<PAGE>


                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1


                         VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                                    Company

                             THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                    Trustee



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


                                   INDENTURE

                            Dated as of June 6, 2001


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


                                  $272,100,000

                 Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2021/1/










-------------
/1/  Plus an option to purchase up to $27,210,000 additional Principal Amount at
     Maturity of such Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2021 from the
     Company to cover over-allotments.


<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 1

                   DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

                                                                     Page
 SECTION 1.01.    Definitions.......................................   1
 SECTION 1.02.    Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.  12
 SECTION 1.03.    Rules of Construction.............................  12


                                   ARTICLE 2

                                   THE NOTES

 SECTION 2.01.    Form of Notes.....................................  13
 SECTION 2.02.    Title and Terms...................................  13
 SECTION 2.03.    Denominations.....................................  14
 SECTION 2.04.    Forms Generally...................................  14
 SECTION 2.05.    Execution, Authentication and Delivery............  14
 SECTION 2.06.    Registrar and Paying Agent........................  15
 SECTION 2.07.    Transfer and Exchange.............................  15
 SECTION 2.08.    Replacement Notes.................................  16
 SECTION 2.09.    Outstanding Notes.................................  17
 SECTION 2.10.    Temporary Notes; Exchange of Global Note for
                  Definitive Notes..................................  17
 SECTION 2.11.    Book-entry Provisions for Global Notes............  18
 SECTION 2.12.    Cancellation......................................  18
 SECTION 2.13.    Special Transfer Provisions.......................  19
 SECTION 2.14.    CUSIP Numbers.....................................  22
 SECTION 2.15.    Legend on Restricted Notes........................  22
 SECTION 2.16.    Tax Treatment of Notes............................  22


                                   ARTICLE 3

                                  REDEMPTION

 SECTION 3.01.    Notices to Trustee................................  22
 SECTION 3.02.    Selection of Notes to be Redeemed.................  23
 SECTION 3.03.    Notice of Redemption..............................  23
 SECTION 3.04.    Effect of Notice of Redemption....................  24
 SECTION 3.05.    Deposit of Redemption Price.......................  24
 SECTION 3.06.    Notes Redeemed in Part............................  24
 SECTION 3.07.    Purchase of Notes at Option of the Holder.........  24
 SECTION 3.08.    Purchase of Notes at Option of the Holder upon
                  Change in Control.................................  30
 SECTION 3.09.    Effect of Purchase Notice or Change in Control
                  Purchase Notice...................................  32
 SECTION 3.10.    Deposit of Purchase Price or Change in Control
                  Purchase Price....................................  34
 SECTION 3.11.    Notes Purchased in Part...........................  34
 SECTION 3.12.    Covenant to Comply With Notes Laws Upon Purchase
                  of Notes..........................................  34
 SECTION 3.13.    Repayment to the Company..........................  34

                                       i
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                   ARTICLE 4

                                   COVENANTS

                                                                         Page
 SECTION 4.01.    Payment of Notes......................................  35
 SECTION 4.02.    Calculation of Original Issue Discount................  35
 SECTION 4.03.    Maintenance of Office or Agency.......................  35
 SECTION 4.04.    Money for Note Payments to be Held in Trust...........  35
 SECTION 4.05.    Corporate Existence...................................  36
 SECTION 4.06.    Maintenance of Property...............................  36
 SECTION 4.07.    Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.....................  36
 SECTION 4.08.    Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.........  36
 SECTION 4.09.    Limitation on Liens...................................  37
 SECTION 4.10.    Limitation on Stock Redemptions and Stock Repurchases.  37
 SECTION 4.11.    Certificate as to Default.............................  38


                                   ARTICLE 5

             CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, LEASE OR TRANSFER


 SECTION 5.01.   Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms...  38
 SECTION 5.02.   Successor Corporation Substituted......................  39


                                   ARTICLE 6

                             DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 SECTION 6.01.    Events of Default....................................  39
 SECTION 6.02.    Acceleration.........................................  41
 SECTION 6.03.    Other Remedies.......................................  41
 SECTION 6.04.    Waiver of Past Defaults..............................  42
 SECTION 6.05.    Control by Majority..................................  42
 SECTION 6.06.    Limitation on Suits..................................  42
 SECTION 6.07.    Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.................  43
 SECTION 6.08.    Collection Suit by Trustee...........................  43
 SECTION 6.09.    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.....................  43
 SECTION 6.10.    Priorities...........................................  44
 SECTION 6.11.    Undertaking for Costs................................  44
 SECTION 6.12.    Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.....................  44


                                   ARTICLE 7

                                    TRUSTEE

 SECTION 7.01.    Certain Duties and Responsibilities..................  44
 SECTION 7.02.    Notice of Defaults...................................  45
 SECTION 7.03.    Certain Rights of Trustee............................  46
 SECTION 7.04.    Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes....  47
 SECTION 7.05.    May Hold Notes.......................................  47
 SECTION 7.06.    Money Held in Trust..................................  47



                                      ii
<PAGE>
                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                        Page
 SECTION 7.07.    Compensation and Reimbursement.......................  48
 SECTION 7.08.    Disqualification; Conflicting Interests..............  48
 SECTION 7.09.    Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility..............  49
 SECTION 7.10.    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor....  49
 SECTION 7.11.    Acceptance of Appointment by Successor...............  51
 SECTION 7.12.    Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
                  Business.............................................  51
 SECTION 7.13.    Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company....  51
 SECTION 7.14.    Appointment of Authenticating Agent..................  52


                                   ARTICLE 8

               HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 SECTION 8.01.    Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses
                  of Holders...........................................  53
 SECTION 8.02.    Preservation of Information; Communications
                  to Holders...........................................  53
 SECTION 8.03.    Reports by the Trustee...............................  54
 SECTION 8.04.    Reports by the Company...............................  54


                                   ARTICLE 9

                            DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 SECTION 9.01.    Discharge of Liability on Notes.....................  55
 SECTION 9.02.    Application of Trust Money..........................  55
 SECTION 9.03.    Repayment to Company................................  55


                                  ARTICLE 10

                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 SECTION 10.01.    Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.  56
 SECTION 10.02.    Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders....  56
 SECTION 10.03.    Execution of Supplemental Indentures...............  57
 SECTION 10.04.    Effect of Supplemental Indentures..................  57
 SECTION 10.05.    Conformity with Trust Indenture Act................  57
 SECTION 10.06.    Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures......  57


                                  ARTICLE 11

                                  CONVERSION

 SECTION 11.01.    Conversion Privilege...............................  58
 SECTION 11.02.    Conversion Procedure...............................  60
 SECTION 11.03.    Fractional Shares..................................  61
 SECTION 11.04.    Taxes on Conversion................................  61
 SECTION 11.05.    Company to Provide Stock...........................  62
 SECTION 11.06.    Adjustment for Change in Capital Stock.............  62
 SECTION 11.07.    Adjustment for Rights Issue........................  63
 SECTION 11.08.    Adjustment for Other Distributions.................  63
 SECTION 11.09.    When Adjustment May Be Deferred or Not Made........  64
 SECTION 11.10.    When No Adjustment Required........................  65



                                      iii
<PAGE>
                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                       Page
 SECTION 11.11.    Notice of Adjustment...............................  65
 SECTION 11.12.    Voluntary Increase.................................  65
 SECTION 11.13.    Notice of Certain Transactions.....................  65
 SECTION 11.14.    Reorganization of Company; Special Distributions...  66
 SECTION 11.15.    Company Determination Final........................  66
 SECTION 11.16.    Trustee's Adjustment Disclaimer....................  66
 SECTION 11.17.    Simultaneous Adjustments...........................  67
 SECTION 11.18.    Successive Adjustments.............................  67
 SECTION 11.19.    Rights Issued in Respect of Shares Issued Upon
                   Conversion.........................................  67
 SECTION 11.20.    Restriction on Shares Issued Upon Conversion.......  67

                                   ARTICLE 12

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

 SECTION 12.01.    Trust Indenture Act Controls.......................  69
 SECTION 12.02.    Notices............................................  69
 SECTION 12.03.    Communication by Holders with Other Holders........  70
 SECTION 12.04.    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions
                   Precedent..........................................  70
 SECTION 12.05.    Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion......  71
 SECTION 12.06.    When Notes Disregarded.............................  71
 SECTION 12.07.    Acts of Holders....................................  71
 SECTION 12.08.    Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar.......  72
 SECTION 12.09.    Legal Holidays.....................................  72
 SECTION 12.10.    Governing Law......................................  72
 SECTION 12.11.    No Recourse Against Others.........................  72
 SECTION 12.12.    Successors.........................................  73
 SECTION 12.13.    Multiple Originals.................................  73
 SECTION 12.14.    Table of Contents; Headings........................  73
 SECTION 12.15.    Severability.......................................  73



EXHIBIT A:  FORM OF NOTE..............................................  A-1
EXHIBIT B:  FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE FOR TRANSFER
     FROM GLOBAL NOTE OR DEFINITIVE NOTE TO DEFINITIVE NOTE...........  B-1
EXHIBIT C: FORM OF NON-DISTRIBUTION LETTER FOR INSTITUTIONAL
     ACCREDITED INVESTORS.............................................  C-1
EXHIBIT D: FORM OF PURCHASE NOTICE....................................  D-1
EXHIBIT E: FORM OF CHANGE IN CONTROL PURCHASE NOTICE..................  E-1
EXHIBIT F: FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE FOR TRANSFER
     OF RESTRICTED COMMON STOCK.......................................  F-1
EXHIBIT G: PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE.................................  G-1



                                      iv
<PAGE>

          INDENTURE dated as of June 6, 2001, between VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS,
INC., a Delaware corporation, having its principal office at 19975 Victor
Parkway, Livonia, Michigan 48152, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking
corporation, having its Corporate Trust Office at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 21
West, New York, New York 10286.

                            RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

          The Company has duly authorized the creation of its Zero Coupon
Convertible Senior Notes due 2021 (herein called the "Notes") of substantially
the tenor and amount hereinafter set forth, and to provide therefor the Company
has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture.

                   NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

          The parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree that, in
consideration of the acceptance and purchase of the Notes by the holders
thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee, for the equal
benefit of all the holders from time to time of the Notes, without preference,
priority or distinction of any thereof over any other thereof by reason of
priority in time of issuance or negotiation, or otherwise, as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1

                   DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

          SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
                        -----------

          "Accreted Conversion Price" means with respect to a Note with $1,000
of Principal Amount at Maturity, as of the date of determination, the quotient
of (i) the sum of the Issue Price plus Original Issue Discount accrued to such
date divided by (ii) the Conversion Rate in effect on such date.

          "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person (i) which
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person, (ii)
which beneficially owns or holds 10% or more of any class of the voting stock of
such specified Person or (iii) of which 10% or more of the voting stock is
beneficially owned or held by such specified Person or a subsidiary of such
specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with
respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and
policies of such Person directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of
voting stock, by contract or otherwise, and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

          "Asset Sale" means, with respect to any Person, any sale, transfer or
other disposition (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to any
merger, consolidation or Sale and Leaseback Transaction) by such Person or any
of its subsidiaries to any Person other than such Person or one of its
subsidiaries in any single transaction or series of transactions of (i) any or
all of the Capital Stock in any of the subsidiaries of such Person or (ii) any
other Property

                                       1
<PAGE>

of such Person or any other Property of its subsidiaries outside the ordinary
course of business of such Person or such subsidiary.

          "Attributable Debt" in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction
means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the
lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included
in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction including any period for which such lease
has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended; such present
value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest
implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP.

          "Agent Members" has the meaning specified in Section 2.11.

          "Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee to
act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Notes.

          "Average Conversion Value" means the product of the Sale Price times
the number of Shares.

          "Average Quoted Price" has the meaning specified in Section 11.01.

          "Bid Solicitation Agent" means a bid solicitation agent appointed by
the Company to act in such capacity pursuant to the paragraph entitled "Security
Market Price" of the Notes, which initially shall be the Trustee.

          "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company or
any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of the Board of Directors
of the Company.

          "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer 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 each day which is not a Legal Holiday.

          "Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination
thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease
that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet
prepared in accordance with GAAP.

          "Capital Stock" in any Person means any and all shares, interests,
participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated)
in such Person and any rights, warrants or options to acquire an equity interest
in such Person.

          "Change in Control" has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

          "Change in Control Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

          "Change in Control Notice Date" has the meaning specified in Section
3.08.

                                       2
<PAGE>

          "Change in Control Purchase Date" has the meaning specified in Section
3.08.

          "Change in Control Purchase Notice" has the meaning specified in
Section 3.08.

          "Change in Control Purchase Price" has the meaning specified in
Section 3.08.

          "Clearstream" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

          "Closing Date" means the date of this Indenture.

          "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

          "Company" means Valassis Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall instead mean such
successor Person.

          "Company Order" means a written request or order signed in the name of
the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President, its Chief Financial
Officer, a Vice Chairman, a Vice President or its Treasurer.

          "Company's Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

          "Company's Notice Date" has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

          "Consolidated Interest Expense" of any Person means, for any period,
the aggregate interest expense of such Person and its subsidiaries for such
period on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP, plus, to the
extent not included in such interest expense, and to the extent incurred by such
Person and such subsidiaries, without duplication, (i) interest expense
attributable to capital leases and the interest expense attributable to leases
constituting part of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, (ii) amortization of debt
discount and debt issuance costs, (iii) capitalized interest, (iv) non-cash
interest expenses, (v) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed
with respect to letters of credit and bankers' acceptance financings, (vi) net
costs associated with Hedging Obligations (including amortization of fees),
(vii) dividends payable on shares of preferred stock issued by such Person or
its subsidiaries, other than shares of such preferred stock held by such Person
or its subsidiaries, (viii) interest accruing on the Indebtedness of any other
Person to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by such Person or such
subsidiaries, and (ix) cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan
or similar trust to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust
to pay interest or fees to any other Person in connection with Indebtedness
incurred by such plan or trust.

          "Consolidated Net Income" of any Person means, for any period, the
aggregate net income (or net loss, as the case may be) of such Person and its
subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance
with GAAP, provided that there shall be excluded therefrom (i) gains and losses
from Asset Sales or reserves relating thereto, (ii) items classified as
extraordinary or nonrecurring (other than the tax benefit of the utilization of
net operating loss carryforwards) and gains from discontinued operations, (iii)
except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid to such
Person by any other Person during such

                                       3
<PAGE>

period, the net income (or loss) of (a) such other Person other than a
subsidiary of such Person and (b) any subsidiary of such Person to the extent
that the payment of the net income of such other Person as a dividend or other
distribution to such Person is restricted by contract or otherwise and (iv)
except to the extent includable pursuant to clause (iii) hereof, the income (or
loss) of any other Person accrued or attributable to any period prior to the
date it becomes a subsidiary of such Person or is merged into or consolidated
with such Person or any of such Person's subsidiaries or all or substantially
all of such other Person's Property is acquired by such Person or any of its
subsidiaries.

          "Consolidated Tangible Assets" means, as of any date, the sum of the
Property and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis
at such date, after eliminating intercompany items, after deducting from such
total all Property and assets that would be classified as intangibles under GAAP
(including, without limitation, goodwill, organizational expenses, trademarks,
trade names, copyrights, patents, licenses and any rights in any thereof), all
reserves and prepaid expenses, deferred charges or authorized debt discount and
expense, each such item determining in accordance with the Company's most
recently published consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.

          "Contingent Debt Regulations" has the meaning specified in Section
2.16.

          "Contingent Interest" has the meaning specified in the paragraph
entitled "Contingent Interest" of the Notes.

          "Conversion Agent" means the Trustee or such other office or agency
designated by the Company where Notes may be presented for conversion.

          "Conversion Date" has the meaning specified in Section 11.02.

          "Conversion Rate" has the meaning specified in Section 11.01.

          "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Trustee at
which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which
office at the date hereof is located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 21 West, New
York, New York 10286, Attention: Corporate Trust Trustee Administration, or such
other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the
Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any
successor Trustee (or such other address as successor Trustee may designate from
time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

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

          "Definitive Notes" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

          "Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable in whole or in
part in global form, the Person specified pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof as the
initial Depositary with respect to the Notes, until a successor shall have been
appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this
Indenture, and thereafter "Depositary" shall instead mean or include such
successor.

                                       4
<PAGE>

          "Dollar" means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or
currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the
payment of public and private debt.

          "EBITDA" for any period means the sum of Consolidated Net Income, plus
Consolidated Interest Expense plus the following to the extent deducted in
calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) all income tax expense of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, (ii) depreciation expense of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, (iii) amortization expense of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (excluding amortization expense
attributable to a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period), and (iv)
all other non-cash charges of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries
(excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual
of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period), in each case for such
period.

          "Euroclear" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

          "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

          "Ex-Dividend Date" has the meaning specified in Section 11.01.

          "Ex-Dividend Time" has the meaning specified in Section 11.01.

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

          "Extraordinary Cash Dividend" has the meaning specified in Section
11.08.

          "Funded Debt" of any Person means, as at any date as of which any
determination thereof is being or is to be made, any Indebtedness of such person
that by its terms (i) will mature more than one year after the date it was
issued, incurred, assumed or guaranteed by such Person, or (ii) will mature one
year or less after the date it was issued, incurred, assumed or guaranteed by
such Person which at such date of determination may be renewed or extended at
the election or option of such Person so as to mature more than one year after
such date of determination.

          "Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio" as of any date of determination means
the ratio of (i) Funded Debt to (ii) the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the
period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters prior to the date of
determination for which internal financial statements are available; provided,
however, that if the Company or any Subsidiary shall have made an acquisition of
assets which constitutes all or substantially all of the assets of a business,
EBITDA for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto
as if such acquisition occurred on the first day of such period.

          "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America as in effect from time to time, including those principles set
forth in (i) the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board
of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, (ii) statements and
pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and (iii) such other
statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the

                                       5
<PAGE>

accounting profession.  All computations based on GAAP contained in this
Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.

          "Global Note" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

          "Global Notes Legend" means the legend to be included for Global Notes
that is set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

          "Guarantee" means any direct or indirect obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of a Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of
guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person in any manner.

          "Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the
obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest
rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements; and (ii) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest rates.

          "Holder" or "Noteholder" means the Person in whose name a Note is
registered on the Registrar's books.

          "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any specified Person, any
indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of (i)
borrowed money; (ii) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar
instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof); (iii) banker's acceptances; (iv) representing Capital Lease
Obligations; (v) the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any
property under conditional sales or other similar agreements which provide for
the deferral of the payment of the purchase price for a period in excess of one
year following the date of such Person's receipt and acceptance of complete
delivery of such property; and (vi) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and
to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and
Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the
specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.  In addition, the term
"Indebtedness" includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any
asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by
the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee
by such Person of any indebtedness of any other Person.

          The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding (other than Capital Lease
Obligations) as of any date shall be (i) the accreted value thereof, in the case
of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; and (ii) the principal
amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days
past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

          "Indenture" means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time
to time and includes the terms of Notes established as contemplated by Section
2.01.

          "Initial Purchaser" means Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

          "Issue Date" means the date the Notes are originally issued or deemed
issued as set forth on the face of the Note under this Indenture.

                                       6
<PAGE>

          "Issue Price" of any Note means, in connection with the original
issuance of such Note, the issue price as set forth on the face of the Note.

          "Legal Holiday" has the meaning specified in Section 12.09.

          "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law,
including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in
the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under
the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

          "Liquidated Damages" has the meaning specified in the Registration
Rights Agreement.

          "Market Price" has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

          "Maturity", when used with respect to any Note, means the date on
which the principal, Purchase Price or Change in Control Purchase Price of such
Note becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the
Stated Maturity, on a Redemption Date, Purchase Date or Change in Control
Purchase Date, or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise.

          "Non-Global Purchasers" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

          "Noteholder Act" has the meaning specified in Section 12.07.

          "Notes" has the meaning specified in the second paragraph of this
Indenture.

          "Notes Custodian" means the custodian with respect to a Global Note
(as appointed by the Depositary) or any successor thereto, who shall initially
be the Trustee.

          "Notice of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

          "Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

          "Offering Memorandum" means the offering memorandum relating to the
Notes dated May 23, 2001.

          "Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice President, the
Treasurer, an Assistant or Deputy Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company.

          "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, the President, a Vice Chairman or a Vice President, and by the
Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer,

                                       7
<PAGE>

the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the
Trustee, which shall comply with Section 12.04.

          "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion from legal counsel.  The
counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

          "Original Issue Discount" of any Note means the difference between the
Issue Price and the Principal Amount at Maturity of the Note as set forth on the
face of the Note, which shall accrue as set forth in the form of Note.

          "Outstanding," when used as of any particular time with reference to
Notes, means all Notes outstanding in accordance with Section 2.09 hereof;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
Principal Amount at Maturity of Outstanding Notes have given any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Notes
owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded and
deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying upon such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Notes which a Responsible Officer
actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.

          "Paying Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 2.06.

