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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                 OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE AND AUTHENTICATION ORDER
                           MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES A

         Pursuant to the Indenture dated as of January 1, 1996 (the
"Indenture"), between Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the "Company") and Wells Fargo
Bank Minnesota, National Association (formerly known as "Norwest Bank Minnesota,
National Association"), as Trustee (the "Trustee"), resolutions adopted by the
Company's Board of Directors on June 21, 2000, this Officers' Certificate and
Authentication Order is being delivered to the Trustee to establish the terms of
a series of Securities in accordance with Section 301 of the Indenture, to
establish the forms of the Securities of such series in accordance with Section
201 of the Indenture, to establish the procedures for the authentication and
delivery of specific Securities from time to time pursuant to Section 303 of the
Indenture and to comply with the provisions of Section 102 of the Indenture.

         Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

         A. Establishment of Series pursuant to Section 301 of Indenture. There
is hereby established pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture a series of
Securities which shall have the following terms (the numbered clauses set forth
below correspond to the numbered subsections of Section 301 of the Indenture):

                  (1) The Securities of such series shall bear the title
         "Medium-Term Notes, Series A" (referred to herein as the "Notes").

                  (2) There shall be no limitation on the aggregate principal
         amount of the Notes of such series, however, unless otherwise specified
         in an Authentication Certificate (as defined in Section C below), the
         aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series to be issued
         pursuant to this Officers' Certificate is limited to $350,000,000 or
         the equivalent thereof in foreign currencies or foreign currency units
         (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of
         transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to
         Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 of the Indenture and except for any
         Notes which, pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture, are deemed never
         to have been authenticated and delivered).

                  (4) (a) Unless previously redeemed or repaid, each Note within
         such series shall mature on the date 9 months or more from its date of
         issue as specified in such Note and in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate (the "Maturity Date"). If the Maturity Date or any earlier
         Redemption Date (as defined below) or Repayment Date (as defined below)
         falls on a day that is not a Business Day (as defined below) with
         respect to such Note, the payment of principal will be made on the next
         succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on
         such Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Repayment Date. "Business Day"
         means with respect to any Note, any day, other than a Saturday or
         Sunday, which is both (a) neither a legal holiday nor a day on which
         banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to
         close (i) in New York City and (ii) for Notes denominated in a
         Specified Currency (as defined
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         below) other than United States dollars or Euros, in the Principal
         Financial Center (as defined below) of the country of the Specified
         Currency; and (b) for Notes denominated in Euros, any day that is also
         a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement
         Express Transfer System, commonly referred to as "TARGET," is
         operating; provided, however that with respect to a LIBOR Note (as
         defined below), the day must also be a London Banking Day (as defined
         below). "London Banking Day" means any day on which dealings in
         deposits in the relevant Index Currency (as defined below) are
         transacted in the London interbank market. The "Principal Financial
         Center" means, as applicable, the capital city of the country issuing
         the Specified Currency; or the capital city of the country to which the
         Index Currency relates; provided, however, that the Principal Financial
         Center will be New York City for United States dollars, Sydney for
         Australian dollars (and solely in the case of the Specified Currency,
         Melbourne), Toronto for Canadian dollars, Frankfurt for Deutsche marks,
         Amsterdam for Dutch guilders, Milan for Italian lire, London for
         Portuguese escudos (solely in the case of the Index Currency),
         Johannesburg for South African rand and Zurich for Swiss francs.

                  (b) If specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate
         that the Notes are "Renewable Notes," the Renewable Notes will
         automatically renew at their Maturity Date and any subsequent renewal
         date (which shall then become the Maturity Date with respect to such
         Renewable Note) unless the Holder of the Renewable Note elects to
         terminate the automatic extension feature by giving notice in the
         manner described in the related Authentication Certificate. The Holder
         must give notice of termination at least 15 but not more than 30 days
         prior to the then effective Maturity Date. The Holder may terminate the
         automatic extension for less than all of the Renewable Notes only if
         the terms of the Renewable Note specifically permit partial
         termination. An election to terminate the automatic extension of any
         portion of the Renewable Notes is not revocable and will be binding on
         the Holder. If the Holder elects to terminate the automatic extension
         of the Maturity Date of the Renewable Note, the Holder will become
         entitled to the principal and interest accrued up to the Maturity Date.
         The related Authentication Certificate will specify a final maturity
         date beyond which the Maturity Date of a Renewable Note cannot be
         renewed.

                  (c) If specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate
         that the Notes are "Extendible Notes," the Maturity Date of the
         Extendible Notes may be extended at the Company's option for one or
         more whole year periods, up to but not beyond a final maturity date
         specified in such Authentication Certificate. The Company may exercise
         its option to extend the Maturity Date by notifying the Trustee, or any
         duly appointed Paying Agent, at least 45 but not more than 60 days
         prior to the then effective maturity date. At least 40 days prior to
         the maturity date, the Trustee will mail to the registered Holder of
         the Extendible Note a notice informing the Holder of the Company's
         election, the new maturity date and any updated terms. Upon the mailing
         of the extension notice, the maturity of the Extendible Note will be
         extended automatically as set forth in the extension notice. Not later
         than 20 days prior to the then effective maturity date of the
         Extendible Note, the Company may, at its option, establish a higher
         interest rate if the Extendible Note is a Fixed Rate Note, or a higher
         Spread or Spread Multiplier if the Extendible Note is a Floating Rate
         Note, for the extension period by mailing or causing the Trustee to
         mail notice of the higher interest rate or higher Spread and/or Spread
         Multiplier to the Holder of the Extendible Note. The notice will be
         irrevocable. If the Company elects to extend

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         the maturity of an Extendible Note, the Holder of the Extendible Note
         will have the option to instead elect repayment of the Extendible Note
         by the Company on the then effective maturity date. In order for an
         Extendible Note to be so repaid on the maturity date, the Company must
         receive, at least 15 days but not more than 30 days prior to the
         maturity date: (i) the Extendible Note with the form "Option to Elect
         Repayment" on the reverse of the Extendible Note duly completed; or
         (ii) a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a letter from a
         broker-dealer, a commercial bank or trust company in the United States
         setting forth the name of the Holder of the Extendible Note, the
         principal amount of the Extendible Note, the principal amount of the
         Extendible Note to be repaid, the certificate number or a description
         of the tenor and terms of the Extendible Note, a statement that the
         option to elect repayment is being exercised thereby and a guarantee
         that the Extendible Note to be repaid, together with the duly completed
         form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" on the reverse of the
         Extendible Note, will be received by the Trustee or Paying Agent not
         later than the fifth Business Day after the date of the telegram,
         telex, facsimile transmission or letter; provided, however, that the
         telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter will only be
         effective if the Extendible Note and form duly completed are received
         by the Trustee or Paying Agent by that fifth Business Day. The option
         may be exercised by the Holder of an Extendible Note for less than the
         aggregate principal amount of the Extendible Note then outstanding if
         the principal amount of the Extendible Note remaining outstanding after
         repayment is an authorized denomination.

                  (5) Each Note within such series that bears interest will bear
         interest at either (a) a fixed rate (the "Fixed Rate Notes"), (b) an
         indexed rate (the "Indexed Notes") or (c) a floating rate (the
         "Floating Rate Notes") determined by reference to one or more specified
         Base Rates based on the Index Maturity, which may be adjusted by a
         Spread and/or Spread Multiplier (each as defined below). Notes within
         such series may also be issued as "Zero Coupon Notes" which do not
         provide for any periodic payments of interest. Notes may be issued as
         "Original Issue Discount Notes" at a discount from the principal amount
         thereof due at the Maturity Date as specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate.

                  Each Note that bears interest will bear interest from and
         including its date of issue or from and including the most recent
         Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest on such Note
         (or any predecessor Note) has been paid or duly provided for until the
         principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest will
         be payable on each Interest Payment Date and at the Maturity Date
         thereof or any earlier Redemption Date or Repayment Date. The first
         payment of interest on any Note originally issued after a Regular
         Record Date (as defined below) and on or before an Interest Payment
         Date will be made on the Interest Payment Date following the next
         succeeding Regular Record Date to the registered Holder on such next
         succeeding Regular Record Date.

                  The Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be as specified
         in the applicable Authentication Certificate (the "Interest Payment
         Dates"), and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, the Regular Record Dates for the Notes will
         be on the day (whether or not a Business Day) 15 calendar days
         preceding each Interest Payment Date (the "Regular Record Dates").

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                  The interest rate on a Note for any Interest Period (as
         defined below) will in no event be higher than the maximum rate
         permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States
         law of general application.

                  The applicable Authentication Certificate will specify: (i)
         the issue price, Interest Payment Dates and Regular Record Dates; (ii)
         with respect to any Fixed Rate Note, the interest rate; (iii) with
         respect to any Indexed Note, the index; (iv) with respect to any
         Floating Rate Note, the Initial Interest Rate (as defined below), the
         method (which may vary from Interest Period to Interest Period) of
         calculating the interest rate applicable to each Interest Period
         (including, if applicable, the Index Maturity, the Spread and/or Spread
         Multiplier, the Interest Determination Dates, the Interest Reset Dates
         and any Minimum Interest Rate or Maximum Interest Rate (each as defined
         below)); (v) whether such Note is an Original Issue Discount Note; and
         (vi) any other terms consistent with the Indenture.

                  Fixed Rate Notes
                  ----------------

                  Each Fixed Rate Note, whether or not issued as an Original
         Issue Discount Note, will bear interest at the annual rate specified on
         its face until the principal is paid or made available for payment.
         Interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed and paid on the basis of
         a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Interest payments for Fixed
         Rate Notes will include accrued interest from and including the date of
         issue or from and including the last date in respect of which interest
         has been paid, as the case may be, to but excluding the relevant
         Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date or any earlier Redemption
         Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be, except when the Interest
         Payment Date is not a Business Day. In the event that any Interest
         Payment Date on a Fixed Rate Note is not a Business Day, interest will
         be paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and
         effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, but interest on that
         payment will not accrue during the period from and after the scheduled
         Interest Payment Date.

                  A Fixed Rate Note may pay amounts in respect of both interest
         and principal amortized over the life of the Note (an "Amortizing
         Note"). Payments of principal and interest on Amortizing Notes will be
         made on the Interest Payment Dates specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, and at the Maturity Date or any earlier
         Redemption Date or Repayment Date. Payments on Amortizing Notes will be
         applied first to interest due and payable and then to the reduction of
         unpaid principal amount.

                  Floating Rate Notes
                  -------------------

                  A Floating Rate Note will bear interest determined by
         reference to one or more specified Base Rates based on the Index
         Maturity, which may be adjusted by a Spread and/or a Spread Multiplier
         (each as defined below). Any Floating Rate Note may also have either or
         both of the following as set forth in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate: (i) a maximum interest rate limitation, or ceiling, on the
         rate of interest which may accrue during any Interest Period (the
         "Maximum Interest Rate"); and (ii) a minimum interest rate limitation,
         or floor, on the rate of interest which may accrue during any Interest
         Period (the "Minimum Interest Rate").

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                  The applicable Authentication Certificate may designate any of
         the following interest rates or interest rate formulas (the "Base
         Rate") as applicable to one or more Interest Periods on each Floating
         Rate Note: (a) the CD Rate, in which case such Note will be a "CD Rate
         Note" with respect to such Interest Periods; (b) the Commercial Paper
         Rate, in which case such Note will be a "Commercial Paper Rate Note"
         with respect to such Interest Period or Interest Periods; (c) EURIBOR,
         in which case such Note will be a "EURIBOR Note" with respect to such
         Interest Period or Interest Periods; (d) the Federal Funds Rate, in
         which case such Note will be a "Federal Funds Rate Note" with respect
         to such Interest Period or Interest Periods; (e) LIBOR, in which case
         such Note will be a "LIBOR Note" with respect to such Interest Period
         or Interest Periods; (f) the Prime Rate, in which case such Note will
         be a "Prime Rate Note" with respect to such Interest Period or Interest
         Periods; (g) the Treasury Rate, in which case such Note will be a
         "Treasury Rate Notes" with respect to such Interest Period or Interest
         Periods; (h) such other rate or interest rate formula as set forth in
         the applicable Authentication Certificate.

                  The interest rate on each Floating Rate Note for each Interest
         Period will be determined by reference to the applicable Base Rate
         specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate for such
         Interest Period, plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or
         multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any. The "Spread" is
         the number of basis points to be added to or subtracted from the Base
         Rate for a Floating Rate Note, as specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate as being applicable to such Floating Rate
         Note for such Interest Period. Each basis point is 0.01%. The "Spread
         Multiplier" is the percentage specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate as being applicable to the Base Rate for
         such Floating Rate Note and for such Interest Period. The "Index
         Maturity" means the period of maturity of the instrument or obligation
         from which the Base Rate is calculated, as specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate.

                  In the event that any Interest Payment Date, other than the
         Maturity Date or any earlier Redemption Date or Repayment Date, for any
         Floating Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, interest
         otherwise payable on such date will be paid on the next succeeding
         Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest
         Payment Date, except that, in the case of a EURIBOR Note or of a LIBOR
         Note, if that Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, the
         Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day.

                  The rate of interest on each Floating Rate Note will be reset
         daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually (the
         "Interest Reset Period," and the first day of each Interest Reset
         Period, an "Interest Reset Date") as specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate.

                  The interest rate in effect from the date of issue to the
         first Interest Reset Date for a Floating Rate Note (the "Initial
         Interest Rate") will be the Initial Interest Rate specified in the
         applicable Authentication Certificate. As used herein, "Interest
         Determination Date" pertaining to any Interest Reset Date means the day
         the Calculation Agent will refer to when determining the new interest
         rate at which a Floating Rate Note will reset, which is applicable as
         follows: for CD Rate Notes, Commercial Paper Rate Notes, Federal Funds
         Rate Notes and Prime Rate Notes, the Interest Determination Date will
         be the second Business Day prior to the Interest Reset Date;

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         for EURIBOR Notes or Euro LIBOR Notes (as defined below), the Interest
         Determination Date will be the second TARGET Settlement Day (as defined
         below) prior to the Interest Reset Date; for LIBOR Notes (other than
         Euro LIBOR Notes), the Interest Determination Date will be the second
         London Banking Day prior to the Interest Reset Date, except that the
         Interest Determination Date pertaining to an Interest Reset Date for a
         LIBOR Note for which the Index Currency is pounds sterling will be the
         Interest Reset Date; and for Treasury Rate Notes, the Interest
         Determination Date will be the day of the week in which the Interest
         Reset Date falls on which Treasury bills would normally be auctioned.
         Treasury bills are normally sold at auction on Monday of each week,
         unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is
         normally held on the following Tuesday, but the auction may be held on
         the preceding Friday. If, as the result of a legal holiday, the auction
         is held on the preceding Friday, that Friday will be the Interest
         Determination Date pertaining to the Interest Reset Date occurring in
         the next succeeding week. If an auction falls on a day that is an
         Interest Reset Date, that Interest Reset Date will be the next
         following Business Day. The "TARGET Settlement Day" means any day on
         which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express
         Transfer System is open. "Euro LIBOR Notes" means LIBOR Notes for which
         the Index Currency is Euros. If any Interest Reset Date for any
         Floating Rate Note would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day,
         such Interest Reset Date shall be postponed to the next day that is a
         Business Day, except that in the case of a EURIBOR Note or of a LIBOR
         Note, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month,
         such Interest Reset Date shall be the immediately preceding Business
         Day.

                  Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate, interest for a Floating Rate Note will accrue from and
         including the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has
         been paid or duly provided for, or, if no interest has been paid or
         duly provided for, from and including the issue date or any other date
         specified in an Authentication Certificate on which interest begins to
         accrue. Interest will accrue to but excluding the next Interest Payment
         Date or, if earlier, the date on which the principal has been paid or
         duly made available for payment, except as described above when an
         Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day (each such interest accrual
         period an "Interest Period").

                  Upon the request of the Holder of any Floating Rate Note, the
         Calculation Agent will provide the interest rate then in effect and, if
         determined, the interest rate that will become effective on the next
         Interest Reset Date for that Floating Rate Note.

