UNION ELECTRIC CO
S-3/A, 1996-11-22
ELECTRIC SERVICES
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   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 22, 1996.

                                                      Registration No. 33-66116
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                                 POST-EFFECTIVE
                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            State of Missouri                           43-0559760
     (State or other jurisdiction of      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
      incorporation or organization)


                 1901 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103
                                 (314) 621-3222
          (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
             area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                                DONALD E. BRANDT,
                              Senior Vice President
                         Finance and Corporate Services

                          JAMES C. THOMPSON, Secretary
                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
                 1901 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103
                                  314-621-3222
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agents for service)

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

Approximate  date of commencement  of proposed sale to the public:  From time to
time after the  effective  date of the  registration  statement as determined by
market conditions and other factors.

         If the only securities  being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. |_|

         If any of the  securities  being  registered  on  this  Form  are to be
offered  on a  delayed  or  continuous  basis  pursuant  to Rule 415  under  the
Securities Act of 1933,  other than  securities  offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. |X|

         If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number  of the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. |_|

         If this  Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed  pursuant  to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act  registration   statement  number  of  the  earlier  effective  registration
statement for the same offering. |_|

         If delivery of the  prospectus  is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. |_|


<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             ---------------
                                                   CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                Proposed maximum        Proposed maximum
         Title of each class                 Amount to           offering price             aggregate                 Amount of
    of securities to be registered         be registered           per unit<F1>          offering price<F1>       registration fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Mortgage Bonds and Debt
<S>                                        <C>                        <C>                 <C>                      <C>
Securities............................     $310,000,000               100%                $310,000,000             $96,875 <F2>
====================================================================================================================================
<FN>
<F1>     Estimated solely for purpose of calculating the registration fee.
<F2>     This  filing  fee was paid at the time of the  initial  filing  of this
         registration statement and no further fee is required.
</FN>
</TABLE>

         Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  the
prospectus  filed  as  part  of this  registration  statement  will be used as a
combined   prospectus  in  connection  with  this  registration   statement  and
registration  statement Nos. 33-45008 and 33-52914.  Prior to the filing of this
post-effective  amendment to the registration statement,  $225,000,000 aggregate
principal  amount of  securities  remained  registered  and  unsold  under  this
registration statement and registration statement Nos. 33-45008 and 33-52914.

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



<PAGE>



Information   contained  herein  is  subject  to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement  relating  to these  securities  has been filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  These  securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration  statement  becomes
effective.  This  prospectus  shall  not  constitute  an  offer  to  sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these  securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation  or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.

                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 22, 1996

PROSPECTUS
- ----------



                                  $225,000,000

                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY

                              First Mortgage Bonds
                                 Debt Securities


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


         Union Electric  Company (the  "Company")  intends to offer from time to
time, in one or more transactions, up to $225,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of First  Mortgage Bonds (the "New Bonds") and other debt  securities  (the "New
Debt  Securities",  and together with the New Bonds,  the  "Securities")  or any
combination  thereof,  in one or  more  series  at  prices  and on  terms  to be
determined at the time or times of sale. The aggregate principal amount, rate of
interest  (which may be fixed or  variable)  or method of  calculation  thereof,
interest payment dates,  maturity,  initial public offering price,  provision of
security,   any  terms  for  redemption,   any  sinking  fund  provisions,   any
subordination  or  interest  deferral  provisions  (in the  case of the New Debt
Securities only), the names of any underwriters or agents, the principal amounts
to be purchased by underwriters, the compensation of such underwriters or agents
and other  specific  terms of each series of Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus  is  being  delivered  (the  "Offered  Bonds"  or the  "Offered  Debt
Securities", as the case may be, and together, the "Offered Securities") will be
set forth, to the extent applicable,  in an accompanying  prospectus  supplement
(the  "Prospectus  Supplement").  If applicable to the Offered  Securities,  the
Prospectus  Supplement will also contain  information  concerning certain United
States federal income tax considerations.


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


    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
          PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
              REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


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


         The  Company  intends  to sell  the  Securities  through  underwriters,
dealers, agents or directly to a limited number of purchasers. The names of, and
the principal  amounts to be purchased by or through,  underwriters,  dealers or
agents,  if any, the  compensation  of such persons and other  special  terms in
connection  with the offering and sale of such  Offered  Securities  will be set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement. See "Plan of Distribution" herein.


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



              The date of this Prospectus is _____________ __, 1996



<PAGE>



                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION


         The  Company  is  subject  to  the  informational  requirements  of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and in accordance therewith
files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange  Commission
(the "Commission").  Information as of particular dates concerning directors and
officers, their remuneration, the principal holders of securities of the Company
and any material  interest of such persons in  transactions  with the Company is
disclosed in reports of the Company filed with the Commission.  Such reports and
other  information  can be inspected and copied at the offices of the Commission
at Room 1024,  Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.; 500
West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,  Illinois;  or in the Public Reference
Room,  13th Floor,  7 World Trade  Center,  New York,  New York.  Copies of such
material  can also be obtained  at  prescribed  rates from the Public  Reference
Section of the  Commission  at its principal  office at 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C.  20549.  Such material can also be inspected and copied at the
office of the New York Stock Exchange,  20 Broad Street, New York, New York. The
Commission  maintains a Web site that contains  reports,  proxy and  information
statements  and  other  information  regarding  reporting  companies  under  the
Exchange Act, including the Company, at http://www.sec.gov.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The  following  documents,  heretofore  filed by the  Company  with the
Commission  pursuant to the Exchange  Act (File No.  1-2967),  are  incorporated
herein by reference:

                  (1) The  Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the year
         ended December 31, 1995 (the "Form 10-K Annual Report"); and

                  (2) The  Company's  Quarterly  Reports  on Form  10-Q  for the
         quarters  ended March 31, 1996,  June 30, 1996 and  September  30, 1996
         (the "Form 10-Q Reports").

         All  documents  filed by the Company  with the  Commission  pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of
this  Prospectus  and  prior to the  termination  of the  offering  made by this
Prospectus  shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by  reference  and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided that all documents so
filed in each year  during  which the  offering  made by this  Prospectus  is in
effect  shall not be  incorporated  herein by reference or be a part hereof from
and after the date of filing  of the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for
such year.

         Any statement contained in a document  incorporated herein by reference
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that
a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that is
also incorporated by reference  modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such
statement so modified or superseded  shall not be deemed,  except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

         The Company hereby  undertakes to provide without charge to each person
to whom this Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of any such
person, a copy of any or all of the documents  incorporated herein by reference,
other than certain  exhibits to such documents.  Requests for such copies should
be directed to Mr. James C. Thompson,  Secretary,  Union Electric Company,  P.O.
Box 149, St. Louis, Missouri 63166, or telephone (314) 621-3222. The information
relating  to the Company  contained  in this  Prospectus  does not purport to be
comprehensive and should be read together with the information  contained in the
documents incorporated by reference.

         Neither the  delivery of this  Prospectus  nor any sale made  hereunder
shall,  under any  circumstances,  create an implication  that there has been no
change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof.


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



                                   THE COMPANY


         The Company, incorporated in Missouri in 1922, is successor to a number
of  companies,  the oldest of which was  organized  in 1881.  It is the  largest
electric  utility in the State of  Missouri  and  supplies  electric  service in
territories in Missouri and Illinois having an estimated population of 2,600,000
within an area of approximately  24,500 square miles,  including the greater St.
Louis Area. Retail gas service is supplied in 90 Missouri communities and in the
City of Alton, Illinois and vicinity.  The Company's principal office is at 1901
Chouteau  Avenue,  St. Louis,  Missouri 63103 and its telephone  number is (314)
621-3222.

         On August 11, 1995,  the Company  entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with CIPSCO  Incorporated  ("CIPSCO") and Ameren
Corporation ("Ameren"),  a newly formed entity, 50% owned by the Company and 50%
owned by CIPSCO,  pursuant to which,  among other things, the Company and CIPSCO
will be merged with Ameren (the "Merger"). Subsequent to the Merger, the Company
and  Central  Illinois  Public  Service  Company and CIPSCO  Investment  Company
(wholly  owned   subsidiaries   of  CIPSCO),   will  continue  as  wholly  owned
subsidiaries  of Ameren.  The  holders of the common  stock of the  Company  and
CIPSCO will receive shares of Ameren in the Merger. The Merger is expected to be
tax-free for income tax purposes and will be accounted for under the "pooling of
interests" method of accounting.

         After the  Merger,  Ameren  will  become a  registered  public  utility
holding  company  under the  Public  Utility  Holding  Company  Act of 1935,  as
amended.  In December 1995, the Merger was approved by the  shareholders  of the
Company and CIPSCO.  However,  the Merger is still conditioned upon, among other
things, receipt of certain regulatory and governmental approvals.

         Consummation  of the Merger  will not affect the  Company's  obligation
with respect to the Securities or its other indebtedness.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         As more specifically set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
the  Company  proposes  to apply  the  proceeds  from  the  sale of the  Offered
Securities to redeem,  discharge or refund existing  long-term debt or preferred
stock or to reimburse  the  Company's  treasury for  expenditures  made for such
purposes, or to repay all or a portion of short-term borrowings outstanding.


                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

                                                 Twelve Months Ended
              1991   1992   1993   1994   1995   September 30, 1996
              ----   ----   ----   ----   ----   ------------------
              4.21   4.66   4.66   4.68   4.78           4.85

         For the purpose of  computing  the ratio of earnings to fixed  charges,
earnings  consist of net income  plus taxes  based on income and fixed  charges.
Fixed  charges  consist of  interest  on debt,  amortization  of debt  discount,
premium and expense, and a portion of rentals which is deemed  representative of
the interest factor.


