EXECUTION COPY


                                AMAZON.COM, INC.,

                                    AS ISSUER


                                       AND


                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK,

                                   AS TRUSTEE



                                    INDENTURE



                             DATED AS OF MAY 8, 1998



                       10% SENIOR DISCOUNT NOTES DUE 2008



<PAGE>   2
                                    CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                  <C>
ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE ............................   2
        SECTION 1.01 Definitions ..................................................   2
        SECTION 1.02 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act ............  25
        SECTION 1.03 Rules of Construction ........................................  25

ARTICLE 2 - THE NOTES .............................................................  26
        SECTION 2.01 Form and Dating ..............................................  26
        SECTION 2.02 Restrictive Legends ..........................................  27
        SECTION 2.03 Execution, Authentication and Denominations ..................  29
        SECTION 2.04 Registrar and Paying Agent ...................................  30
        SECTION 2.05 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust ..........................  31
        SECTION 2.06 Transfer and Exchange ........................................  31
        SECTION 2.07 Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes .......................  32
        SECTION 2.08 Special Transfer Provisions ..................................  34
        SECTION 2.09 Replacement Notes ............................................  37
        SECTION 2.10 Outstanding Notes ............................................  38
        SECTION 2.11 Temporary Notes ..............................................  38
        SECTION 2.12 Cancellation .................................................  39
        SECTION 2.13 CUSIP Numbers ................................................  39
        SECTION 2.14 Defaulted Interest ...........................................  39
        SECTION 2.15 Issuance of Additional Notes .................................  40

ARTICLE 3 - REDEMPTION ............................................................  40
        SECTION 3.01 Right of Redemption ..........................................  40
        SECTION 3.02 Notices to Trustee ...........................................  41
        SECTION 3.03 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed ............................  41
        SECTION 3.04 Notice of Redemption .........................................  41
        SECTION 3.05 Effect of Notice of Redemption ...............................  43
        SECTION 3.06 Deposit of Redemption Price ..................................  43
        SECTION 3.07 Payment of Notes Called for Redemption .......................  43
        SECTION 3.08 Notes Redeemed in Part .......................................  43

ARTICLE 4 - COVENANTS .............................................................  44
        SECTION 4.01 Payment of Notes .............................................  44
        SECTION 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency ..............................  44
        SECTION 4.03 Limitation on Indebtedness ...................................  45
</TABLE>



                                      -ii-

<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                  <C>
        SECTION 4.04 Limitation on Restricted Payments ............................  48
        SECTION 4.05 Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions
               Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries ..................................  52
        SECTION 4.06 Limitation on the Issuance and Sale of Capital Stock
               of Restricted Subsidiaries .........................................  53
        SECTION 4.07 Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees by Restricted
               Group Members ......................................................  54
        SECTION 4.08 Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders and
               Affiliates .........................................................  54
        SECTION 4.09 Limitation on Liens ..........................................  55
        SECTION 4.10 Limitation on Asset Sales ....................................  56
        SECTION 4.11 Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control .................  57
        SECTION 4.12 Existence ....................................................  57
        SECTION 4.13 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims ............................  58
        SECTION 4.14 Maintenance of Properties and Insurance ......................  58
        SECTION 4.15 Notice of Defaults ...........................................  59
        SECTION 4.16 Compliance Certificates ......................................  59
        SECTION 4.17 Commission Reports and Reports to Holders ....................  60
        SECTION 4.18 Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws ......................  60
        SECTION 4.19 Limitation on Sale-Leaseback Transactions ....................  61
        SECTION 4.20 Calculation of Original Issue Discount .......................  61

ARTICLE 5 - SUCCESSOR CORPORATION .................................................  61
        SECTION 5.01 When Company May Merge, Etc. .................................  61
        SECTION 5.02 Successor Substituted ........................................  63

ARTICLE 6 - DEFAULT AND REMEDIES ..................................................  63
        SECTION 6.01 Events of Default ............................................  63
        SECTION 6.02 Acceleration .................................................  64
        SECTION 6.03 Other Remedies ...............................................  65
        SECTION 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults ......................................  66
        SECTION 6.05 Control by Majority ..........................................  66
        SECTION 6.06 Limitation on Suits ..........................................  66
        SECTION 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment .........................  67
        SECTION 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee ...................................  67
        SECTION 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .............................  68
        SECTION 6.10 Priorities ...................................................  68
        SECTION 6.11 Undertaking for Costs ........................................  69
        SECTION 6.12 Restoration of Rights and Remedies ...........................  69
        SECTION 6.13 Rights and Remedies Cumulative ...............................  69
        SECTION 6.14 Delay or Omission Not Waiver .................................  69
</TABLE>


                                     -iii-
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                  <C>
ARTICLE 7 - TRUSTEE ...............................................................  70
        SECTION 7.01 General ......................................................  70
        SECTION 7.02 Certain Rights of Trustee ....................................  70
        SECTION 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee .................................  71
        SECTION 7.04 Trustee's Disclaimer .........................................  72
        SECTION 7.05 Notice of Default ............................................  72
        SECTION 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders ................................  72
        SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity ...................................  72
        SECTION 7.08 Replacement of Trustee .......................................  73
        SECTION 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. ............................  74
        SECTION 7.10 Eligibility ..................................................  74
        SECTION 7.11 Money Held in Trust ..........................................  74
        SECTION 7.12 Withholding Taxes ............................................  75
        SECTION 7.13 Trustee's Application for Instructions from the
               Company ............................................................  75

ARTICLE 8 - DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE ................................................  75
        SECTION 8.01 Termination of Company's Obligations .........................  75
        SECTION 8.02 Defeasance and Discharge of Indenture ........................  76
        SECTION 8.03 Defeasance of Certain Obligations ............................  79
        SECTION 8.04 Application of Trust Money; Miscellaneous ....................  81
        SECTION 8.05 Repayment to Company .........................................  81
        SECTION 8.06 Reinstatement ................................................  82
        SECTION 8.07 Defeasance and Certain Other Events of Default ...............  82

ARTICLE 9 - AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS ...................................  82
        SECTION 9.01 Without Consent of Holders ...................................  82
        SECTION 9.02 With Consent of Holders ......................................  83
        SECTION 9.03 Revocation and Effect of Consent .............................  84
        SECTION 9.04 Notation on or Exchange of Notes .............................  85
        SECTION 9.05 Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc. .............................  85
        SECTION 9.06 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act ..........................  85

ARTICLE 10 - MISCELLANEOUS ........................................................  86
        SECTION 10.01 Trust Indenture Act of 1939 .................................  86
        SECTION 10.02 Notices .....................................................  86
        SECTION 10.03 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent ..........  87
        SECTION 10.04 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion ...............  87
        SECTION 10.05 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar .................  88
        SECTION 10.06 Payment Date Other Than a Business Day ......................  88
</TABLE>


                                      -iv-
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                  <C>
        SECTION 10.07 Governing Law ...............................................  88
        SECTION 10.08 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements ...............  88
        SECTION 10.09 No Recourse Against Others ..................................  88
        SECTION 10.10 Successors ..................................................  89
        SECTION 10.11 Duplicate Originals .........................................  89
        SECTION 10.12 Separability ................................................  89
        SECTION 10.13 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. ...........................  89
</TABLE>

        EXHIBITS:

        EXHIBIT A     Form of Note

        EXHIBIT B     Form of Certificate

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

        EXHIBIT D     Form of Certificate to Be Delivered in Connection with
                      Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S     D-1



                                      -v-

<PAGE>   6
        INDENTURE, dated as of May 8, 1998, between AMAZON.COM, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking
corporation (the "Trustee").

