Document:

exv10w1

 

Exhibit 10.1

INTERVOICE, INC.

2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

ARTICLE I. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE

     1.1. Establishment and Purpose. Intervoice, Inc. (“Intervoice”) hereby establishes the
Intervoice, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as set forth in this document. The purpose of the Plan
is to attract and retain highly qualified individuals and to align the interests of key individuals
with those of the stockholders of Intervoice. Intervoice is committed to creating long-term
stockholder value. Intervoice’s compensation philosophy is based on a belief that Intervoice can
best create stockholder value if key employees, directors, and certain others providing services to
the Company act and are rewarded as business owners. Intervoice believes that an equity stake
through equity compensation programs effectively aligns service provider and stockholder interests
by motivating and rewarding long-term performance that will enhance stockholder value.

     1.2. Effectiveness and Term. This Plan shall become effective as of July 13, 2005, provided
it is approved by the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock present or
represented and voting on the proposal to approve this Plan at the 2005 annual meeting of the
stockholders of Intervoice duly held in accordance with applicable law. Unless terminated earlier
by the Board, this Plan shall terminate on July 12, 2007.

ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS

     2.1. “Affiliate” means a “parent corporation” or a “subsidiary corporation” of Intervoice, as
those terms are defined in sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively.

     2.2. “Award” means an award granted to a Participant in the form of Options, SARs, Restricted
Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards or Other Incentive Awards, whether granted singly
or in combination.

     2.3. “Award Agreement” means a written agreement between Intervoice and a Participant that
sets forth the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to an Award.

     2.4. “Board” means the Board of Directors of Intervoice.

     2.5. “Cash Dividend Right” means a contingent right, granted in tandem with a specific
Restricted Stock Unit Award, to receive an amount in cash equal to the cash distributions made by
Intervoice with respect to a share of Common Stock during the period such Award is outstanding.

     2.6. “Cause” means a finding by the Committee of acts or omissions constituting willful
misconduct or gross negligence in the course of the Participant’s employment or service with the
Company.

 

 

     2.7. “Change of Control” shall be defined in accordance with Treasury guidance and Regulations
related to Section 409A of the Code, including but not limited to Notice 2005-1 and such other
Treasury guidance or Regulations issued after the Effective Date.

     2.8. “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including
regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations.

     2.9. “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee of the
Board as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan, which committee shall consist of
two or more members of the Board, each of whom is an Outside Director; provided, however, that with
respect to the application of the Plan to Awards made to Outside Directors, “Committee” means the
Board. To the extent that no Committee exists that has the authority to administer the Plan, the
functions of the Committee shall be exercised by the Board. If for any reason the appointed
Committee does not meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or section 162(m) of the Code, such
noncompliance with such requirements shall not affect the validity of Awards, grants,
interpretations or other actions of the Committee.

     2.10. “Common Stock” means the common stock of Intervoice, no par value per share, or any
stock or other securities of Intervoice hereafter issued or issuable in substitution or exchange
for the Common Stock.

     2.11. “Company” means Intervoice and any Affiliate.

     2.12. “Competitor” means any person or entity that carries on business activities in
competition with the activities of Intervoice or any affiliate of Intervoice, including but not
limited to (i) Alcatel, Avaya, IBM, Nortel, Aspect Communications, Edify, Converse Technologies,
and Lucent Technologies, or, if those corporate names are not formally correct, the businesses
commonly referred to by those names; and (ii) the successors to, assigns of, and affiliates of the
persons or entities described in (i).

     2.13. “Disability” means a Participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful
activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be
expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12
months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can
be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than
12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an
accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.

     2.14. “Dividend Unit Right” means a contingent right, granted in tandem with a specific
Restricted Stock Unit Award, to have an additional number of Restricted Stock Units credited to a
Participant in respect of the Award equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that could be
purchased at Fair Market Value with the amount of each cash distribution made by Intervoice with
respect to a share of Common Stock during the period such Award is outstanding.

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     2.15. “Effective Date” means the date this Plan becomes effective as provided in Section 1.2.

     2.16. “Employee” means an employee of the Company; provided, however, that the term “Employee”
does not include a nonemployee director or an individual performing services for the Company who is
treated for tax purposes as an independent contractor at the time of performance of the services.

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

     2.18. “Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of the Common Stock, as determined in
good faith by the Committee or (i) if the Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market,
the average of the representative closing bid and asked prices as reported by NASDAQ for the date
the Award is granted (or if there was no quoted price for such date of grant, then for the last
preceding business day on which there was a quoted price), or (ii) if the Common Stock is traded in
the NASDAQ National Market System, the average of the highest and lowest selling prices for such
stock as quoted on the NASDAQ National Market System for the date the Award is granted (or if there
are no sales for such date of grant, then for the last preceding business day on which there were
sales), or (iii) if the Common Stock is listed on any national stock exchange, the average of the
highest and lowest selling prices for such stock as quoted on such exchange for the date the Award
is granted (or if there are no sales for such date of grant, then for the last preceding business
day on which there were sales).

     2.19. “FAS 123” means Statements of Financial Account Standards No. 123, “Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation,” as promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, as at any time revised or amended.

     2.20. “Fiscal Year” means the 12-month-period beginning each March 1 and ending on the last
day of the following February.

     2.21. “Good Reason” means (i) any demotion of the Participant as evidenced by a material
reduction in the Participant’s responsibilities, duties, compensation or benefits as in effect
immediately prior to the Change of Control, or (ii) if the Company or its successor does not
provide full relocation benefits to the Participant, any permanent relocation of the Participant’s
place of business to a location 50 miles or more from the location prior to the Change of Control.

     2.22. “Grant Date” means the date an Award is determined to be effective by the Committee upon
the grant of such Award.

     2.23. “Harmful Activity” means directly or indirectly (i) disparaging Intervoice or its
affiliates, any products, services, or operations of Intervoice or its affiliates, or any of the
former, current, or future officers, directors, or employees of Intervoice or its affiliates; (ii)
soliciting, inducing, persuading, or enticing, or endeavoring to solicit, induce, persuade, or
entice, any person who is then employed by or otherwise engaged to perform services for Intervoice
or its affiliates to leave that employment or cease performing those services; (iii) soliciting,
inducing,

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persuading, or enticing, or endeavoring to solicit, induce, persuade, or entice, any person
who is then a customer, supplier, or vendor of Intervoice or any of its affiliates to cease being a
customer, supplier, or vendor of Intervoice or any of its affiliates or to divert all or any part
of such person’s or entity’s business from Intervoice or any of its affiliates; or (iv) associating
as an employee, officer, director, agent, partner, stockholder, owner, member, representative, or
consultant, with any Competitor of Intervoice or any of its affiliates.

     2.24. “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of
section 422(b) of the Code.

     2.25. “Intervoice” means Intervoice, Inc., a Texas corporation, or any successor thereto.

     2.26. “NASDAQ” means The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.

     2.27. “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

     2.28. “Option” means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to a Participant
pursuant to Article VII. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock
Option, as determined by the Committee.

     2.29. “Other Incentive Award” means an incentive award granted to a Participant pursuant to
Article XII.

     2.30. “Outside Director” means a member of the Board who: (i) meets the independence
requirements of NASDAQ, or if NASDAQ shall cease to be the principal exchange or quotation system
upon which the shares of Common Stock are listed or quoted, then such exchange or quotation system
as Intervoice elects to list or quote its shares of Common Stock and that the Committee designates
as Intervoice’s principal exchange or quotation system, (ii) qualifies as an “outside director”
under Section 162(m) of the Code, (iii) qualifies as a “non-employee director” of Intervoice under
Rule 16b-3, and (iv) satisfies independence criteria under any other applicable laws or regulations
relating to the issuance of shares of Common Stock to Employees.

     2.31. “Participant” means an Employee, director, or other individual or entity that has been
granted an Award; provided, however, that no Option or Award that may be settled in Common Stock
may be issued to a Participant that is not a natural person.

     2.32. “Performance Award” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article XI to
receive cash or Common Stock conditioned in whole or in part upon the satisfaction of specified
performance criteria.

     2.33. “Permitted Transferee” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 15.4.

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     2.34. “Plan” means the Intervoice, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as in effect from time to
time.

     2.35. “Prior Plans” means the Intervoice, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan, the Intervoice-Brite,
Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan, and the Intervoice, Inc. 2003 Stock Option Plan.

     2.36. “Purchased Restricted Stock” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 9.2.

     2.37. “Restricted Period” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an
Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units during which the Award remains subject to
forfeiture.

     2.38. “Restricted Stock” means a share of Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to
Article IX that is subject to such terms, conditions, and restrictions as may be determined by the
Committee.

     2.39. “Restricted Stock Unit” means a fictional share of Common Stock granted to a Participant
pursuant to Article X that is subject to such terms, conditions, and restrictions as may be
determined by the Committee.

     2.40. “Retirement” means (i) with respect to an Employee, voluntary termination of employment
after attaining age 55 and completing five years of continuous employment with the Company and (ii)
with respect to an Outside Director, ceasing to be an Outside Director pursuant to an election by
Intervoice’s shareholders or by voluntary resignation after attaining age 55 and completing five
years of continuous service with the Company.

     2.41. “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation that may be in effect from time to
time.

     2.42. “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to
Article VIII with respect to a share of Common Stock to receive upon exercise cash, Common Stock or
a combination of cash and Common Stock, equal to the appreciation in value of a share of Common
Stock.

ARTICLE III. PLAN ADMINISTRATION

     3.1. Plan Administrator and Discretionary Authority. The Plan shall be administered by the
Committee. The Committee shall have total and exclusive responsibility to control, operate, manage
and administer the Plan in accordance with its terms. The Committee shall have all the authority
that may be necessary or helpful to enable it to discharge its responsibilities with respect to the
Plan. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Committee shall have the
exclusive right to: (i) interpret the Plan and the Award Agreements executed hereunder; (ii)
decide all questions concerning eligibility for, and the amount of, Awards granted under the Plan;
(iii) construe any ambiguous provision of the Plan or

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any Award Agreement; (iv) prescribe the form of Award Agreements; (v) correct any defect,
supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement; (vi) issue
administrative guidelines as an aid to administering the Plan and make changes in such guidelines
as the Committee from time to time deems proper; (vii) make regulations for carrying out the Plan
and make changes in such regulations as the Committee from time to time deems proper; (viii)
determine whether Awards should be granted singly or in combination; (ix) to the extent permitted
under the Plan, grant waivers of Plan terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations; (x)
accelerate the exercise, vesting or payment of an Award when such action or actions would be in the
best interests of the Company; (xi) require Participants to hold a stated number or percentage of
shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Award for a stated period; and (xii) take any and
all other actions the Committee deems necessary or advisable for the proper operation or
administration of the Plan. The Committee shall have authority in its sole discretion with respect
to all matters related to the discharge of its responsibilities and the exercise of its authority
under the Plan, including without limitation its construction of the terms of the Plan and its
determination of eligibility for participation in, and the terms of Awards granted under, the Plan.
The decisions of the Committee and its actions with respect to the Plan shall be final, conclusive
and binding on all persons having or claiming to have any right or interest in or under the Plan,
including without limitation Participants and their respective Permitted Transferees, estates,
beneficiaries and legal representatives. In the case of an Award intended to be eligible for the
performance-based compensation exemption under section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall
exercise its discretion consistent with qualifying the Award for such exemption.

     3.2. Liability; Indemnification. No member of the Committee, nor any person to whom it has
delegated authority, shall be personally liable for any action, interpretation or determination
made in good faith with respect to the Plan or Awards granted hereunder, and each member of the
Committee (or delegatee of the Committee) shall be fully indemnified and protected by Intervoice
with respect to any liability he may incur with respect to any such action, interpretation or
determination, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

ARTICLE IV. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

     4.1. Available Shares.

     (a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock that shall be available for grant of Awards under the Plan shall be 3,500,000
shares of Common Stock, plus all shares of Common Stock that as of the date the Plan is
approved by Intervoice’s stockholders (the “Approval Date”) remain available for grant of
options under the Prior Plans.

     (b) The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to all Awards
granted under the Plan to any one Participant (i) during the Fiscal Year in which the
Participant is first hired by the Company is 500,000 shares and (ii) during each subsequent
Fiscal Year is 300,000 shares. The limitations provided in this Section 4.1(b) shall be
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2.

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     (c) The aggregate number of shares available for issuance under the Plan will be
reduced by (i) two shares of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock delivered in settlement
of any Award of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, SARs, Performance Awards, or Other
Incentive Awards that are determined by the Committee to be full value Awards and any discounted Options granted pursuant to Section 7.2(ii), and (ii) one share
for each share of Common Stock delivered in settlement of an Option
(other than a discounted Option as described in Section 7.2(ii)). If an Award expires,
is forfeited or becomes unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full,
the undelivered shares of Common Stock which were subject to the Award shall, unless the
Plan shall have been terminated, become available for future Awards under the Plan. Shares
of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be increased by any shares of
Common Stock subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plans on the Approval Date that
later cease to be subject to such awards for any reason other than such awards having been
exercised, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, which shares of Common Stock
shall, as of the date such shares cease to be subject to such awards, cease to be available
for grant under the Prior Plans, but shall be available for issuance under the Plan.

     (d) Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan may be original issue or
treasury shares or a combination of the foregoing, as the Committee, in its sole discretion,
shall from time to time determine. Intervoice, during the term of this Plan, will at all
times reserve and keep available such number of shares of Common Stock as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

     (e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Board or the
Committee shall have the right to substitute or assume awards in connection with mergers,
reorganizations, separations or other transactions to which Section 424(a) of the Code
applies, provided such substitutions or assumptions are permitted by Section 424 of the Code
and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

     4.2. Adjustments for Recapitalizations and Reorganizations.

     (a) The shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan are shares of
Common Stock as presently constituted, but if, and whenever, prior to the expiration or
satisfaction of an Award theretofore granted, Intervoice shall effect a split, subdivision
or consolidation of shares of Common Stock or the payment of a stock dividend on Common
Stock in the form of Common Stock without receipt of consideration by Intervoice, the number
of shares of Common Stock with respect to which such Award may thereafter be exercised or
satisfied, as applicable, (i) in the event of an increase in the number of outstanding
            shares, shall be proportionately increased, and, if applicable, the exercise price per share shall be proportionately reduced, and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of
outstanding shares, shall be proportionately reduced, and, if applicable, the exercise price
per share shall be proportionately increased.

     (b) If Intervoice recapitalizes or otherwise changes its capital structure, thereafter
upon any exercise or satisfaction, as applicable, of an Award theretofore granted the
Participant shall be entitled to receive (or to purchase, if applicable) under

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such Award, in lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by such Award,
the number and class of shares of stock or other securities to which the Participant would
have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to
the recapitalization, the Participant had been the holder of record of the number of shares
of Common Stock then covered by such Award.

     (c) In the event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock by reason of a
reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, separation (including a spin-off or
other distribution of stock or property), exchange, or other relevant change in
capitalization occurring after the date of grant of any Award and not otherwise provided for
by this Section 4.2, any outstanding Awards and any Award Agreements evidencing such Awards
shall be subject to (i) adjustment by the Committee in its sole discretion as to the number,
price and kind of shares or other consideration subject to, and other terms of, such Awards
to reflect such changes in the outstanding Common Stock, or (ii) in the case of a Change of
Control transaction, if approved by the Committee in its sole discretion, replacement with a
comparable Award pursuant to Article XIII.

     (d) In the event of any changes in the outstanding Common Stock provided for in this
Section 4.2, the aggregate number of shares available for grant of Awards under the Plan may
be equitably adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive.

ARTICLE V. ELIGIBILITY

     The Committee shall select Participants from those Employees, directors and other individuals
or entities providing services to the Company that, in the opinion of the Committee, are in a
position to make a significant contribution to the success of the Company. Once a Participant has
been selected for an Award by the Committee, the Committee shall determine the type and size of
Award to be granted to the Participant and shall establish in the related Award Agreement the
terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to the Award, in addition to those set
forth in the Plan and the administrative guidelines and regulations, if any, established by the
Committee.

ARTICLE VI. FORM OF AWARDS

     6.1. Form of Awards. Awards may be granted under the Plan, in the Committee’s sole
discretion, in the form of Options pursuant to Article VII, SARs pursuant to Article VIII,
Restricted Stock pursuant to Article IX, Restricted Stock Units pursuant to Article X, Performance
Awards pursuant to Article XI, and Other Incentive Awards pursuant to Article XII, or a combination
thereof. All Awards shall be subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations of the
Plan. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, subject any Award to such other terms,
conditions, restrictions and/or limitations (including without limitation the time and conditions
of exercise, vesting or payment of an Award and restrictions on transferability of any shares of
Common Stock issued or delivered pursuant to an Award), provided they are not inconsistent with the
terms of the Plan. The Committee may, but is not required to, subject an

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Award to such conditions as it determines are necessary or appropriate to ensure than an Award
constitutes “qualified performance based compensation” within the meaning of section 162(m) of the
Code and the regulations thereunder. Awards under a particular Article of the Plan need not be
uniform, and Awards under more than one Article of the Plan may be combined in a single Award
Agreement. Any combination of Awards may be granted at one time and on more than one occasion to
the same Participant. Subject to compliance with applicable tax law, an Award Agreement may
provide that a Participant may elect to defer receipt of income attributable to the exercise or
vesting of an Award.

     6.2.
No Repricing. Except for adjustments made pursuant to
Section 4.2, no Award may be repriced, replaced, regranted through
cancellation or modified without shareholder approval, if the effect
would be to reduce the exercise price for the shares underlying such Award, and the
Committee cannot cancel an outstanding Option that is under water for
the purpose of granting a replacement Award of a different type.

     6.3. No Reload Rights. Options shall not contain any provision entitling the Participant to
an automatic grant of additional Options in connection with any exercise of the original Option.

     6.4. Substitution of SARs for Options. Any provision of this Plan to the contrary
notwithstanding, if Intervoice is required to or elects to record as an expense in its consolidated
statements of earnings the cost of Options pursuant to FAS 123 or a similar accounting requirement,
the Committee shall have the sole discretion to substitute, without receiving Participants’
consent, SARs settled only in stock for outstanding Options; provided, however, that the terms of
the substituted SARs are the same as the terms of the Options, the number of shares underlying the
SARs equals the number of shares underlying the Options and the difference between the Fair Market
Value of the underlying shares and the grant price of the SARs is equivalent to the difference
between the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares and the exercise price of the Options.

