<PAGE>   1
                                                                 Exhibit 4.1








                       SPECIALTY CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC.

                                      and

                      BANK ONE, COLUMBUS, N.A., as TRUSTEE

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

                                   INDENTURE

                          Dated as of October 15, 1996

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


                   6% Convertible Subordinated Notes Due 2006


<PAGE>   2



                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Page

<S>                                                                             <C>
ARTICLE ONE     DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
                BY REFERENCE....................................................(1)

        Section 1.01.   Definitions.............................................(1)
        Section 1.02.   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.......(6)
        Section 1.03.   Rules of Construction...................................(6)

ARTICLE TWO     THE SECURITIES..................................................(7)

        Section 2.01.   Form and Dating.........................................(7)
        Section 2.02.   Execution and Authentication............................(7)
        Section 2.03.   Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent............(8)
        Section 2.04.   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.....................(8)
        Section 2.05.   Securityholder Lists....................................(8)
        Section 2.06.   Transfer and Exchange...................................(9)
        Section 2.07.   Replacement Securities..................................(9)
        Section 2.08.   Outstanding Securities..................................(9)
        Section 2.09.   Treasury Securities....................................(10)
        Section 2.10.   Temporary Securities...................................(10)
        Section 2.11.   Cancellation...........................................(10)

ARTICLE THREE   REDEMPTION.....................................................(10)

        Section 3.01.   Notices to Trustee and Paying Agent....................(10)
        Section 3.02.   Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.................(11)
        Section 3.03.   Notice of Redemption...................................(11)
        Section 3.04.   Effect of Notice of Redemption.........................(12)
        Section 3.05.   Deposit of Redemption Price............................(12)
        Section 3.06.   Securities Redeemed in Part............................(12)

ARTICLE FOUR    SUBORDINATION..................................................(13)

        Section 4.01.   Securities Subordinated to Senior Debt.................(13)
        Section 4.02.   Maturity of Senior Debt................................(13)
        Section 4.03.   Liquidation, Etc.......................................(13)
        Section 4.04.   Senior Debt Default....................................(13)
        Section 4.05.   Company's Obligations Unimpaired.......................(14)
        Section 4.06.   Subrogation............................................(14)
        Section 4.07.   Subordination Unimpaired...............................(15)
</TABLE>



                                      (i)

<PAGE>   3


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                            <C>
ARTICLE FIVE    COVENANTS......................................................(15)

        Section 5.01.   Payment of Securities..................................(15)
        Section 5.02.   Limitation on Indebtedness for Borrowed Money..........(15)
        Section 5.03.   Reports by the Company.................................(16)
        Section 5.04.   Corporate Existence....................................(16)
        Section 5.05.   Notice of Default......................................(16)
        Section 5.06.   Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws................(17)

ARTICLE SIX     SUCCESSORS.....................................................(17)

        Section 6.01.   When Company May Merge, Etc............................(17)
        Section 6.02.   Successor Corporation Substituted......................(18)

ARTICLE SEVEN   DEFAULT AND REMEDIES...........................................(18)

        Section 7.01.   Events of Default......................................(18)
        Section 7.02.   Acceleration...........................................(19)
        Section 7.03.   Other Remedies.........................................(20)
        Section 7.04.   Waiver of Past Defaults................................(20)
        Section 7.05.   Control by Majority....................................(20)
        Section 7.06.   Limitation on Suits....................................(20)
        Section 7.07.   Rights of Holders to Receive Payment...................(21)
        Section 7.08.   Collection Suit by Trustee.............................(21)
        Section 7.09.   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.......................(21)
        Section 7.10.   Priorities.............................................(22)
        Section 7.11.   Undertaking for Costs..................................(22)

ARTICLE EIGHT   TRUSTEE........................................................(23)

        Section 8.01.   Duties of Trustee......................................(23)
        Section 8.02.   Rights of Trustee......................................(24)
        Section 8.03.   Individual Rights of Trustee...........................(24)
        Section 8.04.   Disclaimers............................................(24)
        Section 8.05.   Notice of Defaults.....................................(25)
        Section 8.06.   Reports by Trustee to Holders..........................(25)
        Section 8.07.   Compensation and Indemnit..............................(25)
        Section 8.08.   Replacement of Trustee.................................(26)
        Section 8.09.   Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.......................(26)
        Section 8.10.   Eligibility; Disqualification..........................(27)
        Section 8.11.   Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company..(27)

ARTICLE NINE    DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.........................................(27)

        Section 9.01.   Termination of the Company's Obligation................(27)
        Section 9.02.   Application of Trust Money.............................(28)
        Section 9.03.   Repayment to the Company...............................(28)
</TABLE>

                                      (ii)

<PAGE>   4



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                             <C>
        Section 9.04.   Reinstatement...........................................(28)

ARTICLE TEN     CONVERSION......................................................(20)

        Section 10.01.  Right of Conversion; Conversion Price...................(29)
        Section 10.02.  Procedures for Conversion...............................(29)
        Section 10.03.  Adjustments to Conversion Price.........................(30)
        Section 10.04.  Covenant to Reserve Shares..............................(31)
        Section 10.05.  Compliance with Legal and Governmental Requirements.....(31)
        Section 10.06.  Payment of Taxes........................................(31)
        Section 10.07.  Responsibility of Trustee and Conversion Agent..........(32)

ARTICLE ELEVEN  AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS.............................(32)

        Section 11.01.  Without Consent of Holders..............................(32)
        Section 11.02.  With Consent of Holders.................................(33)
        Section 11.03.  Revocation and Effect of Consents.......................(33)
        Section 11.04.  Notation on or Exchange of Securities...................(34)
        Section 11.05.  Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.........................(34)

ARTICLE TWELVE  MISCELLANEOUS...................................................(35)

        Section 12.01.  Notices.................................................(35)
        Section 12.02.  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent......(36)
        Section 12.03.  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion...........(36)
        Section 12.04.  Rules by Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent
                        and Conversion Agent....................................(36)
        Section 12.05.  Legal Holidays..........................................(36)
        Section 12.06.  Governing Law...........................................(36)
        Section 12.07.  No Recourse Against Others..............................(36)
        Section 12.08.  No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements...........(36)
        Section 12.09.  Successors..............................................(37)
        Section 12.10.  Duplicate Originals.....................................(37)
        Section 12.11.  Separability............................................(37)
        Section 12.12.  Table of Contents, Headings and References..............(37)

SIGNATURES......................................................................(37)

EXHIBIT A.......................................................................A-1
</TABLE>




                                     (iii)

<PAGE>   5


                                   INDENTURE

        INDENTURE, dated as of October 15, 1996, between SPECIALTY CHEMICAL
RESOURCES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and BANK ONE, COLUMBUS,
N.A., a national barking association, as trustee (the "Trustee").

        Each of the parties hereto agrees as follows for the benefit of the
other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (defined below)
of the Company's 6% Convertible Subordinated Notes Due 2006 issued pursuant to
this Indenture.


                                  ARTICLE ONE
                   DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

        SECTION 1.01. DEFINITIONS.

        "AFFILIATE" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the
management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms
"controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

        "AGENT" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent.

        "BANKRUPTCY LAW" means Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C.
section 101 et seq., or any similar federal or state law for the relief of 
debtors.

        "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means the Board of Directors of the Company or any
authorized committee of the Board of Directors.

        "BOARD RESOLUTION" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification and delivered to the Trustee.

        "BUSINESS DAY" means a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday
or other day on which banks and trust companies in the city where the Trustee is
located are not required to be open.

        "CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATION" means indebtedness represented by
obligations under a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial
reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
and the amount of such indebtedness shall be the capitalized amount of such
obligations determined in accordance with such principles.



<PAGE>   6




        "CAPITAL STOCK" means any and all shares, interests, participations or
other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.

        "CHANGE OF CONTROL" means the acquisition (or the announcement of an
intent to acquire), directly or indirectly, by any Person or group of Persons
acting together, for a similar purpose, other than the "Stockholders Group", or
any of them or their Affiliates, of beneficial ownership of shares of the
Capital Stock of the Company in such amount that, after giving effect to such
acquisition, such Person or Persons shall be entitled to vote 25% or more of the
shares entitled to vote, as at such date, in the election of directors of the
Company. The "Stockholders Group" means Edwin M. Roth, Corey B. Roth, John H.
Ehlert, CEW Partners, a Martin Trust.

        "COMMON STOCK" means all shares now or hereafter authorized of the
common stock, $0.10 par value, of the Company.

        "COMPANY" means the party named as such in this Indenture, until a
successor replaces it pursuant to the Indenture, and thereafter means the
successor.

        "COMPANY REQUEST" or "COMPANY ORDER" means a written request or order
signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board
of Directors, the President or any Vice President and by the Treasurer, an
Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee.

        "CONSOLIDATED NET WORTH" means with respect to any Person at any date
the total amount of non-redeemable preferred stock and common shareholders'
equity (excluding amounts attributable to securities which are exchangeable for
or convertible into securities, other than non-redeemable preferred stock or
common stock) which would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of any Person
as at such date prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.

        "CONVERSION AGENT" means an office or agency where Securities may be
presented for conversion. The term includes any additional conversion agent.

        "CONVERSION PRICE" initially means $1.50.

        "CUSTODIAN" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar
official under any Bankruptcy Law.

        "DEFAULT" means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time
would be, an Event of Default.

        "ELECTION CONTEST" means any filing pursuant to Rule 14a-11 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by any Person or group of Persons
for the purpose of opposing a solicitation by the Company with respect to the
election of directors of the Company.


                                      (2)


<PAGE>   7


        "EVENT OF DEFAULT" shall have the meaning provided in Section 7.01.

        "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means any nation or government, any state or
other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled (through
stock or capital ownership or otherwise) by any of the foregoing.