                            DESCRIPTION OF NEW BONDS

         General. The New Bonds are to be issued under the Indenture of Mortgage
and Deed of Trust dated June 15, 1937  between the Company and  Boatmen's  Trust
Company,  as trustee (the "Mortgage  Trustee"),  as amended and  supplemented by
supplemental indentures,  including one or more supplemental indentures relating
to the Offered Bonds (collectively, the "Mortgage").



                                       -3-

<PAGE>



         The  following  statements  about the  Mortgage,  the New Bonds and the
mortgage  indentures of two of the Company's  former  utility  subsidiaries  are
summary outlines of provisions  contained therein, do not purport to be complete
and  are  qualified  in  their  entirety  by  reference  thereto.  The  specific
references below are to provisions of the Mortgage unless  otherwise  indicated.
Certain terms used below  without  definition  are defined in the Mortgage.  The
term  "Bonds"  refers to all Bonds  (including  the New Bonds)  issued under the
Mortgage.  Copies of the Mortgage (other than  supplemental  indentures  thereto
that only convey  property)  and the mortgage  indentures  and  supplements  and
amendments thereto of two of the Company's former utility subsidiaries are filed
as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.

         Reference is made to the applicable  Prospectus Supplement for a series
of the New Bonds for a description of the following  terms of such series of New
Bonds in respect  of which this  Prospectus  is being  delivered:  (i) the title
(series  designation)  of such New  Bonds;  (ii) the date or dates on which  the
principal  of such New Bonds is  payable;  (iii) the rate or rates at which such
New Bonds will bear  interest;  the date or dates from which such  interest will
accrue;  the dates on which such interest will be payable and the regular record
dates for the interest payable on such interest payment dates; (iv) the bases on
which the New Bonds will be issued;  (v) the  option,  if any, of the Company to
redeem such New Bonds and the periods  within  which or the dates on which,  the
prices at which and the terms and conditions  upon which,  such New Bonds may be
redeemed; (vi) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase such
New Bonds  pursuant to any  sinking  fund or at the option of the holder and the
terms and conditions upon which such New Bonds will be redeemed pursuant to such
obligation;  and (vii) any other terms of such New Bonds not  inconsistent  with
the provisions of the Mortgage.

         The New Bonds are to be issued as registered  Bonds without  coupons in
denominations of $1,000 or multiples thereof. The New Bonds may be exchanged for
other New Bonds of different  authorized  denominations  and may be  transferred
without  charge to the holders  thereof other than for  applicable  governmental
taxes.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Company  shall not be required to
transfer or exchange  any New Bond (i) during a period  beginning at the opening
of business 15 days before any  selection of New Bonds to be redeemed and ending
at the close of  business  on the day notice of  redemption  is mailed,  or (ii)
called or being called for redemption in whole or in part,  except,  in the case
of any New  Bond to be  redeemed  in  part,  the  portion  thereof  not so to be
redeemed.

         The Company reserves the right to provide in the supplemental indenture
for any Offered Bonds to permit the issuance of such Offered Bonds in book-entry
form. See "Global Securities" herein.

         Principal  and interest are payable at the office of the Company in St.
Louis,  Missouri,  provided that, at the option of the Company,  interest may be
paid by checks mailed to the registered owners of the New Bonds. Interest, other
than  defaulted  interest,  will be  payable to the person in whose name any New
Bond is  registered  at the close of  business on the 15th day of the month next
preceding  a month  containing  an interest  payment  date (or, if such 15th day
shall be a legal holiday in the State of New York or in the State of Missouri or
a day when banking  institutions  in the Borough of  Manhattan,  The City of New
York, or St. Louis,  Missouri are authorized by law to close, the next preceding
day which shall not be a legal holiday or a day on which such  institutions  are
so authorized to close). See also "Global Securities" herein.

         There is no  improvement,  maintenance  or  analogous  fund for the New
Bonds similar to the funds  provided for one  outstanding  series of Bonds.  The
holders  of the  outstanding  Bonds  will  not  have  any  specific  contractual
protection  in the event the  Company  becomes  involved  in a highly  leveraged
transaction.

         Security.  In the opinion of the Vice President and General  Counsel of
the Company, the New Bonds will be secured, together with all other Bonds now or
hereafter  issued under the Mortgage,  by a valid and direct first lien (subject
to certain leases, Permitted Liens and other minor defects) on substantially all
the  properties  and  franchises  of  the  Company  other  than  cash,  accounts
receivable and other liquid  assets,  securities  not  specifically  pledged and
electric energy, materials,  supplies or other products produced or purchased by
the Company for use, sale or lease, and certain properties  acquired in the 1983
mergers with two former utility  subsidiaries,  which  properties are subject to
the prior liens of their respective indentures.



                                       -4-

<PAGE>



         The Mortgage contains  provisions  subjecting  after-acquired  property
(with certain  exceptions)  to the lien of the Mortgage.  The  indentures of the
merged subsidiaries  subject to the prior lien thereof  after-acquired  property
constituting  (with certain  exceptions)  additions,  extensions,  improvements,
repairs, and replacements appurtenant to properties acquired in the mergers, and
one such indenture subjects to the lien thereof after-acquired property situated
in the territory formerly served by the former subsidiary.

         Issuance of Additional Bonds. Additional Bonds ranking equally with the
New  Bonds may be issued  up to (i) 60% of the Net  Bondable  Value of  Property
Additions  not  subject  to an  Unfunded  Prior  Lien,  (ii) the amount of Bonds
retired or to be retired  (except out of trust estate money) or (iii) the amount
of cash  deposited  with the Mortgage  Trustee for such purpose,  which cash may
thereafter be withdrawn upon the same basis that  additional  Bonds are issuable
under  (i) and  (ii).  (Arts.  III and  VIII.)  Unless  otherwise  stated in the
applicable Prospectus  Supplement,  the Offered Bonds will be issued against the
deposit of cash,  which cash will be  concurrently  withdrawn  under clause (ii)
above. At September 30, 1996, the aggregate  principal  amount of Bonds issuable
under clause (i) above was approximately  $1.2 billion (without giving effect to
the issuance of New Bonds),  and approximately  $665 million principal amount of
Bonds could be issued under clause (ii) above.

         Additional  Bonds may not be issued  (i)  unless  Net  Earnings  of the
Company  Available for Interest and Property  Retirement  Appropriations  for 12
consecutive  months within the 15 months preceding such issuance shall have been
equal to the  greater of twice the  annual  interest  charges  on, or 10% of the
principal  amount of, all Bonds and Prior Lien Bonds then  outstanding  and then
being issued, nor (ii) unless Net Earnings of the Company Available for Interest
After Property Retirement  Appropriations for such periods shall have been equal
to twice the  annual  interest  on all such  Bonds and Prior  Lien  Bonds.  Such
earnings  tests  need not be  complied  with to  issue  Bonds  to  refund  Bonds
theretofore  issued,  or to refund a Prior Lien which  simultaneously  becomes a
Funded  Prior  Lien  upon  the  Property  Additions  made on the  basis  of such
application,  if application to issue  additional  Bonds for either of these two
purposes is made at any time after a date two years prior to the maturity of the
Bonds  or  Prior  Lien  Bonds  being  refunded.  (Art.  III,  Secs.  3, 4 and 6;
__________  Supplemental  Indenture,  Art. IV, Sec. 4.) The ratio under the test
set forth under (ii) above,  which is more  restrictive  than the test set forth
under (i) above,  was 6.6 for the twelve months ended  September  30, 1996,  and
would  permit the  Company  (without  giving  effect to the  issuance of the New
Bonds) to issue an additional  $3.0 billion of First Mortgage Bonds (7.5% annual
interest rate assumed). Net Earnings of the Company Available for Interest After
Property  Retirement  Appropriations is defined as total operating  revenues and
net non-operating  revenues,  less operating  expenses (other than income taxes)
and less the greater of (i) the provisions for depreciation and expenditures for
maintenance  and  repairs  for the  period  in  question  or (ii)  15% of  gross
operating  revenues  (as  defined)  for the  period  in  question.  [(July  1956
Supplemental Indenture, Art. V, Sec. 2.)]

         Prior  Lien  Bonds  secured  by an  Unfunded  Prior Lien (such as bonds
issuable under the indentures of the two former utility  subsidiaries  discussed
above under "Security") may be issued under the circumstances and subject to the
conditions  and  limitations  contained in the  Mortgage  and the  subsidiaries'
indentures referred to above. (Art. IV, Secs. 15 and 16; __________ Supplemental
Indenture,  Art.  IV, Sec.  4.) The Company has no plans to issue any such bonds
and is in the  process  of  extinguishing  the lien of one of the  subsidiaries'
indentures, under which no bonds are outstanding.

         Dividend Restriction.  There are no dividend restrictions applicable to
the  New  Bonds.  However,  so  long  as  Bonds  of  certain  prior  series  are
outstanding,  the  Company  will not declare  any  dividend on its Common  Stock
(other than in Common  Stock) or make any  distribution  on or acquire for value
any of its Common Stock  (otherwise  than in exchange for, or out of proceeds of
sale of, Common Stock) if the amount thereof, together with the aggregate of all
payments made since June 30, 1961 would exceed  $22,700,000  plus the net income
applicable to the Common Stock subsequent to June 30, 1961. (See, e.g., May 1990
Supplemental Indenture, Art. IV, Sec. 6.)