                  For a Floating Rate Note, accrued interest will be calculated
         by multiplying the principal amount of the Floating Rate Note by an
         accrued interest factor. This accrued interest factor will be computed
         by adding the interest factors calculated for each day in the period
         for which interest is being paid. The interest factor for each day is
         computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to that day: (i) by
         360, in the case of CD Rate Notes, Commercial Paper Rate Notes, EURIBOR
         Notes, Federal Funds Rate Notes, LIBOR Notes (except for LIBOR Notes
         denominated in pounds sterling) and Prime Rate Notes; (ii) by 365, in
         the case of LIBOR Notes denominated in pounds sterling; or (iii) by the
         actual number of days in the year, in the case of Treasury Rate Notes.

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                  For these calculations, the interest rate in effect on any
         Interest Reset Date will be the applicable rate as reset on that date.
         The interest rate applicable to any other day is the interest rate from
         the immediately preceding Interest Reset Date or, if none, the Initial
         Interest Rate.

                  All percentages used in or resulting from any calculation of
         the rate of interest on a Floating Rate Note will be rounded, if
         necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point
         (.0000001), with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded
         upward, (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655%
         (or .0987655)) and all United States dollar amounts used in or
         resulting from these calculations on Floating Rate Notes will be
         rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent rounded upward.

                  Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate, Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, will be
         the "Calculation Agent." Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, the "Calculation Date," if applicable,
         pertaining to any Interest Determination Date on a Floating Rate Note
         will be the earlier of (i) the tenth calendar day after such Interest
         Determination Date, or, if any such day is not a Business Day, the next
         succeeding Business Day, and (ii) the Business Day immediately
         preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date or
         for any principal amount to be redeemed or repaid, the Redemption Date
         or Repayment Date, as the case may be.

                  CD Rate Notes
                  -------------

                  CD Rate Notes will bear interest at the interest rates
         specified in the CD Rate Notes and in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate. Those interest rates will be based on the CD Rate and any
         Spread or Spread Multiplier and will be subject to the Minimum Interest
         Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if any.

                  The CD Rate will be, for any Interest Determination Date, the
         rate on that date for negotiable certificates of deposit having the
         Index Maturity specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate
         as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in
         "Statistical Release H.15(519), Selected Interest Rates," or any
         successor publication of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
         System ("H.15(519)") under the heading "CDs (Secondary Market)."

                  The following procedures will apply if the CD Rate cannot be
         determined as described above: If the above rate is not published in
         H.15(519) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date,
         the CD Rate will be the rate on that Interest Determination Date set
         forth in the daily update of H.15(519), available through the worldwide
         website of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System at
         http://www.bog.frb.fed.us/releases/hl5/update, or such other recognized
         electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, or any
         successor site or publication, which is commonly referred to as the
         "H.15 Daily Update," for the Interest Determination Date for
         certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity specified in the
         applicable Authentication Certificate, under the caption "CDs
         (Secondary Market). If the above rate is not yet published in either
         H.15(519) or the H.15 Daily Update by 3:00 p.m., New York City

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         time, on the Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will determine the
         CD Rate to be the average of the secondary market offered rates as of
         10:00 a.m., New York City time, on that Interest Determination Date of
         three leading nonbank dealers in negotiable United States dollar
         certificates of deposit in New York City elected by the Calculation
         Agent, after consultation with the Company, for negotiable certificates
         of deposit of major United States money center banks of the highest
         credit standing in the market for negotiable certificates of deposit
         with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in
         the applicable Authentication Certificate in an amount that is
         representative for a single transaction in that market at that time. If
         the dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as set
         forth above, the CD Rate will remain the CD Rate for the immediately
         preceding Interest Reset Period, or, if there was no Interest Reset
         Period, the rate of interest payable will be the Initial Interest Rate.

                  Commercial Paper Rate Notes
                  ---------------------------

                  Commercial Paper Rate Notes will bear interest at the interest
         rates specified in the Commercial Paper Rate Notes and in the
         applicable Authentication Certificate. Those interest rates will be
         based on the Commercial Paper Rate and any Spread or Spread Multiplier
         and will be subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum
         Interest Rate, if any.

                  The Commercial Paper Rate will be, for any Interest
         Determination Date, the Money Market Yield, calculated as described
         below, of the rate on that date for commercial paper having the Index
         Maturity specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate, as
         that rate is published in H.15(519), under the heading "Commercial
         Paper -- Nonfinancial."

                  The following procedures will apply if the Commercial Paper
         Rate cannot be determined as described above: If the above rate is not
         published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date,
         then the Commercial Paper Rate will be the Money Market Yield of the
         rate on that Interest Determination Date for commercial paper of the
         Index Maturity specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate
         available through the worldwide website of the Board of Governors of
         the Federal Reserve System at http://www.bog.frb.fed.us/releases/
         h15/update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the
         purpose of displaying such rate, or any successor site or publication,
         which is commonly referred to as the "H.15 Daily Update," under the
         heading "Commercial Paper -- Nonfinancial." If by 3:00 p.m., New York
         City time, on that Calculation Date the rate is not yet published in
         either H.15(519) or the H.15 Daily Update, then the Calculation Agent
         will determine the Commercial Paper Rate to be the Money Market Yield
         of the average of the offered rates as of 11:00 a.m., New York City
         time, on that Interest Determination Date of three leading dealers of
         commercial paper in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent,
         after consultation with the Company, for commercial paper of the Index
         Maturity specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate, placed
         for an industrial issuer whose bond rating is "AA," or the equivalent,
         from a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. If the
         dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned
         above, the Commercial Paper Rate for that Interest Determination Date
         will remain the Commercial Paper Rate for the immediately preceding
         Interest Reset Period, or, if there was no Interest Reset Period, the
         rate of interest payable will be the Initial Interest Rate.

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                  The "Money Market Yield" will be a yield calculated in
         accordance with the following formula:

                  Money Market Yield =           D x 360        x  100
                                            -----------------
                                              360 - (D x M)

                  "D" refers to the applicable per year rate for commercial
         paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal; and
         "M" refers to the actual number of days in the interest period for
         which interest is being calculated.

                  EURIBOR Notes
                  -------------

                  EURIBOR Notes will bear interest at the interest rates
         specified in the EURIBOR Notes and in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate. That interest rate will be based on EURIBOR and any Spread
         or Spread Multiplier and will be subject to the Minimum Interest Rate
         and the Maximum Interest Rate, if any.

                  "EURIBOR" means, for any Interest Determination Date, the rate
         for deposits in Euros as sponsored, calculated and published jointly by
         the European Banking Federation and ACI -- The Financial Market
         Association, or any company established by the joint sponsors for
         purposes of compiling and publishing those rates, for the Index
         Maturity specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate as that
         rate appears on the display on Bridge Telerate, Inc., or any successor
         service, on page 248 or any other page as may replace page 248 on that
         service, which is commonly referred to as "Telerate Page 248," as of
         11:00 a.m. (Brussels time).

                  The following procedures will apply if the rate cannot be
         determined as described above: If the above rate does not appear, the
         Calculation Agent will request the principal Euro-zone office of each
         of four major banks in the Euro-zone interbank market, as selected by
         the Calculation Agent, after consultation with the Company, to provide
         the Calculation Agent with its offered rate for deposits in Euros, at
         approximately 11:00 a.m. (Brussels time) on the Interest Determination
         Date, to prime banks in the Euro-zone interbank market for the Index
         Maturity specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate
         commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, and in a principal
         amount not less than the equivalent of U.S. $1 million in Euro that is
         representative of a single transaction in Euro, in that market at that
         time. If at least two quotations are provided, EURIBOR will be the
         average of those quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided,
         EURIBOR will be the average of the rates quoted by four major banks in
         the Euro-zone, as selected by the Calculation Agent, after consultation
         with the Company, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (Brussels time), on the
         applicable Interest Reset Date for loans in Euro to leading European
         banks for a period of time equivalent to the Index Maturity specified
         in the applicable Authentication Certificate commencing on that
         Interest Reset Date in a principal amount not less than the equivalent
         of U.S. $1 million in Euro. If the banks so selected by the Calculation
         Agent are not quoting as mentioned in the previous sentence, the
         EURIBOR rate in effect for the applicable period will be the same as
         EURIBOR for the

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         immediately preceding Interest Reset Period, or, if there was no
         Interest Reset Period, the rate of interest will be the Initial
         Interest Rate.

                  "Euro-zone" means the region comprised of member states of the
         European Union that adopt the single currency in accordance with the
         treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the treaty on
         European Union.

                  Federal Funds Rate Notes
                  ------------------------

                  Federal Funds Rate Notes will bear interest at the interest
         rates specified in the Federal Funds Rate Notes and in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate. Those interest rates will be based on the
         Federal Funds Rate and any Spread or Spread Multiplier and will be
         subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if
         any.

                  The Federal Funds Rate will be, for any Interest Determination
         Date, the rate on that date for federal funds as published in H.15(519)
         under the heading "Federal Funds (Effective)" as displayed on Bridge
         Telerate, Inc., or any successor service, on page 120 or any other page
         as may replace the applicable page on that service, which is commonly
         referred to as "Telerate Page 120."

                  The following procedures will apply if the Federal Funds Rate
         cannot be determined as described above: If the above rate is not
         published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date,
         the Federal Funds Rate will be the rate on that Interest Determination
         Date as published in the H.15 Daily Update under the heading "Federal
         Funds/ Effective Rate." If that rate is not yet published in either
         H.15(519) or the H.15 Daily Update by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on
         the Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will determine the Federal
         Funds Rate to be the average of the rates for the last transaction in
         overnight federal funds by each of three leading brokers of federal
         funds transactions in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent,
         after consultation with the Company, as of 9:00 a.m., New York City
         time, on that Interest Determination Date. If the brokers selected by
         the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned above, the Federal
         Funds Rate relating to that Interest Determination Date will remain the
         Federal Funds Rate for the immediately preceding Interest Reset Period,
         or, if there was no Interest Reset Period, the rate of interest payable
         will be the Initial Interest Rate.

                  LIBOR Notes
                  -----------

                  LIBOR Notes will bear interest at the interest rates specified
         in the LIBOR Notes and in the applicable Authentication Certificate.
         That interest rate will be based on the London Interbank Offered Rate,
         which is commonly referred to as "LIBOR," and any Spread or Spread
         Multiplier and will be subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the
         Maximum Interest Rate, if any.

                  The Calculation Agent will determine "LIBOR" for each Interest
         Determination Date as follows: As of the Interest Determination Date,
         LIBOR will be either: If "LIBOR Reuters" is specified in the applicable

                                       10
<PAGE>

         Authentication Certificate, the average of the offered rates for
         deposits in the Index Currency having the Index Maturity designated in
         the applicable Authentication Certificate, commencing on the second
         London Banking Day immediately following that Interest Determination
         Date, that appear on the Designated LIBOR Page, as defined below, as of
         11:00 a.m., London time, on that Interest Determination Date, if at
         least two offered rates appear on the Designated LIBOR Page, except
         that if the specified Designated LIBOR Page, by its terms provides only
         for a single rate, that single rate will be used; or If "LIBOR
         Telerate" is specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate,
         the rate for deposits in the Index Currency having the Index Maturity
         designated in the applicable Authentication Certificate, commencing on
         the second London Banking Day immediately following that Interest
         Determination Date or, if pounds sterling is the Index Currency,
         commencing on that Interest Determination Date, that appears on the
         Designated LIBOR Page at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on that
         Interest Determination Date. If fewer than the required number of
         offered rates appear, then the Calculation Agent will request the
         principal London offices of each of four major reference banks in the
         London interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent after
         consultation with the Company, to provide the Calculation Agent with
         its offered quotation for deposits in the Index Currency for the period
         of the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately
         following the Interest Determination Date or, if pounds sterling is the
         Index Currency, commencing on that Interest Determination Date, to
         prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m.,
         London time, on that Interest Determination Date and in a principal
         amount that is representative of a single transaction in that Index
         Currency in that market at that time. If at least two quotations are
         provided, LIBOR determined on that Interest Determination Date will be
         the average of those quotations. If fewer than two quotations are
         provided, LIBOR will be determined for the applicable Interest Reset
         Date as the average of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m.,
         London time, or some other time specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, in the applicable Principal Financial
         Center for the country of the Index Currency on that Interest Reset
         Date, by three major banks in that Principal Financial Center selected
         by the Calculation Agent, after consultation with the Company, for
         loans in the Index Currency to leading European banks, having the Index
         Maturity specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate and in
         a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in
         that Index Currency in that market at that time. If the banks so
         selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in the
         previous sentence, LIBOR in effect for the applicable period will be
         the same as LIBOR for the immediately preceding Interest Reset Period,
         or, if there was no Interest Reset Period, the rate of interest payable
         will be the Initial Interest Rate.

                  The "Index Currency" means the currency specified in the
         applicable Authentication Certificate as the currency for which LIBOR
         will be calculated, or, if the Euro is substituted for that currency,
         the Index Currency will be the Euro. If that currency is not specified
         in the applicable Authentication Certificate, the Index Currency will
         be United States dollars.

                  "Designated LIBOR Page" means either: if (i) "LIBOR Reuters"
         is designated in the applicable Authentication Certificate, the display
         on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service for the purpose of
         displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the applicable
         Index Currency or its designated successor; or (ii) if "LIBOR Telerate"
         is designated in the applicable Authentication Certificate, the display
         on Bridge Telerate Inc., or any successor

                                       11
<PAGE>

         service, on the page specified in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate, or any other page as may replace that page on that
         service, for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of
         major banks for the applicable Index Currency.

                  If neither LIBOR Reuters nor LIBOR Telerate is specified in
         the applicable Authentication Certificate, LIBOR for the applicable
         Index Currency will be determined as if LIBOR Telerate were specified,
         and, if the United States dollar is the Index Currency, as if Page 3750
         had been specified.

                  Prime Rate Notes
                  ----------------

                  Prime Rate Notes will bear interest at the interest rates
         specified in the Prime Rate Notes and in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate. That interest rate will be based on the Prime Rate and any
         Spread or Spread Multiplier and will be subject to the Minimum Interest
         Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if any.

                  The Prime Rate will be, for any Interest Determination Date,
         the base lending rate on that date as published in H.15(519) under the
         heading "Bank Prime Loan."

                  The following procedures will apply if the Prime Rate cannot
         be determined as described above: If the rate is not published prior to
         3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, then the Prime
         Rate will be the rate on that Interest Determination Date as published
         in H.15 Daily Update under the heading "Bank Prime Loan." If the rate
         is not published prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
         Calculation Date in either H.15(519) or the H.15 Daily Update, then the
         Calculation Agent will determine the Prime Rate to be the average of
         the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on
         the Reuters Screen USPRIME 1 Page, as defined below, as that bank's
         Prime Rate or base lending rate as in effect for that Interest
         Determination Date. If fewer than four rates appear on the Reuters
         Screen USPRIME 1 Page for that Interest Determination Date, the
         Calculation Agent will determine the Prime Rate to be the average of
         the Prime Rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the
         year divided by 360 as of the close of business on that Interest
         Determination Date by at least three major banks in New York City
         selected by the Calculation Agent, after consultation with the Company.
         If the banks selected are not quoting as mentioned above, the Prime
         Rate will remain the Prime Rate for the immediately preceding Interest
         Reset Period, or, if there was no Interest Reset Period, the rate of
         interest payable will be the Initial Interest Rate.

                  "Reuters Screen USPRIME 1 Page" means the display designated
         as page "USPRIME 1" on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service, or any
         successor service, or any other page as may replace the USPRIME 1 Page
         on that service for the purpose of displaying Prime Rates or base
         lending rates of major United States banks.

                  Treasury Rate Notes
                  -------------------

                  Treasury Rate Notes will bear interest at the interest rates
         specified in the Treasury Rate Notes and in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate. That interest rate will be

                                       12
<PAGE>

         based on the Treasury Rate and any Spread or Spread Multiplier and will
         be subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate,
         if any.

