TENET HEALTHCARE CORP (Form: 10-Q, Received: 11/10/2003 16:59:59)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

ý Quarterly report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

for the quarterly period ended

September 30, 2003.

o Transition report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from to .

Commission file number 1-7293

TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada		95-2557091
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

3820 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105

(Address of principal executive offices)

(805) 563-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes ý No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act): Yes ý No o

As of October 31, 2003 there were 464,782,069 shares of $0.05 par value common stock outstanding.

CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements:

	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2003

	Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2002 and 2003

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months ended September 30, 2002 and 2003

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings

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

Item 6.	Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

Signatures

Note: Items 2, 3, and 5 of Part II are omitted because they are not applicable.

PART I . FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1 . FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Millions)

	December 31, 2002			September 30, 2003
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	210		$	219
Investments in debt securities	85			103
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts ($350 at December 31 and $500 at September 30)	2,590			2,465
Inventories of supplies, at cost	241			224
Deferred income taxes	245			361
Assets held for sale	34			476
Other current assets	387			375

Total current assets	3,792			4,223
Investments and other assets	185			299
Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization	6,359			5,914
Goodwill	3,260			2,885
Other intangible assets, at cost, less accumulated amortization ($110 at December 31 and $110 at September 30)	184			156

	$	13,780		$	13,477
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	47		$	23
Accounts payable	898			870
Accrued compensation and benefits	555			480
Income taxes payable	213			1
Accrued litigation settlement costs	—			253
Other current liabilities	668			746

Total current liabilities	2,381			2,373
Long-term debt, net of current portion	3,872			4,032
Other long-term liabilities and minority interests	1,279			1,548
Deferred income taxes	424			252
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.05 par value; authorized 1,050,000,000 shares; 515,633,555 shares issued at December 31 and 518,107,018 shares issued at September 30; and additional paid-in capital	3,939			4,112
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(15		)	(11		)
Retained earnings	3,185			2,662
Less common stock in treasury, at cost, 41,895,162 shares at December 31 and 54,227,639 shares at September 30	(1,285		)	(1,491		)
Total shareholders’ equity	5,824			5,272

	$	13,780		$	13,477

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months and Nine Months ended September 30, 2002 and 2003

Dollars in Millions, Except Per-Share

	Three Months						Nine Months
	2002			2003			2002			2003
Net operating revenues	$	3,521		$	3,297		$	10,326		$	10,128
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,376			1,420			4,068			4,356
Supplies	501			521			1,465			1,573
Provision for doubtful accounts	260			522			704			1,084
Other operating expenses	679			754			2,018			2,229
Depreciation	113			107			335			332
Goodwill amortization	—			—			40			—
Other amortization	7			5			22			19
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	—			1			—			386
Restructuring charges	—			8			—			94
Costs of litigation and investigations	—			253			—			327
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	3			—			105			—
Operating income (loss)	582			(294		)	1,569			(272		)
Interest expense	(62		)	(74		)	(203		)	(220		)
Investment earnings	7			3			23			13
Minority interests	(11		)	(6		)	(30		)	(23		)
Gain on sale of subsidiary common stock	—			—			—			9
Impairment of investment securities	—			—			—			(5		)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	516			(371		)	1,359			(498		)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(205		)	136			(561		)	149
Income (loss) from continuing operations	311			(235		)	798			(349		)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from operations of asset group	26			(12		)	81			11
Impairment charges				(99		)	—			(164		)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(9		)	38			(31		)	(21		)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	17			(73		)	50			(174		)

Net income (loss)	$	328		$	(308	)	$	848		$	(523	)

Earnings (loss) per common share and common equivalent share:
Basic
Continuing operations	$	0.64		$	(0.50	)	$	1.62		$	(0.75	)
Discontinued operations	0.03			(0.16		)	0.10			(0.37		)
	$	0.67		$	(0.66	)	$	1.72		$	(1.12	)
Diluted
Continuing operations	$	0.63		$	(0.50	)	$	1.59		$	(0.75	)
Discontinued operations	0.03			(0.16		)	0.10			(0.37		)
	$	0.66		$	(0.66	)	$	1.69		$	(1.12	)
Weighted average shares and dilutive securities outstanding (in thousands):
Basic	488,106			463,629			489,574			466,391
Diluted	499,412			463,629			501,423			466,391

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Nine Months ended September 30, 2002 and 2003

Dollars in Millions

	2002			2003
Net income (loss)	$	848		$	(523	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities (including discontinued operations):
Depreciation and amortization	425			357
Provision for doubtful accounts	771			1,168
Deferred income taxes	88			(268		)
Stock-based compensation charges	108			108
Income tax benefit related to stock option exercises	124			—
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	105			—
Impairment and restructuring charges	—			485
Discontinued operations impairment charge	—			164
Other items, including, in 2003, settlements of litigation and investigations	(4		)	(66		)
Increases (decreases) in cash from changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(901		)	(1,046		)
Inventories and other current assets	(2		)	(1		)
Income taxes payable	112			(259		)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	291			380
Other long-term liabilities	13			221
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	1,978		$	720
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(675		)	(563		)
Investment in hospital authority bonds	—			(107		)
Other items	43			38
Net cash used in investing activities	(632		)	(632		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	3,257			49
Sale of new senior notes	—			986
Repurchases of senior, senior subordinated and exchangeable subordinated notes	(1,293		)	—
Payments of borrowings	(2,939		)	(909		)
Repurchases of common stock	(588		)	(208		)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	198			3
Other items	(3		)	—
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,368		)	(79		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(22		)	9
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	62			210
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	40		$	219

Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid	$	160		$	151
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	270			334

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 PRESENTATION

This quarterly report for Tenet Healthcare Corporation (together with its subsidiaries referred to as “Tenet,” the “Company,” “we” or “us”) supplements our Transition Report on Form 10-K for the seven months ended December 31, 2002 that we filed on May 15, 2003. As permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim reporting, we have omitted certain footnotes and disclosures that substantially duplicate those in our Transition Report on Form 10-K. For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in our Transition Report on Form 10-K for the seven months ended December 31, 2002.

Operating results for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full fiscal year. Reasons for this include overall revenue and cost trends, particularly recent trends in patient accounts receivable collectibility and associated increases in provisions for doubtful accounts; the timing and magnitude of price changes; fluctuations in revenue allowances; changes in Medicare regulations; the timing and magnitude of negotiations with managed-care companies; increases in malpractice expense, impairment and restructuring charges, and litigation and investigation costs; acquisitions and disposals of facilities and other assets; quarterly tax rates; the timing and amounts of stock option grants to employees, directors and others; and changes in occupancy levels and patient volumes. Factors that affect patient volumes include seasonal cycles of illness, climate and weather conditions, vacation patterns of hospital patients and their physicians, the increase in the number of uninsured patients, and other factors related to the timing of elective hospital procedures. These considerations apply to year-to-year comparisons as well.

Certain prior-period balances in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2002 have been restated to reflect a change in accounting for stock-based compensation, which was adopted during the quarter ended March 31, 2003, and are in accordance with the accounting standards authorizing the change.

Although the consolidated financial statements within this document are unaudited, all of the adjustments considered necessary for fair presentation have been included. Unusual adjustments are discussed in the following notes.

NOTE 2 PROVISION FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS

During the quarter ended September 30, 2003, we recorded additional provisions for doubtful accounts in the amount of $212 million, of which $200 million is for continuing operations and $12 million is for discontinued operations to write down our patient accounts receivable to their estimated net realizable value. The significant increase in the provision for doubtful accounts resulted primarily from an adverse change in our business mix as admissions of uninsured patients grew at an escalating rate. We believe these new trends are due to a combination of broad economic factors, including higher unemployment rates, increasing numbers of patients who are uninsured, and the increasing burden of co-payments to be made by patients instead of insurers. Additionally, many of these patients are being admitted through the emergency department and often require more costly care, resulting in higher billings.

The additional charge consisted of two components: (1) the effect of accelerating the write-down of self-pay accounts, and (2) the effect of re-evaluating the historical collection patterns for self-pay and managed-care accounts receivable in light of recent trends. Our practice is to write down all self-pay accounts receivable, including accounts receivable related to the co-payments and deductibles due from patients with insurance, to their estimated net realizable value as they age over the course of 120 days, at which time any uncollected balances are assigned to our in-house collection agency. During that 120-day period, we had previously employed a methodology that utilized graduated write-downs that escalated toward the end of the period. Given the speed and severity of the new trends in self-pay account collection, we are changing to a straight-line write-down methodology.

Historically, our in-house collection agency has collected approximately 17 cents of each dollar of self-pay accounts assigned to it. Collections on these types of accounts now are being collected at a rate of approximately 12 cents on the dollar. Accordingly, we have changed our accounts receivable evaluation process to give more weight to the latest 12 months of collection experience.

Approximately 20% of the additional $212 million charge in the third quarter relates to changes in the collectibility of managed-care accounts receivables. We continue to experience significant payment pressure from managed-care companies (which pressure has been exacerbated by recent disputes with certain managed-care companies, primarily in California) concerning substantial amounts of past billings. We are aggressively pursuing collection of these accounts receivable using all means at our disposal, including arbitration and litigation, but we may not be successful.

NOTE 3 DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

• Classified the results of operations of this asset group as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

• Classified the assets to be disposed of, primarily $462 million in property and equipment and goodwill, as held for sale in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2003 at the lower of either their carrying amounts or their fair values, less costs to sell. Accounts receivable of the asset group, less the related allowance for doubtful accounts, are included in our consolidated accounts receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets because we do not intend to sell these receivables. At September 30, 2003, these accounts receivable aggregated $153 million.

• Recorded impairment charges in the amount of $65 million in the six months ended June 2003 and an additional $99 million in September 2003 primarily for the write-down of long-lived assets and goodwill allocated to these hospitals using the relative fair-value method to arrive at estimated fair values, less costs to sell, at these facilities.

In August and September 2003, we announced that we had entered into definitive agreements or contracts with four parties for the sale of 11 of the 14 hospitals. In October 2003, we completed the sale of six of these hospitals. Gross proceeds from the sale of these six hospitals, including working capital, were approximately $565 million. Announced transactions for the remaining five hospitals, whose gross

proceeds, including working capital, are expected to be approximately $187 million, are expected to close on or before December 31, 2003. We expect to record a gain in the range of $260 million to $280 million in the quarter ending December 31, 2003 on the sale of the six hospitals sold in October. Additionally, we ceased operations at one of the hospitals when its long-term lease expired in August 2003, and we closed one hospital in September 2003. Negotiations for the sale of the remaining hospital are ongoing. Net proceeds from these completed and pending transactions are expected to be approximately $630 million after taxes and transaction costs.

We now intend to use the proceeds from the divestitures for general corporate purposes. These 14 hospitals reported net operating revenues of $923 million for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2003. The pretax loss from operations of the asset group, including asset impairment charges of $244 million, was $208 million for the same period. The amounts of net operating revenue and income (or loss) before taxes, including asset impairment charges of $164 million in 2003, reported in discontinued operations for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2003 are shown below:

	2002		2003
	(in millions)
Net operating revenues	$	704	$	674
Pretax income (loss) from operations	81		(153		)

In November 2003, we determined not to renew our leases on two additional hospitals and expect to cease operations at these hospitals by the end of October and December 2004, respectively. These two hospitals reported net operating revenues of $105 million in each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2003, pretax income from operations of $10 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and pretax loss from operations of $7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, including asset impairment charges of $8 million.

NOTE 4 IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

During the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2003, we recorded restructuring charges of $9 million and $77 million, respectively. The combined charges consisted of $54 million in employee severance, benefits and relocation costs, $31 million in noncash stock-option-modification costs related to terminated employees, and $7 million in contract terminations and consulting costs (less a $6 million reduction in reserves for restructuring charges recorded in prior periods). These costs were all incurred in connection with our previously announced plans to reduce our operating expenses.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2003, following the completion of our annual facility-by-facility budget review process, we recorded impairment charges in the amount of $198 million, primarily at seven hospitals, for the write-down of long-lived assets to their estimated fair values. We recognized the impairment of these long-lived assets because our estimates of future cash flows from these assets indicated that the carrying amount of the assets or groups of assets might not be fully recoverable from estimated future cash flows. Our estimates were based on assumptions and projections that we believe to be reasonable and supportable. The fair-value estimates of our long-lived assets were

derived from independent appraisals, established market values of comparable assets, or calculations of estimated future net cash flows.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2003, we recorded additional impairment and restructuring charges in the net amount of $9 million. These charges consist of a $7 million loss on a long-term office building lease, $5 million in noncash stock-option-modification costs related to terminated employees, $3 million in employee severance, benefits and relocation costs, $2 million in other exit costs, and $1 million in long-lived asset impairment charges at a closed ambulatory care center, less $9 million in reductions of reserves for restructuring and impairment charges recorded in prior periods. We expect to incur additional impairment and restructuring charges as we move forward with our operating expense reduction plans.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending liability balances in connection with restructuring charges related to continuing operations recorded during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2003:

Reserves related to:	Balances at December 31, 2002		Net Charges		Cash Payments			Other Items			Balances at September 30, 2003
	(in millions)
Lease cancellations and estimated costs to sell or close hospitals and other facilities	$	43	$	3	$	(10	)	$	6		$	42
Severance costs in connection with the implementation of hospital cost-control programs, general overhead-reduction plans, realignment of senior executive management team, and termination of physician contracts	9		91		(24		)	(48		)	28
Accruals for unfavorable lease commitments at six medical office buildings	7		—		(2		)	—			5
Buyout of physician contracts	4		—		(3		)	—			1
Total	$	63	$	94	$	(39	)	$	(42	)	$	76

The above liability balances are included in other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Cash payments to be applied against these accruals are expected to approximate $14 million during the remainder of 2003 and $62 million thereafter. The $48 million reclassification in the table above relates primarily to noncash stock-based compensation and other employee benefits for terminated employees.

NOTE 5 CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to a large number of claims and lawsuits. They also are the subject of federal and state agencies’ heightened and coordinated civil and criminal enforcement efforts, and have received subpoenas and other requests for information relating to a variety of subjects. In the present environment, the Company expects that these enforcement activities will take on additional importance, that government enforcement activities will intensify, and that additional matters concerning the Company and/or its subsidiaries may arise. The Company expects similar and new claims and lawsuits to be brought against it from time to time.

The results of these claims and lawsuits cannot be predicted, and the ultimate resolution of these claims and lawsuits, individually or in the aggregate, may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, or results of operations. The Company also incurs substantial expenses, and management spends substantial time, on these matters.

The legal proceedings and investigations that are not in the normal course of business are principally related to the following subject matters:

1. Physician Relationships - The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are under scrutiny with respect to the relationships between its hospitals and physicians. The Company believes that all aspects of its relationships with physicians potentially are under review. Proceedings in this area may be criminal, civil or both. One indication of the level of scrutiny the Company is under in this area is that a federal grand jury in San Diego, California on July 17, 2003 returned an indictment accusing Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, Inc. and Tenet HealthSystem Hospitals, Inc. (both being Tenet subsidiaries) of illegal use of physician relocation agreements. Tenet HealthSystem Hospitals, Inc. is the legal entity that was doing business as Alvarado Hospital Medical Center during some of the period of time covered by the indictment. Relocation agreements with physicians also are the subject of a criminal investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, California, which recently served on the Company and several of its subsidiaries administrative subpoenas seeking documents related to physician relocation agreements at certain Southern California hospitals owned by Tenet subsidiaries, as well as summary information about physician relocation agreements related to all of Tenet’s hospital subsidiaries. Physician relationships at several Southern California hospitals also are the subject of ongoing federal investigations, and the Company also is voluntarily cooperating with the government regarding investigations into other matters, including coronary procedures and billing practices at three hospitals in Southern California. In addition, federal government agencies are conducting an investigation relating to agreements with the Women’s Cancer Center, a physician’s group practicing in the field of gynecologic oncology, and certain physicians affiliated with that group. An administrative subpoena for documents from the Company and several of its hospital subsidiaries relating to that investigation was issued in April 2003. Further, on June 6, 2003 the Florida Medicaid Fraud Control Unit issued an investigative subpoena to the Company seeking the production of employee personnel records and contracts with physicians, physician assistants, therapists and management companies from the Florida hospitals owned by the Company’s subsidiaries. Since such date, those subsidiaries have received additional requests for information from that unit. Finally, the Company continues to litigate a qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act filed by a former employee in 1997 after his employment with one of the

Company’s subsidiaries was terminated. The action principally alleges that certain physician employment contracts were, in essence, illegal kickbacks designed to induce referrals to one of Tenet’s subsidiary hospitals in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The federal government has partially intervened in the case and additionally contends that certain of the hospital’s Medicare cost reports improperly included non-reimbursable costs related solely to certain physicians’ private practices and also has brought various common law claims based on the same allegations.

2. Pricing - The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are subject to investigations and lawsuits arising out of the charging strategies implemented at facilities owned by the Company’s subsidiaries. In that regard, federal government agencies are investigating whether outlier payments made to certain hospitals owned by the Company’s subsidiaries were paid in accordance with Medicare laws and regulations. In addition, plaintiffs in California, Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida and South Carolina have brought class action lawsuits against the Company and certain of its subsidiaries in courts in those states alleging that they paid unlawful or unfair prices for prescription drugs or medical products or procedures at hospitals or other medical facilities owned by the Company’s subsidiaries. While the specific allegations vary from case to case, the plaintiffs generally allege that the Company and its hospital subsidiaries have engaged in an unlawful scheme to inflate charges for medical services and procedures, pharmaceutical supplies and other products, and prescription drugs.

The Company and its subsidiaries are also engaged in disputes with a number of managed-care insurance companies concerning charges at facilities owned by the Company’s subsidiaries and the impact of those charges on stop-loss and other payments. These disputes involve substantial accounts receivable owed to our subsidiaries’ facilities as well as claims by the insurance companies for alleged overcharges, and the disputes are in various stages, from negotiation to arbitration.

3. Securities and Shareholder Matters - Since November 2002, a number of class action lawsuits were filed against Tenet and certain of its officers and directors alleging violations of the federal securities laws. These actions have been consolidated in federal court in Los Angeles, California. In addition, a number of shareholder derivative actions have been filed against members of the board of directors and senior management of the Company by shareholders. These actions purport to allege various causes of action on behalf of the Company and for its benefit, including breach of fiduciary duty, insider trading and other causes of action. The shareholder derivative actions are pending in federal court in Los Angeles, California, and in state court in Santa Barbara, California. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission recently indicated that it is conducting a formal investigation of the Company. The SEC issued a subpoena to the Company seeking documents since May 31, 1997 related to Medicare outlier payments, stop-loss payments under managed care contracts and increases in gross charges, as well as the Company’s financial and other disclosures and trading in the Company’s securities by current and former directors and officers. The Company also faces a suit by a former employee alleging breach of fiduciary duty to holders of stock in the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Finally, the Company is involved in litigation with M. Lee Pearce, M.D., a shareholder, and the Tenet Shareholder Committee, LLC. This litigation, pending in federal court in Los Angeles, California, involves cross-allegations of proxy rules violations in connection with the Company’s 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

4. Redding Medical Center - Federal government agencies have been investigating whether two physicians who had privileges at Redding Medical Center performed unnecessary invasive cardiac procedures at the hospital. On August 4, 2003, Tenet and certain of its subsidiaries reached a settlement in the amount of $54 million with the United States and the State of California relating to all civil and monetary administrative claims arising out of the performance of, and billing for, alleged unnecessary cardiac procedures at Redding Medical Center from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2002. The Company has been informed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California that it will not initiate any criminal charges against Redding Medical Center, Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Hospitals, Inc., or Tenet, for the conduct covered by the settlement. The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) in the Department of Health and Human Services agreed to the settlement, but reserved the right to pursue possible administrative action later. On September 3, 2003, the OIG informed Tenet of its intention to begin administrative proceedings to exclude Redding Medical Center from participation in Medicare and other federal health care programs. In addition, the Company and Redding Medical Center are experiencing a greater than normal level of civil litigation with respect to the two physicians. In that regard, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries are defendants in over 50 lawsuits filed and served on behalf of patients and other parties making various claims, including fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, unfair and deceptive business practices, intentional infliction of emotional distress, wrongful death, elder abuse, battery and negligence. While the specific allegations vary from case to case, the complaints generally allege that the physician defendants knowingly performed unnecessary coronary procedures on patients and that the Company and the subsidiary that owns Redding Medical Center knew or should have known that such unnecessary procedures were being performed. The complaints seek injunctive relief, restitution, disgorgement and compensatory and punitive damages.

5. Medicare Coding - The Medicare coding practices at hospitals owned by subsidiaries also are under increased scrutiny. The federal government in January 2003 filed a civil lawsuit against the Company and certain of its subsidiaries relating to hospital billings to Medicare for inpatient stays reimbursed pursuant to four particular diagnosis-related groups (“DRG”). The government in this lawsuit has alleged violations of the False Claims Act and various common law claims. Separately, federal government agencies are investigating certain hospital billings to Medicare for inpatient stays reimbursed under the DRG system during the period from January 1, 1992, to June 30, 2000. The investigation is focusing on the coding of the patients’ post-discharge status. The investigation stemmed from the federal government’s nationwide transfer-discharge initiative.

6. Other Matters - In October 2003, a California appellate court awarded a judgment in the amount of approximately $253 million against the Company in connection with an employment contract dispute with a co-founder of the Company. The Company will seek to have the decision reviewed, although there is no assurance that review will be granted or that any relief will be granted upon review. In addition, the Company also is subject to an investigation by the Finance Committee of the United States Senate concerning Redding Medical Center, Medicare outlier payments, patient care, and other matters. On November 3, 2003, the California Department of Health Services announced that it had completed its audit of Redding Medical Center and intends to expand its audits to all California hospitals owned by the Company’s subsidiaries and refer the findings to other state and federal agencies.

The Company presently cannot determine the ultimate resolution of these investigations and lawsuits. If a loss can be reasonably estimated and is probable, the Company accrues an estimated liability in

its consolidated financial statements. The Company’s financial statements do not reflect all potential liabilities that may ultimately arise from these matters, which individually or in the aggregate could be material. If and when recognized, the effect of such liabilities could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, financial position and results of operations.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, we identified and recorded costs of $327 million in connection with the above significant legal proceedings and investigations, which includes an additional charge of $244 million for an award of contract damages to the former executive (discussed above) and $61 million primarily related to the settlement of the Redding Medical Center matter (discussed above). The additional charge increased our previously recorded liability for the award to the former executive to $253 million.

NOTE 6 LONG-TERM DEBT

The table below shows our long-term debt as of December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2003:

	December 31, 2002			September 30, 2003
	(in millions)
Loans payable to banks, unsecured	$	830		$	—
Senior Notes:
5 ³ / ₈ %, due 2006	550			550
5%, due 2007	400			400
6 ³ / ₈ %, due 2011	1,000			1,000
6 ¹ / ₂ %, due 2012	600			600
7 ³ / ₈ %, due 2013	—			1,000
6 ⁷ / ₈ %, due 2031	450			450
Other senior and senior subordinated notes	46			40
Notes payable and capital lease obligations, secured by property and equipment, payable in installments to 2013	97			74
Other promissory notes, primarily unsecured	14			32
Unamortized note discounts	(68		)	(91		)
Total long-term debt	3,919			4,055
Less current portion	(47		)	(23		)

Long-term debt, net of current portion	$	3,872		$	4,032

CREDIT AGREEMENT

At September 30, 2003, there were no outstanding borrowings under our 5-year revolving credit agreement that expires March 1, 2006. At September 30, 2003, outstanding letters of credit under the credit agreement totaled $152 million; accordingly, $1.3 billion was available for funded borrowings. Our leverage covenant ratio (calculated at that time as the ratio of consolidated total debt to operating income plus the sum of depreciation, amortization, impairment, other unusual charges, stock-based compensation expense, earnings or loss from discontinued operations, and losses from early

extinguishment of debt) was 2.56-to-1, slightly over the 2.50-to-1 ratio then permitted under the credit agreement.

On October 27, 2003, we announced that we had reached an accord with our lenders to amend the credit agreement effective as of September 30, 2003. Under the terms of the amended credit agreement, the maximum permitted leverage ratio was increased from 2.50-to-1 to 3.50-to-1 and the aggregate loan commitments available to us, including funded loans and letters of credit, was decreased from $1.5 billion to $1.2 billion with a limit of $1 billion for cash draws under the credit agreement. In addition, the definitions of the leverage ratio and consolidated total debt were amended to take into consideration recent operating trends of the Company. Such amendments to these definitions include the following:

• The definition of consolidated total debt was amended to subtract unrestricted cash in excess of outstanding revolving loans under the agreement, referred to as “net debt.”

• The definition of the leverage ratio denominator was amended to exclude the effect of the $212 million aggregate charge to write down accounts receivable to their estimated net realizable value. In addition, any charge for provision for doubtful accounts in excess of 10% of net operating revenues in any fiscal quarter subsequent to September 30, 2003 shall be excluded, subject to a cumulative limit up to $250 million.

In addition, the recently amended credit agreement adds a new covenant that restricts our ability to repurchase non-credit line debt in excess of $50 million if our leverage ratio is greater than 2.5-to-1, unless the credit facility is undrawn and we would have a minimum of $100 million of unrestricted cash on hand following the repurchase of the debt. Our leverage ratio at September 30, 2003 under the amended credit agreement was 2.2-to-1.

In consideration for the amendment, we paid to participating banks a one-time fee equal to 50 basis points of their new level of commitment, and we will pay an additional one-time fee of 10 basis points if, in the future, the leverage ratio exceeds 3.25-to-1. None of the foregoing fees or the write-off of any portion of deferred debt-issuance costs were recorded as of September 30, 2003, but they will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2003.

We are in compliance with all covenants in our credit agreement and all indentures for public debt.

EARLY EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT

As of June 1, 2002, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 145. Prior to the adoption, we reported losses from early extinguishment of debt as extraordinary items, net of tax benefits, in our consolidated statement of operations. In accordance with SFAS No. 145, however, we now report such losses as part of operating income. During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2002, we recorded losses of $3 million and $105 million, respectively, from early extinguishment of debt.

NOTE 7 GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

As of June 1, 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 142. Among the changes implemented by this new accounting standard is the elimination of amortization of goodwill and other intangible assets having indefinite useful lives. This change applies to periods following the date of adoption.

The table below shows our pro forma net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 as if the cessation of goodwill amortization had occurred as of January 1, 2002:

	Nine Months
	(in millions)
NET INCOME
Net income, as reported	$	848
Goodwill amortization, net of applicable income tax benefits	34

Pro forma net income	$	882

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
Net income, as reported	$	1.69
Goodwill amortization, net of applicable income tax benefits	0.07

Pro forma net income	$	1.76

The restructuring of our operating divisions and regions in March 2003, along with a concurrent realignment of our senior management team and other factors, resulted in a redefinition of our goodwill reporting units. Prior to the restructuring, the reporting units consisted of three divisions; now they consist of five regions. The regions are components of two new divisions that were created from the former three. Because of the change in reporting units, we performed a goodwill impairment evaluation as of March 31, 2003 and recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $187 million related to our Central-Northeast Region.

NOTE 8 PROFESSIONAL AND GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE

Through May 31, 2002, we insured substantially all of our professional and comprehensive general liability risks in excess of self-insured retentions through a wholly owned insurance subsidiary (Hospital Underwriting Group) under a mature claims-made policy with a 10-year extended reporting period. These self-insured retentions were $1 million per occurrence for the Company for fiscal years ended May 31, 1996 through May 31, 2002. Hospital Underwriting Group’s retentions covered the next $2 million (or $3 million total) per occurrence. Claims in excess of $3 million per occurrence were, in turn, reinsured with major independent insurance companies. In earlier policy periods, the self-insured retentions varied by hospital and by policy period from $500,000 to $5 million per occurrence.

Effective June 1, 2002, the Company’s self-insured retention per occurrence was increased to $2 million. In addition, a new wholly owned insurance subsidiary (The Healthcare Insurance Corporation) was formed to insure substantially all of these risks. This subsidiary insures these risks under a claims-made policy with retentions per occurrence for the periods June 1, 2002 through May 31, 2003 and June 1, 2003 through May 31, 2004 of $3 million (or $5 million total) and $13 million (or $15 million total) respectively. Risks in excess of these retentions are reinsured with major independent insurance companies.

Included in our other operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations is malpractice expense of $56 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and $90 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2003. The current quarter includes a charge of approximately $5 million related to increasing our reserves for incurred but not reported claims at our captive insurance subsidiary as a result of an updated actuarial analysis. We continue to experience unfavorable trends in professional and general liability insurance risks, as well as increases in the size of claim settlements and awards in this area.

In addition, the aggregate amount of claims reported to Hospital Underwriting Group for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2001 is approaching the $50 million aggregate policy limit for that year. Once the aggregate limit is exhausted for the policy year, we will bear the first $25 million of loss before any excess insurance coverage would apply.

NOTE 9 STOCK BENEFIT PLANS

At September 30, 2003, there were 36,097,694 shares of common stock available for stock option grants and other incentive awards to our key employees, advisors, consultants and directors under our 2001 Stock Incentive Plan. Options generally have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant. Prior to December 2002, these options were usually exercisable at the rate of one-third per year, beginning one year from the date of the grant. In December 2002, we granted options for 11.8 million shares of common stock at an exercise price of $17.56 per share, the closing price of our shares on the date of grant. The estimated weighted-average fair value of those options at the date of grant was $8.78 per share. These options will be fully vested four years after the date of grant. Earlier vesting may occur for these options on or after the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date if the market price of our common stock reaches and remains at, or higher than, $24, $27 and $30 per share, respectively, for 20 consecutive trading days at such time. Our stock options generally expire 10 years from the date of grant.

In January 2003, we issued 200,000 shares of restricted (non-vested) stock under the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan to Trevor Fetter, our president and chief executive officer. The stock vests on the second, third and fourth anniversary dates of the grant provided that Mr. Fetter is still employed by us and continues to hold 100,000 shares of Tenet common stock purchased by him as a condition of the issuance of the restricted stock. The aggregate market value of the restricted stock at the date of issuance was $3.7 million based on the closing price of our common stock on that date. The restricted stock has been recorded as deferred compensation in additional paid-in capital, a component of shareholders’ equity, that is adjusted periodically based on changes in the Company’s stock price, and is being amortized over the 48-month vesting period. In connection with Mr. Fetter being named the Company’s chief executive officer, in September 2003, Mr. Fetter was granted options for 350,000

shares of common stock at an exercise price of $14.98 per share, the closing price of our stock on the date of grant. The estimated weighted-average fair value of those options at the date of grant was $8.12 per share. Those options vest ratably on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant.

The following table summarizes information about outstanding stock options at September 30, 2003:

	Options Outstanding				Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number of Options	Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Number of Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price
$0.00 to $14.48	7,777,447	3.8 years	$	11.81	7,777,447	$	11.81
$14.49 to $24.00	18,215,268	7.3 years	18.44		7,413,860	19.93
$24.01 to $34.00	11,154,299	7.1 years	28.20		8,032,985	28.48
$34.01 to $44.00	9,792,723	7.6 years	40.29		4,063,845	40.21
$44.01 to $50.84	119,000	8.8 years	46.54		58,666	45.60

	47,058,737	6.7 years	$	24.28	27,346,803	$	23.20

At September 30, 2003, the exercise prices of 39,281,290 outstanding options (83.5% of the total number of options outstanding) exceeded the $14.48 per share market value of our common stock at that date. The corresponding number for exercisable options at September 30, 2003 was 19,569,356 (or 71.5%).

The reconciliation below shows the changes to our stock option plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2003:

	2002				2003
	Shares		Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Shares		Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at beginning of period	52,228,020		$	23.06	47,512,933		$	24.53
Granted	160,850		44.13		1,101,215		15.74
Exercised	(13,399,050	)	14.79		(259,148	)	11.35
Forfeited	(1,711,299	)	19.75		(1,296,263	)	28.93
Outstanding at end of period	37,278,521		26.17		47,058,737		24.28

Options exercisable	18,473,245		$	17.83	27,346,803		$	23.20

Total compensation cost recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for stock-based employee compensation awards is $34 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002, $33 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and $108 million for both the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2003. We expect such expense to be approximately $33 million per quarter for the next several quarters.

The estimated weighted-average fair values of the options we granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2003 were $21.71 per share and $8.07 per share, respectively. These were calculated, as of the date of each grant, using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

	Nine Months Ended September 30
	2002		2003
Expected volatility	39.6	%	49.7	%
Risk-free interest rates	4.4	%	3.1	%
Expected lives, in years	7.2		6.4
Expected dividend yield	0.0	%	0.0	%

The weighted-average expected life assumptions used in the above calculations have changed from 7.2 years for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 to 6.4 years for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 due to changes in our employees’ option exercise patterns and a decrease in the relative proportion of options granted to senior executives, for which the expected lives are longer.

The table below shows the principal stock option grants, by grant date, whose amortized fair values in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2003 comprise the $108 million of stock-based compensation recorded in that period:

Grant Date	Awards Expected to Vest	Exercise Price per Share		Fair Value per Share at Grant Date		Stock-Based Compensation Expense for Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003
	(in thousands)					(in millions)
December 4, 2001	8,733	$	40.41	$	18.37	$	40
December 5, 2000	6,288	27.21		12.79		20
December 10, 2002	7,798	17.56		8.53		12
June 1, 2001	2,175	30.28		17.52		10
May 29, 2001	1,500	30.17		17.57		7
December 5, 2000	1,274	27.21		15.63		5
December 10, 2002	2,245	17.56		9.76		4
Other grants, from April 10, 2001 to September 30, 2003	3,999	20.35		10.09		10

Total						$	108

Compensation cost is measured by the fair value of the options on their grant dates and is recognized over the vesting periods of the grants, whether or not the options had any intrinsic value during the period.

NOTE 10 REPURCHASES OF COMMON STOCK

With authorization from our board of directors to repurchase up to 66,263,100 shares of our common stock, we repurchased, from July 2001 through June 30, 2003, a total of 48,734,599 shares as shown in the following table:

Quarter Ended	Number of Shares	Cost		Average Cost Per Share
September 30, 2001	5,055,750	$	187,834,570	$	37.15
December 31, 2001	1,500,000	58,314,006		38.87
March 31, 2002	7,500,000	295,924,291		38.99
June 30, 2002	4,125,000	173,345,977		41.70
September 30, 2002	2,791,500	118,988,346		42.35
December 31, 2002	15,290,850	381,385,362		24.76
March 31, 2003	6,000,000	109,700,554		18.28
June 30, 2003	6,471,499	97,999,961		15.14

Total	48,734,599	$	1,423,493,067	$	29.21

The repurchased shares are held as treasury stock. We have not purchased any shares from our directors, officers or employees. We have not made any repurchases of common stock subsequent to June 30, 2003 and do not intend to repurchase any more shares this year.

NOTE 11 INVESTMENTS

As of September 30, 2003, our investments consisted primarily of (1) $103 million in collateralized bonds issued by a local hospital authority from which we lease and operate two hospitals in Dallas, Texas, (2) approximately $52 million in equity investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, and (3) a small number of minority equity investments, primarily in various health care ventures, the carrying values of which aggregated approximately $15 million at September 30, 2003. These items are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as investments and other assets.

Note 12 Shareholders’ Equity

The following table shows the changes in consolidated shareholders’ equity during the nine months ended September 30, 2003 (dollars in millions; shares in thousands):

	Shares Outstanding		Common Stock and Additional Paid-in Capital		Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Retained Earnings			Treasury Stock			Total Shareholders’ Equity
Balances as of December 31, 2002	473,738		$	3,509	$	(15	)	$	3,514		$	(1,285	)	$	5,723
Effect of retroactive restatement of shareholders’ equity in connection with the adoption of the fair-value method of accounting for stock-based compensation	—		430					(329		)				101
Restated balances, as of December 31, 2002	473,738		3,939		(15		)	3,185			(1,285		)	5,824
Net loss								(523		)				(523		)
Stock options exercised, including tax benefit	259		3											3
Stock-based compensation expense			145											145
Issuance of common stock	2,353		25								2			27
Other comprehensive income					4									4
Repurchases of common stock	(12,471	)									(208		)	(208		)

Balances as of September 30, 2003	463,879		$	4,112	$	(11	)	$	2,662		$	(1,491	)	$	5,272

The $145 million in stock-based compensation expense in the table above consists of $108 million charged as salaries and benefits expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations; $36 million in noncash stock option modification costs related to terminated employees, included in the restructuring charges described in Note 4 on pages 7 and 8; and approximately $1 million in consulting costs.

