Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.3

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                             FLEMING COMPANIES, INC.

                                  $150,000,000

              5.25% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2009

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

                                    INDENTURE

                           Dated as of March 15, 2001

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

                                 BANK ONE, N.A.

                                     Trustee

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

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<PAGE>   2

                             CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trust Indenture
Act Section                                                 Indenture Section
---------------                                             -----------------
<S>                                                            <C>
310(a)(1).............................................             7.10
   (a)(2).............................................             7.10
   (a)(3).............................................             N.A.
   (a)(4).............................................             N.A.
   (a)(5).............................................             7.10
   (b)................................................             7.10
   (c)................................................             N.A.
311(a)................................................             7.11
   (b)................................................             7.11
   (c)................................................             N.A.
312(a)................................................             2.05
   (b)................................................            14.03
   (c)................................................            14.03
313(a)................................................             7.06
   (b)(2).............................................             7.07
   (c)................................................          7.06; 14.02
   (d)................................................             7.06
314(a)................................................          4.03; 14.02
   (c)(1).............................................            14.04
   (c)(2).............................................            14.04
   (c)(3).............................................             N.A.
   (e)................................................            14.05
   (f)................................................             N.A.
315(a)................................................             7.01
   (b)................................................          7.05; 14.02
   (c)................................................             7.01
   (d)................................................             7.01
   (e)................................................             6.11
316(a) (last sentence)................................             2.09
   (a)(1)(A)..........................................             6.05
   (a)(1)(B)..........................................             6.04
   (a)(2).............................................             N.A.
   (b)................................................             6.07
   (c)................................................             2.13
317(a)(1).............................................             6.08
   (a)(2).............................................             6.09
   (b)................................................             2.04
318(a)................................................            14.01
   (b)................................................             N.A.
   (c)................................................            14.01
</TABLE>

N.A. means not applicable.

* This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

<PAGE>   3

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                         Page
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<S>                 <C>                                                                                                 <C>
                                                         ARTICLE 1.
                                         DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01.        Definitions...........................................................................................1
Section 1.02.        Other Definitions....................................................................................11
Section 1.03.        Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act....................................................12
Section 1.04.        Rules of Construction................................................................................13

                                                         ARTICLE 2.
                                                          THE NOTES

Section 2.01.        Form and Dating......................................................................................13
Section 2.02.        Execution and Authentication.........................................................................14
Section 2.03.        Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent.........................................................14
Section 2.04.        Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust..................................................................15
Section 2.05.        Holder Lists.........................................................................................15
Section 2.06.        Transfer and Exchange................................................................................15
Section 2.07.        Replacement Notes....................................................................................29
Section 2.08.        Outstanding Notes....................................................................................29
Section 2.09.        Treasury Notes.......................................................................................29
Section 2.10.        Temporary Notes......................................................................................30
Section 2.11.        Cancellation.........................................................................................30
Section 2.12.        Defaulted Interest...................................................................................30
Section 2.13.        Record Date..........................................................................................30

                                                         ARTICLE 3.
                                                  REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

Section 3.01.        Notices to Trustee...................................................................................30
Section 3.02.        Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed....................................................................30
Section 3.03.        Notice of Redemption.................................................................................31
Section 3.04.        Effect of Notice of Redemption.......................................................................32
Section 3.05.        Deposit of Redemption Price..........................................................................32
Section 3.06.        Notes Redeemed in Part...............................................................................32
Section 3.07.        Optional Redemption..................................................................................32
Section 3.08.        Mandatory Redemption.................................................................................33
Section 3.09.        Conversion Arrangement on Call for Redemption........................................................33

                                                         ARTICLE 4.
                                                          COVENANTS

Section 4.01.        Payment of Notes.....................................................................................34
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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<S>                 <C>                                                                                                 <C>
Section 4.02.        Maintenance of Office or Agency......................................................................34
Section 4.03.        Reports..............................................................................................34
Section 4.04.        Compliance Certificate...............................................................................35
Section 4.05.        Taxes................................................................................................36
Section 4.06.        Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.......................................................................36
Section 4.07.        Corporate Existence..................................................................................36
Section 4.08.        Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control...........................................................36
Section 4.09.        Payments for Consent.................................................................................39
Section 4.10.        Additional Guarantees................................................................................39
Section 4.11.        Registration Rights..................................................................................40
Section 4.12.        Liquidated Damages...................................................................................40

                                                         ARTICLE 5.
                                                         SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01.        When Company May Merge, Etc..........................................................................40
Section 5.02.        Successor Corporation Substituted....................................................................40

                                                         ARTICLE 6.
                                                    DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01.        Events of Default....................................................................................41
Section 6.02.        Acceleration.........................................................................................43
Section 6.03.        Other Remedies.......................................................................................44
Section 6.04.        Waiver of Past Defaults..............................................................................44
Section 6.05.        Control by Majority..................................................................................44
Section 6.06.        Limitation on Suits..................................................................................44
Section 6.07.        Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment........................................................45
Section 6.08.        Collection Suit by Trustee...........................................................................45
Section 6.09.        Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.....................................................................45
Section 6.10.        Priorities...........................................................................................46
Section 6.11.        Undertaking for Costs................................................................................46

                                                         ARTICLE 7.
                                                           TRUSTEE

Section 7.01.        Duties of Trustee....................................................................................46
Section 7.02.        Rights of Trustee....................................................................................47
Section 7.03.        Individual Rights of Trustee.........................................................................48
Section 7.04.        Trustee's Disclaimer.................................................................................48
Section 7.05.        Notice of Defaults...................................................................................48
Section 7.06.        Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes...........................................................48
Section 7.07.        Compensation and Indemnity...........................................................................49
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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<S>                 <C>                                                                                                 <C>
Section 7.08.        Replacement of Trustee...............................................................................49
Section 7.09.        Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.....................................................................50
Section 7.10.        Eligibility; Disqualification........................................................................50
Section 7.11.        Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company....................................................50

                                                         ARTICLE 8.
                                          LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01.        Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.............................................51
Section 8.02.        Legal Defeasance and Discharge.......................................................................51
Section 8.03.        Covenant Defeasance..................................................................................51
Section 8.04.        Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance...........................................................52
Section 8.05.        Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions........53
Section 8.06.        Repayment to Company.................................................................................53
Section 8.07.        Reinstatement........................................................................................54

                                                         ARTICLE 9.
                                              AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01.        Without Consent of Holders of Notes..................................................................54
Section 9.02.        With Consent of Holders of Notes.....................................................................55
Section 9.03.        Compliance with Trust Indenture Act..................................................................56
Section 9.04.        Revocation and Effect of Consents....................................................................56
Section 9.05.        Notation on or Exchange of Notes.....................................................................56
Section 9.06.        Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc......................................................................57

                                                         ARTICLE 10.
                                                   SUBORDINATION OF NOTES

Section 10.01.       Notes Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness.............................................................57
Section 10.02.       Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, etc.......................................................57
Section 10.03.       Suspension of Payment when Senior Indebtedness in Default............................................58
Section 10.04.       Payment Permitted if No Default......................................................................59
Section 10.05.       Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness..............................................59
Section 10.06.       Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights..........................................................59
Section 10.07.       Trustee to Effectuate Subordination..................................................................59
Section 10.08.       No Waiver of Subordination Provisions................................................................59
Section 10.09.       Notice to Trustee....................................................................................60
Section 10.10.       Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.......................................61
Section 10.11.       Rights of Trustee as a Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustee's Rights...............61
Section 10.12.       Article Applicable to Paying Agents..................................................................61
Section 10.13.       No Suspension of Remedies............................................................................61
Section 10.14.       Trustee not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness.............................................61
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                         Page
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<S>                 <C>                                                                                                 <C>
                                                         ARTICLE 11.
                                                       NOTE GUARANTEES
Section 11.01.       Guarantee............................................................................................61
Section 11.02.       Limitation on Guarantor Liability....................................................................62
Section 11.03.       Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee.............................................................63
Section 11.04.       Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms...................................................63
Section 11.05.       Releases of Note Guarantees..........................................................................64
Section 11.06.       Subordination of Note Guarantees.....................................................................64

                                                         ARTICLE 12.
                                                         CONVERSION

Section 12.01.       Conversion Privilege.................................................................................65
Section 12.02.       Conversion Procedure.................................................................................65
Section 12.03.       Adjustments Below Par Value..........................................................................66
Section 12.04.       Taxes on Conversion..................................................................................66
Section 12.05.       Company To Provide Stock.............................................................................67
Section 12.06.       Adjustment of Conversion Price.......................................................................67
Section 12.07.       No Adjustment........................................................................................71
Section 12.08.       Equivalent Adjustments...............................................................................71
Section 12.09.       Adjustment for Tax Purposes..........................................................................71
Section 12.10.       Notice of Adjustment.................................................................................71
Section 12.11.       Notice of Certain Transactions.......................................................................71
Section 12.12.       Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale on Conversion Privilege....................72
Section 12.13.       Trustee's Disclaimer.................................................................................73
Section 12.14.       Voluntary Reduction..................................................................................73

                                                         ARTICLE 13.
                                                 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 13.01.       Satisfaction and Discharge...........................................................................73
Section 13.02.       Application of Trust Money...........................................................................74

                                                         ARTICLE 14.
                                                        MISCELLANEOUS

Section 14.01.       Trust Indenture Act Controls.........................................................................75
Section 14.02.       Notices..............................................................................................75
Section 14.03.       Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes........................................76
Section 14.04.       Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent...................................................76
Section 14.05.       Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion........................................................76
Section 14.06.       Rules by Trustee and Agents..........................................................................77
Section 14.07.       No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.............................77
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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<S>                 <C>                                                                                                 <C>
Section 14.08.       Governing Law........................................................................................77
Section 14.09.       No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements........................................................77
Section 14.10.       Successors...........................................................................................77
Section 14.11.       Severability.........................................................................................77
Section 14.12.       Counterpart Originals................................................................................77
Section 14.13.       Table of Contents, Headings, etc.....................................................................77
</TABLE>

EXHIBITS
--------
Exhibit A     FORM OF NOTE
Exhibit B     FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Exhibit C     FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Exhibit D     FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Exhibit E     FORM OF NOTE GUARANTEE
Exhibit F     FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Exhibit G     CONVERSION NOTICE

                                      -v-
<PAGE>   8

        INDENTURE dated as of March 15, 2001 among Fleming Companies, Inc., an
Oklahoma corporation (the "Company"), the Guarantors and Bank One, N.A., a
national banking association, as trustee (the "Trustee").

        The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the
benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of
the Notes:

                                   ARTICLE 1.

                   DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

        Section 1.01. Definitions.

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

        "Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent, co-registrar or Conversion
Agent.

        "Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or exchange
of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of
the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or
exchange.

        "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978,
as amended, or any similar United States federal or state law relating to
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or
relief of debtors or any amendment to, succession to or change in any such law.

        "Banks" means the banks and other financial institutions from time to
time that are lenders under the Credit Agreement.

        "Board of Directors" means, as to any Person, the board of directors of
such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof.

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

        "Business Day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York
are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

        "Capital Stock" of any Person means any and all shares, interest,
partnership interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated)
of such Person's capital stock whether now

<PAGE>   9

outstanding or issued after the Issue Date, including, without limitation, all
common stock and preferred stock.

        "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following events:

                (a) any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Sections
        13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
        defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a
        Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all shares that
        such Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable
        immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly,
        of more than 50% of the total outstanding Voting Stock of the Company;

                (b) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who
        at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of
        the Company (together with any new directors whose election to such
        Board of Directors, or whose nomination for election by the stockholders
        of the Company, was approved by a vote of 66 2/3% of the directors then
        still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such
        period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
        approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of such Board of
        Directors then in office;

                (c) the Company is liquidated or dissolved or adopts a plan of
        liquidation or dissolution other than in a transaction which complies
        with the provisions of Article 5; or

                (d) a "Change of Control" has occurred under the Senior Note
        Indenture or either Subordinated Note Indenture.

        "Clearstream" means Clearstream Banking, S.A.

        "Closing Price" with respect to any securities on any day shall mean the
closing sale price regular way on such day or, in case no such sale takes place
on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices, regular
way, in each case on the principal national security exchange or quotation
system on which such security is quoted or listed or admitted to trading, or, if
not quoted or listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange
or quotation system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices of such
security on the over-the-counter market on the day in question as reported by
the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated, or a similar generally accepted
reporting service or, if not so available, in such manner as furnished by any
New York Stock Exchange member firm selected from time to time by the Board of
Directors for that purpose, or a price determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, a duly authorized
committee thereof, whose determination shall be conclusive.

        "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 Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties at such time.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   10

        "Common Stock" means any stock of any class of the Company which has no
preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company
and which is not subject to redemption by the Company. Subject to the provisions
of Section 12.12, however, shares issuable on conversion of Notes shall include
only shares of Common Stock, $2.50 par value per share (which is the class
designated as Common Stock of the Company at the date of this Indenture), or
shares of any class or classes resulting from any reclassifications thereof and
which have no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the
event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company and which are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided
that if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the
shares of each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the
proportion to which the total number of shares of such class resulting from all
such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes
resulting from all such reclassifications.

        "Company" means Fleming Companies, Inc. and any and all successors
thereto that become a party to this Indenture in accordance with its terms.

        "Consolidated Total Assets" means, with respect to the Company, the
total of all assets appearing on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company
and its majority-owned or Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, as determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

        "Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" shall be at the address of the
Trustee specified in Section 14.02 or such other address as to which the Trustee
may give notice to the Company.

        "Credit Agreement" means the credit agreement dated as of July 25, 1997
among the Company, the Banks, the agents listed therein and The Chase Manhattan
Bank, as administrative agent, as such agreement may be amended, renewed,
extended, substituted, refinanced, restructured, replaced, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time (including, without limitation, any
successive renewals, extensions, substitutions, refinancings, restructurings,
replacements, supplementations or other modifications of the foregoing).

        "Custodian" means any custodian, receiver, trustee, assignee,
liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

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

        "Definitive Note" means a certificated Note registered in the name of
the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06, in the form of
Exhibit A, except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall
not have the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto.

        "Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in
whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 as the
Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto
appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the
applicable provision of this Indenture.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   11

        "Designated Senior Indebtedness" means any Senior Indebtedness
outstanding under the Credit Agreement, the Senior Note Indenture and/or the
Medium-Term Notes Indenture; and any other Senior Indebtedness, the principal
amount of which is $50 million or more and that the Company has designated
"Designated Senior Indebtedness."

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

        "Euroclear" means the Euroclear System.

        "Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" or "GAAP" means generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect on the Issue
Date.

        "Global Note Legend" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(ii)
which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

        "Global Notes" means, individually and collectively, each of the
Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes, in the form of
Exhibit A, issued in accordance with Section 2.01 or 2.06.

        "Government Securities" means direct obligations of, or obligations
guaranteed by, the United States of America, and for the payment of which the
United States pledges its full faith and credit.

        "Guaranteed Debt" means, with respect to any Person, without
duplication, all Indebtedness of any other Person referred to in the definition
of Indebtedness contained herein guaranteed directly or indirectly in any manner
by such Person, or in effect guaranteed directly or indirectly by such Person
through an agreement:

                (a) to pay or purchase such Indebtedness or to advance or supply
        funds for the payment or purchase of such Indebtedness;

                (b) to purchase, sell or lease (as lessee or lessor) property,
        or to purchase or sell services, primarily for the purpose of enabling
        the debtor to make payment of such Indebtedness or to assure the holder
        of such Indebtedness against loss;

                (c) to supply funds to, or in any other manner invest in, the
        debtor (including any agreement to pay for property or services without
        requiring that such property be received or such services be rendered);

                (d) to maintain working capital of the debtor, or otherwise to
        maintain the net worth, solvency or other financial condition of the
        debtor; or

                (e) otherwise to assure a creditor against loss;

provided that the term "guarantee" shall not include endorsements for collection
or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   12

        "Guarantor" means each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company and each
such subsidiary's Wholly Owned Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date and any
Subsidiary that is required pursuant to Section 4.10, on or after the Issue
Date, to execute a Note Guarantee pursuant to this Indenture until a successor
replaces any such party pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture
and, thereafter, shall mean such successor.

        "Holder" or "Noteholder" means a Person in whose name a Note is
registered.

        "IAI Global Note" means a global note in the form of Exhibit A hereto
bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited
with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its
nominee sold to an Institutional Accredited Investor.

        "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

                (a) all liabilities of such Person for borrowed money (including
        overdrafts) or for the deferred purchase price of property or services,
        excluding any trade payables and other accrued current liabilities
        arising in the ordinary course of business, but including, without
        limitation, all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in
        connection with any letters of credit and acceptances issued under
        letter of credit facilities, acceptance facilities or other similar
        facilities;

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

                (c) all indebtedness of such Person created or arising under any
        conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to
        property acquired by such Person (even if the rights and remedies of the
        seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are
        limited to repossession or sale of such property), but excluding trade
        payables arising in the ordinary course of business;

                (d) all capital lease obligations of such Person;

                (e) all obligations under interest rate agreements or currency
        agreements of such Person;

                (f) indebtedness referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above of
        other Persons, the payment of which is secured by (or for which the
        holder of such indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or
        otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien, upon or with respect to property
        (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by
        such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable
        for the payment of such indebtedness;

                (g) all Guaranteed Debt of such Person; and

                (h) all Redeemable Capital Stock valued at the greater of its
        voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price plus accrued and
        unpaid dividends.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   13

For purposes hereof, the "maximum fixed repurchase price" of any Redeemable
Capital Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated
in accordance with terms of such Redeemable Capital Stock as if such Redeemable
Capital Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required
to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or
measured by, the Fair Market Value of such Redeemable Capital Stock, such Fair
Market Value is to be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
issuer of such Redeemable Capital Stock.

        "Indenture" means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to
time.

        "Indirect Participant" means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in
a Global Note through a Participant.

        "Initial Purchaser" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Purchase Agreement.

        "Institutional Accredited Investor" means an institution that is an
"accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the
Securities Act that is not also a QIB.

        "Interest Payment Date" means March 15 and September 15 of each year
commencing September 15, 2001.

        "Issue Date" means March 15, 2001, the date of original issuance of the
Notes.

        "Lien" means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien (statutory or
otherwise), privilege, security interest, hypothecation or other encumbrance
upon or with respect to any property of any kind, real or personal, movable or
immovable, now owned or hereafter acquired.

        "Liquidated Damages" has the meaning given such term in the Registration
Rights Agreement.

        "Market Capitalization" means an amount determined by multiplying the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the applicable date by the
current market price of the Common Stock (determined as provided in Section
12.06(e)) as of such date.

        "Medium-Term Notes" means the Medium-Term Notes, due 1997 to 2003, of
the Company.

        "Medium-Term Notes Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of December
1, 1989 between the Company and First Trust of New York National Association, as
trustee.

        "Note Guarantee" means any guarantee by a Guarantor of the Company's
obligations under this Indenture.

        "Notes" means the $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the
Company's 5.25% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009, as amended or
supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, that are
issued pursuant to this Indenture.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   14

        "Obligations" means any principal, premium, interest (including
post-petition interest), penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements,
damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any
Indebtedness.

        "Officer" means, with respect to any Person, the President, Chief
Executive Officer, any Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer,
Secretary or the Chief Financial Officer of such Person.

        "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by two Officers of such Person; provided, however, that every Officers'
Certificate with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for
in this Indenture shall include (i) a statement that the Officers making or
giving such Officers' Certificate have read such condition and any definitions
or other provisions contained in this Indenture relating thereto and (ii) a
statement at to whether, in the opinion of the signers, such conditions has been
complied with.

        "144A Global Note" means a global note in the form of Exhibit A hereto
bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited
with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its
nominee sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

        "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee that meets the requirements of Sections
14.05. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

        "Participant" means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or
Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or
Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and
Clearstream).

        "Permitted Junior Securities" means Equity Interests in the Company or
debt securities that are subordinated to all Senior Indebtedness (and any debt
securities issued in exchange for Senior Indebtedness) to substantially the same
extent as, or to a greater extent than the Notes are subordinated to Senior
Indebtedness.

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

        "PORTAL Market" means the Private Offerings, Resales and Trading through
Automated Linkages Market operated by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. or any successor thereto.

        "Private Placement Legend" means with respect to Notes, the legend set
forth in Section 2.06(f)(i) to be placed on all Notes issued under this
Indenture and, with respect to Common Stock, the legend set forth in Section
2.06(f)(iii) to be place on all Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of
Notes, except, in each case, where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this
Indenture.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   15

        "Purchase Agreement" means the Purchase Agreement dated March 9, 2001
among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.

        "Purchase Option" means the option to purchase up to $20,000,000 in
aggregate principal amount of Notes granted by the Company to the Initial
Purchasers pursuant to Section 3 of the Purchase Agreement.

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

        "Redeemable Capital Stock" means any Capital Stock that, either by its
terms or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or
exchangeable or otherwise, is, or upon the happening of an event or passage of
time would be, required to be redeemed prior to any Stated Maturity of the
principal of the Notes or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof at
any time prior to any such Stated Maturity, or is convertible into or
exchangeable for debt securities at any time prior to any such Stated Maturity
at the option of the holder thereof.

        "Registrable Securities" has the meaning given such term in the
Registration Rights Agreement.

        "Registration Default" has the meaning given such term in the
Registration Rights Agreement.

        "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights Agreement
dated as of the date hereof by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the
Initial Purchasers as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

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

        "Regulation S Global Note" means a permanent global Note in the form of
Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend
and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary
or its nominee and sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

        "Responsible Officer" means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any
director, principal, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant
treasurer, assistant secretary or any other officer within the corporate trust
department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those
performed by any of the above designated officers and also shall mean, with
respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such
matter is referred because of his knowledge and familiarity with the particular
subject.

        "Restricted Definitive Note" means a Definitive Note bearing the Private
Placement Legend.

        "Restricted Global Note" means a Global Note bearing the Private
Placement Legend.

        "Restricted Period" means applicable distribution compliance period
under Rule 903.