                  The Treasury Rate will be the rate from the auction held on
         the applicable Interest Determination Date of direct obligations of the
         United States, which are commonly referred to as "Treasury Bills,"
         having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate as that rate appears under the caption "INVESTMENT RATE" on
         the display on Bridge Telerate, Inc., or any successor service, on page
         56 or any other page as may replace page 56 on that service, referred
         to as "Telerate Page 56," or page 57 or any other page as may replace
         page 57 on that service, referred to as "Telerate Page 57."

                  The following procedures will apply if the Treasury Rate
         cannot be determined as described above: If the rate described above is
         not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related
         Calculation Date, the Bond Equivalent Yield, calculated as described
         below, of the auction rate of the applicable Treasury Bills, announced
         by the United States Department of the Treasury. In the event that the
         rate referred to in the immediately preceding sentence is not announced
         by the United States Department of the Treasury, or if the auction is
         not held, the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate on the applicable
         Interest Determination Date of Treasury Bills having the Index Maturity
         specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate published in
         H.15(519) under the caption "U.S. Government Securities/ Treasury
         Bills/ Secondary Market." If the rate referred to in the immediately
         preceding sentence is not so published by 3:00 p.m., New York City
         time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on the applicable
         Interest Determination Date calculated by the Calculation Agent as the
         Bond Equivalent Yield of the average of the secondary market bid rates,
         as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable
         Interest Determination Date, of three primary United States government
         securities dealers, which may include the agent or its affiliates,
         selected by the Calculation Agent, for the issue of Treasury Bills with
         a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the
         applicable Authentication Certificate. If the dealers selected by the
         Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in the immediately
         preceding sentence, the Treasury Rate for the immediately preceding
         Interest Reset Period, or, if there was no Interest Reset Period, the
         rate of interest payable will be the Initial Interest Rate.

                  The "Bond Equivalent Yield" means a yield calculated in
         accordance with the following formula and expressed as a percentage:

                   Bond Equivalent Yield =         D x N         x  100
                                            ------------------
                                               360 - (D x M)

                  "D" refers to the applicable per annum rate for Treasury Bills
         quoted on a bank discount basis; "N" refers to 365 or 366, as the case
         may be; and "M" refers to the actual number of days in the interest
         period for which interest is being calculated.

                                       13
<PAGE>

                  Zero Coupon Notes
                  -----------------

                  The specific terms of any Zero Coupon Notes will be set forth
         in the applicable Authentication Certificate.

                  (6) (a) Payment of principal of and any premium and interest
         on Book-Entry Notes (as defined below) represented by any Global
         Security (as defined below) will be made to the Depositary (as
         specified below) or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole
         registered owner and the sole Holder of the Book-Entry Notes
         represented thereby for all purposes under the Indenture.

                  (b) Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, payments of interest and, in the case of
         Amortizing Notes, principal with respect to any Certificated Note (as
         defined below) payable in United States dollars (other than interest
         and, in the case of Amortizing Notes, principal payment at Maturity
         Date) will be made by check mailed to the Holder at the address of such
         Holder appearing on the Security Register for the Notes on the
         applicable Regular Record Date. A Holder of $10,000,000 or more in
         aggregate principal amount of Certificated Notes with the same Interest
         Payment Date shall be entitled to payment by wire transfer of
         immediately available funds if appropriate payment instructions have
         been received in writing by the Trustee not less than 15 calendar days
         prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date. In the event that
         payment is so made in accordance with instructions of the Holder, such
         wire transfer shall be deemed to constitute full and complete payment
         of such interest and principal on the Notes. Payment of the principal
         of and any premium and interest due with respect to any Certificated
         Note at the Maturity Date or any earlier Redemption Date or Repayment
         Date will be made in immediately available funds against presentation
         and surrender of such Note at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee
         accompanied by wire transfer instructions, provided that the
         Certificated Note is presented to the Trustee in time for the Trustee
         to make payments in such funds in accordance with its normal
         procedures.

                  (c) Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, payments of principal and any premium and
         interest with respect to any Certificated Note that is a Foreign
         Currency Note, the Holder may elect to receive all or a portion of the
         payments on those Foreign Currency Notes in United States dollars. To
         do so, the Holder must send a written request to the Paying Agent as
         follows: for payments of interest, on or prior to the fifth business
         day after the applicable Regular Record Date; or for payments of
         principal, at least 10 business days prior to the Maturity Date or any
         earlier Redemption Date or Repayment Date. To revoke this election for
         all or a portion of the payments on the Foreign Currency Notes, the
         Holder must send written notice to the Paying Agent as follows: at
         least 5 business days prior to the applicable Regular Record Date, for
         payments of interest; or at least 10 calendar days prior to the
         Maturity Date date or any earlier Redemption Date or Repayment Date,
         for payments of principal. If the Holder does not elect to be paid in
         United States dollars, the Paying Agent will pay the principal,
         premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Foreign Currency Notes by
         wire transfer of immediately available funds in the Specified Currency
         to the Holder's account at a bank located outside the United States,
         and in the case of a Foreign Currency Note payable in Euros, in a
         country for which the Euro is a lawful currency, if the Paying Agent
         has received the

                                       14
<PAGE>

         Holder's written wire transfer instructions not less than 15 calendar
         days prior to the applicable payment date; or by check payable in the
         Specified Currency mailed to the address of the person entitled to
         payment that is specified in the Security Register, if the Holder has
         not provided wire instructions. The Paying Agent will only pay the
         principal of the Foreign Currency Notes, premium, if any, and interest,
         if any, due at the Maturity Date or any earlier Redemption Date or
         Repayment Date, upon surrender of the Foreign Currency Notes at the
         office or agency of the Paying Agent.

                  The Exchange Rate Agent specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate (the "Exchange Rate Agent") will convert the
         Specified Currency into United States dollars for Holders who elect to
         receive payments in United States dollars. The conversion will be based
         on the highest bid quotation in New York City received by the Exchange
         Rate Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
         second Business Day preceding the applicable payment date from three
         recognized foreign exchange dealers for the purchase by the quoting
         dealer of the Specified Currency for United States dollars for
         settlement on the payment date, in the aggregate amount of the
         Specified Currency payable to those Holders of Notes, and at which the
         applicable dealer commits to execute a contract. One of the dealers
         providing quotations may be the Exchange Rate Agent unless the Exchange
         Rate Agent is an affiliate of the Company. If those bid quotations are
         not available, payments will be made in the Specified Currency. The
         Holders of Foreign Currency Notes will pay all currency exchange costs
         by deductions from the amounts payable on the Foreign Currency Notes.

                  If the Specified Currency is unavailable, the Company may
         satisfy its obligations to Holders of Foreign Currency Notes by making
         those payments on the date of payment in United States dollars on the
         basis of the noon dollar buying rate in New York City for the cable
         transfers of the Specified Currency, published by the Federal Reserve
         Bank of New York (the "Market Exchange Rate"). If that rate of exchange
         is not then available or is not published for a Specified Currency, the
         Market Exchange Rate will be based on the highest bid quotation in New
         York City received by the Exchange Rate Agent at approximately 11:00
         a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding the
         applicable payment date from three recognized foreign exchange dealers
         for the purchase by the quoting dealer of the Specified Currency for
         United States dollars for settlement on the payment date in the
         aggregate amount of the Specified Currency payable to those Holders of
         Foreign Currency Notes and at which the applicable dealer commits to
         execute a contract. One of the dealers providing quotations may be the
         Exchange Rate Agent unless the Exchange Rate Agent is an affiliate of
         the Company. If those bid quotations are not available, the Exchange
         Rate Agent will determine the market exchange rate at its sole
         discretion.

                  The foregoing provisions do not apply if a Specified Currency
         is unavailable because it has been replaced by the Euro. If the Euro
         has been substituted for a Specified Currency, the Company may, at its
         option, or will, if required by applicable law, without consent of the
         Holders of the affected Foreign Currency Notes, pay the principal,
         premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Foreign Currency Note
         denominated in the Specified Currency in Euros instead of the Specified
         Currency, in conformity with legally applicable measures taken pursuant
         to, or by virtue of, the treaty established by the European Community,
         as amended by the treaty

                                       15
<PAGE>

         on European Union. Any payment made in United States dollars or in
         Euros as described above where required payment is in an unavailable
         Specified Currency will not constitute an Event of Default under the
         Indenture.

                  (7) (a) If a "make whole" redemption option is specified in
         the applicable Authentication Certificate, the Notes will be redeemable
         at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price equal
         to the greater of (i) 100% of their principal amount and (ii) as
         determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the
         remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not
         including any portion of those payments of interest accrued as of the
         Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual
         basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at
         the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus a number of basis points specified in
         the Authentication Certificate plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid
         interest on the Notes to the Redemption Date, but interest installments
         whose maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable
         to the Holders of such Notes of record at the close of business on the
         relevant Regular Record Dates referred to on the face thereof, all as
         provided in the Indenture.

                  For purposes of determining the amount at which the Notes may
         be redeemed pursuant to a "make whole" redemption option, the following
         terms shall have the meanings set forth next to each of them below:

                           "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any
                  Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual
                  equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue,
                  assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed
                  as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the
                  Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

                           "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States
                  Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a
                  maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be
                  redeemed that would be used, at the time of a selection and in
                  accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new
                  issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to
                  the remaining term of the Notes.

                           "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer
                  appointed by the Company to serve in that capacity.

                           "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to
                  any Redemption Date, the average of the Reference Treasury
                  Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding
                  the highest and lowest Treasury Dealer Quotation, or if the
                  Trustee obtains fewer than three Reference Treasury Dealer
                  Quotations, the average of the quotations.

                           "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Banc of
                  America Securities LLC and Wachovia Securities, Inc. and any
                  other Reference Treasury Dealer

                                       16
<PAGE>

                  specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate and
                  their respective successors; provided, however, that if either
                  of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary United States
                  government securities dealer (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"),
                  the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury
                  Dealer.

                           "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with
                  respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption
                  Date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid
                  and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed,
                  in each case, as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted
                  in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at
                  5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption
                  Date.

                  (b) If so specified in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate, the Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company
         on the date or dates prior to the Maturity Date specified in the
         applicable Authentication Certificate at the price or prices
         ("Redemption Prices") specified in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate (unless otherwise specified in such Authentication
         Certificate, expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of such
         Note or, in the case of Zero Coupon Notes or certain interest bearing
         Notes issued as Original Issue Discount Notes (as specified in the
         applicable Authentication Certificate), as a percentage of the
         Amortized Face Amount (as defined below) of such Note as described in
         Paragraph 13 below), together with accrued interest, if any, to the
         Redemption Date (or, in the case of any interest bearing Note issued as
         an Original Issue Discount Note, any accrued but unpaid "qualified
         stated interest" payments (as defined in Paragraph 13 below) and the
         redemption period or periods during which such Redemption Prices shall
         apply.

                  (c) Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, the Company may redeem any of the Notes
         which are redeemable and remain outstanding either in whole or from
         time to time in part upon the terms and conditions set forth in Article
         Eleven of the Indenture.

                  (8) Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, the Company shall not be obligated to
         redeem or purchase any Note pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous
         provision, or at the option of the Holder, before its Maturity Date. If
         the applicable Authentication Certificate specifies one or more dates
         on which a Note may be repayable at the option of the Holder
         ("Repayment Date"), the Note will be repayable at the Holder's option
         on the specified Repayment Dates at the specified repayment price.
         Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate, the repayment price will be equal to 100% of the principal
         amount of the Note, together with accrued interest to the date of
         repayment. For Notes issued with Original Issue Discount, the
         Authentication Certificate will specify the amount payable upon
         repayment.

                  If applicable, the repayment option may be exercised by the
         Holder of a Note for less than the entire principal amount of that
         Note, but in that event, the principal amount remaining outstanding
         after repayment must be in an authorized denomination. In the event of

                                       17
<PAGE>

         repayment of a Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of this series
         and of like tenor for the unpurchased portion thereof will be issued in
         the name of the Holder upon cancellation.

                  For the Company to repay a Note, the Paying Agent must receive
         at least 15 days but not more than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date:
         (i) the Note with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" on the
         reverse of the Note duly completed; or (ii) a telegram, telex,
         facsimile transmission or a letter from a broker-dealer, commercial
         bank or trust company in the United States setting forth the name of
         the Holder, the principal amount of the Note, the principal amount of
         the Note to be repaid, the certificate number or a description of the
         tenor and terms of the Note, a statement that the option to elect
         repayment is being exercised and a guarantee that the Note to be
         repaid, together with the duly completed form entitled "Option to Elect
         Repayment" on the reverse of the Note; provided, however, that the
         telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter will only be
         effective if that Note and completed form are received by the Paying
         Agent by the fifth Business Day after the date of that telegram, telex,
         facsimile transmission or letter.

                  If Notes of any series are subject to repayment in whole or in
         part at the option of the Holders, the Company, on or before the
         Repayment Date, will deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent
         (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and
         hold in trust as provided in Section 1003 of the Indenture) an amount
         of money sufficient to pay the principal (or, if so provided by the
         terms of the Notes of any series, a percentage of the principal) of,
         and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date)
         accrued interest on, all the Notes or portions thereof, as the case may
         be, to be repaid on such date.

                  Exercise of the repayment option by the Holder of a Note will
         be irrevocable. The Holder may exercise the repayment option for less
         than the entire principal amount of the Note. In that event, the
         principal amount of the Note remaining outstanding after repayment must
         be an authorized denomination.

                  If a Note is represented by a Global Security, the Depositary
         or its nominee will be the Holder of the Note and therefore will be the
         only entity that can exercise a right to repayment.

                  (9) Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, Notes of such series, other than Foreign
         Currency Notes shall be issued only in denominations of $1,000 and any
         integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Foreign Currency Notes
         will be issued in the denominations of the equivalency of $1,000,
         rounded to an integral multiple of 1,000 units of the Specified
         Currency, or any larger integral multiple of 1,000 units of the
         Specified Currency, as determined by reference to the Market Exchange
         Rate on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of issuance.

                  (10) The Notes may be issued with the principal amount thereof
         payable at the Maturity Date or any earlier Redemption Date or
         Repayment Date, or the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date,
         or both, to be determined with reference to securities, financial or
         non-financial indices, currencies, commodities, interest rates, or
         composites or baskets of any or all of

                                       18
<PAGE>

         the foregoing set forth in the applicable Authentication Certificate.
         The Authentication Certificate will include information about the
         formula for calculating the amount of interest and/or principal
         payments as well as the indexed item or items that will be used.

                  (11) The Notes may be denominated, and payments of principal
         of and interest on the Notes will be made, in United States dollars or
         in such foreign currencies or composite currencies (a "Specified
         Currency") as may be specified in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate (each such Note denominated in a Specified Currency other
         than United States dollars, a "Foreign Currency Note").

                  (13) The portion of the principal amount of the Notes, other
         than Original Issue Discount Notes (including any Zero Coupon Notes)
         which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of maturity
         thereof shall not be other than the principal amount thereof. Unless
         otherwise specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate, the
         portion of the principal amount of Zero Coupon Notes and certain
         interest bearing Notes issued as Original Issue Discount Notes (as
         specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate) payable upon
         any acceleration of the maturity thereof will be the Amortized Face
         Amount (as defined below) thereof, and the amount payable to the Holder
         of such Original Issue Discount Note upon any redemption thereof will
         be the applicable percentage of the Amortized Face Amount thereof
         specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate, in each case as
         determined by the Company plus, in the case of any interest bearing
         Note issued as an Original Issue Discount Note, any accrued but unpaid
         "qualified stated interest" payments (as defined in the Treasury
         Regulations regarding original issue discount issued by the Treasury
         Department (the "Regulations")). The "Amortized Face Amount" of an
         Original Issue Discount Note is equal to the sum of (i) the Issue Price
         (as defined below) of such Original Issue Discount Note and (ii) that
         portion of the difference between the Issue Price and the principal
         amount of such Original Issue Discount Note that has been amortized at
         the Stated Yield (as defined below) of such Original Issue Discount
         Note (computed in accordance with Section 1272(a)(4) of the Internal
         Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section 1.1275-1(b) of the
         Regulations, in each case as in effect on the issue date of such
         Original Issue Discount Note) at the date as of which the Amortized
         Face Amount is calculated, but in no event can the Amortized Face
         Amount exceed the principal amount of such Note due at the Maturity
         Date thereof. As used in the preceding sentence, the term "Issue Price"
         means the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Note due at
         the Maturity Date thereof less the original issue discount of such
         Original Issue Discount Note specified on the face thereof and in the
         applicable Authentication Certificate. The term "Stated Yield" of such
         Original Issue Discount Note means the yield to maturity specified on
         the face of such Original Issue Discount Note and in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate for the period from the original issue date
         of such Original Issue Discount Note, as specified on the face of such
         Original Issue Discount Note and in the applicable Authentication
         Certificate, to the Maturity Date thereof based on its Issue Price and
         principal amount payable at the Maturity Date thereof.

