,
1998, the Company did not have any  shareholders  with an interest  greater than
ten percent.

         Based solely on a review of the copies of Section 16(a) forms  received
by the Company and its  predecessor or on written  representations  from certain
reporting  persons that no Form 5 was required  for those  persons,  the Company
believes  that during 1997 the  officers  and  directors  of the Company and its
predecessor complied with applicable filing requirements, except that one report
covering  one  February  1997  transaction  for 943 shares was filed late by Mr.
Mrozek and one report  covering  one December  1997  transaction  for  3,194,609
shares was filed late by Mr. Peterson.

Item 11.  Executive Compensation

         The information  contained under the heading  "Executive  Compensation"
(except  those  portions  relating  to Item 13  below) in the  definitive  proxy
statement  for the  Company's  May 1, 1998  Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  is
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

         The information  contained under the heading  "Principal  Stockholders"
and "Management  Ownership" in the definitive  proxy statement for the Company's
May 1, 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Miscellaneous Transactions

         The information  contained under the heading  "Executive  Compensation"
(except  those  portions   relating  to  Item  11  above)  and  the  subheadings
"Compensation of Directors" and "Ownership  Information" in the definitive proxy
statement  for the  Company's  May 1, 1998  Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  is
incorporated herein by reference.

Page 15
<PAGE>
                                     PART IV


Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)   Financial Statements, Schedules and Exhibits

         1.  Financial Statements

                  The  documents  shown  below are  contained  in the  Financial
                  Statements and Management  Discussion and Analysis  section of
                  the  ServiceMaster  Annual Report to Shareholders for 1997, on
                  pages 21 - 41 and are incorporated herein by reference:

                           Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

                           Report of Independent Public Accountants

                           Consolidated Statements of Income for the three years
                           ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

                           Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of
                           December 31, 1997 and 1996

                           Consolidated  Statements  of Cash Flows for the three
                           years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

                           Consolidated  Statements of Shareholders'  Equity for
                           the three years ended  December  31,  1997,  1996 and
                           1995

                           Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

         2.  Financial Statements Schedules

                  Schedule  IV--Amounts  Receivable  from  Related  Parties  and
                  Underwriters,  Promoters,  and  Employees  other than  Related
                  Parties.  The items required by this Schedule are incorporated
                  into the  information  relating to Share  Grants on page 29 of
                  the definitive  proxy  statement for the Company's May 1, 1998
                  Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

                  Included in Part IV of this Report:

                         Schedule VIII--Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

                         Report of Independent Public Accountants on Schedules

                         Exhibit 23 -- Consent of Independent Public Accountants

         Other schedules are omitted because of the absence of conditions  under
which they are required or because the required  information is presented in the
financial statements or notes thereto.

Page 16
<PAGE>
         3.  Exhibits

                  The  exhibits  filed with this report are listed on pages 24 -
28 herein (the "Exhibit Index").

                  The  following  entries in the  Exhibit  Index are  management
                  contracts or compensatory  plans in which a director or any of
                  the named  executive  officers of the  Registrant  does or may
                  participate.  Reference  is made to the Exhibit  Index for the
                  filings with the  Commission  which contain such  contracts or
                  plans.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                  Exhibit                   Contract or Plan
                  -------           ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                  <C>               <S>

                  10.2              Deferred Directors Fee Agreement.

                  10.3              Incentive Reward Compensation Plan.

                  10.4              ServiceMaster Profit Sharing, Savings & Retirement Plan as amended and
                                    restated effective January 1, 1987.

                  10.6              ServiceMaster 10-Plus Plan.  See also Item 10.11. *

                  10.8              Directors Deferred Fees Plan (ServiceMaster Shares Alternative).

                  10.11             ServiceMaster 10-Plus Plan as amended September 3, 1991. *

                  10.13             ServiceMaster 1994 Non-Employee Directors Share Option Plan.**

                  10.15             ServiceMaster 1997 Share Option Plan. *

                  10.17             ServiceMaster 1998 Equity Incentive Plan (subject to shareholder approval).

                  10.20             ServiceMaster  1998  Non-Employee  Directors
                                    Discounted  Stock  Option  Plan  (subject to
                                    shareholder approval).

                  10.21             ServiceMaster 1998 Long-Term Performance Award Plan (subject to
                                    shareholder approval).

                  ---------

                   *  To be superceded by Item 10.17
                  **  To be superceded by Item 10.20
</TABLE>

Page 17
<PAGE>
(b) Reports on Form 8-K filed during the last quarter of 1997

         1.  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  filed  by   ServiceMaster   Limited
Partnership on December 27, 1997.

                  Announcement of (i) the adoption by The ServiceMaster  Company
                  of an Amended and Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  and
                  the filing thereof with the Secretary of State of the State of
                  Delaware;  (ii)  adoption  by  The  ServiceMaster  Company  of
                  Bylaws, a Shareholders  Rights Plan and an Agreement of Merger
                  and  Reorganization  as amended and  restated as of October 3,
                  1997;   and  (iii)  the   filing  by   ServiceMaster   Limited
                  Partnership  of a certificate  of merger with the Secretary of
                  State of the State of Delaware.

                  Financial Statements:  none

         2.       Current  Report  on Form 8-K  filed by  ServiceMaster  Limited
                  Partnership   on   December   29,   1997  on   behalf  of  The
                  ServiceMaster Company.

                  Announcement  that The  ServiceMaster  Company  had become the
                  parent  entity  in  the  ServiceMaster   enterprise  effective
                  December 26, 1997 at 11:59 P.M.,  Eastern  Standard Time, that
                  limited partner units of ServiceMaster Limited Partnership had
                  converted  to  shares  of  common  stock of The  ServiceMaster
                  Company  on a  one-for-one  basis,  and  that no  exchange  of
                  certificates for partnership units for certificates for shares
                  of common stock is required.

                  Financial Statements:  none


Certain Undertakings With Respect To Registration Statements on Form S-8

         For the purpose of complying with the amendments to the rules governing
Form S-8  (effective  July 13,  1990)  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933,  the
Registrant hereby undertakes as follows, which undertaking shall be incorporated
by reference into each of the Registrant's  Registration Statements on Form S-8,
including No. 33-19763 and No. 2-75851:

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
         Act of 1933 may be permitted  to  directors,  officers and  controlling
         persons of the  Registrant  pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions,  or
         otherwise,  the  Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
         Securities  and Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is against
         public  policy  as  expressed  in the  Securities  Act of 1933  and is,
         therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
         against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of
         expenses incurred or paid by a director,  officer or controlling person
         of the  Registrant  in the  successful  defense of any action,  suit or
         proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
         in connection  with the  securities  being  registered,  the Registrant
         will,  unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled
         by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
         the  question  whether  such  indemnification  by it is against  public
         policy  as  expressed  in the Act and  will be  governed  by the  final
         adjudication of such issue.

Page 18
<PAGE>
                                                                   SCHEDULE VIII

                            THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY

                        VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
                                 (In thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                  Additions      Deductions
                                   Balance at    Charged to     Write-offs of
                                   Beginning of   Costs and     Uncollectible  Balance at
        Description                   Period      Expenses        Accounts     End of Period

<S>                                    <C>            <C>            <C>       <C>


AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997:
 Allowance for doubtful accounts--

  Accounts receivable (current)        $24,117         20,183         16,756    $27,544
                                       -------        -------        -------    -------
  Notes receivable (current)           $ 2,170          2,507              0   $  4,677
                                       -------        -------        -------   --------


AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996:
 Allowance for doubtful accounts--

  Accounts receivable (current)        $18,029        20,517          14,429    $24,117
                                       -------        ------          ------    -------
  Notes receivable (current)           $ 2,439            59             328   $  2,170
                                       -------       -------          ------   --------


AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1995
 Allowance for doubtful accounts--

  Accounts receivable (current)        $17,610         16,878        16,459     $18,029
                                       -------        -------        ------     -------
  Notes receivable (current)           $ 2,504            350           415    $  2,439
                                       -------        -------        ------     -------
</TABLE>

Page 19
<PAGE>

                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS






To the Shareholders of ServiceMaster Limited Partnership:

We have audited in accordance with generally  accepted auditing  standards,  the
financial  statements  included in The ServiceMaster  Company's annual report to
shareholders  incorporated  by reference in this Form 10-K,  and have issued our
report  thereon  dated  January 26, 1998.  Our audit was made for the purpose of
forming an opinion on those statements taken as a whole. The schedules  included
in Part IV in the Form 10-K are the  responsibility of the Company's  management
and are presented  for purposes of complying  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission's  rules and are not part of the basic  financial  statements.  These
supporting  schedules have been subjected to the auditing  procedures applied in
the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, fairly state in
all material  respects the  financial  data  required to be set forth therein in
relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.




                                                     Arthur Andersen LLP
Chicago, Illinois
January 26, 1998


Page 20
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                            THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
                                   Registrant




Date: March 20, 1998                         By   /s/ C. WILLIAM POLLARD
                                                 -----------------------
                                                     C. William Pollard
                                    Chairman


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
this  report has been  signed  below by the  following  persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in their capacities and on the date indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Signature                               Title                                  Date

<C>                                         <S>                                 <C>

/s/ C. WILLIAM POLLARD                      Chairman and Director               March 20, 1998
- ---------------------------
  C. William Pollard



/s/ CARLOS H. CANTU                         President and Chief Executive       March 20, 1998
- ---------------------------
  Carlos H. Cantu                           Officer and Director



/s/ CHARLES W. STAIR                        Vice Chairman and Director          March 20, 1998
- ---------------------------
 Charles W. Stair



/s/ STEVEN C. PRESTON                       Senior Vice President and           March 20, 1998
- ---------------------------
  Steven C. Preston                         Chief Financial Officer (Principal
                                                 Financial Officer)


/s/ DEBORAH A. O'CONNOR                     Vice President and                  March 20, 1998
- -----------------------
  Deborah A. O'Connor                       Controller (Principal
                                                 Accounting Officer)


/s/ PAUL W. BEREZNY, JR.                    Director                            March 20, 1998
   Paul W. Berezny, Jr.

Page 21
<PAGE>
/s/ HENRY O. BOSWELL                        Director                            March 20, 1998
- ----------------------
   Henry O. Boswell



/s/ BRIAN GRIFFITHS                         Director                            March 20, 1998
   Brian Griffiths



/s/SIDNEY E. HARRIS                         Director                            March 20, 1998
   Sidney E. Harris



/s/ HERBERT P. HESS                         Director                            March 20, 1998
- ---------------------------
   Herbert P. Hess



/s/ MICHELE M. HUNT                         Director                            March 20, 1998
- ---------------------------
   Michele M. Hunt



/s/ GUNTHER H. KNOEDLER                     Director                            March 20, 1998
- -----------------------
   Gunther H. Knoedler



/s/ JAMES D. McLENNAN                       Director                            March 20, 1998
- ----------------------
   James D. McLennan



/s/ VINCENT C. NELSON                       Director                            March 20, 1998
- ----------------------
   Vincent C. Nelson



/s/ DALLEN W. PETERSON                      Director                            March 20, 1998
- ---------------------------
   Dallen W. Peterson

Page 22
<PAGE>
/s/  STEVEN S REINEMUND                     Director                            March 20, 1998
- --------------------------------
   Steven S Reinemund



/s/ PHILLIP B. ROONEY                       Vice Chairman and Director          March 20, 1998
- -------------------------------
   Phillip B. Rooney



/s/ BURTON E. SORENSEN                      Director                            March 20, 1998
- ------------------------------------
   Burton E. Sorensen



/s/ DAVID K. WESSNER                        Director                            March 20, 1998
- -------------------------------
   David K. Wessner
</TABLE>


Page 23
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.                     Description of
Exhibit

  1.1        Underwriting  Agreement  dated  as of  August  6,  1997  among  The
             ServiceMaster   Company  and  J.P.  Morgan   Securities   Inc.,  is
             incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  1.1 to the  ServiceMaster
             Limited Partnership,  The ServiceMaster Company Limited Partnership
             and ServiceMaster  Incorporated of Delaware Registration  Statement
             on Form S-3 filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission on
             July 28, 1997 (the "July 28, 1997 Registration Statement").

  1.2        Underwriting  Agreement  dated as of  February  25,  1998 among The
             ServiceMaster  Company and J.P. Morgan  Securities  Inc.,  Goldman,
             Sachs & Co., BancAmerica Robertson Stephens,  First Chicago Capital
             Markets,  Inc. and  NationsBanc  Mongtomgery  Securities  L.L.C. is
             incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit 1 to the Current  Report on
             Form 8-K as filed by The ServiceMaster Company on February 27, 1998
             (the "Company February 27, 1998 8-K").

  2.1         Acquisition   Agreement  dated  December  5,  1996  by  and  among
              ServiceMaster  Limited  Partnership,   ServiceMaster   Acquisition
              Corporation  and  Barefoot  Inc. is  incorporated  by reference to
              Annex A-1 to the Offering  Circular/Prospectus included as part of
              the  Registration  Statement on Form S-4 as filed by ServiceMaster
              Limited Partnership on January 17, 1997 (SEC Registration No.
              333-17759).

  2.2         Plan and  Agreement of Merger dated  December 5, 1996 by and among
              ServiceMaster  Limited  Partnership,   ServiceMaster   Acquisition
              Corporation  and  Barefoot  Inc. is  incorporated  by reference to
              Annex A-2 to the Offering  Circular/Prospectus included as part of
              the  Registration  Statement on Form S-4 as filed by ServiceMaster
              Limited Partnership on January 17, 1997 (SEC Registration No.
              333-17759).

  2.3         Merger and  Reorganization  Agreement  as amended and  restated on
              October 3, 1997 is  incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 5 to the
              Current  Report  on Form  8-K as filed  by  ServiceMaster  Limited
              Partnership  on  December  29, 1997 (the "SMLP  December  29, 1997
              8-K") and to Exhibit 5 to the Current  Report on Form 8-K as filed
              by The  ServiceMaster  Company on Form 8-K on  February  26,  1998
              second of three  8-K  reports  filed on that  date  (the  "Company
              February 26, 1998 8-K, No. 2").

  2.4         Certificate of Merger of NewSub B, Inc. into ServiceMaster Limited
              Partnership  in  accordance  with  Section  17-211 of the Delaware
              Revised  Uniform  Limited  Partnership  Act (the  "Reincorporating
              Merger"),  the filing of which was  certified by the  Secretary of
              State of the  State  of  Delaware  on  December  17,  1997 and the
              effective  date and time of which was  December  26, 1997 at 11:59
              P.M., Eastern Standard Time.

  2.5         Certificate of Merger of ServiceMaster Limited Partnership and The
              ServiceMaster  Company  Limited  Partnership  with  and  into  The
              ServiceMaster Company, a Delaware corporation,  in accordance with
              the General  Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,  the filing
              of which was  certified by the  Secretary of State of the State of
              Delaware on December 18, 1997 and the  effective  date and time of
              which was January 1, 1998 at 12:01 A.M., Eastern Standard Time.

  3.1         Amended  and  Restated   Certificate  of   Incorporation   of  The
              ServiceMaster  Company, a Delaware corporation,  as filed with the
              Secretary  of State,  State of  Delaware,  on  November 6, 1997 is
              incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit 1 to the SMLP  December 29,
              1997 8-K and to Exhibit 1 to the  Company  February  26, 1998 8-K,
              No. 2.

Page 24
<PAGE>
  3.2         Bylaws of The ServiceMaster Company as adopted on November 3, 1997
              are  incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 2 to the SMLP  December
              29,  1997 8-K and to Exhibit 2 to the  Company  February  26, 1998
              8-K, No. 2.

  4.1         Shareholder Rights Agreement between The ServiceMaster Company and
              the Harris Trust and Savings  Bank as adopted on December  12,1997
              is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the SMLP December 29,
              1997 8-K and to Exhibit 3 to the  Company  February  26, 1998 8-K,
              No. 2.

  4.2         The ServiceMaster Company: Certificate of Designation, Preferences
              and Rights of Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock, Series A, is
              incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit 4 to the SMLP  December 29,
              1997 8-K and to Exhibit 4 to the  Company  February  26, 1998 8-K,
              No. 2.

  4.3        Indenture  dated as of August  15,  1997  among  The  ServiceMaster
             Company (as successor to ServiceMaster  Limited Partnership and The
             ServiceMaster Company Limited Partnership) and the Harris Trust and
             Savings Bank as trustee is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1
             to the July 28, 1997 Registration Statement.

  4.4        First Supplemental  Indenture dated as of August 15, 1997 among The
             ServiceMaster   Company  (as  successor  to  ServiceMaster  Limited
             Partnership and The ServiceMaster  Company Limited Partnership) and
             the Harris Trust and Savings Bank as trustee.

  4.5         Second  Supplemental  Indenture  dated as of January 1, 1998 among
              The ServiceMaster  Company (as successor to ServiceMaster  Limited
              Partnership and The ServiceMaster Company Limited Partnership) and
              the Harris  Trust and Savings Bank as trustee is  incorporated  by
              reference to Exhibit 2 to the Current  Report on Form 8-K as filed
              by The  ServiceMaster  Company on Form 8-K on  February  26,  1998
              first of  three  8-K  reports  filed on that  date  (the  "Company
              February 26, 1998 8-K, No. 1").

  4.6        Third  Supplemental  Indenture  dated as of March 2, 1998 among The
             ServiceMaster  Company  and the Harris  Trust and  Savings  Bank as
             trustee is  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Current
             Report  on  Form  8-K as  filed  by The  ServiceMaster  Company  on
             February 27, 1998 (the "Company February 27, 1998 8-K").

4.7  Form of 6.95% Note due August 14,  2007 is  incorporated  by  reference  to
     Exhibit 4.1 to the July 28, 1997 Registration Statement.

4.8  Form of 7.45% Note due August 14,  2027 is  incorporated  by  reference  to
     Exhibit 4.2 to the July 28, 1997 Registration Statement.

4.9  Form of 7.10%  Note due  March 1,  2018 is  incorporated  by  reference  to
     Exhibit 4.1 to the Company February 27, 1998 8-K.

4.10 Form of 7.25%  Note due  March 1,  2038 is  incorporated  by  reference  to
     Exhibit 4.2 to the Company February 27, 1998 8-K.

Page 25
<PAGE>
 10.1        $300,000,000  Credit Agreement  between  ServiceMaster  and certain
             Lenders dated August 31, 1995 and  amendment  thereto dated October
             15,  1996 is  incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  10.33 to the
             Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-4 as  filed  by  ServiceMaster
             Limited Partnership on January 17, 1997 (SEC Registration No.
             333-17759).

10.2          $750,000,000  Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of April 1, 1997
              among The  ServiceMaster  Company Limited  Partnership,  the First
              National Bank of Chicago and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company.

10.3          $250,000,000  364-Day Credit  Agreement  dated as of April 1, 1997
              among The  ServiceMaster  Company Limited  Partnership,  the First
              National Bank of Chicago and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company.

10.4 Form of Deferred  Directors Fee  Agreement as assumed by The  ServiceMaster
     Company in the  Reincorporating  Merger is  incorporated  by  reference  to
     Exhibit  10(c)(4)  to the  Annual  Report on Form  10-K for the year  ended
     December 31, 1980 as filed by ServiceMaster  Limited Partnership (the "1980
     10-K").

10.5         Incentive Reward  Compensation Plan as assumed by The ServiceMaster
             Company in the Reincorporating  Merger is incorporated by reference
             to Exhibit 10(c)(6) to the 1980 10-K.

10.6          ServiceMaster  Profit  Sharing,  Savings  and  Retirement  Plan as
              assumed by The ServiceMaster Company in the Reincorporating Merger
              amended and restated  effective January 1, 1987 is incorporated by
              reference to the exhibit so captioned to the Annual Report on Form
              10-K  for  the  year  ended   December   31,   1987  as  filed  by
              ServiceMaster Limited Partnership (the "1987 10-K").

10.7         The Terminix  International  Company L.P. Profit Sharing Retirement
             Plan (previously known as Cook  International,  Inc. Profit Sharing
             Retirement  Plan) effective  January 1, 1984;  Amendment No. One to
             The Terminix  International  Company L.P. Profit Sharing Retirement
             Plan  effective  January 1, 1986 and April 1, 1986;  Amendment  No.
             Two,  effective  April 1,  1986;  Amendment  No.  Three,  effective
             January 1, 1987 and  January 1, 1988;  The  Terminix  International
             Company L.P.  Profit  Sharing  Retirement  Trust,  all of which are
             incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the 1987 10-K.

10.8         ServiceMaster  10-Plus Plan as assumed by The ServiceMaster Company
             in the  Reincorporating  Merger is  incorporated  by  reference  to
             Exhibit 4.2 to the ServiceMaster  Limited Partnership  Registration
             Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-39148) filed with the SEC on February
             26, 1991 (the "10-Plus Registration Statement").

10.9         Form of Option  Agreement  for the  ServiceMaster  10-Plus  Plan is
             incorporated   by   reference   to  Exhibit   4.3  to  the  10-Plus
             Registration Statement.

10.10        Form  of  Directors  Deferred  Fees  Plan   (ServiceMaster   Shares
             Alternative)  as  assumed  by  The  ServiceMaster  Company  in  the
             Reincorporating  Merger is  incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit
             10.18 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
             31, 1990 (the "1990 10-K")

10.11        Form of Directors  Deferred Fees  Agreement  (ServiceMaster  Shares
             Alternative)  as  assumed  by  The  ServiceMaster  Company  in  the
             Reincorporating  Merger is  incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit
             10.19 of the 1990 10-K.

Page 26
<PAGE>
10.12Form of ServiceMaster Deferred Fees Plan Trust is incorporated by reference
     to Exhibit 10.20 of the 1990 10-K.

10.13        ServiceMaster  10-Plus  Plan as  amended  September  3, 1991 and as
             assumed by The ServiceMaster Company in the Reincorporating  Merger
             is  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Annual Report
             on Form  10-K for the year  ended  December  31,  1991  (the  "1991
             10-K").

10.14Form of Option  Agreement  for the  ServiceMaster  10-Plus  Plan as amended
     September 3, 1991 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the 1991
     10-K.

10.15         ServiceMaster  1994  Non-Employee  Directors  Share Option Plan as
              assumed by The ServiceMaster Company in the Reincorporating Merger
              is incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the  ServiceMaster
              Limited Partnership  Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with
              the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  on October 5, 1994 (the
              "Directors Share Plan Registration Statement").

10.16         Form of Option Agreement for the  ServiceMaster  1994 Non-Employee
              Director Share Option Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit
              4.3 to the Directors Share Plan Registration Statement.

10.17         ServiceMaster   1997   Share   Option   Plan  as  assumed  by  The
              ServiceMaster   Company   in   the   Reincorporating   Merger   is
              incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Annual Report on
              Form  10-K  for the  year  ended  December  31,1996  as  filed  by
              ServiceMaster Limited Partnership (the "1996 10-K").

10.18Form of Option  Agreement for the  ServiceMaster  1997 Share Option Plan is
     incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the 1996 10-K.

10.19         ServiceMaster  1998 Equity  Incentive  Plan as adopted on December
              11, 1997  (subject to  shareholder  approval) is  incorporated  by
              reference to Exhibit A to the Definitive  Proxy  Statement for the
              Registrant's May 1, 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "1998
              Proxy Statement").

10.20Form of Option Agreement for the  ServiceMaster  1998 Equity Incentive Plan
     (Non-Qualifying Stock Options)

10.21Form of Option Agreement for the  ServiceMaster  1998 Equity Incentive Plan
     (Incentive Stock Options)

10.22         ServiceMaster 1998 Non-Employee  Directors Discounted Stock Option
              Plan as adopted on  December  11,  1997  (subject  to  shareholder
              approval)  is  incorporated  by reference to Exhibit B to the 1998
              Proxy Statement.

10.23         ServiceMaster 1998 Long-Term  Performance Award Plan as adopted on
              December   11,  1997   (subject  to   shareholder   approval)   is
              incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit  C  to  the  1998  Proxy
              Statement.

11   Exhibit  regarding  detail of income per share  computation for each of the
     three years ended  December  31,  1997,  1996 and 1995 is  incorporated  by
     reference to the footnote on page 39 of the 1997 Annual Report  (defined in
     Ex. 13).

13           The ServiceMaster  Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended
             December 31, 1997 (the "1997 Annual Report"). The parts of the 1997
             Annual Report which are expressly  incorporated into this report by
             reference  shall be deemed filed with this report.  All other parts
             of the 1997 Annual Report are furnished for the  information of the
             Commission and are not filed with this report.

Page 27
<PAGE>
21           Subsidiaries of Registrant

23           Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

27           Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR filing only)

99.1         Amended  and  Restated   Agreement  of  Limited   Partnership   for
             ServiceMaster  Consumer Services Limited Partnership dated November
             8, 1990 is  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Current
             Report on Form 8-K as filed by ServiceMaster Limited Partnership on
             November 21, 1990.

99.2         Amended  and   Restated   Agreement  of  Limited   Partnership   of
             ServiceMaster   Management   Services  Limited   Partnership  dated
             December 1991 is  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 28.10 to the
             1991 10-K.

99.3         Amended  and   Restated   Agreement  of  Limited   Partnership   of
             ServiceMaster  Consumer Services Limited Partnership effective June
             30,  1992 is  incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  28.12 to the
             Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,1992 as
             filed by ServiceMaster Limited Partnership.


Page 28
<PAGE>
                                Graphics Appendix


         This  appendix  describes  the  graphics  which  could  not be put into
electronic  format and which have been filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission as a paper filing.

         A Performance Graph is set forth on page 28 of the Company's definitive
proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 1, 1998
which  consists of a line graph which compares the yearly  percentage  change in
ServiceMaster's  cumulative  total  shareholder  return on its  limited  partner
shares  (computed  in  accordance  with the Item  302(d)  of Reg.  S-K) with the
cumulative  return on the stocks of the  companies  within the S&P 500 Index and
with the Dow  Jones  Consumer  Services  Index  over the five year  period  from
January  1, 1993 to  December  31,  1997.  The chart  shows  that  ServiceMaster
outperformed  both indices in 1993,  1994,  1995,  1996 and 1997 by wide margins
over the last four years.

Page 29


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-2
<SEQUENCE>2
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATE OF MERGER FOR REINCORPORATING MERGER
<TEXT>

Exhibit 2.4 to 1997 Form 10-K

                              CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

                                       OF

                                 NEWSUB B, INC.
                            (a Delaware corporation)

                                      INTO

                        SERVICEMASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                        (a Delaware limited partnership)

            in accordance with Section 17-211 of the Delaware Revised
                         Uniform Limited Partnership Act

                                    * * * * *

         SERVICEMASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited partnership duly organized
and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware,  desiring
to merge NewSub B, a Delaware corporation,  with and into itself pursuant to the
provisions of Section 17-211 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership
Act, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY as follows:

         First:    The name and state of organization of each constituent 
business entity of the merger (the "Merger") are as follows:

         Name                                      State of Organization

         ServiceMaster Limited Partnership                Delaware

         NewSub B, Inc.                                   Delaware

         Second: A Merger and Reorganization  Agreement (the "Merger Agreement")
has  been  approved,  adopted,  certified,  executed  and  acknowledged  by each
constituent  business  entity in  accordance  with  Section  263 of the  General
Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware and in accordance  with Section 17-211
of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.

         Third:   The name of the surviving business entity of the Merger is 
ServiceMaster Limited Partnership (the "Surviving Business Entity").

         Fourth:     The merger shall be effective on December 26, 1997 at 11:59
P.M., Eastern Standard Time.


<PAGE>



         Fifth:  Anything  herein or elsewhere to the contrary  notwithstanding,
the  Merger  Agreement  may  be  amended  or  terminated  and  abandoned  by the
constituent  business  entities  at any time  prior to the  date of  filing  the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

         Sixth:     An executed copy of the Merger Agreement is on file at the 
principal place of business of the Surviving Business Entity, the address of 
which is:  One ServiceMaster Way, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515.

         Seventh:      A copy of the Merger Agreement will be furnished by the 
Surviving Business Entity on request and without cost to any person holding any 
interest in the constituent business entities.

                                 * * * * *

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned,  for the purposes of effectuating
the Merger of the constituent business entities pursuant to the Delaware Revised
Uniform Limited  Partnership Act, under penalties of perjury does hereby declare
and certify that this is the act and deed of ServiceMaster  Limited  Partnership
and the facts stated herein are true and  accordingly  has hereunto  signed this
Certificate of Merger this 17th day of December 1997.

                                   SERVICEMASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                   By: ServiceMaster Management Corporation
                                       (managing general partner)

ATTEST:                            By: /s/ Vernon T. Squires
                                       Its  Sr. Vice President and
                                            General Counsel
/s/ S. D. Baker
Secretary

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-2
<SEQUENCE>3
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATE OF MERGER, EFFECTIVE 1 JAN 1998
<TEXT>

Exhibit 2.5 to 1997 Form 10-K

                              CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

                                       OF

                        SERVICEMASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                        (a Delaware limited partnership)

                                       AND

                  THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                        (a Delaware limited partnership)

                                  WITH AND INTO

                            THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY

             in accordance with Section 263 General Corporation Law
                            of the State of Delaware

                                    * * * * *

         THE  SERVICEMASTER  COMPANY,  a corporation duly organized and existing
under  and by virtue of the laws of the  State of  Delaware,  desiring  to merge
ServiceMaster  Limited  Partnership,  a Delaware  limited  partnership,  and The
ServiceMaster Company Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership,  with
and into  itself  pursuant  to the  provisions  of  Section  263 of the  General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY as follows:

         First:     The name and state of organization of each constituent
business entity of the merger (the "Merger") is as follows:

         Name                                    State of Organization

         ServiceMaster Limited Partnership             Delaware

         The ServiceMaster Company
           Limited Partnership                         Delaware

         The ServiceMaster Company                     Delaware

         Second: A Merger and Reorganization  Agreement (the "Merger Agreement")
has  been  approved,  adopted,  certified,  executed  and  acknowledged  by each
constituent  business  entity in  accordance  with  Section  263 of the  General
Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware and in accordance  with Section 17-211
of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.

<PAGE>

         Third:   The name of the surviving business entity of the Merger is The
ServiceMaster Company (the "Surviving Business Entity").

         Fourth: The Certificate of Incorporation of The ServiceMaster  Company,
a Delaware corporation,  which is surviving the merger, shall be the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Surviving Business Entity.

         Fifth:  The merger shall be effective on January 1, 1998 at 12:01 A.M.,
Eastern Standard Time.

         Sixth:  Anything  herein or elsewhere to the contrary  notwithstanding,
the  Merger  Agreement  may  be  amended  or  terminated  and  abandoned  by the
constituent  business  entities  at any time  prior to the  date of  filing  the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

         Seventh:    An executed copy of the Merger Agreement is on file at the
principal place of business of the Surviving Business Entity, the address of 
which is:  One ServiceMaster Way, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515.

         Eighth:     A copy of the Merger Agreement will be furnished by the 
Surviving Business Entity on request and without cost to any person holding any 
interest in the constituent business entities.

                                   * * * * *

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned,  for the purposes of effectuating
the  Merger  of the  constituent  business  entities  pursuant  to  the  General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, under penalties of perjury does hereby
declare and certify that this is the act and deed of The  ServiceMaster  Company
and the facts stated herein are true and  accordingly  has hereunto  signed this
Certificate of Merger this 18th day of December 1997.

                                        THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY

ATTEST:                                 By: /s/ Vernon T. Squires
                                            Its Sr. Vice President
                                                and General Counsel
/s/William T. McCormick
Assistant Secretary

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-4
<SEQUENCE>4
<DESCRIPTION>FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
<TEXT>

Exhibit 4.4 to 1997 Form 10-K

                            THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
                               LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                                 as the Company,

                        SERVICEMASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                as the Guarantor,

                                       and

                          HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
                                   as Trustee





                          FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                           Dated as of August 15, 1997

                      (Supplemental to Indenture Dated as of August 15, 1997)




<PAGE>


         FIRST  SUPPLEMENTAL  INDENTURE  dated as of August  15,  1997 among The
ServiceMaster  Company Limited Partnership,  a Delaware limited partnership,  as
the  Company   (hereinafter   called  the  "Company"),   ServiceMaster   Limited
Partnership,  a Delaware  limited  partnership,  as the  Guarantor  (hereinafter
called the "Guarantor"),  and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, an Illinois banking
corporation, as Trustee (hereinafter called the "Trustee").

         WHEREAS,  each of the Company and the Guarantor  executed and delivered
an  Indenture  dated as of August 15,  1997  (hereinafter  called the  "Original
Indenture")  between the Company and the Trustee providing for the issuance from
time to time of its debentures,  notes or other evidences of indebtedness in one
or more series (hereinafter called the "Securities"); and

         WHEREAS,  Section 10.01(5) of the Original  Indenture provides that the
Original  Indenture  may be amended  without  the  consent of the holders of the
Securities in order to establish the form or forms or terms of Securities of any
series or of the coupons  appertaining  to such  Securities  pursuant to Section
2.03 of the Original Indenture;

         WHEREAS, the Guarantor desires to make the Guarantees (as defined in 
the Original Indenture) as provided in the Original Indenture; and

         WHEREAS,  all conditions and requirements  necessary to make this First
Supplemental  Indenture a valid and binding  instrument in  accordance  with its
terms and the terms of the Original Indenture have been satisfied.

         NOW, THEREFORE:

         In  consideration  of the premises and of the mutual  covenants  herein
contained, and in order to provide for payment of the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest on all of the  Securities,  according  to their tenor,  the
Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee hereby covenant and agree:

         SECTION  1. For all  purposes  of this  First  Supplemental  Indenture,
except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires,
all  capitalized  terms  used and not  defined  herein  that are  defined in the
Original  Indenture  shall have the  meanings  assigned to them in the  Original
Indenture.

         Section  1.01 of the  Indenture  is amended as follows:  The  following
definitions   supplement  the  definitions  in  Section  1.01  of  the  Original
Indenture.

Page 1

<PAGE>

         "Comparable  Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury  security
selected  by the  Independent  Investment  Banker  as  having  a  maturity  most
comparable  to the  remaining  term of the 2007 Notes or the 2027 Notes (each as
herein  defined),  as the case may be,  that would be  utilized,  at the time of
selection and in accordance with customary  financial  practice,  in pricing new
issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term
of the 2007 Notes or the 2027 Notes, as the case may be.

         "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date,
(i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the  Comparable  Treasury  Issue
(expressed in each case as a percentage  of its  principal  amount) on the third
business  day  preceding  such  redemption  date,  as set  forth  in  the  daily
statistical  release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New  York  and  designated  "Composite  3:30  p.m.  Quotations  for U.S.
Government Securities" or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not
published or does not contain such prices on such  business  day, the average of
the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption price.

     "Independent  Investment  Banker" means J.P. Morgan  Securities Inc. or, if
such firm is unwilling or unable to select the  Comparable  Treasury  Issue,  an
independent  investment  banking  institution of national standing in the United
States appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith.

     "Managing General Partner" means ServiceMaster  Management  Corporation,  a
Delaware corporation.

      "Reference  Treasury Dealer" means each of J.P. Morgan  Securities Inc.
and its respective successors; provided, however, that if such firm ceases to be
a primary U.S.  Government  securities  dealer in New York, New York (a "Primary
Treasury  Dealer") or  otherwise  fails to provide a Reference  Treasury  Dealer
Quotation,  the Company  will  substitute  therefor any other  Primary  Treasury
Dealer.

         "Reference  Treasury  Dealer  Quotation"  means,  with  respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by
the Trustee,  of the bid and asked  prices for the  Comparable  Treasury  Issues
(expressed  in each case as a  percentage  of its  principal  amount)  quoted in
writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York,
New York time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

Page 2

<PAGE>

         "Remaining  Scheduled  Payments" means,  with respect to the 2007 Notes
and the 2027 Notes, as the case may be, the remaining  scheduled payments of the
principal  thereof to be redeemed and  interest  thereon that would be due after
the related redemption date but for such redemption;  provided, however, that if
such redemption date is not an interest  payment date with respect to such note,
the amount of the next  succeeding  scheduled  interest  payment thereon will be
reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such redemption date.

         "Treasury  Yield" means,  with respect to any redemption date, the rate
per  annum  equal  to  the  semi-annual  equivalent  yield  to  maturity  of the
Comparable  Treasury  Issue,  assuming a price of the Comparable  Treasury Issue
(expressed  as a percentage of its  principal  amount)  equal to the  Comparable
Treasury Price for such redemption date.

         SECTION  2.  Pursuant  to  Sections  2.01  and  2.03  of  the  Original
Indenture,  the Company shall issue and the Guarantor shall guarantee  (pursuant
to Article 4 of the Original Indenture) the following series of Securities,  the
form of each Security of each series to be  substantially  in the form set forth
in Exhibits 1 and 2:

          (a) A series of notes under the Original  Indenture  designated as the
6.95%  Notes due August 15,  2007 (the "2007  Notes").  The series of 2007 Notes
will be limited to $100,000,000  aggregate  principal  amount and will mature on
August 15, 2007 at 100% of their principal amount, unless earlier redeemed.  The
2007 Notes will be issuable  in  denominations  of $1,000 or integral  multiples
thereof.  Each 2007 Note will bear  interest from August 19, 1997 at the rate of
6.95% per annum,  payable  semi-annually  (to  holders of record at the close of
business on February 1 or August 1 immediately  preceding  the interest  payment
date) on February 15 and August 15 of each year beginning February 15, 1998. The
2007 Notes will be  redeemable,  at any time prior to  maturity at the option of
the  Company,  in whole or in part,  upon not less  than 30 or more than 60 days
prior written notice,  at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of
their  principal  amount or (ii) the sum of the present  values of the Remaining
Scheduled  Payments thereon  discounted to the redemption date, on a semi-annual
basis, at the Treasury Yield plus 15 basis points, together with all accrued but
unpaid  interest,  if any, to the date of redemption  in either case;  provided,
however,  that interest  installments due on an interest payment date that is on
or prior to the date of redemption will be payable to holders who are holders of
record  of such  notes as of the close of  business  on the  fifteenth  day next
preceding  such  interest  payment  date.  The 2007 Notes will be issued only as
Registered Global  Securities,  without coupons,  held by the Depositary,  which
will be the  Depository  Trust  Company,  and will not be issued  in  definitive
registered form except pursuant to Section 2.07 of the Original Indenture.

Page 3

<PAGE>

          (b) A series of notes under the Original  Indenture  designated as the
2027 Notes due August 15, 2027 (the "2027 Notes"). The series of 2027 Notes will
be limited to $200,000,000  aggregate principal amount and will mature on August
15, 2027 at 100% of their principal amount,  unless earlier  redeemed.  The 2027
Notes will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof.
Each 2027 Note will bear  interest from August 19, 1997 at the rate of 7.45% per
annum,  payable  semi-annually (to holders of record at the close of business on
the February 1 or August 1 immediately  preceding the interest  payment date) on
February 15 and August 15 of each year  beginning  February 15,  1998.  The 2027
Notes will be  redeemable,  at any time prior to  maturity  at the option of the
Company,  in whole or in part,  upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days prior
written notice,  at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of their
principal  amount  or  (ii)  the  sum of the  present  values  of the  Remaining
Scheduled  Payments thereon  discounted to the redemption date, on a semi-annual
basis, at the Treasury Yield plus 20 basis points, together with all accrued but
unpaid  interest,  if any, to the date of redemption  in either case;  provided,
however,  that interest  installments due on an interest payment date that is on
or prior to the date of redemption will be payable to holders who are holders of
record  of such  notes as of the close of  business  on the  fifteenth  day next
preceding  such  interest  payment  date.  The 2027 Notes will be issued only as
Registered Global  Securities,  without coupons,  held by the Depositary,  which
will be the  Depository  Trust  Company,  and will not be issued  in  definitive
registered form except pursuant to Section 2.07 of the Original Indenture.

         SECTION 3. Nothing in this First Supplemental  Indenture,  expressed or
implied,  is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give to any person
or corporation,  other than the parties hereto and the holders of the 2007 Notes
and 2027  Notes  any  right,  remedy or claim  under or by reason of this  First
Supplemental  Indenture  or any  covenant,  stipulation,  promise  or  agreement
contained  herein;  all the  covenants,  stipulations,  promises and  agreements
contained herein being for the sole and exclusive  benefit of the parties hereto
and their successors, and the holders from time to time of the Securities.

         SECTION 4. This First  Supplemental  Indenture shall form a part of the
Original Indenture for all purposes and every holder of Securities heretofore or
hereafter  authenticated  and delivered  under the Original  Indenture  shall be
bound hereby.  The Original Indenture as supplemented by this First Supplemental
Indenture is hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed.

Page 4

<PAGE>

         SECTION 5. The Trustee,  for itself and its  successor  or  successors,
accepts  the  trust  of  the  Original   Indenture  as  amended  by  this  First
Supplemental Indenture,  and agrees to perform the same, but only upon the terms
and  conditions  set forth in the Original  Indenture,  including  the terms and
provisions  defining and limiting the  liabilities and  responsibilities  of the
Trustee,  which terms and  provisions  shall in like manner define and limit its
liabilities and  responsibilities in the performance of the trust created by the
Original Indenture,  and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the
recitals  contained  herein shall be taken as the  statements of the Company and
the Guarantor,  and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness.
The Trustee makes no  representations  as to the validity or sufficiency of this
First Supplemental  Indenture other than as to the validity of its execution and
delivery by the Trustee.

         SECTION 6. This First  Supplemental  Indenture  may be  executed in any
number  of  counterparts,   each  of  which  shall  be  an  original;  but  such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Page 5

<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this  Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.


                                        The ServiceMaster Company Limited
                                        Partnership, as the Company

                                        By ServiceMaster Management Corporation,
                                           its General Partner


                                        By: /s/

                                            Title:


                                        ServiceMaster Limited Partnership,
                                        as the Guarantor

                                        By ServiceMaster Management Corporation,
                                           its General Partner


                                        By: /s/

                                            Title:

                                        Harris Trust and Savings Bank,
                                        as Trustee


                                        By: /s/

                                            Title:
Page 6
<PAGE>

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  )
COUNTY OF DUPAGE  )

         BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority,  on this ___ day of August, 1997,
personally   appeared    ______________________,    _______________________   of
ServiceMaster  Management Corporation,  the general partner of The ServiceMaster
Company Limited  Partnership,  a Delaware  limited  partnership (the "Company"),
known to me (or proved to me by introduction  upon the oath of a person known to
me) to be the  person and  officer  whose name is  subscribed  to the  foregoing
instrument,  and  acknowledged to me that he/she executed the same as the act of
such general partner on behalf of the Company for the purposes and consideration
herein expressed and in the capacity therein stated.

         GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL THIS ____ DAY OF  AUGUST, 1997.

(SEAL)



                                   NOTARY PUBLIC, STATE OF ILLINOIS

                                   Print Name:

                                   Commission Expires:

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  )
COUNTY OF DUPAGE  )

         BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority,  on this ___ day of August, 1997,
personally   appeared   _______________________,    _______________________   of
ServiceMaster  Management  Corporation,  the  general  partner of  ServiceMaster
Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Guarantor"),  known to
me (or proved to me by introduction upon the oath of a person known to me) to be
the person and officer whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, and
acknowledged  to me that  he/she  executed  the same as the act of such  general
partner on behalf of the  Guarantor  for the purposes and  consideration  herein
expressed and in the capacity therein stated.

         GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL THIS _____ DAY OF AUGUST, 1997.

