Document:

<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.3a

                              STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.,

                                     Issuer

                                       and

                             SDI INVESTMENT COMPANY,

                          Initial Subsidiary Guarantor

                                       and

                            FIFTH THIRD BANK, INDIANA

                                     Trustee

                                   ----------

                                    Indenture

                           Dated as of March 26, 2002

                                   ----------

                          9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009
<PAGE>
                              CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TIA Sections              Indenture Sections
------------              ------------------
<S>                       <C>
Section 310 (a)(1)          7.10
            (a)(2)          7.10
            (b)             7.03; 7.08
Section 311 (a)             7.03
            (b)             7.03
Section 312 (a)             2.04
            (b)             11.02
            (c)             11.02
Section 313 (a)             7.06
            (b)(2)          7.07
            (c)             7.05; 7.06; 11.02
            (d)             7.06
Section 314 (a)             7.05; 11.02
            (a)(4)          4.17; 11.02
            (c)(1)          11.03
            (c)(2)          11.03
            (e)             4.17; 11.04
Section 315 (a)             7.02
            (b)             7.05; 11.02
            (c)             7.02
            (d)             7.02
            (e)             6.11
Section 316 (a)(1)          6.05
            (a)(1)(B)(A)    6.04
            (b)             6.07
            (c)             9.03
Section 317 (a)(1)          6.08
            (a)(2)          6.09
            (b)             2.05
Section 318 (a)             11.01
            (c)             11.01
</TABLE>

Note: The Cross-Reference Table shall not for any purpose be deemed to be a part
      of this Indenture.
<PAGE>
                              TABLE OF CONTENTS(1)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

                                   ARTICLE ONE
                   DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
<S>                                                                         <C>
SECTION 1.01.     Definitions.............................................    1

SECTION 1.02.     Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.......   22

SECTION 1.03.     Rules of Construction...................................   23

                                   ARTICLE TWO
                                    THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01.     Form and Dating.........................................   23

SECTION 2.02.     Restrictive Legends.....................................   24

SECTION 2.03.     Execution, Authentication and Denominations.............   26

SECTION 2.04.     Registrar and Paying Agent..............................   27

SECTION 2.05.     Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.....................   28

SECTION 2.06.     Transfer and Exchange...................................   28

SECTION 2.07.     Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes..................   29

SECTION 2.08.     Special Transfer Provisions.............................   30

SECTION 2.09.     Replacement Notes.......................................   33

SECTION 2.10.     Outstanding Notes.......................................   33

SECTION 2.11.     Temporary Notes.........................................   34

SECTION 2.12.     Cancellation............................................   34

SECTION 2.13.     CUSIP Numbers...........................................   34

SECTION 2.14.     Defaulted Interest......................................   35
</TABLE>

----------

Note: The Table of Contents shall not for any purposes be deemed to be a part of
      this Indenture.

                                       i
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
SECTION 2.15.     Issuance of Additional Notes............................   35

                                  ARTICLE THREE
                                   REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01.     Right of Redemption.....................................   35

SECTION 3.02.     Notices to Trustee......................................   36

SECTION 3.03.     Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.......................   36

SECTION 3.04.     Notice of Redemption....................................   36

SECTION 3.05.     Effect of Notice of Redemption..........................   37

SECTION 3.06.     Deposit of Redemption Price.............................   37

SECTION 3.07.     Payment of Notes Called for Redemption..................   37

SECTION 3.08.     Notes Redeemed in Part..................................   38

                                  ARTICLE FOUR
                                    COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01.     Payment of Notes........................................   38

SECTION 4.02.     Maintenance of Office or Agency.........................   38

SECTION 4.03.     Limitation on Indebtedness..............................   39

SECTION 4.04.     Limitation on Restricted Payments.......................   41

SECTION 4.05.     Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment
                  Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries..........   44

SECTION 4.06.     Limitation on the Issuance and Sale of Capital
                  Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries........................   46

SECTION 4.07.     Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees by
                  Restricted Subsidiaries ................................   46

SECTION 4.08.     Limitation on Transactions with Stockholders and
                  Affiliates .............................................   46

SECTION 4.09.     Limitation on Liens.....................................   47

SECTION 4.10.     Limitation on Sale-Leaseback Transactions...............   48

SECTION 4.11.     Limitation on Asset Sales...............................   49

SECTION 4.12.     Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control............   50
</TABLE>

                                       ii
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
SECTION 4.13.     Existence...............................................   50

SECTION 4.14.     Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.......................   50

SECTION 4.15.     Maintenance of Properties and Insurance.................   51

SECTION 4.16.     Notice of Defaults......................................   51

SECTION 4.17.     Compliance Certificates.................................   51

SECTION 4.18.     Commission Reports and Reports to Holders...............   52

SECTION 4.19.     Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.................   52

SECTION 4.20.     Issuance of Subsidiary Guarantees by Restricted
                  Subsidiaries ...........................................   52

                                  ARTICLE FIVE
                              SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

SECTION 5.01.     When Company or Guarantors May Merge, Etc...............   53

SECTION 5.02.     Successor Substituted...................................   54

                                   ARTICLE SIX
                              DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01.     Events of Default.......................................   55

SECTION 6.02.     Acceleration............................................   56

SECTION 6.03.     Other Remedies..........................................   57

SECTION 6.04.     Waiver of Past Defaults.................................   57

SECTION 6.05.     Control by Majority.....................................   57

SECTION 6.06.     Limitation on Suits.....................................   57

SECTION 6.07.     Rights of Holders to Receive Payment....................   58

SECTION 6.08.     Collection Suit by Trustee..............................   58

SECTION 6.09.     Trustee May File Proofs of Claim........................   58

SECTION 6.10.     Priorities..............................................   59

SECTION 6.11.     Undertaking for Costs...................................   59

SECTION 6.12.     Restoration of Rights and Remedies......................   59
</TABLE>

                                      iii
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<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
SECTION 6.13.     Rights and Remedies Cumulative..........................   59

SECTION 6.14.     Delay or Omission Not Waiver............................   60

                                  ARTICLE SEVEN
                                     TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01.     General.................................................   60

SECTION 7.02.     Certain Rights of Trustee...............................   60

SECTION 7.03.     Individual Rights of Trustee............................   61

SECTION 7.04.     Trustee's Disclaimer....................................   61

SECTION 7.05.     Notice of Default.......................................   61

SECTION 7.06.     Reports by Trustee to Holders...........................   62

SECTION 7.07.     Compensation and Indemnity..............................   62

SECTION 7.08.     Replacement of Trustee..................................   63

SECTION 7.09.     Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc........................   64

SECTION 7.10.     Eligibility.............................................   64

SECTION 7.11.     Money Held in Trust.....................................   64

                                  ARTICLE EIGHT
                             DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

SECTION 8.01.     Termination of Company's Obligations....................   64

SECTION 8.02.     Defeasance and Discharge of Indenture...................   65

SECTION 8.03.     Defeasance of Certain Obligations.......................   67

SECTION 8.04.     Application of Trust Money..............................   69

SECTION 8.05.     Repayment to Company....................................   69

SECTION 8.06.     Reinstatement...........................................   69

                                  ARTICLE NINE
                       AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01.     Without Consent of Holders..............................   70
</TABLE>

                                       iv
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
SECTION 9.02.     With Consent of Holders.................................   70

SECTION 9.03.     Revocation and Effect of Consent........................   71

SECTION 9.04.     Notation on or Exchange of Notes........................   72
SECTION 9.05.     Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.........................   72

SECTION 9.06.     Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.....................   72

                                   ARTICLE TEN
                               GUARANTEE OF NOTES

SECTION 10.01.    Note Guarantee..........................................   72

SECTION 10.02.    Obligations Unconditional...............................   75

SECTION 10.03.    Release of Note Guarantees..............................   75

SECTION 10.04.    Notice to Trustee.......................................   75

SECTION 10.05.    This Article Not to Prevent Events of Default...........   75

                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.01.    Trust Indenture Act of 1939.............................   75

SECTION 11.02.    Notices.................................................   76

SECTION 11.03.    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent......   77

SECTION 11.04.    Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion...........   77

SECTION 11.05.    Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar.............   77

SECTION 11.06.    Payment Date Other Than a Business Day..................   77

SECTION 11.07.    Governing Law...........................................   78

SECTION 11.08.    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements...........   78

SECTION 11.09.    No Recourse Against Others..............................   78

SECTION 11.10.    Successors..............................................   78

SECTION 11.11.    Duplicate Originals.....................................   78

SECTION 11.12.    Separability............................................   78
</TABLE>

                                       v
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
SECTION 11.13.    Table of Contents, Headings, Etc........................   78

EXHIBIT A   Form of Note..................................................  A-1
EXHIBIT B   Form of Certificate...........................................  B-1
EXHIBIT C   Form of Certificate to Be Delivered in Connection with
            Transfers Pursuant to Non-QIB Accredited Investors............  C-1
EXHIBIT D   Form of Certificate to Be Delivered in Connection with
            Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S............................  D-1
</TABLE>

                                       vi
<PAGE>
            INDENTURE, dated as of March 26, 2002 between STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.,
an Indiana corporation (the "Company"), SDI Investment Company, a Delaware
corporation, the Initial Subsidiary Guarantor, and Fifth Third Bank, Indiana, a
state banking association, as trustee (the "Trustee").

                                    RECITALS

            The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance initially of up to $200,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the Company's 9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009 (the "Notes")
issuable as provided in this Indenture. All things necessary to make this
Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and the Initial Subsidiary Guarantor,
in accordance with its terms, have been done, and the Company and the Initial
Subsidiary Guarantor have done all things necessary to make the Notes, when
executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee hereunder
and duly issued by the Company, valid obligations of the Company as hereinafter
provided.

            This Indenture is subject to, and shall be governed by, the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to
be a part of and to govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended.

                      AND THIS INDENTURE FURTHER WITNESSETH

            For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the
equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:

                                   ARTICLE ONE
                   DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

            SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

            "Acquired Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of a Person existing at
the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a
Restricted Subsidiary assumed in connection with an Asset Acquisition by such
Restricted Subsidiary; provided such Indebtedness was not Incurred in connection
with or in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such
Asset Acquisition.

            "Adjusted Consolidated Net Income" "Adjusted Consolidated Net
Income" means, for any period, the aggregate net income (or loss) of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined in conformity with
GAAP; provided that the following items shall be excluded in computing Adjusted
Consolidated Net Income (without duplication):

            (i) the net income (or loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted
      Subsidiary;

            (ii) the net income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the
      date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated
      with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or all or
      substantially all of the property and assets of such Person are acquired
      by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
<PAGE>
            (iii) the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that
      the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such
      Restricted Subsidiary of such net income is not at the time permitted by
      the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument,
      judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation
      applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary;

            (iv) any gains or losses (on an after-tax basis) attributable to
      sales of assets outside the ordinary course of business of the Company and
      its Restricted Subsidiaries;

            (v) solely for purposes of calculating the amount of Restricted
      Payments that may be made pursuant to clause (C) of the first paragraph of
      Section 4.04, any amount paid or accrued as dividends on Preferred Stock
      of the Company owned by Persons other ....than the Company and any of its
      Restricted Subsidiaries;

            (vi) all extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses; and

            (vii) solely for purposes of calculating the Interest Coverage
      Ratio, (a) start-up expenses associated with the Whitley County Mini-Mill
      in an aggregate amount of $8.4 million and (b) legal expenses and
      settlement costs relating to litigation arising out of ...financings for
      Nakornthai Strip Mill Public Company Limited in an aggregate amount of
      $8.9 million, in each case incurred during the fiscal year ended December
      31, 2001.

            "Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total amount
of assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (less applicable
depreciation, amortization and other valuation reserves), except to the extent
resulting from write-ups of capital assets (excluding write-ups in connection
with accounting for acquisitions in conformity with GAAP), after deducting
therefrom (i) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (excluding intercompany items) and (ii) all goodwill, trade names,
trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like
intangibles, all as set forth on the most recent quarterly or annual
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries,
prepared in conformity with GAAP and filed with the Commission or provided to
the Trustee.

            "Affiliate" means, as applied to any Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect
common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by"
and "under common control with"), as applied to any Person, means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

            "Agent" means any Registrar, Co-Registrar, Paying Agent or
authenticating agent.

            "Agent Members" has the meaning provided in Section 2.07(a).

            "Asset Acquisition" means (1) an investment by the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries in any other Person pursuant to which such Person
shall become a

                                       2
<PAGE>
Restricted Subsidiary or shall be merged into or consolidated with the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Person's primary
business is related, ancillary or complementary to the businesses of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of such investment or (2) an
acquisition by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of the property
and assets of any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries that constitute substantially all of a division or line of business
of such Person; provided that the property and assets acquired are related,
ancillary or complementary to the businesses of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries on the date of such acquisition.

            "Asset Disposition" means the sale or other disposition by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than to the Company or
another Restricted Subsidiary) of (1) all or substantially all of the Capital
Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary or (2) all or substantially all of the assets
that constitute a division or line of business of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.

            "Asset Sale" means any sale, transfer or other disposition
(including by way of merger, consolidation or sale-leaseback transaction) in one
transaction or a series of related transactions by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to any Person other than the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries of:

            (i) all or any of the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary,

            (ii) all or substantially all of the property and assets of an
      operating unit or business of the Company or any of its Restricted
      Subsidiaries or

            (iii) any other property and assets (other than the Capital Stock or
      other Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary) of the Company or any of
      its Restricted Subsidiaries outside the ordinary course of business of the
      Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and,

in each case, that is not governed by the provisions of this Indenture
applicable to mergers, consolidations and sales of assets of the Company;
provided that "Asset Sale" shall not include:

            (a) sales or other dispositions of inventory, receivables and other
      current assets,

            (b) sales, transfers or other dispositions of assets constituting a
      Permitted Investment or Restricted Payment permitted to be made under
      Section 4.04, (c) sales, transfers or other dispositions of assets with a
      fair market value not in excess of $1 million in any transaction or series
      of related transactions or $10 million in the aggregate,

            (d) sales, transfers or other dispositions of real estate with a
      fair market value not in excess of $5 million in the aggregate; or

            (e) any sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any
      property or equipment that has become damaged, worn out, obsolete or
      otherwise unsuitable for use in connection with the business of the
      Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

                                       3
<PAGE>
            "Average Life" means, at any date of determination with respect to
any debt security, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products
of (a) the number of years from such date of determination to the dates of each
successive scheduled principal payment of such debt security and (b) the amount
of such principal payment by (2) the sum of all such principal payments.

            "Board of Directors" means, with respect to any Person, the Board of
Directors of such Person or any duly authorized committee of such Board of
Directors.

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

            "Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day
on which commercial banks in The City of New York or in the city of the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee are authorized by law to close.

            "Capital Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any and all
shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated,
whether voting or non-voting) in equity of such Person, whether outstanding on
the Closing Date or issued thereafter, including, without limitation, all Common
Stock and Preferred Stock.

            "Capitalized Lease" means, as applied to any Person, any lease of
any property (whether real, personal or mixed) of which the discounted present
value of the rental obligations of such Person as lessee, in conformity with
GAAP, is required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of such Person.

            "Capitalized Lease Obligations" means the discounted present value
of the rental obligations under a Capitalized Lease.

            "Change of Control" means such time as:

            (i) a "person" or "group" (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and
      14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) becomes the ultimate "beneficial owner" (as
      defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 35% of the
      total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company on a fully diluted
      basis; or

            (ii) individuals who on the Closing Date constitute the Board of
      Directors (together with any new directors whose election by the Board of
      Directors or whose nomination by the Board of Directors for election by
      the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
      of the members of the Board of Directors then in office who either were
      members of the Board of Directors on the Closing Date or whose election or
      nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason
      to constitute a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in
      office.

            "Closing Date" means the date on which the Notes are originally
issued under this Indenture.

                                       4
<PAGE>
            "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from
time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time
after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and
performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA, then the body performing
such duties at such time.

            "Commodity Agreement" means any forward contract, commodity swap
agreement, commodity option agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement.

            "Common Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any and all
shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated,
whether voting or non-voting) of such Person's equity, other than Preferred
Stock of such Person, whether outstanding on the Closing Date or issued
thereafter, including, without limitation, all series and classes of such common
stock.

            "Company" means the party named as such in the first paragraph of
this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to Article Five of this
Indenture and thereafter means the successor.

            "Company Order" means a written request or order signed in the name
of the Company (i) by its Chairman, a Vice Chairman, its President or a Vice
President and (ii) by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary and delivered to the Trustee; provided, however, that such
written request or order may be signed by any two of the officers or directors
listed in clause (i) above in lieu of being signed by one of such officers or
directors listed in such clause (i) and one of the officers listed in clause
(ii) above.

            "Consolidated EBITDA" means, for any period, Adjusted Consolidated
Net Income for such period plus, to the extent such amount was deducted in
calculating such Adjusted Consolidated Net Income:

            (i) Consolidated Interest Expense,

            (ii) income taxes,

            (iii) depreciation expense,

            (iv) amortization expense, and

            (v) all other non-cash items reducing Adjusted Consolidated Net
      Income (other than items that will require cash payments and for which an
      accrual or reserve is, or is required by GAAP to be, made), less all
      non-cash items increasing Adjusted Consolidated Net Income, all as
      determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted
      Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP;

provided that, if any Restricted Subsidiary is not a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary, Consolidated EBITDA shall be reduced (to the extent not otherwise
reduced in accordance with GAAP) by an amount equal to (A) the amount of the
Adjusted Consolidated Net Income attributable to such Restricted Subsidiary
multiplied by (B) the percentage ownership interest in

                                       5
<PAGE>
the income of such Restricted Subsidiary not owned on the last day of such
period by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

            "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for any period, the aggregate
amount of interest in respect of Indebtedness (including, without limitation,
amortization of original issue discount on any Indebtedness and the interest
portion of any deferred payment obligation, calculated in accordance with the
effective interest method of accounting; all commissions, discounts and other
fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers' acceptance
financing; the net costs associated with Interest Rate Agreements; and
Indebtedness that is Guaranteed or secured by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries) and all but the principal component of rentals in
respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid
or to be accrued by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such
period; excluding, however, (1) any amount of such interest of any Restricted
Subsidiary if the net income of such Restricted Subsidiary is excluded in the
calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (3) of the
definition thereof (but only in the same proportion as the net income of such
Restricted Subsidiary is excluded from the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated
Net Income pursuant to clause (3) of the definition thereof) and (2) any
premiums, fees and expenses (and any amortization thereof) payable in connection
with the Refinancing, all as determined on a consolidated basis (without taking
into account Unrestricted Subsidiaries) in conformity with GAAP.

            "Consolidated Net Worth" means, at any date of determination,
stockholders' equity as set forth on the most recently available quarterly or
annual consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
(which shall be as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date of such
computation, and which shall not take into account Unrestricted Subsidiaries),
plus, to the extent not included, any Preferred Stock of the Company, less any
amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock or any equity security convertible
into or exchangeable for Indebtedness, the cost of treasury stock and the
principal amount of any promissory notes receivable from the sale of the Capital
Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, each item to be
determined in conformity with GAAP (excluding the effects of foreign currency
exchange adjustments under Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 52).

            "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which
the corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which office is, at the date of this Indenture,
located at 251 North Illinois Street, Suite 1400, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204;
Attention: Corporate Trust Department.

            "Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement to be dated as of the
Closing Date, among the Company, the Subsidiaries of the Company party thereto,
the lenders from time to time party thereto, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding,
Inc., as Arranger, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent, together
with any agreements, instruments, security agreements, guaranties and other
documents executed or delivered pursuant to or in connection with such credit
agreement, as such credit agreement or such agreements, instruments, security
agreements, guaranties or other documents may be amended, supplemented,
extended, restated, renewed or

                                       6
<PAGE>
otherwise modified from time to time and any refinancing, replacement or
substitution thereof or therefor, whether with the same or different lenders.

            "Currency Agreement" means any foreign exchange contract, currency
swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement.

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

            "Depositary" means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees, and
their respective successors.

            "Disqualified Stock" means any class or series of Capital Stock of
any Person that by its terms or otherwise is (1) required to be redeemed prior
to the Stated Maturity of the Notes, (2) redeemable at the option of the holder
of such class or series of Capital Stock at any time prior to the Stated
Maturity of the Notes or (3) convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock
referred to in clause (1) or (2) above or Indebtedness having a scheduled
maturity prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes; provided that any Capital
Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof
giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to repurchase or redeem
such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an "asset sale" or "change of control"
occurring prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes shall not constitute
Disqualified Stock if the "asset sale" or "change of control" provisions
applicable to such Capital Stock are no more favorable to the holders of such
Capital Stock than the provisions contained in Section 4.11 and Section 4.12 and
such Capital Stock specifically provides that such Person will not repurchase or
redeem any such stock pursuant to such provision prior to the Company's
repurchase of such Notes as are required to be repurchased pursuant to Section
4.11 and Section 4.12.

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

            "Excess Proceeds" has the meaning provided in Section 4.11.

            "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

            "Exchange Notes" means any securities of the Company containing
terms identical to the Notes (except that such Exchange Notes shall be
registered under the Securities Act) that are issued and exchanged for the Notes
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and this Indenture.

            "fair market value" means the price that would be paid in an
arm's-length transaction between an informed and willing seller under no
compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy,
as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall
be conclusive if evidenced by a Board Resolution.

            "Foreign Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company that is an
entity which is a controlled foreign corporation under Section 957 of the
Internal Revenue Code and does not guarantee or otherwise provide direct credit
support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

                                       7
<PAGE>
            "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America as in effect as of the Closing Date, including, without
limitation, those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting
Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and
statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in
such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment
of the accounting profession. All ratios and computations contained or referred
to in the Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP applied on a
consistent basis, except that calculations made for purposes of determining
compliance with the terms of the covenants and with other provisions of the
Indenture shall be made without giving effect to (1) the amortization of any
expenses incurred in connection with the Refinancing and (2) except as otherwise
provided, the amortization of any amounts required or permitted by Accounting
Principles Board Opinion Nos. 16 and 17.

            "Global Notes" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.

            "Guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any
Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person
and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or
indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (1) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of
such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by
agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services
(unless such purchase arrangements are on arm's-length terms and are entered
into in the ordinary course of business), to take-or-pay, or to maintain
financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (2) entered into for purposes of
assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment
thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or
in part); provided that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term "Guarantee"
used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

            "Guaranteed Indebtedness" has the meaning provided in Section 4.07.

            "Holder" or "Noteholder" means the registered holder of any Note.

            "Iron Dynamics" means Iron Dynamics, Inc., an Indiana corporation.

            "IDI Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement, dated as of
December 31, 1997, by and among Iron Dynamics, the lenders parties thereto from
time to time and Mellon Bank, N.A., as Issuing Bank and Agent, together with any
agreements, instruments and documents executed or delivered pursuant to or in
connection with such credit agreement, as such credit agreement or such
agreements, instruments or documents may be amended, supplemented, extended
restated, renewed or otherwise modified from time to time and any refinancing,
replacement or substitution thereof or therefor, or of or for any previous
refinancing, replacement or substitution, as the same may from time to time be
amended, refinanced, renewed or replaced.

            "Incur" means, with respect to any Indebtedness, to incur, create,
issue, assume, Guarantee or otherwise become liable for or with respect to, or
become responsible for, the payment of, contingently or otherwise, such
Indebtedness; provided that (1) any Indebtedness of

                                       8
<PAGE>
a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary will
be deemed to be incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary and (2) neither the accrual of interest nor the accretion
of original issue discount nor the payment of interest in the form of additional
Indebtedness (to the extent provided for when the Indebtedness on which such
interest is paid was originally issued) shall be considered an Incurrence of
Indebtedness.