Note 13 Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table shows the consolidated statements of comprehensive income or loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2003:

	2002			2003
	(in millions)
Net income (loss)	$	848		$	(523	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(3		)	5
Losses on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as cash-flow hedges	(2		)	(2		)
Unrealized net holding gains arising during period	16			—
Less: reclassification adjustment for losses included in net income (loss)	1			3
Other comprehensive income before income taxes	12			6
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(4		)	(2		)
Other comprehensive income	8			4

Comprehensive income (loss)	$	856		$	(519	)

Note 14 Earnings Per Common Share

The following tables are reconciliations of the numerators and the denominators of our basic and diluted earnings per common share computations for income (loss) from continuing operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2003 (dollars in millions; shares in thousands):

	2002						2003
THREE MONTHS	Income		Weighted- Average Shares	Per- Share Amount			Loss			Weighted- Average Shares	Per- Share Amount
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	311	488,106	$	0.64		$	(235	)	463,629	$	(0.50	)
Effect of employee stock options	—		11,309	(0.01		)	—			—	—
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	311	499,415	$	0.63		$	(235	)	463,629	$	(0.50	)


	2002						2003
NINE MONTHS	Income		Weighted- Average Shares	Per- Share Amount			Loss			Weighted- Average Shares	Per- Share Amount
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	798	489,574	$	1.62		$	(349	)	466,391	$	(0.75	)
Effect of employee stock options	—		11,849	(0.03		)	—			—	—
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	798	501,423	$	1.59		$	(349	)	466,391	$	(0.75	)

In the 2003 periods above, the number of weighted average shares used in the diluted earnings per share calculation are the same as the number used in the basic calculation because, in circumstances involving losses, the effect of employee stock options (or any other dilutive securities) is anti-dilutive, that is, they have the effect of making the diluted loss per share less than the basic loss per share.

Note 15 Income Taxes

approximately $70 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2003. We believe our original deductions and methods of accounting were appropriate, and we have filed a protest with the Appeals Division of the Internal Revenue Service. In the event that these issues cannot be resolved successfully with the Appeals Division, we may further appeal their findings by filing a petition for redetermination of a deficiency with the Tax Court or by filing a claim for refund in U.S. District Court or in the Court of Federal Claims. In order to file a claim for refund in U.S. District Court or in the Court of Federal Claims, all disputed taxes plus interest must be paid prior to filing the claim. We currently are not able to estimate the total amount, if any, that we might owe or pay upon final resolution of these issues, nor are we able to estimate the timing of the final resolution of this matter.

Note 16 Recently Issued Accounting Standards

During the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued two new standards. Neither of these new standards have had a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations:

• SFAS No. 149, Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities was issued in April 2003. This statement amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for hedging activities and for derivative instruments (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. These changes are intended to improve financial reporting by requiring contracts with comparable characteristics to be accounted for similarly. This statement is effective for contracts entered into or modified after September 30, 2003.

• SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity was issued in May 2003. This statement establishes standards for clarifying and measuring certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability. Many of those instruments could previously be classified as equity. This statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003.

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

Business Strategies & Outlook

OPERATING STRATEGIES

Our mission and objective is to provide quality health care services within existing regulatory and managed-care environments that are responsive to the needs of the communities we serve. We believe that competition among health care providers occurs primarily at the local level. A hospital’s competitive position within the geographic area in which it operates is affected by a number of competitive factors, including, but not limited to: the scope, breadth and quality of services a hospital offers to its patients and physicians; the number, quality and specialties of the physicians who refer patients to the hospital; nurses and other health care professionals employed by the hospital or on the hospital’s staff; the hospital’s reputation; its managed-care contracting relationships; the extent to which it is part of an integrated health care delivery system; its location; the location and number of competitive facilities and other health care alternatives; the physical condition of its buildings and improvements; the quality, age and state of the art of its medical equipment; its parking or proximity to public transportation; the length of time it has been a part of the community; and the prices it receives for services. Accordingly, we tailor our local strategies to address these competitive factors.

We adjust these strategies as necessary in response to changes in the economic climate in which we operate and the success or failure of our various efforts. We have recently restructured our operating divisions and regions and realigned our senior executive management team and Trevor Fetter has been appointed as our chief executive officer.

Earlier this year, we announced a series of initiatives to sharpen our strategic focus, reduce operating expenses, and enhance clinical quality and nursing at our hospital subsidiaries.

On March 10, 2003, we announced the consolidation of our operating divisions from three to two, with five new underlying regions. Our new Eastern Division consists of three regions—Florida, Central-Northeast and Southern States. These regions include 52 of our general hospitals, located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee. Our new Western Division consists of two regions—California and Texas—and includes 54 of our hospitals, located in California, Nebraska, Nevada and Texas.

Our announcement in March included the divestiture or consolidation of 14 general hospitals that no longer fit our core operating strategy of building competitive networks of hospitals that provide quality patient care in major markets. In August and September 2003, we announced that we had entered into definitive agreements or contracts with four parties for the sale of 11 of the 14 hospitals. In October 2003, we completed the sale of six of these hospitals. Gross proceeds from the sale of these six hospitals, including working capital, were approximately $565 million. Announced transactions for the remaining five hospitals, whose gross proceeds, including working capital, are expected to be $187 million, are expected to close on or about December 31, 2003. We expect to record a gain in the range of $260 million to $280 million in the quarter ending December 31, 2003, on the sale of the six hospitals sold in October. Additionally, we ceased operations at one of the hospitals when its long-term lease expired in August 2003, and we closed one hospital in September 2003. Negotiations for the sale of one other hospital are

ongoing. Net proceeds for these completed and pending transactions are expected to be approximately $630 million after taxes and transaction costs. We intend to use the proceeds from these divestitures for general corporate purposes.

In November 2003, we determined not to renew our leases on two additional hospitals and expect to cease operations at these hospitals by the end of October and December 2004, respectively.

Our operating expense reduction plan consisted of staff and expense reductions above the hospital level; reductions in hospital departments that are not directly involved with patient care; leveraging the Company’s purchasing power related to our comprehensive nurse agency contracting program to gain cost savings and enhanced service levels; and a wide range of other items. Individual hospital operating plans also include significant levels of cost reductions. More recently, we’ve established additional cost-reduction initiatives consisting of improvements in supply chain costs, primarily involving expanded coverage of purchasing contracts with negotiated discounts, increasing compliance with existing contracts, and consolidating purchased services among fewer vendors. We have embarked upon an initiative to consolidate hospital business offices and standardize our information systems to generate recurring annual savings beginning in 2005, with the majority of savings being realized in 2006. This initiative, however, will require significant investment over the next three years.

Despite these efforts, we anticipate continuing cost increases in most areas of our operations that may be partially offset by our expense reduction plan.

Pricing Approach

Although we believe our hospitals’ pricing practices are, and have been, in compliance with Medicare rules, in fiscal 2000, many of our hospitals began to significantly increase gross charges. We believe that this practice, combined with the Medicare-prescribed formula for determining Medicare outlier payments, contributed to many hospitals receiving outlier payments that exceeded the norm. (Medicare outlier payments are described in more detail in the Government Programs section of this report, page 29.)

Gross charges are retail charges. They are not the same as actual pricing, and they generally do not reflect what a hospital is ultimately paid for providing patient care. Hospitals typically receive amounts that are negotiated by insurance companies or are set by the government. Gross charges are used to calculate Medicare outlier payments and to determine certain elements of managed-care contracts (such as stop-loss payments). Because Medicare requires that a hospital’s gross charges be the same for all patients (regardless of payor category), gross charges also are what hospitals charge self-pay patients.

In the past, our hospitals’ managed-care contracts were primarily charge-based. Over many years, some of them have evolved into contracts primarily based on negotiated, fixed per diem rates or case rates, combined with stop-loss payments (for high-cost patients) and pass-through payments (for high-cost devices and pharmaceuticals).

In early December 2002, we announced an effort to de-emphasize gross charges and refocus on actual pricing in order to create a pricing structure with a larger fixed component that is less dependent on gross charges. To achieve this goal, we have endeavored to negotiate simpler managed-care contracts with higher per diem or case rates and with less emphasis on stop-loss and other payments tied to gross charges. This new approach has been well received by some managed-care payors, but others, particularly certain plans that are unable, or unwilling, to adjudicate claims on our per diem or case-

rate basis, have been unwilling to accept this type of pricing structure. We now realize that this approach is not likely to be successful in all markets or with all payors. Our ability to broadly implement a pricing structure with a larger fixed component remains uncertain. We have also put into place a plan by which our hospitals would offer rates to uninsured patients that are similar to the local market rates that hospitals receive from managed-care contracts. This plan, however, is subject to approval by the federal government and certain states.

Regardless of our degree of success in these efforts, we do not expect that the growth rates experienced in the past several years can be sustained. In some managed-care contracts, we have been getting market-level increases. In others, we have agreed to what we believe are one-time downward adjustments, which we expect will be followed by normal increases in subsequent years. We can offer no assurances that additional managed-care contracting parties will agree to the changes we have proposed or to any changes that result in higher prices. In general, our new pricing approach will not involve any broad rollback of charges. Typically, we are unwilling to enter into unprofitable agreements. We can offer no assurances that this new pricing approach, if implemented in the form proposed, will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

The Company has thousands of managed-care contracts with various renewal/expiration dates. A majority of those contracts are “evergreen” contracts. Evergreen contracts extend automatically every year, but may be renegotiated or terminated by either party after giving 90 to 120 days notice. We also have disputes concerning charges at our facilities under our existing managed-care contracts, discussed under the Legal Proceedings section of this report (see page 59).

In addition to attempting to implement a new pricing approach, on January 6, 2003, we announced to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) that we had voluntarily adopted a new method for calculating Medicare outlier payments, retroactive to January 1, 2003. We decided to do this in January 2003 to demonstrate our good faith and to support CMS’s expected industry-wide solution to the outlier issue. Since that time, Medicare has been reimbursing our hospitals in amounts substantially equivalent to the amounts we began receiving once the August 8, 2003 changes by CMS to Medicare outlier formulas were implemented. (See “Outlier Payments” in the Government Programs section, page 30, for further information on developments regarding the recent CMS changes.)

The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) has the authority to exclude an entity from government programs for requesting payments that were substantially in excess of the entity’s usual charges or costs. However, OIG regulations do not define the terms “substantially in excess of” or “usual charges.” On September 15, 2003, the OIG issued a proposed rule that redefines the term “charges” from the amounts actually charged by providers to the amounts a provider agrees to accept under contracts with third party payors.

If approved, the proposal would give the OIG authority to exclude from the Medicare and Medicaid programs those providers who request fee schedule payments from Medicare and Medicaid while accepting less than those amounts from other payors. The rule is primarily directed toward entities that request payments from Medicare and Medicaid using fee schedules, such as durable medical equipment providers. It is not entirely clear to what extent the rule applies to Medicare and Medicaid payments for hospital services. Although the Company does not believe the proposed rule will significantly affect the payments it currently receives from Medicare and Medicaid, additional

clarification as to the rule’s scope and applicability is needed before a definitive conclusion can be reached.

Outlook

To address all the changes impacting the health care industry, while continuing to provide quality care to patients, we have implemented strategies to reduce inefficiencies, create synergies, obtain additional business, and control costs. Such strategies include sales or closures of certain facilities, the enhancement of integrated health care delivery systems, hospital cost-control programs, the enhancement and update of patient intake procedures, and overhead-reduction plans. We may acquire, sell or close some additional facilities and implement additional cost-control programs and other operating efficiencies in the future.

We believe that the key ongoing challenges facing us and the health care industry as a whole are:

• Providing quality patient care in a competitive and highly regulated environment.

• Obtaining adequate compensation for the services we provide.

• Managing our costs.

• Recruiting and retaining qualified employees.

• Obtaining adequate payment for treatment of uninsured patients.

The primary cost pressures facing us and the industry are:

• The ongoing increase of labor costs due to a nationwide shortage of nurses.

• Increases in labor union activity at our hospitals (particularly in California).

• Increases in provision for doubtful accounts.

• Increases in malpractice expense.

We expect the nursing shortage to continue, and we have implemented various initiatives to improve productivity, to better position our hospitals to attract and retain qualified nursing personnel, and to otherwise manage labor-cost pressures.

In May 2003, we entered into an agreement with the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees with respect to all of our California hospitals and two hospitals in Florida. The agreement is intended to expedite the union election and organizing process and facilitate contract negotiations with minimal impact on patient care should a hospital’s employees choose to organize into collective bargaining units. The agreement provides a framework for pre-negotiated salaries and benefits at these hospitals, and includes a no-strike agreement by these organizations at any of our hospitals for up to approximately six to seven years. We continue to experience adverse relationships with other unions seeking to organize nurses at our subsidiaries’ hospitals.

The challenges we are facing may impact our ability to attract and retain qualified employees. All our employees, even our senior executives, are at-will employees. Presently, the exercise prices of substantially all our employee stock options exceed the current market value of our common stock. Given these factors, and other challenges, the Company could experience significant disruption if it has difficulty in recruiting and retaining employees.

We are continuing to evaluate the effect on our California hospitals of State of California Senate Bill 1953 (SB1953), which mandates certain seismic safety building standards for acute care hospitals. The required repairs, time needed for completion, and cost of performing the necessary remediation, as

well as the structural and financial feasibility of performing the repairs is currently under review. Steps taken to comply with SB1953 may include consolidation or closure of some of our California hospitals, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial position, or results of operations.

Tenet is navigating through a very challenging period. We are dealing with both industry issues and company-specific issues (the more significant issues being past practices, litigation and investigations, and increased admissions growth from uninsured patients) that have placed the Company in an especially difficult position. We continue to face lower revenue trends and increasing cost pressures. We also continue to incur substantial expenses relating to unusual litigation and investigations.

Given the number of factors, both industry-wide and company-specific, that are now impacting our business, we announced on October 22, 2003, that we would discontinue earnings guidance, that we no longer expected to achieve our prior guidance of earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $0.40 to $0.50 for the second half of 2003, and that performance for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2004 is expected to fall significantly below our previously anticipated range of $0.80 to $1.00 per share.

Government Programs

Payments from Medicare constitute a significant portion of our net operating revenues. The Medicare program is subject to statutory and regulatory changes, administrative rulings, interpretations and determinations, requirements for utilization review, and new governmental funding restrictions-all of which could materially increase or decrease program payments, as well as affect the cost of providing services to patients and the timing of payments to facilities. We are unable to predict the effect of future policy changes on our operations. If the rates paid or the scope of services covered by government payors is reduced, if we are required to pay substantial amounts in settlement, or if we, or one or more of our subsidiaries’ hospitals, are excluded from participation in the Medicare program, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, financial results, or results of operations. The government is investigating our Medicare payments, as discussed under the Legal Proceedings section of this report (see page 61).

Certain Medicare payments to hospitals, such as indirect medical education, graduate medical education, disproportionate share, and bad debts are retrospectively determined based on the hospitals’ cost reports. A final determination of these amounts often takes many years to resolve because of audits by the program representatives, providers’ rights of appeal, and the application of numerous technical reimbursement provisions. We believe that adequate provision has been made in our consolidated financial statements for probable adjustments to historical net operating revenues. Until final settlement however, significant issues remain unresolved, and previously determined allowances could be more or less than ultimately required.

The major components of our Medicare net patient revenues for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2003 approximate the following:

	Three Months ended September 30				Nine Months ended September 30
	2002		2003		2002		2003
	(in millions)
Diagnosis related group payments	$	420	$	439	$	1,324	$	1,380
Capital cost payments	47		49		166		150
Outlier payments	261		16		681		50
Outpatient payments	129		134		384		414
Disproportionate share payments	75		82		226		245
Graduate and Indirect Medical Education payments	43		41		131		121
Psychiatric, rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities inpatient payments and other payment categories	98		91		307		283
Prior years’ contractual allowance adjustments	2		—		19		11

Total Medicare net patient revenues	$	1,075	$	852	$	3,238	$	2,654

Diagnosis Related Group Payments

Medicare payments for general hospital inpatient services are based on a prospective payment system that uses diagnosis-related groups. Under this system, a hospital receives a fixed amount for each Medicare patient based on the patient’s assigned diagnosis-related group. Although these payments are adjusted for area-wage differentials, the adjustments do not take into consideration the hospital’s operating costs. Moreover, as discussed below, diagnosis-related-group payments also exclude the reimbursement of capital costs (such as property taxes, lease expenses, depreciation, and interest related to capital expenditures).

The diagnosis-related-group rates are updated annually, giving consideration to the increased cost of goods and services purchased by hospitals. The rate increase that became effective on October 1, 2002 was 2.95 percent. On August 1, 2003, CMS announced a rate increase equal to the full market basket of 3.40 percent effective October 1, 2003 for federal fiscal year 2004. However, Congress is considering a proposal that, if enacted into law, would result in retaining the full market basket for the federal fiscal year 2004, and an update of market basket minus 0.4% for federal fiscal years 2005, 2006 and 2007. Hospitals participating in the voluntary Quality Initiative, through which they report quality data to a special CMS Web site, would receive the full market basket update for those fiscal years. All of our hospitals participate in CMS’s voluntary Quality Initiative.

Historically, the diagnosis-related-group rate increases have been below the cost increases for goods and services purchased by our hospitals. We expect that future rate increases will also be below such cost increases.

Capital Cost Payments

Medicare reimburses general hospitals for their capital costs separately from diagnosis-related-group payments. In 1992, a prospective payment system covering the reimbursement of inpatient capital costs generally became effective. As of October 1, 2002, after a gradual phase in, all of our hospitals are being reimbursed at a capital-cost rate that increases annually by a capital-cost-market-basket-

update factor. However, as with the diagnosis-related-group rate increases, we expect that these increases will be below the cost increases of our capital asset purchases.

Outlier Payments

Outlier payments, which were established by Congress as part of the diagnosis-related-group prospective payment system, are additional payments made to hospitals for treating patients who are costlier to treat than the average patient.

A hospital receives outlier payments when its costs (as determined by using gross charges adjusted by the hospital’s historical cost-to-charge ratio) exceed a certain threshold established annually by CMS. As mandated by Congress, CMS must limit total outlier payments to between 5 and 6 percent of total diagnosis-related-group payments. CMS annually changes the threshold in order to bring expected outlier payments within the mandated limit. An increase to the cost threshold reduces total outlier payments by (1) reducing the number of cases that qualify for outlier payments, and (2) reducing the dollar amount hospitals receive for those cases that still qualify. The most recent increase in the threshold became effective on October 1, 2003.

In prior years, CMS used a hospital’s most recently settled cost reports to set the hospital’s cost-to-charge ratio. Those cost reports typically were two to three years old. Additionally, if a hospital’s cost-to-charge ratio fell below a certain threshold (derived from the cost-to-charge ratios for all hospitals nationwide), then the cost-to-charge ratio used to calculate Medicare outlier payments defaulted to the statewide average for that hospital’s particular state, which was considerably higher. The statewide average was also used when settled cost reports were not available (such as with new hospitals).

In the June 9, 2003 Federal Register, CMS issued a new rule governing the calculation of outlier payments to hospitals. The new rule, which became effective August 8, 2003, included the following changes:

• As of October 1, 2003, Medicare uses the latest of either the most recently submitted or the most recently settled cost reports to calculate the cost-to-charge ratio for outlier payments.

• The use of the statewide average cost-to-charge ratio is eliminated for hospitals with very low cost-to-charge ratios.

• Medicare fiscal intermediaries have been given specific criteria for identifying hospitals that may have received inappropriately high outlier payments. The intermediaries are authorized to recover overpayments, including interest, if the actual costs of a hospital stay (which are reflected in the settled cost report) were less than those claimed by the provider or if there were indications of abuse.

• To avoid overpayments or underpayments of outlier cases, hospitals may request changes to their cost-to-charge ratio (in much the same way that an individual taxpayer can adjust the amount of withholding from income).

In anticipation of these changes, on January 6, 2003, we announced to CMS that we had voluntarily adopted a new method for calculating Medicare outlier payments, retroactive to January 1, 2003. With this new method, instead of using recently settled cost reports for our outlier calculations, we began using current year cost-to-charge ratios. We also eliminated the use of the statewide average while continuing to use current threshold amounts. These changes resulted in a drop of Medicare inpatient outlier payments from approximately $65 million per month to approximately $6 million per month.

As discussed on page 26, we voluntarily adopted this new method to demonstrate our good faith and to support CMS’s likely industrywide solution to the outlier issue.

Our voluntary proposal to CMS included a provision to reconcile the payments we would receive under the proposed interim arrangement to those we would have received if the new CMS rules had gone into effect on January 1, 2003 up to the effective date of the final rule, August 8, 2003. (Effective August 8, 2003, outlier payments to Tenet subsidiary hospitals are being calculated by the fiscal intermediary in accordance with the final rule, which applies to all hospitals.) On October 9, 2003, we submitted to our fiscal intermediary the reconciliation required under the proposal. This reconciliation is based on instructions we received from the fiscal intermediary. Currently, the fiscal intermediary is reviewing the reconciliation, and the determination and outcome of outlier payments under the arrangement is subject to review and approval by CMS. We expect the fiscal intermediary’s and CMS’s determination with respect to the reconciliation to be made prior to December 31, 2003.

The United States Attorneys’ Office for the Central District of California is currently investigating our Medicare outlier payments as discussed under the Legal Proceedings section of this report (see page 61).

Outpatient Payments

An outpatient prospective payment system was implemented as of August 1, 2000. This payment system established groups called ambulatory payment classifications for all outpatient procedures. Medicare pays for outpatient services based on their classifications. The outpatient prospective payment system provides a transitional period that limits each hospital’s losses during the first three and one-half years of the program. If a hospital’s costs are less than the payment, the hospital keeps the difference. If a hospital’s costs are higher than the payment, the hospital is subsidized for part of the loss. The outpatient prospective payment system has not had a material impact on our results of operations.

Disproportionate Share Payments

Certain of our hospitals treat a disproportionately large number of low-income patients (i.e., Medicaid and Medicare patients eligible to receive supplemental Social Security income), and, therefore, receive additional payments from the federal government in the form of disproportionate-share payments. Congress recently mandated CMS to study the present formula used to calculate these payments. One change being considered would give greater weight to the amount of uncompensated care provided by a hospital than it would to the number of low-income patients treated. We cannot predict the impact on our hospitals if CMS revises the formula.

Graduate and Indirect Medical Education

A number of our hospitals currently are approved as teaching sites for the training of interns and residents under graduate medical education programs. Our participating hospitals receive additional payments—graduate-medical-education payments—for the cost of training residents. In addition, these hospitals receive indirect-medical-education payments, which are related to the teaching programs. These payments are add-ons to the regular diagnosis-related-group payments.

The current indirect-medical-education payment level is set at 5.5% of diagnosis-related-group payments. However, Congress is currently considering payment improvements for providers that could result in an increase to the indirect-medical-education payment level.

Inpatient Rehabilitation Reimbursement

Rehabilitation hospitals and rehabilitation units within acute-care hospitals are paid according to the inpatient rehabilitation facility prospective payment system. In order for a hospital or unit to qualify as inpatient rehabilitation reimbursement, 75 percent of its patients must be treated for at least one condition requiring rehabilitation as specified in the CMS regulations. Citing inconsistent enforcement of the “75 percent rule,” CMS suspended its enforcement in June 2002.

On September 9, 2003, CMS issued a proposal to revise the classification criterion used to categorize a hospital or hospital unit as an inpatient rehabilitation facility. If approved, the new rule would lower the percentage of patients required to fall within the specified medical criteria from 75 percent to 65 percent. It would also modify and expand the list of eligible medical conditions. The proposed changes would apply to cost reporting periods starting on or after January 1, 2004.

The Company currently operates two inpatient rehabilitation facilities and 31 hospital rehabilitation units. Medicare payments for services provided at those hospitals and units represent approximately 5% of the Company’s annual Medicare net revenue. Medicare payments to qualifying inpatient rehabilitation facilities are generally higher than those paid under the Medicare acute hospital prospective payment system for similar services. Failure of our rehabilitation facilities and units to continue to qualify as inpatient rehabilitation facilities could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial position, or results of operations.

Recent Changes to Medicare Payment Rules

Under Medicare law, CMS is required to update the rules governing prospective payments for acute, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing facilities annually. The updated rules become effective each October 1 (the beginning of the federal fiscal year). On August 1, 2003, CMS issued its updated rules for 2004. The updated rules include a 3.4 percent increase in payment rates for inpatient acute care effective October 1, 2003. The new rules also decrease the outlier threshold from $33,560 to $31,000. Other payment factors affected by the updated rules include diagnosis-related-group weights, the wage index, and expansion of the diagnosis-related-group transfer rule from 10 diagnosis-related-groups to 19. While the percentage increase and the lower outlier threshold are mildly beneficial to the Company, certain changes to the outlier rules offset any benefit. The Company anticipates outlier payments to its hospitals to approximate $20-22 million per quarter.

Other changes in the overall inpatient payment system rule have moderately positive and negative effects, with the net impact of these changes being slightly positive.

Medicaid

Payments we receive under various state Medicaid programs constitute approximately 9% of our net operating revenues. These payments are typically based on fixed rates determined by the individual states. (A few states in which we operate have a Medicaid outlier payment formula.) We also receive disproportionate-share payments under various state Medicaid programs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2003, those payments were approximately $126 million and $140 million, respectively.

On November 3, 2003, the California Department of Health Services issued a news release announcing the results of its audits of Redding Medical Center (“RMC”) cost reports. The release stated that RMC received $12 million in excess reimbursements, $9 million of which has been repaid.

Of the $12 million, $9 million was related to routine reconciliations and $3 million was related to audit findings, the latter of which will be appealed. The news release also stated that the California Department of Health Services intends to expand its audits to all hospitals owned by Tenet subsidiaries in California and refer the audit findings to other state and federal agencies.

Many of the states in which we operate have been experiencing serious budgetary problems and have implemented, or proposed, new legislation that would significantly reduce the payments they make to hospitals under their Medicaid programs. These pending actions could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Results of Operations

For the three months ended September 30, 2003, on a same-facility basis, admissions grew 1.6% over the prior-year quarter, net patient revenues were down 6.7% and net inpatient revenue per admission was down by 9.5%. For the nine-month period, on a same-facility basis, admissions grew 2.1% over the prior-year period, net patient revenues were down 2.6% and net inpatient revenue per admission was down by 6.2%.

We reported income from continuing operations of $311 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and a loss from continuing operations of $235 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2003. For the nine-month periods then ended we reported income from continuing operations of $798 million in 2002 and a loss from continuing operations of $349 million in 2003. Income from continuing operations included a loss from early extinguishment of debt in both periods of 2002 and goodwill amortization for the nine-month period only. Income from continuing operations for the 2003 periods included impairment and restructuring charges and costs of litigation and investigations. The 2003 periods were also adversely affected by additional charges to our provision for doubtful accounts.

The table below shows the pretax and after-tax impact from continuing operations of (1) additional provision for doubtful accounts, (2) goodwill amortization, (3) impairments of goodwill and long-lived assets, (4) restructuring charges, (5) costs of litigation and investigations, and (6) a loss from early extinguishment of debt for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2003:

	Three Months ended September 30				Nine Months ended September 30
	2002		2003		2002		2003
	(in millions, except per-share amounts)
Additional provision for doubtful accounts	$	—	$	200	$	—	$	200
Goodwill amortization	—		—		40		—
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	—		1		—		386
Restructuring charges	—		8		—		94
Costs of litigation and investigations	—		253		—		327
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	3		—		105		—
Pretax impact	$	3	$	462	$	145	$	1,007
After-tax impact	$	2	$	283	$	100	$	649
Diluted per-share impact of the above items	$	—	$	0.60	$	0.20	$	1.40

The following two tables summarize consolidated operating income (loss) from continuing operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2003:

THREE MONTHS	2002		2003			2002		2003
	(in millions)					(% of net operating revenues)
Net operating revenues:
Domestic general hospitals	$	3,423	$	3,209		97.2	%	97.3	%
Other operations	98		88			2.8	%	2.7	%

Net operating revenues	3,521		3,297			100.0	%	100.0	%
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,376		1,420			(39.1	)%	(43.1	) %
Supplies	501		521			(14.2	)%	(15.8	) %
Provision for doubtful accounts	260		522			(7.4	)%	(15.8	) %
Other operating expenses	679		754			(19.3	)%	(22.9	) %
Depreciation	113		107			(3.2%	)%	(3.2	) %
Amortization	7		5			(0.2	)%	(0.2	) %
Impairment and restructuring charges	—		9			—		(0.3	) %
Costs of litigation and investigations	—		253			—		(7.7	) %
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	3		—			(0.1	)%	—

Operating income (loss)	$	582	$	(294	)	16.5	%	(8.9	)%


NINE MONTHS	2002		2003			2002		2003
	(in millions)					(% of net operating revenues)
Net operating revenues:
Domestic general hospitals	$	10,063	$	9,814		97.5	%	96.9	%
Other operations	263		314			2.5	%	3.1	%

Net operating revenues	10,326		10,128			100.0	%	100.0	%
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	4,068		4,356			(39.4	) %	(43.0	)%
Supplies	1,465		1,573			(14.2	) %	(15.5	)%
Provision for doubtful accounts	704		1,084			(6.8	) %	(10.7	)%
Other operating expenses	2,018		2,229			(19.5	) %	(22.0	)%
Depreciation	335		332			(3.2	) %	(3.3	)%
Amortization	62		19			(0.6	) %	(0.2	)%
Impairment and restructuring charges	—		480			—		(4.7	)%
Costs of litigation and investigations	—		327			—		(3.2	)%
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	105		—			(1.0	) %	—

Operating income (loss)	$	1,569	$	(272	)	15.2	%	(2.7	) %

Net operating revenues of our continuing domestic general hospitals include inpatient and outpatient revenues, as well as nonpatient revenues (primarily rental income and services such as cafeteria, gift shops, parking) and other miscellaneous revenue. Net operating revenues of other operations consist

primarily of revenues from: (1) physician practices, (2) rehabilitation hospitals, long-term-care facilities, psychiatric and specialty hospitals-all of which are located on or near the same campuses as our general hospitals, (3) our hospital in Barcelona, Spain, (4) health care joint ventures operated by us, (5) our subsidiaries offering managed-care and indemnity products, and (6) equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates.

Pro forma information

In light of recent events and our voluntary adoption of a new method for calculating Medicare outlier payments and the changes CMS made to the Medicare outlier payment policies (discussed on page 26), we are supplementing certain historical information with information presented on a pro forma basis as if we had received no Medicare outlier revenues during the periods indicated. This information includes numerical measures of our historical or future performance, financial position or cash flows that have the effect of depicting such measures of financial performance differently from that presented in our financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and that are defined under Securities and Exchange Commission rules as “non-GAAP financial measures.” We believe that the information presented on this pro forma basis is important to our shareholders in order to show the significant effect that Medicare outlier payments had on elements of our historical results of operations and provide important insight into our operations in terms of other underlying business trends, without necessarily estimating or suggesting their effect on future results of operations. This supplemental information has inherent limitations because Medicare outlier payments in periods prior to January 1, 2003 are not indicative of future periods and such payments in periods from January 1, 2003 forward may not be indicative of future periods. We compensate for these inherent limitations by also utilizing comparable GAAP measures. In spite of the limitations, we find the supplemental information useful to the extent it better enables us and our investors to evaluate pricing trends and we believe the consistent use of this supplemental information provides us and our investors with reliable period-to-period comparisons. Costs in our business are largely influenced by volumes and thus are generally analyzed as a percent of net operating revenues, so we provide this additional analytical information to better enable investors to measure expense categories between periods. Based on requests by certain shareholders, we believe that our investors find these non-GAAP measures useful as well. Investors are encouraged, however, to use GAAP measures when evaluating the Company’s financial performance. Among the information presented herein on a supplemental, or pro forma, basis are operating expenses expressed as percentages of net operating revenues, net inpatient revenues per patient day and per admission, and net cash provided by operating activities (see pages 40 through 51).

The two tables below illustrate actual expenses as a percent of net operating revenues for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2003 as if we had received no outlier revenue during the periods indicated. The tables include reconciliations of net operating revenues to net operating revenues adjusted to exclude all outlier revenue. Investors are encouraged, however, to use GAAP measures when evaluating the Company’s financial performance.

THREE MONTHS	2002			2003			2002		2003
	(in millions)						(% of net operating revenues excluding Medicare outlier revenue)
Net operating revenues	$	3,521		$	3,297
Less Medicare outlier revenue	(261		)	(16		)

Net operating revenues excluding outlier revenue	$	3,260		$	3,281		100.0	%	100.0	%
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,376			1,420			(42.2	)%	(43.3	)%
Supplies	501			521			(15.4	)%	(15.9	)%
Provision for doubtful accounts	260			522			(8.0	)%	(15.9	)%
Other operating expenses	679			754			(20.8	)%	(23.0	)%
Depreciation	113			107			(3.5	)%	(3.3	)%
Amortization	7			5			(0.2	)%	(0.2	)%
Impairment and restructuring charges	—			9			—		(0.3	)%
Costs of litigation and investigations	—			253			—		(7.7	)%
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	3			—			(0.1	)%	—
Operating income (loss) excluding outlier revenue	$	321		$	(310	)	9.8	%	(9.4	)%
Add back Medicare outlier revenue	261			16			8.1	%	0.5	%

Operating income (loss)	$	582		$	(294	)	17.9	%	(8.9	)%

NINE MONTHS	2002			2003			2002		2003
	(in millions)						(% of net operating revenues excluding Medicare outlier revenue)
Net operating revenues	$	10,326		$	10,128
Less Medicare outlier revenue	(681		)	(50		)

Net operating revenues excluding outlier revenue	$	9,645		$	10,078		100.0	%	100.0	%
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	4,068			4,356			(42.2	)%	(43.2	)%
Supplies	1,465			1,573			(15.2	)%	(15.6	)%
Provision for doubtful accounts	704			1,084			(7.3	)%	(10.8	)%
Other operating expenses	2,018			2,229			(20.9	)%	(22.1	)%
Depreciation	335			332			(3.5	)%	(3.3	)%
Amortization	62			19			(0.6	)%	(0.2	)%
Impairment and restructuring charges	—			480			—		(4.8	)%
Costs of litigation and investigations	—			327			—		(3.2	)%
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	105			—			(1.1	)%	—
Operating income (loss) excluding outlier revenue	$	888		$	(322	)	9.2	%	(3.2	)%
Add back Medicare outlier revenue	681			50			7.1	%	0.5	%

Operating income (loss)	$	1,569		$	(272	)	16.3	%	(2.7	)%

The table below shows certain selected historical operating statistics for our continuing domestic general hospitals:

	Three months endedSeptember 30								Nine months endedSeptember 30
	2002			2003			Increase (Decrease)		2002			2003			Increase (Decrease)
Number of hospitals (at end of period)	98			99			1	(1)	98			99			1	(1)
Licensed beds (at end of period)	24,796			24,861			0.3	%	24,796			24,861			0.3	%
Net inpatient revenues (in millions) (2) (4)	$	2,328		$	2,139		(8.1	)%	$	6,900		$	6,586		(4.6	)%
Net outpatient revenues (in millions) (2)	$	1,044		$	1,006		(3.6	)%	$	2,996		$	3,032		1.2	%
Admissions	233,809			237,374			1.5	%	704,477			716,659			1.7	%
Equivalent admissions (3)	330,240			333,203			0.9	%	989,562			1,000,157			1.1	%
Average length of stay (days)	5.3			5.2			(0.1	)(1)	5.4			5.3			(0.1	)(1)
Patient days	1,244,100			1,235,744			(0.7	)%	3,802,852			3,806,175			0.1	%
Equivalent patient days (3)	1,732,003			1,716,357			(0.9	)%	5,270,492			5,250,570			(0.4	)%
Net inpatient revenue per patient day (4)	$	1,871		$	1,731		(7.5	)%	$	1,814		$	1,730		(4.6	)%
Net inpatient revenue per admission (4)	$	9,957		$	9,011		(9.5	)%	$	9,795		$	9,190		(6.2	)%
Utilization of licensed beds	53.5		%	54.0		%	0.5	%(1)	54.5		%	56.0		%	1.5	%(1)
Outpatient visits	2,130,411			2,125,595			(0.2	)%	6,441,991			6,411,256			(0.5	)%

(1) The change is the difference between 2002 and 2003 amounts shown.