         Modification of the Mortgage. With the consent of the holders of 80% of
the Bonds and 80% in  amount of Bonds of each  affected  series if less than all
are affected,  the Mortgage may be changed except to affect the terms of payment
of the  principal  or  interest  on any  Bond or to  reduce  the  percentage  of
Bondholders  required to effect any change.  (Art. XV.) The Company has reserved
the right to amend the  Mortgage  without any consent or other action by holders
of Bonds of any series created by the Supplemental Indenture of August 16, 1976,
or by any


                                       -5-

<PAGE>



supplemental indenture dated thereafter, including the holders of the New Bonds,
so as to substitute  for the foregoing  provision a provision to the effect that
the  Mortgage  may be modified or altered and the rights of the holders of Bonds
may be affected with the consent of the holders of 60% of the Bonds; and if less
than all series of Bonds are affected, the consent also of the holders of 60% of
the Bonds of each series  affected.  Additionally,  the Company has reserved the
right to amend the Mortgage, as supplemented, to authorize amendments thereto by
an  appropriate  written  consent of the  holders of 60% of the Bonds  without a
meeting of such Bondholders.
(__________ Supplemental Indenture, Art. VII.)

         The Mortgage may be amended  without a meeting of  Bondholders  to cure
ambiguities or defects and may be so modified under certain other circumstances,
provided  that  no such  modification  shall  impair  any of the  rights  of the
Bondholders or of the Mortgage Trustee.

         Insofar as the holders of the Bonds of all series issued  subsequent to
the  February  1974  Supplemental  Indenture,   including  the  New  Bonds,  are
concerned,  the Mortgage is amended by the February 1974 Supplemental  Indenture
(Art. VII.) to include  construction work in progress on nuclear  facilities and
nuclear fuel as bondable property. (__________ Supplemental Indenture, Art. VI.)

         Defaults.  Defaults  are  defined  as  being:  default  in  payment  of
principal;  default for 30 days in payment of interest  or  satisfaction  of the
Company's  obligations  respecting  any  sinking,  improvement,  maintenance  or
analogous  fund;  default in payment of principal  of, or interest on, any Prior
Lien Bonds; certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization;  default
in other  covenants  for 60 days  after  notice by the  Mortgage  Trustee or the
holders of 15% of the outstanding Bonds; failure under certain  circumstances to
discharge,  or provide for,  judgments;  or termination  of corporate  franchise
without continuance of business by a successor corporation.
(Art. IX, Sec. 1.)

         The  Mortgage  Trustee  or the  holders  of not  less  than  25% of the
outstanding  Bonds may declare  the entire  principal  due on  default,  but the
holders of a majority of  outstanding  Bonds may annul such  declaration if such
default has been cured.  (Art. IX, Sec. 1.) The Mortgage  Trustee is required to
enforce the lien of the  Mortgage  upon  request of the holders of a majority in
amount of the  outstanding  Bonds on default.  (Art.  IX, Sec.  4.) The Mortgage
Trustee  has no  obligations  to  exercise  any of its  trusts  or powers at the
request of any of the Bondholders  unless  indemnified to its satisfaction,  but
the  Mortgage  Trustee  is not  relieved  of its  obligation  to  act  upon  the
occurrence of an event of default. (Art. XIII, Sec. 1.)

         The Mortgage provides that the Mortgage  Trustee,  within 90 days after
the occurrence of any default  thereunder with respect to a series of New Bonds,
is required to give the  holders of such series  notice of any default  known to
it,  unless  cured or waived;  provided,  however,  that except in the case of a
default in the payment of principal,  interest or any sinking fund  installment,
if any, on any New Bonds of such series,  the Mortgage Trustee may withhold such
notice if the Mortgage  Trustee and the Board of Directors  determine that it is
in the interest of such holders to do so. (Art. XIII, Sec. 3.)

         Evidence to be  Furnished  to the  Mortgage  Trustee.  Compliance  with
Mortgage  provisions  is evidenced by written  statements  by Company  officers,
opinions of counsel and  certificates of an engineer,  accountant,  appraiser or
other  expert  (who in some  instances  must be  independent).  The  Company  is
required to file various  certificates  and other reports  annually,  including,
without  limitation,  an  annual  certificate  evidencing  compliance  with  all
conditions  and  covenants  without  regard  to any  period  of grace or  notice
requirements, and in certain events.

         Concerning  the  Mortgage  Trustee.  The  Mortgage  Trustee  under  the
Mortgage is Trustee under the Indenture and the trustee under a trust  agreement
establishing a pension trust for the payment of retirement  income for employees
of the Company.  The Mortgage  Trustee also serves as trustee for the  Company's
Savings  Investment  Plan  and  nuclear   decommissioning   trust.  John  Peters
MacCarthy,  a  director  of the  Company,  is also a  director  of the  Mortgage
Trustee.



                                       -6-

<PAGE>



                       DESCRIPTION OF NEW DEBT SECURITIES

         General.  The New  Debt  Securities  may be  issued  in one or more new
series under an Indenture or Indentures  (the  "Indenture")  between the Company
and  Boatmen's  Trust  Company,  as  trustee  (the  "Trustee").   The  following
statements  about the  Indenture,  one or more  supplemental  indentures,  board
resolutions or officer's  certificates  establishing the New Debt Securities and
the New Debt Securities (the forms of each of which are filed, or will be filed,
as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part,
or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be incorporated by reference
in this Prospectus) are summary outlines of provisions contained therein, do not
purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference thereto.
Such statements make use of the terms defined in the Indenture and are qualified
in their  entirety by express  reference to the sections of the Indenture  cited
herein.

         The New Debt  Securities  will be unsecured  obligations of the Company
and, if so provided in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular series
of New Debt  Securities,  will be  subordinated  obligations of the Company (the
"Subordinated New Debt Securities"). Except as may otherwise be described in the
Prospectus  Supplement,  separate  Indentures will be used for Subordinated Debt
Securities (the  "Subordinated  Indenture") and for New Debt Securities that are
not Subordinated New Debt Securities.

         Reference  is  made  to  the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating  to  any
particular issue of Offered New Debt Securities for the following terms: (1) the
title  of such  Offered  New Debt  Securities;  (2) any  limit on the  aggregate
principal amount of such Offered Debt Securities or the series of which they are
a part; (3) the date or dates on which the principal of any of such Offered Debt
Securities  will be  payable;  (4) the  rate or  rates  (which  may be  fixed or
variable)  and/or the method of determination of such rate or rates at which any
of such Offered Debt  Securities  will bear interest,  if any, the date or dates
from which any such  interest will accrue,  the Interest  Payment Dates on which
any such  interest  will be payable  and the  Regular  Record  Date for any such
interest payable on any Interest Payment Date; (5) the place or places where the
principal  of,  premium,  if  any,  and  interest  on any of such  Offered  Debt
Securities will be payable, (6) the period or periods within which the terms and
conditions upon which any Offered Debt  Securities may be redeemed,  in whole or
in part, at the option of the Company;  (7) the  obligation or  obligations,  if
any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Offered Debt  Securities  pursuant
to any mandatory  redemption  provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof,
and the terms and  conditions  upon which any Offered Debt  Securities  shall be
redeemed  or  purchased;  (8) the  denominations  in which any of  Offered  Debt
Securities  will be  issuable,  if other  than  denominations  of $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof;  (9) if the amount payable in respect of principal of
or any premium or interest on such Offered  Debt  Securities  may be  determined
with  reference  to an index or other fact or event  ascertainable  outside  the
Indenture,  the manner in which such amounts will be  determined;  (10) if other
than the principal  amount thereof,  the portion of the principal  amount of any
Offered Debt Securities  which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration
of the Maturity thereof;  (11) the terms, if any, pursuant to which such Offered
Debt  Securities  may be converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock
or other  securities  of the Company or any other  Person;  (12) if such Offered
Debt  Securities  are to be issued in global form,  (i) any  limitations  on the
rights of the Holder or Holders of such Offered Debt  Securities  to transfer or
exchange the same or to obtain the  registration of transfer  thereof,  (ii) any
limitations  on  the  rights  of  the  Holder  or  Holders   thereof  to  obtain
certificates therefor in definitive form in lieu of temporary form and (iii) any
and all other  matters  incidental  to such  Offered Debt  Securities;  (13) any
addition to the Events of Default applicable to such Offered Debt Securities and
any  addition to the  covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of
such Offered Debt Securities;  (14) any interest deferral  provisions;  and (15)
any other terms of such Offered Debt  Securities of such series,  or any Tranche
thereof, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture. (Sec. 301.)

         New Debt  Securities may be sold at a substantial  discount below their
principal   amount.   Certain   special   United  States   federal   income  tax
considerations  (if any)  applicable to New Debt  Securities sold at an original
issue  discount may be described in the  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement.  In
addition,   certain   special   United  States   federal  income  tax  or  other
considerations  (if  any)  applicable  to any  New  Debt  Securities  which  are
denominated  in a currency or currency  unit other than Dollars may be described
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.



                                       -7-

<PAGE>



         The Company reserves the right to provide in the supplemental indenture
or board  resolutions  for any series of Offered Debt  Securities  to permit the
issuance  of such  Offered  Debt  Securities  in  book-entry  form.  See "Global
Securities" herein.

         Except as may otherwise be described in the Prospectus Supplement,  the
covenants  contained  in the  Indenture  would not  afford  Holders  of New Debt
Securities  protection in the event of a highly-leveraged  transaction involving
the Company.

         Subordination.  If so provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
the  Subordinated  Debt  Securities  will be subordinate  and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Indebtedness of the Company.

         No payment of  principal  of  (including  redemption  and sinking  fund
payments), premium, if any, or interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities may
be made if any Senior  Indebtedness  is not paid when due, any applicable  grace
period  with  respect to such  default  has ended and such  default has not been
cured  or  waived,  or if the  maturity  of any  Senior  Indebtedness  has  been
accelerated because of a default. Upon any distribution of assets of the Company
to creditors upon any dissolution,  winding-up,  liquidation or  reorganization,
whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy,  insolvency,  receivership or
other proceedings, all principal of, and premium, if any, and interest due or to
become due on, all Senior  Indebtedness  must be paid in full before the Holders
of the  Subordinated  Debt  Securities  are  entitled  to  receive or retain any
payment.  (Sec.  1502.)  The  rights of the  Holders  of the  Subordinated  Debt
Securities   will  be  subrogated  to  the  rights  of  the  Holders  of  Senior
Indebtedness  to  receive  payments  or   distributions   applicable  to  Senior
Indebtedness  until all amounts owing on the  Subordinated  Debt  Securities are
paid in full. (Sec. 1504.)