                  (15) Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, the Notes shall be defeasible pursuant to
         Sections 1302 and 1303 of the Indenture.

                                       19
<PAGE>

                  (16) Each Note will be represented by either a global security
         (a "Global Security") registered in the name of the Depositary or its
         nominee (each such Note represented by a Global Security being herein
         referred to as a "Book-Entry Note") or a certificate issued in
         definitive registered form, without coupons (a "Certificated Note"), as
         set forth in the applicable Authentication Certificate. Unless
         otherwise specified in the applicable Authentication Certificate, The
         Depository Trusty Company will act as Depositary. Except as provided in
         the applicable Authentication Certificate, the Global Securities shall
         bear the legends set forth on Exhibits A, B, C and D hereto. Except as
         provided in Section 305 of the Indenture or the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, Book-Entry Notes will not be issuable in
         certificated form and will not be exchangeable or transferable. So long
         as the Depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of any Global
         Security, the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be
         considered the sole Holder of the Book-Entry Note or Notes represented
         by such Global Security for all purposes under the Indenture and the
         Notes.

                  (17) Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, the Notes shall be subject to the Events of
         Default specified in Section 501, paragraphs (1) through (7), of the
         Indenture.

                  (18) Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate, the Notes shall be subject to the
         restrictive covenants specified in Article Ten of the Indenture.

                  (19) Subject to the terms of the Indenture and the resolutions
         and authorizations referred to in the first paragraph hereof, the Notes
         shall have such other terms (which may be in addition to or different
         from the terms set forth herein) as are specified in the applicable
         Authentication Certificate.

         B. Establishment of Form of Security Pursuant to Section 201 of
Indenture. It is hereby established pursuant to Section 201 of the Indenture
that the Notes denominated and payable in United States dollars (whether
Book-Entry Notes or Certificated Notes) shall be substantially in the forms
attached as Exhibits A, B, C and D hereto, unless a different form is provided
in the applicable Authentication Certificate (which Authentication Certificate
shall be an "Officers' Certificate" satisfying the requirements of Section 201
of the Indenture). The Notes shall have such additional terms as shall be set
forth in the applicable Authentication Certificate and delivered to the Trustee
or its authenticating agent. Upon receipt (including by facsimile) of such
Authentication Certificate, the Trustee or its authenticating agent is hereby
instructed to insert such terms on the face of the Notes relating thereto.

         C. Establishment of Procedures for Authentication of Notes Pursuant to
Section 303 of the Indenture. It is hereby ordered pursuant to Section 303 of
the Indenture that Notes may be authenticated by the Trustee and issued in
accordance with the Administrative Procedures attached hereto as Exhibit E and
upon receipt by the Trustee (including by facsimile) of an Authentication
Certificate supplemental to this Officers' Certificate and Company Order, in
substantially the form attached as Exhibit F hereto (an "Authentication
Certificate"), setting forth the information specified or contemplated therein
for the particular Notes to be authenticated and issued.

                                       20
<PAGE>

         D. Certification Pursuant to Section 102 of the Indenture. The
undersigned have read the pertinent sections of the Indenture, including
Sections 201, 301 and 303 thereof and the definitions in the Indenture relating
thereto, and certain other corporate documents and records. In the opinion of
the undersigned, the undersigned have made such examination or investigation as
is necessary to enable the undersigned to express an informed opinion as to
whether or not the conditions precedent to (i) the establishment of (a) a series
of Securities, and (b) the form of such Securities, and (ii) the authentication
and delivery of such series of Securities, contained in the Indenture have been
complied with. In the opinion of the undersigned, such conditions have been
complied with.

                                       21
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto signed our names on behalf of the
Company.

Dated: November 10, 2000

                                         DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                         Clarence Otis, Jr.
                                         Senior Vice President and
                                         Chief Financial Officer

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                         William R. White, III
                                         Vice President and Treasurer

                                       22
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

REGISTERED NO.                                              REGISTERED PRINCIPAL
CUSIP NO.___________                                        AMOUNT: U.S. $______

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           Medium-Term Note, Series A
                           ([Global] Fixed Rate Note)

[Insert if the Security is to be a Global Security--Unless this certificate is
presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New
York corporation ("DTC"), to the Company or its agent for registration of
transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the
name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other
entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER,
PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS
WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest
herein.

This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture
hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a
nominee thereof. This Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for a
Security registered, and no transfer of this Security in whole or in part may be
registered, in the name of any Person other than such Depositary or a nominee
thereof, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture.]

ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE:                        MATURITY DATE:

INTEREST RATE:                              REDEMPTION TERMS:

INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:                     REPAYMENT TERMS:

REGULAR RECORD DATES:                       OTHER TERMS:
<PAGE>

         Darden Restaurants, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing
under the laws of Florida (herein called the "Company", which term includes any
successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to

or registered assigns, the principal sum of ______________Dollars ($________) on
the Maturity Date shown above, or together with any premium thereon, upon any
applicable Redemption Date or Repayment Date referred to above, and to pay
interest thereon on each Interest Payment Date shown above from the Original
Issue Date shown above or from and including the most recent Interest Payment
Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided, commencing with the
Interest Payment Date immediately following the Original Issue Date, at the rate
per annum equal to the Interest Rate shown above, until the principal hereof is
paid or made available for payment; provided, however, that if the Original
Issue Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the immediately
following Interest Payment Date, interest payments will commence on the Interest
Payment date following the next succeeding Regular Record Date. The amount of
interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day
months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable for any partial period
shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the
days elapsed in any partial month. The interest so payable, and punctually paid
or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such
Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more
Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record
Date for such interest, which shall be on the Regular Record Date shown above
(whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such
Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable on the Maturity
Date of this Note or any applicable Redemption Date or Repayment Date that is
not an Interest Payment Date shall be payable to the Person to whom principal
shall be payable. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for
will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and
may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more
Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record
Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee,
notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of this Note not less than 10 days
prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful
manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Notes of this series may be listed or
traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated
quotation system, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. In the event
that any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date or any applicable Redemption
Date or Repayment Date is not a Business Day, the interest and, with respect to
the Maturity Date or any applicable Redemption Date or Repayment Date, principal
(and premium, if any) otherwise payable on such date will be paid on the next
succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such
Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Repayment Date.
"Business Day" means with respect to this Note, any day, other than a Saturday
or Sunday, which is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking
institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in New
York City.

         Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Note
that is represented by a Global Security shall be made to The Depository Trust
Company or its

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole Holder of
the Global Security represented thereby for all purposes under the Indenture.

         Payment of interest on any Note (that is not a Global Security) shall
be made by check mailed to the Holder at the address of such Holder appearing on
the Security Register for the Notes on the applicable Regular Record Date. A
Holder of $10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of such Notes with
the same Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to payment by wire transfer of
immediately available funds if appropriate payment instructions have been
received in writing by the Trustee not less than 15 calendar days prior to the
applicable Interest Payment Date. In the event that payment is so made in
accordance with instructions of the Holder, such wire transfer shall be deemed
to constitute full and complete payment of such interest on this Note. Payment
of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest due with respect to any
Note (that is not a Global Security) at the Maturity Date or any applicable
Redemption Date or Repayment Date shall be made in immediately available funds
against presentation and surrender of such Note at the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee accompanied by wire transfer instructions, provided that such Note
is presented to the Trustee in time for the Trustee to make payments in such
funds in accordance with its normal procedures.

         Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this
Note will be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at
the time of payment is legal for payment of public and private debts.

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

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

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated: ______________

                                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

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

Attest:

--------------------------------------
Title:
      --------------------------------

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                     TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

         This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                    WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL
                                    ASSOCIATION (formerly known as Norwest Bank
                                    Minnesota, National Association), as Trustee

                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                    Name:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                    Authorized Officer

STATE OF ____________)

COUNTY OF __________)

         On the ____ day of ___________, _____, personally appeared
_____________________, as the _________________________ of Darden Restaurants,
Inc. (the "Company"), a Florida corporation, and before me executed this
[Global] Certificate for the Company's Medium-Term Notes, Series A ([Global]
Fixed Rate Note), payable by Darden Restaurants, Inc. to the payee hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal, in
the state and county aforesaid.

--------------------------------------
Signature of Notary Public,
State of _________
[______________]
Personally known:
Produced Identification:
Type of Identification:

(Notary Seal)

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           Medium-Term Note, Series A
                           ([Global] Fixed Rate Note)

         This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Notes"), issued or to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1996 (herein called the
"Indenture," which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National
Association (formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as
Trustee (herein called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee
under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture, an
Officers' Certificate of the Company establishing certain terms of the Notes
pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto
for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes
and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be authenticated and
delivered. This Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof. By the
terms of the Indenture, additional Securities of this series and of other
separate series, which may vary as to date, amount, Stated Maturity, interest
rate or method of calculating the interest rate and in other respects as therein
provided, may be issued in an unlimited principal amount.

         If a Redemption Commencement Date or periods within which Redemption
Dates may occur and the related Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of
the principal amount of this Note) are set forth under "Redemption Terms," this
Note is subject to redemption prior to the Maturity Date upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days' notice by mail to the Person in whose name this Note is
registered at such address as shall appear in the Security Register for the
Notes, on any Redemption Date so specified or occurring within any period so
specified, as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the
applicable Redemption Price so specified, together in the case of any such
redemption with accrued and unpaid interest on the Note to the Redemption Date;
provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or
prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of this Note (or one
or more predecessor Notes) at the close of business on the relevant Regular
Record Dates referred to above, all as provided in the Indenture.

         If a "make whole" redemption option is specified under "Redemption
Terms," this Note is subject to redemption prior to the Maturity Date upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail to the Person in whose name
this Note is registered at such address as shall appear in the Security Register
for the Notes, at any time, as a whole or in part, at the election of the
Company, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal
amount or (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present
values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon
discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day
year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus a
number of basis points specified under "Redemption Terms," plus, in each case,
accrued and unpaid interest on the Note to the Redemption Date; provided,
however, that installments of interest whose maturity is on or prior to such
Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of this Note (or one or more
predecessor Notes) at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates
referred to above, all as provided in the Indenture.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

         For purposes of determining the amount at which this Note may be
redeemed pursuant to a "make whole" redemption, the following terms shall have
the meanings set forth next to each of them below:

         "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Redemption Date,
the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price of the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable
Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

         "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining
term of the Securities of this series to be redeemed that would be used, at the
time of a selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in
pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
remaining term of the Securities of this series.

         "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the
Company to serve in that capacity.

         "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any Redemption Date,
the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption
Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Treasury Dealer Quotation, or if
the Trustee obtains fewer than three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the
average of the Quotations.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Banc of America Securities
LLC and Wachovia Securities, Inc. and their respective successors; provided,
however, that if either of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary United
States government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury
Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefore another Primary Treasury
Dealer.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average as determined by
the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices of the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed, in each case, as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in
writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the
third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

         In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note of
this series and of like tenor of an authorized denomination for the unredeemed
portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the
cancellation hereof.

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Repayment Terms," the Company
shall not be obligated to redeem or purchase this Note pursuant to any sinking
fund or analogous provision or at the option of the Holder before the Maturity
Date. If a Repayment Date or periods within which Repayment Dates may occur and
the related Repayment Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount
of this Note) are set forth above under "Repayment Terms," this Note is subject
to repayment at the option of the Holder hereof prior to the Maturity Date upon
such terms as are set forth above under "Repayment Terms." For the Company to
repay a Note, the Paying Agent must receive at least 15 days but not more than
30 days prior to the Repayment Date: (i) the Note with the form entitled "Option
to Elect Repayment" on the reverse of the Note

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

duly completed; or (ii) a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a letter
from the broker-dealer, commercial bank or trust company in the United States
setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note, the
principal amount of the Note to be repaid, the certificate number or a
description of the tenor and terms of the Note, a statement that the option to
elect repayment is being exercised and a guarantee that the Note to be repaid,
together with the duly completed form entitled "Option to Election Repayment" on
the reverse of the Note; provided however, that the telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter will only be effective if that Note and completed form
are received by the Paying Agent by the fifth Business Day after the date of
that telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter. Exercise of the
repayment option by the Holder of a Note will be irrevocable. The Holder may
exercise the repayment option for less than the entire principal amount of the
Note. In the event of repayment of this Note in part only, a new Note of this
series and of like tenor of an authorized denomination of the portion hereof not
repaid will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation
hereof.

         The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the
entire indebtedness of this Note or certain restrictive covenants and Events of
Default with respect to this Note, in each case upon compliance with certain
conditions set forth in the Indenture.

         If an Event of Default with respect to Notes of this series shall occur
and be continuing, the principal of all the Notes of this series may (subject to
the conditions set forth in the Indenture) be declared due and payable in the
manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

         The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected and, for
certain purposes, without the consent of the Holders of any Securities at the
time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders
of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each
series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of
such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the
Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.
Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and
binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any
Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in
lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this
Note.

         As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for
any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the
Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Notes of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of
the Notes of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request
to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as
Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not
have received from the Holders of a majority in principal

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

amount of the Notes of this series at the time Outstanding a direction
inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such
proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of
this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium
or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

         No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency,
herein prescribed.

         As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register,
upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency
of the Company in any place where the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security
Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of this series, of
like tenor and of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal
amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

         Unless otherwise set forth above under "Other Terms," the Notes of this
series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of
$1,000 and any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations (including, if
this Note is a Global Security, certain additional limitations) therein set
forth, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Notes of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized
denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

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

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

         This Note may have such additional or different terms as are set forth
above under "Other Terms." Any terms so set forth shall be deemed to modify
and/or supersede, as necessary, any other terms set forth in this Note.

         This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.

         All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture and are
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

                                  Abbreviations

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription above, shall
be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable
laws or regulations.

             TEN COM - as tenants in common

             TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

             JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as
                      tenants in common

             UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ________________ Custodian _____________
                                      (Cust)                   (Minor)
                        under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

                            -------------------------
                                     (State)

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

                                   Assignment

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

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

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

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

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

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address
                     Including Postal Zip Code of Assignee)

the within Security and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints

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

to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of
substitution in the premises.

Dated:

Signature Guaranteed

-----------------------------------    -----------------------------------------
                                       NOTICE: The signature to this assignment
                                       must correspond with the name as written
                                       upon the face of the within Security in
                                       every particular, without alteration or
                                       enlargement or any change whatever.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

                             Option to Elect Payment

         The undersigned hereby irrevocably requests and instructs the Company
to repay the within Note (or portion thereof specified below) pursuant to its
terms at the applicable Repayment Price, together with interest to the Repayment
Date, to the undersigned at:

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address
                    Including Postal Zip Code of undersigned)

         If less than the entire principal amount of the within Note is to
repaid, specify the portion thereof which the undersigned elects to have
prepaid:
_______________________________________________; and specify the denomination or
denominations (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination)
of the Notes to be issued to the undersigned for the portion of the within Note
not being repaid (in the absence of any such specifications, one such Note will
be issued for the portion not being repaid): ______________________________

Dated:

Signature Guaranteed

-----------------------------------    -----------------------------------------
                                       NOTICE: The signature to this assignment
                                       must correspond with the name as written
                                       upon the face of the within Security in
                                       every particular, without alteration or
                                       enlargement or any change whatever.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT B

REGISTERED NO.                                              REGISTERED PRINCIPAL
CUSIP NO.___________                                        AMOUNT: U.S. $______

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           Medium-Term Note, Series A
                          ([Global] Floating Rate Note)

[Insert if the Security is to be a Global Security--Unless this certificate is
presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New
York corporation ("DTC"), to the Company or its agent for registration of
transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the
name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other
entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER,
PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS
WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest
herein.