            "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person at any date of
determination (without duplication):

            (i) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;

            (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures,
      notes or other similar instruments;

            (iii) all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit
      or other similar instruments (including reimbursement obligations with
      respect thereto, but excluding obligations with respect to letters of
      credit (including trade letters of credit) securing obligations (other
      than obligations described in (1) or (2) above or (5), (6) or (7) below)
      entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the
      extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if drawn upon, to the
      extent such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day
      following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement);

            (iv) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid
      purchase price of property or services, which purchase price is due more
      than six months after the date of placing such property in service or
      taking delivery and title thereto or the completion of such services,
      except Trade Payables;

            (v) all Capitalized Lease Obligations;

            (vi) all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any
      asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such
      Person; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness shall be the lesser
      of (A) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination
      and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness;

            (vii) all Indebtedness of other Persons Guaranteed by such Person to
      the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by such Person; and

            (viii) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition,
      obligations under Commodity Agreements, Currency Agreements and Interest
      Rate Agreements (other than Commodity Agreements, Currency Agreements and
      Interest Rate Agreements designed solely to protect the Company or its
      Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign
      currency exchange rates or interest rates and that do not increase the
      Indebtedness of the obligor outstanding at any time other than as a result
      of fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates or
      interest rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation payable
      thereunder).

                                       9
<PAGE>
The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding
balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and,
with respect to contingent obligations, the maximum liability upon the
occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, provided

      (A)   that the amount outstanding at any time of any Indebtedness issued
            with original issue discount is the face amount of such Indebtedness
            less the remaining unamortized portion of the original issue
            discount of such Indebtedness at such time as determined in
            conformity with GAAP,

      (B)   that money borrowed and set aside at the time of the Incurrence of
            any Indebtedness in order to prefund the payment of the interest on
            such Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be "Indebtedness" so long
            as such money is held to secure the payment of such interest and

      (C)   that Indebtedness shall not include:

            (x) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes,

            (y) performance, surety or appeal bonds provided in the ordinary
      course of business or

            (z) agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase
      price or similar obligations, or Guarantees or letters of credit, surety
      bonds or performance bonds securing any obligations of the Company or any
      of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to such agreements, in any case
      Incurred in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or
      Restricted Subsidiary (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by
      any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or
      Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition), so
      long as the principal amount does not to exceed the gross proceeds
      actually received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in
      connection with such disposition. "Indenture" means this Indenture as
      originally executed or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to
      time by one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture entered into
      pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

            "Initial Subsidiary Guarantor" means SDI Investment Company, a
Delaware corporation.

            "Institutional Accredited Investor" means an institution that is an
"accredited investor" as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7)
under the Securities Act.

            "Interest Coverage Ratio" means, on any Transaction Date, the ratio
of (1) the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA for the then most recent four
fiscal quarters prior to such Transaction Date for which reports have been filed
with the Commission or provided to the Trustee (the "Four Quarter Period") to
(2) the aggregate Consolidated Interest Expense during such Four Quarter Period.
In making the foregoing calculation:

                                       10
<PAGE>
            (A) pro forma effect shall be given to any Indebtedness Incurred or
      repaid during the period (the "Reference Period") commencing on the first
      day of the Four Quarter Period and ending on the Transaction Date (other
      than Indebtedness Incurred or repaid under a revolving credit or similar
      arrangement to the extent of the commitment thereunder (or under any
      predecessor revolving credit or similar arrangement) in effect on the last
      day of such Four Quarter Period unless any portion of such Indebtedness is
      projected, in the reasonable judgment of the senior management of the
      Company, to remain outstanding for a period in excess of 12 months from
      the date of the Incurrence thereof), in each case as if such Indebtedness
      had been Incurred or repaid on the first day of such Reference Period;

            (B) Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to interest on any
      Indebtedness (whether existing or being Incurred) computed on a pro forma
      basis and bearing a floating interest rate shall be computed as if the
      rate in effect on the Transaction Date (taking into account any Interest
      Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such Interest Rate
      Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months or, if shorter, at
      least equal to the remaining term of such Indebtedness) had been the
      applicable rate for the entire period;

            (C) pro forma effect shall be given to Asset Dispositions and Asset
      Acquisitions (including giving pro forma effect to the application of
      proceeds of any Asset Disposition) that occur during such Reference Period
      as if they had occurred and such proceeds had been applied on the first
      day of such Reference Period; and

            (D) pro forma effect shall be given to asset dispositions and asset
      acquisitions (including giving pro forma effect to the application of
      proceeds of any asset disposition) that have been made by any Person that
      has become a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged with or into the
      Company or any Restricted Subsidiary during such Reference Period and that
      would have constituted Asset Dispositions or Asset Acquisitions had such
      transactions occurred when such Person was a Restricted Subsidiary as if
      such asset dispositions or asset acquisitions were Asset Dispositions or
      Asset Acquisitions that occurred on the first day of such Reference
      Period;

provided that to the extent that clause (C) or (D) of this sentence requires
that pro forma effect be given to an Asset Acquisition or Asset Disposition,
such pro forma calculation shall be based upon the four full fiscal quarters
immediately preceding the Transaction Date of the Person, or division or line of
business of the Person, that is acquired or disposed for which financial
information is available.

            "Interest Payment Date" means each semiannual interest payment date
on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing September 15, 2002.

            "Interest Rate Agreement" means any interest rate protection
agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement,
interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar
agreement, interest rate hedge agreement, option or future contract or other
similar agreement or arrangement.

                                       11
<PAGE>
            "Investment" in any Person means any direct or indirect advance,
loan or other extension of credit (including, without limitation, by way of
Guarantee or similar arrangement; but excluding advances to customers or
suppliers in the ordinary course of business that are, in conformity with GAAP,
recorded as accounts receivable, prepaid expenses or deposits on the balance
sheet of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and endorsements for
collection or deposit arising in the ordinary course of business) or capital
contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or
any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any
purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other
similar instruments issued by, such Person and shall include (1) the designation
of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (2) the retention
of the Capital Stock (or any other Investment) by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, of (or in) any Person that has ceased to be a
Restricted Subsidiary, including without limitation, by reason of any
transaction permitted by clause (3) or (4) of Section 4.06. For purposes of the
definition of "Unrestricted Subsidiary" and Section 4.04, (a) the amount of or a
reduction in an Investment shall be equal to the fair market value thereof at
the time such Investment is made or reduced and (b) in the event the Company or
a Restricted Subsidiary makes an Investment by transferring assets to any Person
and as part of such transaction receives Net Cash Proceeds, the amount of such
Investment shall be the fair market value of the assets less the amount of Net
Cash Proceeds so received, provided the Net Cash Proceeds are applied in
accordance with clause (A) or (B) of Section 4.11.

            "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance,
lien or charge of any kind (including, without limitation, any conditional sale
or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof or any
agreement to give any security interest).

            "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

            "Net Cash Proceeds" means:

            (a) with respect to any Asset Sale, the proceeds of such Asset Sale
      in the form of cash or cash equivalents, including payments in respect of
      deferred payment obligations (to the extent corresponding to the
      principal, but not interest, component thereof) when received in the form
      of cash or cash equivalents and proceeds from the conversion of other
      property received when converted to cash or cash equivalents, net of

                  (i) brokerage commissions and other fees and expenses
            (including fees and expenses of counsel and investment bankers)
            related to such Asset Sale;

                  (ii) provisions for all taxes (whether or not such taxes will
            actually be paid or are payable) as a result of such Asset Sale
            without regard to the consolidated results of operations of the
            Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

                  (iii) payments made to repay Indebtedness or any other
            obligation outstanding at the time of such Asset Sale that either
            (x) is secured by a Lien on the property or assets sold or (y) is
            required to be paid as a result of such sale and

                                       12
<PAGE>
                  (iv) appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or any
            Restricted Subsidiary as a reserve against any liabilities
            associated with such Asset Sale, including, without limitation,
            pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities
            related to environmental matters and liabilities under any
            indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Sale, all as
            determined in conformity with GAAP and

            (b) with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, the
      proceeds of such issuance or sale in the form of cash or cash equivalents,
      including payments in respect of deferred payment obligations (to the
      extent corresponding to the principal, but not interest, component
      thereof) when received in the form of cash or cash equivalents and
      proceeds from the conversion of other property received when converted to
      cash or cash equivalents, net of attorney's fees, accountants' fees,
      underwriters' or Placement Agents' fees, discounts or commissions and
      brokerage, consultant and other fees incurred in connection with such
      issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.

            "New Millennium" means New Millennium Building Systems, LLC, an
Indiana limited liability company.

            "Non-U.S. Person" means a person who is not a "U.S. person" (as
defined in Regulation S).

            "Note Guarantee" means a Guarantee of the obligations of the Company
under this Indenture and the Notes by any Subsidiary Guarantor.

            "Notes" means any of the securities, as defined in the first
paragraph of the recitals hereof, that are authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term "Notes" shall
include the Notes initially issued on the Closing Date, any Exchange Notes to be
issued and exchanged for any Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement
and this Indenture and any other Notes issued after the Closing Date under this
Indenture. For purposes of this Indenture, all Notes shall vote together as one
series of Notes under this Indenture.

            "Offer to Purchase" means an offer to purchase Notes by the Company
from the Holders commenced by mailing a notice to the Trustee and each Holder
stating:

            (i) the covenant pursuant to which the offer is being made and that
      all Notes validly tendered will be accepted for payment on a pro rata
      basis;

            (ii) the purchase price and the date of purchase (which shall be a
      Business Day no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date
      such notice is mailed) (the "Payment Date");

            (iii) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest
      pursuant to its terms;

                                       13
<PAGE>
            (iv) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the
      purchase price, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer to
      Purchase shall cease to accrue interest on and after the Payment Date;

            (v) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to the
      Offer to Purchase will be required to surrender the Note, together with
      the form entitled "Option of the Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse
      side of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified
      in the notice prior to the close of business on the Business Day
      immediately preceding the Payment Date;

            (vi) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the
      Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the third
      Business Day immediately preceding the Payment Date, a telegram, facsimile
      transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the
      principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase and a statement that such
      Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Notes purchased; and

            (vii) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will
      be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion
      of the Notes surrendered; provided that each Note purchased and each new
      Note issued shall be in a principal amount of $1,000 or integral multiples
      of $1,000.

On the Payment Date, the Company shall (a) accept for payment on a pro rata
basis Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to an Offer to Purchase; (b)
deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of all
Notes or portions thereof so accepted; and (c) deliver, or cause to be
delivered, to the Trustee all Notes or portions thereof so accepted together
with an Officers' Certificate specifying the Notes or portions thereof accepted
for payment by the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to the Holders
of Notes so accepted payment in an amount equal to the purchase price, and the
Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail to such Holders a new Note equal in
principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided
that each Note purchased and each new Note issued shall be in a principal amount
of $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000. The Company will publicly announce
the results of an Offer to Purchase as soon as practicable after the Payment
Date. The Trustee shall act as the Paying Agent for an Offer to Purchase. The
Company will comply with Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other
securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and
regulations are applicable, in the event that the Company is required to
repurchase Notes pursuant to an Offer to Purchase.

            "Officer" means, with respect to the Company, (i) the Chairman of
the Board, any Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, any Vice President or the Chief Financial Officer, and (ii) the
Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary.

            "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by one Officer
listed in clause (i) of the definition thereof and one Officer listed in clause
(ii) of the definition thereof or two officers listed in clause (i) of the
definition thereof. Each Officers' Certificate (other than certificates provided
pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall include the statements provided for in
TIA Section 314(e).

                                       14
<PAGE>
            "Offshore Global Note" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.

            "Offshore Physical Notes" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.

            "Omni Dynamic Aviation" means Omni Dynamic Aviation, LLC, an Indiana
limited liability company.

            "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion signed by legal counsel
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, who may be an employee of or counsel to
the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 11.04. Each such Opinion of
Counsel shall include the statements provided for in TIA Section 314(e).

            "Paragon Steel" means Paragon Steel Enterprises, LLC, an Indiana
limited liability company.

            "Paying Agent" has the meaning provided in Section 2.04, except
that, for the purposes of Article Eight, the Paying Agent shall not be the
Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of any of them. The term
"Paying Agent" includes its successors and assigns and any additional Paying
Agent.

            "Payment Date" has the meaning provided in the definition of Offer
to Purchase.

            "Permitted Investment" means:

            (i) an Investment in the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor or a
      Person which will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Subsidiary
      Guarantor or be merged or consolidated with or into or transfer or convey
      all or substantially all its assets to, the Company or a Subsidiary
      Guarantor; provided that such person's primary business is related,
      ancillary or complementary to the businesses of the Company and its
      Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of such Investment;

            (ii) Temporary Cash Investments;

            (iii) payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are
      expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses
      in accordance with GAAP;

            (iv) stock, obligations or securities received in satisfaction of
      judgments;

            (v) an Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary consisting solely of
      an Investment in another Unrestricted Subsidiary;

            (vi) loans or advances to directors, officers or employees of the
      Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that do not in the aggregate
      exceed $5 million at any time outstanding;

            (vii) Investments in negotiable instruments held for collection,
      lease, utility and workers' compensation, performance and other similar
      pledges or deposits and other pledges or deposits permitted under Section
      4.09;

                                       15
<PAGE>
            (viii) Investments in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other
      than a Subsidiary Guarantor in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5
      million;

            (ix) Commodity Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements and Currency
      Agreements designed solely to protect the Company or its Restricted
      Subsidiaries against fluctuations in commodity prices, interest rates or
      foreign currency exchange rates;

            (x) any Investments that may be deemed to result from payments made
      in Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, or the
      payment of Additional Bank Payments, required under the Settlement
      Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date; or

            (xi) Investments in Iron Dynamics in an aggregate amount not to
      exceed $15 million plus the net reduction in Investments made pursuant to
      this clause (xi) in any Person resulting from payments of interest on
      Indebtedness, dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other
      transfers of assets, in each case to the Company or any Restricted
      Subsidiary or from the Net Cash Proceeds from the sale of any such
      Investment (except, in each case, to the extent any such payment or
      proceeds are included in the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net
      Income), from the release of any Guarantee or from redesignations of
      Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries (valued in each case
      as provided in the definition of "Investments"), not to exceed, in each
      case, the amount of such Investments previously made by the Company or any
      Restricted Subsidiary in such Person or Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided
      at the time of such Investment the Company could Incur at least $1.00 of
      Indebtedness under the first paragraph of part (a) of Section 4.03.

            "Permitted Liens" means:

            (i) Liens for taxes, assessments, governmental charges or claims
      that are being contested in good faith by appropriate legal proceedings
      promptly instituted and diligently conducted and for which a reserve or
      other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required in conformity
      with GAAP shall have been made;

            (ii) statutory and common law Liens of landlords and carriers,
      warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen or other
      similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and with respect
      to amounts not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith by
      appropriate legal proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted
      and for which a reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall
      be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made;

            (iii) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of
      business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance
      and other types of social security;

            (iv) Liens incurred or deposits made to secure the performance of
      tenders, bids, leases, statutory or regulatory obligations, bankers'
      acceptances, surety and appeal bonds, government contracts, performance
      and return-of-money bonds and other

                                       16
<PAGE>
      obligations of a similar nature incurred in the ordinary course of
      business (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money);

            (v) easements, rights-of-way, municipal and zoning ordinances and
      similar charges, encumbrances, title defects or other irregularities that
      do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the
      Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

            (vi) leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially
      interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its
      Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

            (vii) Liens encumbering property or assets under construction
      arising from progress or partial payments by a customer of the Company or
      its Restricted Subsidiaries relating to such property or assets;

            (viii) any interest or title of a lessor in the property subject to
      any Capitalized Lease or operating lease;

            (ix) Liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code financing
      statements regarding leases;

            (x) Liens on property of, or on shares of Capital Stock or
      Indebtedness of, any Person existing at the time such Person becomes, or
      becomes a part of, any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens do
      not extend to or cover any property or assets of the Company or any
      Restricted Subsidiary other than the property or assets acquired;

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

            (xii) Liens arising from the rendering of a final judgment or order
      against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that does not give rise
      to an Event of Default;

            (xiii) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to
      letters of credit that encumber documents and other property relating to
      such letters of credit and the products and proceeds thereof;

            (xiv) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a
      matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the
      importation of goods;

            (xv) Liens encumbering customary initial deposits and margin
      deposits, and other Liens that are within the general parameters customary
      in the industry and incurred in the ordinary course of business, in each
      case, securing Indebtedness under Commodity Agreements, Interest Rate
      Agreements and Currency Agreements designed solely to protect the Company
      or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from fluctuations in interest rates,
      currencies or the price of commodities;

            (xvi) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention,
      consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by
      the Company or any of its Restricted

                                       17
<PAGE>
      Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the
      past practices of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to the
      Closing Date;

            (xvii) Liens on shares of Capital Stock of any Unrestricted
      Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

            (xviii) Liens on or sales of receivables.

            "Person" means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a
limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or
organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or
instrumentality thereof.

            "Physical Notes" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.

            "Preferred Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any and all
shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated,
whether voting or non-voting) of such Person's preferred or preference equity,
whether outstanding on the Closing Date or issued thereafter, including, without
limitation, all series and classes of such preferred or preference stock.

            "principal" of a debt security, including the Notes, means the
principal amount due on the Stated Maturity as shown on such debt security.

            "Private Placement Legend" means the legend initially set forth on
the Notes in the form set forth in Section 2.02.

            "QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule
144A.

            "Redemption Date" means, when used with respect to any Note to be
redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

            "Redemption Price" means, when used with respect to any Note to be
redeemed, the price at which such Note is to be redeemed pursuant to this
Indenture.

            "Refinancing" means the series of transactions whereby the Company
permanently repays all amounts outstanding under its existing (i) $450 million
amended and restated credit agreement dated as of June 30, 1997, as amended, by
and among the Company, the Lenders parities thereto from time to time, Mellon
Bank, N.A., as Agent for the Lenders thereunder and as Issuing Bank,
Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbau and Comerica Bank, as Senior Co-Agents and Banque
Nationale de Paris, NBD Bank, N.A. and The Industrial Bank of Japan, Limited, as
Co-Agents and (ii) $50 million credit agreement dated as of May 5, 2000 by and
among the Company, the Lenders parties thereto from time to time and Mellon
Bank, N.A., as Agent for the Lenders thereunder, from the net proceeds received
from the offering of the Notes and Note Guarantees and borrowings under the
Credit Agreement and terminates such existing credit agreements.

            "Registrar" has the meaning provided in Section 2.04.

                                       18
<PAGE>
            "Registration Rights Agreement" means the registration rights
agreement among the Company, the Initial Subsidiary Guarantor, Morgan Stanley &
Co. Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Corp. and
NatCity Investments, Inc. dated March 26, 2002.

            "Registration Statement" means the Registration Statement as defined
and described in the Registration Rights Agreement.

            "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest
Payment Date means the March 1 or September 1 (whether or not a Business Day),
as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.

            "Regulation S" means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

            "Replacement Assets" means, on any date, property or assets (other
than current assets) of a nature or type or that are used in a business (or an
Investment in a company having property or assets of a nature or type, or
engaged in a business) similar or related to the nature or type of the property
and assets of, or the business of, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
existing on such date.

            "Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the Trustee, means
any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office with direct
responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with
respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such
matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.

            "Restricted Payments" has the meaning provided in Section 4.04.

            "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company other
than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

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

            "Settlement Agreement" means the Agreement, dated as of January 28,
2002, by and among Iron Dynamics, the Company, the lenders banks who are parties
thereto and Mellon Bank, N.A., as Agent to the banks, together with any
agreements, instruments and documents executed or delivered pursuant to or in
connection with such agreement, as such agreement or such agreements,
instruments or documents may be amended, supplemented, extended restated,
renewed or otherwise modified from time to time.

            "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of The
McGraw-Hill Companies, and its successors.

            "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

            "Security Register" has the meaning provided in Section 2.04.

            "Shelf Registration Statement" means the Shelf Registration
Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

                                       19
<PAGE>
            "Significant Subsidiary" means, at any date of determination, any
Restricted Subsidiary that, together with its Subsidiaries, (1) for the most
recent fiscal year of the Company, accounted for more than 10% of the
consolidated revenues of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) as
of the end of such fiscal year, was the owner of more than 10% of the
consolidated assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, all as set
forth on the most recently available consolidated financial statements of the
Company for such fiscal year.

            "Stated Maturity" means, (1) with respect to any debt security, the
date specified in such debt security as the fixed date on which the final
installment of principal of such debt security is due and payable and (2) with
respect to any scheduled installment of principal of or interest on any debt
security, the date specified in such debt security as the fixed date on which
such installment is due and payable.

            "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the voting power
of the outstanding Voting Stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person
and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person.

            "Subsidiary Guarantee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.07.

            "Subsidiary Guarantor" means each of the Initial Subsidiary
Guarantor and any other Restricted Subsidiary which provides a Note Guarantee of
the Company's obligations under the Indenture and the Notes, until (a) a
successor replaces it pursuant to Article Five of this Indenture and thereafter
means the successor or (b) it is released from its Guarantee pursuant to the
terms of this Indenture.

            "Temporary Cash Investment" means any of the following:

            (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency
      thereof or obligations fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the United
      States of America or any agency thereof, in each case maturing within one
      year unless such obligations are deposited by the Company (x) to defease
      any Indebtedness or (y) in a collateral or escrow account or similar
      arrangement to prefund the payment of interest on any indebtedness;

            (ii) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market
      deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof
      issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the
      United States of America, any state thereof or any foreign country
      recognized by the United States of America, and which bank or trust
      company has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess
      of $100 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) and has
      outstanding debt which is rated "A" (or such similar equivalent rating) or
      higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating
      organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act) or any
      money market fund sponsored by a registered broker dealer or mutual fund
      distributor;

            (iii) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days
      for underlying securities of the types described in clause (i) above
      entered into with a bank or trust company meeting the qualifications
      described in clause (ii) above;

                                       20
<PAGE>
            (iv) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year after the
      date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of
      the Company) organized and in existence under the laws of the United
      States of America, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by
      the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any
      investment therein is made of "P-2" (or higher) according to Moody's or
      "A-2" (or higher) according to S&P;

            (v) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date
      of acquisition issued or fully and unconditionally guaranteed by any
      state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by
      any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least
      "A" by S&P or Moody's; and

            (vi) any mutual fund that has at least 95% of its assets
      continuously invested in investments of the types described in clauses (1)
      through (5) above.

            "TIA" or "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
(15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date this Indenture
was executed, except as provided in Section 9.06.

            "Trade Payables" means, with respect to any Person, any accounts
payable or any other indebtedness or monetary obligation to trade creditors
created, assumed or Guaranteed by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries arising
in the ordinary course of business in connection with the acquisition of goods
or services.

            "Transaction Date" means, with respect to the Incurrence of any
Indebtedness, the date such Indebtedness is to be Incurred and, with respect to
any Restricted Payment, the date such Restricted Payment is to be made.

            "Trustee" means the party named as such in the first paragraph of
this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the provisions
of Article Seven of this Indenture and thereafter means such successor.

            "United States Bankruptcy Code" means the Bankruptcy Reform Act of
1978, as amended and as codified in Title 11 of the United States Code, as
amended from time to time hereafter, or any successor federal bankruptcy law.

            "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (I) Iron Dynamics, New Millennium,
Omni Dynamic Aviation and Paragon Steel and each of their Subsidiaries and (II)
(1) any other Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall
be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors in the manner
provided below; and (2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board
of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary (including any newly
acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) to be an Unrestricted
Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary owns any Capital Stock of, or owns or holds
any Lien on any property of, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided
that (A) any Guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any
Indebtedness of the Subsidiary being so designated shall be deemed an
"Incurrence" of such Indebtedness and an "Investment" by the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary (or both, if applicable) at the time of such designation;
(B) either (I) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total assets of $1,000 or
less or

                                       21
<PAGE>
(II) if such Subsidiary has assets greater than $1,000, such designation would
be permitted under Section 4.04 and (C) if applicable, the Incurrence of
Indebtedness and the Investment referred to in clause (A) of this proviso would
be permitted under Section 4.03 and Section 4.04. The Board of Directors may
designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided
that (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at
the time of or after giving effect to such designation and (b) all Liens and
Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary outstanding immediately after such
designation would, if Incurred at such time, have been permitted to be Incurred
(and shall be deemed to have been Incurred) for all purposes of this Indenture.
Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee
by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the Board Resolution giving effect
to such designation and an Officers' Certificate certifying that such
designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

            "U.S. Global Notes" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.