        "HOLDER," "SECURITYHOLDER" or "NOTEHOLDER" means the Person in whose
name a Security is registered on the Registrar's books.

        "INDEBTEDNESS" means (a) any indebtedness, obligation or liability
(whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, direct or indirect,
absolute or contingent or joint or several) of any Person (i) for or in respect
of borrowed money, (ii) evidenced by a note, debenture or similar instrument
(including a purchase money obligation) given in connection with the acquisition
of any property or assets, including securities, (iii) for the payment of money
relating to any other transaction (including forward sale or purchase
agreements, Capitalized Lease Obligations (but not operating leases) and
conditional sales agreements) having the commercial effect of a borrowing of
money entered into by such Person to finance its operations or capital
requirements; or (iv) for the maximum fixed repurchase price of any equity
securities of such Person which by their terms or otherwise are required to be
redeemed prior to the maturity of the Securities or at the option of the holder
thereof; (b) any liability of others described in the preceding clause (a) which
the Person has guaranteed or for which it is otherwise legally liable; and (c)
any deferral, renewal, refinancing, extension or refunding of; or amendment,
modification or supplement to, any liability of the types referred to in clauses
(a) and (b) above, but shall not include indebtedness or amounts owed (except to
banks or other financing institutions) for compensation to employees, or for
goods or materials purchased, or services utilized, in the ordinary course of
business of the Person. For purposes hereof; the "maximum fixed repurchase
price" of any equity securities, which price is based upon, or measured by, the
fair market value of such equity securities, means, as of any date, the fair
market value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

        "INDENTURE" means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to
time as provided for herein.

        "MATURITY DATE" means October 15, 2006.

        "NASDAQ" means the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation System.

        "NET INCOME" of any Person for any period means the net income (loss) of
such Person for such period determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.



                                      (3)


<PAGE>   8


        "OFFICER" means the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors,
the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer,
the Secretary or the Controller of the Company.

        "OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE" means a certificate signed by the Chairman or
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or any Vice President and
by any other Officer or an Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary of the
Company.

        "OPINION OF COUNSEL" means a written opinion from legal counsel, who may
be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee and who is reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee.

        "PAYING AGENT" means an office or agency where Securities may be
presented for payment, except that for purposes of Article Nine the Paying Agent
shall not be the Company or a Subsidiary. The term includes any additional
paying agent.

        "PERSON" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or any Governmental Authority.

        "QUOTED PRICE" of the Common Stock means (i) if the Common Stock is
listed on a securities exchange, the last reported closing sales price of the
Common Stock on such exchange which shall be for consolidated trading if
applicable to such exchange, (ii) if the Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ
National Market System, the last reported closing sales price of the Common
Stock on such system, or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a securities
exchange or quoted on the NASDAQ National Market System, the last reported
closing bid price of the Common Stock.

        "REDEMPTION DATE," when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this
Indenture and the Securities.

        "REDEMPTION PRICE," when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the price fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this
Indenture and the Securities.

        "REGISTRAR" means an office or agency where Securities may be presented
for registration of transfer or for exchange. The term includes any
co-registrar.

        "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        "SECURITY" or "SECURITIES" means the Company's 6% Convertible
Subordinated Notes Due 2006, or any of them, as amended or supplemented from
time to time, that are issued pursuant to this Indenture and which shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto and constituting a part
hereof for all purposes.


                                      (4)

<PAGE>   9



        "SENIOR DEBT" means all principal of and interest on, and any other
payment due pursuant to the terms of instruments or agreements creating,
relating to or evidencing Indebtedness of the Company (other than the Securities
and this Indenture), whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or
thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Company for money
borrowed from others or in connection with the acquisition by it or any
Subsidiary of any other business or entity or of any properties or assets, and,
in each case, all renewals, extensions, refinancings or refundings thereof;
unless the terms of the instrument or agreement creating, relating to or
evidencing such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Indebtedness is not
superior in right of payment to the payment of principal and interest on the
Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Senior Debt shall not include (i) any
Indebtedness or liability for compensation to employees, or for goods or
materials purchased in the ordinary course of business or for services, and (ii)
any Indebtedness of the Company to a Subsidiary for money borrowed or advanced
from such Subsidiary.

        "SUBSIDIARY" means (i) a corporation in which the Company owns, directly
or indirectly, a majority of the Capital Stock with voting power, under ordinary
circumstances, to elect directors, (ii) a corporation in which a Subsidiary of
the Company owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the Capital Stock with
voting power, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors, or (iii) a
corporation in which the Company and a Subsidiary, or two or more Subsidiaries,
owns directly or indirectly, a majority of the Capital Stock with voting power,
under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors, or (iv) any other Person
(other than a corporation) in which the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company, or
the Company and a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, own at the date of
determination thereof; at least a majority of the ownership interests.

        "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. sections 77aaa-
77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

        "TRUSTEE" means the party named as such in this Indenture, until a
successor replaces it in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and
thereafter means the successor.

        "TRUST OFFICER" means the Chairman of the Board, the President or any
other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to
administer its corporate trust matters.

        "U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS" means direct non-callable obligations of,
or noncallable obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America or any
Person or agency controlled or supervised by or acting as an instrumentality of
the United States of America pursuant to authority granted by the Congress of
the United States of America for the payment of which guarantee or obligation
the full faith and credit of the United States of America.

        SECTION 1.02.   INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA such provision is


                                      (5)


<PAGE>   10


incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture, as if this
Indenture were governed by the same. The following TIA terms used in this
Indenture have the following meanings:

                (i)     "Commission" means the SEC;

                (ii)    "indenture securities" means the Securities;

                (iii)   "indenture security holder" means a Holder,
        Securityholder or Noteholder;

                (iv)    "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;

                (v)     "indenture trustee" or " institutional trustee" mean the
        Trustee; and

                (vi)    "obligor" on the indenture securities means the Company
        or any other obligor on the Securities.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA or defined by
reference in the TIA to another statute or defined by SEC rule, and not
otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the TIA
such other statute, as if the Indenture were governed by the same, or SEC rule.

        SECTION 1.03.  RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.  Unless the context otherwise
requires:

                (i) a capitalized term has the meaning assigned to it in this
        Article or in the Section in which it is first used;

                (ii) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning
        assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
        principles in effect on the date hereof and any other reference in this
        Indenture to "generally accepted accounting principles" refers to 
        generally accepted accounting principles on the date hereof;" 

                (iii) "or" is not exclusive;

                (iv) words in the singular include the plural and words in the
        plural include the singular;

                (v) "herein," "hereof;" "hereto" and other words of similar
        import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular 
        Article, Section or other subdivision; and

                (vi) any term connoting gender shall be deemed to include the
        neuter, masculine and feminine gender.



                                      (6)

<PAGE>   11


                                  ARTICLE TWO
                                 THE SECURITIES

        SECTION 2.01. FORM AND DATING. The Securities and the Trustee's
certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
annexed hereto. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements
required by law, securities exchange rule or usage. The Company shall approve
the form of the Security and any notation, legend or endorsement thereon. Each
Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms and provisions
contained in the Securities shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a
part of this Indenture.

        SECTION 2.02. EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION. (a) Two Officers shall sign
the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. The Company's
corporate seal, if required, shall be impressed, affixed, imprinted or
reproduced on the Securities and may be in facsimile form.

        (b) If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that
office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall be
valid nevertheless.

        (c) A Security shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the
certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature of the Trustee
shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this
Indenture.

        (d) The Trustee shall authenticate Securities for original issue in the
aggregate principal amount of up to $4,000,000 upon a Company Order. Such
Company Order, and any subsequent Company Order made with respect to the
Securities from time to time, shall specify the amount of Securities to be
authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be
authenticated. The aggregate principal amount of Securities outstanding at any
time may not exceed $4,000,000, except as provided in Sections 2.07.

        (e) The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the
Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate
Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to
authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An
authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or
an Affiliate of the Company.

        (f) The Securities shall be issuable only in registered form without
coupons and only in denominations of $100 and any integral multiple thereof.

        SECTION 2.03. REGISTRAR, PAYING AGENT AND CONVERSION AGENT. The Company
shall continuously employ a Registrar and a Conversion Agent. The Registrar
shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The
Company may have one or more co-registrars, one or more additional paying agents
and one or more additional conversion agents. Except for purposes of Article
Nine, the Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent.


                                      (7)


<PAGE>   12


        The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any
Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the
provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall
notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such Agent. If the Company
fails to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent or fails to give
the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such.

        The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent
and Conversion Agent.

        SECTION 2.04. PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST. On or prior to the
due date of the principal of and interest on any Securities, the Company shall
deposit with the Paying Agent cash or cleared fluids in a sum sufficient to pay
such principal and interest so becoming due. The Paying Agent shall hold in
trust for the benefit of Securityholders or the Trustee all money held by the
Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities and
shall promptly notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any
such payment. If the Company or an Affiliate acts as Paying Agent, it shall
segregate the money and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any
time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and
account for any funds disbursed. The Trustee may at any time during the
continuance of any payment default, upon written request to a Paying Agent,
require such Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to
account for any funds disbursed. Upon doing so, the Paying Agent (if other than
the Company) shall have no further liability for the money.

        SECTION 2.05. SECURITYHOLDER LISTS. The Trustee shall preserve in as
current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it
of the names and addresses of Securityholders. If the Trustee is not the
Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at such times as the Trustee
may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee
may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Securityholders.

        SECTION 2.06. TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE. (a) When Securities are presented
to the Registrar with a request to register the transfer of such Securities or
to exchange such Securities for an equal principal amount of Securities of other
authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the
exchange as requested; provided that such Securities presented or surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney
duly authorized in writing; provided further that the Registrar need not
register the transfer of or exchange any Securities selected for redemption or
register the transfer of or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days
before a selection of Securities to be redeemed. To permit registrations of
transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate Securities at the Registrar's request. The Company may charge a
reasonable fee for any transfer or exchange, and may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other


                                      (8)



<PAGE>   13


governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith (other than any
such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges
pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06 or 10.02).