                             RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

        The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance initially of up to $530,000,000 aggregate
principal amount at maturity of the Company's 10% Senior Discount Notes due 2008
(the "Notes") issuable as provided in this Indenture. The Notes will become
freely transferable upon the consummation of an exchange offer for the Notes or
upon the effectiveness of a shelf registration statement with respect to the
Notes. All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the
Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done, and the Company has done
all things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee hereunder and duly issued by the
Company, the valid obligations of the Company as hereinafter provided.

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

                      AND THIS INDENTURE FURTHER WITNESSETH

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

                  ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01.  DEFINITIONS

        "Accreted Value" means, for any Specified Date, the amount provided
below for each $1,000 principal amount at maturity of Notes:

               (i) if the Specified Date occurs on one of the following dates
(each, a "Semiannual Accrual Date"), the Accreted Value shall equal the amount
set forth below for such Semiannual Accrual Date:




                                      -1-
<PAGE>   7

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEMIANNUAL ACCRUAL DATE        ACCRETED VALUE
---------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>   
November 1, 1998                  $  644.60
May 1, 1999                       $  676.83
November 1, 1999                  $  710.68
May 1, 2000                       $  746.21
November 1, 2000                  $  783.52
May 1, 2001                       $  822.70
November 1, 2001                  $  863.83
May 1, 2002                       $  907.02
November 1, 2002                  $  952.38
May 1, 2003                       $1,000.00
</TABLE>

               (ii) if the Specified Date occurs before the first Semiannual
Accrual Date, the Accreted Value shall equal the sum of (a) $615.07 and (b) an
amount equal to the product of (1) the Accreted Value for the first Semiannual
Accrual Date less $615.07 multiplied by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of days from the Closing Date to the Specified Date, using a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and the denominator of which is the number
of days from the Closing Date to the first Semiannual Accrual Date, using a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

               (iii) if the Specified Date occurs between two Semiannual Accrual
Dates, the Accreted Value shall equal the sum of (a) the Accreted Value for the
Semiannual Accrual Date immediately preceding such Specified Date and (b) an
amount equal to the product of (1) the Accreted Value for the immediately
following Semiannual Accrual Date less the Accreted Value for the immediately
preceding Semiannual Accrual Date multiplied by (2) a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of days from the immediately preceding Semiannual Accrual
Date to the Specified Date, using a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and
the denominator of which is 180; or

               (iv) if the Specified Date occurs after the last Semiannual
Accrual Date, the Accreted Value shall equal $1,000.

        "Acquired Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of a Person existing at the
time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or assumed in connection with
an Asset Acquisition and not Incurred in connection with, or in anticipation of,
such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such Asset Acquisition.

        "Adjusted Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the aggregate
net income (or loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period
determined in conformity with GAAP; provided that the following items shall be
excluded in computing Adjusted Consolidated Net Income (without duplication):
(i) the net income (or loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary,
except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually
paid to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries by such Person during
such period; (ii) solely for the



                                      -2-
<PAGE>   8

purposes of calculating the amount of Restricted Payments that may be made
pursuant to clause (C) of the first paragraph of Section 4.04 (and, in such
case, except to the extent includable pursuant to clause (i) above), the net
income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries or all or substantially all of the property and assets
of such Person are acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; (iii) the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent
that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such
Restricted Subsidiary of such net income is not at the time permitted by the
operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment,
decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such
Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, for the purpose of determining whether a
Restricted Subsidiary may Incur Indebtedness under the first paragraph of
Section 4.03(a) only, the total net income of such Restricted Subsidiary shall
be included; (iv) any gains or losses (on an after-tax basis) attributable to
Asset Sales; (v) except for purposes of calculating the amount of Restricted
Payments that may be made pursuant to clause (C) of the first paragraph of
Section 4.04, any amount paid or accrued as dividends on Preferred Stock of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owned by Persons other than the Company and
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (vi) all extraordinary gains and
extraordinary losses; and (vii) any compensation expense paid or payable solely
with Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any
options, warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the Company.

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

        "Affiliate" means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly
or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common
control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by"
and "under common control with"), as applied to any Person, means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to



                                      -3-
<PAGE>   9
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

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

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

        "Applicable Premium" means, with respect to a Note at any Redemption
Date, the greater of (i) 1.0% of the Accreted Value of such Note on such
Redemption Date and (ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such Redemption
Date of the redemption price of such Note on May 1, 2003, computed using a
discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (B) the
Accreted Value of such Note on such Redemption Date. Calculation of the
Applicable Premium shall be made by the Company or on behalf of the Company by
such Person as the Company shall designate; provided that such calculation shall
not be a duty or obligation of the Trustee.

        "Asset Acquisition" means (i) an investment by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in any other Person or the acquisition of Capital Stock
of any other Person, in each case pursuant to which such Person shall become a
Restricted Subsidiary or shall be merged into or consolidated with the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Person's business or
the business or assets acquired are related, ancillary or complementary to the
businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of such
investment or (ii) an acquisition by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of the property and assets of any Person other than the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that constitute substantially all of a
division or line of business of such Person; provided that the property and
assets acquired are related, ancillary or complementary to the businesses of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of such acquisition.

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

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



                                      -4-
<PAGE>   10

property and assets of an operating unit or business of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) any other property and assets (other than
the Capital Stock or other Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary) of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries outside the ordinary course of
business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and, in each case, that is
not governed by the provisions of this Indenture applicable to mergers,
consolidations and sales of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company; provided that "Asset Sale" shall not include (a) sales or other
dispositions of inventory, receivables and other current assets, (b) sales,
transfers or other dispositions of assets constituting a Restricted Payment
permitted to be made under Section 4.04, (c) sales, transfers or other
dispositions of assets with a fair market value (as certified in an Officers'
Certificate) not in excess of $10.0 million in any transaction or series of
related transactions, (d) sales, transfers or other dispositions of obsolete or
damaged assets, (e) sales of Capital Stock of a New Business Subsidiary if the
proceeds therefrom are used in the business of such New Business Subsidiary or
(f) sales or other dispositions of assets for consideration at least equal to
the fair market value of the assets sold or disposed of, to the extent that the
consideration received consists of (x) property or assets (other than current
assets) of a nature or type or that are used in a business (or Capital Stock or
Indebtedness of a company having property or assets of a nature or type or used
in a business) similar or related to the nature or type of the property and
assets of, or business of, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries existing
on the date of such sale or other disposition or (y) Capital Stock or
Indebtedness of the Person to whom such assets are sold or disposed.