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

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   16

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

        "Rule 903" means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

        "Rule 904" means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

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

        "Senior Indebtedness" of the Company or any Guarantor means (i) all
indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor under the Credit Agreement or any
related loan documentation, including, without limitation, obligations to pay
principal and interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing
of a petition of bankruptcy at the rate provided for in the documentation with
respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under
applicable law), premium, if any, reimbursement obligations under letters of
credit, fees, expenses and indemnities, and all obligations under interest rate
agreements or currency agreements with respect thereto, whether outstanding on
the date of the Indenture or thereafter incurred; (ii) the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the
filing of a petition of bankruptcy at the rate provided for in the documentation
with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under
applicable law) on, and all other obligations with respect to, any other
Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor, whether outstanding on the date
of the Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless the instrument under which such
indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; and (iii) all Obligations of the
Company or such Guarantor with respect to the foregoing.

        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior
Indebtedness will not include any liability for federal, state, local or other
taxes owed or owing by the Company or any Guarantor, any indebtedness of the
Company or any Guarantor to any Subsidiary or other affiliates or any trade
payables.

        "Senior Note Indenture" means the indenture dated as of March 15, 2001
among the Company, as issuer, each of the subsidiary guarantors named therein,
as guarantors, and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee.

        "Senior Note Guarantees" means any guarantee by a subsidiary guarantor
of the Company's obligations under the Senior Note Indenture.

        "Senior Notes" means the $355 million aggregate principal amount of 10
1/8% Senior Notes due 2008 of the Company.

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

        "Significant Subsidiary" of the Company means any Subsidiary of the
Company that is a "significant subsidiary" as defined in Regulation S-X under
the Exchange Act.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   17

        "Stated Maturity" when used with respect to any Indebtedness or any
installment of interest thereon means the dates specified in such Indebtedness
as the fixed date on which the principal of or premiums on such Indebtedness or
such installment of interest is due and payable.

        "Subordinated Note Indentures" means:

                (a) the indenture dated as of December 15, 1994 among the
        Company, as issuer, each of the subsidiary guarantors named therein as
        guarantors, and Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, as trustee, in
        respect of the Subordinated Notes due 2004; and

                (b) the indenture dated as of December 15, 1994 among the
        Company, as issuer, each of the subsidiary guarantors named therein as
        guarantors, and Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, as trustee, in
        respect of the Subordinated Notes due 2007.

        "Subordinated Notes" means:

                (a) the 10 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2004 of the
        Company; and

                (b) the 10 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 of the
        Company.

        "Subsidiary" means any Person a majority of the equity ownership or the
Voting Stock of which is at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more
other Subsidiaries.

        "Temporary Cash Investments" means:

                (a) any evidence of Indebtedness issued by the United States, or
        an instrumentality or agency thereof, and guaranteed fully as to
        principal, premium, if any, and interest by the United States;

                (b) any certificate of deposit issued by, or time deposit of, a
        financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System
        having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less
        than $500 million, whose debt has a rating, at the time of which any
        investment therein is made, of "A" (or higher) according to Moody's or
        "A" (or higher) according to S&P;

                (c) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an
        Affiliate or Subsidiary of the Company) organized and existing under the
        laws of the United States with a rating, at the time as of which any
        investment therein is made, of "P-1" (or higher) according to Moody's or
        "A-1" (or higher) according to S&P;

                (d) any money market deposit accounts issued or offered by a
        financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System
        having capital and surplus in excess of $500 million;

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   18

                (e) short term tax-exempt bonds with a rating, at the time as of
        which any investment is made therein, of "Aa3" (or higher) according to
        Moody's or "AA--" (or higher) according to S&P;

                (f) shares in a mutual fund, the investment objectives and
        policies of which require it to invest substantially in the investments
        of the type described in clause (a) through (e); and

                (g) repurchase and reverse repurchase obligations with the term
        of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types
        described in clauses (a) and (b) entered into with any financial
        institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (b); provided
        that in the case of clauses (a), (b), (c) and (e), such investment
        matures within one year from the date of acquisition thereof.

        "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

        "Trustee" means the party named as such above until a successor replaces
it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter
means the successor serving hereunder.

        "Unrestricted Definitive Note" means one or more Definitive Notes that
do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

        "Unrestricted Global Note" means a permanent global Note in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the
"Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto and
that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the
Depositary, representing a series of Notes that do not bear the Private
Placement Legend.

        "U.S. Person" means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(o) under the
Securities Act.

        "Voting Stock" means stock or securities of the class or classes
pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under
ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors,
managers or trustees of a Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time
stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by
reason of the happening of any contingency).

        "Wholly Owned Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary all the Capital Stock
(other than directors qualifying shares) of which is owned by the Company or
another Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

        Section 1.02. Other Definitions.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                 Defined
         Term                                                                                                   in Section
         ----                                                                                                   ----------
<S>                                                                                                              <C>
         "Affiliate Transaction".......................................................................            4.11
         "Aggregate Market Premium"....................................................................           12.06
         "Authentication Order"........................................................................            2.02
         "Bankruptcy Law"..............................................................................            4.01
</TABLE>

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   19

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                 Defined
         Term                                                                                                   in Section
         ----                                                                                                   ----------
<S>                                                                                                              <C>
         "Change of Control Date"......................................................................            4.08
         "Change of Control Purchase Date".............................................................            4.08
         "Change of Control Purchase Offer"............................................................            4.08
         "Change of Control Purchase Price"............................................................            4.08
         "Conversion Agent"............................................................................            2.03
         "Conversion Price"............................................................................           12.01
         "Conversion Shares"...........................................................................           12.01
         "Covenant Defeasance".........................................................................            8.03
         "DTC".........................................................................................            2.03
         "Event of Default"............................................................................            6.01
         "incur".......................................................................................            4.09
         "Legal Defeasance"............................................................................            8.02
         "Non-Payment Default".........................................................................           10.03
         "Offer Amount"................................................................................            3.09
         "Offer Payment Date"..........................................................................            4.08
         "Offer Period"................................................................................            3.09
         "Paying Agent"................................................................................            2.03
         "Payment Blockage Notice".....................................................................           10.03
         "Payment Default".............................................................................           10.03
         "Purchase Date"...............................................................................            3.09
         "Registrar"...................................................................................            2.03
         "Stockholder Rights Plan".....................................................................           12.06
         "Surviving Entity"............................................................................            5.01
         "Trading Days"................................................................................          12.06(e)
         "Trigger Event"...............................................................................           12.06
</TABLE>

        Section 1.03. 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 of a Note;

        "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;

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

        "obligor" on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Company and the
Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Note
Guarantees, respectively.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   20

        All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA,
defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA
have the meanings so assigned to them.

        Section 1.04. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise
requires:

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

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

                (c) "or" is not exclusive;

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

                (e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

                (f) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act
        shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections
        or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.

                                   ARTICLE 2.
                                    THE NOTES

        Section 2.01. Form and Dating.

        (a) General. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication
shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have
notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or
usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall
be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

        The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and
are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the
Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture,
expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However,
to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of
this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be
controlling.

        (b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in
the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon
and the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and
without the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as
shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed
thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented
thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to
reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect
the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   21

Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions
given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06.

        (c) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of
the "Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System" and "Terms and Conditions
Governing Use of Euroclear" and the "General Terms and Conditions of
Clearstream" and "Customer Handbook" of Cedel Bank (as adopted by Clearstream)
and any alternative or additional procedures from time to time adopted by
Euroclear or Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial
interests in the Regulation S Global Notes that are held by Participants through
Euroclear or Clearstream.

        Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication. One or more Officers shall
sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. The Company's
seal shall be reproduced on the Notes and may be in facsimile form.

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

        A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of
the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been
authenticated under this Indenture.

        The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery Notes for
original issue in the aggregate principal amount of up to $130,000,000, upon a
written order or orders of the Company signed by one or more Officers (a
"Authentication Order"). The Authentication Order shall specify the amount of
Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Notes is
to be authenticated. Upon the exercise of the Purchase Option by the Initial
Purchasers, additional Notes in the aggregate principal amount of up to
$20,000,000 shall be executed by the Company in the aforementioned manner and
delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and shall thereupon be
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee upon Authentication Order. The
aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding under this Indenture at any time
may not exceed the amount specified in paragraph 4 of the Notes, except as
provided in Section 2.08.

        The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the
Company 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 agent. An
authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an
Affiliate of the Company.

        Section 2.03. Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent. The Company
shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration
of transfer or for exchange ("Registrar"), an office or agency where Notes may
be presented for payment ("Paying Agent"), and an office or agency where Notes
may be presented for conversion (the "Conversion Agent"). The Registrar shall
keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may
appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The
term "Registrar" includes any co-registrar, the term "Paying Agent" includes any
additional paying agent and the term "Conversion Agent" includes any additional
conversion agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or
Conversion Agent without notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   22

Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this
Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as
Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The
Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or
Conversion Agent.

        The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") to
act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

        The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar,
Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the
Global Notes.

        Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. The Company shall
require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the
Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all
money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or
interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company
in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may
require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company
at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the
Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the
Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the
Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a
separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as
Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the
Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

        Section 2.05. Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a
form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the
names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section
312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at
such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and
as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses
of the Holders and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).

        Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.

        (a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be
transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary,
by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the
Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary
or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by
the Company for Definitive Notes if (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee
notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as
Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the
Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary or
(ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in
whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a
written notice to such effect to the Trustee. Upon the occurrence of either of
the preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in
such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may
be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and
2.10 hereof. Every Note

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   23

authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any
portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof,
shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global
Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided
in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be
transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or (c).

        (b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.
The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes, which may
be represented by a single note, shall be effected through the Depositary, in
accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures.
Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to
restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent
required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global
Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below,
as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as
applicable:

                (i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note.
        Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to
        Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest
        in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer
        restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided,
        however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period,
        transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may
        not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S.
        Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any
        Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery
        thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global
        Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be
        delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this
        Section 2.06(b)(i).

                (ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests
        in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of
        beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) above,
        the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar
        either (A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect
        Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable
        Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a
        beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the
        beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions
        given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing
        information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such
        increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect
        Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable
        Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive
        Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or
        exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar
        containing information regarding the Person in whose name such
        Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange
        referred to in (1) above. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements
        for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes
        contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under
        the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the
        relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(i) hereof.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   24

                (iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted
        Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be
        transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a
        beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer
        complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and the
        Registrar receives the following:

                        (A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of
                a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the
                transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B
                hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

                        (B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of
                a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, then the
                transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B
                hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

                        (C) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of
                a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, then the
                transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B
                hereto, including the certifications and certificates and
                Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

                (iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a
        Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted
        Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be
        exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an
        Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery
        thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global
        Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of
        Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and:

                        (A) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
                Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration
                Rights Agreement; or

                        (B) the Registrar receives the following:

                                (1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in
                        a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such
                        beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an
                        Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder
                        in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
                        certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

                                (2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in
                        a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such
                        beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery
                        thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an
                        Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder
                        in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
                        certifications in item (4) thereof;

                and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (B), if
                the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so
                require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to
                the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in
                compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on
                transfer contained

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   25

                herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer
                required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities
                Act.

        If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B)
above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the
Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance
with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more
Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to
subparagraph (A) or (B) above.

        Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged
for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

        (c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.

                (i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to
        Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a
        Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for
        a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to
        a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted
        Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following
        documentation:

                        (A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a
                Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial
                interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from
                such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
                certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

                        (B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to
                a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a
                certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
                including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

                        (C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to
                a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with
                Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to
                the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
                certifications in item (2) thereof;

                        (D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred
                pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of
                the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the
                Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit
                B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

                        (E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to
                an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption
                from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other
                than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a
                certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
                including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of
                Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   26

                        (F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to
                the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the
                effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
                certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

                        (G) if such beneficial interest is being transferred
                pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
                Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit
                B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

        the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable
        Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(i)
        hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate
        and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive
        Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in
        exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant
        to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in
        such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such
        beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions
        from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The
        Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose
        names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in
        exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant
        to this Section 2.06(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and
        shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

                (ii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to
        Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a
        Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an
        Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to
        a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted
        Definitive Note only if:

                        (A) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
                Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration
                Rights Agreement; or

                        (B) the Registrar receives the following:

                                (1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in
                        a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such
                        beneficial interest for a Definitive Note that does not
                        bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from
                        such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including
                        the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

                                (2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in
                        a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such
                        beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery
                        thereof in the form of a Definitive Note that does not
                        bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from
                        such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including
                        the certifications in item (4) thereof;

                and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (B), if
                the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so
                require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to
                the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   27

                compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on
                transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend
                are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the
                Securities Act.

                (iii) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to
        Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in
        an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial
        interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest
        to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note,
        then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section
        2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal
        amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant
        to Section 2.06(i) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee
        shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the
        instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any
        Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to
        this Section 2.06(c)(iii) shall be registered in such name or names and
        in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such
        beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions
        from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The
        Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose
        names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in
        exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iii)
        shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

        (d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.

                (i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
        Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note
        proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted
        Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person
        who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a
        Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the
        following documentation:

                        (A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note
                proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a
                Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the
                form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item
                (2)(b) thereof;

                        (B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
                transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the
                Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit
                B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

                        (C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
                transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in
                accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a
                certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
                including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

                        (D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
                transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration
                requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144
                under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth
                in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a)
                thereof;

                                      -20-
<PAGE>   28

                        (E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
                transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance
                on an exemption from the registration requirements of the
                Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B)
                through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in
                Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and
                Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

                        (F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
                transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a
                certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
                including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

                        (G) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
                transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement
                under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth
                in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c)
                thereof,

        the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or
        cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of
        clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of
        clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above,
        the Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, the IAI Global
        Note.

                                (ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial
                        Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a
                        Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a
                        beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or
                        transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who
                        takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
                        interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:

                        (A) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
                Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration
                Rights Agreement; or

                        (B) the Registrar receives the following:

                                (1) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes
                        proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial
                        interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate
                        from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
                        including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

                                (2) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes
                        proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall
                        take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
                        interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate
                        from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto,
                        including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

                and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (B), if
                the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so
                require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to
                the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in
                compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on
                transfer contained

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   29

                herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer
                required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities
                Act.

                Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs
        in this Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive
        Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal
        amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

                (iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
        Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note
        may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
        Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes
        delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
        Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange
        or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted
        Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate
        principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

                If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a
        beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(A),
        (ii)(B) or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has
        not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an
        Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee
        shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate
        principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so
        transferred.

        (e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon
request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder's compliance with the
provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or
exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or
exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the
Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or
by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder
shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as
applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section
2.06(e).

                (i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes.
        Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in
        the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a
        Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

                        (A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A
                under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a
                certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
                certifications in item (1) thereof;

                        (B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or
                Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the
                form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
                (2) thereof; and

                        (C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other
                exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
                Act, then the transferor must deliver a

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   30

                certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
                certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by
                item (3) thereof, if applicable.

                (ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive
        Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder
        thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person
        or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted
        Definitive Note if:

                        (A) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
                Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration
                Rights Agreement; or

                        (B) the Registrar receives the following:

                                (1) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive
                        Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an
                        Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such
                        Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
                        certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

                                (2) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive
                        Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who
                        shall take delivery thereof in the form of an
                        Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such
                        Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
                        certifications in item (4) thereof;

                and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (B), if
                the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form
                reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such
                exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act
                and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in
                the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to
                maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

                (iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive
        Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes
        to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted
        Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer,
        the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant
        to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

        (f) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the face of all
Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless
specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

                (i) Private Placement Legend.

                        (A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each
                Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in
                exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend
                in substantially the following form:

                                      -23-
<PAGE>   31

                "THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
        OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"). THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY
        PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT
        THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED (X)
        PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE HOLDING PERIOD UNDER RULE 144(k) (OR ANY
        SUCCESSOR THERETO) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO THIS
        SECURITY OR (Y) BY ANY HOLDER THAT WAS AN "AFFILIATE" (WITHIN THE
        MEANING OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY AT ANY TIME
        DURING THE THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE OF SUCH TRANSFER, IN EITHER
        CASE, OTHER THAN (1) TO THE COMPANY, (2) SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS
        ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
        ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A
        QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A,
        PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED
        INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE RESALE, PLEDGE OR
        OTHER TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (3) IN AN
        OFFSHORE TRANSACTION (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES
        ACT) IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (4) TO AN
        INSTITUTION THAT IS AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" AS DEFINED IN RULE
        501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("INSTITUTIONAL
        ACCREDITED INVESTOR") THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR INVESTMENT
        PURPOSES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, AND THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER,
        DELIVERS TO THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING
        CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON
        TRANSFER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER MAY
        BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE), (5) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM
        REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 (IF
        APPLICABLE) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (6) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN
        ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE
        UNITED STATES. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY,
        REPRESENTS AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT IT IS (1) A
        QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER OR (2) AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED
        INVESTOR AND THAT IT IS HOLDING THIS SECURITY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES
        AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR (3) NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS OUTSIDE THE
        UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF (OR AN ACCOUNT

                                      -24-
<PAGE>   32

        SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (k)(2) OF RULE 902 UNDER)
        REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. IN ANY CASE THE HOLDER HEREOF
        WILL NOT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ENGAGE IN ANY HEDGING TRANSACTION WITH
        REGARD TO THIS SECURITY OR ANY COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF
        THIS SECURITY EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY THE SECURITIES ACT."

                (B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive
        Note issued pursuant to subparagraph (b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii),
        (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii) or (e)(iii) to this Section 2.06 (and all
        Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not
        bear the Private Placement Legend.

        (ii) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear a legend in
substantially the following form:

                "THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE
        INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT
        OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON
        UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH
        NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE
        INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN
        PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL
        NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO
        SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
        TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF
        THE COMPANY."

                (iii) Private Placement Legend for Common Stock. Until the
        expiration of the holding period applicable to sales thereof under Rule
        144(k) under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), any stock
        certificate representing Common Stock issued upon conversion of such
        Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form, unless
        such Common Stock has been sold pursuant to a registration statement
        that has been declared effective under the Securities Act (and which
        continues to be effective at the time of such transfer) or such Common
        Stock has been issued upon conversion of Notes that have been
        transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared
        effective under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the
        Company in writing with written notice thereof to the transfer agent:

                        "THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
                SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE `SECURITIES ACT'). THE
                HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, AGREES FOR THE
                BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT THIS SECURITY MAY

                                      -25-
<PAGE>   33

        NOT BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED (X) PRIOR TO THE
        EXPIRATION OF THE HOLDING PERIOD UNDER RULE 144(k) (OR ANY SUCCESSOR
        THERETO) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO THIS SECURITY
        OR (Y) BY ANY HOLDER THAT WAS AN `AFFILIATE' (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE
        144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY AT ANY TIME DURING THE
        THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE OF SUCH TRANSFER, IN EITHER CASE, OTHER
        THAN (1) TO THE COMPANY, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION (AS DEFINED IN
        REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S
        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AS INDICATED BY THE BOX CHECKED BY THE
        TRANSFEROR ON THE CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER APPLICABLE TO THIS SECURITY,
        THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY OR THE TRANSFER
        AGENT), (3) TO AN INSTITUTION THAT IS AN `ACCREDITED INVESTOR' AS
        DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
        (`INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR') (AS INDICATED BY THE BOX CHECKED
        BY THE TRANSFEROR ON THE CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER APPLICABLE TO THIS
        SECURITY, THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY OR THE
        TRANSFER AGENT) THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES
        AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, AND THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, DELIVERS TO
        THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER AGENT A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN
        REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER
        OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER MAY BE
        OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY OR THE TRANSFER AGENT), (4) PURSUANT TO AN
        EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE
        144 (IF APPLICABLE) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AS INDICATED BY THE BOX
        CHECKED BY THE TRANSFEROR ON THE CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER APPLICABLE TO
        THIS SECURITY, THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY OR THE
        TRANSFER AGENT) OR (5) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE
        SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. PRIOR TO A TRANSFER
        OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (5) ABOVE),
        THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE
        COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION
        AND, IN THE CASE OF A TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (4) ABOVE, A LEGAL
        OPINION AS THEY MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT ANY TRANSFER BY
        IT OF THIS SECURITY COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING

                                      -26-
<PAGE>   34

        RESTRICTIONS. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, REPRESENTS
        AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT IT IS (1) AN INSTITUTION
        THAT IS AN `ACCREDITED INVESTOR' AS DEFINED IN RULE 501 (a)(1), (2), (3)
        OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND THAT IT IS HOLDING THIS SECURITY FOR
        INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR (2) NOT A U.S. PERSON
        AND IS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF (OR AN ACCOUNT
        SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (k)(2) OF RULE 902 UNDER)
        REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. IN ANY CASE THE HOLDER HEREOF
        WILL NOT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ENGAGE IN ANY HEDGING TRANSACTION WITH
        REGARD TO THIS SECURITY EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY THE SECURITIES ACT."

        Any such Common Stock as to which such restrictions on transfer shall
have expired in accordance with their terms or as to which the conditions for
removal of the foregoing legend set forth therein have been satisfied may, upon
surrender of the certificates representing such shares of Common Stock for
exchange in accordance with the procedures of the transfer agent for the Common
Stock, be exchanged for a new certificate or certificates for a like number of
shares of Common Stock, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by
this Section 2.06(f).

        (g) Any Note or Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exchange of a
Note that, prior to the expiration of the holding period applicable to sales
thereof under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (or any successor provision),
is purchased or owned by the Company or any Affiliate thereof may not be resold
by the Company or such Affiliate unless registered under the Securities Act or
resold pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act in a transaction which results in such Notes or Common Stock, as
the case may be, no longer being "restricted securities" (as defined under Rule
144).

        (h) Each Holder of a Note agrees to indemnify the Company and the
Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or
assignment of such Holder's Note in violation of any provision of this Indenture
and/or applicable United States Federal or state securities law.