          "Permitted Liens" means:

          (1) Liens in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary;

          (2) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is
merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary; provided
that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or
consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person
merged into or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary;

          (3) Liens on property existing immediately prior to the time of
acquisition thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, provided
that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such
acquisition;

          (4) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety
or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature
incurred in the ordinary course of business;

          (5) Liens arising out of judgments or awards against the Company or
any Subsidiary with respect to which the Company or Subsidiary shall in good
faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review or Liens incurred by
the Company or any Subsidiary for the purpose of obtaining a stay or discharge
in the course of any legal proceeding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is
a party;

          (6) Liens to secure Capital Lease Obligations;

                                       8
<PAGE>

          (7)  Liens existing on the date of the Indenture;

          (8)  Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims
that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided
that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in
conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;

          (9)  mechanics', materialmen's, carrier's, warehousemen's and similar
Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and securing Obligations of the
Company or any Subsidiary that are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days
or are being contested in good faith by appropriate legal proceedings diligently
pursued; provided that in the case of any such contest (i) any levy, execution
or other enforcement of such Liens shall have been duly suspended; and (ii) such
provision for the payment of such Liens shall have been made on the books of the
Company or the Subsidiary as may be required by GAAP;

          (10) Liens arising in connection with worker's compensation,
unemployment insurance, old age pensions and social security benefits and other
forms of governmental insurance or similar benefits which are not overdue or are
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued;
provided that in the case of any such contest (i) any levy, execution or other
enforcement of such Liens shall have been duly suspended; and (ii) such
provision for the payment of such Liens has been made on the books of the
Company or the Subsidiary as may be required by GAAP;

          (11) Liens in the nature of any minor imperfections of title,
including, but not limited to, easements, covenants, rights-of-way or other
similar restrictions, which, either individually or in the aggregate would not
(i) materially adversely affect the present or future use of the property to
which they relate, (ii) have a material adverse effect on the sale or lease of
such property, or (iii) render title thereto unmarketable;

          (12) any interest or title of a lessor under any lease of property to,
or of any consignor of goods consigned to, or of any creditor of any consignee
in goods consigned to such consignee by, the Company or any Subsidiary;

          (13) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company,
other than in connection with Indebtedness for borrowed money;

          (14) any Lien extending, renewing or replacing any Permitted Lien;

          (15) Liens securing only the Notes;

          (16) Liens on assets of the Company's Subsidiaries to secure
Obligations of such Subsidiaries to the Company; and

          (17) Liens attributable to Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

          "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, joint-stock company, unincorporated
organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

                                       9
<PAGE>

          "Principal Amount at Maturity" of any Note means the principal amount
at maturity as set forth on the face of the Note.

          "Property" means, with respect to any Person, any interest of such
Person in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or
tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, Capital Stock in any
other Person.

          "Purchase Agreement" means the Purchase Agreement dated May 23, 2001,
between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.

          "Purchase Date" has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

          "Purchase Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

          "Purchase Price" has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

          "QIBs" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

          "Redemption Date" means the date specified for redemption of the Notes
in accordance with the terms of the Notes and Article 3 hereof.

          "Registrar" has the meaning specified in Section 2.06.

          "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement dated June 6, 2001 and as it may be amended from time to time, between
the Company and the Initial Purchaser.

          "Regulation S" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

          "Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee, means any
vice president, any assistant vice president, any senior trust officer or
assistant trust officer, any trust officer, or any other officer associated with
the corporate trust department of the Trustee customarily performing functions
similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also
means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to
whom such matter is referred because of such person's knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.

          "Restricted Note" has the meaning specified in Section 2.15.

          "Restricted Notes Legend" means the legend to be included for
Restricted Notes that is set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

          "Rights" has the meaning specified in Section 11.19.

          "Rights Agreement" has the meaning specified in Section 11.19.

          "Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

                                       10
<PAGE>

          "Sale and Leaseback Transaction" means any arrangement with any Person
providing for the leasing by the Company of any Property now owned or hereafter
acquired which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company to such
Person with the intention of taking back a lease of such Property.

          "Sale Price" has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

          "Schedule TO" means the Schedule TO specified in the Exchange Act.

          "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

          "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          "Security Register" has the meaning specified in Section 2.06.

          "Senior Credit Facility" means the Credit Agreement, dated as of
November 16, 1998, among the Company, Comerica Bank and the other financial
institutions from time to time party thereto as lenders and Comerica Bank as
agent, as such agreement has been or hereafter may be amended in accordance with
its terms.

          "Shares" means the shares of common stock of the Company, par value
$0.01 per share.

          "Shelf Registration" has the meaning specified in the Registration
Rights Agreement.

          "Significant Subsidiary" means any subsidiary that would be a
"significant subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X
promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on
the date of this Indenture.

          "Stated Maturity," when used with respect to any Note, means the date
specified in such Note as the fixed date on which an amount equal to the
Principal Amount at Maturity of such Note is due and payable.

          "Subsidiary" means a Person (other than an individual or a government
or any agency or political subdivision thereof) more than 50% of the outstanding
interest of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or
more other Subsidiaries, or which the Company, in accordance with GAAP,
otherwise consolidates as a Subsidiary of the Company.

          "trading day" has the meaning specified in Section 11.01.

          "Time of Determination" has the meaning specified in Section 11.01.

          "Trustee" means the party named as such in this Indenture until a
successor replaces it and, thereafter, instead means the successor.

                                       11
<PAGE>

          "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
Sections 77aaa-77bb), as amended, in effect on the Closing Date.

          "Uniform Commercial Code" means the New York Uniform Commercial Code
as in effect from time to time.

          "United States National Securities Exchange" means the Nasdaq National
Market System, the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange, or
any successor securities exchange thereto.

          "2004 and 2006 Purchase Dates" has the meaning specified in Section
3.07.

          SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This
                        -------------------------------------------------
Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the Trust Indenture Act,
which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The
following Trust Indenture Act terms have the following meanings:

          "indenture securities" means the Notes.

          "indenture security holder" means a Holder.

          "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture.

          "indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee.

          "obligor" on the indenture securities means the Company and any other
obligor on the Notes.

          All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust
Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or
defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

          SECTION 1.03. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise
                        ---------------------
requires:

          (1)  a term has the meaning assigned to it;

          (2)  an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned
to it in accordance with GAAP;

          (3)  "or" is not exclusive;

          (4)  "including" means including without limitation;

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

          (6)  Section references are to Sections of this Indenture unless the
context otherwise requires; and

                                       12
<PAGE>

          (7) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount
security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown
on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with
GAAP.

                                   ARTICLE 2

                                   THE NOTES

          SECTION 2.01. Form of Notes. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate
                        -------------
of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A which is
hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture.

          The Notes offered and sold (i) in reliance on Regulation S under the
Securities Act ("Regulation S") or (ii) to "qualified institutional buyers" as
defined in Rule 144A ("QIBs") in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case as provided
in the Purchase Agreement, shall be issued in the form of one or more permanent
global notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with
the Global Notes Legend and Restricted Notes Legend set forth in Exhibit A
hereto (each, a "Global Note").  Any Global Note shall be deposited on behalf of
the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Notes Custodian, and
registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary for the
accounts of participants in the Depositary (and, in the case of Notes held in
accordance with Regulation S, registered with the Depositary for the accounts of
designated agents holding on behalf of the Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator
of the Euroclear System ("Euroclear") or Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme
("Clearstream")), duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee
as hereinafter provided.  The aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity of a Global
Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the
records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee as hereinafter
provided.  The initial Depositary shall be the Depositary Trust Company.
Successor Depositaries may be appointed by the Trustee.

          Except as provided in Section 2.10 and 2.13, owners of beneficial
interests in Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of
Notes in definitive form.  Transferees of Notes who are not QIBs and did not
purchase Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act
(referred to herein as the "Non-Global Purchasers") will receive certificated
Notes in definitive form bearing the Restricted Notes Legend set forth in
Exhibit A hereto ("Definitive Notes").  Definitive Notes will bear the
Restricted Notes Legend set forth on Exhibit A unless removed in accordance with
Section 2.13(b).

          SECTION 2.02. Title and Terms. The aggregate Principal Amount at
                        ---------------
Maturity of Notes which may be Outstanding at any time is limited to
$272,100,000 (subject to increase to $299,310,000 in the event the Initial
Purchaser exercises the over-allotment option under the Purchase Agreement).

          Except as provided for in the Notes, there shall be no periodic
payments of interest on the Notes.  The calculation of the accrual of Original
Issue Discount in the period during which each Note remains Outstanding shall be
on a semiannual bond equivalent basis using a 360-day year composed of twelve
30-day months, and such accrual shall commence on the Issue Date of the Notes.
In the event of the maturity, conversion, purchase by the Company

                                       13
<PAGE>

at the option of a Holder or redemption of a Note, Original Issue Discount, if
any, shall cease to accrue on such Note, under the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Indenture.

          The Notes shall be known and designated as the "Zero Coupon
Convertible Senior Notes due 2021" of the Company, with a Stated Maturity on
June 6, 2021.

          The Issue Price and Original Issue Discount accrued on the Notes when
due shall be payable at (i) the office or agency of the Company in the City of
New York maintained for such purpose, which initially shall be the principal
corporate trust office of the Trustee in the City of New York, (ii) the
Corporate Trust Office and (iii) at any other office or agency maintained by the
Company for such purpose; provided, however, that at the option of the Company
payments may be made by wire transfer or by check mailed to the address of the
Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

          The Notes shall not have the benefit of a sinking fund.

          The Notes shall be unsecured senior obligations of the Company and
will rank equally with the Company's existing and future senior unsecured
Indebtedness.

          SECTION 2.03. Denominations. The Notes shall be issuable only in
                        -------------
registered form without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 Principal Amount
at Maturity and any integral multiple of $1,000 above that amount.

          SECTION 2.04. Forms Generally. The Notes may have such letters,
                        ---------------
notations, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or
endorsements placed thereon as may be required by law, securities exchange rule,
the Code and regulations thereunder, agreements to which the Company is subject,
if any, or usage (provided that any such notation legend or endorsement is in a
form acceptable to the Company). Each Note shall be dated the date of its
authentication.

          The definitive Notes shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on
steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined
by the Officers executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

          SECTION 2.05. Execution, Authentication and Delivery. One or more
                        --------------------------------------

Officers of the Company shall sign the Notes on behalf of the Company by manual
or facsimile signature. The Company's seal, if any, may, but need not, be
impressed, affixed, imprinted or reproduced on the Notes and, if it is, then it
may be in facsimile form.

          If an Officer of the Company whose signature is on a Note no longer
holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall
be valid nevertheless.

          The Trustee shall, upon a Company Order, authenticate Notes for
original issue up to the aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity stated in
Section 2.02.  A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the
Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note.  The
signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated
under this Indenture.

                                       14
<PAGE>

          The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable
to the Company to authenticate the Notes.  Any such appointment shall be
evidenced by an instrument signed by a Responsible Officer, a copy of which
shall be furnished to the Company.  Unless limited by the terms of such
appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes 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 any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and
demands.

          SECTION 2.06. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain
                        --------------------------
an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or
for exchange (the "Registrar") and an office or agency where Notes may be
presented for payment (the "Paying Agent"). The Registrar shall keep a register
of the Notes (the "Security Register") and of their transfer and exchange. The
Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying
agents. The term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent, and the
term "Registrar" includes any co-registrars. The Company initially appoints the
Trustee as (i) Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes and (ii)
the Notes Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

          The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any
Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate
the terms of the Trust Indenture Act.  The agency 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 or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and
shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07.
The Company or any of its domestically organized Subsidiaries may act as Paying
Agent or Registrar.

          The Company may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written
notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however,
that no such removal shall become effective until (1) acceptance of an
appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into
by the Company and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be,
and delivered to the Trustee or (2) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee
shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in
accordance with clause (1) above.  The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at
any time upon written notice; provided, however, that the Trustee may resign as
Paying Agent or Registrar only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in
accordance with Section 7.08.

          SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange. The Notes shall be issued in
                        ---------------------
registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for
registration of transfer and in compliance with this Indenture. When a Note is
presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar
shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of Section 8-
401(a)(1) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Notes are presented to
the Registrar with a request to exchange them for Notes of other denominations
and of a like aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity and tenor, the Registrar
shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit
registration of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrar's request. The Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other

                                       15
<PAGE>

governmental charges in connection with any such transfer or exchange pursuant
to this Section. The Company shall not be required to make and the Registrar
need not register transfers or exchanges of Notes selected for redemption
(except, in the case of Notes to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to
be redeemed) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before
the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes under Section 3.03 hereof
and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing.

          Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any
Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and
treat the Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of
such Note for the purpose of receiving any payment on such Note (including
Contingent Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any) and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the
Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by
notice to the contrary.

          Any Holder of a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global Note,
agree that transfers of a beneficial interest in such Global Note may be
effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (i) the Holder of such
Global Note (or its agent) or (ii) any Holder of a beneficial interest in such
Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note
shall be required to be reflected in a book-entry.

          All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms
of this Indenture will evidence the same debt and will be entitled to the same
benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or
exchange.

          SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes. If a mutilated Note is surrendered to
                        -----------------
the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost,
destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall
authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the
Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Holder (i) satisfies the Company
or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such
loss, destruction or wrongful taking, and the Registrar does not register a
transfer prior to receiving such notification, (ii) requests the Company or the
Trustee to issue a new replacement Note, prior to the Note being acquired by a
protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code
and (iii) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If
required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity
bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee to protect the Company, the
Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss that any of them may
suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder
for the costs and expenses they incur in replacing a Note. In the event any such
mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to
become due and payable or has been called for redemption in full, the Company in
its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement
thereof.

          Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company.

          The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude
(to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the
replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.

                                       16
<PAGE>

          SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Notes. Notes Outstanding at any time are all
                        -----------------
Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those
delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not
Outstanding. Subject to Section 12.06, a Note does not cease to be Outstanding
because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

          If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08, the Note so replaced
ceases to be Outstanding unless and until the Trustee and the Company receive
proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected
purchaser.

          If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with
this Indenture, at Maturity, money or cash equivalents sufficient to pay all
amounts payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to
be redeemed, purchased or repurchased or maturing, as the case may be, then on
and after that date, such Notes (or portions thereof) shall cease to be
outstanding and Original Issue Discount on them or Contingent Interest, if any,
and Liquidated Damages, if any, shall cease to accrue.

          SECTION 2.10. Temporary Notes; Exchange of Global Note for Definitive
                        -------------------------------------------------------
Notes.
-----

          (a) In the event that Definitive Notes are to be issued under the
terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the
Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes.
Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may
have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes.
Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall
authenticate Definitive Notes and deliver them in exchange for temporary Notes
upon surrender of such temporary Notes at the office or agency of the Company,
without charge to the Holder.

          (b) Except for transfers made in accordance with Section 2.13(a), a
Global Note deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as custodian for
the Depositary pursuant to Section 2.11 shall be transferred to the beneficial
owners thereof in the form of certificated Notes in definitive form only if such
transfer complies with Section 2.13 and if (i) the Company delivers to the
Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to
act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the
Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary or
(ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in
whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a
written notice to such effect to the Trustee. Upon the occurrence of either of
the events described in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in
such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee.

          (c) Any Global Note or interest thereon that is transferable to the
beneficial owners thereof in the form of certificated Notes in definitive form
shall, if held by the Depository, be surrendered by the Depositary to the
Trustee, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon
such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate Principal
Amount at Maturity of Notes of authorized denominations in the form of
certificated Notes in definitive form. Any portion of a Global Note transferred
pursuant to this Section shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in
denominations of $1,000 and any

                                       17
<PAGE>

integral multiple thereof and registered in such names as the Depositary shall
direct. Any Notes in the form of certificated Notes in definitive form delivered
in exchange for an interest in the Global Note shall, except as otherwise
provided by Section 2.13(b), bear the Restricted Notes Legend set forth in
Exhibit A hereto.

          (d) Prior to any transfer pursuant to Section 2.10(b), the Holder of a
Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including
Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take
any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

          The Company will make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of
Definitive Notes.

          SECTION 2.11. Book-entry Provisions for Global Notes. This Section
                        --------------------------------------
2.11 shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the
Depositary.

          The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with
this Section 2.11 and a Company Order, authenticate and deliver initially one or
more Global Notes that (i) shall be registered in the name of Cede & Co. or
other nominee of such Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to
such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary's instructions or held by the
Trustee as custodian for the Depositary pursuant to a FAST Balance Certificate
Agreement between the Depositary and the Trustee.

          Members of, or participants in, the Depositary ("Agent Members") shall
have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on
their behalf by the Depositary or by the Trustee as the custodian of the
Depositary or under such Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the
Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute
owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of
the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification,
proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between
the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of
such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial
interest in any Global Note.

          The provisions of the "Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System"
and "Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear" and the "Management
Regulations and Instructions to Participants" of Clearstream shall be applicable
to interests in any Global Notes that are held by participants through Euroclear
or Clearstream.  The Trustee shall have no obligation to notify Holders of any
such procedures or to monitor or enforce compliance with the same.

          SECTION 2.12. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Notes
                        ------------
to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall
forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of
transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all
Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, purchase,
repurchase, redemption, conversion (pursuant to Article 10 hereof) or
cancellation and deliver canceled Notes to the Company pursuant to written
direction by an

                                       18
<PAGE>

Officer of the Company. In the absence of any such direction, the Trustee may
dispose of all cancelled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures. The
Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes they have redeemed, paid in
full or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not
authenticate Notes in place of canceled Notes other than pursuant to the terms
of this Indenture.

          SECTION 2.13. Special Transfer Provisions. (a) Notwithstanding any
                        ---------------------------
provision to the contrary herein, so long as a Global Note remains Outstanding
and is held by or on behalf of the Depositary, transfers of a Global Note, in
whole or in part, or of any beneficial interest therein, shall only be made in
accordance with Sections 2.10 and 2.11 and this Section 2.13(a); provided,
however, that beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred to
Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the
Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth under the
heading "Notice to Investors" in the Offering Memorandum and, if applicable, in
Exhibit C.

          Except for transfers or exchanges made in accordance with paragraphs
(1) through (4) of this Section 2.13(a) and Section 2.10, transfers of a Global
Note shall be limited to transfers of such Global Note in whole, but not in
part, to nominees of the Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or such
successor's nominee.

          (1) Global Note to Definitive Note. If an owner of a beneficial
interest in a Global Note deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as
custodian for the Depositary wishes at any time to transfer its interest in such
Global Note to a Person who is required to take delivery thereof in the form of
a Definitive Note, such owner may, subject to the rules and procedures of
Euroclear or Clearstream, if applicable, and the Depositary, cause the exchange
of such interest for one or more Definitive Notes of any authorized denomination
or denominations and of the same aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity. Upon
receipt by the Registrar of (A) instructions from Euroclear or Clearstream, if
applicable, and the Depositary directing the Trustee to authenticate and deliver
one or more Definitive Notes of the same aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity
as the beneficial interest in the Global Note to be exchanged, such instructions
to contain the name or names of the designated transferee or transferees, the
authorized denomination or denominations of the Definitive Notes to be so issued
and appropriate delivery instructions, (B) a certificate substantially in the
form of Exhibit B attached hereto given by the owner of such beneficial
interest, (C) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached
hereto given by the person acquiring the Definitive Notes for which such
interest is being exchanged, to the effect set forth therein, and (D) such other
certifications or other information and, in the case of transfers pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act, legal opinions as the Company may reasonably
require to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption
from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, then Euroclear or Clearstream, if applicable, or the Registrar,
as the case may be, will instruct the Depositary to reduce or cause to be
reduced such Global Note by the aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity of the
beneficial interest therein to be exchanged and to debit or cause to be debited
from the account of the Person making such transfer the beneficial interest in
the Global Note that is being transferred, and concurrently with such reduction
and debit the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, one or more Definitive Notes of the same aggregate Principal Amount at
Maturity in accordance with the instructions referred to above.

                                       19
<PAGE>

          (2) Definitive Note to Definitive Note. If a holder of a Definitive
Note wishes at any time to transfer such Definitive Note (or portion thereof) to
a Person who is required to take delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive
Note, such holder may, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein
and in such Definitive Note, cause the transfer of such Definitive Note (or any
portion thereof in a Principal Amount at Maturity equal to an authorized
denomination) to such transferee. Upon receipt by the Registrar of (A) such
Definitive Note, duly endorsed as provided herein, (B) instructions from such
holder directing the Trustee to authenticate and deliver one or more Definitive
Notes of the same aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity as the Definitive Note
(or portion thereof) to be transferred, such instruction to contain the name or
names of the designated transferee or transferees, the authorized denomination
or denominations of the Definitive Notes to be so issued and appropriate
delivery instructions, (C) a certificate from the holder of the Definitive Note
to be transferred in substantially the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, (D) a
certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto given by the
person acquiring the Definitive Notes (or portion thereof), to the effect set
forth therein, and (E) such other certifications or other information and, in
the case of transfers pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, legal
opinions as the Company may reasonably require to confirm that such transfer is
being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to,
the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the Registrar shall
cancel or cause to be canceled such Definitive Note and concurrently therewith,
the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one
or more Definitive Notes in the appropriate aggregate Principal Amount at
Maturity in accordance with the instructions referred to above and, if only a
portion of a Definitive Note is transferred as aforesaid, concurrently therewith
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
transferor a Definitive Note in a Principal Amount at Maturity equal to the
principal amount which has not been transferred. A holder of a Definitive Note
may at any time exchange such Definitive Note for one or more Definitive Notes
of other authorized denominations and in the same aggregate Principal Amount at
Maturity and registered in the same name by delivering such Definitive Note,
duly endorsed as provided herein, to the Trustee together with instructions
directing the Trustee to authenticate and deliver one or more Definitive Notes
in the same aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity and registered in the same
name as the Definitive Note to be exchanged, and the Registrar thereupon shall
cancel or caused to be canceled such Definitive Note and concurrently therewith
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or
more Definitive Notes in the same aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity and
registered in the same name as the Definitive Note being exchanged.