This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture
hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a
nominee thereof. This Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for a
Security registered, and no transfer of this Security in whole or in part may be
registered, in the name of any Person other than such Depositary or a nominee
thereof, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture.]

ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE:                      MATURITY DATE:

INITIAL INTEREST RATE:                    INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:

BASE RATE (and, if applicable, related    REGULAR RECORD DATES:
Interest Periods):
[   ] CD Rate
[   ] Commercial Paper Rate               INTEREST RESET DATES:
[   ] EURIBOR
[   ] Federal Funds Rate
[   ] LIBOR                               CALCULATION DATES:
[   ] Prime Rate
[   ] Treasury Rate
[   ] Other (see "Other Terms")
<PAGE>

INDEX CURRENCY:                           REDEMPTION TERMS:

INDEX MATURITY:

MAXIMUM INTEREST RATE:                    REPAYMENT TERMS:

MINIMUM INTEREST RATE:

SPREAD:                                   CALCULATION AGENT:

SPREAD MULTIPLIER:                        OTHER TERMS:

         Darden Restaurants, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing
under the laws of Florida (herein called the "Company", which term includes any
successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to

or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________________________Dollars
($________) on the Maturity Date shown above, or together with any premium
thereon, upon any applicable Redemption Date or Repayment Date referred to
above, and to pay interest thereon on each Interest Payment Date shown above
from the Original Issue Date shown above or from and including the most recent
Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided,
commencing with the Interest Payment Date immediately following the Original
Issue Date, at the rate per annum determined in accordance with the provisions
below relating to the applicable Base Rate specified above, until the principal
hereof is paid or made available for payment; provided, however, that if the
Original Issue Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before the
immediately following Interest Payment Date, interest payments will commence on
the Interest Payment date following the next succeeding Regular Record Date. The
interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest
Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose
name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of
business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be on the
Regular Record Date shown above (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may
be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that interest
payable on the Maturity Date of this Note or any applicable Redemption Date or
Repayment Date that is not an Interest Payment Date shall be payable to the
Person to whom principal shall be payable. Any such interest not so punctually
paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on
such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this
Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business
on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed
by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of this Note not
less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in
any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities
exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes of this series may be
listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or
automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. In the
event that the Maturity Date or any applicable Redemption Date or Repayment Date
is not a Business Day, the principal (and premium, if any) otherwise payable on
such date will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force
and effect as if made on such Maturity

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

Date, Redemption Date or Repayment Date. In the event that any Interest Payment
Date, other than the Maturity Date or any earlier Redemption Date or Repayment
Date, is not a Business Day, interest otherwise payable on such date will be
paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if
made on such Interest Payment Date, except that, in the case of a EURIBOR Note
or of a LIBOR Note, if that Business Day would fall in the next calendar month,
the Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day.
"Business Day" means with respect to this Note, any day, other than a Saturday
or Sunday, which is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking
institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in New
York City; provided, however, that if this Note is a LIBOR Note, the day must
also be a London Banking Day. "London Banking Day" means any day on which
dealings in deposits in the relevant Index Currency specified above are
transacted in the London interbank market.

         Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Note
that is represented by a Global Security shall be made to The Depository Trust
Company or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the
sole Holder of the Global Security represented thereby for all purposes under
the Indenture.

         Payment of interest on any Note (that is not a Global Security) shall
be made by check mailed to the Holder at the address of such Holder appearing on
the Security Register for the Notes on the applicable Regular Record Date. A
Holder of $10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of such Notes with
the same Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to payment by wire transfer of
immediately available funds if appropriate payment instructions have been
received in writing by the Trustee not less than 15 calendar days prior to the
applicable Interest Payment Date. In the event that payment is so made in
accordance with instructions of the Holder, such wire transfer shall be deemed
to constitute full and complete payment of such interest on this Note. Payment
of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest due with respect to any
Note (that is not a Global Security) at the Maturity Date or any applicable
Redemption Date or Repayment Date shall be made in immediately available funds
against presentation and surrender of such Note at the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee accompanied by wire transfer instructions, provided that such Note
is presented to the Trustee in time for the Trustee to make payments in such
funds in accordance with its normal procedures.

         Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this
Note will be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at
the time of payment is legal for payment of public and private debts.

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

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

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated: ______________

                                               DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

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

Attest:

--------------------------------------
Title:
      --------------------------------

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                     TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

         This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                    WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL
                                    ASSOCIATION (formerly known as Norwest Bank
                                    Minnesota, National Association), as Trustee

                                    By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                    Name:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                    Authorized Officer

STATE OF ____________)

COUNTY OF __________)

         On the ____ day of ___________, _____, personally appeared
_____________________, as the _________________________ of Darden Restaurants,
Inc. (the "Company"), a Florida corporation, and before me executed this
[Global] Certificate for the Company's Medium-Term Notes, Series A ([Global]
Floating Rate Note), payable by Darden Restaurants, Inc. to the payee hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal, in
the state and county aforesaid.

-----------------------------------------
Signature of Notary Public,
State of _________
[______________]
Personally known:
Produced Identification:
Type of Identification:

(Notary Seal)

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           Medium-Term Note, Series A
                          ([Global] Floating Rate Note)

         This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Notes"), issued or to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1996 (herein called the
"Indenture," which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National
Association (formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as
Trustee (herein called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee
under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture, an
Officers' Certificate of the Company establishing certain terms of the Notes
pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto
for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes
and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be authenticated and
delivered. This Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof. By the
terms of the Indenture, additional Securities of this series and of other
separate series, which may vary as to date, amount, Stated Maturity, interest
rate or method of calculating the interest rate and in other respects as therein
provided, may be issued in an unlimited principal amount.

         Redemption and Repayment

         If a Redemption Commencement Date or periods within which Redemption
Dates may occur and the related Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of
the principal amount of this Note) are set forth under "Redemption Terms," this
Note is subject to redemption prior to the Maturity Date upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days' notice by mail to the Person in whose name this Note is
registered at such address as shall appear in the Security Register for the
Notes, on any Redemption Date so specified or occurring within any period so
specified, as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the
applicable Redemption Price so specified, together in the case of any such
redemption with accrued and unpaid interest on the Note to the Redemption Date;
provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or
prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of this Note (or one
or more predecessor Notes) at the close of business on the relevant Regular
Record Dates referred to above, all as provided in the Indenture.

         If a "make whole" redemption option is specified under "Redemption
Terms," this Note is subject to redemption prior to the Maturity Date upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail to the Person in whose name
this Note is registered at such address as shall appear in the Security Register
for the Notes, at any time, as a whole or in part, at the election of the
Company, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal
amount and (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present
values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon
discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day
year consisting of twelve 30-day months for CD Rate Notes, Commercial Paper Rate
Notes, EURIBOR Notes, Federal Funds Rate Notes, LIBOR Notes (except for LIBOR
Notes denominated in pounds sterling) and Prime Rate Notes; a 365-day year in
the case of LIBOR Notes denominated in pounds sterling; or the actual number of
days in each year in the case of Treasury Rate Notes) at the Adjusted Treasury
Rate, plus a number of

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

basis points specified under "Redemption Terms," plus, in each case, accrued and
unpaid interest on the Note to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that
installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holder of this Note (or one or more predecessor
Notes) at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates referred to
above, all as provided in the Indenture.

         For purposes of determining the amount at which this Note may be
redeemed pursuant to a "make whole" redemption, the following terms shall have
the meanings set forth next to each of them below:

         "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Redemption Date,
the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price of the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable
Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

         "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining
term of the Securities of this series to be redeemed that would be used, at the
time of a selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in
pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
remaining term of the Securities of this series.

         "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the
Company to serve in that capacity.

         "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any Redemption Date,
the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption
Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Treasury Dealer Quotation, or if
the Trustee obtains fewer than three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the
average of the Quotations.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Banc of America Securities
LLC and Wachovia Securities, Inc. and their respective successors; provided,
however, that if either of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary United
States government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury
Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefore another Primary Treasury
Dealer.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average as determined by
the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices of the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed, in each case, as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in
writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the
third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

         In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note of
this series and of like tenor of an authorized denomination for the unredeemed
portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the
cancellation hereof.

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Repayment Terms," the Company
shall not be obligated to redeem or purchase this Note pursuant to any sinking
fund or analogous provision or at the option of the Holder before the Maturity
Date. If a Repayment Date or periods within which Repayment Dates may occur and
the related Repayment Prices (expressed as percentages

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

of the principal amount of this Note) are set forth above under "Repayment
Terms," this Note is subject to repayment at the option of the Holder hereof
prior to the Maturity Date upon such terms as are set forth above under
"Repayment Terms." For the Company to repay a Note, the Trustee must receive at
least 15 days but not more than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date: (i) the
Note with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" on the reverse of the
Note duly completed; or (ii) a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a
letter from the broker-dealer, commercial bank or trust company in the United
States setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note,
the principal amount of the Note to be repaid, the certificate number or a
description of the tenor and terms of the Note, a statement that the option to
elect repayment is being exercised and a guarantee that the Note to be repaid,
together with the duly completed form entitled "Option to Election Repayment" on
the reverse of the Note; provided however, that the telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter will only be effective if that Note and completed form
are received by the Trustee by the fifth Business Day after the date of that
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter. Exercise of the repayment
option by the Holder of a Note will be irrevocable. The Holder may exercise the
repayment option for less than the entire principal amount of the Note. In the
event of repayment of this Note in part only, a new Note of this series and of
like tenor of an authorized denomination of the portion hereof not repaid will
be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

         Interest Provisions

         Commencing with the Interest Reset Date specified above, first
following the Original Issue Date specified above, the rate at which this Note
bears interest will be reset daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or
annually (the "Interest Reset Period," and the first day of each Interest Reset
Period, an "Interest Reset Date"), as specified above. Subject to applicable
provisions of law and except as specified herein, on each Interest Reset Date
the rate of interest on this Note shall be the rate determined in accordance
with the provisions of the applicable heading below.

         Determination of CD Rate

         If the Base Rate specified above with respect to any Interest Period is
the CD Rate, this Note is a "CD Rate Note" with respect to such Interest Period
and the interest rate with respect to this Note for any Interest Reset Date
relating to such Interest Period shall be the CD Rate plus or minus the Spread,
if any, or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, as specified above,
subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if any, as
specified above, and as determined on the applicable CD Interest Determination
Date (as defined below).

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Other Terms," "CD Rate" means,
with respect to any CD Interest Determination Date, the rate on that date for
negotiable certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity specified above as
published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in
"Statistical Release H.15(519), Selected Interest Rates," or any successor
publication of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
("H.15(519)") under the heading "CDs (Secondary Market)."

         The following procedures will apply if the CD Rate cannot be determined
as described above: If the above rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00
p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, the CD Rate will be the rate
on that CD Interest Determination Date set forth in the daily update of
H.15(519), available through the worldwide website of the Board of

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

Governors of the Federal Reserve System at
http://www.bog.frb.fed.us/releases/hl5/update, or such other recognized
electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, or any successor
site or publication, which is commonly referred to as the "H.15 Daily Update,"
for the CD Interest Determination Date for certificates of deposit having the
Index Maturity specified above, under the caption "CDs (Secondary Market). If
the above rate is not yet published in either H.15(519) or the H.15 Daily Update
by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date (as defined below),
the Calculation Agent (as defined below) will determine the CD Rate to be the
average of the secondary market offered rates as of 10:00 a.m., New York City
time, on that CD Interest Determination Date of three leading nonbank dealers in
negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit in New York City elected by the
Calculation Agent, after consultation with the Company, for negotiable
certificates of deposit of major United States money center banks of the highest
credit standing in the market for negotiable certificates of deposit with a
remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified above in an amount
that is representative for a single transaction in that market at that time. If
the dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as set forth
above, the CD Rate will remain the CD Rate for the immediately preceding
interest reset period, or, if there was no interest reset period, the rate of
interest payable will be the Initial Interest Rate specified above.

         Determination of Commercial Paper Rate

         If the Base Rate specified above with respect to any Interest Period is
the Commercial Paper Rate, this Note is a "Commercial Paper Rate Note" with
respect to such Interest Period and the interest rate with respect to this Note
for any Interest Reset Date relating to such Interest Period shall be the
Commercial Paper Rate plus or minus the Spread, if any, or multiplied by the
Spread Multiplier, if any, as specified above, subject to the Minimum Interest
Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if any, as specified above, and as
determined on the applicable Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date (as
defined below).

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Other Terms," "Commercial Paper
Rate" means, with respect to any Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date,
the Money Market Yield, calculated as described below, of the rate on that date
for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified above, as that rate is
published in H.15(519), under the heading "Commercial Paper ? Nonfinancial."

         The following procedures will apply if the Commercial Paper Rate cannot
be determined as described above: If the above rate is not published by 3:00
p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper
Rate will be the Money Market Yield of the rate on that Commercial Paper
Interest Determination Date for commercial paper of the Index Maturity specified
above available through the worldwide website of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System at http://www.bog.frb.fed.us/releaes/h15/update, or such
other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate,
or any successor site or publication, which is commonly referred to a the "H.15
Daily Update," under the heading "Commercial Paper -- Nonfinancial." If by 3:00
p.m., New York City time, on that Calculation Date the rate is not yet published
in either H.15(519) or the H.15 Daily Update, then the Calculation Agent will
determine the Commercial Paper Rate to be the Money Market Yield of the average
of the offered rates as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on that Commercial
Paper Interest Determination Date of three leading dealers of commercial paper
in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent, after consultation with the
Company, for commercial paper of

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

the Index Maturity specified above, placed for an industrial issuer whose bond
rating is "AA," or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized statistical
rating organization. If the dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are not
quoting as mentioned above, the Commercial Paper Rate for that Commercial Paper
Interest Determination Date will remain the Commercial Paper Rate for the
immediately preceding interest reset period, or, if there was no interest reset
period, the rate of interest payable will be the Initial Interest Rate specified
above.

         The "Money Market Yield" will be a yield calculated in accordance with
the following formula:

              Money Market Yield =           D x 360        x 100
                                        -----------------
                                          360 - (D x M)

         "D" refers to the applicable per year rate for commercial paper quoted
on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal; and "M" refers to the
actual number of days in the interest period for which interest is being
calculated.

         Determination of EURIBOR

         If the Base Rate specified above with respect to any Interest Period is
EURIBOR, this Note is a "EURIBOR Note" with respect to such Interest Period and
the interest rate with respect to this Note for any Interest Reset Date relating
to such Interest Period shall be EURIBOR plus or minus the Spread, if any, or
multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, as specified above, subject to the
Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if any, as specified above,
and as determined on the applicable EURIBOR Interest Determination Date (as
defined below).

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Other Terms," "EURIBOR" means,
with respect to any EURIBOR Interest Determination Date, the rate for deposits
in Euros as sponsored, calculated and published jointly by the European Banking
Federation and ACI -- The Financial Market Association, or any company
established by the joint sponsors for purposes of compiling and publishing those
rates, for the Index Maturity specified above as that rate appears on the
display on Bridge Telerate, Inc., or any successor service, on page 248 or any
other page as may replace page 248 on that service, which is commonly referred
to as "Telerate Page 248," as of 11:00 a.m. (Brussels time).

         The following procedures will apply if the rate cannot be determined as
described above: If the above rate does not appear, the Calculation Agent will
request the principal Euro-zone office of each of four major banks in the
Euro-zone interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent, after
consultation with the Company, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered
rate for deposits in Euros, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (Brussels time) on the
EURIBOR Interest Determination Date, to prime banks in the Euro-zone interbank
market for the index maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement
commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, and in a principal amount not
less than the equivalent of U.S. $1 million in Euro that is representative of a
single transaction in Euro, in that market at that time. If at least two
quotations are provided, EURIBOR will be the average of those quotations. If
fewer than two quotations are provided, EURIBOR will be the average of the rates
quoted by four major banks in the Euro-zone, as selected by the Calculation
Agent, after consultation with the Company, at approximately 11:00 a.m.
(Brussels time), on the applicable Interest Reset Date for

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

loans in Euro to leading European banks for a period of time equivalent to the
Index Maturity specified above commencing on that Interest Reset Date in a
principal amount not less than the equivalent of U.S. $1 million in Euro. If the
banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in the
previous sentence, the EURIBOR rate in effect for the applicable period will be
the same as EURIBOR for the immediately preceding interest reset period, or, if
there was no interest reset period, the rate of interest will be the Initial
Interest Rate specified above.