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

        (i) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all
beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for
Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or
canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or
retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.

                                      -27-
<PAGE>   35

At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global
Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof
in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive
Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be
reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the
Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such
reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred
to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest
in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly
and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the
Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

        (j) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

                (i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the
        Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes
        and Definitive Notes upon the Company's order or at the Registrar's
        request.

                (ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial
        interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any
        registration of transfer or exchange, 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 similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or
        transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.08 and 9.05 hereof).

                (iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the
        transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in
        part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

                (iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any
        registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes
        shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt,
        and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global
        Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer
        or exchange.

                (v) The Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to register
        the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at
        the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes
        for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of
        business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to
        exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except
        the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part, (C) to
        register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and
        the next succeeding Interest Payment Date or (D) to register the
        transfer of or to exchange any Note or portion thereof surrendered for
        conversion pursuant to Article 12.

                (vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer
        of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat
        the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of
        such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of

                                      -28-
<PAGE>   36

        principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and
        none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by
        notice to the contrary.

                (vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive
        Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

                (viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel
        required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06
        to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by
        facsimile.

        Section 2.07. Replacement Notes. If any mutilated Note is surrendered to
the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction
of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the
Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a
replacement Note if the Trustee's requirements are met. If required by the
Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is
sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the
Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that
any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge for its
expenses in replacing a Note.

        Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and
shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

        Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes. The Notes outstanding at any time are
all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it,
those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a
Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof,
and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in
Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company
or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

        If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be
outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

        If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section
4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

        If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money
sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such
Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue
interest.

        Section 2.09. Treasury Notes. In determining whether the Holders of the
required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or
consent, Notes owned by the Company, or by any Affiliate of the Company, shall
be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such
direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned
shall be so disregarded.

                                      -29-
<PAGE>   37

        Section 2.10. Temporary Notes. Until certificates representing Notes are
ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall
be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that
the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare
and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary
Notes.

        Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of
this Indenture.

        Section 2.11. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Notes to
the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent
shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of
transfer, exchange, payment or conversion. The Trustee and no one else shall
cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment,
replacement, cancellation or conversion and shall destroy canceled Notes
(subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification
of the destruction of all canceled Notes shall be delivered to the Company. The
Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have
been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

        Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment
of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful
manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest,
to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case
at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall
notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be
paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or
cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided that
no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related
payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special
record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the
Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or cause to be
mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related
payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

        Section 2.13. Record Date . The Company may set a record date for
purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to vote or to consent
to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted by Sections 6.04 and
6.05.

                                   ARTICLE 3.
                            REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

        Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem Notes
pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall
furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a
redemption date, an Officers' Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this
Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption
date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption
price.

        Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. If less than all of the
Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the
Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased among the Holders in
compliance with the requirements of the principal

                                      -30-
<PAGE>   38

national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the
Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in accordance with any
other method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate. In the event of partial
redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless
otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the
redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called
for redemption.

        The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial
redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of
Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000;
except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire
outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of
$1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence,
provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also
apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

        Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption. Subject to the provisions of Section
3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption
date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a
notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its
registered address.

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

                (a) the redemption date;

                (b) the redemption price;

                (c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the
        principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the
        redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in
        principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon
        cancellation of the original Note;

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

                (e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the
        Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

                (f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption
        payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and
        after the redemption date;

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

                (h) that Holders who wish to convert Notes must satisfy the
        requirements in paragraph 9 of the Notes;

                (i) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture
        pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;
        and

                                      -31-
<PAGE>   39

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

        At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the
redemption date (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee),
an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and
setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the
preceding paragraph.

        Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption
is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption
become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption
price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.

        Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. One Business Day prior to the
redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying
Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on
all Notes to be redeemed on that date other than any Notes called for redemption
on that date which have been converted prior to the date of such deposit. The
Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money
deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the
amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all
Notes to be redeemed.

        If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph,
on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or
the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after
an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date,
then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name
such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any
Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption
because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph,
interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until
such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on
such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in
Section 4.01 hereof.

        If any Note called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with
the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust for the
redemption of such Note shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Note
or any predecessor security to receive interest) be paid to the Company as soon
as practicable upon written request by the Company or, if then held by the
Company, shall be released from such trust.

        Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that is
redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and, upon the Company's written
request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the
Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the
Note surrendered.

        Section 3.07. Optional Redemption. The Company may, at its option,
redeem all or from time to time any part of the Notes on any date on or after
March 22, 2004 and prior to maturity if the trading price of the Common Stock
for 20 Trading Days in a period of 30 consecutive Trading Days

                                      -32-
<PAGE>   40

ending on the Trading Day prior to the date of mailing of the notice of
redemption exceeds 120% of the Conversion Price of the Notes, upon notice as set
forth in Section 3.01, and at the redemption prices set forth below, together
with accrued interest to the date of redemption:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         REDEMPTION PERIOD                                                                        REDEMPTION PRICE
         -----------------                                                                        ----------------
<S>                                                                                                  <C>
         March 22, 2004 through March 14, 2005............................................            103.0%
         March 15, 2005 through March 14, 2006............................................            102.0%
         March 15, 2006 through March 14, 2007............................................            101.0%
</TABLE>

and 100% of the principal amount on and after March 15, 2007.

        Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.07, any purchase
pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of
Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

        Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption. The Company shall not be required to
make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes prior to Maturity.

        Section 3.09. Conversion Arrangement on Call for Redemption. In
connection with any redemption of Notes, the Company may arrange for the
purchase and conversion of any Notes by an agreement with one or more investment
bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Notes by paying to the Trustee in
trust for the Holders, on or before the redemption date, an amount not less than
the applicable redemption price of such Notes, together with interest accrued to
the redemption date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Article 3, the obligation of the Company to pay the redemption price of such
Notes, together with interest accrued to, but excluding, the redemption date
shall be deemed to be satisfied and discharged to the extent such amount is so
paid by such purchasers. If such an agreement is entered into, a copy of which
shall be filed with the Trustee prior to the redemption date, any Notes not duly
surrendered for conversion by the Holders thereof, may, at the option of the
Company, be deemed, to the fullest extent permitted by law, acquired by such
purchasers from such Holders and (notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in Article 12) surrendered by such purchasers for conversion, all as
of immediately prior to the close of business on the redemption date (and the
right to convert any such Notes shall be deemed to have been extended through
such time), subject to payment of the above amount as aforesaid. At the
direction of the Company, the Trustee shall hold and dispose of any such amount
paid to it in the same manner as it would monies deposited with it by the
Company for the redemption of Notes. Without the Trustee's prior written
consent, no arrangement between the Company and such purchasers for the purchase
and conversion of any Notes shall increase or otherwise affect any of the
powers, duties, responsibilities or obligations of the Trustee as set forth in
this Indenture, and the Company agrees to indemnify the Trustee from, and hold
it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense arising out of or in
connection with any such arrangement for the purchase and conversion of any
Notes between the Company and such purchasers, including the costs and expenses
incurred by the Trustee in the defense of any claim or liability arising out of
or in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers, duties,
responsibilities or obligations under this Indenture. Nothing in the preceding
sentence shall be deemed to limit the rights and protections afforded to the
Trustee in Article 7, including, but not limited to, the right to the
indemnification pursuant to Section 7.07.

                                      -33-
<PAGE>   41

                                   ARTICLE 4.
                                    COVENANTS

        Section 4.01. Payment of Notes. The Company shall pay or cause to be
paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates
and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and
interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other
than the Company or a Subsidiary, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due
date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and
designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and
interest then due.

        The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to
the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall
pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any
applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

        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
(which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar
or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or
for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of
the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt
written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location,
of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any
such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the
address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made
or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

        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,
however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the 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 designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee
as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03.

        Section 4.03. Reports. (a) Whether or not required by the rules and
regulations of the Commission, including the reporting requirements of Section
13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the
Company will furnish to the Holders of Notes:

                (i) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be
        required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q
        and 10-K if the Company were required to file such forms, including a
        "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
        of Operations" that describes the financial condition and results of
        operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and, with respect to the
        annual information

                                      -34-
<PAGE>   42

        only, a report on the consolidated financial statements required by Form
        10-K by the Company's independent certified public accountants; and

                (ii) all reports that would be required to be filed with the
        Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such
        reports. In addition, whether or not required by the rules and
        regulations of the Commission, the Company will file a copy of all such
        information with the Commission for public availability (unless the
        Commission will not accept such a filing) and make such information
        available to investors or prospective investors who request it in
        writing.

        (b) The Company will furnish to the Holders or beneficial holders of
Notes and prospective purchasers of Notes designated by the Holders, upon their
request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4)
under the Securities Act until such time as the Company either exchanges all of
the Notes for the Exchange Notes or has registered all of the Notes for resale
under the Securities Act.

        Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate. (a) The Company and each Guarantor
(to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver
to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers'
Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its
Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the
supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the
Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this
Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such
certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept,
observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this
Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the
terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default
of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her
knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which
payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is
prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what
action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

        (b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial
statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03(a) above shall be accompanied by a
written statement of the Company's independent public accountants (who shall be
a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination
necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to
their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated
any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has
occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being
understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to
any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.

        (c) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding,
deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default
or Event of Default, an Officers' Certificate specifying such Default or Event
of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with
respect thereto.

                                      -35-
<PAGE>   43

        Section 4.05. Taxes. The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and
governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not
adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

        Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company and each of
the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it
shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or
take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or
the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each of the Guarantors
(to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit
or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any
such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to
the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as
though no such law has been enacted.

        Section 4.07. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article 5 hereof, the
Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep
in full force and effect (i) its corporate existence, and the corporate,
partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with
the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to
time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and
statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such
right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of
any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the
preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is
not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

        Section 4.08. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control. (a) If a
Change of Control shall occur at any time (the date of such occurrence, the
"Change of Control Date"), then each Holder of Notes shall have the right, to
the extent not inconsistent with the Company's bylaws as in effect on the Issue
Date, to require the Company to purchase such Holder's Notes in whole or in part
in integral multiples of $1,000 at a purchase price (the "Change of Control
Purchase Price") in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of
such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, at the date of purchase
(the "Change of Control Purchase Date:), pursuant to and in accordance with the
offer described in this Section 4.08 (the "Change of Control Purchase Offer").

        (b) The notice to the Holders and the Trustee shall contain all
instructions and materials necessary to enable the Holders to tender Notes
pursuant to the Change of Control Purchase Offer. The notice will govern the
terms of the Change of Control Purchase Offer.

        (c) Within 30 days following the Change of Control Date the Company
shall send, by first class mail, a notice to the Holders and the Trustee
stating:

                (i) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to
        this Section 4.08 and that all Notes validly tendered will be accepted
        for payment;

                                      -36-
<PAGE>   44

                (ii) the Change of Control Purchase Price and the Change of
        Control Purchase Date, which shall be a Business Day that is no earlier
        than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed
        (the "Offer Payment Date") other than as may be required by law;

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

                (iv) briefly, the conversion rights of the Notes including,
        without limitation, the current Conversion Price and any adjustments
        thereto;

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

                (vi) whether the holders of Senior Indebtedness will permit the
        payment of the Change of Control Purchase Price;

                (vii) that the Holder must satisfy the requirements set forth in
        the Notes in order to convert the Notes;

                (viii) that any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Change
        of Control Purchase Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Offer
        Payment Date unless the Company shall default in the payment of the
        Change of Control Purchase Price of the Notes and the only remaining
        right of the Holder is to receive payment of the Change of Control
        Purchase Price upon surrender of the applicable Note to the Paying
        Agent;

                (ix) that Holders electing to have a portion of a Note purchased
        pursuant to a Change of Control Purchase Offer may only elect to have
        such Note purchased in integral multiples of $1,000;

                (x) that if a Holder elects to have a Note purchased pursuant to
        the Change of Control Purchase Offer it will be required to surrender
        the Note, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on
        the reverse of the Note completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer,
        to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the
        close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Offer Payment
        Date;

                (xi) that a Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election if
        the Company or the Trustee receives, not later than the third Business
        Day preceding the Offer Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile
        transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the
        principal amount of Notes such Holder delivered for purchase, and a
        statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Note
        purchased;

                (xii) that Notes as to which an election to be purchased has
        been made by the Holder thereof may not be converted into shares of
        Common Stock on or after the date of the delivery of such election
        unless such election has first been validly withdrawn in accordance with
        the terms of this Indenture;

                                      -37-
<PAGE>   45

                (xiii) that if Notes are purchased only in part a new Note of
        the same type will be issued in principal amount equal to the
        unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered; and

                (xiv) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall
        be issued a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the
        unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by
        book-entry transfer) in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the
        original Note.

        (d) On or before the Offer Payment Date, the Company shall, to the
extent lawful, accept for payment, all Notes or portions thereof validly
tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Purchase Offer, and shall deliver to
the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof
were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this
Section 4.08. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may
be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Offer
Payment Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the
purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company
for purchase, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee,
upon written request from the Company shall authenticate and mail or deliver
such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased
portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly
mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall
publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Purchase Offer on the
Offer Payment Date.

        (e) The Company shall comply with the requirements of 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 connection with the purchase
of Notes pursuant to an offer hereunder. To the extent the provisions of any
securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions under this Section
4.08, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and
regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this
Section 4.08 by virtue thereof.

        (f) The Company is not required to make a Change of Control Purchase
Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party (i) makes the Change of Control
Purchase Offer in the manner and at the time and otherwise in compliance with
the terms of this Section 4.08, and (ii) purchases all Notes validly tendered
and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Purchase Offer.

        (g) Whenever in this Indenture there is a reference to the principal of
any Note as of any time, such reference shall be deemed to include reference to
the Change of Control Purchase Price payable in respect of such Note to the
extent that such Change of Control Purchase Price is, was or would be so payable
at such time, and express mention of the Change of Control Purchase Price in any
provision of this Indenture shall not be construed as excluding the Change of
Control Purchase Price in those provisions of this Indenture when such express
mention is not made.

        (h) Any rights of Holders, contractual or otherwise, arising under or
pursuant to any offer to repurchase Notes made by the Company under this Section
4.08 shall be subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness to the
same extent as the Notes are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness under the
provisions of Article 10.

                                      -38-
<PAGE>   46

        Section 4.09. Payments for Consent. The Company will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be
paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any
Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any terms
or provisions of the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or
agreed to be paid to all Holders which so consent, waive or agree to amend in
the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent,
waiver or agreement.

        Section 4.10. Additional Guarantees. If any of the Company's
Subsidiaries guarantee any Indebtedness of the Company or the Indebtedness of
any Guarantor (other than Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount among
all such Subsidiaries not exceeding $10 million), the Company will cause any
such Subsidiary, to the extent such Subsidiary is not already a Guarantor, to:

                (a) execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture
        in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee pursuant to
        which such Subsidiary shall guarantee all of the Company's Obligations
        with respect to the Notes on a senior subordinated basis; and

                (b) deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably
        satisfactory to the Trustee to the effect that a supplemental indenture
        has been duly executed and delivered by such Subsidiary and is in
        compliance with the terms of this Indenture.

        Upon the occurrence of the sale or disposition (whether by merger,
liquidation, dissolution, stock purchase, asset sale or otherwise) of a
Guarantor or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets, in any such
case, to an entity which is not a Guarantor, such Guarantor will be deemed
released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided, however, that
any such termination shall occur only to the extent that all obligations of such
Guarantor under all of its guarantees of and under all of its pledges of assets
or other security interests which secure any of the Company's Indebtedness or
the Indebtedness of any of the Guarantors shall also terminate upon such
release, sale or transfer (other than Indebtedness in an aggregate principal
amount among all such Subsidiaries not exceeding $10 million).

        Section 4.11. Registration Rights. (a) The Company agrees that the
Holders (and any Person that has a beneficial interest in a Note) from time to
time of Registrable Securities are entitled to the benefits of the Registration
Rights Agreement. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has
agreed for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of Registrable
Securities, at the Company's expense to file a registration statement with the
Commission with respect to resales of the Restricted Securities.

        (b) Any amounts of Liquidated Damages due pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement shall be payable in cash on the regular Interest Payment Dates.

        Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, or in respect of,
any Note, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of
Liquidated Damages provided for in this Section 4.11.

                                      -39-
<PAGE>   47

        Section 4.12. Liquidated Damages. If Liquidated Damages are payable
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall deliver to the
Trustee a certificate to that effect stating the amount of such Liquidated
Damages that is payable.

                                   ARTICLE 5.
                                   SUCCESSORS

        Section 5.01. When Company May Merge, Etc. The Company shall not
consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person, or convey, transfer or
lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person,
unless:

                (a) the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such
        consolidation or with which the Company is merged or the Person which
        acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and
        assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a
        corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United
        States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and
        shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed
        and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all
        of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture and
        this Indenture shall remain in full force and effect;

                (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
        Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or
        both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be
        continuing; and

                (c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
        Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such
        consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a
        supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction,
        such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all
        conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction
        have been complied with.

        The foregoing shall not prohibit a merger of any Subsidiary of the
Company with and into the Company or a merger effected solely for the purpose of
reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction.

        Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation
of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any
conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company
substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor
Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to
which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be
substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under
this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named
as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the
predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this
Indenture and the Notes.

                                      -40-
<PAGE>   48

                                   ARTICLE 6.
                              DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

        Section 6.01. Events of Default. An "Event of Default" occurs if:

        (a) there shall be a default in the payment of any interest on the Notes
when such interest becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for
a period of 30 days (whether or not any such payment is prohibited by Article
10);

        (b) there shall be a default in the payment of the principal of (or
premium, if any, on) any Notes at Maturity (whether or not any such payment is
prohibited by Article 10);

        (c) (i) there shall be a default in the performance, or breach, of any
covenant or agreement of the Company or any Guarantor under this Indenture
(other than a default in the performance, or breach, of a covenant or agreement
which is specifically dealt with in the immediately preceding clauses (a) or (b)
or in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this clause (c)), and such default or breach
shall continue for a period of 60 days after written notice has been given, by
certified mail:

                (A) to the Company by the Trustee; or

                (B) to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least
        25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes;

        (ii) there shall be a default in the performance or breach of the
provisions described in Article 5; or

        (iii) the Company shall have failed to comply with the provisions of
Section 4.08 for any reason, including the inconsistency of such covenant with
the Company's bylaws as in effect on the Issue Date;

        (d) (i) any default in the payment of the principal of any Indebtedness
shall have occurred under any agreements, indentures or instruments under which
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company then has outstanding Indebtedness
in excess of $50 million when the same shall become due and payable in full and
such default shall have continued after any applicable grace period and shall
not have been cured or waived; or

        (ii) an event of default as defined in any of the agreements, indentures
or instruments described in clause (i) of this clause (d) shall have occurred
and the Indebtedness thereunder, if not already matured at its final maturity in
accordance with its terms, shall have been accelerated;

        (e) any Person entitled to take the actions described below in this
clause (e), after the occurrence of any event of default on Indebtedness in
excess of $50 million in the aggregate of the Company or any Subsidiary, shall
notify the Trustee of the intended sale or

                                      -41-
<PAGE>   49

disposition of any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary that have been
pledged to or for the benefit of such Person to secure such Indebtedness or
shall commence proceedings, or take any action (including by way of set-off) to
retain in satisfaction of any Indebtedness, or to collect on, seize, dispose of
or apply, any such assets of the Company or any Subsidiary (including funds on
deposit or held pursuant to lock-box and other similar arrangements), pursuant
to the terms of such Indebtedness or in accordance with applicable law;

        (f) any Note Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary individually or any
other Subsidiaries if such Subsidiaries in the aggregate represent 15% or more
of Consolidated Total Assets with respect to the Notes shall for any reason
cease to be, or be asserted in writing by the Company, any Guarantor or any
other Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable, not to be, in full force and
effect, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except pursuant to the release
of any such Note Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture;

        (g) one or more judgments, orders or decrees for the payment of money in
excess of $50 million (net of amounts covered by insurance, bond or similar
instrument), either individually or in the aggregate, shall be entered against
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective
properties and shall not be discharged and either:

                (i) any creditor shall have commenced an enforcement proceeding
        upon such judgment, order or decree; or

                (ii) there shall have been a period of 60 consecutive days
        during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason
        of an appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect;

        (h) there shall have been the entry by a court of competent jurisdiction
of:

                (i) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or
        any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under
        any applicable Bankruptcy Law; or

                (ii) a decree or order adjudging the Company or any Significant
        Subsidiary bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization,
        arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company
        or any Significant Subsidiary under any applicable federal or state law,
        or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
        sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Significant
        Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the
        winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and any such decree or order
        for relief shall continue to be in effect, or any such other decree or
        order shall be unstayed and in effect, for a period of 60 consecutive
        days; or

        (i) (i) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary commences a voluntary
case or proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law or any other case or
proceeding to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

                                      -42-
<PAGE>   50

                (ii) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary consents to the
        entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or such
        Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any
        applicable Bankruptcy Law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or
        insolvency case or proceeding against it;

                (iii) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary files a petition
        or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any
        applicable federal or state law;

                (iv) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary:

                        (A) consents to the filing of such petition or the
                appointment of, or taking possession by, a custodian, receiver,
                liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official
                of the Company or such Significant Subsidiary or of any
                substantial part of its property;

                        (B) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

                        (C) admits in writing its inability to pay its debts
                generally as they become due; or

                (v) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary takes any
        corporate action in furtherance of any such actions in this clause (i).

        Section 6.02. Acceleration. (a) If an Event of Default (other than as
specified in clause (h) or (i) of Section 6.01 hereof), shall occur and be
continuing with respect to the Notes, the Trustee, by notice to the Company, or
the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount then outstanding of
such Notes, by notice to the Trustee and to the Company, may declare such Notes
due and payable immediately. Upon such declaration, all amounts payable in
respect of such Notes shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of
Default specified in clause (h) or (i) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs and is
continuing, then all of the outstanding Notes under this Indenture shall ipso
facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other
act on the part of the Trustee thereunder or any Holder.