(SEAL)

                                   NOTARY PUBLIC, STATE OF ILLINOIS

                                   Print Name:

                                   Commission Expires:

Page 7
<PAGE>





STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  )
COUNTY OF COOK    )

         BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority,  on this ___ day of August, 1997,
personally appeared  _______________________,  _______________________ of Harris
Trust and Savings Bank, an Illinois banking corporation,  known to me (or proved
to me by  introduction  upon the oath of a person  known to me) to be the person
and  officer  whose  name  is  subscribed  to  the  foregoing  instrument,   and
acknowledged  to me that he/she  executed  the same as the act of such trust for
the purposes and  consideration  herein  expressed  and in the capacity  therein
stated.

         GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL THIS _____ DAY OF AUGUST, 1997.

(SEAL)


                                   NOTARY PUBLIC, STATE OF ILLINOIS

                                   Print Name:

                                   Commission Expires:
Page 8
<PAGE>


                             [FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

                                                                       Exhibit 1


No.                                                                            $


                            The ServiceMaster Company
                               Limited Partnership

                                     % Note

                                  Due [ ], 2007


         The  ServiceMaster  Company  Limited  Partnership,  a Delaware  limited
partnership (the "Company",  which term includes any successor corporation under
the Indenture  hereinafter referred to), for value received,  hereby promises to
pay to , or  registered  assigns,  at the office or agency of the Company in New
York, New York, the principal sum of
                 on , in the coin or currency of the United  States,  and to pay
interest, semi-annually on , and of each year, commencing
                , on said  principal sum at said office or agency,  in like coin
or currency, at the rate per annum specified in the title of this Note, from the
or the
                , as the case may be,  next  preceding  the date of this Note to
which  interest has been paid or duly provided for,  unless the date hereof is a
date to which  interest has been paid or duly  provided  for, in which case from
the date of this Note,  or unless no interest has been paid or duly provided for
on these Notes,  in which case from , until  payment of said  principal  sum has
been made or duly provided for;  provided,  that payment of interest may be made
at the  option of the  Company  by check  mailed to the  address  of the  person
entitled  thereto as such address  shall  appear on the Security  Register or by
wire transfer as provided in the Indenture.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if
the date  hereof is after the first day of or , as the case may be,  and  before
the following
                 or , this Note shall  bear  interest  from such or ;  provided,
that if the Company  shall  default in the payment of interest  due on such or ,
then  this  Note  shall  bear  interest  from the next  preceding  or , to which
interest has been paid or duly  provided for or, if no interest has been paid or
duly provided for on these Notes, from
                . The  interest  so payable  on any or will,  subject to certain

Exh. 1, Page 1
<PAGE>

exceptions  provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid
to the person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on
                 or , as the case may be,  next  preceding  such or , whether or
not such day is a Business Day.

         Reference is made to the further  provisions  of this Note set forth on
the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same
effect as though fully set forth at this place.

         This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until
the certificate of authentication  hereon shall have been manually signed by the
Trustee under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  The ServiceMaster  Company Limited Partnership has
caused  this  instrument  to be  signed  manually  or by  facsimile  by its duly
authorized officers.



         Dated:

                               THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
                               LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                               By ServiceMaster Management Corporation,
                                  its General Partner


                               By
                               Name:
                               Title:


                               By
                               Name:
                               Title:

Attest:

Exh. 1, Page 2
<PAGE>


                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

         This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

         Dated:                             Harris Trust and Savings Bank,
                                                 as Trustee


                                            By
Authorized Signatory

Exh. 1, Page 3
<PAGE>


                               [FORM OF GUARANTEE]

         ServiceMaster    Limited    Partnership   (the   "Guarantor")    hereby
unconditionally  guarantees  to the holder of this Note duly  authenticated  and
delivered by the Trustee,  the due and punctual  payment of the  principal,  and
premium,  if any,  of  (including  any  amount  in  respect  of  original  issue
discount),  and  interest  (including,  in the event the  Company  defaults on a
payment of interest on the  Securities,  defaulted  interest plus (to the extent
lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted  interest),  if any (together with
any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of this Note), on this Note
and the due and  punctual  payment of the sinking  fund  payments,  if any,  and
analogous obligations,  if any, provided for pursuant to the terms of this Note,
when and as the same shall become due and  payable,  whether at maturity or upon
redemption or upon  declaration of  acceleration  or otherwise  according to the
terms of this Note and of the  Indenture.  In case of default by the  Company in
the payment of any such  principal  (including any amount in respect of original
issue  discount),  interest  (including,  in the event the Company defaults on a
payment of interest on the  Securities,  defaulted  interest plus (to the extent
lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted  interest),  if any (together with
any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of this Note), sinking fund
payment,  or analogous  obligation,  the Guarantor agrees duly and punctually to
pay the same. The Guarantor  hereby agrees that its obligations  hereunder shall
be absolute  and  unconditional  irrespective  of any  extension of the time for
payment  of  this  Note,  any   modification   of  this  Note,  any  invalidity,
irregularity or unenforceability  of this Note or the Indenture,  any failure to
enforce  the same or any  waiver,  modification  or  indulgence  granted  to the
Company with respect  thereto by the holder of this Note or the Trustee,  or any
other  circumstances  which  may  otherwise  constitute  a  legal  or  equitable
discharge of a surety or  guarantor.  The  Guarantor  hereby  waives  diligence,
presentment,  demand of  payment,  filing of claims with a court in the event of
merger or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a demand or proceeding
first  against the  Company,  protest or notice with respect to this Note or the
indebtedness  evidenced thereby and all demands  whatsoever,  and covenants that
this  guarantee will not be discharged as to this Note except by payment in full
of the principal of (including  any amount  payable in respect of original issue
discount),  and  interest  (including,  in the event the  Company  defaults on a
payment of interest on the  Securities,  defaulted  interest plus (to the extent
lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted  interest),  if any (together with
any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of this Note), thereon.


Exh. 1, Page 4
<PAGE>


         Upon making any payment hereunder, the Guarantor shall be subrogated to
the  rights of a Holder  against  the  Company  with  respect  to such  payment;
provided that the Guarantor  shall not enforce any payment by way of subrogation
until all amounts of Principal of and interest on the  Securities  and all other
amounts payable by the Company under this Indenture have been paid in full.

         This guarantee shall not be valid or become  obligatory for any purpose
with respect to this Note until the certificate of  authentication  on this Note
shall have been signed by the Trustee.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  ServiceMaster  Limited Partnership has caused this
guarantee to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.



                                    SERVICEMASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                    By ServiceMaster Management Corporation,
                                       its General Partner


                                    By ________________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:


                                    By ________________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

Exh. 1, Page 5
<PAGE>


                                 REVERSE OF NOTE
                            The ServiceMaster Company
                               Limited Partnership

                                     % Note
                                  Due [ ], 2007

         This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of debentures, notes, bonds
or other  evidences  of  indebtedness  of the  Company  (hereinafter  called the
"Securities") of the series  hereinafter  specified,  all issued or to be issued
under and pursuant to an indenture dated as of August 15, 1997 (as  supplemented
by  the  First  Supplemental   Indenture  dated  as  of  August  15,  1997,  the
"Indenture"), among the Company, ServiceMaster Limited Partnership, as Guarantor
and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee"),  to
which  Indenture  and all  indentures  supplemental  thereto  and all terms of a
particular  series of  Securities  established  pursuant to Section  2.03 of the
Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights,  limitations
of rights,  obligations,  duties and immunities  thereunder of the Trustee,  the
Company and the Holders of the  Securities.  The Securities may be issued in one
or more  series,  which  different  series  may be issued in  various  aggregate
principal amounts,  may mature at different times, may bear interest (if any) at
different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions (if any), may
be subject to different  sinking,  purchase or analogous  funds (if any) and may
otherwise  vary as in the  Indenture  provided.  This  Note  is one of a  series
designated  as the % Notes Due [ ], 2007 of the  Company,  limited in  aggregate
principal amount to $100,000,000.



         Interest  will be  computed  on the basis of a  360-day  year of twelve
30-day months.  The Company shall pay interest on overdue  principal and, to the
extent lawful,  on overdue  installments of interest at the rate per annum borne
by  this  Note.  If a  payment  date is not a  Business  Day as  defined  in the
Indenture  at a place of payment,  payment may be made at that place on the next
succeeding  day that is a Business  Day,  and no interest  shall  accrue for the
intervening period.

         In case an Event of Default as defined in the  Indenture,  with respect
to the % Notes [ ], 2007,  shall have occurred and be continuing,  the principal
hereof and the interest accrued hereon,  if any, may be declared,  and upon such
declaration  shall  become,  due and payable in the manner,  with the effect and
subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

Exh. 1, Page 6
<PAGE>

         The Indenture  contains  provisions  which provide that,  without prior
notice to any Holders,  the Company and the Trustee may amend the  Indenture and
the  Securities  of any series  with the  written  consent  of the  Holders of a
majority in aggregate  principal  amount of the  outstanding  Securities  of all
series  affected  (all such series  voting as one  class),  and the Holders of a
majority in aggregate  principal  amount of the  outstanding  Securities  of all
series to be affected (all such series voting as one class) by written notice to
the Trustee may waive future compliance by the Company with any provision of the
Indenture or the Securities of such series;  provided that,  without the consent
of each Holder of the Securities of each series affected  thereby,  an amendment
or waiver,  including a waiver of past defaults,  may not: (i) extend the stated
maturity of the principal of, or any sinking fund  obligation or any installment
of interest on, such Holder's  Security,  or reduce the principal amount thereof
or the rate of  interest  thereon  (including  any amount in respect of original
issue  discount),  or any premium  payable  with respect  thereto,  or adversely
affect the rights of such Holder under any  mandatory  redemption  or repurchase
provision or any right of redemption or repurchase at the option of such Holder,
or reduce the amount of the  principal of an Original  Issue  Discount  Security
that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity or the amount
thereof  provable in bankruptcy,  or change any place of payment  where,  or the
currency  in which,  any  Security  or any  premium or the  interest  thereon is
payable,  or impair the right to institute suit for the  enforcement of any such
payment  on or after  the due date  therefor;  (ii)  reduce  the  percentage  in
principal amount of outstanding Securities of the relevant series the consent of
whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, for any waiver of
compliance  with certain  provisions  of the  Indenture or certain  Defaults and
their consequences  provided for in the Indenture;  (iii) waive a Default in the
payment of  principal  of or interest on any  Security of such  Holder;  or (iv)
modify any of the provisions of the Indenture governing supplemental  indentures
with the consent of Securityholders except to increase any such percentage or to
provide that certain other  provisions  of the  Indenture  cannot be modified or
waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding  Security  affected
thereby.

         It  is  also  provided  in  the  Indenture  that,  subject  to  certain
conditions,  the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the outstanding Securities of all series affected (voting as a single class), by
notice to the  Trustee,  may waive an existing  Default or Event of Default with
respect to the Securities of such series and its consequences,  except a Default
in the payment of  principal  of or interest on any  Security or in respect of a
covenant  or  provision  of the  Indenture  which  cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding  Security  affected.  Upon
any such  waiver,  such Default  shall cease to exist,  and any Event of Default
with respect to the Securities of such series arising  therefrom shall be deemed
to have been cured, for every purpose of the Indenture; but no such waiver shall
extend to any  subsequent  or other  Default  or Event of  Default or impair any
right consequent thereto.

Exh. 1, Page 7
<PAGE>

         The Indenture  provides that a series of Securities  may include one or
more tranches (each a "tranche") of Securities, including Securities issued in a
periodic  offering.  The  Securities of different  tranches may have one or more
different terms, including  authentication dates and public offering prices, but
all the  Securities  within  each  such  tranche  shall  have  identical  terms,
including  authentication  date and public offering price.  Notwithstanding  any
other provision of the Indenture, subject to certain exceptions, with respect to
sections of the Indenture concerning the execution,  authentication and terms of
the  Securities,  redemption  of  the  Securities,  Events  of  Default  of  the
Securities,  defeasance of the Securities and amendment of the Indenture, if any
series of  Securities  includes  more than one tranche,  all  provisions of such
sections  applicable  to any  series  of  Securities  shall  be  deemed  equally
applicable  to each  tranche of any series of  Securities  in the same manner as
though originally  designated a series unless otherwise provided with respect to
such  series  or  tranche  pursuant  to a  board  resolution  or a  supplemental
indenture establishing such series or tranche.

         No reference  herein to the  Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture  shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company,  which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest
on this Note in the manner,  at the place, at the respective  times, at the rate
and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.

         The  Notes are  issuable  initially  only in  registered  form  without
coupons in  denominations  of $1,000 and any multiple of $1,000 at the office or
agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan,  The City of New York, and in
the manner and  subject  to the  limitations  provided  in the  Indenture,  but,
without the payment of any service  charge,  Notes may be  exchanged  for a like
aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations.

         The Notes  will be  redeemable,  at any time prior to  maturity  at the
option of the Company,  in whole or in part,  upon not less than 30 or more than
60 days prior written notice,  at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i)
100% of their  principal  amount  or (ii) the sum of the  present  values of the
Remaining  Scheduled  Payments  thereon  discounted to the redemption date, on a
semi-annual basis, at the Treasury Yield plus [____] basis points, together with
all accrued but unpaid  interest,  if any, to the date of  redemption  in either
case; provided,  however,  that interest installments due on an interest payment
date that is on or prior to the date of  redemption  will be  payable to holders
who are  holders  of record of such  notes as of the  close of  business  on the
fifteenth day next preceding such interest payment date.

Exh. 1, Page 8
<PAGE>

         Upon due presentment  for  registration of transfer of this Note at the
office or agency of the  Company in the  Borough of  Manhattan,  The City of New
York, a new Note or Notes of  authorized  denominations  for an equal  aggregate
principal amount will be issued to the transferee in exchange therefor,  subject
to the limitations provided in the Indenture,  without charge except for any tax
or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

         The Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or
the  Trustee may deem and treat the  registered  Holder  hereof as the  absolute
owner  of  this  Note   (whether   or  not  this  Note  shall  be  overdue   and
notwithstanding  any  notation of ownership or other  writing  hereon),  for the
purpose of  receiving  payment of, or on account of, the  principal  hereof and,
subject to the provisions  hereof,  interest hereon, and for all other purposes,
and neither the Company nor the  Guarantor  nor the Trustee nor any agent of the
Company,  the  Guarantor  or the Trustee  shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.

         No recourse under or upon any obligation,  covenant or agreement of the
Company,  the Guarantor or the Managing  General Partner in the Indenture or any
indenture  supplemental  thereto or in any Note, or because of any  indebtedness
evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator,  stockholder,  officer
or director, as such, past, present, or future, of the Company, the Guarantor or
the Managing General Partner or any successor corporation of any of them, either
directly or through the Company,  the Guarantor or the Managing  General Partner
or any successor  corporation of any of them,  under any rule of law, statute or
constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal
or equitable proceeding or otherwise,  all such liability being expressly waived
and released by the acceptance  hereof and as part of the  consideration for the
issue hereof.

         Terms used  herein  which are defined in the  Indenture  shall have the
respective meanings assigned thereto in the Indenture.

Exh. 1, Page 9
<PAGE>

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and 
transfer(s) unto

[PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE]

[PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
         IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE]


_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________


the within Note and all rights thereunder,  hereby irrevocably  constituting and
appointing  such  person  attorney  to  transfer  such  Note on the books of the
Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.


Dated:

NOTICE:           The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name
                  as  written  upon  the  face  of  the  within  Note  in  every
                  particular  without  alteration or  enlargement  or any change
                  whatsoever.

Exh. 1, Page 10
<PAGE>

                             [FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

                                                                       Exhibit 2
No.      $

                            The ServiceMaster Company
                               Limited Partnership

                                     % Note

                                  Due [ ], 2027

         The  ServiceMaster  Company  Limited  Partnership,  a Delaware  limited
partnership (the "Company",  which term includes any successor corporation under
the Indenture  hereinafter referred to), for value received,  hereby promises to
pay to , or  registered  assigns,  at the office or agency of the Company in New
York, New York, the principal sum of
                 on , in the coin or currency of the United  States,  and to pay
interest, semi-annually on , and of each year, commencing
                , on said  principal sum at said office or agency,  in like coin
or currency, at the rate per annum specified in the title of this Note, from the
or the
                , as the case may be,  next  preceding  the date of this Note to
which  interest has been paid or duly provided for,  unless the date hereof is a
date to which  interest has been paid or duly  provided  for, in which case from
the date of this Note,  or unless no interest has been paid or duly provided for
on these Notes,  in which case from , until  payment of said  principal  sum has
been made or duly provided for;  provided,  that payment of interest may be made
at the  option of the  Company  by check  mailed to the  address  of the  person
entitled  thereto as such address  shall  appear on the Security  Register or by
wire transfer as provided in the Indenture.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if
the date  hereof is after the first day of or , as the case may be,  and  before
the following
                 or , this Note shall  bear  interest  from such or ;  provided,
that if the Company  shall  default in the payment of interest  due on such or ,
then  this  Note  shall  bear  interest  from the next  preceding  or , to which

Exh. 2, Page 1
<PAGE>

interest has been paid or duly  provided for or, if no interest has been paid or
duly provided for on these Notes, from
                . The  interest  so payable  on any or will,  subject to certain
exceptions  provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid
to the person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on
                 or , as the case may be,  next  preceding  such or , whether or
not such day is a Business Day.

         Reference is made to the further  provisions  of this Note set forth on
the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same
effect as though fully set forth at this place.

         This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until
the certificate of authentication  hereon shall have been manually signed by the
Trustee under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  The ServiceMaster  Company Limited Partnership has
caused  this  instrument  to be  signed  manually  or by  facsimile  by its duly
authorized officers.

         Dated:

                                        THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
                                        LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                                        By ServiceMaster Management Corporation,
                                             its General Partner


                                        By
                                        Name:
                                        Title:


                                        By
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

Attest:

Exh. 2, Page 2
<PAGE>

                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

         This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:
                                            Harris Trust and Savings Bank,
                                                 as Trustee


                                            By
                                               Authorized Signatory

Exh. 2, Page 3
<PAGE>

                               [FORM OF GUARANTEE]

         ServiceMaster    Limited    Partnership   (the   "Guarantor")    hereby
unconditionally  guarantees  to the holder of this Note duly  authenticated  and
delivered by the Trustee,  the due and punctual  payment of the  principal,  and
premium,  if any,  of  (including  any  amount  in  respect  of  original  issue
discount),  and  interest  (including,  in the event the  Company  defaults on a
payment of interest on the  Securities,  defaulted  interest plus (to the extent
lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted  interest),  if any (together with
any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of this Note), on this Note
and the due and  punctual  payment of the sinking  fund  payments,  if any,  and
analogous obligations,  if any, provided for pursuant to the terms of this Note,
when and as the same shall become due and  payable,  whether at maturity or upon
redemption or upon  declaration of  acceleration  or otherwise  according to the
terms of this Note and of the  Indenture.  In case of default by the  Company in
the payment of any such  principal  (including any amount in respect of original
issue  discount),  interest  (including,  in the event the Company defaults on a
payment of interest on the  Securities,  defaulted  interest plus (to the extent
lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted  interest),  if any (together with
any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of this Note), sinking fund
payment,  or analogous  obligation,  the Guarantor agrees duly and punctually to
pay the same. The Guarantor  hereby agrees that its obligations  hereunder shall
be absolute  and  unconditional  irrespective  of any  extension of the time for
payment  of  this  Note,  any   modification   of  this  Note,  any  invalidity,
irregularity or unenforceability  of this Note or the Indenture,  any failure to
enforce  the same or any  waiver,  modification  or  indulgence  granted  to the
Company with respect  thereto by the holder of this Note or the Trustee,  or any
other  circumstances  which  may  otherwise  constitute  a  legal  or  equitable
discharge of a surety or  guarantor.  The  Guarantor  hereby  waives  diligence,
presentment,  demand of  payment,  filing of claims with a court in the event of
merger or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a demand or proceeding
first  against the  Company,  protest or notice with respect to this Note or the
indebtedness  evidenced thereby and all demands  whatsoever,  and covenants that
this  guarantee will not be discharged as to this Note except by payment in full
of the principal of (including  any amount  payable in respect of original issue
discount),  and  interest  (including,  in the event the  Company  defaults on a
payment of interest on the  Securities,  defaulted  interest plus (to the extent
lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted  interest),  if any (together with
any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of this Note), thereon.

Exh. 2, Page 4
<PAGE>

         Upon making any payment hereunder, the Guarantor shall be subrogated to
the  rights of a Holder  against  the  Company  with  respect  to such  payment;
provided that the Guarantor  shall not enforce any payment by way of subrogation
until all amounts of Principal of and interest on the  Securities  and all other
amounts payable by the Company under this Indenture have been paid in full.

         This guarantee shall not be valid or become  obligatory for any purpose
with respect to this Note until the certificate of  authentication  on this Note
shall have been signed by the Trustee.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  ServiceMaster  Limited Partnership has caused this
guarantee to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.



                                    SERVICEMASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                    By ServiceMaster Management Corporation,
                                       its General Partner


                                    By ________________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:


                                    By ________________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:
Exh. 2, Page 5
<PAGE>

                                 REVERSE OF NOTE
                            The ServiceMaster Company
                               Limited Partnership

                                     % Note
                                  Due [ ], 2027

         This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of debentures, notes, bonds
or other  evidences  of  indebtedness  of the  Company  (hereinafter  called the
"Securities") of the series  hereinafter  specified,  all issued or to be issued
under and pursuant to an indenture dated as of August 15, 1997 (as  supplemented
by  the  First  Supplemental   Indenture  dated  as  of  August  15,  1997,  the
"Indenture"), among the Company, ServiceMaster Limited Partnership, as Guarantor
and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee"),  to
which  Indenture  and all  indentures  supplemental  thereto  and all terms of a
particular  series of  Securities  established  pursuant to Section  2.03 of the
Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights,  limitations
of rights,  obligations,  duties and immunities  thereunder of the Trustee,  the
Company and the Holders of the  Securities.  The Securities may be issued in one
or more  series,  which  different  series  may be issued in  various  aggregate
principal amounts,  may mature at different times, may bear interest (if any) at
different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions (if any), may
be subject to different  sinking,  purchase or analogous  funds (if any) and may
otherwise  vary as in the  Indenture  provided.  This  Note  is one of a  series
designated  as the % Notes Due [ ], 2027 of the  Company,  limited in  aggregate
principal amount to $200,000,000.

         Interest  will be  computed  on the basis of a  360-day  year of twelve
30-day months.  The Company shall pay interest on overdue  principal and, to the
extent lawful,  on overdue  installments of interest at the rate per annum borne
by  this  Note.  If a  payment  date is not a  Business  Day as  defined  in the
Indenture  at a place of payment,  payment may be made at that place on the next
succeeding  day that is a Business  Day,  and no interest  shall  accrue for the
intervening period.

         In case an Event of Default as defined in the  Indenture,  with respect
to the % Notes  Due [ ],  2027,  shall  have  occurred  and be  continuing,  the
principal hereof and the interest accrued hereon,  if any, may be declared,  and
upon such  declaration  shall  become,  due and payable in the manner,  with the
effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

Exh. 2, Page 6
<PAGE>

         The Indenture  contains  provisions  which provide that,  without prior
notice to any Holders,  the Company and the Trustee may amend the  Indenture and
the  Securities  of any series  with the  written  consent  of the  Holders of a
majority in aggregate  principal  amount of the  outstanding  Securities  of all
series  affected  (all such series  voting as one  class),  and the Holders of a
majority in aggregate  principal  amount of the  outstanding  Securities  of all
series to be affected (all such series voting as one class) by written notice to
the Trustee may waive future compliance by the Company with any provision of the
Indenture or the Securities of such series;  provided that,  without the consent
of each Holder of the Securities of each series affected  thereby,  an amendment
or waiver,  including a waiver of past defaults,  may not: (i) extend the stated
maturity of the principal of, or any sinking fund  obligation or any installment
of interest on, such Holder's  Security,  or reduce the principal amount thereof
or the rate of  interest  thereon  (including  any amount in respect of original
issue  discount),  or any premium  payable  with respect  thereto,  or adversely
affect the rights of such Holder under any  mandatory  redemption  or repurchase
provision or any right of redemption or repurchase at the option of such Holder,
or reduce the amount of the  principal of an Original  Issue  Discount  Security
that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity or the amount
thereof  provable in bankruptcy,  or change any place of payment  where,  or the
currency  in which,  any  Security  or any  premium or the  interest  thereon is
payable,  or impair the right to institute suit for the  enforcement of any such
payment  on or after  the due date  therefor;  (ii)  reduce  the  percentage  in
principal amount of outstanding Securities of the relevant series the consent of
whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, for any waiver of
compliance  with certain  provisions  of the  Indenture or certain  Defaults and
their consequences  provided for in the Indenture;  (iii) waive a Default in the
payment of  principal  of or interest on any  Security of such  Holder;  or (iv)
modify any of the provisions of the Indenture governing supplemental  indentures
with the consent of Securityholders except to increase any such percentage or to
provide that certain other  provisions  of the  Indenture  cannot be modified or
waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding  Security  affected
thereby.

         It  is  also  provided  in  the  Indenture  that,  subject  to  certain
conditions,  the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the outstanding Securities of all series affected (voting as a single class), by
notice to the  Trustee,  may waive an existing  Default or Event of Default with

Exh. 2, Page 7
<PAGE>
respect to the Securities of such series and its consequences,  except a Default
in the payment of  principal  of or interest on any  Security or in respect of a
covenant  or  provision  of the  Indenture  which  cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding  Security  affected.  Upon
any such  waiver,  such Default  shall cease to exist,  and any Event of Default
with respect to the Securities of such series arising  therefrom shall be deemed
to have been cured, for every purpose of the Indenture; but no such waiver shall
extend to any  subsequent  or other  Default  or Event of  Default or impair any
right consequent thereto.

         The Indenture  provides that a series of Securities  may include one or
more tranches (each a "tranche") of Securities, including Securities issued in a
periodic  offering.  The  Securities of different  tranches may have one or more
different terms, including  authentication dates and public offering prices, but
all the  Securities  within  each  such  tranche  shall  have  identical  terms,
including  authentication  date and public offering price.  Notwithstanding  any
other provision of the Indenture, subject to certain exceptions, with respect to
sections of the Indenture concerning the execution,  authentication and terms of
the  Securities,  redemption  of  the  Securities,  Events  of  Default  of  the
Securities,  defeasance of the Securities and amendment of the Indenture, if any
series of  Securities  includes  more than one tranche,  all  provisions of such
sections  applicable  to any  series  of  Securities  shall  be  deemed  equally
applicable  to each  tranche of any series of  Securities  in the same manner as
though originally  designated a series unless otherwise provided with respect to
such  series  or  tranche  pursuant  to a  board  resolution  or a  supplemental
indenture establishing such series or tranche.

         No reference  herein to the  Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture  shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company,  which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest
on this Note in the manner,  at the place, at the respective  times, at the rate
and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.

         The  Notes are  issuable  initially  only in  registered  form  without
coupons in  denominations  of $1,000 and any multiple of $1,000 at the office or
agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan,  The City of New York, and in
the manner and  subject  to the  limitations  provided  in the  Indenture,  but,
without the payment of any service  charge,  Notes may be  exchanged  for a like
aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations.

Exh. 2, Page 8
<PAGE>
         The Notes  will be  redeemable,  at any time prior to  maturity  at the
option of the Company,  in whole or in part,  upon not less than 30 or more than
60 days prior written notice,  at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i)
100% of their  principal  amount  or (ii) the sum of the  present  values of the
Remaining  Scheduled  Payments  thereon  discounted to the redemption date, on a
semi-annual basis, at the Treasury Yield plus [____] basis points, together with
all accrued but unpaid  interest,  if any, to the date of  redemption  in either
case; provided,  however,  that interest installments due on an interest payment
date that is on or prior to the date of  redemption  will be  payable to holders
who are  holders  of record of such  notes as of the  close of  business  on the
fifteenth day next preceding such interest payment date.

         Upon due presentment  for  registration of transfer of this Note at the
office or agency of the  Company in the  Borough of  Manhattan,  The City of New
York, a new Note or Notes of  authorized  denominations  for an equal  aggregate
principal amount will be issued to the transferee in exchange therefor,  subject
to the limitations provided in the Indenture,  without charge except for any tax
or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

         The Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or
the  Trustee may deem and treat the  registered  Holder  hereof as the  absolute
owner  of  this  Note   (whether   or  not  this  Note  shall  be  overdue   and
notwithstanding  any  notation of ownership or other  writing  hereon),  for the
purpose of  receiving  payment of, or on account of, the  principal  hereof and,
subject to the provisions  hereof,  interest hereon, and for all other purposes,
and neither the Company nor the  Guarantor  nor the Trustee nor any agent of the
Company,  the  Guarantor  or the Trustee  shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.

         No recourse under or upon any obligation,  covenant or agreement of the
Company,  the Guarantor or the Managing  General Partner in the Indenture or any
indenture  supplemental  thereto or in any Note, or because of any  indebtedness
evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator,  stockholder,  officer
or director, as such, past, present, or future, of the Company, the Guarantor or
the Managing General Partner or any successor corporation of any of them, either
directly or through the Company,  the Guarantor or the Managing  General Partner
or any successor  corporation of any of them,  under any rule of law, statute or
constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal
or equitable proceeding or otherwise,  all such liability being expressly waived
and released by the acceptance  hereof and as part of the  consideration for the
issue hereof.

         Terms used  herein  which are defined in the  Indenture  shall have the
respective meanings assigned thereto in the Indenture.

Exh. 2, Page 9
<PAGE>

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and 
transfer(s) unto

[PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE]

[PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
         IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE]


_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

the within Note and all rights thereunder,  hereby irrevocably  constituting and
appointing  such  person  attorney  to  transfer  such  Note on the books of the
Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.


Dated:

NOTICE:           The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name
                  as  written  upon  the  face  of  the  within  Note  in  every
                  particular  without  alteration or  enlargement  or any change
                  whatsoever.

Exh. 2, Page 10

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10
<SEQUENCE>5
<DESCRIPTION>$750M 5 YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT
<TEXT>

Exhibit 10.2 to 1997 Form 10-K

                                  $750,000,000

                                    FIVE-YEAR
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT



                            dated as of April 1, 1997


                                      among


                 THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,


                                   THE LENDERS


                                       and


                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                             as Administrative Agent

                                       and

                          MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                       OF NEW YORK, as Documentation Agent

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


                          J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
                                    Arranger


                             BANK OF AMERICA NT & SA
                                       and
                               NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
                                  as Co-Agents


<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           Page


                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS


         1.1.          Defined Terms........................................  1
         1.2.          Accounting Terms and Determinations.................. 21
         1.3.          Rules of Construction................................ 21
         1.4.          Rounding............................................. 21

                                   ARTICLE II

                                  THE FACILITY


         2.1.          The Facility......................................... 21
                       2.1.1.    Description of Facility.................... 21
                       2.1.2.    Availability of Facility; Required Payments.22
         2.2.          Committed Advances................................... 22
                       2.2.1.        Committed Advances..................... 22
                       2.2.2.        Types of Committed Advances............ 23
                       2.2.3.        Method of Selecting Types and Interest
                                     Periods for New Committed Advances..... 23
                       2.2.4.        Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding
                                     Committed Advances..................... 23
         2.3.          Competitive Bid Advances............................. 25
                       2.3.1.        Competitive Bid Option; Repayment of
                                     Competitive Bid Advances............... 25
                       2.3.2.        Competitive Bid Quote Request.......... 25
                       2.3.3.        Submission and Contents of Competitive
                                     Bid Quotes............................. 26
                       2.3.4.        Acceptance and Notice by the Borrower.. 28
                       2.3.5.        Allocation by the Borrower............. 28
                       2.3.6.        Notice by the Borrower to the
                                     Administrative Agent................... 29
         2.4.          Facility Fees........................................ 29
         2.5.          General Facility Terms............................... 29
                       2.5.1.        Method of Borrowing.................... 29
                       2.5.2.        Minimum Amount of Each Committed
                                     Advance................................ 30
                       2.5.3.        Optional Principal Payments............ 30
                       2.5.4.        Interest Periods....................... 30
                       2.5.5.        Rate after Maturity.................... 31
                       2.5.6.        Interest Payment Dates; Interest Basis. 31
                       2.5.7.        Method of Payment...................... 32
                       2.5.8.        Notes.................................. 32
Page i
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
         <C>           <S>                                                                                      <C>
                       2.5.9.        Notification of Advances, Interest Rates and Prepayments................... 33
                       2.5.10.       Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent........................... 33
                       2.5.11.       Cancellation............................................................... 33
                       2.5.12.       Lending Installations...................................................... 34
                       2.5.13.       Currency Equivalents....................................................... 34
                       2.5.14.       Taxes...................................................................... 35
                       2.5.15.       Regulation D Compensation.................................................. 37
         2.6.          Optional Increase in Commitments......................................................... 38
         2.7           Letters of Credit........................................................................ 39
                       2.7.1.  Availability..................................................................... 39
                       2.7.2.  Procedure for Issuance........................................................... 40
                       2.7.3.  Reimbursement of Drawings........................................................ 40
                       2.7.4.  Obligations Absolute............................................................. 41
                       2.7.5.  Indemnity........................................................................ 42
                       2.7.6.  Letter of Credit Fees............................................................ 43
                       2.7.7.  Stop Issuance Notice............................................................. 44

                                   ARTICLE III

                             CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

         3.1           Yield Protection......................................................................... 44
         3.2.          Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations.................................................. 45
         3.3.          Availability of Types of Advances........................................................ 46
         3.4.          Funding Indemnification.................................................................. 47
         3.5.          Lender Statements; Limit on Retroactivity; Survival of Indemnity......................... 47
         3.6.          Foreign Subsidiary Costs................................................................. 48
         3.7.          Replacement of Lenders................................................................... 48



                                   ARTICLE IV

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT


         4.1.          Initial Advance or Letter of Credit...................................................... 49
         4.2.          Initial Advance or Letter of Credit for each Eligible Subsidiary......................... 51
         4.3.          Each Advance or Letter of Credit......................................................... 51

Page ii
<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE V

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

         5.1.          Organization and Authority............................................................... 52
         5.2.          Organization and Authority of Subsidiaries............................................... 53
         5.3.          Organization and Authority of Corporate General Partner.................................. 53
         5.4.          Business and Property.................................................................... 54
         5.5.          Financial Statements..................................................................... 54
         5.6.          Full Disclosure.......................................................................... 54
         5.7.          Pending Litigation....................................................................... 55
         5.8.          Loan Documents are Legal, Valid, Binding and Authorized.................................. 55
         5.9.          Governmental Consent..................................................................... 56
         5.10.         Taxes.................................................................................... 56
         5.11.         Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.......................................... 56
         5.12.         Investment Company Act................................................................... 56
         5.13.         Compliance with Environmental Laws....................................................... 57
         5.14.         Regulations U and X...................................................................... 57



                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    COVENANTS

                       6.1.1.        Information................................................................ 57
                       6.1.2.        Use of Parent Information.................................................. 59
         6.2.          Use of Proceeds.......................................................................... 59
         6.3.          Notice of Default........................................................................ 59
         6.4.          Inspection............................................................................... 60
         6.5.          Legal Existence, Etc..................................................................... 60
         6.6.          Insurance................................................................................ 60
         6.7.          Taxes, Claims for Labor and Materials, Compliance with Laws.............................. 60
         6.8.          Maintenance, Etc......................................................................... 61
         6.9.          Nature of Business....................................................................... 61
         6.10.         Restricted Payments...................................................................... 61
         6.11.         Payment of Dividends by Subsidiaries..................................................... 62
         6.12.         Transactions with Affiliates............................................................. 62
         6.13.         Negative Pledge.......................................................................... 62
         6.14.         Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.............................................. 64
         6.15.         Leverage Test............................................................................ 65
         6.16.         Subsidiary Debt Limitation............................................................... 65

Page iii
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE VII

                                    DEFAULTS


         7.1.           .........................................................................................65
         7.2.           .........................................................................................65
         7.3.           .........................................................................................66
         7.4.           .........................................................................................66
         7.5.           .........................................................................................66
         7.6.           .........................................................................................66
         7.7.           .........................................................................................66
         7.8.           .........................................................................................66
         7.9.           .........................................................................................67
         7.10.          .........................................................................................67
         7.11.          .........................................................................................67
         7.12.          .........................................................................................67
         7.13.          .........................................................................................67




                                  ARTICLE VIII

                 ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES


         8.1           Acceleration............................................................................. 68
         8.2           Amendments............................................................................... 68
         8.3.          Preservation of Rights................................................................... 69



                                   ARTICLE IX

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         9.1.          Survival of Representations.............................................................. 70
         9.2.          Headings................................................................................. 70
         9.3.          Entire Agreement......................................................................... 70
         9.4.          Several Obligations...................................................................... 70
         9.5.          Expenses; Indemnification................................................................ 70
         9.6.          Numbers of Documents..................................................................... 72
         9.7.          Severability of Provisions............................................................... 72
         9.8.          Nonliability of Lenders.................................................................. 72
         9.9.          CHOICE OF LAW............................................................................ 72
         9.10.         CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.................................................................. 72
         9.11.         WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL..................................................................... 73
         9.12.         Confidentiality.......................................................................... 73

Page iv
<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE X

                                   THE AGENTS


         10.1.         Appointment.............................................................................. 73
         10.2.         Powers................................................................................... 73
         10.3.         General Immunity......................................................................... 73
         10.4.         No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc............................................... 74
         10.5.         Action on Instructions of Lenders........................................................ 74
         10.6.         Employment of Agents and Counsel......................................................... 74
         10.7.         Reliance on Documents; Counsel........................................................... 75
         10.8.         Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification................................................ 75
         10.9.         Rights as a Lender....................................................................... 75
         10.10.        Lender Credit Decision................................................................... 75
         10.11.        Successor Agent.......................................................................... 76
         10.12.        Agents' Fees............................................................................. 76



                                   ARTICLE XI

                             SETOFF RATABLE PAYMENTS


         11.1.         Setoff................................................................................... 76
         11.2.         Ratable Payments......................................................................... 77



                                   ARTICLE XII

                BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS


         12.1.         Successors and Assigns................................................................... 77
         12.2.         Participations........................................................................... 78
                       12.2.1.       Permitted Participants; Effect............................................. 78
                       12.2.2.       Voting Rights.............................................................. 78
         12.3.         Assignments.............................................................................. 79
                       12.3.1.       Permitted Assignments...................................................... 79
                       12.3.2.       Effect; Effective Date..................................................... 79
         12.4.         Dissemination of Information............................................................. 80
         12.5.         Tax Treatment............................................................................ 80
         12.6.         Increased Costs.......................................................................... 80

Page v
<PAGE>
                                  ARTICLE XIII

                                     NOTICES


         13.1.         Giving Notice............................................................................ 80

                                   ARTICLE XIV

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                            OF ELIGIBLE SUBSIDIARIES

         14.1.         Existence and Power...................................................................... 81
         14.2.         Corporate or Partnership and Governmental Authorization; Contravention................... 81
         14.3.         Binding Effect........................................................................... 81
         14.4.         Taxes.................................................................................... 81

                                   ARTICLE XV

                                    GUARANTY

         15.1.         The Guaranty............................................................................. 82
         15.2.         Guaranty Unconditional................................................................... 82
         15.3.         Discharge Only Upon Payment In Full; Reinstatement In Certain Circumstances.............. 83
         15.4.         Waiver by the Company.................................................................... 83
         15.5.         Subrogation.............................................................................. 84
         15.6.         Stay of Acceleration..................................................................... 84



                                   ARTICLE XVI

                           COUNTERPARTS; EFFECTIVENESS
</TABLE>

Page vi
<PAGE>


PRICING SCHEDULE

Schedule 6.11 Subsidiary Restrictions

Exhibit "A"   Note

Exhibit "B-1" Form of Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis

Exhibit "B-2" Form of Opinion of General Counsel

Exhibit "C"   Form of Competitive Bid Quote Request

Exhibit "D"   Form of Competitive Bid Quote

Exhibit "E"   Form of Assignment Agreement

Exhibit "F"   Form of Loan/Credit Related Money Transfer
                        Instruction

Exhibit "G"   Form of Election to Participate

Exhibit "H"   Form of Election to Terminate

Exhibit "I"   Form of Opinion of Counsel for Eligible
                        Subsidiary

Exhibit "J"   Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Agents

Page vii
<PAGE>

                                    FIVE-YEAR
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


                  This Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 1997, is
among The  ServiceMaster  Company Limited  Partnership,  the Lenders,  The First
National Bank of Chicago,  as  Administrative  Agent,  and Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company  of New York,  as  Documentation  Agent.  The  parties  hereto  agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

                  1.1 Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement:

                  "Absolute Rate" means,  with respect to a Loan made by a given
Lender for the relevant Absolute Rate Interest Period,  the rate of interest per
annum  (rounded to the nearest  1/100 of 1%) offered by such Lender and accepted
by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.3.4.

                  "Absolute Rate Advance" means a borrowing hereunder consisting
of the aggregate  amount of the several  Absolute Rate Loans made by some or all
of the Lenders to the Borrower at the same time and for the same  Absolute  Rate
Interest Period.

                  "Absolute Rate Auction"  means a  solicitation  of Competitive
Bid Quotes setting forth Absolute Rates pursuant to Section 2.3.

                  "Absolute  Rate  Interest  Period"  means,  with respect to an
Absolute Rate Advance or an Absolute Rate Loan, a period of not less than 7 days
commencing  on a  Business  Day  selected  by  the  Borrower  pursuant  to  this
Agreement. If such Absolute Rate Interest Period would end on a day which is not
a  Business  Day,  such  Absolute  Rate  Interest  Period  shall end on the next
succeeding Business Day.

                  "Absolute  Rate Loan" means a Loan which bears  interest at an
Absolute Rate.

                  "Acquiring  Person"  means any Person  (other than the Parent,
the Surviving Parent and the Surviving  Company) or group of two or more Persons
acting as a partnership, limited partnership,  syndicate, or other group for the
purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of Equity Interests of the Company,

Page 1
<PAGE>
the Surviving  Company,  the Parent or the Surviving  Parent,  together with all
affiliates  and  associates  (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the  Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of such Person or Persons.

                  "Administrative  Agent"  means  The  First  National  Bank  of
Chicago in its capacity as contractual  representative  for the Lenders pursuant
to Article X, and not in its individual  capacity as a Lender, and any successor
Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Article X.

                  "Administrative  Questionnaire"  means,  with  respect to each
Lender,  an   administrative   questionnaire  in  a  form  satisfactory  to  the
Administrative  Agent and submitted to the Administrative  Agent (with a copy to
the Company) duly completed by each Lender.

                  "Advance"  means  a  borrowing  hereunder  consisting  of  the
aggregate  amount of the several Loans made by some or all of the Lenders to the
Borrower  of the  same  Type  (or on the  same  interest  basis  in the  case of
Competitive Bid Advances) and, in the case of Fixed Rate Advances,  for the same
Interest Period and includes a Competitive Bid Advance.

                  "Affected Lender" is defined in Section 3.7.

                  "Affiliate"  means any Person (other than a Subsidiary)  which
directly or indirectly controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control
with,  the  Company.  The term  "control"  means  the  possession,  directly  or
indirectly,  of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a Person,  whether through the ownership of Voting Equity  Interest,
by contract or otherwise.

                  "Agent" means the  Administrative  Agent or the  Documentation
Agent and "Agents" means both of the foregoing.

                  "Aggregate  Commitment" means the aggregate of the Commitments
of all the Lenders hereunder, as reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms
hereof.

                  "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement,  as it may be amended
or modified and in effect from time to time.