         "Euro-zone" means the region comprised of member states of the European
Union that adopt the single currency in accordance with the treaty establishing
the European Community, as amended by the treaty on European Union.

         Determination of Federal Funds Rate

         If the Base Rate specified above with respect to any Interest Period is
Federal Funds Rate, this Note is a "Federal Funds Rate Note" with respect to
such Interest Period and the interest rate with respect to this Note for any
Interest Reset Date relating to such Interest Period shall be the Federal Funds
Rate plus or minus the Spread, if any, or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier,
if any, as specified above, subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum
Interest Rate, if any, as specified above, and as determined on the applicable
Federal Funds Interest Determination Date (as defined below).

         Unless otherwise specified in above under "Other Terms", "Federal Funds
Rate" means, with respect to any Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date,
the rate on that date for federal funds as published in H.15(519) under the
heading "Federal Funds (Effective)" as displayed on Bridge Telerate, Inc., or
any successor service, on page 120 or any other page as may replace the
applicable page on that service, which is commonly referred to as "Telerate Page
120."

         The following procedures will apply if the Federal Funds Rate cannot be
determined as described above: If the above rate is not published by 3:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the Calculation Date, the Federal Funds Rate will be the
rate on that Federal Funds Interest Determination Date as published in the H.15
Daily Update under the heading "Federal Funds/ Effective Rate." If that rate is
not yet published in either H.15(519) or the H.15 Daily Update by 3:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will determine
the Federal Funds Rate to be the average of the rates for the last transaction
in overnight federal funds by each of three leading brokers of federal funds
transactions in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent, after
consultation with the Company, as of 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on that
Federal Funds Interest Determination Date. If the brokers selected by the
Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned above, the Federal Funds Rate
relating to that Federal Funds Interest Determination Date will remain the
Federal Funds Rate for the immediately preceding interest reset period, or, if
there was no interest reset period, the rate of interest payable will be the
Initial Interest Rate specified above.

         Determination of LIBOR

         If the Base Rate specified above with respect to any Interest Period is
LIBOR, this Note is a "LIBOR Note" with respect to such Interest Period and the
interest rate with respect to this Note for any Interest Reset Date relating to
such Interest Period shall be the LIBOR plus or

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

minus the Spread, if any, or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, as
specified above, subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum Interest
Rate, if any, as specified above, and as determined on the applicable LIBOR
Interest Determination Date (as defined below).

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Other Terms," "LIBOR" means,
with respect to each LIBOR Interest Determination Date as follows: As of the
LIBOR Interest Determination Date, LIBOR will be either (i) if "LIBOR Reuters"
is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the average of the offered
rates for deposits in the Index Currency specified above having the Index
Maturity specified above, commencing on the second London Banking Day
immediately following that LIBOR Interest Determination Date, that appear on the
Designated LIBOR Page, as defined below, as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on that
LIBOR Interest Determination Date, if at least two offered rates appear on the
Designated LIBOR Page, except that if the specified Designated LIBOR Page, by
its terms provides only for a single rate, that single rate will be used or (ii)
if "LIBOR Telerate" is specified, the rate for deposits in the Index Currency
having the Index Maturity designated above, commencing on the second London
Banking Day immediately following that LIBOR Interest Determination Date or, if
pounds sterling is the Index Currency, commencing on that LIBOR Interest
Determination Date, that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Interest Determination Date. If fewer
than the required number of offered rates appear, then the Calculation Agent
will request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks
in the London interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent after
consultation with the Company, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered
quotation for deposits in the Index Currency for the period of the Index
Maturity specified above commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately
following the LIBOR Interest Determination Date or, if pounds sterling is the
Index Currency, commencing on that LIBOR Interest Determination Date, to prime
banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time,
on that LIBOR Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount that is
representative of a single transaction in that Index Currency in that market at
that time. If at least two quotations are provided, LIBOR determined on that
LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the average of those quotations. If
fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR will be determined for the
applicable Interest Reset Date as the average of the rates quoted at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, or some other time specified above, in
the applicable Principal Financial Center for the country of the Index Currency
on that Interest Reset Date, by three major banks in that Principal Financial
Center selected by the Calculation Agent, after consultation with the Company,
for loans in the Index Currency to leading European banks, having the Index
Maturity specified above and in a principal amount that is representative of a
single transaction in that Index Currency in that market at that time. If the
banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in the
previous sentence, LIBOR in effect for the applicable period will be the same as
LIBOR for the immediately preceding interest reset period, or, if there was no
interest reset period, the rate of interest payable will be the Initial Interest
Rate specified above.

         The "Index Currency" means the currency specified above as the currency
for which LIBOR will be calculated, or, if the Euro is substituted for that
currency, the Index Currency will be the Euro. If that currency is not specified
above, the Index Currency will be U.S. dollars.

         "Designated LIBOR Page" means either (i) if "LIBOR Reuters" is
designated above, the display on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service for the
purpose of displaying the London

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

interbank rates of major banks for the applicable Index Currency or its
designated successor; or (ii) if "LIBOR Telerate" is designated above, the
display on Bridge Telerate Inc., or any successor service, on the page specified
above, or any other page as may replace that page on that service, for the
purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the
applicable Index Currency.

         If neither LIBOR Reuters nor LIBOR Telerate is specified above, LIBOR
for the applicable Index Currency will be determined as if LIBOR Telerate were
specified, and, if the U.S. dollar is the Index Currency, as if Page 3750 had
been specified.

         Determination of Prime Rate

         If the Base Rate specified above with respect to any Interest Period is
the Prime Rate, this Note is a "Prime Rate Note" with respect to such Interest
Period and the interest rate with respect to this Note for any Interest Reset
Date relating to such Interest Period shall be the Prime Rate plus or minus the
Spread, if any, or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, as specified
above, subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if
any, as specified above, and as determined on the applicable Prime Rate Interest
Determination Date (as defined below).

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Other Terms," "Prime Rate"
means, with respect to any Prime Rate Interest Determination Date, the base
lending rate on that date as published in H.15(519) under the heading "Bank
Prime Loan."

         The following procedures will apply if the Prime Rate cannot be
determined as described above: If the rate is not published prior to 3:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the Calculation Date, then the Prime Rate will be the
rate on that Prime Rate Interest Determination Date as published in H.15 Daily
Update under the heading "Bank Prime Loan." If the rate is not published prior
to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation date in either H.15(519) or
the H.15 Daily Update, then the Calculation Agent will determine the Prime Rate
to be the average of the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that
appears on the Reuters Screen USPRIME 1 Page, as defined below, as that bank's
Prime Rate or base lending rate as in effect for that Prime Rate Interest
Determination Date. If fewer than four rates appear on the Reuters Screen
USPRIME 1 Page for that Prime Rate Interest Determination Date, the Calculation
Agent will determine the Prime Rate to be the average of the Prime Rates quoted
on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by 360 as of the
close of business on that Prime Rate Interest Determination Date by at least
three major banks in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent, after
consultation with the Company. If the banks selected are not quoting as
mentioned above, the Prime Rate will remain the Prime Rate for the immediately
preceding interest reset period, or, if there was no interest reset period, the
rate of interest payable will be the Initial Interest Rate specified above.

         "Reuters Screen USPRIME 1 Page" means the display designated as page
"USPRIME 1" on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service, or any successor
service, or any other page as may replace the USPRIME 1 Page on that service for
the purpose of displaying Prime Rates or base lending rates of major United
States banks.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

         Determination of Treasury Rate

         If the Base Rate specified above with respect to any Interest Period is
Treasury Rate, this Note is a "Treasury Note" with respect to such Interest
Period and the interest rate with respect to this Note for any Interest Reset
Date relating to such Interest Period shall be the Treasury Rate plus or minus
the Spread, if any, or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, as specified
above, subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if
any, as specified above, and as determined on the applicable Treasury Rate
Interest Determination Date (as defined below).

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Other Terms," "Treasury Rate"
means, with respect to any Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date, the rate
from the auction held on the applicable Treasury Rate Interest Determination
Date of direct obligations of the United States, which are commonly referred to
as "Treasury Bills," having the Index Maturity specified above as that rate
appears under the caption "INVESTMENT RATE" on the display on Bridge Telerate,
Inc., or any successor service, on page 56 or any other page as may replace page
56 on that service, referred to as "Telerate Page 56," or page 57 or any other
page as may replace page 57 on that service, referred to as "Telerate Page 57."

         The following procedures will apply if the Treasury Rate cannot be
determined as described above: If the rate described above is not published by
3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the Bond
Equivalent Yield, calculated as described below, of the auction rate of the
applicable Treasury Bills, announced by the United States Department of the
Treasury. In the event that the rate referred to in the immediately preceding
sentence is not announced by the United States Department of the Treasury, or if
the auction is not held, the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate on the applicable
Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date of Treasury Bills having the Index
Maturity specified above published in H.15(519) under the caption "U.S.
Government Securities/ Treasury Bills/ Secondary Market." If the rate referred
to in the immediately preceding sentence is not so published by 3:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on the applicable
Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date calculated by the Calculation Agent as
the Bond Equivalent Yield of the average of the secondary market bid rates, as
of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable Treasury Rate
Interest Determination Date, of three primary United States government
securities dealers, which may include the agent or its affiliates, selected by
the Calculation Agent, for the issue of Treasury Bills with a remaining maturity
closest to the Index Maturity specified above. If the dealers selected by the
Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in the immediately preceding
sentence, the Treasury Rate for the immediately preceding interest reset period,
or, if there was no interest reset period, the rate of interest payable will be
the Initial Interest Rate specified above.

         The "Bond Equivalent Yield" means a yield calculated in accordance with
the following formula and expressed as a percentage:

         Bond Equivalent Yield =           D x N        x 100
                                     -----------------
                                       360 - (D x M)

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

         "D" refers to the applicable per annum rate for Treasury Bills quoted
on a bank discount basis; "N" refers to 365 or 366, as the case may be; and "M"
refers to the actual number of days in the interest period for which interest is
being calculated.

         General

         Notwithstanding the determination of the interest rate as provided
above, the interest rate on this Note for any Interest Period shall not be
greater than the Maximum Interest Rate, if any, or less than the Minimum
Interest Rate, if any, specified above. The interest rate on this Note will in
no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law as the same
may be modified by the United States law of general application.

         On or before each Calculation Date specified above, the Calculation
Agent specified above, as Calculation Agent (the "Calculation Agent"), will
determine the interest rate in accordance with the foregoing with respect to the
applicable Base Rate. Unless otherwise specified above under "Other Terms," the
"Calculation Date," if applicable, pertaining to any Interest Determination Date
on this Note will be the earlier of (i) the tenth calendar day after such
Interest Determination Date, or, if any such day is not a Business Day, the next
succeeding Business Day, and (ii) the Business Day immediately preceding the
applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date or, for any principal
amount to be redeemed or repaid, the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the
case may be.

         As used herein, "Interest Determination Date" pertaining to any
Interest Reset Date means the day the Calculation Agent will refer to when
determining the new interest rate at which this Note will reset, which is
applicable as follows: for CD Rate Notes, Commercial Paper Rate Notes, Federal
Funds Rate Notes and Prime Rate Notes, the Interest Determination Date will be
the second Business Day prior to the Interest Reset Date; for EURIBOR Notes or
Euro LIBOR Notes (as defined below), the Interest Determination Date will be the
second TARGET Settlement Day (as defined below) prior to the Interest Reset
Date; for LIBOR Notes (other than Euro LIBOR Notes), the Interest Determination
Date will be the second London Banking Day prior to the Interest Reset Date,
except that the Interest Determination Date pertaining to an Interest Reset Date
for a LIBOR Note for which the Index Currency is pounds sterling will be the
Interest Reset Date; and for Treasury Rate Notes, the Interest Determination
Date will be the day of the week in which the Interest Reset Date falls on which
Treasury bills would normally be auctioned. Treasury bills are normally sold at
auction on Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which
case the auction is normally held on the following Tuesday, but the auction may
be held on the preceding Friday. If, as the result of a legal holiday, the
auction is held on the preceding Friday, that Friday will be the Interest
Determination Date pertaining to the Interest Reset Date occurring in the next
succeeding week. If an auction falls on a day that is an Interest Reset Date,
that Interest Reset Date will be the next following Business Day. The "TARGET
Settlement Day" means any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time
Gross Settlement Express Transfer System is open. "Euro LIBOR Notes" means LIBOR
Notes for which the Index Currency is Euros. If any Interest Reset Date for this
Note would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Reset
Date shall be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except that in
the case of a EURIBOR Note or of a LIBO Note, if such Business Day is in the
next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Reset Date shall be the
immediately preceding Business Day.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Other Terms," interest for this
Note will accrue from and including the most recent Interest Payment Date to
which interest has been paid or duly provided for, or, if no interest has been
paid or duly provided for, from and including the issue date or any other date
specified above under "Other Terms" on which interest begins to accrue. Interest
will accrue to but excluding the next Interest Payment Date or, if earlier, the
date on which the principal has been paid or duly made available for payment,
except as described above when an Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day
(each such interest accrual period, an "Interest Period"). Accrued interest will
be calculated by multiplying the principal amount of this Note by an accrued
interest factor computed by adding the interest factors calculated for each day
in the period for which interest is being paid. The interest factor for each day
is computed by dividing the interest rate applicable for that day: (i) by 360,
in the case of CD Rate Notes, Commercial Paper Rate Notes, EURIBOR Notes,
Federal Funds Rate Notes, LIBOR Notes (except for LIBOR Notes denominated in
pounds sterling) and Prime Rate Notes; (ii) by 365, in the case of LIBOR Notes
denominated in pounds sterling; or (iii) by the actual number of days in the
year, in the case of Treasury Rate Notes. For these calculations, the interest
rate in effect on any Interest Reset Date will be the applicable rate as reset
on that date. The interest rate applicable to any other day is the interest rate
from the immediately preceding Interest Reset Date or, if none, the Initial
Interest Rate specified above.

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Other Terms," all percentages
used in or resulting from any calculation of the rate of interest on a Floating
Rate Note will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth
of a percentage point (.0000001), with five one-millionths of a percentage point
rounded upward, (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or
 .0987655)) and all U.S. dollar amounts used in or resulting from these
calculations on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded to the nearest cent, with
one-half cent rounded upward.

         Upon the request of the Holder, the Calculation Agent will provide the
interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate that will
become effective on the next Interest Reset Date for this Note.

         Miscellaneous Provisions

         The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the
entire indebtedness of this Note or certain restrictive covenants and Events of
Default with respect to this Note, in each case upon compliance with certain
conditions set forth in the Indenture.

         If an Event of Default with respect to Notes of this series shall occur
and be continuing, the principal of all the Notes of this series may (subject to
the conditions set forth in the Indenture) be declared due and payable in the
manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

         The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected and, for
certain purposes, without the consent of the Holders of any Securities at the
time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders
of specified percentages in

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time
Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive
compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain
past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or
waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such
Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the
registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether
or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

         As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for
any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the
Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Notes of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of
the Notes of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request
to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as
Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not
have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of
this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request,
and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after
receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not
apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of
any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after
the respective due dates expressed herein.

         No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency,
herein prescribed.

         As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register,
upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency
of the Company in any place where the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security
Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of this series, of
like tenor and of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal
amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

         Unless otherwise set forth above under "Other Terms," the Notes of this
series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of
$1,000 and any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations (including, if
this Note is a Global Security, certain additional limitations) therein set
forth, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Notes of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized
denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

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

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

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

         This Note may have such additional or different terms as are set forth
above under "Other Terms." Any terms so set forth shall be deemed to modify
and/or supersede, as necessary, any other terms set forth in this Note.

         This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.

         All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture and are
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture.

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

                                  Abbreviations

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription above, shall
be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable
laws or regulations.