          (3) Definitive Note to Global Note. If a holder of a Definitive Note
wishes at any time to transfer such Definitive Note (or portion thereof) to a
Person who is not required to take delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive
Note, such holder shall, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth
herein and in such Definitive Note and the rules of the Depositary and Euroclear
and Clearstream, as applicable, cause the exchange of such Definitive Note for a
beneficial interest in a Global Note. Upon receipt by the Registrar of (A) such
Definitive Note, duly endorsed as provided herein, (B) instructions from such
holder directing the Trustee to increase the aggregate Principal Amount at
Maturity of the Global Note deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as
custodian for the Depository by the same aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity
as the Definitive Note to be exchanged, such instructions to contain the name or
names of a member of, or participant in, the Depository that is designated as
the transferee, the account of such member or participant and other appropriate
delivery

                                       20
<PAGE>

instructions, (C) the assignment form on the back of the Definitive Note
completed in full (certifying in effect that such transfer complies with Rule
144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act or is otherwise being made to a
Person who is not required to take delivery of the Notes in the form of a
Definitive Note) and (D) such other certifications or other information and, in
the case of transfers pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, legal
opinions as the Company may reasonably require to confirm that such transfer is
being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to,
the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the Trustee shall
cancel or cause to be canceled such Definitive Note and concurrently therewith
shall increase the aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity of the Global Note by
the same aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity as the Definitive Note canceled.

          (4) Other Exchanges. In the event that a Global Note is exchanged for
Notes in definitive registered form pursuant to Section 2.10 prior to the
effectiveness of a Shelf Registration contemplated by and in accordance with the
terms of the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to such Notes, such
Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are
substantially consistent with the provisions of clauses (2) and (3) above
(including the certification requirements intended to ensure that such transfers
comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as the case may
be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the
Company.

          (b) Except in connection with a Shelf Registration contemplated by and
in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, if Notes are
issued upon the registration of transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes
bearing a Restricted Notes Legend, or if a request is made to remove such a
Restrictive Notes Legend on Notes, the Notes so issued shall bear the Restricted
Notes Legend, or a Restricted Notes Legend shall not be removed, as the case may
be, unless there is delivered to the Company such satisfactory evidence, which,
in the case of a transfer made pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
may include an opinion of counsel, as may be reasonably required by the Company,
that neither the Restricted Notes Legend nor the restrictions on transfer set
forth therein are required to ensure that transfers thereof comply with the
provisions of Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Regulation S under the Securities Act or
that such Notes are not "restricted" within the meaning of Rule 144 under the
Securities Act. Upon provision to the Company of such satisfactory evidence, the
Trustee, at the written direction of the Company, shall authenticate and deliver
Notes that do not bear the Restrictive Notes Legend. The Company shall not
otherwise be entitled to require the delivery of a legal opinion in connection
with any transfer or exchange of Notes.

          (c) Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility
for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

          (d) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine
or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this
Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest
in any Notes (including any transfers between or among the Depositary's
participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to
require delivery of such certificates and other documentation as is expressly
required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this
Indenture and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form
with the express requirements hereof.

                                       21
<PAGE>

          SECTION 2.14. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use
                        -------------
"CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use
"CUSIP" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided,
however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the
correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in
any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed on the Notes and any such redemption shall not be
affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

          SECTION 2.15. Legend on Restricted Notes. During the period beginning
                        --------------------------
on June 6, 2001 (or such later date on which any Notes may be originally issued
pursuant to the Initial Purchaser's exercise of the over-allotment option under
the Purchase Agreement) and ending on the date two years from such date, any
Note (including any Note issued in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof), shall
be deemed a "Restricted Note" and shall be subject to the restrictions on
transfer provided in the legends set forth on the face of the form of Note in
Exhibit A; provided, however, that the term "Restricted Note" shall not include
any Note as to which restrictions have been terminated in accordance with the
terms of this Indenture, including, without limitation, Section 2.13(b). All
Notes shall bear the applicable legends set forth on the face of the form of
Note in Exhibit A. Except as provided in Section 2.13, the Trustee shall not
issue any unlegended Note until it has received an Officers' Certificate from
the Company directing it to do so.

          SECTION 2.16. Tax Treatment of Notes. The Company agrees, and by
                        ----------------------
acceptance of a beneficial interest in the Notes, each beneficial holder of the
Notes will be deemed to have agreed, for United States federal income tax
purposes (1) to treat the Notes as indebtedness that is subject to Treas. Reg.
Sec. 1.1275-4 (the "Contingent Debt Regulations") and, for purposes of the
Contingent Debt Regulations, to treat, without limitation, the amount of cash
and the fair market value of any Shares received by a beneficial holder upon any
conversion of the Notes as a contingent payment and (2) to be bound by the
Company's determination of the "comparable yield" and "projected payment
schedule," within the meaning of the Contingent Debt Regulations, with respect
to the Notes. For purposes of the foregoing, the Company's determination of the
"comparable yield" is 7.13% per annum and the Company's determination of the
"projected payment schedule" is as set forth in Exhibit G attached hereto. A
Holder of Notes may also obtain the comparable yield and projected payment
schedule by submitting a written request to the Company at the following
address: Valassis Communications, Inc., 19975 Victor Parkway, Livonia, Michigan
48152, Attention: General Counsel.

                                   ARTICLE 3

                                   REDEMPTION

          SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee. Beginning on June 6, 2006, the
                        ------------------
Company, at its option, may elect to redeem Notes in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture. If the Company elects to redeem Notes, it shall
notify the Trustee in writing of the date of redemption (the "Redemption Date"),
the Principal Amount at Maturity of Notes to be redeemed and the Redemption
Price.

                                       22
<PAGE>

          The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for in this
Section at least 40 days but not more than 70 days before the Redemption Date.
Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers' Certificate from the Company to
the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein.  If
fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such
redemption shall be selected by the Company and given to the Trustee, which
record date shall be not fewer than 15 days after the date of notice to the
Trustee.  Any such notice may be canceled by the Company at any time prior to
notice of such redemption being mailed to any Holder and shall thereby be void
and of no effect.

          SECTION 3.02. Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed. If fewer than all the
                        ---------------------------------
Notes held in definitive form are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the
Notes to be redeemed on a pro rata basis in accordance with the Principal
Amounts at Maturity. The Trustee shall make the selection at least 30 days but
not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date from Outstanding Notes not
previously called for redemption. Notes and portions thereof that the Trustee
selects shall be in Principal Amounts at Maturity of $1,000 or integral
multiples of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for
redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption. The Trustee
shall promptly notify the Company of the Notes or portions thereof to be
redeemed.

          If any Note selected for partial redemption is converted in part
before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the
Note so selected, the converted portion of such Note shall be deemed (so far as
may be) to be the portion selected for redemption.  Notes which have been
converted during a selection of Notes to be redeemed shall be treated by the
Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

          SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption. At least 30 days but not more than
                        --------------------
60 days before a Redemption Date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption
by first-class mail to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder's
registered address.

          The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

          (1)  the Redemption Date;

          (2)  the Redemption Price and the Conversion Rate;

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

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

          (5)  that Notes called for redemption may be converted at any time
before the close of business on the second Business Day immediately preceding
the Redemption Date;

          (6)  that Holders who want to convert Notes must satisfy the
requirements set forth therein and in this Indenture;

          (7)  if fewer than all the Outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the
certificate numbers and Principal Amounts at Maturity of the particular Notes to
be redeemed;

                                       23
<PAGE>

          (8)  that, unless the Company defaults in making payment of such
Redemption Price or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment
pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, Original Issue Discount on Notes (or
portions thereof) called for redemption, or interest (including Contingent
Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any) will cease to accrue on and
after the Redemption Date;

          (9)  the CUSIP number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed;
and

          (10) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy
of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

          At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the Company's name and at the Company's expense.  In such event,
the Company shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this
Section.

          SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of
                        ------------------------------
redemption is mailed to the Holders, Notes called for redemption become due and
payable on the Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price stated in the notice
except for Notes which are converted in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the
Redemption Price stated in the notice. Failure to give notice or any defect in
the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any
other Holder.

          SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 11:00 a.m. (New
                        ---------------------------
York City time) on the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the
Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary or any of their respective
Affiliates is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money
sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all Notes to be redeemed on that date
other than Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption that have been
delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation or have been converted.
The Paying Agent shall as promptly as practicable return to the Company any
money not required for that purpose because of conversion of Notes pursuant to
Article 10. If such money is held by the Company or a Subsidiary or any of their
respective Affiliates in trust and is not required for such purpose it shall be
discharged from such trust. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent
to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds
disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying
Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

          SECTION 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that is
                        ----------------------
redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate
for the Holder (at the Company's expense) a new Note equal in Principal Amount
at Maturity to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

          SECTION 3.07.  Purchase of Notes at Option of the Holder.
                         -----------------------------------------

          (a) General.  Any Note or Notes shall be purchased by the Company from
              -------
the Holder thereof pursuant to the terms thereof as of June 6, 2004, June 6,
2006, June 6, 2011 and June, 2016 (each, a "Purchase Date"), at a purchase price
equal to the Issue Price plus accrued Original Issue Discount to the Purchase
Date, which shall be of $602.77 per $1,000 of Principal

                                       24
<PAGE>

Amount at Maturity as of June 6, 2004, $639.76 per $1,000 of Principal Amount at
Maturity as of June 6, 2006, $742.47 per $1,000 of Principal Amount at Maturity
as of June 6, 2011 and $861.67 per $1,000 of Principal Amount at Maturity as of
June 6, 2016 (each, a "Purchase Price", as applicable), at the option of the
Holder thereof, upon:

          (1) delivery to the Paying Agent by the Holder of a written notice of
purchase (a "Purchase Notice"), substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto,
at any time from the opening of business on the date that is at least 20
Business Days prior to a Purchase Date until the close of business on the third
Business Day prior to the Purchase Date stating:

              (A) the certificate number of the Note which the Holder will
deliver to be purchased,

              (B) the portion of the Principal Amount at Maturity of the Note
which the Holder will deliver to be purchased, which portion must be in a
Principal Amount at Maturity of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof,

              (C) that such Note shall be purchased as of the Purchase Date
pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Notes and in this
Indenture, and

              (D) in the event the Company elects, pursuant to Section 3.07(b),
to pay the Purchase Price to be paid as of an Elective Payment Purchase Date, in
whole or in part, in Shares, but such portion of the Purchase Price shall
ultimately be payable to such Holder entirely in cash because any of the
conditions to payment of the Purchase Price in Shares is not satisfied prior to
the close of business on such Elective Payment Purchase Date, as set forth in
Section 3.07(d), whether such Holder elects (i) to withdraw such Purchase Notice
as to some or all of the Notes to which such Purchase Notice relates (stating
the Principal Amount at Maturity and certificate numbers of the Notes as to
which such withdrawal shall relate), or (ii) to receive cash in respect of the
entire Purchase Price for all Notes (or portions thereof) to which such Purchase
Notice relates; and

          (2) delivery of such Note to the Paying Agent for cancellation prior
to, on or after the Purchase Date (together with all necessary endorsements) at
the offices of the Paying Agent, such delivery being a condition to receipt by
the Holder of the Purchase Price therefor; provided, however, that such Purchase
Price shall be so paid pursuant to this Section 3.08 only if the Note so
delivered to the Paying Agent shall conform in all respects to the description
thereof in the related Purchase Notice.

          In addition to the Purchase Price set forth above, for any purchase of
Notes pursuant to this Section 3.07, the Company shall pay accrued and unpaid
Contingent Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the Notes.

          If a Holder, in such Holder's Purchase Notice, fails to indicate such
Holder's choice with respect to the election set forth in clause (D) of Section
3.07(a)(1), such Holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive cash in
respect of the Purchase Price for all Notes subject to such Purchase Notice in
the circumstances set forth in such clause (D).

                                       25
<PAGE>

          The Company shall purchase from the Holder thereof, pursuant to this
Section 3.07, a portion of a Note if the Principal Amount at Maturity of such
portion is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 if so requested by the
Holder.  Provisions of this Indenture that apply to the purchase of all of a
Note also apply to the purchase of such portion of such Note.

          Any purchase by the Company contemplated pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 3.07 shall be consummated by the delivery of the consideration to
be received by the Holder promptly following the later of the Purchase Date and
the time of delivery of the Note.

          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering
to the Paying Agent the Purchase Notice contemplated by this Section 3.07(a)
shall have the right to withdraw such Purchase Notice at any time prior to the
close of business on the Purchase Date by delivery of a written notice of
withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 3.09.

          The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by
it of any Purchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.

          (b) Company's Right to Elect Manner of Payment of Purchase Price on
              ---------------------------------------------------------------
Certain Purchase Dates. The Notes to be purchased pursuant to Section 3.07(a) on
----------------------
June 6, 2004 and June 6, 2006 (the "2004 and 2006 Purchase Dates"), will be paid
for in Shares valued as set forth in Section 3.07(d), or, at the election of the
Company, in cash or in any combination of cash and Shares, subject to the
conditions set forth in Sections 3.07(c) and (d). With respect to the 2004 and
2006 Purchase Dates, the Company shall designate, in the Company's Notice
delivered pursuant to Section 3.07(e), whether the Company will purchase the
Notes for cash or Shares, or, if a combination thereof, the percentages of the
Purchase Price of Notes in respect of which it will pay in cash or Shares;
provided that the Company shall pay cash for fractional Shares. For purposes of
determining the existence of potential fractional Shares, all Notes subject to
purchase by the Company held by a Holder shall be considered together (no matter
how many separate certificates are to be presented). Each Holder whose Notes are
purchased pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall receive the same percentage of
cash or Shares in payment of the Purchase Price for such Notes, except (i) as
provided in Section 3.07(d) with regard to the payment of cash in lieu of
fractional Shares and (ii) in the event that the Company is unable to purchase
the Notes of a Holder or Holders for Shares because any necessary qualifications
or registrations of the Shares under applicable state or foreign securities laws
cannot be obtained, the Company may purchase the Notes of such Holder or Holders
for cash. The Company may not change its election with respect to the
consideration (or components or percentages of components thereof) to be paid
once the Company has given the Company's Notice to Holders except pursuant to
this Section 3.07(b) or pursuant to Section 3.07(d) in the event of a failure to
satisfy, prior to the close of business on the Purchase Date, any condition to
the payment of the Purchase Price, in whole or in part, in Shares.

          With respect to the 2004 and 2006 Purchase Dates, if the Company
elects to pay all or part of the Purchase Price on such Purchase Dates in
Shares, the portion of accrued Original Issue Discount attributable to the
period from the Issue Date through the Purchase Date and with respect to the
surrendered Note and (except as provided in the Note) shall not be cancelled,
extinguished or forfeited, but rather shall be deemed to be paid in full to the
Holder

                                       26
<PAGE>

thereof through the delivery of the Shares (together with cash payment, if any,
in lieu of fractional Shares) and cash, if any, in exchange for the Note being
purchased pursuant to the terms hereof; and such cash and the fair market value
of such Shares (together with any such cash payment in lieu of fractional
Shares) shall be treated as delivered pro rata, to the extent thereof, first in
exchange for Original Issue Discount accrued through the Purchase Date and the
balance, if any, of such cash and the fair market value of such Shares (and any
such cash payment) shall be treated as delivered in exchange for the Issue Price
of the Note being purchased pursuant to the provisions hereof.

          (c) Purchase with Cash. At the option of the Company, on the 2004 and
              ------------------
2006 Purchase Dates, the Purchase Price of Notes in respect of which a Purchase
Notice pursuant to Section 3.07(a) has been given, or a specified percentage
thereof, may be paid by the Company with cash equal to the aggregate Purchase
Price of such Notes.

          (d) Payment by Issuance of Shares. On the 2004 and 2006 Purchase
              -----------------------------
Dates, if the Purchase Price of Notes in respect of which a Purchase Notice
pursuant to Section 3.07(a) has been given, or a specified percentage thereof,
is paid by the Company by the issuance of Shares, the number of Shares shall
equal the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the amount of cash to which the
Holders would have been entitled had the Company elected to pay all or such
specified percentage, as the case may be, of the Purchase Price of such Notes in
cash by (ii) 95% of the Market Price of a Share, subject to the next succeeding
paragraph.

          The Company may not issue a fractional Share in payment of the
Purchase Price. Instead the Company shall pay cash for the current market value
of the fractional Share. The current market value of a fraction of a Share shall
be determined, to the nearest 1/1,000th of a Share, by multiplying the Market
Price by such fraction and rounding the product to the nearest whole cent. It is
understood that if a Holder elects to have more than one Note purchased, the
number of Shares shall be based on the aggregate amount of Notes to be
purchased.

          The Company's right to purchase the Notes on the 2004 and/or 2006
Purchase Dates pursuant to Section 3.07 through the issuance of Shares shall be
conditioned upon:

          (i) the Company's not having given its Company's Notice of an election
     to pay entirely in cash and its giving of a timely Company's Notice of
     election to purchase all or a specified percentage of the Notes with Shares
     as provided herein;

          (ii) the listing of the Shares to be issued in respect of the payment
     of the Purchase Price on the principal United States National Securities
     Exchange on which the Shares are then listed or quoted;

          (iii) the registration of the Shares to be issued in respect of the
     payment of the Purchase Price under the Securities Act and the Exchange
     Act, if required; and

          (iv) any necessary qualification or registration under applicable
     state securities laws or the availability of an exemption from such
     qualification and registration.

          The Company may pay the Purchase Price (or any portion thereof) in
Shares on the 2004 and/or 2006 Purchase Dates only if the information necessary
to calculate the Market

                                       27
<PAGE>

Price is published in a daily newspaper of national circulation. If the
foregoing conditions are not satisfied with respect to a Holder or Holders prior
to the close of business on the relevant Purchase Date and the Company has
elected to purchase the Notes pursuant to this Section 3.07 through the issuance
of Shares, the Company shall pay the entire Purchase Price of the Notes of such
Holder or Holders in cash.

          The "Market Price" means the average of the Sale Prices of the Shares
for the ten consecutive trading day period ending on the third Business Day
prior to the applicable Purchase Date, Change in Control Purchase Date or
Conversion Date, as the case may be, appropriately adjusted to take into account
the occurrence, during the period commencing on the first of such trading days
during such ten consecutive trading day period and ending on such Purchase Date,
Change in Control Purchase Date or Conversion Date, as the case may be, of any
event described in Section 11.06, 11.07 or 11.08; subject, however, to the
conditions set forth in Sections 11.09 and 11.10.

     The "Sale Price" of the Shares on any date means the closing per Share sale
price (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask
prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and
average ask prices) on such date as reported in composite transactions for the
principal United States National Securities Exchange on which the Shares are
then listed or quoted.

          (e) Notice. The Company's notice of whether it intends to pay the
              ------
Purchase Price with cash or Shares or any combination thereof on the 2004 and
2006 Purchase Dates shall be sent to the Holders (and to beneficial owners as
required by applicable law) in the manner provided herein (the "Company's
Notice"). The Company's Notice shall be sent to Holders (and to beneficial
owners as required by applicable law) not less than 20 Business Days prior to
such Purchase Date (the "Company's Notice Date"). The Company's Notice shall
state the manner of payment and shall contain the following information:

          In the event the Company has elected to pay the Purchase Price (or a
specified percentage thereof) with Shares on the applicable Purchase Date, the
Company's Notice shall:

          (1) state that each Holder will receive Shares in respect of the
specified percentage of the Purchase Price of the Notes held by such Holder
(except any cash amount to be paid in lieu of fractional Shares);

          (2) state that the total number of Shares to be issued to Holders will
be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the amount of cash to which
the Noteholders would have been entitled had the Company elected to pay all or
such specified percentage, as the case may be, of the Purchase Price of such
Notes in cash by (ii) 95% of the Market Price of a Share;

          (3) set forth the method of calculating the Market Price of a Share;
and

          (4) state that because the Market Price of a Share will be determined
prior to the Purchase Date, Holders will bear the market risk with respect to
the value of a Share to be received from the date such Market Price is
determined to the Purchase Date.

                                       28
<PAGE>

          In any case, each Company's Notice shall include a form of Purchase
Notice to be completed by a Holder and shall state:

          (i) the Purchase Price and the Conversion Rate applicable on the
     Company's Notice Date;

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

          (iii) that Notes as to which a Purchase Notice has been given may be
     converted pursuant to Article 10 hereof only if the applicable Purchase
     Notice has been withdrawn in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

          (iv) that Notes must be surrendered to the Paying Agent for
     cancellation to collect payment;

          (v) that the Purchase Price for any Note as to which a Purchase Notice
     has been given and not withdrawn will be paid promptly following the later
     of the Purchase Date and the time of surrender of such Note as described in
     (iv);

          (vi) the procedures the Holder must follow to exercise rights under
     Section 3.07 and a brief description of those rights;

          (vii) briefly, the conversion rights of the Notes;

          (viii) the procedures for withdrawing a Purchase Notice (including,
     without limitation, for a conditional withdrawal pursuant to the terms of
     Section 3.07(a)(1)(D) or Section 3.09);

          (ix) that, unless the Company defaults in making payment of such
     Purchase Price, Original Issue Discount on Notes covered by any Purchase
     Notice, Contingent Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, will
     cease to accrue on and after the Purchase Date; and

          (x) the CUSIP number of the Notes, if applicable.

          At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give such Company's Notice
in the name of the Company and at the Company's expense; provided, however,
that, in all cases, the text of such Company's Notice shall be prepared by the
Company.

          (f) Covenants of the Company.  All Shares delivered upon purchase
              ------------------------
of the Notes shall be newly issued Shares or treasury shares, shall be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and shall be free from
preemptive rights and free of any lien or adverse claim.

          The Company shall use its best efforts to list or cause to have quoted
any Shares to be issued to purchase Notes on each United States National
Securities Exchange or automated over-the-counter trading market in the United
States on which the Shares are then listed or quoted.