ARTICLE VII. OPTIONS

     7.1. General. Awards may be granted in the form of Options that may be Incentive Stock
Options or Nonqualified Stock Options, or a combination of both; provided, however, that Incentive
Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.

     7.2. Terms and Conditions of Options. An Option shall be exercisable in whole or in such
installments and at such times as may be determined by the Committee. The price at which a share
of Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Committee,
but such exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the Grant Date unless (i) the Option was granted through the assumption of, or in
substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who became Employees as a
result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition, or other corporate transaction involving the
Company or (ii) the Option is structured to avoid negative tax consequences to the Participant
under Section 409A of the Code. Except as otherwise provided

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in Section 7.3, the term of each Option shall be as specified by the Committee; provided,
however, that no Options shall be exercisable later than seven years after the Grant Date. Options
may be granted with respect to Restricted Stock or shares of Common Stock that are not Restricted
Stock, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

     7.3. Restrictions Relating to Incentive Stock Options.

     (a) Options granted in the form of Incentive Stock Options shall, in addition to being
subject to the terms and conditions of Section 7.2, comply with section 422(b) of the Code.
To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the times the respective
Incentive Stock Options are granted) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock
Options are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year under
all incentive stock option plans of Intervoice and its Affiliates exceeds $100,000, such
excess Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as options that do not constitute Incentive
Stock Options. The Committee shall determine, in accordance with the applicable provisions
of the Code, which of a Participant’s Incentive Stock Options will not constitute Incentive
Stock Options because of such limitation and shall notify the Participant of such
determination as soon as practicable after such determination. The price at which a share
of Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option shall be
determined by the Committee, but such exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date. No Incentive Stock Option shall
be granted to an Employee under the Plan if, at the time such Option is granted, such
Employee owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of Intervoice or an Affiliate, within the meaning of section 422(b)(6) of
the Code, unless (i) on the Grant Date of such Option, the exercise price of such Option is
at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option and (ii)
such Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the
Grant Date of the Option.

     (b) Each Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option shall notify Intervoice in
writing immediately after the date he or she makes a disqualifying disposition of any shares
of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option. A
disqualifying disposition is any disposition (including any sale) of such Common Stock
before the later of (i) two years after the Grant Date of the Incentive Stock Option or (ii)
one year after the date of exercise of the Incentive Stock Option.

     7.4. Exercise of Options.

     (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Options shall be exercised by the
delivery of a written notice of exercise to Intervoice, setting forth the number of whole shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by
full payment for such shares.

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     (b) Upon exercise of an Option, the exercise price of the Option shall be payable to
Intervoice in full either: (i) in cash or an equivalent acceptable to the Committee, or (ii)
in the sole discretion of the Committee and in accordance with any applicable administrative
guidelines established by the Committee, by tendering one or more previously acquired
nonforfeitable, unrestricted shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value at
the time of exercise equal to the total exercise price, or (iii) in a combination of the
forms of payment specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above; provided, however, that payment of
the exercise price by means of tendering previously owned shares of Common Stock shall not
be permitted when the same may, in the reasonable opinion of the Committee, cause Intervoice
to record a loss or expense as a result thereof.

     (c) During such time as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange
Act, to the extent permissible under applicable law, payment of the exercise price of an
Option may also be made, in the absolute discretion of the Committee, by delivery to
Intervoice or its designated agent of an executed irrevocable option exercise form together
with irrevocable instructions to a broker-dealer to sell or margin a sufficient portion of
the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised and deliver the sale or margin loan
proceeds directly to Intervoice to pay the exercise price and any required withholding
taxes.

     (d) As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of written notification of exercise
of an Option and full payment of the exercise price and any required withholding taxes,
Intervoice shall (i) deliver to the Participant, in the Participant’s name or the name of
the Participant’s designee, a stock certificate or certificates in an appropriate aggregate
amount based upon the number of shares of Common Stock purchased under the Option, or (ii)
cause to be issued in the Participant’s name or the name of the Participant’s designee, in
book-entry form, an appropriate number of shares of Common Stock based upon the number of shares purchased under the Option.

     7.5. Termination of Employment or Service. Each Award Agreement embodying the Award of an
Option shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the
Option following termination of the Participant’s employment or service with the Company. Such
provisions shall be determined by the Committee in its absolute discretion, need not be uniform
among all Options granted under the Plan and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for
termination of employment or service. In the event a Participant’s Award Agreement embodying the
award of an Option does not set forth such termination provisions, the following termination
provisions shall apply with respect to such Award:

     (a) Termination Other Than for Retirement, Disability, Death or Cause. If the
employment or service of a Participant shall terminate for any reason other than Retirement,
Disability, death or Cause, each outstanding Option held by the Participant may be
exercised, to the extent then vested, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of six months
from the date of such termination of employment or service or (ii) the expiration of the
term of such Option; provided, however, that if a Participant dies after his or her

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termination of employment or service but before the Participant’s right to exercise the
Option expires under (i) or (ii) of this paragraph (a), the right to exercise the Option, to
the extent then vested, shall expire on the earlier of (x) one year following the date of
the Participant’s termination of employment or service or (y) the expiration of the term of
such Option.

     (b) Termination by Reason of Retirement, Disability or Death. If the employment or
service of a Participant shall terminate by reason of Retirement, Disability or death, each
outstanding Option held by the Participant may be exercised, to the extent then vested,
until the earlier of (i) the expiration of one year from the date of such termination of
employment or service or (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option; provided, however,
that with respect to a Participant who terminates employment or service by reason of
Retirement and engages in a Harmful Activity either before or after Retirement, as
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the one-year period described in
paragraph (b)(i) shall be reduced to ten days from the date Intervoice gives notice of the
Harmful Activity to the Participant.

     (c) Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) above, if the
employment or service of a Participant shall terminate for Cause, each outstanding Option
held by the Participant may be exercised, to the extent then vested, until the earlier of
(i) the expiration of 30 days from the date of such termination of employment or service or
(ii) the expiration of the terms of such Option.

ARTICLE VIII. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

     8.1. General. The Committee may grant Awards in the form of SARs in such numbers and at such
times as it shall determine. SARs shall vest and be exercisable in whole or in such installments
and at such times as may be determined by the Committee. The price at which SARs may be exercised
shall be determined by the Committee but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per
share of Common Stock on the Grant Date unless (i) the SARs were granted through the assumption of,
or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who became Employees
as a result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition, or other corporate transaction involving the
Company or (ii) the SARs are structured to avoid negative tax consequences to the Participant under
Section 409A of the Code. The term of each SAR shall be as specified by the Committee; provided,
however, that no SARs shall be exercisable later than seven years after the Grant Date. At the
time of an Award of SARs, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms,
conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to the SARs, including without limitation rules
pertaining to the termination of employment or service (by reason of death, permanent and total
disability, or otherwise) of a Participant prior to exercise of the SARs, as it determines are
necessary or appropriate, provided they are not inconsistent with the Plan.

     8.2. Exercise of SARs. SARs shall be exercised by the delivery of a written notice of
exercise to Intervoice, setting forth the number of whole shares of Common Stock with respect to
which the Award is being exercised. Upon the exercise of SARs, the Participant shall be entitled

12

 

to receive an amount equal to the excess of the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of
Common Stock with respect to which the Award is exercised (determined as of the date of such
exercise) over the aggregate exercise price of such shares. Such amount shall be payable to the
Participant in cash or in shares of Common Stock, as provided in the Award Agreement; provided,
however, that if SARs are to be settled in cash, the SARS shall be structured to avoid negative tax
consequences to the Participant under Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE IX. RESTRICTED STOCK

     9.1. General. Awards may be granted in the form of Restricted Stock in such numbers and at
such times as the Committee shall determine. The Committee shall impose such terms, conditions and
restrictions on Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable, including without limitation providing
for vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals pursuant to a Performance Award and
restrictions under applicable federal or state securities laws. A Participant shall not be
required to make any payment for Restricted Stock unless required by the Committee pursuant to
Section 9.2.

     9.2. Purchased Restricted Stock. The Committee may in its sole discretion require a
Participant to pay a stipulated purchase price for each share of Restricted Stock (“Purchased
Restricted Stock”).

     9.3. Restricted Period. At the time an Award of Restricted Stock is granted, the Committee
shall establish a Restricted Period applicable to such Restricted Stock. Each Award of Restricted
Stock may have a different Restricted Period in the sole discretion of the Committee.

     9.4. Other Terms and Conditions. Restricted Stock shall constitute issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock for all corporate purposes. Restricted Stock awarded to a Participant under
the Plan shall be registered in the name of the Participant or, at the option of Intervoice, in the
name of a nominee of Intervoice, and shall be issued in book-entry form or represented by a stock
certificate. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Award Agreement, a Participant to whom
Restricted Stock has been awarded shall have the right to receive dividends thereon during the
Restricted Period, to vote the Restricted Stock and to enjoy all other stockholder rights with
respect thereto, except that (i) Intervoice shall retain custody of any certificates evidencing the
Restricted Stock during the Restricted Period, and (ii) the Participant may not sell, transfer,
pledge, exchange, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the Restricted Stock during the Restricted
Period. A breach of the terms and conditions established by the Committee pursuant to the Award of
the Restricted Stock may result in a forfeiture of the Restricted Stock. At the time of an Award
of Restricted Stock, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms,
conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to the Restricted Stock, including without
limitation rules pertaining to the termination of employment or service (by reason of death,
permanent and total disability, retirement or otherwise) of a Participant prior to expiration of
the Restricted Period.

13

 

     9.5. Miscellaneous. Nothing in this Article shall prohibit the exchange of shares of
Restricted Stock pursuant to a plan of merger or reorganization for stock or other securities of
Intervoice or another corporation that is a party to the reorganization, provided that the stock or
securities so received in exchange for shares of Restricted Stock shall, except as provided in
Article XIII, become subject to the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. Any shares
of Common Stock received as a result of a stock split or stock dividend with respect to shares of
Restricted Stock shall also become subject to the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.

ARTICLE X. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

     10.1. General. Awards may be granted in the form of Restricted Stock Units in such numbers
and at such times as the Committee shall determine. The Committee shall impose such terms,
conditions and restrictions on Restricted Stock Units as it may deem advisable, including without
limitation prescribing the period over which and the conditions upon which a Restricted Stock Unit
may become vested or be forfeited, and providing for vesting upon the achievement of specified
performance goals pursuant to a Performance Award. Upon the lapse of restrictions with respect to
each Restricted Stock Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one share
of Common Stock or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock,
as provided in the Award Agreement. A Participant shall not be required to make any payment for
Restricted Stock Units.

     10.2. Restricted Period. At the time an Award of Restricted Stock Units is granted, the
Committee shall establish a Restricted Period applicable to such Restricted Stock Units. Each
Award of Restricted Stock Units may have a different Restricted Period in the sole discretion of
the Committee.

     10.3. Cash Dividend Rights and Dividend Unit Rights. To the extent provided by the Committee
in its sole discretion, a grant of Restricted Stock Units may include a tandem Cash Dividend Right
or Dividend Unit Right grant. A grant of Cash Dividend Rights may provide that such Cash Dividend
Rights shall be paid directly to the Participant at the time of payment of related dividend, be
credited to a bookkeeping account subject to the same vesting and payment provisions as the tandem
Award (with or without interest in the sole discretion of the Committee), or be subject to such
other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. A grant of
Dividend Unit Rights may provide that such Dividend Unit Rights shall be subject to the same
vesting and payment provisions as the tandem Award or be subject to such other provisions and
restrictions as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

     10.4. Other Terms and Conditions. At the time of an Award of Restricted Stock Units, the
Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms, conditions, restrictions and
limitations applicable to the Restricted Stock Units, including without limitation rules pertaining
to the termination of employment or service (by reason of death, permanent and total disability,
retirement or otherwise) of a Participant prior to expiration of the Restricted Period.

14

 

ARTICLE XI. PERFORMANCE AWARDS

     11.1. General. Awards may be granted in the form of Performance Awards that may be payable in
the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, or a combination of both, in such amounts and at such
times as the Committee shall determine. Performance Awards shall be conditioned upon the level of
achievement of one or more stated performance goals over a specified performance period that shall
not be shorter than one year. Performance Awards may be combined with other Awards to impose
performance criteria as part of the terms of such other Awards.

     11.2. Terms and Conditions. Each Award Agreement embodying a Performance Award shall set
forth (i) the amount, including a target and maximum amount if applicable, a Participant may earn
in the form of cash or shares of Common Stock or a formula for determining such amount, (ii) the
performance criteria and level of achievement versus such criteria that shall determine the amount
payable or number of shares of Common Stock to be granted, issued, retained and/or vested, (iii)
the performance period over which performance is to be measured, (iv) the timing of any payments to
be made, (v) restrictions on the transferability of the Award, and (vi) such other terms and
conditions as the Committee may determine that are not inconsistent with the Plan.

     11.3. Code Section 162(m) Requirements. The Committee shall determine in its sole discretion
whether all or any portion of a Performance Award shall be intended to satisfy the requirements for
“performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code (the “162(m) Requirements”). The
performance criteria for any Performance Award that is intended to satisfy the 162(m) Requirements
shall be established in writing by the Committee based on one or more performance goals as set
forth in Section 11.4 not later than 90 days after commencement of the performance period with
respect to such Award, provided that the outcome of the performance in respect of the goals remains
substantially uncertain as of such time. The maximum amount that may be paid in cash pursuant to
Performance Awards granted to a Participant with respect to a Fiscal Year that are intended to
satisfy the 162(m) Requirements is $2,000,000; provided, however, that such maximum amount with
respect to a Performance Award that provides for a performance period longer than one Fiscal Year
shall be the foregoing limit multiplied by the number of full Fiscal Years in the performance
period. At the time of the grant of a Performance Award and to the extent permitted under Code
section 162(m) and regulations thereunder for a Performance Award intended to satisfy the 162(m)
Requirements, the Committee may provide for the manner in which the performance goals will be
measured in light of specified corporate transactions, extraordinary events, accounting changes and
other similar occurrences.

     11.4. Performance Goals. The performance measure(s) to be used for purposes of Performance
Awards may be described in terms of objectives that are related to the individual Participant or
objectives that are Company-wide or related to a subsidiary, division, department, region, function
or business unit of the Company in which the Participant is employed or with respect to which the
Participant performs services, and may consist of one or more or any combination of the following
criteria: (i) earnings or earnings per share (whether on a pre-tax,

15

 

after-tax, operational or other basis), (ii) return on equity, (iii) return on assets or net
assets, (iv) return on capital or invested capital and other related financial measures, (v) cash
flow, (vi) revenues, (vii) income or operating income, (viii) expenses or expense levels, (ix) one
or more operating ratios, (x) stock price, (xi) total shareholder return, (xii) market share,
(xiii) operating profit, (xiv) profit margin, (xv) cash flow, (xvi) capital expenditures, (xvii)
net borrowing, debt leverage levels, credit quality or debt ratings, (xviii) the accomplishment of
mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, public offerings or similar extraordinary business
transactions, (xix) net asset value per share, (xx) economic value added and (xxi) individual
business objectives. The performance goals based on these performance measures may be made
relative to the performance of other business entities.

     11.5. Certification and Negative Discretion. Prior to the payment of any compensation
pursuant to a Performance Award that is intended to satisfy the 162(m) Requirements, the Committee
shall certify the extent to which the performance goals and other material terms of the Award have
been achieved or satisfied. The Committee in its sole discretion shall have the authority to
reduce, but not to increase, the amount payable and the number of shares to be granted, issued,
retained or vested pursuant to a Performance Award.

ARTICLE XII. OTHER INCENTIVE AWARDS

     Other Incentive Awards may be granted in such amounts, upon such terms and at such times as
the Committee shall determine. Other Incentive Awards may be granted based upon, payable in or
otherwise related to, in whole or in part, shares of Common Stock if the Committee, in its sole
discretion, determines that such Other Incentive Awards are consistent with the purposes of the
Plan. Each grant of an Other Incentive Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall
specify the amount of the Other Incentive Award and the terms, conditions, restrictions and
limitations applicable to such Award. Payment of Other Incentive Awards shall be made at such
times and in such form, which may be cash, shares of Common Stock or other property (or a
combination thereof), as established by the Committee, subject to the terms of the Plan.

ARTICLE XIII. CHANGE OF CONTROL

     13.1. Vesting of Awards. Except as provided otherwise below in this Article or in an Award
Agreement at the time an Award is granted, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan,
if a Participant’s employment or service with the Company is involuntarily terminated other than
for Cause or if a Participant voluntarily terminates employment or service for Good Reason, in
either case within the one-year period following a Change of Control of Intervoice, any time
periods, conditions or contingencies relating to the exercise or realization of, or lapse of
restrictions under, any Award shall be automatically accelerated or waived so that:

     (a) if no exercise of the Award is required, the Award may be realized in full at the
time of the occurrence of the Participant’s termination of employment or service; or

16

 

     (b) if exercise of the Award is required, the Award may be exercised in full commencing
on the date of the Participant’s termination of employment or service.

In the event all outstanding Awards are replaced in connection with a Change of Control by
comparable types of awards of at least substantially equivalent value, as determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion, such replacement awards shall provide for automatic acceleration
or waiver as provided above in the event of a Participant’s involuntary termination of employment
or service with the Company other than for Cause or voluntary termination of employment or service
for Good Reason, as applicable.

     13.2. Cancellation of Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, on or prior to the date of a
Change of Control, the Committee may take any of the following actions with respect to any or all
outstanding Awards, without the consent of any Participant: (i) the Committee may require that
Participants surrender their outstanding Options and SARs in exchange for payment by the Company,
in cash, Common Stock, the securities of another company, or a combination thereof, as determined
by the Committee, in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the then Fair Market Value of
the shares of Common Stock subject to the Participant’s unexercised Options and SARs exceeds the
exercise price or grant price, and (ii) with respect to Participants holding Restricted Stock,
Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards or Other Incentive Awards, and related Cash Dividend
Rights and Dividend Unit Rights (if applicable), the Committee may determine that such Participants
shall receive payment in settlement of such Awards (and dividend rights), in an amount equivalent
to the value of such Awards (and dividend rights) at the time of such settlement; provided,
however, that the Committee shall not take the action permitted by this Section 13.2 unless counsel
for Intervoice determines that such action will not result in adverse tax consequences to
Participants under Section 409A of the Code. Such surrender or settlement shall take place as of
the date of the Change of Control or such other date as the Committee may specify.