            TEN COM - as tenants in common

            TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

            JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as
                     tenants in common

            UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ________________ Custodian _____________
                                     (Cust)                   (Minor)
                        under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

                            -------------------------
                                     (State)

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

                                   Assignment

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

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

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

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

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

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address
                     Including Postal Zip Code of Assignee)

the within Security and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints

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

to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of
substitution in the premises.

Dated:

Signature Guaranteed

----------------------------------     -----------------------------------------
                                       NOTICE: The signature to this assignment
                                       must correspond with the name as written
                                       upon the face of the within Security in
                                       every particular, without alteration or
                                       enlargement or any change whatever.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

                             Option to Elect Payment

         The undersigned hereby irrevocably requests and instructs the Company
to repay the within Note (or portion thereof specified below) pursuant to its
terms at the applicable Repayment Price, together with interest to the Repayment
Date, to the undersigned at:

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address
                    Including Postal Zip Code of undersigned)

         If less than the entire principal amount of the within Note is to
repaid, specify the portion thereof which the undersigned elects to have
prepaid:
_______________________________________________; and specify the denomination or
denominations (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination)
of the Notes to be issued to the undersigned for the portion of the within Note
not being repaid (in the absence of any such specifications, one such Note will
be issued for the portion not being repaid): ______________________________

Dated:

Signature Guaranteed

----------------------------------     -----------------------------------------
                                       NOTICE: The signature to this assignment
                                       must correspond with the name as written
                                       upon the face of the within Security in
                                       every particular, without alteration or
                                       enlargement or any change whatever.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT C

REGISTERED NO.                                              REGISTERED PRINCIPAL
CUSIP NO.___________                                        AMOUNT: U.S. $______

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           Medium-Term Note, Series A
               ([Global] Original Issue Discount Zero Coupon Note)

[Insert if the Security is to be a Global Security--Unless this certificate is
presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New
York corporation ("DTC"), to the Company or its agent for registration of
transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the
name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other
entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER,
PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS
WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest
herein.

This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture
hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a
nominee thereof. This Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for a
Security registered, and no transfer of this Security in whole or in part may be
registered, in the name of any Person other than such Depositary or a nominee
thereof, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture.]

ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE:                     MATURITY DATE:

REPAYMENT TERMS:                         REDEMPTION TERMS:

OTHER TERMS:                             YIELD TO MATURITY:

         FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, THE
AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ON THIS NOTE IS THE PERCENTAGE OF ITS
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT SET FORTH ABOVE AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS THE PERCENTAGE SET
BOTH ABOVE.
<PAGE>

         Darden Restaurants, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing
under the laws of Florida (herein called the "Company", which term includes any
successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to

         or registered assigns, the principal sum of _______________________
Dollars ($_________) on the Maturity Date shown above. The principal of this
Note shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of
principal upon acceleration, at the Maturity Date or upon any applicable
Redemption Date or Repayment Date, and in such case the overdue principal of
this Note shall bear interest at a rate which is equivalent to the Yield to
Maturity stated above (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be
legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date payment is due upon
acceleration, the Maturity Date, the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as
the case may be, to the date payment of such principal has been made or duly
provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable upon demand.
Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall
bear interest at the same rate as the interest on the overdue principal (to the
extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which
shall accrue from the date of such initial demand for payment to the date
payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest
shall also be payable upon demand. In the event that the Maturity Date or any
applicable Redemption Date or Repayment Date is not a Business Day, the
principal otherwise payable on such Maturity Date or any applicable Redemption
Date or Repayment Date will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the
same force and effect as if made on such Maturity Date, Redemption Date or
Repayment Date. "Business Day" means with respect to this Note, any day, other
than a Saturday or Sunday, which is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which
banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in
New York City.

         Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Note
that is represented by a Global Security shall be made to The Depository Trust
Company or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the
sole Holder of the Global Security represented thereby for all purposes under
the Indenture.

         Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest due with
respect to any Note (that is not a Global Security) at the Maturity Date or any
applicable Redemption Date or Repayment Date shall be made in immediately
available funds against presentation and surrender of such Note at the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee accompanied by wire transfer instructions, provided
that such Note is presented to the Trustee in time for the Trustee to make
payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures.

         Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this
Note will be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at
the time of payment is legal for payment of public and private debts.

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

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

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated: ______________

                                           DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

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

Attest:

--------------------------------------
Title:
      -------------------------------

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                     TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

         This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                    WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL
                                    ASSOCIATION (formerly known as Norwest Bank
                                    Minnesota, National Association), as Trustee

                                    By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                    Name:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                    Authorized Officer

STATE OF ____________)

COUNTY OF __________)

         On the ____ day of ___________, _____, personally appeared
_____________________, as the _________________________ of Darden Restaurants,
Inc. (the "Company"), a Florida corporation, and before me executed this
[Global] Certificate for the Company's Medium-Term Notes, Series A ([Global]
Original Issue Discount Zero Coupon Note), payable by Darden Restaurants, Inc.
to the payee hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal, in
the state and county aforesaid.

--------------------------------------------
Signature of Notary Public,
State of _________
[______________]
Personally known:
Produced Identification:
Type of Identification:

(Notary Seal)

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           Medium-Term Note, Series A
               ([Global] Original Issue Discount Zero Coupon Note)

         This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Notes"), issued or to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1996 (herein called the
"Indenture," which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National
Association (formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as
Trustee (herein called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee
under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture, an
Officers' Certificate of the Company establishing certain terms of the Notes
pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto
for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes
and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be authenticated and
delivered. This Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof. By the
terms of the Indenture, additional Securities of this series and of other
separate series, which may vary as to date, amount, Stated Maturity, interest
rate or method of calculating the interest rate and in other respects as therein
provided, may be issued in an unlimited principal amount.

         If a Redemption Commencement Date or periods within which Redemption
Dates may occur and the related Redemption Prices (unless otherwise specified
above under "Other Terms," expressed as percentages of the Amortized Face Amount
(as defined below) of this Note) are set forth under "Redemption Terms," this
Note is subject to redemption prior to the Maturity Date upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days' notice by mail to the Person in whose name this Note is
registered at such address as shall appear in the Security Register for the
Notes, on any Redemption Date so specified or occurring within any period so
specified, as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the
applicable Redemption Price so specified.

         If a "make whole" redemption option is specified under "Redemption
Terms," this Note is subject to redemption prior to the Maturity Date upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail to the Person in whose name
this Note is registered at such address as shall appear in the Security Register
for the Notes, at any time, as a whole or in part, at the election of the
Company, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal
amount or (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present
values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal thereon discounted to
the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting
of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus a number of basis
points specified under "Redemption Terms."

         For purposes of determining the amount at which this Note may be
redeemed pursuant to a "make whole" redemption, the following terms shall have
the meanings set forth next to each of them below:

         "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Redemption Date,
the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price of the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable
Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

         "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining
term of the Securities of this series to be redeemed that would be used, at the
time of a selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in
pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
remaining term of the Securities of this series.

         "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the
Company to serve in that capacity.

         "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any Redemption Date,
the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption
Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Treasury Dealer Quotation, or if
the Trustee obtains fewer than three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the
average of the Quotations.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Banc of America Securities
LLC and Wachovia Securities, Inc. and their respective successors; provided,
however, that if either of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary United
States government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury
Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefore another Primary Treasury
Dealer.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average as determined by
the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices of the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed, in each case, as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in
writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the
third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

         In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note of
this series and of like tenor of an authorized denomination for the unredeemed
portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the
cancellation hereof.

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Repayment Terms," the Company
shall not be obligated to redeem or purchase this Note pursuant to any sinking
fund or analogous provision or at the option of the Holder before the Maturity
Date. If a Repayment Date or periods within which Repayment Dates may occur and
the related Repayment Prices (unless otherwise specified above under "Other
Terms," expressed as percentages of the Amortized Face Amount of this Note) are
set forth above under "Repayment Terms," this Note is subject to repayment at
the option of the Holder hereof prior to the Maturity Date upon such terms as
are set forth above under "Repayment Terms." For the Company to repay a Note,
the Trustee must receive at least 15 days but not more than 30 days prior to the
Repayment Date: (i) the Note with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment"
on the reverse of the Note duly completed; or (ii) a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or a letter from the broker-dealer, commercial bank or trust
company in the United States setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal
amount of the Note, the principal amount of the Note to be repaid, the
certificate number or a description of the tenor and terms of the Note, a
statement that the option to elect repayment is being exercised and a guarantee
that the Note to be repaid, together with the duly completed form entitled
"Option to Election Repayment" on the reverse of the Note; provided however,
that the telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter will only be
effective if that Note and completed form are received by the Trustee by the
fifth Business Day after the date of that telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter. Exercise of the repayment option by the Holder of a Note
will

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

be irrevocable. The Holder may exercise the repayment option for less than the
entire principal amount of the Note. In the event of repayment of this Note in
part only, a new Note of this series and of like tenor of an authorized
denomination of the portion hereof not repaid will be issued in the name of the
Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

         The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the
entire indebtedness of this Note or certain restrictive covenants and Events of
Default with respect to this Note, in each case upon compliance with certain
conditions set forth in the Indenture.

         If an Event of Default with respect to Notes of this series shall occur
and be continuing, the Amortized Face Amount of this Note may (subject to the
conditions set forth in the Indenture) be declared due and payable in the manner
and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Upon payment (i) of the amount of
principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue
principal and overdue interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company's obligations in
respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Notes of
this series shall terminate.

         The "Amortized Face Amount" of this Note shall be the amount equal to
the sum of (i) the issue price (as defined below) of this Note and (ii) that
portion of the difference between the issue price and the principal amount of
this Note due at the Maturity Date thereof that has been amortized at the Stated
Yield (as defined below) of this Note (computed in accordance with Section
1272(a)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section
1.1275-1(b) of the Regulations, in each case as in effect on the issue date of
this Note) at the date as of which the Amortized Face Amount is calculated, but
in no event can the Amortized Face Amount exceed the principal amount of this
Note due at the Maturity Date hereof. As used in the preceding sentence, the
term "issue price" means the principal amount of this Note due at the Maturity
Date hereof less the Original Issue Discount of this Note specified above. The
term "Stated Yield" of this Note means the Yield to Maturity specified above for
the period from the Original Issue Date of this Note specified above, to the
Maturity Date hereof based on the issue price and principal amount payable at
the Maturity Date hereof.

         The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected and, for
certain purposes, without the consent of the Holders of any Securities at the
time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders
of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each
series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of
such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the
Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.
Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and
binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any
Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in
lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this
Note.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

         In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver under the Indenture or whether a quorum is
present at a meeting of Holders of Securities, the principal amount of any
Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be
the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date
of such determination upon the acceleration of the Maturity thereof.

         As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for
any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the
Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Notes of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of
the Notes of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request
to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as
Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not
have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of
this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request,
and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after
receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not
apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of
any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after
the respective due dates expressed herein.

         No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency,
herein prescribed.

         As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register,
upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency
of the Company in any place where the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security
Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of this series, of
like tenor and of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal
amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

         Unless otherwise set forth above under "Other Terms," the Notes of this
series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of
$1,000 and any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations (including, if
this Note is a Global Security, certain additional limitations) therein set
forth, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Notes of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized
denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

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

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

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

         This Note may have such additional or different terms as are set forth
above under "Other Terms." Any terms so set forth shall be deemed to modify
and/or supersede, as necessary, any other terms set forth in this Note.

         This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.

         All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture and are
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

                                  Abbreviations

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription above, shall
be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable
laws or regulations.

             TEN COM - as tenants in common

             TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

             JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as
                      tenants in common

             UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ________________ Custodian _____________
                                      (Cust)                   (Minor)
                        under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

                            -------------------------
                                     (State)

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

                                   Assignment

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

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

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

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

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

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address
                     Including Postal Zip Code of Assignee)

the within Security and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints

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

to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of
substitution in the premises.

Dated:

Signature Guaranteed

----------------------------------     -----------------------------------------
                                       NOTICE: The signature to this assignment
                                       must correspond with the name as written
                                       upon the face of the within Security in
                                       every particular, without alteration or
                                       enlargement or any change whatever.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

                             Option to Elect Payment

         The undersigned hereby irrevocably requests and instructs the Company
to repay the within Note (or portion thereof specified below) pursuant to its
terms at the applicable Repayment Price, together with interest to the Repayment
Date, to the undersigned at:

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address
                    Including Postal Zip Code of undersigned)

         If less than the entire principal amount of the within Note is to
repaid, specify the portion thereof which the undersigned elects to have
prepaid:
_______________________________________________; and specify the denomination or
denominations (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination)
of the Notes to be issued to the undersigned for the portion of the within Note
not being repaid (in the absence of any such specifications, one such Note will
be issued for the portion not being repaid): ______________________________

Dated:

Signature Guaranteed

----------------------------------     -----------------------------------------
                                       NOTICE: The signature to this assignment
                                       must correspond with the name as written
                                       upon the face of the within Security in
                                       every particular, without alteration or
                                       enlargement or any change whatever.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT D

REGISTERED NO.                                              REGISTERED PRINCIPAL
CUSIP NO.___________                                        AMOUNT: U.S. $______

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           Medium-Term Note, Series A
               ([Global] Original Issue Discount Fixed Rate Note)

[Insert if the Security is to be a Global Security--Unless this certificate is
presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New
York corporation ("DTC"), to the Company or its agent for registration of
transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the
name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other
entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER,
PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS
WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest
herein.

This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture
hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a
nominee thereof. This Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for a
Security registered, and no transfer of this Security in whole or in part may be
registered, in the name of any Person other than such Depositary or a nominee
thereof, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture.]

ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE:                        MATURITY DATE:

INTEREST RATE:                              REDEMPTION TERMS:

INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:                     REPAYMENT TERMS:

REGULAR RECORD DATES:                       OTHER TERMS:
<PAGE>

ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT NOTE:               YIELD TO MATURITY:

[ ] ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SUBJECT         [ ] ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT NOTE FOR
TO "SPECIAL PROVISIONS" BELOW               INCOME TAX PURPOSES ONLY

         FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, THE
AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ON THIS NOTE IS THE PERCENTAGE OF ITS
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT SET FORTH ABOVE AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS THE PERCENTAGE SET
BOTH ABOVE.

         Darden Restaurants, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing
under the laws of Florida (herein called the "Company", which term includes any
successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to

or registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________________Dollars
($________) on the Maturity Date shown above, or together with any premium
thereon, upon any applicable Redemption Date or Repayment Date referred to
above, and to pay interest thereon on each Interest Payment Date shown above
from the Original Issue Date shown above or from and including the most recent
Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided,
commencing with the Interest Payment Date immediately following the Original
Issue Date, at the rate per annum equal to the Interest Rate shown above, until
the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment; provided, however,
that if the Original Issue Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or before
the immediately following Interest Payment Date, interest payments will commence
on the Interest Payment date following the next succeeding Regular Record Date.
The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of
twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable for any
partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months and the days elapsed in any partial month. The interest so payable, and
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or
one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be on the Regular Record Date
shown above (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding
such Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable on the
Maturity Date of this Note or any applicable Redemption Date or Repayment Date
that is not an Interest Payment Date shall be payable to the Person to whom
principal shall be payable. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly
provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one
or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special
Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the
Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of this Note not less than
10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other
lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange
or automated quotation system on which the Notes of this series may be listed or
traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated
quotation system, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. In the event
that any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date or any applicable Redemption
Date or Repayment Date is not a Business Day, the interest and, with respect to
the Maturity Date or any applicable Redemption Date or Repayment Date, principal
(and premium, if any) otherwise payable on such date will be paid on the next
succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such
Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Repayment Date.
"Business Day" means with respect to this Note, any day, other than a Saturday
or Sunday, which is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking
institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in New
York City.

         Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Note
that is represented by a Global Security shall be made to The Depository Trust
Company or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the
sole Holder of the Global Security represented thereby for all purposes under
the Indenture.