(2) Net inpatient revenues and net outpatient revenues are components of net operating revenues.

(3) Equivalent admissions/patient days represents actual admissions/patient days adjusted to include outpatient and emergency room services by multiplying actual admissions/patient days by the sum of gross inpatient revenues and outpatient revenues and dividing the result by gross inpatient revenues.

(4) Although our hospitals expect to receive some level of Medicare outlier revenue in future periods, as we discussed earlier, the table below shows the impact on domestic general hospital net inpatient revenues, net inpatient revenue per patient per day and net inpatient revenue per admission as if we had received no Medicare outlier revenue in the periods indicated. This data is provided to enable investors to examine pricing trends from other payor categories.

	Three months ended September 30								Nine months ended September 30
	2002			2003			Increase (Decrease)		2002			2003			Increase (Decrease)
	(in millions, except per-patient-day and per-admission amounts)
Net inpatient revenues	$	2,328		$	2,139		(8.1	)%	$	6,900		$	6,586		(4.6	)%
Less Medicare outlier revenue	(261		)	(16		)	(93.9	)%	(681		)	(50		)	(92.7	)%
Pro forma net inpatient revenues	$	2,067		$	2,123		2.7	%	$	6,219		$	6,536		5.1	%
Pro forma net inpatient revenue per patient day	$	1,661		$	1,718		3.4	%	$	1,635		$	1,717		5.0	%
Pro forma net inpatient revenue per admission	8,841			8,944			1.2	%	8,828			9,120			3.3	%

The table below shows certain selected historical operating statistics for our continuing domestic general hospitals on a same-facility basis:

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
	2002		2003		Increase (Decrease)		2002		2003		Increase (Decrease)
Net outpatient revenues (in millions)	$	1,043	$	1,004	(3.7	)%	$	2,984	$	3,024	1.3	%
Admissions	232,397		236,028		1.6	%	697,892		712,557		2.1	%
Average length of stay (days)	5.3		5.2		(0.1	)	5.4		5.3		(0.1	)
Patient days	1,232,209		1,227,953		(0.3	)%	3,748,622		3,782,399		0.9	%
Net inpatient revenue per patient day (1)	$	1,882	$	1,735	(7.8	)%	$	1,829	$	1,735	(5.1	)%
Net inpatient revenue per admission (1)	$	9,979	$	9,029	(9.5	)%	$	9,822	$	9,209	(6.2	)%
Outpatient visits	2,121,407		2,115,016		(0.3	)%	6,393,411		6,379,629		(0.2	)%
Average licensed beds	24,803		24,728		(0.3	)%	24,845		24,773		(0.3	)%

(1) Although our hospitals expect to receive some level of Medicare outlier revenue in future periods, as we discussed earlier, the table below shows the impact on same facility domestic general hospital net inpatient revenues, net inpatient revenue per patient day and net inpatient revenue per admission as if we had received no Medicare outlier revenue in the periods indicated.
This data is provided to enable investors to examine pricing trends from other payor categories.

	Three months ended September 30								Nine months ended September 30
	2002			2003			Increase (Decrease)		2002			2003			Increase (Decrease)
	(in millions, except per-patient-day and per-admission amounts)
Net inpatient revenue	$	2,319		$	2,131		(8.1	)%	$	6,855		$	6,562		(4.3	)%
Less Medicare outlier revenue	(261		)	(16		)	(93.9	)%	(680		)	(50		)	(92.6	)%
Pro forma net inpatient revenue	$	2,058		$	2,115		2.8	%	$	6,175		$	6,512		5.5	%
Pro forma net inpatient revenue per patient day	$	1,670		$	1,722		3.1	%	$	1,647		$	1,722		4.6	%
Pro forma net inpatient revenue per admission	8,856			8,961			1.2	%	8,848			9,139			3.3	%

The table below shows the sources of net patient revenues for our continuing domestic general hospitals for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2003, expressed as percentages of net patient revenues from all sources:

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
	2002		2003		Increase (Decrease) (1)		2002		2003		Increase (Decrease) (1)
Medicare	31.2	%	26.4	%	(4.8	)%	32.1	%	26.9	%	(5.2	)%
Medicaid	7.9	%	8.9	%	1.0	%	8.5	%	9.0	%	0.5	%
Managed care	46.1	%	48.4	%	2.3	%	45.3	%	48.6	%	3.3	%
Indemnity and other	14.8	%	16.3	%	1.5	%	14.1	%	15.5	%	1.4	%

(1) The change is the difference between the 2002 and 2003 amounts shown.

In comparing the quarter ended September 30, 2003 to the same quarter of 2002, total-facility admissions increased by 1.5%. On a total-facility basis and on a same-facility basis, net inpatient revenue per admission decreased 9.5%, reflecting our lower Medicare outlier revenue, partially offset by changes in other payor areas. As mentioned earlier, our new pricing approach, combined with our voluntary changes to the method we use to calculate Medicare outlier revenue, and the recent changes in Medicare regulations for determining outlier revenue, are expected to adversely impact our future revenues. For example, if we had received no Medicare outlier revenue, our net inpatient revenue per admission would have increased 1.2% instead of decreasing 9.5%. (See pages 39 through 45 for our explanations of these adjusted non-GAAP performance measures.)

We experienced a 0.3% decrease in same-facility outpatient visits during the quarter ended September 30, 2003 compared to the same quarter a year ago. Net outpatient revenues decreased by 3.6% on a total-facility basis and by 3.7% on a same-facility basis compared to the prior-year quarter.

Net operating revenues from the Company’s other operations were $98 million and $88 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2002 and 2003, respectively (see page 39). The decrease is primarily the result of the deconsolidation of Broadlane, Inc. (a 47%-owned unconsolidated subsidiary that was 67% owned and consolidated prior to June 27, 2003).

Salaries and benefits expense as a percentage of net operating revenues was 39.1% in the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and 43.1% in the current quarter. Without Medicare outlier revenue, the percentages would have been 42.2% and 43.3%, respectively. (See pages 39 through 45 for our explanations of these adjusted performance measures.) The primary reason for this increase was that we have experienced, and expect to continue experiencing, significant wage and benefit pressures created by the current nursing shortage throughout the country and escalating state-mandated nurse-staffing ratios. Also, we are seeing an increase in labor union activity at our hospitals, particularly in California, where unions have been competing to organize our employees. Approximately 11% of our employees were represented by labor unions as of September 30, 2003. As union activity continues to increase at our hospitals, our salaries and benefits expense is likely to increase significantly. In May 2003, we entered into an agreement with the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees with respect to all of our California hospitals and two hospitals in Florida. The agreement is intended to expedite the union

election and organizing process and facilitate contract negotiations with minimal impact on patient care should a hospital’s employees choose to organize into collective bargaining units. The agreement with these unions provides a framework for pre-negotiated salaries and benefits at these hospitals, and includes a no-strike agreement by these organizations at our other facilities for up to approximately six to seven years. We continue to experience adverse relationships with other unions seeking to organize nurses at our subsidiaries’ hospitals.

Another factor that will increase our labor costs significantly is the enactment of state laws regarding nurse-staffing ratios. California has enacted such a law and it will become effective on January 1, 2004. Not only will state-mandated nurse-staffing ratios adversely affect our labor costs, if we are unable to hire the necessary number of nurses to meet the required ratios they also may cause us to limit patient admissions with a corresponding adverse effect on net operating revenues.

Supplies expense as a percentage of net operating revenues was 14.2% in the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and 15.8% in the current quarter. Without outlier revenue, the percentages would have been 15.4% and 15.9%, respectively. (See pages 39 through 45 for our explanations of these adjusted performance measures.) We control supplies expense through improved utilization and by improving the supply chain process. We also utilize the group-purchasing and supplies-management services of Broadlane, which offers group-purchasing procurement strategy, outsourcing, and e-commerce services to the health care industry.

The provision for doubtful accounts as a percentage of net operating revenues was 7.4% in the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and 15.8% in the current quarter. Without outlier revenue, the percentages would have been 8.0% and 15.9%, respectively. (See pages 39 through 45 for our explanations of these adjusted performance measures.) The provision for doubtful accounts as a percentage of non-program revenues (that is, revenues from all sources other than Medicare and Medicaid) was 12.0% in the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and 24.1% in the current quarter.

The increase in the provision for doubtful accounts in the quarter ended September 30, 2003 resulted primarily from a $200 million additional provision for doubtful accounts in continuing operations to reflect a recent adverse change in our business mix as admissions of uninsured patients grew at an escalating rate. We believe these new trends are due to a combination of broad economic factors, including higher unemployment rates, increased number of patients who are uninsured, and an increased burden of co-payments to be made by patients instead of insurers. Additionally, many of these patients are being admitted through the emergency department and often require more costly care, resulting in higher billings.

The additional $200 million provision for doubtful accounts consisted of two components: (1) the effect of accelerating the write-down of self-pay accounts, and (2) the effect of re-evaluating the historical collection patterns for self-pay and managed-care accounts receivable in light of recent trends. Our practice is to write down all self-pay accounts receivable, including accounts receivable related to the co-payments and deductibles due from patients with insurance, to their estimated net realizable value as they age over the course of 120 days, at which time any uncollected balances are assigned to our in-house collection agency. In the past, we had employed a methodology that utilized gradual write-downs that escalated toward the end of the 120-day period. Given the speed and severity of the new trends in self-pay account collection, we are changing to a straight-line write-down methodology.

rate of approximately 12 cents on the dollar. Accordingly, we have changed our accounts receivable evaluation process to give more weight to the latest 12 months of collection experience.

Approximately 20% of the additional charge in the third quarter relates to changes in the collectibility of managed-care accounts receivables. We continue to experience significant payment pressure from managed-care companies (which pressure has been exacerbated by recent disputes with certain managed-care companies, primarily in California) concerning substantial amounts of past billings. We are aggressively pursuing collection of these accounts using all means at our disposal, including arbitration and litigations, but we may not be successful.

Accounts receivable days outstanding from continuing operations increased from 61.3 days at September 30, 2002 to 64.5 days at the end of the current quarter.

We continue to focus on initiatives to improve cash flow, which include improving the process for collecting receivables, pursuing timely payments from all payors, and standardizing and improving contract terms, billing systems and the patient registration process. We will continue to review, and adjust as necessary, our methodology for evaluating the collectibility of our accounts receivable, and we may incur additional future charges related to the above-described trends.

We are taking numerous actions to specifically address the rapid growth in uninsured patients. These initiatives include conducting detailed reviews of intake procedures in hospitals facing these pressures, and introducing best practices for intake to all of our subsidiaries’ hospitals.

Over the longer term, several other initiatives we previously announced are also expected to help address this emerging challenge. For example, our innovative “Compact with the Uninsured,” a plan to offer managed-care style discounts to uninsured patients, would enable us to offer lower rates to needy patients, who today are charged full gross charges. Currently, a significant portion of those accounts are often written down as provision for doubtful accounts. Implementation of the plan is awaiting approval by the federal government and some states.

In addition, our implementation of our previously announced 3-year plan to consolidate billing and collection activities in regional business offices is on track and is expected to improve receivables performance once fully executed. The previously announced initiative to standardize patient accounting systems will also allow us to quickly obtain better operations data at a consolidated level, providing management better tools to more quickly diagnose and address business mix shifts.

Other operating expenses as a percentage of net operating revenues were 19.3% for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and 22.9% for the current quarter. Without outlier revenue the percentages would have been 20.8% and 23.0%, respectively. (See pages 39 through 45 for our explanations of these adjusted performance measures). Included in other operating expenses is malpractice expense of $56 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and $90 million in the current quarter. We continue to experience unfavorable pricing and availability trends in the professional and general liability insurance markets and increases in the size of claim settlements and awards in this area. We expect this trend to continue unless meaningful tort reform legislation is enacted.

In addition, the aggregate amount of claims reported to Hospital Underwriting Group for the year ended May 31, 2001 are approaching the $50 million aggregate policy limit for that year. Once the aggregate limit is exhausted for the policy year, we will bear the first $25 million of loss before any excess insurance coverage would apply.

Physicians, including those who practice at some of our hospitals, face similar increases in malpractice insurance premiums and limitations on availability, which could cause those physicians to limit their practice. That, in turn, could result in lower admissions to our hospitals.

Costs of litigation and settlements were $253 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2003 and consist primarily of an additional $244 million charge recorded for an award of contract damages by a California appellate court to a former executive in connection with our alleged failure to provide certain incentive stock awards to the executive. While this award has been accrued, it has not been paid. We will seek review of the appellate court’s decision. In addition to this item, costs of litigation and investigations for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 also included $61 million primarily related to the Redding settlement.

Depreciation expense was $113 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and $107 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2003.

Goodwill amortization expense was $40 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2002 . As a result of adopting a new accounting standard for goodwill and other intangible assets, we stopped amortizing goodwill on June 1, 2002.

We completed a goodwill impairment evaluation as of March 31, 2003 because our reporting units (as defined under SFAS No. 142) changed due to the consolidation of our operating divisions and regions (described on page 28). As a result of that evaluation, we recorded a first-quarter charge of $187 million related to our Central-Northeast Region. Our estimates of future cash flows from these assets or asset groups were based on assumptions and projections that we believe to be reasonable and supportable. The fair-value estimates of our long-lived assets were derived from either independent appraisals, established market values of comparable assets, or internal calculations of estimated future cash flows.

In March 2003, we announced a plan to dispose of or consolidate 14 general hospitals that no longer fit our core operating strategy of building and maintaining competitive networks of quality hospitals in major markets. We recorded an impairment charge in the amount of $61 million in March 2003, $4 million in June 2003, and $99 million in September 2003, primarily for the write-down of long-lived assets and goodwill allocated to these disposed businesses to estimated fair values, less costs to sell, at nine of the facilities, using the relative fair-value method. The carrying values of the remaining facilities are less than their estimated fair values. We expect to record a gain of approximately $260 million to $280 million on the sales of these facilities during the quarter ended December 31, 2003.

In the quarter ended June 30, 2003, following the completion of a budget review, we recorded impairment charges, primarily at seven other hospitals, in the amount of $198 million for the write-down of long-lived assets to their estimated fair values.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, we recorded restructuring charges of $9 million, consisting of $6 million in severance and employee relocation costs and $3 million in contract termination and consulting costs incurred with our previously announced plans to reduce our annual operating expenses.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2003, we recorded additional restructuring charges of $77 million. These charges consisted of $48 million in employee benefit, severance and relocation costs, $31 million in noncash stock option modification costs related to terminated employees, $4 million in

contract termination and consulting costs, all also incurred in connection with our plans to reduce our operating expenses, and a $6 million reduction in reserves for restructuring charges recorded in prior periods.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2003, we recorded impairment and restructuring charges in the net amount of $9 million. These charges consist of $7 million loss on a long-term office building lease, $5 million in noncash stock option modification costs related to terminated employees, $3 million in employee severance, benefits and relocation costs, $2 million in other exit costs, and $1 million in long-lived asset impairment charges at a closed ambulatory care center, less $9 million in reductions of reserves for restructuring and impairment charges recorded in prior periods. As of September 30, 2003, our liability balance in connection with restructuring charges was $76 million. Cash payments to be applied against these accounts are expected to be $14 million during the remainder of 2003 and $62 million thereafter. We will incur additional restructuring charges, and may incur additional impairment charges, in the future.

We recognized the impairment of these long-lived assets and goodwill because our estimates of future cash flows from these assets indicated that the carrying amount of the assets or groups of assets might not be fully recoverable from estimated future cash flows, less costs to sell. Our estimates were based on assumptions and projections that we believe to be reasonable and supportable. The fair-value estimates of our long-lived assets were derived from either independent appraisals, established market values of comparable assets, or calculations of estimated future net cash flows.

In August and September 2003, we announced definitive agreements or contracts with four parties for the sale of 11 of the 14 hospitals. In October 2003, we completed the sale of six of these hospitals. Gross proceeds from the sales were approximately $565 million. Announced transactions for the remaining five hospitals, whose gross proceeds, including working capital, are expected to be approximately $187 million, are expected to close on or before December 31, 2003. We expect to record a gain in the range of $260 million to $280 million in the quarter ending December 31, 2003, on the sale of the six hospitals sold in October. Additionally, we ceased operations at one of the hospitals when its long-term lease expired in August 2003, and we closed one hospital in September 2003. Negotiations for the sale of the remaining hospital are ongoing. Net proceeds from these completed and pending transactions are expected to be approximately $630 million after taxes and transaction costs, including working capital. We now intend to use the proceeds from the divestitures for general corporate purposes. These 14 hospitals reported net operating revenues of $923 for the latest 12-month period ended September 30, 2003. The pretax loss from operations of the asset group, including asset impairment charges of $244 million, was $208 million for the same period.

In November 2003, we determined not to renew our leases on two additional hospitals and we expect to cease operations at these hospitals by the end of October and December 2004, respectively. These two hospitals reported net operating revenues of $105 million in each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2003, pretax income from operations of $10 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and pretax loss from operations of $7 million for nine months ended September 30, 2003 including asset impairment charges of $8 million. The facilities will be returned to their owners upon the expiration of the leases.

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest, was $62 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and $74 million in the current quarter. Interest capitalized in connection with new construction was approximately $2 million in the 2002 quarter and $3 million in the 2003 quarter.

Pretax income from discontinued operations was $81 million in the nine months ended September 2002 and $11 million in the current nine-month period.

Our tax rate before the effect of impairment and restructuring charges and litigation and investigation costs in 2003, and the loss from early extinguishment of debt and goodwill amortization in 2002 was 42.4% for the current nine- month period and 40.3% in the nine months ended September 30, 2002. The increase in the tax rate is primarily due to the accrual of interest on potential audit deficiencies, net of federal and state tax benefits.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s liquidity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2003 was derived primarily from proceeds from the sale of new senior notes, utilization of the Company’s bank credit line, and net cash provided by operating activities.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was $720 million. Net cash provided by operating activities for the same period in 2002 was approximately $2.0 billion. Cash flow in 2003 has been adversely impacted by lower profits; reduced Medicare outlier payments; costs of litigation and settlements; and, recently, changes in our business mix as admissions of uninsured patients has grown at an escalating rate.

Although our hospitals expect to receive some level of Medicare outlier revenue in future periods, as discussed earlier, if we had received no Medicare outlier revenue during the periods, net cash provided by operating activities would have been $670 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and approximately $1.3 billion for the same period a year ago.

In January 2003, we sold $1 billion of new 7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2013. We used the net proceeds to repay indebtedness outstanding under our credit agreements and for general corporate purposes. These senior notes are unsecured and rank equally with all of our other unsecured senior indebtedness and are redeemable at any time at our option, with a redemption premium calculated at the time of the redemption. With this transaction and other similar financing transactions in the past two years, we have no significant long-term debt maturities until 2006. After that, the maturities of $2.6 billion of our long-term debt fall between the fiscal years ending December 31, 2011 and 2013. An additional $450 million is not due until 2031.

On October 27, 2003, we announced that we had reached an accord with our lenders to amend the credit agreement retroactively to September 30, 2003. Under the terms of the amended credit agreement, the maximum permitted leverage ratio was increased from 2.50-to-1 to 3.50-to-1 and the aggregate loan commitments available to us, including cash draws and letters of credit, was decreased from $1.5 billion to $1.2 billion, with a $1 billion limit for cash draws. In addition, certain terms previously included in the definitions of the leverage ratio and consolidated total debt were amended to take into consideration our recent operating trends. The amended credit agreement also adds a new covenant that restricts our ability to repurchase non-credit line debt in excess of $50 million if our leverage ratio is greater than 2.5-to-1, unless the credit facility is undrawn and we would have a minimum of $100 million of unrestricted cash on hand following the repurchase of the debt.

Our amended revolving credit agreement and the indentures governing our senior and senior subordinated notes contain affirmative, negative and financial covenants which have, among other requirements, limitations on (1) liens, (2) consolidations, merger or the sale of all or substantially all assets unless no default exists and, in the case of a consolidation or merger, the surviving entity assumes all of our obligations under the credit agreements, (3) our ability to repurchase non-credit line debt, and (4) subsidiary debt. The covenants also provide that, after June 30, 2004, we may declare and pay a dividend and purchase our common stock so long as no default exists and our leverage ratio is less than 2.5-to-1. The leverage ratio is defined in the amended credit agreement as the ratio of our consolidated total debt to consolidated operating income plus the sum of depreciation, amortization, impairment and other unusual charges. At September 30, 2003, the amended leverage ratio was 2.2-to-1, and we were in compliance with all covenants in our amended credit agreement and all indentures for public debt.

We believe that future cash provided by operating activities, the availability of credit under the amended credit agreement, proceeds from asset sales, and, depending on capital market conditions, other borrowings, should be adequate to meet known debt service requirements. It should also be adequate to finance planned capital expenditures, acquisitions and other presently known operating needs over the next three years. Our liquidity will be affected by investigations and legal proceedings, our capital expenditure requirements, our ability to borrow under our credit agreement, and our obligations to make future cash payments under contracts and contingent commitments.

We are currently involved in significant investigations and legal proceedings. (See Part I. Item 3. Legal Proceedings of our Transition Report on Form 10-K, and on page 58 herein for a description of these matters.) Other than the settlements discussed below, we presently cannot determine the timing or the amounts of any potential liabilities that may result from the ultimate resolutions of these investigations and lawsuits. However, we will incur significant costs in defending them, and their outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial position and results of operations. Through September 30, 2003, we recorded costs of approximately $327 million in connection with these legal proceedings and investigations.

Our liquidity could be adversely affected by the outcomes of litigation and investigations, as well as by economic or regulatory conditions that could affect our net operating revenues.

Capital expenditures, including $48 million for two new general hospitals under construction in Texas and Tennessee, were $563 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2003, compared to $675 million in the corresponding period in 2002. We estimate capital expenditures to be approximately $700-800 million for fiscal year 2004, not including any expenditures for acquisitions. Our capital expenditures primarily relate to the development of integrated health care systems in selected geographic areas, focusing on core services such as cardiology, orthopedics and neurosurgery; the design and construction of new buildings; the expansion and renovation of existing facilities; equipment and systems additions and replacements; introduction of new medical technologies; our initiative to consolidate hospital business offices and standardize our information systems; and various other capital improvements.

Our growth strategy continues to include the development of integrated health care delivery systems. These endeavors may be financed by net cash provided by operating activities, available borrowings under the credit agreement, the sale of assets, the sale of additional debt, or other bank borrowings. As of October 31, 2003, there were no cash borrowings outstanding under our credit agreement;

outstanding letters of credit aggregated $179 million; and our cash borrowing capacity was approximately $1 billion.

Our obligations to make future cash payments under contracts (such as debt and lease agreements) and under contingent commitments (such as debt guarantees and standby letters of credit) are summarized in the table below, as of September 30, 2003:

			Remainder of 2003
(dollars in millions)	Total				Years ended December 31
(dollars in millions)	Total				2004		2005		2006		2007		Later Year
Long-term debt	4,103		$	19	$	5	$	25	$	555	$	404	$	3,095
Capital lease obligations	43		4		13		2		1		18		5
Long-term operating leases	927		50		182		158		142		134		261
Standby letters of credit and guarantees	197		6		162		7		6		4		12

Total	$	5,270	$	79	$	362	$	192	$	704	$	560	$	3,373

Critical Accounting Policies

In preparing our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, we must use estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We regularly evaluate the accounting policies and estimates we use. In general, we base the estimates on historical experience and on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, given particular circumstances. Actual results may vary from those estimates.

We consider our critical accounting policies to be those that (1) involve significant judgments and uncertainties, (2) require estimates that are more difficult for management to determine, and (3) may produce materially different outcomes under different conditions or when using different assumptions. Our critical accounting policies cover the following areas:

• Recognition of net operating revenues, including contractual allowances.

• Provisions for doubtful accounts.

• Accruals for general and professional liability risks.

• Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill.

• Accruals for exit plans.

• Accounting for income taxes.

• Accounting for stock-based compensation.

Our critical accounting policies are more fully described on pages 52 through 54 of our Transition Report on Form 10-K for the seven months ended December 31, 2002.

There were no significant changes to our policies or to the assumptions, estimates and judgments we used to prepare this quarter’s financial statements from those we used in our latest audited financial statements, except for the changes in our method of calculating Medicare outlier revenues, our method of estimating our provision for doubtful accounts, and our adoption of the following new accounting standards:

• SFAS No. 123, as of January 1, 2003, which affects how we account for stock-based compensation.

• SFAS No. 146, as of January 1, 2003, which affects how we account for costs associated with exit or disposal activities.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including, but not limited to, statements containing the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “estimate,” “intend,” “appear” and words of similar import, and statements regarding our business strategy and plans, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors-many of which we are unable to predict or control-that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or health care industry results, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following:

• Changes in Medicare and Medicaid payments or reimbursements, including those resulting from changes in the method of calculating or paying Medicare outlier payments and those resulting from a shift from traditional reimbursement to managed-care plans, and changes in Medicaid patient eligibility requirements, or any removal or exclusion of the Company, or one or more of its subsidiaries’ hospitals from participation in the Medicare program.

• The ability to enter into managed-care provider arrangements on acceptable terms.

• The outcome of known and unknown litigation, government investigations, and liability and other claims asserted against us.

• Competition, including our failure to attract patients to our hospitals.

• The loss of any significant customers or payors.

• Changes in, or failure to comply with, laws and governmental regulations.

• Changes in business strategy or development plans, including our pricing practices.

• Our ability to satisfactorily and timely collect our patient accounts receivable.

• Settlement of professional liability claims and the availability of professional liability insurance coverage at current levels.

• Technological and pharmaceutical improvements that increase the cost of providing, or reduce the demand for, health care.

• General economic and business conditions, both nationally and regionally.

• Industry capacity.

• Demographic changes.

• The ability to attract and retain qualified management and other personnel, including physicians, nurses and other health care professionals, and the impact on our labor expenses resulting from a shortage of nurses and/or other health care professionals.

• Fluctuations in the market value of our common stock.

• The amount and terms of our indebtedness.

• The availability of suitable acquisition and disposition opportunities, the length of time it takes to accomplish acquisitions and dispositions and the impact of pending and future government investigations and litigation on our ability to accomplish acquisitions and dispositions.

• The availability and terms of capital to fund the needs of our business.

• Changes in the distribution process or other factors that may increase our costs of supplies.

• Our ability to comply with seismic retrofit requirements in California.

• Other factors referenced in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Transition Report on Form 10-K for the seven-month period ended December 31, 2002.

Given these uncertainties, investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation, and make no promise, to update any such factors or forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of changes in underlying factors, to reflect new information as a result of the occurrence of events or developments, or otherwise.

ITEM 3 . QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Quantitative and Qualitative

Disclosures About Market Risk

There have been no material changes in the market risks from those described in our Transition Report on Form 10-K for the seven months ended December 31, 2002.

ITEM 4 . CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Controls & Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined by Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c). The evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Based upon that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in alerting them in a timely manner to material information related to us (including our consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in our periodic SEC filings. It should be noted that the design of any system of controls is limited in its ability to detect errors, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions, regardless of how remote.

During the period covered by this quarterly report, there have been no changes to our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II . OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Legal Proceedings

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to a large number of claims and lawsuits. They are also the subject of federal and state agencies’ heightened and coordinated civil and criminal enforcement efforts, and have received subpoenas and other requests for information relating to a variety of subjects. In the present environment, the Company expects these enforcement activities to take on additional importance, that government enforcement activities will intensify, and that additional matters concerning the Company and/or its subsidiaries may arise. The Company expects similar and new claims and lawsuits to be brought against it from time to time. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this disclosure for any new developments.

The results of these claims and lawsuits cannot be predicted, and the ultimate resolution of these claims and lawsuits, individually or in the aggregate, may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations. Although the Company defends itself vigorously against claims and lawsuits and cooperates with investigations, these matters

• Cause the Company to incur substantial expenses.

• Require management to spend substantial time.

• Could cause the Company to close or sell hospitals or otherwise modify the way it conducts its business.

• Could require the Company to pay substantial damages or amounts in settlement, which in the aggregate are likely to exceed amounts that may be recovered under the Company’s insurance policies.

Currently pending legal proceedings and investigations are principally related to the following subject matters:

1. Physician Relationships - The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are under scrutiny with respect to the hospitals’ relationships with physicians. The Company believes that all aspects of its relationships with physicians potentially are under review. Proceedings in this area may be criminal, civil or both.

Alvarado Indictment

On December 19, 2002, agents of the IRS and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, served federal search warrants at two administrative offices within Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, a hospital owned by a subsidiary of the Company, which hospital is located in San Diego, California. The searches focused on the offices of the hospital chief executive officer ("CEO") and director of business development ("DBD"). The investigation relates to physician relocation, recruitment and consulting arrangements.

On June 5, 2003, a federal grand jury sitting in San Diego returned an eight-count indictment against the hospital CEO, Barry Weinbaum, alleging conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute and substantive counts alleging the payment of illegal remunerations.

On July 17, 2003, the grand jury returned a superseding indictment adding Tenet HealthSystem Hospitals, Inc. and Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, Inc. as defendants. The superseding indictment charged one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute and sixteen substantive counts of payment of illegal remunerations.

On September 25, 2003, the grand jury returned a second superseding indictment that added the DBD Mina Nazaryan, as a defendant. The second superseding indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute and 19 substantive counts of paying illegal remunerations. Additionally, the DBD is charged with one count of obstruction of a health care offense investigation and two counts of witness tampering.

All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty and trial is set for February 17, 2004 in United States District Court in San Diego, California. If convicted, the two defendant subsidiaries would be subject to exclusion from participation in Medicare and other federal and state health care programs.

Southern California Investigations

On July 3, 2003, the Company and several of its subsidiaries received administrative subpoenas from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California seeking documents since 1997 related to physician relocation agreements at seven Southern California hospitals owned by the Company’s subsidiaries, as well as summary information about physician relocation agreements related to all of its hospital subsidiaries. Specifically, the subpoenas, issued in connection with a criminal investigation, seek information from the Company, three intermediary corporate subsidiaries and subsidiaries that own seven of its Southern California hospitals: Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in Inglewood, Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital in Marina del Rey, John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio, Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center in Los Angeles, and Century City Hospital in Los Angeles. The Company is cooperating with the government regarding this investigation.

Physician arrangements at three of these hospitals, Century City Hospital, Brotman Medical Center and Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, currently also are the subject of an ongoing federal civil investigation. In addition, the Company is voluntarily cooperating with the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles regarding its investigation concerning cardiac physician agreements, coronary procedures and billing practices at three hospitals in Southern California — Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital and USC University Hospital — from 1998 to the present.

Women’s Cancer Center

On or about April 17, 2003, the Company received an administrative subpoena duces tecum from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“OIG”), seeking documents relating to any agreements with the Women’s Cancer Center, a physician’s group practicing in the field of gynecologic oncology, and certain physicians affiliated with that

group. The subpoena seeks documents from the Company as well as five subsidiary hospitals: Community Hospital of Los Gatos; Doctors Medical Center of Modesto; San Ramon Regional Medical Center; St. Luke Medical Center in Pasadena (now closed) and Lake Mead Hospital Medical Center.

The investigation continues, and the Company is cooperating with the government in regard to this inquiry.

Florida Medicaid Investigation

On June 6, 2003, the Florida Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (“FMFCU”) issued an investigative subpoena to the Company seeking employee personnel records and contracts with physicians, therapists and management companies, including loan agreements and purchase and sale agreements, from 1992 to the present related to the Florida hospitals owned by Tenet subsidiaries. Since such date, the Company has received additional requests for information, and it is cooperating with the FMFCU’s investigation.

United States Ex Rel. Barbera v. Amisub (North Ridge Hospital), Inc., Case No. 97-6590-CIV-JORDAN (United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, filed May 13, 1997)

This qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. Section 3729 et seq ., was filed under seal by a former employee in 1997 after his employment with a subsidiary of the Company was terminated after six months. The employee’s original qui tam action, which was brought against the Company and various subsidiaries, including the third-tier subsidiary that owns North Ridge Medical Center (“North Ridge”), a hospital located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contends that certain physician employment contracts and practice acquisition agreements violate (1) the federal anti-kickback statute, 42 U.S.C. Section 1320-7b(b), and (2) the Stark Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 1395nn. The employee also alleges that the Company and North Ridge submitted improperly coded bills from certain physician practices to the Medicare program that caused them to receive excessive reimbursements.

The government intervened as to certain of the Stark Act-related claims and also contends that North Ridge’s cost reports for fiscal years 1993 through 1997 were false, principally because they improperly included non-reimbursable costs related solely to the physicians’ private practices. The government also has brought various state law claims based on the same allegations. Finally, the government contends that a medical director agreement between North Ridge and a physician not named in the employee’s complaint violated the Stark Act.

The claimant and the government seek treble damages, civil penalties, pre- and post-judgment interest, injunctive and other relief.

The Company filed answers denying all of the allegations made by the claimant and the government. The case is set for trial in January 2004.

2. Pricing – The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are subject to investigations and lawsuits arising out of the charging strategies implemented at facilities owned by the Company’s subsidiaries.

Outlier Investigation

On January 2, 2003, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California issued an administrative investigative demand subpoena seeking production of documents related to Medicare outlier payments by the Company and 19 hospitals owned by subsidiaries.

On January 14, 2003, the Company received an additional subpoena requesting information concerning outlier payments and the Company's corporate integrity agreement that expired in 1999.

On or about October 15, 2003, the Company received an additional subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office seeking medical and billing records from 1998 to the present for certain identified patients who were treated at two Los Angeles-area facilities owned by Tenet subsidiaries—Tarzana Regional Medical Center and USC University Hospital. Additionally, the subpoena seeks personnel information concerning certain managers at those facilities during that period, as well as information about the two hospitals’ gross charges for the same time period.

The Company is cooperating with the government in connection with these investigations and the corresponding subpoenas.

Pharmaceutical Pricing Litigation

The Company has been sued in class actions in a number of states regarding the pricing of pharmaceuticals and other products and services at hospitals owned and operated by its subsidiaries. In California, the following actions have been coordinated into one proceeding entitled Tenet Healthcare Cases II, J.C.C.P. No. 4289, now pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court:

(1) Bishop v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. 2002-074408 (Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, filed December 2, 2002);

(2) Castro v. Tenet Healthcare Corp ., Case No. C03-00460 (Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa, filed February 24, 2003);

(3) Colon v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. BC 290360 (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, filed February 13, 2003);

(4) Congress of California Seniors v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. BC 287130 (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, filed December 17, 2002);

(5) Delgadillo v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. BC 290056 (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, filed February 7, 2003);

(6) Geller v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. BC 292641 (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, filed March 21, 2003);

(7) Jervis v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. BC 289522 (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, filed January 30, 2003);

(8) Moran v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. CV 030070 (Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, filed February 5, 2003);

(9) Plocher v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. BC293236 (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, filed April 2, 2003);

(10) Vargas v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. BC 291303 (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, filed March 3, 2003);

(11) Walker v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. BC 03082281 (Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, filed February 7, 2003);

(12) Watson v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. 147593 (Superior Court of California, County of Shasta, filed December 20, 2002); and

(13) Yslas v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. , Case No. BC 289356 (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, filed January 28, 2003).

On September 3, 2003, plaintiffs in the coordinated California action filed a First Amended and Consolidated Class Action and Representative Complaint against the Company on behalf of plaintiffs and a purported class consisting of certain uninsured, self-insured, and Medicare patients who allegedly paid excessive or unfair prices for prescription drugs or medical products or procedures at hospitals or other medical facilities owned by the Company and/or its subsidiaries. The complaint asserts claims for violation of California’s unfair competition law (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code Section 17200 et seq.), violation of California’s Consumers’ Legal Remedies Act (Cal. Civ. Code Section 1750), breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unjust enrichment. Plaintiffs seek to enjoin the Company from continuing the alleged unfair pricing policies and practices, and to recover all sums wrongfully obtained by those policies and practices, including compensatory damages, punitive damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, treble damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs. The Company has filed demurrers seeking to have the consolidated complaint dismissed, and a hearing is scheduled for November 18, 2003.