ARTICLE XIV. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

     14.1. Plan Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time suspend, terminate, amend or
modify the Plan, in whole or in part; provided, however, that no amendment or modification of the
Plan shall become effective without the approval of such amendment or modification by the holders
of at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock if (i) such amendment or modification
increases the maximum number of shares subject to the Plan (except as provided in Article IV) or
changes the designation or class of persons eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, or (ii)
counsel for Intervoice determines that such approval is otherwise required by or necessary to
comply with applicable law or the listing requirements of NASDAQ or such other exchange or
association on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted. Upon termination of the Plan, the
terms and provisions of the Plan shall, notwithstanding such termination, continue to apply to
Awards granted prior to such termination. No suspension, termination, amendment or modification of
the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan,
without the consent of the Participant (or the Permitted Transferee) holding such Award.

17

 

     14.2. Award Amendment and Cancellation. The Committee may amend the terms of any outstanding
Award granted pursuant to the Plan, but except as otherwise provided herein, no such amendment
shall adversely affect in any material way the Participant’s (or a Permitted Transferee’s) rights
under an outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant (or the Permitted Transferee)
holding such Award.

     14.3. Performance-Based Compensation. In the case of an outstanding Award intended to be
eligible for the performance-based compensation exemption under section 162(m) of the Code, the
Committee shall not, without the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of
Common Stock, amend the Plan or the Award in a manner that would adversely affect the Award’s
continued eligibility for the performance-based compensation exemption under section 162(m) of the
Code.

ARTICLE XV. MISCELLANEOUS

     15.1. Award Agreements. After the Committee grants an Award under the Plan to a Participant,
Intervoice and the Participant shall enter into an Award Agreement setting forth the terms,
conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to the Award and such other matters as the
Committee may determine to be appropriate. The terms and provisions of the respective Award
Agreements need not be identical. All Award Agreements shall be subject to the provisions of the
Plan, and in the event of any conflict between an Award Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the
Plan shall govern.

     15.2. Listing; Suspension.

     (a) As long as the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or system
sponsored by a national securities association, the issuance of any shares of Common Stock
pursuant to an Award shall be conditioned upon such shares being listed on such exchange or
system. Intervoice shall have no obligation to issue such shares unless and until such
shares are so listed, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award with respect to
such shares shall be suspended until such listing has been effected.

     (b) If at any time counsel to Intervoice or its Affiliates shall be of the opinion that
any sale or delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award is or may in the
circumstances be unlawful or result in the imposition of excise taxes on Intervoice or its
Affiliates under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction, Intervoice or its Affiliates shall
have no obligation to make such sale or delivery, or to make any application or to effect or
to maintain any qualification or registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or otherwise, with respect to shares of Common Stock or Awards, and the right to exercise
any Option or other Award shall be suspended until, in the opinion of such counsel, such
sale or delivery shall be lawful or will not result in the imposition of excise taxes on
Intervoice or its Affiliates.

     (c) Upon termination of any period of suspension under this Section, any Award affected
by such suspension that shall not then have expired or terminated shall be

18

 

reinstated as to all shares available before such suspension and as to shares that
would otherwise have become available during the period of such suspension, but no such
suspension shall extend the term of any Award unless otherwise determined by the Committee
in its sole discretion.

     15.3. Additional Conditions. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary: (i) the
Committee may, if it shall determine it necessary or desirable in its sole discretion, at the time
of grant of any Award or the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any Award, require
the recipient of the Award or such shares of Common Stock, as a condition to the receipt thereof,
to deliver to Intervoice a written representation of present intention to acquire the Award or such
shares of Common Stock for his own account for investment and not for distribution, (ii) the
certificate for shares of Common Stock issued to a Participant may include any legend that the
Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer, and (iii) all certificates for
shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and
other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange or association upon
which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted, any applicable federal or state securities law,
and any applicable corporate law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on
any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

     15.4. Transferability. No Award shall be subject to execution, attachment or similar process.
No Award of Incentive Stock Options or Restricted Stock during its Restricted Period may be sold,
transferred, pledged, exchanged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, other than by will or
pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution. If provided in the Award Agreement,
all other Awards may be transferred by a Participant to a Permitted Transferee. Any attempted
sale, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecation or other disposition of an Award not specifically
permitted by the Plan or the Award Agreement shall be null and void and without effect. All Awards
granted to a Participant shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant, or if
applicable, a Permitted Transferee; provided, however, that in the event of a Participant’s legal
incapacity, an Award may be exercised by his or her guardian or legal representative. For purposes of the
Plan, “Permitted Transferee” means (i) a member of a Participant’s immediate family, (ii) any
person sharing the Participant’s household (other than a tenant or employee of the Participant),
(iii) trusts in which a person listed in (i) or (ii) above has more than 50% of the beneficial
interest, (iv) a foundation in which the Participant or a person listed in (i) or (ii) above
controls the management of assets, (v) any other entity in which the Participant or a person listed
in (i) or (ii) above owns more than 50% of the voting interests, provided that in the case of the
preceding clauses (i) through (v), no consideration is provided for the transfer, and (vi) any
transferee permitted under applicable securities and tax laws as determined by counsel to
Intervoice. In determining whether a person is a “Permitted Transferee,” immediate family members
shall include a Participant’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent,
spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law,
daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships.

19

 

     15.5. Withholding Taxes. The Company shall be entitled to deduct from any payment made under
the Plan, regardless of the form of such payment, the amount of all applicable income and
employment taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment, may require the
Participant to pay to the Company such withholding taxes prior to and as a condition of the making
of any payment or the issuance or delivery of any shares of Common Stock under the Plan, and shall
be entitled to deduct from any other compensation payable to the Participant any withholding
obligations with respect to Awards. In accordance with any applicable administrative guidelines it
establishes, the Committee may allow a Participant to pay the amount of taxes required by law to be
withheld from or with respect to an Award by (i) withholding shares of Common Stock from any
payment of Common Stock due as a result of such Award, or (ii) permitting the Participant to
deliver to the Company previously acquired shares of Common Stock, in each case having an aggregate
Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such required withholding taxes. No payment shall be made
and no shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to any Award unless and until the applicable
tax withholding obligations have been satisfied.

     15.6. No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered
pursuant to the Plan or any Award granted hereunder, provided that the Committee in its sole
discretion may round fractional shares down to the nearest whole share or settle fractional shares
in cash.

     15.7. Notices. All notices required or permitted to be given or made under the Plan or
pursuant to any Award Agreement (unless provided otherwise in such Award Agreement) shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made if (i) delivered personally, (ii)
transmitted by first class registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested, (iii) sent by prepaid overnight courier service, or (iv) sent by telecopy or
facsimile transmission, with confirmation receipt, to the person who is to receive it at the
address that such person has theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance
herewith. Such notices shall be effective (i) if delivered personally or sent by courier service,
upon actual receipt by the intended recipient, (ii) if mailed, upon the earlier of five days after
deposit in the mail or the date of delivery as shown by the return receipt therefor, or (iii) if
sent by telecopy or facsimile transmission, when the answer back is received. Intervoice or a
Participant may change, at any time and from time to time, by written notice to the other, the
address that it or such Participant had theretofore specified for receiving notices. Until such
address is changed in accordance herewith, notices hereunder or under an Award Agreement shall be
delivered or sent (i) to a Participant at his address as set forth in the records of the Company or
(ii) to Intervoice at the principal executive offices of Intervoice clearly marked “Attention:
General Counsel.”

     15.8. Binding Effect. The obligations of Intervoice under the Plan shall be binding upon any
successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other
reorganization of Intervoice, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to all
or substantially all of the assets and business of Intervoice. The terms and conditions of the
Plan shall be binding upon each Participant and his or her Permitted Transferees, heirs, legatees,
distributees and legal representatives.

20

 

     15.9. Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement is held to be illegal
or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions
of the Plan or such agreement, as the case may be, but such provision shall be fully severable and
the Plan or such agreement, as the case may be, shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal
or invalid provision had never been included herein or therein.

     15.10. No Restriction of Corporate Action. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed
to prevent Intervoice or any Affiliate from taking any corporate action (including any corporate
action to suspend, terminate, amend or modify the Plan) that is deemed by Intervoice or such
Affiliate to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an
adverse effect on the Plan or any Awards made or to be made under the Plan. No Participant or
other person shall have any claim against Intervoice or any Affiliate as a result of such action.

     15.11. Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
internal laws (and not the principles relating to conflicts of laws) of the State of Texas except
as superseded by applicable federal law.

     15.12. No Right, Title or Interest in Company Assets. No Participant shall have any rights as
a stockholder of Intervoice as a result of participation in the Plan until the date of issuance of
Common Stock in his name and, in the case of Restricted Stock, unless and until such rights are
granted to the Participant pursuant to the Plan. To the extent any person acquires a right to
receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such rights shall be no greater than the rights
of an unsecured general creditor of the Company, and such person shall not have any rights in or
against any specific assets of the Company. All Awards shall be unfunded.

     15.13. Risk of Participation. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed either as a
guarantee by Intervoice or the Affiliates, or their respective stockholders, directors, officers or
employees, of the value of any assets of the Plan or as an agreement by Intervoice or the
Affiliates, or their respective stockholders, directors, officers or employees, to indemnify anyone
for any losses, damages, costs or expenses resulting from participation in the Plan.

     15.14. No Guarantee of Tax Consequences. No person connected with the Plan in any capacity,
including without limitation Intervoice and the Affiliates and their respective directors,
officers, agents and employees, makes any representation, commitment or guarantee that any tax
treatment, including without limitation federal, state and local income, estate and gift tax
treatment, will be applicable with respect to any Awards or payments thereunder made to or for the
benefit of a Participant under the Plan or that such tax treatment will apply to or be available to
a Participant on account of participation in the Plan.

     15.15. Continued Employment or Service. Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Award
Agreement shall confer upon any Participant the right to continue in the employ or service of the
Company, or interfere in any way with the rights of the Company to terminate a Participant’s
employment or service at any time, with or without cause. The loss of existing or potential profit
in Awards will not constitute an element of damages in the event of termination

21

 

of employment or service for any reason, even if the termination is in violation of an
obligation of Intervoice or an Affiliate to the Participant.

     15.16. Miscellaneous. Headings are given to the articles and sections of the Plan solely as a
convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or
relevant to the construction of the Plan or any provisions hereof. The use of the masculine gender
shall also include within its meaning the feminine. Wherever the context of the Plan dictates, the
use of the singular shall also include within its meaning the plural, and vice versa.

22<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                      AFFIRMATIVE INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.
                                   As Company

                                    INDENTURE
                            Dated as of June 1, 2005

                    JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                                   As Trustee

                       JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

                                Due June 15, 2035

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               PAGE
<S>                                                                            <C>
                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01.    Definitions................................................    1
     Additional Interest....................................................    1
     Additional Provisions..................................................    1
     Authenticating Agent...................................................    1
     Bankruptcy Law.........................................................    1
     Board of Directors.....................................................    1
     Board Resolution.......................................................    2
     Business Day...........................................................    2
     Calculation Agent......................................................    2
     Capital Securities.....................................................    2
     Capital Securities Guarantee...........................................    2
     Certificate............................................................    2
     Common Securities......................................................    2
     Company................................................................    3
     Debt Security..........................................................    3
     Debt Security Register.................................................    3
     Declaration............................................................    3
     Default................................................................    3
     Defaulted Interest.....................................................    3
     Deferred Interest......................................................    3
     Event of Default.......................................................    3
     Extension Period.......................................................    3
     Indenture..............................................................    3
     Institutional Trustee..................................................    3
     Interest Payment Date..................................................    3
     Interest Rate..........................................................    3
     Investment Company Event...............................................    3
     LIBOR..................................................................    4
     LIBOR Banking Day......................................................    4
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
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<S>                                                                            <C>
     LIBOR Business Day.....................................................    4
     LIBOR Determination Date...............................................    4
     Liquidation Amount.....................................................    4
     Maturity Date..........................................................    4
     Notice.................................................................    4
     Officers' Certificate..................................................    4
     Opinion of Counsel.....................................................    4
     Outstanding,...........................................................    4
     Paying Agent...........................................................    5
     Person.................................................................    5
     Predecessor Security...................................................    5
     Principal Office of the Trustee........................................    5
     Redemption Date........................................................    5
     Redemption Price.......................................................    5
     Responsible Officer....................................................    5
     Securityholder.........................................................    5
     Senior Indebtedness....................................................    5
     Special Event..........................................................    6
     Special Redemption Date................................................    6
     Special Redemption Price...............................................    6
     Subsidiary.............................................................    6
     Tax Event..............................................................    6
     Trust..................................................................    7
     Trust Indenture Act....................................................    7
     Trust Securities.......................................................    7
     Trustee................................................................    7
     United States..........................................................    7
     U.S. Person............................................................    7

                                   ARTICLE II
                                 DEBT SECURITIES

SECTION 2.01.    Authentication and Dating..................................    7
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<S>                                                                           <C>
SECTION 2.02.    Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication............    8
SECTION 2.03.    Form and Denomination of Debt Securities...................    8
SECTION 2.04.    Execution of Debt Securities...............................    8
SECTION 2.05.    Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debt Securities...    9
SECTION 2.06.    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities.......   12
SECTION 2.07.    Temporary Debt Securities..................................   12
SECTION 2.08.    Payment of Interest........................................   13
SECTION 2.09.    Cancellation of Debt Securities Paid, etc..................   14
SECTION 2.10.    Computation of Interest....................................   14
SECTION 2.11.    Extension of Interest Payment Period.......................   16
SECTION 2.12.    CUSIP Numbers..............................................   17

                                   ARTICLE III
                       PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

SECTION 3.01.    Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed
                 Treatment of the Debt Securities...........................   17
SECTION 3.02.    Offices for Notices and Payments, etc......................   18
SECTION 3.03.    Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office.........   18
SECTION 3.04.    Provision as to Paying Agent...............................   19
SECTION 3.05.    Certificate to Trustee.....................................   20
SECTION 3.06.    Additional Interest........................................   20
SECTION 3.07.    Compliance with Consolidation Provisions...................   20
SECTION 3.08.    Limitation on Dividends....................................   20
SECTION 3.09.    Covenants as to the Trust..................................   21

                                   ARTICLE IV
                LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 4.01.    Securityholders' Lists.....................................   22
SECTION 4.02.    Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.......................   22

                                    ARTICLE V
      REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT

SECTION 5.01.    Events of Default..........................................   23
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SECTION 5.02.    Payment of Debt Securities on Default; Suit Therefor.......   25
SECTION 5.03.    Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.................   26
SECTION 5.04.    Proceedings by Securityholders.............................   27
SECTION 5.05.    Proceedings by Trustee.....................................   27
SECTION 5.06.    Remedies Cumulative and Continuing.........................   28
SECTION 5.07.    Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by
                 Majority of Securityholders................................   28
SECTION 5.08.    Notice of Defaults.........................................   29
SECTION 5.09.    Undertaking to Pay Costs...................................   29

                                   ARTICLE VI
                             CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 6.01.    Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.....................   29
SECTION 6.02.    Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.......................   31
SECTION 6.03.    No Responsibility for Recitals, etc........................   32
SECTION 6.04.    Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer
                 Agents or Registrar May Own Debt Securities................   32
SECTION 6.05.    Moneys to be Held in Trust.................................   32
SECTION 6.06.    Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.......................   32
SECTION 6.07.    Officers' Certificate as Evidence..........................   33
SECTION 6.08.    Eligibility of Trustee.....................................   33
SECTION 6.09.    Resignation or Removal of Trustee, Calculation Agent,
                 Paying Agent or Debt Security Registrar....................   34
SECTION 6.10.    Acceptance by Successor....................................   35
SECTION 6.11.    Succession by Merger, etc..................................   36
SECTION 6.12.    Authenticating Agents......................................   36

                                   ARTICLE VII
                         CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

SECTION 7.01.    Action by Securityholders..................................   38
SECTION 7.02.    Proof of Execution by Securityholders......................   38
SECTION 7.03.    Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.............................   39
SECTION 7.04.    Debt Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding....   39
SECTION 7.05.    Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound...............   39
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<S>                                                                               <C>
                                   ARTICLE VIII
                            SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS

SECTION 8.01.    Purposes of Meetings..........................................    40
SECTION 8.02.    Call of Meetings by Trustee...................................    40
SECTION 8.03.    Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders................    40
SECTION 8.04.    Qualifications for Voting.....................................    41
SECTION 8.05.    Regulations...................................................    41
SECTION 8.06.    Voting........................................................    41
SECTION 8.07.    Quorum; Actions...............................................    41
SECTION 8.08.    Written Consent Without a Meeting.............................    44

                                    ARTICLE IX
                             SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 9.01.    Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders....    43
SECTION 9.02.    Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.......    44
SECTION 9.03.    Effect of Supplemental Indentures.............................    45
SECTION 9.04.    Notation on Debt Securities...................................    45
SECTION 9.05.    Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be
                 Furnished to Trustee..........................................    45

                                    ARTICLE X
                             REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 10.01.   Optional Redemption...........................................    46
SECTION 10.02.   Special Event Redemption......................................    46
SECTION 10.03.   Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities............    46
SECTION 10.04.   Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption..............    47

                                    ARTICLE XI
                CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

SECTION 11.01.   Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms...............    47
SECTION 11.02.   Successor Entity to be Substituted............................    48
SECTION 11.03.   Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee.....................    48

                                   ARTICLE XII
                     SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
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<S>                                                                                 <C>
SECTION 12.01.   Discharge of Indenture........................................      49
SECTION 12.02.   Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee...............      49
SECTION 12.03.   Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.............................      50
SECTION 12.04.   Return of Unclaimed Moneys....................................      50

                                  ARTICLE XIII
         IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

SECTION 13.01.   Indenture and Debt Securities Solely Corporate Obligations....      50

                                   ARTICLE XIV
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 14.01.   Successors....................................................      50
SECTION 14.02.   Official Acts by Successor Entity.............................      51
SECTION 14.03.   Surrender of Company Powers...................................      51
SECTION 14.04.   Addresses for Notices, etc....................................      51
SECTION 14.05.   Governing Law.................................................      51
SECTION 14.06.   Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent..............      51
SECTION 14.07.   Non-Business Days.............................................      52
SECTION 14.08.   Table of Contents, Headings, etc..............................      52
SECTION 14.09.   Execution in Counterparts.....................................      52
SECTION 14.10.   Separability..................................................      52
SECTION 14.11.   Assignment....................................................      53
SECTION 14.12.   Acknowledgment of Rights......................................      53

                                   ARTICLE XV
                        SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES

SECTION 15.01.   Agreement to Subordinate......................................      53
SECTION 15.02.   Default on Senior Indebtedness................................      54
SECTION 15.03.   Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy..........................      54
SECTION 15.04.   Subrogation...................................................      55
SECTION 15.05.   Trustee to Effectuate Subordination...........................      56
SECTION 15.06.   Notice by the Company.........................................      56
SECTION 15.07.   Rights of the Trustee. Holders of Senior Indebtedness.........      57
SECTION 15.08.   Subordination May Not Be Impaired.............................      57
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                                                                           PAGE

EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A           FORM OF DEBT SECURITY

                                     -vii-
<PAGE>

            THIS INDENTURE, dated as of June 1, 2005, between Affirmative
Insurance Holdings, Inc., a company incorporated in Delaware (hereinafter
sometimes called the "Company"), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
as trustee (hereinafter sometimes called the "Trustee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

            WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly
authorized the issuance of its Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due June 15,
2035 (the "Debt Securities") under this Indenture and to provide, among other
things, for the execution and authentication, delivery and administration
thereof, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and the purchase
of the Debt Securities by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees
with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective
holders from time to time of the Debt Securities as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

      SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

            The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of
this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the
respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. All accounting terms used
herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the term
"generally accepted accounting principles" means such accounting principles as
are generally accepted in the United States at the time of any computation. The
words "herein," "hereof' and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer
to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other
subdivision.