Page 2
<PAGE>
                  "Alternate  Base Rate" means,  on any date and with respect to
all Floating Rate  Advances,  a fluctuating  rate of interest per annum equal to
the higher of (i) the Federal Funds  Effective Rate most recently  determined by
the  Administrative  Agent plus 1/2% per annum and (ii) the Corporate Base Rate.
Changes in the rate of interest on each  Floating  Rate Advance will take effect
simultaneously  with each change in the Alternate Base Rate. The  Administrative
Agent will give notice  promptly to the  Borrowers and the Lenders of changes in
the Alternate Base Rate,  provided,  however,  that the  Administrative  Agent's
failure to give any such notice will not affect any Borrower's obligation to pay
interest  to the  Lenders  on  Floating  Rate  Advances  at the  then  effective
Alternate Base Rate.

                  "Alternative  Currency" means British Sterling,  German Marks,
French  Francs,  Japanese  Yen,  Dutch  Guilders,  Swedish  Kronor and any other
currency (other than Dollars) which is freely  transferable and convertible into
Dollars in the London  interbank  market  which has been  expressly  approved in
writing as an Alternative Currency for purposes hereof by all Lenders.

                  "Annual Report" is defined in Section 5.4.

                  "Applicable  Margin" means the respective  margin  percentages
for each Committed Fixed Rate Advance  determined in accordance with the Pricing
Schedule.

                  "Approved  Multiple"  means (a) in respect of any borrowing or
prepayment  of a  Floating  Rate  Advance,  $1,000,000  or any  larger  integral
multiple of  $1,000,000,  (b) in the case of any other  Advance  denominated  in
Dollars, $5,000,000 or any larger integral multiple of $1,000,000 and (c) in the
case of any Advance  denominated in an Alternative  Currency,  such multiples of
such  currency as the  Administrative  Agent deems  appropriate  and  reasonably
comparable to a $3,000,000 minimum Dollar Amount.

                  "Article"  means an article of this  Agreement  unless another
document is specifically referenced.

Page 3
<PAGE>
                  "Assessment  Rate" means, for any CD Interest Period,  the net
assessment rate per annum payable to the Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation
(or any successor) for the insurance of domestic deposits of the  Administrative
Agent during the calendar year in which the first day of such CD Interest Period
falls,  as  estimated  by the  Administrative  Agent on the first day of such CD
Interest Period.

                  "Board  of  Directors"  prior  to the  Effective  Date  of the
Reorganization means the Board of Directors of the Corporate General Partner and
on or  after  the  Effective  Date of the  Reorganization  means  the  Board  of
Directors of the Company.

                  "Borrower"  means any Obligor in its capacity as borrower of a
Loan or Advance  hereunder or as account  party in respect of a Letter of Credit
hereunder,  and  "Borrowers"  means  all such  borrowers  and  account  parties.
References  to "the  Borrower"  in  relation  to any Loan,  Advance or Letter of
Credit are to the Borrower  which has borrowed or which  proposes to borrow such
Loan or Advance  or which is the  account  party in  respect  of such  Letter of
Credit.

                  "Borrowing Date" means a date on which an Advance is made or
to be made hereunder.

                  "British Sterling" means the lawful currency of the United
Kingdom.

                  "Business  Day"  means  (i)  with  respect  to any  borrowing,
payment or rate selection of Eurocurrency Committed Advances or Eurocurrency Bid
Rate  Advances,  a day other than Saturday or Sunday on which banks are open for
business  in Chicago  and New York City and on which  dealings  in the  relevant
currency are carried on in the London  interbank  market and, where funds are to
be paid or made available in an Alternative  Currency, on which commercial banks
are open for domestic and  international  business in the place where such funds
are paid or made  available  and (ii) for all other  purposes,  a day other than
Saturday or Sunday on which banks are open for  business in Chicago and New York
City.

                  "CD Interest  Period"  means,  with respect to a Fixed CD Rate
Advance or a Fixed CD Rate Loan,  a period of 30, 60, 90 or 180 days  commencing
on a Business Day selected by the Borrower  pursuant to this Agreement.  If such
CD  Interest  Period  would end on a day which is not a  Business  Day,  such CD
Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding Business Day.

Page 4
<PAGE>
                  "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred:
(a) prior to the Effective Date of the Reorganization, on the date on which:

              (i) the  Corporate  General  Partner  ceases to have a Controlling
         General Partnership Interest in both the Company and the Parent; or

             (ii) Voting Stock of the Corporate  General  Partner  sufficient to
         elect at  least a  majority  of its  board of  directors  ceases  to be
         subject to the voting trust arrangement described in the Form 10-K; or

            (iii)  Continuing  Directors  cease to  constitute a majority of the
         board of directors of the Corporate General Partner; or

             (iv) an Acquiring Person shall have acquired  beneficial  ownership
         (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities  Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended) of more than 30% (or if such Acquiring  Person is WMX
         Technologies,  Inc.  or one of its  subsidiaries,  40%) of the  Limited
         Partnership Interests in the Company or the Parent; and

                  (b)     on and after the Effective Date of the Reorganization,
on the date on which:

                  (i) Continuing Directors cease to constitute a majority of the
         board of directors of the Surviving  Parent or, if the Surviving Parent
         and the  Surviving  Company shall have merged or  consolidated,  of the
         Surviving Company; or

             (ii) the  Surviving  Company  shall cease to be a subsidiary of the
         Surviving Parent (except by reason of a merger or consolidation between
         them or the  liquidation  of the  Surviving  Company into the Surviving
         Parent); or

            (iii) an Acquiring Person shall have acquired  beneficial  ownership
         (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities  Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended) of more than 30% (or if such Acquiring  Person is WMX
         Technologies, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries, 40%) of the Voting Stock
         in the Surviving Company or the Surviving Parent.

For avoidance of doubt, the Reorganization and related transactions described in
the  Proxy  Statement  do not in and of  themselves  give  rise to a  Change  of
Control.

Page 5
<PAGE>
                  "Commitment"  means,  for each Lender,  the  obligation of the
Lender to make Loans to the Borrowers and/or to participate in Letters of Credit
for the account of the Borrowers,  all in an aggregate  amount not exceeding the
amount set forth  opposite its signature  below or as set forth in an applicable
Assignment Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit "E" hereto received by
the Administrative  Agent under the terms of Section 12.3, as such amount may be
modified from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

                  "Committed Advance" means a borrowing hereunder  consisting of
the aggregate  amount of the several  Committed Loans made by the Lenders to the
Borrower  at the same  time,  of the same  Type and,  in the case of Fixed  Rate
Advances, for the same Interest Period.

                  "Committed Borrowing Notice" is defined in Section 2.2.3.

                  "Committed Fixed Rate Advance" means a Fixed CD Rate Advance
or a Eurocurrency Committed Advance.

                  "Committed Loan" means a Loan made by a Lender pursuant to
Section 2.2.

                  "Company" means The ServiceMaster Company Limited Partnership,
a  Delaware  limited  partnership  and  its  permitted  successors  and  assigns
including the Surviving  Company  following the assumption of the obligations of
the Company hereunder pursuant to Section 6.14.

                  "Competitive   Bid  Advance"   means  a  borrowing   hereunder
consisting of the aggregate amount of the several  Competitive Bid Loans made by
some or all of the  Lenders  to the  Borrower  at the  same  time,  at the  same
interest basis, and for the same Interest Period.

                  "Competitive Bid Borrowing Notice" isdefined in Section 2.3.4.

                  "Competitive Bid Loan" means a Eurocurrency Bid Rate Loan or
an Absolute Rate Loan, as the case may be.

                  "Competitive  Bid Margin"  means the margin above or below the
applicable  Eurocurrency  Base Rate  offered for a  Eurocurrency  Bid Rate Loan,
expressed  as a percentage  (rounded to the nearest  1/100 of 1%) to be added or
subtracted from such Eurocurrency Base Rate.

Page 6
<PAGE>
                  "Competitive   Bid  Quote"  means  a  Competitive   Bid  Quote
substantially  in the form of Exhibit "D" hereto  completed  and  delivered by a
Lender to the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.3.3

                  "Competitive  Bid Quote Request" means a Competitive Bid Quote
Request  substantially in the form of Exhibit "C" hereto completed and delivered
by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.3.3.

                  "Consolidated  Debt" means at any date,  without  duplication,
the Debt of the  Company  and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  determined  on a
consolidated basis as of such date.

                  "Consolidated  EBIT"  means,  for any fiscal  period,  without
duplication,  Consolidated  Net  Income  for such  period  plus,  to the  extent
deducted in determining  Consolidated Net Income for such period,  the aggregate
amount of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense and (ii) income tax expense.

                  "Consolidated  EBITDA" means,  for any fiscal period,  without
duplication,  Consolidated  EBIT for such period plus to the extent  deducted in
determining  Consolidated  Net Income for such period,  the aggregate  amount of
depreciation  and  amortization.  In the event of a purchase by the Company or a
Consolidated  Subsidiary of all or any portion of the minority interest in SMCS,
Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on
or after the date of such  purchase and prior to the first  anniversary  thereof
shall be  determined  as if such purchase had been made on the first day of such
four-quarter period.

                  "Consolidated  Interest Expense" means, for any fiscal period,
without  duplication,  the interest  expense of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries  plus  dividends  accrued on  preferred  stock of the  Company or a
Consolidated Subsidiary which constitutes Debt, all determined on a consolidated
basis for such period.

                  "Consolidated  Net  Income"  means,  for  any  fiscal  period,
without  duplication,  the  net  income  of the  Company  and  its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  (before dividends on preferred stock of the Company) determined on
a  consolidated  basis  for such  period,  exclusive  of the  effect  of (i) any
extraordinary or other unusual gain and (ii) any  extraordinary or other unusual
losses,  write-offs or write-downs to the extent that such losses, write-offs or
write-downs  do not  represent  a cash  expenditure  in such period and will not
represent a cash expenditure in any future period.

Page 7
<PAGE>
                  "Consolidated  Subsidiary" means at any date any Subsidiary or
other entity which would be  consolidated  with the Company in its  consolidated
financial  statements  if such  statements  were  prepared  as of  such  date in
accordance with GAAP.

                  "Continuing  Director"  means (i) a director of the  Corporate
General  Partner at the date of this  Agreement and (ii) an individual who after
the date of this Agreement  becomes a director of the Corporate  General Partner
(including any successor Corporate General Partner) or, after the Effective Date
of the  Reorganization,  of the Company and/or the Parent (x) in connection with
the death,  disability or retirement of an incumbent  director,  or otherwise in
the ordinary course of the affairs of the corporation and (y) whose election was
effected or recommended by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office
(or by a  nominating  committee  appointed  by  such a  majority  of  Continuing
Directors).  For avoidance of doubt, the foregoing definition  contemplates that
the same individuals would successively  constitute the Continuing  Directors of
the Corporate General Partner, any successor Corporate General Partner and, upon
consummation of the  Reorganization,  the Parent and/or the Company,  subject to
normal turnover.

                  "Controlling   General  Partner   Interest"  means  a  General
Partnership  Interest  which  permits  the  owner  of such  General  Partnership
Interest  to  direct  the  management  of a  general  partnership  or a  limited
partnership.

                  "Conversion/Continuation Notice" is defined in Section 2.2.4.

                  "Corporate  Base  Rate"  means a rate per  annum  equal to the
corporate base rate of interest announced by the Administrative  Agent from time
to time, changing when and as said corporate base rate changes.

                  "Corporate  General  Partner" means  ServiceMaster  Management
Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

Page 8
<PAGE>
                  "Debt" of any Person means at any date,  without  duplication,
(i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed  money,  (ii) all obligations of
such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures,  notes or other similar instruments,
(iii) all  obligations  of such  Person to pay the  deferred  purchase  price of
property or services,  except trade accounts payable or accrued expenses arising
in the  ordinary  course of  business,  (iv) all  obligations  of such Person as
lessee  which are  capitalized  in  accordance  with GAAP,  (v) all  obligations
(absolute or  contingent)  of such Person to reimburse  any bank or other Person
issuing a letter  of credit or  similar  instrument,  (vi) any  preferred  stock
issued by such Person which is redeemable  otherwise  than at the sole option of
such Person for consideration other than Equity Interests in such Person, in the
Company or in the Parent,  (vii) all Debt secured by a Lien on any asset of such
Person,  whether or not such Debt is otherwise an obligation of such Person, and
(viii) all Guaranties by such Person of Debt of others.

                  "Debt  Limit"  means,   at  any  date,   the  product  of  (a)
Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending at
the date of the  balance  sheet  most  recently  delivered  (or  required  to be
delivered)  on or prior to such date  pursuant to Section 5.5 or 6.1 and (b) the
applicable Leverage Factor.

                  "Default" means an event described in Article VII.

                  "Derivatives  Obligations" of any Person means all obligations
of such Person in respect of any rate swap transaction, basis swap, forward rate
transaction,  commodity  swap,  commodity  option,  equity or equity index swap,
equity or equity index  option,  bond  option,  interest  rate  option,  foreign
exchange transaction,  cap transaction,  floor transaction,  collar transaction,
currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option
or any other similar  transaction  (including  any option with respect to any of
the foregoing  transactions)  or any combination of the foregoing  transactions.
Any  determination  of the amount of Derivatives  Obligations  owing at any time
shall be calculated  net of offsets  available at such time under any applicable
netting agreement.

                  "Disclosure Documents" is defined in Section 5.4.

                  "Documentation  Agent"  means  Morgan,  in its capacity as the
contractual  representative for all of the Banks for purposes of this Agreement,
as designated and appointed in accordance with Article X, any successor  thereto
as provided herein.

Page 9
<PAGE>
                  "Dollar Amount" means (i) in relation to any Advance or Letter
of Credit Liabilities  denominated in Dollars,  the aggregate  principal or face
amount  thereof  and  (ii) in  relation  to any  Advance  or  Letter  of  Credit
Liabilities  denominated  in an  Alternative  Currency,  the  equivalent  amount
thereof in Dollars  determined by the  Administrative  Agent pursuant to Section
2.5.13.  The  Dollar  Amount of any  Advance  or  Letter  of Credit  Liabilities
denominated in an Alternative  Currency at any date is the Dollar Amount thereof
determined as of such date or, if no Dollar Amount is determined as of such date
in accordance  with Section  2.5.13,  then determined as of the then most recent
date for which  such a  determination  has been made.  Any  Advance or Letter of
Credit  Liabilities  denominated  in an  Alternative  Currency  shall be  deemed
utilization of the Commitments in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount thereof.

                  "Dollars" and the sign "$" mean the lawful currency of the
United States of America.

                  "D&P" means Duff & Phelps, Inc.

                  "Dutch Gilders" means the lawful currency of The Netherlands.

                  "Effective  Date of the  Reorganization"  means  the date upon
which the Reorganization shall be effective.

                  "Election  to  Participate"  means an Election to  Participate
substantially in the form of Exhibit "G" hereto.

                  "Election  to  Terminate"   means  an  Election  to  Terminate
substantially in the form of Exhibit "H" hereto.

                  "Eligible  Subsidiary"  means any Subsidiary of the Company as
to which an Election to Participate  shall have been delivered to the Agents and
as to which an  Election  to  Terminate  shall  not have been  delivered  to the
Agents.  Each such Election to  Participate  and Election to Terminate  shall be
duly executed on behalf of such  Subsidiary and the Company.  The delivery of an
Election to Terminate  with respect to an Eligible  Subsidiary  shall not affect
any  obligation  of  such  Eligible   Subsidiary   theretofore   incurred.   The
Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the Lenders of the receipt of
any Election to Participate or Election to Terminate.

                  "Equity  Interest" means, in the case of a corporation,  stock
of any  class,  and in the case of a  partnership  or a limited  partnership,  a
General Partnership Interest or Limited Partnership Interest, but excluding
preferred stock which constitutes Debt.

Page 10
<PAGE>
                  "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations  promulgated and rulings
issued thereunder.

                  "Eurocurrency Auction" means a solicitation of Competitive Bid
Quotes setting forth Competitive Bid Margins pursuant to Section 2.3.

                  "Eurocurrency Base Rate" means, with respect to a Eurocurrency
Committed  Advance,  a  Eurocurrency  Committed  Loan, a  Eurocurrency  Bid Rate
Advance or a Eurocurrency Bid Rate Loan for the relevant  Eurocurrency  Interest
Period,  the  average of the  respective  rates per annum at which  deposits  in
Dollars or, in the case of any  Eurocurrency  Loan denominated in an Alternative
Currency, the relevant Alternative Currency are offered to each of the Reference
Banks in the London interbank  market at approximately  11:00 a.m. (London time)
two  Business  Days  before the first day of such  Interest  Period in an amount
approximately  equal to the principal  amount of the Loan of such Reference Bank
to which such Interest Period is to apply and for a period of time comparable to
such Interest Period (or, in the case of a Competitive  Bid Advance,  the amount
which  would  have been the  amount of the Loan of such  Reference  Bank if such
Advance were a Committed Advance).

                  "Eurocurrency  Bid Rate" means, with respect to a Loan made by
a given Lender for the relevant Eurocurrency Interest Period, the sum of (i) the
Eurocurrency  Base Rate and (ii) the  Competitive  Bid  Margin  offered  by such
Lender and accepted by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.3.4(i).

                  "Eurocurrency Bid Rate Advance" means a Competitive Bid
Advance which bears interest at a Eurocurrency Bid Rate.

                  "Eurocurrency Bid Rate Loan" means a Competitive Bid Loan
which bears interest at a Eurocurrency Bid Rate.

                  "Eurocurrency  Committed Advance" means an Advance which bears
interest at a Eurocurrency  Rate  requested by the Borrower  pursuant to Section
2.2.

                  "Eurocurrency   Committed  Loan"  means  a  Loan  which  bears
interest at a Eurocurrency  Rate  requested by the Borrower  pursuant to Section
2.2.

Page 11
<PAGE>
                  "Eurocurrency  Interest  Period"  means,  with  respect  to  a
Eurocurrency  Committed Advance,  a Eurocurrency  Committed Loan, a Eurocurrency
Bid Rate Advance or a Eurocurrency Bid Rate Loan, a period of one, two, three or
six months  commencing  on a Business Day  selected by the Borrower  pursuant to
this  Agreement.  Such  Eurocurrency  Interest Period shall end on the day which
corresponds  numerically  to such date of  commencement  one, two,  three or six
months thereafter,  provided,  however, that any such period which begins on the
last  Business  Day of a  calendar  month  (or on a day for  which  there  is no
numerically  corresponding  day in the calendar month at the end of such period)
shall  end on the last  Business  Day of a  calendar  month.  If a  Eurocurrency
Interest  Period would  otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, such
Eurocurrency  Interest  Period shall end on the next  succeeding  Business  Day,
provided,  however,  that if such next  succeeding  Business  Day falls in a new
month, such Eurocurrency  Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding
Business Day.

                  "Eurocurrency Loan" means a Eurocurrency Committed Loan or a
Eurocurrency Bid Rate Loan, as applicable.

                  "Eurocurrency  Rate"  means,  with  respect to a  Eurocurrency
Committed Advance or a Eurocurrency Committed Loan for the relevant Eurocurrency
Interest Period,  the sum of (a) the  Eurocurrency  Base Rate applicable to such
Eurocurrency Interest Period plus (b) the Applicable Margin.

                  "Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate"  means,  for any  period,  a
fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to (i)
the weighted average of the rates on overnight  federal funds  transactions with
members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by federal funds  brokers,  as
published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the preceding
Business  Day) by the Federal  Reserve Bank of New York; or (ii) if such rate is
not so  published  for any day  which is a  Business  Day,  the  average  of the
quotations  at  approximately  10:00  a.m.  (Chicago  time) for such day on such
transactions  received  by the  Administrative  Agent from three  federal  funds
brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent.

                  "Financial Officers" means with respect to the Company and any
Eligible  Subsidiary,  prior to the Effective  Date of the  Reorganization,  the
Chief  Financial  Officer or  Treasurer  of the  Corporate  General  Partner and
subsequent  to the Effective  Date of the  Reorganization,  the Chief  Financial
Officer or Treasurer of the Company.

Page 12
<PAGE>
                  "First  Chicago"  means The First  National Bank of Chicago in
its  individual  capacity,   and  its  successors  and  assigns  (by  merger  or
otherwise).

                  "Fixed CD Base Rate"  means,  with  respect to a Fixed CD Rate
Advance or a Fixed CD Rate Loan for the  relevant CD Interest  Period,  the rate
determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rates
reported to the Administrative Agent as the prevailing bid rate for the purchase
at face value at or before 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the first day of such CD
Interest  Period by three  certificate of deposit dealers in New York or Chicago
of recognized  standing selected by the Administrative  Agent of certificates of
deposit  of each  Reference  Bank in the  approximate  amount of such  Reference
Bank's relevant Fixed CD Rate Loan and having a maturity  approximately equal to
such CD Interest Period.

                  "Fixed CD Rate" means, with respect to a Fixed CD Rate Advance
or Fixed CD Rate Loan for the  relevant  CD  Interest  Period,  a rate per annum
equal to the sum of (i) the quotient of (a) the Fixed CD Base Rate applicable to
that CD  Interest  Period,  divided  by (b) one  minus the  Reserve  Requirement
(expressed as a decimal)  applicable to that CD Interest  Period,  plus (ii) the
Assessment Rate applicable to that CD Interest Period, plus (iii) the Applicable
Margin.

                  "Fixed CD Rate Advance"  means an Advance which bears interest
at a Fixed CD Rate.

                  "Fixed CD Rate Loan"  means a Loan which  bears  interest at a
Fixed CD Rate.

                  "Fixed Rate" means the Fixed CD Rate, the Eurocurrency Rate,
the Eurocurrency Bid Rate or the Absolute Rate.

                  "Fixed Rate Advance"  means an Advance which bears interest at
a Fixed Rate.

                  "Fixed Rate Loan" means a Loan which bears interest at a Fixed
Rate.

                  "Floating Rate" means,  for any day, a rate per annum equal to
the Alternate Base Rate.

                  "Floating  Rate Advance" means an Advance which bears interest
at the Floating Rate.

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<PAGE>
                  "Floating  Rate Loan" means a Loan which bears interest at the
Floating Rate.

                  "Form 10-K" is defined in Section 5.4.

                  "French Francs" means the lawful currency of France.

                  "GAAP"  means  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  in
effect from time to time in the United States of America.

                  "General Partnership Interest" means the interest of a general
partner in a general  partnership  and the  interest  of a general  partner in a
limited partnership.

                  "German Marks" means the lawful currency of Germany.

                  "Guaranties" by any Person means all  obligations  (other than
endorsements  in the ordinary  course of business of negotiable  instruments for
deposit or collection) of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any
Debt of any other Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly
or indirectly,  including,  without limitation, all obligations incurred through
an agreement, contingent or otherwise, by such Person: (i) to purchase such Debt
or any property or assets  constituting  security  therefor,  (ii) to advance or
supply  funds (x) for the  purchase  or payment of such  Debt,  (y) to  maintain
income, working capital or other balance sheet condition or otherwise to advance
or make  available  funds for the purchase or payment of such Debt,  or (iii) to
lease property or to purchase Securities or other property or services primarily
for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Debt of the ability of the primary
obligor to make  payment of the Debt,  or (iv)  otherwise to assure the owner of
the  Debt of the  primary  obligor  against  loss in  respect  thereof.  For the
purposes of all computations made under this Agreement, a Guaranty in respect of
any Debt shall be deemed to be Debt equal to the  principal  amount of such Debt
which has been guaranteed.

                  "Interest  Coverage  Ratio"  means,  as at the last day of any
fiscal  quarter,  the ratio of  Consolidated  EBIT for the period of four fiscal
quarters  then ended to  Consolidated  Interest  Expense  for such  four-quarter
period.

Page 14
<PAGE>
                  "Interest Period" means a CD Interest Period, a Eurocurrency
Interest Period or an Absolute Rate Interest Period.

                  "Issuing   Bank"  means  any  Lender  which  shall  have  been
appointed  an Issuing  Bank for  purposes of this  Agreement  by the Company and
which shall have accepted such  appointment in a signed writing.  A copy of each
such   appointment   and   acceptance   shall  be  promptly   furnished  to  the
Administrative Agent.

                  "Issuing Bank Limit" means,  with respect to any Issuing Bank,
such  amount,  if any,  less than the  Letter of Credit  Commitment  which  such
Issuing  Bank and the Company  shall have  agreed as the limit on the  aggregate
Dollar  Amount  and/or  amounts  of  particular  currencies  of Letter of Credit
Liabilities  at any time in respect of Letters of Credit  issued by such Issuing
Bank hereunder.

                  "Japanese Yen" means the lawful currency of Japan.

                  "Lenders"  means  the  financial  institutions  listed  on the
signature  pages of this Agreement and their  respective  successors and assigns
including the Issuing Bank in such capacity.

                  "Lending Installation" means any office, branch, subsidiary or
affiliate of any Lender or the Administrative Agent.

                  "LC Fee Rate" means a rate per annum for letter of credit fees
determined in accordance with the Pricing Schedule.

                  "Letter  of Credit"  means a letter of credit  issued or to be
issued hereunder by an Issuing Bank in accordance with Section 2.7.

                  "Letter of Credit Commitment" means the lesser of (x)
$150,000,000 and (y) the Aggregate Commitment.

                  "Letter of Credit  Liabilities"  means,  for any Lender and at
any time, such Lender's  ratable  participation  in the sum of (x) the aggregate
amount then owing by the  Borrowers in respect of amounts drawn under Letters of
Credit and (y) the aggregate amount then available for drawing under all Letters
of Credit.

Page 15
<PAGE>
                  "Leverage  Factor"  means,  with respect to any period of four
consecutive fiscal quarters, if such period ends (a) prior to the fiscal quarter
in which the Effective  Date of the  Reorganization  occurs,  4.25, (b) with the
fiscal quarter in which the Effective Date of the Reorganization  occurs,  4.25,
(c) with the fiscal  quarter  immediately  following the fiscal quarter in which
the  Effective  Date of the  Reorganization  occurs,  4.05,  (d) with the second
fiscal  quarter  following  the fiscal  quarter in which the  Effective  Date of
Reorganization occurs, 3.825 and (e) with any fiscal quarter thereafter, 3.6.

                  "Lien" means,  with respect to any asset, any mortgage,  lien,
pledge, charge,  security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such
asset. For the purpose of this Agreement, the Company or any Subsidiary shall be
deemed to own  subject  to a Lien (i) any asset  that it has  acquired  or holds
subject  to the  interest  of a vendor or  lessor  under  any  conditional  sale
agreement  or other  title  retention  agreement  relating  to such asset or any
capital lease or (ii) any account receivable transferred by it with recourse for
collectibility  (including  any such  transfer  subject to a holdback or similar
arrangement  which  effectively  imposes  the  risk of  collectibility  upon the
transferor).

                  "Limited Partnership Interest" means the interest of a limited
partner in a limited partnership.

                  "Loan" means, with respect to a Lender, such Lender's portion,
if any, of any Advance.

                  "Loan  Documents"  means  this  Agreement,  the Notes and each
Election to Participate and Election to Terminate.

                  "Material  Adverse Effect" means (i) a material adverse effect
on the properties,  business,  operations or financial  condition of the Company
and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  (ii) a material  adverse effect on the
ability of the Company to perform its  obligations  under the Loan  Documents or
(iii) any material  impairment  of the rights and remedies of the Agents and the
Lenders against the Obligors under the Loan Documents.

                  "Material  Commitment"  means a legally binding  commitment by
one or more  banks or other  financial  institutions  to  extend  credit  to the
Company and/or its  Subsidiaries  in an aggregate  amount of $25,000,000 or more
pursuant to a written agreement signed by the Company or a Subsidiary.

                  "Material  Subsidiary"  means (i) any Eligible  Subsidiary and
(ii) any other Subsidiary which has consolidated  assets or consolidated  annual
revenues of more than $10,000,000.

                  "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
Page 16
<PAGE>
                  "Morgan"  means Morgan  Guaranty  Trust Company of New York in
its individual capacity, and its successors and assigns.

                  "Note" means a promissory  note in  substantially  the form of
Exhibit "A" hereto,  duly executed and delivered to the  Documentation  Agent by
the  Borrower  for the  account  of a Lender  and  payable  to the order of such
Lender,  including any amendment,  modification,  renewal or replacement of such
promissory note.


                  "Notice of Issuance" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.7.2.

                  "Obligations"  means all unpaid  principal  of and accrued and
unpaid  interest  on the  Notes,  all  accrued  and  unpaid  fees and all  other
reimbursements,  indemnities or other  obligations of the Obligors to any Lender
or Agent arising under the Loan Documents.

                  "Obligor" means the Company or any Eligible Subsidiary, and
"Obligors" means all of them.

                  "Parent"  means  The  ServiceMaster  Limited  Partnership,   a
Delaware  limited  partnership,  and its  successors,  including  any  corporate
successor resulting from the Reorganization.

                  "Partnership Interest" means Limited Partnership Interests and
General PartnershipInterests.

                  "Payment Date" means the fifteenth day of each March, June,
September, and December.

                  "Person" means any  corporation,  limited  liability  company,
natural  person,  firm,  joint  venture,   partnership,   trust,  unincorporated
organization,  enterprise,  government  or  any  department  or  agency  of  any
government.

                  "Plans" is defined in Section 5.11.

                  "Pricing Level" is defined in the Pricing Schedule.

                  "Pricing Schedule" means the Schedule hereto entitled "Pricing
Schedule".

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<PAGE>
                  "Proxy Statement" means the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  dated
December 11, 1991 of the Parent.

                  "Reference Banks" means Bank of America NT & SA,  NationsBank,
N.A.,  First  Chicago  and  Morgan.  If any such  Reference  Bank ceases to be a
Lender,  the  Company  and  the  Agents  shall  designate  another  Lender  as a
replacement Reference Bank.

                  "Regulation D" means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of
the Federal  Reserve  System  from time to time in effect and shall  include any
successor  or other  regulation  or  official  interpretation  of said  Board of
Governors  relating to reserve  requirements  applicable  to member banks of the
Federal Reserve System.

                  "Regulations  U and X" means  Regulations U and X of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from time to time in effect and shall
include any successor or other regulations or official  interpretations  of said
Board of Governors  relating to the extension of credit by banks for the purpose
of purchasing or carrying margin stock applicable to member banks of the Federal
Reserve System.

                  "Reorganization"   means  the  change  in  the  organizational
structure  of the  ServiceMaster  enterprise  substantially  as described in the
Proxy Statement.

                  "Replacement Lender" is defined in Section 3.7.

                  "Required  Lenders"  means Lenders in the aggregate  having at
least 66-2/3% of the Aggregate  Commitment  or, if the Aggregate  Commitment has
been terminated, Lenders in the aggregate holding at least 66-2/3% of the sum of
the aggregate unpaid Dollar Amount of the outstanding Advances and the aggregate
Dollar Amount of all Letter of Credit Liabilities.

                  "Reserve  Requirement"  means,  with respect to a Eurocurrency
Interest  Period  or  a  CD  Interest  Period,  the  maximum  aggregate  reserve
requirement  (including all basic,  supplemental,  marginal and other  reserves)
which is  imposed  under  Regulation  D on new  non-personal  time  deposits  of
$100,000 or more with a maturity equal to that of the CD Interest Period (in the
case of  Fixed CD Rate  Advances  or Fixed  CD Rate  Loans)  or on  Eurocurrency
liabilities  (in the case of  Eurocurrency  Committed  Advances or  Eurocurrency
Committed Loans). The Reserve Requirement shall be adjusted automatically on and
as of the effective date of any change in the applicable reserve requirement.

Page 18
<PAGE>
                  "Restricted Payments" means, without duplication:

                           (a) the  declaration or payment by the Company of any
                  dividends or distributions, either in cash or property, on any
                  Equity  Interest of the  Company  (except  dividends  or other
                  distributions  to the  extent  payable  solely in  Partnership
                  Interests of the Company or capital stock of the Company);

                           (b)  the   purchase,   acquisition,   redemption   or
                  retirement by the Company  directly or indirectly,  or through
                  any  Subsidiary,  of any Equity Interest of the Company or the
                  Parent or any  warrants,  rights or  options  to  purchase  or
                  acquire any Equity Interest of the Company or the Parent; and

                           (c) to the extent not  included  in clause (a) or (b)
                  above,  any other  payment  or  distribution  by the  Company,
                  either  directly or indirectly or through any  Subsidiary,  in
                  respect of any Equity Interest of the Company or the Parent.

                  "SMCS"   means   ServiceMaster   Consumer   Services   Limited
Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.

                  "SMMS"  means   ServiceMaster   Management   Services  Limited
Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.

                  "Section" means a numbered  section of this Agreement,  unless
another document is specifically referenced.

                  "Security" shall have the same meaning as in Section (2)(1) of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                  "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group.

                  "Stop Issuance Notice" is defined in Section 2.7.7.

Page 19
<PAGE>
                  The  term  "subsidiary"  means,  as to any  particular  parent
business entity, any business entity of which such parent business entity and/or
one or more business  entities which are themselves  subsidiaries of such parent
business entity,  (i) in the case of any  corporation,  own more than 50% of the
Voting Stock, or (ii) in the case of any  partnership  other than SMCS and SMMS,
own a Controlling General Partnership Interest and, if any such partnership is a
limited  partnership,  own more than 50% of the  Limited  Partnership  Interest;
provided,  however, SMCS and SMMS shall be deemed subsidiaries of the Company so
long as (i) prior to the Effective Date of the  Reorganization  the  Controlling
General Partnership Interest shall be owned by the Corporate General Partner and
(ii) the Company owns more than 50% of the Partnership Interests therein.

                  The term "Subsidiary" means a subsidiary of the Company.

                  "Surviving   Company"  means  ServiceMaster   Corporation,   a
Delaware  corporation,  which  as  part  of  the  Reorganization,   shall  be  a
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Surviving Parent, and its successors.  As part of
the  Reorganization  the  Parent and the  Company  will be  liquidated  into the
Surviving  Company and the Surviving  Company will assume the obligations of the
Company under the Loan Documents pursuant to Section 6.14.

                  "Surviving  Parent"  means   ServiceMaster   Incorporated,   a
Delaware  corporation,  which shall own 100% of the outstanding  Voting Stock of
the  Company  following  the  consummation  of  the   Reorganization,   and  its
successors.  The  Surviving  Company  and the  Surviving  Parent  may  merge  or
consolidate  as part of or  following  the  Reorganization,  in  which  case the
resulting or surviving  entity  shall be the  Surviving  Company for purposes of
this  Agreement,  or the  Surviving  Company may  liquidate  into the  Surviving
Parent,  in which case the  Surviving  Parent shall become and be the  Surviving
Company, all in accordance with Section 6.14.

                  "Swedish Kronor" means the lawful currency of the Kingdom of
Sweden.

                  "Termination Date" means April 1, 2002, unless the Commitments
are earlier terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

                  "364-Day  Agreement"  means the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated
as of April 1,  1997  among the  Company,  the  Lenders  listed  therein,  First
Chicago, as Administrative Agent and Morgan, as Documentation Agent.

                  "Transferee" is defined in Section 12.4.

                  "Type" means, with respect to any Loan or Advance,  its nature
as a Floating Rate Advance or Loan, Fixed CD Rate Advance or Loan,  Eurocurrency
Committed  Advance  or Loan in a  particular  currency,  Eurocurrency  Bid  Rate
Advance or Loan in a particular currency or Absolute Rate Advance or Loan.

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                  "Unmatured Default" means an event which, but for the lapse of
time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a Default.

                  "Voting Equity Interest" means Voting Stock and General
Partnership Interests.

                  "Voting Stock" means  Securities of any class or classes,  the
holders of which are ordinarily,  in the absence of  contingencies,  entitled to
elect a majority  of the  corporate  directors  (or Persons  performing  similar
functions).

                  "WMX Repurchase" is defined in Section 6.2.

                  The foregoing  definitions shall be equally applicable to both
the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

                  1.2. Accounting Terms and  Determinations.2.  Accounting Terms
and . Unless otherwise  specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall
be interpreted,  all accounting  determinations hereunder shall be made, and all
financial  statements  required to be delivered  hereunder  shall be prepared in
accordance  with  GAAP,  applied  on a  basis  consistent  (except  for  changes
concurred  in by the  Parent's  independent  public  accountants)  with the most
recent  audited  consolidated   financial  statements  of  the  Parent  and  its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries delivered to the Banks; provided that, if the Company
notifies the  Documentation  Agent that the Company wishes to amend any covenant
in Article VI to  eliminate  the fact of any change in GAAP on the  operation of
such  covenant  (or if the  Documentation  Agent  notifies  the Company that the
Required Lenders wish to amend Article VI for such purpose),  then the Company's
compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect
immediately  before the relevant change in GAAP became  effective,  until either
such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to
the Company and the Required Lenders.

     1.3  Rules of  Construction.  Any  reference  contained  in any of the Loan
Documents  to  "knowledge"  or  "awareness"  of  the  Company  or  any  Eligible
Subsidiary  shall be deemed limited to the  "knowledge" or "awareness" of one or
more Financial Officers.

     1.4 Rounding.  All  determinations  of rates per annum under this Agreement
shall be rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1% (with 0.0050% being rounded upward
to 0.01%).

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                                   ARTICLE II

                                  THE FACILITY

     2.1.          The Facility.

     2.1.1  Description  of  Facility.  The  Lenders  grant to the  Borrowers  a
revolving  credit facility  pursuant to which, and upon the terms and subject to
the conditions herein set out:

                  (i) each Lender  severally  agrees to make Committed  Loans in
         Dollars or (in the case of Eurocurrency Committed Loans) in Alternative
         Currencies to the Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.2;

             (ii) each  Lender may,  in its sole  discretion,  make bids to make
         Competitive  Bid Loans in Dollars or (in the case of  Eurocurrency  Bid
         Rate Loans) in  Alternative  Currencies  to the Borrowers in accordance
         with Section 2.3;

                  (iii) each Issuing Bank shall, on the terms and conditions set
         forth in Section  2.7,  issue  Letters of Credit for the account of the
         Borrowers,  and each Lender shall  participate  therein  ratably in the
         proportion which its Commitment bears to the Aggregate Commitment; and

                  (iv) in no event may the sum of the aggregate Dollar Amount of
         all outstanding Advances to all Borrowers (including both the Committed
         Advances and the  Competitive  Bid Advances) plus the aggregate  Dollar
         Amount  of all  Letter  of  Credit  Liabilities  exceed  the  Aggregate
         Commitment.

                  2.1.2.   Availability  of  Facility;   Required  Payments.1.2.
Availability  of .  Subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth  in this
Agreement,  the  facility is  available  from the date of this  Agreement to the
Termination  Date, and the Borrowers may borrow,  repay and reborrow at any time
prior to the  Termination  Date. The  Commitments  hereunder shall expire on the
Termination Date and all outstanding  Advances and all other unpaid  Obligations
shall be paid in full on the Termination Date.

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                  2.2.    Committed Advances

                  2.2.1. Committed Advances. From and including the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Termination  Date, each Lender severally  agrees,  on
the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make Committed Loans to
the Borrowers from time to time in Dollar Amounts not to exceed in the aggregate
at any one  time  outstanding  to all  Borrowers  the  amount  of such  Lender's
Commitment  less the  aggregate  Dollar  Amount,  at such time, of such Lender's
Letter of Credit Liabilities.  Each Committed Advance hereunder shall consist of
borrowings made from the several Lenders ratably in proportion to the ratio that
their  respective  Commitments bear to the Aggregate  Commitment.  The Committed
Advances  shall be evidenced by the Notes and shall be repaid as provided by the
terms of Section 2.1.2.

                  2.2.2.  The Committed  Advances may be Floating Rate Advances,
Fixed CD Rate Advances or Eurocurrency es Committed  Advances,  or a combination
thereof, selected by the Borrower in accordance with Sections 2.2.3 and 2.2.4.

                  2.2.3.  Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New
Committed . The  Borrower  shall  select the Type of Advance and, in the case of
each Fixed Rate  Advance,  the  Interest  Period  applicable  to each  Committed
Advance from time to time.  The  Borrower  shall give the  Administrative  Agent
notice (a "Committed Borrowing Notice") not later than 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time)
on the Borrowing  Date of each  Floating Rate Advance,  two Business Days before
the Borrowing Date of each Fixed CD Rate Advance, three Business Days before the
Borrowing Date for each Eurocurrency  Committed  Advance  denominated in Dollars
and five Business Days before the Borrowing Date for each Eurocurrency Committed
Advance  denominated in an Alternative  Currency.  A Committed  Borrowing Notice
shall specify:

             (i)  the Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day, of such
Committed Advance;

            (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Committed Advance;

           (iii) the Type of Committed Advance selected (including,  in the case
         of a Eurocurrency Committed Advance, the currency in which such Advance
         is to be denominated); and

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            (iv) in the case of each Committed Fixed Rate Advance,  the Interest
         Period  applicable  thereto  (which  may not end after the  Termination
         Date).

Subject to Section 3.3, each Committed Borrowing Notice shall be irrevocable.

                  2.2.4.  Conversion and  Continuation of Outstanding  Committed
Advances. Floating Rate Advances shall continue as Floating Rate Advances unless
and until such  Floating Rate  Advances are either  prepaid in  accordance  with
Section 2.5.3 or converted  into  Committed  Fixed Rate Advances  denominated in
Dollars.  Unless sooner prepaid in accordance with Section 2.5.3 or converted in
accordance  with this  Section,  each  Committed  Fixed Rate Advance of any Type
shall  continue  as a Fixed Rate  Advance of such Type until the end of the then
applicable  Interest  Period  therefor,  at which  time (x) if such  Fixed  Rate
Advance is a Committed Fixed Rate Advance  denominated in Dollars such Committed
Fixed Rate Advance shall be automatically converted into a Floating Rate Advance
unless the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent a timely notice of
prepayment thereof pursuant to Section 2.5.3 or a timely Conversion/Continuation
Notice requesting that, at the end of such Interest Period, such Committed Fixed
Rate Advance either  continue as a Committed Fixed Rate Advance of such Type for
the same or another  Interest  Period or be converted into an Advance of another
Type denominated in Dollars and (y) subject to Section 2.5.13(b),  if such Fixed
Rate Advance is a Committed  Fixed Rate Advance  denominated  in an  Alternative
Currency,  such Committed Fixed Rate Advance shall be automatically continued as
a  Committed  Fixed  Rate  Advance  in  the  same  Alternative  Currency  for an
additional  Interest  Period of one month,  unless the Borrower shall have given
the  Administrative  Agent a timely  notice of  prepayment  thereof  pursuant to
Section 2.5.3 or a timely Continuation Notice requesting that at the end of such
Interest Period such Committed Fixed Rate Advance  continue as a Committed Fixed
Rate Advance for another Interest Period. If the  Administrative  Agent does not
receive such timely notice of prepayment or Continuation Notice, it shall notify
the Lenders to such effect on the date such notice is due.  Subject to the terms
of Section 2.5.2, the Borrower may elect from time to time to convert all or any
part of a Committed  Advance of any Type  denominated  in Dollars into any other
Type or Types of Committed  Advances  denominated in Dollars;  provided that any
conversion  of any  Committed  Fixed Rate Advance on any day other than the last
day of the Interest Period applicable thereto shall be subject to Section 3.4.