        (b) After a declaration of acceleration, but before a judgment or decree
for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount outstanding of Notes, by written notice
to the Company and the Trustee, may annul such declaration if:

                (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum
        sufficient to pay:

                        (A) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under the
                Notes and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements,
                and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel;

                        (B) all overdue interest on all of the Notes; and

                                      -43-
<PAGE>   51

                        (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is
                lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate borne by the
                Notes; and

                (ii) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of
        principal of such Notes which have become due solely by such declaration
        of acceleration, have been cured or waived.

        (c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes
outstanding may, on behalf of the Holders of all of such Notes, waive any past
defaults under this Indenture except a default in the payment of the principal
of, premium, if any, or interest on any such Note, or in respect of a covenant
or provision which under this Indenture cannot be modified or amended without
the consent of the Holder of each such outstanding Note.

        Section 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment
of principal, premium, if any, and 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. A delay or omission
by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy
accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are
cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

        Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. Holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice
to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an
existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a
continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an
offer to purchase) (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an
acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that
resulted from such acceleration). 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 impair any right consequent thereon.

        Section 6.05. Control by Majority. Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or
exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse
to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the
Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of
Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

        Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits. A Holder of a Note may pursue a
remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

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

                                      -44-
<PAGE>   52

                (b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
        outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the
        remedy;

                (c) such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to
        the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss,
        liability or expense;

                (d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days
        after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the
        provision of indemnity; and

                (e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in
        principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a
        direction inconsistent with the request.

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

        Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder
to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Note so
held, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in
connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of
any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or
affected without the consent of such Holder.

        Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default
specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is
authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express
trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any,
and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal
and, to the extent lawful, interest 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 is
authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be
necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any
claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial
proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its
creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect,
receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any
such claims and any custodian 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 hereof. To
the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements
and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due
the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding,
shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien
on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money,
securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in
such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or
arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein

                                      -45-
<PAGE>   53

contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or
accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, 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, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

                First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due
        under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation,
        expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee
        and the costs and expenses of collection;

                Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the
        Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without
        preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and
        payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any and interest,
        respectively; and

                Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent
        jurisdiction shall direct.

        The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to
Holders of Notes 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 a Trustee, a court in its discretion may
require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay
the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable
costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the
suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses
made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the
Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit
by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

                                   ARTICLE 7.
                                     TRUSTEE

        Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers
vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its
exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in
the conduct of such person's own affairs.

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

                (i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the
        express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only
        those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no
        others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this
        Indenture against the Trustee; and

                                      -46-
<PAGE>   54

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

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

                (i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of
        this Section;

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

                (iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action
        it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction
        received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.

        (d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of
this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs
(a), (b), and (c) of this Section.

        (e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend
or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the
request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee
security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.

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

        Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee. (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely
upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or
matter stated in the document.

        (b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an
Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be
liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on
such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with
counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall
be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in
reliance thereon.

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

                                      -47-
<PAGE>   55

        (d) 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 the rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

        (e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any
demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if
signed by an Officer of the Company.

        (f) 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.

        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 any Affiliate of the Company with the
same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the
Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within
90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any
Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject
to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

        Section 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible
for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture
or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds
from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction
under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use
or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee,
and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any
statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the
Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of
authentication.

        Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default
occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall
mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90
days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in
payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee
may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible
Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the
interests of the Holders of the Notes.

        Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes. Within 60 days
after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this
Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail
to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that
complies with TIA Section 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA Section
313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no
report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section
313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by
TIA Section 313(c).

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

                                      -48-
<PAGE>   56

        Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company agrees to pay to
the Trustee for its acceptance and services hereunder such compensation as the
Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee's
compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an
express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for
all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in
addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the
reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's agents and
counsel.

        The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses,
liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the
costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including
this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by
the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with
the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to
the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its
negligence or bad faith. 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. The Company
shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The
Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the 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.

        The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

        To secure the Company's payment obligations under 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, except that held in trust to pay principal and
interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture.

        When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.01(h) or (i) hereof occurs, the expenses and the
compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and
counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
Bankruptcy Law.

        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.

        The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the
trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so
notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the
Trustee if:

                (a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

                                      -49-
<PAGE>   57

                (b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an
        order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any
        Bankruptcy Law;

                (c) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or
        its property; or

                (d) 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 then outstanding Notes may appoint a
successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

        If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the
retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or
the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Trustee.

        If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a
Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee
and 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. Thereupon, the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the
successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee
under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its
succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property
held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the
Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section
7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section
7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the
benefit of the retiring Trustee.

        Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. If the Trustee
consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of
its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation
without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

        Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. There shall at all times be
a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the
laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a
combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most
recent published annual report of condition.

        This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the
requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to
TIA Section 310(b).

        Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The
Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship
listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall
be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

                                      -50-
<PAGE>   58

                                   ARTICLE 8.
                    LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

        Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a
resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time, elect to have
either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon
compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

        Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company's
exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section
8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth
in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations
with respect to all outstanding Notes on the date the conditions set forth below
are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal
Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged
the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall
thereafter be deemed to be "outstanding" only for the purposes of Section 8.05
hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b)
below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this
Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company,
shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the
following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or
discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive
solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully
set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Company's
obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof,
(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder
and the Company's obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article 8.
Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option
under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under
Section 8.03 hereof.

        Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company's exercise under
Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company
shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04
hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in
Sections 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11 and 4.12 hereof with respect to the outstanding
Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are
satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant Defeasance"), and the Notes shall thereafter
be deemed not "outstanding" for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent
or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in
connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed "outstanding"
for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not
be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant
Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company may
omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term,
condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or
indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or
by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or
in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default
or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified
above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected
thereby. In addition, upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of
the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the

                                      -51-
<PAGE>   59

satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections
6.01(c), (d), (e) and (g) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

        Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following
shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof
to the outstanding Notes:

        In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

                (a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in
        trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars,
        non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such
        amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
        firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of,
        premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the stated
        date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the
        case may be, if in the case of an optional redemption date prior to
        electing to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, the
        Company has delivered to the Trustee an irrevocable notice to redeem all
        of the outstanding Notes on such redemption date;

                (b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the
        Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent
        counsel in the United States stating that (i) the Company has received
        from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a
        ruling or (ii) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change
        in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect
        that, and based thereon such opinion of independent counsel shall
        confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize
        income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such
        Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same
        amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the
        case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred; provided, that the
        foregoing opinion of independent counsel required by this clause (b)
        with respect to a Legal Defeasance need not be delivered if all Notes
        not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (A) have
        become due and payable or (B) will become due and payable at Stated
        Maturity or pursuant to optional redemption within one year under
        arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
        redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the
        Company;

                (c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the
        Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent
        counsel in the United States to the effect that that the Holders of the
        outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal
        income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be
        subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner
        and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant
        Defeasance had not occurred;

                (d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
        continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of
        Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness all or a portion
        of the proceeds of which will be used to defease the Notes pursuant to
        this Article 8 concurrently with such incurrence);

                                      -52-
<PAGE>   60
                (e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not
        result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this
        Indenture or any material agreement or instrument (other than this
        Indenture) to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which
        the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

                (f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
        Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with
        the intent of preferring the Holders of the Notes or any Guarantor over
        any other creditors of the Company or any Guarantor or with the intent
        of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of
        the Company, any Guarantor or others; and

                (g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
        Certificate, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or
        relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case
        may be, have been complied with.

        Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in
Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money
and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof)
deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the
outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in
accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment,
either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as
Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all
sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and
interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.

        The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or
other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government
Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and
interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other
charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

        Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the
Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided
in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof
delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section
8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required
to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

        Section 8.06. Repayment to Company. Any money deposited with the Trustee
or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of
the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest
has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if
then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of
such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all
liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money,
and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease;
provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being

                                      -53-
<PAGE>   61

required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to
be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national
edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date
specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such
notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining
will be repaid to the Company.

        Section 8.07. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to
apply any United States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in
accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of
any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining,
restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company's
obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated
as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until
such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in
accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided,
however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if
any, or interest on any Note following 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 held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

                                   ARTICLE 9.
                        AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

        Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes. Notwithstanding
Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may
amend or supplement this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes without the
consent of any Holder of a Note:

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

                (b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in
        place of certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article 2
        hereof (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not
        materially adversely affect any Holder;

                (c) to provide for the assumption of the Company's or a
        Guarantor's obligations to the Holders by a successor to the Company or
        a Guarantor pursuant to Article 5 or Article 11 hereof, as the case may
        be;

                (d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights
        or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely
        affect the rights hereunder of any Holder of the Note;

                (e) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or
        maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

                (f) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture
        and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes;

                                      -54-
<PAGE>   62

                (g) to make provisions with respect to the conversion right of
        Holders pursuant to Section 12.06.

        Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution
authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and
upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof,
the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of
any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of
this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations
that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter
into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties
or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

        Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes. Except as provided below
in this Section 9.02, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or
supplement this Indenture (including Section 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof), the
Note Guarantees and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a
majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single
class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange
offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07
hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event
of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been
rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Note
Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single
class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange
offer for, or purchase of, the Notes).

        Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution
authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and
upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the
consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of
the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the
Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture unless such
amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustee's own rights,
duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the
Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such
amended or supplemental Indenture.

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

        After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes
effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders affected thereby a notice
briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the
Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any
way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture
or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single
class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any
provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of each
Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with
respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

                                      -55-
<PAGE>   63

                (a) change the Stated Maturity or the principal of, or any
        installment of interest on, any Note or reduce the principal amount
        thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the
        redemption thereof, or change the coin or currency in which any Note or
        any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to
        institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment after the Stated
        Maturity thereof;

                (b) amend, change or modify the obligation of the Company to
        make a Change of Control Purchase Offer in a manner adverse to the
        Holders;

                (c) reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding
        Notes whose Holders must consent to a modification, amendment,
        supplement or waiver;

                (d) modify any of the provisions relating to supplemental
        indentures requiring the consent of Holders or relating to the waiver of
        past defaults or relating to the waiver of certain covenants, except to
        increase the percentage of outstanding Notes required for such actions
        or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be
        modified or waived without the consent of each Holder;

                (e) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in the
        foregoing amendment and waiver provisions; or

                (f) except as otherwise permitted under Article 5 consent to the
        assignment or transfer by the Company or any Guarantor of any of its
        rights and obligations under the Indenture;

                (g) adversely affect the conversion rights provided in Section
        12; or

                (h) modify the provisions of Article 10 or Section 11.06 with
        respect to the subordination of the Notes or any Note Guarantee,
        respectively, in a manner adverse to the Holders.

        Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment or
supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in a amended or
supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

        Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment,
supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a
continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note
or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's
Note, 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 if the Trustee
receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or
amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes
effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

        Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes. The Trustee may place an
appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note
thereafter authenticated. The

                                      -56-
<PAGE>   64

Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt
of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment,
supplement or waiver.

        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 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. The Trustee shall sign
any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if
the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties,
liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amendment
or supplemental Indenture until the Board of Directors approves it. In executing
any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive
and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon,
in addition to the documents required by Section 14.04 hereof, an Officer's
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended
or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

                                   ARTICLE 10.
                             SUBORDINATION OF NOTES

        Section 10.01. Notes Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness. The Company
covenants and agrees, and each Holder, by its acceptance thereof, likewise
covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set
forth in this Article 10, the indebtedness represented by the Notes and the
payment (by set-off or otherwise) of principal of, premium, if any, and interest
on the Notes (including with respect to any repurchases of the Notes) will be
subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash, or at the
option of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, in Temporary Cash Investments, of
all Obligations in respect of Senior Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the
date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred; provided, however, that the
Notes, the indebtedness represented thereby and the payment of the principal of
(and premium, if any), and interest on the Notes, in all respects shall rank
equally with, or prior to, all existing and future Indebtedness of the Company
that is expressly subordinated to any Senior Indebtedness.

        Section 10.02. Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, etc. Upon any
distribution to creditors of the Company or any Guarantor upon any total or
partial liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or such Guarantor
or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar
proceeding relating to the Company or such Guarantor or its property, whether
voluntary or involuntary, an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any
marshalling of the Company's or such Guarantor's assets and liabilities,

                (a) the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or such
        Guarantor will be entitled to receive payment in full in cash, or at the
        option of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, in Temporary Cash
        Investments, of all Obligations due or to become due in respect of such
        Senior Indebtedness (including interest after the commencement of any
        such proceeding at the rate specified in the applicable Senior
        Indebtedness) before the Holders will be entitled to receive any payment
        of any kind or character with respect to the Notes; and

                (b) until all Obligations with respect to such Senior
        Indebtedness are paid in full in cash, or at the option of the holders
        of such Senior Indebtedness, in Temporary Cash

                                      -57-
<PAGE>   65

        Investments, any distribution of any kind or character to which the
        Holders would be entitled shall be made to the holders of such Senior
        Indebtedness (except that Holders may receive Permitted Junior
        Securities and payments made from the trust described under Article 8).

        The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company
into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following
the conveyance, transfer or lease of its properties and assets substantially as
an entirety to another Person upon the terms and conditions set forth in Article
5 shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization,
assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshalling of assets and liabilities
of the Company for the purposes of this Section 10.02 if the Person formed by
such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which
acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease such properties and assets
substantially as an entirety, as the case may be, shall, as a part of such
consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease, comply with the conditions
set forth in Article 5.

        Section 10.03. Suspension of Payment when Senior Indebtedness in
Default. Unless Section 10.02 shall be applicable, neither the Company nor any
Guarantor shall make, directly or indirectly, (x) any payment upon or in respect
of the Notes (except in Permitted Junior Securities or from the trust described
under Article 8) or (y) acquire any of the Notes for cash or property or
otherwise or make any other distribution with respect to the Notes if (i) any
default occurs and is continuing in the payment when due, whether at maturity,
upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise, of any amount of any
Designated Senior Indebtedness (a "Payment Default") or (ii) any other default
occurs and is continuing with respect to Designated Senior Indebtedness (a
"Non-Payment Default") that permits holders of, or the trustee or agent on
behalf of the holders of, the Designated Senior Indebtedness as to which such
default relates to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of
such default (a "Payment Blockage Notice") from the trustee or agent on behalf
of holders of any Designated Senior Indebtedness. Payments on the Notes may and
shall be resumed (a) in the case of a Payment Default, upon the date on which
such default is cured or waived and (b) in case of a Non-Payment Default, the
earlier of the date on which such Non-Payment Default is cured or waived or 179
days after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received,
unless a Payment Default has occurred and is continuing, including as a result
of the acceleration of the maturity of any Designated Senior Indebtedness. After
a Payment Blockage Notice is given for a Non-Payment Default, no new period of
payment blockage for a Non-Payment Default may be commenced unless and until (i)
360 days have elapsed since the effectiveness of the immediately prior Payment
Blockage Notice and (ii) all scheduled payments of principal, premium, if any,
and interest on the Notes that have come due have been paid in full in cash. No
Non-Payment Default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of
any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a
subsequent Payment Blockage Notice unless such Non-Payment Default shall have
been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 days (it being
acknowledged that any subsequent action, or any breach of any financial
covenants for a period commencing after the date of delivery of any Payment
Blockage Notice which, in either case, would give rise to a default pursuant to
any provision under which a default previously existed or was continuing shall
constitute a new default for this purpose). Each Holder by its acceptance of a
Note irrevocably agrees that if any payment or payments shall be made pursuant
to this Indenture by the Company or a Guarantor and the amount or total amount
of such payment or payments exceeds the amount, if any, that such Holder would
be entitled to receive upon the proper application of the subordination
provisions of this Indenture, the payment of such excess amount shall be deemed
null and void, and the Holder agrees

                                      -58-
<PAGE>   66

that it will be obligated to return the amount of the excess payment to the
Trustee, as instructed in a written notice of such excess payment, within ten
days of receiving such notice.

        Section 10.04. Payment Permitted if No Default. Nothing contained in
this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent
the Company, at any time except during the pendency of any case, proceeding,
dissolution, liquidation or other winding up, assignment for the benefit of
creditors or other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company referred
to in Section 10.02 or under the conditions described in Section 10.03, from
making payments at any time of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on
the Notes.

        Section 10.05. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
Subject to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Indebtedness, the
Holders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness to receive payments and distributions of cash, property and
securities applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest on the Notes shall be paid in full. For purposes
of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the
Notes or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this
Article, and no payments over pursuant to the provisions of this Article to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Notes or the Trustee, shall, as
among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness, and
the Holders of the Notes, be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the
Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness.

        Section 10.06. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights. The
provisions of this Article are and are intended solely for the purpose of
defining the relative rights of the Holders on the one hand and the holders of
Senior Indebtedness on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article or
elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Notes is intended to or shall (a) impair,
as between the Company and the Holders, the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest on the Notes as and when the same shall become due and
payable in accordance with their terms; or (b) affect the relative rights
against the Company of the Holders and creditors of the Company other than the
holders of Senior Indebtedness; or (c) prevent the Trustee or any Holder from
exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under
this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article 10 of the
holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the
Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

        Section 10.07. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each Holder of a
Note by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf
to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the
subordination provided in this Article and appoints the Trustee his
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. If upon any dissolution, winding
up or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership proceedings or otherwise, the Trustee does not file a claim in such
proceedings prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such
claim, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or an agent on behalf of such holders
may file such a claim on behalf of the Holders.

        Section 10.08. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions. (a) No right of
any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination
as herein provided shall at any time in any

                                      -59-
<PAGE>   67

way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the
Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or
by any non-compliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of
this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof any such holder may have or
be otherwise charged with.

        (b) Without in any way limiting the generality of subsection (a) of this
Section, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to
time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders, without
incurring responsibility to the Holders and without impairing or releasing the
subordination provided in this Article or the obligations hereunder of the
Holders to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the
following: (1) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time
of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness or any instrument
evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Indebtedness is
outstanding; (2) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property
pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Indebtedness; (3) release any
Person liable in any manner for the collection or payment of Senior
Indebtedness; and (4) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the
Company or any other Person.

        Section 10.09. Notice to Trustee. (a) The Company shall give prompt
written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company which would
prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Notes.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 10 or any other provision of this
Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of
any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in
respect of the Notes, unless and until the Trustee shall have received written
notice thereof from the Company, the Agent or a holder of Senior Indebtedness or
from any trustee, fiduciary or agent therefor; and, prior to the receipt of any
such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01,
shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided,
however, that, if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in
this Section 10.09 at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which by
the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including,
without limitation, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or
interest on any Note), then, anything herein contained to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such
money and to apply the same to the purpose for which such money was received and
shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it
within three Business Days prior to such date.

        (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall be
entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person
representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee,
fiduciary or agent therefor) to establish that such notice has been given by a
holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee, fiduciary or agent therefor). In
the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is
required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior
Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this
Article, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness
held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate
in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of
such Person under this Article 10 and, if such evidence is not furnished, the
Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as
to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

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<PAGE>   68

        Section 10.10. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating
Agent. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in
this Article 10, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, and the
Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court
of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership,
liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or
proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver,
liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or
other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to
the Holders, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate
in such payment or distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other
indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount
or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or
to this Article 10.

        Section 10.11. Rights of Trustee as a Holder of Senior Indebtedness;
Preservation of Trustee's Rights. The Trustee in its individual capacity shall
be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article with respect to any
Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as
any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall
deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article
10 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to
Section 7.07.

        Section 10.12. Article Applicable to Paying Agents. In case at any time
any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company
and be then acting hereunder, the term "Trustee" as used in this Article shall
in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending
to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents
and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to
or in place of the Trustee; provided, however, that Section 10.11 shall not
apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if it or such Affiliate
acts as Paying Agent.

        Section 10.13. No Suspension of Remedies. Nothing contained in this
Article shall limit the right of the Trustee or the Holders to take any action
to accelerate the maturity of the Notes pursuant to Article 6 or to pursue any
rights or remedies hereunder or under applicable law.

        Section 10.14. Trustee not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee
shall mistakenly, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, pay
over or distribute to Holders or to the Company or to any other person cash,
property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be
entitled by virtue of this Article 10 or otherwise. With respect to the holders
of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only
such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this
Article 10 and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of
Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

                                   ARTICLE 11.
                                 NOTE GUARANTEES

        Section 11.01. Guarantee. Subject to this Article 11, each of the
Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each
Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the

                                      -61-
<PAGE>   69

Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the
validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of
the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of and interest on
the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by
acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of
and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the
Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly
paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof;
and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or
any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due
or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether
at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of
any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason,
the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same
immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a
guarantee of collection.

        The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the
Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any
waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or
thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce
the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or
equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives
diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the
event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever
and covenant that this Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete
performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

        If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to
return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or
other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the
Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note
Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full
force and effect.

        Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of
subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed
hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each
Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and
the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the
obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof
for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or
other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations
guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of
such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or
not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors
for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to
seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such
right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.

        Section 11.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability. Each Guarantor, and by
its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention
of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a
fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform
Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar
federal

                                      -62-
<PAGE>   70

or state law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee. To effectuate the
foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby
irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will, after giving
effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of
such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any
collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on
behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other
Guarantor under this Article 11, result in the obligations of such Guarantor
under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

        Section 11.03. Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee. To evidence its
Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a
notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in the form included in Exhibit E
shall be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor on each Note authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of
such Guarantor by its President or one of its Vice Presidents.

        Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in
Section 11.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure
to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

        If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note
Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the
Note on which a Note Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee shall be valid
nevertheless.

        The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication
thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth
in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

        In the event that the Company creates or acquires any new Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries subsequent to the Issue Date or in case any existing or future
majority-owned Subsidiary shall, after the Issue Date, guarantee any
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, in each case if required by
Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall cause such Subsidiaries to execute
supplemental indentures to this Indenture and Note Guarantees in accordance with
Section 4.10 hereof and this Article 11, to the extent applicable.