            "Additional Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.06.

            "Additional Provisions" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
15.01.

            "Authenticating Agent" means any agent or agents of the Trustee
which at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.12.

            "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal
or state law for the relief of debtors.

            "Board of Directors" means the board of directors or the executive
committee or any other duly authorized designated officers of the Company.

<PAGE>

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

            "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any
other day on which banking institutions in Wilmington, Delaware, New York City
or the city of the Principal Office of the Trustee are permitted or required by
any applicable law or executive order to close.

            "Calculation Agent" means the Person identified as "Trustee" in the
first paragraph hereof with respect to the Debt Securities and the Institutional
Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities.

            "Capital Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the
Trust; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in
respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise
are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities.

            "Capital Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement that
the Company will enter into with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association or
other Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of
Capital Securities of the Trust.

            "Certificate" means a certificate signed by any one of the principal
executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting
officer of the Company.

            "Common Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust which are designated as "Common Securities" and rank pari
passu with Capital Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that if an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of such
Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders
of such Capital Securities.

            "Company" means Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc., a company
incorporated in Delaware, and, subject to the provisions of Article XI, shall
include its successors and assigns.

            "Debt Security" or "Debt Securities" has the meaning stated in the
first recital of this Indenture.

            "Debt Security Register" has the meaning specified in Section 2.05.

            "Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of
the Trust dated as of June 1, 2005, as amended or supplemented from time to
time.

            "Default" means any event, act or condition that with notice or
lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

            "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

            "Deferred Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

            "Event of Default" means any event specified in Section 5.01, which
has continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the
notice, if any, therein designated.

            "Extension Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

            "Fixed Rate" means a per annum rate of interest, equal 7.792%
commencing June 1, 2005.

            "Fixed Rate Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

            "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or, if
amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or
both.

            "Institutional Trustee" has the meaning set forth in the
Declaration.

            "Interest Payment Date" means March 15, June 15, September 15 and
December 15 of each year, commencing on September 15, 2005, during the term of
this Indenture.

            "Interest Period" has the meaning set fort in Section 2.08.

            "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Company and the
Trust of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that,
as a result of a change in law or regulation or written change in interpretation
or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental
agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that
the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be, considered
an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, which change or prospective change becomes
effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of
the original issuance of the Debt Securities.

            "LIBOR" means the London Interbank Offered Rate for U.S. Dollar
deposits in Europe as determined by the Calculation Agent according to Section
2.10(b).

            "LIBOR Banking Day" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b)(1).

            "LIBOR Business Day" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.10(b)(1).

            "LIBOR Determination Date" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.10(b).

            "Liquidation Amount" means the liquidation amount of $1,000 per
Trust Security.

            "Maturity Date" means June 15, 2035.

            "Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

            "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman
of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the
Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Comptroller,
an Assistant Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the
statements provided for in Section 14.06 if and to the extent required by the
provisions of such Section.

            "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by legal
counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include
the statements provided for in Section 14.06 if and to the extent required by
the provisions of such Section.

            "Outstanding" means when used with reference to Debt Securities,
subject to the provisions of Section 7.04, as of any particular time, all Debt
Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent under this Indenture, except

            (a)   Debt Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

            (b)   Debt Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or
redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in
trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or
shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company
shall act as its own Paying Agent); provided, that, if such Debt Securities, or
portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such
redemption shall have been given as provided in Articles X and XIV or provision
satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and

            (c)   Debt Securities paid pursuant to Section 2.06 or in lieu of or
in substitution for which other Debt Securities shall have been authenticated
and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.06 unless proof satisfactory to
the Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Debt Securities are held
by bona fide holders in due course.

            "Paying Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(e).

            "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.

            "Predecessor Security" of any particular Debt Security means every
previous Debt Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that
evidenced by such particular Debt Security; and, for the purposes of this
definition, any Debt Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.06 in
lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security shall be deemed to evidence
the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security.

            "Principal Office of the Trustee" means the office of the Trustee,
at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be
principally administered, which at all times shall be located within the United
States and at the time of the execution of this Indenture shall be 600 Travis
Street, 50th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

            "Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

            "Redemption Price" means 100% of the principal amount of the Debt
Securities being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Debt
Securities to the Redemption Date.

            "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Trustee, any
officer within the Principal Office of the Trustee with direct responsibility
for the administration of the Indenture, including any vice-president, any
assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer,
any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Principal
Office of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those
performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect
to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is
referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.

            "Securityholder," "holder of Debt Securities" or other similar
terms, means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Debt Security is
registered on the Debt Security Register.

            "Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to the Company, (i) the
principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the
Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities,
debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company;
(ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the
Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all
conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company
under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable
arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of the Company
for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker's acceptance, any
security purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any
interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options
or any similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the type
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other Persons for the payment
of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or
otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i)
through (v) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset
of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company),
whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter
incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant
to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are not
superior or are pari passu in right of payment to the Debt Securities; provided,
however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include (A) any debt securities
issued to any trust other than the Trust (or a trustee of such trust) that is a
financing vehicle of the Company (a "financing entity"), in connection with the
issuance by such financing entity of equity or other securities in transactions
substantially similar in structure to the transactions contemplated hereunder
and in the Declaration or (B) any guarantees of the Company in respect of the
equity or other securities of any financing entity referred to in clause (A)
above.

            "Special Event" means any of a Tax Event or an Investment Company
Event.

            "Special Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in Section
10.02.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

            "Special Redemption Price" means (1) if the Special Redemption Date
is before June 15, 2010, 107.5% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any
accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of such redemption and (2) if
the Special Redemption Date is on or after June 15, 2010, the Redemption Price
for such Special Redemption Date.

            "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation,
at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly
or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such
Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint
venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or
similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one
or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its
Subsidiaries, and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of
its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition,
"voting stock" means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in
the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting
power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of
such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents
having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

            "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an
Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result
of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in
the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling,
technical advice memorandum, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement (an
"Administrative Action")) or judicial decision interpreting or applying such
laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or
judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the
Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which
amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted,
promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance
of the Debt Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the
Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to
United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on
the Debt Securities; (ii) interest payable by the Company on the Debt Securities
is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible
by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax
purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such
opinion, subject to or otherwise required to pay, or required to withhold from
distributions to holders of Trust Securities, more than a de minimis amount of
other taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other
governmental charges.

            "Trust" means Affirmative Insurance Holdings Statutory Trust II, the
Delaware statutory trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of
issuing Capital Securities in connection with the issuance of Debt Securities
under this Indenture, of which the Company is the sponsor.

            "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended from time-to-time, or any successor legislation.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

            "Trust Securities" means Common Securities and Capital Securities of
Affirmative Insurance Holdings Statutory Trust II.

            "Trustee" means the Person identified as "Trustee" in the first
paragraph hereof, and, subject to the provisions of Article VI hereof, shall
also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder.

            "United States" means the United States of America and the District
of Columbia.

            "U.S. Person" has the meaning given to United States Person as set
forth in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

            "Variable Rate" means a per annum rate of interest, reset quarterly,
equal to LIBOR, as determined on the LIBOR Determination Date for such Interest
Payment Date, plus 3.55%; provided, however, that the Variable Rate for any
Interest Period may not exceed the highest rate permitted by New York law, as
the same may be modified by United States laws of general application.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                 DEBT SECURITIES

      SECTION 2.01. Authentication and Dating.

            Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture, or from time to
time thereafter, Debt Securities in an aggregate principal amount not in excess
of $25,774,000 may be executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for
authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and make available
for delivery said Debt Securities to or upon the written order of the Company,
signed by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman, President or
Chief Financial Officer or one of its Vice Presidents, without any further
action by the Company hereunder. In authenticating such Debt Securities, and
accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to
such Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to
Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon a copy of any Board
Resolution or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if applicable, an
appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution, in each case
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or other officers with
appropriate delegated authority of the Company as the case may be.

            The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and
deliver any Debt Securities under this Section if the Trustee, being advised by
counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such
action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing
Securityholders. The Trustee shall also be entitled to receive an opinion of
counsel to the effect that (1) all conditions precedent to the execution,
delivery and authentication of the Securities have been complied with; (2) the
Securities are not required to be registered under the Securities Act; and (3)
the Indenture is not required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

            The definitive Debt Securities shall be typed, printed, lithographed
or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner,
all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced
by their execution of such Debt Securities.

      SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.

            The Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Debt Securities
shall be in substantially the following form:

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

            JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, not in its individual
capacity but solely as Trustee.

                       By _________________________________________
                                    Authorized Officer

      SECTION 2.03. Form and Denomination of Debt Securities.

            The Debt Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto. The Debt Securities shall be in registered, certificated form without
coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000 and any multiple of $1,000 in
excess thereof. The Debt Securities shall be numbered, lettered, or otherwise
distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plans as the officers
executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced
by the execution and authentication thereof.

      SECTION 2.04. Execution of Debt Securities.

            The Debt Securities shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the
Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chairman of the Board of
Directors, Vice Chairman, President or Chief Financial Officer or one of its
Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents, under its
corporate seal (if legally required), which may be affixed thereto or printed,
engraved or otherwise reproduced thereon, by facsimile or otherwise, and which
need not be attested. Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein before recited,
executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of
an authorized officer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent upon any Debt Security executed by the Company shall be
conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly
authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the
benefits of this Indenture.

            In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the
Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so
signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Debt Securities
nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the
Person who signed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the
Company; and any Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such
Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be
the proper officers of the

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person
was not such an officer.

            Every Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

      SECTION 2.05. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debt Securities.

            The Company shall cause to be kept, at the office or agency
maintained for the purpose of registration of transfer and for exchange as
provided in Section 3.02, a register (the "Debt Security Register") for the Debt
Securities issued hereunder in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as
it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of
all Debt Securities as provided in this Article II. Such register shall be in
written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form
within a reasonable time.

            Debt Securities to be exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal
Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company
for such purpose as provided in Section 3.02, and the Company shall execute, the
Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor
the Debt Security or Debt Securities which the Securityholder making the
exchange shall be entitled to receive. Upon due presentment for registration of
transfer of any Debt Security at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any
office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in
Section 3.02, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall
register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make
available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt
Security for a like aggregate principal amount. Registration or registration of
transfer of any Debt Security by the Trustee or by any agent of the Company
appointed pursuant to Section 3.02, and delivery of such Debt Security, shall be
deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Debt
Security.

            All Debt Securities presented for registration of transfer or for
exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by, a written
instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and
either the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by, the holder or
such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing.

            Neither the Trustee nor the Debt Security Registrar shall be
responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer hereunder complies with the
registration provisions of or any exemptions from the Securities Act (under and
as defined in the Declaration), applicable state securities laws or the
applicable laws of any other jurisdiction, ERISA, the United States Internal
Revenue code of 1986, as amended, or the Investment Company Act (under and as
defined in the Declaration).

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

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

            The Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or
register a transfer of any Debt Security for a period of 15 days immediately
preceding the date of selection of Debt Securities for redemption.

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, Debt Securities may not be
transferred except in compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth
below, unless otherwise determined by the Company in accordance with applicable
law, which legend shall be placed on each Debt Security:

            THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY
OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS
ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY
PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS THE PERMITTED BY RULE 144(k) UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT) AFTER THE LATER OF (Y) THE DATE OR ORIGINAL ISSUANCE HEREOF AND (Z) THE
LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 405 UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY WAS THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR SUCH
INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO) AND (ii) SUCH LATER DATE,
IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY ANY SUBSEQUENT CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAW, ONLY (A)
TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE
144A"), TO A PERSON THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE
ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE
TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION
FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN "ACCREDITED
INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3), (7) OR (8) OF
RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN
ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR," FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES
AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY
DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND
SALES TO NON-US PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES PURSUANT TO
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE
EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO
THE COMPANY'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO
CLAUSES (C) OR (D) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.

            THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES,
REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
SECURITIES ACT.

            THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES,
REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR
SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"),
(EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY
REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN
ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN,
UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE
UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23,
95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND
HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION
4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE
REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO
WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING
ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY
USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE,
OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION
406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE
STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

            IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY WILL
DELIVER TO THE COMPANY AND TRUSTEE SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS
MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE
FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

            THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS
HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN
EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING A
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO
LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY.

      SECTION 2.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities.

            In case any Debt Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed,
lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its written request the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debt Security bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated
Debt Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debt Security so
destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Debt
Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity
as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of
destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and
the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.

            The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debt Security and
deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the
Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Company may
require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected
therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured or is about to mature or
has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed,
lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debt Security,
pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in
the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall
furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be
required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss
or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the
destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

            Every substituted Debt Security issued pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 2.06 by virtue of the fact that any such Debt Security is
destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation
of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall
be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this
Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities
duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be held and owned upon the
express condition that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the foregoing
provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities and shall preclude any and
all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or
hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of
negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

      SECTION 2.07. Temporary Debt Securities.

            Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities, the Company
may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery
temporary Debt Securities that are typed, printed or lithographed. Temporary
Debt Securities shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and
substantially in the form of the definitive Debt Securities but with such
omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debt
Securities, all as

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Debt Security shall be
executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same
conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as
the definitive Debt Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will
execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent definitive Debt
Securities and thereupon any or all temporary Debt Securities may be surrendered
in exchange therefor, at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or
agency maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.02,
and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make
available for delivery in exchange for such temporary Debt Securities a like
aggregate principal amount of such definitive Debt Securities. Such exchange
shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor
except that in case of any such exchange involving a registration of transfer
the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or
other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until so
exchanged, the temporary Debt Securities shall in all respects be entitled to
the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities
authenticated and delivered hereunder.

      SECTION 2.08. Payment of Interest.

            During the Fixed Rate Period, each Debt Security will bear interest
at the Fixed Rate. Thereafter each Debt Security will bear interest at the then
applicable Variable Rate. Interest shall accrue at the Interest Rate (defined to
include the Fixed Rate and Variable Rate, as applicable) from and including each
Interest Payment Date or, in the case of the first Interest Payment Period, the
original date of issuance of such Debt Security to, but excluding, the next
succeeding Interest Payment Date or, in the case of the last Interest Payment
Period, the Redemption Date, Special Redemption Date or Maturity Date, as
applicable, on the principal thereof, on any overdue principal and (to the
extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on
Deferred Interest and on any overdue installment of interest (including
Defaulted Interest), payable (subject to the provisions of Article XV) on each
Interest Payment Date commencing on September 15, 2005. Interest and any
Deferred Interest on any Debt Security that is payable, and is punctually paid
or duly provided for by the Company, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid
to the Person in whose name said Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date
for such interest installment, except that interest and any Deferred Interest
payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is
paid. In the event that any Debt Security or portion thereof is called for
redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with
respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date,
interest on such Debt Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of
such Debt Security.

            Any interest on any Debt Security, other than Deferred Interest,
that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for by the Company,
on any Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall
forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular
record date by virtue of having been such holder, and such Defaulted Interest
shall be paid by the Company to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities
(or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of
business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest,
which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the
Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on
each such Debt Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same
time the

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate
amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make
arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to
the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust
for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this
clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the
payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than fifteen nor less
than ten days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than ten
days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The
Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in
the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed
payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be
mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her
address as it appears in the Debt Security Register, not less than ten days
prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such
Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as
aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names
such Debt Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered
on such special record date and thereafter the Company shall have no further
payment obligation in respect of the Defaulted Interest.

            Any interest scheduled to become payable on an Interest Payment Date
occurring during an Extension Period shall not be Defaulted Interest and shall
be payable on such other date as may be specified in the terms of such Debt
Securities.

            The term "regular record date" as used in this Section shall mean
the fifteenth day prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date whether or not
such day is a Business Day.

            Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Debt
Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in
exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security shall carry the rights to
interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Debt
Security.

      SECTION 2.09. Cancellation of Debt Securities Paid, etc.

            All Debt Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment,
redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered to the
Company or any Paying Agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled
by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee shall be promptly canceled by it, and
no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted
by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of all
canceled Debt Securities in accordance with its customary practices unless the
Company otherwise directs the Trustee in writing, in which case the Trustee
shall dispose of such Debt Securities as directed by the Company. If the Company
shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not
operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such
Debt Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for
cancellation.

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 2.10. Computation of Interest

            (a)   From June 1, 2005 until June 15, 2010 (the "Fixed Rate
Period"), the interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months and the amount payable for any partial period shall be
computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months. Upon expiration of the Fixed Rate Period, the amount of interest
payable for any Interest Payment Period will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest
period; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of a Special Event
Redemption pursuant to Section 10.02 the amounts payable pursuant to this
Indenture shall be calculated as set forth in the definition of Special
Redemption Price.