        (b) All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange, registration
of transfer, redemption or payment shall, if so required by the Trustee or the
Company, be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer and
other required documentation satisfactory in form to the Company and the
Trustee, duly executed by the registered owner or by his attorney duly
authorized in writing.

        SECTION 2.07. REPLACEMENT SECURITIES. If a mutilated Security is
surrendered to the Trustee, or if the Holder of a Security claims that the
Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, and neither the Company
nor the Trustee has received notice that such Security has been acquired by a
bona fide purchaser, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, at the Company's
request, shall authenticate a replacement Security if the Trustee's requirements
are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, the applicant for a
replacement Security must provide (a) an indemnity bond which must be sufficient
in the judgment of both the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the
Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is
replaced and (b) evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of
the loss, destruction or theft of such Security and the ownership thereof. The
Company may charge such Holder for its expenses in replacing a Security.

        SECTION 2.08. OUTSTANDING SECURITIES. (a) The Securities outstanding at
any time are all Securities that have been authenticated by the Trustee, except
for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those
described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Subject to Section 2.09, a
Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or one of its
Affiliates holds the Security.

        (b) If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be
outstanding, until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

        (c) If the Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company) holds on a Redemption Date or the Maturity Date money sufficient to pay
principal of and accrued interest on Securities payable on that date, then on
and after that date such Securities cease to be outstanding and interest on them
ceases to accrue.

        SECTION 2.09. TREASURY SECURITIES. In determining whether the Holders of
the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any notice,
direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or any of its
Affiliates shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining
whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such notice, direction,
waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be
so disregarded.


                                      (9)

<PAGE>   14

Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be
disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee that
the pledgee has the right so to act with respect to the Securities and that the
pledgee is not the Company or any of its Affiliates.

        SECTION 2.10. TEMPORARY SECURITIES. Until definitive Securities are
ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate
temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of
definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers
appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company
shall prepare and, upon receiving an appropriate Company Order, the Trustee
shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities.

        SECTION 2.11. CANCELLATION. The Company at any time may deliver
Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar, Paying Agent and
Conversion Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them
for transfer, exchange, payment or conversion. The Trustee and no one else shall
cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, conversion or
cancellation and shall destroy canceled Securities and shall deliver a
certificate of such destruction to the Company. Subject to Section 2.07, the
Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has paid or
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that any Securityholder has
converted pursuant to Article Ten.


                                 ARTICLE THREE
                                   REDEMPTION

        SECTION 3.01. NOTICES TO TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT. (a) If the Company
elects to redeem Securities pursuant to Section 5 of the Securities, it shall
notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent in writing of the Redemption Date and
the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed.

        (b) The Company shall give the notice provided for in subsection 3.01(a)
at least 45 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice is
satisfactory to the Trustee).

        SECTION 3.02. SELECTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED. If less than all
of the Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities to
be redeemed pro rata or by lot or in such other manner as the Trustee shall deem
fair to the Securityholders. The Trustee shall make the selection from the
Securities outstanding and not previously called for redemption. Securities in
denominations of $100 may be redeemed only in whole. The Trustee may select for
redemption portions (equal to $100 or any integral multiple thereof) of the
principal of securities that have denominations larger than $100. The Trustee
shall promptly notify the Company in writing of such Securities selected for
redemption and, in the case of any Security selected for partial redemption, the
principal amount to be redeemed. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to
Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for
redemption.

                                      (10)


<PAGE>   15



        SECTION 3.03. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. (a) At least 30 days before a
Redemption Date, the Company shall mail or cause the mailing of a notice of
redemption by first class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be
redeemed.

    (b) The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:

        (i) the Redemption Date;

        (ii) the Redemption Price;

        (iii) the Conversion Price;

        (iv) the amount of interest accrued on the Securities called for
    redemption up to but not including the Redemption Date and that interest on
    such Securities ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date;

        (v) the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

        (vi) that Securities called for redemption may be converted at any time
    before the close of business on the day prior to the Redemption Date;

        (vii) that Holders who want to convert Securities must satisfy the
    requirements in Section 7 of the Securities;

        (viii) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the
    Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price;

        (ix) if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the
    principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the
    Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or
    Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
    thereof will be issued without charge to the Securityholder;

        (x) if the Security is being redeemed based upon the relation of the
    Quoted Price to the conversion price then in effect for the Common Stock,
    the amount of the Quoted Price and the beginning and end of the 30 trading
    days when the Quoted Price was determined.

    (c) At the Company's request, and after receiving a Company Request, the
Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company's name and at the
Company's expense. Any such notice, if given in accordance with this Indenture,
shall be deemed properly given, regardless of whether it is actually received.

    SECTION 3.04. EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Once notice of redemption is 
mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the
Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price. Upon surrender to the Paying


                                      (11)


<PAGE>   16


Agent, Securities called for redemption shall be paid at the Redemption Price
plus accrued interest to the Redemption Date. Interest on Securities called for
redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date unless the Company
fails to pay the Redemption Price.

        SECTION 3.05. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE. On or before the Redemption
Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Company is its
own Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) cash or cleared funds in an
amount sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all Securities or portions
thereof to be redeemed on that date other than Securities or portions thereof
called for redemption on that date which have been delivered by the Company to
the Trustee for cancellation. The Paying Agent shall return to the Company any
money previously deposited but no longer required for that purpose because of
conversion of Securities.

        SECTION 3.06. SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART. Upon surrender of a Security
that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate for the Holder, a new Security equal in principal amount to the
unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.


                                  ARTICLE FOUR
                                 SUBORDINATION

        SECTION 4.01. SECURITIES SUBORDINATED TO SENIOR DEBT. (a) The Company
agrees, and each Holder of the Securities by his acceptance thereof likewise
agrees, that the payment (i) of the principal and interest on, and any other
amount due in respect of, the Securities, and (ii) to acquire any of the
Securities is subordinated to the extent and in the manner provided in this
Article Four, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt and the
termination of all financing arrangements between the Company and the holders of
Senior Debt.

        (b) This Article Four shall constitute a continuing offer to all persons
who, in reliance upon such provisions, become holders of, or continue to hold,
Senior Debt, and such provisions are made for the benefit of the holders of
Senior Debt, and such holders are made obligees hereunder and any one or more of
them may enforce such provision. Each Holder of a Security, by virtue of his
acceptance thereof, specifically agrees to be bound by the provisions of this
Article Four and the other related provisions of this Indenture.

        SECTION 4.02. MATURITY OF SENIOR DEBT. Upon maturity of any Senior Debt
by lapse of time, acceleration or otherwise, then all principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on, and any other amount due pursuant to the terms of the
instruments or agreements creating, relating to or evidencing all such matured
Senior Debt shall first be paid in full before any payment on account of
principal, interest, mandatory redemption provisions or any other amount due is
made upon a Security.


                                      (12)

<PAGE>   17



        SECTION 4.03. LIQUIDATION, ETC. In the event of any insolvency,
bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings, or any
receivership proceedings in connection therewith, relative to the Company or its
creditors or its property, and in the event of any proceedings for voluntary
liquidation, dissolution, or other winding up of the Company, whether or not
involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, then all principal, premium, if
any, and interest due on and any other amount due pursuant to the terms of the
instruments or agreements creating, relating to or evidencing Senior Debt shall
first be paid in full before any payment on account of principal or interest or
any other amount due is made upon a Security. Except as may otherwise be ordered
by a court of competent jurisdiction, any payment or distribution of any kind or
character, whether in cash, property, stock, or obligations, which may be
payable or deliverable in respect of a Security in any of the proceedings
referred to in the first sentence of this Section 4.03 shall be paid or
delivered directly to the holders of Senior Debt for application in payment
thereof, unless and until all principal and interest on, and any other amount
due in respect of, Senior Debt shall have been paid in full.

        SECTION 4.04. SENIOR DEBT DEFAULT. The Company shall not make any, and
the Holders of the Securities shall not accept or receive, payment of principal
or interest on, or any amounts in respect of, or purchase or acquire for value
(and the Holders of the Securities shall not offer for sale or otherwise cause
the Company to purchase or acquire for value) (including, without limitation, on
account of the mandatory redemption provisions of the Securities) a Security if,
either immediately before or after any such payment is received by a Holder of a
Security, an event of default as defined in any indenture, agreement or
instrument creating or evidencing Senior Debt shall exist or any event which,
with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute an
event of default as defined in any indenture, agreement or instrument creating
or evidencing Senior Debt shall exist. The Company shall give prompt written
notice to the Trustee of any default or of any event which, with the passage of
time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute an event of default,
under any Senior Debt or under any agreement pursuant to which Senior Debt may
have been issued, but failure to give such notice shall not affect the
subordination of the Securities to the Senior Debt provided in this Article
Four. Should any payment or distribution be received by a Holder of a Security
prior to the payment in full of all Senior Debt and termination of all financing
arrangements between the Company and the holders of the Senior Debt, and such
payment violates any provision of this Article Four, such Holder shall receive
and hold the same in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Senior Debt.

        SECTION 4.05. COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS UNIMPAIRED. The provisions of this
Article Four are for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the holders
of Senior Debt, on the one hand, and the Holders of the Securities on the other
hand, and, as between the Company and such Holders, nothing herein shall impair
the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay the
Holders the principal of and interest on the Securities in accordance with the
terms of the Securities, nor shall anything herein prevent the Holders of the
Securities


                                      (13)


<PAGE>   18


from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon an Event
of Default thereunder, subject to the rights, under this Article Four, of
holders of Senior Debt in respect of cash, property, stock or other securities
received upon the exercise of such remedies and subject to the other provisions
of this Indenture relating to the exercise of remedies by the Trustee and/or the
Holders of the Securities.