                                       29
<PAGE>

          (g) Procedure upon Purchase. The Company shall deposit cash (in
              -----------------------
respect of a cash purchase under Section 3.07(c) or for fractional interests, as
applicable) or Shares, or a combination thereof, as applicable, at the time and
in the manner as provided in Section 3.10, sufficient to pay the aggregate
Purchase Price of all Notes to be purchased pursuant to this Section 3.07. As
soon as practicable after the Purchase Date, the Company shall deliver to each
Holder entitled to receive Shares through its stock transfer agent, a
certificate for the number of Shares issuable in payment of the Purchase Price.
The Person in whose name the certificate for Shares is registered shall be
treated as a holder of record of Shares on the Business Day following the
Purchase Date. Subject to Section 3.07(d), no payment or adjustment will be made
for dividends on any Shares delivered in payment of the Purchase Price the
record date for which occurred on or prior to the Purchase Date.

          (h) Taxes. If a Holder is paid in Shares, the Company shall pay any
              -----
documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on such issue of Shares.
However, the Holder shall pay any such tax which is due because the Holder
requests the Shares to be issued in a name other than the Holder's name. The
Paying Agent may refuse to deliver the certificates representing the Shares
being issued in a name other than the Holder's name until the Paying Agent
receives a sum that the Company deems to be sufficient to pay any tax which will
be due because the Shares are to be issued in a name other than the Holder's
name. Nothing herein shall preclude any income tax withholding required by law
or regulations.

          SECTION 3.08. Purchase of Notes at Option of the Holder upon Change in
                        --------------------------------------------------------
Control.
-------

          (a) General. If on or prior to June 6, 2006 there shall have
              -------
occurred a Change in Control, Notes shall be purchased by the Company, at a
purchase price specified in the Notes (the "Change in Control Purchase Price"),
as of a date that is not later than 35 Business Days after the occurrence of the
Change in Control (the "Change in Control Purchase Date"), at the option of the
Holder thereof, upon:

          (1) delivery to the Paying Agent by the Holder of a written notice of
purchase (a "Change in Control Purchase Notice"), substantially in the form of
Exhibit E hereto, at any time until the close of business on the third Business
Day prior to the Change in Control Purchase Date stating:

          (A) the certificate number of the Note or Notes which the Holder will
     deliver to be purchased,

          (B) the portion of the Principal Amount at Maturity of the Note which
     the Holder will deliver to be purchased, which portion must be in a
     Principal Amount at Maturity of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof, and

          (C) that such Note shall be purchased as of the Change in Control
     Purchase Date pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Notes
     and in this Indenture, and

          (2) delivery of such Note to the Paying Agent for cancellation prior
to, on or after the Change in Control Purchase Date (together with all necessary
endorsements) at the

                                       30
<PAGE>

offices of the Paying Agent, such delivery being a condition to receipt by the
Holder of the Change in Control Purchase Price therefor; provided, however, that
such Change in Control Purchase Price shall be so paid pursuant to this Section
3.08 only if the Note so delivered to the Paying Agent shall conform in all
respects to the description thereof in the related Change in Control Purchase
Notice.

          The Company shall purchase from the Holder thereof, pursuant to this
Section 3.08, a portion of a Note if the Principal Amount at Maturity of such
portion is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 if so requested by the
Holder. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to the purchase of all of a Note
also apply to the purchase of such portion of such Note.

          Any purchase by the Company contemplated pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 3.08 shall be consummated by the delivery of the consideration to
be received by the Holder promptly following the later of the Change in Control
Purchase Date and the time of delivery of the Note.

          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering
to the Paying Agent the Change in Control Purchase Notice contemplated by this
Section 3.08(a) shall have the right to withdraw such Change in Control Purchase
Notice at any time prior to the close of business on the Change in Control
Purchase Date by delivery of a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent
in accordance with Section 3.09.

          The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by
it of any Change in Control Purchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal
thereof.

          A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as
any of the following events shall occur:

          (i) any Person (including its Affiliates and associates), other than
     the Company and its Subsidiaries, Affiliates and associates, or its or
     their employee benefit plans, files a Schedule TO (or any schedule, form or
     report under the Exchange Act) disclosing that such Person has become the
     direct or indirect beneficial owner of 50% or more of the voting power of
     the Company's common stock or other Capital Stock into which the Company's
     common stock is reclassified or changed; or

          (ii) there shall be consummated any share exchange, consolidation or
     merger of the Company pursuant to which its common stock would be converted
     into cash, securities or other Property, in each case other than a share
     exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company in which the holders of
     common stock immediately prior to the share exchange, consolidation or
     merger of the Company have, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the
     total voting power in the aggregate of all classes of Capital Stock of the
     continuing or surviving corporation immediately after the share exchange,
     consolidation or merger; or

          (iii) there shall have been a sale, transfer or disposition of all or
     substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
     together.

                                       31
<PAGE>

          (b) Purchase with Cash.  On each Change in Control Purchase Date, the
              ------------------
Change in Control Purchase Price of Notes in respect of which a Change in
Control Purchase Notice pursuant to Section 3.08(a) has been given shall be paid
by the Company with cash equal to the aggregate Change in Control Purchase Price
of such Notes.

          (c) Notice of Change in Control. Within 15 Business Days after the
occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company shall mail notice of the Change
in Control (the "Change in Control Notice") by first-class mail to the Trustee
and to each Holder (and to beneficial owners as required by applicable law). The
Change in Control Notice shall be sent to Holders (and to beneficial owners as
required by applicable law) not less than 20 Business Days prior to such Change
in Control Purchase Date (the "Change in Control Notice Date"). The notice shall
include a form of Change in Control Purchase Notice to be completed by the
Noteholder and shall state:

          (1) briefly, the events causing a Change in Control and the date of
such Change in Control;

          (2) the date by which the Change in Control Purchase Notice pursuant
to this Section 3.08 must be given;

          (3) the last day on which the holder may exercise its right under
Section 3.08;

          (4) the Change in Control Purchase Price;

          (5) the Change in Control Purchase Date;

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

          (7) the Conversion Rate applicable on the Change in Control Notice
Date and any adjustments to the Conversion Rate;

          (8) that Notes as to which a Change in Control Purchase Notice has
been given may be converted pursuant to Article 10 hereof only if the Change in
Control Purchase Notice has been withdrawn in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture; and

          (9) briefly, the procedures the Holder must follow to exercise rights
under this Section 3.08.

          At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give such Change in
Control Notice in the name of the Company and at the Company's expense;
provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of such Change in Control Notice
shall be prepared by the Company.

          (d) Procedure upon Purchase. The Company shall deposit cash at the
              -----------------------
time and in the manner as provided in Section 3.10, sufficient to pay the
aggregate Change in Control Purchase Price of all Notes to be purchased pursuant
to this Section 3.08.

          SECTION 3.09. Effect of Purchase Notice or Change in Control Purchase
                        -------------------------------------------------------
Notice. Upon receipt by the Paying Agent of the Purchase Notice or Change in
------
Control Purchase

                                       32
<PAGE>

Notice specified in Section 3.07(a) or Section 3.08(a), as applicable, the
Holder of the Note in respect of which such Purchase Notice or Change in Control
Purchase Notice, as the case may be, was given shall (unless such Purchase
Notice or Change in Control Purchase Notice is withdrawn as specified in the
following two paragraphs) thereafter be entitled to receive solely the Purchase
Price or Change in Control Purchase Price, as the case may be, with respect to
such Note. Such Purchase Price or Change in Control Purchase Price shall be paid
to such Holder, subject to receipts of funds and/or cash equivalents by the
Paying Agent, promptly following the later of (x) the Purchase Date or the
Change in Control Purchase Date, as the case may be, with respect to such Note
(provided the conditions in Section 3.07(a) or Section 3.08(a), as applicable,
have been satisfied) and (y) the time of delivery of such Note to the Paying
Agent by the Holder thereof in the manner required by Section 3.07(a) or Section
3.08(a), as applicable. Notes in respect of which a Purchase Notice or Change in
Control Purchase Notice, as the case may be, has been given by the Holder
thereof may not be converted pursuant to Article 11 hereof on or after the date
of the delivery of such Purchase Notice or Change in Control Purchase Notice, as
the case may be, unless such Purchase Notice or Change in Control Purchase
Notice, as the case may be, has first been validly withdrawn as specified in the
following two paragraphs.

          A Purchase Notice or Change in Control Purchase Notice, as the case
may be, may be withdrawn by means of a written notice of withdrawal delivered to
the office of the Paying Agent in accordance with the Purchase Notice or Change
in Control Purchase Notice, as the case may be, at any time prior to the close
of business on the Purchase Date or the Change in Control Purchase Date, as the
case may be, specifying:

          (1) the certificate number of the Note in respect of which such notice
of withdrawal is being submitted,

          (2) the Principal Amount at Maturity of the Note with respect to which
such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, and

          (3) the Principal Amount at Maturity, if any, of such Note which
remains subject to the original Purchase Notice or Change in Control Purchase
Notice, as the case may be, and which has been or will be delivered for purchase
by the Company.

          A written notice of withdrawal of a Purchase Notice or Change in
Control Purchase Notice may be in the form set forth in the preceding paragraph
or may be in the form of (i) a conditional withdrawal contained in a Purchase
Notice pursuant to the terms of Section 3.07(a)(1)(D) or (ii) a conditional
withdrawal containing the information set forth in Section 3.07(a)(1)(D) and the
preceding paragraph and contained in a written notice of withdrawal delivered to
the Paying Agent as set forth in the preceding paragraph.

          There shall be no purchase of any Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 or
3.08 (other than through the issuance of Shares in payment of the Purchase
Price), including cash in lieu of fractional shares if there has occurred (prior
to, on or after, as the case may be, the giving, by the Holders of such Notes,
of the required Purchase Notice or Change in Control Purchase Notice, as the
case may be) and is continuing an Event of Default (other than a default in the
payment of the Purchase Price or Change in Control Purchase Price, as the case
may be, with respect to such Notes) and the Paying Agent shall promptly return
to the respective Holders thereof any Notes

                                       33
<PAGE>

(x) with respect to which a Purchase Notice or Change in Control Purchase
Notice, as the case may be, has been withdrawn in compliance with this
Indenture, or (y) held by it during the continuance of an Event of Default
(other than a default in the payment of the Purchase Price or Change in Control
Purchase Price, as the case may be, with respect to such Notes) in which case,
upon such return, the Purchase Notice or Change in Control Purchase Notice with
respect thereto shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

          SECTION 3.10. Deposit of Purchase Price or Change in Control Purchase
                        -------------------------------------------------------
Price. Prior to 11:00 a.m. (local time in the City of New York) on the Business
-----
Day following the Purchase Date or the Change in Control Purchase Date, as the
case may be, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent
(or, if the Company or a Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates is the
Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money (in
immediately available funds if deposited on such Business Day) sufficient to pay
the cash portion of the aggregate Purchase Price or Change in Control Purchase
Price, as the case may be, of all the Notes or portions thereof which are to be
purchased as of the Purchase Date or Change in Control Purchase Date, as the
case may be, and shall instruct its stock transfer agent to deliver the number
of Shares issuable in payment of the remaining portion of the aggregate Purchase
Price. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of
any deposits of cash or deliveries of Shares made pursuant to this Section.

          SECTION 3.11. Notes Purchased in Part. Any Note which is to be
                        -----------------------
purchased only in part shall be surrendered at the office of the Paying Agent
(with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a
written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Note, without service charge, a
new Note or Notes, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in
aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity equal to, and in exchange for, the
portion of the Principal Amount at Maturity of the Note so surrendered which is
not purchased.

          SECTION 3.12. Covenant to Comply With Notes Laws Upon Purchase of
                        ---------------------------------------------------
Notes. In connection with any offer to purchase or purchase of Notes under
-----
Section 3.07 or 3.08 hereof (provided that such offer or purchase constitutes an
"issuer tender offer" for purposes of Rule 13e-4 (which term, as used herein,
includes any successor provision thereto) under the Exchange Act at the time of
such offer or purchase), the Company shall (i) comply with Rule 13e-4 and Rule
14e-1 under the Exchange Act, (ii) file the related Schedule TO (or any
successor schedule, form or report) under the Exchange Act, and (iii) otherwise
comply with all Federal and state securities laws so as to permit the rights and
obligations under Sections 3.07 and 3.08 to be exercised in the time and in the
manner specified in Sections 3.07 and 3.08.

          SECTION 3.13. Repayment to the Company. The Trustee and the Paying
                        ------------------------
Agent shall return to the Company any cash that remains unclaimed, together with
interest or dividends, if any, thereon, held by them for the payment of the
Purchase Price or Change in Control Purchase Price, as the case may be;
provided, however, that to the extent that the aggregate amount of cash
deposited by the Company pursuant to Section 3.10 exceeds the cash portion of
the aggregate Purchase Price or Change in Control Purchase Price, as the case
may be, of the Notes or portions thereof which the Company is obligated to
purchase as of the Purchase Date or

                                       34
<PAGE>

Change in Control Purchase Date, as the case may be, then on the Business Day
following the Purchase Date or Change in Control Purchase Date, as the case may
be, the Trustee shall return any such excess to the Company.


                                   ARTICLE 4

                                   COVENANTS

          SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes. The Company shall promptly make all
                        ----------------
payments in respect of the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the
Notes and in this Indenture. Such payments shall be considered made on the date
due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with
this Indenture, money sufficient to make all payments in respect of the Notes
then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not
prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the
terms of this Indenture. The Company shall pay all Liquidated Damages, if any,
in the same manner and on the dates and amounts set forth in the Registration
Rights Agreement.

          SECTION 4.02. Calculation of Original Issue Discount. The Company
                        --------------------------------------
shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a
written notice specifying the amount of Original Issue Discount (including daily
rates and accrual periods) accrued on the Outstanding Notes as of the end of
such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such Original
Issue Discount as the Company believes is then relevant under the Code.

          SECTION 4.03. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company shall
                        -------------------------------
maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office or agency
where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Notes may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and
demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be
served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the
location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any
time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee the address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent
to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

          The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies (in or outside of the City of New York) where the Notes may
be presented or surrendered for any or all of such purposes, and may from time
to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation
or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to
maintain an office or agency in the City of New York for such purposes.  The
Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation
and any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

          SECTION 4.04. Money for Note Payments to Be Held in Trust. If the
                        -------------------------------------------
Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates shall at any time
act as Paying Agent with respect to the Notes as described in Sections 3.05 and
3.10, such Paying Agent shall, at the times and on the dates specified in
Sections 3.05 and 3.10, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of

                                       35
<PAGE>

the Persons entitled thereto money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price,
Purchase Price or Change of Control Purchase Price with respect to the Notes
being redeemed or purchased, as the case may be, so becoming due until such
money shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided,
and shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

          Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents with respect
to the Notes, it shall, prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on each due date of
any redemption or purchase of the Notes, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum
sufficient to pay such amounts so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for
the benefit of the Persons entitled to such payments and (unless such Paying
Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of its
action or failure so to act.

          SECTION 4.05. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article Five, the
                        -------------------
Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep
in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory)
and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
preserve any such corporate existence, rights or franchises if the Board of
Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable
in the conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss thereof is not
disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

          SECTION 4.06. Maintenance of Property. The Company shall cause all
                        -----------------------
Property used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any
Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order
and supplied with all necessary equipment and shall cause to be made all
necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof,
all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business
carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted
at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 4.06 shall prevent
the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such
Property if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in
the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary and not
disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

          SECTION 4.07. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company shall pay
                        ---------------------------------
or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become
delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or
imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or
property of the Company or any Subsidiary and (2) all lawful claims for labor,
materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon the
property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any
such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

          SECTION 4.08. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The
                        ---------------------------------------------
Company will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and
Leaseback Transaction; provided that the Company may enter into a Sale and
Leaseback Transaction if:

                                       36
<PAGE>

          (a) after giving effect to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, the
aggregate outstanding amount of all Attributable Debt resulting from all Sale
and Leaseback Transactions does not exceed the greater of $50.0 million or 15%
of Consolidated Tangible Assets, determined in accordance with the Company's
most recent published consolidated balance sheet in accordance with GAAP; or

          (b) the Company applies, within twelve months after the sale or
transfer, an amount equal to the net proceeds of the assets sold pursuant to the
Sale and Leaseback Transaction to the voluntary covenant defeasance or
retirement of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness that is held by the Company
or Indebtedness of the Company that is subordinate in right of payment to the
Notes), which amount will not be less than the fair value (in the opinion of an
Officer of the Company) of such assets less an amount equal to the principal
amount of such Indebtedness voluntarily defeased or retired by the Company
within such twelve-month period.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, no retirement referred to in clause (b)
above may be effected by the payment at Maturity or pursuant to any mandatory
sinking fund payment or mandatory payment provision.

          SECTION 4.09. Limitation on Liens. The Company shall not, and shall
                        -------------------
not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any Lien of any kind on or with respect to any asset owned or
hereafter acquired securing Indebtedness without making effective provision to
secure all the Notes then Outstanding by such Lien, equally and ratably with or,
in the event that such other Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to
the Notes, prior to any and all other such Indebtedness thereby secured, so long
as such other Indebtedness is so secured, except that the foregoing restrictions
shall not apply to (i) Permitted Liens, or (ii) other Liens, if after giving
effect thereto, the aggregate outstanding amount of all such Indebtedness
secured by Liens (other than Permitted Liens) shall not exceed the greater of
$50,000,000 or 15% of Consolidated Tangible Assets determined in accordance with
the Company's most recent published consolidated balance sheet prepared in
accordance with GAAP.

          SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Stock Redemptions and Stock Repurchases.
                        -----------------------------------------------------
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or
indirectly, make any payments to redeem or repurchase any of the Company's or a
Subsidiary's Capital Stock (a "Redemption Payment"), if at the time the Company
or the Subsidiary makes such Redemption Payment:

          (a) a Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result
from such Redemption Payment); and

          (b) the aggregate amount of such Redemption Payment and all other
 Redemption Payments since the date of the Indenture would exceed the sum of (i)
 $75.0 million, plus (ii) 50% of the Company's Consolidated Net Income from
 November 16, 1998 through the date of determination, plus (iii) any proceeds
 from the sale or issuance of shares of the Company's Capital Stock or
 securities convertible into shares of the Company's Capital Stock (other than
 an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary) and, without duplication, proceeds
 received upon

                                       37
<PAGE>

the exercise of options, warrants and other rights to acquire shares of the
Company's Capital Stock.

          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section
4.10, the Company and its Subsidiaries may (i) make any Redemption Payment if,
pro forma for such Redemption Payment, the Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio would
have been equal to or less than 1.0; (ii) repurchase or otherwise acquire shares
of, or options or warrants to purchase shares of, the Company's Capital Stock or
any Subsidiary's Capital Stock from employees, former employees, directors or
former directors of the Company or any Subsidiary (or permitted transferees of
such employees, former employees, directors or former directors), pursuant to
the terms of the agreements (including employment agreements) or plans (or
amendments thereto) or other arrangements approved by the Board of Directors or
the board of directors of any Subsidiary under which such individuals purchase
or sell or are granted the option to purchase or sell shares of Capital Stock;
provided, however, that the aggregate amount of such repurchases and other
acquisitions described in this clause (ii) shall not exceed $5,000,000 in any
calendar year; provided further, however, that such repurchases and other
acquisitions described in this clause (ii) shall be excluded in the calculation
of the amount of Redemption Payments; (iii) repurchase or otherwise acquire
shares of the Company's Capital Stock solely in exchange for other shares of the
Company's Capital Stock; provided, however, that such issuance of shares of the
Company's Capital Stock shall not be included in the calculation of proceeds
from the issuance of shares of the Company's Capital Stock in clause (b)(iii)
above; provided further, however, that such repurchases and other acquisitions
described in this clause (iii) shall be excluded in the calculation of the
amount of Redemption Payments; or (iv) repurchase or otherwise acquire odd lots
of the Company's Capital Stock.

          SECTION 4.11. Certificate as to Default. The Company shall deliver to
                        -------------------------
the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company
(which on the date hereof is December 31) ending after the date hereof, a
certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or
principal accounting officer of the Company, stating whether or not, to the best
knowledge of such officer, the Company has complied with all conditions and
covenants under this Indenture, and, if the Company shall be in Default,
specifying all such Defaults and the nature thereof of which such officer may
have knowledge.

          For the purposes of this Section 4.11, compliance shall be determined
without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this
Indenture.

The Company shall deliver written notice to the Trustee five days after any
Officer of the Company has knowledge of the occurrence of any event which with
the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would become an Event of
Default under Section 6.01(e).

                                   ARTICLE 5

             CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, LEASE OR TRANSFER

          SECTION 5.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms.
                        ----------------------------------------------------
The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, consolidate with or
merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer substantially all of its
Property to any Person, unless:

                                       38
<PAGE>

          (a) Either: (1) the Company is the surviving corporation; or (2) the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing under
the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

          (b) The Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger
(if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all of
the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to
agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; and

          (c) Immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of
Default exist.

          In addition, the Company shall not, directly or indirectly, lease all
or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related
transactions, to any other Person.  The provisions of this Section 5.01 shall
not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of
assets between or among the Company and any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries.

          SECTION 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.
                        ---------------------------------

          Upon any consolidation with or merger by the Company into any other
corporation, or any conveyance or transfer of the Property of the Company
substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor
corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or
the successor Person to which such conveyance or 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 had been
named as the Company herein, and thereafter the Company shall be relieved of all
obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes.