            (b)   Upon expiration of the Fixed Rate Period, LIBOR, for any
Interest Payment Period, shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in
accordance with the following provisions:

                  (1)   On the second LIBOR Business Day (provided, that on such
            day commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in
            foreign currency deposits) in London (a "LIBOR Banking Day"), and
            otherwise the next preceding LIBOR Business Day that is also a LIBOR
            Banking Day) prior to March 15, June 15, September 15 and December
            15, (except, with respect to the first Interest Period, on June 15,
            2010), (each such day, a "LIBOR Determination Date"), LIBOR shall
            equal the rate, as obtained by the Calculation Agent for three-month
            U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe, which appears on Telerate Page 3750
            (as defined in the International Swaps and Derivatives Association,
            Inc. 2000 Interest Rate and Currency Exchange Definitions) or such
            other page as may replace such Page 3750, as of 11:00 a.m. (London
            time) on such LIBOR Determination Date, as reported by Bloomberg
            Financial Markets Commodities News or any successor service. "LIBOR
            Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other
            day on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York
            or Wilmington, Delaware are authorized or obligated by law or
            executive order to be closed. If such rate is superseded on Telerate
            Page 3750 by a corrected rate before 12:00 noon (London time) on
            such LIBOR Determination Date, the corrected rate as so substituted
            will be LIBOR for such LIBOR Determination Date.

                  (2)   If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate does not
            appear on Telerate Page 3750 as reported by Bloomberg Financial
            Markets Commodities News or such other page as may replace such
            Telerate Page 3750, the Calculation Agent shall determine the
            arithmetic mean of the offered quotations of the Reference Banks (as
            defined below) to leading banks in the London interbank market for
            three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe (in an amount determined
            by the Calculation Agent) by reference to requests for quotations as
            of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the LIBOR Determination
            Date made by the Calculation Agent to the Reference Banks. If, on
            any LIBOR Determination Date, at least two of the Reference Banks
            provide such quotations, LIBOR shall equal the arithmetic mean of
            such quotations. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, only one or
            none of the Reference Banks provide such a

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

            quotation, LIBOR shall be deemed to be the arithmetic mean of the
            offered quotations that at least two leading banks in the City of
            New York (as selected by the Calculation Agent) are quoting on the
            relevant LIBOR Determination Date for three-month U.S. Dollar
            deposits in Europe at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) (in an
            amount determined by the Calculation Agent). As used herein,
            "Reference Banks" means four major banks in the London interbank
            market selected by the Calculation Agent.

                  (3)   If the Calculation Agent is required but is unable to
            determine a rate in accordance with at least one of the procedures
            provided above, LIBOR for such Interest Period shall be LIBOR in
            effect for the immediately preceding Interest Period.

            (c)   All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debt
Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth
of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded
upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)),
and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be
rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward).

            (d)   On each LIBOR Determination Date, the Calculation Agent shall
notify, in writing, the Company and the Paying Agent of the applicable Interest
Rate in effect for the related Interest Period. The Calculation Agent shall,
upon the request of the holder of any Debt Securities, provide the Interest Rate
applicable to the related Interest Period. All calculations made by the
Calculation Agent in the absence of manifest error shall be conclusive for all
purposes and binding on the Company and the holders of the Debt Securities. The
Paying Agent shall be entitled to rely on information received from the
Calculation Agent or the Company as to the Interest Rate. The Company shall,
from time to time, provide any necessary information to the Paying Agent
relating to any original issue discount and interest on the Debt Securities that
is included in any payment and reportable for taxable income calculation
purposes.

      SECTION 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period.

            So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Company shall have the right, from time to time and without causing an Event of
Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by extending the
interest payment period on the Debt Securities at any time and from time to time
during the term of the Debt Securities, for up to twenty consecutive quarterly
periods (each such extended interest payment period, together with all previous
and further consecutive extensions thereof, is referred to herein as an
"Extension Period"), during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and
payable (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable). No
Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date or extend
beyond the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as
the case may be. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue
on the Debt Securities, and interest on such accrued interest (such accrued
interest and interest thereon referred to herein as "Deferred Interest") will
accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension
Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred Interest would have
been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by
law. No interest or Deferred Interest (except any Additional Interest that

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

may be due and payable) shall be due and payable during an Extension Period,
except at the end thereof. At the end of any such Extension Period the Company
shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debt Securities;
provided, however, that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall be
subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 3.08 of this Indenture. Prior
to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such
Extension Period, provided, that no Extension Period (including all previous and
further consecutive extensions that are part of such Extension Period) shall
exceed twenty consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date.
Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all
Deferred Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to
the foregoing requirements. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its
election to begin such Extension Period ("Notice") not later than the related
regular record date for the next succeeding Interest Payment Date. The Notice
shall describe, in reasonable detail, why the Company has elected to begin an
Extension Period. The Notice shall acknowledge and affirm the Company's
understanding that it is prohibited from issuing dividends and other
distributions during the Extension Period. Upon receipt of the Notice, the
Placement Agent has the right, at its sole discretion, to disclose the name of
the Company, the fact that the Company has elected to begin an Extension Period
and other information that the Placement Agent, at its sole discretion, deems
relevant to the Company's election to begin an Extension Period. The Trustee
shall give notice of the Company's election to begin a new Extension Period to
the Securityholders.

      SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers.

            The Company in issuing the Debt Securities may use a "CUSIP" number
(if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use a "CUSIP" number
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders; provided, that any
such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of
such number either as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any
notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed on the Debt Securities, and any such redemption
shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company
will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP number.

      SECTION 2.13. Income Tax Certification.

            As a condition to the payment of any principal of or interest on the
Debt Securities without the imposition of withholding tax, the Trustee shall
require the previous delivery of properly completed and signed applicable U.S.
federal income tax certifications (generally, an Internal Revenue Service Form
W-9 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is a "United
States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(3) of the Code (under and
as defined in the Declaration) or an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (or
applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is not a "United States
person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(3) of the Code) and any other
certification acceptable to it to enable the Trustee or any Paying Agent to
determine their respective duties and liabilities with respect to any taxes or
other charges that they ay be required to pay, deduct or withhold in respect of
such Debt Securities

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE III

                       PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

      SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment
of the Debt Securities.

            (a)   The Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and
punctually pay or cause to be paid all payments due on the Debt Securities at
the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in this Indenture
and the Debt Securities. At the option of the Company, each installment of
interest on the Debt Securities may be paid (i) by mailing checks for such
interest payable to the order of the holders of Debt Securities entitled thereto
as they appear on the Debt Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to any account with a banking institution located in
the United States designated by such holders to the Paying Agent no later than
the related record date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Indenture or any Debt Security, if the Trust or the Trustee of the Trust is
the holder of any Debt Security, then all payments in respect of such Debt
Security shall be made by the Company in immediately available funds when due.

            (b)   The Company will treat the Debt Securities as indebtedness,
and the interest payable in respect of such Debt Securities as interest, for all
U.S. federal income tax purposes. All payments in respect of such Debt
Securities will be made free and clear of U.S. withholding tax to any beneficial
owner thereof that has provided an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 BEN (or any
substitute or successor form) establishing its non-U.S. status for U.S. federal
income tax purposes.

            (c)   As of the date of this Indenture, the Company represents that
it has no intention to exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments
of interest on the Debt Securities by commencing an Extension Period.

            (d)   As of the date of this Indenture, the Company represents that
the likelihood that it would exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer
payments of interest on the Debt Securities by commencing an Extension Period at
any time during which the Debt Securities are outstanding is remote because of
the restrictions that would be imposed on the Company's ability to declare or
pay dividends or distributions on, or to redeem, purchase or make a liquidation
payment with respect to, any of its outstanding equity and on the Company's
ability to make any payments of principal of or interest on, or repurchase or
redeem, any of its debt securities that rank pari passu in all respects with (or
junior in interest to) the Debt Securities.

      SECTION 3.02. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.

            So long as any of the Debt Securities remain outstanding, the
Company will maintain in New York, New York an office or agency where the Debt
Securities may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Debt
Securities may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as
provided in this Indenture and an office or agency where notices and demands to
or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities or of this

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

Indenture may be served. The Company hereby appoints the Trustee at ITS Unit
Trust Window, 4 New York Plaza, Ground Floor, New York, New York 10004,
attention: ITS (Houston) Affirmative Insurance Holdings Statutory Trust II as
such office or agency. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such
office or agency in New York, New York or shall fail to give such notice of the
location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may
be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee.

            In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time
to time designate one or more offices or agencies outside Houston, Texas where
the Debt Securities may be presented for registration of transfer and for
exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time
to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or
expedient; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in
any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or
agency in New York, New York for the purposes above mentioned. The Company will
give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission
thereof.

      SECTION 3.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office.

            The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the
office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.09, a
Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

      SECTION 3.04. Provision as to Paying Agent.

            (a)   If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the
Trustee, it will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee
an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the
provision of this Section 3.04;

                  (1)   that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for
            the payment of all payments due on the Debt Securities (whether such
            sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on
            the Debt Securities) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the
            Debt Securities;

                  (2)   that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of
            any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debt
            Securities) to make any payment on the Debt Securities when the same
            shall be due and payable; and

                  (3)   that it will, at any time during the continuance of any
            Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith
            pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

            (b)   If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on
or before each due date of the payments due on the Debt Securities, set aside,
segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debt
Securities a sum sufficient to pay such payments so becoming due and will notify
the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by
the Company (or by any other obligor under the Debt Securities) to make any
payment on the Debt Securities when the same shall become due and payable.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

            Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for the
Debt Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the payments on the
Debt Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay all
payments so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the
Persons entitled thereto and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the
Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to
act.

            (c)   Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and
discharge with respect to the Debt Securities, or for any other reason, pay, or
direct any Paying Agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the
Company or any such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the
same terms and conditions herein contained.

            (d)   Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary notwithstanding,
the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.04 is subject
to Sections 12.03 and 12.04.

            (e)   The Company hereby initially appoints the Trustee to act as
Paying Agent (the "Paying Agent").

      SECTION 3.05. Certificate to Trustee.

            The Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days after
the end of each fiscal year, so long as Debt Securities are outstanding
hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the
signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have
knowledge of any default by the Company in the performance of any covenants of
the Company contained herein, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any
such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have
knowledge and the nature thereof.

      SECTION 3.06. Additional Interest.

            If and for so long as the Trust is the holder of all Debt Securities
and is subject to or otherwise required to pay, or is required to withhold from
distributions to holders of Trust Securities, any additional taxes (including
withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges as a
result of a Tax Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts (the
"Additional Interest") on the Debt Securities as shall be required so that the
net amounts received and retained by the Trust for distribution to holders of
Trust Securities after paying all taxes (including withholding taxes on
distributions to holders of Trust Securities), duties, assessments or other
governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received
and retained for distribution to holders of Trust Securities after paying all
taxes (including withholding taxes on distributions to holders of Trust
Securities), duties, assessments or other governmental charges if no such
additional taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges had been
imposed.

            Whenever in this Indenture or the Debt Securities there is a
reference in any context to the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or
interest on the Debt Securities, such mention shall be deemed to include mention
of payments of the Additional Interest provided for in this Section to the
extent that, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section and express
mention of the payment of Additional Interest (if applicable) in any provisions
hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those
provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided, however,
that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture or
any Debt Security, the deferral of the payment of interest during an Extension
Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not defer the payment of any Additional
Interest that may be due and payable.

      SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions.

            The Company will not, while any of the Debt Securities remain
outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into any other Person, or merge into
itself, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property or capital
stock to any other Person unless the provisions of Article XI hereof are
complied with.

      SECTION 3.08. Limitation on Dividends.

            If Debt Securities are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of
such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust
(regardless of whether Debt Securities continue to be held by such Trust) and
(i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the
Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under
the Capital Securities Guarantee or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of
its election to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by extending
the interest payment period as provided herein and such period, or any extension
thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Company may not (A)
declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire,
or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital
stock, (B) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on
or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari
passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debt Securities or (C)
make any payment under any guarantees of the Company that rank in all respects
pari passu with or junior in interest to the Capital Securities Guarantee (other
than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital
stock of the Company (I) in connection with any employment contract, benefit
plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more
employees, officers, directors or consultants, (II) in connection with a
dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (III) in connection
with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible
into or exercisable for such capital stock), as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of (i), (ii) or (iii) above,
(b) as a result of any exchange, reclassification, combination or conversion of
any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a
subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital
stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or
series of the Company's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests
in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged,
(d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights
plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's
rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e)
any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the
dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or
other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or
ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock).

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 3.09. Covenants as to the Trust.

            For so long as such Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Company
shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided, however, that
any permitted successor of the Company under this Indenture that is a U.S.
Person may succeed to the Company's ownership of such Common Securities. The
Company, as owner of the Common Securities, shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory trust, except in connection
with a distribution of Debt Securities to the holders of Trust Securities in
liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities or
certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the
Declaration, (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes and (c) to cause each holder of Trust
Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debt
Securities.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

      SECTION 4.01. Securityholders' Lists.

            The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be
furnished to the Trustee:

            (a)   on each regular record date for an Interest Payment Date, a
list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the Securityholders of the Debt Securities as of such record date;

            (b)   at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of
similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time
such list is furnished, except that no such lists need be furnished under this
Section 4.01 so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its
acting as Debt Security registrar; and

            (c)   except that no such lists need be furnished under this Section
4.01 so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as
Debt Security registrar.

      SECTION 4.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.

            (a)   The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is
reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the
holders of Debt Securities (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it
as provided in Section 4.01 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debt
Securities registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list
furnished to it as provided in Section 4.01 upon receipt of a new list so
furnished.

            (b)   In case three or more holders of Debt Securities (hereinafter
referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the
Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debt Security for
a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such
application states that the applicants desire to communicate with

                                      -22-
<PAGE>

other holders of Debt Securities with respect to their rights under this
Indenture or under such Debt Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form
of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then
the Trustee shall within five Business Days after the receipt of such
application, at its election, either:

                  (1)   afford such applicants access to the information
            preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the
            provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02, or

                  (2)   inform such applicants as to the approximate number of
            holders of Debt Securities whose names and addresses appear in the
            information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with
            the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02, and as to the
            approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of
            proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

            If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to
such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such
applicants, mail to each Securityholder of Debt Securities whose name and
address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in
accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02 a copy of
the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request with
reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed
and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of
mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to
such applicants and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if
permitted or required by applicable law, together with a copy of the material to
be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the
Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of
all Debt Securities, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable
law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If said
Commission, as permitted or required by applicable law, after opportunity for a
hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall
enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry
of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall
find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so
sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall
mail copies of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable
promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender;
otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such
applicants respecting their application.

            (c)   Each and every holder of Debt Securities, by receiving and
holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the
Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be held accountable by reason
of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the
holders of Debt Securities in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)
of this Section 4.02, regardless of the source from which such information was
derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing
any material pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b).

                                      -23-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 4.03. Financial and Other Information.

            (a)   The Company shall deliver to each holder of Debt Securities:
(1) within 45 days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period other than year
end, unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company (including
balance sheet and income statement) covering such period; (2) within 60 days
after year end, unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company
(include balance sheet and income statement) covering the related annual period;
(3) within the earlier of (y) 90 days after the end of each fiscal year and (z)
such earlier number of days prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission
for the filing with it of a Form 10-K by companies subject to the informational
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, (i) audited consolidated financial
statements of the Company (including balance sheet and income statement)
covering such fiscal year, (ii) the report of the independent accountants with
respect to such financial statements and (iii) an Officer's Certificate of the
Company detailing any material differences between the unaudited financial
statements for such fiscal year delivered pursuant to clause (2) above and those
delivered pursuant to this clause; (4) within 7 days after the filing thereof,
each Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that is prepared and filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act, if any;
(5) if the Company is not then (y) subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act or (z) exempt from reporting pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) thereunder,
the information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities
Act unless all of such information has been previously delivered to holders of
the Debt Securities under clause (1), (2) or (3) above; and (6) within 30 days
after the end of the fiscal year of the Company, Form 1099 or such other annual
U.S. federal income tax information statement required by the Code containing
such information with regard to the Debt Securities held by such holder as is
required by the Code and the income tax regulations of the U.S. Treasury
thereunder.

            (b)   The Company will cause copies of the annual financial
statements of the Company and/or Affiliates that are filed with the insurance
regulator in each jurisdiction in which the Company or any such Affiliate is
incorporated to be delivered to the holder of the Debt Securities promptly
following their filing.

                                   ARTICLE V

      REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT

      SECTION 5.01. Events of Default. The following events shall be "Events of
Default" with respect to Debt Securities:

            (a)   the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any
Debt Security when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default
for a period of 30 days; for the avoidance of doubt, an extension of any
interest payment period by the Company in accordance with Section 2.11 of this
Indenture shall not constitute a default under this clause 5.01(a); or

            (b)   the Company defaults in the payment of all or any part of the
principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debt Securities as and when the same
shall become due and payable

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

either at maturity, upon redemption, by acceleration of Maturity pursuant to
Section 5.01 of this Indenture or otherwise; or

            (c)   the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any
of its covenants or agreements in Sections 3.06, 3.07, 3.08 or 3.09 of this
Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or
whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and
continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has
been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to
the Company and the Trustee by the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities, a written notice specifying
such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such
notice is a "Notice of Default' hereunder; or

            (d)   a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a
decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case
under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
hereafter in effect, or appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian,
trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any
substantial part of its property, or orders the winding-up or liquidation of its
affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a
period of 90 consecutive days; or

            (e)   the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case
under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession
by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other
similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or
shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail
generally to pay its debts as they become due; or

            (f)   the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated,
dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in
connection with (1) the distribution of the Debt Securities to holders of the
Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (2) the
redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities or (3) certain mergers,
consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration.

            If an Event of Default specified under clause (a), (b) or (c) of
this Section 5.01 occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debt Securities,
then, in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debt Securities
shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of
not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities then
outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee
if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debt
Securities and any premium and interest accrued, but unpaid, thereon, if any, to
be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall
become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified under
clause (d), (e) or (f) of this Section 5.01 occurs, then, in each and every such
case, the entire principal amount of the Debt Securities and any premium and
interest accrued, but unpaid, thereon shall ipso facto become immediately due
and payable without further action.