         Payment of interest on any Note (that is not a Global Security) shall
be made by check mailed to the Holder at the address of such Holder appearing on
the Security Register for the Notes on the applicable Regular Record Date. A
Holder of $10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of such Notes with
the same Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to payment by wire transfer of
immediately available funds if appropriate payment instructions have been
received in writing by the Trustee not less than 15 calendar days prior to the
applicable Interest Payment Date. In the event that payment is so made in
accordance with instructions of the Holder, such wire transfer shall be deemed
to constitute full and complete payment of such interest on this Note. Payment
of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest due with respect to any
Note (that is not a Global Security) at the Maturity Date or any applicable
Redemption Date or Repayment Date shall be made in immediately available funds
against presentation and surrender of such Note at the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee accompanied by wire transfer instructions, provided that such Note
is presented to the Trustee in time for the Trustee to make payments in such
funds in accordance with its normal procedures.

         Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this
Note will be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at
the time of payment is legal for payment of public and private debts.

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

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

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated: ______________

                                           DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

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

Attest:

--------------------------------------
Title:
      -------------------------------

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                     TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

         This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                    WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL
                                    ASSOCIATION (formerly known as Norwest Bank
                                    Minnesota, National Association), as Trustee

                                    By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                    Name:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                    Authorized Officer

STATE OF ____________)

COUNTY OF __________)

         On the ____ day of ___________, _____, personally appeared
_____________________, as the _________________________ of Darden Restaurants,
Inc. (the "Company"), a Florida corporation, and before me executed this
[Global] Certificate for the Company's Medium-Term Notes, Series A ([Global]
Original Issue Discount Fixed Rate Note), payable by Darden Restaurants, Inc. to
the payee hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal, in
the state and county aforesaid.

--------------------------------------
Signature of Notary Public,
State of _________
[______________]
Personally known:
Produced Identification:
Type of Identification:

(Notary Seal)

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           Medium-Term Note, Series A
               ([Global] Original Issue Discount Fixed Rate Note)

         This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Notes"), issued or to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1996 (herein called the
"Indenture," which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National
Association (formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as
Trustee (herein called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee
under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture, an
Officers' Certificate of the Company establishing certain terms of the Notes
pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto
for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes
and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be authenticated and
delivered. This Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof. By the
terms of the Indenture, additional Securities of this series and of other
separate series, which may vary as to date, amount, Stated Maturity, interest
rate or method of calculating the interest rate and in other respects as therein
provided, may be issued in an unlimited principal amount.

         If a Redemption Commencement Date or periods within which Redemption
Dates may occur and the related Redemption Prices (unless otherwise specified
above under "Other Terms," expressed as percentages of the principal amount of
this Note if this Note is an Original Issue Discount Note for income tax
purposes only as shown above and as percentages of the Amortized Face Amount (as
defined below) of this Note if this Note is an Original Issue Discount Note
subject to the "Special Provisions" below as shown above) are set forth under
"Redemption Terms," this Note is subject to redemption prior to the Maturity
Date upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail to the Person
in whose name this Note is registered at such address as shall appear in the
Security Register for the Notes, on any Redemption Date so specified or
occurring within any period so specified, as a whole or in part, at the election
of the Company, at the applicable Redemption Price so specified, together in the
case of any such redemption with accrued and unpaid interest on the Note to the
Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated
Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of
this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) at the close of business on the
relevant Regular Record Dates referred to above, all as provided in the
Indenture.

         If a "make whole" redemption option is specified under "Redemption
Terms," this Note is subject to redemption prior to the Maturity Date upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail to the Person in whose name
this Note is registered at such address as shall appear in the Security Register
for the Notes, at any time, as a whole or in part, at the election of the
Company, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal
amount or (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present
values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon
discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day
year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus a
number of basis points specified under "Redemption Terms," plus, in each case,
accrued and unpaid interest on the Note to the Redemption Date; provided,
however, that

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holder of this Note (or one or more predecessor
Notes) at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates referred to
above, all as provided in the Indenture.

         For purposes of determining the amount at which this Note may be
redeemed pursuant to a "make whole" redemption, the following terms shall have
the meanings set forth next to each of them below:

         "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Redemption Date,
the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price of the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable
Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

         "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining
term of the Securities of this series to be redeemed that would be used, at the
time of a selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in
pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
remaining term of the Securities of this series.

         "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the
Company to serve in that capacity.

         "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any Redemption Date,
the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption
Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Treasury Dealer Quotation, or if
the Trustee obtains fewer than three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the
average of the Quotations.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Banc of America Securities
LLC and Wachovia Securities, Inc. and their respective successors; provided,
however, that if either of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary United
States government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury
Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefore another Primary Treasury
Dealer.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average as determined by
the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices of the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed, in each case, as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in
writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the
third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

         In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note of
this series and of like tenor of an authorized denomination for the unredeemed
portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the
cancellation hereof.

         Unless otherwise specified above under "Repayment Terms," the Company
shall not be obligated to redeem or purchase this Note pursuant to any sinking
fund or analogous provision or at the option of the Holder before the Maturity
Date. If a Repayment Date or periods within which Repayment Dates may occur and
the related Repayment Prices (unless otherwise specified above under "Other
Terms," expressed as percentages of the principal amount of this Note if this

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

Note is an Original Issue Discount Note for federal income tax purposes only as
shown above and as percentages of the Amortized Face Amount (as defined below)
of this Note if this Note is an Original Issue Discount Note subject to the
"Special Provisions" below as shown above) are set forth above under "Repayment
Terms," this Note is subject to repayment at the option of the Holder hereof
prior to the Maturity Date upon such terms as are set forth above under
"Repayment Terms." For the Company to repay a Note, the Trustee must receive at
least 15 days but not more than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date: (i) the
Note with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" on the reverse of the
Note duly completed; or (ii) a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a
letter from the broker-dealer, commercial bank or trust company in the United
States setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note,
the principal amount of the Note to be repaid, the certificate number or a
description of the tenor and terms of the Note, a statement that the option to
elect repayment is being exercised and a guarantee that the Note to be repaid,
together with the duly completed form entitled "Option to Election Repayment" on
the reverse of the Note; provided however, that the telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter will only be effective if that Note and completed form
are received by the Trustee by the fifth Business Day after the date of that
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter. Exercise of the repayment
option by the Holder of a Note will be irrevocable. The Holder may exercise the
repayment option for less than the entire principal amount of the Note. In the
event of repayment of this Note in part only, a new Note of this series and of
like tenor of an authorized denomination of the portion hereof not repaid will
be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

         The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the
entire indebtedness of this Note or certain restrictive covenants and Events of
Default with respect to this Note, in each case upon compliance with certain
conditions set forth in the Indenture.

         If an Event of Default with respect to Notes of this series shall occur
and be continuing, the principal due at the Stated Maturity (or, in the case of
Original Issue Discount Notes subject to the "Special Provisions" below as shown
above, the Amortized Face Amount) of this Note may (subject to the conditions
set forth in the Indenture) be declared due and payable in the manner and with
the effect provided in the Indenture. Upon payment (i) of the amount of
principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue
principal and overdue interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company's obligations in
respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Notes of
this series shall terminate.

         The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected and, for
certain purposes, without the consent of the Holders of any Securities at the
time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders
of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each
series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of
such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the
Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.
Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and
binding upon

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon
the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof,
whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

         In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver under the Indenture or whether a quorum is
present at a meeting of Holders of Securities, the principal amount of any
Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be
the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date
of such determination upon the acceleration of the Maturity thereof.

         As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for
any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the
Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Notes of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of
the Notes of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request
to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as
Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not
have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of
this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request,
and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after
receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not
apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of
any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after
the respective due dates expressed herein.

         No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency,
herein prescribed.

         As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register,
upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency
of the Company in any place where the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security
Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of this series, of
like tenor and of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal
amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

         Unless otherwise set forth above under "Other Terms," the Notes of this
series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of
$1,000 and any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations (including, if
this Note is a Global Security, certain additional limitations) therein set
forth, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Notes of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized
denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

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

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

         This Note may have such additional or different terms as are set forth
above under "Other Terms." Any terms so set forth shall be deemed to modify
and/or supersede, as necessary, any other terms set forth in this Note.

         This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.

         All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture and are
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture.

                               Special Provisions

         Unless otherwise indicated above under "Other Terms," if this Note is
an Original Issue Discount Fixed Rate Note subject to these Special Provisions,
as indicated above, the amount due and payable on this Note in the event that
the principal amount hereof is declared due and payable prior to the Maturity
Date hereof or in the event that this Note is redeemed or repaid shall be the
Amortized Face Amount (as defined below) of this Note or, in the case of
redemption or repayment, the specified percentage of the Amortized Face Amount
of this Note on the date such payment is due and payable as determined by the
Company, plus any accrued but unpaid "qualified stated interest" payments (as
defined in the Treasury Regulations regarding original issue discount issued by
the Treasury Department in January 1994 (the "Regulations")).

         The "Amortized Face Amount" of this Note shall be the amount equal to
the sum of (i) the issue price (as defined below) of this Note and (ii) that
portion of the difference between the issue price and the principal amount of
this Note due at the Maturity Date thereof that has been amortized at the Stated
Yield (as defined below) of this Note (computed in accordance with Section
1272(a)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section
1.1275-1(b) of the Regulations, in each case as in effect on the issue date of
this Note) at the date as of which the Amortized Face Amount is calculated, but
in no event can the Amortized Face Amount exceed the principal amount of this
Note due at the Maturity Date hereof. As used in the preceding sentence, the
term "issue price" means the principal amount of this Note due at the Maturity
Date hereof less the Original Issue Discount of this Note specified above. The
term "Stated Yield" of this Note means the Yield to Maturity specified above for
the period from the Original Issue Date of this Note specified above, to the
Maturity Date hereof based on the issue price and principal amount payable at
the Maturity Date hereof.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

                                  Abbreviations

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription above, shall
be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable
laws or regulations.

             TEN COM - as tenants in common

             TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

             JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as
                      tenants in common

             UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ________________ Custodian _____________
                                      (Cust)                   (Minor)
                        under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

                            -------------------------
                                     (State)

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

                                   Assignment

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

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

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

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

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

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address
                     Including Postal Zip Code of Assignee)

the within Security and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints

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

to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of
substitution in the premises.

Dated:

Signature Guaranteed

----------------------------------     -----------------------------------------
                                       NOTICE: The signature to this assignment
                                       must correspond with the name as written
                                       upon the face of the within Security in
                                       every particular, without alteration or
                                       enlargement or any change whatever.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

                             Option to Elect Payment

         The undersigned hereby irrevocably requests and instructs the Company
to repay the within Note (or portion thereof specified below) pursuant to its
terms at the applicable Repayment Price, together with interest to the Repayment
Date, to the undersigned at:

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address
                    Including Postal Zip Code of undersigned)

         If less than the entire principal amount of the within Note is to
repaid, specify the portion thereof which the undersigned elects to have
prepaid:
_______________________________________________; and specify the denomination or
denominations (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination)
of the Notes to be issued to the undersigned for the portion of the within Note
not being repaid (in the absence of any such specifications, one such Note will
be issued for the portion not being repaid): ______________________________

Dated:

Signature Guaranteed

----------------------------------     -----------------------------------------
                                       NOTICE: The signature to this assignment
                                       must correspond with the name as written
                                       upon the face of the within Security in
                                       every particular, without alteration or
                                       enlargement or any change whatever.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT F

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           Medium-Term Notes, Series A

      Authentication Certificate Supplemental to the Officers' Certificate
      --------------------------------------------------------------------
                and Authentication Order dated November 10, 2000
                ------------------------------------------------

Form of Note:
o  Book-Entry
o  Certificated
     Name and Address of Registered Owner:
         Cede & Company
         P.O. Box 20, Bowling Green Station
         New York, NY  10004
     Taxpayer Identification Number of
     Registered Owner:
                        ----------------------------------

Principal Amount:  U.S. $
                         ---------------------------------

Original Issue Date:
                      ------------------------------------

Maturity Date:
                ------------------------------------------

o  Renewable (as described below)
o  Extendible (as described below)

Interest Rate Basis (and, if applicable, related Interest Periods):

o  Fixed Rate Note
o  CD Rate Note
o  Commercial Paper Rate Note
o  Federal Funds Rate Note
o  LIBOR Note
o  Prime Rate Note
o  Treasury Rate Note
o  Other Base Rate (as described below)
o  Indexed Note (as described below)
o  Amortizing Note (as described below)

Issue Price (Dollar Amount and Percentage of Principal
   Amount):  $             /          %
             -------------  ----------

Agent's Commission:  $
                      ------------------------------------

Net Proceeds to the Company:  $
                               ---------------------------

Trade Date:
             ---------------------------------------------

Settlement Date:
                 -----------------------------------------

Redemption Terms:

Repayment Terms:

Calculation Agent:

Exchange Rate Agent:

Paying Agent:

Other Terms:

Denominations:  $
                 -----------------------------------------

Interest Rate/Initial Interest Rate:
                                      --------------------

Interest Payment Dates:
                         ---------------------------------

Regular Record Dates:
                       -----------------------------------

Interest Reset Dates:
                       -----------------------------------

Calculation Dates:
                    -------------------

Index Currency:
                 -----------------------------------------

Index Maturity:
                 -----------------------------------------

Spread:
         -------------------------------------------------

Spread Multiplier:
                    -------------------

Maximum Interest Rate:
                        ----------------------------------

Minimum Interest Rate:
                        ----------------------------------

For Original Issue Discount Notes:

   Original issue discount:          %
                             --------

   Yield to maturity:                %
                             --------

   Original issue discount applicable to short accrual period:        %
                                                              --------

   Short accrual period:
                          --------------------------------

   Method used to determine yield to maturity:
     o   Approximate
     o   Exact

   Original Issue Discount Note:
     o   Subject to special provisions set forth therein
     o   For Federal income tax purposes only

Aggregate initial offering price of Debt Securities issued under
   Registration Statement No. 333-41350 through date hereof
   (including this Note):  $
                           --------

Aggregate initial offering price of Notes issued through date hereof
   (including this Note): $
                          --------

CUSIP Number:
               -------------------------------------------

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

By                                                       *
    -----------------------------------------------------

By                                                       *
    -----------------------------------------------------

Dated:

----------
*  To be signed by (1) the Chairman of the Board, the President, a Vice
   President and (2) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary
   or an Assistant Secretary.EXHIBIT 10.34

                        AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made as of the 29th day of
August, 2000, by and between Horizon Group Properties, Inc, a Maryland
corporation ("Employer"), and Gary J Skoien, an individual domiciled in the
State of Illinois ("Executive").

         Employer and Executive previously entered into an Employment Agreement
dated as of June 15, 1998 (the "Employment Agreement") providing for the
employment of Executive by Employer for a term expiring June 15, 2001.

         By resolution adopted by Employer's Board of Directors at its meeting
held August 29, 2000, Employer determined to amend certain sections of the
Employment Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the continued
service by Executive for Employer, Employer and Executive hereby amend the
Employment Agreement as follows:

1.  The first two sentences of Section 4(a)(i) are replaced in their entirety by
    the following:

         Employer may terminate this Agreement and Executive's employment
         pursuant to Section 2 or at any time for any reason or for no reason at
         all upon 30 days' prior written notice to Executive. In connection with
         the termination of Executive's services pursuant to either Section 2 or
         this Section 4(a)(i), Executive shall be entitled to receive (A) all
         accrued but unpaid amounts of the Base Salary through the effective
         date of termination, payable in accordance with the provisions of
         Section 3(a); (B) a pro rata portion of any Performance Bonus otherwise
         payable to Executive for the calendar year in which such termination
         occurs up to the effective date of such termination and, to the extent
         not previously paid, any Performance Bonus for any calendar years prior
         to the calendar year in which such termination occurs; (C) a
         termination distribution in an amount equal to the amount of the Base
         Salary then applicable (the "Normal Termination Distribution"), payable
         within 30 days of the effective date of termination; and (D) any vested
         benefits or amounts pursuant to Sections 3(c), 3(d), 3(e) and 3(f)
         through the effective date of termination, payable in accordance with
         the provisions of any such plan(s).

2.  As amended hereby, the Employment Agreement remains in full force and
    effect.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the
date first above written.

Horizon Group Properties, Inc.

By:                                           By:

/s/ David R. Tinkham                          /s/ Gary J. Skoien
------------------------------------          ---------------------------------
David R. Tinkham, Secretary                   Gary J. Skoien

                                       26

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