        SECTION 4.06. SUBROGATION. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior
Debt, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the
holders of Senior Debt to receive payments or distributions of assets of the
Company payable or distributable to the holders of Senior Debt until all of the
Securities shall be paid in full and, as between the Company, its creditors,
other than the holders of Senior Debt, and the Holders of the Securities, no
payments or distributions otherwise payable or deliverable in respect of the
Securities, but, by virtue of the provisions thereof or of this Indenture, paid
or delivered to the holders of Senior Debt, shall be deemed to be a payment by
the Company on account of Senior Debt, and no payments or distributions paid to
the Holders of the Securities, by virtue of the subrogation herein provided for,
shall be deemed to be a payment by the Company on account of the Securities. The
holders of the Senior Debt shall be subrogated to the Holders of the Securities
with respect to their claims against the Company and their rights, liens and
security interests, if any, in any of the Company's assets and the proceeds
thereof until all Senior Debt shall have been paid and all financing
arrangements between the Company and the Holders of the Senior Debt have been
terminated.

        SECTION 4.07. SUBORDINATION UNIMPAIRED. No right of any present or
future holder of Senior Debt to enforce subordination as herein provided shall
at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on
the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act in good faith by any
such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions,
and covenants of any agreement relating to Senior Debt, regardless of any
knowledge thereof any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with. Each
holder of a Security authorizes each holder of Senior Debt to (i) change any
terms relating to the Senior Debt or any agreement relating thereto, (ii) make
new loans or extend further credit to the Company, grant renewals, increases or
extensions for time of payment of the Senior Debt, (iii) take or omit to take
any action for the enforcement of, or waive any rights with respect to, any
Senior Debt, and (iv) enter into such agreements as the holders of the Senior
Debt may deem proper affecting any collateral for the Senior Debt, or exchange,
sell, release, surrender or otherwise deal with such collateral, in each such
case without invalidating or impairing the subordination provided for herein.

        SECTION 4.08 STANDSTILL; LIMITATION ON ACTIONS. No Holder of any
Securities may exercise any rights or remedies against the Company to enforce or
collect upon any Security or any amounts due in connection with such Security,
take possession of assets of the Company or foreclose upon any such assets,
whether by judicial action or otherwise, unless and until all of the Senior Debt
shall have been fully and finally paid and satisfied with interest and all
financing


                                      (14)

<PAGE>   19



arrangements between the Company and the holders of Senior Debt have been
terminated; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, subject to the right of the holders of
Senior Debt to receive prior payment in full under the terms hereof, if an Event
of Default under any of Sections 7.01(i), 7.01(iv) Qr 7.01(v) occurs, then the
Holders of the Securities may exercise any and all rights and remedies in
respect of such Event of Default, but only after expiration of the 179-day
period commencing upon actual receipt by the holder of the Senior Debt of notice
of such an Event of Default.

                                  ARTICLE FIVE
                                   COVENANTS

        SECTION 5.01. PAYMENT OF SECURITIES. Subject to the terms of Article
Four hereof, the Company shall pay the principal of and interest on the
Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and this
Indenture. No installments of principal or interest are payable until the
Maturity Date. Such principal amount or interest due shall be considered paid on
the date due if the Trustee or Paying Agent (other than the Company or its
Affiliates) holds on that date cash or cleared funds designated for and
sufficient to pay such installment. The Company shall pay interest on overdue
principal at a rate per annum equal to the rate set forth in the title of the
Securities; it shall pay interest on overdue interest at the same rate of
interest to the extent lawful.

        SECTION 5.02. LIMITATION ON INDEBTEDNESS FOR BORROWED MONEY. The Company
will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, incur any indebtedness for
borrowed money that would rank senior to the Securities, except (i) any such
indebtedness existing on the date hereof or under the Company's existing
revolving credit facility; (ii) any renewals, refinancings, extensions or
refundings under any indebtedness referred to in clause (i) above; (iii) any
indebtedness secured by purchase money security interests; (iv) any other senior
bank or other institutional indebtedness; (v) any indebtedness of a Subsidiary
to another Subsidiary; (vi) any indebtedness of any other entity existing at the
time such entity merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of the Company or of
a Subsidiary, including indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in
contemplation of, such other entity merging with or into or becoming a
Subsidiary of the Company or of a Subsidiary or assumed by the Company or a
Subsidiary in connection with its acquisition of the assets owned by such other
entity, (vii) any indebtedness incurred in connection with a merger with or
into, or the acquisition of the stock or assets of, a Person and (viii) any
indebtedness to holders of the Securities.

        SECTION 5.03. REPORTS BY THE COMPANY. (a) The Company shall file with
the Trustee within 15 days after filing with the SEC copies of the annual
reports and the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such
portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations
prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such
additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the
Company with the


                                      (15)

<PAGE>   20



conditions and covenants set forth in this Indenture as the SEC may by rules and
regulations prescribe.

        (b) So long as any Security is outstanding, the Company shall cause its
annual report to stockholders and any quarterly or other financial reports
furnished by it to stockholders to be mailed to the Holders at their addresses
appearing in the register of Securities maintained by the Registrar.

        (c) The Company shall promptly furnish such additional information
concerning the Company as may be reasonablY requested and deemed necessary by
the Trustee in the conduct of its duties hereunder; provided, however, that the
Company shall have no such obligation with respect to information constituting
restricted information under any law or governmental regulation at the time
applicable thereto.

        SECTION 5.04. CORPORATE EXISTENCE. Subject to Article Six, the Company
shall not liquidate or discontinue its normal operations with intention to
liquidate.

        SECTION 5.05. NOTICE OF DEFAULT. (a) In the event that the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries receive written notice from any holder of Indebtedness
that the full amount of such Indebtedness has been declared due and payable
before its maturity because of an acceleration of such Indebtedness or the
occurrence of any default under such Indebtedness, the Company shall promptly
give written notice to the Trustee of such declaration.

        (b) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the
end of each fiscal year an Officer's Certificate stating whether or not there
has been any Default or Event of Default by the Company that occurred during
such fiscal year. If there has been a Default or Event of Default, the
certificate shall describe the Default or Event of Default and its status. The
first certificate to be delivered by the Company pursuant to this Section 5.05
shall be for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the Indenture.

        SECTION 5.06. WAIVER OF STAY. EXTENSION OR USURY LAWS. The Company
covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any
time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit
or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that
would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all of any portion of the
principal or interest on overdue principal, if any, of the Securities as
contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or
which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the
extent that it may lawfully do so) the Company hereby expressly waives all
benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder,
delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but
will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law
had been enacted.


                                      (16)


<PAGE>   21

                                  ARTICLE SIX
                                   SUCCESSORS

        SECTION 6.01. WHEN COMPANY MAY MERGE, ETC. (a) The Company shall not
consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or transfer all or
substantially all of its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially
as an entirety to any Person, unless:

                (i) either the Company shall be the continuing Person, or the
        Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into
        which the Company is merged, or the Person to which the properties and 
        assets of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety 
        are transferred, shall be a Person organized and existing under the 
        laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the 
        District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture 
        supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form 
        reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and in compliance with Article 
        Eleven, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and 
        this Indenture;

                (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
        Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

                (iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction the
        Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into
        which the Company is merged or to which the properties and assets of 
        the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety are 
        transferred shall have a positive Consolidated Net Worth equal to not 
        less than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately 
        preceding such transaction.

        (b) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be
fully protected in relying upon, an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, each to the effect that such consolidation, merger or transfer and the
entering into any such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture and
that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction
have been complied with.

        SECTION 6.02. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED. Upon any consolidation
or merger, or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company in accordance with Section 6.01, the successor corporation formed by
such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person to which
such transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise
every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect
as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company herein. When such
a successor assumes all obligations of its predecessor under this Indenture and
the Securities, the predecessor shall be released from such obligations.



                                      (17)

<PAGE>   22


                                 ARTICLE SEVEN
                              DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

        SECTION 7.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. (a) Each of the following shall
constitute an "Event of Default":

        (i) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of and interest
    on any Security when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon
    redemption or otherwise, and the default continues for a period of 10 days;

        (ii) the Company fails to observe or perform any of its other covenants
    contained in the Securities or this Indenture, or any material
    representation of the Company in the Securities or this Indenture shall
    prove to be untrue in any material respect on the date made, and, in any
    case, such default continues for the period and after the notice specified
    below;

        (iii) there shall be a default under any Indebtedness of the Company or
    any Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be
    created, which default shall have resulted in such Indebtedness becoming or
    being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise
    have become due and payable or at maturity, without such acceleration having
    been rescinded or annulled or such Indebtedness having been discharged;
    provided, however, that no default under this clause (a)(iii) shall exist if
    all such defaults taken as a whole relate to Indebtedness with an aggregate
    principal amount of less than $1,000,000;

        (iv) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law
    (i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding, (ii) consents to the entry of
    an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding, (iii)
    consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially
    all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of
    its creditors;

        (v) a court of competent jurisdiction enters a decree or order under any
    Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary
    case or proceeding, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or
    substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the liquidation of the
    Company; and in each case the decree or order remains unstayed and in effect
    for a period of 45 days;

    (b) A Default under clause (a)(ii) is not an Event of Default until the
Trustee, with actual knowledge of a Default, notifies the Company or until the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding
notify the Company and the Trustee of the Default, and the Company does not cure
the Default within 30 days after receipt of the notice. The notice called for



                                      (18)


<PAGE>   23



by this subsection (b) must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and
state that such notice is a "Notice of Default."

        (c) When a Default is cured or waived, it will be deemed never to have
existed.