            "U.S. Government Obligations" means securities that are (1) direct
obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full
faith and credit is pledged or (2) obligations of a Person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of
America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and
credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are
not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof at any time prior
to the Stated Maturity of the Notes, and shall also include a depository receipt
issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S.
Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any
such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the
holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such
custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the
holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in
respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on
or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository
receipt.

            "U.S. Physical Notes" means the Notes issued in the form of
permanent certificated Notes in registered form in substantially the form set
forth in Exhibit A to Institutional Accredited Investors which are not QIBs
(excluding Non-U.S. Persons).

            "Voting Stock" means with respect to any Person, Capital Stock of
any class or kind ordinarily having the power to vote for the election of
directors, managers or other voting members of the governing body of such
Person.

            "Whitley County Mini-Mill" means the Company's structural steel and
rail mini-mill located in Whitley County, Indiana.

            "Wholly Owned" means, with respect to any Subsidiary of any Person,
the ownership of all of the outstanding Capital Stock of such Subsidiary (other
than any director's qualifying shares or Investments by foreign nationals
mandated by applicable law) by such Person or one or more Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries of such Person.

                                       22
<PAGE>
            SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following
TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

            "indenture securities" means the Notes;

            "indenture security holder" means a Holder or a Noteholder;

            "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;

            "indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee;
            and

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

            All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the
TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by a rule of the
Commission and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them
therein.

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

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

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

            (iii) "or" is not exclusive;

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

            (v) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

            (vii) all ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this
      Indenture shall be computed in accordance with the definition of GAAP set
      forth in Section 1.01; and

            (viii) all references to Sections or Articles refer to Sections or
      Articles of this Indenture unless otherwise indicated.

                                       23
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE TWO
                                    THE NOTES

            SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating. The Notes and the Trustee's
certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form annexed hereto
as Exhibit A with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and
other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture. The Notes may
have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange
agreements to which the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is subject or usage.
The Company shall approve the form of the Notes and any notation, legend or
endorsement on the Notes. Each Note shall be dated the date of its
authentication.

            The terms and provisions contained in the form of the Notes annexed
hereto as Exhibit A shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of
this Indenture. To the extent applicable, the Company, each Subsidiary Guarantor
and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly
agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

            Notes offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued
initially in the form of one or more permanent Global Notes in registered form
in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A (the "U.S. Global Notes"),
registered in the name of the nominee of the Depositary, deposited with the
Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and
authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal
amount of the U.S. Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased
by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the
Depositary or its nominee, in accordance with the instructions given by the
Holder thereof, as hereinafter provided.

            Notes offered and sold in offshore transactions in reliance on
Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent
Global Notes in registered form in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A
(the "Offshore Global Notes"), registered in the name of the nominee of the
Depositary, deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, duly
executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter
provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Offshore Global Notes may from
time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the
Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee, in accordance with the
instructions given by the Holder thereof, as hereinafter provided.

            Notes transferred to Institutional Accredited Investors pursuant to
Section 2.08(a) of this Indenture shall be issued in the form of permanent
certificated Notes in registered form in substantially the form set forth in
Exhibit A (the "U.S. Physical Notes"). Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.07 in
exchange for interests in the Offshore Global Notes shall be in the form of
permanent certificated Notes in registered form substantially in the form set
forth in Exhibit A (the "Offshore Physical Notes").

            The Offshore Physical Notes and U.S. Physical Notes are sometimes
collectively herein referred to as the "Physical Notes." The U.S. Global Notes
and the Offshore Global Notes are sometimes referred to herein as the "Global
Notes."

                                       24
<PAGE>
            The definitive Notes shall be typed, printed, lithographed or
engraved or produced by any combination of these methods or may be produced in
any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange on which the
Notes may be listed, all as determined by the Officers executing such Notes, as
evidenced by their execution of such Notes.

            SECTION 2.02. Restrictive Legends. Unless and until a Note is
exchanged for an Exchange Note or sold in connection with an effective
Registration Statement pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, (i) each
U.S. Global Note and each U.S. Physical Note shall bear the legend set forth
below on the face thereof and (ii) each Offshore Physical Note and each Offshore
Global Note shall bear the legend set forth below on the face thereof until at
least the 41st day after the Closing Date and receipt by the Company and the
Trustee of a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

      THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
      AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR
      SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF,
      U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS
      ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED
      INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR
      (B) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN RULE
      501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN
      "INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR") OR (C) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS
      ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH
      REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, WITHIN
      THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO UNDER RULE 144(k) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS
      IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE, RESELL OR OTHERWISE
      TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO STEEL DYNAMICS, INC. OR ANY OF ITS
      SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH
      RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN
      INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES
      TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND
      AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM
      OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE), AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER
      IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES OF LESS THAN
      $100,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO STEEL DYNAMICS, INC. THAT
      SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) OUTSIDE THE
      UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER
      THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION
      PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (F)
      PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
      AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS
      TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN
      CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS

                                       25
<PAGE>
      NOTE WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO IN RULE 144(K) UNDER THE
      SECURITIES ACT AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THE NOTES, THE HOLDER MUST
      TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE. IF THE PROPOSED
      TRANSFEREE IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR OR NON-U.S. PERSON, THE
      HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND STEEL
      DYNAMICS, INC. SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS
      EITHER OF THEM 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. AS USED HEREIN,
      THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION", "UNITED STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE
      THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE
      INDENTURE CONTAINS PROVISIONS REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER
      ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTION.

            Each Global Note, whether or not an Exchange Note, shall also bear
the following legend on the face thereof:

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

      TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT
      NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO. OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH
      SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE
      LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN
      SECTION 2.08 OF THE INDENTURE.

            SECTION 2.03. Execution, Authentication and Denominations. Subject
to Article Four and applicable law, the aggregate principal amount of Notes
which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The
Notes shall be executed by two Officers of the Company. The signature of these
Officers on the Notes may be by facsimile or manual signature in the name and on
behalf of the Company.

                                       26
<PAGE>
            If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that
office at the time the Trustee or authenticating agent authenticates the Note,
the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

            A Note shall not be valid until the Trustee or authenticating agent
manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature
shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this
Indenture.

            At any time and from time to time after the execution of this
Indenture, the Trustee or an authenticating agent shall upon receipt of a
Company Order authenticate for original issue Notes in the aggregate principal
amount specified in such Company Order; provided that the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of the
Company in connection with such authentication of Notes. Such Company Order
shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the
original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and, in case of an issuance of
Notes pursuant to Section 2.15, shall certify that such issuance is in
compliance with Article Four.

            The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent to authenticate
Notes. 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 authenticating agent. An authenticating agent
has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or any Subsidiary
Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

            The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons
and only in denominations of $1,000 in principal amount and any integral
multiple thereof.

            SECTION 2.04. 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"), an office or agency where Notes may be presented
for payment (the "Paying Agent") and an office or agency where notices and
demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be
served, which shall be in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. The
Company shall cause the Registrar to keep a register of the Notes and of their
transfer and exchange (the "Security Register"). The Security Register shall be
in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form
within a reasonable time. The Company may have one or more co-Registrars and one
or more additional Paying Agents.

            The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with
any Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the
provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address of any such Agent
and any change in the address of such Agent. If the Company fails to maintain a
Registrar, Paying Agent and/or agent for service of notices and demands, the
Company shall appoint the Trustee to act as, and the Trustee shall act as, such
Registrar, Paying Agent and/or agent for service of notices and demands. The
Company may remove any Agent upon written notice to such Agent and the Trustee;
provided that no such removal shall become effective until (i) the acceptance of
an appointment by a successor Agent to such Agent as evidenced by an appropriate
agency agreement entered into by the Company and such successor Agent and
delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee
shall serve as such Agent until the appointment of a successor Agent in
accordance with clause (i) of this

                                       27
<PAGE>
proviso. The Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Affiliate of any of
them may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar, and/or agent for
service of notice and demands.

            The Company hereby initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar,
Paying Agent, authenticating agent and agent for service of notice and demands.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the
most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders and shall
otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar,
the Company shall furnish to the Trustee as of each Regular Record Date and at
such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request the names and addresses
of Holders as they appear in the Security Register, including the aggregate
principal amount of Notes held by each Holder.

            SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. Not later than
11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date of the principal, premium, if
any, and interest on any Notes, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent
money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay such principal, premium,
if any, and interest so becoming due. The Company shall require each Paying
Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall
hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money held by
the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest
on the Notes (whether such money has been paid to it by the Company or any other
obligor on the Notes), and such Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Trustee
of any default by the Company (or any other obligor on the Notes) in making any
such payment. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all
money held by it to the Trustee and account for any funds disbursed, and the
Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any payment default, upon
written request to a Paying Agent, require such Paying Agent to pay all money
held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. Upon doing so,
the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money so paid over to
the Trustee. If the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of
any of them acts as Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of any
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, segregate and hold in a
separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders a sum of money sufficient to
pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due until such sum
of money shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as provided in
this Indenture, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure to
act.

            SECTION 2.06. Transfer and Exchange. The Notes are issuable only in
registered form. A Holder may transfer a Note only by written application to the
Registrar stating the name of the proposed transferee and otherwise complying
with the terms of this Indenture. No such transfer shall be effected until, and
such transferee shall succeed to the rights of a Holder only upon, final
acceptance and registration of the transfer by the Registrar in the Security
Register. Prior to the registration of any transfer by a Holder as provided
herein, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company shall treat the
person in whose name the Note is registered as the owner thereof for all
purposes whether or not the Note shall be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Furthermore, any Holder of a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global
Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be
effected only through a book entry system maintained by the Holder of such
Global Note (or its agent) and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the
Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

                                       28
<PAGE>
When Notes are presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to
register the transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes
of other authorized denominations (including an exchange of Notes for Exchange
Notes), the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as
requested if its requirements for such transactions are met (including that such
Notes are duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in
form satisfactory to the Trustee and Registrar duly executed by the Holder
thereof or by an attorney who is authorized in writing to act on behalf of the
Holder); provided that no exchanges of Notes for Exchange Notes shall occur
until a Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the
Commission and that any Notes that are exchanged for Exchange Notes shall be
cancelled by the Trustee. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges,
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the
Registrar's request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of
transfer or exchange or redemption of the Notes, but the Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental
charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or
other similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Section
2.11, 3.08 or 9.04).

            The Registrar shall not be required (i) to issue, register the
transfer of or exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of
Notes selected for redemption under Section 3.03 and ending at the close of
business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or
exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

            SECTION 2.07. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes. The U.S.
Global Notes and Offshore Global Notes initially shall (i) be registered in the
name of the Depositary for such Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary,
(ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary and (iii) bear
legends as set forth in Section 2.02.

            (a) 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 the Trustee as its custodian,
      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 governing the exercise of the rights
      of a holder of any Note.

            (b) Transfers of a Global Note shall be limited to transfers of such
      Global Note in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors
      or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in Global
      Notes may be transferred in accordance with the rules and procedures of
      the Depositary and the provisions of Section 2.08. In addition, U.S.
      Physical Notes and Offshore Physical Notes shall be transferred to all
      beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in the U.S.
      Global Notes or the Offshore Global Notes, as the case may be, if (i) the
      Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue
      as Depositary for the U.S. Global

                                       29
<PAGE>
      Notes or the Offshore Global Notes, as the case may be, and a successor
      depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice,
      (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar
      has received a written request from the Depositary or (iii) in accordance
      with the rules and procedures of the Depositary and the provisions of
      Section 2.08.

            (c) Any beneficial interest in one of the Global Notes that is
      transferred to a person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in
      another Global Note will, upon transfer, cease to be an interest in
      another Global Note and become an interest in such other Global Note and,
      accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer restrictions, if
      any, and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other
      Global Note for as long as it remains such an interest.

            (d) In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial
      interests in a Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b)
      of this Section 2.07, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records
      the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note in an
      amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the
      Global Note to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the
      Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more U.S. Physical Notes or
      Offshore Physical Notes, as the case may be, of like tenor and amount.

            (e) In connection with the transfer of the U.S. Global Notes or the
      Offshore Global Notes, in whole, to beneficial owners pursuant to
      paragraph (b) of this Section 2.07, the U.S. Global Notes or Offshore
      Global Notes, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be surrendered to the
      Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
      shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the
      Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in the U.S. Global
      Notes or Offshore Global Notes, as the case may be, an equal aggregate
      principal amount of U.S. Physical Notes or Offshore Physical Notes, as the
      case may be, of authorized denominations.

            (f) Any U.S. Physical Note delivered in exchange for an interest in
      the U.S. Global Notes pursuant to paragraph (b), (d) or (e) of this
      Section 2.07 shall, except as otherwise provided by paragraph (f) of
      Section 2.08, bear the legend regarding transfer restrictions applicable
      to the U.S. Physical Note set forth in Section 2.02.

            (g) Any Offshore Physical Note delivered in exchange for an interest
      in the Offshore Global Notes pursuant to paragraph (b), (d) or (e) of this
      Section 2.07 shall, except as otherwise provided by paragraph (f) of
      Section 2.08, bear the legend regarding transfer restrictions applicable
      to the Offshore Physical Note set forth in Section 2.02.

            (h) The registered 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.

                                       30
<PAGE>
            SECTION 2.08. Special Transfer Provisions. Unless and until a Note
is exchanged for an Exchange Note or sold in connection with an effective
Registration Statement pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the
following provisions shall apply:

            (a) Transfers to Non-QIB Institutional Accredited Investors. The
      following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any
      proposed transfer of a Note to any Institutional Accredited Investor which
      is not a QIB (excluding Non-U.S. Persons):

                  (i) The Registrar shall register the transfer of any Note,
            whether or not such Note bears the Private Placement Legend, if (x)
            the requested transfer is after the time period referred to in Rule
            144(k) under the Securities Act or (y) the proposed transferee has
            delivered to the Registrar (A) a certificate substantially in the
            form of Exhibit C hereto and (B) if the aggregate principal amount
            of the Notes being transferred is less than $100,000, an opinion of
            counsel acceptable to the Company that such transfer is in
            compliance with the Securities Act.

                  (ii) If the proposed transferor is an Agent Member holding a
            beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Notes, upon receipt by the
            Registrar of (x) the documents, if any, required by paragraph (i)
            above and (y) instructions given in accordance with the Depositary's
            and the Registrar's procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its
            books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of
            the U.S. Global Notes in an amount equal to the principal amount of
            the beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Notes to be transferred,
            and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate
            and deliver, one or more U.S. Physical Notes of like tenor and
            amount.

            (b) Transfers to QIBs. The following provisions shall apply with
      respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of U.S. Physical
      Notes or an interest in U.S. Global Notes to a QIB (excluding Non-U.S.
      Persons):

                  (i) If the Note to be transferred consists of (x) either
            Offshore Physical Notes prior to the removal of the Private
            Placement Legend or U.S. Physical Notes, the Registrar shall
            register the transfer if such transfer is being made by a proposed
            transferor who has checked the box provided for on the form of Note
            stating, or has otherwise advised the Company and the Registrar in
            writing, that the sale has been made in compliance with the
            provisions of Rule 144A to a transferee who has signed the
            certification provided for on the form of Note stating, or has
            otherwise advised the Company and the Registrar in writing, that it
            is purchasing the 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 QIB within the meaning of Rule 144A 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 it 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 its foregoing representations in order to
            claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A or (y)
            an interest in the U.S.

                                       31
<PAGE>
            Global Notes, the transfer of such interest may be effected only
            through the book entry system maintained by the Depositary.

                  (ii) If the proposed transferee is an Agent Member, and the
            Note to be transferred consists of U.S. Physical Notes, upon receipt
            by the Registrar of the documents referred to in paragraph (i) above
            and instructions given in accordance with the Depositary's and the
            Registrar's procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and
            records the date and an increase in the principal amount of U.S.
            Global Notes in an amount equal to the principal amount of the U.S.
            Physical Notes to be transferred, and the Trustee shall cancel the
            U.S. Physical Notes so transferred.

            (c) Transfers of Interests in the Offshore Global Notes or Offshore
      Physical Notes. The following provisions shall apply with respect to any
      transfer of interests in the Offshore Global Notes or Offshore Physical
      Notes:

                  (i) Prior to the removal of the Private Placement Legend from
            an Offshore Global Note or Offshore Physical Note pursuant to
            Section 2.02, the Registrar shall refuse to register such transfer
            unless such transfer complies with Section 2.08(b) or Section
            2.08(d), as the case may be; and

                  (ii) After such removal, the Registrar shall register the
            transfer of any such Note without requiring additional
            certification.

            (d) Transfers to Non-U.S. Persons at Any Time. The following
      provisions shall apply with respect to any transfer of a Note to a
      Non-U.S. Person:

                  (i) The Registrar shall register any proposed transfer to any
            Non-U.S. Person if the Note to be transferred is a U.S. Physical
            Note or an interest in U.S. Global Notes, upon receipt of a
            certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto from the
            proposed transferor.

                  (ii) (a) If the proposed transferor is an Agent Member holding
            a beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Notes, upon receipt by the
            Registrar of (x) the documents, if any, required by paragraph (i)
            and (y) instructions in accordance with the Depositary's and the
            Registrar's procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and
            records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the U.S.
            Global Notes in an amount equal to the principal amount of the
            beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Notes to be transferred, and
            (b) if the proposed transferee is an Agent Member, upon receipt by
            the Registrar of instructions given in accordance with the
            Depositary's and the Registrar's procedures, the Registrar shall
            reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the
            principal amount of the Offshore Global Notes in an amount equal to
            the principal amount of the U.S. Physical Notes or the U.S. Global
            Notes, as the case may be, to be transferred, and the Trustee shall
            cancel the Physical Note, if any, so transferred or decrease the
            amount of the U.S. Global Notes.

                                       32
<PAGE>
            (e) Private Placement Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or
      replacement of Notes not bearing the Private Placement Legend, the
      Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear the Private Placement
      Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing the
      Private Placement Legend, the Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear
      the Private Placement Legend unless (i) the Private Placement Legend is no
      longer required by Section 2.02, (ii) the circumstances contemplated by
      paragraph (a)(i)(x) of this Section 2.08 exist or (iii) there is delivered
      to the Registrar an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
      Company and the Trustee to the effect that neither such legend nor the
      related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain
      compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.

            (f) General. By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Private
      Placement Legend, each Holder of such a Note acknowledges the restrictions
      on transfer of such Note set forth in this Indenture and in the Private
      Placement Legend and agrees that it will transfer such Note only as
      provided in this Indenture. The Registrar shall not register a transfer of
      any Note unless such transfer complies with the restrictions on transfer
      of such Note set forth in this Indenture. In connection with any transfer
      of Notes, each Holder agrees by its acceptance of the Notes to furnish the
      Registrar or the Company such certifications, legal opinions or other
      information as either of them may reasonably require to confirm that such
      transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or a transaction not
      subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act; provided
      that the Registrar shall not be required to determine (but may rely on a
      determination made by the Company with respect to) the sufficiency of any
      such certifications, legal opinions or other information.

            The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other
written communications received pursuant to Section 2.07 or this Section 2.08.
The Company, at its sole cost and expense, shall have the right to inspect and
make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any
reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable written notice to the Registrar.

            SECTION 2.09. Replacement Notes. If a mutilated Note is surrendered
to the Trustee or if the Holder claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or
wrongfully taken, then, in the absence of written notice to the Company or the
Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company
shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note of like tenor
and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding;
provided that the requirements of this Section 2.09 are met. If required by the
Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be furnished that is sufficient
in the judgment of both the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the
Trustee or any Agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is
replaced. The Company may charge such Holder for its expenses and the expenses
of the Trustee in replacing a Note. In case any such mutilated, lost, destroyed
or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, 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
and each Subsidiary Guarantor and shall be entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture.

                                       33
<PAGE>
            SECTION 2.10. Outstanding Notes. Notes outstanding at any time are
all Notes that have been authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled
by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this
Section 2.10 as not outstanding.

            If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.09, it 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 (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company) holds on the maturity date money sufficient to pay Notes payable on
that date, then on and after that date such Notes cease to be outstanding and
interest on them shall cease to accrue.

            A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or one
of its Affiliates holds such Note, provided, however, that in determining
whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding Notes
have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or
waiver hereunder, Notes owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes
or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded
and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, in determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Notes which the
Trustee has actual knowledge to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so
owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding if
the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right
so to act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or
any other obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or of such
other obligor.

            SECTION 2.11. Temporary Notes. Until definitive Notes are ready for
delivery, the Company may prepare and execute and the Trustee shall authenticate
temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of
definitive Notes but may have insertions, substitutions, omissions and other
variations determined to be appropriate by the Officers executing the temporary
Notes, as evidenced by their execution of such temporary Notes. If temporary
Notes are issued, the Company will cause definitive Notes to be prepared without
unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Notes, the temporary
Notes shall be exchangeable for definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary
Notes at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose
pursuant to Section 4.02, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for
cancellation of any one or more temporary Notes, the Company shall execute and
the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal
amount of definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged, the
temporary Notes shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as
definitive Notes.

            SECTION 2.12. Cancellation. The Company, at any time, may deliver to
the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and delivered
hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may
deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated
hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold. The Registrar and the
Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for
transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Notes surrendered
for transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall destroy them in
accordance with its normal procedure.

                                       34
<PAGE>
            SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may
use "CUSIP," "CINS" or "ISIN" numbers (if then generally in use), and the
Company and the Trustee shall use CUSIP, CINS or ISIN numbers, as the case may
be, in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided
that any such notice shall 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 redemption or exchange and that reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers printed on the Notes. The Company shall promptly
notify the Trustee of any change in "CUSIP," "CINS" or "ISIN" numbers for the
Notes.

            SECTION 2.14. Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a
payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay, or shall deposit with the Paying
Agent money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay, the defaulted
interest, plus (to the extent lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted
interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. A
special record date, as used in this Section 2.14 with respect to the payment of
any defaulted interest, shall mean the 15th day next preceding the date fixed by
the Company for the payment of defaulted interest, whether or not such day is a
Business Day. At least 15 days before the subsequent special record date, the
Company shall mail to each Holder and to the Trustee a notice that states the
subsequent special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted
interest to be paid.

            SECTION 2.15. Issuance of Additional Notes. The Company may, subject
to Article Four of this Indenture and applicable law, issue additional Notes
under this Indenture. The Notes issued on the Closing Date and any additional
Notes subsequently issued shall be treated as a single class for all purposes
under this Indenture.

                                 ARTICLE THREE
                                   REDEMPTION

            SECTION 3.01. Right of Redemption. (a) The Notes are redeemable, at
the Company's option, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, on
or after March 15, 2006 and prior to maturity, upon not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days' prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder's last
address, as it appears in the Security Register, at the following Redemption
Prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid
interest to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on
the relevant Regular Record Date that is prior to the Redemption Date to receive
interest due on an Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month
period commencing on March 15 of the years set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Redemption
                  Year                                    Price
<S>                                                     <C>
                  ------------------------------------------------
                  2006................................   104.750%
                  2007................................   102.375
                  2008 and thereafter.................   100.000
</TABLE>

            (b) In addition, at any time prior to March 15, 2005, the Company
may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with the Net
Cash Proceeds of one or more sales of Capital Stock of the Company (other than
Disqualified Stock), at any time

                                       35
<PAGE>
as a whole or from time to time in part, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a
percentage of principal amount) of 109.500%, plus accrued and unpaid interest to
the Redemption Date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant
Regular Record Date that is prior to the Redemption Date to receive interest due
on an Interest Payment Date); provided that (i) at least 65% of the aggregate
principal amount of Notes originally issued on the Closing Date remains
outstanding after each such redemption and (ii) notice of any such redemption is
mailed within 60 days after each such sale of Capital Stock.

            SECTION 3.02. Notices to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem
Notes pursuant to Section 3.01, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the
Redemption Date and the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the clause
of this Indenture pursuant to which redemption shall occur.

            The Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section 3.02
in an Officers' Certificate at least 45 days before the Redemption Date (unless
a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).