                                   ARTICLE 6

                             DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

          SECTION 6.01. Events of Default.
                        -----------------

          Except where otherwise indicated by the context or where the term is
otherwise defined for a specific purpose, the term "Event of Default," wherever
used herein with respect to the Notes, shall mean any one of the following
events (whatever the reason for such event and whether it shall be voluntary or
involuntary or be effected by operation of law, pursuant to any judgment, decree
or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or
governmental body):

          (a) the Company defaults in any payment of the Principal Amount at
Maturity, Redemption Price, Purchase Price or Change in Control Purchase Price
on the Notes when it becomes due and payable;

                                       39
<PAGE>

          (b) the Company defaults in the payment of Contingent Interest, if
any, or Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes when such Contingent Interest
or Liquidated Damages becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a
period of 30 days;

          (c) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty
of the Company in Article Four of this Indenture, and continuance of such
Default or breach for a period of 30 days after there has been given a Notice of
Default; or

          (d) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty
of the Company in this Indenture, including any indenture supplemental hereto,
(other than a covenant or warranty, a default in whose performance or whose
breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with) and continuance of
such Default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given a
Notice of Default; or

          (e) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which
there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any
Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company (or the payment of which is
Guaranteed by the Company) whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or
is created after the date of the Indenture, if that default results in the
acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity, and the
principal amount of any such Indebtedness which has been so accelerated
aggregates in excess of $25,000,000, or its foreign currency equivalent, without
such indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been
rescinded or annulled within 30 days after notice; or

          (f) failure by the Company to pay final judgments aggregating in
excess of $25,000,000 which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a
period of 60 days; or

          (g) the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the
Company by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in an involuntary case
under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency
or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian,
trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any
substantial part of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding up or
liquidation of the affairs of the Company, and the continuance of any such
decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

          (h) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case under the
Bankruptcy Code, or any other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency
or other similar law, or the consent by it to the entry of an order for relief
in an involuntary case under any such law or to the appointment of a receiver,
liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar
official) of the Company or of any substantial part of the property of the
Company, or the making by the Company of an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or the admission by the Company in writing of its inability to pay
its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the
Company in furtherance of any such action.

          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the events
specified in clauses (c) (d) or (f) above shall not constitute an Event of
Default unless there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the
Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by Holders of at least
25% in Principal Amount at Maturity of the Outstanding Notes, a written

                                       40
<PAGE>

notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and
stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder.

          SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default with respect to the
                        ------------
Notes (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h))
occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case, the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in Principal Amount at Maturity of the Outstanding Notes
may declare the Issue Price of and accrued Original Issue Discount, Contingent
Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of declaration on
all such Notes to be immediately due and payable, by a notice in writing to the
Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders). Upon such a declaration, such
Issue Price, Original Issue Discount, accrued Contingent Interest and Liquidated
Damages shall be due and payable immediately.

          If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) occurs, the
Issue Price of any accrued Original Issue Discount and accrued Contingent
Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the occurrence of such
event on all the Outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately
due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee
or any Holder.  Upon payment of such amounts with respect to all Outstanding
Notes and all other obligations of the Company under this Indenture and all of
the Outstanding Notes (including obligations under Section 7.07), all of the
Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall terminate.

          At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the
Notes has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due
has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the
Holders of a majority in Principal Amount at Maturity of the Notes then
Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and
annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with
respect to the Notes, other than the non-payment of any amounts due in respect
of the Notes which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration,
have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.04.

          No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any
right consequent thereon.

          SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is
                        --------------
continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment
of the Issue Price of or accrued Original Issue Discount or accrued Contingent
Interest, if any, or Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes or to enforce the
performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

          The Trustee may institute and maintain a suit or legal proceeding even
if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the
proceeding.  A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Noteholder 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.

                                       41
<PAGE>

          SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in
                        -----------------------
Principal Amount at Maturity of the Outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee
may on behalf of the Holders of all such Notes waive any past Default hereunder
and its consequences except (i) a Default in the payment of the Issue Price of,
accrued Original Issue Discount on or accrued Contingent Interest, if any, or
Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to the Notes, (ii) a Default arising
from the failure to redeem, purchase or repurchase any Note when required
pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, or (iii) a Default in respect of a
provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each
Noteholder affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent
right.

          SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in
                        -------------------
Principal Amount at Maturity of the Outstanding Notes may direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, and the
Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not
inconsistent with such direction. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any
direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 7.01,
that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other
Holder or that would subject the Trustee to personal liability, unless the
Trustee is offered indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it.

          SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits. Except as provided in Section 6.07,
                        -------------------
no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes
unless:

          (1) the Holder previously gave the Trustee written notice stating that
an Event of Default is continuing;

          (2) the Holders of at least 25%, in Principal Amount at Maturity of
the Outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the
remedy;

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

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

          (5) the Holders of a majority in Principal Amount at Maturity of the
Outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the
request during such 60-day period;

it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any
right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of
this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such
Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other
of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the
manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such
Holders.

                                       42
<PAGE>

          SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding
                        ------------------------------------
any other provision of this Indenture, the right of each Holder of a Note to
receive payment of the Issue Price of, accrued Original Issue Discount and
accrued Contingent Interest, if any, on, and Liquidated Damages, if any, with
respect to the Notes held by such Holder, on or after the Maturity of such Note,
or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after Maturity or
the right to convert the Notes as provided herein, shall not be impaired or
affected without the consent of such Holder.

          SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default
                        --------------------------
specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may
recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the
Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any
unpaid amounts (including Contingent Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages,
if any, to the extent lawful)) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

          SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
                        --------------------------------

          In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation,
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other
judicial proceedings, or any voluntary or involuntary case under the Bankruptcy
Code, relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes or the
Property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee
(irrespective of whether the principal of such series of Notes shall then be due
and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective
of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment
of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by
intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

          (i) to file and prove a claim for the entire Principal Amount at
     Maturity and any other amounts owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes and
     to file such 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 of the Holders allowed in such
     judicial proceeding, and

          (ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
     deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian, liquidator, sequestrator (or
other similar official) in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each
Holder 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 Holders, to pay to
the Trustee any amount due 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 7.07.

          Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or
the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote respect of
the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

                                       43
<PAGE>

          SECTION 6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money or
                        ----------
property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in
the following order:

          FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

          SECOND: to Noteholders for amounts due and unpaid on any Notes for
the Issue Price and accrued Original Issue Discount and accrued Contingent
Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for
the Issue Price and accrued Original Issue Discount and accrued Contingent
Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any; and

          THIRD: to the Company.

          The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to
Noteholders pursuant to this Section.  At least 15 days before such record date,
the Trustee shall mail to each Noteholder and the Company a notice that states
the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

          SECTION 6.11. 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 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 does not apply to a suit by the
Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of
more than 10% in Principal Amount at Maturity of the Notes.

          SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company (to the
                        --------------------------------
extent it may lawfully do so) shall 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, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which
may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company
(to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit
or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the
execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and
permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

                                   ARTICLE 7

                                    TRUSTEE

          SECTION 7.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
                        -----------------------------------

          (a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

                                       44
<PAGE>

          (i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties
     as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants
     or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; 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, but in
     the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions
     hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the
     Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or
     not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not
     confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other
     facts stated therein).

          (b) In case 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/her own affairs.

          (c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the
Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure
to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

          (i) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of
     Subsection (a) of this Section 7.01;

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

          (iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action
     taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to any Notes in
     good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in
     the Principal Amount at Maturity of the Outstanding Notes relating to the
     time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
     available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon
     the Trustee, under this Indenture.

          (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) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of
this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or
affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this
Section.

          SECTION 7.02. Notice of Defaults.
                        ------------------

                                       45
<PAGE>

          Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with
respect to the Notes, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of such
Notes, notice of such Default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such
Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the
case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or
interest and Additional Interest, if any, on any Note, the Trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors,
the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible
Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such
notice is in the interest of the Holders; and provided, further, that in the
case of any Default of the character specified in Section 6.01(c) and 6.01(d),
no notice of such Default to Holders as described therein shall be given until
at least 30 and 60 days after the occurrence thereof, respectively.

          SECTION 7.03. Certain Rights of Trustee.
                        -------------------------

          Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01:

          (a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting
or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness, or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper
party or parties;

          (b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by a Company Order and any resolution of the Board of
Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

          (c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall
deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence
be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate;

          (d) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the
advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

          (e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of
any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have
offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the
costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with
such request or direction;

          (f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture,
note, other evidence of Indebtedness or other paper or document, but the
Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into
such facts or matters as it may see fit; if the Trustee shall determine to make
such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the
books, records and

                                       46
<PAGE>

premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of
the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by
reason of such inquiry of investigation;

          (g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
attorneys reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or
attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

          (h) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or
omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be
authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by
this Indenture;

          (i) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or
Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual
knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a
default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee,
and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture;

          (j) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given
to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its rights to be indemnified, are
extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities
hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act
hereunder; and

          (k) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers'
Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers
authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture,
which Officers' Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an
Officer's Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any
such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

          SECTION 7.04. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes.
                        -------------------------------------------------

          The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee's
certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company,
and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility
for their correctness. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent makes
any representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of
any Notes. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable
for the use or application by the Company of any Notes or the proceeds thereof.


          SECTION 7.05. May Hold Notes.
                        --------------

          The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, the Registrar
or any other agent of the company, in its individual or any other capacity, may
become the owner or pledgee of Notes, and, subject to Sections 7.08 and 7.13,
may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it
were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Registrar or such other
agent.

          SECTION 7.06. Money Held in Trust.
                        -------------------

                                       47
<PAGE>

          Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law.  The Trustee shall be
under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as
otherwise agreed to in writing with the Company.

          SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Reimbursement.
                        ------------------------------

          The Company agrees:

          (a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as the
Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree to in writing, for all
services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by
any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express
trust);

          (b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this
Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and
disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement
or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and

          (c) to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for,
and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or
expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, or measured or determined
by, the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or bad faith on its
part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of
this trust or performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and
expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company
or any Holder or any Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

          As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company
under this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes upon
all Property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds
held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest
on the Notes.

          If the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with
an Event of Default under Section 6.01(g) or Section 6.01(h), the Trustee's
expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) and its
compensation for such services, are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other
similar law.

          The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the termination of
this Indenture.

          SECTION 7.08. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
                        ---------------------------------------

          If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within
the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the
Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act.

                                       48
<PAGE>

          SECTION 7.09. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
                        ---------------------------------------

          There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be:

          (a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States of America, any state or territory thereof or the District of
Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, and
subject to supervision or examination by Federal, state, territorial or District
of Columbia authority, or

          (b) a corporation or other Person organized and doing business under
the laws of a foreign government that is permitted to act as Trustee pursuant to
a rule, regulation or order of the Commission, authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust powers, and subject to supervision or examination by
authority of such foreign government or a political subdivision thereof
substantially equivalent to supervision or examination applicable to United
States institutional trustees,

in either case having a combined capital and surplus of at least $150,000,000.
If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law
or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then
for the purposes of this Section 7.09, the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth
in its most recent report of condition so published.  Neither the Company nor
any Affiliate of the Company shall serve as Trustee hereunder.  If at any time
the Trustee shall cease to be eligible to serve as Trustee hereunder pursuant to
the provisions of this Section 7.09, it shall resign immediately in the manner
and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

          SECTION 7.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
                        -------------------------------------------------

          (a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 7.11.

          (b) The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee
shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of
such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense
of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Trustee.

          (c) The Trustee may be removed at any time by Noteholder Act (as
defined in Section 12.07) of the Holders of a majority in Principal Amount at
Maturity of the Outstanding Notes, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.
If any instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been
delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of notice of such
removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company,
any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

          (d) If at any time:

          (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act pursuant to Section 7.08 hereof after written request therefor by
the Company or by any

                                       49
<PAGE>

Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of any Note for at least six months,
unless the Trustee's duty to resign is stayed in accordance with the provisions
of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act; or

          (2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 7.09 hereof
and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any
such Holder; or

          (3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or a decree or order
for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been
entered in respect of the Trustee in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy
Code, or any other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
law, or a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall
have been entered for the appointment of a receiver, custodian, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Trustee or of
its property or affairs, or any public officer shall take charge or control of
the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
conservation, winding up or liquidation; or

          (4) the Trustee shall commence a voluntary case under Bankruptcy Code,
or any other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law
or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver,
custodian, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar
official) of the Trustee or its property or affairs, or shall make an assignment
for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its
debts generally as they become due, or shall take corporate action in
furtherance of any such action,

then, in any such case, (A) the company by a Board Resolution may remove the
Trustee with respect to the Notes, or (B) subject to Section 6.11, any Holder
who has been a bona fide Holder of any Note for at least six months may, on
behalf of such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a
successor Trustee for the Notes.

          (e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of
acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, the
Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a
successor Trustee. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or
incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee shall be
appointed by Noteholder Act of the Holders of a majority in Principal Amount at
Maturity of all the Outstanding Notes delivered to the Company and the retiring
Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance
of such appointment in accordance with Section 7.11, become the successor
Trustee and to that extent replace the successor Trustee appointed by the
Company. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Company or
the Holders and shall have accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter
provided, any Holder that has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six
months may, subject to Section 6.11, on behalf of himself and all others
similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Trustee.

          (f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal
of the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee by mailing written
notice of such resignation, removal and appointment by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, to the Holders as their

                                       50
<PAGE>

names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include
the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Notes and the address of
its Corporate Trust Office.

          SECTION 7.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
                        --------------------------------------

          (a) In the event of an appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee,
each such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver
to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such
appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee
shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed
or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and
duties of the retiring Trustee but, on request of the Company or the successor
Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and
deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights,
powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer and
deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such former
Trustee hereunder, subject to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 7.07.

          (b) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall
execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred
to in paragraph (a) of this Section.

          (c) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the
time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible
under this Article and under the Trust Indenture Act.

          SECTION 7.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
                        --------------------------------------------------
Business.
--------

          Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust
business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder,
provided that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under
this Article and under the Trust Indenture Act, without the execution or filing
of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.  In
case any Notes shall have been authenticated, but not delivered by the Trustee
then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such
authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Notes so
authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself
authenticated such Notes.  In the event that any Notes shall not have been
authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may
authenticate and deliver such Notes, in either its own name or that of its
predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture
provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

          SECTION 7.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
                        -------------------------------------------------

          The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture
Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act.  A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be
subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated
therein.

                                       51
<PAGE>

          SECTION 7.14.  Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
                         -----------------------------------

          At any time when any of the Notes remain Outstanding, the Trustee may
appoint an Authenticating Agent or Authenticating Agents with respect to one or
more series of Notes which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee
to authenticate Notes and the Trustee shall give written notice of such
appointment to all Holders of Notes with respect to which such Authenticating
Agent will serve.  Notes so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of
this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if
authenticated by the Trustee hereunder.  Any such appointment shall be evidenced
by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, and
a copy of such instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company.  Wherever
reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Notes
by the Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference
shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee
by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on
behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent.  Each Authenticating Agent
shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any
state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as
Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than
$50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state
authority.  If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 7.14, the combined
capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published.  If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.14, it shall resign immediately
in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 7.14.

          Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the
corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall
continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be
otherwise eligible under this Section 7.14, without the execution or filing of
any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent.

          An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written
notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company.  The Trustee may at any time
terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof
to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company.  Upon receiving such a notice
of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 7.14, the Trustee may appoint a successor
Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give
written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Notes with respect to which
such Authenticating Agent will serve, in the manner provided for in this Section
7.14.  Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment
hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its
predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an
Authenticating Agent.  No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed
unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 7.14.

                                       52
<PAGE>

          The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to
time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 7.14.

          If an appointment with respect to any Notes is made pursuant to this
Section 7.14, such Notes may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee's
certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the
following form:

          This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture.

          Dated: ___________________
          The Bank of New York

          By: ______________________
          as Authenticating Agent

          By: ______________________
          Authorized Signatory


                                   ARTICLE 8

               HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

          SECTION 8.01.  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of
                         -------------------------------------------------
Holders.
-------
          The Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

          (a) not less than ten days prior to any Redemption Date, Purchase
Date, Change of Control Purchase Date and at Stated Maturity of the Notes, a
list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the Holders of any Notes for which such payment date applies, as of
the record date pertains to such payment date, and

          (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within
30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar
form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list
is furnished;

provided, however, that if and so long as the Trustee may be the Registrar for
any of the Notes, no such list need be furnished with respect to such Notes.

          SECTION 8.02.  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
                         ------------------------------------------------------

          (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 8.01 and the names and
addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Registrar, if so
acting. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section
8.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

                                       53
<PAGE>

          (b) Holders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this
Indenture or under any Notes.

          (c) Each Holder of any Notes, by receiving and holding the same,
agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee
shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as
to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Section 8.02(b),
regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the
Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant
to a request made under Section 8.02(b).

          SECTION 8.03.  Reports by the Trustee.
                         ----------------------

          (a) Within 60 days after June 6 of each year commencing with the year
2002, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Notes, as provided in
Subsection (c) of this Section 8.03, a brief report dated as of such June 6 if
and to the extent required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

          (b) The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the
Trust Indenture Act.

          (c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of its transmission
to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which
the Notes are then listed, with the SEC and also with the Company. The Company
shall promptly notify the Trustee of any stock exchange upon which any Notes are
listed and of any delisting thereof.

          SECTION 8.04.  Reports by the Company.
                         ----------------------

          The Company shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the
Company is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports
and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions
of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and
regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the SEC
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  The Company and
any other obligor on any Notes shall also comply with the other provisions of
Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

          Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is
for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not
constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or
determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's
compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is
entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).

                                       54
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 9

                             DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

          SECTION 9.01.  Discharge of Liability on Notes. This Indenture shall
                         -------------------------------
cease to be of further effect, and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense
of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture, when

          (a) either

          (1) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than
Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or
paid as provided in Section 2.08) have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation; or

          (2) all such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation have become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity or upon any
Redemption Date, Change in Control Purchase Date, Purchase Date or Conversion
Date, and the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee,
the Paying Agent or the Conversion Agent, as applicable, as trust funds in trust
an amount of money or cash equivalents sufficient to pay and discharge the
entire Indebtedness evidenced by such Notes not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation; and

          (b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Company.

          Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company's obligations
in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 7.07 and 7.10, if money or cash
equivalents shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (2)
of clause (a) of this Section 9.01, shall survive until the Notes have been paid
in full.  Thereafter, the Company's obligations in Section 7.07 shall survive.
Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company's and each Holder's
obligations under Section 2.16 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of
the Indenture.

          SECTION 9.02.  Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in
                         --------------------------
trust all money deposited with it pursuant to Section 9.01. It shall apply the
deposited money through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture
to the payment to the Persons entitled thereto .

          SECTION 9.03.  Repayment to Company. Subject to any applicable
                         --------------------
abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the
Company upon written request any money or cash equivalents held by them that
remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Noteholders entitled to the
money or cash equivalents must look to the Company for payment as general
creditors.

                                       55
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE 10

                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

          SECTION 10.01.  Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
                          --------------------------------------------------

          Without the consent of any of the Holders, the Company, when
authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to
time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form
satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

          (a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and
the assumption by such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and
contained in any Notes, including in accordance with Section 11.14; or

          (b) to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company for the
protection or benefit of the Holders of the Notes; or

          (c) to add any additional Events of Default; or

          (d) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of
certificated Notes; or

          (e) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes and to add to or
change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide
for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one
Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 7.11(b); or

          (f) to secure the Notes; or

          (g) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision
herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein or to make any
other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this
Indenture; provided such actions shall not adversely affect the interests of the
Holders in any material respect; or

          (h) to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to
effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act.

          SECTION 10.02.  Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.
                          -----------------------------------------------
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in Principal Amount
at Maturity of the Outstanding Notes which are affected by such indenture
supplemental hereto, by Noteholder Act of said Holders delivered to the Company
and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the
Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the
purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any
of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of
the Holders; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall,
without the consent of each Holder of Outstanding Notes affected thereby:

          (1) change the Stated Maturity of the Notes;

                                       56
<PAGE>

          (2) reduce the Principal Amount at Maturity, Issue Price, Redemption
Price or Purchase Price (including Change in Control Purchase Price) on the
Notes;

          (3) make any Note payable in money or cash equivalents other than that
stated in such Note;

          (4) alter the manner of calculation or rate of accrual of Original
Issue Discount or interest (including Contingent Interest, if any, and
Liquidated Damages, if any) on the Notes or extend the time of payment of any
interest of any such amount;

          (5) except as otherwise permitted or contemplated by Article Three or
Article Eleven, (i) adversely affect the right to require the Company to
purchase the Notes or (ii) adversely affect the right of any Holder to convert
Notes;

          (6) reduce the percentage in aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity of
the Outstanding Notes the consent of whose Holders is required to modify or
amend this Indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required to waive any
past Default; or

          (7) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment with respect to, or conversion of, the Notes.

          It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of the Notes
under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental
indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance
thereof.

          SECTION 10.03.  Execution of Supplemental Indentures.  In executing,
                          ------------------------------------
or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture
permitted by this Article Ten or the modifications thereby of the trusts created
by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to
Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel
stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or
permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to,
enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

          SECTION 10.04.  Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
                          ---------------------------------

          Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article
Ten, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such
supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes, and
every Holder of Notes theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered
hereunder shall be bound thereby.

          SECTION 10.05.  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.  Every
                          -----------------------------------
supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

          SECTION 10.06.  Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures.  Notes
                          ---------------------------------------------
authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture
pursuant to this Article Ten may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a
notation in form approved by the

                                       57
<PAGE>

Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the
Company shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion
of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any such supplemental indenture
may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee in exchange for the Outstanding Notes.