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

        "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company or any
committee of such Board of Directors duly authorized to act under this
Indenture.

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

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


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   11

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

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

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

        "Change of Control" means such time as (i) a "person" or "group" (within
the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d)(2) under the Exchange Act) becomes the
ultimate "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of
more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company on a
fully diluted basis and such ownership represents a greater percentage of the
total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, on a fully diluted basis,
than is beneficially owned by the Existing Stockholders on such date; or (ii)
individuals who on the Closing Date constitute the Board of Directors (together
with any new directors whose election by the Board of Directors or whose
nomination by the Board of Directors for election by the Company's stockholders
was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors then in office who either were members of the Board of Directors on
the Closing Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors then in office.

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

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

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


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   12

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

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

        "Consolidated EBITDA" means, for any period, Adjusted Consolidated Net
Income for such period plus, to the extent such amount was deducted in
calculating such Adjusted Consolidated Net Income, (i) Consolidated Interest
Expense, (ii) income taxes (other than income taxes (either positive or
negative) attributable to extraordinary and nonrecurring gains or losses or
sales of assets), (iii) depreciation expense, (iv) amortization expense and (v)
all other noncash items reducing Adjusted Consolidated Net Income (other than
items that will require cash payments and for which an accrual or reserve is, or
is required by GAAP to be, made), less all noncash items increasing Adjusted
Consolidated Net Income, all as determined on a consolidated basis for the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP; provided that,
if any Restricted Subsidiary is not a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary,
Consolidated EBITDA shall be reduced (to the extent not otherwise reduced in
accordance with GAAP) by an amount equal to (A) the amount of the Adjusted
Consolidated Net Income attributable to such Restricted Subsidiary multiplied by
(B) the percentage ownership interest in the income of such Restricted
Subsidiary not owned on the last day of such period by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.

        "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for any period, the aggregate
amount of interest in respect of Indebtedness (including, without limitation,
amortization of original issue discount on any Indebtedness and the interest
portion of any deferred payment obligation, calculated in accordance with the
effective interest method of accounting; all commissions, discounts and other
fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers' acceptance
financing; and the net costs associated with Interest Rate Agreements),
Indebtedness that is Guaranteed or secured by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries and all but the principal component of rentals in
respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, in each case paid, accrued or
scheduled to be paid or to be accrued by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries during such period; excluding, however, (i) any amount of such
interest of any



                                      -7-
<PAGE>   13

Restricted Subsidiary if the net income of such Restricted Subsidiary is
excluded in the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Income pursuant to
clause (iii) of the definition thereof (but only in the same proportion as the
net income of such Restricted Subsidiary is excluded from the calculation of
Adjusted Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition
thereof); and (ii) any premiums, fees and expenses (and any amortization
thereof) payable in connection with the offering of the Notes, all as determined
on a consolidated basis (without taking into account Unrestricted Subsidiaries)
in conformity with GAAP.

        "Consolidated Leverage Ratio" means, on any Transaction Date, the ratio
of (i) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis outstanding on such Transaction Date to
(ii) the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA for the then most recent four
fiscal quarters for which financial statements of the Company have been filed
with the SEC (such four-fiscal-quarter-period being the "Four-Quarter Period");
provided that, in making the foregoing calculation, (A) pro forma effect shall
be given to any Indebtedness that is to be Incurred or repaid on the Transaction
Date; (B) pro forma effect shall be given to Asset Dispositions and Asset
Acquisitions (including giving pro forma effect to the application of proceeds
of any Asset Disposition) that occur during the period beginning on the first
day of the Four-Quarter Period and ending on the Transaction Date (the
"Reference Period"), as if they had occurred and such proceeds had been applied
on the first day of such Reference Period; and (C) pro forma effect shall be
given to asset dispositions and asset acquisitions (including giving pro forma
effect to the application of proceeds of any asset disposition) that have been
made by any Person that has become a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged
with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary during such Reference
Period and that would have constituted Asset Dispositions or Asset Acquisitions
had such transactions occurred when such Person was a Restricted Subsidiary as
if such asset dispositions or asset acquisitions were Asset Dispositions or
Asset Acquisitions that occurred on the first day of such Reference Period;
provided that to the extent that clause (B) or (C) of this sentence requires
that pro forma effect be given to an Asset Acquisition or Asset Disposition,
such pro forma calculation shall be based upon the four full fiscal quarters
immediately preceding the Transaction Date and for which financial information
is available of the Person, or division or line of business of the Person, that
is acquired or disposed of.

        "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which the
corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which office is, at the date of this Indenture,
located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 21 West, New York, New York 10286,
Attention: Corporate Trust Trustee Administration.



                                      -8-
<PAGE>   14

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

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

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

        "Disqualified Stock" means any class or series of Capital Stock of any
Person that by its terms or otherwise is (i) required to be redeemed prior to
the Stated Maturity of the Notes, (ii) redeemable at the option of the holder of
such class or series of Capital Stock at any time prior to the Stated Maturity
of the Notes or (iii) convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock
referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above or Indebtedness having a scheduled
maturity prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes; provided that any Capital
Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof
giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to repurchase or redeem
such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an "asset sale" or "change of control"
occurring prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes shall not constitute
Disqualified Stock if the "asset sale" or "change of control" provisions
applicable to such Capital Stock are no more favorable to the holders of such
Capital Stock than the provisions contained in Sections 4.10 and 4.11 and such
Capital Stock, or the agreements or instruments governing the redemption rights
thereof, specifically provides that such Person will not repurchase or redeem
any such stock pursuant to such provision prior to the Company's repurchase of
such Notes as are required to be repurchased pursuant to Sections 4.10 and 4.11.

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

        "Excess Proceeds" has the meaning provided in Section 4.10.

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

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

        "Existing Stockholders" means Jeffrey P. Bezos, members of his immediate
family and their transferees by will or intestacy, trusts for the benefit of any
of them or any of their lineal descendants and any of their estates; L. John
Doerr; Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; and any Affiliate of any of the
foregoing.