In addition, a similar class action ( Wade v. Tenet Healthcare Corporation , et al., No. Ct -000250-03) was filed in Circuit Court in Memphis, Tennessee on January 15, 2003. The complaint asserts claims for violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, unjust enrichment, fraudulent concealment, declaratory relief and breach of contract. These claims are based on allegations that the Company excessively inflated its charges for medical products, medical services and prescription drugs at its hospitals. Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and equitable and other relief. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, which the Company anticipates will be set for hearing in November 2003.

On March 31, 2003, the Company was served with a similar class action in Louisiana. Jordan, et al. v. Tenet Healthcare Corp., et al. , No 591 374, Civil District Court, Jefferson Parish. The class action complaint alleged that the seven hospitals in Louisiana owned by subsidiaries of the Company charged excessive amounts for prescription drugs, medical services and medical products. The complaint asserted claims for violation of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Law, L.S.A. Section 51:1405, and sought on behalf of the alleged class an accounting, injunctive relief, restitution, compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees and costs. The Jordan action was dismissed with prejudice by the court on statute of limitations grounds. A nearly identical action, Wright v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., No. 2003 6262, Civil District

Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, was filed on April 22, 2003. The court has granted defendant’s exception to the Wright complaint for failure to state a cause of action and has given plaintiff thirty days to amend her petition. A third class action was filed in Louisiana on May 5, 2003, entitled Miranda v. Tenet Louisiana, Tenet Healthcare Corp., No. 03 6893, Civil District Court, Orleans Parish. The class action complaint, filed on behalf of all uninsured and partially insured residents of Louisiana who were treated at Tenet-affiliated hospitals in Louisiana since February 1, 1999, alleges that the hospitals charged excessive prices for healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Plaintiff asserts claims for unjust enrichment, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and misrepresentation, and breach of contract and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and equitable, injunctive and other relief. The Company has filed exceptions seeking to have the complaint dismissed. The parties have agreed to a stay of the case pending a ruling in the Wright case.

Two similar class actions were filed in Florida, Sanchez v. Lifemark Hospital of Florida dba Palmetto General Hospital, No. 03 10131 CA 32, Miami-Dade County, filed April 25, 2003, and Garcia v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al. , No. 03 008646 CA 18b, Broward County, filed May 16, 2003, 2003. On October 15, 2003, plaintiffs in the Sanchez action filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice. In the Garcia action, plaintiffs allege, on behalf of themselves and a purported nationwide class of uninsured and partially insured patients, that the Company and/or its affiliated hospitals charged excessive and unlawful prices for medical products, services and pharmaceuticals. The complaint alleges a violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and also asserts claims for unfair competition and unjust enrichment and seeks damages, attorneys’ fees, and injunctive and other equitable relief. The Company has filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, which is set for hearing in February 2004.

Finally, similar class action was filed on June 19, 2003 in South Carolina, entitled Comer v. Tenet Healthcare Corporation, No 03-CP-46-1688, Court of Common Pleas, Sixth Judicial Circuit, York County. The action has been amended and renamed Atherton v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. & AMISUB of South Carolina , Case No. 03-CP-46-1688. The amended complaint alleges, on behalf of plaintiffs and all “uninsured or self-pay patients” treated at Piedmont Medical Center in York County, South Carolina, since January 1, 1997, that the charges at Piedmont Medical Center are excessive and in breach of a contract between the hospital and York County to limit charges at the hospital. In addition to this breach of contract claim, plaintiffs also have alleged claims for unjust enrichment and implied contract for value of goods and services received and seek compensatory and punitive damages, injunctive and other relief. Additional actions with similar allegations and claims may be filed in these or other states.

Managed Care Insurance Disputes

The Company and its subsidiaries are also engaged in disputes with a number of managed-care health plans and other types of health insurance companies concerning charges at facilities owned by the Company’s subsidiaries and the impact of those charges on stop-loss and other payments. The amounts at issue in these disputes are substantial. These disputes involve accounts receivable owed to our facilities as well as claims by the insurance companies for alleged overcharges, and the disputes are in various stages, from negotiation to arbitration.

On October 31, 2003, Blue Cross of California notified Doctors Medical Center of Modesto (“DMC”), an acute care facility operated by a subsidiary of the Company, of its intent to

terminate its Comprehensive Contracting Hospital Agreement with DMC, effective November 30, 2003. Tenet subsidiaries operating hospitals in California have been engaged in disputes with Blue Cross over approximately $50 million of accounts receivable that the hospitals claim are due from Blue Cross under similar agreements. According to Blue Cross, the termination is based upon conclusions it reached regarding the necessity of coronary procedures in a study of a small number of patient records. DMC and Tenet have concerns about both the methodology of the study and the small sample size, which represents approximately 1.2% of 1,922 cases treated at DMC during the same time. DMC and the Company are attempting to work with Blue Cross to address these issues.

3. Securities and Shareholder Matters

In Re Tenet Healthcare Corporation Securities Litigation, Case No. CV-02-8462-RSWL (United States District Court, Central District of California, Consolidated Amended Complaint filed May 23, 2003)

From November 2002 through January 2003, twenty securities class action lawsuits were filed against the Company and certain of its officers and directors in the United States District Court for the Central District of California and the Southern District of New York on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased the Company’s securities during the various class periods specified in the complaints. All of these actions have been consolidated under the above-listed case number. The procedures of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (“PSLRA”) apply to these cases.

Under the procedures set forth in the PSLRA, on February 10, 2003 the State of New Jersey was appointed “lead” plaintiff in the consolidated actions and its counsel, the law firm of Schiffrin & Barroway, was appointed as lead class counsel. On March 27, 2003, the Rudman Partners and related entities, who were not selected as lead plaintiffs, filed a writ of mandamus in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit seeking to overturn the appointment of the State of New Jersey as lead plaintiff and requesting that they be appointed lead plaintiffs. The writ was denied.

Lead plaintiffs’ counsel filed a single Consolidated Amended Complaint on May 23, 2003. The proposed class of plaintiffs is all purchasers of Tenet securities from January 11, 2000 to November 7, 2002. The defendants in the action are the Company, Jeffrey Barbakow, David Dennis, Trevor Fetter, Thomas Mackey, Raymond Mathiasen, Barry Schochet, Christi Sulzbach, Michael Focht, Maurice DeWald, Robert Kerrey, Bernice Bratter, Sanford Cloud, Van Honeycutt, Lester Korn, Raymond Hay, Lawrence Biondi and Floyd Loop.

The claims are (1) securities fraud under Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934; (2) control person liability pursuant to Section 20(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934; (3) insider trading under section 10b and rule 10b-5 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934; and (4)-(5) making false statements in registration statements for the Company’s debt offerings under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933. Lead plaintiff’s theory of liability is that the Company and the individual defendants made or were responsible for false and misleading statements concerning (1) the Company’s receipt of Medicare outlier payments; (2) alleged unnecessary heart surgeries at the Company’s Redding Medical Center; and (3) alleged improper Medicare upcoding for higher DRG payments. Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages under the Section 10(b) claims, recission or a recissionary measure of damages under the Section 11 and Section 15 claims, as well as disgorgement, restitution and an accounting of the alleged insider trading proceeds.

On July 25, 2003 the defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the complaint for failure to plead fraud with the required particularity under the PSLRA. The motion will be heard on November 17, 2003. Pursuant to the PSLRA, all discovery is stayed until the Motion to Dismiss is denied. On October 20, 2003, the court denied a motion by the lead plaintiff to lift the discovery stay.

In addition to this consolidated action, a private plaintiff has filed an individual action in the United States District Court for Massachusetts. That action is captioned Ramsdell v. Tenet Healthcare Corporation and Jeffrey Barbakow , Civil Action No. 03-11304-RCL, United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The claims in that action are securities fraud under Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934; (2) control person liability pursuant to Section 20(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934; and (3) insider trading under the laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. The complaint seeks $37,297.84 in compensatory damages. The defendants have moved to transfer this action to the United States District Court for the Central District of California. In the alternative, the defendants have moved to dismiss all of plaintiffs’ claims under the PSLRA and Rule 9(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff’s opposition brief is due November 10, 2003. No hearing has been set for defendants’ motion.

Shareholder Derivative Actions

Included actions:

(1) In re Tenet Healthcare Corporation Derivative Litigation , Lead Case No. 01098905 (California Superior Court, Santa Barbara County, Consolidated Amended Complaint filed March 3, 2003);

(2) In re Tenet Healthcare Corporation Derivative Litigation , Case No. CV-03-0011 RSWL (United States District Court, Central District of California, Consoilidated Amended Complaint filed March 28, 2003).

The listed cases are shareholder derivative actions filed against members of the board of directors and senior management of the Company by shareholders purporting to pursue their actions on behalf of the Company and for its benefit. No pre-lawsuit demand to investigate the allegations or bring the action was made on the board of directors. The Company also is named as a nominal defendant in each of the cases.

In the California derivative litigation, which involves ten cases that have been consolidated, the lead plaintiff filed a consolidated amended complaint on March 3, 2003. On May 1, 2003, defendants filed a motion to stay the California derivative litigation in favor of the federal derivative litigation and filed demurrers to all of the causes of action alleged in the consolidated amended complaint. The complaint alleges claims for breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, indemnification and insider trading under California law. The complaint alleges that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties and engaged in gross mismanagement by allegedly ignoring indicators of the lack of control over the Company’s accounting and management practices, allowing the Company to engage in improper conduct, permitting misleading information to be disseminated to shareholders, failing to monitor hospitals and doctors to prevent improper action and otherwise failing to carry out their duties and obligations to the Company. Plaintiffs further allege that the defendants violated the California insider trading statute, Sections 25402 and 25502.2 of the California Corporations Code, because they allegedly knew, but did not disclose, that: (i)

physicians at hospitals owned by subsidiaries of the Company were routinely performing unnecessary procedures in order to take advantage of Medicare outlier reimbursement; (ii) the Company deliberately raised its prices to take advantage of Medicare outlier reimbursement; (iii) the Company’s growth was dependent primarily on its continued receipt of Medicare outlier payments; and (iv) the rules and regulations related to Medicare outlier payments were being reformed to limit outlier payments, which would have a material negative effect on the Company’s revenues and earnings going forward. Plaintiffs seek a declaration that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties, compensatory damages, treble damages pursuant to California Corporation Code Section 25502.5(a) for alleged insider trading, disgorgement of trading profits or other benefits wrongfully obtained, or in the alternative, an equitable lien or constructive trust for Tenet’s benefit on such benefits. On July 22, 2003, the California Superior Court entered an order overruling defendants’ demurrer, and granting the motion to stay, staying the matter until further order of the court. Plaintiff’s motion to reconsider the stay was denied on August 28, 2003. A further status conference has been set for December 11, 2003.

In addition to the derivative litigation pending in the California Superior Court, four derivative cases have also been filed in federal court. These four cases have been consolidated in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Dr. Bernard Stern, North Border Investments and the City of Philadelphia have been appointed lead plaintiffs. Plaintiffs served their First Consolidated Amended Complaint on March 28, 2003. In addition to common law claims for breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, waste of corporate assets, indemnification, insider trading and unjust enrichment, the First Consolidated Amended Complaint alleges violations of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 14a-9 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. The Exchange Act claims involve allegations of false or misleading statements made in connection with (1) proxy statements regarding the election of certain directors and the approval of stock option grants and (2) Company’s purchase of stock as part of its stock repurchase program. Plaintiffs seek a declaration that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties, an order setting aside the election of certain directors at the 2002 Annual Meeting, compensatory damages, disgorgement of trading profits and other benefits wrongfully obtained, or in the alternative, and equitable lien or constructive trust for Tenet’s benefit on such profits and benefits and punitive damages.

On July 25, 2003, the defendants moved to dismiss the causes of action under the Exchange Act pursuant to the PSLRA, and the common law insider trading claim under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) and 9(b). The defendants also moved to dismiss all causes of action under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23.1, which requires a purported derivative plaintiff to allege with particularity the efforts made, if any, to obtain the action the plaintiff desires from the directors, or, in the alternative, the reasons for the plaintiff’s failure to obtain the action or for not making the effort. Defendants’ motion will be heard on November 17, 2003.

SEC Investigation

The Securities Exchange Commission launched a formal investigation by order dated April 22, 2003. The confidential investigation involves whether the Company’s disclosures in its financial reports of Tenet’s outlier reimbursements and stop loss payments were misleading or otherwise inadequate, and includes whether there was any improper trading in the Company’s securities by current and former directors and officers. The securities law provisions implicated include Sections 10(b) and 17(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, and Sections 12b-20, 13a-1

and 13a-13 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, and regulations associated with those statutes.

The SEC has served a series of document and depositions subpoenas of current and former employees, and the Company is cooperating in the investigation.

Hamner v. Tenet Healthcare Corp., Case No. CV 03-2318 RSWL (United States District Court for the Central District of California, filed February 19, 2003)

The plaintiff in this action is Gary Hamner, a former employee of Tenet who is seeking to represent a class of present and former Tenet employees who held stock under the “Tenet Healthcare Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan” on October 3, 2001 and thereafter. The defendants are the Company, Lawrence Biondi, Monica Lozano, Floyd Loop, Jeffrey Barbakow, Bernice Bratter, Sanford Cloud, Maurice DeWald, Van Honeycutt, Robert Kerrey, Lester Korn.

The stated claim is for breach of fiduciary duty. The plaintiff alleges that during the Class Period, the defendants failed to disclose information concerning Redding Medical Center and about the Company’s participation in the outlier program to holders of stock in the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and thereby harmed the employee shareholders, who otherwise might have sold or diversified their investments. The plaintiffs seek damages and equitable relief on behalf of the alleged class.

The defendants removed this action to the United States District Court for Central District of California on April 3, 2003. On July 23, 2003, the court denied the plaintiff’s motion to remand the action to state court. The plaintiff subsequently amended his complaint and moved to remand again. On October 8, 2003, the court granted the plaintiff’s motion to remand the action back to California Superior Court. Defendants intend to demur to plaintiff’s claim.

Tenet Healthcare Corporation v. M. Lee Pearce and The Tenet Shareholder Committee, LLC, and related counterclaim, Case No. CV-03-2552 RSWL (United States District Court, Central District of California, filed April 10, 2003)

On April 10, 2003, Tenet filed a compliant against M. Lee Pearce, M.D. and the Tenet Shareholder Committee, LLC (“TSC”) under the federal proxy laws seeking injunctive relief in connection with the Company’s 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. On May 12, 2003, Dr. Pearce and TSC filed an answer and counterclaim against the Company, alleging violations of the federal proxy laws and also seeking injunctive relief, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. On June 16, 2003, Dr. Pearce and TSC filed an amended answer and first amended counterclaim adding a claim for breach of fiduciary duty against the Company, Jeffrey Barbakow and Christi Sulzbach, again seeking exclusively injunctive relief as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. On June 30, 2003, Tenet filed a Motion to Dismiss the first amended counterclaims and its original complaint, without prejudice, which Dr. Pearce and TSC have opposed. The motion currently is set for hearing on November 10, 2003.

4. Redding Medical Center

Redding OIG Administrative Action

Federal government agencies have been investigating whether two physicians who had privileges at Redding Medical Center performed unnecessary invasive cardiac procedures at the hospital.

On August 4, 2003, Tenet, Tenet HealthSystem Hospitals, Inc. and Redding Medical Center Inc. reached a settlement with the United States and the State of California in the amount of $54 million. This settlement resolves all civil and monetary administrative claims that the United States may have had under the False Claims Act, the Civil Monetary Penalties Law, the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act and/or common law theories of payment by mistake, unjust enrichment, breach of contract and fraud arising out of the performance of, and billings for, alleged medically unnecessary cardiac procedures at Redding Medical Center from January 1, 1997 through December 31, 2002. In addition, the settlement resolves all civil and monetary administrative claims the State of California may have had under California Government Code Section 12650-54 and/or common law theories of payment by mistake, unjust enrichment, breach of contract and fraud arising out of this same alleged conduct. The Company has been informed by the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California that it will not initiate any criminal charges against Redding Medical Center, Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Hospitals Inc. or Tenet for the conduct covered by the settlement. The settlement had no affect on the civil litigation described below.

The Office of Inspector General ("OIG") in the Department of Health and Human Services agreed to the settlement, but reserved the right to pursue possible administrative action later. On September 3, 2003, Tenet received notice from the OIG of its intention to begin administrative proceedings to exclude Redding Medical Center from participation in Medicare and other federal health care programs. The OIG notice said it launched the process because it had determined that RMC from 1999 through 2002 “furnished cardiology and cardiac services (including several cardiac catheterizations and coronary artery bypass grafts) that were medically unnecessary and failed to meet professionally recognized standards of health care.” The notice gave RMC an opportunity to offer documents and other evidence to demonstrate that exclusion is unwarranted, and RMC has made a written submission to the OIG in response to the notice. If a decision to exclude is made, the Company would have the right to appeal in administrative law proceedings. If exclusion occurs, the net operating revenues from that hospital would be severely impacted.

Civil Litigation

Included actions:

(1) Barber v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 147329 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed November 15, 2002);

(2) Dahlgren v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 147330 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed November 15, 2002);

(3) Josefsson v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 147273 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed November 8, 2002);

(4) McKinzie v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 147274 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed November 8, 2002);

(5) Morrell v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 147271 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed November 8, 2002);

(6) Reed v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 147391 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed November 22, 2002);

(7) Smath v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 147433 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed November 27, 2002);

(8) Corapi v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 147223 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed November 27, 2002);

(9) California Foundation for Independent Living Centers v. Tenet Healthcare Corporation et al., Case No. 147610 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed December 27, 2002);

(10) Baker v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148326 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed March 19, 2003);

(11) Betsey v. Tenet Healthcare Corp., et al., Case No. 149136 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed June 25, 2003);

(12) Iman v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148551 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed April 18, 2003);

(13) Bacani v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148675 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 1, 2003);

(14) Fitzgerald et al. v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148676 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 1, 2003);

(15) Garcia v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148710 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 5, 2003);

(16) Garwood v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148709 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 5, 2003);

(17) Hunt, E. v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148677 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 1, 2003);

(18) Kenney v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148678 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 1, 2003);

(19) Keys v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148679 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 1, 2003);

(20) Kirk et al. v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148681 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 1, 2003);

(21) Newson v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148683 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 1, 2003);

(22) Thompson et al. v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148723 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 7, 2003);

(23) Varicelli v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 148684 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 1, 2003);

(24) Adams et al. v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., Case No. 149024 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed June 12, 2003);

(25) Alvarez et al. v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., Case No. 149063 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed June 16, 2003);

(26) Baldini et al. v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., Case No. 149025 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed June 12, 2003);

(27) Handel et al. v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., Case No. 149064 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed June 16, 2003);

(28) Wooten et al. v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., Case No. 148633 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed April 28, 2003);

(29) Hunt, S. v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., Case No. 148283 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed March 18, 2003);

(30) Zamora v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., Case No. 149510 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed August 11, 2003);

(31) Ford v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 149809 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed September 17, 2003);

(32) Burton et al. v. Tenet Healthcare Corporation et al., Case No. 148703 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 5, 2003);

(33) Calistro et al. v. Tenet Healthcare Corporation et al., Case No. 148705 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 5, 2003);

(34) Gately et al. v. Tenet Healthcare Corporation et al., Case No. 148932 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed June 3, 2003);

(35) Ogram v. Tenet Healthcare Corporation et al., Case No. 148704 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed May 5, 2003);

(36) Roope v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 148247 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed March 14, 2003);

(37) Atwell v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 03AS01208 (California Superior Court, Sacramento County, filed March 4, 2003);

(38) Cordell v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 03AS01288 (California Superior Court, Sacramento County, filed March 10, 2003);

(39) Dillard et al. v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 03AS00544 (California Superior Court, Sacramento County, filed January 31, 2003);

(40) Gill v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 03AS01025 (California Superior Court, Sacramento County, filed February 25, 2003);

(41) Harrison et al. v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 149411 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed July 30, 2003);

(42) Leaf et al. v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 03AS00731 (California Superior Court, Sacramento County, filed February 10, 2003);

(43) Parker v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 03AS01333 (California Superior Court, Sacramento County, filed March 10, 2003);

(44) Pollard v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 03AS01334 (California Superior Court, Sacramento County, filed March 10, 2003);

(45) Shrader et al. v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 149062 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed June 16, 2003);

(46) Wigley v. Chae Moon et al., Case No. 03AS01286 (California Superior Court, Sacramento County, filed March 10, 2003);

(47) Hooper et al. v. Tenet Healthcare Corporation et al., Case No. 03AS04983 (California Superior Court, Sacramento County, filed September 5, 2003);

(48) Aduddell et al. v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., Case No. 148656 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed April 30, 2003);

(49) Bontrager v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., Case No. 148029 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed February 20, 2003);

(50) Osborne v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., Case No. 148027 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed February 20, 2003); and

(51) Stein v. Tenet Healthcare Corp. et al., Case No. 148028 (California Superior Court, Shasta County, filed February 20, 2003).

Generally these cases were filed as a result of an advertising campaign by various plaintiffs’ counsel subsequent to the announcement of the government’s investigation concerning whether two physicians, who were independent contractors with medical staff privileges at Redding Medical Center, may have performed unnecessary coronary procedures. When filed, the complaints in actions (1)-(9) alleged various claims including fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, unfair and deceptive business practices in violation of California Business & Professions Code section 17200, elder abuse, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. One of the cases also alleged a wrongful death claim. Although the specific claims varied from case to case, the complaints generally alleged that the physician defendants knowingly performed unnecessary coronary procedures on patients and that the Company and RMC knew or should have known that such unnecessary procedures were being performed. These complaints sought injunctive relief, restitution, disgorgement and compensatory and punitive damages. The Company filed demurrers and motions to strike in response to the complaints. In each case the Court either sustained the demurrers in their entirety or plaintiffs voluntarily withdrew their original complaints. Plaintiffs then filed amended complaints in actions (1)-(9), and they alleged various claims including fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy to breach fiduciary duty, intentional infliction of emotional distress and conspiracy to intentionally inflict emotional distress, battery, elder abuse and negligence. The claim for unfair and deceptive business practices in violation of California Business & Professions Code section 17200 was dropped from all but action (9). The wrongful death claim also was dropped from each of these cases. Although the specific claims alleged in the amended complaints once again varied from case to case, they generally alleged that the physician defendants knowingly performed unnecessary coronary procedures on patients and that the Company and RMC knew or should have known that such unnecessary procedures were being performed. The Company again filed demurrers and motions to strike with respect to the amended complaints. With the exception of action (1) in which plaintiffs recently dismissed this case with prejudice and action (9) in which

the demurrers to plaintiff’s first amended complaint have not yet been heard, in each case the Court again sustained the demurrers in their entirety. In September, plaintiffs filed second amended complaints in actions (2), (3) and (5)-(7) and a third amended complaint in action (8) alleging claims for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, battery, elder abuse and negligence. The Company has also filed demurrers and motions to strike with respect to the second and third amended complaints filed in these actions. Plaintiff in action (4) has not filed a second amended complaint, and the Company has filed a motion to dismiss that action with prejudice. The demurrers and motions in these actions are scheduled to be heard on November 17, 2003.

Actions (10)–(29) are more recently served, and these actions are similarly based upon allegations that certain physicians at Redding Medical Center knowingly performed unnecessary coronary procedures on patients. These actions allege various claims including fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, battery, elder abuse, negligence, false imprisonment, loss of consortium and wrongful death. Plaintiffs seek general, special and punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. Our demurrers and motions to strike filed in these actions are scheduled to be heard on November 17, 2003 and December 8, 2003. Actions (30)-(51) were also recently served, and they are based upon similar allegations, raise similar claims and seek similar relief. The Company will be filing demurrers and motions to strike with respect to the complaints filed in these actions as well. The Company anticipates that additional actions with similar allegations will be filed and served.

During the period November 2002 to the present, the Company was also served with over 1,400 notices of intent to commence civil actions for negligence with respect to allegedly unnecessary cardiac procedures performed at RMC by the non-employed physicians. One such medical malpractice action, Roberts v. Chae Moon, M.D., et al., Case No. 02AS07065 was filed in California Superior Court, Sacramento County, on November 18, 2002. That case has not yet been served on the Company. It alleges claims for professional negligence, battery, fraud and deceit, conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent supervision and loss of consortium. The complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages and other relief. The Company anticipates that additional cases with similar allegations will be filed and has received more than 1,400 notices of intent to file similar lawsuits.

5. Medicare Coding

United States v. Tenet Healthcare Corp., et al, Case No. CV-03-206-GAF (United States District Court for the Central District of California, filed January 9, 2003).

The U.S. Department of Justice, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, has been investigating certain hospital billings to Medicare for inpatient stays reimbursed pursuant to diagnosis-related groups (“DRG”) 79 (pneumonia), 415 (operating room procedure for infectious and parasitic diseases), 416 (septicemia), and 475 (respiratory system diagnosis with mechanical ventilator). The investigation is believed to have stemmed initially from the government’s nationwide pneumonia “upcoding” initiative and focuses on 103 acute care hospitals owned by subsidiaries of the Company or its predecessors during the period September 1992 through December 1998. On January 9, 2003, the government filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in regard to this matter alleging violations, among other things, of the federal False Claims Act. The government seeks treble damages and other relief. On March 24, 2003, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint and another motion attacking the government’s complaint. The

motions are pending and the court has not yet ruled. The parties are also engaged in preliminary discovery and no trial date has been set.

6. Other Litigation

John C. Bedrosian v. Tenet Healthcare Corp., Case No. SC026542 (Los Angeles County Superior Court, filed October 5, 1993)

On October 29, 2003, the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Second Appellate District, Division Two, awarded $253 million in contract damages for failing to provide certain stock incentive awards to John C. Bedrosian, one of the three founders of National Medical Enterprises Inc., or NME. The appellate court ruling modified a lower court decision earlier this year that awarded Mr. Bedrosian a judgment of approximately $7.6 million in a lawsuit he filed against the Company alleging breach of his employment contract in connection with the termination of his employment 10 years ago. The lower court also awarded Mr. Bedrosian an additional $1.6 million in attorney’s fees and costs. Mr. Bedrosian subsequently appealed the lower court rulings.

Mr. Bedrosian’s employment with NME was terminated in September 1993, following a federal investigation into the Company’s psychiatric subsidiary. Under new management, NME was renamed Tenet Healthcare Corporation in 1995, following the resolution of the investigation and a subsequent merger of NME and American Medical International Inc.

Although the Company will seek to have this decision reviewed, there is no assurance that it will be reviewed or that any relief will be granted.

People’s Health Network Investigation

People’s Health Network, or PHN, a New Orleans health plan management services provider in which a Tenet subsidiary holds a 50-percent membership interest, in October 2003 received two subpoenas from the U.S. Attorney’s office in New Orleans seeking certain records from Jan. 1, 1999 to the present. The first subpoena, received October 3, 2003, seeks documents including articles of incorporation and bylaws, membership data, agendas and minutes of meetings, and policy manuals from PHN and additional documents related to several New Orleans-area independent physician associations that also hold membership interests in PHN. The second subpoena, received on October 14, 2003, seeks patient information for patients who were admitted to a rehabilitation unit and members for whom inpatient rehabilitation services were ordered, recommended, or requested, and subsequently denied.

Congressional Investigations

On September 5, 2003, Senator Charles E. Grassley of the Senate Finance Committee notified the Company that the Committee is investigating the Company and has requested documents relating to Redding Medical Center, Medicare outlier payments, patient care, and other matters. Since such time, the Company has received additional requests from the Senate Finance Committee, including requests for quality reviews at certain hospitals. The Company is cooperating in regard to this investigation.

Twenty large health care systems in the United States, including the Company, received a letter dated July 16, 2003 from the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, seeking documents related to hospital billing practices and their impact on the uninsured. Specifically, the Committee, through its Subcommittee on Oversight and

Investigations, is conducting an investigation into the “sophisticated and complicated forces driving health care financing, including government entitlements, managed care, rising costs, and shrinking public funds.” The Subcommittee is seeking input from each of the major health care systems to analyze the impact these competing forces have on the uninsured patient population. The Company is cooperating with the Subcommittee in connection with the investigation.

Internal Revenue Service

The Internal Revenue Service has completed an examination of our federal income tax returns for our fiscal years ended May 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997. It has issued a Revenue Agent’s Report in which it proposes to assess an aggregate tax deficiency for the three-year audit period of $157 million plus interest of approximately $118 million through September 30, 2003, before any federal or state tax benefit. The Revenue Agent’s Report contains several disputed adjustments, including the disallowance of a deduction for a portion of the civil settlement paid to the federal government in June 1994 related to our discontinued psychiatric hospital business and a disputed adjustment with respect to the timing of the recognition of income for tax purposes pertaining to Medicare and Medicaid net revenues. In connection with the proposed adjustment regarding the civil settlement, we recorded an additional after-tax charge for taxes and interest to discontinued operations of approximately $70 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2003. We believe our original deductions and methods of accounting were appropriate, and we have filed a protest with the Appeals Division of the Internal Revenue Service. In the event that these issues cannot be resolved successfully with the Appeals Division, we may further appeal their findings by filing a petition for redetermination of a deficiency with the Tax Court or by filing a claim for refund in U.S. District Court or in the Court of Federal Claims. In order to file a claim for refund in U.S. District Court or in the Court of Federal Claims, all disputed taxes plus interest must be paid prior to filing the claim. We currently are not able to estimate the total amount, if any, that we might owe or pay upon final resolution of these issues, nor are we able to estimate the timing of the final resolution of this matter.

Medical Malpractice and Other Ordinary Course

In addition to the litigation described above, the Company is subject to claims and lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. The largest categories of these claims relate to medical malpractice.

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

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The results of our annual meeting of shareholders, held on July 23, 2003, were reported in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003.

ITEM 6 . EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits

(3) Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

(a) Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Registrant, as amended and restated July 23, 2003 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 8, 2003).

(b) Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant, as amended and restated November 6, 2003. *

(4) Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders, Including Indentures

(a) Indenture, dated as of November 6, 2001, between Tenet and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 6, 2001).

(b) First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 6, 2001, between Tenet and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to 5 3/8 % Senior Notes due 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 6, 2001).

(c) Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 6, 2001, between Tenet and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to 6 3/8 % Senior Notes due 2011 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 6, 2001).

(d) Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 6, 2001, between Tenet and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to 6 7/8 % Senior Notes due 2031 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 6, 2001).

(e) Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated March 7, 2002, between Tenet and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to 6 1/2 % Senior Notes due 2012 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 7, 2002).

(f) Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated June 25, 2002, between Tenet and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to 5% Senior Notes due 2007 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed June 25, 2002).

(g) Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated January 28, 2003, between Tenet and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to 7 3/8 % Senior Notes due 2013 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed January 31, 2003).

(10) Material Contracts

(a) $1,200,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2001, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of October 10, 2001, as amended by Amendment No. 2, dated February 28, 2003, as amended by Amendment No. 3, dated September 30, 2003, among the Registrant, as Borrower, the Lenders, Managing Agents and Co-Agents party thereto, the Swingline Bank party thereto, The Bank of New York, The Bank of Nova Scotia and Salomon Smith Barney, Inc. as Documentation Agents, Bank of America, N.A. as Syndication Agent and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York as Administrative Agent.*

(b) Letter from the Registrant to Jeffrey C. Barbakow, dated May 26, 1993 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(h) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 26, 1999, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999).

(c) Letter from the Registrant to Jeffrey C. Barbakow, dated June 1, 1993 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(i) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 26, 1999, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999).

(d) Memorandum from the Registrant to Jeffrey C. Barbakow, filed June 14, 1993 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(j) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 26, 1999, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999).

(e) Memorandum of Understanding, dated May 21, 1996, from Jeffrey C. Barbakow to the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 20, 2001, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2001).

(f) Deferred Compensation Agreement, dated May 31, 1997, between Jeffrey C. Barbakow and the Registrant.*

(g) Memorandum of Understanding, dated June 1, 2001, from Jeffrey C. Barbakow to the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(h) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 20, 2001, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2001).

(h) Letter from the Registrant to Jeffrey C. Barbakow, dated April 14, 2003 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(i) to Registrant’s Transition Report on Form 10-K, filed May 15, 2003, for the seven month transition period ended December 31, 2002).

(i) Letter from the Registrant to David L. Dennis, dated February 18, 2000 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(j) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 15, 2000, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2000).

(j) Letter from the Registrant to Trevor Fetter, dated November 7, 2002 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(k) to Registrant’s Transition Report on Form 10-K, filed May 15, 2003, for the seven month transition period ended December 31, 2002).

(k) Restricted Stock Agreement, dated January 21, 2003, between Trevor Fetter and the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed April 14, 2003, for the fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2003).

(l) Letter from the Registrant to Trevor Fetter, dated September 15, 2003.*

(m) Consulting and Non-Compete Agreement, dated February 13, 2003, between Thomas B. Mackey and the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(m) to Registrant’s Transition Report on Form 10-K, filed May 15, 2003 for the seven-month transition period ended December 31, 2002).

(n) Letter from the Registrant to Reynold Jennings, dated April 16, 2003 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(n) to Registrant’s Transition Report on Form 10-K, filed May 15, 2003, for the seven month transition period ended December 31, 2002).

(o) Letter from the Registrant to Randy Smith, dated April 16, 2003 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(o) to Registrant’s Transition Report on Form 10-K, filed May 15, 2003, for the seven month transition period ended December 31, 2002).

(p) Tenet Executive Severance Protection Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(p) to Registrant’s Transition Report on Form 10-K, filed May 15, 2003, for the seven month transition period ended December 31, 2002).

(q) Board of Directors Retirement Plan, effective January 1, 1985, as amended August 18, 1993, April 25, 1994 and July 30, 1997.*

(r) Tenet Healthcare Corporation Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(n) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 13, 2002, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002).

(s) Fourth Amended and Restated Tenet 2001 Deferred Compensation Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(s) to Registrant’s Transition Report on Form 10-K, filed May 15, 2003, for the seven-month transition period ended December 31, 2002).

(t) Second Amended and Restated Tenet Executive Deferred Compensation Plans Trust (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(r) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 20, 2001, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2001).

(u) Tenet Healthcare Corporation Second Amended and Restated 1994 Directors Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(s) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 20, 2001, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2001).

(v) 1991 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(t) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 20, 2001, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2001).

(w) Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(s) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 13, 2002, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002).

(x) First Amended and Restated Tenet Healthcare Corporation 1999 Broad-Based Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(t) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed August 13, 2002, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002).

(y) Tenet Healthcare Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement, filed August 20, 2001, for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on October 10, 2001).

(z) Tenet Healthcare Corporation 2001 Annual Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix B to Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement, filed August 20, 2001, for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on October 10, 2001).

(31) Section 302 Certifications

(a) Certification of Trevor Fetter, president and chief executive officer

(b) Certification of Stephen D. Farber, chief financial officer

(32) Section 906 Certifications

(a) Certification of Trevor Fetter, president and chief executive officer

(b) Certification of Stephen D. Farber, chief financial officer

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

(1) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 16, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(2) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 18, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(3) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 7, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(4) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 7, 2003 (reporting under Item 12).

(5) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 2, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(6) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 4, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(7) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 8, 2003 (includes financial statements) (reporting under Item 9).

(8) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 17, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(9) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 25, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(10) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 26, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(11) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 29, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(12) Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 7, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(13) Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 14, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(14) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 17, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(15) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 22, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(16) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 28, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(17) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 30, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(18) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 31, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(19) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 4, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(20) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 4, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(21) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 4, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

(22) Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed with the SEC on November 5, 2003 (reporting under Item 9).

* Filed herewith.

Note: Items 2, 3, and 5 of Part II are omitted because they are not applicable.