        Section 11.04. Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05, no Guarantor may consolidate with
or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person)
another Person whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor unless:

                (a) subject to Section 11.05 hereof, the Person formed by or
        surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than a Guarantor or
        the Company) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such
        Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance
        reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under the Notes, this Indenture
        and the Note Guarantee on the terms set forth herein or therein; and

                (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
        Default or Event of Default exists.

                                      -63-
<PAGE>   71

        In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon
the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and
delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note
Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of
the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor,
such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with
the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor
Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be
endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not
have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note
Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit
under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in
accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note
Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

        Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding
clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the
Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the
Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the
property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the
Company or another Guarantor.

        Section 11.05. Releases of Note Guarantees. (a) In the event of a sale
or other disposition of all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger,
consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all to the capital
stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a Person that is not (either before or
after giving effect to such transactions) a Subsidiary of the Company, then such
Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger,
consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such Guarantor) or
the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor) will be
released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that
the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance
with the applicable provisions of this Indenture. Upon delivery by the Company
to the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance
with the provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee shall execute any documents
reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its
obligations under its Note Guarantee.

        (b) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note
Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest
on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture
as provided in this Article 11.

        Section 11.06. Subordination of Note Guarantees. Each Guarantor
covenants and agrees, and each Holder by its acceptance thereof, likewise
covenants and agrees, that each Note Guarantee will be an unsecured senior
subordinated obligation of the Guarantor issuing such Note Guarantee,
subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness
of each Guarantor, and ranking equal in right of payment with all other existing
and future senior subordinated indebtedness of such Guarantor and senior to all
future and existing subordinated indebtedness of such Guarantors, in each case
as more fully described in Article 10 of this Indenture.

                                      -64-
<PAGE>   72

                                   ARTICLE 12.
                                   CONVERSION

        Section 12.01. Conversion Privilege. At any time after 90 days following
the date of original issuance of the Notes and prior to the close of business on
the Business Day immediately preceding March 15, 2009, a Holder of a Note may
convert such Note into Common Stock (the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
such conversion, the "Conversion Shares"), at the Conversion Price then in
effect, together with those rights, warrants or options specified in the first
sentence of Section 12.06(f) hereof, to the extent applicable; provided that, if
such Note is called for redemption pursuant to Article 3, such conversion right
shall terminate at the close of business on the Business Day before the
redemption date for such Note (unless the Company shall default in making the
redemption payment then due, in which case the conversion right shall terminate
on the date such default is cured and such Note is redeemed). The number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a Note shall be determined by
dividing the principal amount of the Note or portion thereof surrendered for
conversion by the Conversion Price in effect on the conversion date. The initial
Conversion Price is set forth in paragraph 9 of the Notes and is subject to
adjustment as provided in this Article 12.

        A Holder may convert a portion of a Note equal to $1,000 or any integral
multiple thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to conversion of all
of a Note also apply to conversion of a portion of a Note.

        A Note in respect of which a Holder has delivered a notice of election
to purchase Notes pursuant to Section 4.08 exercising the option of such Holder
to require the Company to repurchase such Note may be converted only if such
notice is withdrawn by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Company
or the Trustee not later than the third Business Day preceding the Offer Payment
Date in accordance with Section 4.08.

        A Holder of Notes is not entitled to any rights of a holder of Common
Stock until such Holder has converted his Notes into Common Stock and, upon such
conversion, only to the extent such Notes are deemed to have been converted into
Common Stock pursuant to this Article 12.

        Section 12.02. Conversion Procedure. To convert a Note, a Holder must
(i) complete and manually sign the Conversion Notice and deliver it to the
Conversion Agent, (ii) surrender the Note to the Conversion Agent, (iii) furnish
appropriate endorsements and transfer documents to the Registrar or the
Conversion Agent, (iv) pay any transfer or other tax, if required by Section
12.04 and (v) if the Note is held in book-entry form, complete and deliver to
the Depositary appropriate instructions pursuant to the Depositary's book-entry
conversion programs. The date on which the Holder satisfies all of the foregoing
requirements is the conversion date. As soon as practicable after the conversion
date, the Company shall deliver to the Holder through the Conversion Agent a
certificate for the number of whole shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
conversion and cash in lieu of any fractional shares pursuant to Section 12.05.

        The person in whose name the certificate is registered shall be deemed
to be a stockholder of record on the conversion date; provided, however, that no
surrender of a Note on any date when the stock transfer books of the Company
shall be closed shall be effective to constitute the person or

                                      -65-
<PAGE>   73

persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock upon such conversion as
the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock on such date, but
such surrender shall be effective to constitute the person or persons entitled
to receive such shares of Common Stock as the record holder or holders thereof
for all purposes at the close of business on the next succeeding day on which
such stock transfer books are open; provided, further, that such conversion
shall be at the Conversion Price in effect on the date that such Note shall have
been surrendered for conversion, as if the stock transfer books of the Company
had not been closed. Upon conversion of a Note, such person shall no longer be a
Holder of such Note.

        No payment or adjustment will be made for accrued interest on a
converted Note or for dividends or distributions on shares of Common Stock
issued upon conversion of a Note, but if any Holder surrenders a Note for
conversion between the record date for the payment of an installment of interest
and the next interest payment date, then, notwithstanding such conversion, the
interest payable on such interest payment date shall be paid to the Holder of
such Note on such record date. In such event, such Note, when surrendered for
conversion, must be accompanied by delivery of a check payable to the Conversion
Agent in an amount equal to the interest payable on such interest payment date
on the portion so converted. If such payment does not accompany such Note, the
Note shall not be converted; provided, however, that no such check shall be
required if such Note has been called for redemption on a redemption date within
the period between and including such record date and such interest payment
date, or if such Note is surrendered for conversion on the interest payment
date. If the Company defaults in the payment of interest payable on the interest
payment date, the Conversion Agent shall repay such funds to the Holder.

        If a Holder converts more than one Note at the same time, the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion shall be based on the
aggregate principal amount of Notes converted.

        Upon surrender of a Note that is converted in part, the Company shall
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder, a new
Note equal in principal amount to the unconverted portion of the Note
surrendered.

        Section 12.03. Adjustments Below Par Value. Before taking any action
which would cause an adjustment decreasing the Conversion Price so that the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes would be issued for
less than the par value of such Common Stock, the Company will take all
corporate action which may be necessary in order that the Company may validly
and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of such Common Stock at
such adjusted Conversion Price.

        Section 12.04. Taxes on Conversion. If a Holder converts a Note, the
Company shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on
the issue of shares of Common Stock upon such conversion. However, the Holder
shall pay any such tax which is due because the Holder requests the shares to be
issued in a name other than the Holder's name. The Conversion Agent may refuse
to deliver the certificates representing the Common Stock being issued in a name
other than the Holder's name until the Conversion Agent receives a sum
sufficient to pay any tax which will be due because the shares are to be issued
in a name other than the Holder's name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax
withholding required by law or regulations.

                                      -66-
<PAGE>   74

        Section 12.05. Company To Provide Stock. The Company shall, prior to
issuance of any Notes hereunder, and from time to time as may be necessary,
reserve, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of
shares of Common Stock to permit the conversion of all outstanding Notes for
shares of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock or other securities issued
upon conversion of the Notes shall bear any legend required in accordance with
Section 2.6(f).

        No fractional shares of Common Stock or scrip representing fractional
shares shall be issued upon conversion of Notes. If more than one Note shall be
surrendered for conversion at one time by the same holder, the number of full
shares which shall be issuable upon conversion shall be computed on the basis of
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or specified portions thereof to
the extent permitted hereby) so surrendered. If any fractional share of Common
Stock would be issuable upon the conversion of any Note or Notes, the Company
shall make an adjustment thereof in cash at the current market value thereof.
For these purposes, the current market value of a share of Common Stock shall be
the Closing Price on the first Business Day immediately preceding the day on
which the Notes (or specified portions thereof) are deemed to have been
converted.

        The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock delivered upon
conversion of the Notes shall be newly issued shares or treasury shares, shall
be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and shall be
free from preemptive rights and free of any lien or adverse claim.

        The Company will endeavor promptly to comply with all federal and state
securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of shares of Common Stock upon
conversion of Notes, if any, and will list or cause to have quoted such shares
of Common Stock on each national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter
market or such other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted.

        Section 12.06. Adjustment of Conversion Price. The conversion price (the
"Conversion Price") shall be that price set forth in paragraph 9 of the form of
Note attached hereto as Exhibit A and shall be adjusted from time to time by the
Company as follows:

                (a) In case the Company shall (i) pay a dividend or other
        distribution in shares of Common Stock to holders of Common Stock, (ii)
        subdivide its outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares,
        (iii) combine its outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of
        shares or (iv) reclassify its outstanding Common Stock, the Conversion
        Price in effect immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted so that the
        Holder of any Note thereafter surrendered for conversion shall be
        entitled to receive the number of shares of Common Stock which it would
        have owned or have been entitled to receive had such Note been converted
        immediately prior to the happening of such event. An adjustment made
        pursuant to this subsection (a) shall become effective immediately after
        the record date in the case of a dividend or distribution and shall
        become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of
        subdivision, combination or reclassification.

                (b) In case the Company shall issue to all or substantially all
        holders of its Common Stock, rights, warrants or options entitling such
        holders (for a period commencing no earlier than the record date
        described below and expiring not more than 45 days after such record
        date) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock (or securities
        convertible

                                      -67-
<PAGE>   75

        into Common Stock) at a price per share less than the current market
        price per share of Common Stock (as determined in accordance with
        subsection (e) below) at the record date for the determination of
        stockholders entitled to receive such rights, warrants or options, the
        Conversion Price in effect immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted
        so that the Conversion Price shall equal the price determined by
        multiplying the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such
        record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of
        shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number
        of shares which the aggregate subscription or purchase price for the
        total number of shares of Common Stock offered by the rights, warrants
        or options so issued (or the aggregate conversion price of the
        convertible securities offered by such rights, warrants or options)
        would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of
        which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such
        record date plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock offered
        by such rights, warrants or options (or into which the convertible
        securities so offered by such rights, warrants or options are
        convertible). Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any
        such rights, warrants or options are issued, and shall become effective
        immediately after such record date. If at the end of the period during
        which such rights, warrants or options are exercisable not all rights,
        warrants or options shall have been exercised, the adjusted Conversion
        Price shall be immediately readjusted to what it would have been upon
        application of the foregoing adjustment substituting the number of
        additional shares of Common Stock actually issued (or the number of
        shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of convertible
        securities actually issued) for the total number of shares of Common
        Stock offered (or the convertible securities offered).

                (c) In case the Company shall distribute to all or substantially
        all holders of its Common Stock any shares of Capital Stock of the
        Company (other than Common Stock) or evidences of its Indebtedness,
        cash, other securities or other assets, (excluding (i) rights, options
        and warrants referred to in subsection (b) above or (f) below; (ii)
        those dividends, distributions, subdivisions and combinations referred
        to in subsection (a) above; and (iii) dividends and distributions paid
        in cash in an aggregate amount that, combined together with (A) all
        other such cash distributions made within the preceding 12 months in
        respect of which no adjustment has been made under this Section 12.06
        and (B) the fair market value of consideration payable in respect of any
        repurchases (including by way of tender offers) by the Company or any of
        its Subsidiaries, of Common Stock concluded within the preceding 12
        months, in each case in respect of which no adjustment has been made
        under this Section 12.06, does not exceed 10% of Market Capitalization
        as of the record date for such distribution), then in each such case the
        Conversion Price shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the
        price determined by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect
        immediately prior to the date of such distribution or purchase by a
        fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current market price per
        share (as defined in subsection (e) below) of the Common Stock on the
        record date mentioned below less the fair market value on such record
        date (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall
        be conclusive evidence of such fair market value) of the portion of the
        capital stock or evidences of indebtedness, securities or assets so
        distributed, in each case as applicable to one share of Common Stock,
        and the denominator of which shall be the current market price per share
        (as defined in subsection (e) below) of the Common Stock on such record
        date. Such adjustment shall

                                      -68-
<PAGE>   76

        become effective immediately after the record date for the determination
        of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution.

                (d) In case the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall
        repurchase (including by way of tender offer) shares of Common Stock,
        and the fair market value of the sum of (i) the aggregate consideration
        paid for such Common Stock, (ii) the aggregate fair market value of cash
        dividends and distributions of the type described in clause (iii) of the
        preceding paragraph (c) paid within the twelve (12) months preceding the
        date of purchase of such shares of Common Stock in respect of which no
        adjustment pursuant to this Section 12.06 previously has been made, and
        (iii) the aggregate fair market value of any amounts previously paid for
        the repurchase of Common Stock of a type described in this paragraph (d)
        within the twelve (12) months preceding the date of purchase of such
        shares of Common Stock in respect of which no adjustment pursuant to
        this Section 12.06 previously has been made, exceeds 10% of Market
        Capitalization on the date of, and after giving effect to, such
        repurchase, then the Conversion Price shall be adjusted so that the same
        shall equal the price determined by multiplying the Conversion Price in
        effect immediately prior to the date of such distribution or purchase by
        a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current market price per
        share (as defined in subsection (e) below) of the Common Stock on the
        date of such repurchase, less the quotient obtained by dividing the
        Aggregate Market Premium involved in such repurchase (as defined
        hereinafter) by the difference between the number of shares of Common
        Stock outstanding before such repurchase and the number of shares of
        Common Stock the subject of such repurchase, and the denominator of
        which shall be the current market price per share (as defined in
        subsection (e) below) of the Common Stock on the date of such
        repurchase. Such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the
        date of such repurchase. For purposes of this subsection (d), the
        "Aggregate Market Premium" is the excess, if any, of the aggregate
        repurchase price paid for all such Common Stock over the aggregate
        current market value per share (as defined in subsection (e) below) of
        all such repurchased stock, determined with respect to each share
        involved in each such repurchase as of the date of repurchase with
        respect to such share.

                (e) For the purpose of any computation under subsections (b),
        (c) and (d) above, the current market price per share of Common Stock on
        any date shall be deemed to be the average of the Closing Prices for 20
        consecutive Trading Days commencing 30 Trading Days before the record
        date with respect to any distribution, issuance or other event requiring
        such computation. The Closing Price for each day shall be (i) the last
        sale price, or the closing bid price if no sale occurred, of such class
        of stock on the principal securities exchange on which such class of
        stock is listed, if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading
        on any national securities exchange, (ii) the last reported sale price
        of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange, or any similar system of
        automated dissemination of quotations of securities prices then in
        common use, if so quoted, or (iii) if not quoted as described in clause
        (i), the mean between the high bid and low asked quotations for Common
        Stock as reported by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated if at
        least two securities dealers have inserted both bid and asked quotations
        for such class of stock on at least 5 of the 10 preceding days. If the
        Common Stock is quoted on a national securities or central market
        system, in lieu of a market or quotation system described above, the
        Closing Price shall be determined in the manner set forth in clause
        (iii) of the preceding sentence if bid and asked quotations are

                                      -69-
<PAGE>   77

        reported but actual transactions are not, and in the manner set forth in
        clause (ii) of the preceding sentence if actual transactions are
        reported. If none of the conditions set forth above is met, the Closing
        Price of Common Stock on any day or the average of such last reported
        sale prices for any period shall be the fair market value of such class
        of stock as determined by a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange,
        Inc. selected by the Company. As used herein the term "Trading Days"
        with respect to Common Stock means (i) if the Common Stock is listed or
        admitted for trading on any national securities exchange, days on which
        such national securities exchange is open for business or (ii) if the
        Common Stock is quoted on the New York Stock Exchange or any similar
        system of automated dissemination of quotations of securities prices,
        days on which trades may be made on such system.

                (f) If the Company implements a Stockholder Rights Plan (as
        defined below) after the Issue Date, the Company agrees that such
        Stockholder Rights Plan will provide that upon any conversion of the
        Notes by any Holder prior to a Trigger Event (as defined below), the
        Holders shall receive the rights, warrants or options issued under such
        plan. Rights, warrants or options distributed by the Company to all
        holders of Common Stock entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for
        or purchase shares of the Company's capital stock (either initially or
        under certain circumstances), which rights, warrants or options, until
        the occurrence of a specified event or events (a "Trigger Event"):

                        (i) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of
                Common Stock,

                        (ii) are not exercisable, and

                        (iii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of
                Common Stock,

(a "Stockholder Rights Plan") shall not be deemed distributed for purposes of
this Section 12.06 and no adjustment to the Conversion Price shall be required
to be made until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event. In addition, in
the event of any Trigger Event with respect thereto, that shall have resulted in
an adjustment to the Conversion Price under this Section 12.06, (A) in the case
of any such rights, warrants or options which shall all have been redeemed or
repurchased without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Price shall
be readjusted upon such final redemption or repurchase to give effect to such
distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash
distribution, equal to the per share redemption or repurchase price received by
a holder of Common Stock with respect to such rights, warrants or options
(assuming such holder had retained such rights, warrants or options), made to
all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or repurchase, and
(B) in the case of any such rights, warrants or options all of which shall have
expired without exercise by any holder thereof, the Conversion Price shall be
readjusted as if such issuance had not occurred.

        In any case in which this Section 12.06 shall require that an adjustment
be made immediately following a record date established for purposes of Section
12.06, the Company may elect to defer (but only until five Business Days
following the filing by the Company with the Trustee of the certificate
described in Section 12.10) issuing to the holder of any Note converted after
such record date the shares of Common Stock and other capital stock of the
Company issuable upon such

                                      -70-
<PAGE>   78

conversion over and above the shares of Common Stock and other capital stock of
the Company issuable upon such conversion only on the basis of the Conversion
Price prior to adjustment; and, in lieu of the shares the issuance of which is
so deferred, the Company shall issue or cause its transfer agents to issue due
bills or other appropriate evidence of the right to receive such shares.

        Section 12.07. No Adjustment. No adjustment in the Conversion Price
shall be required unless the adjustment would require an increase or decrease of
at least 1% in the Conversion Price as last adjusted; provided, however, that
any adjustments which by reason of this Section 12.07 are not required to be
made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent
adjustment. All calculations under this Article 12 shall be made to the nearest
cent or to the nearest one-hundredth of a share, as the case may be.

        No adjustment need be made for rights to purchase Common Stock or
issuances of Common Stock pursuant to a Company plan for reinvestment of
dividends or interest.

        No adjustment need be made for a change in the par value or a change to
no par value of the Common Stock.

        To the extent that the Notes become convertible into cash, no adjustment
need be made thereafter as to the cash. Interest will not accrue on the cash.

        Section 12.08. Equivalent Adjustments. In the event that, as a result of
an adjustment made pursuant to Section 12.06 above, the Holder of any Note
thereafter surrendered for conversion shall become entitled to receive any
shares of Capital Stock of the Company other than shares of Common Stock,
thereafter the Conversion Price of such other shares so receivable upon
conversion of any Notes shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a
manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with
respect to Common Stock contained in this Article 12.

        Section 12.09. Adjustment for Tax Purposes. The Company shall be
entitled to make such reductions in the Conversion Price, in addition to those
required by Section 12.06, as it in its discretion shall determine to be
advisable in order that any stock dividends, subdivision of shares, distribution
of rights to purchase stock or securities, or a distribution or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for stock hereafter made by the Company to its
stockholders shall not be taxable.

        Section 12.10. Notice of Adjustment. Whenever the Conversion Price is
adjusted, or Noteholders become entitled to other securities or due bills, the
Company shall promptly mail to Noteholders a notice of the adjustment and file
with the Trustee an Officers' Certificate briefly stating the facts requiring
the adjustment and the manner of computing it. The certificate shall be
conclusive evidence of the correctness of such adjustment and the Trustee may
conclusively assume that, unless and until such certificate is received by it,
no such adjustment is required.

        Section 12.11. Notice of Certain Transactions. In case:

                (a) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other
        distribution) on its Common Stock (other than in cash out of retained
        earnings); or

                                      -71-
<PAGE>   79

                (b) the Company shall authorize the granting to all or
        substantially the holders of its Common Stock of rights, warrants or
        options to subscribe for or purchase any share of any class or any other
        rights, warrants or options; or

                (c) of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company
        (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding Common
        Stock, or a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or
        from no par value to par value);

the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee and to be mailed to each
holder of Notes at its address appearing on the list provided for in Section
2.05, as promptly as possible, a notice stating (i) the date on which a record
is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or rights,
warrants or options, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which
the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend,
distribution or rights are to be determined, or (ii) the date on which such
reclassification is expected to become effective or occur, and the date as of
which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to
exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon
such reclassification. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall
not affect the legality or validity of such dividend, distribution or
reclassification.

        Section 12.12. Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale
on Conversion Privilege. If any of the following shall occur: (i) any
reclassification or change of outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a
change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to
par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination); (ii) any
consolidation, combination or merger to which the Company is a party other than
a merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and which does not
result in any reclassification of, or change (other than a change in name, or
par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value,
or as a result of a subdivision or combination) in, outstanding shares of Common
Stock; or (iii) any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company, then the Company, or such successor or purchasing corporation,
as the case may be, shall, as a condition precedent to such reclassification,
change, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, execute and deliver to the
Trustee a supplemental indenture providing that the Holder of each Note then
outstanding shall have the right to convert such Note into the kind and amount
of shares of stock and other securities and property (including cash) receivable
upon such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance by
a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion of
such Note immediately prior to such reclassification, change, consolidation,
merger, sale or conveyance. Such supplemental indenture shall provide for
adjustments of the Conversion Price which shall be as nearly equivalent as may
be practicable to the adjustments of the Conversion Price provided for in this
Article 12. If, in the case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or
conveyance, the stock or other securities and property (including cash)
receivable thereupon by a holder of Common Stock includes shares of stock or
other securities and property of a corporation other than the successor or
purchasing corporation, as the case may be, in such consolidation, merger, sale
or conveyance, then such supplemental indenture shall also be executed by such
other corporation and shall contain such additional provisions to protect the
interests of the Holders of the Notes as the Board of Directors shall reasonably
consider necessary by reason of the foregoing. The provision of this Section
12.12 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers, sales or
conveyances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a distribution by the Company to all
or substantially all holders of its

                                      -72-
<PAGE>   80

Common Stock for which an adjustment to the Conversion Price or provision for
conversion of the Notes may be made pursuant to Section 12.06 shall not be
deemed to be a sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company for purposes of this Section 12.12.