                                  ARTICLE 11

                                  CONVERSION

          SECTION 11.01.  Conversion Privilege.  Except as otherwise provided in
                          --------------------
this Article 11, a Holder of a Note may convert such Note into Shares at any
time if one of the following conditions is satisfied:

     (a) On or after September 4, 2001, but prior to the Maturity Date, a Holder
may convert a Note into Shares (i) the first time that the Sale Price per Share
on the principal national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed,
for at least 20 trading days in any period of 30 consecutive trading days,
exceeds 120% of the Accreted Conversion Price per Share on that thirtieth
trading day; or (ii) during the five Business Day period following any 10
consecutive trading day period in which the average of the trading prices for
the Notes for that period was less than 105% of the Average Conversion Value for
the Notes during that 10 consecutive trading day period;

     (b) A Holder may convert a Note into Shares if the Note has been called for
redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 at any time prior to the
close of business two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date;

     (c) On or after September 4, 2001 , but prior to the Maturity Date, a
Holder may convert Notes into Shares during any period in which the respective
credit ratings assigned to the Notes, or, if the Notes are not rated, to any of
the Company's other senior unsecured Indebtedness, by either Moody's Investor
Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Rating Group, is below Baa3 or BBB-,
respectively, or, if neither rating agency is rating any senior unsecured
Indebtedness of the Company; or

     (d) Subject to the time limitations listed in the next paragraph, a Holder
may convert Notes into Shares if (i) a distribution of Capital Stock referred to
in Section 11.07 occurs or (ii) a distribution referred to in Section 11.08
occurs.

     In the case of the foregoing clauses (d)(i) and (ii), the Company must
notify the Holders at least 20 days prior to the date on which the Ex-Dividend
Time lapses (the "Ex-Dividend Date") for such distribution. Once the Company has
given such notice, Holders may surrender their Notes for conversion at any time
on or after September 4, 2001, but prior to the Maturity Date, until the earlier
of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Ex-Dividend Date or
the Company's announcement that such distribution will not take place.

     In the event the Company is a party to a consolidation, merger or binding
share exchange pursuant to which the Shares would be converted into cash,
securities or other Property, a Holder of a Note may convert such Note at any
time from and after the date which is 15 days prior to the

                                       58
<PAGE>

anticipated effective date of the transaction until 15 days after the actual
effective date of such transaction. After the effective date of such
transaction, the right to convert a Note into Shares will be changed into a
right to convert such Note into the kind and amount of cash, securities or other
Property which the Holder would have received if such Holder had converted its
Note immediately prior to the transaction.

          If the Note is being called for redemption as described in clause (b)
above, the Holder may convert it at any time before the close of business on the
second Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date. A Note in respect
of which a Holder has delivered a Purchase Notice or Change in Control Purchase
Notice exercising the option of such Holder to require the Company to purchase
such Note may be converted only if such Purchase Notice or Change in Control
Purchase Notice is withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

          Subject to the next preceding paragraph, the Company shall deliver
through the Conversion Agent to Holders surrendering Notes as soon as
practicable after the Conversion Date Shares issuable upon conversion of such
Notes.

          The number of Shares issuable upon conversion of a Note per $1,000 of
Principal Amount at Maturity thereof (the "Conversion Rate") shall be that set
forth in the Notes, subject to adjustment as herein set forth.

          A Holder may convert a portion of the Principal Amount at Maturity of
a Note if the portion is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. Provisions of
this Indenture that apply to conversion of all of a Note also apply to
conversion of a portion of a Note.

          "Average Quoted Price" means the average of the Sale Prices of the
Shares for the shorter of:

          (i)   30 consecutive trading days ending on the last full trading day
     prior to the Time of Determination with respect to the rights, warrants or
     options or distribution in respect of which the Average Quoted Price is
     being calculated, or

          (ii)  the period (x) commencing on the date next succeeding the first
     public announcement of (a) the future issuance of rights, warrants or
     options or (b) the future distribution, in each case, in respect of which
     the Average Quoted Price is being calculated and (y) proceeding through the
     last full trading day prior to the Time of Determination with respect to
     the rights, warrants or options or distribution in respect of which the
     Average Quoted Price is being calculated (excluding days within such
     period, if any, which are not trading days), or

          (iii) the period, if any, (x) commencing on the later of (a) the date
     of this Indenture and (b) the date next succeeding the Ex-Dividend Time
     with respect to the next preceding issuance of rights, warrants or options
     or distribution, in each case, for which an adjustment is required by the
     provisions of Section 11.06(4), 11.07 or 11.08 and (y) proceeding through
     the last full trading day prior to the Time of Determination with respect
     to the rights, warrants or options or distribution in respect of which the
     Average Quoted Price is being calculated (excluding days within such
     period, if any, which are not trading days).

                                       59
<PAGE>

          In the event that the Ex-Dividend Time (or in the case of a
subdivision, combination or reclassification, the effective date with respect
thereto), with respect to a dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification to which Section 11.06(1), (2), (3) or (5) applies, occurs
during the period applicable for calculating "Average Quoted Price" pursuant to
the definition in the preceding sentence, "Average Quoted Price" shall be
calculated for such period in a manner determined by the Board of Directors to
reflect the impact of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification on the Sale Price of the Shares during such period.

          "Time of Determination" means the time and date of the earlier of (i)
the determination of stockholders entitled to receive rights, warrants or
options or a distribution, in each case, to which Section 11.07 or 11.08 applies
and (ii) the time ("Ex-Dividend Time") immediately prior to the commencement of
"ex-dividend" trading for such rights, warrants or options or distribution on
the New York Stock Exchange or such other national or regional exchange or
market on which the Shares are then listed or quoted.

          The term "trading day" means a day during which trading in securities
generally occurs on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the applicable security
is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on the Nasdaq National Market
System, or if the applicable security is not quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market System, on the principal other national or regional securities exchange
on which the applicable security is then listed or, if the applicable security
is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange, on the principal
other market on which the applicable security is then traded.

          SECTION 11.02.  Conversion Procedure.  To convert a Note a Holder must
                          --------------------
satisfy the requirements set forth herein and in the Notes. The date on which
the Holder satisfies all those requirements is the conversion date (the
"Conversion Date"). Except as otherwise provided below, the Company shall
deliver to the Holder through the Conversion Agent as soon as practicable after
the Conversion Date a certificate for the number of Shares issuable upon the
conversion and cash in lieu of any fractional Share determined pursuant to
Section 11.03. If the Company shall have notified the Holder that all of such
Note shall be converted into Shares, the Company shall deliver to the Holder
through the Conversion Agent no later than the fifth Business Day following the
Conversion Date a certificate for the number of Shares issuable upon the
conversion and cash in lieu of any fractional Share determined pursuant to
Section 11.03. The Company shall deliver to the Holder surrendering such Note,
together with a certificate for the number of Shares issuable upon the
conversion the amount of cash payable in lieu of any fractional Share determined
pursuant to Section 11.03. The Person in whose name the certificate representing
the Shares issuable upon conversion is registered shall be treated as a
stockholder of record on and after the Conversion Date; provided, however, that
no surrender of a Note on any date when the stock transfer books of the Company
shall be closed shall be effective to constitute the Person or Persons entitled
to receive the Shares upon such conversion as the record holder or holders of
such Shares on such date, but such surrender shall be effective to constitute
the Person or Persons entitled to receive such Shares as the record holder or
holders thereof for all purposes at the close of business on the next succeeding
day on which such stock transfer books are open; such conversion shall be at the
Conversion Rate in effect on the date that such Note shall have been surrendered
for conversion, as if the stock transfer books of the Company had not been
closed. Upon conversion of a Note, such Person shall no longer be a Holder of
such Note and such Note shall be cancelled and no longer Outstanding.

                                       60
<PAGE>

          No payment or adjustment will be made for dividends on, or other
distributions with respect to, any Shares except as provided in this Article 11.
On conversion of a Note, that portion of accrued Original Issue Discount
attributable to the period from the Issue Date through the Conversion Date with
respect to the converted Note shall not be cancelled, extinguished or forfeited,
but rather shall be deemed to be paid in full to the Holder thereof through
delivery of the Shares (together with the cash payment, if any, in lieu of
fractional Shares) in exchange for the Note being converted pursuant to the
provisions hereof; and the fair market value of such Shares (together with any
such cash payment in lieu of fractional Shares) shall be treated as delivered
pro rata, to the extent thereof, first in exchange for Original Issue Discount
accrued through the Conversion Date, and the balance, if any, of the fair market
value of such Shares shall be treated as delivered in exchange for the Issue
Price of the Note being converted pursuant to the provisions hereof. As of the
Conversion Date, Contingent Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any,
shall cease to accrue on such Note.

          If the Holder converts more than one Note at the same time, the number
of Shares issuable or the amount of cash paid upon the conversion shall be based
on the total Principal Amount at Maturity of the Notes converted.

          If the last day on which a Note may be converted is a Legal Holiday in
a place where the Conversion Agent is located, the Note may be surrendered to
such Conversion Agent on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday.

          Upon surrender of a Note that is converted in part, the Company shall
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder, a new
Note in an authorized denomination equal in Principal Amount at Maturity to the
unconverted portion of the Note surrendered.

          SECTION 11.03.  Fractional Shares.  The Company will not issue a
                          -----------------
fractional Share upon conversion of a Note. Instead, the Company will deliver
cash for the current market value of the fractional Share. The current market
value of a fractional Share shall be determined, to the nearest 1/1,000th of a
Share, by multiplying the last reported Sale Price on the last trading day prior
to the Conversion Date by the fractional amount and rounding the product to the
nearest whole cent. If the Holder converts more than one Note at the same time,
the amount of cash paid for the current market value of the fractional Share
upon the conversion shall be based on the total Principal Amount at Maturity of
the Notes converted.

          SECTION 11.04.  Taxes on Conversion.  If a Holder converts a Note, the
                          -------------------
Company shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on
the issue of Shares upon the conversion. However, the Holder shall pay any such
tax which is due because the Holder requests the Shares to be issued in a name
other than the Holder's name. The Conversion Agent may refuse to deliver the
certificates representing the Shares being issued in a name other than the
Holder's name until the Conversion Agent receives a sum that the Company deems
to be sufficient to pay any tax which will be due because the Shares are to be
issued in a name other than the Holder's name. Nothing herein shall preclude any
tax withholding required by law or regulations.

                                       61
<PAGE>

          SECTION 11.05.  Company to Provide Stock.  The Company shall, prior to
                          ------------------------
issuance of any Shares under this Article 11, and from time to time as may be
necessary, reserve out of their authorized but unissued or treasury shares a
sufficient number of Shares to permit the conversion of the Notes.

          All Shares delivered upon conversion of the Notes shall be newly
issued shares or treasury shares, shall be duly and validly issued and fully
paid and nonassessable, and shall be free from preemptive rights and free of any
lien or adverse claim.

          The Company and the Trustee shall endeavor promptly to comply with all
Federal and state securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of Shares
upon conversion of Notes, if any, including the addition of any and all
restrictive legends that are required to appear on the face of the Shares, and
shall list or cause to have quoted such Shares on each United States National
Securities Exchange or in the automated over-the-counter market in the United
States on which the Shares are then listed or quoted.

          SECTION 11.06.  Adjustment for Change In Capital Stock.  If, after
                          --------------------------------------
the Issue Date of the Notes, the Company:

          (1) pays a dividend or makes a distribution on its Shares (or any
component of the Shares) payable in Shares of its Capital Stock;

          (2) subdivides its outstanding Shares (or any component of the Shares)
into a greater number of Shares;

          (3) combines its outstanding Shares into a smaller number of Shares;

          (4) pays a dividend or makes a distribution on its Shares payable in
Shares of its Capital Stock (other than Shares or rights, warrants or options
for its Capital Stock); and

          (5) issues by reclassification of its Shares (or any component of the
Shares) any Shares (other than rights, warrants or options for its Capital
Stock),

then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to such action shall be
adjusted so that the Holder of a Note thereafter converted may receive the
number of Shares and/or Capital Stock of the Company which such Holder would
have owned immediately following such action if such Holder had converted the
Note into Shares immediately prior to such action.

          The adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record
date in the case of a dividend or distribution and immediately after the
effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or reclassification.

If after an adjustment a Holder of a Note upon conversion of such Note may
receive Shares of two or more classes of Capital Stock, the Conversion Rate
shall thereafter be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of an action taken
with respect to any such class of Capital Stock as is contemplated by this
Article 11 with respect to the Shares, on terms comparable to those applicable
to Shares in this Article 11.

                                       62
<PAGE>

          SECTION 11.07.  Adjustment for Rights Issue.  If, after the Issue
                          ---------------------------
Date of the Notes, the Company distributes any rights, warrants or options to
all holders of Shares entitling them, for a period expiring within 60 days after
the record date for such distribution, to subscribe for or purchase Shares at a
price per Share less than the Market Price as of the Time of Determination, the
Conversion Rate shall be adjusted, subject to the provisions of the last
paragraph of this Section 11.07, in accordance with the formula

                                   R x (O + N)
                           R' = ----------------
                                O + (N x P) / M)

where:

          R' = the adjusted Conversion Rate.

          R = the current Conversion Rate.

          O = the number of Shares outstanding on the record date for the
distribution to which this Section 11.07 is being applied.

          N = the number of additional Shares offered pursuant to the
distribution.

          P = the exercise price per share of such rights, warrants or options.

          (1) M = the Average Quoted Price.

          The Board of Directors shall determine fair market values for the
purposes of this Section 11.07.

          The adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record
date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive the rights,
warrants or options to which this Section 11.07 applies.  If all the Shares
subject to such rights, warrants or options have not been issued when such
rights, warrants or options expire, then the Conversion Rate shall promptly be
readjusted to the Conversion Rate which would then be in effect had the
adjustment upon the issuance of such rights, warrants or options been made on
the basis of the actual number of Shares issued upon the exercise of such
rights, warrants or options.

          No adjustment shall be made under this Section 11.07 if the
application of the formula stated above in this Section 11.07 would result in a
value of R' that is equal to or less than the value of R.

          SECTION 11.08.  Adjustment for Other Distributions.  If, after the
                          ----------------------------------
Issue Date of the Notes, the Company distributes to all holders of
Shares any of its assets or debt securities or any rights, warrants or options
to purchase securities of the Company (including securities or cash, but
excluding (x) distributions of Capital Stock referred to in Section 11.06 and
distributions of rights, warrants or options referred to in Section 11.07 and
(y) cash dividends or other cash distributions that are paid out of current net
earnings or earnings retained in the business as shown on the books of the
Company unless such cash dividends or other cash

                                       63
<PAGE>

distributions are Extraordinary Cash Dividends), the Conversion Rate shall be
adjusted, subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of this Section 11.08,
in accordance with the formula:

                                     R x M
                                R' = -----
                                     M - F

where:

          R' = the adjusted Conversion Rate.

          R = the current Conversion Rate.

          M = the Average Quoted Price.

          F = the fair market value (on the record date for the distribution to
which this Section 11.08 applies) of the assets or securities or rights,
warrants or options to be distributed in respect of each Share in the
distribution to which this Section 11.08 is being applied (including, in the
case of cash dividends or other cash distributions giving rise to an adjustment,
all such cash distributed concurrently).

          The Board of Directors shall determine fair market values for the
purposes of this Section 11.08.

          The adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record
date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive the distribution
to which this Section 11.08 applies.

          For purposes of this Section 11.08, the term "Extraordinary Cash
Dividend" shall mean any cash dividend with respect to the Shares the amount of
which, together with any cash dividends paid in the preceding year period,
exceeds on a per share basis 10% of the Sale Price of the Shares on the last
trading day preceding the date of declaration by the Board of Directors of the
cash dividend with respect to which this provision is being applied, then such
cash dividend, shall be deemed to be an Extraordinary Cash Dividend and for
purposes of applying the formula set forth above in this Section 11.08, the
value of "F" shall be equal to the aggregate amount of such cash dividends for
the one year period.  In making the determinations required above, the amount of
cash dividends paid on a per Share basis shall be appropriately adjusted to
reflect the occurrence during such period of any event described in Section
11.06.

          In the event that, with respect to any distribution to which this
Section 11.08 would otherwise apply, the difference "M-F" as defined in the
above formula is less than $1.00 or "F" is equal to or greater than "M", then
the adjustment provided by this Section 11.08 shall not be made and in lieu
thereof the provisions of Section 11.14 shall apply to such distribution.

          SECTION 11.09.  When Adjustment May Be Deferred or Not Made.  No
                          -------------------------------------------
adjustment in the Conversion Rate need be made unless the adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Conversion Rate. Any
adjustments that are not made shall be carried forward and taken into account in
any subsequent adjustment.

                                       64
<PAGE>

          All calculations under this Article 11 shall be made to the nearest
cent or to the nearest 1/1,000th of a share, as the case may be.

          SECTION 11.10.  When No Adjustment Required.  No adjustment need be
                          ---------------------------
made for a transaction referred to in Section 11.06, 11.07, 11.08 or 11.14 if
Noteholders are to participate in the transaction on a basis and with notice
that the Board of Directors determines to be fair and appropriate in light of
the basis and notice on which holders of Shares participate in the transaction.
Such participation by Noteholders may include participation upon conversion
provided that an adjustment shall be made at such time as the Noteholders are no
longer entitled to participate.

          No adjustment need be made for rights to purchase Shares pursuant to
an Company plan for reinvestment of dividends or interest.

          No adjustment need be made for a change in the par value or no par
value of the Shares and for accrued Original Issue Discount.

          SECTION 11.11.  Notice of Adjustment.  Whenever the Conversion Rate
                          --------------------
is adjusted, the Company shall promptly mail to Noteholders by first-class mail
a notice of the adjustment. The Company shall file with the Trustee and the
Conversion Agent such notice and a certificate from the Company's independent
public accountants briefly stating the facts requiring the adjustment and the
manner of computing it. The certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the
adjustment is correct. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be
under any duty or responsibility with respect to any such certificate except to
exhibit the same to any Holder desiring inspection thereof.

          SECTION 11.12.  Voluntary Increase.  The Company from time to time
                          ------------------
may increase the Conversion Rate by any amount for any period of time. Whenever
the Conversion Rate is increased, the Company shall mail to Noteholders by
first-class mail and file with the Trustee and the Conversion Agent a notice of
the increase. The Company shall mail the notice at least 15 days before the date
the increased Conversion Rate takes effect. The notice shall state the increased
Conversion Rate and the period it will be in effect.

          A voluntary increase of the Conversion Rate does not change or adjust
the Conversion Rate otherwise in effect for purposes of Section 11.06, 11.07 or
11.08.

          SECTION 11.13.  Notice of Certain Transactions.  If:
                          ------------------------------

          (1) the Company takes any action that would require an adjustment in
the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 11.06, 11.07 or 11.08 (unless no
adjustment is to occur pursuant to Section 11.10); or

          (2) there is a liquidation or dissolution of the Company,

then the Company shall mail to Noteholders by first-class mail and file with the
Trustee and the Conversion Agent a notice stating the proposed record date for a
dividend or distribution. The

                                       65
<PAGE>

Company shall file and mail the notice at least 20 days before such date.
Failure to file or mail the notice or any defect in it shall not affect the
validity of the transaction.

          SECTION 11.14.  Reorganization of Company; Special Distributions.  If
                          ------------------------------------------------
the Company is a party to a transaction subject to Section 5.01 (other than a
transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation) or a binding
share exchange which reclassifies or changes its outstanding Shares, the Person
obligated to deliver securities, cash or other assets upon conversion of Notes
shall enter into a supplemental indenture.  If the issuer of securities
deliverable upon conversion of Notes is an Affiliate of the surviving
corporation, that issuer shall join in the supplemental indenture.

          The supplemental indenture shall provide that the Holder of a Note may
convert it into the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets which
such Holder would have received immediately after the consolidation, merger,
binding share exchange, conveyance, transfer or lease if such Holder had
converted the Note into Shares immediately before the effective date of the
transaction, assuming (to the extent applicable) that such Holder (i) was not a
constituent Person or an Affiliate of a constituent Person to such transaction;
(ii) made no election with respect thereto; and (iii) was treated alike with the
plurality of non-electing Holders.  The supplemental indenture shall include
provisions for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be
practical to the provisions for adjustments included in this Article 11.  The
surviving corporation shall mail to Noteholders a notice briefly describing the
supplemental indenture.

          In the event of a transaction subject to the last sentence of Section
5.01 in which the predecessor Company is not the Successor Company, the Notes
shall remain convertible into Shares in accordance with this Article 11.

          If this Section 11.14 applies, neither Section 11.06 nor Section 11.07
applies.

          If the Company makes a distribution to all holders of Shares of any of
its assets, or debt securities or any rights, warrants or options to purchase
securities of the Company that, but for the provisions of the last paragraph of
Section 11.08, would otherwise result in an adjustment in the Conversion Rate
pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.08, then, from and after the record
date for determining the holders of Shares entitled to receive the distribution,
a Holder of a Note that converts such Note in accordance with the provisions of
this Indenture shall upon such conversion be entitled to receive, in addition to
the Shares into which the Note is convertible, the kind and amount of
securities, cash or other assets comprising the distribution that such Holder
would have received if such Holder had converted the Note into Shares
immediately prior to the record date for determining the holders of Shares
entitled to receive the distribution.

          SECTION 11.15.  Company Determination Final.  Any determination that
                          ---------------------------
the Company or the Board of Directors must make pursuant to Section 11.03,
11.06, 11.07, 11.08, 11.09, 11.10, 11.14 or 11.17 is conclusive in the absence
of manifest error.

          SECTION 11.16.  Trustee's Adjustment Disclaimer.  The Trustee has
                          -------------------------------
no duty to determine when an adjustment under this Article 11 should be made,
how it should be made or

                                       66
<PAGE>

what it should be. The Trustee has no duty to determine whether a supplemental
indenture under Section 11.14 need be entered into or whether any provisions of
any supplemental indenture are correct. The Trustee shall not be accountable for
and makes no representation as to the validity or value of any securities or
assets issued upon conversion of Notes. The Trustee shall not be responsible for
the Company's failure to comply with this Article 11. Each Conversion Agent
shall have the same protection under this Section 11.16 as the Trustee.