                                      -9-
<PAGE>   15

        "Fair market value" means the price that would be paid in an
arm's-length transaction between an informed and willing seller under no
compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy,
as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall
be conclusive if evidenced by a Board Resolution; provided that, for purposes of
clause (vii) of the second paragraph of Section 4.03(a), (x) the fair market
value of any security registered under the Exchange Act shall be the average of
the closing prices, regular way, of such security for the 20 consecutive trading
days immediately preceding the sale of Capital Stock and (y) in the event the
aggregate fair market value of any other property (other than cash or cash
equivalents) received by the Company exceeds (i) $10.0 million, the fair market
value of such property shall be determined by the directors of the Company who
are not officers or employees of the Company, whose determination shall be
conclusive and evidenced by a Board Resolution and (ii) $100.0 million, the fair
market value of such property shall be determined by a nationally recognized
accounting or investment banking firm and set forth in their written opinion
which shall be delivered to the Trustee.

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

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

        "Guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person
directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or
indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of
such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by
agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services
(unless such purchase arrangements are on arm's-length terms and are entered
into in the ordinary course of business), to take-or-pay, or to



                                      -10-
<PAGE>   16

maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for
purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the
payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in
whole or in part); provided that the term "Guarantee" shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The
term "Guarantee" used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

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

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

        "Incur" means, with respect to any Indebtedness, to incur, create,
issue, assume, Guarantee or otherwise become liable for or with respect to, or
become responsible for, the payment of, contingently or otherwise, such
Indebtedness, including an "Incurrence" of Indebtedness by reason of a Person
becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that neither the accrual of interest
nor the accretion of original issue discount shall be considered an Incurrence
of Indebtedness.

        "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person at any date of
determination (without duplication), (i) all indebtedness of such Person for
borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such
Person in respect of letters of credit or other similar instruments (including
reimbursement obligations with respect thereto, but excluding obligations with
respect to letters of credit (including trade letters of credit) securing
obligations (other than obligations described in (i) or (ii) above or (v), (vi)
or (vii) below) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person
to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if drawn upon, to
the extent such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day
following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement), (iv) all
obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of
property or services, which purchase price is due more than six months after the
date of placing such property in service or taking delivery and title thereto or
the completion of such services, except Trade Payables, (v) all obligations of
such Person as lessee under Capitalized Leases, (vi) all Indebtedness of other
Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such
Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided that the amount of such
Indebtedness shall be the lesser of (A) the fair market value of such asset at
such date of determination and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness, (vii) all
Indebtedness of other Persons Guaranteed by such Person to the extent such
Indebtedness is Guaranteed by such Person and (viii) to the extent not otherwise
included in this definition, obligations under Currency Agreements and Interest
Rate Agreements. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be
the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as
described above and, with respect to



                                      -11-
<PAGE>   17
contingent obligations, the maximum liability upon the occurrence of the
contingency giving rise to the obligation, provided (A) that the amount
outstanding at any time of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount
is the face amount of such Indebtedness less the unamortized portion of the
original issue discount of such Indebtedness at such time as determined in
conformity with GAAP, (B) that money borrowed and set aside at the time of the
Incurrence of any Indebtedness in order to prefund the payment of the interest
on such Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be "Indebtedness" so long as such
money is held to secure the payment of such interest and (C) that Indebtedness
shall not include any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes.

        "Indenture" means this Indenture as originally executed or as it may be
amended or supplemented from time to time by one or more indentures supplemental
to this Indenture entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions of this
Indenture.

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

        "Interest Payment Date" means each semiannual interest payment date on
May 1 and November 1, of each year, commencing November 1, 2003.

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

        "Investment" in any Person means any direct or indirect advance, loan or
other extension of credit (including, without limitation, by way of Guarantee or
similar arrangement; but excluding advances to customers in the ordinary course
of business that are, in conformity with GAAP, recorded as accounts receivable
on the balance sheet of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries) or capital
contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or
any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any
purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other
similar instruments issued by, such Person and shall include (i) the designation
of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (ii) the fair
market value of the Capital Stock (or any other Investment), held by the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, of (or in) any Person that has ceased to
be a Restricted Subsidiary, including without limitation, by reason of any
transaction permitted by clause (iii) of Section 4.06. For purposes of the
definition of "Unrestricted Subsidiary" and Section 4.04, (i) "Investment" shall
include the fair market value of the assets (net of liabilities (other than
liabilities to the



                                      -12-
<PAGE>   18

Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries)) of any Restricted Subsidiary at
the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted
Subsidiary, (ii) the fair market value of the assets (net of liabilities (other
than liabilities to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries)) of any
Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time that such Unrestricted Subsidiary is
designated a Restricted Subsidiary shall be considered a reduction in
outstanding Investments and (iii) any property transferred to or from an
Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of
such transfer.

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

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

        "Net Cash Proceeds" means (a) with respect to any Asset Sale, the
proceeds of such Asset Sale in the form of cash or cash equivalents, including
payments in respect of deferred payment obligations (to the extent corresponding
to the principal, but not interest, component thereof) when received in the form
of cash or cash equivalents (except to the extent such obligations are financed
or sold with recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) and proceeds
from the conversion of other property received when converted to cash or cash
equivalents, net of (i) brokerage commissions and other fees and expenses
(including fees and expenses of counsel and investment bankers) related to such
Asset Sale, (ii) provisions for all taxes (whether or not such taxes will
actually be paid or are payable) as a result of such Asset Sale without regard
to the consolidated results of operations of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (iii) payments made to repay Indebtedness or any
other obligation outstanding at the time of such Asset Sale that either (A) is
secured by a Lien on the property or assets sold or (B) is required to be paid
as a result of such sale and (iv) appropriate amounts to be provided by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as a reserve against any liabilities
associated with such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, pension and
other post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental
matters and liabilities under any indemnification obligations associated with
such Asset Sale, all as determined in conformity with GAAP and (b) with respect
to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, the proceeds of such issuance or sale
in the form of cash or cash equivalents, including payments in respect of
deferred payment obligations (to the extent corresponding to the principal, but
not interest, component thereof) when received in the form of cash or cash
equivalents (except to the extent such obligations are financed or sold with
recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) and




                                      -13-
<PAGE>   19
proceeds from the conversion of other property received when converted to cash
or cash equivalents, net of attorney's fees, accountants' fees, underwriters' or
placement agents' fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and
other fees incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes
paid or payable as a result thereof.

        "New Business Subsidiary" means a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
whose primary business and operations do not include any of the U.S.-based book
sales and distribution business and operations conducted by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date.