         The term "Senior Indebtedness" is defined in the Subordinated Indenture
to mean  obligations  (other than  non-recourse  obligations,  the  indebtedness
issued  under  the  Subordinated  Indenture  and  other  indebtedness  which  is
expressly  made  subordinate  to  or  pari  passu  with  the  Subordinated  Debt
Securities)  of, or  guaranteed  or assumed by, the Company for  borrowed  money
(including both senior and  subordinated  indebtedness for borrowed money (other
than the Subordinated  Debt Securities)) or for the payment of money relating to
any lease which is capitalized on the balance sheet of the Company in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time, or
indebtedness evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
and in each case, amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings
of any such indebtedness or obligations,  whether existing as of the date of the
Subordinated Indenture or subsequently incurred by the Company.

         The  Subordinated  Indenture  does not  limit the  aggregate  amount of
Senior  Indebtedness  that the  Company may issue.  As of  September  30,  1996,
outstanding  Senior  Indebtedness of the Company  aggregated  approximately $1.8
billion.

         Form,  Exchange,  and  Transfer.  Unless  otherwise  specified  in  the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, the New Debt Securities of each series will be
issuable only in fully  registered form without coupons and in  denominations of
$1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. (Secs. 201 and 302.)

         At the option of the Holder,  subject to the terms of the Indenture and
the  limitations  applicable to global  securities,  New Debt  Securities of any
series will be exchangeable for other New Debt Securities of the same series, of
any authorized  denomination and of like tenor and aggregate  principal  amount.
(Sec. 305.)

         Subject to the terms of the Indenture and the limitations applicable to
global securities, New Debt Securities may be presented for exchange as provided
above or for  registration  of transfer  (duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly
executed  instrument of transfer) at the office of the Security  Registrar or at
the office of any transfer agent designated by the Company for such purpose. The
Company may designate itself the Security  Registrar.  No service charge will be
made for any  registration of transfer or exchange of New Debt  Securities,  but
the Company may require  payment of a sum  sufficient  to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection  therewith.  Such transfer or exchange
will be effected upon the Security Registrar or such transfer agent, as the case
may be, being  satisfied  with the documents of title and identity of the person
making the request.  (Sec. 305.) Any transfer agent (in addition to the Security
Registrar) initially designated by the Company for any New Debt


                                       -8-

<PAGE>



Securities will be named in the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement.  The Company
may at any time designate  additional transfer agents or rescind the designation
of any  transfer  agent or  approve a change  in the  office  through  which any
transfer  agent acts,  except  that the  Company  will be required to maintain a
transfer  agent in each Place of  Payment  for the New Debt  Securities  of each
series. (Sec. 602.)

         The Company  will not be required to (i) issue,  register  the transfer
of,  or  exchange  any Debt  Security  or any  Tranche  thereof  during a period
beginning  at the  opening of  business  15 days  before the day of mailing of a
notice of redemption of any such Debt Security  called for redemption and ending
at the  close  of  business  on the day of such  mailing  or (ii)  register  the
transfer of or exchange any Debt Security so selected for  redemption,  in whole
or in part,  except  the  unredeemed  portion  of any such Debt  Security  being
redeemed in part. (Sec. 305.)

         Payment and Paying Agents. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable
Prospectus  Supplement,  payment of interest on a Debt  Security on any Interest
Payment Date will be made to the person in whose name such Debt Security (or one
or more  Predecessor  Securities)  is registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date for such interest. (Sec. 307.)

         Unless  otherwise  indicated in the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement,
principal  of and any  premium  and  interest  on the New Debt  Securities  of a
particular  series will be payable at the office of such Paying  Agent or Paying
Agents as the Company may designate  for such purpose from time to time.  Unless
otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company, at its
office in St. Louis,  Missouri,  will be designated as the sole Paying Agent for
payments with respect to New Debt  Securities  of each series.  Any other Paying
Agents  initially  designated  by the Company for the New Debt  Securities  of a
particular  series will be named in the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement.  The
Company  may at any time  designate  additional  Paying  Agents or  rescind  the
designation  of any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which
any Paying  Agent acts,  except that the Company  will be required to maintain a
Paying  Agent  in  each  Place  of  Payment  for the New  Debt  Securities  of a
particular series. (Sec. 602.)

         All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the
principal  of or any  premium or  interest  on any Debt  Security  which  remain
unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal,  premium or interest has
become due and  payable  will be repaid to the  Company,  and the Holder of such
Debt Security thereafter may look only to the Company for payment thereof. (Sec.
603.)

         Redemption.  Any terms for the optional or mandatory  redemption of New
Debt Securities will be set forth in the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement or a
supplement  thereto.  Except as shall  otherwise  be provided in the  applicable
Prospectus Supplement with respect to New Debt Securities that are redeemable at
the option of the  Holder,  New Debt  Securities  will be  redeemable  only upon
notice by mail not less than 30 nor more  than 60 days  prior to the date  fixed
for redemption,  and, if less than all the New Debt  Securities of a series,  or
any Tranche thereof,  are to be redeemed,  the particular New Debt Securities to
be  redeemed  will be  selected  by such  method  as shall be  provided  for any
particular  series,  or in the absence of any such provision,  by such method of
random selection as the Security  Registrar deems fair and  appropriate.  (Secs.
403 and 404.)

         Any notice of  redemption  at the option of the  Company may state that
such redemption will be conditional  upon receipt by the Paying Agent or Agents,
on or prior to the dated fixed for such  redemption,  of money sufficient to pay
the  principal of and premium,  if any, and  interest,  if any, on such New Debt
Securities and that if such money has not been so received,  such notice will be
of no force and effect and the  Company  will not be required to redeem such New
Debt Securities. (Sec. 404.)

         Consolidation,   Merger  and  Sale  of  Assets.  The  Company  may  not
consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless (i) the
corporation  formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or
the Person which  acquires by  conveyance  or  transfer,  or which  leases,  the
property  and assets of the  Company  substantially  as an  entirety  shall be a
Person   organized  and  validly   existing  under  the  laws  of  any  domestic
jurisdiction and such Person expressly assumes the Company's  obligations on the
New Debt  Securities  and under the  Indenture,  (ii)  immediately  after giving
effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice
or lapse of time or both,


                                       -9-

<PAGE>



would become an Event of Default,  shall have  occurred and be  continuing,  and
(iii) the Company will have  delivered  to the Trustee an Officer's  Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel as provided in the Indenture. (Sec. 1101.)

         Events  of  Default.  Unless  otherwise  specified  in  the  applicable
Prospectus Supplement, each of the following will constitute an Event of Default
under the  Indenture  with  respect to New Debt  Securities  of any series:  (a)
failure to pay any interest on any New Debt  Securities of such series within 60
days after the same  becomes due and  payable;  (b) failure to pay  principal or
premium;  if any, on any Debt Security of such series within three Business Days
after the same becomes due and payable;  (c) failure to perform or breach of any
other  covenant  or  warranty  of the  Company in the  Indenture  (other  than a
covenant or warranty of the Company in the  Indenture  solely for the benefit of
one or more series of New Debt  Securities  other than such  series) for 60 days
after  written  notice to the Company by the Trustee,  or to the Company and the
Trustee  by the  Holders  of at least  33% in  principal  amount of the New Debt
Securities  of such series  outstanding  under the  Indenture as provided in the
Indenture; (d) certain events of bankruptcy,  insolvency or reorganization;  and
(e) any other Event of Default specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement
with respect to New Debt Securities of particular series.
(Sec. 801.)

         No Event of Default with respect to the New Debt Securities necessarily
constitutes  an Event of Default with respect to the New Debt  Securities of any
other series issued under the Indenture.

         If an  Event  of  Default  with  respect  to any  series  of  New  Debt
Securities  occurs and is continuing,  then either the Trustee or the Holders of
not less than 33% in principal  amount of the Outstanding New Debt Securities of
such series may declare the principal  amount (or if the New Debt  Securities of
such series are discount notes or similar New Debt  Securities,  such portion of
the  principal  amount  as  may  be  specified  in  the  applicable   Prospectus
Supplement)  of all of the New  Debt  Securities  of such  series  to be due and
payable immediately;  provided,  however, that if an Event of Default occurs and
is continuing with respect to more than one series of New Debt  Securities,  the
Trustee or the Holders of not less than 33% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding  Debt  Securities of all such series,  considered as one class,  may
make such declaration of acceleration and not the Holders of the Debt Securities
of any one of such series.

         At any time after the declaration of  acceleration  with respect to the
New Debt  Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree
for payment of the money due has been  obtained,  the Event or Events of Default
giving rise to such  declaration of acceleration  will,  without further act, be
deemed to have been waived,  and such  declaration  and its  consequences  will,
without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if

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

                  (1) all overdue  interest on all New Debt  Securities  of such
         series;

                  (2) the  principal  of and  premium,  if any,  on any New Debt
         Securities of such series which have become due otherwise  than by such
         declaration of acceleration  and interest  thereon at the rate or rates
         prescribed therefor in such New Debt Securities;

                  (3) interest  upon  overdue  interest  at the  rate  or  rates
         prescribed  therefor  in such New Debt  Securities,  to the extent that
         payment of such interest is lawful; and

                  (4) all amounts due to the Trustee under the Indenture;

         (b) any other Event or Events of Default  with  respect to the New Debt
Securities of such series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the New
Debt  Securities of such series which has become due solely by such  declaration
of acceleration,  have been cured or waived as provided in the Indenture.  (Sec.
802.)