Signatures

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



Date: November 10, 2003	Tenet Healthcare Corporation
	(Registrant)


	/s/ STEPHEN D. FARBER
	Stephen D. Farber
	Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Financial Officer)


	/s/ TIMOTHY L. PULLEN
	Timothy L. Pullen
	Executive Vice President,
	Chief Accounting Officer
	(Principal Accounting Officer)

Exhibit 10(a)

COMPOSITE CONFORMED COPY
AS AMENDED BY AMENDMENTS NOS. 1, 2 & 3

(Signature pages reflect Lender group at 11/03/03 -
Syndication titles omitted)

FIVE-YEAR

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

March 1, 2001

among

Tenet Healthcare Corporation

The Lenders, Managing Agents and Co-Agents Party Hereto

The Swingline Bank Party Hereto

The Bank of New York
The Bank of Nova Scotia
Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
as Documentation Agents

Bank of America, N.A.
as Syndication Agent

and

Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York
as Administrative Agent

Arranged by:

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
and
Banc of America Securities LLC,
Joint Lead Arrangers
and
Joint Bookrunners

ARTICLE 1
	DEFINITIONS
	SECTION 1.01. Definitions
	SECTION 1.02. Accounting Terms and Determinations

ARTICLE 2
	THE CREDITS
	SECTION 2.01. Syndicated Borrowings
	SECTION 2.02. Notice of Syndicated Borrowing
	SECTION 2.03. Money Market Borrowings
	SECTION 2.04. Notice to Lenders; Funding of Loans
	SECTION 2.05. Notes
	SECTION 2.06. Maturity of Loans
	SECTION 2.07. Optional Prepayments of Syndicated Loans
	SECTION 2.08. Notice of Syndicated Prepayment
	SECTION 2.09. Interest Rates
	SECTION 2.10. Method of Electing Interest Rates
	SECTION 2.11. Fees
	SECTION 2.12. Termination or Reduction of Commitments
	SECTION 2.13. General Provisions as to Payments
	SECTION 2.14. Funding Losses
	SECTION 2.15. Computation of Interest and Fees
	SECTION 2.16. Swingline Loans
	SECTION 2.17. Letters of Credit

ARTICLE 3
	CONDITIONS
	SECTION 3.01. Closing
	SECTION 3.02. Termination of Existing Commitments
	SECTION 3.03. Borrowings and Issuances or Extensions of Letters of Credit
	SECTION 3.04. Existing Letters of Credit

ARTICLE 4
	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
	SECTION 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power
	SECTION 4.02. Corporate and Governmental Authorization
	SECTION 4.03. Binding Effect
	SECTION 4.04. Financial Information
	SECTION 4.05. Litigation
	SECTION 4.06. Compliance with ERISA

	SECTION 4.07. Compliance with Laws
	SECTION 4.08. Environmental Matters
	SECTION 4.09. Taxes
	SECTION 4.10. Material Subsidiaries
	SECTION 4.11. Certain Laws Not Applicable
	SECTION 4.12. Full Disclosure

ARTICLE 5
	COVENANTS
	SECTION 5.01. Information
	SECTION 5.02. Maintenance of Property; Insurance
	SECTION 5.03. Conduct of Business; Maintenance of Existence
	SECTION 5.04. Compliance with Laws
	SECTION 5.05. Inspection of Property, Books and Records
	SECTION 5.06. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets
	SECTION 5.07. Negative Pledge
	SECTION 5.08. Debt of Subsidiaries
	SECTION 5.09. Leverage Ratio
	SECTION 5.10. Consolidated Net Worth
	SECTION 5.11. Fixed Charge Ratio
	SECTION 5.12. Restricted Payments
	SECTION 5.13. Transactions with Affiliates
	SECTION 5.14. Payment of Dividends by Material Subsidiaries
	SECTION 5.15. Use of Proceeds
	SECTION 5.16. Prepayment of Debt

ARTICLE 6
	DEFAULTS
	SECTION 6.01. Events of Default
	SECTION 6.02. Notice of Default
	SECTION 6.03. Cash Cover

ARTICLE 7
	THE AGENTS
	SECTION 7.01. Appointment and Authorization
	SECTION 7.02. Agents and Affiliates
	SECTION 7.03. Action by the Administrative Agent
	SECTION 7.04. Consultation with Experts
	SECTION 7.05. Liability of the Agents
	SECTION 7.06. Indemnification
	SECTION 7.07. Credit Decision
	SECTION 7.08. Successor Administrative Agent
	SECTION 7.09. Fees

	SECTION 7.10. Other Agents

ARTICLE 8
	CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCE
	SECTION 8.01. Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair
	SECTION 8.02. Illegality
	SECTION 8.03. Increased Cost and Reduced Return
	SECTION 8.04. Taxes
	SECTION 8.05. Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Euro-Dollar Loans

ARTICLE 9
	MISCELLANEOUS
	SECTION 9.01. Notices
	SECTION 9.02. No Waivers
	SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnification
	SECTION 9.04. Set-offs; Sharing
	SECTION 9.05. Amendments and Waivers
	SECTION 9.06. Successors and Assigns
	SECTION 9.07. No Reliance on Margin Stock as Collateral
	SECTION 9.08. Confidentiality
	SECTION 9.09. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
	SECTION 9.10. GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION
	SECTION 9.11. Counterparts; Integration

Pricing Schedule
Commitment Schedule
Schedule 3.04		—	Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 4.05		—	Pending Litigation

Exhibit A		—	Note
Exhibit B		—	Money Market Request
Exhibit C		—	Money Market Invitation
Exhibit D		—	Money Market Quote
Exhibit E		—	Swingline Note
Exhibit F		—	Senior Officer’s Closing Certificate
Exhibit G		—	Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Special Counsel for the Borrower
Exhibit H		—	Opinion of General Counsel for the Borrower
Exhibit I		—	Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, Special Counsel for the Administrative Agent
Exhibit J		—	Assignment and Assumption Agreement

FIVE-YEAR
CREDIT AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT dated as of March 1, 2001 among TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION, the LENDERS, MANAGING AGENTS, CO-AGENTS and SWINGLINE BANK party hereto, The Bank of New York, The Bank of Nova Scotia and Salomon Smith Barney Inc., as Documentation Agents, Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Administrative Agent.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01 . Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

“ Absolute Rate Auction ” means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes setting forth Money Market Absolute Rates pursuant to Section 2.03 .

“ Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(b) .

“ Administrative Agent ” means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders hereunder, and its successors in such capacity.

“ Administrative Questionnaire ” means, with respect to each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower) duly completed by such Lender.

“ Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls such Person (a “ Controlling Person ”) or (ii) any Person which is controlled by or is under common control with a Controlling Person. As used herein, the term “ control ” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management of a Person by voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

“ Agents ” means the Administrative Agent, the Documentation Agents and the Syndication Agent, and “ Agent ” means any one of them.

“ Aggregate LC Exposure ” means at any time the sum, without duplication, of (i) the aggregate amount that is (or may thereafter become) available for drawing under all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time and (ii) the aggregate unpaid amount of all LC Reimbursement Obligations outstanding at such time.

“ Applicable Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, (i) in the case of its Base Rate Loans and its participations in Letters of Credit, its Domestic Lending Office, (ii) in the case of its Euro-Dollar Loans, its Euro-Dollar Lending Office and (iii) in the case of its Money Market Loans, its Money Market Lending Office.

“ Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is managed (whether as manager or administrator) by (i) a Lender, (ii) an affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

“ Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the Termination Date.

“ Base Rate ” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the higher of (i) the Prime Rate for such day and (ii) the sum of ½ of 1% plus the Federal Funds Rate for such day.

“ Base Rate Borrowing ” means a borrowing of Base Rate Loans pursuant to Section 2.01 or 2.16(h) .

“ Base Rate Loan ” means a Syndicated Loan which bears interest at the Base Rate (or any higher rate determined pursuant to Section 2.09(a) ) pursuant to the applicable Notice of Syndicated Borrowing or Notice of Interest Rate Election or the provisions of Section 2.16(h) or Article 8.

“ Borrower ” means Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a Nevada corporation, and its successors.

“ Borrower’s Existing Credit Agreement ” means the $2,800,000,000 Credit Agreement dated as of January 30, 1997, as amended, among the Borrower and the Lenders, Managing Agents and Co-Agents party thereto, Bank of America, N.A. as Syndication Agent, The Bank of New York and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Documentation Agents, and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of

New York as Administrative Agent, as in effect immediately before the Closing Date.

“ Borrowing ” means a Syndicated Borrowing, a Money Market Borrowing or a Swingline Borrowing.

“ Closing Date ” means the date on which all the conditions set forth in Section 3.01 have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.05 ).

“ Co-Agents ” means the Lenders designated as Co-Agents on the signature pages hereof, in their respective capacities as Co-Agents in connection with the credit facility provided hereunder.

“ Commitment ” means (i) with respect to any Lender listed on the Commitment Schedule, the amount set forth opposite its name on the Commitment Schedule as its Commitment or (ii) with respect to any Eligible Assignee, the amount of the transferor Lender’s Commitment assigned to such Eligible Assignee pursuant to Section 9.06(c) , in each case as such amount may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.12 or changed as result of an assignment pursuant to Section 9.06(c) . The term “ Commitment ” does not include the Swingline Commitment.

“ Commitment Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage which the amount of such Lender’s Commitment at such time represents of the aggregate amount of all the Lenders’ Commitments at such time. At any time after the Commitments shall have terminated, the term “ Commitment Percentage ” shall refer to a Lender’s Commitment Percentage immediately before such termination, adjusted to reflect any subsequent assignments pursuant to Section 9.06(c) .

“ Commitment Schedule ” means the Commitment Schedule attached hereto.

“ Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters, the sum of (i) operating income plus (ii) to the extent deducted in determining such operating income, the sum of (x) depreciation and amortization and (y) impairment and other unusual charges (except, for any such period, to the extent that the aggregate amount of such charges that do not constitute Non-Cash Charges reported by the Borrower for all fiscal periods commenced after November 30, 2000 exceeds three percent (3.0%) of the Borrower’s consolidated total assets at the end of such four-quarter period), in each case for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and determined (A) on a Pro Forma Basis and (B) in a manner consistent with the determination of the amount of any

thereof reported in the consolidated statement of income for the Fiscal Year ended May 31, 2000 included in the Borrower’s annual report to shareholders for such Fiscal Year, plus (iii) without duplication of any amounts described in clause (ii)(y), to the extent deducted in determining such operating income, (A) charges in an aggregate amount not in excess of $225,000,000 recorded in the Fiscal Quarter ended September 30, 2003, and (B) charges in excess of 10.0% of net operating revenue in the Fiscal Quarter in which any such charges are recorded and in an aggregate amount not in excess of $250,000,000 recorded after the Fiscal Quarter ended September 30, 2003, in each case in conjunction with the Borrower’s analysis of its accounts receivable, including changes in the Borrower’s accounting policy for provision for doubtful collection of accounts.

“ Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters, the consolidated interest expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a Pro Forma Basis.

“ Consolidated Net Worth ” means, at any time, the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such time.

“ Consolidated Rental Expense ” means, for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters, the consolidated rental expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a Pro Forma Basis.

“ Consolidated Total Debt ” means at any time, without duplication, the sum of (i) the consolidated Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, minus (ii) the consolidated amount of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are not subject to Liens, to the extent such amount exceeds the aggregate principal amount of Loans then outstanding.

“ Continuing Director ” means (i) any individual who is a director of the Borrower on the date of this Agreement and (ii) any individual who becomes a director of the Borrower after the date of this Agreement and is elected or nominated for election as a director of the Borrower by a majority of the individuals who were Continuing Directors immediately before such election or nomination.

“ Credit Exposure ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, (i) the amount of its Commitment at such time or (ii) if its Commitment shall have terminated, an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of its Loans plus its LC Exposure at such time plus any participation in Swingline Loans held by it pursuant to Section 2.16(h) .

“ Date of Determination ”, when used with respect to determining any amount for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters, means (i) the last day of such period, if such amount is being determined for purposes of Section 5.11 or (ii) the day as of which the debt ratio is being determined, if such amount is being determined for purposes of Section 5.09 .

“ 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 arising in the ordinary course of business and deferred compensation payable to members of management of such Person, (iv) all obligations of such Person as lessee which are capitalized in accordance with GAAP, (v) all obligations pursuant to any Synthetic Lease, (vi) all Debt secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is otherwise an obligation of such Person (such Debt of such Person to be in a principal amount equal to the lesser of (x) the outstanding principal amount of the Debt so secured and (y) the book value of such asset or assets) and (vii) all Guarantees by such Person of obligations of other Persons of the types described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi), inclusive (any such Guarantee to be included in any calculation of the amount of such Person’s Debt at an amount equal to the principal amount guaranteed thereby). If such Person Guarantees Debt of another Person by causing a letter of credit to be issued in support thereof, the “Debt” of such Person includes (without duplication) such Person’s obligation to reimburse the issuing bank for drawings (including any future drawings) in respect of principal under such letter of credit.

“ Default ” means any condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

“ Domestic Business Day ” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized by law to close.

“ Domestic Lending Office ” means, as to each Lender, its office located at its address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire (or identified in its Administrative Questionnaire as its Domestic Lending Office) or such other office as such Lender may hereafter designate as its Domestic Lending Office by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

“ Eligible Assignee ” means (a) a Lender; (b) an affiliate of a Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural Person) approved

by the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Bank and each LC Issuing Bank having a Letter of Credit outstanding and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If the consent of the Borrower to an assignment or to an Eligible Assignee is required hereunder (including a consent to an assignment which does not meet the minimum assignment amount threshold), the Borrower shall be deemed to have given its consent five Domestic Business Days after the date notice thereof has been delivered to the Borrower by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative Agent) unless such consent is expressly refused by the Borrower prior to such fifth Domestic Business Day.

“ Environmental Laws ” means any and all federal, state and local statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions relating to the environment, the effect of the environment on human health or to emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, Hazardous Substances or wastes into the environment including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, Hazardous Substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.

“ Equity Interest ” means (i) in the case of a corporation, any shares of its capital stock, (ii) in the case of a partnership, any partnership interest (whether general or limited), (iii) in the case of any other business entity, any participation or other interest in the equity or profits thereof or (iv) any warrant, option or other right to acquire any Equity Interest described in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), other than a right to convert a debt security into, or exchange a debt security for, any such Equity Interest.

“ ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor statute.

“ ERISA Group ” means the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.

“ Euro-Dollar Borrowing ” means a borrowing pursuant to Section 2.01 of Euro-Dollar Loans having the same initial Interest Period.

“ Euro-Dollar Business Day ” means any Domestic Business Day on which commercial banks are open for international business (including dealings in dollar deposits) in London.

“ Euro-Dollar Lending Office ” means, as to each Lender, its office, branch or Affiliate located at its address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire (or identified in its Administrative Questionnaire as its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) or such other office, branch or Affiliate of such Lender as it may hereafter designate as its Euro-Dollar Lending Office by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

“ Euro-Dollar Loan ” means a Syndicated Loan which bears interest at a Euro-Dollar Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Syndicated Borrowing or Notice of Interest Rate Election.

“ Euro-Dollar Margin ” means a rate per annum determined in accordance with the Pricing Schedule.

“ Euro-Dollar Rate ” means a rate of interest determined pursuant to Section 2.09(b) or (c) on the basis of an Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate.

“ Euro-Dollar Reference Banks ” means the principal London offices of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Bank of America, N.A., The Bank of New York, The Bank of Nova Scotia and Citicorp USA, Inc.

“ Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(b) .

“ Events of Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01 .

“ Evergreen Letter of Credit ” means a Letter of Credit that is automatically extended unless the relevant LC Issuing Bank gives notice to the beneficiary thereof stating that such Letter of Credit will not be extended.

“ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“ Facility Fee Rate ” means a rate per annum determined in accordance with the Pricing Schedule.

“ Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by

the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Domestic Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that (i) if such day is not a Domestic Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Domestic Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Domestic Business Day, and (ii) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Domestic Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate quoted to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

“ Financial Obligations ” of any Person means at any date, without duplication:

(i) Debt of such Person,

(ii) all obligations of such Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid under a letter of credit or similar instrument or to make any payment pursuant to a Hedging Obligation, and

(iii) all Guarantees by such Person of Financial Obligations of other Persons of the types described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition.

“ Financing Documents ” means this Agreement (including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto), the Notes and the Swingline Note, and “ Financing Document ” means any one of them.

“ Fiscal Quarter ” means a fiscal quarter of the Borrower.

“ Fiscal Year ” means a fiscal year of the Borrower.

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

“ GAAP ” means at any time generally accepted accounting principles as then in effect in the United States, applied on a basis consistent (except for changes with which the Borrower’s independent public accountants have concurred) with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries theretofore delivered to the Lenders.

“ Group of Loans ” means at any time a group of Syndicated Loans consisting of (i) all Syndicated Loans which are Base Rate Loans at such time or (ii) all Syndicated Loans which are Euro-Dollar Loans having the same Interest

Period at such time; provided that, if a Loan of any particular Lender is converted to or made as a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.05 , such Loan shall be included in the same Group or Groups of Loans from time to time as it would have been in if it had not been so converted or made.

“ Guarantee ” by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other payment obligation of any other Person, including without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other payment obligation (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other payment obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “ Guarantee ” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

“ Hazardous Substances ” means any toxic, radioactive, caustic or otherwise hazardous substance, including petroleum, its derivatives, by-products and other hydrocarbons, or any substance having any constituent elements displaying any of the foregoing characteristics.

“ Healthcare Business ” means any going concern healthcare business or any other going concern business that is related or ancillary to one or more Healthcare Facilities or healthcare businesses.

“ Healthcare Facility ” means a hospital, outpatient clinic, long-term care facility, medical office building or other comparable facility that is used or useful in providing healthcare services.

“ Hedging Obligation ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person under (i) any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement or interest rate collar agreement, (ii) any foreign exchange contract or currency swap agreement or (iii) any other agreement or arrangement of a type designed to protect a Person against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates.

“ Indemnitee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(b) .

“ Interest Period ” means: (1) with respect to each Euro-Dollar Loan, the period commencing on the date of borrowing specified in the applicable Notice of Syndicated Borrowing or on the date specified in an applicable Notice of Interest Rate Election and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect in the applicable notice; provided that:

(a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day;

(b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Euro-Dollar 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 Interest Period) shall, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last Euro-Dollar Business Day of a calendar month; and

(2) with respect to each Money Market LIBOR Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending such whole number of months thereafter as the Borrower may elect in accordance with Section 2.03 ; provided that:

(3) with respect to each Money Market Absolute Rate Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending such number of

days thereafter (but not less than 7 days) as the Borrower may elect in accordance with Section 2.03 ; provided that:

(a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day; and

(b) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after the Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date.

“ Internal Revenue Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute.

“ Investment ” means, with respect to any Person, any investment by such Person in any other Person (including an Affiliate) in the form of loans, capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Debt, Equity Interests or other securities and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“ Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating of senior long-term unsecured debt securities of the Borrower without any third party credit support as (i) BBB- or higher by S&P and (ii) Baa3 or higher by Moody’s.

“ Joint Lead Arrangers ” means J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Banc of America Securities LLC.

“ LC Exposure ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to its Commitment Percentage of the Aggregate LC Exposure at such time.

“ LC Fee Rate ” means, at any date, a rate per annum equal to the Euro-Dollar Margin at such date.

“ LC Indemnitees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(m) .

“ LC Issuing Bank ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(a) .

“ LC Office ” means, with respect to any LC Issuing Bank, the office at which it books any Letter of Credit issued by it.

“ LC Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(i) .

“ LC Reimbursement Due Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(j) .

“ LC Reimbursement Obligations ” means, at any time, all obligations of the Borrower to reimburse the LC Issuing Banks for amounts paid by the LC Issuing Banks in respect of drawings under Letters of Credit, including any portion of any such obligation to which a Lender has become subrogated pursuant to Section 2.17(k) .

“ Lender ” means each lender listed on the Commitment Schedule, each Eligible Assignee which becomes a Lender pursuant to Section 9.06(c) , and their respective successors. The term “ Lender ” does not include the Swingline Bank in its capacity as such.

“ Lending Parties ” means the Lenders, the LC Issuing Banks, the Managing Agents, the Co-Agents, the Swingline Bank and the Agents.

“ Letter of Credit ” means a letter credit issued hereunder by an LC Issuing Bank.

“ Leverage Ratio ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09 .

“ LIBOR Auction ” means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes setting forth Money Market Margins based on the London Interbank Offered Rate pursuant to Section 2.03 .

“ Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement that has substantially the same practical effect as a security interest, in respect of such asset. For purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

“ Loan ” means a Syndicated Loan or a Money Market Loan and “ Loans ” means both of the foregoing. The term “ Loan ” does not include a Swingline Loan.

“ London Interbank Offered Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(b) .

“ Managing Agents ” means the Lenders designated as Managing Agents on the signature pages hereof, in their respective capacities as Managing Agents in connection with the credit facility provided hereunder.

“ Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on the business, operations, properties, financial condition or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, considered as a whole.

“ Material Financial Obligations ” means non-contingent Financial Obligations (other than the Notes, the Swingline Note and the LC Reimbursement Obligations) of the Borrower and/or one or more Subsidiaries, arising in one or more related transactions, in an aggregate principal or face amount exceeding $70,000,000; provided that, for purposes of this definition and clause (g) of Section 6.01 , (i) contingent obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to reimburse a bank or other Person for amounts not yet drawn under a letter of credit or similar instrument shall be deemed to be non-contingent (and to have been accelerated) if they are required to be prepaid or cash collateralized as a result of a default under the relevant reimbursement agreement, (ii) contingent obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under any Hedging Obligation shall be deemed to be non-contingent (and to have been accelerated) if such Hedging Obligation is terminated by reason of a default by the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) in no event shall the Metrocrest Lease, or any obligation of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder or with respect thereto or under or with respect to any financing of the Healthcare Facility subject to the Metrocrest Lease by the Metrocrest Hospital Authority or any successor owner of such facility, constitute a Material Financial Obligation.

“ Material Plan ” means at any time a Plan or Plans having aggregate Unfunded Liabilities in excess of $70,000,000.

“ Material Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower, except a Subsidiary that has assets of less than $70,000,000 and liabilities of less than $70,000,000.

“ Metrocrest Lease ” means the Fifth Amendment and Restatement of Lease Agreement dated as of November 1, 1994 between Metrocrest Hospital Authority, as lessor, and Tenet HealthSystems Hospitals Dallas, Inc. (formerly NME Hospitals Dallas, Inc.), as lessee, as the same has been or may be amended, restated, modified, renewed or replaced from time to time, which Metrocrest Lease shall be limited to the lease of the RHD Memorial Medical Center, the Trinity Medical Center and related facilities, including, without limitation, medical office buildings and parking structures.

“ Metrocrest Reimbursement Agreement ” means the Letter of Credit and Reimbursement Agreement dated as of November 1, 1994 among the Borrower, the banks party thereto, and The Bank of New York, as Issuing Bank and Agent thereunder, as amended from time to time.

“ Money Market Absolute Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d) .

“ Money Market Absolute Rate Loan ” means a loan made or to be made by a Lender pursuant to an Absolute Rate Auction.

“ Money Market Borrowing ” means a borrowing of Money Market Loans pursuant to a LIBOR Auction or an Absolute Rate Auction.

“ Money Market Lending Office ” means, as to each Lender, its Domestic Lending Office or such other office, branch or Affiliate of such Lender as it may hereafter designate as its Money Market Lending Office by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent; provided that any Lender may from time to time by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent designate separate Money Market Lending Offices for its Money Market LIBOR Loans, on the one hand, and its Money Market Absolute Rate Loans, on the other hand, in which case all references herein to the Money Market Lending Office of such Lender shall be deemed to refer to either or both of such offices, as the context may require.

“ Money Market LIBOR Loan ” means a loan made or to be made by a Lender pursuant to a LIBOR Auction (including such a loan bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant to Section 8.01(a) ).

“ Money Market Loan ” means a Money Market LIBOR Loan or a Money Market Absolute Rate Loan.

“ Money Market Margin ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d) .

“ Money Market Quote ” means an offer by a Lender to make a Money Market Loan in accordance with Section 2.03 .

“ Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

“ Multiemployer Plan ” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any member of the ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or has within the preceding five plan years made contributions, including for these

purposes any Person which ceased to be a member of the ERISA Group during such five year period.

“ Non-Cash Charge ” means a non-cash charge that is (i) deducted in the determination of (A) the Borrower’s consolidated operating income for any Fiscal Quarter (for purposes of any determination of Consolidated EBITDA) or (B) the Borrower’s consolidated net income for any Fiscal Quarter (for purposes of Section 5.10 ), and (ii) does not reflect a current expenditure of cash or reserve or accrual for a future expenditure of cash.

“ Non-Recourse Purchase Money Debt ” of any Person means Debt incurred to finance additions to its property, plant and equipment (or to refinance Debt incurred for such purpose); provided that the lender or other obligee of such Debt has no recourse (except for breach of representations, warranties and/or covenants customary in asset-based financing) to assets of such Person, the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the assets financed or refinanced by such Debt and cash flows attributable to such assets.

“ Notes ” means promissory notes of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, issued hereunder to evidence the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans (other than the Swingline Loans), and “ Note ” means any one of such promissory notes.

“ Notice of Borrowing ” means a Notice of Syndicated Borrowing (as defined in Section 2.02 ), a Notice of Money Market Borrowing (as defined in Section 2.03(f) ) or a Notice of Swingline Borrowing (as defined in Section 2.16(b) ).

“ Notice of Interest Rate Election ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10 .

“ Outstanding Committed Amount ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount of each of its Syndicated Loans, (ii) each outstanding participation in Swingline Loans (if any) held by it pursuant to Section 2.16(h) and (iii) its LC Exposure, all determined at such time after giving effect to any prior assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.06(c) .

“ Parent ” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person controlling such Lender.

“ Participant ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.06(b) .

“ Person ” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

“ Plan ” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and either (i) is maintained, or contributed to, by any member of the ERISA Group for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within the preceding five years been maintained, or contributed to, by any Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.

“ Pricing Schedule ” means the Pricing Schedule attached hereto.

“ Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest publicly announced by Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York in New York City from time to time as its Prime Rate.

“ Pro Forma Basis ”, when used with respect to determining any amount for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters, means that if, at any time after such period began and on or before the Date of Determination, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries acquired or disposed of (i) an Equity Interest in a Person that is (or by reason of such acquisition becomes) a Subsidiary or (ii) a Healthcare Facility or Healthcare Business, such amount shall be determined (to the extent practicable) as if such Equity Interest, Healthcare Facility or Healthcare Business had been acquired or disposed of at the beginning of such period (and as if the consideration therefor had been given or received and any related incurrence or repayment of Debt had occurred at such time).

“ Regulation U ” means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

“ Required Lenders ” means at any time Lenders having more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Credit Exposures at such time.

“ Restricted Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12 .

“ S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.

“ SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“ Senior Officer of the Borrower ” means an Executive Vice President, a Senior Vice President or the Treasurer of the Borrower.

“ Subsidiary ” means, as to any Person at any date, any corporation or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in its consolidated financial statements if such statements were prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP. Unless otherwise specified, “ Subsidiary ” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

“ Swingline Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the Swingline Maturity Date.

“ Swingline Bank ” means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, in its capacity as the Swingline Bank under the swingline facility described in Section 2.16 , and its successors in such capacity.

“ Swingline Borrowing ” means a borrowing of a Swingline Loan pursuant to Section 2.16(a) .

“ Swingline Commitment ” means the obligation of the Swingline Bank to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower in aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $10,000,000.

“ Swingline Loan ” means a loan made by the Swingline Bank pursuant to Section 2.16(a) .

“ Swingline Maturity Date ” means the day that is 30 days before the Termination Date.

“ Swingline Note ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(d) .

“ Syndicated Borrowing ” means a Base Rate Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.01 or Section 2.16(h) or a Euro-Dollar Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.01 .

“ Syndicated Loan ” means a loan made pursuant to Section 2.01 or Section 2.16(h) ; provided that, if any such loan or loans (or portions thereof) are combined or subdivided pursuant to a Notice of Interest Rate Election, the term “ Syndicated Loan ” shall refer to the combined principal amount resulting from such combination or to each of the separate principal amounts resulting from such subdivision, as the case may be.

“ Synthetic Lease ” means a lease as to which (i) the obligations of the lessee are not capitalized in accordance with GAAP but (ii) the lessee is treated as owner of the leased property for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code.

“ Termination Date ” means March 1, 2006 or, if such day is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day, the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day.

“ Unfunded Liabilities ” means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the amount (if any) by which (i) the value of all benefit liabilities under such Plan, determined on a plan termination basis using the assumptions prescribed by the PBGC for purposes of Section 4044 of ERISA, exceeds (ii) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such liabilities under Title IV of ERISA (excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions), all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plan, but only to the extent that such excess represents a potential liability of a member of the ERISA Group to the PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA.

“ United States ” means the United States of America, including the States and the District of Columbia, but excluding its territories and possessions.

SECTION 1.02 . Accounting Terms and Determinations. 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 as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders wish to amend any provision hereof for such purpose), then such provision shall be applied on the basis of GAAP as in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such provision is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders.

ARTICLE 2

THE CREDITS

SECTION 2.01 . Syndicated Borrowings. Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make loans to the Borrower pursuant to this Section from time to time during the Availability Period; provided that, immediately after each such loan is made, such Lender’s

Outstanding Committed Amount shall not exceed its Commitment. Each borrowing under this Section shall be a Syndicated Borrowing made from the several Lenders ratably in proportion to their respective Commitments. Each such Syndicated Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of $1,000,000; provided that (i) any such Syndicated Borrowing may be in the aggregate amount of the unused Commitments and (ii) if such Syndicated Borrowing is made on the Swingline Maturity Date, such Syndicated Borrowing may be in the aggregate amount of the Swingline Loans outstanding on such date. Within the foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow under this Section, repay, or to the extent permitted by Section 2.07 , prepay Syndicated Loans and reborrow at any time during the Availability Period under this Section.

SECTION 2.02 . Notice of Syndicated Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent notice (a “ Notice of Syndicated Borrowing ”) not later than (x) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of each Base Rate Borrowing and (y) 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the third Euro-Dollar Business Day before each Euro-Dollar Borrowing, specifying:

(i) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Domestic Business Day in the case of a Base Rate Borrowing or a Euro-Dollar Business Day in the case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing,

(ii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing,

(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing or a Euro-Dollar Borrowing, and

(iv) in the case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing, the duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto.

Each Interest Period specified in a Notice of Syndicated Borrowing shall comply with the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.

SECTION 2.03 . Money Market Borrowings.

(a) The Money Market Option . At any time during the Availability Period, the Borrower may, as set forth in this Section, request the Lenders to make offers to make Money Market Loans to the Borrower; provided that, immediately after any such Money Market Loans are made and any Loans to be repaid substantially concurrently therewith are repaid:

(i) if the Borrower has an Investment Grade Rating, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Money Market Loans shall be limited only by Section 3.03 (c);

(ii) if the Borrower does not have an Investment Grade Rating, but its senior long-term unsecured debt securities without any third-party credit support are rated BB+ or higher by S&P and Ba1 or higher by Moody’s, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Money Market Loans shall not exceed the lesser of (x) the amount permitted by Section 3.03 (c) or (y) $500,000,000;

(iii) if the Borrower’s senior long-term unsecured debt securities without any third-party credit support are not rated BB+ or higher by S&P and Ba1 or higher by Moody’s, but are rated BB or higher by S&P and Ba2 or higher by Moody’s, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Money Market Loans shall not exceed the lesser of (x) the amount permitted by Section 3.0 3(c) or (y) $250,000,000; and

(iv) if the Borrower’s senior long-term unsecured debt securities without any third-party credit support are not rated BB or higher by S&P and Ba2 or higher by Moody’s, the Borrower may not request or accept any offers to make Money Market Loans.

The Lenders may, but shall have no obligation to, make such offers and the Borrower may, but shall have no obligation to, accept any such offers.

(b) Money Market Quote Request . When the Borrower wishes to request offers to make Money Market Loans under this Section, it shall transmit to the Administrative Agent by telex or facsimile transmission a Money Market Quote Request substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto so as to be received no later than 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on (x) the fifth Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the date of Borrowing proposed therein, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) the Domestic Business Day next preceding the date of Borrowing proposed therein, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case, such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Lenders not later than the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to be effective) specifying:

(i) the proposed date of Borrowing, which shall be a Euro-Dollar Business Day in the case of a LIBOR Auction or a Domestic Business Day in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction,

(ii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing, which shall be $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000;

(iii) the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period, and

(iv) whether the Money Market Quotes requested are to set forth a Money Market Margin or a Money Market Absolute Rate.

The Borrower may request offers to make Money Market Loans for more than one Interest Period in a single Money Market Quote Request. No Money Market Quote Request shall be given within five Euro-Dollar Business Days (or such other number of days as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may agree) of any other Money Market Quote Request.

(c) Invitation for Money Market Quotes . Promptly upon receipt of a Money Market Quote Request, the Administrative Agent shall send to the Lenders by telex or facsimile transmission an Invitation for Money Market Quotes substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, which shall constitute an invitation by the Borrower to each Lender to submit Money Market Quotes offering to make the Money Market Loans to which such Money Market Quote Request relates in accordance with this Section.

(d) Submission and Contents of Money Market Quotes . (i) Each Lender may submit a Money Market Quote containing an offer or offers to make Money Market Loans in response to any Invitation for Money Market Quotes. Each Money Market Quote must comply with the requirements of this subsection (d) and must be submitted to the Administrative Agent by telex or facsimile transmission at its offices specified in or pursuant to Section 9.01 not later than (x) 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the fourth Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case, such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Lenders not later than the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to be effective); provided that Money Market Quotes submitted by the Administrative Agent (or any affiliate of the Administrative Agent) in the capacity of a Lender may be submitted, and may only be submitted, if the Administrative Agent or such affiliate notifies the Borrower of the terms of the offer or offers contained therein not later than (x) one hour prior to the deadline for the other Lenders, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 15 minutes prior to the deadline for the other Lenders, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction. Subject to Articles 3 and 6, any

Money Market Quote so made shall be irrevocable except with the written consent of the Administrative Agent given on the instructions of the Borrower.

(ii) Each Money Market Quote shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto and shall in any case specify:

(A) the proposed date of Borrowing,

(B) the principal amount of the Money Market Loan for which each such offer is being made, which principal amount (w) may be greater than or less than the Commitment of the quoting Lender, (x) must be $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000, (y) may not exceed the principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers were requested and (z) may be subject to an aggregate limitation as to the principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers being made by such quoting Lender may be accepted,

(C) in the case of a LIBOR Auction, the margin above or below the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate (the “ Money Market Margin ”) offered for each such Money Market Loan, expressed as a percentage (specified to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) to be added to or subtracted from such base rate,

(D) in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction, the rate of interest per annum (specified to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) (the “ Money Market Absolute Rate ”) offered for each such Money Market Loan, and

(E) the identity of the quoting Lender.

A Money Market Quote may set forth up to five separate offers by the quoting Lender with respect to each Interest Period specified in the related Invitation for Money Market Quotes.

(iii) Any Money Market Quote shall be disregarded if it:

(A) is not substantially in conformity with Exhibit D hereto or does not specify all of the information required by subsection (d)(ii);

(B) contains qualifying, conditional or similar language;

(D) arrives after the time set forth in subsection (d)(i).

(e) Notice to Borrower . The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of the terms of (x) any Money Market Quote submitted by a Lender that is in accordance with subsection (d) and (y) any Money Market Quote that amends, modifies or is otherwise inconsistent with a previous Money Market Quote submitted by such Lender with respect to the same Money Market Quote Request. Any such subsequent Money Market Quote shall be disregarded by the Administrative Agent unless such subsequent Money Market Quote is submitted solely to correct a manifest error in such former Money Market Quote. The Administrative Agent’s notice to the Borrower shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers have been received for each Interest Period specified in the related Money Market Quote Request, (B) the respective principal amounts and Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the case may be, so offered and (C) if applicable, limitations on the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers in any single Money Market Quote may be accepted.

(f) Acceptance and Notice by Borrower . Not later than (x) 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the third Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case, such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Lenders not later than the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to be effective), the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of its acceptance or non-acceptance of the offers so notified to it pursuant to subsection (e). In the case of acceptance, such notice (a “ Notice of Money Market Borrowing ”) shall specify the aggregate principal amount of offers for each Interest Period that are accepted. Subject to the applicable limitation in subsection (a) of this Section, the Borrower may accept any Money Market Quote in whole or in part; provided that:

(i) the aggregate principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Money Market Quote Request,

(ii) the principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing must be $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000,

(iii) acceptance of offers may only be made on the basis of ascending Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the case may be, and

(iv) the Borrower may not accept any offer that is described in subsection (d)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of this Agreement.