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

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

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

        "Offer to Purchase" means an offer by the Company to purchase Notes from
the Holders commenced by mailing a notice to the Trustee and each Holder
stating: (i) the covenant pursuant to which the offer is being made and that all
Notes validly tendered will be accepted for payment on a pro rata basis; (ii)
the purchase price and the date of purchase (which shall be a Business Day no
earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed)
(the "Payment Date"); (iii) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue
interest (or accrete original issue discount) pursuant to its terms; (iv) that,
unless the Company defaults in the payment of the purchase price, any Note
accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer to Purchase shall cease to accrue
interest (or accrete original issue discount) on and after the Payment Date; (v)
that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to the Offer to Purchase
will be required to surrender the Note, together with the form entitled "Option
of the Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse side of the Note completed, to
the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of
business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Payment Date; (vi) that
Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent
receives, not later than the close of business on the third Business Day
immediately preceding the Payment Date, a telegram, facsimile transmission or
letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the


                                      -14-
<PAGE>   20
principal amount at maturity of Notes delivered for purchase and a statement
that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Notes purchased; and
(vii) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued
new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes
surrendered; provided that each Note purchased and each new Note issued shall be
in a principal amount at maturity of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. On
the Payment Date, the Company shall (i) accept for payment on a pro rata basis
Notes or portions thereof validly tendered pursuant to an Offer to Purchase;
(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of
all Notes or portions thereof so accepted; and (iii) deliver, or cause to be
delivered, to the Trustee all Notes or portions thereof so accepted together
with an Officers' Certificate specifying the Notes or portions thereof accepted
for payment by the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to the Holders
of Notes so accepted payment in an amount equal to the purchase price, and the
Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail to such Holders a new Note equal in
principal amount at maturity to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered;
provided that each Note purchased and each new Note issued shall be in a
principal amount at maturity of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The
Company shall publicly announce the results of an Offer to Purchase as soon as
practicable after the Payment Date. The Trustee shall act as the Paying Agent
for an Offer to Purchase. The Company shall comply with Rule 14e-1 under the
Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent such laws and regulations are applicable, in the event that the Company
is required to repurchase Notes pursuant to an Offer to Purchase.

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

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

        "Offshore Global Note" has the meaning provided in Section 2.01.

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

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


                                      -15-
<PAGE>   21

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

        "Permitted Investment" means (i) an Investment in the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary or a Person which will, upon the making of such
Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary or be merged or consolidated with or
into or transfer or convey all or substantially all its assets to, the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such person's primary business or the
assets to be transferred or conveyed are related, ancillary or complementary to
the businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of
such Investment; (ii) Temporary Cash Investments; (iii) payroll, travel,
relocation and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time
of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses in accordance with GAAP;
(iv) stock, obligations or securities received (x) in satisfaction of judgments
or (y) in connection with the sale or disposition of a Person, assets or
business; (v) Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for
collection and lease, utility and worker's compensation, performance and other
similar deposits; (vi) Interest Rate Agreements and Currency Agreements designed
solely to protect the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries against
fluctuations in interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates; (vii)
Strategic Investments; (viii) loans or advances to officers or employees of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than loans or advances made pursuant
to clause (ix) below) that do not in the aggregate exceed $10.0 million at any
time outstanding; and (ix) loans or advances to Persons who own Indebtedness or
Capital Stock (other than any Affiliate of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary) of any Person if such loans or advances are made as part of, or in
connection with, a transaction pursuant to which such Person becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary or
substantially all of the assets of such Person are acquired by the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate amount not to exceed 20% of the total
consideration paid in connection with such acquisition. Any such loans or
advances made within three months after completion of such transaction shall be
deemed to be part of or in connection with such transaction for purposes of this
definition.

        "Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens for taxes, assessments, governmental
charges or claims that are being contested in good faith by appropriate legal
proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted and for which a reserve
or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required in conformity with
GAAP shall have been made; (ii) statutory and common law Liens of landlords and
carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen or other
similar Liens



                                      -16-
<PAGE>   22

arising in the ordinary course of business and with respect to amounts not yet
delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate legal proceedings
promptly instituted and diligently conducted and for which a reserve or other
appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP
shall have been made; (iii) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary
course of business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment
insurance and other types of social security; (iv) Liens incurred or deposits
made to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, statutory or regulatory
obligations, bankers' acceptances, surety and appeal bonds, government
contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other obligations of a
similar nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (exclusive of
obligations for the payment of borrowed money); (v) easements, rights-of-way,
municipal and zoning ordinances and similar charges, encumbrances, title defects
or other irregularities that do not materially interfere with the ordinary
course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (vi)
Liens (including extensions and renewals thereof) upon real or personal property
acquired after the Closing Date; provided that (a) such Lien is created solely
for the purpose of securing Indebtedness Incurred, in accordance with Section
4.03, (1) to finance the cost (including the cost of design, development,
acquisition, construction, installation, improvement, transportation or
integration) of the item of property or assets subject thereto and such Lien is
created prior to, at the time of or within six months after the later of the
acquisition, the completion of construction or the commencement of full
operation of such property or (2) to refinance any Indebtedness previously so
secured, (b) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien does
not exceed 100% of such cost and (c) any such Lien shall not extend to or cover
any property or assets other than such item of property or assets and any
improvements on such item; (vii) leases or subleases granted to others that do
not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (viii) Liens encumbering property
or assets under construction arising from progress or partial payments by a
customer of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries relating to such property
or assets; (ix) any interest or title of a lessor in the property subject to any
Capitalized Lease or operating lease; (x) Liens arising from filing Uniform
Commercial Code financing statements regarding leases; (xi) Liens on property
of, or on shares of Capital Stock or Indebtedness of, any Person existing at the
time such Person becomes, or becomes a part of, any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided that such Liens do not extend to or cover any property or assets of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the property or assets acquired;
(xii) Liens in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; (xiii) Liens
arising from the rendering of a final judgment or order against the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary that does not give rise to an Event of Default; (xiv)
Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit that
encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and the
products and



                                      -17-
<PAGE>   23

proceeds thereof; (xv) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising
as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the
importation of goods; (xvi) Liens encumbering customary initial deposits and
margin deposits, and other Liens that are within the general parameters
customary in the industry and incurred in the ordinary course of business, in
each case, securing Indebtedness under Interest Rate Agreements and Currency
Agreements and forward contracts, options, future contracts, futures options or
similar agreements or arrangements designed solely to protect the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries from fluctuations in interest rates, currencies
or the price of commodities; (xvii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title
retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered
into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
of business in accordance with the past practices of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date; (xviii) Liens on or sales of
receivables; (xix) Liens that secure Indebtedness Incurred under clause (ix) or
(x) of the second paragraph of Section 4.03(a); and (xx) Liens that secure
Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $100.0 million
at any time outstanding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



                                      -18-
<PAGE>   24
        "Registrar" has the meaning provided in Section 2.04.

        "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights Agreement,
dated May 8, 1998, between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and
certain permitted assigns specified therein.