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The    Borrower    shall    give   the    Administrative    Agent    notice   (a
"Conversion/Continuation  Notice") of each conversion of a Committed  Advance or
continuation  of a  Committed  Fixed  Rate  Advance  not later  than  10:00 a.m.
(Chicago time) on the date of, in the case of a conversion  into a Floating Rate
Advance,  or two Business Days, in the case of a conversion into or continuation
of a Fixed CD Rate  Advance,  three  Business  Days, in the case of a conversion
into or continuation of a Eurocurrency  Committed Advance denominated in Dollars
or five Business Days, in the case of a continuation of a Eurocurrency Committed
Advance  denominated  in an  Alternative  Currency,  prior to the  date of,  the
requested conversion or continuation, specifying:

             (i)  the requested date, which shall be a Business Day, of such
         conversion or continuation;

            (ii) the aggregate amount and Type of the Committed Advance which is
         to be converted or continued; and

           (iii) the amount and Type(s) of Committed  Advance(s) into which such
         Committed Advance is to be converted or continued and, in the case of a
         conversion into or continuation of a Committed Fixed Rate Advance,  the
         duration of the Interest Period  applicable  thereto (which may not end
         after the Termination Date).

Subject  to  Section   3.3,   each   Conversion/Continuation   Notice  shall  be
irrevocable.  Changes in the currency in which an Advance is denominated may not
be effected by a conversion pursuant to this Section 2.2.4.

                  2.3.          Competitive Bid Advances.

                  2.3.1.  Competitive  Bid Option;  Repayment of Competitive Bid
Advances. In addition to Committed Advances pursuant to Section 2.2, but subject
to the terms and  conditions  set forth in this  Agreement  (including,  without
limitation,  the  limitation  set forth in Section  2.1.1(iv)  as to the maximum
aggregate  Dollar  Amount  of all  outstanding  Advances  and  Letter  of Credit
Liabilities hereunder and the limitation set forth in Section 4.3(iii) as to the
minimum credit standing for Competitive Bid Advances),  any Borrower may, as set
forth in this Section 2.3, request the Lenders, prior to the Termination Date,

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to make offers to make  Competitive  Bid Advances to such Borrower.  Each Lender
may, but shall have no obligation to, make such offers and the Borrower may, but
shall have no  obligation  to, accept any such offers in the manner set forth in
this Section 2.3. Competitive Bid Advances shall be evidenced by the Notes. Each
Competitive  Bid Advance shall be repaid in full by the Borrower on the last day
of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

                  2.3.2.  When the  Borrower  wishes to  request  offers to make
Competitive  Bid Loans under  Section  2.3, it shall  transmit to each Lender by
telex or telecopy a Competitive  Bid Quote Request so as to be received no later
than (i) 10:00  a.m.  (Chicago  time) at least five  Business  Days prior to the
Borrowing  Date  proposed  therein,  in  the  case  of  a  Eurocurrency  Auction
denominated in Dollars,  (ii) 10:00 a.m.  (Chicago time) at least seven Business
Days  prior  to the  Borrowing  Date,  in the  case  of a  Eurocurrency  Auction
denominated  in an  Alternative  Currency or (iii) 10:00 a.m.  (Chicago time) at
least one Business Day prior to the Borrowing Date proposed therein, in the case
of an Absolute Rate Auction specifying:

         (a)      the proposed Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day,
                  for the proposed Competitive Bid Advance;

         (b)      the aggregate principal amountof such Competitive Bid Advance;

         (c)      whether the Competitive Bid Quotes  requested are to set forth
                  a Competitive Bid Margin or an Absolute Rate, or both;

         (d)      in the case of a Eurocurrency Auction, the currency in which
                  the Loans are to be denominated; and

         (e)      the  Interest  Period  applicable  thereto  (which may not end
                  after the Termination Date).

The Borrower may request offers to make  Competitive Bid Loans for more than one
Interest Period and for a Eurocurrency Auction and an Absolute Rate Auction in a
single Competitive Bid Quote Request.  No Competitive Bid Quote Request shall be
given within 3 Business Days of any other  Competitive  Bid Quote Request.  Each
Competitive Bid Quote Request shall be in an Approved Multiple.

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                  2.3.3.  Submission and Contents of Competitive Bid Quotes.
              (i) Each  Lender may,  in its sole  discretion,  submit to the
Borrower  a  Competitive  Bid  Quote  containing  an  offer  or  offers  to make
Competitive  Bid Loans in response to any Invitation for Competitive Bid Quotes.
Each  Competitive  Bid Quote must comply with the  requirements  of this Section
2.3.3 and must be submitted to the Borrower by telecopy at its address specified
in or pursuant to Article  XIII not later than (a) 1:00 p.m.  (Chicago  time) at
least three Business Days prior to the proposed Borrowing Date, in the case of a
Eurocurrency  Auction  denominated in Dollars,  (b) 1:00 p.m.  (Chicago time) at
least five Business Days prior to the proposed  Borrowing Date, in the case of a
Eurocurrency  Auction  denominated in an  Alternative  Currency or (c) 9:00 a.m.
(Chicago time) on the proposed  Borrowing  Date, in the case of an Absolute Rate
Auction.  Subject to Articles  IV and VIII,  any  Competitive  Bid Quote so made
shall be irrevocable.

             (ii) Each Competitive Bid Quote shall in any case specify:

                  (a) the proposed  Borrowing  Date,  which shall be the same as
         that set forth in the applicable Invitation for Competitive Bid Quotes;

                  (b) the principal amount of the Competitive Bid Loan for which
         each  such  offer is being  made,  which  principal  amount  (1) may be
         greater  than,  less  than or equal to the  Commitment  of the  quoting
         Lender,  (2) must be an  Approved  Multiple  and (3) may not exceed the
         principal  amount  of  Competitive  Bid Loans  for  which  offers  were
         requested;

                  (c) in the case of a Eurocurrency Auction, the Competitive Bid
         Margin offered for each such Competitive Bid Loan;

                  (d) the limit, if any, as to the aggregate principal amount of
         the Competitive Bid Loans from such Lender which may be accepted by the
         Borrower;

                  (e) in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction, the Absolute Rate
         offered for each such Competitive Bid Loan;

                  (f)  the applicable Interest Period; and

                  (g) the identity of the quoting Lender.

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            (iii) The Borrower shall reject any Competitive Bid Quote that:

                  (a) is not  substantially in the form of Exhibit "D" hereto or
         does not specify all of the information required by Section 2.3.3(ii);

                  (b)  contains  qualifying,  conditional  or similar  language,
         other than any such language contained in Exhibit "D" hereto;

                  (c)  proposes  terms  other than or in  addition  to those set
         forth in the applicable Invitation for Competitive Bid Quotes; or

                  (d) arrives after the time set forth in Section 2.3.3(i).

If any  Competitive  Bid  Quote  shall  be  rejected  pursuant  to this  Section
2.3.3(iii), then the Borrower shall notify the relevant Lender of such rejection
as soon as practical.

                  2.3.4.  Acceptance and Notice by the Borrower.3.4.  Acceptance
and  Notice by . Not  later  than (a) 2:00 p.m.  (Chicago  time) at least  three
Business  Days  prior  to  the  proposed  Borrowing  Date,  in  the  case  of  a
Eurocurrency  Auction  denominated in Dollars,  (b) 2:00 p.m.  (Chicago time) at
least five Business Days prior to the proposed  Borrowing Date, in the case of a
Eurocurrency  Auction  denominated in an Alternative  Currency or (c) 10:00 a.m.
(Chicago time) on the proposed  Borrowing  Date, in the case of an Absolute Rate
Auction, the Borrower shall notify each Lender of its acceptance or rejection of
the offers so notified to it pursuant to Section 2.3.3; provided,  however, that
the failure by the Borrower to give such notice to any Lender shall be deemed to
be a rejection by the  Borrower of all such offers made by such  Lender.  In the
case of acceptance,  such notice (a  "Competitive  Bid Borrowing  Notice") shall
specify the aggregate  principal  amount of offers for each Interest Period that
are  accepted.  The Borrower may accept or reject any  Competitive  Bid Quote in
whole or in part (subject to the terms of Section 2.3.3(ii)(d)); provided that:

                  (a) the aggregate  principal  amount of each  Competitive  Bid
         Advance may not exceed the  applicable  amount set forth in the related
         Competitive Bid Quote Request;

                  (b)  acceptance  of  offers  may only be made on the  basis of
         ascending  Competitive  Bid Margins or Absolute  Rates, as the case may
         be; and

                  (c)  the  Borrower  may  not  accept  any  offer  of the  type
         described in Section  2.3.3(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with
         the  requirements  of this  Agreement  for the  purpose of  obtaining a
         Competitive Bid Loan under this Agreement.

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          2.3.5.  Allocation by the Borrower.  If offers are made by two or more
Lenders with the same Competitive Bid Margins or Absolute Rates, as the case may
be, for a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect of which
offers are  permitted  to be  accepted  for the  related  Interest  Period,  the
principal  amount of  Competitive  Bid Loans in respect of which such offers are
accepted  shall be  allocated  by the  Borrower  among such Lenders as nearly as
possible (in such  multiples,  not greater than $1,000,000 (or the equivalent in
an Alternative Currency), as the Borrower may deem appropriate) in proportion to
the aggregate  principal  amount of such offers.  Allocations by the Borrower of
the  amounts of  Competitive  Bid Loans  shall be  conclusive  in the absence of
manifest  error.  The  Borrower  shall  promptly,  but in any  event on the same
Business Day in the case of  Eurocurrency  Bid Rate Advances,  and by 11:00 a.m.
(Chicago  time) in the case of Absolute Rate  Advances,  notify each Lender that
submitted a Competitive  Bid Quote of its receipt of a Competitive Bid Borrowing
Notice  and the  aggregate  principal  amount of such  Competitive  Bid  Advance
allocated to each participating Lender.

                  2.3.6. Notice by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent.3.6.
Notice by the .  Promptly,  but in any event on the same  Business  Day that the
Borrower issues any Competitive  Bid Borrowing  Notice,  the Borrower shall give
the Administrative  Agent notice of the amount,  maturity,  applicable  interest
rate and Lender for each Competitive Bid Loan accepted by the Borrower  pursuant
to such Competitive Bid Borrowing Notice.

          2.4.   Facility  Fees.  The  Company  hereby  agrees  to  pay  to  the
Administrative  Agent for the account of each Lender,  ratably in the proportion
that such Lender's  Commitment  bears to the Aggregate  Commitment,  a per annum
facility fee at the Facility Fee Rate  (determined  daily in accordance with the
Pricing  Schedule)  on the daily  amount of the  Aggregate  Commitment,  payable
quarterly  in arrears on each  Payment  Date and on the  Termination  Date.  All
accrued  facility fees  hereunder  shall be payable on the effective date of any
termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder.

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                 2.5.          General Facility Terms.

                 2.5.1.  Not later  than (i) 12:00 noon  (Chicago  time) on each
Borrowing  Date for each  Advance  denominated  in Dollars  and (ii) the funding
deadline  designated  by the  Administrative  Agent in the  case of any  Advance
denominated  in an  Alternative  Currency  (which shall be no earlier than 10:00
a.m.  local time in the place of payment  and no later than 12:00 noon  (Chicago
time)),  each  Lender  shall  make  available  its  Loan or  Loans,  if any,  in
immediately  available  funds,  to  the  Administrative  Agent  at  its  address
specified   pursuant  to  Article  XIII  or  at  such  other   location  as  the
Administrative  Agent shall  direct.  The  Administrative  Agent shall  promptly
deposit the funds so received from the Lenders in the Borrower's  account at the
Administrative  Agent's main office in Chicago or as  otherwise  directed by the
Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.5.1, to the
extent that a Loan made to a Borrower by a Lender  matures on the Borrowing Date
of a requested  Loan to such  Borrower in the same  currency,  such Lender shall
apply the  proceeds of the Loan it is then making to the  repayment of principal
of the maturing Loan.

                  2.5.2. Minimum Amount of Each Committed  Advance.5.2.  Minimum
Amount of Each . Except as contemplated by Section 2.7.3, each Committed Advance
shall be in an Approved  Multiple;  provided,  however,  that any Floating  Rate
Advance may be in the aggregate amount of the unused Aggregate Commitment.

                  2.5.3.  The  Borrower  may  from  time to time  pay all of its
outstanding Committed Advances,  or, in an Approved Multiple, any portion of the
outstanding  Committed  Advances  upon  (i) in the  case  of any  Floating  Rate
Advance,  notice to the Administrative  Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Chicago
time) on the date of prepayment,  (ii) in the case of any Fixed CD Rate Advance,
two Business Days' prior notice to the  Administrative  Agent, (iii) in the case
of any Eurocurrency  Committed  Advance  denominated in Dollars,  three Business
Days'  prior  notice  to the  Administrative  Agent  and (iv) in the case of any
Eurocurrency  Committed  Advance  denominated in an Alternative  Currency,  five
Business  Days' prior  notice to the  Administrative  Agent.  Any such notice of
prepayment shall be irrevocable.  All such payments shall be made in immediately
available  funds  to the  Administrative  Agent  at the  Administrative  Agent's
address  specified  in Article  XIII or at any other  location  specified by the
Administrative  Agent in  accordance  with Section 2.5.7 not later than (i) noon
(Chicago  time) on the date of payment for each Advance  denominated  in Dollars
and (ii) the funding deadline designated by the Administrative Agent in the case
of any Advance denominated in

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an Alternative  Currency  (which should be no earlier than 10:00 a.m. local time
in the place of payment and no later than 12:00 noon (Chicago time)). Subject to
Section  2.5.13(a),  a  Competitive  Bid Advance may not be prepaid prior to the
last day of its  applicable  Interest  Period  without the prior  consent of the
Lender which  originally made such Loan,  which consent may be given or withheld
at the Lender's sole and absolute  discretion,  provided that no Competitive Bid
Advance may be prepaid if there exists a Default. Any prepayment of a Fixed Rate
Advance prior to the end of its applicable  Interest  Period shall be subject to
the indemnity provisions of Section 3.4.

                 2.5.4. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.5.5, each Advance
shall bear  interest  from and  including  the first day of the Interest  Period
applicable  thereto to (but not  including)  the  earlier of (i) the last day of
such Interest Period or (ii) the date of any earlier  prepayment as permitted by
Section  2.5.3,  at the interest rate  determined as applicable to such Advance,
payable in the currency of such Advance.

                 2.5.5. Except as provided in the next sentence, any Advance not
paid at maturity,  whether by  acceleration  or  otherwise,  shall bear interest
until  paid in full at a rate per annum  equal to (i) in the case of an  Advance
denominated in Dollars,  the Alternate Base Rate plus 2% per annum, payable upon
demand  and  (ii)  in the  case  of an  Advance  denominated  in an  Alternative
Currency,  the sum of 2% plus the Applicable  Margin for Eurocurrency  Committed
Advances for such day plus the quotient  obtained by dividing (x) the average of
the respective  rates per annum at which one day (or, if such amount due remains
unpaid  more than five  Business  Days,  then for such other  period of time not
longer than three  months as the  Administrative  Agent may select)  deposits in
such  Alternative  Currency  in an amount  approximately  equal to such  overdue
payment due to each of the Reference Banks (or, in the case of a Competitive Bid
Advance,  the amount  which would have been due to each  Reference  Bank if such
Advance  were a Committed  Advance)  are offered to such  Reference  Bank in the
London interbank market for the applicable  period  determined as provided above
by (y) 1.00 minus the Reserve  Requirement.  In the case of a Fixed Rate Advance
the  maturity  of which is  accelerated,  such  Fixed  Rate  Advance  shall bear
interest for the remainder of the applicable  Interest  Period (or until paid if
paid  prior  to the end of such  Interest  Period),  at the  higher  of the rate
otherwise applicable to such Fixed Rate Advance for such Interest Period plus 2%
per annum or the applicable rate specified in the preceding sentence.

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                  2.5.6.  Interest Payment Dates;  Interest Basis.5.6.  Interest
Payment Dates; . Interest accrued on each Fixed Rate Advance shall be payable on
the last day of its applicable  Interest Period, on any date on which such Fixed
Rate  Advance is prepaid or  converted,  and at the  maturity  of such  Advance.
Interest  accrued on each Floating Rate Advance shall be payable on each Payment
Date,  on any date on which such  Floating  Rate Advance is prepaid,  and at the
maturity of such Advance.  Interest accrued on each Fixed Rate Advance having an
Interest  Period  longer than three months shall also be payable on the last day
of each 90 day interval (in the case of Fixed CD Rate  Advances or Absolute Rate
Advances)  or  three-month  interval  (in  the  case of  Eurocurrency  Committed
Advances  or  Eurocurrency  Bid Rate  Advances)  during  such  Interest  Period.
Interest on Fixed Rate Loans,  facility fees and letter of credit fees hereunder
shall be  calculated  for actual  days  elapsed on the basis of a 360-day  year.
Interest on Floating Rate Loans shall be  calculated  for actual days elapsed on
the basis of a 365-day year, or, when applicable,  366-day year.  Interest shall
be payable  for the day an Advance is made but not for the day of any payment on
the amount paid if payment is received prior to the deadline  specified pursuant
to Section 2.5.7. If any payment of principal of or interest on an Advance shall
become due on a day which is not a Business  Day,  such payment shall be made on
the next succeeding  Business Day and, in the case of a principal payment,  such
extension of time shall be included in  computing  interest in  connection  with
such payment.

               2.5.7.  Subject  to the last  sentence  of  Section  2.5.1 and to
Section 2.7.3., all payments of principal, interest, and fees hereunder shall be
made by (i) noon (local  time) for each  payment in Dollars and (ii) the funding
deadline  designated  by  the  Administrative  Agent  for  each  payment  in  an
Alternative  Currency  (which shall be no earlier than 10:00 a.m.  local time in
the place of payment and no later than 12:00 noon (Chicago  time)),  on the date
when  due in  immediately  available  funds to the  Administrative  Agent at the
Administrative  Agent's  address  specified  pursuant to Article XIII, or at any
other location specified in writing by the Administrative  Agent to the Borrower
and shall be distributed by the  Administrative  Agent ratably among all Lenders
in the case of fees and  payments in respect of  Committed  Advances and ratably
among the  applicable  Lenders in  respect of  Competitive  Bid  Advances.  Each
payment  delivered  to the  Administrative  Agent for the  account of any Lender
shall be

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delivered promptly by the  Administrative  Agent to such Lender in the same type
of funds  which the  Administrative  Agent  received  at its  address  specified
pursuant to Article  XIII or at any location  specified in a notice  received by
the Administrative  Agent from such Lender. All payments of the principal of and
interest  on any  Loan  shall be made in the  currency  in  which  such  Loan is
denominated.

               2.5.8. Each Lender is hereby authorized to record on the schedule
attached to each of its Notes, or otherwise  record in accordance with its usual
practice,  the date and  amount of each of its  Loans  evidenced  by such  Note;
provided,  however, that any failure to so record shall not affect the Obligors'
obligations under any Loan Document.

                  2.5.9.   Notification   of   Advances,   Interest   Rates  and
Prepayments. The Administrative Agent will notify each Lender of the contents of
each  Aggregate  Commitment   reduction  notice,   Committed  Borrowing  Notice,
Conversion/Continuation  Notice and  repayment  notice  received by it hereunder
promptly and in any event before the close of business on the same  Business Day
of  receipt  thereof  (or,  in the case of  borrowing  notices  with  respect to
Floating Rate Advances and Absolute  Rate  Advances,  within one hour of receipt
thereof).  The Administrative Agent will notify each Lender of the interest rate
applicable  to each Fixed  Rate  Advance  promptly  upon  determination  of such
interest  rate and will give each  Lender  prompt  notice of each  change in the
Alternate Base Rate.

                  2.5.10.  Non-Receipt  of  Funds by the  Administrative  Agent.
Unless the Borrower or a Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Administrative
Agent  prior  to the  date on  which  it is  scheduled  to make  payment  to the
Administrative  Agent of (i) in the case of a Lender,  the proceeds of a Loan or
(ii) in the case of the Borrower,  a payment of  principal,  interest or fees to
the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, that it does not intend
to make such scheduled payment,  the  Administrative  Agent may assume that such
scheduled payment has been made. The Administrative  Agent may, but shall not be
obligated  to,  make the  amount  of such  scheduled  payment  available  to the
intended  recipient  in  reliance  upon such  assumption.  If such Lender or the
Borrower, as the case may be, has not in fact made such scheduled payment to

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the  Administrative  Agent,  the recipient of such scheduled  payment shall,  on
demand by the Administrative Agent, repay to the Administrative Agent the amount
so made available  together with interest  thereon in respect of each day during
the  period  commencing  on the date such  amount was so made  available  by the
Administrative  Agent  until the date the  Administrative  Agent  recovers  such
amount at a rate per annum  equal to (x) in the case of  scheduled  payment by a
Lender,  the  Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate for such day or (y) in the case of
scheduled payment by the Borrower,  the interest rate applicable to the relevant
Loan.

               2.5.11.  The Company may at any time after the date hereof cancel
the  Aggregate  Commitment,  in  whole,  or in a  minimum  aggregate  amount  of
$10,000,000  (and in integral  multiples  of  $1,000,000  if in excess  thereof)
ratably among the Lenders upon written  notice to the  Administrative  Agent not
later than 10:00  a.m.  (Chicago  time) on the  effective  date of  cancellation
specified  therein,  which  notice shall  specify the amount of such  reduction;
provided,  however,  no such notice of  cancellation  shall be  effective to the
extent that it would reduce the Aggregate Commitment to an amount which would be
less than the sum of the  aggregate  Dollar Amount of Loans  outstanding  at the
time such cancellation is to take effect plus the aggregate Dollar Amount of all
Letter of Credit  Liabilities  at such time.  Any notice of  cancellation  given
pursuant to this Section 2.5.11 shall be irrevocable  and shall specify the date
upon which such cancellation is to take effect.

               2.5.12.  Subject to Section  12.6,  each  Lender  may, by written
(including  telex  or  telecopy)  notice  to the  Administrative  Agent  and the
Company,  book its  Loans  and  Letter  of  Credit  Liabilities  at any  Lending
Installation  selected  by such  Lender  and may from  time to time  change  its
Lending  Installation  and for whose account Loan and Letter of Credit  payments
are to be made. Each Lender will notify the Administrative Agent and the Company
on or prior to the date of this Agreement of the Lending  Installation  which it
intends to utilize for each type of Loan and Letter of Credit hereunder.

               2.5.13. Currency Equivalents.  (a) The Administrative Agent shall
determine  the  Dollar  Amount of each  Advance  denominated  in an  Alternative
Currency as of the first day of each Interest Period applicable thereto,  and in
the case of any such Interest  Period of more than three months,  at three month
intervals after the first day thereof.  The Administrative Agent shall determine
the  Dollar  Amount  of any  Letter  of  Credit  Liabilities  denominated  in an
Alternative Currency on the date of issuance of the related Letter of Credit and
at three-month  intervals  thereafter.  The Administrative  Agent shall promptly
notify the Borrower and the Lenders of each Dollar  Amount so  determined by it.
Each such determination shall be based on the

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spot  rate  at  which  in  accordance   with  normal   banking   procedures  the
Administrative Agent could purchase the Alternative Currency with Dollars in the
interbank  market in London at 11:00 a.m.  (London time) two Business Days prior
to the date as of which such Dollar Amount is to be determined.  If after giving
effect to any such  determination  of a Dollar Amount,  the sum of the aggregate
Dollar Amount of all  outstanding  Advances plus the aggregate  Dollar Amount of
all Letter of Credit Liabilities exceeds the Aggregate Commitment, the Borrowers
shall within five Business Days prepay outstanding  Advances (as selected by the
Company) to the extent  necessary to eliminate  such excess;  provided that such
prepayment  shall be applied to  outstanding  Committed  Advances  to the extent
necessary to prepay such Advances in full before  prepayment of any  Competitive
Bid Advances pursuant to this Section 2.5.13(a).

                  (b) If for the purpose of  obtaining  judgment in any court it
is necessary to convert a sum due from any Obligor hereunder or under any of the
Notes in the  currency  expressed  to be payable  herein or under the Notes (the
"specified  currency") into another  currency,  the parties hereto agree, to the
fullest  extent that they may  effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used
shall  be that at  which  in  accordance  with  normal  banking  procedures  the
Administrative  Agent could  purchase  the  specified  currency  with such other
currency at the Administrative Agent's London office at 11:00 a.m. (London time)
on the  Business  Day  preceding  that on which  final  judgment  is given.  The
obligations  of each  Obligor  in  respect  of any sum due to any  Lender or the
Administrative  Agent  hereunder  or under any Note shall,  notwithstanding  any
judgment in a currency other than the specified currency,  be discharged only to
the extent  that on the  Business  Day  following  receipt by such Lender or the
Administrative  Agent (as the case may be) of any sum  adjudged  to be so due in
such other currency such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be)
may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the specified currency
with such other currency; if the amount of the specified currency so purchased

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is less than the sum originally due to such Lender or the Administrative  Agent,
as the case may be, in the  specified  currency,  each  Obligor  agrees,  to the
fullest  extent  that it may  effectively  do so, as a separate  obligation  and
notwithstanding   any  such   judgment,   to   indemnify   such  Lender  or  the
Administrative  Agent,  as the case may be, against such loss, and if the amount
of the specified currency so purchased exceeds (a) the sum originally due to any
Lender  or the  Administrative  Agent,  as the  case  may be,  in the  specified
currency  and  (b)  any  amounts  shared  with  other  Lenders  as a  result  of
allocations  of such excess as a  disproportionate  payment to such Lender under
Article XI, such Lender or the Administrative  Agent, as the case may be, agrees
to remit such excess to the Company for the account of the Obligors.

               2.5.14.  Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by a Borrower  hereunder
or under the Notes shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any
and all  present  or future  taxes,  levies,  imposts,  deductions,  charges  or
withholdings,  and all liabilities  with respect thereto  excluding,  (i) in the
case of each Lender and Agent,  taxes  imposed on its income,  and  franchise or
similar  taxes imposed on it, by the  jurisdiction  under the laws of which such
Lender or Agent is  organized  or any  political  subdivision  thereof and taxes
imposed on its income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction of
such Lender's  applicable  Lending  Installation  or any  political  subdivision
thereof and (ii) in the case of each Lender,  any United States  withholding tax
imposed on such payments but only to the extent not  attributable to a change in
law,  regulation,  treaty or  interpretation  after the time such  Lender  first
becomes a party to this Agreement (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts,
deductions,  charges,  withholdings and liabilities arising out of or related to
this Agreement being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes").  If any Borrower shall
be  required  by law to deduct any Taxes  from or in respect of any sum  payable
hereunder or under any Note to any Lender or Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be
increased  as may be  necessary  so that after  making all  required  deductions
(including  deductions  applicable to additional sums payable under this Section
2.5.14)  such Lender or Agent (as the case may be)  receives an amount  equal to
the sum it would have received had no deductions  been made,  (ii) such Borrower
shall make such  deductions  and (iii) such  Borrower  shall pay the full amount
deducted to the relevant  taxation  authority or other  authority in  accordance
with applicable law and provide such Lender or Agent (as the case may be) with a
receipt or other evidence of such payment.

                  (b) In addition,  each  Borrower  agrees to pay any present or
future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges
or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or under the Notes
or from the execution,  delivery,  enforcement or registration  of, or otherwise
with  respect  to, the Loan  Documents  or the  Letters  of Credit  (hereinafter
referred to as "Other Taxes").

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<PAGE>
                  (c) Each Borrower will indemnify each Lender and Agent for the
full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or
Other Taxes imposed by any  jurisdiction  on amounts  payable under this Section
2.5.14)  paid by such  Lender or Agent and any  liability  including  penalties,
interest and expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto,  whether or not
such Taxes or Other Taxes were  correctly  or legally  asserted by the  relevant
taxing authority or other governmental  entity.  This  indemnification  shall be
made to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender or Agent (as the
case may be)  within 30 days from the date such  Lender or Agent  makes  written
demand  therefor  (with a copy,  in the  case of a  demand  by a  Lender  or the
Documentation Agent, of such demand to the Administrative Agent). If a Lender or
Agent shall  become  aware that it is entitled to receive a refund in respect of
Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by a Borrower  pursuant
to  this  Section  2.5.14,  it  shall  promptly  notify  such  Borrower  of  the
availability of such refund and, unless such Lender or Agent  determines in good
faith  that it is not in its  best  interests  to do so,  shall  apply  for such
refund.  If any  Lender or Agent  receives  a refund in  respect of any Taxes or
Other Taxes as to which it has been  indemnified by a Borrower  pursuant to this
Section 2.5.14,  it shall promptly notify such Borrower of such refund and shall
promptly  repay such refund to such Borrower (to the extent of amounts that have
been paid by such  Borrower  under  this  Section  2.5.14  with  respect to such
refund), net of all out-of-pocket  expenses of such Lender or Agent in obtaining
such  refund;  provided  that the  Borrower,  upon the request of such Lender or
Agent agrees to return such refund (plus  penalties,  interest or other charges)
to such  Lender or Agent in the event such  Lender or Agent is required to repay
such refund.

                  (d)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  unless,  prior  to  the
initial  Borrowing  Date (in the case of a Lender listed on the signature  pages
hereto),  and prior to the effective  date of the  Assignment  and Acceptance by
which it became a Lender (in the case of Lender that became a Lender pursuant to
such Assignment and Acceptance),  and in each case from time to time thereafter,
if requested by the Company or the  Administrative  Agent, each Lender organized
under the laws of a  jurisdiction  outside the United States shall have provided
the Company and the Administrative Agent with the forms prescribed by the

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Internal  Revenue  Service of the United  States  certifying as to such Lender's
status for purposes of  determining  exemption  from United  States  withholding
taxes  with  respect  to all  payments  of  interest  to be made to such  Lender
hereunder or other  documents  satisfactory  to the Company which, in each case,
shall  indicate  that all payments to be made to such Lender  hereunder  are not
subject to United States  withholding tax or are subject to such taxes at a rate
reduced to zero by an applicable  tax treaty,  neither the Company nor any other
Borrower shall have any obligation under the last sentence of Section  2.5.14(a)
to make any  payments  to or for the  benefit of such Lender in respect of Taxes
imposed by the United States of America  unless such Lender is unable to provide
such form as a result of a change  in law or treaty  after the time such  Lender
becomes a party to this Agreement.

               2.5.15.  For so long as any  Lender  maintains  reserves  against
"Eurocurrency  liabilities" (or any other category of liabilities which includes
deposits by reference to which interest rate on Eurocurrency  Committed Loans is
determined  or any  category  of  extensions  of  credit or other  assets  which
includes  loans by a non-United  States  office of such Lender to United  States
residents),   and  as  a  result  the  cost  to  such  Lender  (or  its  Lending
Installation) of making or maintaining any of its  Eurocurrency  Committed Loans
is   increased,   then  such   Lender  may   require   the   Borrower   to  pay,
contemporaneously  with each  payment  of  interest  on such  Loans,  additional
interest on the related Eurocurrency Committed Loan of such Lender at a rate per
annum up to but not exceeding the excess of (i)(A) the  applicable  Eurocurrency
Base  Rate  divided  by (B) one  minus  the  Reserve  Requirement  over (ii) the
applicable Eurocurrency Base Rate. Any Lender wishing to require payment of such
additional  interest  (x) shall so notify the  Borrower  and the  Administrative
Agent,  in which case such  additional  interest on the  Eurocurrency  Committed
Loans of such Lender  shall be payable to such Lender at the place  indicated in
such notice with respect to each Interest  Period which commences at least three
Business  Days  after the  giving of such  notice  and (y) shall  furnish to the
Borrower  at least five  Business  Days prior to each date on which  interest is
payable on the  Eurocurrency  Committed  Loans a  certificate  setting forth the
amount to which such Lender is then entitled under this Section.

               2.6. Optional Increase in Commitments. At any time, if no Default
or Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Company ts. may,
if it so elects,  increase the aggregate  amount of the  Commitments,  either by
designating one or more banks or other financial  institutions not theretofore a
Lender to become a Lender (such  designation to be effective only with the prior
written consent of the Administrative Agent, which

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consent will not be unreasonably withheld, and of each Issuing Bank that (x) has
issued a Letter of Credit as to which there are Letter of Credit  Liabilities at
such time or (y) has a commitment to issue Letters of Credit at such time) or by
agreeing with one or more existing  Lenders that such Lender's  Commitment shall
be increased. Upon execution and delivery by the Company and each such Lender or
bank  or  other  financial  institution  of an  instrument  in  form  reasonably
satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent,  such existing  Lender shall have a
Commitment  as  therein  set forth or such bank or other  financial  institution
shall become a Lender with a Commitment  as therein set forth and all the rights
and obligations of a Lender with such a Commitment hereunder; provided:

                                (a) that the Company shall provide prompt notice
                  of  such  increase  to the  Administrative  Agent,  who  shall
                  promptly notify the Lenders;

                                (b) that the amount of such increase is not less
                  than $10,000,000;

                                (c) that the amount of such  increase,  together
                  with  all  other  increases  in the  aggregate  amount  of the
                  Commitments  pursuant  to this  Section  2.6 since the date of
                  this Agreement, does not exceed $250,000,000; and

                                (d) that after giving  effect to such  increase,
                  no Lender has a  Commitment  in an amount  greater than 20% of
                  the aggregate amount of the Commitments.

Upon any increase in the aggregate  amount of the  Commitments  pursuant to this
Section  2.6,  within five  Business  Days,  in the case of each  Floating  Rate
Advance then  outstanding,  and at the end of the then current  Interest  Period
with  respect  thereto,  in the case of each  Committed  Fixed Rate Advance then
outstanding,  the  Borrower  shall  prepay or repay such Advance in its entirety
and, to the extent the  Borrower  elects to do so and subject to the  conditions
specified in Article IV, the Borrower  shall reborrow  Committed  Loans from the
Lenders in proportion  to their  respective  Commitments  after giving effect to
such increase,  until such time as all  outstanding  Committed Loans are held by
the Lenders in such proportion.

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                 2.7           Letters of Credit.

                 2.7.1.  Availability.  Subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions
hereof,  each Issuing Bank agrees to issue Letters of Credit hereunder from time
to time before the tenth day before the Termination Date upon the request of any
Borrower;  provided that, immediately after each Letter of Credit is issued, (i)
the Letter of Credit  Liabilities in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such
Issuing Bank shall not exceed its Issuing Bank Limit,  (ii) the aggregate Dollar
Amount of all Letter of Credit Liabilities shall not exceed the Letter of Credit
Commitment  and (iii) the aggregate  Dollar Amount at such time of the Letter of
Credit Liabilities plus the aggregate Dollar Amount of all outstanding  Advances
shall not exceed  the  Aggregate  Commitment.  Upon the date of  issuance  by an
Issuing Bank of a Letter of Credit,  the Issuing  Bank shall be deemed,  without
further action by any party hereto, to have sold to each Lender, and each Lender
shall be deemed,  without further action by any party hereto,  to have purchased
from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit and the related
Letter of Credit Liabilities in the proportion their respective Commitments bear
to the Aggregate Commitment.

               2.7.2.  Procedure  for  Issuance.  The  Borrower  shall  give the
Issuing Bank notice at least three Business Days prior to the requested issuance
of a Letter of Credit specifying the date such Letter of Credit is to be issued,
specifying  the  currency  in which such  Letter of Credit is to be  denominated
(which shall be Dollars or an Alternative  Currency) and the amount thereof, and
describing  the  other  terms of such  Letter of  Credit  and the  nature of the
transactions  to be supported  thereby (such  notice,  including any such notice
given in  connection  with the  extension  of a Letter of  Credit,  a "Notice of
Issuance").  Upon  receipt  of a Notice of  Issuance,  the  Issuing  Bank  shall
promptly notify the  Administrative  Agent, and the  Administrative  Agent shall
promptly  notify each Lender of the  contents  thereof and of the amount of such
Lender's  participation  in such Letter of Credit.  The  issuance by the Issuing
Bank of each Letter of Credit shall, in addition to the conditions precedent set
forth in Article IV, be subject to the conditions  precedent that such Letter of
Credit shall be in such form and contain such terms as shall be  satisfactory to
the Issuing Bank (consistent with its

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<PAGE>
customary  procedures  and  policies  for the  issuance  of  letters  of  credit
generally)  and that the Borrower and (if other than the  Borrower)  the Company
shall have executed and delivered such other instruments and agreements relating
to such Letter of Credit as the Issuing  Bank shall have  reasonably  requested.
The Borrower  shall also pay to the Issuing  Bank for its own account  issuance,
drawing,  amendment and extension charges in the amounts and at the times agreed
between the  Borrower  and the Issuing  Bank.  The  extension  or renewal of any
Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be an issuance of such Letter of Credit.  If
any Letter of Credit contains a provision  pursuant to which it is automatically
extended  unless notice of termination is given by the Issuing Bank, the Issuing
Bank shall timely give such notice of termination  if a Stop Issuance  Notice is
in effect.  No Letter of Credit shall have a term  extending or be so extendible
beyond the fifth Business Day preceding the Termination Date.

               2.7.3.   Reimbursement   of  Drawings.   Upon  receipt  from  the
beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter
of Credit,  the  Issuing  Bank shall  notify  the  Administrative  Agent and the
Adminis-trative  Agent shall promptly  notify the Borrower and each other Lender
as to the  amount  to be paid as a result  of such  demand  or  drawing  and the
payment date. The Borrower shall be irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to
reimburse  the Issuing  Bank on such  payment  date for any amounts  paid by the
Issuing Bank upon any drawing under any Letter of Credit,  without  presentment,
demand,  protest or other  formalities of any kind. All such amounts paid by the
Issuing Bank and remaining  unpaid by the Borrower shall bear interest,  payable
on demand,  for each day from the date of payment by the Issuing Bank until paid
in full by the Obligors at the rate per annum specified in Section 2.5.5 for the
relevant  currency.  In  addition,  each Lender  will pay to the  Administrative
Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank,  immediately upon the Issuing Bank's
demand at any time  during  the period  from the date of payment by the  Issuing
Bank until  reimbursement  therefor in full by the Obligors,  an amount equal to
such Lender's ratable share of such drawing (in proportion to its  participation
therein),  together  with  interest on such amount for each day from the date of
the Issuing Bank's demand for such payment (or, if such demand is made less than
two hours prior to the funding  deadline for the relevant  currency on such date
specified  pursuant to Section 2.5.7, from the next succeeding  Business Day) to
the date of payment by such  Lender of such  amount at the  applicable  rate per
annum  specified in Section 2.5.10 for the relevant  currency.  The Issuing Bank
will pay to each Lender  ratably  all amounts  received  from the  Obligors  for
application  in payment  of their  reimbursement  obligations  in respect of any
Letter of Credit,  but only to the extent  such  Lender has made  payment to the
Issuing Bank in respect of such Letter of Credit pursuant hereto. In the case of
a drawing under a Letter of Credit  denominated in Dollars,  the Borrower shall,
unless it gives not less than one Business  Day's  notice to the  Administrative
Agent to the  contrary,  be deemed to have timely  given a  Committed  Borrowing
Notice for a  Floating  Rate  Advance  on the date of such  drawing in the exact
amount due the Issuing Bank hereunder on such date, and the Administrative Agent
shall apply the proceeds of such Advance to make payment thereof.

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<PAGE>
               2.7.4.  Obligations Absolute. The obligations of the Borrower and
each  Lender  under   Section  2.7.3  shall  be  absolute,   unconditional   and
irrevocable,  and shall be performed  strictly in  accordance  with the terms of
this Agreement, under all circumstances whatsoever, including without limitation
the following circumstances:

                                (a) any lack of validity or  enforce-ability  of
                  this Agreement or any Letter of Credit or any document related
                  hereto or thereto;

                                (b) any  amendment,  waiver of or any consent to
                  departure from all or any of the provisions of this Agreement,
                  any  Letter  of  Credit  or any  document  related  hereto  or
                  thereto;

                                (c) the use which  may be made of the  Letter of
                  Credit  by, or any acts or  omission  of, a  beneficiary  of a
                  Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom the  beneficiary  may
                  be acting);

                                (d) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense
                  or other  rights that any Obligor may have at any time against
                  a  beneficiary  of a Letter of Credit  (or any Person for whom
                  the  beneficiary  may be acting),  the Lenders  (including the
                  Issuing Bank) or any other Person,  whether in connection with
                  this Agreement or the Letter of Credit or any document related
                  hereto or thereto or any unrelated transaction;

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

                                (f)  payment  under a Letter  of  Credit  to the
                  beneficiary of such Letter of Credit against  presentation  to
                  the  Issuing  Bank of a draft  or  certificate  that  does not
                  comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit; or

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                                (g) any other act or omission to act or delay of
                  any kind by any  Lender  (including  the  Issuing  Bank),  the
                  Administrative Agent or any other Person or any other event or
                  circumstance  whatsoever that might, but for the provisions of
                  this subsection (g), constitute a legal or equitable discharge
                  of any Obligor's or Lender's obligations hereunder;

provided that the provisions of this Section 2.7.4 shall not relieve the Issuing
Bank from responsibility for its own gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

               2.7.5.  Indemnity.  The  Company  hereby  indemnifies  and  holds
harmless each Lender (including each Issuing Bank) and the Administrative  Agent
from and against  any and all claims,  damages,  losses,  liabilities,  costs or
expenses  which such Lender or the  Administrative  Agent may incur  (including,
without limitation, any claims, damages, losses, liabilities,  costs or expenses
which any Issuing Bank may incur by reason of or in connection  with the failure
of any other  Lender to fulfill or comply with its  obligations  to such Issuing
Bank hereunder (but nothing herein contained shall affect any rights the Company
may have against such defaulting Lender)), and none of the Lenders (including an
Issuing  Bank)  nor the  Administrative  Agent  nor  any of  their  officers  or
directors or employees or agents shall be liable or responsible, by reason of or
in  connection  with the  execution  and  delivery  or transfer of or payment or
failure to pay under any Letter of Credit,  including without  limitation any of
the  circumstances  enumerated in Section 2.7.4 above, as well as (i) any error,
omission,  interruption or delay in transmission or delivery of any messages, by
mail, cable, telegraph,  telex or otherwise, (ii) any error in interpretation of
technical  terms,  (iii) any loss or delay in the  transmission  of any document
required  in  order  to make a  drawing  under a  Letter  of  Credit,  (iv)  any
consequences  arising  from  causes  beyond  the  control of the  Issuing  Bank,
including  without  limitation any government  acts, or any other  circumstances
whatsoever  in making or failing to make  payment  under such  Letter of Credit;
provided  that the Company  shall not be required to indemnify  the Issuing Bank
for any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses, and the Company
shall have a claim for direct (but not conse-quential) damage suffered by it, to
the extent found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been caused by (x)
the willful  misconduct or gross  negligence of the Issuing Bank in  determining
whether a request  presented  under any Letter of Credit complied with the terms
of such  Letter of Credit or (y) the  Issuing  Bank's  failure  to pay under any
Letter of Credit after the  presentation to it of a request  strictly  complying
with the terms and  conditions of the Letter of Credit.  Nothing in this Section
2.7.5 is  intended  to limit  the  obligations  of any  Obligor  under any other
provision of this  Agreement.  To the extent the Company  does not  indemnify an
Issuing Bank as required by this subsection,  the Lenders agree to do so ratably
in accordance with their Commitments.

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               2.7.6.  Letter  of  Credit  Fees.  The  Company  shall pay to the
Administrative  Agent (i) for the  account  of the  Lenders  ratably a letter of
credit fee accruing  daily on the  aggregate  amount then  available for drawing
under all  Letters of Credit at the LC Fee Rate and (ii) for the account of each
Issuing Bank a Letter of Credit  fronting fee  accruing  daily on the  aggregate
amount then  available  for drawing  under all Letters of Credit  issued by such
Issuing Bank at a rate per annum as determined  from time to time by the Company
and such Issuing Bank. Accrued fees under this Section in respect of each Letter
of Credit  shall be payable in the  currency  in which such  Letter of Credit is
denominated  quarterly  in  arrears  on each  Payment  Date and upon the date of
termination of the Commitments in their entirety.