                                      -10-

<PAGE>



         Subject to the  provisions of the  Indenture  relating to the duties of
the  Trustee  in case an Event of Default  shall  occur and be  continuing,  the
Trustee  will be under no  obligation  to  exercise  any of its rights or powers
under the  Indenture at the request or  direction of any of the Holders,  unless
such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. (Sec. 903.)
Subject to such provisions for the  indemnification of the Trustee,  the Holders
of a majority in principal  amount of the Outstanding New Debt Securities of any
series  will have the right to direct the time,  method and place of  conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee,  or exercising any trust
or power  conferred on the Trustee,  with respect to the Debt Securities of that
series. (Sec. 812.)

         No  Holder  of a Debt  Security  of any  series  will have any right to
institute any proceeding  with respect to the Indenture,  or for the appointment
of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder,  unless (i) such
Holder has previously  given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event
of Default with  respect to the New Debt  Securities  of such  series,  (ii) the
Holders  of not less  than a  majority  in  aggregate  principal  amount  of the
Outstanding  Debt  Securities  of such series have made  written  request to the
Trustee,  and such Holder or Holders  have offered  reasonable  indemnity to the
Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee and (iii) the Trustee has failed
to  institute  such  proceeding,  and has not  received  from the  Holders  of a
majority in aggregate  principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Debt Securities of
that series a direction  inconsistent  with such  request,  within 60 days after
such notice,  request and offer.  (Sec.  807.) However,  such limitations do not
apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of a Debt Security for the enforcement of
payment of the  principal of or any premium or interest on such Debt Security on
or after the applicable due date specified in such Debt Security. (Sec. 808.)

         The  Company  will be  required  to furnish to the  Trustee  annually a
statement  by an  appropriate  officer  as to such  officer's  knowledge  of the
Company's compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture, such
compliance to be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement
of notice under the Indenture. (Sec. 606.)

         Modification and Waiver.  Without the consent of any Holder of New Debt
Securities,  the Company and the Trustee may enter into one or more supplemental
indentures for any of the following purposes:  (a) to evidence the assumption by
any  permitted  successor to the Company of the  covenants of the Company in the
Indenture and the New Debt  Securities;  or (b) to add one or more  covenants of
the  Company or other  provisions  for the  benefit of the Holders of all or any
series  of  Outstanding  Debt  Securities  or to  surrender  any  right or power
conferred upon the Company by the Indenture; or (c) to add any additional Events
of Default with respect to all or any series of Outstanding Debt Securities;  or
(d) to change or  eliminate  any  provision  of the  Indenture or to add any new
provision  to the  Indenture,  provided  that if  such  change,  elimination  or
addition  will  adversely  affect  the  interests  of the  Holders  of New  Debt
Securities of any series in any material  respect,  such change,  elimination or
addition will become effective with respect to such series only when there is no
Debt Security of such series remaining  Outstanding under the Indenture;  or (e)
to provide collateral security for the New Debt Securities;  or (f) to establish
the form or terms of New Debt  Securities  of any  series  as  permitted  by the
Indenture; or (g) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a
successor Trustee under the Indenture with respect to the New Debt Securities of
one  or  more  series  and  to add to or  change  any of the  provisions  of the
Indenture  as  shall  be  necessary  to  provide  for  or  to   facilitate   the
administration  of the trusts under the  Indenture by more than one trustee;  or
(h) to  provide  for the  procedures  required  to permit the  utilization  of a
noncertificated system of registration for any series of New Debt Securities; or
(i) to change any place where (1) the  principal  of and  premium,  if any,  and
interest,  if any, on any New Debt Securities shall be payable, (2) any New Debt
Securities may be surrendered  for  registration of transfer or exchange and (3)
notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of New Debt Securities and
the Indenture may be served; or (j) to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency or to
make or change  any other  provisions  with  respect to  matters  and  questions
arising  under the  Indenture,  provided  such  changes or  additions  shall not
adversely  affect the  interests  of the Holders of New Debt  Securities  of any
series in any material respect. (Sec. 1201.)

         The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate  principal  amount
of the  Outstanding  Debt  Securities of any series may waive  compliance by the
Company with certain  restrictive  provisions of the Indenture.  (Sec. 607.) The
Holders of a majority in principal  amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of
any series may waive any past default under the  Indenture,  except a default in
the payment of principal, premium, or interest and certain covenants


                                      -11-

<PAGE>



and  provisions of the Indenture  that cannot be modified or be amended  without
the  consent of the Holder of each  Outstanding  Debt  Security  of such  series
affected. (Sec. 813.)

         Without  limiting  the  generality  of  the  foregoing,  if  the  Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust  Indenture Act"), is amended after
the date of the  Indenture in such a way as to require  changes to the Indenture
or the incorporation therein of additional provisions or so as to permit changes
to, or the elimination of,  provisions which, at the date of the Indenture or at
any time thereafter, were required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained in
the  Indenture,  the  Indenture  will be deemed to have  been  amended  so as to
conform to such  amendment  or to effect such  changes or  elimination,  and the
Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders,  enter into one
or more  supplemental  indentures  to evidence or effect such  amendment.  (Sec.
1201.)

         Except as provided above, the consent of the Holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate  principal amount of the New Debt Securities of all series
then Outstanding, considered as one class, is required for the purpose of adding
any  provisions  to,  or  changing  in any  manner,  or  eliminating  any of the
provisions of, the Indenture  pursuant to one or more  supplemental  indentures;
provided,  however,  that if less than all of the series of New Debt  Securities
Outstanding are directly affected by a proposed supplemental indenture, then the
consent  only of the  Holders of a majority  in  aggregate  principal  amount of
Outstanding  Debt Securities of all series so directly  affected,  considered as
one  class,  will be  required;  and  provided,  further,  that if the New  Debt
Securities  of any series  have been  issued in more than one Tranche and if the
proposed  supplemental  indenture  directly affects the rights of the Holders of
one or more,  but less than all,  such  Tranches,  then the consent  only of the
Holders of a majority in  aggregate  principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Debt
Securities of all Tranches so directly  affected,  considered as one class, will
be required;  and provided  further,  that no such amendment or modification may
(a)  change the Stated  Maturity  of the  principal  of, or any  installment  of
principal of or interest on, any Debt Security,  or reduce the principal  amount
thereof or the rate of  interest  thereon (or the amount of any  installment  of
interest  thereon) or change the method of  calculating  such rate or reduce any
premium  payable  upon the  redemption  thereof,  or  reduce  the  amount of the
principal  of any  Discount  Security  that  would  be due  and  payable  upon a
declaration of acceleration of Maturity or change the coin or currency (or other
property) in which any Debt  Security or any premium or the interest  thereon is
payable,  or impair the right to institute suit for the  enforcement of any such
payment on or after the Stated Maturity of any Debt Security (or, in the case of
redemption,  on or after the  redemption  date)  without,  in any such case, the
consent  of the Holder of such Debt  Security,  (b)  reduce  the  percentage  in
principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Debt  Securities  of any  series,  or any
Tranche  thereof,  the consent of the Holders of which is required  for any such
supplemental  indenture,  or the consent of the Holders of which is required for
any waiver of  compliance  with any  provision  of the  Indenture or any default
thereunder  and its  consequences,  or reduce  the  requirements  for  quorum or
voting, without, in any such case, the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding
Debt Security of such series or Tranche, or (c) modify certain of the provisions
of the  Indenture  relating  to  supplemental  indentures,  waivers  of  certain
covenants and waivers of past  defaults with respect to the New Debt  Securities
of any series, or any Tranche thereof, without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding  Debt Security  affected  thereby.  A supplemental  indenture  which
changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the Indenture which has
expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular  series
of New Debt Securities or one or more Tranches  thereof,  or modifies the rights
of the Holders of New Debt Securities of such series or Tranches with respect to
such covenant or other provision,  will be deemed not to affect the rights under
the  Indenture of the Holders of the New Debt  Securities of any other series or
Tranche. (Sec. 1202.)

         The Indenture  provides that in determining  whether the Holders of the
requisite  principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Debt  Securities have given or
taken  any  direction,  notice,  consent,  waiver,  or other  action  under  the
Indenture as of any date,  (i) New Debt  Securities  owned by the Company or any
other  obligor upon the  Securities  or any  Affiliate of the Company or of such
other  obligor  (unless the  Company,  such  Affiliate  or such obligor owns all
Securities  Outstanding under this Indenture,  or all Outstanding  Securities of
each such series and each such Tranche,  as the case may be, determined  without
regard  to  this  clause  (i))  shall  be  disregarded  and  deemed  not  to  be
Outstanding;  (ii) the  principal  amount of a Discount  Security  that shall be
deemed to be Outstanding  for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal
thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such  determination upon
a  declaration  of  acceleration  of the  Maturity  thereof as  provided  in the
Indenture;  and (iii) the principal amount of a Debt Security denominated in one
or more foreign currencies or a composite currency that


                                      -12-

<PAGE>



will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the Dollar equivalent, determined as of
such date in the manner  prescribed  for such Debt  Security,  of the  principal
amount of such Debt Security  (or, in the case of a Debt  Security  described in
clause (ii) above, of the amount described in such clause). (Sec. 101.)

         If  the  Company  shall  solicit  from  Holders  any  request,  demand,
authorization,  direction,  notice, consent,  election, waiver or other Act, the
Company may, at its option,  by Board  Resolution,  fix in advance a record date
for the  determination  of  Holders  entitled  to  give  such  request,  demand,
authorization,  direction,  notice, consent,  election, waiver or other Act, but
the Company  shall have no  obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed,
such request,  demand,  authorization,  direction,  notice,  consent,  election,
waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date,  but only the
Holders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to
be Holders for the  purposes of  determining  whether  Holders of the  requisite
proportion of the Outstanding  Securities have authorized or agreed or consented
to such request, demand,  authorization,  direction,  notice, consent, waiver or
other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding  Securities shall be computed as
of the record  date.  Any request,  demand,  authorization,  direction,  notice,
consent,  election,  waiver or other Act of a Holder  shall  bind  every  future
Holder of the same  Security  and the Holder of every  Security  issued upon the
registration of transfer  thereof or in exchange  therefor or in lieu thereof in
respect of anything  done,  omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the
Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon
such Security. (Sec. 104.)