        SECTION 7.02. ACCELERATION. If an Event of Default (other than an Event
of Default specified in clause 7.01 (a)(iv) or 7.01 (a)(v)) occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Company, or the Holders of at
least 25% in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding by written
notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal of and accrued
interest on the Securities then outstanding to be due and payable. Upon such
declaration, the principal and interest shall become due and payable immediately
(but payment thereof shall be subject to the terms of Article Four hereof). If
an Event of Default specified in clause 7.0l(a)(iv) or 7.01(a)(v) occurs, all
unpaid principal of and accrued interest on the Securities then outstanding
shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any
declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Securityholder (but
payment thereof shall be subject to the terms of Article Four hereof). Upon
payment of such principal and interest, all of the Company's obligations under
such Securities and this Indenture, other than its obligations under Section
8.07, shall terminate. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Securities then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an
acceleration with respect to such Security and its consequences if (a) all
existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of such
Securities which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have
been cured or waived, (b) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful,
interest on overdue principal and interest, which has become due otherwise than
by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid, (c) the rescission would not
conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, and
(d) all payments due to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section
8.07 have been made. Anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding,
in the event of any acceleration pursuant to this Section 7.02, the Company
shall not be obligated to pay any premium which it would have had to pay if it
had then elected to redeem the Securities pursuant to the terms of the
Securities.

        SECTION 7.03. OTHER REMEDIES. If an Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee may, subject to the terms of this Indenture, pursue any
available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of
principal of or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any
provision of the Securities or this Indenture. The Trustee may maintain a
proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce
any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any
Securityholder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of
Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or
acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other
remedy. All available remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.


                                      (19)


<PAGE>   24

        SECTION 7.04. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS. Subject to Sections 7.07 and
11.02, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding
Securities by written notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or
Event of Default and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of
principal of or interest on any Security. When a Default or Event of Default is
waived, it is cured and ceases.

        SECTION 7.05. CONTROL BY MAJORITY. The Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding Securities may direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or
exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse
to follow any direction that conflicts with any law or this Indenture that the
Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another
Securityholder or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided,
that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is
not inconsistent with such direction.

        SECTION 7.06. LIMITATION ON SUITS. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth herein, neither a Holder nor the Trustee may pursue any
remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities unless:

        (i) the Holder gives to the Trustee and the Company written notice of a
    continuing Event of Default;

        (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding
    Securities make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy and a
    copy thereof is forwarded to the Company;

        (iii) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee indemnity and security
    therefor satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

        (iv) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after
    receipt of the request and the offer of satisfactory indemnity and security
    therefor;

        (v) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal
    amount of the outstanding Securities do not give the Trustee a direction
    which, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with the request; and

        (vi) the provisions of Section 4.08 hereof shall have been complied
    with.

Neither a Securityholder nor the Trustee may use this Indenture to prejudice the
rights of another Securityholder or to obtain a preference or priority over such
other Securityholder.



                                      (20)


<PAGE>   25


This Section 7.06 shall constitute a continuing offer to all persons who, in
reliance on such section, become holders of, or continue to hold, Senior Debt,
and this section is made for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt, and such
holders are made obligees hereunder and any one or more of them may enforce this
section.


        SECTION 7.07. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PAYMENT. Subject to Article
Four, notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any
Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on a Security on or after
the respective due dates expressed in the Security, or to bring suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, shall not be impaired or
affected without the consent of such Holder. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Security to bring suit for the
enforcement of the right to convert the Security shall not be impaired or
affected without the consent of the Holder.

        SECTION 7.08. COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE. If an Event of Default in
payment of interest or principal specified in clause 7.0l(a)(i) occurs and is
continuing, subject to the terms of Article 4 hereof and Section 7.06 above, the
Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust
against the Company or any other obligor on the Securities for the whole amount
of unpaid principal and accrued interest remaining unpaid, together with
interest on overdue principal and, to the extent permitted by law, interest on
overdue interest, in each case at a rate per annum equal to the rate set forth
in the title of the Securities, and such further amount as shall be sufficient
to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents
and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.07.

        SECTION 7.09. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM. The Trustee may file
such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Securityholders allowed in any judicial
proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities),
its creditors or its property, and subject to the terms of Article 4 hereof and
Section 7.06 above, shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any
monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to
distribute the same, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceedings is
hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payments to the Trustee
and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments
directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 8.07. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee
to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder
any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Securities or the rights of


                                      (21)

<PAGE>   26



any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim
of any Holder in any such proceeding.

        SECTION 7.10. PRIORITIES. If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to 
this Article Seven, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

                First:  to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 8.07;

                Second: to holders of Senior Debt, to the extent required by 
        Article Four;

                Third: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities
        for principal and interest or interest on overdue principal, if any,
        and, to the extent permitted by law, interest on overdue interest, if
        any, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to
        the amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal and
        interest, respectively; and

                Fourth: to the Company.

The Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Company, may fix a record date and
payment date for any payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section 7.10.

        SECTION 7.11. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS. In any suit for the enforcement of
any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for
any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may
require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking including
security therefor to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion
may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any
party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of
the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 7.11 does not
apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 7.07 or a
suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding
Securities or a suit by any holder of Senior Debt.



                                      (22)


<PAGE>   27


                                 ARTICLE EIGHT
                                    TRUSTEE

        The Trustee hereby accepts the trust imposed upon it by this Indenture
and covenants and agrees to perform the same, as herein expressed.

        SECTION 8.01. DUTIES OF TRUSTEE. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers
vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in
their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances
in the conduct of his own affairs.

        (b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

            (i) the Trustee need perform only those duties as are specifically
        set forth in this Indenture and no others; and

            (ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
        conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness
        of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions
        furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
        Indenture; however, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and
        opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of
        this Indenture.

        (c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own gross
negligent action, its own gross negligent failure to act or its own willful
misconduct, except that:

            (i) this subsection (c) does not limit the effect of subsection (b)
        of this Section 8.01;

            (ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made
        in good faith by a Trust Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee
        was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

            (iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it
        takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction
        received by it pursuant to Section 7.05.

        (d) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its
rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that
repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is
not reasonably assured to it.

        (e) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the
Trustee is subject to subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 8.01


                                      (23)

<PAGE>   28


        (f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received
by it except as the Trustee may agree with the Company in a writing separate
from this Indenture. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law.

        SECTION 8.02. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE. Subject to Section 8.01:

            (i) The Trustee may rely on any document believed by it to be
        genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The
        Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

            (ii) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require
        an Officer's Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform
        to Section 12.03. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it
        takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or
        opinion.

            (iii) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall
        not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent
        appointed with due care.

            (iv) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or
        omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within
        its rights or powers.

            (v) The Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice or opinion
        of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete
        authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, omitted or
        suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice
        or opinion of such counsel.

            (vi) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
        rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or
        direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of
        this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered, to the
        satisfaction of the Trustee, security against the costs, expenses and
        liabilities which might be incurred by the Trustee thereby.

        SECTION 8.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE. The Trustee in its
individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities
and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights
it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like
rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 8.10 and 8.11.

        SECTION 8.04. DISCLAIMERS. The Trustee makes no representation as to the
validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be
accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Securities or for the
use or application of any money or assets by any Paying Agent (other than the
Trustee)


                                      (24)

<PAGE>   29


and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than
its certificate of authentication.

        SECTION 8.05. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS. If a Default or an Event of Default
occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall
mail to each Securityholder and the Company notice of the Default or Event of
Default within 90 days after it occurs or becomes known to the Trustee,
whichever is later; provided, however, that except in the case of a Default or
an Event of Default in payment of principal or interest on any Security, the
Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust
Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest
of the Securityholders.

        SECTION 8.06. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS. Within 60 days after each
May 15 beginning with May 15, 1997, the Trustee shall mail to each
Securityholder a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with Section
313(a) of the TIA, as if this Indenture were governed by the same. The Trustee
also shall comply with Section 313(b) and (c) of the TIA, as if this Indenture
were governed by the same. A copy of each such report at the time of its mailing
to Securityholders shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and
each securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities are listed. The
Company shall notify the Trustee if the Securities become listed on any
securities exchange.

        SECTION 8.07. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY. (a) The Company shall pay to
the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The
Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon
request for all reasonable disbursements, expenses and advances incurred or made
by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements
and expenses of the Trustee's agents and counsel.

        (b) The Company shall indemnify the Trustee for, and hold it harmless
against, any loss or liability incurred by it in connection with the
administration of this Indenture and its duties hereunder, including the
reasonable expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability
hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim asserted
against the Trustee for which it may seek indemnity. The Company need not
reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the
Trustee through negligence or bad faith on its part.

        (c) To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section 8.07,
the Trustee shall have a senior lien to which the Securities are hereby made
subordinate on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, in its
capacity as Trustee, except money or property held in trust to pay principal of
and interest on particular Securities.

        (d) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event
of Default specified in clause 7.01(a)(iv) or 7.0l(a)(v) occurs, the expenses
and the


                                      (25)


<PAGE>   30


compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

        SECTION 8.08. REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE. (a) The Trustee may resign by so
notifying the Company in writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the outstanding Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee
and the Company in writing and may appoint a successor Trustee with the
Company's written consent. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

                (i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 8.10;

                (ii) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent;

                (iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the
        Trustee or its property; or

                (iv) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

        (b) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee.

        (c) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately thereafter,
the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the
successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided in Section 8.07, the resignation
or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor
Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this
Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each
Securityholder.

        (d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the
retiring or removed Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring or removed
Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount
of the outstanding Securities may petition any court of competent jurisdiction
for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

        (e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 8.10, any Securityholder
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee
and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

        (f) Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section
8.08, the Company's obligations under Section 8.07 shall continue for the
benefit of the retiring or removed Trustee.