(g) Allocation by Administrative Agent . If offers are made by two or more Lenders with the same Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the case may be, for a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect of which such offers are accepted for the related Interest Period, the principal amount of Money Market Loans in respect of which such offers are accepted shall be allocated by the Administrative Agent among such Lenders as nearly as possible (in multiples of $1,000,000, as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate) in proportion to the aggregate principal amounts of such offers. Determinations by the Administrative Agent of the amounts of Money Market Loans shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

SECTION 2.04 . Notice to Lenders; Funding of Loans. (a) Upon receipt of a Notice of Syndicated Borrowing or a Notice of Money Market Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender participating in such Borrowing of the contents of such Notice of Borrowing and such Lender’s share of such Borrowing. Such Notice of Borrowing shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.

(b) Not later than 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of each such Borrowing, each Lender participating therein shall make available its share of such Borrowing, in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City, to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 9.01 . Unless the Administrative Agent determines that any applicable condition specified in Article 3 has not been satisfied, the Administrative Agent shall (i) apply the funds so received from the Lenders to repay all Swingline Loans (if any) then outstanding, together with interest accrued thereon, and (ii) make the remainder of such funds available to the Borrower at the Administrative Agent’s aforesaid address.

(c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any such Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with subsection (b) of this Section and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon

such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so made its share of such Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, a rate per annum equal to the higher of the Federal Funds Rate and the interest rate applicable to such Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.09 and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement. If the Borrower shall repay such corresponding amount, such repayment shall not affect any rights the Borrower may have against any defaulting Lender.

SECTION 2.05 . Notes. (a) The Borrower’s obligation to repay the Loans of each Lender shall be evidenced by a single Note payable to the order of such Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending Office.

(b) Each Lender may, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, request that its Base Rate Loans, its Euro-Dollar Loans or its Money Market Loans be evidenced by a separate Note. Each such Note shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, with appropriate modifications to reflect the fact that it evidences solely the relevant type of Loans. Each reference in this Agreement to a “ Note ” or the “ Notes ” of such Lender shall be deemed to refer to and include any or all of such Notes, as the context may require.

(c) Upon receipt of each Lender’s Note pursuant to Section 3.01(b) , the Administrative Agent shall forward such Note to such Lender. Each Lender shall record the date, amount and type of each Loan made by it and the date and amount of each payment of principal made with respect thereto, and may, if such Lender so elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement of its Note, endorse on the schedule forming a part thereof appropriate notations to evidence the foregoing information with respect to each such Loan evidenced thereby then outstanding; provided that the failure of any Lender to make any such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement or the Notes. Each Lender is hereby irrevocably authorized by the Borrower so to endorse its Note and to attach to and make a part of its Note a continuation of any such schedule as and when required.

SECTION 2.06 . Maturity of Loans. (a) Each Syndicated Loan shall mature, and the principal amount thereof shall be due and payable, on the Termination Date.

(b) Each Money Market Loan shall mature, and the principal amount thereof shall be due and payable, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

SECTION 2.07 . Optional Prepayments of Syndicated Loans. The Borrower may at its option, by Notice of Syndicated Prepayment given in accordance with Section 2.08 , prepay any Group of Loans (subject, in the case of a Group of Euro-Dollar Loans, to Section 2.14 ), in each case in whole at any time, or from time to time in part in amounts aggregating at least $10,000,000, by paying the principal amount to be prepaid together with interest accrued thereon to the date of prepayment. Each such optional prepayment shall be applied to prepay ratably the Loans of the several Lenders included in such Group of Loans.

SECTION 2.08 . Notice of Syndicated Prepayment. (a) The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent notice (a “ Notice of Syndicated Prepayment ”) not later than (x) 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the Business Day before each prepayment of Base Rate Loans and (y) 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the third Euro-Dollar Business Day before each prepayment of Euro-Dollar Loans, specifying:

(i) the date of such prepayment, which shall be a Domestic Business Day in the case of a prepayment of Base Rate Loans or a Euro-Dollar Business Day in the case of a prepayment of Euro-Dollar Loans,

(ii) the aggregate amount of such prepayment, and

(iii) the Group or Groups of Loans to which such prepayment is to be applied.

If the Borrower fails to specify the Group or Groups of Loans to which any such prepayment is to be applied, such Group or Groups of Loans shall be selected by the Administrative Agent. Each repayment or prepayment of Syndicated Loans shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the Group or Groups of Loans selected by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

(b) Upon receipt of a Notice of Syndicated Prepayment, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender of the contents thereof and of such Lender’s ratable share of such prepayment and such Notice of Syndicated Prepayment shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.

SECTION 2.09 . Interest Rates. (a) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from and including the

date such Loan is made to but excluding the date it becomes due, at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate for such day. Such interest shall be payable in arrears on the last Domestic Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter and, with respect to the principal amount of any Base Rate Loan converted to a Euro-Dollar Loan, on the date such amount is so converted. Any overdue principal of or interest on any Base Rate Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the Base Rate for such day.

(b) Each Euro-Dollar Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day during each Interest Period applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Euro-Dollar Margin for such day plus the Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate applicable to such Interest Period. Such interest shall be payable for each Interest Period on the last day thereof and, if such Interest Period is longer than three months, three months after the first day thereof.

The “ Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate ” applicable to any Interest Period means a rate per annum equal to the quotient obtained (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) by dividing (i) the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate by (ii) 1.00 minus the Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage.

The “ London Interbank Offered Rate ” applicable to any Interest Period means the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/16 of 1%) of the respective rates per annum at which deposits in dollars are offered to each of the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Euro-Dollar Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount approximately equal to the principal amount of the Euro-Dollar Loan of such Euro-Dollar Reference Bank to which such Interest Period is to apply and for a period of time comparable to such Interest Period.

“ Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage ” means for any day that percentage (expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on such day, as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding five billion dollars in respect of “ Eurocurrency liabilities ” (or in respect of any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Euro-Dollar Loans is determined or any category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by a non-United States office of any Lender to United States residents).

(c) Any overdue principal of or interest on any Euro-Dollar Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid, at a rate per annum equal to the higher of (i) the sum of 2% plus the Euro-Dollar Margin for such day plus the quotient obtained (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) by dividing (x) the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/16 of 1%) of the respective rates per annum at which one day (or, if such amount due remains unpaid more than three Euro-Dollar Business Days, then for such other period of time not longer than six months as the Administrative Agent may select) deposits in dollars in an amount approximately equal to such overdue payment due to each of the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks are offered to such Euro-Dollar Reference Bank in the London interbank market for the applicable period determined as provided above by (y) 1.00 minus the Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage (or, if the circumstances described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 8.01 shall exist, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the Base Rate for such day) and (ii) the sum of 2% plus the Euro-Dollar Margin for such day plus the Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate applicable to such Loan at the date such payment was due.

(d) Each Euro-Dollar Reference Bank agrees to use its best efforts to furnish quotations to the Administrative Agent as contemplated hereby. If any Euro-Dollar Reference Bank does not furnish a timely quotation, the Administrative Agent shall determine the relevant interest rate on the basis of the quotation or quotations furnished by the remaining Euro-Dollar Reference Bank or Banks or, if none of such quotations is available on a timely basis, the provisions of Section 8.01 shall apply.

(e) Subject to Section 8.01(a) , each Money Market LIBOR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for the Interest Period applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the London Interbank Offered Rate for such Interest Period (determined in accordance with Section 2.09(b) as if the related Money Market LIBOR Borrowing were a Syndicated Euro-Dollar Borrowing) plus (or minus) the Money Market Margin quoted by the Lender making such Loan in accordance with Section 2.03 . Each Money Market Absolute Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for the Interest Period applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the Money Market Absolute Rate quoted by the Lender making such Loan in accordance with Section 2.03 . Such interest shall be payable for each Interest Period on the last day thereof and, if such Interest Period is longer than three months, at intervals of three months after the first day thereof. Any overdue principal of or interest on any Money Market Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the Base Rate for such day.

SECTION 2.10 . Method of Electing Interest Rates. (a) The Loans included in each Syndicated Borrowing shall bear interest initially at the type of rate specified by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Syndicated Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower may from time to time elect to change or continue the type of interest rate borne by each Group of Loans (subject in each case to the provisions of Article 8 ), as follows:

(i) if such Loans are Base Rate Loans, the Borrower may elect to convert such Loans to Euro-Dollar Loans as of any Euro-Dollar Business Day; and

(ii) if such Loans are Euro-Dollar Loans, the Borrower may elect to convert such Loans to Base Rate Loans or elect to continue such Loans as Euro-Dollar Loans for an additional Interest Period, in each case effective on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such Loans.

Each such election shall be made by delivering a notice (a “ Notice of Interest Rate Election ”) to the Administrative Agent at least three Euro-Dollar Business Days before the conversion or continuation selected in such notice is to be effective. A Notice of Interest Rate Election may, if it so specifies, apply to only a portion of the aggregate principal amount of the relevant Group of Loans; provided that (i) such portion is allocated ratably among the Loans comprising such Group and (ii) the portion to which such Notice applies, and the remaining portion to which it does not apply, are each $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of $1,000,000.

(b) Each Notice of Interest Rate Election shall specify:

(i) the Group of Loans (or portion thereof) to which such notice applies;

(ii) the date on which the conversion or continuation selected in such notice is to be effective, which shall comply with the applicable clause of subsection (a) above;

(iii) if the Loans comprising such Group are to be converted to Euro-Dollar Loans, the duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto; and

(iv) if such Loans are to be continued as Euro-Dollar Loans for an additional Interest Period, the duration of such additional Interest Period.

Each Interest Period specified in a Notice of Interest Rate Election shall comply with the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.

(c) Upon receipt of a Notice of Interest Rate Election from the Borrower pursuant to subsection (a) above, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the contents thereof and such notice shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower. If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Notice of Interest Rate Election to the Administrative Agent for any Group of Euro-Dollar Loans, such Loans shall be converted to Base Rate Loans on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto.

SECTION 2.11 . Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders ratably in proportion to their Credit Exposures, a facility fee calculated for each day at the Facility Fee Rate on the aggregate amount of the Credit Exposures on such day. Such facility fee shall accrue from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the date on which the Credit Exposures are reduced to zero and shall be payable quarterly on each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 and on the date on which the Credit Exposures are reduced to zero.

SECTION 2.12 . Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower may, upon at least three Domestic Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, (i) terminate the Commitments at any time, if there are no Syndicated Loans, Swingline Loans or LC Exposures outstanding at such time, or (ii) ratably reduce from time to time by an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, the aggregate amount of the Commitments in excess of the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Syndicated Loans and Swingline Loans and the Aggregate LC Exposure at such time. Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate at the close of business on the Termination Date.

SECTION 2.13 . General Provisions as to Payments. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment of principal of, and interest on, the Loans and LC Reimbursement Obligations, and of fees hereunder (other than fees payable directly to the LC Issuing Banks), not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the date when due, in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City, to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 9.01 and without reduction by reason of set-off or counterclaim. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its ratable share (if any) of each such payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders. Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on, Base Rate Loans, Swingline Loans or LC Reimbursement Obligations or any payment of fees shall be due on a day which is not a Domestic Business Day, the date for

payment thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Domestic Business Day. Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on, Euro-Dollar Loans shall be due on a day which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case the date for payment thereof shall be the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day. Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on, Money Market Loans shall be due on a day which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day. If the date for any payment of principal is extended by operation of law or otherwise, interest thereon shall be payable for such extended time.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to any Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent that the Borrower shall not have so made such payment, each Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.

SECTION 2.14 . Funding Losses. If the Borrower makes any payment of principal with respect to any Euro-Dollar Loan or any Euro-Dollar Loan is converted to a Base Rate Loan (pursuant to Article 2 , 6 or 8 or otherwise) on any day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, or the last day of an applicable period fixed pursuant to Section 2.09(c) , or the Borrower fails to borrow or prepay or convert any Euro-Dollar Loans after notice has been given to any Lender in accordance with Section 2.04(a) or 2.10(c) , the Borrower shall reimburse each Lender within 15 days after demand for any resulting loss or expense incurred by it (or by an existing or prospective Participant in the related Loan), including (without limitation) any loss incurred in obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits from third parties, but excluding loss of margin for the period after any such payment or conversion or failure to borrow or prepay or convert, provided that such Lender shall have delivered to the Borrower a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the amount of such loss or expense and the method of calculation thereof, which certificate shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

SECTION 2.15 . Computation of Interest and Fees. (a) Interest based on the Prime Rate hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All other interest and fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(b) The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to the Loans hereunder and each Facility Fee Rate and LC Fee Rate applicable hereunder. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the relevant Lenders of each interest rate, Facility Fee Rate and LC Fee Rate so determined, and its determination thereof shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

SECTION 2.16 . Swingline Loans. (a) Swingline Commitment . The Swingline Bank agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make loans to the Borrower pursuant to this Section from time to time during the Swingline Availability Period; provided that, immediately after each such loan is made, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such loans shall not exceed the Swingline Commitment. Each loan under this Section shall be in a principal amount of at least $1,000,000 and shall bear interest for each day at the Base Rate for such day. Within the foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow under this Section, repay Swingline Loans and reborrow at any time during the Swingline Availability Period under this Section.

(b) Notice of Swingline Borrowing . The Borrower shall give the Swingline Bank notice (a “ Notice of Swingline Borrowing ”) not later than 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of each Swingline Borrowing, specifying (i) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Domestic Business Day, and (ii) the amount of such Borrowing.

(c) Funding of Swingline Loans . Not later than 3:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of each Swingline Borrowing, the Swingline Bank shall, unless the Swingline Bank determines that any applicable condition specified in Article 3 has not been satisfied, make available the amount of such Swingline Borrowing, in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City, to the Borrower at the Swingline Bank’s address referred to in Section 9.01.

(d) Swingline Note . The Borrower’s obligation to repay the Swingline Loans shall be evidenced by a single Note substantially in form of Exhibit E hereto (the “ Swingline Note ”).

(e) Optional Prepayment of Swingline Loans . The Borrower may prepay the Swingline Loans in whole at any time, or from time to time in part in a principal amount of at least $1,000,000, by giving notice of such prepayment to the Swingline Bank not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the date of prepayment and paying the principal amount to be prepaid, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of prepayment, to the Swingline Bank at its address referred to in Section 9.01 , in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City, not later than 3:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of prepayment.

(f) Mandatory Prepayment of Swingline Loans . On the date of each Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.01 or 2.03 , the Borrower shall prepay all Swingline Loans then outstanding, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of prepayment.

(g) Maturity of Swingline Loans . All Swingline Loans outstanding on the Swingline Maturity Date shall be due and payable on such date, together with interest accrued thereon to such date.

(h) Refunding Unpaid Swingline Loans . If (i) the Swingline Loans are not paid in full on the Swingline Maturity Date or (ii) the Swingline Loans become immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 6.01 , the Swingline Bank (or the Administrative Agent on its behalf) may, by notice to the Lenders (including the Swingline Bank, in its capacity as a Lender), require each Lender to pay to the Swingline Bank an amount equal to such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Swingline Loans then outstanding. Such notice shall specify the date on which such payments are to be made, which shall be the first Domestic Business Day after such notice is given. Not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the date so specified, each Lender shall pay the amount so notified to it to the Swingline Bank at its address referred to in Section 9.01 , in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City. The amount so paid by each Lender shall constitute a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower; provided that, if the Lenders are prevented from making such Base Rate Loans to the Borrower by the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, the amount so paid by each Lender shall constitute a purchase by it of a participation in the unpaid principal amount of the Swingline Loans (and interest accruing thereon after the date of such payment). Each Lender’s obligation to make such payment to the Swingline Bank under this subsection (h) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including, without limitation, (i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender or any other Person may have against the Swingline Bank or the Borrower, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the termination of the

Commitments, (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or any other Person, (iv) any breach of this Agreement by the Borrower or any other party hereto or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be obligated to make any payment to the Swingline Bank under this subsection (h) with respect to a Swingline Loan made by the Swingline Bank at a time when it knew that a Default had occurred and was continuing.

(i) Termination of Swingline Commitment . The Borrower may, upon at least three Domestic Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Swingline Commitment at any time, if no Swingline Loans are outstanding at such time. Unless previously terminated, the Swingline Commitment shall terminate at the close of business on the Swingline Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.17 . Letters of Credit. (a) LC Issuing Banks . The Borrower may, at any time, request any Lender to issue one or more letters of credit hereunder. Any Lender may, but shall not be obligated to, agree to issue such letters of credit. If any Lender so agrees, it shall send notice to the Administrative Agent confirming its agreement, whereupon such Lender shall become an “ LC Issuing Bank ” for the purposes hereof.

(b) Issuance . Each LC Issuing Bank agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to issue at the request of the Borrower the Letters of Credit that such LC Issuing Bank has agreed with the Borrower to issue; provided that (i) no Letter of Credit shall be issued after the date that is thirty days before the Termination Date and (ii) immediately after each such Letter of Credit is issued and participations therein are sold to the Lenders as provided in this subsection, no Lender’s Outstanding Committed Amount shall exceed its Commitment. Whenever an LC Issuing Bank issues a Letter of Credit hereunder, such LC Issuing Bank shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have sold to each Lender (including such LC Issuing Bank in its capacity as a Lender), and each Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have purchased from such LC Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit, on the terms specified in this Section, equal to such Lender’s Commitment Percentage thereof.

(c) Notice of Proposed Issuance . With respect to each Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall give the relevant LC Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent at least three Domestic Business Days’ prior notice (i) specifying the date such Letter of Credit is to be issued and (ii) describing the proposed terms of such Letter of Credit and the nature of the transactions to be supported thereby. Promptly after it receives such notice, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the contents thereof.

(d) Conditions to Issuance . No LC Issuing Bank shall issue any Letter of Credit unless:

(i) such Letter of Credit shall be satisfactory in form and substance to such LC Issuing Bank,

(ii) the Borrower shall have executed and delivered such other instruments and agreements relating to such Letter of Credit as such LC Issuing Bank shall have reasonably requested,

(iii) such LC Issuing Bank shall have confirmed with the Administrative Agent on the date of such issuance that the limitation specified in subsection (b)(ii) of this Section will not be exceeded immediately after such Letter of Credit is issued and

(iv) such LC Issuing Bank shall not have been notified in writing by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders that any condition specified in clause (c), (d) or (e) of Section 3.03 is not satisfied at the time such Letter of Credit is to be issued.

(e) Notice of Actual Issuance . Promptly after it issues any Letter of Credit, the relevant LC Issuing Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent of the date, face amount, beneficiary or beneficiaries and expiry date of such Letter of Credit. Promptly after it receives such notice, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the contents thereof and the amount of such Lender’s participation in such Letter of Credit. Promptly after it issues any Letter of Credit, the relevant LC Issuing Bank shall send a copy of such Letter of Credit to the Administrative Agent.

(f) Expiry Dates . No Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date later than the fifth Domestic Business Day before the Termination Date. Subject to the preceding sentence, each Letter of Credit, when issued hereunder, shall expire on or before the first anniversary of the date of such issuance; provided that the expiry date of any Letter of Credit may be extended from time to time (i) at the Borrower’s request or (ii) in the case of an Evergreen Letter of Credit, automatically, in each case so long as such extension is for a period not exceeding one year and is granted (or the last day on which notice can be given to prevent such extension occurs) no earlier than three months before the then existing expiry date thereof.

(g) Notice of Proposed Extensions of Expiry Dates . The relevant LC Issuing Bank shall give the Administrative Agent at least three Domestic Business

Days’ notice before such LC Issuing Bank extends (or allows an automatic extension of) the expiry date of any Letter of Credit issued by it. Such notice shall identify such Letter of Credit, the date on which it is to be extended (or the last day on which notice can be given to prevent such extension) and the date to which it is to be extended. Promptly after it receives such notice, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the contents thereof. No LC Issuing Bank shall extend (or allow the extension of) the expiry date of any Letter of Credit if:

(i) such extension does not comply with subsection (f) of this Section or

(ii) such LC Issuing Bank shall have been notified by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders that any condition specified in clause (c), (d) or (e) of Section 3.03 is not satisfied at the time of such proposed extension.

If any Letter of Credit is not extended after notice of a proposed extension thereof has been given to the Lenders, the relevant LC Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such failure to extend. Promptly after it receives such notice, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender thereof.

(h) Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders ratably in proportion to their Commitment Percentages, a letter of credit fee for each day at the LC Fee Rate for such day on the aggregate amount available for drawing (whether or not conditions for drawing have been satisfied) under all Letters of Credit outstanding at the close of business on such day. Such letter of credit fee shall be payable with respect to each Letter of Credit in arrears on the last Domestic Business Day of each calendar quarter and on the Termination Date. The Borrower shall pay to each LC Issuing Bank fronting fees and other charges in the amounts and at the times agreed between the Borrower and such LC Issuing Bank. The LC Issuing Banks shall furnish to the Administrative Agent upon request such information as the Administrative Agent shall require in order to calculate the amount of any fee payable for the account of Lenders under this subsection (h).

(i) Drawings . If an LC Issuing Bank receives a demand for payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it and determines that such demand should be honored, such LC Issuing Bank shall (i) promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent as to the amount to be paid by such LC Issuing Bank as a result of such demand and the date of such payment (an “ LC Payment Date ”) and (ii) make such payment in accordance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

(j) Reimbursement by the Borrower. (A) If any amount is drawn under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to reimburse the relevant LC Issuing Bank for such amount, together with any and all reasonable charges and expenses which such LC Issuing Bank may pay or incur relative to such drawing. Such reimbursement shall be due and payable on the relevant LC Payment Date or the date on which such LC Issuing Bank notifies the Borrower of such drawing, whichever is later; provided that, if such notice is given after 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the later of such dates, such reimbursement shall be due and payable on the next following Domestic Business Day (the date on which it is due and payable being an “ LC Reimbursement Due Date ”).

(B) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay, on the applicable LC Reimbursement Due Date, interest on each amount drawn under a Letter of Credit, for each day from and including the date such amount is drawn to but excluding such LC Reimbursement Due Date, at the Base Rate for such day. The Borrower also agrees to pay, on demand, interest on any overdue amount (including any overdue interest) payable under this subsection (j), for each day from and including the date when such amount becomes due to but excluding the date such amount is paid in full, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the Base Rate for such day.

(C) Each payment by the Borrower pursuant to this subsection (j) shall be made to the relevant LC Issuing Bank in Federal or other funds immediately available to it at its address referred to in Section 9.01 .

(k) Payments by Lenders. (A) If the Borrower fails to pay any LC Reimbursement Obligation in full when due, the relevant LC Issuing Bank may notify the Administrative Agent of the unreimbursed amount and request that the Lenders reimburse such LC Issuing Bank for their respective Commitment Percentages thereof. Promptly after it receives any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the unreimbursed amount and such Lender’s Commitment Percentage thereof. Upon receiving such notice from the Administrative Agent, each Lender shall make available to such LC Issuing Bank, at its address referred to in Section 9.01 , an amount equal to such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of such unreimbursed amount, in Federal or other funds immediately available to such LC Issuing Bank, by 3:00 P.M. (New York City time) (i) on the date such Lender receives such notice if it is received at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on such day or (ii) on the next Domestic Business Day if such notice is received after 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on

the date of receipt, in each case together with interest on such amount for each day from and including the relevant LC Payment Date to but excluding the day such payment is due from such Lender at the Federal Funds Rate for such day. Upon payment in full thereof, such Lender shall be subrogated to the rights of such LC Issuing Bank against the Borrower to the extent of such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the related LC Reimbursement Obligation (including interest accrued thereon).

(B) If any Lender fails to pay when due any amount to be paid by it pursuant to clause (A) of this subsection, interest shall accrue on such Lender’s obligation to make such payment, for each day from and including the date such payment became due to but excluding the date such Lender makes such payment, at a rate per annum equal to (x) for each day from the day such payment is due to the third succeeding Domestic Business Day, inclusive, the Federal Funds Rate for such day and (y) for each day thereafter the sum of 2% plus the Base Rate for such day.

(C) If the Borrower shall reimburse any LC Issuing Bank for any drawing with respect to which any Lender shall have made funds available to such LC Issuing Bank in accordance with clause (A) of this subsection, such LC Issuing Bank shall promptly upon receipt of such reimbursement distribute to such Lender its Commitment Percentage thereof, including interest, to the extent received by such LC Issuing Bank.

(l) Exculpatory Provisions . The Borrower’s obligations under this Section shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment which the Borrower may have or have had against any LC Issuing Bank, any Lender, any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other Person. The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit with respect to the use of such Letter of Credit by such beneficiary. None of the LC Issuing Banks (in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct), the Lenders and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents shall be responsible for, and the obligations of each Lender to make payments to each LC Issuing Bank and of the Borrower to reimburse each LC Issuing Bank for drawings pursuant to this Section (other than obligations resulting solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the relevant LC Issuing Bank) shall not be excused or affected by, among other things, (i) the use which may be made of any Letter of Credit or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee in connection therewith; (ii) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents presented under any Letter of Credit or of any endorsements thereon, even if such

documents should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (iii) payment by any LC Issuing Bank against presentation of documents to it which do not comply with the terms of the relevant Letter of Credit or (iv) any dispute between or among the Borrower, any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other Person or any claims or defenses whatsoever of the Borrower or any other Person against any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit. No LC Issuing Bank shall be liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit. Any action taken or omitted by any LC Issuing Bank or any Lender in connection with any Letter of Credit and the related drafts and documents, if done without willful misconduct or gross negligence, shall be binding upon the Borrower and shall not place any LC Issuing Bank or any Bank under any liability to the Borrower.

(m) Indemnification by Borrower. The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Lender, each LC Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (collectively, the “ LC Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, reasonable costs and reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) which such LC Indemnitee may incur (or which may be claimed against such LC Indemnitee by any Person whatsoever) by reason of or in connection with any execution and delivery or transfer of or payment or failure to pay under any Letter of Credit or any actual or proposed use of any Letter of Credit; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify any LC Issuing Bank for any such claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, caused by (i) its own willful misconduct or gross negligence or (ii) its failure to pay under any Letter of Credit issued by it after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit. Nothing in this subsection is intended to limit the obligations of the Borrower under any other provision of this Section.

(n) Indemnification by Lenders. The Lenders shall, ratably in proportion to their Commitment Percentages, indemnify each LC Issuing Bank (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower) against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, reasonable costs and reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that any such indemnitee may suffer or incur in connection with this Section or any action taken or omitted by such indemnitee under this Section; provided that the Lenders shall not be required to indemnify any LC Issuing Bank for any such claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, caused by (i) its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, (ii) its failure to pay under any Letter of Credit issued by it after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and condition of such Letter of Credit, (iii) its liabilities under any

Letter of Credit issued by it in contravention of clause (iii) (to the extent that the limitations referred to therein were in fact exceeded) or clause (iv) of subsection (d) of this Section or (iv) its liabilities under any Letter of Credit extended (or allowed to be automatically extended) by it in contravention of clause (i) or (ii) of subsection (g) of this Section.

(o) Liability for Damages . Nothing in this Section shall preclude the Borrower or any Lender from asserting against any LC Issuing Bank any claim for direct (but not consequential) damages suffered by the Borrower or such Lender to the extent, but only to the extent, caused by (A) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such LC Issuing Bank in determining whether a request presented under any Letter of Credit issued by it complied with the terms thereof or (B) such LC Issuing Bank’s failure to pay under any such Letter of Credit after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions thereof.

(p) Dual Capacities . In its capacity as a Lender, each LC Issuing Bank shall have the same rights and obligations under this Section as any other Lender.

ARTICLE 3

CONDITIONS

SECTION 3.01 . Closing. This Agreement shall become effective when all the following conditions have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.05 ):

(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) counterparts hereof signed by the Borrower, the Lenders listed on the Commitment Schedule, the Swingline Bank and the Agents or (ii) in the case of any such party as to which an executed counterpart shall not have been received, telex, facsimile or other written confirmation (in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) that a counterpart hereof has been executed by such party;

(b) the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a duly executed Note, dated on or before the Closing Date and complying with the provisions of Section 2.05 , for each Lender and (ii) a duly executed Swingline Note, dated on or before the Closing Date, for the Swingline Bank;

(c) the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that the Borrower will comply with the provisions of Section 3.02 on the Closing Date and that it has received all consents (if any) required to enable it to

do so from the lenders under the Borrower’s Existing Credit Agreement that are not parties to this Agreement;

(d) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto, dated the Closing Date and signed by a Senior Officer of the Borrower;

(e) the Administrative Agent shall have received an opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, special counsel for the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto, dated the Closing Date and covering such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as any Agent shall reasonably request;

(f) the Administrative Agent shall have received an opinion of the Borrower’s General Counsel, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto and covering such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as any Agent shall reasonably request;

(g) the Administrative Agent shall have received an opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, special counsel for the Administrative Agent, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto and covering such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as any Agent shall reasonably request;

(h) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the Secretary of the Borrower, dated the Closing Date, as to the restated articles of incorporation and restated bylaws of the Borrower, the absence of amendments thereto, the adoption by the Borrower’s board of directors of the resolutions referred to in clause (i) below and the incumbency of each officer of the Borrower who executed or will execute any Financing Document or any other document to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date;

(i) the Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of resolutions (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents) of the Borrower’s board of directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Financing Documents, certified by the Secretary of the Borrower to be in full force and effect without modification on the Closing Date;

(j) the Borrower shall have paid or made arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for paying all expenses payable by the Borrower on or before the Closing Date pursuant to Section 9.03(a) ;

(k) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a fee in the amount heretofore mutually agreed upon by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent; and

(l) the Administrative Agent shall have received all documents it may reasonably request relating to the existence of the Borrower, the corporate authority for and the validity of the Financing Documents and any other matters relevant thereto, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

When this Agreement becomes effective, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders that it is effective, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.

SECTION 3.02 . Termination of Existing Commitments. The Borrower agrees that on the Closing Date it will (i) prepay all loans outstanding under the Borrower’s Existing Credit Agreement, (ii) terminate the commitments of the lenders thereunder immediately after such prepayment and (iii) pay all interest and facility fees accrued thereunder to but excluding the Closing Date. The Lenders that are parties to the Borrower’s Existing Credit Agreement waive the provisions thereof to the extent (and only to the extent) that such provisions would otherwise require the Borrower to give prior notice of such prepayment and termination of commitments thereunder or would preclude termination of commitments thereunder on account of the existence of outstanding letters of credit which will become Letters of Credit hereunder on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 3.04. Notwithstanding such termination, the Borrower shall remain obligated on and after the Closing Date to compensate the lenders under Section 2.14 of the Borrower’s Existing Credit Agreement for any funding losses incurred by reason of such prepayment and under Sections 8.03, 8.04 and 9.03 thereof for any amounts payable to them thereunder.

SECTION 3.03 . Borrowings and Issuances or Extensions of Letters of Credit. The obligation of any Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing (except a Syndicated Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.16(h) ), the obligation of the Swingline Bank to make any Swingline Loan and the obligation of any LC Issuing Bank to issue (or extend or allow the extension of the expiry date of) any Letter of Credit are each subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) the fact that the Closing Date shall have occurred on or prior to March 31, 2001;

(b) receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Borrowing as required by Section 2.02 , 2.03 or 2.16(b) , as the case may be, or receipt by the relevant LC Issuing Bank of a notice of proposed issuance or extension as required by Section 2.17(b) or (e), as the case may be;

(c) the fact that, immediately after such Borrowing or issuance or extension of a Letter of Credit, the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans plus the Aggregate LC Exposure (and, in the case of a Swingline Borrowing, the Swingline Loans) will not exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments;

(d) the fact that, immediately before and after such Borrowing or issuance or extension of a Letter of Credit, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(e) the fact that the representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in this Agreement shall be true on and as of the date of such Borrowing or issuance or extension of a Letter of Credit;

(f) the Required Lenders have not provided notice to the Administrative Agent that, in their good faith determination, there has been a material adverse change since November 30, 2000 in the business, operations, properties, financial condition or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, considered as a whole; and

(g) the fact that, with respect to a requested Borrowing, immediately after such Borrowing the aggregate principal amount of all Loans and Swingline Loans then outstanding is not in excess of $1,000,000,000.

Each Borrowing and each issuance or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date of such Borrowing or issuance or extension of a Letter of Credit as to the facts specified in clauses (c), (d) and (e) of this Section.

SECTION 3.04 . Existing Letters of Credit. On and subject to the occurrence of the Closing Date, each letter of credit set forth in Schedule 3.04 hereto shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement a Letter of Credit issued hereunder on the Closing Date, as to which the issuer thereof is an LC Issuing Bank and as to which each other Lender has a participation to the extent of its Commitment Percentage thereof.

ARTICLE 4

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants that:

SECTION 4.01 . Corporate Existence and Power. The Borrower is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada, and has all corporate powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.

SECTION 4.02 . Corporate and Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Financing Documents (i) are within its corporate powers, (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, (iii) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official, (iv) do not contravene any provision of applicable law or regulation or of the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower, (v) do not constitute a breach of or default under any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except for breaches and defaults which, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or have an adverse effect on the validity or enforceability of any material provision of any Financing Document, or (vi) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 4.03 . Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Borrower and the Notes and the Swingline Note, when executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Borrower, in each case enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms.

SECTION 4.04 . Financial Information. (a) The consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of May 31, 2000 and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for the Fiscal Year then ended, reported on by KPMG LLP and set forth in the Borrower’s 2000 Form 10-K, a copy of which has been delivered to each of the Lenders, fairly present, in conformity with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such Fiscal Year.

(b) The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of November 30, 2000 and the related unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the six months then

ended, set forth in the Borrower’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the Fiscal Quarter ended November 30, 2000, a copy of which has been delivered to each of the Lenders, fairly present, on a basis consistent with the financial statements referred to in subsection (a) of this Section, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such six-month period (subject to normal year-end adjustments).

SECTION 4.05 . Litigation. Except as described in Schedule 4.05 hereto, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending against, or to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened against, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official in which there is a reasonable possibility of adverse decisions which in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or which in any manner draw into question the validity of any of the Financing Documents.

SECTION 4.06 . Compliance with ERISA. Each member of the ERISA Group has fulfilled its obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to each Plan and is in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to each Plan. No member of the ERISA Group has (i) sought a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code in respect of any Plan, (ii) failed to make any contribution or payment to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or made any amendment to any Plan, which has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code or (iii) incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA.

SECTION 4.07 . Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations (including without limitation health care laws, rules and regulations), other than such laws, rules or regulations (i) the validity or applicability of which the Borrower or such Subsidiary is contesting in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (ii) failures to comply with which could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 4.08 . Environmental Matters. The Borrower has reviewed the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and has in good faith attempted to identify and evaluate the associated liabilities and costs (including, without limitation, capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up or closure of properties presently

or previously owned, capital or operating expenditures required to achieve or maintain compliance with environmental protection standards imposed by law or as a condition of any license, permit or contract, any related constraints on operating activities, including any periodic or permanent shutdown of any facility or reduction in the level of or change in the nature of operations conducted thereat, any costs or liabilities in connection with off-site disposal of wastes or Hazardous Substances, and actual or potential liabilities to third parties, including employees, and any related costs and expenses). On the basis of the foregoing review, the Borrower has reasonably concluded that such associated liabilities and costs, including the costs of compliance with Environmental Laws, are unlikely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 4.09 . Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes shown to be due on such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by any of them (unless such assessment is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings). The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the Borrower, adequate.

SECTION 4.10 . Material Subsidiaries. Each Material Subsidiary is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and has all corporate powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.