         Satisfaction and Discharge;  Defeasance.  Unless otherwise indicated in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Indenture, with respect to any and all
series  of  New  Debt  Securities   (except  for  certain  specified   surviving
obligations)  will be discharged and canceled upon the  satisfaction  of certain
conditions, including: (a) the payment in full of the principal of (and premium,
if any) and  interest  on all  series of the New Debt  Securities  or the deemed
payment in full of such New Debt Securities, as described below; (b) the payment
by the  Company  of all other sums  required  under the  Indenture;  and (c) the
delivery  of a  certificate  by the  Company  to the  Trustee  stating  that all
conditions precedent relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture
have been complied with.

         In addition,  the Company may at any time (i) terminate  certain of its
obligations  under the  Indenture  with  respect to New Debt  Securities  of any
series  ("legal  defeasance")  or (ii) terminate its  obligations  under certain
covenants set forth in the Indenture with respect to New Debt  Securities of any
series  (after  which any  omission  to comply with such  obligations  shall not
constitute  a  Default  with  respect  to such New Debt  Securities)  ("covenant
defeasance").  To exercise either legal defeasance or covenant  defeasance,  the
Company must irrevocably  deposit in trust with the Trustee,  for the benefit of
the Holders,  cash or Eligible  Obligations,  or a combination  thereof, in such
amounts as will be  sufficient to pay the principal of and premium and interest,
if any,  due and to become due on the New Debt  Securities  of such series on or
prior to their  redemption or maturity date in accordance  with the terms of the
Indenture and such New Debt  Securities;  provided that either (i) such money or
the proceeds of such  Eligible  Obligations  shall have been on deposit with the
Trustee  for a  period  of at least 90 days,  or (ii)  the  Trustee  shall  have
received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that  payments to Holders with such
moneys as proceeds  are not  recoverable  as a preference  under any  applicable
United  States  federal  or  state  law  relating  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
receivership, winding-up, liquidation,  reorganization or relief of debtors. The
Company must also comply with certain other  conditions,  including the delivery
of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect  that the Holder of such Debt  Securities
will not  realize  income,  gain or loss for  federal  income tax  purposes as a
result of such defeasance, and will realize income, gain or loss on the New Debt
Securities,  including payments of interest thereon, on the same amounts, in the
same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance
had not occurred.  In the case of legal defeasance,  the Opinion of Counsel must
be  accompanied  by a ruling  of the  Internal  Revenue  Service  issued  to the
Company,  or based on a change in law or regulation  occurring after the date of
the  Indenture.   Eligible   Obligations   include  direct  obligations  of,  or
obligations unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America entitled
to the benefit of the full faith and credit thereof and certificates, depositary
receipts or other instruments which evidence a direct ownership interest in such
obligations  or in any specific  interest or  principal  payments due in respect
thereof.

         Governing  Law.  The  Indenture  and the New  Debt  Securities  will be
governed by and construed in  accordance  with the law of the State of New York.
(Sec. 112.)


                                      -13-

<PAGE>



         Concerning the Trustee. The Trustee under the Indenture is the Mortgage
Trustee under the Mortgage and the trustee under a trust agreement  establishing
a pension  trust for the  payment  of  retirement  income for  employees  of the
Company. The Trustee also serves as trustee for the Company's Savings Investment
Plan and nuclear decommissioning trust. John Peters MacCarthy, a director of the
Company, is also a director of the Trustee.

                                GLOBAL SECURITIES

         Some or all of the New Bonds or New Debt  Securities  of any series may
be represented,  in whole or in part, by one or more global  securities (each, a
"Global  Security") which will have an aggregate  principal amount equal to that
of the New  Bonds  or New  Debt  Securities  represented  thereby.  Each  Global
Security will be registered in the name of a depositary (the  "Depositary") or a
nominee  thereof  identified in the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement,  will be
deposited with such Depositary or nominee or a custodian  therefor and will bear
a legend  regarding the  restrictions on exchanges and  registration of transfer
thereof  referred  to below and any such other  matters as may be  provided  for
pursuant to the Mortgage or the Indenture.

         As long as the Depositary,  or its nominee, is the registered holder of
a Global Security,  the Depositary or such nominee,  as the case may be, will be
considered the sole owner and holder of such Global  Security and the Securities
represented  thereby for all purposes  under the  Securities and the Mortgage or
the  Indenture as the case may be.  Except in limited  circumstances,  owners of
beneficial  interests  in a Global  Security  will not be  entitled to have such
Global Security or any Securities represented thereby registered in their names,
will not  receive or be entitled to receive  physical  delivery of  certificated
Securities  in exchange  therefor and will not be considered to be the owners or
holders of such Global  Security or any Securities  represented  thereby for any
purpose  under the  Securities  or the Mortgage or the Indenture as the case may
be. All  payments  of  principal  of and any  premium  and  interest on a Global
Security will be made to the  Depositary or its nominee,  as the case may be, as
the  Holder  thereof.  The  laws  of some  jurisdictions  require  that  certain
purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive
form.  These laws may impair the ability to transfer  beneficial  interests in a
Global Security.

         Ownership of beneficial  interests in a Global Security will be limited
to  institutions   that  have  accounts  with  the  Depositary  or  its  nominee
("participants")  and to  persons  that may hold  beneficial  interests  through
participants.  In  connection  with the  issuance  of any Global  Security,  the
Depositary will credit, on its book-entry  registration and transfer system, the
respective principal amounts of Securities represented by the Global Security to
the accounts of its participants.  Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global
Security  will be shown only on, and the transfer of those  ownership  interests
will be effected  only  through,  records  maintained  by the  Depositary  (with
respect to  participants'  interests) or any such  participant  (with respect to
interests  of persons  held by such  participants  on their  behalf).  Payments,
transfers,  exchanges,  and others matters relating to beneficial interests in a
Global Security may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the
Depositary  from time to time. None of the Company,  the Mortgage  Trustee under
the  Mortgage,  the Trustee  under the  Indenture,  or any agents of each of the
foregoing,  will have any  responsibility  or  liability  for any  aspect of the
Depositary's or any  participant's  records relating to, or for payments made on
account of,  beneficial  interests  in a Global  Security,  or for  maintaining,
supervising, or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.


                                     EXPERTS

         The financial  statements  incorporated in this Prospectus by reference
to the Form 10-K Annual  Report,  have been so  incorporated  in reliance on the
report of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants,  given on the authority
of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

         The statements as to matters of law and legal  conclusions  included in
the Company's Form 10-K Annual Report and the Form 10-Q Reports  incorporated by
reference in this  Prospectus,  and such statements  included in this Prospectus
under  "Description  of the New Bonds" have been prepared under the  supervision
of, and reviewed by, William E. Jaudes,  Vice  President and General  Counsel of
the Company and such statements are made and


                                      -14-

<PAGE>



incorporated or included herein in reliance on the authority of Mr. Jaudes as an
expert. Mr. Jaudes is a full-time employee of the Company,  and at September 30,
1996, owned 5,420 shares of the Company's Common Stock.


                                 LEGAL OPINIONS

         The legality of the  Securities  will be passed upon for the Company by
William E. Jaudes,  Vice President and General  Counsel of the Company.  Certain
legal  matters  will be passed upon for any  underwriters,  dealers or agents by
Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, New York, New York.


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The Company may sell the  Securities in any of three ways:  (i) through
underwriters or dealers, (ii) directly to a limited number of purchasers or to a
single purchaser or (iii) through agents. The Prospectus Supplement with respect
to the  Offered  Securities  will  set  forth  the  terms of the  offering  of a
particular series of the Offered Securities,  including the name or names of any
underwriters, the purchase price of such Offered Securities and the net proceeds
to the  Company  from such sale,  any  underwriting  discounts  and other  items
constituting  underwriters'  compensation,  any initial public offering price of
the Offered  Securities,  any discounts or  concessions  allowed or reallowed or
paid to dealers,  and the extent, if any, to which underwriters intend to make a
market in the Offered  Securities.  Any initial  public  offering  price and any
discounts or concessions  allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed
from time to time.

         If  underwriters  are used in the sale, the Securities will be acquired
by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in
one or more transactions,  including negotiated transactions,  at a fixed public
offering  price or at varying  prices  determined  at the time of the sale.  The
Securities may be offered to the public either through  underwriting  syndicates
represented  by one or more  managing  underwriters  or  directly by one or more
underwriting firms. The underwriter or underwriters with respect to a particular
underwritten  offering  of Offered  Securities  will be named in the  Prospectus
Supplement relating to such offering and, if an underwriting  syndicate is used,
the managing  underwriter or underwriters will be set forth on the cover page of
such  Prospectus  Supplement.   Unless  otherwise  set  forth  in  a  Prospectus
Supplement,  the  obligations  of  the  underwriters  to  purchase  the  Offered
Securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters
will be obligated to purchase all such Offered Securities if any are purchased.

         If Securities  are sold through agents  designated by the Company,  the
applicable  Prospectus  Supplement will set forth the name of any agent involved
in the offer or sale of the Offered  Securities and any  commissions  payable by
the  Company  to  such  agent.  Unless  otherwise  indicated  in the  Prospectus
Supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period
of its appointment.