               2.7.7. Stop Issuance Notice. If the Required Lenders determine at
any time that the  conditions set forth in Section 4.3 would not be satisfied at
such time, then the Required Lenders may request that the  Administrative  Agent
issue a "Stop Issuance Notice",  and the Adminis-trative  Agent shall issue such
notice to the Company and to each Issuing Bank.  Such Stop Issuance Notice shall
be withdrawn upon a determination by the Required Lenders that the circumstances
giving rise thereto no longer exist. No Letter of Credit shall be issued while a
Stop Issuance Notice is in effect.



                                   ARTICLE III

                             CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

          3.1.  Yield  Protection.  If,  after the date of this  Agreement,  the
adoption of any law or the application of any governmental or quasi-governmental
rule,  regulation,  policy,  guideline or  directive  (whether or not having the
force of law), or any change  therein,  or any change in the  interpretation  or
administration thereof, or the compliance of any Lender therewith,

                  (i) with  respect to  Committed  Loans  bearing  interest at a
         Fixed  Rate,  or  Letters  of Credit,  imposes  or  increases  or deems
         applicable any reserve,  assessment,  insurance charge, special deposit
         or similar  requirement  against  assets of,  deposits  with or for the
         account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or any applicable Lending
         Installation (other than reserves and assessments taken into account in
         determining the interest rate applicable to Committed  Advances bearing
         interest  at a Fixed  Rate or for  which  such  Lender  is  compensated
         pursuant to Section 2.5.15), or

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             (ii) with respect to Committed  Loans  bearing  interest at a Fixed
         Rate, or Letters of Credit, imposes any other condition,

the  result of which is to  increase  the cost to any  Lender or any  applicable
Lending  Installation  of  making,  funding or  maintaining  such  Loans,  or of
issuing,  maintaining  or  participating  in Letters of Credit,  or reduces  any
amount  receivable  by any  Lender or any  applicable  Lending  Installation  in
connection  therewith,   or  requires  any  Lender  or  any  applicable  Lending
Installation  to make any payment  calculated by reference to the amount of such
Loans held by it, such Letters of Credit  participated  in by it or such amounts
received by it, by an amount  deemed  material by such Lender,  then,  within 30
days of demand by such Lender,  the Borrower  shall pay such Lender that portion
of such increased expense incurred or reduction in an amount received which such
Lender  reasonably and in good faith  determines is  attributable to the making,
funding  and  maintaining  of such  Loans by it or to  issuing,  maintaining  or
participating in Letters of Credit.

                  3.2.  Changes in  Capital  Adequacy  Regulations.  If a Lender
 reasonably and in good faith determines that the amount of
capital  required or  expected  to be  maintained  by such  Lender,  any Lending
Installation  of  such  Lender  or  any  corporation   controlling  such  Lender
attributable  to this  Agreement,  the  Loans or the  Letters  of  Credit or its
obligation  to make  Loans or to issue  or  participate  in  Letters  of  Credit
hereunder  is increased as a result of a Change (as  hereafter  defined),  then,
within 15 days of demand by such Lender,  the Company  shall pay such Lender the
amount which such Lender reasonably and in good faith determines is necessary to
compensate  it for any  reduction  in the rate of return on capital to an amount
below that which such  Lender  could have  achieved  but for such  Change and is
attributable  to this  Agreement,  the  Loans or the  Letters  of  Credit or its
obligation  to make  Loans or to issue  or  participate  in  Letters  of  Credit
hereunder,  provided, however, that the effect of any Change shall be determined
based on the effect on such  Lender that would be  applicable  to such Lender if
such Lender was  maintaining  the highest  credit  quality as  determined by the
applicable regulatory authorities at the time of such Change. "Change" means (i)

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any change after the date of this Agreement in the Risk-Based Capital Guidelines
or  (ii)  any  adoption  of  or  change  in  any  other  law,   governmental  or
quasi-governmental  rule,  regulation,  policy,  guideline,  interpretation,  or
directive  (whether  or not having  the force of law) of  general  applicability
after the date of this Agreement which affects the amount of capital required or
expected  to be  maintained  by any Lender or any  Lending  Installation  or any
corporation  controlling any Lender.  "Risk-Based  Capital Guidelines" means (i)
the risk-based  capital guidelines in effect in the United States on the date of
this Agreement,  including transition rules, and (ii) the corresponding  capital
regulations  promulgated  by  regulatory  authorities  outside the United States
implementing  the July 1988 report of the Basle Committee on Banking  Regulation
and  Supervisory  Practices  Entitled  "International   Convergence  of  Capital
Measurements  and  Capital  Standards,"  including  transition  rules,  and  any
amendments to such regulations adopted prior to the date of this Agreement.

          3.3.  Availability  of  Types of  Advances.  If the  Required  Lenders
reasonably  and in good faith  determine  that (i) deposits of a type and vances
maturity  appropriate to match fund  Committed  Advances  bearing  interest at a
Fixed  Rate are not  available  or (ii)  solely  in the  case of a  Eurocurrency
Committed  Advance  denominated  in  an  Alternative   Currency,   the  interest
applicable to such  Committed  Advance does not  accurately  reflect the funding
cost of such Committed Advance,  then the  Administrative  Agent shall forthwith
give  notice  thereof  to the  Company  and the  Lenders,  whereupon  until  the
Administrative  Agent notifies the Company that the circumstances giving rise to
such suspension no longer exist, the obligations of the Lenders to make Fixed CD
Rate  Loans or  Eurocurrency  Loans (in the  affected  currency),  or to convert
outstanding  Loans into such Loans or continue  outstanding  Loans as such Loans
for an  additional  Interest  Period,  shall be  suspended  and (i) any affected
outstanding  Committed Advance  denominated in Dollars shall be converted into a
Floating  Rate  Advance  on the  last day of the then  current  Interest  Period
applicable  thereto,  (ii) any affected Committed Advance denominated in Dollars
for which a Committed  Borrowing  Notice has previously been given shall instead
be made as a Floating  Rate  Advance,  unless the Borrower  elects not to borrow
such Advance by giving one Business Day's notice to the Administrative  Agent to
such effect, (iii) any affected outstanding  Committed Advance denominated in an
Alternative  Currency shall mature and be due and payable on the last day of the
then current Interest

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Period applicable thereto and (iv) any affected Eurocurrency Advance denominated
in  an  Alternative  Currency  for  which  a  Committed  Borrowing  Notice  or a
Competitive  Bid Borrowing  Notice has previously  been given shall be canceled.
Nothing in this  Section 3.3 shall affect any right of the Borrower to borrow or
convert outstanding Loans into Loans of a Type not affected by the circumstances
described above under and in accordance with the other applicable  provisions of
this  Agreement.  If  any  Lender  determines  that  maintenance  of  any of its
Eurocurrency  Loans would  violate  any  applicable  law,  rule,  regulation  or
directive,  whether  or not  having  the force of law,  then such  Lender may by
notice to the  Company,  through the  Administrative  Agent,  require  that such
Eurocurrency Loans be converted to an unaffected Type of Loan on the last day of
the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, if such Lender may lawfully
maintain  such Loan to such date,  or on such  earlier  date as such  Lender may
require if it is not able lawfully to maintain such Loan to such date.

          3.4.  Funding  Indemnification.  If any  payment  of a Fixed Rate Loan
occurs on a date which is not the last day of the  applicable  Interest  Period,
whether because of acceleration, prepayment or otherwise, or any Fixed Rate Loan
is converted  to a Loan of a different  Type on a date which is not the last day
of the  applicable  Interest  Period  (except  pursuant to the last  sentence of
Section 3.3),  or the Borrower  fails to prepay any Fixed Rate Loan after notice
of prepayment has been given in accordance  with Section 2.5.3,  or a Fixed Rate
Advance  is not  made,  converted  or  continued  on the date  specified  by the
Borrower for any reason other than  default by the  Lenders,  the Borrower  will
indemnify  each Lender for any loss or cost incurred by it resulting  therefrom,
including,  without  limitation,  any loss or cost in  liquidating  or employing
deposits acquired to fund or maintain the Fixed Rate Advance.

                  3.5. Lender  Statements;  Limit on Retroactivity;  Survival of
Indemnity.  To the extent  reasonably  possible,  each Lender shall designate an
alternate  Lending  Installation with respect to its Fixed Rate Loans or Letters
of Credit to reduce any  liability of the Borrower or the Company to such Lender
under  Section  3.1,  3.2 or 3.6 or to  avoid  the  unavailability  of a Type of
Committed  Advance  under  Section  3.3,  so  long as  such  designation  is not
disadvantageous to such Lender. Each Lender shall deliver a written statement of
such Lender as to the amount due, if any,  under  Section 3.1,  3.2, 3.3, 3.4 or
3.6. Such written statement shall set forth in reasonable detail the

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calculations  upon which such Lender  determined such amount and shall be final,
conclusive  and  binding in the  absence of  manifest  error.  Determination  of
amounts  payable under such Sections in connection  with a Fixed Rate Loan shall
be  calculated  as though  each  Lender  funded its Fixed Rate Loan  through the
purchase of a deposit of the type and maturity corresponding to the deposit used
as a reference in determining the Fixed Rate applicable to such Loan, whether in
fact that is the case or not. The  Borrower or the Company,  as the case may be,
shall only be obligated to compensate  any Lender under Section 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 or
3.6 for any amount arising or accruing during (i) any time or period  commencing
not  more  than 90 days  prior to the date on which  such  Lender  notifies  the
Administrative   Agent  and  the  Company   that  it  proposes  to  demand  such
compensation  and  identifies  to the  Administrative  Agent and the Company the
statute,  regulation  or other basis upon which the claimed  compensation  is or
will be  based  and  (ii)  any  time or  period  during  which,  because  of the
retroactive  application of such statute,  regulation or other such basis,  such
Lender did not know that such  amount  would arise or accrue.  Unless  otherwise
provided herein,  the amount specified in the written statement shall be payable
on demand after  receipt by the Borrower or the Company,  as the case may be, of
the written statement.  The obligations of the Obligors under Sections 3.1, 3.2,
3.4 and 3.6  shall  survive  payment  of any  other of the  Obligations  and the
termination of this Agreement.

          3.6. Foreign Subsidiary Costs. If any Lender determines reasonably and
in good faith that the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining  any Loan to
an Eligible Subsidiary or of issuing, maintaining or participating in any Letter
of Credit for the account of any Eligible Subsidiary is increased, or the amount
of any sum received or receivable by any Lender (or its Lending Installation) is
reduced by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, by reason of the fact
that such Eligible  Subsidiary is  incorporated  in, or conducts  business in, a
jurisdiction  outside the United States of America,  the Company shall indemnify
such Lender for such increased cost or reduction  within 30 days after demand by
such Lender (with a copy to the  Administrative  Agent).  A certificate  of such
Lender  claiming  compensation  under this  Section  3.6 and  setting  forth the
additional  amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder  shall be conclusive in
the absence of manifest error.

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          3.7.  Replacement  of  Lenders.  In the event a Lender  (an  "Affected
Lender")  shall  have:  (i)  failed  to  either  fund its  ratable  share of any
Committed  Advance  which such  Lender is  obligated  to fund under the terms of
Section 2.2 or its share of any  Competitive  Bid  Advance  which such Lender is
obligated  to fund  under  the terms of  Section  2.3,  and in either  case such
failure has not been cured within five Business Days, (ii) either repudiated its
obligations  under this  Agreement  or failed to reaffirm  such  obligations  in
writing within ten Business Days of a written request  therefor from the Company
(with a copy to each  Agent),  or  (iii)  made  demand  for  additional  amounts
pursuant  to Sections  2.5.14,  3.1,  3.2 or 3.6,  as a result of any  condition
described in any such Section, then, unless such Affected Lender has theretofore
taken  steps to remove or cure,  and has  removed or cured  within ten  Business
Days, such failure or the conditions creating the cause for such demand for such
additional  amounts,  as the case may be, the Company  may require the  Affected
Lender to transfer and assign without  recourse (in accordance  with and subject
to the  restrictions  contained  in  Sections  12.1,  12.2  and  12.3)  all  its
interests,  rights and obligations  under this Agreement to a bank designated by
the Company and which is  reasonably  acceptable  to the Agents (such bank being
herein called a "Replacement  Lender");  provided,  that (i) no such  assignment
shall  conflict with any law, rule or regulation or order of any state,  federal
or local  governmental  authority,  (ii) the Replacement Lender shall pay to the
Affected  Lender in immediately  available  funds on the date of such assignment
the  principal of and interest  accrued to the date of payment on the Loans made
by it  hereunder  and all other  amounts  accrued  for its account or owed to it
hereunder  (including,  without  limitation,  any amount  which would be payable
pursuant to Section 3.4 in connection  with a prepayment in full of the Loans of
the Affected Lender on the date of such  assignment) and (iii) such  Replacement
Lender shall be satisfactory to each Issuing Bank. Each Lender agrees to use its
best efforts to notify the Company as promptly as practicable upon such Lender's
becoming aware that circumstances  exist which would cause any Obligor to become
obligated to pay additional  amounts to such Lender pursuant to Sections 2.5.14,
3.1, 3.2 or 3.6.

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                                   ARTICLE IV

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

                  4.1.  Initial Advance or Letter of Credit.  No Lender shall be
required  to make the initial  Advance  hereunder  and no Issuing  Bank shall be
obligated to issue (or shall issue) any Letter of Credit  unless the Company has
furnished or caused to be furnished to the Documentation Agent:

              (i)  Copies  of  (x)  the  limited  partnership  agreement  of the
         Company,  together with all amendments  thereto,  and (y) the Company's
         Certificate of Limited Partnership as filed with the Secretary of State
         of Delaware,  all certified by a Financial  Officer or the President of
         the Company.

             (ii) Copies,  certified by a Financial  Officer,  of the  Corporate
         General Partner's  Certificate of  Incorporation,  By-Laws and Board of
         Directors'   resolutions   authorizing  the  execution,   delivery  and
         performance of the Loan Documents on behalf of the Company.

            (iii) An incumbency  certificate,  executed by a Financial  Officer,
         which shall  identify by name and title and bear the  signature  of the
         Financial  Officers  authorized to sign the Loan  Documents and to make
         borrowings and request  issuance of Letters of Credit  hereunder,  upon
         which  certificate the Lenders shall be entitled to rely until informed
         of any change in writing by the Company.

             (iv) Copies of a long-form certificate of the Secretary of State of
         the State of Delaware,  dated reasonably near the date hereof,  listing
         the  Certificate  of  Limited  Partnership  of  the  Company  and  each
         amendment,  if any, thereto,  on file in the office of the Secretary of
         State of the State of Delaware and stating that such  documents are the
         only  charter  documents  of the  Company  on file in the office of the
         Secretary  of State of the State of Delaware  and that the Company is a
         limited partnership in good standing in the State of Delaware.

             (v) A written opinion of the Company's special counsel,  Kirkland &
         Ellis, in substantially the form of Exhibit "B-l" hereto.

            (vi) A written opinion of the General Counsel to the Company, Vernon
         T. Squires, Esq., in substantially the form of Exhibit "B-2" hereto.

           (vii) The Notes of the  Company  payable  to the order of each of the
         Lenders.

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          (viii) A certificate,  signed by a Financial Officer, (i) stating that
         no Default or Unmatured Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii)
         setting  forth the  Pricing  Level as at the date of  delivery  of such
         certificate.

             (ix)  A  duly   completed   Loan/Credit   Related  Money   Transfer
         Instruction  for the Company in  substantially  the form of Exhibit "F"
         hereto.

             (x) A written opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, special counsel for
         the Agents, in substantially the form of Exhibit "J" hereto.

            (xi) Such other documents as the Documentation  Agent or its counsel
         may have reasonably requested.

The  Documentation  Agent shall promptly  notify the other parties hereto of its
receipt of the foregoing documents.

                  4.2.  Initial  Advance or Letter of Credit  for each  Eligible
Subsidiary. No Lender shall be required to make the initial Advance hereunder to
any  Eligible  Subsidiary  and no Issuing  Bank shall be  obligated to issue (or
shall  issue)  the  initial  Letter of Credit for the  account  of any  Eligible
Subsidiary  unless  such  Eligible  Subsidiary  has  furnished  or  caused to be
furnished to the Documentation Agent:

              (i) The Notes of such Eligible  Subsidiary payable to the order of
         each Lender.

             (ii) An opinion of counsel for such Eligible Subsidiary  reasonably
         acceptable to the  Documentation  Agent,  substantially  in the form of
         Exhibit "I" hereto and covering such additional matters relating to the
         transactions  contemplated  hereby  as the  Documentation  Agent or the
         Required Lenders may reasonably request.

            (iii) All documents  which the  Documentation  Agent may  reasonably
         request  relating to the  existence of such  Eligible  Subsidiary,  the
         corporate or partnership authority for and the validity of the Election
         to  Participate  of such Eligible  Subsidiary,  this  Agreement and the
         Notes of such  Eligible  Subsidiary,  and any  other  matters  relevant
         thereto,  all in form  and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
         Documentation Agent.

             (iv)  A  duly   completed   Loan/Credit   Related  Money   Transfer
         Instruction for such Eligible  Subsidiary in substantially  the form of
         Exhibit "F" hereto.

The  Documentation  Agent shall promptly  notify the other parties hereto of its
receipt of the foregoing documents.

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          4.3. Each Advance or Letter of Credit.  No Lender shall be required to
make any Advance (including,  without limitation, the initial Advance hereunder)
and no Issuing  Bank shall be required to issue (or renew or extend the term of)
any Letter of Credit  (including,  without  limitation,  the  initial  Letter of
Credit hereunder), unless on the applicable Borrowing Date or date of issuance:

                  (i)  Prior to and  after  giving  effect  to such  Advance  or
         issuance there exists no Default or Unmatured Default.

                  (ii) The representations and warranties of the Company and (if
         other than the Company) the Borrower contained in Articles V and XIV of
         this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of such
         date,   other  than  (x)   Sections   5.4,   5.5(a)   and  5.6,   which
         representations  and  warranties  are made  only as of the date of this
         Agreement and (y) in the case of any  Committed  Advance which does not
         result in an  increase  in the  aggregate  Dollar  Amount of  Committed
         Advances at the time outstanding, Sections 5.5(b) and 5.7.

                  (iii)  In  the  case  of  any  Competitive  Bid  Advance,  the
         Company's senior unsecured debt without  third-party credit enhancement
         is rated at least BBB-(Baa3) by at least one of S&P, Moody's or D&P.

                  (iv) In the case of any  issuance  of a Letter of  Credit,  no
         Stop Issuance Notice shall be in effect.

                  Each  borrowing  of an Advance and  request for  issuance of a
Letter of Credit shall constitute a  representation  and warranty by the Company
and (if other than the Company) the Borrower  that the  conditions  contained in
Section 4.3(i) and (ii) have been satisfied.

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                                    ARTICLE V

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

                  The Company represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

                  5.1.   Organization and Authority.

                  (a) prior to the Effective  Date of the  Reorganization,  is a
         limited  partnership duly organized and validly existing under the laws
         of the State of  Delaware  and on and after the  Effective  Date of the
         Reorganization, will be duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
         standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation;

                  (b) has all  requisite  power and  authority and all necessary
         licenses and permits to own and operate its  properties and to carry on
         its business as now conducted;

                  (c) is duly licensed or qualified and is in good standing as a
         foreign limited  partnership (to the extent  qualification as a foreign
         limited  partnership  is permitted  by  statute),  or, on and after the
         Reorganization,  as a foreign corporation, in each jurisdiction wherein
         the failure to be so qualified  would  reasonably be expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect; and

                  (d) does not  believe  that the  inability  of the  Company to
         qualify  as a foreign  limited  partnership  in any state in which such
         qualification  is not  permitted  by law will have a  Material  Adverse
         Effect.

                  5.2.    Organization   and   Authority   of    Subsidiaries.
Each Material Subsidiary:

                  (a)  is  a  limited   partnership,   general   partnership  or
         corporation, duly organized, validly existing and, where applicable, in
         good standing under the laws of its  jurisdiction of  incorporation  or
         the jurisdiction where organized, as the case may be;

                  (b) has all  requisite  power and  authority and all necessary
         licenses and permits to own and operate its  properties and to carry on
         its business as now conducted; and

                  (c) is duly licensed or qualified and is in good standing as a
         foreign  corporation or partnership (to the extent  qualification  as a
         foreign  partnership  is permitted by statute),  as the case may be, in
         each  jurisdiction  wherein  the  failure  to  be  so  qualified  would
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

The Company does not believe that the inability of any Material Subsidiary which
is a partnership to qualify as a foreign  partnership in any state in which such
qualification is not permitted by law will have a Material Adverse Effect.

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                  5.3.          Organization and Authority of Corporate General
Partner.  The Corporate General Partner:

                  (a) is a corporation  duly organized,  validly existing and in
         good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

                  (b) has all  requisite  power and  authority and all necessary
         licenses and permits to own and operate its  properties and to carry on
         its business as now conducted; and

                  (c) is duly licensed or qualified and is in good standing as a
         foreign  corporation in each jurisdiction  wherein the failure to be so
         qualified  would  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material  Adverse
         Effect.

               5.4. Business and Property. The Lenders have each heretofore been
furnished  with a copy of the  Annual  Report of the Parent on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended  December  31, 1996 (the "Form  10-K"),  the Annual  Report to
Shareholders  of the Parent for the fiscal  year ended  December  31,  1996 (the
"Annual  Report")  and  the  Information   Memorandum  dated  March,  1997  (the
"Information Memorandum") of the Company, which Information Memorandum generally
sets forth the business  conducted by the Company and its  Subsidiaries  and the
principal  properties of the Company and its  Subsidiaries.  The Form 10-K,  the
Annual Report, and the Information Memorandum are hereinafter referred to as the
"Disclosure Documents."

               5.5. Financial Statements. (a) The consolidated balance sheets of
the Parent and its  subsidiaries  as of December 31, 1996, and the statements of
income and cash flows for the fiscal  year ended on said date  accompanied  by a
report thereon containing an opinion unqualified as to scope limitations imposed
by the Parent and otherwise  without  qualification  except as therein noted, by
Arthur  Andersen LLP, have been  prepared in accordance  with GAAP  consistently
applied  except as therein noted,  fairly  present in all material  respects the
financial  position of the Company and its  Subsidiaries as of such date and the
results of their operations and cash flows for such period.

          (b) Since  December 31, 1996, no event or condition has occurred which
has had or which would  reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on the properties,  business,  operations or financial  condition of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

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               5.6. Full  disclusure.  The financial  statements  referred to in
Section  5.5 do  not,  nor do the  Disclosure  Documents  or any  other  written
statement furnished by the Parent or any Obligor to the Agents or the Lenders in
connection  with the  negotiation  of the Loan  Documents,  contain  any  untrue
statement  of a material  fact or omit a  material  fact  necessary  to make the
statements  contained  therein or herein not misleading as of the dates thereof.
There is no fact peculiar to the Company or its  Subsidiaries  which the Company
has not disclosed to the Lenders in writing which materially  affects  adversely
nor, so far as the Company can foresee,  will  materially  affect  adversely the
properties,  business,  operations or financial condition of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

               5.7. Pending Litigation.  There are no proceedings pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company threatened,  against or affecting the Company,  any
of its General Partners, its Parent or any Subsidiary in any court or before any
governmental  authority or arbitration  board or tribunal which would reasonably
be  expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  Neither  the Company nor any
Subsidiary is in default with respect to any order of any court or  governmental
authority or arbitration board or tribunal which would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  5.8.          Loan Documents are Legal, Valid, Binding and
Authorized.  The execution and delivery of the Loan Documents by the Company and
compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Loan Documents

                  (a) are  within  the power of the  Company  and have been duly
         authorized by proper action on the part of the Company; and

                  (b) will not violate in any material respect any provisions of
         any law or any order of any court or  governmental  authority or agency
         and will not conflict with or result in any breach of any of the terms,
         conditions or provisions  of, or constitute a default under the limited
         partnership  agreement  of  the  Company  or  any  indenture  or  other
         agreement or instrument  governing Debt or any other material agreement
         or  instrument  to which the  Company  is a party or by which it may be
         bound or result in the imposition of any liens or  encumbrances  on any
         property of the Company.

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The  execution  and  delivery  by the  Company  of the  Loan  Documents  and the
performance of its  obligations  thereunder  have been duly authorized by proper
corporate and partnership proceedings,  and the Loan Documents constitute legal,
valid and binding  obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in
accordance  with  their  terms,  except  as  enforceability  may be  limited  by
bankruptcy,  insolvency or similar laws affecting the  enforcement of creditors'
rights generally.

               5.9. Government  Consent. No approval,  consent or withholding of
objection  on the part of any  regulatory  body,  state,  Federal  or local,  is
necessary in connection  with the  execution,  delivery and  performance  by the
Company of the Loan  Documents  or  compliance  by the  Company  with any of the
provisions of the Loan Documents.

               5.10. Taxes. All United States Federal income tax returns and all
other  material tax returns  required to be filed by the Parent,  the Company or
any Subsidiary in any jurisdiction have, in fact, been filed, and all taxes, and
all material  assessments,  fees and other governmental charges upon the Parent,
the Company or any Subsidiary or upon any of their respective properties, income
or  franchises,  which are shown to be due and payable in such returns have been
paid.  The  Company  does not know of any  proposed  additional  tax  assessment
against the Parent,  the Company or any Subsidiary for which adequate  provision
has not been made on its accounts.  To the best of the Company's knowledge,  the
provisions for taxes on the books of the Parent, the Company and each Subsidiary
are adequate for all open years, and for its current fiscal period.

                  5.11.  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974.
 The consummation of the  transactions  provided for in this Agreement
and compliance by the Company with the provisions of the Loan Documents will not
involve any  prohibited  transaction  within the meaning of the ERISA or Section
4975 of the Code.  No  "employee  pension  benefit  plans",  as defined in ERISA
("Plans"), maintained by the Company or any Person which is under common control
with the Company within the meaning of Section 4001(b) of ERISA,  nor any trusts
created  thereunder,  have  incurred any  "accumulated  funding  deficiency"  as
defined in Section 302 of ERISA.  Neither  the  Company  nor, to the best of the
Company's knowledge,  any Person which is under common control with the Company,
within the meaning of Section 4001(b) of ERISA, maintains any "qualified defined
benefit plan" as defined in ERISA.

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               5.12.  Investment  Company  Act.  Neither  the  Company  nor  any
Subsidiary is an "investment  company" or an "affiliated  person"  thereof or an
"affiliated  person" of such affiliated  person as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

               5.13. Compliance with Environmental Laws. Neither the Company nor
any Subsidiary is in violation of any applicable  Federal,  state, or local Laws
laws,  statutes,  rules,  regulations  or ordinances  relating to public health,
safety or the environment,  including, without limitation, relating to releases,
discharges,  emissions or disposals to air, water,  land or ground water, to the
withdrawal  or use of  ground  water,  to  the  use,  handling  or  disposal  of
polychlorinated  biphenyls  (PCB's),  asbestos  or  urea  formaldehyde,  to  the
treatment,  storage,  disposal or management of hazardous substances (including,
without  limitation,  petroleum,  crude oil or any  fraction  thereof,  or other
hydrocarbons),  pollutants or contaminants,  to exposure to toxic,  hazardous or
other  controlled,  prohibited or regulated  substances  which  violation  would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.14. Regulations U and X. Margin stock (as defined in Regulations U and X)
constitutes  less than 25% of those  assets of the Company and its  Subsidiaries
which are  subject  to any  limitation  on sale,  pledge,  or other  restriction
hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    COVENANTS

         During the term of this  Agreement,  unless the Required  Lenders shall
otherwise consent in writing:

          6.1.1. Information. The Company will deliver to each of the Lenders:

                  (a) as soon as  available  and in any  event  within  120 days
         after the end of each  fiscal  year of the  Company,  consolidated  and
         consolidating  balance  sheets  of the  Company  and  its  Consolidated
         Subsidiaries  (subject  to Section  6.1.2) as of the end of such fiscal
         year and the  related  consolidated  and  consolidating  statements  of
         income and cash flows for such fiscal year,  setting forth in each case
         in  comparative  form the figures for the previous  fiscal  year,  such
         consolidated  statements to be reported on in a manner which  satisfies
         the financial  reporting  requirements  of the  Securities and Exchange
         Commission by a firm of  independent  public  accountants of nationally
         recognized standing;

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                  (b) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after
         the end of each of the first three  quarters of each fiscal year of the
         Company, the internally prepared consolidated and consolidating balance
         sheets of the Company  and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  (subject to
         Section  6.1.2)  as  of  the  end  of  such  quarter  and  the  related
         consolidated and consolidating  statements of income and cash flows for
         such quarter and for the portion of the Company's  fiscal year ended at
         the end of such quarter,  setting forth in the case of such  statements
         of  income  and cash  flows in  comparative  form the  figures  for the
         corresponding  quarter and the  corresponding  portion of the Company's
         previous  fiscal  year,  all  certified  (subject  to  normal  year-end
         adjustments   and  the  absence  of   footnotes)   as  to  fairness  of
         presentation,  GAAP  and  consistency  by a  Financial  Officer  of the
         Company;

                  (c) simultaneously  with the delivery of each set of financial
         statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of a
         Financial Officer of the Company (i) setting forth in reasonable detail
         the  calculations  required  to  establish  whether  the Company was in
         compliance with the requirements of Sections 6.10, 6.15 and 6.16 on the
         date of such financial statements,  (ii) stating whether any Default or
         Unmatured  Default exists on the date of such  certificate  and, if any
         Default or Unmatured  Default then  exists,  setting  forth the details
         thereof and the action  which the Company is taking or proposes to take
         with respect  thereto and (iii)  setting  forth the  Interest  Coverage
         Ratio as at the date of such financial statements and the Pricing Level
         as at the date of delivery of such certificate;

                  (d) promptly upon the mailing  thereof to the  securityholders
         of the Parent generally,  copies of all financial  statements,  reports
         and proxy statements so mailed;

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

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                  (f) from time to time such  additional  information  regarding
         the financial  position or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries
         as  the  Administrative  Agent,  at the  request  of  any  Lender,  may
         reasonably request.

               6.1.2. Use of Parent  Information.  If the certificate  furnished
pursuant to Section  6.1(c) shall state that (i) the  financial on statements of
the Parent and its  subsidiaries  fairly  present in all  material  respects the
financial  condition of the Company and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for the
period  in  respect  of which  such  certificate  shall  be  given  and (ii) the
consolidated   revenue  of  the  Company  and  its   Consolidated   Subsidiaries
constitutes  at least 98% of the  consolidated  revenues  of the  Parent and its
subsidiaries  and that the combined  assets of the Company and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  constitute at least 98% of the  consolidated  assets of the Parent
and its  subsidiaries,  then the  Company  may  furnish  consolidated  financial
statements of the Parent otherwise complying with the requirements of subsection
(a)  or (b)  above,  as  applicable,  in  lieu  of  the  consolidated  financial
statements  of  the  Company  specified  therein.  The  consolidating  financial
statements  required by such subsections  shall be prepared in substantially the
same format as those set forth in the Information Memorandum.

          6.2. Use of  Proceeds.  The Company  will,  and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries  to,  use  the  proceeds  of the  Advances  for  general  corporate
purposes,  including  a  distribution  by  the  Company  to  the  Parent  in the
approximate  amount of  $626,000,000  to  provide  funds to enable the Parent to
repurchase  from WMX  Technologies,  Inc. and its  subsidiaries  ("WMX") limited
partnership  interests in the Parent and options to acquire limited  partnership
interests  in the  Parent  held by WMX (the "WMX  Repurchase").  The  Letters of
Credit will be used for general  corporate  purposes.  The Company will not, nor
will it permit any  Subsidiary  to, use the proceeds of any Advance or Letter of
Credit in violation of Regulations U and X.

          6.3. Notice of Default. Upon the obtaining of actual knowledge thereof
by  a  Financial  Officer,  the  Company  will,  and  will  cause  each  of  its
Subsidiaries  to, give prompt notice in writing to the  Administrative  Agent of
(i) the  occurrence  of any Default or  Unmatured  Default and what  actions the
Company  proposes  to take  with  respect  thereto,  if any,  and (ii) any other
development,  financial or otherwise, which would reasonably be expected to have
a material adverse effect on the properties,  business,  operations or financial
condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

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          6.4. Inspection.  The Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary to,
permit the Lenders,  by their respective  representatives and agents, to inspect
any of the properties,  corporate books and financial records of the Company and
each  Subsidiary,  to examine and make copies of the books of accounts and other
financial  records  of the  Company  and each  Subsidiary,  and to  discuss  the
affairs,  finances and accounts of the Company and each Subsidiary  with, and to
be advised as to the same by, their respective officers at such reasonable times
and intervals as the Lenders may reasonably designate.

          6.5. Legal Existence, Etc. The Company will preserve and keep in force
and effect,  and will cause each  Material  Subsidiary  to preserve  and keep in
force  and  effect,  its  legal  existence  as a  limited  partnership,  general
partnership  or as a  corporation,  as the case  may be,  and all  licenses  and
permits  necessary  to the proper  conduct of its  business,  provided  that the
foregoing  shall not  prevent  (x) any  transaction  permitted  by Section  6.14
(including   without   limitation  the   Reorganization),   (y)  the  merger  or
consolidation  of  any  Eligible  Subsidiary  with,  or the  liquidation  of any
Eligible  Subsidiary into, any other Eligible  Subsidiary or, subject to Section
6.14,  the  Company or (z) the  merger or  consolidation  of any other  Material
Subsidiary  with or the  liquidation of any other Material  Subsidiary  into any
other Subsidiary or, subject to Section 6.14, the Company.

          6.6.  Insurance.  The  Company  will  maintain,  and will  cause  each
Subsidiary to maintain,  insurance  coverage by financially  sound and reputable
insurers in such forms and amounts and against such risks as are  customary  for
companies of similar size and financial  strength engaged in the same or similar
business activities and owning and operating similar properties.

              6.7. Taxes, Claims for Labor and Materials,  Compliance with Laws.
The Company will  promptly  pay and  discharge,  and will cause each  Subsidiary
promptly  to pay and  discharge  all  material  lawful  taxes,  assessments  and
governmental  charges or levies  imposed  upon the  Company or such  Subsidiary,
respectively,  or upon or in respect of all or any material part of the property
or business of the Company or such  Subsidiary,  all trade  accounts  payable in
accordance  with usual and customary  business  terms,  and all claims for work,
labor or  materials,  which if unpaid  might  become a lien or  charge  upon any
material property of the Company or such Subsidiary, provided the Company or

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such Subsidiary shall not be required to pay any such tax,  assessment,  charge,
levy,  account  payable or claim if (i) the  validity,  applicability  or amount
thereof is being  contested in good faith by appropriate  actions or proceedings
which will  prevent  the  forfeiture  or sale of any  material  property  of the
Company or such Subsidiary or any material  interference with the use thereof by
the Company or such  Subsidiary,  and (ii) the Company or such Subsidiary  shall
set aside on its  books,  reserves  deemed  by it to be  adequate  with  respect
thereto.  The Company will promptly  comply,  and will cause each  Subsidiary to
comply, in all material respects with all laws, ordinances or governmental rules
and regulations to which it is subject, including without limitation, ERISA, the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Federal  Insecticide,  Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act and Federal Environmental  Pesticide Control Act of 1972 and all
laws,  ordinances,  governmental rules and regulations relating to environmental
protection  in all  applicable  jurisdictions,  the  violation  of  which  would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          6.8. Maintenance,  Etc. The Company will maintain,  preserve and keep,
and will cause each  Subsidiary to maintain,  preserve and keep,  its properties
which  are  used in the  conduct  of its  business  (whether  owned  in fee or a
leasehold  interest) in good repair and working order and from time to time will
make all necessary repairs, replacements,  renewals and additions so that at all
times (in the Company's  reasonable  judgment) the  efficiency  thereof shall be
maintained,  except where the failure to do so would not  reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          6.9.  Nature of Business.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will
engage in any  business  if, as a result,  the general  nature of the  business,
taken on a consolidated basis, which would then be engaged in by the Company and
its Subsidiaries  would be substantially  changed from the general nature of the
business  engaged in by the Company and its  Subsidiaries  and  described in the
Annual Report.

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          6.10.  Restricted  Payments.  The Company will not make any Restricted
Payment if at the time of such  Restricted  Payment and after the giving  effect
thereto a Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing.  In  addition,  the
Company will not make any Restricted  Payment if after giving effect thereto the
aggregate  amount of  Restricted  Payments made during the period from and after
April 1, 1995 to and including the date of the making of the Restricted  Payment
in question would exceed the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period,
computed on a  cumulative  basis for such entire  period,  (ii) the net proceeds
(whether cash or other property,  and in the case of other property,  at a value
determined by the Company  reasonably and in good faith) to the Company from the
issue or sale of Equity Interests in the Company or the Parent on or after April
1, 1995 and (iii) $100,000,000.

                  For the  purposes  of this  Section  6.10  the  amount  of any
Restricted  Payment  declared,  paid or  distributed  in property of the Company
shall be deemed to be the  greater  of the book value or fair  market  value (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) of such property at the time
of the making of the Restricted Payment in question.

                  6.11.  Payment of Dividends by Subsidiaries.  The Company will
not and  will not  permit  any  Subsidiary  to enter  into any  agreement  which
restricts  the ability of any  Subsidiary to declare any dividend or to make any
distribution  on  any  Equity  Interest  of  such  Subsidiary,  other  than  the
restrictions set forth in Schedule 6.11.

               6.12.  Transactions  with  Affiliates.  The Company will not, and
will not  permit  any  Subsidiary  to,  enter  into or be a party  to,  any tes.
material  transaction  or  arrangement  with any  Affiliate  (including  without
limitation,  the purchase  from,  sale to or exchange of property  with,  or the
rendering  of any  service by or for,  any  Affiliate),  except in the  ordinary
course of and pursuant to the reasonable  requirements  of the Company's or such
Subsidiary's  business and upon fair and  reasonable  terms no less favorable to
the Company or such Subsidiary than would  reasonably be expected to be obtained
in a comparable arm's-length  transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate;
provided that the foregoing shall not prevent the transactions  described in the
Proxy Statement relating to the Reorganization. For the purposes of this Section
6.12,  the  incurrence  of Debt which is payable to the Parent or the  Surviving
Parent shall not be  prohibited  so long as such Debt is  permitted  pursuant to
Section 6.15 and shall have terms which are  comparable to the terms which would
reasonably  be expected to be obtained  in an  arm's-length  transaction  with a
Person other than an Affiliate.  It is understood that the relationship  between
the Company and the  Corporate  General  Partner  established  by the  Company's
agreement of limited  partnership,  and the performance of such agreement by the
parties thereto, do not contravene this Section 6.12.

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          6.13.  Negative  Pledge.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary  will
create,  assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or  hereafter
acquired by it, except:

                  (a) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement securing Debt
         outstanding on the date of this Agreement;

                  (b) any Lien existing on any asset of any corporation or other
         entity  at  the  time  such  corporation  or  other  entity  becomes  a
         Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

                  (c) any Lien on any asset  securing  Debt  incurred or assumed
         for the purpose of  financing  all or any part of the cost of acquiring
         such asset, provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently
         with or within 90 days after the acquisition thereof;

                  (d) any Lien on any asset of any  corporation  or other entity
         existing  at the time  such  corporation  or other  entity is merged or
         consolidated  with or into the Company or a Subsidiary  and not created
         in contemplation of such event, provided that such Lien does not extend
         to any additional assets;

                  (e) any Lien  existing on any asset  prior to the  acquisition
         thereof by the Company or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation
         of such acquisition;

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

                  (g) Liens  imposed by any  governmental  authority  for taxes,
         assessments or charges not yet due or that are being  contested in good
         faith and by appropriate  proceedings if adequate reserves with respect
         thereto are  maintained on the books of the Company in accordance  with
         GAAP;

                  (h)  carriers',  warehousemen's,   mechanics',  materialmen's,
         repairmen's  or other like  Liens  arising  in the  ordinary  course of
         business that are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or that
         are being  contested in good faith and by appropriate  proceedings  and
         Liens securing judgments but only to the extent for an amount and for a
         period not resulting in a Default under Section 7.6 hereof;

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                  (i)  pledges  or   deposits   under   worker's   compensation,
         unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

                  (j)  deposits  to  secure  the  performance  of  bids,   trade
         contracts  (other than for Debt or  Derivatives  Obligations),  leases,
         statutory  obligations,  surety  bonds,  appeal  bonds with  respect to
         judgments  not  exceeding  $25,000,000,  performance  bonds  and  other
         obligations  of a like  nature  incurred  in  the  ordinary  course  of
         business;

                  (k) easements,  rights-of-way,  restrictions and other similar
         encumbrances   incurred  in  the   ordinary   course  of  business  and
         encumbrances  consisting of zoning restrictions,  easements,  licenses,
         restrictions  on the use of  property or minor  imperfections  in title
         thereto that, in the aggregate, are not material in amount, and that do
         not in any  case  materially  detract  from the  value of the  property
         subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary  conduct of the business
         of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

                  (l) other Liens arising in the ordinary course of its business
         which (i) do not secure Debt or  Derivatives  Obligations,  (ii) do not
         secure any obligation in an amount  exceeding  $25,000,000 and (iii) do
         not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its assets or
         materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business;

                  (m) Liens arising from receivables financings accounted for as
         sales under generally accepted accounting principles; provided that the
         aggregate  unrecovered  investment of the  purchasers  shall at no time
         exceed $100,000,000 (plus accrued interest);

                  (n) Liens on cash and cash  equivalents  securing  Derivatives
         Obligations,  provided  that  the  aggregate  amount  of cash  and cash
         equivalents  subject to such Liens may at no time  exceed  $10,000,000;
         and

                  (o) Liens not otherwise  permitted by the foregoing clauses of
         this Section securing Debt in an aggregate  principal or face amount at
         any date not to exceed $25,000,000.

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                  6.14.         Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.
     (a) The Company  will not (i)  consolidate  or merge with or into any other
Person or (ii) sell, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its
assets to any other  Person,  provided  that the  foregoing  provisions  of this
Section 6.14 shall not preclude (w) consummation of the Reorganization,  (x) the
liquidation of the Surviving Company into the Surviving  Parent,  (y) any merger
or  consolidation  to which the Company is a party or (z) with the prior written
consent  of  the  Required  Lenders,  the  sale  or  other  transfer  of  all or
substantially  all of the assets of the  Company so long as, in the case of each
of (w), (x), (y) and (z), (i) at the time the Surviving Company,  in the case of
the  Reorganization,  the Surviving  Parent, in the case of a liquidation of the
Surviving  Company  into it, the  surviving  entity,  in the case of a merger or
consolidation,  or the transferee, in the case of a sale of all or substantially
all of the  assets of the  Company,  is  organized  under the laws of the United
States of  America  or a state  thereof  and  (except in the case of a merger in
which the Company is the surviving  entity) expressly assumes all obligations of
the  Company  under the Loan  Documents  pursuant to an  instrument  in form and
substance reasonably  satisfactory to the Required Lenders and (ii) after giving
effect  thereto,  no Default or  Unmatured  Default  shall have  occurred and be
continuing.

                  (b) The Company will not sell,  lease or  otherwise  transfer,
directly or indirectly, in any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters assets
having an aggregate  net book value greater than 20% of the  consolidated  total
assets of the Company and its  Subsidiaries at the  commencement of such period;
provided that this  subsection (b) shall not apply to sale or other  disposition
in the ordinary course of business of inventory or obsolete equipment.