        In the event the Company shall execute a supplemental indenture pursuant
to this Section 12.12, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee an
Opinion of Counsel stating that such supplemental indenture is authorized or
permitted by this Indenture and an Officers' Certificate briefly stating the
reasons therefor, the kind or amount of shares of stock or securities or
property (including cash) receivable by Holders of the Notes upon the conversion
of their Notes after any such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger,
sale or conveyance, any adjustment to be made with respect thereto and that all
conditions precedent have been complied with.

        Section 12.13. Trustee's Disclaimer. The Trustee has no duty to
determine when an adjustment under this Article 12 should be made, how it should
be made or what such adjustment should be made, but may accept as conclusive
evidence of the correctness of any such adjustment, and shall be protected in
relying upon, the Officers' Certificate with respect thereto which the Company
is obligated to file with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.10. The Trustee
shall not be accountable for and makes no representation as to the validity or
value of any securities or assets issued upon conversion of Notes, and the
Trustee shall not be responsible for the Company's failure to comply with any
provisions of this Article 12. Each Conversion Agent (other than the Company or
an Affiliate of the Company) shall have the same protection under this Section
12.13 as the Trustee.

        The Trustee shall not be under any responsibility to determine the
correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture executed
pursuant to Section 12.12, but may accept as conclusive evidence of the
correctness thereof, and shall be protected in relying upon, the Officers'
Certificate with respect thereto which the Company is obligated to file with the
Trustee pursuant to Section 12.12.

        Section 12.14. Voluntary Reduction. The Company from time to time may
reduce the Conversion Price by any amount for any period of time if the period
is at least 20 days or such longer period as may be required by law and if the
reduction is irrevocable during the period; provided that in no event may the
Conversion Price be less than the par value of a share of Common Stock.

                                   ARTICLE 13.
                           SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

        Section 13.01. Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture will be
discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued
hereunder, when:

        (a) either:

                (i) all Notes issued under the Indenture and theretofore
        authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes
        which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment funds have
        been deposited in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the
        Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the
        Trustee for cancellation; or

                                      -73-
<PAGE>   81

                (ii) all Notes issued under the Indenture and not theretofore
        delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

                        (A) have become due and payable or

                        (B) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity
                or pursuant to an optional redemption within one year, and
                either the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or
                caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount
                sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness in
                respect of the Notes, for principal of, premium and interest to
                the date of redemption or Stated Maturity, as the case may be;

                (b) the Company or any Guarantor has paid all other sums payable
        by the Company and any Guarantor under the Indenture; and

                (c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
        Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions
        precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture, as
        specified therein, have been complied with and that such satisfaction
        and discharge will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute
        a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or
        instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which
        it is bound.

                (d) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the
        Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the
        payment of the Notes at Stated Maturity or the redemption date, as the
        case may be.

        Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if
money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (ii)(B)
of clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Section 11.02 and Section 8.06
shall survive.

        Section 13.02. Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of
Section 8.06, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 13.01
shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of
the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any
Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the
Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and
premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited
with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except
to the extent required by law.

        If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or
Government Securities in accordance with Section 13.01 by reason of any legal
proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental
authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the
Company's and any Guarantor's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes
shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to
Section 13.01; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal
of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes

                                      -74-
<PAGE>   82

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 Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

                                   ARTICLE 14.
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

        Section 14.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this
Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA Section
318(c), the imposed duties shall control.

        Section 14.02. Notices. Any notice or communication by the Company, any
Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered
in Person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt
requested), telex, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day
delivery, to the others' address:

        If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

                Fleming Companies, Inc.
                1945 Lakepointe Drive
                Lewisville, Texas 75029
                Telecopier No.:  (972) 906-1555
                Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

        With a copy to:

                Latham & Watkins
                505 Montgomery Street
                San Francisco, California 94111
                Telecopier No.:  (415) 395-8095
                Attention:  Tracy Edmonson

                If to the Trustee:

                Bank One, N.A.
                100 East Broad Street, 8th Floor
                Mail Code OH1-0181
                Columbus, OH 43215
                Fax (614) 248-5195
                Attention: Corporate Trust Services

        The Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.

        All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall
be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally
delivered; five Business Days after being

                                      -75-
<PAGE>   83

deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if
telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day
after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.

        Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class
mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept
by the Registrar. 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.
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall
not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

        If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above
within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee
receives it.

        If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail
a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

        Section 14.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of
Notes. 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 14.04. 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:

                (a) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
        satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set
        forth in Section 14.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the
        signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in
        this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

                (b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
        satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set
        forth in Section 14.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such
        counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been
        satisfied.

        Section 14.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each
certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to
TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e)
and shall include:

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

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

                                      -76-
<PAGE>   84

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

                (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
        Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

        Section 14.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make
reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or
Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its
functions.

        Section 14.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees
and Stockholders. No past, present or future director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have
any liability for any obligations of the Company or such Guarantor under the
Notes, the Note Guarantees, this 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 issuance of the Notes.

        Section 14.08. Governing Law. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE
GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO
THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE
REQUIRED THEREBY.

        Section 14.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This
Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt
agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such
indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

        Section 14.10. 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 successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in
this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in
Section 11.05.

        Section 14.11. Severability. 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.

        Section 14.12. Counterpart 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 14.13. 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 of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any
of the terms or provisions hereof.

                                      -77-
<PAGE>   85

                         [Signatures on following page]

                                      -78-
<PAGE>   86

                                   SIGNATURES

Dated as of March 15, 2001

                             FLEMING COMPANIES, INC.

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Senior Vice President,
                                       General Counsel and Secretary

                             ABCO FOOD GROUP, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Louis F. Moore
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Louis F. Moore
                                Title:  Secretary

                             ABCO MARKETS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             ABCO REALTY CORP.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             AG, L.L.C., as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             AMERICAN LOGISTICS GROUP, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                                      -79-
<PAGE>   87

                             BAKER'S FOOD GROUP, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Louis F. Moore
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Louis F. Moore
                                Title:  Secretary

                             DUNIGAN FUELS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             FAVAR CONCEPTS, LTD.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             FLEMING FOODS MANAGEMENT CO., L.L.C.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             FLEMING FOODS OF TEXAS, L.P.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             FLEMING INTERNATIONAL LTD.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                                      -80-
<PAGE>   88

                             FLEMING SUPERMARKETS OF FLORIDA, INC.

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             FLEMING TRANSPORTATION SERVICE, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             FLEMING WHOLESALE, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             FUELSERV, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             GATEWAY INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             LAS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             PIGGLY WIGGLY COMPANY,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                                      -81-
<PAGE>   89

                             PROGRESSIVE REALTY, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             RAINBOW FOOD GROUP, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Louis F. Moore
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Louis F. Moore
                                Title:  Secretary

                             RETAIL INVESTMENTS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Louis F. Moore
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Louis F. Moore
                                Title:  Secretary

                             RETAIL SUPERMARKETS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             RFS MARKETING SERVICES, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             RICHMAR FOODS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                                      -82-
<PAGE>   90

                             SCRIVNER TRANSPORTATION, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title:  Secretary

                             BANK ONE, N.A.,
                               as Trustee

                             By:   /s/ David B. Knox
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name: David B. Knox
                                Title:   Authorized Signer

                                      -83-
<PAGE>   91

                                                                      EXHIBIT A

                                 [Face of Note]
================================================================================

                                                         CUSIP/CINS ____________

              5.25% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009

No. ___                                                            $____________

                             FLEMING COMPANIES, INC.

promises to pay to _____________________________________________________________

or registered assigns,

the principal sum of ________________________________ Dollars on March 15, 2009.

Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15

Record Dates:  March 1 and September 1

Conversion: This Note is convertible at such times and as specified on the other
side of this Note.

Dated: March 15, 2001

                                          FLEMING COMPANIES, INC.

                                          By:___________________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

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

BANK ONE, N.A.,

  as Trustee

By:___________________________________
   Authorized Signatory

================================================================================

                                      A-1
<PAGE>   92

                                 [Back of Note]

              5.25% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the
Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions
of the Indenture]

        Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them
in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

        1. INTEREST. Fleming Companies, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation (the
"Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at
5.25% per annum from March 15, 2001 until maturity. The Company will pay
interest semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, or
if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each
an "Interest Payment Date"). 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 the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the
payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date
referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date,
interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided,
further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be September 15, 2001. The
Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding
under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to
time on demand at the rate then in effect; it shall pay interest (including
post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue
installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from
time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

        2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except
defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the
close of business on the March 1 or September 1 next preceding the Interest
Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or
before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the
Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to
principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company
maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York,
or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check
mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders,
and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will
be required with respect to principal of and interest, and premium, if any, on,
all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided
wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment
shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time
of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. The Company
reserves the right to pay interest to Holders of Notes by check mailed to such
Holders at their registered addresses or by wire transfer to Holders of at least
$5 million aggregate principal amount of Notes.

        3. PAYING AGENT, REGISTRAR, AND CONVERSION AGENT. Initially, Bank One,
N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent, Registrar and
Conversion Agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or
Conversion Agent without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its
Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

                                      A-2
<PAGE>   93

        4. INDENTURE. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as
of March 15, 2001 ("Indenture") among the Company, the Guarantors and the
Trustee. 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 of 1939, as
amended (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to
all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a
statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with
the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the indenture shall
govern and be controlling. The Notes are obligations of the Company limited to
$130 million in aggregate principal amount plus an additional principal amount
not exceeding $20 million in the aggregate as may be issued upon the exercise by
the Initial Purchasers, in whole or in part, of the Purchase Option.

        5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION. At any time on or after March 22, 2004, we may
redeem the Notes in whole, or from time to time, in part, at our option on at
least 30 days' notice if the trading price of our common stock for 20 trading
days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the day prior to the
mailing of notice of redemption exceeds 120% of the prevailing conversion price
of the Notes. The redemption price, expressed as a percentage of the principal
amount, will be as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         REDEMPTION PERIOD                                                                         REDEMPTION PRICE
         -----------------                                                                         ----------------
<S>                                                                                                   <C>
         March 22, 2004 through March 14, 2005............................................            103.0%
         March 15, 2005 through March 14, 2006............................................            102.0%
         March 15, 2006 through March 14, 2007............................................            101.0%
</TABLE>

and 100% of the principal amount on and after March 15, 2007.

        6. MANDATORY REDEMPTION. Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the
Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect
to the Notes.

        7. REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER. Upon the occurrence of a Change of
Control, the Company will be required to offer to purchase all of the
outstanding Notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of
repurchase.

        8. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30
days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations
larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of
$1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and
after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof
called for redemption.

        9. CONVERSION. At any time after 90 days following the latest date of
original issuance of the Notes and prior to the close of business on the
business day immediately preceding March 15, 2009, a Holder of a Note may
convert such Note into shares of Common Stock of the Company; provided, however,
that if the Note is called for redemption, the conversion right will terminate
at the close of business on the Business Day before the redemption date of such
Note (unless the Company shall default in making the redemption payment when
due, in which case the conversion right shall

                                      A-3
<PAGE>   94

terminate at the close of business on the date such default is cured and such
Note is redeemed). The initial conversion price is $30.27 per share, subject to
adjustment under certain circumstances as described in the Indenture (the
"Conversion Price"). The number of shares issuable upon conversion of a Note is
determined by dividing the principal amount converted by the Conversion Price in
effect on the conversion date. Upon conversion, no adjustment for interest or
dividends will be made. No fractional shares will be issued upon conversion; in
lieu thereof, an amount will be paid in cash based upon the current market price
(as defined in the Indenture) of the Common Stock on the last trading day prior
to the date of conversion.

        To convert a Note, a Holder must (a) complete and sign the conversion
notice set forth as Exhibit G to the Indenture and deliver such notice to the
Conversion Agent, (b) surrender the Note to the Conversion Agent, (c) furnish
appropriate endorsements and transfer documents if required by the Registrar or
the Conversion Agent, (d) pay any transfer or similar tax, if required and (e)
if the Note is held in book-entry form, complete and deliver to the Depositary
appropriate instructions pursuant to the Depositary's book-entry conversion
programs. If a Holder surrenders a Note for conversion between the record date
for the payment of an installment of interest and the next interest payment
date, the Note must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the interest
payable on such interest payment date on the principal amount of the Note or
portion thereof then converted; provided, however, that no such payment shall be
required if such Note has been called for redemption on a redemption date within
the period between and including such record date and such interest payment
date, or if such Note is surrendered for conversion on the interest payment
date. A Holder may convert a portion of a Note equal to $1,000 or any integral
multiple thereof.

        A Note in respect of which a Holder had delivered a notice exercising
the option of such Holder to require the Company to repurchase such Note may be
converted only if the notice of exercise is withdrawn as provided above and in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

        10. SUBORDINATION. The indebtedness evidenced by the Notes and the Note
Guarantees is, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Indenture,
subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
Senior Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, as defined
in the Indenture. Any Holder by accepting this Note agrees to and shall be bound
by such subordination provisions and authorizes the Trustee to give them effect.

        In addition to all other rights of Senior Indebtedness described in the
Indenture, the Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and
entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any
amendment, modification or waiver of any terms of any instrument relating to the
Senior Indebtedness or any extension or renewal of the Senior Indebtedness.

        11. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The
transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in
the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other
things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the
Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or
permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company
need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a

                                      A-4
<PAGE>   95

period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the
period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

        12. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be
treated as its owner for all purposes.

        13. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain exceptions, the
Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with
the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes voting as a single class, and any existing default or
compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes
may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class. Without the consent of
any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be
amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to
provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated
Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company's or Guarantor's obligations
to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change
that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes
or that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights under the
Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in
order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act, or to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to
the Indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes.

        14. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default are set forth in the
Indenture. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may
declare all the Notes to be due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or
insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further
action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as
provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority
in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its
exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the
Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or
Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it
determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice
to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any
existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture
except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest on,
or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the
Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the
Company is required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to
deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

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

        16. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Company

                                      A-5
<PAGE>   96

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.

        17. AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by
the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

        18. 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).

        19. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND
RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of
Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted
Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement dated as of March 15, 2001, between the Company and the parties named
on the signature pages thereof (the "Registration Rights Agreement").

        20. CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made
as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers placed thereon.

        The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without
charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.
Requests may be made to:

Fleming Companies, Inc.
1945 Lakepointe Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75029

Attention:  Investor Relations

                                      A-6
<PAGE>   97

                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

                  To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: _________________________________
                                                (Insert assignee's legal name)

________________________________________________________________________________
                  (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
              (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)

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

Date:  _______________

                                       Your Signature:__________________________
                                                     (Sign exactly as your name
                                                     appears on the face of this
                                                     Note)

Signature Guarantee*:  _________________________

*       Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or
        other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

                                      A-7
<PAGE>   98

                       OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

        If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant
to Section 4.08 of the Indenture, check the box below:

                                [ ] Section 4.08

        If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.08 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to
have purchased:

                                $_______________

Date: _______________

                                       Your Signature:__________________________
                                                      (Sign exactly as your name
                                                      appears on the face of
                                                      this Note)

                                       Tax Identification No.:__________________

Signature Guarantee*:  _________________________

*       Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or
        other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

                                      A-8
<PAGE>   99

              SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE

        The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in
another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another
Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been
made:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Principal Amount of this
                        Amount of decrease in     Amount of increase in     Global Note following     Signature of authorized
                          Principal Amount           Principal Amount           such decrease          officer of Trustee or
Date of Exchange        of this Global Note       of this Global Note          (or increase)             Note Custodian
----------------        ---------------------     ---------------------   -------------------------   -----------------------
<S>                    <C>                       <C>                     <C>                         <C>

</TABLE>

                                      A-9
<PAGE>   100

                                                                      EXHIBIT B

                         FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Fleming Companies, Inc.
1945 Lakepointe Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75029

[Registrar address block]

        Re: 5.25% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008

        Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 15, 2001
(the "Indenture"), among Fleming Companies, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation, as
issuer (the "Company"), the Guarantors party thereto and Bank One, N.A., as
trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the Indenture.

        ___________________ (the "Transferor") owns and proposes to transfer the
Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the
principal amount of $___________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Transfer"),
to ___________________________ (the "Transferee"), as further specified in Annex
A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

                             [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

        1. [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST
IN THE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer
is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and,
accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial
interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor
reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or
Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to
which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each
such account is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule
144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is
in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the
United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note
will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private
Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and
in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

        2. [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST
IN THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S.
The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or
Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby
further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the
United

                                      B-1
<PAGE>   101

States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was
outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf
reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United
States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a
designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person
acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in
the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in
contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S
under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme
to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the
proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted
Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or
benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of
the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the
transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the
restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on
the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and
the Securities Act.

        3. [ ] CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A
BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE IAI GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY
PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The
Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted
Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and
any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and
accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

                (a) [ ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in
        accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

                                       or

                (b) [ ] such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a
        subsidiary thereof;

                                       or

                (c) [ ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective
        registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with
        the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;

                                       or

                (d) [ ] such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional
        Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration
        requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or
        Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not
        engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D
        under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer
        restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global
        Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the
        exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate
        executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and
        (2) if such Transfer is in respect of a

                                      B-2
<PAGE>   102

        principal amount of Notes at the time of transfer of less than $250,000,
        an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a
        copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the
        effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon
        consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of
        the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note
        will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the
        Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the
        Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

        4. [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST
IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

                (a) [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The
        Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144
        under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer
        restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky
        securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the
        restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private
        Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
        the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in
        accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial
        interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the
        restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend
        printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes
        and in the Indenture.

                (b) [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The
        Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903
        or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer
        restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky
        securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the
        restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private
        Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
        the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in
        accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial
        interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the
        restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend
        printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes
        and in the Indenture.

                (c) [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i)
        The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an
        exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other
        than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer
        restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky
        securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the
        restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private
        Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
        the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in
        accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial
        interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on
        transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the
        Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the
        Indenture.

                                      B-3
<PAGE>   103

        This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company.

                                        [Insert Name of Transferor]

                                        By:____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

Dated:  _______________________

                                      B-4
<PAGE>   104
                       ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

        1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

                            [CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

                (a) [ ] a beneficial interest in the:

                        (i) [ ] 144A Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

                        (ii) [ ] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

                        (iii) [ ] IAI Global Note (CUSIP _________); or

                (b) [ ] a Restricted Definitive Note.

        2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

                                   [CHECK ONE]

                (a) [ ] a beneficial interest in the:

                (i) [ ] 144A Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

                (ii) [ ] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

                (iii) [ ] IAI Global Note (CUSIP _________); or

                (iv) [ ] Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP _________); or

                (b) [ ] a Restricted Definitive Note; or

                (c) [ ] an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

                in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

                                      B-5
<PAGE>   105

                                                                      EXHIBIT C

                         FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Fleming Companies, Inc.
1945 Lakepointe Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75029

[Registrar address block]

        Re: 5.25% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009

                              (CUSIP ____________)

        Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 15, 2001
(the "Indenture"), among Fleming Companies, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation, as
issuer (the "Company"), the Guarantors party thereto and Bank One, N.A., as
trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the Indenture.

        __________________________ (the "Owner") owns and proposes to exchange
the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal
amount of $____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Exchange"). In
connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

        1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE

                (a) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
        RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL
        NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest
        in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
        Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i)
        the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner's own account
        without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance
        with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and
        pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of
        1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), (iii) the restrictions on
        transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are
        not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and
        (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being
        acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of
        any state of the United States.

                (b) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
        RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection
        with the Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted
        Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby
        certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner's own
        account without

                                      C-1
<PAGE>   106

        transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the
        transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and
        pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the
        restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private
        Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
        the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in
        compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of
        the United States.

                (c) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
        BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with
        the Owner's Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial
        interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i)
        the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner's own account
        without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance
        with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes
        and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the
        restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private
        Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
        the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in
        compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of
        the United States.

                (d) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
        UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner's Exchange of
        a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the
        Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being
        acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such
        Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
        applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in
        accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer
        contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not
        required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and
        (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance
        with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United
        States.

        2. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

                (a) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
        RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with
        the Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
        Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount,
        the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being
        acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer. Upon consummation
        of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture,
        the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the
        restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend
        printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the
        Securities Act.

                (b) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
        BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the
        Exchange of the Owner's Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial
        interest in the [CHECK ONE] 144A Global Note, Regulation S Global Note,
        IAI Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby
        certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner's
        own account

                                      C-2
<PAGE>   107

        without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance
        with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes
        and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in
        compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of
        the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in
        accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest
        issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the
        Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note
        and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

                                      C-3
<PAGE>   108

        This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company.

                                        ---------------------------------------
                                              [Insert Name of Transferor]

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

Dated:
      --------------------------

                                      C-4
<PAGE>   109

                                                                      EXHIBIT D

                            FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
                   ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

Fleming Companies, Inc.
1945 Lakepointe Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75029

[Registrar address block]

        Re: 5.25% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009

        Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 15, 2001
(the "Indenture"), among Fleming Companies, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation, as
issuer (the "Company"), the Guarantors party thereto and Bank One, N.A., as
trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the Indenture.

        In connection with our proposed purchase of $____________ aggregate
principal amount of:

                (a) [ ] a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

                (b) [ ] a Definitive Note,

        we confirm that:

        1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any
interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in
the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell,
pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in
compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the United States
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 and any interest therein
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 the Notes or any interest therein,
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
a principal amount of Notes, at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an
Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect
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 provisions of Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or
(F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the

                                      D-1
<PAGE>   110

Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any person purchasing the
Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction
meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice
advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

        3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial
interest therein, 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 or beneficial interest therein 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.