         If  so  indicated  in  the  Prospectus  Supplement,  the  Company  will
authorize  underwriters  or  dealers  to  solicit  offers by  certain  specified
institutions  to purchase  Securities  from the  Company at the public  offering
price  set forth in the  Prospectus  Supplement  pursuant  to  delayed  delivery
contracts  providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future.
Such contracts  will be subject to those  conditions set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement,  and the Prospectus Supplement will set forth the commission payable
for solicitation of such contracts.

         Agents and underwriters  may be entitled under agreements  entered into
with the  Company  to  indemnification  by the  Company  against  certain  civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.



                                      -15-

<PAGE>



                 PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

         Filing fee for registration statement*...................... $  96,875
         Fees charged by state regulatory commissions*...............    10,710
         Printing expenses...........................................    25,000
         Fees and expenses of Trustees...............................    12,000
         Fees and expenses of Accountants............................    30,000
         "Blue Sky" fees and expenses................................     6,000
         Title expenses and recording of supplemental indentures.....    30,000
         Rating agencies' fees.......................................    60,000
         Miscellaneous expenses......................................    20,125
                                                                      ---------

                                    Total............................ $ 290,710

- --------------------------
         *  Actual.  All other expenses are estimated.


Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         The  By-Laws  of the  Company  provide  that each  person who now is or
hereafter  becomes a director or officer shall be  indemnified by the Company to
the  maximum  extent  permitted  by law  against  all  judgments,  expenses  and
settlements  incurred in connection  with any direct or third party civil action
or any criminal claim against that person arising by reason of the fact that the
person is or was  serving as a director  or  officer  of the  Company;  subject,
however,  to the statutory  restriction  that the Company  cannot  indemnify any
person if that person's  conduct is adjudged to have been knowingly  fraudulent,
deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct.  Partial  indemnification,  to the
extent permitted by law and public policy,  is permitted in instances where full
indemnification is not permitted. And, where full indemnification is prohibited,
such  person  nevertheless  shall  have a right of  contribution  to the  extent
permitted  by law and  public  policy in  situations  where  said  party is held
jointly liable with the Company.

         The aforesaid  right to  indemnification  is not exclusive of any other
right to indemnification that such persons may be entitled under any contract or
agreement.   The  Company  has   contracted   with  each   director  to  provide
indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by law and public policy for any
and all expenses (including judgments,  fines, attorneys' fees, and amounts paid
in settlement) incurred by said director in his capacity as a director.

         Section 351.355  R.S.Mo.  1994 also provides for  indemnification  by a
corporation  of each  director  and  officer  in  connection  with any  civil or
criminal action unless said person's  conduct is adjudged to have been knowingly
fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct.

         Subject  to certain  exceptions,  the  directors  and  officers  of the
Company  are  insured  for loss up to  $25,000,000  resulting  from any claim or
claims made against them,  including  claims arising under the Securities Act of
1933 and caused by any negligent  act, any error,  any omission or any breach of
duty while acting in their capacities as officers or directors,  and the Company
is  identically  insured  to the  extent  that it  shall  have  indemnified  the
directors and officers for such loss (subject to a deductible of $2,000.000 with
respect to each loss). The premiums for such insurance are paid by the Company.



                                      II-1

<PAGE>



Item 16.  Exhibits.

         The following  exhibits were  previously  filed with this  registration
statement or are filed herewith and made a part hereof:


   Exhibit No.                              Description
   -----------                              -----------

          1.1           - Form of  Underwriting  Agreement  for New Bonds.
                        (Previously filed.)

          1.2           - Form of  Underwriting  Agreement  for  New  Debt
                        Securities.

          4.1           - Form of  Supplemental  Indenture  of the Company
                        relating to New Bonds. (Previously filed.)

          4.12          - Form of Indenture of the Company relating to New
                        Debt Securities.

          4.13          - Form  of  Board  Resolutions   Authorizing   the
                        Issuance of Subordinated Debt Securities.

          4.14          - Form of Specimen Subordinated Debt Security.

          5.1           - Opinion of William E. Jaudes, Vice President and
                        General Counsel of the Company, including consent.

          5.2           - Opinion of Winthrop,  Stimson,  Putnam & Roberts
                        with  respect  to  certain  New York law  matters,
                        including consent.

          8             - Opinion of Winthrop,  Stimson, Putnam & Roberts,
                        special tax counsel to the  Company,  with respect
                        to tax matters, including consent.

         12             - Statement re computation of ratio of earnings to
                        fixed charges.

         23             - Consent of Independent Accountants.

         24             - Powers of Attorney.  (Previously filed.)

         25.1           - Form T-1 of Boatmen's  Trust  Company,  Mortgage
                        Trustee. (Previously filed.)

         25.2           - Form T-1 of Boatmen's Trust Company, Trustee.

         99             - Form  of  Prospectus   Supplement  relating  to
                        Subordinated Debt Securities.*



- -------------------
*         The  form  of  Prospectus  Supplement  filed  as  Exhibit  99 to  this
          post-effective  amendment to the registration statement may be used as
          a supplement to the Prospectus  forming a part of this  post-effective
          amendment to the registration statement in connection with an offering
          of the  securities  referenced  therein  and is included as an exhibit
          because  of the  current  plans  of the  Company,  subject  to  market
          conditions and other factors,  to commence such an offering  following
          effectiveness  of this  post-effective  amendment to the  registration
          statement.


                                      II-2

<PAGE>



                       Exhibits Incorporated by Reference


   Exhibit No.                              Description
   -----------                              -----------

          4.2           - Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust of the
                        Company dated June 15, 1937, as amended May 1,
                        1941, and Second Supplemental Indenture dated May
                        1, 1941.  (Registration No. 2-4940, Exhibit B-1.)

          4.3           - Supplemental Indentures to Mortgage


Dated as of                       File Reference             Exhibit No.
- -----------                       --------------             -----------

March 1, 1967                  2-58274                               2.9
March 15, 1968                 Form 8-K, April 1968                  2
May 1, 1969                    Form 8-K, May 1969                    2
October 1, 1969                Form 8-K, October 1969                2
January 1, 1971                Form 8-K, January 1971                2
April 1, 1971                  Form 8-K, April 1971                  6
September 15, 1971             Form 8-K, October 1971                3
February 1, 1974               Form 8-K, February 1974               3
August 16, 1976                Form 8-K, September 1976              4
December 1, 1977               Form 10-K, 1977                       6.5
July 7, 1980                   2-69821                               4.6
February 1, 1981               2-70655                               4.5
September 1, 1982              2-79118                               4.4
March 1, 1983                  2-82336                               4.3
March 1, 1986                  33-3737                               4.3
May 1, 1990                    Form 10-K, 1990                       4.6
December 1, 1991               33-45008                              4.4
December 4, 1991               33-45008                              4.5
January 1, 1992                Form 10-K, 1991                       4.6
October 1, 1992                Form 10-K, 1992                       4.6
December 1, 1992               Form 10-K, 1992                       4.7
February 1, 1993               Form 10-K, 1992                       4.8
May 1, 1993                    Form 10-K, 1993                       4.4
August 1, 1993                 Form 10-K, 1993                       4.4
October 1, 1993                Form 10-K, 1993                       4.7
January 1, 1994                Form 10-K, 1993                       4.8



          4.5           - Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust of
                        Missouri Power & Light Company dated July 1, 1946
                        and Supplemental Indentures dated July 1, 1946,
                        November 1, 1949, June 1, 1951, July 1, 1954,
                        December 1, 1959, July 1, 1962, March 1, 1966,
                        April 1, 1967, June 15, 1969, April 15, 1973,
                        December 1, 1974, May 1, 1976 and July 1, 1979.
                        (Registration No. 2-87469, Exhibit 4.1.)

          4.6           - Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of
                        December 30, 1983 to the Mortgage and Deed of
                        Trust dated July 1, 1946, of Missouri Power & Light
                        Company.  (1983 Form 10-K, Exhibit 4.23.)


                                      II-3

<PAGE>



          4.7           - Instrument of Substitution of Individual Trustee
                        dated as of November 1, 1988 under the Mortgage
                        and Deed of Trust dated July 1, 1946 of Union
                        Electric Company (successor to Missouri Power &
                        Light Company).  (1988 Form 10-K, Exhibit 4.8.)

          4.8           - Indenture of Mortgage or Deed of Trust of Missouri
                        Edison Company dated July 1, 1945 and Supplemental
                        Indentures dated January 1, 1952, June 1, 1961,
                        June 1, 1965, August 1, 1975, September 1, 1976,
                        November 1, 1977, February 1, 1981 and July 1,
                        1982.  (Registration No. 2-87469, Exhibit 4.2.)

          4.9           - Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated as of
                        December 30, 1983 to the Indenture of Mortgage or
                        Deed of Trust dated as of July 1, 1945 of Missouri
                        Edison Company.  (1983 Form 10-K, Exhibit 4.24.)

          4.10          - Instrument of Substitution of Trustee dated as of
                        March 1, 1985 under the Indenture of Mortgage or
                        Deed of Trust dated July 1, 1945 of Union Electric
                        Company (successor to Missouri Edison Company).
                        (1984 Form 10-K, Exhibit 4.10.)

          4.11          - Instrument of Substitution of Trustee dated as of
                        October 14, 1986 under the Indenture of Mortgage or
                        Deed of Trust dated July 1, 1945 of Union Electric
                        Company (successor to Missouri Edison Company).
                        (September 30, 1986 Form 10-Q, Exhibit 4.2.)



         Note: Reports of the Company on Forms 8-K and 10-K are on file with the
    SEC under file number 1-2967.

Item 17.  Undertakings.