            The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that
if, at any time after the principal of the Debt Securities shall have become due
by acceleration, and before any

                                      -25-
<PAGE>

judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or
entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with
the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon
all the Debt Securities and all payments on the Debt Securities which shall have
become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon all such payments
and Deferred Interest, to the extent permitted by law) and such amount as shall
be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each
predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all
other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.06, if any, and (ii) all
Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the non-payment of the
payments on Debt Securities which shall have become due by acceleration, shall
have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein, then and in
every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debt Securities then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the
Trustee, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such acceleration and its
consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or
shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent
thereon; provided, however, that if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or
a trustee of the Trust, such waiver or rescission and annulment shall not be
effective until the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver
or rescission and annulment.

            In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under
this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned
because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have
been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the
Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debt Securities shall be restored
respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights,
remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debt
Securities shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

      SECTION 5.02. Payment of Debt Securities on Default; Suit Therefor.

            The Company covenants that upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default pursuant to clause 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) and upon demand of the Trustee,
the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Debt
Securities, the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all
Debt Securities including Deferred Interest accrued on the Debt Securities; and,
in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the
costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the
Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other amounts due to the
Trustee under Section 6.06. In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such
amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an
express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or
proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and
unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final
decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or
any other obligor on such Debt Securities and collect in the manner provided by
law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Debt
Securities wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.

            In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for
the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Debt Securities
under Bankruptcy Law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed
for the property of the Company

                                      -26-
<PAGE>

or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings
relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debt Securities, or to the
creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee,
irrespective of whether the principal of the Debt Securities shall then be due
and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise
and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to
the provisions of this Section 5.02, shall be entitled and empowered, by
intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or
claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in
respect of the Debt Securities and, in case of any judicial proceedings, 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
reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their
respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all other
amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.06) and of the Securityholders
allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other
obligor on the Debt Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Company
or such other obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to
vote on behalf of the holders of the Debt Securities in any election of a
trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or
other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or Person performing similar
functions in comparable proceedings, and to collect and receive any moneys or
other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the
same after the deduction of its charges and expenses; and any receiver, assignee
or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the
Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the
Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the
Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to
cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their
respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the
Trustee under Section 6.06.

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

            All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture,
or under any of the Debt Securities, may be enforced by the Trustee without the
possession of any of the Debt Securities, or the production thereof at any trial
or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted
by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust,
and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of
the Debt Securities.

            In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings
involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the
Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders
of the Debt Securities, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of the
Debt Securities parties to any such proceedings.

                                      -27-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 5.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.

            Any moneys collected by the Trustee shall be applied in the
following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution
of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities in respect of
which moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only
partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

            First: To the payment of costs and expenses incurred by, and
reasonable fees of, the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all
other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.06;

            Second: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if
and to the extent required by Article XV;

            Third: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Debt
Securities, in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been
collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the
amounts due on such Debt Securities; and

            Fourth: The balance, if any, to the Company.

      SECTION 5.04. Proceedings by Securityholders.

            No holder of any Debt Security shall have any right to institute any
suit, action or proceeding for any remedy hereunder, unless such holder
previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default
with respect to the Debt Securities and unless the holders of not less than 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding shall have
given the Trustee a written request to institute such action, suit or proceeding
and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may
require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred thereby, and
the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding;
provided, that no holder of Debt Securities shall have any right to prejudice
the rights of any other holder of Debt Securities, obtain priority or preference
over any other such holder or enforce any right under this Indenture except in
the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all
holders of Debt Securities.

            Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the
right of any holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on such Debt Security when due, or to institute
suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected
without the consent of such holder. For the protection and enforcement of the
provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall
be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

      SECTION 5.05. Proceedings by Trustee.

            In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its
discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this
Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem
most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in
equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether

                                      -28-
<PAGE>

for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this
Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or
to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this
Indenture or by law.

      SECTION 5.06. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing.

            Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.06, all powers and
remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall,
to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any
other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Debt
Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or
observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or
otherwise established with respect to the Debt Securities, and no delay or
omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Debt Securities to
exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and
continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be
construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and,
subject to the provisions of Section 5.04, every power and remedy given by this
Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised
from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or
by the Securityholders.

      SECTION 5.07. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority
of Securityholders.

            The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities affected at the time outstanding and, if the Debt Securities are held
by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, the holders of a majority in aggregate
liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust shall have
the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
on the Trustee with respect to such Debt Securities; provided, however, that if
the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such time,
method and place or such exercise, as the case may be, may not be so directed
until the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust shall have directed such time,
method and place or such exercise, as the case may be; provided, further, that
(subject to the provisions of Section 6.01) the Trustee shall have the right to
decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine that the
action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part
in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the
action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible
Officer of the Trustee shall determine that the action or proceedings so
directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to any
declaration of acceleration, or ipso facto acceleration, of the maturity of the
Debt Securities, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debt Securities at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of
the Debt Securities waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past
default or Event of Default and its consequences, except a default (a) in the
payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debt
Securities, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security
affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.09;
provided, however, that if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a
trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be
effective until the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
outstanding

                                      -29-
<PAGE>

Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or
modification to such waiver; provided, further, that if the consent of the
holder of each outstanding Debt Security is required, such waiver or
modification to such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the
outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver
or modification to such waiver. Upon any such waiver or modification to such
waiver, the Default or Event of Default covered thereby shall be deemed to be
cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the
holders of the Debt Securities shall be restored to their former positions and
rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver or modification to such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or
impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default
hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 5.07, said Default
or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debt Securities and this
Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

      SECTION 5.08. Notice of Defaults.

            The Trustee shall, within 90 days after a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee shall have actual knowledge or received written notice of the occurrence
of a default with respect to the Debt Securities, mail to all Securityholders,
as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Debt Security
Register, notice of all defaults with respect to the Debt Securities known to
the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of
such notice (the term "default" for the purpose of this Section 5.08 is hereby
defined to be any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would
become, an Event of Default, specified in Section 5.01, not including periods of
grace, if any, provided for therein); provided, that, except in the case of
default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any
of the Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such
notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith
determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Securityholders.

      SECTION 5.09. Undertaking to Pay Costs.

            All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Debt
Security by such holder's acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed,
that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of
any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for
any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant
in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such
court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having
due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such
party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.09 shall not apply to any
suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or
group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal
amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities (or, if such Debt Securities are held
by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, more than 10% in liquidation amount of
the outstanding Capital Securities), or to any suit instituted by any
Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security against the Company on or
after the same shall have become due and payable or to any suit instituted in
accordance with Section 14.12.

                                      -30-
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI

                             CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

      SECTION 6.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

            With respect to the holders of Debt Securities issued hereunder, the
Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt
Securities and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may
have occurred, with respect to the Debt Securities, undertakes to perform such
duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In
case an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities has occurred (which
has not been cured or waived) the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and
powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill
in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs.

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

            (a)   prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to
the Debt Securities and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default
which may have occurred

                  (1)   the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect
            to the Debt Securities shall be determined solely by the express
            provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable
            except for the performance of such duties and obligations with
            respect to the Debt Securities as are specifically set forth in this
            Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read
            into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

                  (2)   in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee,
            the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements
            and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any
            certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to
            the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such
            certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are
            specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee
            shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or
            not they conform on their face to the requirements of this
            Indenture;

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

            (c)   the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action
taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the
direction of the Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.07, relating to the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this
Indenture;

                                      -31-
<PAGE>

            (d)   the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default
or Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities unless either (1) a
Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of
Default or (2) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have
been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the Debt
Securities or by any holder of the Debt Securities, except with respect to an
Event of Default pursuant to Sections 5.01 (a) or 5.01 (b) hereof (other than an
Event of Default resulting from the default in the payment of Additional
Interest if the Trustee does not have actual knowledge or written notice that
such payment is due and payable), of which the Trustee shall be deemed to have
knowledge; and

            (e)   in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the
Trustee may seek and rely on reasonable instructions from the Company.

            None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers.

      SECTION 6.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.

            Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01:

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

            (b)   any request, direction, order or demand of the Company
mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate
(unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed);
and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

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

            (d)   the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of
the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or
direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which may be incurred therein or thereby;

            (e)   the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or
omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or
within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation,
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities
(that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to the Debt
Securities such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to
use the same degree of care and skill in

                                      -32-
<PAGE>

their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs;

            (f)   the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into
the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond,
debenture, coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do
so by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the outstanding Debt Securities affected thereby; provided, however, that if the
payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or
liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is,
in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the
security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require
reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so
proceeding; and

            (g)   the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder
or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents
(including any Authenticating Agent) or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or
attorney appointed by it with due care.

      SECTION 6.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc.

            The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities (except in
the certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent)
shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Trustee and the
Authenticating Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same.
The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the
validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities. The Trustee
and the Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application
by the Company of any Debt Securities or the proceeds of any Debt Securities
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in
conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

      SECTION 6.04. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer
Agents or Registrar May Own Debt Securities.

            The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or any Paying Agent or any
transfer agent or any Debt Security registrar, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities with the same
rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent,
transfer agent or Debt Security registrar.

      SECTION 6.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust.

            Subject to the provisions of Section 12.04, all moneys received by
the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided,
be held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee
and any Paying Agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money
received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.
So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all
interest allowed on any such moneys, if any, shall be paid from time to time to
the Company upon the written order of

                                      -33-
<PAGE>

the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President,
the Chief Operating Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer of the Company.

      SECTION 6.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.

            The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to
time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be agreed
to in writing between the Company and the Trustee (which shall not be limited by
any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express
trust), and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its written
request for all documented reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this
Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and
disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ)
except any such expense, disbursement or advance that arises from its negligence
or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee
(including in its individual capacity) and any predecessor Trustee (and its
officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against,
any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense including taxes (other
than taxes based on the income of the Trustee), except to the extent such loss,
damage, claim, liability or expense results from the negligence or bad faith of
such indemnitee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this Trust, including the costs and expenses of defending
itself against any claim or liability in the premises. The obligations of the
Company under this Section 6.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to
pay or reimburse the Trustee for documented expenses, disbursements and advances
shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness
shall be secured by (and the Company hereby grants and pledges to the Trustee) a
lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or
collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of
the holders of particular Debt Securities.

            Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under
applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in
connection with an Event of Default specified in subsections (d), (e) or (f) of
Section 5.01, the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its
counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute
expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law.

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

            Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or any Debt Security to
the contrary, the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds
to pay any principal of or interest on or other amounts with respect to the Debt
Securities or otherwise advance funds to or on behalf of the Company.

      SECTION 6.07. Officers' Certificate as Evidence.

            Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.01 and 6.02, whenever in
the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it
necessary or desirable

                                      -34-
<PAGE>

that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action
hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the
part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an
Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the
absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full
warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the
provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

      SECTION 6.08. Eligibility of Trustee.

            The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a U.S. Person that is a
banking corporation or national association organized and doing business under
the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or of the District
of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers,
having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars
($50,000,000) and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, or
District of Columbia authority. If such corporation or national association
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the
purposes of this Section 6.08 the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation or national association shall be deemed to be its combined capital
and surplus as set forth in its most recent records of condition so published.

            The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as
Trustee, notwithstanding that such corporation or national association shall be
otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article.

            In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.08, the Trustee shall resign
immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.09.

            If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest"
within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee
shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner
provided by, and subject to this Indenture.

      SECTION 6.09. Resignation or Removal of Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying
Agent or Debt Security Registrar.

            (a)   The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed,
the Calculation Agent, the Paying Agent and any Debt Security registrar may at
any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and
by mailing notice thereof, at the Company's expense, to the holders of the Debt
Securities at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt Security
Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly
appoint a successor or successors by written instrument, in duplicate, executed
by order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be
delivered to the resigning party and one copy to the successor. If no successor
shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after
the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected Securityholders, the
resigning party may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the

                                      -35-
<PAGE>

appointment of a successor, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide
holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities for at least six months may,
subject to the provisions of Section 5.09, on behalf of himself or herself and
all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a
successor. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper and prescribe, appoint a successor.

            (b)   In case at any time any of the following shall occur -

                  (1)   the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of
            the last paragraph of Section 6.08 after written request therefor by
            the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder
            of a Debt Security or Debt Securities for at least six months,

                  (2)   the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance
            with the provisions of Section 6.08 and shall fail to resign after
            written request therefor by the Company or by any such
            Securityholder, or

                  (3)   the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall
            be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or
            of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take
            charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for
            the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a
successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the
Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the
Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to the
provisions of Section 5.09, if no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed
and have accepted appointment within 30 days of the occurrence of any of (1),
(2) or (3) above, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debt
Security or Debt Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself or
herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor
Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee.

            (c)   Upon prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at
the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor
Trustee, which shall be deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within ten
Business Days after such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case
or in the case of a failure by such holders to nominate a successor Trustee, the
Trustee so removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and
otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.09 provided, may petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor.

            (d)   Any resignation or removal of the Trustee, the Calculation
Agent, the Paying Agent and any Debt Security registrar and appointment of a
successor pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 6.09 shall become
effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor as provided in Section
6.10.

                                      -36-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 6.10. Acceptance by Successor.

            Any successor Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Debt
Security Register appointed as provided in Section 6.09 shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor an instrument
accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal
of the retiring party shall become effective and such successor, without any
further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights,
powers, duties and obligations with respect to the Debt Securities of its
predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named herein; but,
nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor, the
party ceasing to act shall, upon payment of the amounts then due it pursuant to
the provisions of Section 6.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring
to such successor all the rights and powers of the party so ceasing to act and
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor all property and money
held by such retiring party hereunder. Upon request of any such successor, the
Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and
certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor all such rights and
powers. Any party ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all
property or funds held or collected to secure any amounts then due it pursuant
to the provisions of Section 6.06.

            If a successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring
Trustee and the successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture
supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed
necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties
of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities as to which the
predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the
predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this
Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration
of the Trust hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that
nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees
co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a
trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder
administered by any other such Trustee.

            No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this
Section 6.10 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall
be eligible and qualified under the provisions of Section 6.08.

            In no event shall a retiring Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying
Agent or Debt Security registrar be liable for the acts or omissions of any
successor hereunder.

            Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee, Calculation
Agent, Paying Agent or Debt Security registrar as provided in this Section 6.10,
the Company shall mail notice of the succession to the holders of Debt
Securities at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt Security
Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within ten Business Days
after the acceptance of appointment by the successor, the successor shall cause
such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.

                                      -37-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc.

            Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with
which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person
succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the
Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution
or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties
hereto; provided, that such Person shall be otherwise eligible and qualified
under this Article.

            In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to
the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debt Securities shall have been
authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the
certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debt
Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debt Securities
shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate
such Debt Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the
name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall
have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debt Securities or in this
Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided,
however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any
predecessor Trustee or authenticate Debt Securities in the name of any
predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger,
conversion or consolidation.

      SECTION 6.12. Authenticating Agents.

            There may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the
Trustee upon the request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and
subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Debt Securities
issued upon exchange or registration of transfer thereof as fully to all intents
and purposes as though any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly
authorized to authenticate and deliver Debt Securities; provided, that the
Trustee shall have no liability to the Company for any acts or omissions of the
Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of Debt
Securities. Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a Person
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state
or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws
to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50,000,000 and being subject to supervision or examination by federal,
state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such Person publishes
reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or the requirements of
such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12 the combined capital
and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at
any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with
the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and
with the effect herein specified in this Section.

            Any Person into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any
merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a
party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate
trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such
Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor Person is otherwise eligible

                                      -38-
<PAGE>

under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent.

            Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written
notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any
time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the Debt
Securities by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent
and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a
termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be
eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the
Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under
this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company
and shall mail notice of such appointment to all holders of Debt Securities as
the names and addresses of such holders appear on the Debt Security Register.
Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder
shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with
respect to the Debt Securities of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as
if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein.

            The Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to
time reasonable compensation for its services. Any Authenticating Agent shall
have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in
accordance with the directions of the Trustee and shall receive such reasonable
indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities incurred
in furtherance of its duties under this Section 6.12.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                         CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

      SECTION 7.01. Action by Securityholders.

            Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a
specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities or
aggregate liquidation amount of Capital Securities may take any action
(including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice,
consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time
of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined
therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of
similar tenor executed by such Securityholders or holders of Capital Securities,
as the case may be, in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b)
by the record of such holders of Debt Securities voting in favor thereof at any
meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the
provisions of Article VIII or of such holders of Capital Securities duly called
and held in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration, or (c) by a
combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a
meeting of such Securityholders or holders of Capital Securities, as the case
may be, or (d) by any other method the Trustee deems satisfactory.

            If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or
revocation of the same, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such Debt Securities for
the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation
of the same, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record
date is fixed, such request,

                                      -39-
<PAGE>

demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or
revocation of the same may be given before or after the record date, but only
the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall
be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether
Securityholders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Debt Securities have
authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same,
and for that purpose the outstanding Debt Securities shall be computed as of the
record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent
by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it
shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later
than six months after the record date.

      SECTION 7.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders.

            Subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 8.05, proof of
the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or such Securityholder's
agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable
rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as
shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debt Securities shall be
proved by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Debt Security
registrar. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred
to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

            The record of any Securityholders' meeting shall be proved in the
manner provided in Section 8.06.

      SECTION 7.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.

            Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt
Security, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent,
any transfer agent and any Debt Security registrar may deem the Person in whose
name such Debt Security shall be registered upon the Debt Security Register to
be, and may treat such Person as, the absolute owner of such Debt Security
(whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue) for the purpose of
receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on such Debt Security and for all other purposes; and neither the
Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor
any transfer agent nor any Debt Security registrar shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time
being or upon such holder's order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum
or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys
payable upon any such Debt Security.

      SECTION 7.04. Debt Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding.

            In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate
principal amount of Debt Securities have concurred in any direction, consent or
waiver under this Indenture, Debt Securities which are owned by the Company or
any other obligor on the Debt Securities or by any Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common

                                      -40-
<PAGE>

control with the Company (other than the Trust) or any other obligor on the Debt
Securities shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose
of any such determination; provided, that for the purposes of determining
whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent
or waiver, only Debt Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee
actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned
which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the
purposes of this Section 7.04 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction
of the Trustee the pledgee's right to vote such Debt Securities and that the
pledgee is not the Company or any such other obligor or Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as
to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel
shall be full protection to the Trustee.