                                        ---------------------------------------
                                          [Insert Name of Accredited Investor]

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

Dated:
      --------------------------

                                      D-2
<PAGE>   111

                                                                      EXHIBIT E

                          FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

        For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor
Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally
guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the
provisions in the Indenture dated as of March 15, 2001 (the "Indenture") among
Fleming Companies, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation (the "Company"), the Guarantors
listed on the signature pages thereto and Bank One, N.A., as trustee (the
"Trustee"), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on the Notes (as defined in the Indenture), whether at
maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment
of interest on overdue principal and premium, and, to the extent permitted by
law, interest, 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
the Indenture and (b) in 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, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The
obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee
pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in
Article 11 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for
the precise terms of the Note Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the
same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and
directs the Trustee, on behalf of such Holder, to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in the
Indenture and (c) appoints the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such Holder for such
purpose; provided, however, that the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note
Guarantee shall cease to be so subordinated and subject in right of payment upon
any defeasance of this Note in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

                                        [NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)]

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

                                      E-1
<PAGE>   112

                                                                      EXHIBIT F

                         FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
                    TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

        SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "Supplemental Indenture"), dated as of
_______________, among __________________ (the "Guaranteeing Subsidiary"), a
subsidiary of Fleming Companies, Inc. (or its permitted successor), an Oklahoma
corporation (the "Company"), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in
the Indenture referred to herein) and Bank One, N.A., as trustee under the
indenture referred to below (the "Trustee").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

        WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the
Trustee an indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of March 15, 2001 providing for
the issuance of an aggregate principal amount of up to $150,000,000 of 5.25%
Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Notes");

        WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental
indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally
guarantee all of the Company's Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on
the terms and conditions set forth herein (the "Note Guarantee"); and

        WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is
authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

        NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the
equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

        1. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

        2. AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees as
follows:

                (a) Along with all Guarantors named in the Indenture, to jointly
        and severally Guarantee to each Holder of a Note authenticated and
        delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and
        assigns, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or
        thereunder, that:

                        (i) the principal of and interest on the Notes will be
                promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by
                acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the
                overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if
                lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders
                or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder

                                      F-1
<PAGE>   113

                will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance
                with the terms hereof and thereof; and

                        (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or
                renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same
                will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in
                accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether
                at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing
                payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance
                so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be
                jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately.

                (b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional,
        irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes
        or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any
        waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any
        provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the
        Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which
        might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of
        a guarantor.

                (c) The following is hereby waived: diligence presentment,
        demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of
        insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a
        proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands
        whatsoever.

                (d) This Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by
        complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and the
        Indenture, and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary accepts all obligations of a
        Guarantor under the Indenture.

                (e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or
        otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors, or any Custodian,
        Trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to
        either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the
        Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore
        discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

                (f) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to any
        right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any
        obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations
        guaranteed hereby.

                (g) As between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders
        and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations
        guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 of the
        Indenture for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any
        stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in
        respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of
        any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in
        Article 6 of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and
        payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for
        the purpose of this Note Guarantee.

                                      F-2
<PAGE>   114

                (h) The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution
        from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does
        not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.

                (i) Pursuant to Section 11.02 of the Indenture, after giving
        effect to any maximum amount and any other contingent and fixed
        liabilities that are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or
        fraudulent conveyance laws, and after giving effect to any collections
        from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on
        behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such
        other Guarantor under Article 11 of the Indenture, this new Note
        Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount permissible such that
        the obligations of such Guarantor under this Note Guarantee will not
        constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

        3. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the
Note Guarantees shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any
failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

        4. GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC. ON CERTAIN TERMS.

        (a) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not consolidate with or merge with
or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another
corporation, Person or entity whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor
unless:

                (i) subject to Sections 11.04 and 11.05 of the Indenture, the
        Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other
        than a Guarantor or the Company) unconditionally assumes all the
        obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in
        form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under the
        Notes, the Indenture and the Note Guarantee on the terms set forth
        herein or therein; and

                (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
        Default or Event of Default exists.

        (b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and
upon the assumption by the successor corporation, by supplemental indenture,
executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee,
of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual
performance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be
performed by the Guarantor, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named
herein as a Guarantor. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be
signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes
issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company
and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note Guarantees so issued shall in all
respects have the same legal rank and benefit under the Indenture as the Note
Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of
the execution hereof.

                                      F-3
<PAGE>   115

        (c) Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 and Section 11.05 of Article
11 of the Indenture, and notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing
contained in the Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any
consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another
Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a
Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or
another Guarantor.

        5. RELEASES.

        (a) In the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets of
any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or
otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all to the capital stock of any
Guarantor, in each case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving
effect to such transaction) a Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor (in
the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation,
liquidation, dissolution or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such
Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor)
will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee;
provided that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture. Upon delivery by the
Company to the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to
the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, the Trustee shall execute any
documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor
from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

        (b) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note
Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest
on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under the Indenture
as provided in Article 11 of the Indenture.

        6. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No past, present or future director,
officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing
Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company
or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the
Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect
of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the
Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and
release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may
not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it
is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

        7. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE BUT WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT
THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

        8. COUNTERPARTS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this
Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them
together represent the same agreement.

                                      F-4
<PAGE>   116

        9. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience
only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

        10. THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner
whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental
Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which
recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.

                                      F-5
<PAGE>   117

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

Dated:  _______________, ____

                                        [GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]

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

                                        FLEMING COMPANIES, INC.

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

                                        [Existing Guarantors]

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

                                        BANK ONE, N.A.,
                                        as Trustee

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

                                      F-6
<PAGE>   118

                                                                      EXHIBIT G

                                CONVERSION NOTICE

To Fleming Companies, Inc.:

        The undersigned owner of this Note hereby irrevocably exercises the
option to convert this Note, or the portion below designated, into Common Stock
of Fleming Companies, Inc. in accordance with the terms of the Indenture
referred to in this Note, and directs that the shares issuable and deliverable
upon conversion, together with any check in payment for fractional shares, be
issued in the name of and delivered to the undersigned, unless a different name
has been indicated in the assignment below. If shares are to be issued in the
name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all
transfer taxes payable with respect thereto.

        Any holder of Notes, upon exercise of its conversion rights in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Note, agrees to be bound by
the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement relating to the Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Notes.

[ ]  Convert whole                               [ ] Convert in part

                                                 Amount of Note to be converted
                                                 ($1,000 or integral multiples
                                                 thereof):

                                                 $
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                  Signature (sign exactly as
                                                  name appears on the other side
                                                  of this Note)

                                                 ------------------------------
                                                 Signature Guarantee:(1)

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

(1)     Signature must be guaranteed by a commercial bank, trust company or
        member firm of the New York Stock Exchange.

                                    Sch. I-1

<PAGE>   119

        If you want the stock certificate made out in another person's name,
complete the following for such person:

-----------------------------------------------------
Name

-----------------------------------------------------
Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number

-----------------------------------------------------
Street Address

-----------------------------------------------------
City, State and Zip Code

                                    Sch. I-2<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.4

================================================================================

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                           Dated as of March 15, 2001

                                      Among

                             FLEMING COMPANIES, INC.

                                       and

                          THE GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN,

                                   as Issuers,

                                       and

                      THE INITIAL PURCHASERS NAMED HEREIN,

              5.25% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2009

================================================================================

<PAGE>   2

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           Page
                                                                                           ----
<S>     <C>                                                                                 <C>
1.      Definitions..........................................................................1
2.      Shelf Registration...................................................................4
        (a)     Shelf Registration...........................................................4
        (b)     Subsequent Shelf Registrations...............................................5
        (c)     Supplements and Amendments...................................................6
3.      Liquidated Damages...................................................................6
4.      Registration Procedures..............................................................7
5.      Registration Expenses...............................................................14
6.      Indemnification.....................................................................15
7.      Rules 144 and 144A..................................................................18
8.      Underwritten Registrations..........................................................19
9.      Miscellaneous.......................................................................19
        (a)     No Inconsistent Agreements..................................................19
        (b)     Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities................................19
        (c)     Amendments and Waivers......................................................20
        (d)     Notices.....................................................................20
        (e)     Successors and Assigns......................................................21
        (f)     Counterparts................................................................21
        (g)     Headings....................................................................21
        (h)     Governing Law...............................................................22
        (i)     Severability................................................................22
        (j)     Securities Held by the Company or Its Affiliates............................22
        (k)     Third Party Beneficiaries...................................................22
        (l)     Entire Agreement............................................................22
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   3
                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

        This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is dated as of
March 15, 2001, by and among FLEMING COMPANIES INC., an Oklahoma corporation
(the "Company"), the other entities listed on the signature pages hereto, as
guarantors (the "Guarantors" and together with the Company the "Issuers")
DEUTSCHE BANC ALEX. BROWN INC., BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC., LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.,
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC., and UBS WARBURG LLC (individually, an "Initial
Purchaser," and together, the "Initial Purchasers").

        This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase
Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2001 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among
the Company and the Initial Purchasers, which provides for the sale by the
Company to the Initial Purchasers of $130,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
the Company's 5.25% Convertible Subordinated Notes Due 2009 (the "Firm Notes"),
which are convertible into Common Stock of the Company, par value $2.50 per
share (the "Underlying Shares"), plus up to an additional $20,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the same which the Initial Purchasers may subsequently elect
to purchase pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement (the "Additional
Notes" and together with the Firm Notes, the "Convertible Notes"). The
Convertible Notes are guaranteed by the Guarantors (the "Guarantees" and
together with the Convertible Notes the "Convertible Securities"). The
Convertible Securities are being issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of the
date hereof (the "Indenture"), between the Issuers and Bank One, N.A., as
trustee.

        In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase
Agreement, the Issuers have agreed to provide the registration rights set forth
in this Agreement for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and any subsequent
holder or holders of the Convertible Securities or Underlying Shares as provided
herein. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the
Initial Purchasers' obligation to purchase the Firm Notes under the Purchase
Agreement.

        The parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions.

        As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:

        Agreement: See the first introductory paragraph hereto.

        Amount of Registrable Securities: (a) With respect to Convertible
Securities constituting Registrable Securities, the aggregate principal amount
of all such Securities outstanding, (b) with respect to Underlying Shares
constituting Registrable Securities, the aggregate number of such Underlying
Shares outstanding multiplied by the Conversion Price (as

<PAGE>   4

defined in the Indenture relating to the Convertible Securities upon the
conversion of which such Underlying Shares were issued) in effect at the time of
computing the Amount of Registrable Securities or, if no such Convertible
Securities are then outstanding, the last Conversion Price that was in effect
under such Indenture when any such Convertible Securities were last outstanding,
and (c) with respect to combinations thereof, the sum of (a) and (b) for the
relevant Registrable Securities.

        Business Day: Any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which
banking institutions in New York are authorized or required by law to be closed.

        Closing Date: March 15, 2001.

        Company: See the first introductory paragraph hereto.

        Convertible Securities: See the second introductory paragraph hereto.

        Damages Payment Date: See Section 3(c) hereof.

        Depositary: The Depository Trust Company until a successor is appointed
by the Company.

        Effectiveness Date: The 180th day after the Closing Date.

        Effectiveness Period: See Section 2(a) hereof.

        Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

        Filing Date: The 90th day after the Closing Date.

        Holder: Any holder of Registrable Securities.

        Indemnified Holder: See Section 6 hereof.

        Indemnified Person: See Section 6 hereof.

        Indemnifying Person: See Section 6 hereof.

        Indenture: See the second introductory paragraph hereto.

        Initial Purchasers: See the first introductory paragraph hereto.

        Initial Shelf Registration: See Section 2(a) hereof.

        Inspectors: See Section 4(n) hereof.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   5

        Liquidated Damages: See Section 3(a) hereof.

        NASD: See Section 4(q) hereof.

        Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability
company, unincorporated association, trust or joint venture, or a governmental
agency or political subdivision thereof.

        Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a
prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus
filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A
promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the
Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated
by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

        Purchase Agreement: See the second introductory paragraph hereto.

        QIU: See Section 4(q) hereof.

        Records: See Section 4(n) hereof.

        Registrable Securities: All Convertible Securities and all Underlying
Shares upon original issuance thereof and at all times subsequent thereto until
the earliest to occur of (i) a Registration Statement covering such Convertible
Securities and Underlying Shares having been declared effective by the SEC and
such Convertible Securities and Underlying Shares having been disposed of in
accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Convertible
Securities and Underlying Shares having been sold in compliance with Rule 144 or
the date on which such Convertible Securities and Underlying Shares could
(except with respect to affiliates of the Issuers within the meaning of the
Securities Act) be sold in compliance with Rule 144(k), or (iii) such
Convertible Securities and any Underlying Shares ceasing to be outstanding.

        Registration Default: See Section 3(a) hereof.

        Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company filed
with the SEC pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the
Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including
post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all documents incorporated by
reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration
statement.

        Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144A) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of
securities made in compliance

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   6

therewith resulting in offers and sales by subsequent holders that are not
affiliates of an issuer of such securities being free of the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

        Rule 144A: Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.

        Rule 415: Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.

        SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.

        Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

        Shelf Registration: See Section 2(b) hereof.

        Shelf Registration Statement: See Section 2(b) hereof.

        Subsequent Shelf Registration: See Section 2(b) hereof.

        TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

        Trustee: The Trustee under the Indenture.

        Underlying Shares: See the second introductory paragraph hereto.

        Underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A registration in
which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.

2. Shelf Registration

        (a) Shelf Registration. The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to
file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Securities
(the "Initial Shelf Registration") on or prior to the Filing Date. The Initial
Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-3 or another appropriate form permitting
registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by Holders in the manner
or manners designated by them (including, without limitation, one or more
underwritten offerings). The Company shall not permit any securities other than
the Registrable Securities to be included in the Initial Shelf Registration or
any Subsequent Shelf Registration (as defined below).

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   7

        The Company shall, subject to applicable law or applicable
interpretation of the staff of the SEC, use all reasonable efforts to cause the
Initial Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on
or prior to the Effectiveness Date and to keep such Initial Shelf Registration
continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date that is two years
after the Closing Date (as it may be shortened pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or
(iii) immediately following, the "Effectiveness Period"), or such shorter period
ending when (i) all the shares of Registrable Securities covered by the Initial
Shelf Registration have been sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in
the Initial Shelf Registration, (ii) the date on which all the Registrable
Securities (x) held by Persons who are not affiliates of the Issuers may be
resold pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or (y) cease to be
outstanding, or (iii) a Subsequent Shelf Registration covering all of the
Registrable Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act.

        No Holder of Registrable Securities may include any of its Registrable
Securities in any Shelf Registration pursuant to this Agreement unless and until
such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 15 business days after
receipt of a request therefor, such information concerning such Holder required
to be included in any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary
prospectus included therein. No Holder of Registrable Securities shall be
entitled to Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 3 hereof unless and until
such Holder shall have provided all such information, if so requested. Each
Holder of Registrable Securities as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is
being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information
required to be disclosed so that the information previously furnished to the
Company by such Holder is not materially misleading and does not omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made.

        (b) Subsequent Shelf Registrations. If the Initial Shelf Registration or
any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any reason at any
time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the sale of all of
the securities registered thereunder), the Issuers shall use their reasonable
efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within 30 days of such cessation
of effectiveness amend the Initial Shelf Registration in a manner to obtain the
withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file an
additional "shelf" Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of
the Registrable Securities (a "Subsequent Shelf Registration"). If a Subsequent
Shelf Registration is filed, the Issuers shall use their reasonable efforts to
cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the
Securities Act as soon as practicable after such filing and to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective for a period equal to the number
of days in the Effectiveness Period less the aggregate number of days during
which the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration was
previously continuously effective. As used herein the term "Shelf Registration"
means the Initial Shelf Registration and any Subsequent Shelf Registration and
the term

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   8

"Shelf Registration Statement" means any Registration Statement filed in
connection with a Shelf Registration.

        (c) Supplements and Amendments. The Issuers shall promptly supplement
and amend the Shelf Registration if required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used for such Shelf
Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably requested by
the Holders of the majority in Amount of Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement or by any underwriter of such Registrable Securities,
provided, however, that the Issuers shall not be required to supplement or amend
any Shelf Registration upon the request of a Holder or any underwriter if such
requested supplement or amendment would, in the good faith judgment of the
Company, violate the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

3. Liquidated Damages

        (a) The Issuers and the Initial Purchasers agree that the Holders of
Registrable Securities will suffer damages if the Issuers fail to fulfill their
obligations under Section 2 hereof and that it would not be feasible to
ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, the Issuers
agree to pay liquidated damages on the Registrable Securities ("Liquidated
Damages") under the circumstances and to the extent set forth below (each of
which shall be given independent effect; each a "Registration Default"):

                (i) if the Initial Shelf Registration is not filed with the SEC
        on or prior to the Filing Date, then commencing on the day after the
        Filing Date, Liquidated Damages shall accrue on the Registrable
        Securities at a rate of 0.50% per annum on the Amount of Registrable
        Securities;

                (ii) if the Initial Shelf Registration or a Subsequent Shelf
        Registration is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the
        Effectiveness Date, then commencing on the day after the Effectiveness
        Date, Liquidated Damages shall accrue on the Registrable Securities at a
        rate of 0.50% per annum on the Amount of Registrable Securities; and

                (iii) if a Shelf Registration has been declared effective and
        such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective at any time during the
        Effectiveness Period (other than as permitted under Section 3(b)), then
        Liquidated Damages shall accrue on the Registrable Securities at a rate
        of 0.50% per annum on the Amount of Registrable Securities;

provided, however, that Liquidated Damages on the Registrable Securities may not
accrue under more than one of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) at any
one time and at no time shall the aggregate amount of Liquidated Damages
accruing exceed in the aggregate 0.50% per annum; provided, further, however,
that (1) upon the filing of the Shelf Registration as required hereunder (in the
case of clause (a)(i) of this Section 3), (2) upon the effectiveness of the
Shelf

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   9

Registration as required hereunder (in the case of clause (a)(ii) of this
Section 3), or (3) upon the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration which had
ceased to remain effective (in the case of (a)(iii) of this Section 3),
Liquidated Damages on the Registrable Securities as a result of such clause (or
the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue. It
is understood and agreed that, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, so
long as any Registrable Security is then covered by an effective Shelf
Registration Statement, no Liquidated Damages shall accrue on such Registrable
Security.

        (b) So long as Convertible Securities remain outstanding, the Company
shall notify the Trustee within three days after each and every date on which an
event occurs in respect of which Liquidated Damages is required to be paid. Any
amounts of Liquidated Damages due pursuant to (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of
this Section 3 will be payable in cash semi-annually on each March 15 and
September 15 (each a "Damages Payment Date"), commencing with the first such
date occurring after any such Liquidated Damages commences to accrue, to Holders
to whom regular interest is payable on such Damages Payment Date with respect to
Convertible Securities that are Registrable Securities and to Persons that are
registered Holders 15 days prior to such Damages Payment Date with respect to
Underlying Shares that are Registrable Securities. The amount of Liquidated
Damages for Registrable Securities will be determined by multiplying the
applicable rate of Liquidated Damages by the Amount of Registrable Securities
outstanding on the Damages Payment Date following such Registration Default in
the case of the first such payment of Liquidated Damages with respect to a
Registration Default (and thereafter at the next succeeding Damages Payment Date
until the cure of such Registration Default), multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of days such Liquidated Damages rate was
applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year
comprised of twelve 30-day months and, in the case of a partial month, the
actual number of days elapsed), and the denominator of which is 360.

4. Registration Procedures

        In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 2 hereof, the Issuers shall effect such registrations to permit the sale
of the securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended method or
methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection with any
Registration Statement filed by the Issuers hereunder the Issuers shall:

                (a) Prepare and file with the SEC on or prior to the Filing
        Date, a Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed
        by Section 2 hereof, and use their reasonable efforts to cause each such
        Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as
        provided herein; provided, however, that before filing any Registration
        Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the
        Issuers shall furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable
        Securities covered by such Registration Statement and the managing
        underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all
        such documents proposed to be filed (in each case,

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   10

        where possible, at least five days prior to such filing, or such later
        date as is reasonable under the circumstances). The Issuers shall not
        file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or
        supplements thereto if the Holders of a majority in Amount of
        Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the
        managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object.

                (b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
        post-effective amendments to each Shelf Registration, as may be
        necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for
        the Effectiveness Period; cause the related Prospectus to be
        supplemented by any Prospectus supplement required by applicable law,
        and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar
        provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act; and
        comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
        applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities
        covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or in such
        Prospectus as so supplemented. The Issuers shall be deemed not to have
        used their reasonable efforts to keep a Registration Statement effective
        during the Effectiveness Period if any of them voluntarily takes any
        action that would result in selling Holders of the Registrable
        Securities covered thereby not being able to sell such Registrable
        Securities during that period unless such action is required by
        applicable law or unless the Issuers comply with this Agreement,
        including without limitation the provisions of Section 4(k) hereof.

                (c) Notify the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and the
        managing underwriters, if any, promptly (but in any event within two
        Business Days), (i) when a Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or
        post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a
        Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same
        has become effective under the Securities Act (including in such notice
        a written statement that any Holder may, upon request, obtain, at the
        sole expense of the Issuers, one conformed copy of such Registration
        Statement or post-effective amendment including financial statements and
        schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
        reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop
        order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any
        order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or
        the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) of the
        happening of any event, the existence of any condition or any
        information becoming known that makes any statement made in such
        Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document
        incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in
        any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in or
        amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or
        documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will
        not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
        material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
        statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the
        Prospectus, it will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
        or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
        necessary

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   11

        to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
        which they were made, not misleading and (iv) of the Company's
        determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration
        Statement would be appropriate.