                                      (26)


<PAGE>   31


        SECTION 8.09. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC. If the Trustee
consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially
all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor,
resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be
the successor Trustee.

        SECTION 8.10. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION. This Indenture shall always
have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of Section 310(a)(1) of the
TIA, as if this Indenture were governed by the same. The Trustee shall have a
combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000, as set forth in its most
recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with
Section 310(b) of the TIA, including the optional provision permitted by the
second sentence of Section 310(b)(9) of the TIA, as if this Indenture were
governed by the same; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the
operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA any indenture or indentures under
which other securities, or certificates of interest or participation in other
securities of the Company are outstanding, if the requirements for such
exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

        SECTION 8.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY. The
Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor
relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA, as if this Indenture were
governed by the same. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be
subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated, as if this
Indenture were governed by the same.


                                  ARTICLE NINE
                             DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

        SECTION 9.01. TERMINATION OF THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION. (a) The Company
may terminate its obligations under the Securities and this Indenture if all
such Securities previously authenticated and delivered (other than destroyed,
lost or wrongfully taken Securities which have been replaced or paid or
Securities for whose payment money or securities have theretofore been held in
trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, as provided in Section 9.03) have
been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and the Company has paid all sums
payable by it hereunder, or if the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused
to be deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent (if other than the Company),
under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and any such Paying Agent, as trust funds
in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders for that purpose, money or U.S.
Government Obligations maturing as to principal and interest in such amounts and
at such times as are sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of
such interest, to pay principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities to
maturity or redemption and all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, as
the case may be; provided, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have been
irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such U.S.
Government Obligations to the payment of said

                                      (27)


<PAGE>   32


principal and interest and such amounts with respect to the Securities. The
Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by
the Company and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate stating
that all conditions precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect.

        (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing subsection (a), the Company's and
Trustee's obligations under Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 5.01, 8.07,
8.08, 9.03 and 9.04 and Article Ten shall survive until such Securities are no
longer outstanding. Thereafter, the Company's and the Trustee's obligations in
Sections 8.07, 9.03 and 9.04 shall survive.

        (c) After any such delivery or irrevocable deposit, subject to Section
9.04, the Trustee upon request shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the
Company's obligations under the Securities and this Indenture except for those
surviving obligations specified above.

        SECTION 9.02. APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY. The Trustee or Paying Agent
shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it
pursuant to Section 9.01. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from
U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of
principal and interest on the Securities. Money and U.S. Government Obligations
so held in trust are not subject to the subordination provisions of Article Four
if such money and U.S. Government Obligations were received in trust prior to
the occurrence of an event of default with respect to any Senior Debt.

        SECTION 9.03. REPAYMENT TO THE COMPANY. Subject to Section 9.01, the
Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon request any
excess money or U.S. Government Obligations held by them at any time. The
Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money
held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for
two years after the date such payment shall have become due. After payment to
the Company, Securityholders entitled to money must look to the Company for
payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law
designates another Person, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have no
responsibility to the Securityholders for such money.

        SECTION 9.04. REINSTATEMENT. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to
apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 9.01
by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any
court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting
such application, the Company's obligations under this Indenture and the
Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred
pursuant to Section 9.01 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance
with Section 9.01; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment
of principal of or interest on any Securities because of the reinstatement of
its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of
such Securities to


                                      (28)

<PAGE>   33


receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the
Trustee or Paying Agent.


                                  ARTICLE TEN
                                   CONVERSION

        SECTION 10.01. RIGHT OF CONVERSION; CONVERSION PRICE. The Holder of a
Security may convert the principal amount of the Security in whole, and accrued
interest thereon, or, if less than the whole principal amount, any portion
thereof that is in an integral multiple of $100 and accrued interest on such
portion, into Common Stock at the Conversion Price: (i) at any time after
December 31, 2001 and before the close of business on the Maturity Date, (ii)
in the event of an Election Contest, and (iii) upon a Change of Control. In
addition, if a Security is called for redemption, the Holder may convert it at
any time before the close of business on the last Business Day prior to the
Redemption Date.

        SECTION 10.02. PROCEDURES FOR CONVERSION. (a) To convert a Security, a
Holder must (i) complete and sign the conversion notice attached to a Security,
(ii) surrender a Security to the Company or its Conversion Agent, (iii) furnish
required endorsements and transfer documents and (iv) pay any transfer tax or
similar tax if required. A Holder may convert a portion of a Security only if
the portion is $100 or an integral multiple of $100.

        (b) As promptly as practicable after the surrender of a Security for
conversion, the Company shall deliver, to or upon the written order of the
Holder, certificates representing the number of fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Common Stock into which the Security may be converted in accordance
with the provisions of the Security and this Indenture. Such conversion shall be
deemed to have been made at the close of business on the date that a Security
shall have been surrendered for conversion with a written notice of conversion
duly executed in satisfactory form for conversion. At such time, the rights of
the Holder of a Security as such a Holder shall cease, and, subject to the
provisions of subsection (c) below, the person or persons entitled to receive
the shares of Common Stock upon conversion of a Security shall be treated for
all purposes as having become the record holder or holders of such shares of
Common Stock at such time. Any such conversion shall be at the Conversion Price
in effect at such time. Interest on the Security surrendered for conversion will
accrue through the date that such Security has been duly surrendered for
conversion and will be converted into Common Stock at the Conversion Price with
the principal amount of the Security being surrendered.

        (c) Notwithstanding the above, if the stock transfer books of the
Company shall be closed on the date of such surrender described in subsection
(b) above, such surrender shall be effective at the close of business on the
next succeeding day on which such stock transfer books are open. As of the close
of business on such succeeding day, the person or persons entitled to receive
such shares of Common Stock shall be deemed the record holder or holders thereof
for all


                                      (29)



<PAGE>   34

purposes. Such conversion shall be at the conversion price in effect on the date
that a Security shall have been surrendered for conversion in satisfactory form
for conversion, as if the stock transfer books of the Company had not been
closed.

        (d) Upon conversion of a Security in part only, the Company shall
execute and deliver to or on the order of the Holder thereof, at the expense of
the Company, a new Security of authorized denomination in principal amount equal
to the unconverted portion of a Security.

        (e) If the last day for the exercise of the conversion right shall not
be a Business Day, then such conversion right may be exercised on the next
succeeding Business Day.

        SECTION 10.03. ADJUSTMENTS TO CONVERSION PRICE. The number of shares of
Common Stock deliverable upon conversion of a Security shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time as follows:

                (i) STOCK SPLITS, STOCK DIVIDENDS, ETC. If the Company (A) takes
        a record of the holders of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling 
        them to receive a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) 
        subdivides its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number
        of shares, (C) combines its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a 
        smaller number of shares, or (D) issues by reclassification of its 
        Common Stock any shares of the Company of any class or series, the 
        Holder of a Security shall thereafter be entitled to receive upon the 
        conversion of a Security the number of shares of Common Stock or other 
        class or series which he would have owned or have been entitled to 
        receive had the Security been converted immediately prior to the 
        happening of such event, such adjustment to become effective 
        immediately after the opening of business on the day following such 
        record date or the day upon which such subdivision, combination or 
        reclassification becomes effective.

                (ii) DIVIDENDS OF CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. If the Company pays
        the holders of Common Stock a dividend payable in any security 
        convertible into Common Stock and the Holder of a Security thereafter 
        converts the Security, such Holder shall be entitled to receive upon 
        such conversion, in addition to the shares of Common Stock deliverable 
        to him in accordance with the provisions hereof, the number of shares 
        or principal amount of such security convertible into Common Stock as 
        he would have been entitled to receive if he had converted immediately 
        prior to the payment of such dividend.

                (iii) CONSOLIDATION OR MERGER. If the Company is a party to a
        consolidation or merger or a transfer or lease of all or substantially 
        all of its assets, the right to convert a Security into Common Stock 
        may be changed into a right to convert it into securities, cash or 
        other assets of the Company or another entity.



                                      (30)


<PAGE>   35


                (iv) DE MINIMIS. No adjustment in the number of shares into
        which a Security may be converted shall be required unless such 
        adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one 
        percent of the number of shares for which the Security may be 
        converted; provided, however, that any adjustment which by reason 
        hereof is not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken 
        into account in any subsequent adjustment.

                (v) NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Common Stock
        shall be issued upon conversion of a Security, but instead, to the 
        extent that any fraction of a share would otherwise be issuable, the 
        Company will round such fraction of a share up to the nearest whole 
        share.

        SECTION 10.04. COVENANT TO RESERVE SHARES. The Company covenants that it
will reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of its
authorized Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon conversion of
Securities as herein provided, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall
then be issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding Securities. The Company
covenants that all shares of Common Stock which shall be so issuable shall be,
when issued, duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable. For
purposes of this Section 10.04, the number of shares of Common Stock which shall
be deliverable upon the conversion of all outstanding Securities shall be
computed as if at the time of computation all outstanding Securities were held
by a single Holder.

        SECTION 10.05. COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL AND GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENTS. (a)
Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment reducing the Conversion
Price below the then stated or par value of the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of the Securities, the Company will take any corporate action
which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company
may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of such Common
Stock at such adjusted Conversion Price.

        (b) The Company covenants that if any shares of Common Stock, required
to be reserved for purposes of conversion of Securities hereunder, require
registration with or approval of any governmental authority under any federal or
state law, or listing upon any national or regional securities exchange, before
such shares may be issued upon conversion, the Company will in good faith and as
expeditiously as possible endeavor to cause such shares to be duly registered,
approved or listed, as the case may be.