          6.15. Leverage Test.  Consolidated Debt shall at no time exceed the
Debt Limit.

          6.16. Subsidiary Debt Limitation.  The aggregate Debt of Subsidiaries,
exclusive of (i) Debt under this  Agreement  and the 364-Day  Agreement and (ii)
Debt owing to the  Company or a  Subsidiary,  shall at no time exceed 20% of the
Debt Limit.

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                                   ARTICLE VII

                                    DEFAULTS

                  The  occurrence  of any one or more  of the  following  events
shall constitute a Default:

     7.1. Any representation or warranty made or deemed made under Article IV by
any Obligor to the Lenders or the  Administrative  Agent under or in  connection
with this Agreement or any certificate or other document delivered in connection
with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be materially  false on the
date as of which made or deemed made.

     7.2  Nonpayment of principal of any Note or any Letter of Credit  Liability
when due, or  nonpayment  of interest  upon any Note or of any  facility  fee or
letter of credit fee or other obligations under any of the Loan Documents within
five days after the same becomes due.

     7.3 The breach by the Company of any of the terms or provisions of Sections
6.10 through 6.16.

     7.4 The breach by the Company  (other  than a breach  which  constitutes  a
Default under Section 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3) of any of the terms or provisions of this
Agreement  which is not remedied within thirty days after the earlier of (a) any
Financial  Officer of the Company having knowledge of such breach or (b) written
notice from the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

     7.5  Default  by the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  in  the  payment  of the
principal  of or  interest  on any Debt  and/or  Derivatives  Obligations  in an
aggregate  amount of  $25,000,000 or more, as and when the same shall become due
and payable by the lapse of time,  by  declaration,  by call for  redemption  or
otherwise,  and such default shall continue  beyond the period of grace, if any,
allowed with respect thereto.

     7.6 Default or the happening of any event shall occur under any  indenture,
agreement,  or other instrument  under which any Material  Commitment is made or
any Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary in an aggregate  amount of $25,000,000
or more is outstanding  and such default or event shall continue for a period of
time  sufficient to permit the  acceleration  of the maturity of any Debt of the
Company or any Subsidiary outstanding thereunder or to permit termination of any
Material Commitment, provided any such default which exists solely on account of
the  Reorganization  shall not  constitute a Default or Unmatured  Default under
this Section 7.6 once such default shall have been waived by the holders of such
Debt or the makers of such Material Commitment.

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     7.7 The Corporate  General  Partner shall withdraw from the Company (except
in  connection  with the  Reorganization)  and no  successor  Corporate  General
Partner shall have been elected prior  thereto or  substantially  simultaneously
therewith in accordance with Section 12.1 of the limited  partnership  agreement
of the Company.

     7.8 A  custodian,  trustee or receiver is appointed  for the  Company,  the
Corporate  General  Partner or any Material  Subsidiary or for the major part of
the property of any of the foregoing and is not discharged  within 30 days after
such appointment.

     7.9 Final  judgment or judgments  for the payment of money  aggregating  in
excess  of  $25,000,000  is or  are  outstanding  against  the  Company  or  any
Subsidiary  and such  judgments  have remained  unpaid,  unvacated,  unbonded or
unstayed by appeal or otherwise for a period of 30 days.

     7.10 The Company,  the Corporate General Partner or any Material Subsidiary
becomes insolvent or bankrupt,  is generally not paying its debts as they become
due or makes an  assignment  for the benefit of creditors,  or the Company,  the
Corporate General Partner or any Material  Subsidiary causes or suffers an order
for relief to be entered with respect to it under applicable  Federal bankruptcy
law or applies for or consents to the  appointment  of a  custodian,  trustee or
receiver  for the  Company,  the  Corporate  General  Partner  or such  Material
Subsidiary or for the major part of the property of any of the foregoing.

     7.11 Bankruptcy, reorganization,  arrangement or insolvency proceedings, or
other proceedings for relief under any bankruptcy or similar law or laws for the
relief of debtors,  are  instituted  by or against the  Company,  the  Corporate
General  Partner or any  Material  Subsidiary,  and, if  instituted  against the
Company, the Corporate General Partner or any Material Subsidiary, are consented
to or are not dismissed within 60 days after such institution.

     7.12 Any Change of Control shall occur.

     7.13.The Guaranty of the Company under Article XV shall cease to be in full
force and effect or the  Company  shall  contest  in any  manner  the  validity,
binding  nature or  enforceability  of Article XV, in either case at a time when
any Loans are outstanding hereunder to an Eligible Subsidiary.

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                                  ARTICLE VIII

                 ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES

          8.1.  Acceleration.  (a) If any Default described in Section 7.8, 7.10
or 7.11 occurs with respect to the Company,  the  obligations  of the Lenders to
make  Loans  hereunder  and of the  Issuing  Banks to issue  Letters  of  Credit
hereunder shall  automatically  terminate and the Obligations  shall immediately
become due and payable  without  presentment,  demand,  protest or notice of any
kind (all of which the Company hereby expressly waives) or any other election or
action  on the part of the  Administrative  Agent or any  Lender.  If any  other
Default occurs, the Required Lenders may terminate or suspend the obligations of
the Lenders to make Loans hereunder and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of
Credit hereunder,  or declare the Obligations to be due and payable, or both, in
either case upon written notice to the Company,  whereupon the Obligations shall
become  immediately due and payable,  without  presentment,  demand,  protest or
further notice of any kind, all of which each Obligor hereby expressly waives.

         (b) Each  Borrower  agrees,  in addition to the  provisions  of Section
8.1(a)  hereof,  that upon the  occurrence  and  during the  continuance  of any
Default, it shall, if requested by the Administrative Agent upon the instruction
of  the  Required  Lenders,  pay  to  the  Administrative  Agent  an  amount  in
immediately available funds (which funds shall be held as collateral pursuant to
arrangements  satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent) equal to the respective
aggregate  amounts of Dollars and Alternative  Currencies  available for drawing
under all outstanding Letters of Credit issued for the account of such Borrower,
provided that, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default  specified in Section
7.10 or 7.11 with respect to such Borrower,  such Borrower shall pay such amount
forthwith  without  any notice or demand or any other act by any Agent or Lender
(including any Issuing Bank).

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          8.2.  Amendments.  Subject to the provisions of this Article VIII, the
Loan Documents may be amended to add or modify any provisions  thereof or change
in any manner the rights of the Lenders or the Obligors  thereunder or waive any
Default thereunder, but only in a writing signed by the Required Lenders (or the
Documentation Agent with the consent in writing of the Required Lenders) and the
Company  (and,  if the rights of any Issuing  Bank are  affected  thereby,  it);
provided,  however,  that no such  supplemental  agreement  shall,  without  the
consent of each Lender affected thereby:

            (i)   Postpone  the date  fixed for  payment  of any Loan or Note or
                  amount to be  reimbursed in respect of any Letter of Credit or
                  reduce the  principal  amount  thereof,  or reduce the rate or
                  extend the time of payment of  interest  thereon or fees under
                  Section 2.4. or 2.7.

           (ii)   Change the  percentage  of the  Commitments  or the  aggregate
                  unpaid principal amount, or the number of Lenders, which shall
                  be required  for the Lenders or any of them to take any action
                  under this Section 8.2 or any other  provision  (including any
                  definition) of this Agreement.

(iii)Extend the Termination Date or increase the amount of the Commitment of any
     Lender  hereunder,   or  permit  any  Borrower  to  assign  its  rights  or
     obligations   under  this   Agreement   except  in   connection   with  the
     Reorganization and in compliance with the terms of Section 6.5 and 6.14.

           (iv) Amend Section 2.5.13(a), Section 8.1 or this Section 8.2.

            (v) Release the Company from its obligations under Article XV.

No amendment of any provision of this  Agreement  relating to either Agent shall
be effective without the written consent of such Agent. The Administrative Agent
may waive payment of the fee required under Section 12.3.2 without obtaining the
consent of any of the Lenders.  No amendment shall, unless signed by an Eligible
Subsidiary,  (w) subject such Eligible Subsidiary to any additional  obligation,
(x) increase the  principal  of or rate of interest on any  outstanding  Loan of
such Eligible Subsidiary,  (y) accelerate the stated maturity of any outstanding
Loan of such Eligible Subsidiary or (z) change this proviso.

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          8.3.  Preservation  of Rights.  No delay or  omission of any Lender or
Agent to exercise any right under the Loan Documents  shall impair such right or
be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence  therein,  and the
making of a Loan  notwithstanding the existence of a Default or the inability of
the  Borrower  to  satisfy  the  conditions  precedent  to such  Loan  shall not
constitute  any waiver or  acquiescence.  Any single or partial  exercise of any
such right shall not preclude other or further  exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right,  and no waiver,  amendment or other  variation of the terms,
conditions or provisions of the Loan Documents  whatsoever shall be valid unless
in writing signed by the Lenders required pursuant to Section 8.2, and then only
to the extent in such writing  specifically set forth. All remedies contained in
the Loan  Documents  or by law  afforded  shall be  cumulative  and all shall be
available to the Agents and the Lenders until the Obligations  have been paid in
full.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

          9.1. Survival of  Representations.  All representations and warranties
of the Obligors  contained in this  Agreement  shall survive (i) delivery of the
Notes (ii) the making of the Loans and (iii)  issuance  of the Letters of Credit
herein contemplated.

          9.2.  Headings. Section  headings in the Loan Documents are for
convenience of reference only,
and shall not govern the  interpretation  of any of the  provisions  of the Loan
Documents.

          9.3. Entire Agreement.  The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement
and understanding  among the Obligors,  the Agents and the Lenders and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings  among the Obligors,  the Agents and the
Lenders relating to the subject matter thereof except as contemplated in Section
10.12.

          9.4. Several  Obligations.  The respective  obligations of the Lenders
hereunder  are several and not joint and no Lender shall be the partner or agent
of any other (except to the extent to which either Agent is authorized to act as
such).  The  failure of any Lender to perform any of its  obligations  hereunder
shall not relieve any other  Lender from any of its  obligations  hereunder.  No
Lender shall have any  liability  for the failure of any other Lender to perform
its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer
any right or benefit  upon any Person  other than the parties to this  Agreement
and their respective successors and assigns.

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          9.5.  Expenses;  Indemnification.  (a) The Company shall reimburse (i)
the Agents for any reasonable costs, internal charges and out-of-pocket expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees of Davis Polk & Wardwell,  special counsel
for the  Agents)  paid or  incurred  by  either  Agent  in  connection  with the
preparation,   review,   execution,   delivery,   amendment,   modification  and
administration  of the Loan Document and (ii) the Agents and the Lenders for any
reasonable  costs,  internal  charges  and  out-of-pocket   expenses  (including
reasonable  attorneys' fees and allocated costs of inside counsel for the Agents
and the Lenders)  paid or incurred by either  Agent or any Lender in  connection
with the collection and  enforcement of the Loan  Documents,  any refinancing or
restructuring  of the credit  arrangements  provided under this Agreement in the
nature of a "work-out" or any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings in respect of
any Obligor.

                  (b) The Company  further  agrees to  indemnify  each Agent and
each  Lender,  their  respective  affiliates,   and  the  respective  directors,
officers,  employees and agents of the  foregoing,  against all losses,  claims,
damages,  penalties,  judgments,  liabilities and expenses  (including,  without
limitation,  all expenses of litigation or preparation  therefor  whether or not
the Agent or any  Lender is a party  thereto)  (collectively,  the  "Indemnified
Amounts")  which any of them may pay or incur arising out of or relating to this
Agreement,  the other Loan Documents,  the Letters of Credit,  the  transactions
contemplated   hereby  or  the  direct  or  indirect   application  or  proposed
application of the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit hereunder;  provided
that it is  understood  that the  Company  shall  not,  in  respect of the legal
expenses of the Lenders in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings
in the same  jurisdiction,  be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one
separate firm (in addition to any local  counsel) for all Lenders  designated by
the Agents  (except if and to the extent  that,  owing to existing or  potential
conflicts of interest among them, such counsel shall advise that  representation
of all  Lenders  by a single  firm  would  not be  appropriate);  and  provided,
further,  that the Company shall not be liable to any Lender for any Indemnified
Amounts (x) resulting  from the gross  negligence or willful  misconduct of such
Lender, its affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, employees

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and agents or (y)  constituting  the costs and expenses of prosecuting a suit or
proceeding  commenced  by such Lender which is finally  determined  adversely to
such Lender (any  counterclaim  asserted  against such Lender being treated as a
separate proceeding for this purpose). The obligations of the Company under this
Section 9.5 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

          9.6. Numbers of Documents. All statements, notices, closing documents,
and  requests  hereunder  shall  be  furnished  to  the  Agent  with  sufficient
counterparts so that the Agents may furnish one to each of the Lenders.

          9.7.  Severability  of Provisions.  Any provision in any Loan Document
that is held to be inoperative,  unenforceable,  or invalid in any  jurisdiction
shall,  as to that  jurisdiction,  be  inoperative,  unenforceable,  or  invalid
without  affecting  the  remaining   provisions  in  that  jurisdiction  or  the
operation,   enforceability,   or  validity  of  that  provision  in  any  other
jurisdiction,  and to this end the provisions of all Loan Documents are declared
to be severable.

          9.8.  Nonliability of Lenders.  The relationship  between the Obligors
and the  Lenders  and the Agents  shall be solely  that of debtor and  creditor.
Neither  Agent nor any Lender shall have any fiduciary  responsibilities  to any
Obligor.  Neither  Agent nor any Lender  undertakes  any  responsibility  to any
Obligor to review or inform any  Obligor  of any matter in  connection  with any
phase of its business or operations.

          9.9.  Choice  of Law.  THE LOAN  DOCUMENTS  SHALL BE  GOVERNED  BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND NOT THE LAW OF CONFLICTS) OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

          9.10.  Consent to Jurisdiction. EACH OBLIGOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE  JURISDICTION OF
ANY UNITED  STATES  FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT  SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY IN
ANY ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN  DOCUMENTS AND
EACH OBLIGOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION
OR  PROCEEDING  MAY BE HEARD AND  DETERMINED  IN ANY SUCH COURT AND  IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES TO THE EXTENT  ALLOWED BY LAW ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER  HAVE
AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT,  ACTION OR PROCEEDING  BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT
OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN  INCONVENIENT  FORUM.  NOTHING  HEREIN  SHALL LIMIT THE

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RIGHT OF EITHER AGENT OR ANY LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS  AGAINST ANY OBLIGOR IN
THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER  JURISDICTION.  ANY JUDICIAL  PROCEEDING  BY ANY OBLIGOR
AGAINST  EITHER  AGENT OR ANY  LENDER OR ANY  AFFILIATE  OF EITHER  AGENT OR ANY
LENDER INVOLVING,  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF,
RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT
IN NEW YORK CITY, UNLESS SUCH OBLIGOR IS UNABLE TO OBTAIN SUCH JURISDICTION.

          9.11.  Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH  OBLIGOR,  AGENT AND LENDER  HEREBY
WAIVES TO THE  EXTENT  ALLOWED BY LAW TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY  JUDICIAL  PROCEEDING
INVOLVING,  DIRECTLY  OR  INDIRECTLY,  ANY  MATTER  (WHETHER  SOUNDING  IN TORT,
CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF,  RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH
ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.

          9.12.  Confidentiality.  Each Lender  agrees to hold any  confidential
information  which it may  receive  from the  Parent,  the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement in confidence, except for disclosure (i)
to other  Lenders  and  their  respective  Affiliates,  (ii) to  legal  counsel,
accountants, and other professional advisors to that Lender, (iii) to regulatory
officials upon their request or otherwise pursuant to law or regulation, (iv) as
requested pursuant to or as required by law,  regulation,  or legal process, (v)
in connection  with any legal  proceeding  to which that Lender is a party,  and
(vi) permitted by Section 12.4. The  restrictions in this Section 9.12 shall not
apply to any information which is or becomes  generally  available to the public
other than as a result of disclosure by a Lender or a Lender's representatives.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                   THE AGENTS

          10.1.  Appointment.  First  Chicago  and Morgan  are hereby  appointed
Administrative Agent and Documentation Agent, respectively,  hereunder and under
each other Loan Document,  and each of the Lenders  irrevocably  authorizes each
such Agent to act as the contractual  representative  of such Lender.  Each such
Agent  agrees  to act as such  upon the  express  conditions  contained  in this
Article X. Neither Agent shall have a fiduciary  relationship  in respect of any
Lender by reason of this Agreement.

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          10.2. Powers. Each Agent shall have and may exercise such powers under
the Loan  Documents  as are  specifically  delegated  to such Agent by the terms
thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Neither
Agent shall have any implied  duties to the Lenders,  or any  obligation  to the
Lenders to take any action thereunder except any action specifically provided by
the Loan Documents to be taken by such Agent.

          10.3.  General  Immunity.  Neither Agent nor any of its affiliates nor
any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable
to any  Obligor or any Lender for any action  taken or omitted to be taken by it
or them in their respective  agency  capacities under or in connection with this
Agreement except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

          10.4. No Responsibility  for Loans,  Recitals,  etc. Neither Agent nor
any of its affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or
employees shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain,  inquire into,
or verify (i) any statement,  warranty or representation made in connection with
any Loan Document or any borrowing hereunder; (ii) the performance or observance
of any of the covenants or  agreements  of any Obligor under any Loan  Document;
(iii) the satisfaction of any condition  specified in Article IV, except receipt
of  items  required  to be  delivered  to  such  Agent;  or (iv)  the  validity,
effectiveness  or  genuineness  of any Loan Document or any other  instrument or
writing  furnished in  connection  therewith,  except for the  authority of such
Agent's signatory to this Agreement.

          10.5. Action on Instructions fo Lenders. Each Agent shall in all cases
be fully  protected in acting,  or in  refraining  from acting,  hereunder s and
under any other Loan Document in accordance with written  instructions signed by
the Required Lenders (or, where so specified herein, all the Lenders),  and such
instructions  and any action taken or failure to act pursuant  thereto  shall be
binding on all of the Lenders  and on all holders of Notes.  Each Agent shall be
fully  justified in failing or refusing to take any action  hereunder  and under
any other Loan Document unless it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction
by the Lenders pro rata against any and all liability,  cost and expense that it
may incur by reason of taking or  continuing  to take any such action,  provided
that,  such indemnity  need not include  liability,  costs and expenses  arising
solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent.

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          10.6.  Employment of Agents and Counsel. Each Agent may execute any of
its duties as Agent  hereunder  and under any other Loan  Document by or through
employees,  agents,  and  attorneys-in-fact  and shall not be  answerable to the
Lenders,  except  as to money or  securities  received  by it or its  authorized
agents,  for the default or misconduct  of any such agents or  attorneys-in-fact
selected by it with  reasonable  care. Each Agent shall be entitled to advice of
counsel  concerning all matters  pertaining to the agency hereby created and its
duties hereunder and under any other Loan Document.

          10.7. Reliance on Documents;  Counsel. Each Agent shall be entitled to
rely upon any Note, notice, consent,  certificate,  affidavit, letter, telegram,
statement,  paper or  document  believed  by it to be genuine and correct and to
have been  signed or sent by the proper  person or  persons,  and, in respect to
legal matters, upon the opinion of counsel selected in good faith by such Agent,
which counsel may be employees of such Agent or may be counsel for an Obligor.

          10.8. Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification.  The Lenders agree to
reimburse  and indemnify  each Agent  ratably in proportion to their  respective
Commitments  (i) for any  amounts not  reimbursed  by the Company for which such
Agent is entitled to reimbursement by the Company under the Loan Documents, (ii)
for any other expenses not  reimbursed by the Company  incurred by such Agent on
behalf of the Lenders, in connection with the preparation,  execution, delivery,
administration  and  enforcement  of  the  Loan  Documents  and  (iii)  for  any
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs,  expenses  or  disbursements  of any kind and nature  whatsoever  and not
reimbursed  by the  Company  which may be imposed  on,  incurred  by or asserted
against such Agent in any way  relating to or arising out of the Loan  Documents
or any other  document  delivered in  connection  therewith or the  transactions
contemplated  thereby,  or the enforcement of any of the terms thereof or of any
such other  documents,  provided  that no Lender  shall be liable for any of the
foregoing  to the  extent  they  arise  from the  gross  negligence  or  willful
misconduct of such Agent.

          10.9.  Rights as a Lender. With respect to its
Commitment,  Loans made by it, the Notes issued to it and
any Letter of Credit  issued by it,  each Agent  shall have the same  rights and
powers  hereunder  and under any  other  Loan  Document  as any  Lender  and may
exercise  the same as  though  it were not an Agent,  and the term  "Lender"  or
"Lenders" shall, unless the context otherwise  indicates,  include each Agent in
its individual capacity. Each Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to, and
generally engage in any kind of trust,  debt,  equity or other  transaction,  in
addition to those  contemplated  by this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document,
with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

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

          10.11. Successor Agent. Each Agent may resign at any time by giving at
least 30 days' prior written  notice  thereof to the Lenders and the Company and
such  resignation  shall be effective upon the appointment of a successor agent.
Upon any such  resignation,  the  Company,  with the  approval  of the  Required
Lenders,  shall have the right to appoint a  successor  Agent.  If no  successor
Agent shall have been so appointed  and approved  and shall have  accepted  such
appointment  within  thirty days after the  retiring  Agent's  giving  notice of
resignation,  then the  retiring  Agent may  appoint  a  successor  Agent.  Such
successor  Agent shall be a commercial bank with an office located in the United
States  of  America   having   capital  and   retained   earnings  of  at  least
$1,000,000,000.  Upon the acceptance of any  appointment as Agent hereunder by a
successor  Agent,  such successor  Agent shall  thereupon  succeed to and become
vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent.
The retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder
and under the other Loan Documents  upon the  effectiveness  of its  resignation
hereunder.  After any  retiring  Agent's  resignation  hereunder  as Agent,  the
provisions of this Article X shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect
of any  actions  taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Agent
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

          10.12.  Agents' Fees.  The Company  hereby agrees to pay to each Agent
for its sole account such fees as heretofore agreed upon by the Company and such
Agent in writing.

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                                   ARTICLE XI

                             SETOFF RATABLE PAYMENTS

     11.1.  Setoff. In addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of the
Lenders  under  applicable  law,  if  any  Obligor  becomes  insolvent,  however
evidenced,  or any  Default  occurs,  any  indebtedness  from any  Lender to any
Obligor  (including  all  account  balances,  whether  provisional  or final and
whether or not  collected  or  available)  may be offset and applied  toward the
payment of the Obligations owing by such Obligor to such Lender,  whether or not
such Obligations, or any part hereof, shall then be due.

     11.2. Ratable Payments. If any Lender, whether by setoff or otherwise,  has
payment made to it upon its share of any Advance  (other than payments  received
pursuant  to  Article  III) or any  Letter  of Credit  Liabilities  in a greater
proportion than that received by any other Lender, such Lender agrees,  promptly
upon demand,  to purchase a portion of the Loans  comprising  that  Advance,  or
Letter of Credit  Liabilities,  as the case may be, held by the other Lenders so
that after such  purchase  each Lender will hold its ratable  proportion  of the
unpaid Loans comprising that Advance, or unpaid Letter of Credit Liabilities, as
the case may be. If any  Lender,  whether in  connection  with setoff or amounts
which  might be subject to setoff or  otherwise,  receives  collateral  or other
protection  for its  Obligations or such amounts which may be subject to setoff,
such Lender  agrees,  promptly upon demand,  to take such action  necessary such
that all  Lenders  share  in the  benefits  of such  collateral  ratably  in the
proportions  specified  above.  In case any such  payment is  disturbed by legal
process, or otherwise, appropriate further adjustments shall be made.

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<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE XII

                BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS

     12.1.  Successors  and  Assigns.  The  terms  and  provisions  of the  Loan
Documents  shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the  Obligors,  the
Agents and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns,  except that
(i) no Obligor  shall have the right to assign its rights or  obligations  under
the Loan Documents (except in a transaction  expressly  permitted by Section 6.5
or 6.14(a))  and (ii) any  assignment  by any Lender must be made in  compliance
with Section 12.3.  Notwithstanding  clause (ii) of this Section, any Lender may
at any time,  without the consent of any Obligor or either Agent,  assign all or
any  portion  of its  rights  under  this  Agreement  and its Notes to a Federal
Reserve  Bank;  provided,  however,  that no such  assignment  shall release the
transferor Lender from its obligations hereunder. Each Agent may treat the payee
of any Note as the owner  thereof for all purposes  hereof unless and until such
payee complies with Section 12.3 in the case of an assignment thereof or, in the
case of any other transfer,  a written notice of the transfer is filed with each
Agent.  Any assignee or transferee of a Note agrees by acceptance  thereof to be
bound by all the  terms  and  provisions  of the Loan  Documents.  Any  request,
authority  or consent of any Person,  who at the time of making such  request or
giving such authority or consent is the holder of any Note,  shall be conclusive
and binding on any subsequent holder,  transferee or assignee of such Note or of
any Note or Notes issued in exchange therefor.

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<PAGE>
                 12.2.         Participations.

          12.2.1.  Permitted  Participants;  Effect.  Any  Lender  may,  in  the
ordinary  course of its business and in accordance  with  applicable law, at any
time sell to one or more banks or other entities ("Participants")  participating
interests  in any Loan owing to such Lender,  any Note held by such Lender,  the
Commitment of such Lender,  any Letter of Credit  Liabilities of such Lender) or
any other interest of such Lender under the Loan Documents;  provided,  however,
that,  except in the case of (i) a sale of a participation  in a Competitive Bid
Loan or (ii) a sale of a participation to any other Lender), such participations
shall  require the consent of the Company and shall each be in a minimum  amount
of  $5,000,000.  In the  event of any such  sale by a  Lender  of  participating
interests to a Participant,  such Lender's  obligations under the Loan Documents
shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other
parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, such Lender shall remain
the  holder of any such Note for all  purposes  under  the Loan  Documents,  all
amounts  payable by the Obligors under this Agreement  shall be determined as if
such Lender had not sold such  participating  interests,  and the Obligors,  the
Issuing  Banks and the Agents shall  continue to deal solely and  directly  with
such Lender in connection with such Lender's  rights and  obligations  under the
Loan Documents.

          12.2.2.  Voting  Rights.  Each Lender  shall  retain the sole right to
approve, without the consent of any Participant, any amendment,  modification or
waiver  of any  provision  of the  Loan  Documents  other  than  any  amendment,
modification or waiver with respect to any Loan, Letter of Credit Liabilities or
Commitment in which such  Participant has an interest which forgives  principal,
interest or fees or reduces the  interest  rate or fees  payable with respect to
any such Loan,  Letter of Credit  Liabilities or Commitment,  postpones any date
fixed for any  regularly-scheduled  payment of principal of, or interest or fees
on, any such Loan,  Letter of Credit  Liabilities  or  Commitment,  releases any
guarantor of any such Loan or Letter of Credit Liabilities,  if any, or releases
any substantial portion of collateral,  if any, securing any such Loan or Letter
of Credit Liabilities.

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                 12.3.         Assignments.

          12.3.1. Permitted Assignments.  Any Lender may, in the ordinary course
of its business and in accordance with applicable law, at any time assign to one
or more  banks  or  other  entities  ("Purchasers")  all or a  portion  (if such
Purchaser is not a Lender  immediately  prior to such  assignment,  in a minimum
amount of $10,000,000)  of its rights and obligations  under the Loan Documents.
Such assignment shall be  substantially  in the form of Exhibit "E" hereto.  The
consent of the Company, the Issuing Banks and the Agents shall be required prior
to an assignment  becoming  effective  with respect to a Purchaser  which is not
both a financial  institution and an affiliate of the transferor.  Such consents
shall be given in substantially the form attached as Exhibit "II" to Exhibit "E"
hereto.

          12.3.2. Effect;  Effective Date. Upon (i) delivery to the Company, the
Issuing  Banks and the Agents of a notice of  assignment,  substantially  in the
form  attached as Exhibit "I" to Exhibit "E" hereto (a "Notice of  Assignment"),
together  with any consent  required by Section  12.3.1,  and (ii)  payment of a
$3,500 fee to the  Administrative  Agent by the assignee or assignor  Lender for
processing  such  assignment,  such  assignment  shall  become  effective on the
effective  date  specified  in such  Notice  of  Assignment.  On and  after  the
effective date of such  assignment,  such Purchaser  shall for all purposes be a
Lender  party to this  Agreement  and any other Loan  Document  executed  by the
Lenders and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan
Documents,  to the same extent as if it were an original  party  hereto,  and no
further consent or action by the Obligors,  the Issuing Banks, the other Lenders
or the Agents shall be required to release the transferor Lender with respect to
the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment and Loans assigned to such Purchaser.
Upon the consummation of any assignment to a Purchaser  pursuant to this Section
12.3.2,   the  transferor  Lender,  the  Agents  and  the  Obligors  shall  make
appropriate arrangements so that replacement Notes are issued to such transferor
Lender and new Notes or, as appropriate,  replacement  Notes, are issued to such
Purchaser,  in each  case  in  principal  amounts  reflecting  their  respective
Commitments, as adjusted pursuant to such assignment.

          12.4. Dissemination of Information. The Obligors authorize each Lender
to disclose to any  Participant  or Purchaser  or any other Person  acquiring an
interest in the Loan Documents by operation of law (each a "Transferee") and any
prospective  Transferee  any and all  information  in such  Lender's  possession
concerning the  creditworthiness  of the Company and its Subsidiaries;  provided
that each  Transferee and prospective  Transferee  agrees to be bound by Section
9.12 of this Agreement.

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<PAGE>
          12.5.  Tax  Treatment.  If  any  interest  in  any  Loan  Document  is
transferred  to  any  Purchaser  which  is  organized  under  the  laws  of  any
jurisdiction  other than the United States or any State thereof,  the transferor
Lender shall cause such Purchaser,  concurrently  with the effectiveness of such
transfer, to comply with the provisions of Section 2.5.14.

          12.6. Increased Costs. Subject to the applicable limitations set forth
therein and to the further  provisions  of this Section  12.6,  each  Transferee
shall be entitled to the  benefits of Section  2.5.14 and 2.5.15 and Article III
with respect to the rights  transferred to it to the same extent as a Lender. No
Transferee (including,  for purposes of this Section 12.6, any successor Lending
Installation)  of any  Lender's  rights shall be entitled to receive any greater
payment  under  Section  2.5.14 or Article III than such Lender  would have been
entitled to receive with respect to the rights transferred, unless such transfer
is made with the Company's  prior written consent or by reason of the provisions
of  Section  3.4  requiring  such  Lender  to  designate  a  different   Lending
Installation  under certain  circumstances  or at a time when the  circumstances
giving rise to such greater payment did not exist.

                                  ARTICLE XIII

                                     NOTICES

          13.1. Giving Notice. All notices and other communications  provided to
any party hereto under this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document  shall be in
writing (including telex or facsimile) and addressed or delivered to such party:
(a) in the case of the Company or either Agent, at its address, facsimile number
or telex number set forth on the signature pages hereof,  (b) in the case of any
Lender,  at its  address,  facsimile  number  or telex  number  set forth in its
Administrative Questionnaire,  (c) in the case of any Eligible Subsidiary, to it
care of the  Company  and (d) in the  case of any  party,  such  other  address,
facsimile  number or telex  number as such party may  hereafter  specify for the
purpose by notice to the  Agents  and the  Company.  All such  notices  shall be
effective when received at the address specified above.

Page 81
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE XIV

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                            OF ELIGIBLE SUBSIDIARIES

                  Each Eligible  Subsidiary shall be deemed by the execution and
delivery of its Election to Participate to have represented and warranted that:

          14.1. Existence and Power. It is duly organized,  validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of its  jurisdiction  of  organization  and is a
Subsidiary of the Company.

     14.2.   Corporate   or   Partnership   and   Governmental    Authorization;
Contravention.  The execution and delivery by it of its Election to  Participate
and its Notes,  and the  performance by it of this Agreement and its Notes,  are
within its legal powers,  have been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate,
partnership  or other  legal  action,  require no action by or in respect of, or
filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do not contravene, or
constitute a default under, in any material  respect any provision of applicable
law or  regulation  or of its  organizational  documents or of any  indenture or
other agreement or instrument  governing Debt or any other material agreement or
instrument binding upon the Company or such Eligible Subsidiary or result in the
creation or imposition of any liens or  encumbrances on any asset of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries.

     14.3. Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding
agreement of such Eligible  Subsidiary and each of its Notes,  when executed and
delivered in accordance with this Agreement,  will constitute a legal, valid and
binding  obligation of such Eligible  Subsidiary,  in each case  enforceable  in
accordance with its terms except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency  or similar laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights
generally.

     14.4. Taxes. Except as disclosed in such Election to Participate,  there is
no income, stamp or other tax of any country, or any taxing authority thereof or
therein,  imposed  by or in the nature of  withholding  or  otherwise,  which is
imposed on any payment to be made by such Eligible Subsidiary pursuant hereto or
on its  Notes,  or is  imposed  on or by virtue of the  execution,  delivery  or
enforcement of its Election to Participate or of its Notes.

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<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE XV

                                    GUARANTY

     15.1. The Guaranty. The Company hereby unconditionally  guarantees the full
and  punctual  payment  (whether  at  stated  maturity,   upon  acceleration  or
otherwise)  of the principal of and interest on each Note issued by any Eligible
Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement,  and the full and punctual payment of all
other  amounts  payable  (including,  without  limitation,  the Letter of Credit
Liabilities) by any Eligible  Subsidiary  under this Agreement.  Upon failure by
any Eligible  Subsidiary to pay  punctually  any such amount,  the Company shall
forthwith  on demand  pay the  amount not so paid at the place and in the manner
specified in this Agreement.

     15.2.  Guaranty  Unconditional.  The  obligations of the Company  hereunder
shall be unconditional  and absolute and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by:

                  (i) any extension, renewal, settlement,  compromise, waiver or
         release in respect of any obligation of any Eligible  Subsidiary  under
         this Agreement or any Note, by operation of law or otherwise;

             (ii)  any  modification  or  amendment  of or  supplement  to  this
         Agreement or any Note;

            (iii) any release,  impairment,  non-perfection or invalidity of any
         direct  or  indirect  security  for  any  obligation  of  any  Eligible
         Subsidiary under this Agreement or any Note;

             (iv) any change in the corporate existence,  structure or ownership
         of   any   Eligible   Subsidiary,   or  any   insolvency,   bankruptcy,
         reorganization  or other  similar  proceeding  affecting  any  Eligible
         Subsidiary or its assets or any  resulting  release or discharge of any
         obligation of any Eligible  Subsidiary  contained in this  Agreement or
         any Note;

Page 83
<PAGE>
                  (v) the existence of any claim,  set-off or other rights which
         the  Company  may have at any time  against  any  Eligible  Subsidiary,
         either Agent,  any Issuing Bank,  any other Lender or any other Person,
         whether in connection herewith or any unrelated transactions,  provided
         that nothing  herein shall  prevent the  assertion of any such claim by
         separate suit or compulsory counterclaim;

             (vi) any invalidity or unenforceability  relating to or against any
         Eligible  Subsidiary  for any reason of this  Agreement or any Note, or
         any  provision of applicable  law or regulation  purporting to prohibit
         the payment by any Eligible  Subsidiary of the principal of or interest
         on any Note or any other amount payable by it under this Agreement; or

             (vii) any other act or  omission to act or delay of any kind by any
         Eligible Subsidiary, either Agent, any Issuing Bank or any other Person
         or  any  other  circumstance   whatsoever  which  might,  but  for  the
         provisions of this paragraph, constitute a legal or equitable discharge
         of or defense to the Company's obligations hereunder.

                  15.3.  Discharge Only Upon Payment In Full;  Reinstatement  In
Certain Cercumstances.  The Company's obligations hereunder shall remain in full
force and effect until the Commitments  shall have  terminated,  any outstanding
Letters of Credit  shall have  expired or  terminated  and the  principal of and
interest on the Notes and the Letter of Credit Liabilities and all other amounts
payable by the Company and each Eligible  Subsidiary  under this Agreement shall
have been paid in full.  If at any time any payment of  principal of or interest
on any Note or Letter of Credit  Liabilities  or any other amount payable by any
Eligible  Subsidiary  under this  Agreement  is  rescinded  or must be otherwise
restored or returned upon the insolvency,  bankruptcy or  reorganization  of any
Eligible  Subsidiary or  otherwise,  the Company's  obligations  hereunder  with
respect to such payment  shall be reinstated at such time as though such payment
had been due but not made at such time.

     15.4.  Waiver by the Company.  The Company  irrevocably  waives  acceptance
hereof, presentment,  demand, protest and any notice not provided for herein, as
well as any  requirement  that at any time  any  action  be taken by any  Person
against any Eligible Subsidiary or any other Person.

Page 84
<PAGE>
     15.5.  Subrogation.  Upon making any payment  with  respect to any Eligible
Subsidiary hereunder, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the payee
against such Eligible Subsidiary with respect to such payment; provided that the
Company shall not enforce any payment by way of subrogation until all amounts of
principal of and interest on the Notes and Letter of Credit  Liabilities and all
other amounts payable by such Eligible Subsidiary under this Agreement have been
paid in full.

     15.6. Stay of Acceleration.  In the event that acceleration of the time for
payment of any amount payable by any Eligible Subsidiary under this Agreement or
its  Notes is stayed  upon  insolvency,  bankruptcy  or  reorganization  of such
Eligible  Subsidiary,  all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration  under
the  terms  of this  Agreement  shall  nonetheless  be  payable  by the  Company
hereunder forthwith on demand by the Required Lenders.

                                   ARTICLE XVI

                           COUNTERPARTS; EFFECTIVENESS

                  This Agreement may be executed in any number of  counterparts,
all of which taken  together  shall  constitute  one  agreement,  and any of the
parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.  This
Agreement  shall be effective when the  Documentation  Agent shall have received
evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that (i) this Agreement has been executed
by the  Company,  the Agents and the  Lenders  and (ii) the  commitments  of the
lenders parties to the Credit  Agreement dated as of August 31, 1995 and amended
and  restated as of October 15, 1996 among the  Company,  such lenders and First
Chicago, as administrative agent, and Morgan, as documentation agent (the "Prior
Agreement") shall have terminated and all loans  outstanding  thereunder and all
accrued interest and fees thereunder shall have been paid in full; provided that
(x) any  "Competitive Bid Loan" made by a Lender pursuant to the Prior Agreement
which is  outstanding  at the time the  other  conditions  to the  effectiveness
hereof are satisfied shall remain  outstanding on the terms  applicable  thereto
under the Prior  Agreement,  and  shall be  deemed a  Competitive  Bid Loan made
hereunder  on such terms and (y) the  Company  and the  Lenders  comprising  the
Required  Lenders  (as  defined in the Prior  Agreement)  hereby  agree that the
Commitments (as defined in the Prior  Agreement)  shall terminate  automatically
upon  the  satisfaction  of  all  other  conditions  to  effectiveness  of  this
Agreement,  without requirement of notice under the Prior Agreement or any other
action by any party hereto or thereto.

Page 85
<PAGE>


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company,  the Lenders and the Agents
have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.


                                THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY LIMITED
                                    PARTNERSHIP

                                By: ServiceMaster Management Corporation,
                                      its General Partner



                                By:/s/ Eric P. Zarnikow
                                Title: Vice President & Treasurer

                                Address:   One ServiceMaster Way
                                           Downers Grove, IL 60515-1700

                                Attention: Mr. Eric Zarnikow

                                Telephone: (630) 271-2361
                                Facsimile: (630) 271-5604

Page 86
<PAGE>
Commitment

$112,500,000      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                   individually and as Administrative
                   Agent



                                By:/s/ Patricia H. Besser
                                Title: Vice President/Senior Corporate Banker

                                Address:  One First National Plaza
                                          Suite 0324
                                          Chicago, IL 60670


                                Attention: Patricia H. Besser

                                Telephone: (312) 732-7703
                                Facsimile: (312) 732-5296

Page 87
<PAGE>
$112,500,000                    MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                                    OF NEW YORK, individually and as
                                    Documentation Agent



                                By:/s/ Charles H. King
                                Title: Vice President

                                Address:  60 Wall Street
                                          New York, NY 10260-0060

                                Attention: Charles King

                                Telephone: (212) 648-7138
                                Facsimile: (212) 648-5336


Page 88
<PAGE>
$75,000,000       BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS



                                By:/s/ William F. Sweeney
                                Title: Vice President

                                Address:  231 S. LaSalle Street
                                          Chicago, IL 60697


                                Attention: William F. Sweeney

                                Telephone: (312) 828-1843
                                Facsimile: (312) 987-1276

Page 89
<PAGE>
$54,375,000                     BANK OF MONTREAL


                                By:/s/ Peter W. Steelman
                                Title:Director

                                Address:  115 S. LaSalle, 13 West
                                          Chicago, IL 60603

                                Attention: Peter W. Steelman

                                Telephone: (312) 750-3812
                                Facsimile: (312) 750-3783


Page 90
<PAGE>
$54,375,000       THE BANK OF NEW YORK



                                By:/s/ John M. Lokay, Jr.
                                Title: Vice President

                                Address:  One Wall Street
                                          New York, NY 10286

                                Attention: John M. Lokay, Jr.

                                Telephone: (212) 635-1172
                                Facsimile: (212) 635-1208-9


Page 91
<PAGE>
$43,125,000       CREDIT LYONNAIS CHICAGO BRANCH



                                By:/s/ Mary Ann Klemm
                                Title: Vice President

                                Address:  227 West Monroe Street
                                          Suite 3800
                                          Chicago, IL 60606

                                Attention: Michael Lord
                                           Assistant Vice President

                                Telephone: (312) 220-7318
                                Facsimile: (312) 641-0527



Page 92
<PAGE>
$54,375,000       CAISSE NATIONALE DE CREDIT AGRICOLE



                                By:/s/ Dean Balice
                                Title: Senior Vice President Branch Manager

                                Address:  55 East Monroe Street
                                          Chicago, IL 60603-5702

                                Attention: Dean Balice

                                Telephone: (312) 917-7449
                                Facsimile: (312) 372-2830

Page 93
<PAGE>
$11,250,000       FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL
                                  ASSOCIATION



                                By:/s/ James H. Moore, Jr.
                                Title: Vice President

                                Address:  165 Madison Avenue
                                          Memphis, TN 38109-0084


                                Telephone: (901) 523-4108
                                Facsimile: (901) 523-4267



Page 94
<PAGE>
$54,375,000       MELLON BANK, N.A.



                                By:/s/ Laurel Larson
                                Title: Assistant Vice President

                                Address:  55 West Monroe
                                          Suite 2600
                                          Chicago, IL 60603


                                Telephone: (312) 357-3408
                                Facsimile: (3120 357-3414



Page 95
<PAGE>
$75,000,000       NATIONSBANK, N.A.