                (d) Use its reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any
        order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any
        order preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus and, if any such
        order is issued, to use its reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal
        of any such order at the earliest possible moment.

                (e) If requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters (if
        any) or the Holders of the majority in Amount of Registrable Securities
        being sold in connection with an underwritten offering (i) promptly
        incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
        information as the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), or
        such Holders reasonably determine is necessary to be included therein,
        provided, however, that the Issuers shall not be required to include any
        such information upon the request of a Holder or any underwriter if the
        inclusion of such information would, in the good faith judgment of the
        Company, violate the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the rules and
        regulations promulgated thereunder, (ii) make all required filings of
        such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as
        reasonably practicable after the Issuers have received notification of
        the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or
        post-effective amendment and (iii) supplement or make amendments to such
        Registration Statement.

                (f) Furnish to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities, a
        single counsel to such Holders (chosen in accordance with Section 5(b))
        and each managing underwriter, if any, at the sole expense of the
        Issuers, one conformed copy of the Registration Statement or
        Registration Statements and each post-effective amendment thereto,
        including financial statements and schedules, and, if requested, one
        copy of any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein
        by reference and one copy of any exhibit.

                (g) Deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities, a
        single counsel to such Holders (chosen in accordance with Section 5(b))
        and the underwriters, if any, at the sole expense of the Issuers, as
        many copies of the Prospectus (including each form of preliminary
        prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto and any documents
        incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may reasonably
        request; and, subject to the second to last paragraph of this Section 4,
        the Issuers hereby consent to the use of such Prospectus and each
        amendment or supplement thereto (provided the manner of such use
        complies with any limitations resulting from any applicable state
        securities "Blue Sky" laws as provided in writing to such Holders of
        Registrable Securities by the Company and subject to the provisions of
        this Agreement) by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities
        and the underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers (if any), in
        connection with the offering and sale of the

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   12

        Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or
        supplement thereto.

                (h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, to
        use their reasonable efforts to register or qualify, to the extent
        required by applicable law, and to cooperate with the selling Holders of
        Registrable Securities and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if
        any, in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption
        from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities
        or offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
        jurisdictions within the United States as any selling Holder, or the
        managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, may reasonably request in
        writing; provided, however, that where Registrable Securities are
        offered other than through an underwritten offering, the Issuers agree
        to cause the Issuers' counsel to perform Blue Sky investigations and
        file registrations and qualifications required to be filed pursuant to
        this Section 4(h); keep each such registration or qualification (or
        exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration
        Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all other acts
        or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in
        such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the
        applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that no Issuer
        shall be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any
        jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, (B) take any action that
        would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction
        where it is not then so subject or (C) subject it to taxation in any
        such jurisdiction where such it is not then so subject.

                (i) Cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities
        and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the
        timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing shares of
        Registrable Securities to be sold, which certificates shall not bear any
        restrictive legends and shall be in a form eligible for deposit with The
        Depository Trust Company; and enable such Registrable Securities to be
        in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing
        underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may reasonably request.

                (j) Use their reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable
        Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement to be registered
        with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as
        may be reasonably necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or
        the underwriter or underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition
        of such Registrable Securities, except as may be required solely as a
        consequence of the nature of such selling Holder's business, in which
        case the Issuers will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the
        filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of such
        approvals.

                (k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph
        4(c)(ii), 4(c)(iii) or 4(c)(iv) hereof, as promptly as practicable
        prepare and (subject to Section

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   13

        4(a) hereof) file with the SEC, at the sole expense of the Issuers, a
        supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
        a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or
        deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other
        required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of
        the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder, any such Prospectus
        will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
        a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
        statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
        were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuers
        shall not be required to amend or supplement a Registration Statement,
        any related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by
        reference, in the event that an event occurs and is continuing as a
        result of which the Shelf Registration would, in the good faith judgment
        of the Company, contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to
        state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
        in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
        misleading, or, for a period not to exceed an aggregate of 60 days in
        any calendar year, (a) the Company determines in its good faith judgment
        that the disclosure of such event at such time would have a material
        adverse effect on the business, operations or prospects of the Company
        or (b) the disclosure otherwise relates to a pending material business
        transaction that has not yet been publicly disclosed.

                (l) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration
        Statement relating to the Registrable Securities, (i) provide the
        Trustee with certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form
        eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide
        a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities.

                (m) In connection with any underwritten offering of Registrable
        Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting
        agreement as is customary in underwritten offerings of securities
        similar to the Registrable Securities and take all such other actions as
        are reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in
        order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of
        such Registrable Securities and, in such connection, (i) make such
        representations and warranties to, and covenants with, the underwriters
        with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries
        (including any acquired business, properties or entity, if applicable)
        and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any,
        incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each
        case, as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten
        offerings of securities similar to the Registrable Securities and
        confirm the same in writing if and when requested; (ii) upon the request
        of any underwriter, use all reasonable efforts to obtain the written
        opinion of counsel to the Issuers and written updates thereof in form,
        scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter
        or underwriters, addressed to the underwriters covering the matters
        customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings of
        securities similar to the Registrable Securities and such other matters
        as may be reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or
        underwriters;

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   14

        (iii) upon the request of any underwriter, use all reasonable efforts to
        obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof in form, scope and
        substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or
        underwriters from the independent certified public accountants of the
        Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public
        accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired
        by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or
        are required to be, included or incorporated by reference in the
        Registration Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such
        letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type
        customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
        underwritten offerings of securities similar to the Registrable
        Securities and such other matters as reasonably requested by the
        managing underwriter or underwriters as permitted by the Statement on
        Auditing Standards No. 72; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement is
        entered into, cause the same to contain indemnification provisions and
        procedures no less favorable to the sellers and underwriters, if any,
        than those set forth in Section 7 hereof (or such other provisions and
        procedures acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
        amount of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
        and the managing underwriter or underwriters or agents if any). The
        above shall be done as and to the extent required by such underwriting
        agreement.

                (n) Make available for inspection by any selling Holder of such
        Registrable Securities being sold, any underwriter participating in any
        such disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorney,
        accountant or other agent retained by any such selling Holder, or
        underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where
        normally kept, during reasonable business hours at such time or times as
        shall be mutually convenient for the Company and the Inspectors as a
        group, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents
        and instruments of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the
        "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise
        any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers,
        directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to supply
        all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection
        with such Registration Statement. The foregoing inspection and
        information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the other
        parties by one counsel designated by such parties as described in
        Section 5(b) hereof. Each Inspector shall agree in writing that it will
        keep the Records confidential and that it will not disclose any Records
        that the Issuers determine, in good faith, to be confidential unless (i)
        the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other
        order from a court of competent jurisdiction or (ii) the information in
        such Records has been made generally available to the public other than
        through the acts of such Inspector; provided, however, that prior notice
        shall be provided as soon as practicable to the Issuers of the potential
        disclosure of any information by such Inspector pursuant to clauses (i)
        of this sentence to permit the Issuers to obtain a protective order (or
        waive the provisions of this paragraph (n)). Each Inspector shall take
        such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality
        of such information (if practicable) to the extent such actions are
        otherwise not inconsis-

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   15

        tent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests
        of the Holder or any Inspector.

                (o) Provide (i) the Holders of the Registrable Securities to be
        included in such Registration Statement and not more than one counsel
        for all the Holders of such Registrable Securities chosen in accordance
        with Section 5(b), (ii) the underwriters (which term, for purposes of
        this Registration Rights Agreement, shall include a Person deemed to be
        an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities
        Act), if any, thereof, (iii) the sales or placement agent, if any,
        thereof, and (D) one counsel for such underwriters or agents, reasonable
        opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Registration
        Statement, each prospectus included therein or filed with the SEC, and
        each amendment or supplement thereto.

                (p) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC
        and make generally available to its securityholders earning statements
        satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and
        Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the
        Securities Act) no later than 60 days after the end of any fiscal
        quarter (or 120 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period
        is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in
        which Registrable Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm
        commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to
        underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the
        first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of a
        Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month
        periods.

                (q) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities covered
        by any Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any,
        participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and
        their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be
        made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
        "NASD"), including, if the Conduct Rules of the NASD or any successor
        thereto as amended from time to time so require, engaging, at the
        underwriters' (or Holders') expense, a "qualified independent
        underwriter" ("QIU") as contemplated therein and making Records
        available to such QIU as though it were a participating underwriter for
        the purposes of Section 4(n) and otherwise applying the provisions of
        this Agreement to such QIU (including indemnification) as though it were
        a participating underwriter.

                (r) Cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later
        than the effective date of the first Registration Statement relating to
        the Registrable Securities; and in connection therewith, cooperate with
        the Trustee and the Holders of the Registrable Securities to effect such
        changes to the Indenture as may be

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   16

        required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the
        terms of the TIA; and execute, and use their reasonable efforts to cause
        the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such
        changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the
        SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.

                (s) Use their reasonable efforts to take all other steps
        necessary or advisable to effect the registration of the Registrable
        Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

        The Issuers may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to
which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Issuers such
information regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable
Securities as the Issuers may, from time to time, reasonably request to the
extent necessary or advisable to comply with the Securities Act. The Issuers may
exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any seller if such
seller fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after
receiving such request. Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration is being
effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Issuers all information required to
be disclosed so that the information previously furnished to the Issuers by such
seller is not materially misleading and does not omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.

        Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees by acquisition of such
Registrable Securities that, upon actual receipt of any notice from the Company
of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 4(c)(ii), or
4(c)(iii) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus
until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 4(k) hereof, or until it is advised in
writing by the Issuers that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed,
and has received copies of any amendments or supplements thereto.

5. Registration Expenses

        (a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance
with this Agreement by the Issuers shall be borne by the Issuers, including,
without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without
limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be made with the NASD
in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and expenses of
compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without
limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel in connection with
Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities and determination of the
eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of such
jurisdictions as provided in Section 4(h) hereof), (ii) printing expenses,
including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable
Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and
of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or by the Holders of the majority
in Amount of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement,
(iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv)

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   17

fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuers and reasonable fees and
disbursements of one special counsel for the sellers of Registrable Securities
(subject to the provisions of Section 5(b) hereof), (v) fees and disbursements
of all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 4(m)(iii)
hereof (including, without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and
"cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance), (vi)
Securities Act liability insurance, if the Issuers desire such insurance, (vii)
fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Issuers, (viii) internal
expenses of the Issuers (including, without limitation, all salaries and
expenses of officers and employees of the Issuers performing legal or accounting
duties), (ix) the expense of any annual audit, (x) the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on
any securities exchange, if applicable, and (xi) the expenses relating to
printing, word processing and distributing all Registration Statements,
underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements and any other documents
necessary in order to comply with this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts
and brokerage commissions with respect to any Registrable Securities sold by it.

        (b) The Issuers shall reimburse the Holders of the Registrable
Securities being registered in a Shelf Registration for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel chosen by the Holders of a majority
in Amount of Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration
Statement.

6. Indemnification

        Each of the Issuers, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless, (i) each Holder, (ii) each Person, if any, who controls (within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) any of the foregoing (any of the Persons referred to in this clause (ii)
being hereinafter referred to as a "controlling person"), (iii) the respective
officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of the
Holders (including predecessor Holders) or any controlling person (any person
referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an
"Indemnified Holder"), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and judgments (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees
and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or
any claim asserted) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto or any related preliminary prospectus, or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Holder
furnished to the Issuers in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; or
except in so far as any such loss, claim, damage, liability, judgment or expense
of such Indemnified Holder results from the fact that such Indemnified Holder
sold Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement to a Person as to
whom it shall be established that there was not sent or

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   18

given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the
Prospectus (or of the preliminary prospectus as then amended or supplemented if
the Issuers shall have furnished such Indemnified Holder with such amendment or
supplement thereto on a timely basis), in any case where such delivery is
required by applicable law to the extent that such loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense of such Indemnified Holder results from an untrue statement
or omission of a material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus which was
corrected in the Prospectus (or in the preliminary prospectus as then amended or
supplemented if the Issuers shall have furnished such Indemnified Holder with
such amendment or supplement thereto, as the case may be, on a timely basis).
The Issuers shall notify each Indemnified Holder promptly of the institution,
threat or assertion of any claim, proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) or litigation in connection with the matters addressed by this
Agreement which involves the Issuers or such Indemnified Holder.

        Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless the Issuers, their directors, officers and each Person who controls the
Issuers within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the
Issuers to each Holder, but only with reference to such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities which are caused by any untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information relating to a Holder furnished to the Issuers in writing by such
Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto or any related preliminary prospectus. The
liability of any Holder under this paragraph shall in no event exceed the
proceeds received by such Holder from sales of Registrable Securities giving
rise to such obligation.

        If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against
any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the
two preceding paragraphs, such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly
notify the Person or Persons against whom such indemnity may be sought (each an
"Indemnifying Person") in writing, and such Indemnifying Person, upon request of
the Indemnified Person, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled
to indemnification pursuant to this Section 6 that the Indemnifying Person may
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses
actually incurred by such counsel related to such proceeding, provided, however,
that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Persons will not relieve it from
any liability under the first two paragraphs of this Section 6 unless and to the
extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the Indemnifying Person of
substantial rights and defenses and the Indemnifying Person was not otherwise
aware of such action or claim. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person
shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) such
Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the
contrary in writing, (ii) such Indemnifying Person has failed within a
reasonable period of time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
Indemni-

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   19

fied Person or (iii) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both an Indemnifying Person and an Indemnified Person
and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate
due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood
that an Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or
related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for
all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed
as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the Indemnified Holders shall
be designated in writing by the Holders of the majority in Amount of Registrable
Securities, and any such separate firm for the Issuers, their directors,
respective officers and such control Persons of the Issuers shall be designated
in writing by the Issuers. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if
settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
such Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify any Indemnified Person from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No
Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such
settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does
not include any statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to
act by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person.

        If the indemnification provided for in the first and second paragraphs
of this Section 6 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified
Person in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to
therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of
indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Person on the one hand and the
Indemnified Person on the other hand pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or from
the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Indemnifying Person on the one hand and the Indemnified Person on the other
in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuers on the one hand
and any Indemnified Holder on the other shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds from the initial offering and sale of
Convertible Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Issuers bear
to the total net proceeds received by such Indemnified Holder from sales of
Registrable Securities giving rise to such obligations. The relative fault of
the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   20

omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuers
or such Indemnified Holder and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

        Each of the Issuers and the Initial Purchasers agrees that it would not
be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined
by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of
the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, in no event shall any Holder
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net
proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which
such Holder would have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(F) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

        The remedies provided for in this Section 6 are not exclusive and shall
not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any
indemnified party at law or in equity.

        The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 6
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Holder or any Person controlling any Holder or by or on behalf of the
Issuers, their officers or directors or any other Person controlling any of the
Issuers and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Registrable
Securities.

7. Rules 144 and 144A.

        The Issuers covenants that they will file the reports required to be
filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner in accordance with
the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, for so long as
any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, if at any time the Issuers are
not required to file such reports, they will, upon the request of any Holder or
beneficial owner of Registrable Securities, make available such information
necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The
Issuers further covenant that, for so long as any Registrable Securities remain
outstanding, they will use their reasonable efforts to take such further action
as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the
extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Reg-

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   21

istrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the
limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144(k) and Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, as such rules may be amended from time to time, or (b) any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Issuers to
register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.

8. Underwritten Registrations.

        If any of the Registrable Securities covered by any Shelf Registration
are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected
by the Holders of the majority in Amount of Registrable Securities to be
included in such offering and be reasonably acceptable to the Issuers.

        No Holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's
Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.

9. Miscellaneous

        (a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Issuers have not, as of the date
hereof, and the Issuers shall not, after the date of this Agreement, enter into
any agreement with respect to any of their securities that is inconsistent with
the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the
Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with
the rights granted to the holders of the Issuers' other issued and outstanding
securities under any such agreements, except for such conflicts as are
anticipated to be waived on the closing date of the Stock and Warrant Purchase
Agreement between the Company and U.S. Transportation, LLC. The Issuers shall
not, after the date of this agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to
any of their securities which will grant to any Person piggy-back registration
rights with respect to any Registration Statement.

        (b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities. The Issuers shall not,
directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Registrable
Securities as a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Holders of
Registrable Securities to include such Registrable Securities in a registration
undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.

        (c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written
consent of the Issuers and

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   22

the Holders of not less than the majority in Amount of Registrable Securities;
provided, however, that Section 6 and this Section 9(c) may not be amended,
modified or supplemented without the prior written consent of the Issuers and
each Holder (including, in the case of an amendment, modification or supplement
of Section 6, any Person who was a Holder of Registrable Securities disposed of
pursuant to any Registration Statement) affected by such amendment, modification
or supplement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from
the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly
affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Registrable
Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority in Amount of the
Registrable Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration
Statement.

        (d) Notices. All notices and other communications (including without
limitation any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:

                (1) if to a Holder of the Registrable Securities, at the most
        current address of such Holder set forth on the records of the registrar
        under the Indenture, in the case of Holders of Convertible Notes, and
        the stock ledger of the Company, in the case of Holders of common stock
        of the Company.

                (2) if to the Initial Purchasers:

                        DEUTSCHE BANC ALEX. BROWN INC.
                        BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
                        LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
                        J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
                        UBS WARBURG LLC
                        c/o Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Inc.
                        30 Liberty Street
                        New York, New York  10006
                        Attention:  Equity Syndicate

                with copies to:

                        Cahill Gordon & Reindel
                        80 Pine Street
                        New York, New York 10005
                        Facsimile No.:  (212) 269-5420
                        Attention:  William M. Hartnett, Esq.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>   23

                (3) if to the Company, at the addresses as follows:

                        Fleming Companies, Inc.
                        1945 Lakepointe Drive
                        Lewisville, Texas  75057
                        Facsimile No.:  (972) 906-1530
                        Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

                with copies to:

                        Latham & Watkins
                        505 Montgomery Street, Suite 1900
                        San Francisco, California  94111-2562
                        Facsimile No.:  (415) 395-8095
                        Attention:  Tracy K. Edmonson, Esq.

        All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after
being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one Business Day after
being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and when the address or
receives facsimile confirmation, if sent by facsimile.

        (e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto,
including the Holders; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to
the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and
except to the extent such successor or assign holds Registrable Securities.

        (f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

        (g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

        (h) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE
AND PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES
OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL AND NEW YORK STATE COURTS SITTING IN MANHATTAN, NEW
YORK CITY, THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   24

        (i) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to
achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such
term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared
to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that
may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

        (j) Securities Held by the Company or Its Affiliates. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage in Amount of
Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the
Company or its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or
approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

        (k) Third-Party Beneficiaries. Holders of Registrable Securities are
intended third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement may be
enforced by such Persons.

        (l) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Purchase
Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior oral or
written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts, understandings,
correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Initial Purchasers on
the one hand and the Issuers on the other, or between or among any agents,
representatives, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or
successors in interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof are
merged herein and replaced hereby.

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   25

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.

                             FLEMING COMPANIES, INC.,
                                as Issuer

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Senior Vice President,
                                       General Counsel and Secretary

                             ABCO FOOD GROUP, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Louis F. Moore
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Louis F. Moore
                                Title: Secretary

                             ABCO MARKETS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             ABCO REALTY CORP.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                                      S-1
<PAGE>   26

                             AG, L.L.C.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             AMERICAN LOGISTICS GROUP, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             BAKER'S FOOD GROUP, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Louis F. Moore
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Louis F. Moore
                                Title: Secretary

                             DUNIGAN FUELS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             FAVAR CONCEPTS, LTD.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                                      S-2
<PAGE>   27

                             FLEMING FOODS MANAGEMENT CO., L.L.C.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             FLEMING INTERNATIONAL LTD.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             FLEMING SUPERMARKETS OF FLORIDA, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             FLEMING TRANSPORTATION SERVICE, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             FLEMING WHOLESALE, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                                      S-3
<PAGE>   28

                             FUELSERV, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             GATEWAY INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             LAS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             PIGGLY WIGGLY COMPANY,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             PROGRESSIVE REALTY, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                                      S-4
<PAGE>   29

                             RAINBOW FOOD GROUP, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Louis F. Moore
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Louis F. Moore
                                Title: Secretary

                             RETAIL INVESTMENTS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Louis F. Moore
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Louis F. Moore
                                Title: Secretary

                             RETAIL SUPERMARKETS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             RFS MARKETING SERVICES, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                             RICHMAR FOODS, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                                      S-5
<PAGE>   30

                             SCRIVNER TRANSPORTATION, INC.,
                               as Guarantor

                             By:  /s/ Carlos M. Hernandez
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Carlos M. Hernandez
                                Title: Secretary

                                      S-6
<PAGE>   31

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted as of the date first above written.

DEUTSCHE BANC ALEX. BROWN, INC.
  as Initial Purchaser

By:  /s/ Sanjay Arora
   -----------------------------------------------
   Name:  Sanjay Arora
   Title: Director

By:  /s/ John G. Kennedy III
   -----------------------------------------------
   Name:  John G. Kennedy III
   Title: Managing Director

BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
  as Initial Purchaser

By:  /s/ Jerry Marcus
   -----------------------------------------------
   Name:  Jerry Marcus
   Title: Senior Managing Director

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
  as Initial Purchaser

By:  /s/ P.J. Moses
   -----------------------------------------------
   Name:  P.J. Moses
   Title: Senior Vice President

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
  as Initial Purchaser

By:  /s/ John Marshall Nicholson
   -----------------------------------------------
   Name:  John Marshall Nicholson
   Title: Vice President

                                       S-7
<PAGE>   32

UBS WARBURG LLC
  as Initial Purchaser

By:  /s/ Jeffrey W. Miller
   -----------------------------------------------
   Name:  Jeffrey W. Miller
   Title: Executive Director

By:  /s/ Samuel G. Pitts
   -----------------------------------------------
   Name:  Samuel G. Pitts
   Title: Associate Director

                                      S-8

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