      SECTION 7.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound.

            At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee,
as provided in Section 7.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the
percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities specified in
this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder (in cases where no
record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.01) or any holder as of an
applicable record date (in cases where a record date has been set pursuant to
Section 7.01) of a Debt Security (or any Debt Security issued in whole or in
part in exchange or substitution therefor) the serial number of which is shown
by the evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the holders of which have
consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the
Principal Office of the Trustee and upon proof of holding as provided in Section
7.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security (or so far as
concerns the principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted Debt
Security). Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Debt
Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future
holders and owners of such Debt Security, and of any Debt Security issued in
exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof,
irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such
Debt Security or any Debt Security issued in exchange or substitution therefor.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                            SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS

      SECTION 8.01. Purposes of Meetings.

            A meeting of Securityholders may be called at any time and from time
to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following
purposes:

            (a)   to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to
give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default
hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be
taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V;

            (b)   to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee
pursuant to the provisions of Article VI;

                                      -41-
<PAGE>

            (c)   to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02; or

            (d)   to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on
behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debt
Securities under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

      SECTION 8.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee.

            The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders to
take any action specified in Section 8.01, to be held at such time and at such
place in The City of New York, the Borough of Manhattan, or Houston, Texas, as
the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders,
setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the
action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Debt
Securities affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt
Securities Register. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than
180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

      SECTION 8.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.

            In case at any time the Company pursuant to a Board Resolution, or
the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities, as the case may be, then outstanding, shall have requested the
Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth
in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the
Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after
receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine
the time and the place in for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any
action authorized in Section 8.01, by mailing notice thereof as provided in
Section 8.02.

      SECTION 8.04. Qualifications for Voting.

            To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders a Person
shall be (a) a holder of one or more Debt Securities with respect to which the
meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as
proxy by a holder of one or more such Debt Securities. The only Persons who
shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders
shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any
representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the
Company and its counsel.

      SECTION 8.05. Regulations.

            Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee
may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of
Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Debt Securities and of the
appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of
inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and
other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the
conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate.

                                      -42-
<PAGE>

            The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary
chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the
Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.03, in which case the
Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in
like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent
secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote at the meeting.

            Subject to the provisions of Section 7.04, at any meeting each
holder of Debt Securities with respect to which such meeting is being held or
proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of
Debt Securities held or represented by such holder; provided, however, that no
vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debt Security
challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not
outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than
by virtue of Debt Securities held by such chairman or instruments in writing as
aforesaid duly designating such chairman as the Person to vote on behalf of
other Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to
the provisions of Section 8.02 or 8.03 may be adjourned from time to time by a
majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting
may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

      SECTION 8.06. Voting.

            The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of holders of
Debt Securities with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by
written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such holders or
of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Debt
Securities held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting
shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the
meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the
secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all
votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each
meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and
there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of
votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons
having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting
and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 8.02. The record
shall show the serial numbers of the Debt Securities voting in favor of or
against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the
affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the
duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be
preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted
at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence
of the matters therein stated.

      SECTION 8.07. Quorum; Actions.

            The Persons entitled to vote a majority in outstanding principal
amount of the Debt Securities shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of
Securityholders; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such
meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice,
authorization, direction or other action which may be given by the holders of
not less than a specified percentage in outstanding principal amount of the Debt
Securities, the Persons holding or representing such specified percentage in
outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities will constitute a quorum. In
the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the

                                      -43-
<PAGE>

time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the
request of Securityholders, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be
adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent
chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence
of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further
adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent
chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting.
Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in
Section 8.02, except that such notice need be given only once not less than five
days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened.
Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the
percentage, as provided above, of the outstanding principal amount of the Debt
Securities which shall constitute a quorum.

            Except as limited by the proviso in the first paragraph of Section
9.02, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened
at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote
of the holders of not less than a majority in outstanding principal amount of
the Debt Securities; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso
in the first paragraph of Section 9.02, any resolution with respect to any
consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other
action that this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the holders of not
less than a specified percentage in outstanding principal amount of the Debt
Securities may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened
and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of
the holders of not less than such specified percentage in outstanding principal
amount of the Debt Securities.

            Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of
Debt Securities duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on
all the Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

      SECTION 8.08. Written Consent Without a Meeting.

            Whenever under this Indenture, Securityholders are required or
permitted to take any action by vote, such action may be taken without a meeting
on written consent, setting forth the action so taken, signed by the
Securityholders of all outstanding Debt Securities entitled to vote thereon. No
consent shall be effective to take the action referred to therein unless, within
sixty days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by
this paragraph to the Trustee, written consents signed by a sufficient number of
Securityholders to take action are delivered to the Trustee at its Principal
Office. Delivery made to the Trustee at its Principal Office, shall be by hand
or by certificated or registered mail, return receipt requested. Written consent
thus given by the Securityholders of such number of Debt Securities as is
required hereunder, shall have the same effect as a valid vote of
Securityholders of such number of Debt Securities.

                                      -44-
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX

                             SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

      SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders.

            The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee
may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto, without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more
of the following purposes:

            (a)   to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company,
or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the
covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company, pursuant to Article XI
hereof;

            (b)   to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants,
restrictions or conditions for the protection of the holders of Debt Securities
as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders
of such Debt Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and
continuance, of a Default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or
conditions a Default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or
any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth;
provided, however, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction
or condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of
grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in
the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon
such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such
default;

            (c)   to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any
supplemental indenture, or to make or amend such other provisions in regard to
matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided, that any such
action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debt
Securities;

            (d)   to add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debt
Securities, including, without limitation, any terms relating to the issuance,
exchange, registration or transfer of Debt Securities, including to provide for
transfer procedures and restrictions substantially similar to those applicable
to the Capital Securities, as required by Section 2.05 (for purposes of assuring
that no registration of Debt Securities is required under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended); provided, that any such action shall not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the Debt Securities then outstanding (it being
understood, for purposes of this proviso, that transfer restrictions on Debt
Securities substantially similar to those applicable to Capital Securities shall
not be deemed to adversely affect the holders of the Debt Securities);

            (e)   to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities and to add
to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to
provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more
than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.10;

                                      -45-
<PAGE>

            (f)   to make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this
paragraph) that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in
any material respect; or

            (g)   to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and
terms and conditions of the Debt Securities, to establish the form of any
certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture
or the Debt Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of Debt
Securities.

            The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the
execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate
agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the
conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee
shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such
supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

            Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this
Section 9.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent
of the holders of any of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding,
notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.

      SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.

            With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.01) of the
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities at the time outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture, the
Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to
time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto
(which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, then in
effect, applicable to indentures qualified thereunder) for the purpose of adding
any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions
of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner
the rights of the holders of the Debt Securities; provided, however, that no
such supplemental indenture shall without such consent of the holders of each
Debt Security then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the Maturity Date
of any Debt Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium
thereon, or reduce the rate (or manner of calculation of the rate) or extend the
time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption
thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable
in any coin or currency other than United States Dollars or impair or affect the
right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the
right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the
aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities the holders of which are required to
consent to any such supplemental indenture; and provided, further, that if the
Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such
supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in
aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities shall have
consented to such supplemental indenture; provided, further, that if the consent
of the Securityholder of each outstanding Debt Security is required, such
supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the
outstanding Capital Securities shall have consented to such supplemental
indenture.

                                      -46-
<PAGE>

            Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution
authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the
filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders (and
holders of Capital Securities, if required) as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join
with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such
supplemental indenture 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 supplemental
indenture.

            Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee
shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the
Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental
indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the
Debt Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any
defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of
any such supplemental indenture.

            It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders
under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed
supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve
the substance thereof.

      SECTION 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

            Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the
provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be
modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture
of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Debt Securities shall thereafter
be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such
modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such
supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and
conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

      SECTION 9.04. Notation on Debt Securities.

            Debt Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of
any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may
bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If
the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Debt Securities so modified
as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any
modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may
be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities then
outstanding.

      SECTION 9.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be
Furnished to Trustee.

            The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02,
shall, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.06, receive an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any
supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements
of this Article IX. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of

                                      -47-
<PAGE>

Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant
to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of
this Article IX and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of
this Article IX to join in the execution thereof.

                                   ARTICLE X

                            REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

      SECTION 10.01. Optional Redemption.

            The Company shall have the right, to redeem the Debt Securities, in
whole or (provided that all accrued and unpaid interest has been paid on all
Debt Securities for all Interest Periods terminating on or prior to such date)
from time to time in part, on any Interest Payment Date on or after June 15,
2010 (each, a "Redemption Date"), at the Redemption Price.

      SECTION 10.02. Special Event Redemption

            If a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, the Company shall
have the right to redeem the Debt Securities, in whole but not in part, at any
time within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the "Special
Redemption Date"), at the Special Redemption Price. In the event that the
Special Redemption Date falls on a day prior to the LIBOR Determination Date for
any Interest Period, then the Company shall be required to pay to
Securityholders, on the Business Day following such LIBOR Determination Date,
any additional amount of interest that would have been payable on the Special
Redemption Date had the amount of interest determined on such LIBOR
Determination Date been known on the first day of such Interest Period

      SECTION 10.03. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities.

            In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem
all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Debt Securities, it shall fix a
date for redemption and shall mail, or cause the Trustee to mail (at the expense
of the Company) a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60
days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the holders of Debt Securities so
to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear
on the Debt Security Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The
notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to
have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any
case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the
holder of any Debt Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part
shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other
Debt Security.

            Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if
any, of the Debt Securities to be redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the
redemption price at which Debt Securities are to be redeemed, the place or
places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of
such Debt Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption
will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date
interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue.
If less than all the Debt Securities are to be redeemed the notice of redemption
shall specify the numbers of the Debt Securities to be redeemed. In case the
Debt Securities are to be redeemed in part only, the notice

                                      -48-
<PAGE>

of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon
surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities in
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

            Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or the
Special Redemption Date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided
in this Section, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more
Paying Agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all
the Debt Securities so called for redemption at the appropriate redemption
price, together with unpaid accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption.

            The Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more
than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date as to
the redemption price at which the Debt Securities are to be redeemed and the
aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and the Trustee
shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate
and fair, the Debt Securities or portions thereof (in integral multiples of
$1,000) to be redeemed.

      SECTION 10.04. Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption.

            If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 10.03,
the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities with respect to which such
notice has been given shall become due and payable on the related Redemption
Date or the Special Redemption Date (as the case may be) and at the place or
places stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with
unpaid interest accrued thereon to said Redemption Date or the Special
Redemption Date (as the case may be) and on and after said Redemption Date or
the Special Redemption Date (as the case may be) (unless the Company shall
default in the payment of such Debt Securities at the redemption price, together
with unpaid interest accrued thereon to said date) interest on the Debt
Securities or portions of Debt Securities so called for redemption shall cease
to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at a place of
payment specified in said notice, such Debt Securities or the specified portions
thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption
price, together with unpaid interest accrued thereon to said Redemption Date or
the Special Redemption Date (as the case may be).

            Upon presentation of any Debt Security redeemed in part only, the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for
delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debt
Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations in principal amount
equal to the unredeemed portion of the Debt Security so presented.

                                      -49-
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE XI

                CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

      SECTION 11.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

            Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities shall
prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other
corporation or corporations (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or
successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or
successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property or
capital stock of the Company or its successor or successors to any other
corporation (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or its successor or
successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, that
the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, (i) upon any such consolidation,
merger (where the Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition, the successor entity shall be a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof
or the District of Columbia (unless such corporation has (1) agreed to make all
payments due in respect of the Debt Securities or, if outstanding, the Trust
Securities and the Capital Securities Guarantee without withholding or deduction
for, or on account of, any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental
charges under the laws or regulations of the jurisdiction of organization or
residence (for tax purposes) or of such corporation or any political subdivision
or taxing authority thereof or therein unless required by applicable law, in
which case such corporation shall have agreed to pay such additional amounts as
shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the holders
of such Debt Securities Trust Securities, as the case may be, after payment of
all taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other
governmental charges, will be equal to the amounts that such holders would have
received and retained had no such taxes (including withholding taxes, duties,
assessments or other governmental charges been imposed, (2) irrevocably and
unconditionally consented and submitted to the jurisdiction of any United States
federal court or New York state court, in each case located in the City of New
York, the Borough of Manhattan, in respect of any action, suit or proceeding
against it arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, the Debt
Securities, the Capital Securities Guarantee or the Declaration and irrevocably
and unconditionally waived, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
objection to the laying of venue in any such court or that any such action, suit
or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum and (3) irrevocably
appointed an agent in The City of New York for service of process in any action,
suit or proceeding referred to in clause (2) above) and such corporation
expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Company under the Debt
Securities, this Indenture, the Capital Securities Guarantee and the Declaration
and (ii) after giving effect to any such consolidation, merger, sale,
conveyance, transfer or other disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing.

      SECTION 11.02. Successor Entity to be Substituted.

            In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity,
by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and reasonably
satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Debt

                                      -50-
<PAGE>

Securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the
covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the
Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the
Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and
thereupon the predecessor entity shall be relieved of any further liability or
obligation hereunder or upon the Debt Securities. Such successor entity
thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the
name of the Company, any or all of the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which
theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of such successor
entity instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and
limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities which previously shall
have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company, to the Trustee or
the Authenticating Agent for authentication, and any Debt Securities which such
successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that purpose. All the Debt Securities so
issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this
Indenture as the Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance
with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Debt Securities had been
issued at the date of the execution hereof.

      SECTION 11.03. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee.

            The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02,
shall receive, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.05,
an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation, merger,
sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any assumption, permitted
or required by the terms of this Article XI complies with the provisions of this
Article XI.

                                  ARTICLE XII

                     SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

      SECTION 12.01. Discharge of Indenture.

            When (a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation
all Debt Securities theretofore authenticated (other than any Debt Securities
which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been
replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.06) and not theretofore canceled, or
(b) all the Debt Securities not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to
become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within
one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice
of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds,
which shall be immediately due and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or
upon redemption all of the Debt Securities (other than any Debt Securities which
shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or
paid as provided in Section 2.06) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest
due or to become due to the Maturity Date, any Redemption or the Special
Redemption Date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any
moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if

                                      -51-
<PAGE>

any, or interest on the Debt Securities (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in
accordance with the provisions of Section 12.04, or (2) paid to any state or to
the District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws, and
if in the case of either clause (a) or clause (b) the Company shall also pay or
cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this
Indenture shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of
Sections 2.05, 2.06, 3.01, 3.02, 3.04, 6.06, 6.09 and 12.04 hereof, which shall
survive until such Debt Securities shall mature or are redeemed, as the case may
be, and are paid in full. Thereafter, Sections 6.06, 6.09 and 12.04 shall
survive, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company,
shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging
this Indenture, the Company, however, hereby agreeing to reimburse the Trustee
for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the
Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Debt Securities.

      SECTION 12.02. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee.

            Subject to the provisions of Section 12.04, all moneys deposited
with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 shall be held in trust and applied by
it to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the
Company if acting as its own Paying Agent), to the holders of the particular
Debt Securities for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited with
the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, and
premium, if any, and interest.

      SECTION 12.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.

            Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all moneys
then held by any Paying Agent of the Debt Securities (other than the Trustee)
shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to the Company or paid to the
Trustee, and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further
liability with respect to such moneys.

      SECTION 12.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys.

            Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any Paying Agent
for payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Debt
Securities and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Debt
Securities for two years after the date upon which the principal of, and
premium, if any, or interest on such Debt Securities, as the case may be, shall
have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or
such Paying Agent on written demand; and the holder of any of the Debt
Securities shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such
holder may be entitled to collect and all liability of the Trustee or such
Paying Agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease.

                                      -52-
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE XIII

         IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

      SECTION 13.01. Indenture and Debt Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.

            No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any,
or interest on any Debt Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in
respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or
agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or
in any such Debt Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness
represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder,
officer, director, employee or agent, as such, past, present or future, of the
Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation of the Company, either
directly or through the Company or any successor corporation of the Company,
whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the
enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly
understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a
condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and
the issue of the Debt Securities.

                                  ARTICLE XIV

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

      SECTION 14.01. Successors.

            All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the
Company contained in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns
whether so expressed or not.

      SECTION 14.02. Official Acts by Successor Entity.

            Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized
or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the
Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the
like board, committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that
shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.

      SECTION 14.03. Surrender of Company Powers.

            The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of 2/3
(two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may
surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company and thereupon such power so
surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and as to any permitted
successor.

      SECTION 14.04. Addresses for Notices, etc.

            Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is
required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the
Securityholders on the Company may be given or served in writing by being
deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office
letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the
Trustee for such purpose) to the Company at:

                                      -53-
<PAGE>

                      Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc.
                          4450 Sojourn Drive, Suite 500
                              Addison, Texas 75001
                          Attention: Timothy A. Bienek

            Any notice, direction, request or demand by any Securityholder or
the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently
given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association at:

                          600 Travis Street, 50th Floor
                                Houston, TX 77002
                     Attention: Institutional Trust Services

      SECTION 14.05. Governing Law.

            This Indenture and each Debt Security shall be deemed to be a
contract made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said State, without
regard to conflict of laws principles of said State other than Section 5-1401 of
the New York General Obligations Law.

      SECTION 14.06. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.

            Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take
any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall
furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that in the opinion of
the signers all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture
relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of
Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions
precedent have been complied with (except that no such Opinion of Counsel is
required to be furnished to the Trustee in connection with the authentication
and issuance of Debt Securities issued on the date of this Indenture).

            Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and
delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture (except certificates delivered pursuant to
Section 3.05) shall include (a) a statement that the person making such
certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions
relating thereto; (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; (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 or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or
not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to
whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has
been complied with.

      SECTION 14.07. Business Day Convention.