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

        "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date means the April 15 or October 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the
case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.

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

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

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

        "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.

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

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

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

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



                                      -19-
<PAGE>   25

        "S&P" means Standard & Poor's, Division of the McGraw Hill Companies,
and its successors.

        "Specified Date" means any Redemption Date, any Payment Date for an
Offer to Purchase or any date on which the Notes first become due and payable
after an Event of Default.

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

        "Strategic Investment" means an Investment in any Person (other than an
Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company) whose primary business is related,
ancillary or complementary to, and such Investment is determined in good faith
by the Board of Directors (or senior officers of the Company to whom the Board
of Directors has duly delegated the authority to make such a determination),
whose determination shall be conclusive and evidenced by a Board Resolution, to
promote or significantly benefit the businesses of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of such Investment.

        "Strategic Subordinated Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company
Incurred to finance an Asset Acquisition which Indebtedness by its terms, or by
the terms of any agreement or instrument pursuant to which such Indebtedness is
Incurred, (i) is expressly made subordinate in right of payment to the Notes and
(ii) provides that no payment of principal or premium, or interest on or any
other payment with respect to, such Indebtedness may be made prior to the
payment in full of all of the Company's obligations under the Notes; provided
that such Indebtedness may provide for and be repaid at any time from the
proceeds of a capital contribution or the sale of Capital Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the Company after the Incurrence of such Indebtedness.

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

        "Temporary Cash Investment" means any of the following: (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America or any agency thereof or obligations
fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or any
agency thereof, (ii) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money
market deposits



                                      -20-
<PAGE>   26

maturing within one year of the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank or
trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States of America,
any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of
America, and which bank or trust company has capital, surplus and undivided
profits aggregating in excess of $50.0 million (or the foreign currency
equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt which is rated "A" (or such similar
equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical
rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act) or any
money-market fund sponsored by a registered broker dealer or mutual fund
distributor, (iii) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days
for underlying securities of the types described in clause (i) above entered
into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (ii) above, (iv)
commercial paper, maturing not more than two years after the date of
acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company)
organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America, any
state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America
with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of "P-1"
(or higher) according to Moody's or "A-1" (or higher) according to S&P, (v)
securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition
issued or fully and unconditionally guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or
territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or
taxing authority thereof, and rated at least "A" by S&P or Moody's, (vi) with
respect to security or collateral required to be provided by the Company under
the terms of any lease or in connection with any capital expenditure,
Indebtedness issued by any corporation (other than the Company or an Affiliate
of the Company) incorporated and in existence in any state of the United States
or the District of Columbia and having a rating, at the time as of which such
Investment is made, of "AA" (or higher) according to S&P or "Aa1" (or higher)
according to Moody's and (vii) funds that do not utilize Indebtedness in order
to make investments and that invest solely in any of the Investments described
in clauses (i) through (vi) above.

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

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

        "Transaction Date" means, with respect to the Incurrence of any
Indebtedness by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the date such
Indebtedness is to



                                      -21-
<PAGE>   27

be Incurred and, with respect to any Restricted Payment, the date such
Restricted Payment is to be made.

        "Treasury Rate" means the yield to maturity at the time of computation
of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and
published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) that
has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the Redemption
Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly
available source or similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from
the Redemption Date to May 1, 2003; provided, however, that if the period from
the Redemption Date to May 1, 2003 is not equal to the constant maturity of the
United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the
Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the
nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States
securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the
Redemption Date to May 1, 2003 is less than one year, the weekly average yield
on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant
maturity of one year shall be used.

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

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

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

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




                                      -22-
<PAGE>   28

respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on
or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository
receipt.

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

        "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (i) any Subsidiary of the Company that
at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by
the Board of Directors in the manner provided below and (ii) any Subsidiary of
an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted
Subsidiary (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the
Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary owns any
Capital Stock of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (A) any Guarantee by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness of the Subsidiary being so designated
shall be deemed an "Incurrence" of such Indebtedness and an "Investment" by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (or both, if applicable) at the time of
such designation; (B) either (i) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total
assets of $1,000 or less or (ii) if such Subsidiary has assets greater than
$1,000, such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04 and (C) if
applicable, the Incurrence of Indebtedness and the Investment referred to in
clause (A) of this proviso would be permitted under Sections 4.03 and 4.04. The
Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted
Subsidiary; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing at the time of or after giving effect to such designation and
(ii) all Liens and Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary outstanding
immediately after such designation would, if Incurred at such time, have been
permitted to be Incurred (and shall be deemed to have been Incurred) for all
purposes of this Indenture. Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall
be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the
Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers' Certificate
certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

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

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


                                      -23-
<PAGE>   29

SECTION 1.02.  INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT

        Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision
is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following
TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

               "indenture securities" means the Notes;

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

               "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;

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

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

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

SECTION 1.03.  RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

        Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

               (iii)  "or" is not exclusive;

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

               (v)    provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

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


                                      -24-
<PAGE>   30

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

                              ARTICLE 2 - THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01.  FORM AND DATING

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

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

        Notes offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued
initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully
registered form without interest coupons, substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit A (collectively, the "U.S. Global Notes"), deposited with the Trustee,
as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated
by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount at
maturity of the U.S. Global Notes may from time to time be increased or
decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for
the Depositary or its nominee, in accordance with the instructions given by the
Holder thereof as hereinafter provided.

        Notes offered and sold in offshore transactions in reliance on
Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent
global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons,
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A (the "Offshore Global Notes")
deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by
the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The
aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Offshore Global Notes may from
time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the
Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee, as hereinafter
provided.

        Notes offered and sold in reliance to Institutional Accredited Investors
under the Securities Act shall be issued in the form of permanent certificated
Notes in



                                      -25-
<PAGE>   31

registered form without interest coupons in substantially the form set forth in
Exhibit A (the "U.S. Physical Notes"). Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.07 in
exchange for interests in the Offshore Global Note shall be in the form of
permanent certificated Notes in registered form substantially in the form set
forth in Exhibit A (the "Offshore Physical Notes").