SECTION 4.11 . Certain Laws Not Applicable. The Borrower is neither an “ investment company ” nor a Person directly or indirectly “ controlled ” by or “ acting on behalf of ” an “ investment company ” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Borrower is neither a “ holding company ”, nor an “ affiliate ” of a “ holding company ” or a “ subsidiary company ” of a “ holding company ”, as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

SECTION 4.12 . Full Disclosure. All information heretofore furnished by the Borrower to any Agent or any Lender for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby is, and all such information hereafter furnished by the Borrower to any Agent or any Lender will be, taken as a whole, true and accurate in all material respects on the date as of which such information is stated or certified. The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders in writing any and all facts which have or may (to the extent the Borrower can now reasonably foresee) have a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE 5

COVENANTS

The Borrower agrees that, so long as any Lender has any Credit Exposure hereunder or any Swingline Loan remains outstanding or any interest or fees accrued hereunder remain unpaid:

SECTION 5.01 . Information. The Borrower will deliver to each Lender:

(a) as soon as available and in any event within 105 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, an audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related audited consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all reported on in a manner acceptable to the SEC by KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing;

(b) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year, a condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter, the related condensed consolidated statements of operations for such Fiscal Quarter and for the portion of the Fiscal Year ended at the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, setting forth in the case of such condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash flows in comparative form the figures for the corresponding Fiscal Quarter and the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year, all certified (subject to normal year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation and consistency with GAAP by a Senior Officer of the Borrower;

(c) concurrently with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of a Senior Officer of the Borrower (i) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Borrower was in compliance with the requirements of Sections 5.09 to 5.11 , inclusive, on the date of such financial statements and (ii) stating whether any Default exists on the date of such certificate and, if any Default then exists, setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

(d) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clause (a) above, a statement by the firm of independent public accountants which reported on such statements that, in making the examination

necessary for reporting on such financial statements, they did not obtain knowledge of any Default hereunder except as described in such statement;

(e) within five days after any officer of the Borrower obtains knowledge of any Default, if such Default is then continuing, a certificate of a Senior Officer of the Borrower setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

(f) promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the Borrower generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so mailed;

(g) 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 Borrower shall have filed with the SEC;

(h) if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is required to give notice to the PBGC of any “ reportable event ” (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which might constitute grounds for a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the PBGC; (ii) receives notice of complete or partial withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA or notice that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, is insolvent or has been terminated, a copy of such notice; (iii) receives notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to terminate, impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA or premium-related penalties) in respect of, or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, a copy of such notice; (iv) applies for a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, a copy of such application; (v) gives notice of intent to terminate any Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, a copy of such notice and other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives notice of withdrawal from any Plan pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a copy of such notice; or (vii) fails to make any payment or contribution to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or makes any amendment to any Plan which has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security, a certificate of a Senior Officer of the Borrower setting forth details as to such occurrence and the action, if any, which the Borrower or applicable member of the ERISA Group is required or proposes to take; and

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

SECTION 5.02 . Maintenance of Property; Insurance. (a) The Borrower and each Material Subsidiary will keep all property useful and necessary in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

(b) The Borrower and each Material Subsidiary will maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies (which may be Affiliates of the Borrower or part of the Borrower’s self-insurance program) insurance on all their properties in at least such amounts and against at least such risks as are usually insured against in the same general area and by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses and maintain professional liability and malpractice insurance against claims usually insured against by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses, and furnish to each Lender, upon written request by any of the Agents, full information as to the insurance carried.

SECTION 5.03 . Conduct of Business; Maintenance of Existence. (a) The Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries will continue to engage primarily in business of the same general type as now conducted by the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries.

(b) The Borrower and each Material Subsidiary will preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and take all reasonable action to maintain its rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of business, provided that (i) the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation or sale of assets expressly permitted by Section 5.06 and (ii) any Material Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower in good faith determines that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and not materially adverse to the Lenders.

SECTION 5.04 . Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and each Material Subsidiary will comply with all material applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and requirements of governmental authorities (including without limitation Environmental Laws, ERISA and the rules and regulations thereunder and Public Law 92-603), and hold and maintain in full force and effect all certifications, governmental approvals, licenses and permits necessary or desirable to enable the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries to conduct their respective businesses as now conducted, except where the failure to comply therewith or hold and maintain such certifications, governmental approvals, licenses or permits could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.05 . Inspection of Property, Books and Records. The Borrower and each Material Subsidiary will keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities; and will permit representatives of the Administrative Agent (at the request of any Lender) at such requesting Lender’s expense to visit and inspect any of their respective properties, to examine and make abstracts (at such Lender’s expense, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in which case at the Borrower’s expense) from any of their respective books and records and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with officers of the Borrower and with the accountants of the Borrower, all upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times and as often as may reasonably be desired.

SECTION 5.06 . Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets. The Borrower will not merge or consolidate with any other Person, or sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any other Person, unless after giving effect to such merger, consolidation, sale or other transfer, (i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) the corporation surviving such merger or consolidation (if other than the Borrower) or the Person acquiring such assets is organized under the laws of a state of the United States and assumes in writing all the obligations of the Borrower hereunder and said surviving corporation or acquiring Person delivers to each Lender an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Lenders, in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Lenders, to the effect that the assumption of such obligations by such surviving corporation or acquiring Person is effective and is fully binding upon and enforceable against such surviving corporation or acquiring Person.

SECTION 5.07 . Negative Pledge. After the Closing Date, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

(a) any Lien existing prior to the Closing Date securing Debt;

(b) any Lien on bonds issued by the Metrocrest Hospital Authority (and related proceeds and other distributions) granted to secure the Borrower’s obligations under the Metrocrest Reimbursement Agreement and the Securities Pledge and Security Agreement referred to therein;

(c) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any Debt secured by any Lien permitted by clause (a) above; provided that (i) the principal amount of such Debt is not increased and (ii) such Debt is not secured by any additional assets;

(d) if the letters of credit issued pursuant to the Metrocrest Reimbursement Agreement are replaced by other letters of credit issued for the same purpose, any Lien securing the Borrower’s obligations under the reimbursement agreement relating to such replacement letters of credit; provided that (i) the aggregate amount of such letters of credit does not exceed $70,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower’s obligations under the related reimbursement agreement are not secured or required to be secured by any assets except the assets by which the Borrower’s obligations under the Metrocrest Reimbursement Agreement are secured or required to be secured;

(e) any Lien securing Non-Recourse Purchase Money Debt;

(f) any Lien on assets of a Person which becomes a Subsidiary after the Closing Date; provided that such Lien secures only (i) Debt of such Person that is outstanding when such Person becomes a Subsidiary and was not created in contemplation of such event or (ii) Debt incurred solely for the purpose of refinancing Debt described in the foregoing clause (i);

(g) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, transporters, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business;

(h) any Lien imposed by any governmental authority for taxes, assessments, governmental charges, duties or levies not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings; provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP;

(i) Liens on cash and cash equivalents securing obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to workers’ compensation, malpractice and other insurance policies;

(j) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business (other than Liens permitted by clause (g), (h) or (i) above) which (i) do not secure Financial Obligations and (ii) do not secure monetary obligations in an aggregate outstanding amount exceeding $70,000,000;

(k) Liens on cash and cash equivalents securing Hedging Obligations, provided that the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents subject to such Liens may not exceed $100,000,000 at any time;

(l) any Lien on cash and cash equivalents securing LC Reimbursement Obligations pursuant to Section 6.03 ;

(m) any Lien on an asset leased by the Borrower or a Subsidiary under a capital lease securing its obligations as lessee under such capital lease;

(n) any Lien on any asset of a Subsidiary securing Debt owed to the Borrower; and

(o) Liens (other than Liens on capital stock of a Subsidiary) not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section securing Debt; provided that, immediately after any such Debt is incurred, the sum of (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Debt secured pursuant to this clause (o) and (ii) without duplication, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Debt of Subsidiaries incurred in reliance on clause (g) of Section 5.08 shall not exceed 5.0% (or, if at such time the Borrower has Investment Grade Ratings from S&P and Moody’s and at least one such rating is BBB or Baa2 or better, 20.0%) of the Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower at such time.

SECTION 5.08 . Debt of Subsidiaries. After the Closing Date, no Subsidiary will incur, assume or otherwise be liable in respect of any Debt, except:

(a) Debt outstanding at the close of business on November 30, 2000 in an aggregate principal or face amount not exceeding $400,000,000;

(b) Debt owing to the Borrower;

(d) Debt of any Person which becomes a Subsidiary after the Closing Date; provided that (i) such Debt is outstanding when such Person becomes a Subsidiary and was not created in contemplation of such event or (ii) such Debt is incurred solely for the purpose of refinancing Debt described in the foregoing clause (i);

(e) Guarantees by any Subsidiary of Debt relating to any assets sold or otherwise disposed of by it; provided that such Debt was outstanding when such assets were disposed of and was not created in contemplation of the disposition thereof;

(f) Debt consisting of the obligations of any Subsidiary as lessee which are capitalized in accordance with GAAP; and

(g) Debt of any Subsidiary not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section; provided that immediately after any such Debt is incurred,

the sum of (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Debt of Subsidiaries permitted by this clause (g) and (ii) without duplication, the aggregate principal amount of secured Debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred in reliance on clause (o) of Section 5.07 shall not exceed 5.0% (or, if at such time the Borrower has Investment Grade Ratings from S&P and Moody’s and at least one such rating is BBB or Baa2 or better, 20%) of the Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower at such time.

SECTION 5.09 . Leverage Ratio. At the close of business on any day on or after the Closing Date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Debt at such time to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters most recently ended at or prior to such time (the “ Leverage Ratio ”) will not be greater than 3.50 to 1.

SECTION 5.10 . Consolidated Net Worth. Consolidated Net Worth will at no time be less than the sum of (i) $3,600,000,000 plus (ii) 50% of the consolidated net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for each Fiscal Quarter commencing after November 30, 2000, if positive, plus (iii) 50% of the amount by which Consolidated Net Worth shall have been increased as a result of any issuance of capital stock of the Borrower after November 30, 2000 minus (iv) 100% of the amount by which Consolidated Net Worth shall have been decreased as a result of Non-Cash Charges reported after November 30, 2000 minus (v) 100% of the amount by which Consolidated Net Worth shall have been decreased as a result of any repurchase by the Borrower of its capital stock after November 30, 2000 that is permitted under Section 5.12 hereof.

SECTION 5.11 . Fixed Charge Ratio. At the end of each Fiscal Quarter ending after the Closing Date, the ratio of (i) the sum of Consolidated EBITDA plus Consolidated Rental Expense to (ii) the sum of Consolidated Interest Expense plus Consolidated Rental Expense, all calculated for the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters then ended, will not be less than 2.0 to 1.

SECTION 5.12 . Restricted Payments. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will declare or make (i) any dividend or other distribution on any shares of capital stock of the Borrower (except dividends payable solely in shares of its capital stock) or (ii) any payment on account of the purchase, redemption or other acquisition of any Equity Interests in the Borrower (any such dividend, distribution or payment, a “ Restricted Payment ”), unless (x) no Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) either (A) at the time such dividend or distribution is declared, or such purchase redemption or other acquisition is made (or committed to be made), and on a pro forma basis giving effect thereto and to any Debt incurred to fund such dividend, distribution or payment, the Leverage Ratio is less than 2.50 to 1 or (B) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments

made after the Closing Date that are not permitted by clause (A) is less than $50,000,000 ( provided that, in determining such aggregate amount of Restricted Payments, the aggregate payment for a number of shares of common stock of the Borrower repurchased by it after the Closing Date up to but not exceeding the aggregate number of shares of such common stock issued after the Closing Date upon exercise of employee stock options, shall be deemed to be the positive difference, if any, between (1) the aggregate purchase price of such repurchased shares and (2) the aggregate exercise price of such stock options); provided , however , that, notwithstanding clause (y) (and without utilizing any amount available under subclause (y)(B)), the Borrower may from time to time distribute to its stockholders Equity Interests in other Persons held by the Borrower so long as (i) the aggregate operating income of such Persons, plus their depreciation and amortization expense, for the respective periods of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters most recently ended prior to the respective dates of declaration of distribution of Equity Interests therein, is less than 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the four-quarter period most recently ended prior to the date of determination, and (ii) the aggregate net tangible assets of all such Persons ( less in the case of any such Person that is not a wholly-owned Subsidiary, a portion of the net tangible assets of such Person allocable, on a pro rata basis, to Equity Interests of such Person held by Persons other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) at the respective dates of declaration of such distributions of the Equity Interests of such Persons are less than 5% of consolidated net tangible assets of the Borrower at the end of the Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower most recently ended prior to the date of declaration thereof; provided, however , that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall make any Restricted Payment pursuant to clause (y)(A) after September 30, 2003 and before June 30, 2004.

SECTION 5.13 . Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, pay any funds to or for the account of, make any investment (whether by acquisition of stock or indebtedness, by loan, advance, transfer of property, guarantee or other agreement to pay, purchase or service, directly or indirectly, any Debt, or otherwise) in, lease, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets, tangible or intangible, to, or participate in, or effect, any transaction with, any Affiliate except on an arms-length basis on terms at least as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as it could have obtained from a third party who was not an Affiliate; provided that the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not prohibit (x) any such Person from declaring or paying any lawful dividend or other payment ratably in respect of all of its capital stock of the relevant class so long as, after giving effect thereto, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or (y) any such transaction between or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 5.14 . Payment of Dividends by Material Subsidiaries. After the Closing Date neither the Borrower nor any of its Material Subsidiaries will enter into any agreement or arrangement which would limit in any way the ability of any Material Subsidiary to pay any dividend.

SECTION 5.15 . Use of Proceeds. (a) The proceeds of the Loans will be used by the Borrower for general corporate purposes (including working capital needs) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

(b) The Letters of Credit will be used by the Borrower for the general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

(c) Neither the proceeds of the Loans nor any Letter of Credit will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying any “ margin stock ” within the meaning of Regulation U in any manner which would (i) violate any applicable law or regulation or (ii) require any Form FRU-1 or any successor form to be executed.

SECTION 5.16 . Prepayment of Debt. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall prepay, repurchase, redeem or defease the principal of any Debt (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit) having an outstanding principal amount in excess of $50,000,000, at any time prior to the 90th day before such Debt (or the portion thereof prepaid, repurchased, redeemed or defeased) is due, at any time that the Leverage Ratio is greater than 2.50 to 1 (after giving effect to such prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance and the incurrence of any Debt in connection therewith), unless (i) there are no Loans outstanding hereunder immediately before or immediately after such prepayment, redemption or defeasance and (ii) the consolidated amount of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are not subject to Liens is equal to or greater than $100,000,000 after giving effect to such prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS

SECTION 6.01 . Events of Default. If one or more of the following events (“ Events of Default ”) shall have occurred:

(a) any principal of any Loan or Swingline Loan shall not be paid when due;

(b) any LC Reimbursement Obligation, any interest on any Loan, Swingline Loan or LC Reimbursement Obligation, any fee or any other amount payable under any Financing Document shall not be paid within three Domestic Business Days after it becomes due;

(c) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to comply with any covenant applicable to it contained in Section 5.01(e) and Sections 5.06 through 5.16, inclusive;

(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those covered by clause (a), (b) or (c) above) within 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date the Borrower first learns of such failure and (ii) the date written notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent at the request of the Required Lenders;

(e) any representation, warranty, certification or statement made by the Borrower in this Agreement or by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in any certificate, financial statement or other document delivered pursuant hereto shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made (or deemed made);

(f) the Borrower and/or one or more Subsidiaries shall fail to make one or more payments in respect of Material Financial Obligations when due or within any applicable grace period;

(g) any event or condition shall occur which results in the acceleration of the maturity of any Material Financial Obligations, or enables (any applicable grace period having expired) the holder or holders of any Material Financial Obligations or any Person acting on their behalf to accelerate the maturity thereof;

(h) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to itself or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due, or shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the foregoing;

(i) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary seeking liquidation, reorganization or

other relief with respect to it or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or an order for relief shall be entered against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect;

(j) any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an amount or amounts aggregating in excess of $70,000,000 which it shall have become liable to pay under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to terminate a Material Plan shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by any member of the ERISA Group, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC shall institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate, to impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA or premium-related penalties) in respect of, or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer any Material Plan; or a condition shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any Material Plan must be terminated; or there shall occur a complete or partial withdrawal from, or a default, within the meaning of Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA, with respect to, one or more Multiemployer Plans which could cause one or more members of the ERISA Group to incur a current payment obligation in excess of $70,000,000;

(k) a judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $70,000,000 (net of insurance to the extent that the insurer shall have admitted coverage thereof) shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary and such judgment or order shall continue unsatisfied and unstayed for a period of 30 days; or

(l) any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13 or 14 of the Exchange Act) shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Borrower; or Continuing Directors shall no longer constitute a majority of the Borrower’s board of directors;

then, and in every such event, while such event is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall:

(i) if requested by Lenders having more than 50% in aggregate amount of the Commitments, by notice to the Borrower terminate the Commitments and the Swingline Commitment and they shall thereupon terminate,

(ii) if requested by Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate LC Exposure, by notice to each LC Issuing Bank instruct such LC Issuing Bank (x) not to extend the expiry date of any outstanding Letter of Credit and/or (y) in the case of any Evergreen Letter of Credit, to give notice to the beneficiary thereof terminating such Letter of Credit as soon as is permitted by the provisions thereof, whereupon such LC Issuing Bank shall deliver notice to that effect promptly (or as soon thereafter as is permitted by the provisions of the relevant Letter of Credit) to the beneficiary of each such Letter of Credit and the Borrower; and

(iii) if requested by Lenders holding Notes evidencing more than 50% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans, by notice to the Borrower declare the Notes and the Swingline Note (in each case together with accrued interest thereon) to be, and the Notes and the Swingline Note shall thereupon become, immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower;

provided that, if any Event of Default specified in clause (h) or (i) above occurs with respect to the Borrower, then without any notice to the Borrower or any other act by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, the Commitments and the Swingline Commitment shall thereupon terminate and the Notes and the Swingline Note (in each case together with accrued interest thereon) shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

SECTION 6.02 . Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall give notice to the Borrower under clause (d) of Section 6.01 promptly upon being requested to do so by the Required Lenders and shall thereupon notify all the Lenders thereof.

SECTION 6.03 . Cash Cover. The Borrower agrees that, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate LC Exposure instruct the Administrative Agent to request cash collateral pursuant to this Section, the Borrower will, promptly after it receives such request from the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent an amount in immediately available funds equal to the then aggregate amount available for subsequent drawings under all outstanding Letters of Credit, to be held by the Administrative Agent, under arrangements satisfactory to it, to secure the payment of all LC Reimbursement Obligations arising from subsequent drawings under such Letters of Credit; provided that, if any Event of Default specified in clause (h) or (i) of Section 6.01 occurs with respect to the Borrower,

the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent forthwith without any notice or demand or any other act by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.

ARTICLE 7

THE AGENTS

SECTION 7.01 . Appointment and Authorization. Each Lender irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to it by the terms hereof, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

SECTION 7.02 . Agents and Affiliates. Each of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Bank of America, N.A., The Bank of New York, The Bank of Nova Scotia and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. shall have the same rights and powers under the Financing Documents as any other Lender and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not an Agent, and each of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Bank of America, N.A., The Bank of New York, The Bank of Nova Scotia and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and their respective Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Equity Affiliates as if it were not an Agent under any of the Financing Documents.

SECTION 7.03 . Action by the Administrative Agent. The obligations of the Administrative Agent hereunder are only those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action with respect to any Default, except as expressly provided in Article 6.

SECTION 7.04 . Consultation with Experts. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it with reasonable care and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

SECTION 7.05 . Liability of the Agents. None of the Agents, their respective Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by such Person in connection with any Financing Document (i) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful

misconduct or (ii) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders, provided that this clause (ii) shall not affect any rights the Borrower may have against the Lenders that made such request. None of the Agents, the Managing Agents, the Co-Agents, their respective Affiliates and 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 Financing Document or any Borrowing; (ii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants or agreements of the Borrower in any Financing Document; (iii) the satisfaction of any condition specified in Article 3, except, in the case of the Administrative Agent, receipt of items required to be delivered to it; or (iv) the validity, effectiveness or genuineness of any Financing Document or any other instrument or writing furnished in connection therewith. The Administrative Agent shall not incur any liability by acting in reliance upon any notice, consent, certificate, statement, or other writing (which may be a bank wire, telex, facsimile transmission or similar writing) believed by it to be genuine or to be signed by the proper party or parties.

SECTION 7.06 . Indemnification. The Lenders shall, ratably in accordance with their Credit Exposures, indemnify each Agent, the Swingline Bank, their respective Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower) against any cost, expense (including counsel fees and disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such as result from the relevant indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct) that such indemnitees may suffer or incur in connection with the Financing Documents or any action taken or omitted by the relevant indemnitee thereunder.

SECTION 7.07 . Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, Managing Agent, Co-Agent or other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, Managing Agent, Co-Agent or 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 any action under the Financing Documents.

SECTION 7.08 . Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent

gives notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized or licensed under the laws of the United States or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations (excepting liabilities previously incurred) hereunder. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent.

SECTION 7.09 . Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account fees in the amounts and at the times previously agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 7.10 . Other Agents. The Managing Agents, Co-Agents and Agents (other than the Administrative Agent), in their capacities as such, shall have no duties or obligations of any kind under the Financing Documents. The use of the term “ Agent ” in this Agreement is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and, in the case of the Administrative Agent, such term is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

ARTICLE 8

CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCE

SECTION 8.01 . Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair . If on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any Euro-Dollar Loan or Money Market LIBOR Loan:

(a) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks that deposits in dollars (in the applicable amounts) are not being offered to the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks in the relevant market for such Interest Period, or

(b) in the case of a Group of Euro-Dollar Loans, Lenders having 50% or more of the aggregate principal amount of such Loans advise the Administrative Agent that the Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate as determined by the Administrative Agent will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loans for such Interest Period,

the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make or maintain Euro-Dollar Loans shall be suspended and (ii) each outstanding Euro-Dollar Loan shall be converted into a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto. Unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent at least two Domestic Business Days before the date of any Euro-Dollar Borrowing or Money Market LIBOR Borrowing for which a Notice of Borrowing has previously been given that it elects not to borrow on such date, (i) if such Borrowing is a Euro-Dollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall instead be made as a Base Rate Borrowing and (ii) if such Borrowing is a Money Market LIBOR Borrowing, the Money Market LIBOR Loans comprising such Borrowing shall bear interest for each day from and including the first day to but excluding the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto at the Base Rate for such day.

SECTION 8.02 . Illegality. If, on or after the date of this Agreement, the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) made on or after the date of this Agreement by any such authority, central bank or comparable agency shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Lender (or its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) to make, maintain or fund its Euro-Dollar Loans and such Lender shall so notify the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the other Lenders and the Borrower, whereupon until such Lender notifies the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Lender to make Euro-Dollar Loans, or to convert outstanding Base Rate Loans into Euro-Dollar Loans, shall be suspended. Before giving any notice to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section, such Lender shall designate a different Euro-Dollar Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for giving such notice and will not, in the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender. If such notice is given, each Euro-Dollar Loan of such Lender then outstanding shall be

converted to a Base Rate Loan either (a) on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such Euro-Dollar Loan if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain and fund such Loan to such day or (b) immediately if such Lender shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain and fund such Loan to such day.

SECTION 8.03 . Increased Cost and Reduced Return. (a) If, on or after (x) the date hereof, in the case of any Euro-Dollar Loan or Letter of Credit or any obligation to make Euro-Dollar Loans or issue or participate in any Letter of Credit or (y) the date of the related Money Market Quote, in the case of any Money Market Loan, the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or any LC Issuing Bank with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) made on or after the date of this Agreement by any such authority, central bank or comparable agency shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve (including, without limitation, any such requirement imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, but excluding with respect to any Euro-Dollar Loan any such requirement included in an applicable Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage), special deposit, insurance assessment or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit (including Letters of Credit and participations therein) extended by, any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or any LC Issuing Bank or shall impose on any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or any LC Issuing Bank or on the London interbank market any other condition affecting its Euro-Dollar Loans, its Notes, its obligation to make Euro-Dollar Loans, its Money Market Loans or its obligations hereunder in respect of Letters of Credit, and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or such LC Issuing Bank of making or maintaining any Euro-Dollar Loan or Money Market Loan or issuing or participating in any Letter of Credit, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or such LC Issuing Bank under this Agreement or under its Note with respect thereto, by an amount deemed by such Lender or LC Issuing Bank to be material, then, within 15 days after demand by such Lender or LC Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender or LC Issuing Bank such additional amount or amounts as will (subject to subsection (e) of this Section) compensate such Lender or LC Issuing Bank for such increased cost or reduction.

(b) If any Lender shall have determined that, after the date hereof, the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or

any change in any such law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) made on or after the date of this Agreement by any such authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on capital of such Lender (or its Parent) as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender (or its Parent) could have achieved but for such adoption, change, request or directive (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time, within 15 days after demand by such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will (subject to subsection (d) of this Section) compensate such Lender (or its Parent) for such reduction.

(c) Each Lender and LC Issuing Bank will promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof, which will entitle such Lender or LC Issuing Bank to compensation pursuant to this Section and will designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the judgment of such Lender or LC Issuing Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to it. A certificate of any Lender or LC Issuing Bank claiming compensation under this Section and setting forth in reasonable detail the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder and the method of calculation thereof and shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Lender or LC Issuing Bank may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

(d) No Lender shall be entitled to claim compensation pursuant to this Section for (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as such terms are defined in Section 8.04) or (ii) any increased cost or reduction incurred or accrued more than 90 days before such Lender first notifies the Borrower of the change in law or other circumstance on which such claim is based.

SECTION 8.04 . Taxes. (a) For purposes of this Section, the following terms have the following meanings:

“ Taxes ” means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings with respect to any payment by the Borrower pursuant to any Financing Document, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding (i) in the case of each Lending Party, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise or similar taxes imposed on it, by a jurisdiction under the laws of which

it is organized or in which its principal executive office is located or in which its Applicable Lending Office is located and (ii) in the case of each Lender, any United States withholding tax imposed on such payments but only to the extent that such Lender is subject to United States withholding tax at the time such Lender first becomes a party to this Agreement.

“ Other Taxes ” means any present or future stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, or similar charges or levies, which arise from any payment made pursuant to any Financing Document, or from the execution or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to, any Financing Document.

(b) Any and all payments by any Borrower to or for the account of any Lending Party under any Financing Document shall be made without deduction for any Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that, if the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes or Other Taxes from any such payment, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 8.04 ) such Lending Party receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law and (iv) the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 9.01 , the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.

(c) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lending Party for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 8.04 ) paid by such Lending Party and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. This indemnification shall be paid within 15 days after such Lending Party makes demand therefor.

(d) Each Lending Party organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, on or prior to its execution and delivery of this Agreement in the case of each Lending Party listed on the signature pages hereof and on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lending Party in the case of each other Lending Party, and from time to time thereafter if requested in writing by the Borrower (but only so long as such Lending Party remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with Internal Revenue Service form W-8ECI or W-8BEN, as appropriate, or any successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying that such Lending Party is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United States

is a party which exempts such Lending Party from United States withholding tax or reduces the rate of withholding tax on payments of interest for the account of such Lending Party or certifying that the income receivable pursuant to the Financing Documents is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

(e) For any period with respect to which a Lending Party has failed to provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the appropriate form pursuant to Section 8.04(d) (unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation occurring after the date on which such form originally was required to be provided), such Lending Party shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section 8.04(b) or (c) with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided that if a Lending Party, which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax, becomes subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as such Lending Party shall reasonably request to assist such Lending Party to recover such Taxes.

(f) If the Borrower is required to pay additional amounts to or for the account of any Lender pursuant to this Section 8.04 , such Lender will change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office if, in the judgment of such Lender, such change (i) will eliminate or reduce any such additional payment which may thereafter accrue and (ii) is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

SECTION 8.05 . Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Euro-Dollar Loans. If (i) the obligation of any Lender to make Euro-Dollar Loans has been suspended pursuant to Section 8.02 or (ii) any Lender has demanded compensation under Section 8.03 or 8.04 with respect to its Euro-Dollar Loans and the Borrower shall, by at least five Euro-Dollar Business Days’ prior notice to such Lender through the Administrative Agent, have elected that the provisions of this Section shall apply to such Lender, then, unless and until such Lender notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension or demand for compensation no longer exist, all Loans which would otherwise be made by such Lender as (or continued as or converted into) Euro-Dollar Loans shall instead be made as (or converted into) Base Rate Loans (on which interest and principal shall be payable contemporaneously with the related Euro-Dollar Loans of the other Lenders). If such Lender notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer apply, the principal amount of each such Base Rate Loan shall be converted into a Euro-Dollar Loan on the first day of the next succeeding Interest Period applicable to the related Euro-Dollar Loans of the other Lenders.

ARTICLE 9

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.01 . Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including bank wire, telex, facsimile transmission or similar writing) and shall be given to such party:

(x) in the case of the Borrower, the Swingline Bank or the Administrative Agent, at its address, facsimile number or telex number set forth on the signature pages hereof,

(y) in the case of any Lender or Agent (other than the Administrative Agent), at its address, facsimile number or telex number set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire or

(z) 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 Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

Each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by telex, when such telex is transmitted to the telex number referred to in this Section and the appropriate answerback is received, (ii) if given by facsimile transmission, when transmitted to the facsimile number referred to in this Section and confirmation of receipt is received, (iii) if given by mail, 72 hours after such communication is deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid or (iv) if given by any other means, when delivered at the address referred to in this Section; provided that notices to the Administrative Agent or an LC Issuing Bank under Article 2 or Article 8 shall not be effective until received.

SECTION 9.02 . No Waivers. No failure or delay by any Lending Party in exercising any right, power or privilege under any Financing Document shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

SECTION 9.03 . Expenses; Indemnification. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, including reasonable fees and disbursements of special counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the preparation and administration of the Financing Documents, any waiver or consent thereunder or any amendment thereof or any Default or alleged Default thereunder, (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses of each Joint Lead Arranger (but not

any fees and disbursements of its counsel) in connection with the preparation of the Financing Documents, any waiver or consent thereunder or any amendment thereof and (iii) if an Event of Default occurs, all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Lending Party, including (without duplication) the fees and disbursements of outside counsel and the allocated cost of inside counsel, in connection with such Event of Default and any collection, bankruptcy, insolvency, workout or other enforcement proceedings resulting therefrom.

(b) The Borrower shall indemnify each Lending Party, the Joint Lead Arrangers and their respective Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, agents and employees of the foregoing (each an “ Indemnitee ”) and hold each Indemnitee harmless from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses of any kind, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, which may be incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding (whether or not such Indemnitee shall be designated a party thereto) brought or threatened relating to or arising out of any Financing Document or any actual or proposed use by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Equity Affiliates of any Letters of Credit or any proceeds of the Loans; provided that no Indemnitee shall have the right to be indemnified hereunder for such Indemnitee’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

SECTION 9.04 . Set-offs; Sharing. (a) If (i) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) the requisite Lenders have requested the Administrative Agent to declare the Loans to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 6.01, or the Loans have become immediately due and payable without notice as provided in Section 6.01, then each Lending Party is hereby authorized by the Borrower at any time and from time to time, to the extent permitted by applicable law, without notice to the Borrower (any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower), to set off and apply all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lending Party to or for the account of the Borrower against any obligations of the Borrower to such Lending Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement, regardless of whether any such deposit or other obligation is then due and payable or is in the same currency or is booked or otherwise payable at the same office as the obligation against which it is set off and regardless of whether such Lending Party shall have made any demand for payment under this Agreement. Each Lending Party agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application made by such Lending Party; provided that any failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Lending Parties under this subsection are in addition to any other rights and remedies which they may have.

(b) Each Lender agrees that if it shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, receive payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of principal and interest due with respect to the Loans and participations in LC Reimbursement Obligations held by it which is greater than the proportion received by any other Lender in respect of the aggregate amount of principal and interest due with respect to the Loans and participations in LC Reimbursement Obligations held by such other Lender, the Lender receiving such proportionately greater payment shall purchase such participations in the Loans and participations in LC Reimbursement Obligations held by the other Lenders, and such other adjustments shall be made, as may be required so that all such payments of principal and interest with respect to the Loans and participations in LC Reimbursement Obligations held by the Lenders shall be shared by the Lenders pro rata.

(c) Nothing in this Section shall impair the right of any Lender to exercise any right of set-off or counterclaim it may have and to apply the amount subject to such exercise to the payment of indebtedness of the Borrower other than its indebtedness in respect of the Loans and the LC Reimbursement Obligations.

(d) The Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any holder of a participation in a Note or LC Reimbursement Obligation, whether or not acquired pursuant to the foregoing arrangements, may exercise rights of set-off or counterclaim and other rights with respect to such participation as fully as if such holder of a participation were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

SECTION 9.05 . Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement or the Notes may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by the Borrower and the Required Lenders (and, if the rights or duties of any Agent or LC Issuing Bank are affected thereby, by such Agent or LC Issuing Bank, as the case may be); provided that no such amendment or waiver shall:

(i) unless signed by all the Lenders, increase or decrease any Commitment (except for a ratable decrease in all the Commitments), postpone the date fixed for the termination of any Commitment or, except as expressly provided in Section 2.17(g), extend the expiry date of any Letter of Credit, reduce the principal of or rate of interest on any Syndicated Loan or the amount of any LC Reimbursement Obligation or any interest thereon, or postpone the Termination Date or any date fixed for any payment of interest on any Syndicated Loan or of any LC Reimbursement Obligation or any interest thereon;

(ii) unless signed by the Swingline Bank, increase the Swingline Commitment, postpone the date fixed for the termination of the Swingline Commitment or otherwise affect any of its rights or obligations hereunder;

(iii) unless signed by all the Lenders entitled to receive such fees, reduce or postpone the date fixed for any scheduled payment of fees hereunder;

(iv) unless signed by all the Lenders, change any provision of this Section or any other provision of this Agreement specifying which Lenders may take any action that the Lenders or any of them are entitled to take hereunder; or

(v) unless signed by each Lender affected thereby, waive any condition set forth in clause (b), (c), (j) or (k) of Section 3.01 .

SECTION 9.06 . Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights under the Financing Documents without the prior written consent of all the Lenders, the LC Issuing Banks and the Swingline Bank.

(b) Any Lender may at any time grant to one or more banks or other institutions (each a “ Participant ”) participating interests in its Commitment or any or all of its Loans and participations in the Letters of Credit. If any Lender grants such a participating interest to a Participant, whether or not upon notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, such Lender shall remain responsible for the performance of its obligations hereunder, and the Borrower, the LC Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under the Financing Documents. Any agreement pursuant to which any Lender may grant such a participating interest shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right and responsibility to enforce the obligations of the Borrower and the LC Issuing Banks under the Financing Documents including, without limitation, the right to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision thereof; provided that such participation agreement may provide that such Lender will not agree to any modification, amendment or waiver of this Agreement described in clause (i) or (iii) of Section 9.05 without the consent of the Participant. An assignment or other transfer which is not permitted by subsection (c) or (d) below shall be given effect for purposes of this Agreement only to the extent of a participating interest granted in accordance with this subsection (b).

(c) Any Lender may at any time after the Closing Date assign to an Eligible Assignee all, or a pro rata part of all, of its rights and obligations under the Financing Documents, and such Eligible Assignee shall assume such rights and obligations, pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J hereto signed by such Eligible Assignee and such transferor Lender; provided that:

(A) such assignment may, but need not, include rights of the transferor Lender in respect of outstanding Money Market Loans;

(B) if such Eligible Assignee is not an Affiliate of the transferor Lender and was not a Lender immediately prior to such assignment, then, unless the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise agree, the portion of the transferor Lender’s Commitment assigned to such Eligible Assignee shall be at least $5,000,000; and

(C) unless the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise agree or the transferor Lender assigns its entire Commitment to such Eligible Assignee, the transferor Lender and/or its Affiliates shall retain, in the aggregate, a Commitment at least equal to $5,000,000.

When such Assignment and Assumption Agreement has been signed and delivered to the Administrative Agent and such Eligible Assignee has paid to such transferor Lender an amount equal to the purchase price agreed between such transferor Lender and such Eligible Assignee, such Eligible Assignee shall be a Lender party to this Agreement and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Lender to the extent set forth in such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, and the transferor Lender shall be released from its obligations hereunder to a corresponding extent, and no further consent or action by any party shall be required. Upon the consummation of any assignment pursuant to this subsection (c), the transferor Lender, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall make appropriate arrangements so that, if required, a new Note is issued to the Eligible Assignee. In connection with any such assignment, either the transferor Lender or the Eligible Assignee shall pay to the Administrative Agent an administrative fee for processing such assignment in the amount of $3,500. If the Eligible Assignee is not incorporated under the laws of the United States or a State thereof, it shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent certification as to exemption from deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes in accordance with Section 8.04(d) .