                                By:/s/ Mary Carol Daly
                                Title: Vice President

                                Address:  233 S. Wacker Drive
                                          Suite 2800
                                          Chicago, IL 60606


                                Telephone: (312) 234-5618
                                Facsimile: (312) 234-5619

Page 96
<PAGE>
$43,125,000       SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA



                                By:/s/ Shelley M. Browne
                                Title: Vice President


                                By:/s/ Jennifer P. Harrelson
                                Title: Senior Vice President

                                Address:  25 Park Place
                                          Atlanta, GA 30303


                                Attention:  Shelley  Browne

                                Telephone:  (404) 658-4918
                                Facsimile:  (404) 588-8505

Page 97
<PAGE>
$22,500,000       THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY



                                By:/s/ Diane M. Baer
                                Title: Second Vice President

                                Address:  50 S. LaSalle Street
                                          Chicago, IL 60675

                                Attention: Diane M. Baer

                                Telephone: (312) 444-5802
                                Facsimile: (312) 444-5055


Page 98
<PAGE>
$37,500,000       THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED, CHICAGO BRANCH



                                By:/s/ Richard H. Ault
                                Title: Vice President

                                Address:   10 S. Wacker Drive
                                           31st Floor
                                           Chicago, IL 60606


                                Telephone:(312) 368-3011
                                Facsimile: (312) 346-6677

$750,000,000
============

Page 99
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                PRICING SCHEDULE


                  The Applicable  Margin or Facility Fee Rate at any date is the
applicable  percentage  amount set forth in the table below based on the Pricing
Level at such date:

<S>           <C>                <C>                <C>                <C>              <C>              <C>




- ------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
                   Level I           Level II           Level III         Level IV          Level V          Level VI
- ------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
Applicable               0.150%             0.170%             0.205%           0.225%           0.300%             0.500%
Eurocurrency
Margin
- ------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
Applicable               0.275%             0.295%             0.330%           0.350%           0.425%             0.625%
CD Rate
Margin
- ------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
Facility                 0.075%             0.080%             0.095%           0.125%           0.150%             0.250%
Fee Rate
- ------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
LC Fee Rate              0.150%             0.170%             0.205%           0.225%           0.300%             0.500%
- ------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
</TABLE>

                  For purposes of this  Schedule,  the following  terms have the
following meanings:

                  "Applicable   Interest   Coverage   Ratio"  for   purposes  of
determining  what Pricing  Level exists at any date means (a) if the Company has
delivered all financial statements and certificates  required to be delivered on
or before such date pursuant to subsections (a), (b) and (c) of Section 6.1, the
Interest  Coverage  Ratio as at the last day of the  period  covered by the most
recent such  financial  statements  and (b) in all other cases,  a ratio of less
than 2.50 to 1.00.

                  "Debt  Rating"  means  at any date the  higher  of the  credit
ratings,  if any, publicly announced by S&P and Moody's for the Company's senior
unsecured debt without  third-party credit enhancement (or if only one of S&P or
Moody's shall have assigned a credit rating,  then such rating).  If the ratings
assigned by S&P and Moody's differ by more than one  increment,  the Debt Rating
will be the median rating (or the higher of two intermediate ratings if there is
no median rating).  If neither S&P nor Moody's  assigns such a rating,  then the
Pricing Level shall be determined solely on the basis of the Applicable Interest
Coverage  Ratio,  assuming for purposes of any Pricing Level having  alternative
ratings  criteria that the lower but not the higher rating  criterion is met and
for purposes of any Pricing  Level having a single  rating  criterion  that such
criterion is met.

                  "Level I Pricing" applies at any date if, at such date, (x) if
such date is prior to April 1, 1999, the Debt Rating is A(A2) or better or (y)

<PAGE>

if such date is on or after  April 1, 1999,  either (i) the Debt Rating is A(A2)
or better and the  Applicable  Interest  Coverage Ratio is not less than 6.50 to
1.00 or (ii) the Debt  Rating is A-(A3)  or  better or the  Applicable  Interest
Coverage Ratio is not less than 8.00 to 1.00.

                  "Level II Pricing"  applies at any date if, at such date,  (a)
(x) if such date is prior to April 1, 1999,  the Debt Rating is A-(A3) or better
or (y) if such date is on or after April 1, 1999,  either (i) the Debt Rating is
A-(A3) or better and the  Applicable  Interest  Coverage  Ratio is not less than
5.00 to 1.00 or (ii) the Debt Rating is BBB+(Baa1) or better and the  Applicable
Interest  Coverage Ratio is not less than 6.50 to 1.00 and (b) no better Pricing
Level applies.

                  "Level III Pricing"  applies at any date if, at such date, (a)
(x) if such date is prior to April 1, 1999,  the Debt  Rating is  BBB+(Baa1)  or
better or (y) if such date is on or after  April 1,  1999,  either  (i) the Debt
Rating is BBB+(Baa1) or better and the Applicable Interest Coverage Ratio is not
less than 4.00 to 1.00 or (ii) the Debt  Rating is  BBB(Baa2)  or better and the
Applicable  Interest  Coverage  Ratio is not less  than  5.00 to 1.00 and (b) no
better Pricing Level applies.

                  "Level IV Pricing"  applies at any date if, at such date,  (a)
(x) if such date is prior to April 1,  1999,  the Debt  Rating is  BBB(Baa2)  or
better or (y) if such date is on or after  April 1,  1999,  either  (i) the Debt
Rating is BBB(Baa2) or better and the Applicable  Interest Coverage Ratio is not
less than 3.25 to 1.00 or (ii) the Debt Rating is  BBB-(Baa3)  or better and the
Applicable  Interest  Coverage  Ratio is not less  than  4.00 to 1.00 and (b) no
better Pricing Level applies.

                  "Level V Pricing"  applies  at any date if, at such date,  (a)
(x) if such date is prior to April 1, 1999,  the Debt  Rating is  BBB-(Baa3)  or
better  or (y) if such  date is on or after  April 1,  1999 the Debt  Rating  is
BBB-(Baa3) or better and the Applicable Interest Coverage Ratio is not less than
2.75 to 1.00 and (b) no better Pricing Level applies.

          "Level VI  Pricing"  applies  at any date if, at such  date,  no other
     Pricing Level applies.

                  "Pricing Level" refers to the  determination of which of Level
I, Level II, Level III, Level IV, Level V or Level VI applies at any date.

<PAGE>

                  Notwithstanding   the   foregoing,   for  so  long  after  the
effectiveness of this Agreement as the credit ratings of the Company remain,  as
a result of the WMX Repurchase,  on credit watch (with negative implications) or
similar  status as publicly  announced by either  Moody's or S&P, if the Pricing
Level for any date would otherwise be Level I or Level II, the Pricing Level for
such date shall be Level III.

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 6.11

                             SUBSIDIARY RESTRICTIONS



1.  American  Home  Shield  Corporation  and its  subsidiaries  are  subject  to
regulatory  restrictions  imposed by various  states which limit  dividends  and
similar payments.


<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "A"

                                      NOTE

                                                              _________ ___,19__

         THE  SERVICEMASTER  COMPANY  LIMITED  PARTNERSHIP,  a Delaware  limited
partnership  (the  "Company"),  promises to pay to the order of ___________ (the
"Lender") the aggregate  unpaid principal amount of all Loans made by the Lender
to the Company  pursuant to the Five-Year  Credit Agreement dated as of April 1,
1997 among the Company,  the Lenders named  therein,  including the Lender,  The
First National Bank of Chicago,  as  Administrative  Agent,  and Morgan Guaranty
Trust Company of New York, as Documentation Agent (as the same may be amended or
modified,  hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement"), in the currencies and on
the dates specified in the Agreement, in immediately available funds at the main
office  of  The  First  National  Bank  of  Chicago  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  as
Administrative  Agent,  or as  otherwise  directed by the  Administrative  Agent
pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, together with interest, in like currency
and funds, on the unpaid  principal  amount hereof at the rates and on the dates
specified in the Agreement.

         The Lender shall,  and is hereby  authorized to, record on the schedule
attached  hereto,  or to otherwise record in accordance with its usual practice,
the date and  amount  of each  Loan and the date and  amount  of each  principal
payment hereunder;  provided,  however,  that any failure to so record shall not
affect the Company's obligations under any Loan Document.

         This Note is one of the Notes  issued  pursuant  to, and is entitled to
the benefits of, the Agreement,  to which  Agreement,  as it may be amended from
time to  time,  reference  is  hereby  made for a  statement  of the  terms  and
conditions   under  which  this  Note  may  be  prepaid  or  its  maturity  date
accelerated.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are
used with the meanings attributed to them in the Agreement.

                                    THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
                                    LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                    By: ServiceMaster Management Corporation,
                                    its General Partner

                                    By: __________________________________
                                    Title: _______________________________


<PAGE>


                   SCHEDULE OF LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL
                                       TO
                        NOTE OF THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
                               LIMITED PARTNERSHIP



Date      Currency         Maturity         Principal          Unpaid
            and                              Amount            Balance
          Principal                           Paid
          Amount of
            Loan
- ------   -----------      ------------      ----------        ----------

<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT "B-1"

                       FORM OF OPINION OF KIRKLAND & ELLIS


                                                                   April 1, 1997


To the Lenders who are parties to the
 Credit Agreement described herein

                  Re:  The ServiceMaster Company Limited
                       Partnership Five-Year Credit Agreement
                       dated as of April 1, 1997

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as special counsel to The  ServiceMaster  Company Limited
Partnership,  a Delaware limited partnership (the "Company"), in connection with
the negotiation,  execution and delivery of the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated
as of April 1, 1997  among the  Company,  The First  National  Bank of  Chicago,
individually and as Administrative  Agent,  Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New
York,  individually and as  Documentation  Agent, and the Lenders named therein,
providing for credits in an aggregate  amount not exceeding  $750,000,000 at any
one time  outstanding  (the "Credit  Agreement").  Terms used but not  otherwise
defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.

         For purposes of this opinion, we have examined the following:

         (a)      the Credit Agreement; and

         (b)      the proposed  notes to be issued by the Company to the Lenders
                  pursuant to the Credit Agreement (the "Notes").

         In addition,  in connection with rendering the opinions expressed below
("our  opinions"),  we have  examined and relied upon the  originals,  or copies
certified  or  otherwise  identified  to  our  satisfaction,  of  such  records,
certificates  and  other  documents,   as  in  our  judgment  are  necessary  or
appropriate to enable us to render our opinions.  As to various  factual matters
material to our opinions,  we have relied upon certificates of public officials,
certificates of officers of  ServiceMaster  Management  Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation (the "Corporate  General  Partner") on behalf of the Company and the
representations  and warranties  contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement.
In addition,  in rendering our opinions,  we have assumed,  with your permission
and without independent verification, that:


<PAGE>

         (a) the signatures of persons  signing all documents in connection with
which our opinions are rendered are genuine and authorized  (other than those of
the Company  and the  Corporate  General  Partner on the Credit  Agreement,  the
Notes,  and  other  agreements,  certificates  and  documents  entered  into  in
connection  with the  closing  of the  transactions  contemplated  by the Credit
Agreement);

         (b) all documents  submitted to us as originals or duplicate  originals
are authentic;

         (c) all documents submitted to us as copies,  whether certified or not,
conform to authentic original documents;

         (d) all parties to the documents reviewed by us (other than the Company
and the Corporate  General Partner in connection  with the Credit  Agreement and
other agreements, certificates and documents entered into in connection with the
closing of the  transactions  contemplated  by the Credit  Agreement)  have full
power and  authority  to execute,  to deliver and to perform  their  obligations
under  such  documents  and under the  documents  required  or  permitted  to be
delivered  and  performed  thereunder,  and all such  documents  have  been duly
authorized  by all  necessary  action,  have been duly executed by such parties,
have been duly  delivered  by such  parties,  and are legal,  valid and  binding
obligations of such parties enforceable in accordance with their terms;

         (e) any approval,  consent or  withholding of objection on the part of,
or filing,  registration or qualification  with, any governmental body which may
be  required  in  connection  with the  execution  and  delivery  of the  Credit
Agreement on account of your regulatory status has been obtained or made by you;
and

         (f) the opinions  set forth in the letter to you of even date  herewith
from Vernon T. Squires, Esq. are correct.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         (1) The Company is a limited  partnership,  validly  existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware,  has full partnership  power and authority and is
duly authorized to enter into and perform the Credit  Agreement and to incur the
obligations to be evidenced by the Notes;

         (2) The Corporate General Partner is a corporation validly existing and
in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware,  has full  corporate
power and  authority  and is duly  authorized  to execute and deliver the Credit
Agreement on behalf of the Company;

<PAGE>

         (3) The execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement and the Notes by
the Corporate  General  Partner on behalf of the Company do not conflict with or
result in a breach of any  provision  of the Amended and  Restated  Agreement of
Limited Partnership of the Company; and

         (4) The  Credit  Agreement  and the Notes  have  been duly  authorized,
executed and delivered by the Corporate General Partner on behalf of the Company
and constitute legal, valid and binding  obligations of the Company  enforceable
in accordance with their respective terms.

         Our opinions are subject to the following further qualifications:

         (a)  our  opinions  are  subject  to  the  effect  of  any   applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  arrangement,  moratorium,  fraudulent
conveyance or other similar laws;

         (b) the binding effect and the  enforceability  of the Credit Agreement
and the Notes  and the  availability  of  injunctive  relief or other  equitable
remedies  thereunder  are subject to the effect of general  principles of equity
(regardless  of whether  enforcement  is considered in  proceedings at law or in
equity);

         (c) the binding effect and the  enforceability  of the Credit Agreement
and the Notes are  subject to the effect of laws and  judicial  decisions  which
have imposed  duties and standards of conduct  (including,  without  limitation,
obligations of good faith, fair dealing and reasonableness and any obligation to
demonstrate  that  enforcement of provisions  that are burdensome on a debtor is
reasonably necessary for the protection of the creditor) upon creditors;

         (d) we  express  no  opinion  as to the  enforceability  of  cumulative
remedies to the extent  such  cumulative  remedies  purport to or would have the
effect of compensating  the party entitled to the benefits thereof in amounts in
excess of the actual  loss  suffered by such party or would  violate  applicable
laws concerning election of remedies;

         (e) notwithstanding certain language of the Credit Agreement,  you will
be limited to recovering only reasonable  expenses,  only reasonable  attorneys'
fees and legal expenses and only  reasonable  compensation  for funding  losses,
increased costs or yield protection;

         (f) we express no opinion as to, or the effect or applicability of, any
laws  other  than the laws of the State of New  York,  the  federal  laws of the
United States of America and the General Corporation Law and the Revised Uniform
Limited Partnership Act of the State of Delaware;

<PAGE>

         (g)  requirements  in the Credit  Agreement  specifying that provisions
thereof may only be waived in writing may not be valid,  binding or  enforceable
to the extent that an oral  agreement or an implied  agreement by trade practice
or course of conduct has been created modifying any provision of such documents;

         (h)  we  express  no   opinion   as  to  the   enforceability   of  the
indemnification  provisions of the Credit  Agreement  insofar as said provisions
contravene  public  policy or might require  indemnification  or payments to you
with respect to any loss, cost or expense  arising out of your gross  negligence
or willful  misconduct  or any  violation  by you of statutory  duties,  general
principles of equity or public policy;

         (i) waivers of equitable rights and defenses may not be valid,  binding
or  enforceable  under state or federal  law and  certain  rights of debtors and
duties of lenders may not be waived, released, varied or disclaimed by agreement
prior to a default; and

         (j) we  express  no  opinion  as to the  validity,  binding  effect  or
enforceability   of  Section   9.10  of  the  Credit   Agreement   (Consent   to
Jurisdiction).

         This  letter is  furnished  to you  pursuant  to Section  4.1(v) of the
Credit Agreement and is not to be used,  circulated,  quoted or otherwise relied
upon by any other person or entity or for any other purpose.

         This  opinion is for the benefit of the  Lenders  and their  respective
counsel, and may not be relied upon by any other person. This opinion is limited
to the  specific  issues  addressed  and is limited in all  respects to laws and
facts  existing  on the  date  hereof.  By  rendering  this  opinion,  we do not
undertake  to advise you of any  changes  in such laws or facts  which may occur
after the date hereof.

                                Very truly yours,

                                KIRKLAND & ELLIS

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT "B-2"

                       FORM OF OPINION OF GENERAL COUNSEL


                                                                   April 1, 1997


To the Lenders who are parties to the
 Five-Year Credit Agreement described herein

                  Re:  The ServiceMaster Company Limited
                       Partnership Five-Year Credit Agreement
                       dated as of April 1, 1997

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I am the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of The ServiceMaster
Company Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Company") and,
in that capacity,  I am familiar with the details of the negotiation,  execution
and delivery of the Five-Year  Credit  Agreement dated as of April 1, 1997 among
the Company, The First National Bank of Chicago, as Administrative Agent, Morgan
Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Documentation Agent and the Lenders named
therein, providing for credits in an aggregate amount not exceeding $750,000,000
at any one time  outstanding  (the "Credit  Agreement").  I am  furnishing  this
opinion to you  pursuant  to Section  4.1(vi)  of the Credit  Agreement.  Unless
otherwise  defined  herein,  capitalized  terms used  herein  have the  meanings
assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

         For purposes of this opinion, I have examined the following:

         (a)      the Credit Agreement; and

         (b)      the  proposed  notes  issued  by the  Company  to the  Lenders
                  pursuant to the Credit Agreement (the "Notes").

         In  addition,   I  have  also  examined  such  certificates  of  public
officials,  certificates of officers of the Company, and copies of corporate and
partnership  documents and records of the Company and other  papers,  and I have
made such other  investigations  as I have deemed  relevant  and  necessary as a
basis for my opinions  hereinafter  set forth.  In all such  examinations I have
assumed the genuineness of all signatures (other than the signatures of officers
of the Company), the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted to
me as  originals,  the due  authority of the parties  executing  such  documents
(other than on behalf of the Company)  and the  conformity  to the  originals of
documents submitted to me as copies.


<PAGE>



         Based on the  foregoing  and  subject to the  qualifications  set forth
below, I am of the opinion that:

         (1) No approval, consent or withholding of objection on the part of any
regulatory  body,  federal,  state or local, is necessary in connection with the
execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement or the Notes.

         (2) The Company has full power and authority and is duly  authorized to
conduct  the  activities  in which it is now  engaged  and is duly  licensed  or
qualified  and is in good  standing  as a foreign  limited  partnership  in each
jurisdiction (to the extent  qualification  of a foreign limited  partnership is
permitted by statute) where a failure so to qualify would reasonably be expected
to have a Material  Adverse  Effect  and, in my opinion,  the  inability  of the
Company to qualify as a foreign  limited  partnership in any state in which such
qualification is not permitted by law will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (3) Each Material  Subsidiary is a corporation or a limited partnership
duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as
the case may be, has full power and authority and is duly  authorized to conduct
the activities in which it is now engaged, and is duly licensed or qualified and
is in good  standing  in each  jurisdiction  (to the extent  qualification  of a
foreign  limited  partnership  is  permitted  by statute)  where a failure so to
qualify would  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect and, in
my  opinion,  the  inability  of  any  Material  Subsidiary  that  is a  limited
partnership  to qualify as a foreign  limited  partnership in any state in which
such  qualification  is not  permitted  by law will not have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

         (4)  The  issuance  of  the  Notes  and  the  execution,  delivery  and
performance  by the  Company of the Credit  Agreement  (i) do not violate in any
material  respect  any  provisions  of  any  law  or any  order  of  any  court,
governmental  authority or agency,  (ii) do not  conflict  with or result in any
breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default
under, the limited partnership  agreement of the Company or any agreement or any
debt instrument or other material  agreement known to me to which the Company or
any  Eligible  Subsidiary  is a party or by which the  Company  or any  Eligible
Subsidiary  may be bound and (iii) will not result in the creation or imposition
of any  lien or  encumbrance  upon any of the  property  of the  Company  or any
Eligible Subsidiary.

<PAGE>

         (5) There are no proceedings  pending or, to my knowledge,  threatened,
against or affecting the Company, any of its General Partners, its Parent or any
Subsidiary  in any court or before any  governmental  authority  or  arbitration
board or tribunal which, if adversely  determined,  would reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect. To my knowledge,  neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary is in default with respect to any order of any court or  governmental
authority,  or arbitration  board or tribunal which would reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (6) No  documentary  or stamp taxes are payable in connection  with the
issuance of the Notes.

         (7) Neither the issuance of the Notes nor the use by the Company of all
or any portion of the proceeds of the Advances  will violate  Regulations U or X
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R. Chapter II).

         The opinions  expressed in this letter as to enforceability are subject
to  the  effect  of  any  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,   reorganization,
moratorium  or other  similar laws  relating to or affecting  creditors'  rights
generally,   to  general   principles  of  equity  regardless  of  whether  such
enforceability  is  considered  in a  proceeding  in  equity  or at  law or in a
bankruptcy proceeding,  including, without limitation,  concepts of materiality,
reasonableness,  good  faith  and fair  dealing  and  applicable  laws and court
decisions  which may limit the  enforceability  of  certain  remedial  and other
provisions of the Notes.

         The  opinions  expressed  above are limited to the laws of the State of
Illinois, the federal laws of the United States of America, the Delaware General
Corporation Law and the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited  Partnership Act, and I
do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.


<PAGE>


         The opinions expressed herein are solely for your benefit in connection
with the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by the Credit Agreement
and may not be used or relied upon by any Person other than each of you.

                                Very truly yours,



                                Vernon T. Squires
                              Senior Vice President
                               and General Counsel


<PAGE>
                                                EXHIBIT "C"

                                       COMPETITIVE BID QUOTE REQUEST
                                              (Section 2.3.2)

                                                                 _________, 19__

To:        The Lenders parties to the Credit Agreement described
           below

From:      [Name of Borrower]

Re:  Five-Year  Credit Agreement (the "Credit  Agreement")  dated as of April 1,
     1997 among The ServiceMaster Company Limited Partnership, the Lenders named
     therein,  The First National Bank of Chicago, as Administrative  Agent, and
     Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Documentation Agent

           We  hereby  give  notice  pursuant  to  Section  2.3.2 of the  Credit
Agreement  that we request  Competitive  Bid Quotes for the  following  proposed
Competitive Bid Advance(s):

Borrowing Date:         , 19__

Principal Amount (1)                                    Interest Period (2)
- --------------------                                    -----------------------


           Such  Competitive  Bid Quotes should offer [a Competitive Bid Margin]
[and] [an Absolute Rate]. [The currency in which the Loans are to be denominated
is __________.] Your Competitive Bid Quote must comply with Section 2.3.3 of the
Credit  Agreement  and the  foregoing.  Capitalized  terms used  herein have the
meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

     Please  respond to this  request by no later than [1:00  p.m.]  [9:00 a.m.]
Chicago time on , 19__.

                                            [NAME OF BORROWER]

                                            By:
                                                Financial Officer

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

(1) Amount must be at least (i)  $1,000,000 or any larger  integral  multiple of
$1,000,000 in the case of a Floating Rate Advance, (ii) $5,000,000 or any larger
integral multiple of $1,000,000 in the case of any other Advance  denominated in
Dollars or (iii) such amount and  multiples  as the  Administrative  Agent deems
appropriate and reasonably  comparable to a $3,000,000  minimum Dollar Amount in
the case of any Advance denominated in an Alternative Currency.

(2) One, two, three or six months (Eurocurrency Auction) or not less than 7 days
(Absolute  Rate  Auction),  subject  to the  provisions  of the  definitions  of
Eurocurrency Interest Period and Absolute Rate Interest Period.

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "D"

                              COMPETITIVE BID QUOTE
                                 (Section 2.3.3)

                                                              ____________, 19__

To:        [Name of Borrower] (the "Borrower")

Re:        Competitive Bid Quote

In response to your request dated _________,  199_, we hereby make the following
Competitive  Bid  Quote  pursuant  to  Section  2.3.3  of the  Credit  Agreement
hereinafter referred to and on the following terms:

1.  Quoting Lender: _____________________________________________

2. Person to contact at Quoting Lender: ________________________

3.  Borrowing Date: ____________, 19__ (3)

4. We hereby offer to make  Competitive  Bid Loan(s) in the following  principal
amounts, for the following Interest Periods and at the following rates:

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

(3) As specified in the related Invitation For Competitive Bid Quotes.
<PAGE>


Principal       Interest           [Competitive                  [Absolute
Amount (4)      Period (5)          Bid Margin (6)]               Rate (7)]
- -----------     ----------          ---------------               ---------

[Provided,  that the aggregate  principal  amount of  Competitive  Bid Loans for
which the above offers may be accepted shall not exceed $_________________.] (8)

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

(4) Principal  amount bid for each Interest  Period may not exceed the principal
amount  requested.  Bids must be made for at least (i)  $1,000,000 or any larger
integral  multiple of $1,000,000  in the case of a Floating  Rate Advance,  (ii)
$5,000,000  or any larger  integral  multiple of  $1,000,000  in the case of any
other Advance  denominated  in Dollars or (iii) such amount and multiples as the
Administrative Agent deems appropriate and reasonably comparable to a $3,000,000
minimum  Dollar Amount in the case of any Advance  denominated in an Alternative
Currency.

(5) One, two, three or six months (Eurocurrency Auction) or not less than 7 days
(Absolute Rate Auction),  as specified in the related Invitation For Competitive
Bid Quotes.

(6) Specify positive or negative percentage (rounded to the nearest 1/100 of 1%)
to be added or subtracted from the Eurocurrency Base Rate.

(7) Specify rate of interest per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/100 of 1%)

(8)  Specify  the limit,  if any, as to the  aggregate  principal  amount of the
Competitive  Bid Loans of the quoting  Lender which the Borrower may accept (see
Section 2.3.3. (ii)(d)).

<PAGE>

                  We  understand  and agree  that the  offers  set forth  above,
subject  to the  satisfaction  of the  applicable  conditions  set  forth in the
Five-Year Credit  Agreement dated as of April 1, 1997,  among The  ServiceMaster
Company Limited Partnership,  the Lenders named therein, The First National Bank
of Chicago,  as  Administrative  Agent and Morgan  Guaranty Trust Company of New
York, as Documentation Agent (the "Credit Agreement"),  irrevocably obligates us
to make the  Competitive  Bid Loan(s) for which any  offer(s) are  accepted,  in
whole or in part.

Capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have their
meanings as defined in the Credit Agreement.

                                Very truly yours,

                                 [NAME OF BANK]

Dated:       , 19__                                  By:
                                                          Authorized Officer


<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "E"

                              ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT


                  This  Assignment   Agreement  (this  "Assignment   Agreement")
between (the "Assignor") and (the "Assignee") is dated as of _________ __, 19__.
The parties hereto agree as follows:

                  1.  PRELIMINARY  STATEMENT.  The  Assignor  is  a  party  to a
Five-Year  Credit  Agreement,  dated as of April 1,  1997  (which,  as it may be
amended,  modified,  renewed or extended from time to time, is herein called the
"Credit  Agreement"),  among The ServiceMaster  Company Limited Partnership (the
"Company"),  the Lenders named therein,  The First National Bank of Chicago,  as
Administrative  Agent,  and  Morgan  Guaranty  Trust  Company  of New  York,  as
Documentation  Agent.  Capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise  defined
herein shall have the meanings  attributed to them in the Credit Agreement.  The
Assignor  desires to assign to the Assignee,  and the Assignee desires to assume
from the Assignor,  an undivided  interest (the  "Purchased  Percentage") in the
Commitment of the Assignor such that after giving effect to the  assignment  and
assumption  hereinafter  provided,  the  Commitment of the Assignee  shall equal
$______________ and its percentage of the Aggregate Commitment shall equal __%.

                  2.  ASSIGNMENT.  For and in consideration of the assumption of
obligations  by the  Assignee  set  forth  in  Section  3 hereof  and the  other
consideration  set forth  herein,  and  effective as of the  Effective  Date (as
hereinafter defined), the Assignor does hereby sell, assign, transfer and convey
to the  Assignee all of its right,  title and  interest in and to the  Purchased
Percentage of (i) the  Commitment of the Assignor (as in effect on the Effective
Date),  (ii)  each  Committed  Loan  made  by the  Assignor  outstanding  on the
Effective  Date,  (iii) all Letter of Credit  Liabilities of the Assignor on the
Effective  Date and (iv) the  Credit  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents.
Pursuant to Section 12.3.2 of the Credit  Agreement,  on and after the Effective
Date the Assignee  shall have the same rights,  benefits and  obligations as the
Assignor had under the Loan Documents  with respect to the Purchased  Percentage
of the Loan  Documents,  all determined as if the Assignee were a "Lender" under
the Credit Agreement with ____% of the Aggregate Commitment.  The Effective Date
shall be the later of ______ or two Business Days (or such shorter period agreed
to by the  Agents)  after a Notice of  Assignment  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit  "I"  attached  hereto  and any  consents  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit "II" attached  hereto  required to be delivered to the Agents by Section
12.3 of the Credit Agreement have been delivered to the Agents. In no event will
the Effective Date occur if the payments  required to be made by the Assignee to
the Assignor on the Effective Date under Sections 4 and 5 hereof are not made on
the  proposed  Effective  Date.  The  Assignor  will notify the  Assignee of the
proposed  Effective  Date on the Business  Day prior to the  proposed  Effective
Date.


<PAGE>



                  3.  ASSUMPTION.  For and in consideration of the assignment of
rights by the Assignor set forth in Section 2 hereof and the other consideration
set forth  herein,  and effective as of the  Effective  Date,  the Assignee does
hereby  accept  that  assignment,  and  assume  and  covenant  and agree  fully,
completely and timely to perform, comply with and discharge, each and all of the
obligations,  duties and liabilities of the Assignor under the Credit  Agreement
which are assigned to the Assignee hereunder, which assumption includes, without
limitation,  the  obligation  to fund  the  unfunded  portion  of the  Aggregate
Commitment and to participate in Letters of Credit  outstanding on the Effective
Date or issued  thereafter,  all in accordance  with the provisions set forth in
the  Credit  Agreement  as if the  Assignee  were a  "Lender"  under the  Credit
Agreement with ___% of the Aggregate Commitment. The Assignee agrees to be bound
by all  provisions  relating  to  "Lenders"  under and as  defined in the Credit
Agreement,   including,   without   limitation,   provisions   relating  to  the
dissemination of information and the payment of indemnification.

                  4. PAYMENT  OBLIGATIONS.  On and after the Effective Date, the
Assignee shall be entitled to receive from the Administrative Agent all payments
of principal,  interest and fees with respect to the Purchased Percentage of the
Assignor's  Commitment,  Committed Loans and Letter of Credit  Liabilities.  The
Assignee shall advance funds directly to the  Administrative  Agent with respect
to each Committed Loan and reimbursement payments made on or after the Effective
Date. In consideration for the transfer of the assigned  obligations  hereunder,
with  respect to each  Committed  Loan made by the Assignor  outstanding  on the
Effective  Date,  the Assignee shall pay the Assignor on the Effective Date (or,
if Assignee so elects with respect to each Committed Loan bearing  interest at a
Fixed Rate, on the Payment Date, as hereinafter  defined) an amount equal to the
Purchased  Percentage of any such Committed Loan. If the Assignee elects to make
such payment on the  Effective  Date,  with respect to any Loan made by Assignor
outstanding  on the Effective Date which bears interest at a fixed rate (each an
"Outstanding  Fixed Rate Loan"),  Assignee shall be entitled to receive interest
at a rate agreed upon by the Assignee and the Assignor (the  "Outstanding  Fixed
Rate Loan Interest Rate") for the remainder of the existing Interest Period.

<PAGE>

When Assignee receives  interest on the Purchased  Percentage of any Outstanding
Fixed Rate Loan, Assignee shall remit to Assignor the excess of (a) the interest
received by Assignee on the Outstanding Fixed Rate Loan over (b) the Outstanding
Fixed  Rate Loan  Interest  Rate.  In the event  Assignee  elects not to pay the
Assignor the Purchased Percentage of any such Outstanding Fixed Rate Loan on the
Effective  Date,  the  Assignee  shall pay the  Assignor an amount  equal to the
Purchased  Percentage of such Outstanding Fixed Rate Loan (a) on the last day of
the  Interest  Period  therefor  or (b) on such  earlier  date  agreed to by the
Assignor and the Assignee or (c) on the date on which any such Outstanding Fixed
Rate Loan either becomes due (by  acceleration  or otherwise) or is prepaid (the
date as described  in the  foregoing  clauses (a), (b) or (c) being  hereinafter
referred to as the "Payment  Date").  In the event  interest for the period from
the  Effective  Date to but not  including  the Payment  Date is not paid by the
Borrower with respect to any Outstanding Fixed Rate Loan sold by the Assignor to
the Assignee pursuant to the preceding  sentence,  the Assignee shall pay to the
Assignor  interest  for such period on such  Outstanding  Fixed Rate Loan at the
applicable rate provided by the Credit  Agreement.  In the event of a prepayment
of any Outstanding Fixed Rate Loan,  Assignee shall remit to Assignor the excess
of (a) the amount received by the Assignee as breakage costs over (b) the amount
which would have been  received by the Assignee as a  prepayment  penalty if the
amount of  prepayment  penalty  was  based on the  Outstanding  Fixed  Rate Loan
Interest Rate. On and after the Effective  Date, the Assignee will also remit to
the  Assignor  any  amounts  of  interest  on Loans and fees  received  from the
Administrative  Agent which relate to the Purchased  Percentage of Loans made by
the Assignor accrued for periods prior to the Effective Date or the Payment Date
as  applicable.  In the event that either party  hereto  receives any payment to
which the other party hereto is entitled under this Assignment  Agreement,  then
the party  receiving  such  amount  shall  promptly  remit it to the other party
hereto.  ***[This  Section  subject  to  modification  by the  Assignor  and the
Assignee]***

                  5. FEES PAYABLE BY ASSIGNEE. On each day on which the Assignee
receives a payment of interest or fees under the Credit  Agreement (other than a
payment of interest or fees which the  Assignee is  obligated  to deliver to the
Assignor  pursuant to Section 4 hereof,  which shall be excluded in  determining
fees payable to the Assignor pursuant to this Section), the Assignee shall pay

<PAGE>

to the  Assignor a fee. The amount of such fee shall be the  difference  between
(i) the amount of such interest or fee, as applicable,  received by the Assignee
and (ii) the amount of the interest or fee, as applicable, which would have been
received  by the  Assignee  if each  interest  rate was ___ of 1% less  than the
interest rate paid by the Company or if the facility fee was ___ of 1% less than
the facility fee paid by the Company pursuant to Section 2.4, as applicable.  In
addition,  the Assignee  agrees to pay __% of the fee required to be paid to the
Administrative  Agent  pursuant  to  Section  12.3.2  of the  Credit  Agreement.
***[This Section subject to modification by the Assignor and the Assignee]***

                  6. CREDIT  DETERMINATION:  LIMITATIONS ON ASSIGNORS LIABILITY.
The  Assignee  represents  and  warrants to the  Assignor  that it is capable of
making and has made and shall continue to make its own credit determinations and
analysis based upon such information as the Assignee deemed  sufficient to enter
into the  transaction  contemplated  hereby and not based on any  statements  or
representations by the Assignor,  the Agents or any Lender. It is understood and
agreed that the assignment and assumption hereunder are made without recourse to
the Assignor and that the Assignor  makes no  representation  or warranty of any
kind to the Assignee  and shall not be  responsible  for (i) the due  execution,
legality, validity, enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency or collectibility
of  the  Credit  Agreement  or  any  other  Loan  Document,   including  without
limitation,  documents  granting the  Assignor and the other  Lenders a security
interest in assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,  or any guarantor,
(ii) any representation, warranty or statement made in or in connection with any
of the Loan Documents,  (iii) the financial condition or creditworthiness of any
Borrower or any guarantor, (iv) the performance of or compliance with any of the
terms or provisions of any of the Loan  Documents,  (v) the inspection of any of
the property,  books or records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,  (vi)
the  validity,   enforceability,   perfection,  priority,  condition,  value  or
sufficiency  of any  collateral  securing  or  purporting  to secure  the Loans.
Neither the Assignor nor any of its officers,  directors,  employees,  agents or
attorneys shall be liable for any mistake, error of judgment, or action taken or
omitted to be taken in connection with the Loans or the Loan  Documents,  except
for its or their own bad faith or willful misconduct.

                  7.  INDEMNITY.  The Assignee  agrees to indemnify and hold the
Assignor  harmless  against any and all losses,  costs and expenses  (including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees, which attorneys may be employees
of the Assignee) and liabilities  incurred by the Assignor in connection with or
arising in any manner from the  Assignee's  performance  or  non-performance  of
obligations assumed under this Assignment Agreement.

<PAGE>
                  8.  SUBSEQUENT  ASSIGNMENTS.  After the  Effective  Date,  the
Assignee shall have the right  pursuant to Section 12.3 of the Credit  Agreement
to assign the rights which are assigned to the Assignee  hereunder to any entity
or person, provided that (i) any such subsequent assignment does not violate any
of the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents or any law, rule,  regulations
order, writ, judgment,  injunction or decree and that any consent required under
the terms of the Loan Documents has been obtained,  (ii) the assignee under such
assignment  from the  Assignee  shall  agree  to  assume  all of the  Assignee's
obligations  hereunder  in a manner  satisfactory  to the Assignor and (iii) the
Assignee is not thereby  released  from any of its  obligations  to the Assignor
hereunder.

                  9. REDUCTIONS OF AGGREGATE COMMITMENT. If any reduction in the
Aggregate  Commitment  occurs between the date of this Assignment  Agreement and
the Effective Date, the percentage of the Aggregate  Commitment  assigned to the
Assignee  shall  remain  the  percentage  specified  in Section 1 hereof and the
dollar amount of the Commitment of the Assignee shall be  recalculated  based on
the reduced Aggregate Commitment.

                  10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Assignment  Agreement ****[and the
attached  consent]**** embody the entire agreement and understanding between the
parties hereto and supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the
parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof.

                  11. GOVERNING LAW. This Assignment Agreement shall be governed
by the internal law, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of New York.

                  12.  NOTICES.  Notices  shall be given  under this  Assignment
Agreement  in the  manner  set forth in the Credit  Agreement.  For the  purpose
hereof,  the  addresses  of the  parties  hereto  (until  notice  of a change is
delivered)  shall be the  address  set  forth  under  each  party's  name on the
signature pages hereof.


<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have executed this  Assignment
Agreement by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.

                                            [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]


                                            By:

                                            Title:


                                            [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

                                            By:

                                            Title:


<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT "I"

                                     NOTICE
                                  OF ASSIGNMENT

To:      THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                  One ServiceMaster Way
                  Downers Grove, IL  60515
                  Attention:  Eric R. Zarnikow

                  MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK,
                  as Documentation Agent
                  60 Wall Street
                  New York, NY  10260

                  THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                  as Administrative Agent
                  One First National Plaza
                  Chicago, IL 60670


                  [ISSUING BANKS]

From:    [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

                  [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

                                                                       , 19__

                  1. We refer to that Five-Year  Credit  Agreement,  dated as of
April 1, 1997 (which, as it may be amended,  modified,  renewed or extended from
time to time, is herein called the "Credit Agreement"),  among The ServiceMaster
Company Limited Partnership (the "Company"), the Lenders named therein including
____________  (the  "Assignor"),   The  First  National  Bank  of  Chicago,   as
Administrative  Agent,  and  Morgan  Guaranty  Trust  Company  of New  York,  as
Documentation Agent.  Capitalized terms used herein and in any consent delivered
in connection herewith and not otherwise defined herein or in such consent shall
have the meanings attributed to them in the Credit Agreement.

                  2. This  Notice of  Assignment  (this  "Notice")  is given and
delivered to the Company and the Agents pursuant to Section 12.3.2 of the Credit
Agreement.

                  3. The  Assignor  and (the  "Assignee")  have  entered into an
Assignment Agreement, dated as of , 19__, pursuant to which, among other things,
the Assignor has sold, assigned,  delegated and transferred to the Assignee, and
the Assignee has purchased, accepted and assumed from the Assignor, an undivided
interest in and to all of the Assignor's rights and obligations under the Credit

<PAGE>

Agreement  such that  Assignee's  percentage of the Aggregate  Commitment  shall
equal __%,  effective as of the Effective  Date (as  hereinafter  defined).  The
"Effective  Date"  shall  be the  later  of ____ or two  Business  Days (or such
shorter  period as agreed to by the Agents) after this Notice of Assignment  and
any  consents  and fees  required  by  Sections  12.3.1 and 12.3.2 of the Credit
Agreement  have been  delivered to the Agents,  provided that the Effective Date
shall not occur if any  condition  precedent  agreed to by the  Assignor and the
Assignee has not been satisfied.

                  4. As of this date,  the  percentage  of the  Assignor  in the
Aggregate  Commitment,  the Committed Advances and the Letters of Credit is __%.
As of the  Effective  Date,  the  percentage  of the  Assignor in the  Aggregate
Commitment,  the  Committed  Advances  and the Letters of Credit will be __% (as
such  percentage  may be  reduced  or  increased  by  assignments  which  become
effective  prior to the assignment to the Assignee  becoming  effective) and the
percentage of the Assignee in the Aggregate  Commitment,  the Committed Advances
and the Letters of Credit and the Letters of Credit will be __%.

                  5. The Assignor  and the  Assignee  hereby give to the Company
and the Agents notice of the assignment and delegation  referred to herein.  The
Assignor  will confer with the Agents before  _______,  19__ to determine if the
assignment  to the  Assignee  will  become  effective  on such date  pursuant to
Section 3 hereof,  and will confer with the Agents to  determine  the  Effective
Date pursuant to Section 3 hereof if it occurs  thereafter.  The Assignor  shall
notify the Agents if the assignment to the Assignee does not become effective on
any proposed Effective Date as a result of the failure to satisfy the conditions
precedent  agreed to by the  Assignor  and the  Assignee.  At the request of the
Agent, the Assignor will give the Agents written  confirmation of the occurrence
of the Effective Date.

                  6. The Assignee  hereby accepts and assumes the assignment and
delegation referred to herein and agrees as of the Effective Date (i) to perform
fully all of the  obligations  under the  Credit  Agreement  which it has hereby
assumed and (ii) to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement
as if it were a "Lender".

                  7. The Assignor  and the  Assignee  request and agree that any
payments to be made by the Administrative Agent to the Assignor on and after the
Effective  Date shall,  to the extent of the assignment  referred to herein,  be
made entirely to the  Assignee,  it being  understood  that the Assignor and the
Assignee shall make between themselves any desired allocations.

<PAGE>

                  8.  The   Assignor   or  the   Assignee   shall   pay  to  the
Administrative  Agent on or before  the  Effective  Date the  processing  fee of
$3,500 required by Section 12.3.2 of the Credit Agreement.

                  9. The Assignor  and the Assignee  request and direct that the
Administrative  Agent prepare and cause the  Borrower(s)  to execute and deliver
[new Notes or, as  appropriate,]  replacement  Notes,  to the  Assignor  and the
Assignee in accordance with Section 12.3.2 of the Credit Agreement. The Assignor
[and the Assignee] agree[s] to deliver to the Administrative  Agent the original
Notes received from it by the Borrower(s)  upon the Assignor's [and  Assignee's]
receipt of new Notes in the amounts set forth above.

                  10. The  Assignee  advises the Agents that the address  listed
below is its address for notices under the Credit Agreement:

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

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]                          [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

By:                                                  By:

Title:                                               Title:


<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT "II"

                               CONSENT AND RELEASE


                TO:    [NAME OF ASSIGNOR] [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

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

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



                                 _________, 19__


                  1.  We   acknowledge   receipt  from  (the   "Assignor")   and
______________________ (the "Assignee") of the Notice of Assignment, dated as of
__________, 19__ (the "Notice"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Notice.