          SECTION 11.17.  Simultaneous Adjustments.  In the event that this
                          ------------------------
Article 11 requires adjustments to the Conversion Rate under more than one of
Sections 11.06(4), 11.07 or 11.08, and the record dates for the distributions
giving rise to such adjustments shall occur on the same date, then such
adjustments shall be made by applying, first, the provisions of Section 11.06,
second, the provisions of Section 11.08 and, third, the provisions of Section
11.07.

          SECTION 11.18.  Successive Adjustments.  After an adjustment to the
                          ----------------------
Conversion Rate under this Article 11, any subsequent event requiring an
adjustment under this Article 11 shall cause an adjustment to the Conversion
Rate as so adjusted.

          SECTION 11.19.  Rights Issued in Respect of Shares Issued Upon
                          ----------------------------------------------
Conversion.  Each Share issued upon conversion of Notes pursuant to this Article
----------
11 shall be entitled to receive the appropriate number of common stock or
preferred stock purchase rights, as the case may be (the "Rights"), if any, and
the certificates representing the Shares issued upon such conversion shall bear
such legends, if any, in each case as may be provided by the terms of any rights
agreement adopted by the Company, as the same may be amended from time to time
(in each case, a "Rights Agreement"). Provided that such Rights Agreement
requires that each Share issued upon conversion of Notes at any time prior to
the distribution of separate certificates representing the Rights be entitled to
receive such Rights, then, notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this
Article 11, there shall not be any adjustment to the Conversion Rate as a result
of the issuance of Rights, the distribution of separate certificates
representing the Rights, the exercise or redemption of such Rights in accordance
with any such Rights Agreement, or the termination or invalidation of such
Rights.

          SECTION 11.20.  Restriction on Shares Issued Upon Conversion.  Shares
                          --------------------------------------------
to be issued upon conversion of Notes prior to the effectiveness of a
Shelf Registration shall be physically delivered in certificated form to the
holders converting such Notes and the certificate representing such Shares shall
bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

          "THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY
          ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED
          STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND,
          THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR
          OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE
          ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSON, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE NEXT
          SENTENCE.  BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST
          HEREIN, THE HOLDER: (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED
          INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED

                                       67
<PAGE>

          IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A "QIB"), (B) IT HAS ACQUIRED
          THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION
          S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED
          INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A) (1), (2), (3) 0R (7) OF
          REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN "IAI"), AND (2) AGREES THAT
          IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (i) TO
          THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (ii) TO A PERSON WHOM THE
          SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR
          FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
          RULE 144A, (iii) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS
          OF RULE 903 OR 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (iv) IN A
          TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES
          ACT, (v) TO AN IAI THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE
          WITH A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS
          RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE
          OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN
          AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SECURITIES LESS THAN $250,000, AN
          OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN
          COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (vi) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER
          EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT
          (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR
          (vii) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH
          CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE
          OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND AGREES
          THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY OR AN
          INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF
          THIS LEGEND.

               IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST
          THEREIN WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK
          THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE
          MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE.
          AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION", UNITED STATES" AND
          "U.S. PERSON" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF
          REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.  THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A
          PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF
          THIS SECURITY IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.  IN ANY
          CASE, THE HOLDER HEREOF WILL NOT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ENGAGE IN

                                       68
<PAGE>

          ANY HEDGING TRANSACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES EXCEPT AS
          PERMITTED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT."

unless removed in accordance with Section 11.20(b).

          (a) If (i) Shares to be issued upon conversion of a Note prior to the
effectiveness of a Shelf Registration are to be registered in a name other than
that of the Holder of such Note or (ii) Shares represented by a certificate
bearing the above legend are transferred subsequently by such Holder, then,
unless the Shelf Registration has become effective and such Shares are being
transferred pursuant to the Shelf Registration, the holder must deliver to the
transfer agent for the Shares a certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit
F as to compliance with the restrictions on transfer applicable to such Shares
and neither the transfer agent nor the registrar for the Shares shall be
required to register any transfer of such Shares not so accompanied by a
properly completed certificate.

          (b) Except in connection with a Shelf Registration, if certificates
representing Shares are issued upon the registration of transfer, exchange or
replacement of any other certificate representing Shares bearing the above
legend, or if a request is made to remove such legend from certificates
representing Shares, the certificates so issued shall bear the above legend, or
the above legend shall not be removed, as the case may be, unless there is
delivered to the Company such satisfactory evidence, which, in the case of a
transfer made pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, may include an
opinion of counsel, as may be reasonably required by the Company, that neither
the legend nor the restrictions on transfer set forth therein are required to
ensure that transfers thereof comply with the provisions of Rule 144A, Rule 144
or Regulation S under the Securities Act or that such Shares are securities that
are not "restricted" within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
Upon provision to the Company of such reasonably satisfactory evidence, the
Company shall cause the transfer agent for the Shares to countersign and deliver
certificates representing Shares that do not bear the legend.

                                  ARTICLE 12

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

          SECTION 12.01.  Trust Indenture Act Controls.  If any provision of
                          ----------------------------
this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is
required to be included in this Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, the
required provision shall control.

          SECTION 12.02.  Notices.  Any notice or communication shall be in
                          -------
writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or
certified, return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery, addressed as follows:

                                       69
<PAGE>

          If to the Company:

          Valassis Communications, Inc.
          19975 Victor Parkway
          Livonia, Michigan 48152
          Telecopy No.:  (734) 591-4462
          Attention:  General Counsel

          If to the Trustee:

          For payment, registration of transfer and exchange of the Notes:

          The Bank of New York
          101 Barclay Street, Floor 21 West
          New York, New York 10286
          Telephone:  (212) 815-5287
          Telecopy No.:  (212) 815-5915
          Attention: Corporate Trust Department

          The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Notices to the Trustee shall be effective only upon receipt.

          Any notice or communication mailed to a Noteholder shall be mailed to
the Noteholder at the Noteholder's address as it appears on the Registrar and
shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

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

          SECTION 12.03.  Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
                          -------------------------------------------
Noteholders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b) with
other Noteholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the
Notes.  The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the
protection of Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).

          SECTION 12.04.  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
                          --------------------------------------------------
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain
from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee:

          (1) an Officers' Certificate of the Company in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee 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

          (2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all
such conditions precedent have been complied with,

                                       70
<PAGE>

except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the
furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this
Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional
certificate or opinion need be furnished.

          SECTION 12.05.  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.  Each
                          ---------------------------------------------
certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or
condition provided for in this Indenture shall include:

          (1) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion
has read such covenant or condition;

          (2) 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;

          (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he/she 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

          (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

          SECTION 12.06.  When Notes Disregarded.  In determining whether the
                          ----------------------
Holders of the required Principal Amount at Maturity of Notes have concurred in
any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company, or by any Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with the Company, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
Outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only
Notes which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to
the foregoing, only Notes Outstanding at the time shall be considered in any
such determination.

          SECTION 12.07.  Acts of Holders.
                          ---------------

          (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by
Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly
appointed in writing, and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such
action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered
to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the " Noteholder Act" of the
Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such
instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any
purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01) conclusive in favor of
the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

          (b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by
law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying

                                       71
<PAGE>

that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the
execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity
other than such signer's individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit
shall also constitute sufficient proof of the signer's authority. The fact and
date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the
person executing the same, may also be proved in any manner which the Trustee
deems sufficient.

          (c) The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Security Register.

          (d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other Noteholder Act of the Holder of any Note shall bind every future
Holder of the same Note and the Holder of any Note issued upon the registration
of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of
anything done, suffered or omitted to be done by the Trustee or the Company in
reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

          (e) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date
for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to take any action under
this Indenture by vote or consent. If a record date is fixed, those persons who
were Holders of Notes at such record date (or their duly designated proxies),
and only those persons, shall be entitled to take such action by vote or consent
or to revoke any vote or consent previously given, whether or not such persons
continue to be Holders after such record date.

          SECTION 12.08.  Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar.  In
                          --------------------------------------------
addition to the guidelines set forth herein, the Trustee may make reasonable
rules for action by or a meeting of Noteholders.  The Registrar and the Paying
Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

          SECTION 12.09.  Legal Holidays.  A "Legal Holiday" is a Saturday,
                          --------------
Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are
authorized or required by law to close. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday,
payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday,
and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record
date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.

          SECTION 12.10.  Governing Law.  THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL
                          -------------
BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES.

          SECTION 12.11.  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 Notes or this Indenture or for any
claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their
creation. By accepting a Note, each Noteholder shall waive and release all such
liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the
issuance of the Notes.

                                       72
<PAGE>

          SECTION 12.12.  Successors.  All agreements of the Company in this
                          ----------
Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee
in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

          SECTION 12.13.  Multiple 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. One signed copy of the Indenture is
enough to prove this Indenture.

          SECTION 12.14.  Table of Contents;  Headings.  The table of contents,
                          ----------------------------
cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this
Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended
to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms
or provisions hereof.

          SECTION 12.15.  Severability.  If any provision in this Indenture is
                          ------------
deemed unenforceable, it shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any
other provision set forth herein, or of the Indenture as a whole.


                    [Rest of page intentionally left blank]

                                       73
<PAGE>

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

                                    VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                        /s/ Barry P. Hoffman
                                    By: _________________________
                                        Name: Barry P. Hoffman
                                        Title: Secretary, Executive Vice
                                              President and General Counsel

                                    THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                        as Trustee

                                        /s/ Robert A. Massimillo
                                    By: __________________________
                                        Name: Robert A. Massimillo
                                        Title: Assistant Vice President

                                       74
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A

                           [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

     FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF
1986, AS AMENDED, THIS SECURITY IS BEING ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT;
FOR EACH $1,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT AT MATURITY OF THIS SECURITY, THE ISSUE PRICE
IS $551.26. THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT IS $448.74, THE ISSUE DATE IS
JUNE 6, 2001 AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS 3.0% PER ANNUM.

     THE COMPANY AGREES, AND BY ACCEPTANCE OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE NOTE,
EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY WILL BE
DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED, FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (1) TO
TREAT THE NOTE AS INDEBTEDNESS THAT IS SUBJECT TO TREAS. REG. SEC. 1.1275-4 (THE
"CONTINGENT DEBT REGULATIONS") AND, FOR PURPOSES OF THE CONTINGENT DEBT
REGULATIONS, TO TREAT, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE AMOUNT OF CASH AND THE FAIR
MARKET VALUE OF ANY SHARES BENEFICIALLY RECEIVED UPON A CONVERSION OF THE NOTE
AS A CONTINGENT PAYMENT AND (2) TO BE BOUND BY THE COMPANY'S DETERMINATION OF
THE "COMPARABLE YIELD" AND "PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE", WITHIN THE MEANING OF
THE CONTINGENT DEBT REGULATIONS, WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTE.  UNDER SUCH
REGULATIONS, THE COMPARABLE YIELD OF THIS SECURITY IS 7.13%, AND THE PROJECTED
PAYMENT SCHEDULE IS ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT G TO THE INDENTURE.  A HOLDER OF THE
SECURITY MAY ALSO OBTAIN THE PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN
REQUEST TO THE ISSUER AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
19975 VICTOR PARKWAY, LIVONIA, MICHIGAN  48152, ATTENTION: GENERAL COUNSEL.

     [THIS NOTE WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION
UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES
ACT"), AND THIS NOTE AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION THEREOF MAY
NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSON, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE
NEXT SENTENCE.  BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN,
THE HOLDER: (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A "QIB"), (B) IT HAS ACQUIRED
THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED
IN RULE 501(A) (1), (2), (3) 0R (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN
"IAI"), AND (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS
SECURITY EXCEPT (i) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (ii) TO A PERSON
WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY

                                      A-1

<PAGE>

BELIEVES IS A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN
A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (iii) IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT, (iv) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (v) TO AN IAI THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES
THE TRUSTEE WITH A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND
AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE
OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SECURITIES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
SECURITIES ACT, (vi) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR (vii) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS
OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND
AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE OR AN INTEREST
HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.

     IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WITHIN
THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET
FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT
THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE.  AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION", UNITED STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM
BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.  THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A
PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE
IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.  IN ANY CASE, THE HOLDER HEREOF WILL
NOT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ENGAGE IN ANY HEDGING TRANSACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO
THE NOTES EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

     [THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO, AND ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS
OF, A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JUNE 6, 2001, ENTERED INTO BY
THE ISSUER AND THE INITIAL PURCHASER FOR THE BENEFIT OF CERTAIN HOLDERS FROM
TIME TO TIME OF SECURITIES.]

     [INCLUDE IF SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY -- THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL
SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY
NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO

                                      A-2
<PAGE>

TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF
ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE
LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.]

     [UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY ("DTC"), A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO THE ISSUER OR
ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE
ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO
CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL IN AS MUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

                                      A-3
<PAGE>

                         VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                 Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Note due 2021

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CUSIP No. ____________                                $___________ Principal Amount at
                                                      Maturity
<S>                                                   <C>
Issue Date: June 6, 2001                              Original Issue Discount: $448.74
Issue Price: $551.26                                  (for each $1,000 Principal Amount at
(for each $1,000 Principal Amount at Maturity)        Maturity)
</TABLE>

     Valassis Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called the
"Issuer" or the "Company", which term includes any successor Person under the
Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay
to _____________, or its registered assigns, the Principal Amount at Maturity
set forth above [INCLUDE IF NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE -- (which amount may from time
to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the
Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, in accordance with the rules and
procedures of the Depositary)] on June 6, 2021.

     This Note shall not bear periodic interest except as specified on the other
side of this Note.  Original Issue Discount will accrue as specified on the
other side of this Note. This Note is convertible as specified on the other side
of this Note.

     Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth
on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the
same effect as if set forth at this place.

     Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the
Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall
not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for
any purpose.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed.


                                    VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                    By:
                                       -------------------------
                                    Name:
                                         -----------------------
                                    Title:
                                          ----------------------

                                      A-4
<PAGE>

                    TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

The Bank of New York, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes
referred to in the Indenture.


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

Date of authentication:

                                      A-5
<PAGE>

                        [FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

     This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company
designated as its Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2021, limited in
aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity to $272,100,000 (subject to increase by
up to $299,310,000 in the event the Initial Purchaser exercises the over-
allotment option granted to it in the Purchase Agreement) (herein called the
"Notes"), issued and to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of June 6, 2001
(herein called the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Bank of New York,
as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor
trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental
thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights,
limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the
Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, of the terms upon which the Notes are, and
are to be, authenticated and delivered and for the definitions of capitalized
terms used but not defined in this Note.

     Interest - This Note shall not bear periodic interest, except as specified
herein.  If the Principal Amount at Maturity hereof or any portion of such
Principal Amount at Maturity is not paid when due (whether upon acceleration
pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Indenture, upon the date set for payment of the
Redemption Price, upon the date set for payment of a Purchase Price or Change in
Control Purchase Price or upon the Stated Maturity of this Note) or if
Contingent Interest, if any, due hereon or any portion of such Contingent
Interest is not paid when due in accordance with the paragraph entitled
Contingent Interest hereof, then in each such case the overdue amount shall bear
interest at the rate of 3.0% per annum, compounded semiannually (to the extent
that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which interest
shall accrue from the date such overdue amount was due to the date payment of
such amount, including interest thereon, has been made or duly provided for.
All such interest shall be payable on demand.  The accrual of such interest on
overdue amounts shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, the continued
accrual of Original Issue Discount.  Original Issue Discount (the difference
between the Issue Price and the Principal Amount at Maturity of the Note), in
the period during which a Note remains outstanding, shall accrue at 3.0% per
annum, on a semi-annual bond equivalent basis using a 360-day year composed of
twelve 30-day months, from the Issue Date of this Note.  Original Issue Discount
shall cease to accrue on the earlier of (a) the date on which the Principal
Amount at Maturity hereof or any portion of such Principal Amount at Maturity
becomes due and payable and (b) any Redemption Date, Conversion Date, Change in
Control Purchase Date, Purchase Date or other date on which such Original Issue
Discount shall cease to accrue in accordance with Section 2.09 of the Indenture.

     Method of Payment - Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to
collect all payments in respect of the Notes, except for any Liquidated Damages
payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and any Contingent
Interest.  The Company will pay cash amounts in money of the United States that
at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts
in the manner described in the Indenture.

     Contingent Interest - Subject to the accrual and record date provisions
specified in this paragraph, the Company shall pay contingent interest
("Contingent Interest") to the Holders during any six-month period (a
"Contingent Interest Period") from June 6 to December 5 and from December 6 to
June 5, commencing the period beginning June 6, 2006, if the average

                                      A-6
<PAGE>

Security Market Price for the five trading days ending on the second trading day
immediately preceding the relevant Contingent Interest Period equals 120% or
more of the sum of the Issue Price of a Note and Original Issue Discount accrued
thereon to the trading day immediately preceding the first day of the relevant
Contingent Interest Period.

     The amount of Contingent Interest payable per Note in respect of any
Contingent Interest Period shall equal the greater of (x) the cash dividends, if
any, payable on the Shares with respect to any record date for such dividend
that occurs during that period or (y) the conversion value of the Note
multiplied by one-half of the annual rate of 0.30%, which will be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

     Contingent Interest, if any, will accrue and be payable to Holders as of
the 15th day preceding the last day of the relevant Contingent Interest Period.
Such payments shall be paid on the 15th day after the relevant Contingent
Interest Period. Original Issue Discount will continue to accrue at 3.0% per
annum whether or not Contingent Interest is paid.

     "Security Market Price" means, as of any date of determination, the average
of the secondary market bid quotations per Note obtained by the Bid Solicitation
Agent for $10 million Principal Amount at Maturity at approximately 4:00 p.m.
(New York City time) on such determination date from two recognized securities
dealers in the City of New York (none of which shall be an Affiliate of the
Company) selected by the Company and communicated to the Bid Solicitation Agent;
provided, however, if (a) two such bids are not obtained by the Bid Solicitation
Agent or (b) in the Company's reasonable judgment, the bid quotations are not
indicative of the secondary market value of the Notes as of such determination
date, then the Security Market Price of the Notes for such determination date
shall equal (i) the Conversion Rate in effect as of such determination date
multiplied by (ii) the average Sale Price for the five trading days ending on
such determination date, appropriately adjusted to take into account the
occurrence, during the period commencing on the first of such trading days
during such five trading day period and ending on such determination date, of
any event described in Section 11.06, 11.07 or 11.08 (subject to the conditions
set forth in Sections 11.09 and 11.10) of the Indenture.

     Upon determination that Holders will be entitled to receive Contingent
Interest which may become payable during a Contingent Interest Period, on or
prior to the first day of such Contingent Interest Period, the Company shall
issue a press release and publish such information on its web site at
www.valassis.com or such other web site as the Company may from time to time
----------------
maintain.

     Redemption at the Option of the Company - No sinking fund is provided for
the Notes. On or after June 6, 2006, the Notes are redeemable as a whole, or
from time to time in part, at any time at the option of the Company at a
Redemption Price equal to the Issue Price plus the accrued Original Issue
Discount to the Redemption Date as set forth in the next paragraph.

     The table below shows redemption prices (each a "Redemption Price") of a
Note per $1,000 Principal Amount at Maturity on the dates shown below and at
Stated Maturity, which prices equal the Issue Price plus accrued Original Issue
Discount calculated to each such date. The Redemption Price of a Note redeemed
between such dates shall include an additional

                                      A-7
<PAGE>

amount reflecting the additional Original Issue Discount accrued since the next
preceding date in the table.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Date                 Issue              Accrued Original        Redemption
                                     Price               Issue Discount            Price
                                                             at 3.0%
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         <S>                        <C>                     <C>                  <C>

             June 6, 2006           $551.26                 $ 88.50              $  639.76
             June 6, 2007            551.26                  107.84                 659.10
             June 6, 2008            551.26                  127.76                 679.02
             June 6, 2009            551.26                  148.28                 699.54
             June 6, 2010            551.26                  169.43                 720.69
             June 6, 2011            551.26                  191.21                 742.47
             June 6, 2012            551.26                  213.65                 764.91
             June 6, 2013            551.26                  236.77                 788.03
             June 6, 2014            551.26                  260.59                 811.85
             June 6, 2015            551.26                  285.13                 836.39
             June 6, 2016            551.26                  310.41                 861.67
             June 6, 2017            551.26                  336.45                 887.71
             June 6, 2018            551.26                  363.28                 914.54
             June 6, 2019            551.26                  390.92                 942.18
             June 6, 2020            551.26                  419.40                 970.66
          At Stated Maturity         551.26                  448.74               1,000.00

</TABLE>

     In addition to the Redemption Price payable with respect to all Notes or
portions thereof to be redeemed as of a Redemption Date, the Holders of such
Notes (or portions thereof) shall be entitled to receive Liquidated Damages, if
any, and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, with respect thereto,
which Liquidated Damages and Contingent Interest shall be paid in cash on the
Redemption Date, as the case may be.

                                      A-8
<PAGE>

     Purchase By the Company at the Option of the Holder - Subject to the terms
and conditions of the Indenture, the Company shall become obligated to purchase,
at the option of the Holder, the Notes held by such Holder on the following
Purchase Dates and at the following Purchase Prices per $1,000 Principal Amount
at Maturity, upon delivery of a Purchase Notice containing the information set
forth in the Indenture, at any time from the opening of business on the date
that is 20 Business Days prior to such Purchase Date until the close of business
on the third Business Day prior to such Purchase Date and upon delivery of the
Notes to the Paying Agent by the Holder as set forth in the Indenture.

   Purchase Date                     Purchase Price
   ---------------------             -----------------------

   June 6, 2004                           $602.77
   June 6, 2006                           $639.76
   June 6, 2011                           $742.47
   June 6, 2016                           $861.67

     On the 2004 and 2006 Purchase Dates, the Purchase Price (equal to the Issue
Price plus accrued Original Issue Discount to the Purchase Date) will be paid
for in Shares as specified in Section 3.07 of the Indenture, or, at the election
of the Company, in cash or in any combination of cash and Shares.