            SECTION 3.03. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. If less than all of
the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to
be redeemed in compliance with the requirements, as certified to it by the
Company, of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the
Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not listed on a national securities
exchange or automated quotation system, by lot or by such other method as the
Trustee in its sole discretion shall deem fair and appropriate; provided that no
Note of $1,000 in principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part.

            The Trustee shall make the selection from the Notes outstanding and
not previously called for redemption. Notes in denominations of $1,000 in
principal amount may only be redeemed in whole. The Trustee may select for
redemption portions (equal to $1,000 in principal amount or any integral
multiple thereof) of Notes that have denominations larger than $1,000 in
principal amount. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for
redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption. The Trustee
shall notify the Company and the Registrar promptly in writing of the Notes or
portions of Notes to be called for redemption.

            SECTION 3.04. Notice of Redemption. With respect to any redemption
of Notes pursuant to Section 3.01, 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 whose Notes are to be redeemed.

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

                  (i) the Redemption Date;

                  (ii) the Redemption Price;

                  (iii) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

                                       36
<PAGE>
                  (iv) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to
            the Paying Agent in order to collect the Redemption Price;

                  (v) that, unless the Company defaults in making the redemption
            payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on
            and after the Redemption Date and the only remaining right of the
            Holders is to receive payment of the Redemption Price plus accrued
            interest to the Redemption Date upon surrender of the Notes to the
            Paying Agent;

                  (vi) that, if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion
            of the principal amount (equal to $1,000 in principal amount or any
            integral multiple thereof) of such Note to be redeemed and that, on
            and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Note, a new
            Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
            thereof will be reissued; and

                  (vii) that, if any Note contains a CUSIP, CINS or ISIN number
            as provided in Section 2.13, no representation is being made as to
            the correctness of the CUSIP, CINS or ISIN number either as printed
            on the Notes or as contained in the notice of redemption and that
            reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers
            printed on the Notes.

            At the Company's request (which request may be revoked by the
Company at any time prior to the time at which the Trustee shall have given such
notice to the Holders), made in writing to the Trustee at least 45 days (or such
shorter period as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) before a Redemption
Date, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the name and at the
expense of the Company. If, however, the Company gives such notice to the
Holders, the Company shall concurrently deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that such notice has been given.

            SECTION 3.05. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of
redemption is mailed, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the
Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price. Upon surrender of any Notes to the
Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the Redemption Price, plus accrued
interest, if any, to the Redemption Date.

            Notice of redemption shall be deemed to be given when mailed,
whether or not the Holder receives the notice. In any event, failure to give
such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the validity of the
proceedings for the redemption of Notes held by Holders to whom such notice was
properly given.

            SECTION 3.06. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to 11:00
a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with
the Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, shall
segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.05) money sufficient to pay
the Redemption Price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that
date other than Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on that date
that have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation.

            SECTION 3.07. Payment of Notes Called for Redemption. If notice of
redemption has been given in the manner provided above, the Notes or portion of
Notes specified

                                       37
<PAGE>
in such notice to be redeemed shall become due and payable on the Redemption
Date at the Redemption Price stated therein, together with accrued interest to
such Redemption Date, and on and after such date (unless the Company shall
default in the payment of such Notes at the Redemption Price and accrued
interest to the Redemption Date, in which case the principal, until paid, shall
bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed in the Notes),
such Notes shall cease to accrue interest. Upon surrender of any Note for
redemption in accordance with a notice of redemption, such Note shall be paid
and redeemed by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued
interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided that installments of interest
whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to
the Holders registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular
Record Date.

            SECTION 3.08. Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of any Note
that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Holder without service charge, a new Note equal
in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of such surrendered Note.

                                  ARTICLE FOUR
                                    COVENANTS

            SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes. The Company shall pay the principal
of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner
provided in the Notes and this Indenture. An installment of principal, premium,
if any, or interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Trustee or
Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company, or any
Affiliate of any of them) holds on that date money designated for and sufficient
to pay the installment. If the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any
Affiliate of any of them acts as Paying Agent, an installment of principal,
premium, if any, or interest shall be considered paid on the due date if the
entity acting as Paying Agent complies with the last sentence of Section 2.05.
As provided in Section 6.09, upon any bankruptcy or reorganization procedure
relative to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as the Paying Agent, if any,
for the Notes.

            The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and premium, if
any, and interest on overdue installments of interest, to the extent lawful, at
the rate per annum specified in the Notes.

            SECTION 4.02. 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 surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for
presentation for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in
respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company will 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
with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands
may be made or served at the address of the Trustee set forth in Section 11.02.

                                       38
<PAGE>
            The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or
all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided
that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company
of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan,
The City of New York for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written
notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in
the location of any such other office or agency.

            The Company hereby initially designates Computershare Trust Company
of New York, Wall Street Plaza, 88 Pine Street, New York, New York 10005,
located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as such office of the
Company in accordance with Section 2.04.

            SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Indebtedness. (a) The Company will not,
and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, Incur any
Indebtedness (other than the Notes, the Note Guarantees and other Indebtedness
existing on the Closing Date); provided that the Company or any Subsidiary
Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness, and any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur
Acquired Indebtedness, if, after giving effect to the Incurrence of such
Indebtedness and the receipt and application of the proceeds therefrom, the
Interest Coverage Ratio would be greater than 2.25:1.

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and any Restricted
Subsidiary (except as specified below) may Incur each and all of the following:

                  (i) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor
            outstanding at any time under the Credit Agreement in an aggregate
            principal amount (together with refinancings thereof) not to exceed
            the greater of (a) $350 million, less any amount of such
            Indebtedness permanently repaid as provided under Section 4.11 or
            (b) the sum of the amounts equal to (x) 60% of the consolidated book
            value of the inventory of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors
            and (y) 85% of the consolidated book value of the accounts
            receivable of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, in each
            case as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Company for
            which reports have been filed with the Commission or provided to the
            Trustee;

                  (ii) Indebtedness owed (A) to the Company or any Subsidiary
            Guarantor evidenced by an unsubordinated promissory note or (B) to
            any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (x) any event which
            results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted
            Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (other
            than to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be
            deemed, in each case, to constitute an Incurrence of such
            Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (ii) and (y) if the
            Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is the obligor on such
            Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated in
            right of payment to the Notes, in the case of the Company or the
            Note Guarantee, in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor;

                                       39
<PAGE>
                  (iii) Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds
            of which are used to refinance or refund, then outstanding
            Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness outstanding under clause (ii)
            or (v)) and any refinancings thereof in an amount not to exceed the
            amount so refinanced or refunded (plus premiums, accrued interest,
            fees and expenses); provided that (a) Indebtedness the proceeds of
            which are used to refinance or refund the Notes or Indebtedness that
            is pari passu with, or subordinated in right of payment to, the
            Notes or a Note Guarantee shall only be permitted under this clause
            (iii) if (x) in case the Notes are refinanced in part or the
            Indebtedness to be refinanced is pari passu with the Notes or a Note
            Guarantee, such new Indebtedness, by its terms or by the terms of
            any agreement or instrument pursuant to which such new Indebtedness
            is outstanding, is expressly made pari passu with, or subordinate in
            right of payment to, the remaining Notes or the Note Guarantee, or
            (y) in case the Indebtedness to be refinanced is subordinated in
            right of payment to the Notes or a Note Guarantee, such new
            Indebtedness, by its terms or by the terms of any agreement or
            instrument pursuant to which such new Indebtedness is issued or
            remains outstanding, is expressly made subordinate in right of
            payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantee at least to the extent
            that the Indebtedness to be refinanced is subordinated to the Notes
            or the Note Guarantee, (b) such new Indebtedness, determined as of
            the date of Incurrence of such new Indebtedness, does not mature
            prior to the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness to be refinanced or
            refunded, and the Average Life of such new Indebtedness is at least
            equal to the remaining Average Life of the Indebtedness to be
            refinanced or refunded and (c) such new Indebtedness is Incurred by
            the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor or by the Restricted
            Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness to be refinanced
            or refunded;

                  (iv) Indebtedness of the Company, to the extent the net
            proceeds thereof are promptly (A) used to purchase Notes tendered in
            an Offer to Purchase made as a result of a Change of Control or (B)
            deposited to defease the Notes as described under Section 8.02 and
            Section 8.03;

                  (v) Guarantees of the Notes and Guarantees of Indebtedness of
            the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor by any Restricted Subsidiary
            provided the Guarantee of such Indebtedness is permitted by and made
            in accordance with Section 4.07;

                  (vi) Indebtedness of the Company related to the Whitley County
            Mini-Mill in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time
            not to exceed $20 million;

                  (vii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor
            Incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the
            purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property,
            plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or any
            Subsidiary Guarantor, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding
            at any time (together with refinancings thereof) not to exceed $20
            million; or

                                       40
<PAGE>
                  (viii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted
            Subsidiary (in addition to Indebtedness permitted under clauses (i)
            through (vii) above) in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at
            any time (together with refinancings thereof) not to exceed $25
            million, less any amount of such Indebtedness permanently repaid as
            provided under Section 4.11.

            (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.03, the
      maximum amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to this
      Section 4.03 shall not be deemed to be exceeded, with respect to any
      outstanding Indebtedness, due solely to the result of fluctuations in the
      exchange rates of currencies.

            (c) For purposes of determining any particular amount of
      Indebtedness under this Section 4.03, (x) Indebtedness Incurred under the
      Credit Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date shall be treated as
      Incurred pursuant to clause (i) of the second paragraph of clause (a) of
      this Section 4.03, (y) Guarantees, Liens or obligations with respect to
      letters of credit supporting Indebtedness otherwise included in the
      determination of such particular amount shall not be included and (z) any
      Liens granted pursuant to the equal and ratable provisions referred to in
      Section 4.09 shall not be treated as Indebtedness. For purposes of
      determining compliance with this Section 4.03, in the event that an item
      of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of
      Indebtedness described above (other than Indebtedness referred to in
      clause (x) of the preceding sentence), including under the first paragraph
      of part (a), the Company, in its sole discretion, shall classify, and from
      time to time may reclassify, such item of Indebtedness.

            (d) The Company will not and will not permit any Subsidiary
      Guarantor to Incur any Indebtedness if such Indebtedness is subordinate in
      right of payment to any other Indebtedness unless such Indebtedness is
      also subordinate in right of payment to the Notes, in the case of Steel
      Dynamics, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor, to
      the same extent.

            SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Company will
not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,
(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on or with respect to
its Capital Stock (other than (x) dividends or distributions payable solely in
shares of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or in options,
warrants or other rights to acquire shares of such Capital Stock and (y) pro
rata dividends or distributions on Common Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries
(other than Subsidiary Guarantors) held by minority stockholders) held by
Persons other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii)
purchase, call for redemption or redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value
any shares of Capital Stock of (A) the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor
(including options, warrants or other rights to acquire such shares of Capital
Stock) held by any Person or (B) a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Subsidiary
Guarantor (including options, warrants or other rights to acquire such shares of
Capital Stock) held by any Affiliate of the Company (other than a Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary) or any holder (or any Affiliate of such holder) of 5% or
more of the Capital Stock of the Company, (iii) make any voluntary or optional
principal payment, or voluntary or optional redemption, repurchase, defeasance,
or other acquisition or retirement for value, of Indebtedness of the Company
that is subordinated in

                                       41
<PAGE>
right of payment to the Notes or any Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor that
is subordinated in right of payment to a Note Guarantee or (iv) make any
Investment, other than a Permitted Investment, in any Person (such payments or
any other actions described in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively
"Restricted Payments") if, at the time of, and after giving effect to, the
proposed Restricted Payment:

            (A) a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
      continuing,

            (B) the Company could not Incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness under
      the first paragraph of part (a) of Section 4.03 or

            (C) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made after the
      Closing Date shall exceed the sum of

            (1) 50% of the aggregate amount of the Adjusted Consolidated Net
      Income (or, if the Adjusted Consolidated Net Income is a loss, minus 100%
      of the amount of such loss) accrued on a cumulative basis during the
      period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on the first day of the
      fiscal quarter immediately following the Closing Date and ending on the
      last day of the last fiscal quarter preceding the Transaction Date for
      which reports have been filed with the Commission or provided to the
      Trustee plus

            (2) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company after
      the Closing Date from the issuance and sale of its Capital Stock (other
      than Disqualified Stock) to a Person who is not a Subsidiary of the
      Company, including an issuance or sale permitted by this Indenture of
      Indebtedness of the Company for cash subsequent to the Closing Date upon
      the conversion of such Indebtedness into Capital Stock (other than
      Disqualified Stock) of the Company, or from the issuance to a Person who
      is not a Subsidiary of the Company of any options, warrants or other
      rights to acquire Capital Stock of the Company (in each case, exclusive of
      any Disqualified Stock or any options, warrants or other rights that are
      redeemable at the option of the holder, or are required to be redeemed,
      prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes) plus

            (3) an amount equal to the net reduction in Investments (other than
      reductions in Permitted Investments and Investments pursuant to clause
      (ix) below) in any Person resulting from payments of interest on
      Indebtedness, dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other
      transfers of assets, in each case to the Company or any Restricted
      Subsidiary or from the Net Cash Proceeds from the sale of any such
      Investment (except, in each case, to the extent any such payment or
      proceeds are included in the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net
      Income), from the release of any Guarantee or from redesignations of
      Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries (valued in each case
      as provided in the definition of "Investments"), not to exceed, in each
      case, the amount of Investments previously made by the Company or any
      Restricted Subsidiary in such Person or Unrestricted Subsidiary plus

            (4) $10 million.

            The foregoing provision shall not be violated by reason of:

                                       42
<PAGE>
                  (i) the payment of any dividend or redemption of any Capital
            Stock within 60 days after the related date of declaration or call
            for redemption if, at said date of declaration or call for
            redemption, such payment or redemption would comply with the
            preceding paragraph;

                  (ii) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other
            acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness that is
            subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Note Guarantee
            including premium, if any, and accrued interest with the proceeds
            of, or in exchange for, Indebtedness Incurred under clause (iii) of
            the second paragraph of part (a) of Section 4.03;

                  (iii) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of
            Capital Stock of the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor (or options,
            warrants or other rights to acquire such Capital Stock) in exchange
            for, or out of the proceeds of a substantially concurrent offering
            of, shares of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the
            Company (or options, warrants or other rights to acquire such
            Capital Stock); provided that such options, warrants or other rights
            are not redeemable at the option of the holder, or required to be
            redeemed, prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes;

                  (iv) the making of any principal payment or the repurchase,
            redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition for value of
            Indebtedness which is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes
            or any Note Guarantee in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of a
            substantially concurrent offering of, shares of the Capital Stock
            (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (or options, warrants
            or other rights to acquire such Capital Stock); provided that such
            options, warrants or other rights are not redeemed at the option of
            the holder, or required to be redeemed, prior to the Stated Maturity
            of the Notes;

                  (v) payments or distributions, to dissenting stockholders
            pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a
            consolidation, merger or transfer of assets that complies with the
            provisions of this Indenture applicable to mergers, consolidations
            and transfers of all or substantially all of the property and assets
            of the Company;

                  (vi) Investments acquired in exchange for, or out of the
            proceeds of a substantially concurrent offering of, Capital Stock
            (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

                  (vii) the repurchase of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the
            exercise of options or warrants if such Capital Stock represents all
            or a portion of the exercise price thereof;

                  (viii) the purchase, redemption, retirement or other
            acquisition for value of shares of Capital Stock of the Company, or
            option to purchase such shares, held by directors, employees or
            former directors or employees, of the Company or any Subsidiary
            Guarantor (or their estates or beneficiaries under their estates)

                                       43
<PAGE>
            upon their death, disability, retirement or termination of
            employment or pursuant to the terms of any agreement under which
            such shares of Capital Stock or options were issued; provided that
            the aggregate consideration paid for such purchase, redemption,
            retirement or other acquisition for value of such shares of Capital
            Stock or options after the Closing Date does not exceed $1.5 million
            in any calendar year;

                  (ix) Investments in any Person in an aggregate amount not to
            exceed (a) $7.5 million in any fiscal year, provided that any
            amounts not invested in any fiscal year may be carried forward and
            invested in any subsequent fiscal year and (b) $30 million; plus, in
            each case, the net reduction in Investments made pursuant to this
            clause (ix) in any Person resulting from payments of interest on
            Indebtedness, dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other
            transfers of assets, in each case to the Company or any Restricted
            Subsidiary or from the Net Cash Proceeds from the sale of any such
            Investment (except, in each case, to the extent any such payment or
            proceeds are included in the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated
            Net Income), from the release of any Guarantee or from
            redesignations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted
            Subsidiaries (valued in each case as provided in the definition of
            "Investments"), not to exceed, in each case, the amount of such
            Investments previously made by the Company or any Restricted
            Subsidiary in such Person or Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided such
            Person's primary business is related, ancillary or complementary to
            the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

                  (x) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to
            exceed $20 million;

provided that, except in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), no Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or occur as a consequence of
the actions or payments set forth therein.

            Each Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to the preceding
paragraph (other than the Restricted Payment referred to in clause (ii) thereof,
an exchange of Capital Stock for Capital Stock or Indebtedness referred to in
clause (iii) or (iv) thereof and an Investment acquired in exchange for Capital
Stock referred to in clause (vi) thereof), and the Net Cash Proceeds from any
issuance of Capital Stock referred to in clauses (iii), (iv) or (vi), shall be
included in calculating whether the conditions of clause (C) of the first
paragraph of this Section 4.04 have been met with respect to any subsequent
Restricted Payments.

            For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.04, (x)
the amount, if other than in cash, of any Restricted Payment shall be determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive
and evidenced by a Board Resolution and (y) in the event that a Restricted
Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Restricted Payments
described in the above clauses, including the first paragraph of this Section
4.04, the Company, in its sole discretion, may order and classify, and from time
to time may reclassify, such Restricted Payment if it would have been permitted
at the time such Restricted Payment was made and at the time of such
reclassification.

                                       44
<PAGE>
            SECTION 4.05. Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions
Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not, and will not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become
effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability
of any Restricted Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make any other
distributions permitted by applicable law on any Capital Stock of such
Restricted Subsidiary owned by the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary,
(ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any other Restricted
Subsidiary, (iii) make loans or advances to the Company or any other Restricted
Subsidiary or (iv) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any
other Restricted Subsidiary.

            The foregoing provisions shall not restrict any encumbrances or
restrictions:

            (i) existing on the Closing Date in the Credit Agreement, this
      Indenture or any other agreements in effect on the Closing Date, and any
      extensions, refinancings, renewals or replacements of such agreements;
      provided that the encumbrances and restrictions in any such extensions,
      refinancings, renewals or replacements taken as a whole are no less
      favorable in any material respect to the Holders than those encumbrances
      or restrictions that are then in effect and that are being extended,
      refinanced, renewed or replaced;

            (ii) existing under or by reason of applicable law;

            (iii) existing with respect to any Person or the property or assets
      of such Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary,
      existing at the time of such acquisition and not incurred in contemplation
      thereof, which encumbrances or restrictions are not applicable to any
      Person or the property or assets of any Person other than such Person or
      the property or assets of such Person so acquired and any extensions,
      refinancings, renewals or replacements thereof; provided that the
      encumbrances and restrictions in any such extensions, refinancings,
      renewals or replacements taken as a whole are no less favorable in any
      material respect to the Holders than those encumbrances or restrictions
      that are then in effect and that are being extended, refinanced, renewed
      or replaced;

            (iv) in the case of clause (iv) of the first paragraph of this
      Section 4.05, (A) that restrict in a customary manner the subletting,
      assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is a lease, license,
      conveyance or contract or similar property or asset, (B) existing by
      virtue of any transfer of, agreement to transfer, option or right with
      respect to, or Lien on, any property or assets of the Company or any
      Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture or (C)
      arising or agreed to in the ordinary course of business, not relating to
      any Indebtedness, and that do not, individually or in the aggregate,
      detract from the value of property or assets of the Company or any
      Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Company or any
      Restricted Subsidiary;

            (v) with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary and imposed pursuant to
      an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all
      or substantially all of the Capital Stock of, or property and assets of,
      such Restricted Subsidiary;

                                       45
<PAGE>
            Nothing contained in this Section 4.05 shall prevent the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary from (1) creating, incurring, assuming or suffering to
exist any Liens otherwise permitted in Section 4.09 or (2) restricting the sale
or other disposition of property or assets of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries that secure Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.

            SECTION 4.06. Limitation on the Issuance and Sale of Capital Stock
of Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not sell, and will not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to issue or sell, any shares of
Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (including options, warrants or other
rights to purchase shares of such Capital Stock) except:

            (i) to the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary;

            (ii) issuances of director's qualifying shares or sales to foreign
      nationals of shares of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries, to the
      extent required by applicable law;

            (iii) if, immediately after giving effect to such issuance or sale,
      such Restricted Subsidiary would no longer constitute a Restricted
      Subsidiary and any Investment in such Person remaining after giving effect
      to such issuance or sale would have been permitted to be made under
      Section 4.04 if made on the date of such issuance or sale; or

            (iv) sales of Common Stock (including options, warrants or other
      rights to purchase shares of such Common Stock) of a Restricted Subsidiary
      by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the Company or
      such Restricted Subsidiary applies the Net Cash Proceeds in accordance
      with Section 4.11.

            SECTION 4.07. Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees by Restricted
Subsidiaries. The Company shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary that is not a
Subsidiary Guarantor (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) to execute and deliver a
supplemental indenture to this Indenture providing for a Guarantee (a
"Subsidiary Guarantee") of payment of the Notes by such Restricted Subsidiary.

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantee by a
Restricted Subsidiary may provide by its terms that it shall be automatically
and unconditionally released and discharged upon any sale, exchange or transfer
to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company, of all of the Company's and each
Restricted Subsidiary's Capital Stock in such Restricted Subsidiary (which sale,
exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture) or upon the
designation of such Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in
accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

            SECTION 4.08. Limitation on Transactions with Stockholders and
Affiliates. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, renew or extend any
transaction (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or
exchange of property or assets, or the rendering of any service) with any holder
(or any Affiliate of such holder) of 5% or more of any class of Capital Stock of
the Company or with any Affiliate of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary,
except upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary than could

                                       46
<PAGE>
be obtained, at the time of such transaction or, if such transaction is pursuant
to a written agreement, at the time of the execution of the agreement providing
therefor, in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person that is not
such a holder or an Affiliate.

            The foregoing limitation does not limit, and shall not apply to:

            (i) transactions (A) approved by a majority of the disinterested
      members of the Board of Directors of the Company or (B) for which the
      Company or a Restricted Subsidiary delivers to the Trustee a written
      opinion of a nationally recognized investment banking, accounting,
      valuation or appraisal firm stating that the transaction is fair to the
      Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view;

            (ii) any transaction solely between the Company and any of its
      Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries or solely among Wholly Owned
      Restricted Subsidiaries;

            (iii) the payment of reasonable and customary regular fees to
      directors of the Company who are not employees of the Company and
      reasonable indemnification arrangements entered into by the Company;

            (iv) any payments or other transactions pursuant to any tax-sharing
      agreement between the Company and any other Person with which the Company
      files a consolidated tax return or with which the Company is part of a
      consolidated group for tax purposes;

            (v) any sale of shares of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
      Stock) of the Company;

            (vi) any Permitted Investments or any Restricted Payments not
      prohibited by Section 4.04; or

            (vii) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted
      Subsidiaries and its Subsidiaries, Heidtman Steel Products, Inc. and its
      Affiliates and OmniSource Corporation and its Affiliates; provided, that
      such transactions are in the ordinary course of the Company's or such
      Restricted Subsidiaries' business, consistent with past practice and on an
      arm's length basis.

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transaction or series of related
transactions covered by the first paragraph of this Section 4.08 and not covered
by clauses (ii) through (vii) of this paragraph and not a Permitted Investment,
(a) the aggregate amount of which exceeds $2.5 million in value, must be
approved or determined to be fair in the manner provided for in clause (i)(A) or
(B) above and (b) the aggregate amount of which exceeds $10 million in value,
must be determined to be fair in the manner provided for in clause (i)(B) above.