        SECTION 10.06. PAYMENT OF TAXES. The issuance of certificates for shares
of Common Stock upon the conversion of the Securities shall be made without
charge to the converting Securityholders for any tax in respect of the issuance
of such certificates, and such certificates shall be issued in the respective
names of, or in any such names as may be directed by, the Holders of the
Securities converted; PROVIDED, HOWEVER that neither the Company nor any
Conversion Agent shall be required to pay any tax which may be payable in
respect of any transfer

                                      (31)


<PAGE>   36



involved in the issuance and delivery of any such certificate in a name other
than that of the Holder of Securities converted, and neither the Company nor any
Conversion Agent shall be required to issue or deliver such certificates unless
or until the Person or Persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have paid
to the Company or the Conversion Agent the amount of such tax or shall have
established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

        SECTION 10.07. RESPONSIBILITY OF TRUSTEE AND CONVERSION AGENT. Neither
the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall at any time be under any duty or
responsibility to any Holder of Securities to determine whether any facts exist
which may require any adjustment of the Conversion Price, or with respect to the
nature or extent of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method
employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in
making the same. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be
accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any
shares of Common Stock or of any securities or property or cash which may at any
time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Security; and neither the
Trustee nor any Conversion Agent makes any representation with respect thereto.
Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any
failure of the Company to make any cash payment or to issue, transfer or deliver
any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property
upon the surrender of any Security for the purpose of conversion, or, subject to
Section 8.01, to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in
this Article Ten.


                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN
                      AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

        SECTION 11.01. WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS. The Company, when authorized
by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or
the Securities without notice to or consent of any Securityholder:

                (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

                (ii) to comply with Article Six;

                (iii) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection
        with the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, if required; or

                (iv) to make any change that does not adversely affect the
        rights of any Securityholders or the holders of the Senior Debt.

        Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may at any time
amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities without notice to or
consent of any Securityholder to lower the Conversion Price.




                                      (32)



<PAGE>   37


        SECTION 11.02. WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS. (a) Subject to Section 7.07, the
Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may amend or
supplement this Indenture or the Securities without prior notice to any Holder
but with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the outstanding Securities. Subject to Section 7.07, the Holders of a majority
in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may waive compliance by
the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities without prior
notice to any Holder. However, subject to Section 11.03, without the consent of
each Holder affected thereby, an amendment, supplement or waiver, including a
waiver pursuant to Section 7.04, may not:

                (i) reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must
        consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

                (ii) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of
        interest on any Security;

                (iii) reduce the principal of or extend the fixed maturity of
        any Security, or alter the redemption or conversion provisions with
        respect thereto, in a manner adverse to any Holder;

                (iv) waive a Default in the payment of the principal of or
        redemption payment with respect to, any Security;

                (v) make any changes in Section 7.04, 7.07 or this third
        sentence of this Section 11.02; or

                (vi) make any Security payable in money or property other than
        that stated in the Security.

        (b) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this
Section 11.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment,
supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the
substance thereof.

        (c) After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 11.02
becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders affected thereby and
the Trustee a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any
failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not,
however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment,
supplement or waiver.

        SECTION 11.03. REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS. (a) Until an
amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder
is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security
or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's
Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However,
any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security


                                      (33)

<PAGE>   38


or portion of a Security. Such revocation shall be effective only if the Trustee
receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement
or waiver becomes effective.

        (b) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date
for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment,
supplement or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the last
two sentences of the subsection (a) above, those Persons who were Holders on
such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons,
shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver or to
revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be
Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for
more than 90 days after such record date.

        (c) After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall
bind every Securityholder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses
(i) through (vi) of subsection 11.02(a). In that case, the amendment, supplement
or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every
subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same
debt as the consenting Holder's Security.

        SECTION 11.04. NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES. If an amendment,
supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require
the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place
an appropriate notation on the Security describing the changed terms and return
it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines,
the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue without cost to the Holder
thereof, and the Trustee shall authenticate, a new Security that reflects the
changed terms.

        SECTION 11.05. TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS. ETC. The Trustee shall sign
any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article Eleven
if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights,
duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may,
but need not, sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment, supplement
or waiver, the Trustee shall be entitled to demand and receive and, subject to
Section 8.01, shall be fully protected in relying upon, one or more Officer's
Certificates and/or Opinions of Counsel as conclusive evidence that the
execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by
this Indenture, is not inconsistent herewith and will be valid and binding upon
the Company in accordance with its terms. The Company may not sign an amendment
until the Board of Directors approves it.




                                      (34)


<PAGE>   39



                                 ARTICLE TWELVE
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

        SECTION 12.01. NOTICES. (a) Any notice or communication shall be given
in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail addressed as
follows:

          if to the Company:

                       SPECIALTY CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC.
                       9100 Valley View Road
                       Macedonia, Ohio 44056
                       Attention: Edwin M. Roth, President

          if to the Trustee:

                       BANK ONE, COLUMBUS, N.A.
                       100 East Broad Street
                       Columbus, OH 43271-0181
                       Attn:   Corporate Trust Administration

        (b) Such notices or communications shall be effective when received. The
Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or
different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

        (c) Any notice or communication mailed to a Securityholder shall be
mailed to such Holder first class mail, postage prepaid, at such Holder's
address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be
sufficiently given to such Holder if so mailed within the time prescribed.

        (d) Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any
defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other
Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided
above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

        SECTION 12.02. CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. Upon
any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or to refrain
from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee at the request of the Trustee:

                (i) an Officer's Certificate (which shall include the statements
        set forth in Section 12.03) stating that, in the opinion of the signers,
        all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture
        relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

                (ii) an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements
        set forth in Section 12.03) stating that, in the opinion of such
        counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.


                                      (35)


<PAGE>   40


        SECTION 12.03. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION. Each
Officer's Certificate or Opinion of Counsel with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

                (i) a statement that the person(s) signing such certificate or
        opinion has read such covenant or condition;

                (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the
        examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions
        contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

                (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has
        made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to
        express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or
        condition has been complied with; and

                (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
        person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided,
        however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may
        rely on one or more Officer's Certificates or certificates of public
        officials if the Opinion of Counsel expressly states that nothing has
        come to the attention of such Counsel to make it believe there is not
        justification to rely thereon.

        SECTION 12.04. RULES BY TRUSTEE, REGISTRAR, PAYING AGENT AND CONVERSION
AGENT. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of
Securityholders. The Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent may make
reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

        SECTION 12.05. LEGAL HOLIDAYS. If a payment date is not a Business Day,
payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall
accrue for the intervening period.

        SECTION 12.06. GOVERNING LAW. The laws of the State of Ohio shall govern
this Indenture and the Securities without regard to principles of conflicts of
laws.

        SECTION 12.07. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee
or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Securities or this Indenture or for any
claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their
creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all
such liability.

        SECTION 12.08. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS. This
Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement
of the Company or a Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may
not be used to interpret this Indenture.



                                      (36)

<PAGE>   41


        SECTION 12.09. SUCCESSORS. All agreements of the Company in this
Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the
Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of the
Securityholders in this Indenture and in the Securities shall bind their
respective successors.

        SECTION 12.10. DUPLICATE ORIGINALS. The parties may sign any number of
copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them
together represent the same agreement.

        SECTION 12.11. SEPARABILITY. In case any provision in this Indenture or
in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby, and a Holder shall have no claim therefor against
any party hereto.

        SECTION 12.12. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS AND REFERENCES. The Table of
Contents and headings of Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been
inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be considered a part
hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions
hereof. All references herein to Articles and Sections are to articles and
sections of this Indenture, unless otherwise indicated.

                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the date first above written.

                                        SPECIALTY CHEMICAL
                                         RESOURCES, INC.

                                        By:  /s/ Corey B. Roth
                                           -----------------------------
[SEAL]                                       Vice President, Treasurer
                                              and Assistant Secretary

Attest:
        ----------------------------
                                        BANK ONE, COLUMBUS, N.A.

                                        By:      /s/ Ted Kravits
                                                ------------------------
                                        Its:     Authorized Signer
[SEAL]                                          ------------------------


Attest:   /s/ Victoria A. Pavlick
        ----------------------------



                                      (37)


<PAGE>   42

                                   EXHIBIT A

                               [FACE OF SECURITY]

No.                                          $
   ----------                                 ---------

                       SPECIALTY CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC.
                   6% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTE DUE 2006

        SPECIALTY CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC., a Delaware corporation, for value
received, hereby promises to pay to ________________________ or registered
assigns the principal sum of ____________________________________________
Dollars ($_________) on October 15, 2006.

        Interest on this Note shall be paid at maturity.

        Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the reverse side
hereof.


Dated: October 15, 1996                 SPECIALTY CHEMICAL
                                         RESOURCES, INC.


                                   By:
                                        ----------------------------

                                   By:
                                        ----------------------------
Certificate of Authentication: 
Bank One Columbus, N.A., as Trustee 
certifies that this is one of the 
Securities referred to in the within 
mentioned Indenture.


By:
   ----------------------
    Authorized Signatory




                                      A-l


<PAGE>   43



                               [BACK OF SECURITY]


                       SPECIALTY CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC.
                   6% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTE DUE 2006

        1. INTEREST. Specialty Chemical Resources, Inc. ("Company"), a Delaware
corporation, promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at
the rate per annum shown above. The Interest on the Notes will accrue and
compound semi-annually on each April 15 and October 15 from the date of this
Note and will be paid along with the principal amount of this Note on October
15, 2006 (the "Maturity Date"). Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Interest will not be paid until the
Maturity Date or until redemption of this Note as permitted below.

        2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Holder must surrender this Note to a Paying
Agent to collect the principal payment and accrued interest thereon due at
maturity. The Company will pay principal and interest at the offices or the
agencies of the Company maintained for that purpose in such coin or currency of
the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for
payment of public and private debts. The Company, however, may pay principal and
interest by its check or its agent's check payable in such money and may mail
such an interest check to the Holder's registered address.