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

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

SECTION 2.02.  RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS

        Except as set forth in Section 2.08(e), unless and until a Note is
exchanged for an Exchange Note or sold in connection with an effective
Registration Statement pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, (i) each
U.S. Global Note and each U.S. Physical Note shall bear the legend, set forth
below on the face thereof and (ii) each Offshore Physical Note and each Offshore
Global Note shall bear the legend set forth below on the face thereof until at
least the 41st day after the Closing Date and receipt by the Company and the
Trustee of a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto:

        THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD
WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS
EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE
HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTOR WHICH IS AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1),
(2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN "INSTITUTIONAL
ACCREDITED INVESTOR") OR (C) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE
IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO



                                      -26-
<PAGE>   32

UNDER RULE 144(k) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF THE
TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE
COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN
COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES
TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES
TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS
RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER
CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE), AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN
AGGREGATE ACCRETED VALUE AT THE TIME OF TRANSFER OF NOTES OF LESS THAN $100,000,
AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT
TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
(IF AVAILABLE) OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS
NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO
ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF
RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE
TRUSTEE. IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE
HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY SUCH
CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY
REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN
EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION," "UNITED STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM
BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION
REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN
VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

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



                                      -27-
<PAGE>   33

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

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

SECTION 2.03.  EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION AND DENOMINATIONS

        Subject to Article Four, the aggregate principal amount at maturity of
Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is
unlimited. The Notes shall be executed by two Officers of the Company. The
signature of any of these Officers on the Notes may be by facsimile or manual
signature in the name and on behalf of the Company.

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

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

        At any time and from time to time after the execution of this Indenture,
the Trustee or an authenticating agent shall upon receipt of a Company Order
authenticate for original issue Notes in the aggregate principal amount
specified in such Company



                                      -28-
<PAGE>   34

Order; provided that the Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of the Company in connection with such
authentication of Notes. Such Company Order shall specify the amount of Notes to
be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be
authenticated, and, in case of an issuance of Notes pursuant to Section 2.15,
shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Article Four.

        The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent to authenticate Notes.
An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so.
Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes
authentication by such authenticating agent. An authenticating agent has the
same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

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

SECTION 2.04.  REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT

        The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be
presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the "Registrar"), an
office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (the "Paying Agent")
and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in
respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served, which shall be in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. The Company shall cause the
Registrar to keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange
(the "Note Register"). The Company may have one or more co-Registrars and one or
more additional Paying Agents.

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



                                      -29-
<PAGE>   35
Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar, and/or agent for service of notice and
demands.

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

SECTION 2.05.  PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST

        Not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each due date of the
principal, premium, if any, and interest on any Notes, the Company shall deposit
with the Paying Agent money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay
such principal, premium, if any, and interest so becoming due. The Company shall
require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that such
Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee
all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on the Notes (whether such money has been paid to it by the
Company or any other obligor on the Notes), and such Paying Agent shall promptly
notify the Trustee of any default by the Company (or any other obligor on the
Notes) in making any such payment. The Company at any time may require a Paying
Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and account for any funds
disbursed, and the Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any payment
default, upon written request to a Paying Agent, require such Paying Agent to
pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed.
Upon doing so, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money so
paid over to the Trustee. If the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any
Affiliate of any of them acts as Paying Agent, it shall, on or before each due
date of any principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, segregate
and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders a sum of money
sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due
until such sum of money shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of
as provided in this Indenture, and shall promptly notify the Trustee of its
action or failure to act.

SECTION 2.06.  TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE

        The Notes are issuable only in registered form. A Holder may transfer a
Note only by written application to the Registrar stating the name of the
proposed



                                      -30-
<PAGE>   36

transferee and otherwise complying with the terms of this Indenture. No such
transfer shall be effected until, and such transferee shall succeed to the
rights of a Holder only upon, final acceptance and registration of the transfer
by the Registrar in the Note Register. Prior to the registration of any transfer
by a Holder as provided herein, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the
Company shall treat the person in whose name the Note is registered as the owner
thereof for all purposes whether or not the Note shall be overdue, and neither
the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary. Furthermore, any Holder of a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such
Global Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note
may be effected only through a book entry system maintained by the Holder of
such Global Note (or its agent) and that ownership of a beneficial interest in
the Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry. When Notes are
presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register the
transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other
authorized denominations (including an exchange of Notes for Exchange Notes),
the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if
its requirements for such transactions are met; provided that no exchanges of
Notes for Exchange Notes shall occur until a Registration Statement shall have
been declared effective by the Commission and that any Notes that are exchanged
for Exchange Notes shall be canceled by the Trustee. To permit registrations of
transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate Notes at the Registrar's request. No service charge shall be made
for any registration of transfer or exchange or redemption of the Notes, but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or
similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such
transfer taxes or other similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges
pursuant to Section 2.11, 3.08 or 9.04).

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

SECTION 2.07.  BOOK-ENTRY PROVISIONS FOR GLOBAL NOTES

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


                                      -31-
<PAGE>   37

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

               (b) Transfers of a Global Note shall be limited to transfers of
such Global Note in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or
their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in a Global Note may
be transferred in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary and
the provisions of Section 2.08. In addition, U.S. Physical Notes and Offshore
Physical Notes shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for
their beneficial interests in the U.S. Global Note or the Offshore Global Note,
respectively, if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or
unable to continue as Depositary for the U.S. Global Note or the Offshore Global
Note, as the case may be, and a successor depositary is not appointed by the
Company within 90 days of such notice, (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing and the Registrar has received a request therefor from the
Depositary or (iii) in accordance with the rules and procedures of the
Depositary and the provisions of Section 2.08.

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

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


                                      -32-
<PAGE>   38

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

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

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

               (h) The registered holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and
otherwise authorize any person, including Agent Members and persons that may
hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is
entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

SECTION 2.08.  SPECIAL TRANSFER PROVISIONS

        Unless and until a Note is exchanged for an Exchange Note or sold in
connection with an effective Registration Statement pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement, the following provisions shall apply:

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

                      (i)    The Registrar shall register the transfer of any
Note, whether or not such Note bears the Private Placement Legend, if (x) the
requested transfer is after the time period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act or (y) the proposed transferee has delivered to the Registrar (A)
a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto and (B) if the
aggregate Accreted Value of the Notes



                                      -33-
<PAGE>   39

at the time of transfer is less than $100,000, an opinion of counsel acceptable
to the Company that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.

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

               (b) Transfers to QIBs. The following provisions shall apply with
respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a U.S. Physical Note, an
interest in the U.S. Global Note or an interest in an Offshore Global Note prior
to the removal of the Private Placement Legend to a QIB (excluding Non-U.S.
Persons):

                      (i) If the Note to be transferred consists of (x) either
(A) an interest in an Offshore Global Note prior to the removal of the Private
Placement Legend or (B) U.S. Physical Notes, the Registrar shall register the
transfer if such transfer is being made by a proposed transferor who has checked
the box provided for on the form of Note stating, or has otherwise advised the
Company and the Registrar in writing, that the sale has been made in compliance
with the provisions of Rule 144A to a transferee who has signed the
certification provided for on the form of Note stating, or has otherwise advised
the Company and the Registrar in writing, that it is purchasing the Note for its
own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment
discretion and that it and any such account is a QIB within the meaning of Rule
144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A
and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as
it has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such
information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its
foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration
provided by Rule 144A or (y) an interest in the U.S. Global Note, the transfer
of such interest may be effected only through the book entry system maintained
by the Depositary.