            SECTION 4.09. Limitation on Liens. The Company will not, and will
not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist any Lien on any of its assets or properties of any character, or any
shares of Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, without
making effective provision for all of the Notes and all other amounts due under
this Indenture to be directly secured equally and ratably with (or, if the

                                       47
<PAGE>
obligation or liability to be secured by such Lien is subordinated in right of
payment to the Notes, prior to) the obligation or liability secured by such
Lien.

            The foregoing limitation does not apply to:

            (i) Liens existing on the Closing Date, including Liens securing
      obligations under the Credit Agreement;

            (ii) Liens granted after the Closing Date on any assets or Capital
      Stock of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries created in favor of
      the Holders;

            (iii) Liens with respect to the assets of a Restricted Subsidiary
      granted by such Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or a Wholly Owned
      Restricted Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness owing to the Company or such
      other Restricted Subsidiary;

            (iv) Liens securing Indebtedness which is Incurred to refinance
      secured Indebtedness which is permitted to be Incurred under clause (iii)
      of the second paragraph of Section 4.03; provided that such Liens do not
      extend to or cover any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted
      Subsidiary other than the property or assets securing the Indebtedness
      being refinanced; or

            (v) Liens securing Indebtedness in an amount (determined at the time
      such Lien is granted) not to exceed the greater of (a) the amount of
      Indebtedness that may be Incurred under clause (i) of the second paragraph
      of Section 4.03 and (b) an amount equal to 50% of Adjustment Consolidated
      Net Tangible Assets (determined as of the date of the last fiscal quarter
      for which a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries
      has been filed with the Commission or provided to the Trustee);

            (vi) Liens securing Indebtedness Incurred under clause (vi) of the
      second paragraph of Section 4.03;

            (vii) Liens (including extensions and renewals thereof) upon real or
      personal property acquired after the Closing Date; provided that (a) such
      Lien is created solely for the purpose of securing Indebtedness Incurred,
      in accordance with Section 4.03, to finance the cost (including the cost
      of improvement or construction) of the item of property or assets subject
      thereto and such Lien is created prior to, at the time of or within six
      months after the later of the acquisition, the completion of construction
      or the commencement of full operation of such property, (b) the principal
      amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien does not exceed 100% of
      such cost, and (c) any such Lien shall not extend to or cover any property
      or assets other than such item of property or assets and any improvements
      on such item;

            (viii) Liens on cash set aside at the time of the Incurrence of any
      Indebtedness, or government securities purchased with such cash, in either
      case to the extent that such cash or government securities pre-fund the
      payment of interest on such Indebtedness and are held in a collateral or
      escrow account or similar arrangement to be applied for such purpose; or

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            (ix) Permitted Liens.

            SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Sale-Leaseback Transactions. The Company
will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any
sale-leaseback transaction involving any of its assets or properties, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired, whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
sells or transfers such assets or properties and then or thereafter leases such
assets or properties or any part thereof or any other assets or properties which
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, intends to use
for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the assets or properties sold
or transferred.

            The foregoing restriction does not apply to any sale-leaseback
transaction if (i) the lease is for a period, including renewal rights, of not
in excess of three years; (ii) the lease secures or relates to industrial
revenue or pollution control bonds; (iii) the transaction is solely between the
Company and any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or solely between Wholly
Owned Restricted Subsidiaries; (iv) the transactions relate to the sale or
transfer of assets or properties for the Whitley County Mini-Mill having an
aggregate fair market value not to exceed $18 million; or (v) the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary, within 12 months after the sale or transfer of any
assets or properties is completed, applies an amount not less than the net
proceeds received from such sale in accordance with clause (i)(A) or (i)(B) of
the second paragraph of Section 4.11.

            SECTION 4.11. Limitation on Asset Sales. The Company will not, and
will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate any Asset Sale, unless
(i) the consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is
at least equal to the fair market value of the assets sold or disposed of and
(ii) at least 75% of the consideration received consists of (a) cash or
Temporary Cash Investments, (b) the assumption of unsubordinated Indebtedness of
the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or Indebtedness of any other Restricted
Subsidiary (in each case, other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company), provided that the Company, such Subsidiary Guarantor
or such other Restricted Subsidiary is irrevocably and unconditionally released
from all liability under such Indebtedness or (c) Replacement Assets.

            In the event and to the extent that the Net Cash Proceeds received
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from one or more Asset
Sales occurring on or after the Closing Date in any period of 12 consecutive
months exceed 10% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (determined as of
the date closest to the commencement of such 12-month period for which a
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been filed
with the Commission or provided to the Trustee), then the Company shall or shall
cause the relevant Restricted Subsidiary to:

            (i) within twelve months after the date Net Cash Proceeds so
      received exceed 10% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets,

            (A) apply an amount equal to such excess Net Cash Proceeds to
      permanently repay unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any
      Subsidiary Guarantor or any Indebtedness of any other Restricted
      Subsidiary from sales of such Restricted

                                       49
<PAGE>
      Subsidiary's assets, in each case owing to a Person other than the Company
      or any Affiliate of the Company, or

            (B) invest an equal amount, or the amount not so applied pursuant to
      clause (A) (or enter into a definitive agreement committing to so invest
      within 12 months after the date of such agreement), in Replacement Assets,
      and

            (ii) apply (no later than the end of the 12-month period referred to
      in clause (i)) such excess Net Cash Proceeds (to the extent not applied
      pursuant to clause (i)) as provided in the following paragraphs of this
      Section 4.11.

            The amount of such excess Net Cash Proceeds required to be applied
(or to be committed to be applied) during such 12-month period as set forth in
clause (i) of the preceding sentence and not applied as so required by the end
of such period shall constitute "Excess Proceeds."

            If, as of the first day of any calendar month, the aggregate amount
of Excess Proceeds not theretofore subject to an Offer to Purchase pursuant to
this Section 4.11 totals at least $5 million, the Company must commence, not
later than the fifteenth Business Day of such month, and consummate an Offer to
Purchase from the Holders (and if required by the terms of any Indebtedness that
is pari passu with the Notes or the Note Guarantees ("Pari Passu Indebtedness"),
from the holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness) on a pro rata basis an
aggregate principal amount of Notes (and Pari Passu Indebtedness) equal to the
Excess Proceeds on such date, at a purchase price equal to 100% of their
principal amount, plus, in each case, accrued interest (if any) to the Payment
Date. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Offer to Purchase,
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may use such Excess Proceeds for any
purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture.

            SECTION 4.12. Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control. The
Company must commence, within 30 days of the occurrence of a Change of Control,
and consummate an Offer to Purchase for all Notes then outstanding, at a
purchase price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued interest
(if any) to the Payment Date. The Company will not be required to make an Offer
to Purchase pursuant to this Section 4.12 if a third party makes an offer to
purchase the Notes in the manner, at the times and price and otherwise in
compliance with this Section 4.12 and purchases all Notes validly tendered and
not withdrawn in such Offer to Purchase.

            SECTION 4.13. Existence. Subject to Articles Four and Five of this
Indenture, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to
preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and the existence of
each of its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the respective
organizational documents of the Company and each Restricted Subsidiary and the
rights (whether pursuant to charter, partnership certificate, agreement, statute
or otherwise), licenses and franchises of the Company and each Restricted
Subsidiary; provided that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such
right, license or franchise, or the existence of any Restricted Subsidiary, if
the maintenance or preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of
the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                                       50
<PAGE>
            SECTION 4.14. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company shall
pay or discharge and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay or discharge,
or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent (i)
all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon
(a) the Company or any such Subsidiary, (b) the income or profits of any such
Subsidiary which is a corporation or (c) the property of the Company or any such
Subsidiary and (ii) all material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies
that, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or
any such Subsidiary; provided 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 the amount, applicability or validity of which is being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been
established.

            SECTION 4.15. Maintenance of Properties and Insurance. The Company
shall cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the
business of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in good
condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment
and will 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 that nothing in
this Section 4.15 shall prevent the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from
discontinuing the use, operation or maintenance of any of such properties or
disposing of any of them, if such discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment
of the Company, desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary.

            The Company will provide or cause to be provided, for itself and its
Restricted Subsidiaries, insurance (including appropriate self-insurance)
against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by corporations
similarly situated and owning like properties, including, but not limited to,
products liability insurance and public liability insurance, with reputable
insurers or with the government of the United States of America, or an agency or
instrumentality thereof, in such amounts, with such deductibles and by such
methods as shall be customary for corporations similarly situated in the
industry in which the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may
be, is then conducting business.

            SECTION 4.16. Notice of Defaults. In the event that any Officer
becomes aware of any Default or Event of Default, the Company shall promptly
deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate specifying such Default or Event
of Default.

            SECTION 4.17. Compliance Certificates. (a) The Company shall deliver
to the Trustee, within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal
quarters of each year and within 90 days after the end of the last fiscal
quarter of each year, an Officers' Certificate stating whether or not the
signers know of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during such fiscal
quarter. In the case of the Officers' Certificate delivered within 90 days after
the end of the Company's fiscal year, such certificate shall contain a
certification from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer
or principal accounting officer of the Company that a review has been conducted
of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and the
Company's and its Restricted Subsidiaries' performance under this Indenture and
that the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this
Indenture. For purposes of

                                       51
<PAGE>
this Section 4.17, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any
period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture. If any
of the officers of the Company signing such certificate has knowledge of such a
Default or Event of Default, the certificate shall describe any such Default or
Event of Default and its status. The first certificate to be delivered pursuant
to this Section 4.17(a) shall be for the first fiscal quarter beginning after
the execution of this Indenture.

            (b) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after
the end of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year in which this
Indenture was executed, a certificate signed by the Company's independent
certified public accountants stating (i) that their audit examination has
included a review of the terms of this Indenture and the Notes as they relate to
accounting matters, (ii) that they have read the most recent Officers'
Certificate delivered to the Trustee pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section
4.17 and (iii) whether, in connection with their audit examination, anything
came to their attention that caused them to believe that the Company was not in
compliance with any of the terms, covenants, provisions or conditions of Article
Four and Section 5.01 of this Indenture as they pertain to accounting matters
and, if any Default or Event of Default has come to their attention, specifying
the nature and period of existence thereof; provided that such independent
certified public accountants shall not be liable in respect of such statement by
reason of any failure to obtain knowledge of any such Default or Event of
Default that would not be disclosed in the course of an audit examination
conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in effect at
the date of such examination.

            SECTION 4.18. Commission Reports and Reports to Holders. Whether or
not the Company is required to file reports with the Commission, the Company
shall file with the Commission all such reports and other information as it
would be required to file with the Commission by Section 13(a) or 15(d) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 if it were subject thereto. The Company
shall supply the Trustee and each Holder who so requests or shall supply to the
Trustee for forwarding to each such Holder, without cost to such Holder, copies
of such reports and other information.

            SECTION 4.19. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws. The Company
covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any
time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the
benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law
that would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes as contemplated herein,
wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or that may affect the
covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) the Company hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of
any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the
execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit
the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

            SECTION 4.20. Issuances of Subsidiary Guarantees by Restricted
Subsidiaries. Each Subsidiary of the Company (other than a Foreign Subsidiary)
which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture and has
assets in excess of $1,000 shall, together with the Company and each other
Subsidiary Guarantor, not later than 30 days after such Subsidiary becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary, execute and deliver a supplemental indenture

                                       52
<PAGE>
to this Indenture providing for a Note Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary
pursuant to Article Ten.

                                  ARTICLE FIVE
                              SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

            SECTION 5.01. When Company or Subsidiary Guarantors May Merge, Etc.
The Company will not consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell, convey,
transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property
and assets (as an entirety or substantially an entirety in one transaction or a
series of related transactions) to, any Person or permit any Person to merge
with or into it unless:

            (i) it shall be the continuing Person, or the Person (if other than
      it) formed by such consolidation or into which it is merged or that
      acquired or leased such property and assets (the "Surviving Person"),
      shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of
      the United States of America or any jurisdiction thereof and shall
      expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to
      the Trustee, all of the Company's obligations under this Indenture and the
      Notes;

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

            (iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro
      forma basis, the Company, or the Surviving Person, as the case may be,
      shall have a Consolidated Net Worth equal to or greater than the
      Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such
      transaction;

            (iv) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro
      forma basis, the Company, or the Surviving Person, as the case may be,
      could Incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness under the first paragraph of
      Section 4.03; provided that this clause (iv) shall not apply to a
      consolidation, merger or sale of all (but not less than all) of the assets
      of the Company if all Liens and Indebtedness of the Company or the
      Surviving Person, as the case may be, and its Restricted Subsidiaries
      outstanding immediately after such transaction would have been permitted
      (and all such Liens and Indebtedness, other than Liens and Indebtedness of
      the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding immediately prior
      to the transaction, shall be deemed to have been Incurred) for all
      purposes of this Indenture;

            (v) it delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate attaching
      the arithmetic computations to demonstrate compliance with clauses (iii)
      and (iv) and an Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that such
      consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture complies
      with this Section 5.01 and that all conditions precedent provided for
      herein relating to such transaction have been complied with; and

            (vi) each Subsidiary Guarantor, unless such Subsidiary Guarantor is
      the Person with which the Company has entered into a transaction under
      this Section 5.01, shall have by amendment to its Note Guarantee confirmed
      that its Note Guarantee shall apply to the

                                       53
<PAGE>
      obligations of the Company or the Surviving Person in accordance with the
      Notes and this Indenture;

provided, however, that clauses (iii) and (iv) above do not apply if in the good
faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution, the principal purpose of
such transaction is to change the state of incorporation of the Company and any
such transaction shall not have as one of its purposes the evasion of the
foregoing limitations.

            Each Subsidiary Guarantor (other than any Subsidiary Guarantor whose
Note Guarantee is to be released in accordance with the terms of its Note
Guarantee and this Indenture, in connection with any transaction complying with
the provisions of Section 4.11) will not, and the Company will not cause or
permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate with or merge with or into any
Person other than the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor unless:

            (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving corporation or the
      Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other
      than the Subsidiary Guarantor) is a corporation organized and existing
      under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District
      of Columbia and such Person assumes by supplemental indenture all of the
      obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantor on its Note Guarantee;

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

            (iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the
      use of any net proceeds therefrom on a pro forma basis, the Company could
      satisfy the provisions of clause (iii) of the first paragraph of this
      Section 5.01; and

            (iv) it delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and Opinion
      of Counsel, in each case stating that such consolidation, merger or
      transfer and such supplemental indenture complies with this Section 5.01
      and that all conditions precedent provided for herein relating to such
      transaction have been complied with.

            Any merger or consolidation of a Subsidiary Guarantor with and into
the Company (with the Company being the surviving entity) or another Subsidiary
Guarantor need only comply with clause (v) of the first paragraph of this
Section 5.01.

            SECTION 5.02. Successor Substituted. Upon any consolidation or
merger, or any sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the property and assets of the Company or any Subsidiary
Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.01 of this Indenture, the successor
Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company or any Subsidiary
Guarantor is merged or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other
disposition is made shall succeed to and be substituted for, and may exercise
every right and power of, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor under this
Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the
Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor herein; provided that the Company shall not
be released from its obligation to pay the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on the Notes and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall not be

                                       54
<PAGE>
released from its Note Guarantee in the case of a lease of all or substantially
all of its property and assets.

                                   ARTICLE SIX
                              DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

            SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. The following events will be
defined as "Events of Default" in this Indenture:

            (a) default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any, on)
      any Note when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon
      acceleration, redemption or otherwise;

            (b) default in the payment of interest on any Note when the same
      becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30
      days;

            (c) default in the performance or breach of the provisions of this
      Indenture applicable to mergers, consolidations and transfers of all or
      substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Subsidiary
      Guarantors or the failure by the Company to make or consummate an Offer to
      Purchase in accordance with Section 4.11 or Section 4.12;

            (d) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor defaults in the
      performance of or breaches any other covenant or agreement in this
      Indenture or under the Notes (other than a default specified in clause
      (a), (b) or (c) above) and such default or breach continues for a period
      of 30 consecutive days after written notice by the Trustee or the Holders
      of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Notes;

            (e) there occurs with respect to any issue or issues of Indebtedness
      of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary
      having an outstanding principal amount of $10 million or more in the
      aggregate for all such issues of all such Persons, whether such
      Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, (A) an event of
      default that has caused the holder thereof to declare such Indebtedness to
      be due and payable prior to its Stated Maturity and such Indebtedness has
      not been discharged in full or such acceleration has not been rescinded or
      annulled within 30 days of such acceleration and/or (B) the failure to
      make a principal payment at the final (but not any interim) fixed maturity
      and such defaulted payment shall not have been made, waived or extended
      within 30 days of such payment default;

            (f) any final judgment or order (not covered by insurance) for the
      payment of money in excess of $10 million in the aggregate for all such
      final judgments or orders against all such Persons (treating any
      deductibles, self-insurance or retention as not so covered) shall be
      rendered against the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant
      Subsidiary and shall not be paid or discharged, and there shall be any
      period of 60 consecutive days following entry of the final judgment or
      order that causes the aggregate amount for all such final judgments or
      orders outstanding and not paid or discharged against all such Persons to
      exceed $10 million during which a stay of enforcement of such final
      judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not
      be in effect;

                                       55
<PAGE>
            (g) a court having jurisdiction in the premises enters a decree or
      order for (A) relief in respect of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor
      or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case under any applicable
      bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect,
      (B) appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
      sequestrator or similar official of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor
      or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the
      property and assets of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any
      Significant Subsidiary or (C) the winding-up or liquidation of the affairs
      of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary
      and, in each case, such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in
      effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;

            (h) the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant
      Subsidiary (A) commences a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
      insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consents to
      the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such
      law, (B) consents to the appointment of or taking possession by a
      receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or
      similar official of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any
      Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property and
      assets of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant
      Subsidiary or (C) effects any general assignment for the benefit of
      creditors; or

            (i) any Subsidiary Guarantor repudiates its obligations under its
      Note Guarantee or, except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note
      Guarantee is determined to be unenforceable or invalid or shall for any
      reason cease to be in full force and effect.

            SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an
Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 that occurs with
respect to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor) occurs and is continuing
under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes, then outstanding, by written notice to the
Company (and to the Trustee if such notice is given by the Holders), may, and
the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare the principal of,
premium, if any, and accrued interest on the Notes to be immediately due and
payable. Upon a declaration of acceleration, such principal of, premium, if any,
and accrued interest shall be immediately due and payable. In the event of a
declaration of acceleration because an Event of Default set forth in clause (e)
of Section 6.01 has occurred and is continuing, such declaration of acceleration
shall be automatically rescinded and annulled if the event of default triggering
such Event of Default pursuant to clause (e) of Section 6.01 shall be remedied
or cured by the Company, the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor or the relevant
Significant Subsidiary or waived by the holders of the relevant Indebtedness
within 60 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto. If an
Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 occurs with
respect to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, the principal of, premium,
if any, and accrued interest on the Notes then outstanding shall automatically
become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act
on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

            At any time after such declaration of acceleration, but before a
judgment or decree for the payment of money due has been obtained by the
Trustee, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Notes by written notice to the

                                       56
<PAGE>
Company and to the Trustee, may waive all past defaults and rescind and annul a
declaration of acceleration and its consequences if (a) the Company has paid or
deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (i) all sums paid or advanced
by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses and
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, it agents and counsel, (ii) all
overdue interest on all Notes, (iii) the principal of and premium, if any, on
any Notes that have become due otherwise than by such declaration or occurrence
of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate prescribed therefor by such
Notes, and (iv) to the extent that payment for such interest is lawful, interest
upon overdue interest, if any, at the rate prescribed therefor by such Notes,
(b) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal
of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by
such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived and (c) the
rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of
competent jurisdiction.

            SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee may, and at the direction of the Holders of at least a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall, pursue any
available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes or to enforce the
performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

            The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess
any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding.

            SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Sections 6.02,
6.07 and 9.02, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Notes, by notice to the Trustee, may waive an existing Default or
Event of Default and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note as specified in clause
(a) or (b) of Section 6.01 or in respect of a covenant or provision of this
Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder
of each outstanding Note affected. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall
cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to
have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any
right consequent thereto.

            SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of at least a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However,
the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this
Indenture, that may involve the Trustee in personal liability, or that the
Trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of
Holders of Notes not joining in the giving of such direction and may take any
other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any such direction
received from Holders of Notes.

            SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits. A Holder may not institute any
proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or the Notes,
or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy
hereunder, unless:

                                       57
<PAGE>
            (i) the Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice of a
      continuing Event of Default;

            (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of
      outstanding Notes shall have made a written request to the Trustee to
      pursue such remedy;

            (iii) such Holder or Holders offer the Trustee indemnity reasonably
      satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs, liability or expense;

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

            (v) during such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in
      aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes do not give the
      Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with the request.

            For purposes of Section 6.05 of this Indenture and this Section
6.06, the Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 316(a) in making any
determination of whether the Holders of the required aggregate principal amount
of outstanding Notes have concurred in any request or direction of the Trustee
to pursue any remedy available to the Trustee or the Holders with respect to
this Indenture or the Notes or otherwise under the law.

            A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of
another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over such other Holder.

            SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to
receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, such Note
or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment, on or after the due
date expressed in the Notes, shall not be impaired or affected without the
consent of such Holder.

            SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default in
payment of principal, premium or interest specified in clause (a), (b) or (c) of
Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its
own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or any other
obligor of the Notes for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and
accrued interest remaining unpaid, together with interest on overdue principal,
premium, if any, and, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful,
interest on overdue installments of interest, in each case at the rate specified
in the Notes, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs
and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

            SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file
such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to
the Company (or any other obligor of the Notes), its creditors or its property
and shall be entitled

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and empowered to collect and receive any monies, securities or other property
payable or deliverable upon conversion or exchange of the Notes or upon any such
claims and to distribute the same, and any custodian, receiver, assignee,
trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial
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 to it for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to empower 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 in respect
of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

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

            First: to the Trustee for all amounts due under Section 7.07;

            Second: to Holders for amounts then due and unpaid for principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on the Notes in respect of which or for the
benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Notes for
principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

            Third: to the Company or any other obligors of the Notes, as their
interests may appear, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

            The Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Company, may fix a
record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section
6.10.

            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 may require any party
litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and
the court 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 6.11
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 of the
outstanding Notes.

            SECTION 6.12. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or
any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under
this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any
reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then,
and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the
Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and
respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and
remedies of the Company, Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no
such proceeding had been instituted.

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<PAGE>
            SECTION 6.13. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise
provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed,
lost or wrongfully taken Notes in Section 2.09, no right or remedy herein
conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be
exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the
extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and
remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or
otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or
otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other
appropriate right or remedy.

            SECTION 6.14. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of
the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any
Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of
any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy
given by this Article Six or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be
exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the
Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

                                  ARTICLE SEVEN
                                     TRUSTEE

            SECTION 7.01. General. The duties and responsibilities of the
Trustee shall be as provided by the TIA and as set forth herein. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, 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 assured to it. Whether or not herein 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
Article Seven.

            Except during the continuance of a Default, the Trustee will not be
liable, except for the performance of such duties as are specifically set forth
in this Indenture. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Trustee will use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise of the rights
and powers vested in it under this Indenture as a prudent person would exercise
under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs.

            SECTION 7.02. Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to TIA Sections
315(a) through (d):

            (i) the Trustee may 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 person;

            (ii) before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require
      an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to
      Section 11.04. The Trustee

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<PAGE>
      shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith
      in reliance on such certificate or opinion;

            (iii) the Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall
      not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any attorney or
      agent appointed with due care by it hereunder;

            (iv) 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, unless such Holders shall have offered to
      the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses
      and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such
      request or direction;

            (v) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits
      to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within its
      rights or powers or for any action it takes or omits to take in accordance
      with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
      amount 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 on the Trustee, provided that the
      Trustee's conduct does not constitute negligence or bad faith;

            (vi) 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, rely upon an Officers' Certificate;

            (vii) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into
      the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
      instrument, opinion, financial statement, 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, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make
      such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled, at the
      Company's sole cost and expense, to examine the books, records and
      premises of the Company personally or by agent or attorney; and

            (viii)the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default
      or Event of Default with respect to the Notes unless either (1) a
      Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event
      of Default or (2) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall
      have been given to the Trustee by the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or
      by any Holder of the Notes.

            SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee, in its
individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and
may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it
would have if it were not the Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like
rights. However, the Trustee is subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311.

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<PAGE>
            SECTION 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer. The Trustee (i) makes no
representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes,
(ii) shall not be accountable for the Company's use or application of the
proceeds from the Notes and (iii) shall not be responsible for any statement in
the Notes other than its certificate of authentication.

            SECTION 7.05. Notice of Default. If any Default or any Event of
Default occurs and is continuing and if such Default or Event of Default is
known to any Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each
Holder in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c) notice of
the Default or Event of Default within 45 days after it occurs, unless such
Default or Event of Default has been cured; provided, however, that, except in
the case of a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest 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 a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith
determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders.

            SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. Within 60 days after
each May 15, beginning with May 15, 2002, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder
as provided in TIA Section 313(c) a brief report dated as of such May 15, if
required by TIA Section 313(a).

            A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of
Securities shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the Commission and each
stock exchange on which the Securities are listed in accordance with TIA Section
313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Securities are
listed on any stock exchange or of any delisting thereof.

            SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to
the Trustee such compensation as shall be agreed upon in writing, from time to
time, for its services hereunder. The compensation of the Trustee shall not be
limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company
shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable disbursements,
expenses and advances incurred or made by the Trustee without negligence or bad
faith on its part. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and
expenses of the Trustee's agents and counsel.

            The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor, jointly and severally,
shall indemnify the Trustee, its directors, officers, agents and employees for,
and hold it harmless against, any loss or liability, cost or expense incurred by
it without negligence or bad faith on its part in connection with the acceptance
or administration of this Indenture and its duties under this Indenture and the
Notes, including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of defending itself
against any claim or liability and of complying with any process served upon it
or any of its officers in connection with the exercise or performance of any of
its powers or duties under this Indenture and the Notes. The Trustee shall
notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.
Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of
its obligations hereunder, unless the Company is materially prejudiced thereby.
The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the
defense provided, however, that the Trustee shall have the right to defend such
claim if, upon the advice of counsel, its interests may be prejudiced by the
conduct of such defense by the Company. Unless otherwise set forth herein, the
Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the

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<PAGE>
reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any
settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

            To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section 7.07,
the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held
or collected by the Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee, except money or
property held in trust to pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
particular Notes.

            If the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after the
occurrence of an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section
6.01, the expenses and the compensation for the services will be intended to
constitute expenses of administration under Title 11 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code or any applicable federal or state law for the relief of
debtors.

            The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the resignation or
removal of the Trustee and termination of this Indenture.

            The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section
313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

            SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. A resignation or removal of
the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only
upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of appointment as provided in this
Section 7.08.

            The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company in
writing at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may remove
the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee in writing and may appoint a successor
Trustee with the consent of the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee if:
(i) the Trustee is no longer eligible under Section 7.10; (ii) the Trustee is
adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent; (iii) a receiver or other public officer
takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or (iv) the Trustee becomes
incapable of acting.

            If the Trustee resigns or is removed, or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may appoint a
successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If
the successor Trustee does not deliver its written acceptance required by the
next succeeding paragraph of this Section 7.08 within 30 days after the retiring
Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may, at the expense
of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a successor Trustee.

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

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<PAGE>
each Holder. 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.

            If the Trustee is no longer eligible under Section 7.10 or shall
fail to comply with TIA Section 310(b), any Holder who satisfies the
requirements of TIA Section 310(b) may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor
Trustee. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 7.08, the Trustee shall resign immediately
in the manner and with the effect provided in this Section.

            The Company shall give notice of any resignation and any removal of
the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders. Each
notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its
Corporate Trust Office.

            Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section
7.08, the Company's obligation under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit
of the retiring Trustee. Upon the Trustee's resignation or removal, the Company
shall promptly pay the Trustee all amounts owed by the Company to the Trustee.

            SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. If the Trustee
consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially
all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking
association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or national
banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee with
the same effect as if the successor Trustee had been named as the Trustee
herein, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible
under this Article.

            SECTION 7.10. Eligibility. This Indenture shall always have a
Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1). The Trustee
shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25 million as set forth
in its most recent published annual report of condition that is subject to the
requirements of applicable federal or state supervising or examining authority.
If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 7.10, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the
manner and with the effect specified in this Article.

            SECTION 7.11. Money Held in Trust. The Trustee shall not be liable
for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree with
the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law and except for money held in
trust under Article Eight of this Indenture.

                                 ARTICLE EIGHT
                             DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

            SECTION 8.01. Termination of Company's Obligations. Except as
otherwise provided in this Section 8.01, the Company may terminate its
obligations under the Notes and this Indenture if:

            (i) all Notes previously authenticated and delivered (other than
      destroyed, lost or stolen Notes that have been replaced or Notes that are
      paid pursuant to Section 4.01 or

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<PAGE>
      Notes for whose payment money or securities have theretofore been held in
      trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, as provided in Section 8.05)
      have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and the Company has
      paid all sums payable by it hereunder; or

            (ii) (A) the Notes mature within one year or all of them are to be
      called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to
      the Trustee for giving the notice of redemption, (B) the Company
      irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee during such one-year
      period, under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form and
      substance satisfactory to the Trustee, as trust funds solely for the
      benefit of the Holders for that purpose, money or U.S. Government
      Obligations sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
      independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
      thereof delivered to the Trustee), without consideration of any
      reinvestment of any interest thereon, to pay principal, premium, if, any,
      and interest on the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be,
      and to pay all other sums payable by it hereunder, (C) no Default or Event
      of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing
      on the date of such deposit, (D) such deposit will not result in a breach
      or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any
      other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which
      it is bound and (E) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
      Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that all
      conditions precedent provided for herein relating to the satisfaction and
      discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

            With respect to the foregoing clause (i), the Company's obligations
under Section 7.07 shall survive. With respect to the foregoing clause (ii), the
Company's obligations in Sections 2.02, 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08,
2.09, 2.14, 4.01, 4.02, 7.07, 7.08, 8.04, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive until the
Notes are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the Company's obligations in
Sections 7.07, 8.04, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive. After any such irrevocable
deposit, the Trustee upon request shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of
the Company's obligations under the Notes and this Indenture except for those
surviving obligations specified above.

            SECTION 8.02. Defeasance and Discharge of Indenture. The Company
will be deemed to have paid and will be discharged from any and all obligations
in respect of the Notes on the 123rd day after the deposit referred to in clause
(A) of this Section 8.02, and the provisions of this Indenture will no longer be
in effect with respect to the Notes (except for, among other matters, certain
obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the Notes, to replace
stolen, lost or mutilated Notes, to maintain paying agencies and to hold monies
for payment in trust) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall
execute proper instruments acknowledging the same if:

            (A) With reference to this Section 8.02, the Company has irrevocably
      deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee (or
      another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 7.10) and conveyed
      all right, title and interest to the Trustee for the benefit of the
      Holders, under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form and
      substance satisfactory to the Trustee as trust funds in trust specifically
      pledged to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders as security for
      payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes and
      dedicated solely to, the benefit

                                       65
<PAGE>
      of the Holders, in and to (1) money in an amount, (2) U.S. Government
      Obligations that through the payment of interest and principal in respect
      thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide, not later than one
      day before the due date of any payment referred to in clause (A), money in
      an amount or (3) a combination thereof in an amount sufficient, in the
      opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
      expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to
      pay and discharge, without consideration of the reinvestment of such
      interest and after payment of all federal, state and local taxes or other
      charges and assessments in respect thereof payable by the Trustee, the
      principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the outstanding
      Notes (i) on the Stated Maturity of such principal and interest; provided
      that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such
      money or the proceeds of such U.S. Government Obligations to the payment
      of such principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the Notes
      or (ii) on any earlier Redemption Date pursuant to the terms of the
      Indenture and the Notes; provided that the Company has provided the
      Trustee with irrevocable instructions to redeem all of the outstanding
      Notes on such Redemption Date.

            (B) The Company has delivered to the Trustee (1) either (x) an
      Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders will not recognize income,
      gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company's
      exercise of its option under this Section 8.02 and will be subject to
      federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the
      same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and
      discharge had not occurred, which Opinion of Counsel shall be based upon
      (and accompanied by a copy of) a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service to
      the same effect unless there has been a change in applicable federal
      income tax law after the Closing Date such that a ruling is no longer
      required or (y) a ruling directed to the Trustee received from the
      Internal Revenue Service to the same effect as the aforementioned Opinion
      of Counsel and (2) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the creation
      of the defeasance trust does not violate the Investment Company Act of
      1940 and that after the passage of 123 days following the deposit (except,
      with respect to any trust funds for the account of any Holder who may be
      deemed to be an "insider" for purposes of the United States Bankruptcy
      Code, after one year following the deposit), the trust funds will not be
      subject to the effect of Section 547 of the United States Bankruptcy Code
      or Section 15 of the New York Debtor and Creditor Law in a case commenced
      by or against the Company under either such statute, and either (I) the
      trust funds will no longer remain the property of the Company (and
      therefore will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
      insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
      generally) or (II) if a court were to rule under any such law in any case
      or proceeding that the trust funds remained property of the Company, (a)
      assuming such trust funds remained in the possession of the Trustee prior
      to such court ruling to the extent not paid to the Holders, the Trustee
      will hold, for the benefit of the Holders, a valid and perfected security
      interest in such trust funds that is not avoidable in bankruptcy or
      otherwise except for the effect of Section 552(b) of the United States
      Bankruptcy Code on interest on the trust funds accruing after the
      commencement of a case under such statute and (b) the Holders will be
      entitled to receive adequate protection of their interests in such trust
      funds if such trust funds are used in such case or proceeding;

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<PAGE>
            (C) immediately after giving effect to such deposit on a pro forma
      basis, no Event of Default, or event that after the giving of notice or
      lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default, shall have
      occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the
      period ending on the 123rd day after the date of such deposit, and such
      deposit shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
      default under, any other material agreement or instrument to which the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or
      any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

            (D) if the Notes are then listed on a national securities exchange,
      the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the
      effect that the Notes will not be delisted as a result of such deposit,
      defeasance and discharge; and

            (E) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
      Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that all
      conditions precedent provided for herein relating to the defeasance
      contemplated by this Section 8.02 have been complied with.

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the end of the 123-day (or
one-year) period referred to in clause (B)(2) of this Section 8.02, none of the
Company's obligations under this Indenture shall be discharged. Subsequent to
the end of such 123-day (or one year) period with respect to this Section 8.02,
the Company's obligations in Sections 2.02, 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08,
2.09, 2.14, 4.01, 4.02, 8.04, 8.05, 8.06 and the rights, powers, trusts, duties
and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and Article Eleven (with respect to
payments in respect of Senior Subordinated Obligations other than with the
assets held in trust as described in this Section 8.02) shall survive until the
Notes are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the Company's obligations in
Sections 7.07, 8.04, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive. If and when a ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service or an Opinion of Counsel referred to in clause (B)(1)
of this Section 8.02 is able to be provided specifically without regard to, and
not in reliance upon, the continuance of the Company's obligations under Section
4.01, then the Company's obligations under such Section 4.01 shall cease upon
delivery to the Trustee of such ruling or Opinion of Counsel and compliance with
the other conditions precedent provided for herein relating to the defeasance
contemplated by this Section 8.02.

            After any such irrevocable deposit, the Trustee upon request shall
acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Company's obligations under the
Notes and this Indenture except for those surviving obligations in the
immediately preceding paragraph.

            SECTION 8.03. Defeasance of Certain Obligations. The Company may
omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in clauses (iii)
and (iv) of Section 5.01 and Sections 4.03 through 4.11 and Section 4.20 and
clause (c) of Section 6.01 with respect to clauses (iii) and (iv) of Section
5.01, clause (d) of Section 6.01 with respect to Sections 4.01, 4.02 and 4.12
through 4.19 and clauses (e) and (f) of Section 6.01 shall be deemed not to be
Events of Default, in each case with respect to the outstanding Notes if:

            (i) with reference to this Section 8.03, the Company has irrevocably
      deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee (or
      another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 7.10) and conveyed
      all right, title and interest to the Trustee for the benefit of the
      Holders, under the terms of an irrevocable trust

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      agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee as trust funds
      in trust, specifically pledged to the Trustee for the benefit of the
      Holders as security for payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and
      interest, if any, on the Notes, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of
      the Holders, in and to (A) money in an amount, (B) U.S. Government
      Obligations that, through the payment of interest, premium, if any, and
      principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide,
      not later than one day before the due date of any payment referred to in
      this clause (i), money in an amount or (C) a combination thereof in an
      amount sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
      independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
      thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, without
      consideration of the reinvestment of such interest and after payment of
      all federal, state and local taxes or other charges and assessments in
      respect thereof payable by the Trustee, the principal of, premium, if any,
      and interest on the outstanding Notes (i) on the Stated Maturity of such
      principal or interest; provided that the Trustee shall have been
      irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such U.S.
      Government Obligations to the payment of such principal, premium, if any,
      and interest with respect to the Notes or (ii) on any earlier Redemption
      Date pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and the Notes; provided that
      the Company has provided the Trustee with irrevocable instructions to
      redeem all of the outstanding Notes on such redemption Date;

            (ii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
      to the effect that (A) the creation of the defeasance trust does not
      violate the Investment Company Act of 1940, (B) after the passage of 123
      days following the deposit (except, with respect to any trust funds for
      the account of any Holder who may be deemed to be an "insider" for
      purposes of the United States Bankruptcy Code, after one year following
      the deposit), the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of Section
      547 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or Section 15 of the New York
      Debtor and Creditor Law in a case commenced by or against the Company
      under either such statute, and either (1) the trust funds will no longer
      remain the property of the Company (and therefore will not be subject to
      the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
      similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally) or (2) if a court were
      to rule under any such law in any case or proceeding that the trust funds
      remained property of the Company, (x) assuming such trust funds remained
      in the possession of the Trustee prior to such court ruling to the extent
      not paid to the Holders, the Trustee will hold, for the benefit of the
      Holders, a valid and perfected security interest in such trust funds that
      is not avoidable in bankruptcy or otherwise (except for the effect of
      Section 552(b) of the United States Bankruptcy Code on interest on the
      trust funds accruing after the commencement of a case under such statute)
      and (y) the Holders will be entitled to receive adequate protection of
      their interests in such trust funds if such trust funds are used in such
      case or proceeding, (C) the Holders will not recognize income, gain or
      loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and
      defeasance of certain covenants and Events of Default and will be subject
      to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the
      same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had
      not occurred and (D) the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders, has a
      valid first-priority security interest in the trust funds;

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            (iii) immediately after giving effect to such deposit on a pro forma
      basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
      continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the
      123rd day after such date of such deposit, and such deposit shall not
      result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this
      Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
      of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries is bound;

            (iv) if the Notes are then listed on a national securities exchange,
      the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the
      effect that the Notes will not be delisted as a result of such deposit,
      defeasance and discharge; and

            (v) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
      Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that all
      conditions precedent provided for herein relating to the defeasance
      contemplated by this Section 8.03 have been complied with.

            SECTION 8.04. Application of Trust Money. Subject to Section 8.06,
the Trustee or Paying Agent shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government
Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.01, 8.02 or 8.03, as the
case may be, and shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S.
Government Obligations in accordance with the Notes and this Indenture to the
payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes; but such
money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by
law.

            SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company. Subject to Sections 7.07, 8.01,
8.02 and 8.03, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the
Company upon request set forth in an Officers' Certificate any excess money held
by them at any time and thereupon shall be relieved from all liability with
respect to such money. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company
upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium, if
any, or interest that remains unclaimed for two years; provided that the Trustee
or Paying Agent before being required to make any payment may cause to be
published at the expense of the Company once in a newspaper of general
circulation in The City of New York or mail to each Holder entitled to such
money at such Holder's address (as set forth in the Security Register) notice
that such money remains unclaimed and that after a date specified therein (which
shall be at least 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing) any
unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to such money must look to the
Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable law designates
another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with
respect to such money shall cease.

            SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is
unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with
Section 8.01, 8.02 or 8.03, as the case may be, by reason of any legal
proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental
authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the
Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and
reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.01, 8.02 or
8.03, as the case may be, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance
with Section 8.01, 8.02 or 8.03, as the case may be; provided that, if the
Company has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest

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on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall
be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment
from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying
Agent.

                                  ARTICLE NINE
                       AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

            SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders. The Company, when
authorized by a resolution of its Board of Directors (as evidenced by a Board
Resolution delivered to the Trustee), and the Trustee may amend or supplement
this Indenture or the Notes without notice to or the consent of any Holder:

            (1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in this
      Indenture; provided that such amendments or supplements shall not, in the
      good faith opinion of the Board of Directors as evidenced by a Board
      Resolution, adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material
      respect;

            (2) to comply with Article Five or Section 4.20;

            (3) to comply with any requirements of the Commission in connection
      with the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

            (4) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
      hereunder by a successor Trustee; or

            (5) to make any change that, in the good faith opinion of the Board
      of Directors as evidenced by a Board Resolution, does not materially and
      adversely affect the rights of any Holder.

            SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders. Subject to Sections 6.04 and
6.07 and without prior notice to the Holders, the Company, when authorized by
its Board of Directors (as evidenced by a Board Resolution delivered to the
Trustee), and the Trustee may amend this Indenture and the Notes with the
written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Notes then outstanding, and the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee may waive
future compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the
Notes.

            Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9.02, without the
consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver, including a waiver
pursuant to Section 6.04, may not:

            (i) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any
      installment of interest on, any Note;

            (ii) reduce the principal amount of, or premium, if any, or interest
      on, any Note;

            (iii) change the optional redemption dates or optional redemption
      prices of the Notes from that stated in Section 3.01;

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<PAGE>
            (iv) change any place or currency of payment of principal of,
      premium, if any, or interest on, any Note;

            (v) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
      payment on or after the Stated Maturity (or, in the case of redemption, on
      or after the Redemption Date) on any Note;

            (vi) reduce the percentage or principal amount of outstanding Notes
      the consent of whose Holders is necessary to modify or amend this
      Indenture or to waive compliance with certain provisions of or certain
      Defaults under this Indenture;

            (vii) waive a Default in the payment of principal of, premium, if
      any, or interest on, any Note;

            (viii)modify any of the provisions of this Section 9.02, except to
      increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions
      of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the
      Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby;

            (ix) release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its Note Guarantee,
      except as provided in this Indenture; or

            (x) amend, change or modify the obligation of the Company to make
      and consummate an Offer to Purchase under Section 4.11 after the
      obligation to make such Offer to Purchase has arisen or the obligation of
      the Company to make and consummate an Offer to Purchase under Section 4.12
      after a Change of Control has occurred, including, in each case, amending,
      changing or modifying any definition relating thereto.

            It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this
Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment,
supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the
substance thereof.

            After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02
becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders affected thereby a
notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. The Company will
mail supplemental indentures to Holders upon request. Any failure of the Company
to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way
impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

            SECTION 9.03. Revocation and Effect of Consent. Until an amendment
or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent
by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that
evidences the same debt as the Note of the consenting Holder, even if notation
of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent
Holder may revoke the consent as to its Note or portion of its Note. Such
revocation shall be effective only if the Trustee receives the notice of
revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes
effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver shall become effective on receipt
by the Trustee of written consents from the Holders of the requisite percentage
in principal amount of the outstanding Notes.

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

            After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall
bind every Holder unless it is of the type described in the second paragraph of
Section 9.02. In case of an amendment or waiver of the type described in the
second paragraph of Section 9.02, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder
who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note that evidences the
same indebtedness as the Note of the consenting Holder.

            SECTION 9.04. Notation on or Exchange of Notes. If an amendment,
supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the
Holder to deliver such Note to the Trustee. At the Company's expense, the
Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note about the changed terms
and return it to the Holder and the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on
any Note thereafter authenticated. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee
so determines, the Company in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee
shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make
the appropriate notation, or issue a new Note, shall not affect the validity and
effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

            SECTION 9.05. Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc. The Trustee shall be
entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of
Counsel stating that the execution of any amendment, supplement or waiver
authorized pursuant to this Article Nine is authorized or permitted by this
Indenture and that it will be valid and binding upon the Company. Subject to the
preceding sentence, the Trustee shall sign such amendment, supplement or waiver
if the same does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or
immunities of the Trustee. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to,
execute any such amendment, supplement or waiver that affects the Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

            SECTION 9.06. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every
supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to
the requirements of the TIA as then in effect.

                                  ARTICLE TEN
                               GUARANTEE OF NOTES

            SECTION 10.01. Note Guarantee. Subject to the provisions of this
Article Ten, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, fully and
unconditionally Guarantees to each Holder of Notes hereunder and to the Trustee
on behalf of the Holders: (i) the due and punctual payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, on and interest on each Note, when and as the same shall become
due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or

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otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on the overdue principal of
and interest, if any, on the Notes, to the extent lawful, and the due and
punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or
the Trustee, all in accordance with the terms of such Note and this Indenture
and (ii) in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes
or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full
when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal,
at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, subject, however, in the case
of clauses (i) and (ii) above, to the limitations set forth in the next
succeeding paragraph.

            Each Subsidiary Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder
hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee
by any Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its Note Guarantee not constitute a
fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the United States Bankruptcy
Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act
or any similar Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the
Holders and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the
obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Note Guarantee shall be
limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other
contingent and fixed liabilities of each Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving
effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other
Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary
Guarantor under its Note Guarantee or pursuant to the following paragraph,
result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Note Guarantee
not constituting such fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

            In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the
Subsidiary Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the
event any payment or distribution is made by any Subsidiary Guarantor (a
"Funding Guarantor") under its Note Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be
entitled to a contribution from all other Subsidiary Guarantors in a pro rata
amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor (including
the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that
Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company's obligations with respect to the
Notes or any other Subsidiary Guarantor's obligations with respect to its Note
Guarantee. "Adjusted Net Assets" of such Subsidiary Guarantor at any date shall
mean the lesser of the amount by which (x) the fair value of the property of
such Subsidiary Guarantor exceeds the total amount of liabilities, including,
without limitation, contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other
fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date), but
excluding liabilities under the Note Guarantee, of such Guarantor at such date
and (y) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Subsidiary
Guarantor at such date exceeds the amount that will be required to pay the
probable liability of such Subsidiary Guarantor on its debts (after giving
effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such
date and after giving effect to any collection from any Subsidiary of such
Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such Subsidiary under the
Note Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor), excluding debt in respect of its
Note Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor), excluding debt in respect of its
Note Guarantee, as they become absolute and matured.

            Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment,
demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or
bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the
Company, the benefit of discussion, protest or

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notice with respect to any such Note or the debt evidenced thereby and all
demands whatsoever (except as specified above), and covenants that this Note
Guarantee will not be discharged as to any such Note except by payment in full
of the principal thereof and interest thereon and as provided in Sections 8.01,
8.02 and 8.03. In the event of any declaration of acceleration of such
obligations as provided in Article Six, such obligations (whether or not due and
payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor for
the purposes of this Article Ten. In addition, without limiting the foregoing
provisions, upon the effectiveness of an acceleration under Article Six, the
Trustee shall promptly make a demand for payment on the Notes under the Note
Guarantee provided for in this Article Ten.

            The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Note
Guarantee are independent of the obligations Guaranteed by the Subsidiary
Guarantor hereunder, and a separate action or actions may be brought and
prosecuted by the Trustee on behalf of, or by, the Holders, subject to the terms
and conditions set forth in this Indenture, against any Subsidiary Guarantor to
enforce this Note Guarantee, irrespective of whether any action is brought
against the Company or whether the Company is joined in any such action or
actions.