(d) Any Lender may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights under the Financing Documents to a Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment shall release the transferor Lender from its obligations thereunder.

(e) No Eligible Assignee, Participant or other transferee of any Lender’s rights shall be entitled to receive any greater payment under or by reason of Section 8.03 or 8.04 than such Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights transferred, unless such transfer is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent or by reason of the provisions of Section 8.02 , 8.03 or 8.04 requiring such Lender to designate a different Applicable Lending Office under certain circumstances or, in the case of an Eligible Assignee, at a time when the circumstances giving rise to such greater payment did not exist. Subject to the foregoing limitation, any Lender claiming compensation or indemnification pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 may include in its claim similar compensation or indemnification for any Participant having a participating interest in such Lender’s rights.

SECTION 9.07 . No Reliance on Margin Stock as Collateral. Each of the Lenders represents to the Administrative Agent and each of the other Lenders that it in good faith is not relying upon any “ margin stock ” (as defined in Regulation U) as collateral in the extension or maintenance of the credit provided for in this Agreement.

SECTION 9.08 . Confidentiality. Each Lending Party agrees to keep any information delivered or made available by the Borrower to it confidential from anyone other than persons employed or retained by such Lending Party who are, or are expected to be, engaged in evaluating, approving, structuring or administering the credit facility provided herein; provided that nothing herein shall prevent any Lending Party from disclosing such information (a) to any other Lending Party, (b) to any other Person if reasonably incidental to the administration of the credit facility provided herein, (c) upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (d) upon the request or demand of any regulatory agency or authority, (e) which had been publicly disclosed other than as a result of a disclosure by any Lending Party prohibited by this Agreement, (f) in connection with any litigation to which such Lending Party or any of its Affiliates may be a party, (g) to the extent necessary in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder, (h) to such Lending Party’s legal counsel and independent auditors, (i) to any Affiliate of such Lending Party, solely in connection with this Agreement or any other transaction or proposed transaction between such Lending Party and/or its Affiliates and the Borrower and/or its Affiliates, and (j) subject to provisions substantially similar to those contained in this Section, to any actual or proposed Participant or Eligible Assignee.

SECTION 9.09 . WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER AND EACH LENDING PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE FINANCING DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.

SECTION 9.10 . GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH OF THE FINANCING DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE BORROWER HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY FOR PURPOSES OF ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE FINANCING DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

SECTION 9.11 . Counterparts; Integration. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.

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

	TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION


	By:	/s/ Stephen D. Farber
		Title: Chief Financial Officer

	Tenet Healthcare Corporation
	3820 State Street
	Santa Barbara, CA 93105
	Attention: Treasurer
	(with a copy to General Counsel)
	Telephone: (805) 563-7001
	Facsimile: (805) 563-6943


	JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Administrative Agent and as Lender


	By:	/s/ Laura S. Cumming
		Title: Vice President

	c/o JPMorgan Chase
	1111 Fannin, 10 ^th Floor
	Houston, Texas 77002
	ABA 021000021
	Attention: Jennifer Anyigbo (Account Manager)
	Telephone: (713) 750-2110
	Facsimile: (713) 750-2782

	BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.


	By:	/s/ Kevin Wagley
		Title: Principal


	THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA


	By:	/s/ Carolyn A. Calloway
		Title: Managing Director


	SUNTRUST BANK


	By:	/s/ W. Brooks Hubbard
		Title: Director


	FLEET NATIONAL BANK


	By:	/s/ Alan B. Gardner
		Title: Managing Director


	THE BANK OF NEW YORK


	By:	/s/ Rebecca K. Levine
		Title: Vice President


	CITICORP USA, INC.


	By:	/s/ Peter C. Bickford
		Title: Vice President

	CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch


	By:	/s/ Jay Chall
		Title: Director

	By:	/s/ Christopher Lally
		Title: Vice President


	SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION


	By:	/s/ Al Galluzzo
		Title: Senior Vice President


	UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC


	By:	/s/ Thomas J. Donnelly
		Title: Executive Director


	By:	/s/ Wilfred V. Saint
		Title: Associate Director


	UFJ BANK LIMITED


	By:	/s/ Toshiko Boyd
		Title: Vice President

	MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL CORP.


	By:	/s/ Michael E. O’Brien
		Title: Vice President


	MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.


	By:	/s/ Greg Botshon
		Title: Vice President


	CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH


	By:	/s/ Charles Heidsieck
		Title: Senior Vice President


	PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


	By:	/s/ Constance D. Maher
		Title: Vice President


	WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


	By:	/s/ Jeanette A. Griffin
		Title: Director

	KBC BANK N.V.


	By:	/s/ Robert Snauffer
		Title: First Vice President


	By:	/s/ Raymond F. Murray
		Title: First Vice President


	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


	By:	/s/ Christian E. Stein III
		Title: Vice President


	BNP PARIBAS


	By:	/s/ Dennis Zinkand
		Title: Director

	By:	/s/ PJ de Filippis
		Title: Managing Director


	HUA NAN COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD, NEW YORK AGENCY


	By:	/s/ Jeng-Fang Geeng
		Title: General Manager

	NATIONAL CITY BANK OF KENTUCKY


	By:	/s/ Erica Dowd
		Title: Banking Officer


	SOUTHTRUST BANK


	By:	/s/ James A. Barnes
		Title: Group Vice President


	PB CAPITAL CORPORATION


	By:	/s/ Tyler J. McCarthy
		Title: Vice President

	By:	/s/ Chris Ruzzi
		Title: Vice President


	ALLIED IRISH BANK


	By:	/s/ Anthony O’Reilly
		Title: Vice President

	By:	/s/ Hilary Patterson
		Title: Vice President

	CHINATRUST COMMERCIAL BANK


	By:	/s/ John Teng
		Title: Executive Vice President and General Manager


	COMERICA BANK


	By:	/s/ Colleen M. Murphy
		Title: Vice President


	COMMERCEBANK N.A.


	By:	/s/ Edward Tietjen
		Title: Senior Vice President


	BANK LEUMI USA


	By:	/s/ Joung Hee Hong
		Title: Vice President


	HIBERNIA NATIONAL BANK


	By:	/s/ Kay St. John
		Title: Senior Vice President

	MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING INC.


	By:	/s/ Jaap L. Tonckens
		Title: Vice President


	THE GOVERNOR & COMPANY OF THE BANK OF IRELAND


	By:	/s/ Joe Shine
		Title: Assistant Manager

	By:	/s/ G. Hammon
		Title: Authorised Signatory


	MALAYAN BANKING BERHAD


	By:	/s/ Wan Fadzmi Othman
		Title: General Manager


	CANPARTNERS INVESTMENTS IV, LLC


	By:	/s/ R.C.B. Evensen
		Title: Managing Partner

	GOLDENTREE HIGH YIELD II


	By:
		Title:


	GOLDENTREE HIGH YIELD I


	By:
		Title:

PRICING SCHEDULE

The “ Facility Fee Rate ” and “ Euro-Dollar Margin ” for any day are the respective rates per annum set forth below in the applicable row under the column corresponding to the Pricing Level that applies on such day:

Pricing Level	Level I		Level II		Level III		Level IV		Level V		Level VI

Facility Fee Rate:	0.500	%	0.500	%	0.500	%	0.600	%	0.700	%	0.800	%

Euro-Dollar Margin:	1.000	%	1.000	%	1.000	%	1.500	%	2.000	%	2.500	%

For purposes of this Pricing Schedule, the following terms have the following meanings:

“ Level I Pricing ” applies during any Rate Period if, at the end of the Preceding Fiscal Quarter, the Leverage Ratio was less than 1.75 to 1.

“ Level II Pricing ” applies during any Rate Period if no higher Pricing Level applies and, at the end of the Preceding Fiscal Quarter, the Leverage Ratio was equal to or greater than 1.75 to 1.

“ Level III Pricing ” applies during any Rate Period if no higher Pricing Level applies and, at the end of the Preceding Fiscal Quarter, the Leverage Ratio was equal to or greater than 2.00 to 1.

“ Level IV Pricing ” applies during any Rate Period if no higher Pricing Level applies and, at the end of the Preceding Fiscal Quarter, the Leverage Ratio was equal to or greater than 2.50 to 1.

“ Level V Pricing ” applies during any Rate Period if no higher Pricing Level applies and, at the end of the Preceding Fiscal Quarter, the Leverage Ratio was equal to or greater than 3.00 to 1.

“ Level VI Pricing ” applies during any Rate Period if, at the end of the Preceding Fiscal Quarter, the Leverage Ratio was equal to or greater than 3.25 to 1.

“ Preceding Fiscal Quarter ” means, with respect to any Rate Period, the most recent Fiscal Quarter ended before such Rate Period begins.

“ Pricing Level ” refers to the determination of which of Level I Pricing, Level II Pricing, Level III Pricing, Level IV Pricing, Level V Pricing or Level VI

Pricing applies on any day. Pricing Levels are referred to in ascending order (e.g., Level II Pricing is a higher Pricing Level than Level I Pricing).

“ Rate Period ” means any period from and including the 46th day of a Fiscal Quarter to and including the 45th day of the immediately succeeding Fiscal Quarter.

COMMITMENT SCHEDULE

Lender	Commitment
JPMorgan Chase	$	120,000,000
The Bank of Nova Scotia.	$	90,000,000
SunTrust Bank	$	90,000,000
Fleet National Bank	$	80,200,000
The Bank of New York.	$	76,800,000
Bank of America	$	76,000,000
Citicorp USA, Inc	$	74,000,000
Credit Suisse First Boston	$	64,200,000
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation	$	48,000,000
UBS AG, Stamford Branch	$	47,400,000
UFJ Bank Limited.	$	34,000,000
Merrill Lynch Capital Corporation	$	33,000,000
Mizuho Corporate Bank Limited.	$	32,200,000
Credit Lyonnais New York Branch	$	32,000,000
PNC Bank	$	30,600,000
KBC Bank N.V.	$	26,000,000
US Bank N.A.	$	24,400,000
BNP Paribas	$	22,600,000
National City Bank of Kentucky	$	20,000,000
Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Ltd. New York Agency	$	20,000,000
SouthTrust Bank	$	18,000,000
PB Capital Corporation	$	16,000,000
Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc.	$	16,000,000
Canpartners Investments IV, LLC.	$	14,200,000
Wachovia Bank.	$	6,000,000
Commercebank, N.A.	$	12,000,000
Comerica Bank N.A.	$	12,000,000
Chinatrust Commercial Bank	$	12,000,000
Allied Irish Bank	$	12,000,000
Hibernia National Bank.	$	9,000,000
Bank Leumi USA	$	9,000,000
The Governor & Company of The Bank of Ireland	$	6,000,000
Goldentree High Yield II	$	5,200,000
Goldentree High Yield I	$	5,200,000
Malayan Banking Berhad.	$	4,000,000

TOTAL	$	1,200,000,000

SCHEDULE 3.04

Existing Letters of Credit

1. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3024264, dated as of March 28, 2000, issued in favor of Traveler’s Indemnity Company (Aetna Casualty & Surety).

2. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3024288, dated as of March 28, 2000, issued in favor of Bank of Bermuda as Trustee for HFIC.

3. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3025581, dated as of May 23, 2000, issued in favor of I.R.S. Assistant Commissioner (International).

4. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3026368, dated as of June 1, 2000, issued in favor of Transportation Insurance Co. (CNA).

5. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3026500, dated as of June 7, 2000, issued in favor of Safety National Casualty.

6. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3026948, dated as of July 5, 2000, issued in favor of National Union Fire Insurance Co. (AIG).

7. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3026922, dated as of July 19, 2000, issued in favor of Reliance National Indemnity Company.

8. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3026551, dated as of July 25, 2000, issued in favor of National Union Fire Insurance Co. (AIG).

9. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3027547, dated as of July 25, 2000, issued in favor of Health Care Property Investors, Inc. (formerly AHE of Irvine).

10. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3027925, dated as of August 3, 2000, issued in favor of Rangers Insurance Co.

11. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3027926, dated as of August 4, 2000, issued in favor of Fremont Indemnity Company.

12. Bank of America, N.A. Letter of Credit number 3026550, dated as of September 14, 2000, issued in favor of Ace American Insurance Company.

13. The Bank of New York Letter of Credit number S00031638, dated as of December 6, 1994, issued in favor of The Chase Manhattan Bank - Texas (formerly known as Texas Commerce Bank National Association), Trustee.

14. The Bank of New York Letter of Credit number S00031639, dated as of December 6, 1994, issued in favor of The Chase Manhattan Bank - Texas (formerly known as Texas Commerce Bank National Association), Trustee.

SCHEDULE 4.05

Pending Litigation

The Borrower hereby incorporates by reference the disclosure concerning the legal proceedings referred to in its annual report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended May 31, 2000 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for its fiscal quarters ended August 31, 2000 and November 30, 2000.

4.05-1

EXHIBIT A

NOTE

New York, New York

, 200

For value received, TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (the “ Borrower ”), promises to pay to the order of (the “ Lender ”), for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, the unpaid principal amount of each Loan made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement referred to below on the maturity date provided for in the Credit Agreement. The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each such Loan on the dates and at the rate or rates provided for in the Credit Agreement. All such payments of principal and interest shall be made in lawful money of the United States in Federal or other immediately available funds at the office of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, 60 Wall Street, New York, New York.

All Loans made by the Lender, the respective dates and amounts thereof and all payments of the principal with respect thereto shall be recorded by the Lender and, if the Lender so elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement hereof, appropriate notations to evidence the foregoing information with respect to each such Loan then outstanding may be endorsed by the Lender on the schedule attached hereto, or on a continuation of such schedule attached to and made a part hereof; provided that the failure of the Lender to make any such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Financing Document.

This note is one of the Notes referred to in the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001 among the Borrower and the Lenders, Managing Agents, Co-Agents, Swingline Bank and Agents party thereto (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement for provisions for the prepayment hereof and the acceleration of the maturity hereof.

	TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION


	By:
		Title:

A-1

LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

Date	Amount of Loan	Type of Loan	Amount of Principal Repaid	Notation Made by

A-2

EXHIBIT B

Form of Money Market Quote Request

[Date]

To: Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York

(the “ Administrative Agent ”)

From: Tenet Healthcare Corporation

Re: Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001 (the “ Credit Agreement ”) among the Borrower and the Lenders, Managing Agents, Co-Agents, Swingline Bank and Agents party thereto

We hereby give notice pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement that we request Money Market Quotes for the following proposed Money Market Borrowing(s):

Date of Borrowing:

Principal Amount(1)			Interest Period(2)
$

Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin] [Absolute Rate]. [The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate.]

(1) Amount must be $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000.

(2) Not less than one month (LIBOR Auction) or not less than 7 days (Absolute Rate Auction), subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.

B-1

Terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

	Tenet Healthcare Corporation


	By:
		Title:

B-2

EXHIBIT C

Form of Invitation for Money Market Quotes

To: [Name of Lender]

Re: Invitation for Money Market Quotes to Tenet Healthcare Corporation (the “ Borrower ”)

Pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001 among the Borrower and the Lenders, Managing Agents, Co-Agents, Swingline Bank and Agents party thereto, we, as Administrative Agent, are pleased on behalf of the Borrower to invite you to submit Money Market Quotes to the Borrower for the following proposed Money Market Borrowing(s):

Date of Borrowing:

Principal Amount			Interest Period
$

Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin] [Absolute Rate]. [The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate.]

Please respond to this invitation by no later than [2:00 P.M.] [10:00 A.M.] (New York City time) on [date].

	MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK


	By:
		Authorized Officer

C-1

EXHIBIT D

Form of Money Market Quote

To: Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Administrative Agent

Re: Money Market Quote to Tenet Healthcare Corporation (the “ Borrower ”)

In response to your invitation on behalf of the Borrower dated , 200 , we hereby make the following Money Market Quote on the following terms:

1. Quoting Lender:

2. Person to contact at Quoting Lender:

3. Date of Borrowing: (3)

4. We hereby offer to make Money Market Loan(s) in the following principal amounts, for the following Interest Periods and at the following rates:

Principal Amount(4)	Interest Period(5)	Money Market Margin(6)	Absolute Rate (7)
$
$

(3) As specified in the related Invitation.

(4) Principal amount bid for each Interest Period may not exceed principal amount requested. Specify aggregate limitation if the sum of the individual offers exceeds the amount the bank is willing to lend. Bids must be made for $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000.

(5) Not less than one month or not less than 7 days, as specified in the related Invitation. No more than five bids are permitted for each Interest Period.

(6) Margin over or under the London Interbank Offered Rate determined for the applicable Interest Period. Specify percentage (to the nearest 1/10,000 of 1%) and specify whether “PLUS” or “MINUS”.

(7) Specify rate of interest per annum (to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%).

D-1

[Provided, that the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans for which the above offers may be accepted shall not exceed $ .]

We understand and agree that the offer(s) set forth above, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001 among the Borrower and the Lenders, Managing Agents, Co-Agents, Swingline Bank and Agents party thereto, irrevocably obligates us to make the Money Market Loan(s) for which any offer(s) are accepted, in whole or in part.

	Very truly yours,

	[NAME OF LENDER]


Dated:	By:
		Authorized Officer

D-2

EXHIBIT E

SWINGLINE NOTE

	New York, New York
	, 2001

For value received, TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (the “ Borrower ”), promises to pay to the order of MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK (the “ Swingline Bank ”) the unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan made by the Swingline Bank to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement referred to below on the maturity date provided for in the Credit Agreement. The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each such Swingline Loan on the dates and at the rate or rates provided for in the Credit Agreement. All such payments of principal and interest shall be made in lawful money of the United States in Federal or other immediately available funds at the office of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, 60 Wall Street, New York, New York.

All Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Bank and all repayments of the principal thereof shall be recorded by the Swingline Bank and, if the Swingline Bank so elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement hereof, appropriate notations to evidence the foregoing information with respect to each such Swingline Loan then outstanding may be endorsed by the Swingline Bank on the schedule attached hereto, or on a continuation of such schedule attached to and made a part hereof; provided that the failure of the Swingline Bank to make any such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Financing Document.

This note is the Swingline Note referred to in the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001 among the Borrower and the Lenders, Managing Agents, Co-Agents, Swingline Bank and Agents party thereto (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.

E-1

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement for provisions for the prepayment hereof and the acceleration of the maturity hereof.

	TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION


	By:
	Title:

E-2

LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

Date	Amount of Loan	Amount of Principal Repaid	Notation Made by

E-3

EXHIBIT F

SENIOR
OFFICER’S
CLOSING CERTIFICATE

I, David L. Dennis, Chief Financial Officer of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “ Borrower ”), in connection with (i) the closing held today (the “ Closing ”) under the $1,500,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001 (the “ Borrower’s Credit Agreement ”) among the Borrower and the Lenders, Managing Agents, Co-Agents, Swingline Bank and Agents party thereto, and (ii) the borrowing today (the “ First Borrowing ”) by the Borrower thereunder, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that:

1. The representations and warranties made by the Borrower in the Borrower’s Credit Agreement are true on and as of the date hereof.

2. Immediately before and after the First Borrowing under the Borrower’s Credit Agreement, no Default will have occurred and be continuing.

3. The Borrower has made available, or has irrevocably instructed the Administrative Agent to make available from the proceeds of the First Borrowing, to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Agent under the Borrower’s Existing Credit Agreement, funds sufficient to pay in full the principal of all loans outstanding under the Borrower’s Existing Credit Agreement on the date hereof and all interest and fees accrued thereunder to but excluding the date hereof.

4. The officer who executed the Borrower’s Credit Agreement on behalf of the Borrower was authorized by the Borrower’s board of directors to, and did, approve of the terms of the Borrower’s Credit Agreement.

Terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Borrower’s Credit Agreement.


		Name: David L. Dennis
		Title: Chief Financial Officer
[Closing Date]

F-1

EXHIBIT G

OPINION OF
GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
SPECIAL COUNSEL TO THE BORROWER

[Closing Date]

To: The Lenders, Managing Agents,

Co-Agents, Swingline Bank

and Agents Party to the Credit

Agreement referred to herein

Re: Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001 among Tenet Healthcare Corporation and the Lenders, Managing Agents, Co-Agents, Swingline Bank and Agents party thereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “ Borrower ”), in connection with the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001 (the “ Credit Agreement ”) among the Borrower and the Lenders, Managing Agents, Co-Agents, Swingline Bank and Agents party thereto. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as therein defined.

This opinion is delivered pursuant to Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true copies of the following documents and instruments:

(a) the Credit Agreement, including the Exhibits and Schedules thereto;

(b) the Notes;

G-1

(d) a certificate of even date herewith of the corporate secretary of the Borrower as to resolutions, incumbency of certain officers and the form of articles of incorporation and by-laws of the Borrower in effect on the date hereof;

(e) a certificate of even date herewith executed by an officer of the Borrower setting forth or certifying certain factual matters; and

(f) a certificate of recent date of the Secretary of State of Nevada as to the legal existence of the Borrower in good standing under the laws of Nevada.

The documents referred to in Items (a) through (c) are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “ Financing Documents ”.

We have, with your permission, assumed, without independent investigation or inquiry with respect to any such matter, that:

(a) The Borrower is a validly existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada. The Borrower has requisite corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties, to conduct its business in the manner in which it presently is conducted, and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Financing Documents.

(b) Each of the Financing Documents has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Borrower. Each of the Financing Documents has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower.

(c) Each Lender and the Administrative Agent each has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Credit Agreement; the execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement and performance of such obligations have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Lender and the Administrative Agent; and the Credit Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Lender or the Administrative Agent, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

(d) The execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement by each Lender and the Administrative Agent and performance by each of them of their respective obligations thereunder comply with all laws and regulations that are applicable to such Lender or the Administrative Agent or the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement because of the nature of their respective businesses (provided that the assumption stated in this subparagraph (d) does not relate to any matter as to which we expressly state our opinion herein).

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(e) The signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine, and all individuals executing such documents were thereunto duly authorized.

(f) The documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and the documents submitted to us as certified or reproduction copies conform to the originals.

With respect to questions of fact material to the opinions expressed below, we have, with your consent, relied upon certificates of public officials and officers of the Borrower, in each case without having independently verified the accuracy or completeness thereof.

With respect to any opinion herein in regard to the existence or absence of facts that is stated to be to our actual knowledge, such statement means that, during the course of our representation of the Borrower, no information has come to the attention of the lawyers in our Firm participating in such representation that has given them actual knowledge of facts contrary to the existence or absence of the facts indicated. No inference as to our knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts should be drawn from our representation of the Borrower.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, exceptions, limitations and assumptions hereinafter set forth, we are of the opinion that:

(1) Each of the Financing Documents constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower and is enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms.

(2) No consent, approval or authorization of, and no registration, declaration or filing with any administrative, governmental or other public authority is required under the laws of the United States of America or the State of New York which, in our experience, are generally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Credit Agreement, or under the Nevada General Corporation Law, to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower, or for the validity or enforceability against the Borrower, of any of the Financing Documents.

(3) Neither the execution and delivery of the Financing Documents and the performance by the Borrower of its obligations thereunder nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby constitutes or will constitute a violation of any laws of the United States of America or the State of New York which, in our experience, are generally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Credit Agreement, or under the Nevada General

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Corporation Law or the California Corporations Code, or, to our actual knowledge, of any order of any court or governmental authority that is applicable to the Borrower.

(4) The Borrower is neither an “investment company” nor a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or “acting on behalf of” an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Borrower is neither a “holding company”, nor an “affiliate” of a “holding company” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company”, as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

(5) Neither the making of the Loans on the Closing Date pursuant to, nor the application of the proceeds of the Loans in accordance with, the Credit Agreement will violate Regulation U or X promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Each of the opinions set forth above is subject to the following exceptions, qualifications, limitations and assumptions:

(a) Our opinions are subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement or other similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, including, without limitation, the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent conveyances or transfers, preferential transfers, and of laws affecting distributions by corporations to stockholders.

(b) Our opinions are subject to the application of general principles of equity, whether considered in a case or proceeding at law or in equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing.

(c) Our opinions are subject to the qualifications that indemnification provisions in any of the Financing Documents may be unenforceable to the extent that such indemnification may be held to be in violation of or against public policy.

This opinion is limited to the effect of (i) the laws of the United States of America and the State of New York, (ii) for purposes only of our opinion expressed in Paragraph 3 herein, the California Corporations Code, and (iii) to the limited extent set forth below, the General Corporation Law of the State of Nevada. Although we are not admitted to practice in the State of Nevada, we are generally familiar with the General Corporation Law of the State of Nevada and

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have made such inquiries as we consider necessary to render our opinions expressed in Paragraphs 2 and 3 hereof. This opinion relates to the present state of the laws referred to herein and, in rendering this opinion, we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the present laws, or the interpretation thereof, be changed.

This opinion is rendered to the Lenders, the Managing Agents, the Co-Agents, the Swingline Bank and the Agents as of the date hereof in connection with the Credit Agreement, and may not be relied upon by any other person (except an LC Issuing Bank) or by them in any other context.

	Very truly yours,


	Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

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EXHIBIT H

OPINION OF
CHRISTI R. SULZBACH
GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE BORROWER

[Closing Date]

To: The Lenders, Managing Agents,

Co-Agents, Swingline Bank

and Agents Party to the Credit

Agreement referred to herein

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the General Counsel of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “ Borrower ”), and have acted as such in connection with the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001 (the “ Credit Agreement ”) among the Borrower and the Lenders, Managing Agents, Co-Agents, Swingline Bank and Agents party thereto.

This opinion is delivered to you pursuant to Section 3.01(f) of the Credit Agreement. Terms used herein which are defined in the Credit Agreement have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement, unless otherwise defined herein.

In connection with this opinion, I have examined executed copies of each of the Credit Agreement (including all of the Schedules and Exhibits thereto), the Notes and the Swingline Note (together, the “ Financing Documents ”) and such corporate documents and records of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and certificates of public officials and officers of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and such other documents, as I have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. In stating my opinion, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the authority of persons signing the Financing Documents on behalf of parties thereto other than the Borrower, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to me as certified, conformed or photostatic copies.

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This opinion is limited to the laws of California and the United States of America, and to the general corporate laws of the State of Nevada.

Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

1. Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law . The Borrower (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada, and (b) has the corporate power, authority and legal right to own or operate its properties or to lease the properties it operates and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged. Except as could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or an adverse effect on the validity or enforceability of any material provision of any Financing Document, (x) the Borrower is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, and (y) each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations, decrees and orders applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, laws, regulations, decrees and orders relating to environmental, occupational and health standards and controls and in respect to antitrust, monopoly, restraint of trade or unfair competition). The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have obtained all certifications, licenses, accreditations and approvals that are necessary to conduct their respective businesses. None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has received or, to the best of my knowledge, expects to receive, any order or notice of any violation or claim of violation of any law, regulation, decree, rule, judgment or order of any governmental authority or agency relating to the ownership or operation of any hospital or other facility owned or operated by it, as to which the cost of compliance or the consequences of noncompliance, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect or which would impair the ability of the Borrower to discharge any of its obligations under any of the Financing Documents.

2. Corporate Power; Authorization . The Borrower has the corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform the Financing Documents and to borrow and obtain the issuance of letters of credit thereunder, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the borrowings and the issuance of such letters of credit on the terms and conditions of the Financing Documents and to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Financing Documents. No consent of any other Person, and no authorization of, notice to, or other act by or in respect of the Borrower by any governmental authority, agency or instrumentality is required in connection with borrowings or the issuance of letters of credit thereunder or with the execution, delivery,

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performance, validity or enforceability of the Financing Documents. The Borrower has duly executed and delivered each Financing Document.

3. No Legal Bar . The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Financing Documents, the borrowings and the issuance of letters of credit thereunder and the use of the proceeds of such borrowings and the use of such letters of credit will not violate (except to the extent that such violation, if any, would not have a Material Adverse Effect or an adverse effect on the validity or enforceability of any material provision of any Financing Document) any provision of any existing law or regulation applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or of any award, order or decree applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries known to me (after due inquiry) of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority, or of the restated articles of incorporation or restated by-laws of the Borrower or, to the best of my knowledge (after due inquiry), of any security issued by the Borrower or of any material mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement or undertaking to which the Borrower is a party or by which the Borrower or any of its respective properties or assets may be bound, and will not result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien prohibited by the Credit Agreement on any of its properties or revenues pursuant to the provisions of any such mortgage, indenture, contract, lease or other agreement or other undertaking.

4. No Material Litigation . To the best of my knowledge, after due inquiry, (i) there are no pending or threatened actions, suits, proceedings or investigations against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any court or by or before any arbitrator or governmental authority that calls into question the validity of the Financing Documents and (ii) except as disclosed in Schedule 4.05 to the Credit Agreement, there are no such pending or threatened actions, suits, proceedings or investigations in which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or an adverse effect on the validity or enforceability of any material provision of any Financing Document. For purposes of the preceding sentence, I have assumed that, in medical malpractice actions now pending or threatened against the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, damages would be assessed consistent with the Borrower’s past experience. The past experience of the Borrower has been that damages assessed in such suits have been adequately covered by insurance. In rendering the opinions set forth in this paragraph 4, I have not conducted a search of any federal or state court docket. My inquiry has been limited to consultation with counsel representing the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in litigation matters.

This opinion relates to the present state of the laws referred to herein and, in rendering this opinion, I assume no obligation to revise or supplement this

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opinion should the present laws, or the interpretation thereof, be changed. This opinion is rendered to the Lenders, the Managing Agents, the Co-Agents, the Swingline Bank and the Agents as of the date hereof in connection with the Credit Agreement, and may not be relied upon by any other person (except an LC Issuing Bank) or by them in any other context.

	Very truly yours,


	Christi R. Sulzbach General Counsel

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EXHIBIT I

OPINION OF
DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL
SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

[Closing Date]

To the Lenders, Managing Agents,

Co-Agents, Swingline Bank

and Agents

c/o Morgan Guaranty Trust Company

of New York, as Administrative Agent

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10260

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have participated in the preparation of the $1,500,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001 (the “ Credit Agreement ”) among Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a Nevada corporation, and the Lenders, Managing Agents, Co-Agents, Swingline Bank and Agents party thereto, and have acted as special counsel for the Administrative Agent for the purpose of rendering this opinion pursuant to Section 3.01(g) 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 Borrower, and the Notes and Swingline Note constitute valid and binding obligations of the Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

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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. Insofar as the foregoing opinions involve matters governed by the laws of any other jurisdiction, we have relied, with your permission and without independent investigation, upon the opinions of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Christi R. Sulzbach, Esq., each dated the date hereof, a copy of each of which has been delivered to you, and we have assumed, without independent investigation, the correctness of the matters set forth in each such opinion, our opinion being subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth in each such opinion with respect thereto. In addition, 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 (except an LC Issuing Bank) without our prior written consent.

Very truly yours,

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EXHIBIT J

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT dated as of , 200 between [ASSIGNOR] (the “ Assignor ”) and [ASSIGNEE] (the “ Assignee ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, this Assignment and Assumption Agreement relates to the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001 among Tenet Healthcare Corporation (the “ Borrower ”) and the Lenders, Managing Agents, Co-Agents, Swingline Bank and Agents party thereto (as amended from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”);

[WHEREAS, as provided under the Credit Agreement, the Assignor has a Commitment to make Loans to the Borrower and participate in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in the amount of $ , under which the Assignor has outstanding Syndicated Loans in the aggregate principal amount of $ at the date hereof];

[WHEREAS, Letters of Credit with a total amount available for drawing thereunder of $ are outstanding at the date hereof, and Swingline Loans in the aggregate principal amount of $ are outstanding at the date hereof; and]

[WHEREAS, the Assignor proposes to assign to the Assignee all of the rights of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement in respect of a portion of its Commitment in an amount equal to $ (the “ Commitment Assigned Amount ”), together with a corresponding portion of each of its outstanding Syndicated Loans, its LC Exposure and its obligations with respect to outstanding Swingline Loans, and the Assignee proposes to accept such assignment of such rights and assume the corresponding obligations from the Assignor;]

[WHEREAS, the Assignor also proposes to assign to the Assignee Money Market Loans in an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $ ;]

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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Definitions . All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 2. Assignment . The Assignor hereby assigns and sells to the Assignee all of the rights of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement with respect to its Commitment to the extent of the Commitment Assigned Amount, and the Assignee hereby accepts such assignment from the Assignor and assumes all of the obligations of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement to the extent of the Commitment Assigned Amount, including the purchase from the Assignor of a pro-rata portion of the outstanding principal amount of each Syndicated Loan made by the Assignor, a pro rata portion of its LC Exposure and a pro rata portion of its obligations with respect to outstanding Swingline Loans. Upon the execution and delivery hereof by the Assignor and the Assignee, [the Borrower,] each Issuing Bank having a Letter of Credit outstanding, the Swingline Bank [and the Administrative Agent] and the payment of the amounts specified in Section 3 required to be paid on the date hereof, (i) the Assignee shall, as of the date hereof, succeed to the rights and be obligated to perform the obligations of a Lender under the Credit Agreement with a Commitment in an amount equal to the Commitment Assigned Amount, (ii) the Commitment of the Assignor shall, as of the date hereof, be reduced by a like amount and the Assignor released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement to the extent such obligations have been assumed by the Assignee. The assignment provided for herein shall be without recourse to the Assignor.

SECTION 3. Payments . As consideration for the assignment and sale contemplated in Section 2 hereof, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor on the date hereof in Federal funds the amount heretofore agreed between them.(8) Facility fees accrued with respect to the Commitment Assigned Amount to the date hereof are for the account of the Assignor and such fees accruing with respect to the Commitment Assigned Amount on and after the date hereof are for the account of the Assignee. Each of the Assignor and the Assignee agrees that if it receives any amount under the Credit Agreement which is for the account of the other party hereto, it shall receive the same for the account of such other party to the extent of such other party’s interest therein and shall promptly pay the same to such other party.

(8) Amount should combine principal together with accrued interest and breakage compensation, if any, to be paid by the Assignee. It may be preferable in an appropriate case to specify these amounts generically or by formula rather than as a fixed sum.

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SECTION 4. Consent of [the Borrower], the LC Issuing Banks, the Swingline Lender [and the Administrative Agent.] This Agreement is conditioned upon the consent of [the Borrower,] each LC Issuing Bank having a Letter of Credit outstanding, the Swingline Bank [and the Administrative Agent] pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 5. Non-Reliance on Assignor . The Assignor makes no representation or warranty in connection with, and shall have no responsibility with respect to, the solvency, financial condition or statements of the Borrower or the validity and enforceability of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of any Financing Document. The Assignee acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance on the Assignor, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and will continue to be responsible for making its own independent appraisal of the business, affairs and financial condition of the Borrower.

SECTION 6. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

SECTION 7. Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

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

	[ASSIGNOR]


	By:
		Title:

	[ASSIGNEE]


	By:
		Title:

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The undersigned consent to the foregoing assignment:

	[TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION


	By:
		Title:]

	MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as Swingline Bank [and as Administrative Agent]


	By:
		Title:


	[LC ISSUING BANKS]
	By:
		Title:

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THE COMPANY	TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

	/s/ Scott M. Brown
	By: Scott M. Brown
	Title: Sr. Vice President


THE EXECUTIVE	/s/ Jeffrey C. Barbakow
	Jeffrey C. Barbakow

Sincerely,		ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:

/s/ Edward A. Kangas

Edward A. Kangas		s/s Trevor Fetter	9/15/03
Chairman		Trevor Fetter	Date

c:	Anthony Austin
	Personnel File

Years of Service After 1/1/85	Vested Benefit

Less than 5	0	%
5	50	%
6	60	%
7	70	%
8	80	%
9	90	%
10	100	%

Date:	November 10, 2003
		/s/ Trevor Fetter
		Trevor Fetter
		Chief Executive Officer