            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any
Interest Payment Date, other than the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date or the
Special Redemption Date, falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then any
interest payable will be paid on, and such Interest Payment Date will be moved
to, the next succeeding Business Day, and additional

                                      -54-
<PAGE>

interest will accrue for each day that such payment is delayed as a result
thereof. If the Maturity Date, Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date
falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the principal, premium, if any,
and/or interest payable on such date will be paid on the next succeeding
Business Day (and no additional interest will accrue in respect of such payment
made on such next succeeding Business Day), except that, if such Business Day
falls in the next succeeding calendar year, then such payment shall be made on
the immediately preceding Business Day with the same force and effect as if such
payment had been made on such Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special
Redemption Date.

      SECTION 14.08. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

            The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles
and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference
only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or
restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

      SECTION 14.09. Execution in Counterparts.

            This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.

      SECTION 14.10. Severability.

            In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Indenture or in the Debt Securities shall for any reason be held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of
such Debt Securities, but this Indenture and such Debt Securities shall be
construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never
been contained herein or therein.

      SECTION 14.11. Assignment.

            Subject to Article XI, the Company will have the right at all times
to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture and the Debt
Securities to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company,
provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain
liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is
binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned
by the parties thereto.

      SECTION 14.12. Acknowledgment of Rights.

            The Company acknowledges that, with respect to any Debt Securities
held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the Trust, if the
Institutional Trustee of the Trust fails to enforce its rights under this
Indenture as the holder of Debt Securities held as the assets of the Trust after
the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of the
Trust have so directed in writing such Institutional Trustee, a holder of record
of such Capital Securities may to the fullest extent permitted by law institute
legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Institutional
Trustee's rights under this Indenture without first

                                      -55-
<PAGE>

instituting any legal proceedings against such Institutional Trustee or any
other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company
to pay interest (or premium, if any) or principal on the Debt Securities on the
date such interest (or premium, if any) or principal is otherwise due and
payable (or in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or the Special
Redemption date, as applicable), the Company acknowledges that a holder of
record of Capital Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding
against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the
principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Debt Securities having an
aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date (or, in
the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date,
as applicable) specified in the Debt Securities.

                                   ARTICLE XV

                        SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES

      SECTION 15.01. Agreement to Subordinate.

            The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Debt Securities
issued hereunder and under any supplemental indenture (the "Additional
Provisions") by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof likewise covenants and
agrees, that all Debt Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of
this Article XV; and each holder of a Debt Security, whether upon original issue
or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such
provisions.

            The payment by the Company of the payments due on all Debt
Securities issued hereunder and under any Additional Provisions shall, to the
extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in
right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter
incurred.

            No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any
Default or Event of Default hereunder.

      SECTION 15.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness.

            In the event and during the continuation of any default by the
Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due
on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company following any applicable grace period,
or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has
been accelerated because of a default, and such acceleration has not been
rescinded or canceled and such Senior Indebtedness has not been paid in full,
then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to
the payments due on the Debt Securities.

            In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall
be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding
paragraph of this Section 15.02, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.06,
be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid

                                      -56-
<PAGE>

over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective
representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to
which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective
interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify
the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due
and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such
notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

      SECTION 15.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.

            Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the
Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to
creditors upon any dissolution or winding- up or liquidation or reorganization
of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness
of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in
money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company on
the Debt Securities; and upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation
or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the
Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to
which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the
Company, except for the provisions of this Article XV, shall be paid by the
Company, or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent
or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Securityholders
or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to
the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (pro rata to such holders on
the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders,
as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to
the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments
evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective
interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in
full, in money or money's worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment
or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any
payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders.

            In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the
Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full, or
provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such
payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be
paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their
representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any
indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness
may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by
the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness
in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any
concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness.

            For purposes of this Article XV, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation
provided for by a plan of reorganization or

                                      -57-
<PAGE>

readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent
provided in this Article XV with respect to the Debt Securities to the payment
of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, that may at the time be outstanding,
provided, that (a) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation,
if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (b) the
rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent
of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The
consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another
corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the
conveyance, transfer or other disposition of its property as an entirety, or
substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and
conditions provided for in Article XI of this Indenture shall not be deemed a
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this
Section 15.03 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation,
merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article XI
of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 15.02 or in this Section 15.03 shall apply
to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.06 of
this Indenture.

      SECTION 15.04. Subrogation.

            Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company, the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of
such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property
or securities of the Company applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all
payments due on the Debt Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes
of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Securityholders or
the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV, and
no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV to or for the
benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Securityholders or the
Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of
Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Debt Securities be
deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of such
Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are
and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the
holders of the Debt Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness, on the other hand.

            Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture,
any Additional Provisions or in the Debt Securities is intended to or shall
impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Debt Securities, the
obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the
holders of the Debt Securities all payments on the Debt Securities as and when
the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is
intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of the Debt
Securities and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the
Trustee or the holder of any Debt Security from exercising all remedies
otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject
to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received
upon the exercise of any such remedy.

            Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred
to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of
this Indenture, and the

                                      -58-
<PAGE>

Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree
made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-
up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of
the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person
making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the
Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to
participate in such 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 XV.

      SECTION 15.05. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

            Each Securityholder by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof
authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder's behalf to take such
action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination
provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder's
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

      SECTION 15.06. Notice by the Company.

            The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible
Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee of any fact known
to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by
the Trustee in respect of the Debt Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Article XV. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other
provision of this Indenture or any Additional Provisions, the Trustee shall not
be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the
making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debt
Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless and until a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee shall
have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of
Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any
such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of
this Indenture, 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 15.06 at least two 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 (or premium, if
any) or interest on any Debt Security), 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 purposes for which they were
received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be
received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.

            The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this
Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a
written notice by a Person representing himself or herself to be a holder of
Senior Indebtedness of the Company (or a trustee or representative on behalf of
such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such
Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder
or holders. 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 such
Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to
this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior

                                      -59-
<PAGE>

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 XV, 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.

      SECTION 15.07. Rights of the Trustee. Holders of Senior Indebtedness.

            The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the
rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any
time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness,
and nothing in this Indenture or any Additional Provisions shall deprive the
Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

            With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company,
the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and
obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied
covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness
shall be read into this Indenture or any Additional Provisions against the
Trustee. The Trustee shall not owe or be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VI
of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior
Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or
any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness
shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise.

            Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to,
the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.06.

      SECTION 15.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired.

            No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness
of the Company to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in
any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of
the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder,
or by any noncompliance by the Company, with the terms, provisions and covenants
of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may
have or otherwise be charged with.

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

                                      -60-
<PAGE>

            JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, in its capacity as
Trustee, hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided, upon
the terms and conditions herein above set forth.

                                      -61-
<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to
be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of
the day and year first above written.

                                           AFFIRMATIVE INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

                                           By: /s/ DAVID B. SNYDER
                                               ---------------------------------
                                           Name:   David B. Snyder
                                                --------------------------------
                                           Title:  Vice President, General
                                                   Counsel and Secretary
                                                 -------------------------------

                                           JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL
                                           ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE

                                           By: /s/ MARIA D. CALZADO
                                               ---------------------------------
                                           Name:   Maria D. Calzado
                                                --------------------------------
                                           Title:  Vice President
                                                 -------------------------------

                                      -62-

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                    FORM OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITY
                                    DUE 2035

                           [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

            THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY
OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS
ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY
PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS THE LATER OF (i) TWO YEARS (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF
TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144(k) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AFTER THE LATER OF
(Y) THE DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE HEREOF AND (Z) THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE
COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 405 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF
THE COMPANY WAS THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR SUCH INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION
(OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO) AND (ii) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE
REQUIRED BY ANY SUBSEQUENT CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAW, ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY,
(B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON
THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED
IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A
QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING
MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR"
WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3), (7) or (8) OF RULE 501
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR
FOR THE ACCOUNT OF AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR," FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT
WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN
VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (D) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION
FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE
COMPANY'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES
(C) OR (D) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION
AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A
COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY
ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.

                                     A-1-1
<PAGE>

            THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES,
REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
SECURITIES ACT.

            THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES,
REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR
SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"),
(EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY
REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN
ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN,
UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE
UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23,
95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND
HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION
4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE
REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO
WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING
ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY
USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE,
OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION
406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE
STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

            IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY WILL
DELIVER TO THE COMPANY AND TRUSTEE SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS
MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE
FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

            THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS
HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN
EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING A
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO
LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL
BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY.

                                     A-1-2
<PAGE>

               Form of Junior Subordinated Debt Security due 2035

                                       of

                      Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc.

            Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc., a company incorporated in
Delaware (the "Company"), for value received promises to pay to JPMorgan Chase
Bank, National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as
Institutional Trustee for Affirmative Insurance Holdings Statutory Trust II, a
Delaware statutory trust (the "Holder"), or registered assigns, the principal
sum of Thirty Million Nine Hundred Twenty Eight Thousand Dollars on June 15,
2035 (or earlier upon any Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, or any
earlier date of acceleration of maturity of this Debt Security and to pay
interest on the outstanding principal amount of this debt security from June 1,
2005, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been
paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein)
in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year
commencing September 15, 2005 (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date"), at
the rate of 7.792% (the "Fixed Rate") per annum until June 15, 2010 (the "Fixed
Rate Period") and thereafter at a variable per annum rate equal to LIBOR (as
defined in the Indenture) plus 3.55% (the "Variable Rate") (provided, however,
that the Interest Rate, defined to include the Fixed Rate and Variable Rate, as
applicable, for any Interest Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate
permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of
general applicability) until the principal hereof shall have become due and
payable, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent
that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any
overdue installment of interest at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in
effect for each such Extension Period compounded quarterly. During the Fixed
Rate Period, interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months and the amount payable for any partial period shall be computed on
the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months. Upon expiration of the Fixed Rate Period, the amount of interest payable
for any Interest Payment Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest period.

            The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly
provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture,
be paid to the Person in whose name this Debt Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities, as defined in said Indenture) is registered at the close
of business on the "regular record date" for such interest installment, except
that interest and any Deferred Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be
paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Any such interest installment not
punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the
registered holders on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in
whose name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Debt Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the
Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be
given to the registered holders of the Debt Securities not less than 10 days
prior to such special record date, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

                                     A-1-3
<PAGE>

            The principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Debt
Security shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other
Paying Agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin
or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment
of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the
registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Debt Security Register
or by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account appropriately
designated by the holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the
holder of this Debt Security is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Debt Security will be
made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be
designated by the Institutional Trustee. All payments in respect of this Debt
Security shall be payable in any coin or currency of the United States of
America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debt.

            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any
Interest Payment Date, other than the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date or the
Special Redemption Date, falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then any
interest payable will be paid on, and such Interest Payment Date will be moved
to, the next succeeding Business Day, and additional interest will accrue for
each day that such payment is delayed as a result thereof. If the Maturity Date,
Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date falls on a day that is not a
Business Day, then the principal, premium, if any, and/or interest payable on
such date will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day (and no additional
interest will accrue in respect of such payment made on such next succeeding
Business Day), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding
calendar year, then such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding
Business Day with the same force and effect as if such payment had been made on
such Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date.

            Upon submission of Notice (as defined in the Indenture) and so long
as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have
the right, from time to time and without causing an Event of Default, to defer
payments of interest on the Debt Securities by extending the interest payment
period on the Debt Securities at any time and from time to time during the term
of the Debt Securities, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such
extended interest payment period, together with all previous and further
consecutive extensions thereof, is referred to herein as an "Extension Period"),
during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any
Additional Interest that may be due and payable). During any Extension Period,
interest will continue to accrue on the Debt Securities, and interest on such
accrued interest (such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein
as "Deferred Interest") will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate
in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date
such Deferred Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension
Period, to the extent permitted by law. No Extension Period may end on a date
other than an Interest Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period the
Company shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debt
Securities; provided, however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
Maturity Date, any Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date and provided,
further, however, during any such Extension Period, the Company may not (i)
declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire,
or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital
stock, (ii) make any payment on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt

                                     A-1-4
<PAGE>

securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in
interest to the Debt Securities or (iii) make any payment under any guarantees
of the Company that rank in all respects pari passu with or junior in interest
to the Capital Securities Guarantee (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or
other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company (A) in connection
with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or
for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants,
(B) in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase
plan or (C) in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or
securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock), as
consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable
Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange, reclassification or
conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital
stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's
capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any
class or series of the Company's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional
interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or
exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or
exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any
stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property
under any stockholder's rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights
pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or
other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of
such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the
dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). Prior
to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such
Extension Period, provided, that such period together with all such previous and
further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly
periods. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of
all Deferred Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject
to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred Interest shall be due and
payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but Deferred
Interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise
have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is
paid. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or
extend such Extension Period not later than the related regular record date for
the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

            The indebtedness evidenced by this Debt Security is, to the extent
provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the
prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debt Security is
issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each
holder of this Debt Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be
bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on such
holder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to
acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the
Trustee such holder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each
holder hereof, by such holder's acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of
the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the
Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or
hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said
provisions.

            The Company waives diligence, demand, presentment for payment,
notice of nonpayment, notice of protest, and all other notices.

                                     A-1-5
<PAGE>

            This Debt Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the
Indenture hereinafter referred to and shall not be valid or become obligatory
for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been
signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.

            The provisions of this Debt Security are continued on the reverse
side hereof and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same
effect as though fully set forth at this place.

                                     A-1-6
<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate.

                                            Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc.

                                            By _________________________________
                                            Name:_______________________________
                                            Title:______________________________

Dated:__________________, 2004

                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

                                            JPMorgan Chase Bank, National
                                            Association, not in its individual
                                            capacity but solely as the Trustee

                                            By:_________________________________
                                                Authorized Officer

Dated:__________________, 2004

                                     A-1-7
<PAGE>

                          [FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]

            This Debt Security is one of a duly authorized series of Debt
Securities of the Company, all issued or to be issued pursuant to an Indenture
(the "Indenture"), dated as of June 1, 2005, duly executed and delivered between
the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association as Trustee (the
"Trustee"), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference
is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights,
obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and
the holders of the Debt Securities (referred to herein as the "Debt Securities")
of which this Debt Security is a part. The summary of the terms of this Debt
Security contained herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified by
reference to the Indenture.

            Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event, an Investment
Company Event (each a "Special Event"), this Debt Security may become due and
payable, in whole but not in part, at any time, within 90 days following the
occurrence of such Tax Event or an Investment Company Event (the "Special
Redemption Date"), as the case may be, at the Special Redemption Price. In the
event that the Special Redemption Date falls on a day prior to the LIBOR
Determination Date for any Interest Period, then the Company shall be required
to pay to Securityholders, on the Business Day following such LIBOR
Determination Date, any additional amount of interest that would have been
payable on the Special Redemption Date had the amount of interest determined on
such LIBOR Determination Date been known on the first day of such Interest
Period.

            The Company shall also have the right to redeem this Debt Security
at its option, in whole or (provided that all accrued and unpaid interest has
been paid on all Debt Securities for all Interest Period terminating on or prior
to such date) from time to time in part, on any Interest Payment Date on or
after June 15, 2010 (each, a Redemption Date"), at the Redemption Price (as
defined herein).

            Any redemption pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs will be
made, upon not less than 30 days' nor more than 60 days' prior written notice.
If the Debt Securities are only partially redeemed by the Company, the Debt
Securities will be redeemed pro rata or by lot or by any other method utilized
by the Trustee.

            "Redemption Price" means 100% of the principal amount of the Debt
Securities being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Debt
Securities to the Redemption Date.

            "Special Redemption Price" means (1) if the Special Redemption Date
is before June 15, 2010, 107.5% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any
accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of such redemption and (2) if
the Special Redemption Date is on or after June 15, 2010, the Redemption Price
for such Special Redemption Date.

            In the event of redemption of this Debt Security in part only, a new
Debt Security or Debt Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof will be
issued in the name of the holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

                                     A-1-8
<PAGE>

            In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have
occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debt Securities may be
declared, and, in certain cases, shall ipso facto become, due and payable, and
upon any such declaration of acceleration shall become due and payable, in each
case, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in
the Indenture.

            The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding
affected thereby, as specified in the Indenture, to execute supplemental
indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner
or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental
indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debt
Securities; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, among
other things, without the consent of the holders of each Debt Security then
outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the Maturity Date of the Debt
Securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any redemption premium
thereon, or reduce the rate or manner of calculation of the rate or extend the
time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amounts payable upon
redemption thereof or make payments due on the Debt Securities payable in any
coin or currency other than United States Dollars, or impair or affect the right
of any holder of Debt Securities to institute suit for the payment thereof, or
(ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities, the holders of which
are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture. The Indenture also
contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding, on behalf of all of the
holders of the Debt Securities, to waive any past default in the performance of
any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the
Indenture, and its consequences, except (a) a default in payments due in respect
of any of the Debt Securities, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions of the
Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder
of each Debt Security affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants of the
Company relating to its ownership of Common Securities of the Trust. Any such
consent or waiver by the registered holder of this Debt Security (unless revoked
as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder
and upon all future holders and owners of this Debt Security and of any Debt
Security issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration
of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Debt Security.

            No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debt
Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the
Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay all payments due on this
Debt Security at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein
prescribed.

            As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
herein and therein set forth, this Debt Security is transferable by the
registered holder hereof on the Debt Security Register of the Company, upon
surrender of this Debt Security for registration of transfer at the office or
agency of the Trustee in Houston, Texas accompanied by a written instrument or
instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly
executed by the registered holder hereof or such holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Debt Securities of
authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount will be
issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be
made

                                     A-1-9
<PAGE>

for any such registration of transfer, but the Company may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation
thereto.

            Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Debt
Security, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent,
any transfer agent and the Debt Security registrar may deem and treat the
registered holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Debt
Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing
hereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal
of and premium, if any, hereof and interest due hereon and for all other
purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent
nor any Paying Agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debt Security registrar
shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

            No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the
interest on this Debt Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in
respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as
such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by
virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any
assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance
hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly
waived and released.

            The Debt Securities are issuable only in registered certificated
form without coupons. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations herein and therein set forth, Debt Securities are exchangeable for a
like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of a different authorized
denomination, as requested by the holder surrendering the same.

            All terms used in this Debt Security that are defined in the
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

            THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN THE INDENTURE AND THE
DEBT SECURITIES, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

                                     A-1-10

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