            If the Trustee or the Holder is required by any court or otherwise
to return to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any custodian,
receiver, liquidator, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official acting in
relation to Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, any amount paid to the Trustee
or such Holder in respect of a Note, this Note Guarantee, to the extent
theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each
Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees, to the fullest extent that it may lawfully
do so, that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on
the other hand, the maturity of the obligations Guaranteed hereby may be
accelerated as provided in Article Six hereof for the purposes of this Note
Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition extant
under any applicable bankruptcy law preventing such acceleration in respect of
the obligations Guaranteed hereby.

            Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any claim or
other rights which it may now or hereafter acquire against the Company or any
other Subsidiary Guarantor that arise from the existence, payment, performance
or enforcement of its obligations under this Note Guarantee and this Indenture,
including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement,
exoneration, contribution, indemnification, any right to participate in any
claim or remedy of the Holders against the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor
or any collateral which any such Holder or the Trustee on behalf of such Holder
hereafter acquires, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity,
or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the
right to take or receive from the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, directly or
indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner,
payment or security on account of such claim or other rights. If any amount
shall be paid to a Subsidiary Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence
and the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the Notes shall
not have been paid in full, such amount shall be deemed to have been paid to
such Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of, and held in trust for the benefit
of, the Holders, and shall forthwith be paid to the Trustee for the benefit of
the Holders to be credited and applied upon the principal of, premium, if any,
and accrued interest on the Notes. Each Subsidiary Guarantor acknowledges that
it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the

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issuance of the Notes pursuant to this Indenture and that the waivers set forth
in this Section 10.01 are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

            The Note Guarantee set forth in this Section 10.01 shall not be
valid or become obligatory for any purpose with respect to a Note until the
certificate of authentication on such Note shall have been signed by or on
behalf of the Trustee.

            SECTION 10.02. Obligations Unconditional. Nothing contained in this
Article Ten or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Notes is intended to or
shall impair, as among any Subsidiary Guarantor and the holders of the Notes,
the obligation of such Subsidiary Guarantor, which is absolute and
unconditional, upon failure by the Company to pay to the holders of the Notes
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes as and when the
same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended
to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders and creditors of such
Subsidiary Guarantor, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent any Holder or
the Trustee on their behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by
applicable law upon default under this Indenture.

            Without limiting the foregoing, nothing contained in this Article
Ten will restrict the right of the Trustee or the Holders to take any action to
declare the Note Guarantee to be due and payable prior to the Stated Maturity of
any Notes pursuant to Section 6.02 or to pursue any rights or remedies
hereunder.

            SECTION 10.03. Release of Note Guarantees. The Note Guarantee issued
by any Subsidiary Guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released
and discharged upon (i) any sale, exchange or transfer (including by way of
merger or consolidation) to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company of all of
the Company's and each Restricted Subsidiary's Capital Stock in, or all or
substantially all the assets of, such Subsidiary Guarantor (which such sale,
exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture) or (ii) the
designation of such Subsidiary Guarantor or Restricted Subsidiary as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

            SECTION 10.04. Notice to Trustee. Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall
give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to such Subsidiary
Guarantor which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in
respect of the Note Guarantee pursuant to the provisions of this Article Ten.

            SECTION 10.05. This Article Not to Prevent Events of Default. The
failure to make a payment on account of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on the Notes by reason of any provision of this Article Ten will not be
construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default.

                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

            SECTION 11.01. Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Prior to the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, this Indenture shall incorporate
and be governed by the provisions of the TIA that are required to be part of and
to govern indentures qualified under the TIA. After the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, this Indenture shall be subject to the provisions

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of the TIA that are required to be a part of this Indenture and shall, to the
extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

            SECTION 11.02. Notices. Any notice, request or communication shall
be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person, mailed by
first-class mail or sent by telecopier transmission addressed as follows:

            if to the Company:

            Steel Dynamics, Inc.
            6714 Pointe Inverness Way, Suite 200
            Fort Wayne, Indiana  46804
            Telecopier No.:  (219) 969-3590

            Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

            if to the Trustee:

            Fifth Third Bank, Indiana
            251 North Illinois Street
            Suite 1400
            Indianapolis, Indiana  46204

            Telecopier No.:  (317) 383-2992

            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.

            Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed to it
at its address as it appears on the Security Register by first-class mail and
shall be sufficiently given to the Holder if so mailed within the time
prescribed. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person
described in TIA Section 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Copies of
any such communication or notice to a Holder shall also be mailed to the Trustee
and each Agent at the same time.

            Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder as provided
herein or any defect in any such notice or communication shall not affect its
sufficiency with respect to other Holders. Except for a notice to the Trustee,
which is deemed given only when received, and except as otherwise provided in
this Indenture, if a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided in
this Section 11.02, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

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            Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice
may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either
before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such
notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such
filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in
reliance upon such waiver.

            In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by
reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail,
then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

            Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other
Holders 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
TIA Section 312(c).

            SECTION 11.03. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action
under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

            (i) an Officers' Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the
      signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture
      relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

            (ii) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such
      Counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

            SECTION 11.04. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each
certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture shall include:

            (i) a statement that each person signing such certificate or opinion
      has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating
      thereto;

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

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

            (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such
      person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided,
      however, that, with respect to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may
      rely on an Officers' Certificate or certificates of public officials.

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            SECTION 11.05. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar. The
Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The
Paying Agent or Registrar may make reasonable rules for its functions.

            SECTION 11.06. Payment Date Other Than a Business Day. If an
Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Payment Date, Stated Maturity or date of
maturity of any Note shall not be a Business Day, then payment of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on such Note, as the case may be, need not be made
on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same
force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Payment Date or
Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity or date of maturity of such Note;
provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such
Interest Payment Date, Payment Date, Redemption Date, Stated Maturity or date of
maturity, as the case may be.

            SECTION 11.07. Governing Law. This Indenture and the Notes shall be
governed by the laws of the State of New York. The Trustee, the Company and the
Holders agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New
York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture or
the Notes.

            SECTION 11.08. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This
Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement
of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or
debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

            SECTION 11.09. No Recourse Against Others. No recourse for the
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Notes,
or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse
under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company contained in
this Indenture or in any of the Notes, or because of the creation of any
Indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator or
against any past, present or future partner, stockholder, other equityholder,
officer, director, employee or controlling person, as such, of the Company or of
any successor Person, either directly or through the Company or any successor
Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the
enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly
understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a
condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and
the issue of the Notes.

            SECTION 11.10. 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 successor.

            SECTION 11.11. Duplicate Originals. The parties may sign any number
of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of
them together represent the same agreement.

            SECTION 11.12. Separability. In case any provision in this Indenture
or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.

                                       78
<PAGE>
            SECTION 11.13. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. The Table of
Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of
this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to
be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the
terms and provisions hereof.

                                       79
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                    STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.

                                    By: ________________________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                    SDI INVESTMENT COMPANY

                                    By: ________________________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                       80
<PAGE>
                                    FIFTH THIRD BANK, INDIANA

                                    By: ________________________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                       81
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                              [APPLICABLE LEGENDS]

                                 [FACE OF NOTE]

                              STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.

                           9 1/2% Senior Note due 2009

                                                     [CUSIP] [CINS] [__________]

No. ____    $

            STEEL DYNAMICS, INC. an Indiana corporation (the "Company", which
term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for
value received, promises to pay to _____________, or its registered assigns, the
principal sum of ____________ ($____) on March 15, 2009.

            Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15, commencing
September 15, 2002.

            Regular Record Dates: March 1 and September 1.

            SDI Investment Company, a Delaware corporation, and any future
Subsidiary Guarantor (collectively, the "Subsidiary Guarantors", which term
includes any successors under the Indenture hereinafter referred to and any
Restricted Subsidiary that provides a Note Guarantee pursuant to the Indenture),
has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the payment of principal of premium, if
any, and interest on the Notes.

            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.

                                       A-1
<PAGE>
            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed
manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.

                                    STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.

                                    By: ________________________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                    By: ________________________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                    (Trustee's Certificate of Authentication)

This is one of the 9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009 described in the
within-mentioned Indenture.

Date:  ________, 2002                        FIFTH THIRD BANK, INDIANA
                                             as Trustee

                                             By: _______________________________
                                                 Authorized Signer

                                      A-2
<PAGE>
                             [REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

                              STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.

                           9 1/2% Senior Note due 2009

1. Principal and Interest.

            The Company will pay the principal of this Note on March 15, 2009.

            The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this
Note on each Interest Payment Date, as set forth below, at the rate per annum
shown above.

            Interest will be payable semiannually (to the holders of record of
the Notes at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1 immediately
preceding the Interest Payment Date) on each Interest Payment Date, commencing
September 15, 2002.

            If neither an exchange offer (the "Exchange Offer") registered under
the Securities Act is consummated nor a shelf registration statement (the "Shelf
Registration Statement") under the Securities Act with respect to resales of the
Notes is declared effective by the Commission on or before September 26, 2002 in
accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement dated March 26,
2002 among the Company, the Initial Subsidiary Guarantor and Morgan Stanley &
Co. Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Corp. and
NatCity Investments, Inc., then the annual interest rate borne by the Notes
shall be increased by 0.5% from the rate shown above accruing from September 26,
2002, payable in cash semiannually, in arrears, on each Interest Payment Date,
commencing March 15, 2003 until the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement. The Holder of this Note is
entitled to the benefits of such Registration Rights Agreement.

            Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which
interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from March 26, 2002;
provided that, if there is no existing default in the payment of interest and
this Note is authenticated between a Regular Record Date referred to on the face
hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from
such Interest Payment Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months.

            The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and premium, if
any, and interest on overdue installments of interest, to the extent lawful, at
a rate per annum that is 2% in excess of the rate otherwise payable.

2. Method of Payment.

            The Company will pay interest (except defaulted interest) on the
principal amount of the Notes as provided above on each March 15 and September
15, commencing September 15, 2002 to the persons who are Holders (as reflected
in the Security Register at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1
immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date), in each case, even if the Note
is cancelled on registration of transfer or registration of exchange

                                      A-3
<PAGE>
after such record date; provided that, with respect to the payment of principal,
the Company will make payment to the Holder that surrenders this Note to a
Paying Agent on or after March 15, 2009.

            The Company will pay principal, premium, if any, and as provided
above, interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is
legal tender for payment of public and private debts. However, the Company may
pay principal, premium, if any, and interest by its check payable in such money.
It may mail an interest check to a Holder's registered address (as reflected in
the Security Register). If a payment date is a date other than a Business Day at
a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day
that is a Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

            The Notes may be exchanged or transferred at the office or agency of
the Company in The Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Initially,
Computerserve Trust Company of New York, Wall Street Plaza, 88 Pine Street, New
York, New York 10005 will serve as such office. If you give the Company wire
transfer instructions, the Company will pay all principal, premium and interest
on your Notes in accordance with your instructions. If the Company is not given
wire transfer instructions, payments of principal, premium and interest will be
made at the office or agency of the paying agent which will initially be the
Trustee, unless the Company elects to make interest payments by check mailed to
the Holders.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar.

            Initially, the Trustee will act as authenticating agent, Paying
Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any authenticating agent, Paying
Agent or Registrar without notice. The Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate
of any of them may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.

4. Indenture; Limitations.

            The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of March
26, 2002 (the "Indenture"), among the Company, the Initial Subsidiary Guarantor
and Fifth Third Bank, Indiana, as trustee (the "Trustee"). Capitalized terms
herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise indicated. The
terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of
the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to
all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust
Indenture Act for a statement of all such terms. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note
and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

            The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company.

            The Company may, subject to Article Four of the Indenture and
applicable law, issue additional Notes under the Indenture.

                                      A-4
<PAGE>
5. Optional Redemption.

            The Notes are redeemable, at the Company's option, in whole or in
part, at any time or from time to time, on or after March 15, 2006 and prior to
maturity, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior notice mailed by
first-class mail to each Holder's last address, as it appears in the Security
Register, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed in percentages of
principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date
(subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date
that is prior to the Redemption Date to receive interest due on an Interest
Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing March 15 of the
years set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Redemption
                  Year                                     Price
                  ------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>
                  2006................................   104.750%
                  2007................................   102.375%
                  2008 and thereafter.................   100.000%
</TABLE>

            In addition, at any time prior to March 15, 2005, the Company may
redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with the Net
Cash Proceeds of one or more sales of Capital Stock of the Company (other than
Disqualified Stock) at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of
principal amount) of 109.500%, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the
Redemption Date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant
Regular Record Date that is prior to the Redemption Date to receive interest due
on an Interest Payment Date); provided that (i) at least 65% of the aggregate
principal amount of Notes originally issued on the Closing Date remains
outstanding after each such redemption and (ii) notice of such redemption is
mailed within 60 days after such sale of Capital Stock.

            Notes in original denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed
in part. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or
portions of Notes called for redemption, unless the Company defaults in the
payment of the Redemption Price.

6. Repurchase upon Change of Control.

            Upon the occurrence of any Change of Control, each Holder shall have
the right to require the repurchase of its Notes by the Company in cash pursuant
to the offer described in the Indenture at a purchase price equal to 101% of the
principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date
of purchase (the "Payment Date").

            A notice of such Change of Control will be mailed within 30 days
after any Change of Control occurs to each Holder at its last address as it
appears in the Security Register. Notes in original denominations larger than
$1,000 may be sold to the Company in part. On and after the Payment Date,
interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes surrendered for purchase
by the Company, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the purchase
price.

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.

            The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of
$1,000 of principal amount and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder
may register the transfer

                                      A-5
<PAGE>
or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require
a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer
documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the
Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes
selected for redemption. Also, it need not register the transfer or exchange of
any Notes for a period of 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of
redemption of Notes selected for redemption.

8. Persons Deemed Owners.

            A Holder shall be treated as the owner of a Note for all purposes.

9. Unclaimed Money.

            If money for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest
remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will pay the
money back to the Company at its request. After that, Holders entitled to the
money must look to the Company for payment, unless an abandoned property law
designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and such Paying
Agent with respect to such money shall cease.

10. Discharge Prior to Redemption or Maturity.

            If the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government
Obligations sufficient to pay the then outstanding principal of, premium, if
any, and accrued interest on the Notes (a) to redemption or maturity, the
Company will be discharged from the Indenture and the Notes, except in certain
circumstances for certain provisions thereof, and (b) to the Stated Maturity,
the Company will be discharged from certain covenants set forth in the
Indenture.

11. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver.

            Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be
amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority
in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and any existing default or
compliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of
at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Without
notice to or the consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or
supplement the Indenture or the Notes to, among other things, cure any
ambiguity, defect or inconsistency and make any change that does not materially
and adversely affect the rights of any Holder.

12. Restrictive Covenants.

            The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, among other things, to Incur additional
Indebtedness, make Restricted Payments, suffer to exist restrictions on the
ability of Restricted Subsidiaries to make certain payments to the Company,
issue Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries, Guarantee Indebtedness of the
Company, engage in transactions with Affiliates, suffer to exist or incur Liens,
enter into sale-leaseback transactions, use the proceeds from Asset Sales, or
merge, consolidate or transfer substantially all of its assets. Within 45 days
after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each year and within
90 days after the end of the last fiscal quarter of

                                      A-6
<PAGE>
each year, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating whether or not the signers thereof know of any Default or Event of
Default under such restrictive covenants.

13. Successor Persons.

            When a successor person or other entity assumes all the obligations
of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture, the predecessor person
will be released from those obligations.

14. Defaults and Remedies.

            Any of the following events constitutes an "Event of Default" under
the Indenture:

            (a) default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any, on)
any Note when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration,
redemption or otherwise;

            (b) default in the payment of interest on any Note when the same
becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

            (c) (i) default in the performance or breach of the provisions of
the Indenture applicable to (A) mergers, consolidations and transfers of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors or
(B) mergers or consolidations of any Subsidiary Guarantor or (ii) the failure by
the Company to make or consummate an Offer to Purchase in accordance with
Section 4.11 or Section 4.12 of the Indenture;

            (d) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor defaults in the
performance of or breaches any other covenant or agreement of the Company in the
Indenture or under the Notes (other than a default specified in clause (a), (b)
or (c) above) and such default or breach continues for a period of 30
consecutive days after written notice by the Trustee or the Holders of 25% or
more in aggregate principal amount of the Notes;

            (e) there occurs with respect to any issue or issues of Indebtedness
of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary having an
outstanding principal amount of $10 million or more in the aggregate for all
such issues of all such Persons, whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall
hereafter be created, (I) an event of default that has caused the holder thereof
to declare such Indebtedness to be due and payable prior to its Stated Maturity
and such Indebtedness has not been discharged in full or such acceleration has
not been rescinded or annulled within 30 days of such acceleration and/or (II)
the failure to make a principal payment at the final (but not any interim) fixed
maturity and such defaulted payment shall not have been made, waived or extended
within 30 days of such payment default;

            (f) any final judgment or order (not covered by insurance) for the
payment of money in excess of $10 million in the aggregate for all such final
judgments or orders against all such Persons (treating any deductibles,
self-insurance or retention as not so covered) shall be rendered against the
Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary and shall not be
paid or discharged, and there shall be any period of 60 consecutive days
following entry

                                      A-7
<PAGE>
of the final judgment or order that causes the aggregate amount for all such
final judgments or orders outstanding and not paid or discharged against all
such Persons to exceed $10 million during which a stay of enforcement of such
final judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not
be in effect;

            (g) a court having jurisdiction in the premises enters a decree or
order for (A) relief in respect of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any
Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, (B) appointment of a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar
official of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary
or for all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company, any
Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary or (C) the winding up or
liquidation of the affairs of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any
Significant Subsidiary and, in each case, such decree or order shall remain
unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;

            (h) the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant
Subsidiary (A) commences a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consents to the
entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, (B)
consents to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company,
any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or
substantially all of the property and assets of the Company, any Subsidiary
Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary or (C) effects any general assignment
for the benefit of creditors; or

            (i) any Subsidiary Guarantor repudiates its obligations under its
Note Guarantee or, except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee is
determined to be unenforceable or invalid or shall for any reason cease to be in
full force and effect.

            If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee may, and at the direction of the Holders of at least 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall, declare all
the Notes to be due and payable. If a bankruptcy or insolvency default with
respect to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor occurs and is continuing, the
Notes automatically become due and payable. Holders may not enforce the
Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may
require indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the
Notes. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of at least a majority in
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its
exercise of any trust or power.

15. Guarantee.

            The Company's obligations under the Notes are fully and
unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Subsidiary Guarantors.

16. Trustee Dealings with the Company.

            The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other
capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from and perform services for the
Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors

                                      A-8
<PAGE>
or their Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company, the Subsidiary
Guarantors or their Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.

17. No Recourse Against Others.

            No incorporator or any past, present or future partner, stockholder,
other equityholder, officer, director, employee or controlling person, as such,
of the Company or of any successor Person shall have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim
based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The
waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

18. Authentication.

            This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee or authenticating
agent signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

19. Abbreviations.

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

            The Company will furnish a copy of the Indenture to any Holder upon
written request and without charge. Requests may be made to Steel Dynamics,
Inc., 6714 Pointe Inverness Way, Suite 200, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804;
Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

                                      A-9
<PAGE>
                            [FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE]

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

Insert Taxpayer Identification No.

________________________________________________________________________________

Please print or typewrite name and address including zip code of assignee

________________________________________________________________________________

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

 [THE FOLLOWING PROVISION TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL NOTES OTHER THAN EXCHANGE NOTES,
    UNLEGENDED OFFSHORE GLOBAL NOTES AND UNLEGENDED OFFSHORE PHYSICAL NOTES]

            In connection with any transfer of this Note occurring prior to the
date which is the earlier of (i) the date the Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective or (ii) the end of the period referred to in Rule 144(k)
under the Securities Act, the undersigned confirms that without utilizing any
general solicitation or general advertising that:

                                   [Check One]

/ /(a) this Note is being transferred in compliance with the exemption from
       registration under the Securities Act of 1933 provided by Rule 144A
       thereunder.

                                       or

/ /(b) this Note is being transferred other than in accordance with (a) above
       and documents are being furnished which comply with the conditions of
       transfer set forth in this Note and the Indenture.

                                      A-10
<PAGE>
If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or other 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 2.08 of the Indenture shall have
been satisfied.

Date:______________           __________________________________________________
                              NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must
                              correspond with the name as written upon the face
                              of the within-mentioned instrument in every
                              particular, without alteration or any change
                              whatsoever.

            Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized
signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor acceptable to
the Trustee.

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (a) 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 of
1933 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:______________           __________________________________________________
                              NOTICE:  To be executed by an executive officer

                                      A-11
<PAGE>
                       OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

            If you wish to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to
Section 4.11 or 4.12 of the Indenture, check the Box:

            If you wish to have a portion of this Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.11 or 4.12 of the Indenture, state the principal amount:
$___________________.

Date:

Your Signature:______________________________________

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

Signature Guarantee:  ______________________________

            Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized
signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor acceptable to
the Trustee.

                                      A-12
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                               Form of Certificate

                                                                      _________,

Fifth Third Bank, Indiana
251 North Illinois Street
Suite 1400
Indianapolis, Indiana  46204

Attention: Corporate Trust Department

                  Re: Steel Dynamics, Inc. (the "Company")
                      9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009 (the "Notes")

Dear Sirs:

      This letter relates to U.S. $ ________ principal amount of Notes
represented by a Note (the "Legended Note") which bears a legend outlining
restrictions upon transfer of such Legended Note. Pursuant to Section 2.02 of
the Indenture dated as of March 26, 2002 (the "Indenture") relating to the
Notes, we hereby certify that we are (or we will hold such securities on behalf
of) a person outside the United States to whom the Notes could be transferred in
accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities
Act of 1933. Accordingly, you are hereby requested to exchange the legended
certificate for an unlegended certificate representing an identical principal
amount of Notes, all in the manner provided for in the Indenture.

      You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are
irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested
party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with
respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the
meanings set forth in Regulation S.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   [Name of Holder]

                                   By: ____________________________________
                                       Authorized Signature

                                      B-1
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                            Form of Certificate to Be
                          Delivered in Connection with
                    Transfers to Non-QIB Accredited Investors

                                                                   ____________,

Fifth Third Bank, Indiana
251 North Illinois Street
Suite 1400
Indianapolis, Indiana  46204

Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

                  Re: Steel Dynamics, Inc. (the "Company")
                      9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009 (the "Notes")

Dear Sirs:

            In connection with our proposed purchase of $________ aggregate
principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that:

            1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes is
subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture dated
as of March 26, 2002 (the "Indenture") relating to the Notes and the undersigned
agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes
except in compliance with such restrictions and conditions and the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

            2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been
registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes may not be offered or
sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf
and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated,
that if we should sell any Notes within the time period referred to in Rule
144(k) of the Securities, we will do so only (A) to the Company or any
subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to
a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional
"accredited investor" (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes
(or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the
Company a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and, if such
transfer is in respect of an aggregate principal amount of less than $100,000,
an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company that such transfer is in
compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance
with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the
exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act (if

                                       C-1
<PAGE>
available) or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any person purchasing any of
the Notes from us a notice advising such purchaser that resales of the Notes are
restricted as stated herein.

            3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of any Notes, we will
be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal
opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to
confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We
further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the
foregoing effect.

            4. We are an institutional "accredited investor" (as defined in Rule
501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have
such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable
of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and
any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of
our or its investment.

            5. We are acquiring the Notes purchased by us for our own account or
for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional "accredited
investor") as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

            You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are
irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested
party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with
respect to the matters covered hereby.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   [Name of Transferee]

                                   By: ____________________________________
                                       Authorized Signature

                                      C-2
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT D

                     Form of Certificate to Be Delivered in
               Connection with Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S

                                                                     __________,

Fifth Third Bank, Indiana
251 North Illinois Street
Suite 1400
Indianapolis, Indiana  46204

Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

                  Re: Steel Dynamics, Inc. (the "Company")
                      9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009 (the "Notes")

Dear Sirs:

            In connection with our proposed sale of U.S.$___________ aggregate
principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected
pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933
and, accordingly, we represent that:

            (1) the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United
States;

            (2) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was
outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably
believed that the transferee was outside the United States;

            (3) no directed selling efforts have been made by us in the United
States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of
Regulation S, as applicable; and

            (4) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the
registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.