        3. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT. Initially, Bank One, Columbus, N.A.
("Trustee") will act as Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent. The
Company may change any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent
without notice to the Holder of this Note. The Company or any of its
Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or Conversion
Agent, except under certain circumstances specified in the Indenture.

        4. INDENTURE. The Company issued this Note under an Indenture, dated as
of October 15, 1996 (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Indenture"), between the Company and the
Trustee. The terms of this Note include those stated in the Indenture and those
made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15
U.S. Code section 77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of the Indenture 
(the "Act"), as if the Indenture were governed by the same. This Note is 
subject to all such terms and the holder of this Note is referred to the 
Indenture and such Act for a statement of them. The Holder, by virtue of his 
acceptance of this Note, agrees to be bound by the terms of this Note and by 
the terms of the Indenture. The Notes are unsecured general obligations of the 
Company limited to $4,000,000 in original principal amount.

        5. REDEMPTION. The Company may redeem this Note at any time, or from
time to time, on or after October 15, 1999 and prior to the Maturity Date, at a
Redemption Price equal to the applicable percentage of the principal amount so


                                      A-2

<PAGE>   44



being redeemed determined as set forth below, in each case together with
interest accrued to the Redemption Date:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Redemption
            From                To(Inclusive)          Price
            ----                -------------          -----
      <S>                     <C>                     <C>
        October 15, 1999        October 14, 2000        110%

        October 15, 2000        October 14, 2001        108%

        October 15, 2001        October 14, 2002        106%

        October 15, 2002        October 14, 2003        104%

        October 15, 2003        October 14, 2004        102%

        October 15, 2004         and thereafter         100%
</TABLE>

        In addition, the Company may offer to redeem all the then outstanding
Notes at a Redemption Price equal to 105% of the principal amount thereof plus
accrued interest if a Change in Control occurs. "Change in Control" means the
acquisition (or the announcement of an intent to acquire), directly or
indirectly, by any Person (as defined in the Indenture) or group of Persons
acting together, for a similar purpose, of beneficial ownership of shares of the
Capital Stock of the Company in such amount that, after giving effect to such
acquisition, such Person or Persons shall be entitled to vote 25% or more of the
shares entitled to vote, as at such date, in the election of directors of the
Company.

        6. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption containing the information
prescribed in the Indenture will be mailed at least 30 days before the
Redemption Date to each Holder of a Note to be redeemed at his registered
address. Notes in the denomination of $100 may be redeemed only in whole. Notes
in denominations larger than $100 may be redeemed in part, but only in integral
multiples of $100. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue
on this Note or the portions of this Note called for redemption.

        7. CONVERSION. A Holder of this Note may convert the principal amount of
this Note only in whole if the principal amount is $100, or, if in a
denomination greater than $100, any portion hereof that is an integral multiple
of $100, into Common Stock of the Company at the Conversion Price: (i) at any
time after December 31, 2001 and before the close of business on the Maturity
Date, (ii) in the event of an "Election Contest," or (iii) in the event of a
"Change of Control". In addition, if this Note is called for redemption, the
Holder may convert it at any time before the close of business on the day prior
to the Redemption Date. "Election Contest" means any filing pursuant to Rule
14a-11 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by any Person or
group of Persons for the purpose of opposing a solicitation by the Company with
respect to the election of directors of the Company. Interest on this Note will
accrue through the date that this Note has been surrendered for conversion and
will be converted into Common Stock of the Company along with the principal
amount of this Note. "Change of Control" means the acquisition (or the
announcement of


                                      A-3

<PAGE>   45


an intent to acquire), directly or indirectly, by any Person (as defined in the
Indenture) or group of Persons acting together, for a similar purpose, other
than the "Stockholders Group", or any of them or the Affiliates (as defined in
the Indenture) of beneficial ownership of shares of the Capital Stock of the
Company in such amount that, after giving effect to such acquisition, such
Person or Persons shall be entitled to vote 25% or more of the shares entitled
to vote, as at such date, in the election of directors of the Company. The
"Stockholders Group" means Edwin M. Roth, Corey B. Roth, John H. Ehlert, CEW
Partners, and Martin Trust.

        The initial Conversion Price is $1.50 per share. The Conversion Price is
subject to adjustments as specified in the Indenture. No fractional shares of
Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion, but, instead, to the extent that
any fraction of a share would otherwise be issuable, the Company will round such
fraction of a share up to the nearest whole share.

        To convert this Note under this Section 7, a Holder must (i) complete
and sign the conversion notice on the back of this Note, (ii) surrender this
Note to a Conversion Agent, (iii) furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer
documents if required by the Registrar or Conversion Agent and (iv) pay any
transfer tax or similar tax if required.

        If the Company is a party to a consolidation or merger or a transfer or
lease of all or substantially all of its assets, the right to convert this Note
into Common Stock may be changed into a right to convert it into securities,
cash or other assets of the Company or another.

        8. SUBORDINATION. The Notes are subordinated in right of payment to all
Senior Debt of the Company. To the extent provided in the Indenture, Senior Debt
must be paid before the Notes may be paid. Each Holder by accepting a Note
agrees to the subordination and authorizes the Trustee to give it effect. Each
Holder by accepting a Note also agrees to be bound by the provisions of the
Indenture and the limitations contained therein.

        9. DENOMINATIONS; TRANSFER; EXCHANGE. The Notes are issuable only in
registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $100 and integral
multiples of $100. The Holder may register the transfer of or exchange this Note
in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require the Holder, among
other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to
pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The
Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for
redemption or register the transfer of or exchange any Note for a period of 15
days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

        10. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note shall be
treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

        11. UNCLAIMED MONEY. If money for the payment of principal or interest
on any Note remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying


                                      A-4

<PAGE>   46



Agents will pay the money back to the Company at its request. After that Holders
entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment, unless a law
governing abandoned property designates another person.

        12. DISCHARGE PRIOR TO REDEMPTION OR MATURITY. The Indenture and Notes
will be discharged and canceled except for certain Sections thereof, subject to
the terms of the Indenture, upon the payment or conversion of all the Notes or
upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee or Paying Agent (if other than the
Company) of funds or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay the principal
of and interest accrued on the Notes to the Maturity Date or Redemption Date. In
the case of such a deposit, Holders must look to the deposited money for
payment.

        13. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions
as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights
and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders under the Indenture
at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of at
least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time
outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, on
behalf of the Holders of all the Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with
certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the
Indenture and their consequences. Subject to the Indenture, any such consent or
waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such
Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the
registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof,
whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
Without the consent of any Holder, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended to
cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for assumption of
Company obligations to Holders or to make any change that does not adversely
affect the rights of any Holder.

        14. SUCCESSORS. When a successor to the Company as a result of a
permitted merger, consolidation or sale of assets assumes all the obligations of
the Company under the Notes and the Indenture, the Company will be released from
those obligations.

        15. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. If an Event of Default, as defined in the
Indenture, including but not limited to, failure to pay principal or interest
when such payment is due, occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders
of at least 25% in principal amount of Notes may declare all the Notes together
with accrued interest thereon to be due and payable immediately in the manner,
with the effect and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture.
Holders of Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided
in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity and security therefor
satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Notes. Subject to
certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The
Trustee may withhold from


                                      A-5


<PAGE>   47


Holders of Notes notice of any continuing Default (except a Default in payment
of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their
interests. The Company is required to file periodic reports with the Trustee as
to the absence of Defaults or Events of Default.

        16. TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee under the Indenture, in
its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from,
and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal
with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not Trustee.

        17. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee or
shareholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any
obligation of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim
based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
Each Holder of a Note by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of
the Notes.

        18. AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee signs
the certificate of authentication on the front side of this Note.

        19. LEGAL HOLIDAYS. If a payment date is not a "Business Day" (i.e., a
day other than a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday or other day on which banks and
trust companies in the city where the Trustee is located are not required to be
open), then payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no
interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

        20. DEFINITIONS. All capitalized terms used in this Note which are
defined in the Indenture and not otherwise defined in this Note shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the Indenture; provided, however, that as used
herein "Note" or "Notes" shall have the same meaning as "Security" or
"Securities" under the Indenture.

        21. ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a
Holder of a Debenture or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common),
TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of
survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian) and U/G/M/A (=
Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

        22. COPY OF INDENTURE. The Company will furnish to any Holder upon
written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture which has in it the
text of this Note in larger type. Requests may be made to: Specialty Chemical
Resources, Inc., 9100 Valley View Road, Macedonia, Ohio 44056, Attention:
Secretary.



                                      A-6


<PAGE>   48


                                ASSIGNMENT FORM
                                ---------------


        If you the Holder want to assign this Note, fill in the form below and
have your signature guaranteed:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

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

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Print or type name, address and zip code and
                 social security or tax ID number of assignee)

and irrevocably appoint _____________________________________, agent to transfer
this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act
for him.

Dated:                   Signature:
       -----------------             ---------------------------------

                                     ---------------------------------
                                     (Sign exactly as name appears on the
                                     other side of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:
                    ------------------------------
(to be signed by a New York commercial bank
or trust company or a member of the New York
Stock Exchange)





                                      A-7

<PAGE>   49



                               CONVERSION NOTICE
                               -----------------


To convert this Note into Common Stock of the Company, check the box.
[ ]

To convert only part of this Note in the amount of $100 or integral
multiples thereof, state the amount: $________________________________

If you want the stock certificate made out in another person's name, fill in the
form below and have your signature guaranteed:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Insert other persons's social security or tax ID number)


Dated:                   Signature:
       -----------------            ---------------------------------

                                    ---------------------------------
                                    (Sign exactly as name appears on the
                                     other side of this Note)

Signature Guarantee:
                    ----------------------
(to be signed by a New York commercial bank
or trust company or a member of the New York
Stock Exchange)





                                      A-8