     At the option of the Holder and subject to the terms and conditions of the
Indenture, the Company shall become obligated to purchase the Notes if a Change
in Control occurs at any time on or prior to June 6, 2006 for a Change in
Control Purchase Price equal to the Issue Price plus accrued Original Issue
Discount to the Change in Control Purchase Date, which Change in Control
Purchase Price shall be paid in cash.

     In addition to the Purchase Price and Change in Control Purchase Price, as
the case may be, payable with respect to all Notes or portions thereof to be
purchased as of the Purchase Date and the Change in Control Purchase Date, as
the case may be, the Holders of such Notes (or portions thereof) shall be
entitled to receive Liquidated Damages, if any, and accrued and unpaid
Contingent Interest, if any, with respect thereto, which Liquidated Damages and
Contingent Interest shall be paid in cash promptly following the later of the
Purchase Date or the Change in Control Purchase Date, as the case may be, and
the time of delivery of such Notes to the Paying Agent pursuant to the
Indenture.

     Holders have the right to withdraw any Purchase Notice or Change in Control
Purchase Notice, as the case may be, by delivering to the Paying Agent a written
notice of withdrawal in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

     If cash and/or Shares sufficient to pay the Purchase Price or cash
sufficient to pay the Change in Control Purchase Price, as the case may be, of,
together with Liquidated Damages, if any, and accrued and unpaid Contingent
Interest, if any, with respect to, all Notes or portions thereof to be purchased
as of the Purchase Date or the Change in Control Purchase Date, as the case may
be, are deposited with the Paying Agent on the Business Day following the
Purchase

                                      A-9
<PAGE>

Date or the Change in Control Purchase Date, as the case may be, Original Issue
Discount and Contingent Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, will
cease to accrue on such Notes (or portions thereof) immediately after such
Purchase Date or Change in Control Purchase Date, as the case may be, and the
Holder thereof shall have no other rights as such (other than the right to
receive the Purchase Price or Change in Control Purchase Price, as the case may
be, and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages,
if any, upon surrender of such Note).

     Ranking - The Notes shall be senior unsecured obligations of the Company
and will rank equally in right of payment with all our existing and future
senior unsecured indebtedness.

     Conversion - A Holder of a Note may convert it into Shares in accordance
with the terms and conditions set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture.

     The initial Conversion Rate is 11.8316 Shares per $1,000 Principal Amount
at Maturity, subject to adjustment in certain events described in the Indenture.
The Company will deliver cash or a check in lieu of any fractional Share.  The
Conversion Rate may be adjusted as provided in the Indenture.

     To convert a Global Note, a Holder must deliver to DTC the appropriate
instruction form for conversion pursuant to DTC's conversion program.  To
convert a Note, a Holder must (1) complete and manually sign the conversion
notice below (or complete and manually sign a facsimile of such notice) and
deliver such notice to the Conversion Agent, (2) surrender the Note to the
Conversion Agent for cancellation, (3) furnish appropriate endorsements and
transfer documents if required by the Conversion Agent, the Company or the
Trustee and (4) pay all funds required, if any, relating to Contingent Interest,
if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Note to be converted for which
the Holder is not entitled and pay any transfer or similar tax, if required.

     A Holder may convert a portion of a Note if the Principal Amount at
Maturity of such portion is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. No payment
or adjustment will be made for dividends on, or other distributions with respect
to, any Shares except as provided in the Indenture. On conversion of a Note,
that portion of accrued Original Issue Discount attributable to the period from
the Issue Date through the Conversion Date with respect to the converted Note
and (except as provided below) accrued Contingent Interest, if any, and
Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to the converted Note shall not be
cancelled, extinguished or forfeited, but rather shall be deemed to be paid in
full to the Holder thereof through the delivery of the Shares (together with the
cash payment, if any, in lieu of fractional Shares) in exchange for the Note
being converted pursuant to the terms hereof; and the fair market value of such
Shares (together with any such cash payment in lieu of fractional Shares) shall
be treated as delivered pro rata, to the extent thereof, first in exchange for
Original Issue Discount and accrued Contingent Interest accrued through the
Conversion Date, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, and the balance, if
any, of the fair market value of such Shares shall be treated as delivered in
exchange for the Issue Price of the Note being converted pursuant to the
provisions hereof.

     If the Company is a party to a consolidation, merger or binding share
exchange or a transfer of its assets as, or substantially as, an entirety, or
upon certain distributions described in

                                      A-10
<PAGE>

the Indenture, the right to convert a Note into Shares may be changed into a
right to convert it into securities, cash or other assets of the Company or
another Person.

     [INCLUDE IF SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY -- In the event of a deposit or
withdrawal of an interest in this Note, including an exchange, transfer,
repurchase or conversion of this Note in part only, the Trustee, as custodian of
the Depositary, shall make an adjustment on its records to reflect such deposit
or withdrawal in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary.]

     [INCLUDE IF SECURITY IS A RESTRICTED SECURITY -- Subject to certain
limitations in the Indenture, at any time when the Company is not subject to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, upon the request of a Holder of a Restricted Note, the Company shall
promptly furnish or cause to be furnished Rule 144A Information to such Holder
of Restricted Notes, or to a prospective purchaser of any such security
designated by any such Holder, to the extent required to permit compliance by
any such Holder with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). "Rule 144A Information" shall be such information as is
specified pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act (or any successor
provision thereto).]

     If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Issue Price plus
the Original Issue Discount, accrued on all the Notes and accrued Contingent
Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be declared due and
payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

     The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment or supplement thereof and of this Note and the modification of the
rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes
under the Indenture and this Note at any time by the Company and the Trustee
with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
Principal Amount at Maturity of the Outstanding Notes.  The Indenture also
contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate
Principal Amount at Maturity of the Outstanding Notes, 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.  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.

     As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder
of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect
to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any
other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the
Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Notes, the Holders of not less than 25% in Principal Amount at Maturity of the
Outstanding Notes shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute
proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the
Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the
Holders of a majority in Principal Amount at Maturity of Outstanding Notes a
direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any
such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity.  The

                                      A-11
<PAGE>

foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for
the enforcement of any payment hereon on or after the respective due dates
expressed herein.

     No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of
the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the Principal Amount at Maturity, Purchase
Price or Change in Control Purchase Price of, accrued Original Issue Discount,
Contingent Interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, on this Note at the
times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, prescribed in the Indenture.

     As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register, upon
surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of
the Company established pursuant to the Indenture, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney
duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized
denominations and for the same aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity, will be
issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

     The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 Principal Amount at Maturity and any integral multiple
of $1,000 above that amount. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations therein set forth, Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate
Principal Amount at Maturity of Notes of a different authorized denomination, as
requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

     No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or
exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

     Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the
Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the
Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

     THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS
OF LAW PRINCIPLES.

                                      A-12
<PAGE>

                                ASSIGNMENT FORM

     If you 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.

     Date: ______________________            Signed: __________________________

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

     Signature Guarantee:________________________________

     Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership
or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar
in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     In connection with any transfer of this Note occurring prior to the date of
the declaration by the SEC of the effectiveness of a registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), covering
resales of this Note (which effectiveness shall not have been suspended or
terminated at the date of the transfer), I or we are assigning and transferring
this Note:

                                  [Check One]

     (1) [  ] to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company; or

     (2) [  ] pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities
              Act; or

     (3) [  ] outside the United States to a "foreign person" in compliance with
              Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or

     (4) [  ] pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144
              under the Securities Act; or

                                      A-13
<PAGE>

     (5) [  ] pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
              Securities Act; or

     (6) [  ] pursuant to another available exemption from the registration
              requirements of the Securities Act.

     Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any
of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than
the registered Holder thereof, provided that if box (3), (4) or (6) is checked,
the Company may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, in
its sole discretion, such legal opinions, certifications (including an
investment letter in the case of box (3)) and other information as the Company
may reasonably request to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to
an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.

     If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or Registrar shall
not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any Person other than the
Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of
registration set forth herein and in Section 3.09 of the Indenture shall have
been satisfied.

     Date: ______________________         Signed: _____________________________

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

     Signature Guarantee:________________________________

     Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership
or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar
in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

              TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (2) ABOVE IS CHECKED

     The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for
its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment
discretion and that it and any such account is a "qualified institutional buyer"
within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act and is aware that the
sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has
received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested
pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that
it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned's foregoing
representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by
Rule 144A.

     Date: ____________________             Signed: ___________________________


     NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer.

                                      A-14
<PAGE>

                           FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE

     If you want to convert this Note into Shares of the Company, check the box:


     To convert only part of this Note, state the Principal Amount at Maturity
to be converted (which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000):

     $__________________________________

     If you want the stock certificate made out in another person's name, fill
in the form below:

_______________________________________________________________________________

             (Insert other person's social security or tax ID no.)

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

           (Print or type other person's name, address and zip code)

     Date: ____________________          Signed: ____________________________

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

     Signature Guarantee:________________________________

     Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership
or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar
in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

                                      A-15
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT B

                   [FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE FOR TRANSFER
                  FROM GLOBAL SECURITY OR DEFINITIVE SECURITY
                            TO DEFINITIVE SECURITY]

     (Transfers pursuant to Section 2.13(a)(1) or Section 2.13(a)(2) of the
Indenture)

                                                           ________________, ___

The Bank of New York
101 Barclay St., Floor 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

Re:  Transfer of $________ Principal Amount at Maturity of
     Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2021
     (the "Notes") of Valassis Communications, Inc. (the "Company")
           -----                                          -------

     Reference is hereby made to the Indenture dated as of June 6, 2001 (the
"Indenture") between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them
in the Indenture.

     This letter relates to U.S. $_____________ aggregate Principal Amount at
Maturity of Notes which are held [in the form of a [Definitive] [Global Note
(CUSIP No. ________________)]*] in the name of [name of transferor] (the
"Transferor") to effect the transfer of Notes.

     In connection with such request, and in respect of such Notes, the
Transferor does hereby certify that such Notes are being transferred in
accordance with (i) the transfer restrictions set forth in the Notes and the
Indenture and (ii) to a transferee that the Transferor reasonably believes is an
institutional "accredited investor" (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or
(7) of Regulation D under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended) (an
"Institutional Accredited Investor") which is acquiring such Notes for its own
account or for one or more accounts, each of which is an Institutional
Accredited Investor, over which it exercises sole investment discretion and
(iii) in accordance with applicable securities laws of any state of the United
States.

---------------
*   Insert, if appropriate.


                                       [Name of Transferor],

                                       By:_____________________________
                                       Name:___________________________
                                       Title:___________________________
                                       Dated:___________________________


                                      B-1

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT C


    [FORM OF NON-DISTRIBUTION LETTER FOR INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTORS]

                 (Transfers pursuant to Section 2.13(a)(1) or
                     Section 2.13(a)(2) of the Indenture)

                                                           ________________, ___

The Bank of New York
101 Barclay St., Floor 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

Valassis Communications, Inc.
19975 Victor Parkway
Livonia, Michigan  48152

Re:  Purchase of $________ Principal Amount at Maturity of
     Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2021
     (together with the Shares issuable upon
     conversion thereof, the "Notes") of
                              -----
     Valassis Communications, Inc. (the "Company")/2/
                                         -------



Ladies and Gentlemen:

          In connection with our purchase of the Notes we confirm that:

          1.  We understand that the Notes are not being and will not be
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
and are being sold to us in a transaction that is exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.

          2.  We acknowledge that (a) neither the Company, nor the Initial
Purchaser (as defined in the Offering Memorandum dated May 23, 2001 relating to
the Notes (the "Offering Memorandum")) nor any person acting on behalf of the
                -------------------
Company or the Initial Purchaser has made any representation to us with respect
to the Company or the offer or sale of any Notes; and (b) any information we
desire concerning the Company and the Notes or any other matter relevant to our
decision to purchase the Notes (including a copy of the Offering Memorandum) is
or has been made available to us.

          3.  We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business
matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in
the Notes, and we are (or any

-----------------
/2/  Each U.S. purchaser, or account for which each U.S. purchaser is acting,
     should purchase at least $250,000 Principal Amount at Maturity of Notes.

                                      C-1
<PAGE>

account for which we are purchasing under paragraph 4 below is) an institutional
"accredited investor" (within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of
Regulation D under the Securities Act) able to bear the economic risk of
investment in the Notes.

          4.  We are acquiring the Notes for our own account (or for accounts as
to which we exercise sole investment discretion and have authority to make, and
do make, the statements contained in this letter) and not with a view to any
distribution of the Notes, subject, nevertheless, to the understanding that the
disposition of our property will at all times be and remain within our control.

          5.  We understand that (a) the Notes will be in registered form only
and that any certificates delivered to us in respect of the Notes will bear a
legend substantially to the following effect:

          "THIS NOTE WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM
          REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
          AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS NOTE AND THE COMMON STOCK
          ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION THEREOF MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR
          OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE
          ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSON, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE NEXT
          SENTENCE.  BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST
          HEREIN, THE HOLDER: (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED
          INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES
          ACT) (A "QIB"), (B) IT HAS ACQUIRED THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE
          TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
          OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN
          RULE 501(A) (1), (2), (3) 0R (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES
          ACT (AN "IAI"), AND (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE
          TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (i) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS
          SUBSIDIARIES, (ii)TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A
          QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A
          TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (iii) IN AN
          OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 OF
          REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (iv) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING
          THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (v) TO AN IAI
          THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE WITH A SIGNED
          LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO
          THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE
          TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
          AMOUNT OF SECURITIES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
          ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
          SECURITIES ACT, (vi) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION

                                      C-2
<PAGE>

          FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED
          UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR (vii)
          PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN
          ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE
          UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND AGREES THAT IT
          WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS
          TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.

                    IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE OR ANY INTEREST
          THEREIN WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK
          THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE
          MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE.
          AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION", UNITED STATES" AND
          "U.S. PERSON" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF
          REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.  THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A
          PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF
          THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.  IN ANY CASE,
          THE HOLDER HEREOF WILL NOT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ENGAGE IN ANY
          HEDGING TRANSACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTES EXCEPT AS PERMITTED
          UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT."

          and (b) the Company has agreed to reissue such certificates without
the foregoing legend only in the event of a disposition of the Notes in
accordance with the provisions of paragraph 6 below (provided, in the case of a
disposition of the Notes in accordance with paragraph 6(f) below, that the legal
opinion referred to in such paragraph so permits), or at our request at such
time as we would be permitted to dispose of them in accordance with paragraph
6(a) below.

          6.  We agree that in the event that at some future time we wish to
dispose of any of the Notes, we will not do so unless such disposition is made
in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United
States and:

          (a)  the Notes are sold in compliance with Rule 144(k) under the
     Securities Act; or

          (b)  the Notes are sold in compliance with Rule 144A under the
     Securities Act; or

          (c)  the Notes are sold in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S
     under the Securities Act; or

          (d)  the Notes are sold pursuant to an effective registration
     statement under the Securities Act; or

          (e)  the Notes are sold to the Company or an affiliate (as defined in
     Rule 501(b) of Regulation D) of the Company; or

          (f)  the Notes are disposed of in any other transaction that does not
     require registration under the Securities Act, and we theretofore have
     furnished to the Company or its designee an opinion of counsel experienced
     in securities law matters to such effect or such other documentation as the
     Company or its designee may reasonably request.

                              Very truly yours,

                              By
                                 ----------------------
                                  (Authorized Officer)

                                      C-3
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT D


                           [FORM OF PURCHASE NOTICE]

                                                           ________________, ___

The Bank of New York
101 Barclay St., Floor 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

Valassis Communications, Inc.
19975 Victor Parkway
Livonia, Michigan  48152

Re:  Purchase of $________ Principal Amount at Maturity of
     Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2021
     (the "Notes") of Valassis Communications, Inc. (the "Company")
           -----                                          -------

     Certificate No(s). of Notes:   _____________________________

     This is a Purchase Notice as defined in Section 3.07(a) of the Indenture
dated as of June 6, 2001 (the "Indenture") between the Company and The Bank of
New York, as Trustee. Terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Indenture.

     I intend to deliver the following aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity of
Notes for purchase by the Company pursuant to Section 3.07(a) of the Indenture
(in multiples of $1,000):

$_____________________________

     I hereby agree that the Notes will be purchased as of the Purchase Date
pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof and of the Indenture.

     [In the event that the Company elects, pursuant to Section 3.07(b) of the
Indenture, to pay the Purchase Price, in whole or in part, in Shares but such
portion of the Purchase Price is ultimately payable entirely in cash because any
of the conditions to payment of the Purchase Price in Shares is not satisfied
prior to the close of business on the Purchase Date, I elect (check one):

     [ ]  (1) to withdraw this Purchase Notice as to all of the Notes to which
     it relates;

     [ ]  (2) to withdraw this Purchase Notice as to $___________________
     Principal Amount at Maturity of Notes (Certificate No(s).
     ____________________); or

     [ ]  (3) to receive cash in respect of the entire Purchase Price for all
     Notes or portions thereof to which this Purchase Notice relates.]


                              Signed:  ________________________

                                      D-1
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT E


                  [FORM OF CHANGE IN CONTROL PURCHASE NOTICE]

                                                           ________________, ___

The Bank of New York
101 Barclay St., Floor 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

Valassis Communications, Inc.
19975 Victor Parkway
Livonia, Michigan  48152

Re:  Purchase of $________ Principal Amount at Maturity of
     Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2021
     (the "Notes") of Valassis Communications, Inc. (the "Company")
           -----                                          -------
     Certificate No(s). of Notes:   _____________________________

     This is a Change in Control Purchase Notice as defined in Section 3.08 of
the Indenture dated as of June 6, 2001 (the "Indenture") between the Company and
The Bank of New York, as Trustee. Terms used but not defined herein shall have
the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

     I intend to deliver the following aggregate Principal Amount at Maturity of
Notes for purchase by the Company pursuant to Section 3.08 of the Indenture (in
multiples of $1,000):

$________________________________

     I hereby agree that the Notes will be purchased as of the Change in Control
Purchase Date pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof and of the Indenture.

                       Signed:  ________________________

                                      E-1
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT F

                  [FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE FOR TRANSFER
                             OF RESTRICTED SHARES]

           (Transfers pursuant to Section 11.20(a) of the Indenture)

[NAME AND ADDRESS OF TRANSFER AGENT OF SHARES]

The Bank of New York
101 Barclay St., Floor 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

Re:  Shares of Valassis Communications, Inc. (the "Company")

     Reference is hereby made to the Indenture dated as of June 6, 2001 (the
"Indenture") between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them
in the Indenture.

     This letter relates to ____ Shares represented by the accompanying
certificate(s) that were issued upon conversion of Notes and which are held in
the name of [name of transferor] (the "Transferor") to effect the transfer of
such Shares.

     In connection with the transfer of such Shares, the undersigned confirms
that such Shares are being transferred:

     CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

     (1) [ ]   to the Company; or

     (2) [ ]   pursuant to and in compliance with Regulation S under the
               Securities Act of 1933; or

     (3) [ ]   to an institutional "accredited investor" (as defined in Rule
               501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933) that
               has furnished to the transfer agent a signed letter containing
               certain representations and agreements (the form of which letter
               can be obtained from the Company or transfer agent); or

     (4) [ ]   pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities
               Act of 1933 provided by Rule 144 thereunder.

     Unless one of the boxes is checked, the transfer agent will refuse to
register any of the Shares evidenced by this certificate in the name of any
person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box
(2), (3) or (4) is checked, the transfer agent may require, prior to registering
any such transfer of the Shares such certifications and other information, and

                                      F-1
<PAGE>

if box (4) is checked such legal opinions, as the Company reasonably requests in
writing, by delivery to the transfer agent of a standing letter of instruction,
to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in
a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities
Act of 1933.

                                    [Name of Transferor],

                                    By
                                      -----------------------------------
                                    Name:
                                         --------------------------------
                                    Title:
                                          -------------------------------
Dated:

                                      F-2
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT G

                          PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

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                        PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE (PER NOTE)
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                                         Gross Proceeds        $150,000,000
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                                        YTM (Zero Coupon)         3.00%
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                                                                Projected
                                                                 Payment
                                              Year              Schedule
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                                               0.0           $     551.26
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                                               0.5                   0.00
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                                               1.0                   0.00
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                                               1.5                   0.00
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                                               2.0                   0.00
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                                               2.5                   0.00
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                                               3.0                   0.00
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                                               3.5                   0.00
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                                               4.0                   0.00
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                                               4.5                   0.00
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                                               5.0                   0.00
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                                               5.5                   0.00
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                                               6.0                   0.00
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                                               6.5                   0.00
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                                               7.0                   0.00
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                                               7.5                   0.00
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                                               8.0                   0.00
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                                               8.5                   0.00
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                                               9.0                  (1.31)
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                                               9.5                  (1.36)
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                                              10.0                  (1.42)
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                                              10.5                  (1.48)
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                                              11.0                  (1.54)
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                                              11.5                  (1.60)
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                                              12.0                  (1.67)
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                                              12.5                  (1.74)
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                                              13.0                  (1.81)
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                                              13.5                  (1.88)
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                                              14.0                  (1.96)
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                                              14.5                  (2.04)
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                                              15.0                  (2.12)
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                                              15.5                  (2.21)
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                                              16.0                  (2.30)
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                                              16.5                  (2.40)
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                                              17.0                  (2.49)
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                                              17.5                  (2.60)
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                                              18.0                  (2.70)
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                                              18.5                  (2.81)
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                                              19.0                  (2.93)
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                                              19.5                  (3.05)
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                                              20.0              (2,119.15)
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                                             Yield                  7.13%
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