            You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are
irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested
party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with
respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the
meanings set forth in Regulation S.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   [Name of Transferor]

                                   By: ____________________________________
                                       Authorized Signature

                                      D-1<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.19

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                              STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
                        1996 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN

I.    PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF PLAN.

      1.1 Steel Dynamics, Inc. (the "Company") wishes to provide all Employees
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, each of whom is a key employee and each of
whom is in a position to materially affect the profitability and growth of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, an opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in
the Company and in the stockholder values which everyone is working to create,
and in so doing to encourage and motivate each such person to more fully
identify his or her increased welfare and well-being with that of the Company.
These objectives will be attained through periodic grants to such Employees of
options to purchase shares of the Company's common stock ("Stock").

      1.2 Directors who are also Employees are eligible to participate in this
Amended and Restated 1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

      1.3 The awards offered hereunder are not in lieu of but are supplemental
to any salary or other forms of compensation for services.

II.  EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN.

      2.1 The original Plan became effective on October 28, 1996, upon the
approval by the Company's stockholders on the same date. The Plan, as amended,
was approved by the Board of Directors November 2, 2000, and when approved by
stockholders on May 24, 2001, will be deemed effective as of November 2, 2000.
From and after the Effective Date, subject to Section 2.2 the Plan shall remain
in effect until all Stock subject to the Plan has been purchased or acquired
according to the Plan's provisions; provided, however, that in no event may any
options be granted under the Plan on or after December 31, 2006.

      2.2 The Board of Directors or the Committee described in Section 5.1, as
the case may be, may at any time suspend or terminate the Plan. An option may
not be granted while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated, but any
rights and obligations under any option granted while the Plan is in effect
shall not be deemed altered or impaired by suspension or termination of the
Plan, except with the consent of the person to whom the option was granted. The
power of the Board of Directors or the Committee, as the case may be, to
administer and construe any option granted prior to suspension or termination of
the Plan under Section 5.3 shall nevertheless continue after any such suspension
or termination.

III.  DEFINITIONS.

      When any word or phrase appears in this Plan with the initial letter
capitalized, and the word or phrase does not commence a sentence, that word or
phrase, unless a clearly different meaning is required by the context, shall
generally be given a meaning ascribed to it in this Section or elsewhere if the
word or phrase is defined within quotation marks. The following words or phrases
shall have the following meanings:

      3.1  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

      3.2 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.

      3.3 "Committee" means the Committee of the Board described in Article V,
if any, or, in lieu of a separate Committee, the full Board.

      3.4 "Company" means Steel Dynamics, Inc., an Indiana corporation, and its
Subsidiaries.
<PAGE>
      3.5 "Disability" means termination of employment with the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries as a result of an Employee's inability to perform
substantially his or her duties and responsibilities to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries by reason of a physical or mental disability or infirmity (i)
for a continuous period of six (6) months, or (ii) at such earlier time as such
Employee submits medical evidence satisfactory to the Committee, or the
Committee otherwise determines, that such Employee has a physical or mental
disability or infirmity that will prevent such Employee from substantially
performing his or her duties and responsibilities for six months or longer.

      3.6  "Effective Date" means the date determined under Section 2.1.

      3.7 "Employees" means full time employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, including officers, managers, supervisors, professionals, and
hourly employees, whose jobs contemplate service of not less than 1,000 hours
annually.

      3.8 "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.

      3.9 "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of the Stock
determined as follows:

         (i) If the Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a
      national market system, including without limitation the NASDAQ National
      Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
      Quotation (NASDAQ) System, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall
      be the closing sales price for such Stock (or the closing bid, if no sales
      were reported) as quoted on such system or exchange (or the exchange with
      the greatest volume of trading in the Stock) on the last market trading
      day prior to the Grant Date, as reported in the Wall Street Journal or
      such other source as the Committee deems reliable;

         (ii) If the Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ System (but not on the NASDAQ
      National Market thereof) or is regularly quoted by a recognized securities
      dealer but selling prices were not reported, the Fair Market Value of a
      share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked
      prices for the Stock on the last market trading day prior to the Grant
      Date, as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other source as the
      Committee deems reliable;

         (iii) In the absence of an established market for the Stock, the Fair
      Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee, and for
      purposes of the first Grant Date described in Section 6.2 Fair Market
      Value shall be deemed to be the price of a share of Common Stock
      established by the Company's underwriters on the effective date of the
      Company's Registration Statement and reflected in the pricing amendment
      filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection therewith.

      3.10 "Grant Date" means the date upon which an Option has been granted as
prescribed in Section 6.2.

      3.11 "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.

      3.12 "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended to qualify
or otherwise not qualifying as an Incentive Stock Option.

      3.13  "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

      3.14 "Option Agreement" means a written agreement between the Company and
an Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant.
The Option Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

      3.15  "Optionee" means an Employee who holds an outstanding Option.

      3.16 "Parent" means a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

                                       2
<PAGE>
      3.17 "Plan" means the Steel Dynamics, Inc. 1996 Incentive Stock Option
Plan, as Amended and Restated herein.

      3.18 "Rules" means the regulations promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

      3.19 "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time.

      3.20 "Stock" means the $0.01 par value common stock of the Company and
such other securities of the Company as may be substituted for Stock pursuant to
the terms of the Plan.

      3.21  "Subsidiary" means and is limited to any wholly-owned subsidiary.

IV.  SHARES OF STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

      4.1 The total number of shares of Stock of the Company reserved and
available for distribution pursuant to Options granted hereunder shall not
exceed, in the aggregate, 4,903,000 shares of the authorized Stock of the
Company, subject to adjustment described below. Any shares issued by the Company
through the assumption or substitution of outstanding grants from an acquired
company shall not reduce the shares available for Options under the Plan.

      4.2 Stock which may be acquired under the Plan may be either authorized
but unissued shares or shares of issued Stock held by the Company's treasury, or
both, at the discretion of the Committee. Whenever any outstanding Option or
portion thereof expires, is canceled, is forfeited or is otherwise terminated
for any reason without having been exercised or without having been fully
vested, the shares allocable to the expired, canceled, forfeited or otherwise
terminated portion of the Option may again be the subject of Options granted
hereunder.

      4.3 In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or
exchange of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of
the Company, corporate separation or division (including, but not limited to,
split-up, split-off, spin-off or distribution to Company stockholders other than
a normal cash dividend), sale by the Company of all or a substantial portion of
its assets, rights offering, merger, consolidation, reorganization or partial or
complete liquidation, or any other corporate transaction or event having an
effect similar to any of the foregoing, the aggregate number of shares reserved
for issuance under the Plan, the number and Option price of shares subject to
outstanding Options, and any other characteristics or terms of the Options as
the Committee shall deem necessary or appropriate to reflect equitably the
effects of such changes to the Optionees, shall be appropriately substituted for
new shares or adjusted, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, each such adjustment, if any, with respect to any
Option shall comply with the rules of Section 424(a) of the Code, and in no
event shall any adjustment be made which would render any Option granted
hereunder anything other than an incentive stock option for purposes of Section
422 of the Code, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 6.4(d), or without
the consent of the Optionee.

V.  ADMINISTRATION.

      5.1 The Plan shall be administered by the Board. If the Board elects to do
so, however, it may appoint a committee of directors to administer the Plan and
make such rules as it deems necessary to govern the operation of such committee.
Such committee shall be composed solely of two or more members of the Board,
each of whom shall be both (i) a "non-employee director" as such term is defined
in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or any successor
provision, and (ii) "outside directors" as that term is used in Section 162 of
the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

      5.2 The Board shall administer the Plan so as to comply at all times with
Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, and Sections 162, 421, 422, and 424 of the Code.
To the extent that any provision hereof or in any option granted hereunder is
not in compliance with any such rule or requirement, such provision shall be
deemed modified so as to

                                       3
<PAGE>
be in compliance with such rule or requirement, or if such modification is not
possible, shall be deemed to be null and void as it relates solely to such
noncompliance.

      5.3 The Board has the exclusive power, authority and discretion, without
further stockholder approval, to:

            (a) Determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the
      terms hereof, of any Option granted hereunder;

            (b) Adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines
      and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem
      advisable;

            (c) Interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Option
      granted and any Option Agreements relating thereto;

            (d) Accelerate or waive any term, condition, or restriction, but
      solely in such a manner as not to render any Option otherwise qualified
      hereunder nonqualified;

            (e) Notwithstanding anything to contrary herein, but subject at all
      times to the requirements of SEC Rule 16b-3, Regulation T, the Code, and
      other federal, state and local tax and securities laws, the Board may
      determine the methods and manner of exercise of options or the means by
      which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, including the form of
      payment and the methods by which shares of Stock shall be delivered or
      transferred to Employees. Without limiting the power and discretion
      conferred on the Board pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Board may,
      in the exercise of its discretion, but need not, delegate to and contract
      with an authorized and licensed bank, trust company or broker to provide
      any administrative or other services otherwise required to be provided
      under the terms hereof by the Company or by the Board, in which case
      notices and deliveries to and from such bank, trust company or broker
      shall be deemed for all purposes hereunder to be notice and delivery to or
      from the Company or the Board, as the case may be. Likewise, the Board may
      allow an Optionee to pay the exercise price of an Option, in addition to
      the manner described in Section 6.4(f), by one or more of the following
      methods: (i) in the form of shares of our common stock already owned by
      the option holder having an aggregate fair market value on the date the
      option is exercised equal to the aggregate exercise price to be paid; (ii)
      by requesting cancellation, without payment, of outstanding and
      exercisable options for the number of shares of our common stock whose
      aggregate fair market value on the date of exercise, when reduced by their
      aggregate exercise price, equals the aggregate exercise price of the
      options being exercised; or (iii) by employing a "cashless exercise" or
      "same day sale" facility provided by an authorized bank, trust company or
      broker.

            (f) Prescribe the form of each Option Agreement, which need not be
      identical for each Optionee; and

            (g) Supervise the administration of the Plan and decide all other
      matters that must be determined in connection with an Option or this Plan.

If an option expires or terminates without having been exercised in full, the
unpurchased shares will continue to be available for subsequent award under the
Amended Plan.

      5.4 The Board's interpretation of the Plan, any Options granted under the
Plan, any Option Agreement, and all decisions and determinations by the Board
with respect to the Plan shall be final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.

      5.5 The Board may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents as it
may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any
opinion received from any such counsel or consultant and any computation
received from any such consultant or agent. Expenses incurred by the Board in
engaging such counsel, consultant or agent shall be paid by the Company.

                                       4
<PAGE>
VI.  STOCK OPTIONS.

      6.1  All Employees are eligible to receive grants of Options hereunder.

      6.2 Subject to the provisions of this Plan, grants of Options to Employees
shall occur twice annually, on November 21 for the six (6) month period May 21
through November 20, and on May 21 for the six (6) month period November 21
through May 20. Options on each Grant Date shall be provided to each Employee in
the following position categories and in the following amounts, based upon the
Fair Market Value of the Stock for that particular Grant Date, as determined
under the provisions of Section 3.9 (any fractional share of Stock to be rounded
up to the next whole share):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  Position                       Grants Per Year                     Semi-Annual Grant Value
                  --------                       ---------------                     -----------------------
<S>                                              <C>                                 <C>
                  President                             2                                    $80,000.00
                  Vice-President                        2                                     60,000.00
                  Vice-President                        2                                     45,000.00
                  Manager                               2                                     30,000.00
                  Supervisors/Professionals
                        Grade 3                         2                                     15,000.00
                        Grade 2                         2                                     12,500.00
                        Grade 1                         2                                     10,000.00
                  Hourly                                2                                      2,500.00
</TABLE>

      6.3 The Options granted hereunder shall be evidenced by an Option
Certificate, or an electronic equivalent thereof, issued on behalf of the
Company by an officer designated by the Board, which Option Certificate or
electronic confirmation shall be subject to the terms of an Option Agreement to
be executed or otherwise entered into or confirmed by the Company and the
Optionee. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, the terms of the Option
Agreement shall be deemed incorporated into all future Option Certificates or
electronic confirmations. The Option Agreement shall describe the Options and
shall state that the Options reflected in all Option Certificates or electronic
confirmations issued pursuant thereto shall be subject to all of the terms and
provisions of the Plan. The Option Agreement may also contain such other terms
and provisions, consistent with the Plan, as the Board may approve.

      6.4 Subject to the Board's authority under Section 5.3, Options granted
under the Plan shall be governed by the following additional terms and
conditions:

            (a) EXERCISE PRICE. The price per share under any Option granted
      hereunder shall be at one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value
      (110% in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Employee who,
      at the time the Option is granted, owns Stock of the Company or any
      Subsidiary or Parent of the Company possessing more that ten percent (10%)
      of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company
      or of any Subsidiary or Parent of the Company) on the date of grant,
      determined in the manner required by Section 3.9

            (b) TERM OF OPTION: EXERCISE. The time within which any Option
      granted hereunder shall be exercisable shall be not earlier than six (6)
      months nor later than five (5) years from the applicable Grant Date,
      subject to Sections 6.4(j), (k) and (l). The Optionee must remain in the
      continuous employment of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from the
      date of the grant of the Option to and including the date of exercise of
      the Option in order to be entitled to exercise such Option. Options
      granted hereunder shall be exercisable in such manner and at such dates as
      the Board may specify or otherwise permit. Any options granted prior to
      the approval of this Plan by the Company's stockholders shall not be
      exercisable until such time as the Plan has been so approved. Continuous
      employment shall not be deemed to be interrupted by transfers between the
      Company and one or more of its Subsidiaries. The Board shall, at its
      discretion, determine the effect of approved leaves of absence and all
      other matters having to do with "continuous employment." Where an Optionee
      dies or is disabled while employed by the Company or any of its

                                       5
<PAGE>
      Subsidiaries, his or her Options may be exercised following such death or
      disability in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.4(j) and (k)
      hereof.

            (c) TYPE OF OPTION. Each Option granted hereunder shall be
      designated in the Option Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or
      as a Nonstatutory Stock Option, in order to take into account that the
      limitations described in Section 6.4(d) and/or elsewhere herein are or may
      be exceeded by the cumulative total of the grants contemplated by Section
      6.2 to a specific person, such that the Options covered by such excess
      grants are rendered Nonstatutory Stock Options.

            (d) INDIVIDUAL DOLLAR LIMITATIONS. The aggregate Fair Market Value
      (determined as of the time of Option Grant) of all shares of Stock with
      respect to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by an
      Optionee in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000.00. To the extent
      that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Stock with respect to which
      Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Optionee
      during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or
      Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000.00, such Options shall be treated as
      Nonstatutory Stock Options, and such Nonstatutory Stock Options, at the
      time of grant, shall be specifically so designated.

            (e) INDIVIDUAL SHARE LIMITATIONS. In any fiscal year of the Company,
      no Employee shall be granted Options to purchase more than three hundred
      thousand (300,000) shares.

            (f) PAYMENT. No shares of Stock shall be issued until full payment
      therefor has been made, and an Optionee shall not have any rights to
      dividends or other rights of a stockholder with respect to shares subject
      to an Option until such time as the Stock is issued in the name of the
      Optionee following exercise of the Option in accordance herewith. Payment
      may be made in cash (by certified or bank check or such other instrument
      as the Board may prescribe or accept) or in any other manner, including
      those described in Section 5.3(e). Full payment shall also be made, no
      later than the time of issuance of the shares subject to answer, in
      respect of any tax withholding obligations contemplated by Section 9.2,
      either in cash, as described herein, or by any of the methods described in
      Section 5.3(e).

            (g) NOTICE. Each Option shall be exercised, in whole or in part, by
      notifying the Company, in written form or electronically in the manner
      prescribed by the Board and in sufficient detail to enable the Company to
      determine the person's intent, and by delivering or transmitting full
      payment to the Company for the shares being purchased.

            Unless the Board determines that such restrictions are no longer
      applicable because the Stock being issued is registered under the
      Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") and a prospectus in respect
      thereof is current, each such notice shall contain representations on
      behalf of the Optionee, as prescribed by the Board, that he or she
      acknowledges that the Company is selling the shares being acquired by him
      or her under a claim of exemption from registration under the Act, as a
      transaction not involving any public offering; that he or she represents
      and warrants that the shares are being acquired with a view to
      "investments" and not with a view to distribution or resale; and that he
      or she agrees not to transfer, encumber or dispose of the shares unless:
      (i) a registration statement with respect to the shares shall be effective
      under the Act, together with proof satisfactory to the Company that there
      has been compliance with applicable state laws, or (ii) the Company shall
      have received an opinion of counsel in form and content satisfactory to
      the Company to the effect that the transfer qualifies under Rule 144 or
      some other disclosure exemption from registration and that no violation of
      the Act or applicable state securities laws will be involved in such
      transfer, and/or such other documentation in connection therewith as the
      Company's counsel may require.

            (h) The Company may endorse such legend or legends upon the
      certificates for Stock issued pursuant to a grant hereunder, and may issue
      such "stop transfer" instructions to its transfer agent in respect of such
      Stock, on the electronic equivalent thereof, as, in its discretion, it
      determines necessary or appropriate to prevent a violation of, or to
      perfect an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Act, to
      implement the provisions of the Plan and any Option Agreement hereunder,
      or to permit the Company to determine the occurrence of a disqualifying
      disposition, as described in Section 421(b) of the Code, of Stock
      transferred upon execution of an Option granted under the Plan.

                                       6
<PAGE>
            (i) NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. No Options shall be transferable
      by the Optionee otherwise than by will, by the laws of descent and
      distribution, pursuant to a Qualified Domestic Relations Order ("QDRO"),
      or as permitted under the Rules, and all Options shall be exercisable,
      during the Optionee's lifetime, only by the Optionee. No right or interest
      of an Employee in any Option may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated
      to or in favor of any party other than the Company or a Subsidiary, or
      shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Employee to
      any other party other than the Company or a Subsidiary.

            (j) TERMINATION BY REASON OF DEATH. Unless otherwise determined by
      the Board at or after grant, if an Optionee's employment by the Company
      terminates by reason of death, any Option held by such Optionee may
      thereafter be exercised, to the extent then exercisable or on such
      accelerated basis as the Board may determine at or after grant, by the
      legal representative of the estate or by the legatee of the Optionee under
      the will of the Optionee, for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days
      (or such shorter period as the Board may specify at grant) from the date
      of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such Option,
      whichever period is shorter.

            (k) TERMINATION BY REASON OF DISABILITY. Unless otherwise determined
      by the Board at or after grant, if an Optionee's employment by the Company
      terminates by reason of Disability, any Option held by such Optionee may
      thereafter be exercised by the Optionee, to the extent it was exercisable
      at the time of termination, or on such accelerated basis as the Board may
      determine at or after grant, for a period of ninety (90) days (or such
      shorter period as the Board may specify at grant) from the date of such
      termination of employment or until the expiration of the stated term of
      such Option, whichever period is shorter; provided, however, that, if the
      Optionee dies within such ninety day (or such shorter period as the Board
      shall specify at grant), any unexercised Option held by such Optionee
      shall thereafter be exercisable to the extent to which it was exercisable
      at the time of death for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days from
      the date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such
      Option, whichever period is shorter.

            (l) RESIGNATION BY OPTIONEE; TERMINATION BY COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE.
      Unless otherwise determined by the Board at or after grant, if an Optionee
      voluntarily resigns from his employment with the Company, or is terminated
      by the Company other than for cause (as herein defined), any Option held
      by such Optionee may thereafter be exercised by the Optionee, to the
      extent it was exercisable at the time of termination, or on such
      accelerated basis as the Board may determine at or after grant, for a
      period of ninety (90) days (or such shorter period as Board may specify at
      grant) from the date of such resignation or termination of employment or
      the expiration of the stated term of such Option, whichever period is
      shorter; provided, however, that, if the Optionee dies within such ninety
      (90)-day period, any unexercised Option held by such Optionee shall
      thereafter be exercisable, to the extent to which it was exercisable at
      the time of death, for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days from the
      date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such
      Option, whichever period is shorter. "Cause" shall mean either (i) if the
      Optionee has an employment agreement with the Company, the definition of
      Cause included in such employment agreement, or (ii) if the Optionee does
      not have an employment agreement with the Company, the termination of the
      Optionee's employment with the Company because of (i) the willful failure
      by the Optionee (other than by reason of incapacity due to physical or
      mental illness) to perform any material duty in connection with the
      Optionee's employment with the Company, (ii) the conviction of the
      Optionee of a felony or the Optionee's plea of no contest to a felony, or
      (iii) the perpetration by the Optionee of a material dishonest act or
      fraud against the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary thereof.

            (m) OTHER TERMINATION. Unless otherwise determined by the Board at
      or after grant, if an Optionee's employment by the Company terminates for
      any reason other than death, disability, the Optionee's resignation, or
      termination by the Company other than for Cause, the Option shall
      thereupon terminate.

VII.  AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION.

      7.1 PLAN AMENDMENT. The Board may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan at
any time and from time to time, but no amendment, alteration, or discontinuation
shall be made (i) which would impair the rights of an Optionee under an Option
award previously granted, without the Optionee's consent, or (ii) which, if such
approval is not obtained, requires stockholder approval under the Rules.

                                       7
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      7.2 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AMENDMENT. The Board may amend the terms of any
Option granted, prospectively or retroactively, but no such amendment shall
impair the rights of any Optionee without the Optionee's consent. The Board may
also substitute new Options for previously granted Options, including previously
granted Options having higher option prices. Subject to the above provisions,
the Board shall have broad authority to amend the Plan to take into account
changes in applicable tax laws, securities laws and accounting rules, as well as
other developments.

VIII.  UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN.

      8.1 The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive
compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to an Optionee by the
Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Optionee any rights that
are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. In its sole
discretion, the Board may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements
to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver Stock; provided,
however, that, unless the Board otherwise determines with the consent of the
affected Optionee, the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is
consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan.

IX.  GENERAL PROVISIONS.

      9.1 NONGUARANTY OF EMPLOYMENT. The adoption of the Plan shall not confer
upon any Optionee any right to continued employment with the Company nor shall
it interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate its
relationship with any of its employees at any time.

      9.2 WITHHOLDING OF TAXES. No later than the date as of which an amount
first becomes includible in the gross income of the Optionee for federal income
tax purposes with respect to any Option under the Plan, the Optionee shall pay
to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the Board regarding the
payment of any federal state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be
withheld with respect to such amount. The obligations of the Company under the
Plan shall be conditioned on such payment or arrangements and the Company shall,
to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any
payment of any kind otherwise due to the Optionee.

      9.3 NO STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. No Option shall give the Employee any of the
rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in
fact issued to such person in connection with such Option.

      9.4 EXPENSES. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the
Company and its Subsidiaries.

      9.5 FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued, and
the Board shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in
lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated
by rounding up.

      9.6 SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Plan, and any administrative
rules and regulations prescribed by the Board in connection with this Plan,
shall be applied in all cases so as to comply with the requirements of Rule
16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and with Sections 162, 421, 422 and
424 of the Internal Revenue Code, and any Plan provision, administrative rule or
other action that would conflict with or violate any of the foregoing will be
deemed severed from the Plan, amended as deemed necessary to comply, or
otherwise rendered ineffective to the maximum extent permissible to maintain
compliance with such applicable rules or statutes. Specifically, but without
limitation, any change to the terms of an option that would require approval by
the Board of Directors as a new option grant or which would otherwise not be
exempt from Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in the absence
of Board approval shall be deemed ineffective and of no force whatsoever unless
and until such approval has been properly secured (provided, however, that,
unless otherwise prohibited, such approval may be declared effective
retroactively). In like manner, should any provision of this Plan or
administrative rule, regulation or action taken pursuant to this Plan, by the
Board or otherwise, if applied to an existing option, be such as to constitute a
modification, extension or renewal of that option, within the meaning of Section
424(h)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, such provision, ruling or action shall
not be applied retroactively to any existing options but shall be applied only
prospectively to then current and future options.

                                       8
<PAGE>
      9.7 GOVERNING LAW. To the extent not governed by federal law, the Plan and
all Option Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the
laws of the State of Indiana.

                                       9

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