                  ****[2.  In consideration of the assumption by the Assignee of
the  obligations  of the Assignor as referred to in the Notice,  the Company and
each Issuing Bank hereby (i) irrevocably consents, as required by Section 12.3.1
of the Credit  Agreement,  to the assignment  and delegation  referred to in the
Notice and (ii) as of the Effective Date,  irrevocably reduces the percentage of
the Assignor in the  Aggregate  Commitment  by the  percentage  of the Aggregate
Commitment  assigned to the Assignee  and releases the Assignor  from all of its
obligations  to the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  or to such Issuing Bank
under the Loan Documents to the extent that such  obligations  have been assumed
by the Assignee]****

                  3. The Administrative Agent is hereby requested to prepare for
issuance by the relevant Borrower new Notes as requested by the Assignor and the
Assignee in the Notice.

                  ****[4.  In consideration of the assumption by the Assignee of
the obligations of the Assignor as referred to in the Notice,  the Agents hereby
(i) irrevocably  consent, as required by Section 12.3.1 of the Credit Agreement,
to the  assignment  and  delegation  referred to in the  Notice,  (ii) as of the
Effective  Date,  irrevocably  release the Assignor from its  obligations to the
Agents under the Loan  Documents to the extent that such  obligations  have been
assumed by the Assignee,  and (iii) agree that, as of the  Effective  Date,  the
Agents shall consider the Assignee as a "Lender" for all purposes under the Loan
Documents  to the extent of the  assignment  and  delegation  referred to in the
Notice.]****


<PAGE>

THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY                   THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP                         OF CHICAGO, as Administrative  Agent

By: ServiceMaster Management                By:
    Corporation, its General                Title:
    Partner
                                            MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST
By:                                         COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as
Title:                                      Documentation Agent

                                            By:
                                            Title:

                                            [ISSUING BANK]

                                            By:  ____________________
                                            Title: __________________


* Paragraphs 2 and 4 are to be included only if the consent of the Company,  the
Issuing  Banks and the Agents is  required  pursuant  to  Section  12.3.1 of the
Credit Agreement.


<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "F"

                 LOAN/CREDIT RELATED MONEY TRANSFER INSTRUCTION

To:      The First National Bank of Chicago, as Administrative Agent under the
         Credit Agreement described below.

From:    [Name of Borrower] (the "Borrower")

Re:      Five-Year Credit Agreement,  dated as of April 1, 1997 (as the same may
         be  amended  or   modified,   the   "Credit   Agreement"),   among  The
         ServiceMaster  Company Limited Partnership,  the Lenders named therein,
         The First National Bank of Chicago, as Administrative Agent, and Morgan
         Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Documentation Agent.

                  Terms used  herein and not  otherwise  defined  shall have the
meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.

                  The  Administrative  Agent  is  specifically   authorized  and
directed to act upon the following  standing  money transfer  instructions  with
respect to the proceeds of Advances or other  extensions  of credit from time to
time until receipt by the Administrative  Agent of a specific written revocation
of such instructions by the Borrower, provided, however, that the Administrative
Agent may  otherwise  transfer  funds as  hereafter  directed  in writing by the
Borrower in accordance with Section 13.1 of the Credit Agreement.

Facility Identification Number(s)

Customer/Account Name

Transfer Funds To

For Account No.

Reference/Attention To

Authorized Officer (Customer
  Representative)                                     Date


    (Please Print)                  Signature

Bank Officer Name                                     Date


    (Please Print)                  Signature

       (Deliver Completed Form to Credit Support Staff For Immediate Processing)


<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "G"

                         FORM OF ELECTION TO PARTICIPATE



                                                                __________, 19__


MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
  OF NEW YORK, as Documentation Agent
    for the Lenders under the Five-Year  Credit  Agreement  dated as of April 1,
    1997 among The ServiceMaster Company Limited Partnership
   (the "Company"), the Lenders named therein,
   The First National Bank of Chicago, as
   Administrative Agent, and the Documentation
   Agent

Dear Sirs:

                  Reference  is made to the Credit  Agreement  described  above.
Terms not defined herein which are defined in the Credit  Agreement have for the
purposes hereof the meaning provided therein.

                  The   undersigned,    [name   of   Eligible   Subsidiary],   a
[corporation]  [partnership]  organized  under  the  laws  of  [jurisdiction  of
organization],  elects to be an Eligible  Subsidiary  for purposes of the Credit
Agreement,  effective  upon your  receipt  hereof until an Election to Terminate
shall have been  delivered to you with respect to the  undersigned in accordance
with the Credit Agreement.

                  The  undersigned   confirms  that  the   representations   and
warranties set forth in Article XIV of the Credit Agreement are true and correct
as to the undersigned as of the date hereof. In particular, [except as disclosed
below,]  there is no income,  stamp or other tax of any  country,  or any taxing
authority  thereof or  therein,  imposed by or in the nature of  withholding  or
otherwise,  which  is  imposed  on any  payment  to be made  by the  undersigned
pursuant to the Credit Agreement or the Notes of the undersigned,  or is imposed
on or by virtue of the  execution,  delivery or  enforcement of this Election to
Participate or of the Notes of the undersigned.

                  The  undersigned  agrees to perform all the  obligations of an
Eligible  Subsidiary under, and to be bound in all respects by the terms of, the
Credit Agreement,  including without limitation  Sections 9.11 and 9.12 thereof,
as if the  undersigned  were a signatory party thereto.  The undersigned  hereby
confirms the authority of the Financial  Officers to act on its behalf as to all
matters relating to the Credit Agreement.


<PAGE>
                  The address to which all notices to the undersigned  under the
Credit Agreement should be directed is:

                  This  instrument  shall be  construed in  accordance  with and
governed by the laws of the State of New York.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    [NAME OF ELIGIBLE SUBSIDIARY]



                                    By __________________________________
                                    Title:


                  The undersigned confirms that [name of Eligible Subsidiary] is
an additional Borrower for purposes of the Credit Agreement described above.


                                    THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY LIMITED
                                    PARTNERSHIP

                                    By: ServiceMaster Management
                                    Corporation, its General Partner



                                    By __________________________________
                                    Title:




                  Receipt of the above Election to  Participate is  acknowledged
on and as of the date set forth above.


                                    MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                                    OF NEW YORK, as Documentation Agent


                                    By __________________________________
                                    Title:


<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "H"

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO TERMINATE



                                                                __________, 19__


MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
  OF NEW YORK, as Documentation Agent
   for the Lenders under the  Five-Year  Credit  Agreement  dated as of April 1,
   1997 among The ServiceMaster Company Limited Partnership
   (the "Company"), the Lenders named therein,
   The First National Bank of Chicago, as
   Administrative Agent, and the Documentation
   Agent

Dear Sirs:

                  Reference  is made to the Credit  Agreement  described  above.
Terms not defined herein which are defined in the Credit  Agreement have for the
purposes hereof the meaning provided therein.

                  The undersigned  hereby elect to terminate the status of [name
of Eligible Subsidiary], a [corporation]  [partnership] organized under the laws
of [jurisdiction of organization] (the "Designated Subsidiary"),  as an Eligible
Subsidiary  for purposes of the Credit  Agreement,  effective  upon your receipt
hereof. The undersigned represent and warrant that all principal and interest on
all Notes of the  Designated  Subsidiary  and all other  amounts  payable by the
Designated Subsidiary pursuant to the Credit Agreement have been paid in full on
or prior to the date hereof.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  this Election to
Terminate shall not affect any obligation of the Designated Subsidiary under the
Credit Agreement or under any of its Notes heretofore incurred.


<PAGE>


                  This  instrument  shall be  construed in  accordance  with and
governed by the laws of the State of New York.


                                    Very truly yours,

                                    [NAME OF DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARY]


                                    By __________________________________
                                    Title:


                                    THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY LIMITED
                                    PARTNERSHIP

                                    By: ServiceMaster Management
                                    Corporation, its General Partner



                                    By __________________________________
                                    Title:



                  Receipt  of  the  above   Election  to   Terminate  is  hereby
acknowledged on and as of the date set forth above.


                                    MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                                    OF NEW YORK, as Documentation Agent



                                    By __________________________________
                                    Title:


<PAGE>


                                               EXHIBIT "I"

                            FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR ELIGIBLE SUBSIDIARY



                                                                __________, 19__


To the Lenders and Agents
  Referred to Below
c/o Morgan Guaranty Trust Company
  of New York, as Documentation Agent
60 Wall Street
New York, New York  10260

Dear Sirs:

                  I am counsel to [name of Eligible Subsidiary], a [corporation]
[partnership]  organized under the laws of [jurisdiction  of organization]  (the
"Eligible Subsidiary"),  and give this opinion pursuant to Section 4.2(b) of the
Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1,1997 (as the same may be amended
or modified,  the "Credit Agreement"),  among The ServiceMaster  Company Limited
Partnership (the "Company"),  the Lenders named therein, The First National Bank
of Chicago,  as  Administrative  Agent, and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New
York, as  Documentation  Agent.  Terms defined in the Credit  Agreement are used
herein as therein defined.

                  I have  examined  originals or copies,  certified or otherwise
identified  to  my   satisfaction,   of  such  documents,   corporate   records,
certificates of public  officials and other  instruments and have conducted such
other investigations of fact and law as I have deemed necessary or advisable for
purposes of this opinion.

                  Upon the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

                  1. The Eligible  Subsidiary is a  [corporation]  [partnership]
duly  organized,  validly  existing  and in  good  standing  under  the  laws of
[jurisdiction of organization], and is a Subsidiary of the Company.

                  2. The  execution  and delivery by the Eligible  Subsidiary of
its Election to  Participate  and its Notes and the  performance by the Eligible
Subsidiary  of its  obligations  under the  Credit  Agreement  and its Notes are
within the Eligible  Subsidiary's legal powers, have been duly authorized by all
necessary [corporate]  [partnership] or other legal action, require no action by
or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental  body, agency or official and
do not contravene,  or constitute a default under,  in any material  respect any
provision of applicable law or regulation or of the organizational  documents of
the Eligible  Subsidiary  or of any  indenture or other  agreement or instrument
governing  Debt or any other material  agreement or instrument  binding upon the
Company or the Eligible  Subsidiary  or result in the creation or  imposition of
any Lien on any asset of the Eligible Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries.


<PAGE>



                  3. The Election to Participate of the Eligible  Subsidiary and
the Credit  Agreement  constitute  valid and binding  agreements of the Eligible
Subsidiary  and its  Notes  constitute  valid  and  binding  obligations  of the
Eligible  Subsidiary,  in each case  enforceable  in accordance  with its terms,
except as may be limited by (i)  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or other  similar laws
affecting  the rights and  remedies  of  creditors  generally  and (ii)  general
principles of equity.

                  4. Except as disclosed in the Election to  Participate,  there
is no income, stamp or other tax of any country, or any taxing authority thereof
or therein,  imposed by or in the nature of withholding  or otherwise,  which is
imposed on any  payment to be made by the  Eligible  Subsidiary  pursuant to the
Credit  Agreement  or on  its  Notes,  or is  imposed  on or by  virtue  of  the
execution,  delivery or  enforcement  of its Election to  Participate  or of its
Notes.


                                            Very truly yours,


<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "J"

                    FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE AGENTS


                                                                   April 1, 1997



To the Lenders and the Agents
  Referred to Below
c/o Morgan Guaranty Trust Company
  of New York, as Documentation Agent
60 Wall Street
New York, New York  10260

Dear Sirs:

                  We  have  participated  in the  preparation  of the  Five-Year
Credit  Agreement,  dated  as of April 1,  1997 (as the same may be  amended  or
modified,  the "Credit  Agreement"),  among The  ServiceMaster  Company  Limited
Partnership (the "Company"),  the Lenders named therein, The First National Bank
of Chicago,  as  Administrative  Agent, and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New
York, as  Documentation  Agent, and have acted as special counsel for the Agents
for the purpose of  rendering  this  opinion  pursuant to Section  4.1(x) of the
Credit  Agreement.  Terms  defined in the Credit  Agreement  are used  herein as
therein defined.

                  We have examined  originals or copies,  certified or otherwise
identified  to  our  satisfaction,   of  such  documents,   corporate   records,
certificates of public  officials and other  instruments and have conducted such
other  investigations  of fact and law as we have deemed  necessary or advisable
for purposes of this opinion.

                  Upon the basis of the  foregoing,  we are of the opinion  that
the Credit  Agreement  constitutes a valid and binding  agreement of the Company
and the Notes of the Company  constitute  valid and binding  obligations  of the
Company,  in each case  enforceable in accordance with their  respective  terms,
except as the same may be  limited by  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or similar  laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity.


<PAGE>


                  We are  members  of the Bar of the  State  of New York and the
foregoing  opinion  is  limited  to the  laws of the  State  of New York and the
federal  laws of the United  States of  America.  To the extent that our opinion
expressed  herein  involves  conclusions  as to matters  governed by the laws of
other  jurisdictions,  we have relied,  with your permission,  on the opinion of
[counsel for the Company], addressed to you and dated the date hereof, copies of
which have been  delivered  to you,  and we have  assumed,  without  independent
investigation,  the  correctness of the matters set forth in such opinions,  our
opinion being subject to the  assumptions,  qualifications  and  limitations set
forth in such opinion with respect thereto. In addition, in giving the foregoing
opinion,  we  express  no  opinion  as to the  effect (if any) of any law of any
jurisdiction (except the State of New York) in which any Lender is located which
limits the rate of interest that such Lender may charge or collect.

                  This opinion is rendered  solely to you in connection with the
above  matter.  This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose
or relied upon by any other person without our prior written consent.

                                Very truly yours,

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10
<SEQUENCE>6
<DESCRIPTION>$250M 364 DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<TEXT>

Exhibit 10.3 to 1997 Form 10-K

                                  $250,000,000


                                     364-DAY
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT



                            dated as of April 1, 1997


                                      among


                 THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,


                                   THE LENDERS


                                       and


                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                             as Administrative Agent

                                       and

                          MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                       OF NEW YORK, as Documentation Agent

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

                          J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
                                    Arranger

                             BANK OF AMERICA NT & SA
                                       and
                                NATIONSBANK, N.A.
                                  as Co-Agents

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                                               Page
                                                                                                               ----
         <C>           <S>                                                                                      <C>

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

         1.1.          Defined Terms............................................................................  1
         1.2.          Accounting Terms and Determinations...................................................... 20
         1.3.          Rules of Construction.................................................................... 20
         1.4.          Rounding................................................................................. 21



                                   ARTICLE II

                                  THE FACILITY

         2.1.          The Facility............................................................................. 21
                       2.1.1.        Description of Facility.................................................... 21
                       2.1.2.        Availability of Facility; Required Payments................................ 21
         2.2.          Committed Advances....................................................................... 21
                       2.2.1.        Committed Advances......................................................... 21
                       2.2.2.        Types of Committed Advances................................................ 22
                       2.2.3.        Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New Committed
                                     Advances................................................................... 22
                       2.2.4.        Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Committed Advances.............. 23
         2.3.          Competitive Bid Advances................................................................. 24
                       2.3.1.        Competitive Bid Option; Repayment of Competitive Bid Advances.............. 24
                       2.3.2.        Competitive Bid Quote Request.............................................. 25
                       2.3.3.        Submission and Contents of Competitive Bid Quotes.......................... 25
                       2.3.4.        Acceptance and Notice by the Borrower...................................... 27
                       2.3.5.        Allocation by the Borrower................................................. 27
                       2.3.6.        Notice by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent......................... 28
         2.4.          Facility Fees............................................................................ 28
         2.5.          General Facility Terms................................................................... 28
                       2.5.1.        Method of Borrowing........................................................ 28
                       2.5.2.        Minimum Amount of Each Committed Advance................................... 29
                       2.5.3.        Optional Principal Payments................................................ 29
                       2.5.4.        Interest Periods........................................................... 30
                       2.5.5.        Rate after Maturity........................................................ 30
                       2.5.6.        Interest Payment Dates; Interest Basis..................................... 30
                       2.5.7.        Method of Payment.......................................................... 31
                       2.5.8.        Notes...................................................................... 32
                       2.5.9.        Notification of Advances, Interest Rates and Prepayments................... 32

Page i
<PAGE>
                       2.5.10.       Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent........................... 32
                       2.5.11.       Cancellation............................................................... 33
                       2.5.12.       Lending Installations...................................................... 33
                       2.5.13.       Currency Equivalents....................................................... 33
                       2.5.14.       Taxes...................................................................... 34
                       2.5.15.       Regulation D Compensation.................................................. 36



                                   ARTICLE III

                             CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

         3.1.          Yield Protection......................................................................... 37
         3.2.          Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations.................................................. 38
         3.3.          Availability of Types of Advances........................................................ 39
         3.4.          Funding Indemnification.................................................................. 40
         3.5.          Lender Statements; Limit on Retroactivity; Survival of Indemnity......................... 40
         3.6.          Foreign Subsidiary Costs................................................................. 41
         3.7.          Replacement of Lenders................................................................... 41



                                   ARTICLE IV

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         4.1.          Initial Advance.......................................................................... 42
         4.2.          Initial Advance to each Eligible Subsidiary.............................................. 44
         4.3.          Each Advance............................................................................. 44



                                    ARTICLE V

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

         5.1.          Organization and Authority............................................................... 45
         5.2.          Organization and Authority of Subsidiaries............................................... 46
         5.3.          Organization and Authority of Corporate General Partner.................................. 46
         5.4.          Business and Property.................................................................... 46
         5.5.          Financial Statements..................................................................... 47
         5.6.          Full Disclosure.......................................................................... 47
         5.7.          Pending Litigation....................................................................... 47
         5.8.          Loan Documents are Legal, Valid, Binding and Authorized.................................. 48
         5.9.          Governmental Consent..................................................................... 48

Page ii
<PAGE>
         5.10.         Taxes.................................................................................... 48
         5.11.         Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.......................................... 49
         5.12.         Investment Company Act................................................................... 49
         5.13.         Compliance with Environmental Laws....................................................... 49
         5.14.         Regulations U and X...................................................................... 50



                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    COVENANTS

                       6.1.1.        Information................................................................ 50
                       6.1.2.        Use of Parent Information.................................................. 51
         6.2.          Use of Proceeds.......................................................................... 52
         6.3.          Notice of Default........................................................................ 52
         6.4.          Inspection............................................................................... 52
         6.5.          Legal Existence, Etc..................................................................... 52
         6.6.          Insurance................................................................................ 53
         6.7.          Taxes, Claims for Labor and Materials, Compliance with Laws.............................. 53
         6.8.          Maintenance, Etc......................................................................... 53
         6.9.          Nature of Business....................................................................... 54
         6.10.         Restricted Payments...................................................................... 54
         6.11.         Payment of Dividends by Subsidiaries..................................................... 54
         6.12.         Transactions with Affiliates............................................................. 55
         6.13.         Negative Pledge.......................................................................... 55
         6.14.         Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.............................................. 57
         6.15.         Leverage Test............................................................................ 58
         6.16.         Subsidiary Debt Limitation............................................................... 58



                                   ARTICLE VII

                                    DEFAULTS

         7.1.           .........................................................................................58
         7.2.           .........................................................................................58
         7.3.           .........................................................................................58
         7.4.           .........................................................................................58
         7.5.           .........................................................................................59
         7.6.           .........................................................................................59
         7.7.           .........................................................................................59
         7.8.           .........................................................................................59
         7.9.           .........................................................................................59
         7.10.          .........................................................................................59
         7.11.          .........................................................................................60
         7.12.          .........................................................................................60
         7.13.          .........................................................................................60

Page iii
<PAGE>
                                  ARTICLE VIII

                 ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES

         8.1.          Acceleration............................................................................. 60
         8.2.          Amendments............................................................................... 60
         8.3.          Preservation of Rights................................................................... 61



                                   ARTICLE IX

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         9.1.          Survival of Representations.............................................................. 62
         9.2.          Headings................................................................................. 62
         9.3.          Entire Agreement......................................................................... 62
         9.4.          Several Obligations...................................................................... 62
         9.5.          Expenses; Indemnification................................................................ 62
         9.6.          Numbers of Documents..................................................................... 63
         9.7.          Severability of Provisions............................................................... 64
         9.8.          Nonliability of Lenders.................................................................. 64
         9.9.          CHOICE OF LAW............................................................................ 64
         9.10.         CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.................................................................. 64
         9.11.         WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL..................................................................... 64
         9.12.         Confidentiality.......................................................................... 65



                                    ARTICLE X

                                   THE AGENTS

         10.1.         Appointment.............................................................................. 65
         10.2.         Powers................................................................................... 65
         10.3.         General Immunity......................................................................... 65
         10.4.         No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc............................................... 66
         10.5.         Action on Instructions of Lenders........................................................ 66
         10.6.         Employment of Agents and Counsel......................................................... 66
         10.7.         Reliance on Documents; Counsel........................................................... 66
         10.8.         Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification................................................ 67
         10.9.         Rights as a Lender....................................................................... 67
         10.10.        Lender Credit Decision................................................................... 67
         10.11.        Successor Agent.......................................................................... 68
         10.12.        Agents' Fees............................................................................. 68

Page iv
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE XI

                             SETOFF RATABLE PAYMENTS

         11.1.         Setoff................................................................................... 68
         11.2.         Ratable Payments......................................................................... 69



                                   ARTICLE XII

                BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS

         12.1.         Successors and Assigns................................................................... 69
         12.2.         Participations........................................................................... 70
                       12.2.1.       Permitted Participants; Effect............................................. 70
                       12.2.2.       Voting Rights.............................................................. 70
         12.3.         Assignments.............................................................................. 70
                       12.3.1.       Permitted Assignments...................................................... 70
                       12.3.2.       Effect; Effective Date..................................................... 71
         12.4.         Dissemination of Information............................................................. 71
         12.5.         Tax Treatment............................................................................ 72
         12.6.  Increased Costs................................................................................. 72



                                  ARTICLE XIII

                                     NOTICES

         13.1.         Giving Notice............................................................................ 72



                                   ARTICLE XIV

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                            OF ELIGIBLE SUBSIDIARIES

         14.1.         Existence and Power...................................................................... 73
         14.2.         Corporate or Partnership and Governmental Authorization; Contravention................... 73
         14.3.         Binding Effect........................................................................... 73
         14.4.         Taxes.................................................................................... 73

Page v
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE XV

                                    GUARANTY

         15.1.         The Guaranty............................................................................. 74
         15.2.         Guaranty Unconditional................................................................... 74
         15.3.         Discharge Only Upon Payment In Full; Reinstatement In Certain Circumstances.............. 75
         15.4.         Waiver by the Company.................................................................... 75
         15.5.         Subrogation.............................................................................. 75
         15.6.         Stay of Acceleration..................................................................... 75



                                   ARTICLE XVI

                           COUNTERPARTS; EFFECTIVENESS
</TABLE>

Page vi
<PAGE>

PRICING SCHEDULE

Schedule 6.11 Subsidiary Restrictions

Exhibit "A"   Note

Exhibit "B-1" Form of Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis

Exhibit "B-2" Form of Opinion of General Counsel

Exhibit "C"   Form of Competitive Bid Quote Request

Exhibit "D"   Form of Competitive Bid Quote

Exhibit "E"   Form of Assignment Agreement

Exhibit "F"   Form of Loan/Credit Related Money Transfer
                        Instruction

Exhibit "G"   Form of Election to Participate

Exhibit "H"   Form of Election to Terminate

Exhibit "I"   Form of Opinion of Counsel for Eligible
                        Subsidiary

Exhibit "J"   Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Agents

Page vii
<PAGE>

                                     364-DAY
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


                  This 364-Day Credit  Agreement,  dated as of April 1, 1997, is
among The  ServiceMaster  Company Limited  Partnership,  the Lenders,  The First
National Bank of Chicago,  as  Administrative  Agent,  and Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company  of New York,  as  Documentation  Agent.  The  parties  hereto  agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

                  1.1.     Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement:

                  "Absolute Rate" means,  with respect to a Loan made by a given
Lender for the relevant Absolute Rate Interest Period,  the rate of interest per
annum  (rounded to the nearest  1/100 of 1%) offered by such Lender and accepted
by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.3.4.

                  "Absolute Rate Advance" means a borrowing hereunder consisting
of the aggregate  amount of the several  Absolute Rate Loans made by some or all
of the Lenders to the Borrower at the same time and for the same  Absolute  Rate
Interest Period.

                  "Absolute Rate Auction"  means a  solicitation  of Competitive
Bid Quotes setting forth Absolute Rates pursuant to Section 2.3.

                  "Absolute  Rate  Interest  Period"  means,  with respect to an
Absolute Rate Advance or an Absolute Rate Loan, a period of not less than 7 days
commencing  on a  Business  Day  selected  by  the  Borrower  pursuant  to  this
Agreement. If such Absolute Rate Interest Period would end on a day which is not
a  Business  Day,  such  Absolute  Rate  Interest  Period  shall end on the next
succeeding Business Day.

                  "Absolute  Rate Loan" means a Loan which bears  interest at an
Absolute Rate.

                  "Acquiring  Person"  means any Person  (other than the Parent,
the Surviving Parent and the Surviving  Company) or group of two or more Persons
acting as a partnership, limited partnership,  syndicate, or other group for the
purpose of acquiring,  holding or disposing of Equity  Interests of the Company,
the Surviving  Company,  the Parent or the Surviving  Parent,  together with all
affiliates  and  associates  (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the  Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of such Person or Persons.

Page 1
<PAGE>
                  "Administrative  Agent"  means  The  First  National  Bank  of
Chicago in its capacity as contractual  representative  for the Lenders pursuant
to Article X, and not in its individual  capacity as a Lender, and any successor
Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Article X.

                  "Administrative  Questionnaire"  means,  with  respect to each
Lender,  an   administrative   questionnaire  in  a  form  satisfactory  to  the
Administrative  Agent and submitted to the Administrative  Agent (with a copy to
the Company) duly completed by each Lender.

                  "Advance"  means  a  borrowing  hereunder  consisting  of  the
aggregate  amount of the several Loans made by some or all of the Lenders to the
Borrower  of the  same  Type  (or on the  same  interest  basis  in the  case of
Competitive Bid Advances) and, in the case of Fixed Rate Advances,  for the same
Interest Period and includes a Competitive Bid Advance.
                  "Affected Lender" is defined in Section 3.7.

                  "Affiliate"  means any Person (other than a Subsidiary)  which
directly or indirectly controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control
with,  the  Company.  The term  "control"  means  the  possession,  directly  or
indirectly,  of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a Person,  whether through the ownership of Voting Equity  Interest,
by contract or otherwise.

                  "Agent" means the  Administrative  Agent or the  Documentation
Agent and "Agents" means both of the foregoing.

                  "Aggregate  Commitment" means the aggregate of the Commitments
of all the Lenders hereunder, as reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms
hereof.

                  "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement,  as it may be amended
or modified and in effect from time to time.

                  "Alternate  Base Rate" means,  on any date and with respect to
all Floating Rate  Advances,  a fluctuating  rate of interest per annum equal to
the higher of (i) the Federal Funds  Effective Rate most recently  determined by
the  Administrative  Agent plus 1/2% per annum and (ii) the Corporate Base Rate.
Changes in the rate of interest on each  Floating  Rate Advance will take effect
simultaneously with each change in the Alternate Base Rate. The Administrative

Page 2
<PAGE>
Agent will give notice  promptly to the  Borrowers and the Lenders of changes in
the Alternate Base Rate,  provided,  however,  that the  Administrative  Agent's
failure to give any such notice will not affect any Borrower's obligation to pay
interest  to the  Lenders  on  Floating  Rate  Advances  at the  then  effective
Alternate Base Rate.

                  "Alternative  Currency" means British Sterling,  German Marks,
French  Francs,  Japanese  Yen,  Dutch  Guilders,  Swedish  Kronor and any other
currency (other than Dollars) which is freely  transferable and convertible into
Dollars in the London  interbank  market  which has been  expressly  approved in
writing as an Alternative Currency for purposes hereof by all Lenders.

                  "Annual Report" is defined in Section 5.4.

                  "Applicable  Margin" means the respective  margin  percentages
for each Committed Fixed Rate Advance  determined in accordance with the Pricing
Schedule.

                  "Approved  Multiple"  means (a) in respect of any borrowing or
prepayment  of a  Floating  Rate  Advance,  $1,000,000  or any  larger  integral
multiple of  $1,000,000,  (b) in the case of any other  Advance  denominated  in
Dollars, $5,000,000 or any larger integral multiple of $1,000,000 and (c) in the
case of any Advance  denominated in an Alternative  Currency,  such multiples of
such  currency as the  Administrative  Agent deems  appropriate  and  reasonably
comparable to a $3,000,000 minimum Dollar Amount.

                  "Article"  means an article of this  Agreement  unless another
document is specifically referenced.

                  "Assessment  Rate" means, for any CD Interest Period,  the net
assessment rate per annum payable to the Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation
(or any successor) for the insurance of domestic deposits of the  Administrative
Agent during the calendar year in which the first day of such CD Interest Period
falls,  as  estimated  by the  Administrative  Agent on the first day of such CD
Interest Period.

                  "Board  of  Directors"  prior  to the  Effective  Date  of the
Reorganization means the Board of Directors of the Corporate General Partner and
on or  after  the  Effective  Date of the  Reorganization  means  the  Board  of
Directors of the Company.

Page 3
<PAGE>
                  "Borrower"  means any Obligor in its capacity as borrower of a
Loan or Advance hereunder, and "Borrowers" means all such borrowers.  References
to "the  Borrower" in relation to any Loan or Advance are to the Borrower  which
has borrowed or which proposes to borrow such Loan or Advance.

          "Borrowing  Date"  means a date on which an  Advance  is made or to be
     made hereunder.

          "British Sterling" means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

                  "Business  Day"  means  (i)  with  respect  to any  borrowing,
payment or rate selection of Eurocurrency Committed Advances or Eurocurrency Bid
Rate  Advances,  a day other than Saturday or Sunday on which banks are open for
business  in Chicago  and New York City and on which  dealings  in the  relevant
currency are carried on in the London  interbank  market and, where funds are to
be paid or made available in an Alternative  Currency, on which commercial banks
are open for domestic and  international  business in the place where such funds
are paid or made  available  and (ii) for all other  purposes,  a day other than
Saturday or Sunday on which banks are open for  business in Chicago and New York
City.

                  "CD Interest  Period"  means,  with respect to a Fixed CD Rate
Advance or a Fixed CD Rate Loan,  a period of 30, 60, 90 or 180 days  commencing
on a Business Day selected by the Borrower  pursuant to this Agreement.  If such
CD  Interest  Period  would end on a day which is not a  Business  Day,  such CD
Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding Business Day.

                  "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred:
(a) prior to the Effective Date of the Reorganization, on the date on which:

          (i) the Corporate General Partner ceases to have a Controlling General
         Partnership Interest in both the Company and the Parent; or

             (ii) Voting Stock of the Corporate  General  Partner  sufficient to
         elect at  least a  majority  of its  board of  directors  ceases  to be
         subject to the voting trust arrangement described in the Form 10-K; or

            (iii)  Continuing  Directors  cease to  constitute a majority of the
         board of directors of the Corporate General Partner; or

Page 4
<PAGE>
             (iv) an Acquiring Person shall have acquired  beneficial  ownership
         (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities  Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended) of more than 30% (or if such Acquiring  Person is WMX
         Technologies,  Inc.  or one of its  subsidiaries,  40%) of the  Limited
         Partnership Interests in the Company or the Parent; and

                  (b)     on and after the Effective Date of the Reorganization,
on the date on which:

                  (i) Continuing Directors cease to constitute a majority of the
         board of directors of the Surviving  Parent or, if the Surviving Parent
         and the  Surviving  Company shall have merged or  consolidated,  of the
         Surviving Company; or

             (ii) the  Surviving  Company  shall cease to be a subsidiary of the
         Surviving Parent (except by reason of a merger or consolidation between
         them or the  liquidation  of the  Surviving  Company into the Surviving
         Parent); or

            (iii) an Acquiring Person shall have acquired  beneficial  ownership
         (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities  Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended) of more than 30% (or if such Acquiring  Person is WMX
         Technologies, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries, 40%) of the Voting Stock
         in the Surviving Company or the Surviving Parent.

For avoidance of doubt, the Reorganization and related transactions described in
the  Proxy  Statement  do not in and of  themselves  give  rise to a  Change  of
Control.

                  "Commitment"  means,  for each Lender,  the  obligation of the
Lender  to make  Loans to the  Borrowers  not  exceeding  the  amount  set forth
opposite  its  signature  below  or as set  forth  in an  applicable  Assignment
Agreement  substantially  in the form of  Exhibit  "E"  hereto  received  by the
Administrative  Agent  under the terms of Section  12.3,  as such  amount may be
modified from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

                  "Committed Advance" means a borrowing hereunder  consisting of
the aggregate  amount of the several  Committed Loans made by the Lenders to the
Borrower  at the same  time,  of the same  Type and,  in the case of Fixed  Rate
Advances, for the same Interest Period.

                  "Committed Borrowing Notice" is defined in Section 2.2.3.

Page 5
<PAGE>
          "Committed  Fixed  Rate  Advance"  means a Fixed CD Rate  Advance or a
     Eurocurrency Committed Advance.

                  "Committed Loan" means a Loan made by a Lender pursuant to
Section 2.2.

                  "Company" means The ServiceMaster Company Limited Partnership,
a  Delaware  limited  partnership  and  its  permitted  successors  and  assigns
including the Surviving  Company  following the assumption of the obligations of
the Company hereunder pursuant to Section 6.14.

                  "Competitive   Bid  Advance"   means  a  borrowing   hereunder
consisting of the aggregate amount of the several  Competitive Bid Loans made by
some or all of the  Lenders  to the  Borrower  at the  same  time,  at the  same
interest basis, and for the same Interest Period.

                 "Competitive Bid Borrowing Notice" is defined in Section 2.3.4.

                  "Competitive Bid Loan" means a Eurocurrency Bid Rate Loan or
an Absolute Rate Loan, as the case may be.

                  "Competitive  Bid Margin"  means the margin above or below the
applicable  Eurocurrency  Base Rate  offered for a  Eurocurrency  Bid Rate Loan,
expressed  as a percentage  (rounded to the nearest  1/100 of 1%) to be added or
subtracted from such Eurocurrency Base Rate.

                  "Competitive   Bid  Quote"  means  a  Competitive   Bid  Quote
substantially  in the form of Exhibit "D" hereto  completed  and  delivered by a
Lender to the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.3.3.

                  "Competitive  Bid Quote Request" means a Competitive Bid Quote
Request  substantially in the form of Exhibit "C" hereto completed and delivered
by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.3.3.

                  "Consolidated  Debt" means at any date,  without  duplication,
the Debt of the  Company  and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  determined  on a
consolidated basis as of such date.

                  "Consolidated  EBIT"  means,  for any fiscal  period,  without
duplication,  Consolidated  Net  Income  for such  period  plus,  to the  extent
deducted in determining  Consolidated Net Income for such period,  the aggregate
amount of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense and (ii) income tax expense.

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                  "Consolidated  EBITDA" means,  for any fiscal period,  without
duplication,  Consolidated  EBIT for such period plus to the extent  deducted in
determining  Consolidated  Net Income for such period,  the aggregate  amount of
depreciation  and  amortization.  In the event of a purchase by the Company or a
Consolidated  Subsidiary of all or any portion of the minority interest in SMCS,
Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on
or after the date of such  purchase and prior to the first  anniversary  thereof
shall be  determined  as if such purchase had been made on the first day of such
four-quarter period.

                  "Consolidated  Interest Expense" means, for any fiscal period,
without  duplication,  the interest  expense of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries  plus  dividends  accrued on  preferred  stock of the  Company or a
Consolidated Subsidiary which constitutes Debt, all determined on a consolidated
basis for such period.

                  "Consolidated  Net  Income"  means,  for  any  fiscal  period,
without  duplication,  the  net  income  of the  Company  and  its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  (before dividends on preferred stock of the Company) determined on
a  consolidated  basis  for such  period,  exclusive  of the  effect  of (i) any
extraordinary or other unusual gain and (ii) any  extraordinary or other unusual
losses,  write-offs or write-downs to the extent that such losses, write-offs or
write-downs  do not  represent  a cash  expenditure  in such period and will not
represent a cash expenditure in any future period.
                  "Consolidated  Subsidiary" means at any date any Subsidiary or
other entity which would be  consolidated  with the Company in its  consolidated
financial  statements  if such  statements  were  prepared  as of  such  date in
accordance with GAAP.

                  "Continuing  Director"  means (i) a director of the  Corporate
General  Partner at the date of this  Agreement and (ii) an individual who after
the date of this Agreement  becomes a director of the Corporate  General Partner
(including any successor Corporate General Partner) or, after the Effective Date
of the  Reorganization,  of the Company and/or the Parent (x) in connection with
the death,  disability or retirement of an incumbent  director,  or otherwise in
the ordinary course of the affairs of the corporation and (y) whose election was
effected or recommended by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office
(or by a  nominating  committee  appointed  by  such a  majority  of  Continuing
Directors). For avoidance of doubt, the foregoing definition contemplates that

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the same individuals would successively  constitute the Continuing  Directors of
the Corporate General Partner, any successor Corporate General Partner and, upon
consummation of the  Reorganization,  the Parent and/or the Company,  subject to
normal turnover.

                  "Controlling   General  Partner   Interest"  means  a  General
Partnership  Interest  which  permits  the  owner  of such  General  Partnership
Interest  to  direct  the  management  of a  general  partnership  or a  limited
partnership.

                  "Conversion/Continuation Notice" is defined in Section 2.2.4.

                  "Corporate  Base  Rate"  means a rate per  annum  equal to the
corporate base rate of interest announced by the Administrative  Agent from time
to time, changing when and as said corporate base rate changes.

                  "Corporate  General  Partner" means  ServiceMaster  Management
Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

                  "Debt" of any Person means at any date,  without  duplication,
(i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed  money,  (ii) all obligations of
such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures,  notes or other similar instruments,
(iii) all  obligations  of such  Person to pay the  deferred  purchase  price of
property or services,  except trade accounts payable or accrued expenses arising
in the  ordinary  course of  business,  (iv) all  obligations  of such Person as
lessee  which are  capitalized  in  accordance  with GAAP,  (v) all  obligations
(absolute or  contingent)  of such Person to reimburse  any bank or other Person
issuing a letter  of credit or  similar  instrument,  (vi) any  preferred  stock
issued by such Person which is redeemable  otherwise  than at the sole option of
such Person for consideration other than Equity Interests in such Person, in the
Company or in the Parent,  (vii) all Debt secured by a Lien on any asset of such
Person,  whether or not such Debt is otherwise an obligation of such Person, and
(viii) all Guaranties by such Person of Debt of others.

                  "Debt  Limit"  means,   at  any  date,   the  product  of  (a)
Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending at
the date of the  balance  sheet  most  recently  delivered  (or  required  to be
delivered)  on or prior to such date  pursuant to Section 5.5 or 6.1 and (b) the
applicable Leverage Factor.

                  "Default" means an event described in Article VII.

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                  "Derivatives  Obligations" of any Person means all obligations
of such Person in respect of any rate swap transaction, basis swap, forward rate
transaction,  commodity  swap,  commodity  option,  equity or equity index swap,
equity or equity index  option,  bond  option,  interest  rate  option,  foreign
exchange transaction,  cap transaction,  floor transaction,  collar transaction,
currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option
or any other similar  transaction  (including  any option with respect to any of
the foregoing  transactions)  or any combination of the foregoing  transactions.
Any  determination  of the amount of Derivatives  Obligations  owing at any time
shall be calculated  net of offsets  available at such time under any applicable
netting agreement.

                  "Disclosure Documents" is defined in Section 5.4.

                  "Documentation  Agent"  means  Morgan,  in its capacity as the
contractual  representative for all of the Banks for purposes of this Agreement,
as designated and appointed in accordance with Article X, any successor  thereto
as provided herein.

                  "Dollar   Amount"   means  (i)  in  relation  to  any  Advance
denominated  in Dollars,  the  aggregate  principal  amount  thereof and (ii) in
relation to any Advance denominated in an Alternative  Currency,  the equivalent
amount  thereof in Dollars  determined by the  Administrative  Agent pursuant to
Section 2.5.13.  The Dollar Amount of any Advance  denominated in an Alternative
Currency at any date is the Dollar Amount thereof determined as of such date or,
if no Dollar Amount is  determined  as of such date in  accordance  with Section
2.5.13,  then  determined  as of the then  most  recent  date for  which  such a
determination has been made. Each Advance denominated in an Alternative Currency
shall be deemed a  utilization  of the  Commitments  in an  amount  equal to the
Dollar Amount thereof.

                  "Dollars" and the sign "$" mean the lawful currency of the
United States of America.

                  "D&P" means Duff & Phelps, Inc.

                  "Dutch Gilders" means the lawful currency of The Netherlands.

                  "Effective  Date of the  Reorganization"  means  the date upon
which the Reorganization shall be effective.

                  "Election  to  Participate"  means an Election to  Participate
substantially in the form of Exhibit "G" hereto.

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                  "Election  to  Terminate"   means  an  Election  to  Terminate
substantially in the form of Exhibit "H" hereto.

                  "Eligible  Subsidiary"  means any Subsidiary of the Company as
to which an Election to Participate  shall have been delivered to the Agents and
as to which an  Election  to  Terminate  shall  not have been  delivered  to the
Agents.  Each such Election to  Participate  and Election to Terminate  shall be
duly executed on behalf of such  Subsidiary and the Company.  The delivery of an
Election to Terminate  with respect to an Eligible  Subsidiary  shall not affect
any  obligation  of  such  Eligible   Subsidiary   theretofore   incurred.   The
Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the Lenders of the receipt of
any Election to Participate or Election to Terminate.

                  "Equity  Interest" means, in the case of a corporation,  stock
of any  class,  and in the case of a  partnership  or a limited  partnership,  a
General Partnership Interest or Limited Partnership Interest, but excluding
preferred stock which constitutes Debt.

                  "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations  promulgated and rulings
issued thereunder.

                  "Eurocurrency Auction" means a solicitation of Competitive Bid
Quotes setting forth Competitive Bid Margins pursuant to Section 2.3.

                  "Eurocurrency Base Rate" means, with respect to a Eurocurrency
Committed  Advance,  a  Eurocurrency  Committed  Loan, a  Eurocurrency  Bid Rate
Advance or a Eurocurrency Bid Rate Loan for the relevant  Eurocurrency  Interest
Period,  the  average of the  respective  rates per annum at which  deposits  in
Dollars or, in the case of any  Eurocurrency  Loan denominated in an Alternative
Currency, the relevant Alternative Currency are offered to each of the Reference
Banks in the London interbank  market at approximately  11:00 a.m. (London time)
two  Business  Days  before the first day of such  Interest  Period in an amount
approximately  equal to the principal  amount of the Loan of such Reference Bank
to which such Interest Period is to apply and for a period of time comparable to
such Interest Period (or, in the case of a Competitive  Bid Advance,  the amount
which  would  have been the  amount of the Loan of such  Reference  Bank if such
Advance were a Committed Advance).

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                  "Eurocurrency  Bid Rate" means, with respect to a Loan made by
a given Lender for the relevant Eurocurrency Interest Period, the sum of (i) the
Eurocurrency  Base Rate and (ii) the  Competitive  Bid  Margin  offered  by such
Lender and accepted by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.3.4(i).

          "Eurocurrency  Bid Rate Advance" means a Competitive Bid Advance which
     bears interest at a Eurocurrency Bid Rate.

          "Eurocurrency  Bid Rate Loan" means a Competitive Bid Loan which bears
     interest at a Eurocurrency Bid Rate.

                  "Eurocurrency  Committed Advance" means an Advance which bears
interest at a Eurocurrency  Rate  requested by the Borrower  pursuant to Section
2.2.

                  "Eurocurrency   Committed  Loan"  means  a  Loan  which  bears
interest at a Eurocurrency  Rate  requested by the Borrow