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




                                      -34-
<PAGE>   40
Physical Notes, to be transferred, and the Trustee shall cancel the U.S.
Physical Note so transferred.

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

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

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

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

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

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

               (e) Private Placement Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or
replacement of Notes not bearing the Private Placement Legend, the Registrar
shall deliver Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend. Upon the
transfer,



                                      -35-
<PAGE>   41
exchange or replacement of Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend,
the Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear the Private Placement Legend
unless either (i) the circumstances contemplated by paragraphs (a)(i)(x) or
(c)(ii) of this Section 2.08 exist or (ii) there is delivered to the Registrar
an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee to
the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are
required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities
Act.

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

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

SECTION 2.09.  REPLACEMENT NOTES

        If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or if the Holder
claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company
shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note of like tenor
and amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding; provided that
the requirements of this Section 2.09 are met. An indemnity bond must be
furnished that is sufficient in the judgment of both the Trustee and the Company
to protect the Company, the Trustee or any Agent from any loss that any of them
may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge such Holder for its
expenses and the expenses of the Trustee in replacing a Note. In case any such
mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to
become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may pay such Note instead
of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof.



                                      -36-
<PAGE>   42

        Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and
shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.10.  OUTSTANDING NOTES

        Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes that have been authenticated
by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for
cancellation and those described in this Section 2.10 as not outstanding.

        If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.09, it ceases to be
outstanding unless and until the Trustee and the Company receive proof
satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

        If the Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company) holds on the maturity date money sufficient to pay Notes payable on
that date, then on and after that date such Notes cease to be outstanding and
interest on them shall cease to accrue.

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

SECTION 2.11.  TEMPORARY NOTES

        Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare
and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be
substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have insertions,
substitutions, omissions and other variations determined to be appropriate by
the Officers executing the temporary Notes, as evidenced by their execution of
such temporary Notes. If temporary Notes are issued, the Company shall cause
definitive Notes to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the
preparation of definitive Notes, the temporary Notes




                                      -37-
<PAGE>   43
shall be exchangeable for definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes
at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose pursuant to
Section 4.02, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of
any one or more temporary Notes the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of
definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged, the temporary
Notes shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive
Notes.

SECTION 2.12.  CANCELLATION

        The Company at any time may deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any
Notes previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may
have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee for
cancellation any Notes previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has
not issued and sold. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the
Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for transfer, exchange or payment. The
Trustee shall cancel all Notes surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment or
cancellation and shall return such Notes to the Company.

SECTION 2.13.  CUSIP NUMBERS

        The Company in issuing the Notes may use "CUSIP," "CINS" or "ISIN"
numbers (if then generally in use), and the Trustee shall use CUSIP, CINS or
ISIN numbers, as the case may be, in notices of redemption or exchange as a
convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice shall state that no
representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed
on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption or exchange and that
reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the
Notes. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in any of
such numbers.

SECTION 2.14.  DEFAULTED INTEREST

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



                                      -38-
<PAGE>   44
SECTION 2.15.  ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL NOTES

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

                             ARTICLE 3 - REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01.  RIGHT OF REDEMPTION

        (a) The Notes shall be redeemed, at the Company's option, in whole or in
part, at any time or from time to time, on or after May 1, 2003 and prior to
maturity, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior notice mailed by
first class mail to each Holder's last address as it appears in the Note
Register, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed in percentages of
principal amount at maturity), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the
Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant
Regular Record Date that is prior to the Redemption Date to receive interest due
on an Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing
May 1, of the years set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        REDEMPTION
                           YEAR                PRICE
                        -----------            ------
<S>                                             <C>    
                  2003                          105.000%
                  2004                          103.333%
                  2005                          101.667%
                  2006 and thereafter           101.000%
</TABLE>

        (b) In addition, at any time prior to May 1, 2001, the Company may
redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Notes with
the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more sales of Capital Stock of the Company
(other than Disqualified Stock), at any time as a whole or from time to time in
part, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of Accreted Value on the
Redemption Date) of 110%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the
Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant
Regular Record Date that is prior to the Redemption Date to receive interest due
on an Interest Payment Date); provided that at least 65% of the aggregate
principal amount at maturity of Notes originally issued remains outstanding
after each such redemption and notice of such redemption is mailed to Holders of
the Notes within 60 days after the related sale of Capital Stock.



                                      -39-
<PAGE>   45

        (c) At any time prior to May 1, 2003, the Company may redeem all, but
not less than all, of the Notes at a Redemption Price equal to the sum of (i)
the Accreted Value on the Redemption Date, plus (ii) accrued and unpaid
interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of
record on the relevant Regular Record Date that is prior to the Redemption Date
to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date), plus (iii) the Applicable
Premium.

SECTION 3.02.  NOTICES TO TRUSTEE

        If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.01(a),
3.01(b) or 3.01(c), it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the Redemption
Date and the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed.

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

SECTION 3.03.  SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED

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

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

SECTION 3.04.  NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

        With respect to any redemption of Notes pursuant to Section 3.01(a),
3.01(b) or 3.01(c), at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a
Redemption Date, the



                                      -40-
<PAGE>   46
Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first class mail to each Holder
whose Notes are to be redeemed.

        The notice shall fully identify the Notes (including CUSIP, CINS or ISIN
number(s)) to be redeemed and shall state:

               (i)    the Redemption Date;

               (ii)   the Redemption Price;

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

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

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

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

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

        At the Company's request (which request may be revoked by the Company at
any time prior to the time at which the Trustee shall have given such notice to
the Holders), made in writing to the Trustee at least 30 days (or such shorter
period as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) before a Redemption Date, the
Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the name and at the expense of
the Company. If, however, the Company gives such notice to the Holders, the
Company shall concurrently deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating that such notice has been given.


                                      -41-
<PAGE>   47
SECTION 3.05.  EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

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

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

SECTION 3.06.  DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE

        On or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date,
the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as
its own Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section
2.05) money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of and accrued interest on
all Notes to be redeemed on that date other than Notes or portions thereof
called for redemption on that date that have been delivered by the Company to
the Trustee for cancellation.

SECTION 3.07.  PAYMENT OF NOTES CALLED FOR REDEMPTION

        If notice of redemption has been given in the manner provided above, the
Notes or portion of Notes specified in such notice to be redeemed shall become
due and payable on the Redemption Date at the Redemption Price stated therein,
together with accrued interest to such Redemption Date, and on and after such
date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Notes at the
Redemption Price and accrued interest to the Redemption Date, in which case the
principal, until paid, shall bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate
prescribed in the Notes), such Notes shall cease to accrue interest. Upon