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective  amendment to this registration  statement:  (i) To include any
prospectus  required by section  10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) To
reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events arising after the effective date
of the  registration  statement  (or the most  recent  post-effective  amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in the registration statement.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  any  increase or decrease  in volume of  securities  offered (if the
total  dollar  value of  securities  offered  would not  exceed  that  which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated  maximum
offering  range  may be  reflected  in the  form of  prospectus  filed  with the
Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate,  the changes in volume
and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate  offering
price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration  Fee" table in the effective
registration  statement;  (iii) To include any material information with respect
to the  plan  of  distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the  registration
statement  or any  material  change  to  such  information  in the  registration
statement; provided, however, that (i) and (ii) do not apply if the registration
statement  is on  Form  S-3 or Form  S-8,  and the  information  required  to be
included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those  paragraphs  is  contained in
periodic  reports filed by the  registrant  pursuant to section 13(a) or section
15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference
in the registration statement.



                                      II-4

<PAGE>



         (2) That,  for the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective  amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

         (4)  That,  for  purposes  of  determining   any  liability  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the  registrant's  annual report pursuant
to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is
incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration  statement  relating to the securities  offered herein, and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (5)  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the  registrant  pursuant to the provisions  described  under Item 15
above, or otherwise,  the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event that a
claim for  indemnification  against such liabilities  (other than the payment by
the  registrant  of  expenses  incurred  or  paid  by  a  director,  officer  or
controlling  person of the registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  has been  settled  by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

         (6) That (1) for  purposes  of  determining  any  liability  under  the
Securities  Act of 1933,  the  information  omitted from the form of  prospectus
filed as part of this  Registration  Statement  in  reliance  upon Rule 430A and
contained  in a form of  prospectus  filed by the  registrant  pursuant  to Rule
424(b)(l) or (4) or 497(h) under the  Securities  Act shall be deemed to be part
of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and (2)
for the purpose of determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933,
each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed
to be a new registration  statement  relating to the securities offered therein,
and the  offering  of such  securities  at that  time  shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.



                                      II-5

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of  the   requirements  for  filing  on  Form  S-3  and  has  duly  caused  this
Post-effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the City of St. Louis,
and State of Missouri, on the 22nd day of November, 1996.

                                       UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
                                         (Registrant)


                                       /s/Charles W. Mueller
                                       _____________________
                                       CHARLES W. MUELLER
                                       President and Chief
                                        Executive Officer


         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Post-effective  Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed by
the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.



________________________*        Senior Vice President        November 22, 1996
DONALD E. BRANDT                (Principal Financial and
                                   Accounting Officer)

________________________*              Director               November 22, 1996
WILLIAM E. CORNELIUS

________________________*              Director               November 22, 1996
THOMAS H. JACOBSEN

________________________*              Director               November 22, 1996
THOMAS A. HAYS

________________________*              Director               November 22, 1996
JOHN PETERS MacCARTHY

________________________*              Director               November 22, 1996
PAUL L. MILLER, JR.

________________________*              Director               November 22, 1996
CHARLES W. MUELLER

________________________*              Director               November 22, 1996
ROBERT H. QUENON

________________________*              Director               November 22, 1996
HARVEY SALIGMAN

________________________*              Director               November 22, 1996
JANET McAFEE WEAKLEY



*  By /s/ James C. Thompson                              November 22, 1996
   ---------------------------------------
         (James C. Thompson, Attorney-in-Fact)


                                      II-6

<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


   Exhibit No.                          Description
   -----------                          -----------

          1.1           - Form of Underwriting Agreement for New Bonds.
                        (Previously filed.)

          1.2           - Form of Underwriting Agreement for New Debt
                        Securities.

          4.1           - Form of Supplemental Indenture of the Company
                        relating to New Bonds. (Previously filed.)

          4.12          - Form of Indenture of the Company relating to New
                        Debt Securities.

          4.13          - Form of Board Resolutions Authorizing the Issuance
                        of Subordinated Debt Securities.

          4.14          - Form of Specimen Subordinated Debt Security.

          5.1           - Opinion of William E. Jaudes, Vice President and
                        General Counsel of the Company, including consent.

          5.2           - Opinion of Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts
                        with respect to certain New York law matters,
                        including consent.

          8             - Opinion of Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts,
                        special tax counsel to the Company, with respect to
                        tax matters, including consent.

         12             - Statement re computation of ratio of earnings to
                        fixed charges.

         23             - Consent of Independent Accountants.

         24             - Powers of Attorney.  (Previously filed.)

         25.1           - Form T-1 of Boatmen's Trust Company, Mortgage
                        Trustee.  (Previously filed.)

         25.2           - Form T-1 of Boatmen's Trust Company, Trustee.

         99             - Form of Prospectus Supplement relating to
                        Subordinated Debt Securities.



                                      II-7

<PAGE>


                                                                 EXHIBIT 1.2


                                                                 WSP&R
                                                                 DRAFT
                                                                 11/22/96


                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY

                Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debt Securities

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT


                                December __, 1996


Lehman Brothers Inc.

As Representative of the several
  Underwriters named in
  Schedule II hereto

Dear Sirs:

                  Union   Electric   Company,   a  Missouri   corporation   (the
"Company"),  confirms its agreement with you and each of the other  underwriters
named  in  Schedule  II  hereto   (the   "Underwriters"),   for  whom  you  (the
"Representative") are acting as representative,  with respect to the sale by the
Company  and the  several  purchases  by the  Underwriters  of a  series  of the
Company's subordinated  deferrable interest debt securities having the terms and
to be issued in the amount  specified  in Schedule I hereto (the  "Securities").
The  Securities  will be  issued  under  the  Company's  Indenture,  dated as of
December __, 1996, to Boatmen's Trust Company,  as trustee (the  "Trustee"),  as
supplemented by a supplemental indenture,  resolutions of the Board of Directors
of the Company,  or a duly authorized  committee  thereof,  or certificate of an
officer  of the  Company  relating  to the  Securities  (any  such  supplemental
indenture,  resolution  or  certificate  being  hereinafter  referred  to as the
"Supplemental Indenture"), in substantially the form heretofore delivered to the
Representative.  The term "Indenture",  as used herein, shall be deemed to refer
to such Indenture as so supplemented by the Supplemental  Indenture. If the firm
or firms  listed in Schedule II hereto  include only the firm or firms listed in
Schedule I hereto, then the terms "Underwriters" and  "Representative",  as used
herein, shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or firms.

                  1.  Representations  and Warranties.  The Company  represents
and warrants to, and agrees with,  each  Underwriter  as set forth below in this
Section 1. Certain  terms used in this  Section 1 are defined in  paragraph  (c)
hereof.




<PAGE>



                  (a) The Company meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3
         under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and has filed
         with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission")  a
         registration statement (File No. 33-45008) ("Registration Statement No.
         33-45008")  on  such  form  for  the  registration  under  the  Act  of
         $200,000,000  principal  amount of the Company's  first mortgage bonds.
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-45008  was  declared  effective by the
         Commission on January 17, 1992.  While an aggregate of  $100,000,000 of
         such first mortgage bonds remained unsold,  the Company also filed with
         the   Commission  a   registration   statement   (File  No.   33-52914)
         ("Registration   Statement   No.   33-52914")   on  Form  S-3  for  the
         registration  under  the Act of an  additional  $700,000,000  principal
         amount of the  Company's  first  mortgage  bonds,  including a combined
         prospectus  relating,  pursuant  to  Rule  429  under  the  Act,  to an
         aggregate  of  $800,000,000  principal  amount of the  Company's  first
         mortgage  bonds.  Registration  Statement  No.  33-52914  was  declared
         effective by the Commission on October 13, 1992.  Thereafter,  while an
         aggregate of $90,000,000 of such first mortgage bonds remained  unsold,
         the Company  also filed with the  Commission a  registration  statement
         (File No. 33-66116) ("Registration Statement No. 33-66116") on Form S-3
         for  the  registration  under  the  Act of an  additional  $310,000,000
         principal  amount of the Company's  first mortgage  bonds,  including a
         combined prospectus relating, pursuant to Rule 429 under the Act, to an
         aggregate  of  $400,000,000  principal  amount of the  Company's  first
         mortgage  bonds.  Registration  Statement  No.  33-66116  was  declared
         effective by the Commission on July 26, 1993. On November __, 1996, the
         Company filed Post-Effective  Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement
         No.  33-66116 in order to facilitate the offering of one or more series
         of unsecured debt securities,  including the Securities, in addition to
         the Company's first mortgage bonds.  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 1 to
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-66116,  as so  amended,  was  declared
         effective by the  Commission  on _________  __, 1996. As of the date of
         effectiveness of said  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 1, an aggregate of
         $225,000,000  principal  amount of debt  securities  was  available for
         issuance under  Registration  Statement No.  33-66116.  The Company may
         have filed one or more other  amendments to Registration  Statement No.
         33-66116, and may have used a Preliminary Prospectus, each of which has
         previously  been  furnished to you. The offering of the Securities is a
         Delayed Offering and, although the combined  prospectus  forming a part
         of Registration  Statement No. 33- 66116,  as amended,  may not include
         all the  information  with respect to the  Securities  and the offering
         thereof  required by the Act and the rules thereunder to be included in
         the  Final  Prospectus,  such  combined  Prospectus  includes  all such
         information required by the Act and the rules thereunder to be included
         therein as of the Effective  Date.  The Company will next file with the
         Commission  pursuant  to  Rules  415  and  424(b)(2)  or  (5)  a  final
         supplement to the form of combined  prospectus included in Registration
         Statement No. 33-66116, as amended,  relating to the Securities and the
         offering  thereof.  As filed,  such final  prospectus  supplement shall
         include all required information with respect to the Securities and the
         offering  thereof and,  except to the extent the  Representative  shall
         agree  in  writing  to a  modification,  shall  be in  all  substantive
         respects in the form  furnished to you prior to the Execution  Time or,
         to the extent not completed at the Execution  Time,  shall contain only
         such specific  additional  information  and other changes  (beyond that
         contained in such combined  prospectus and any Preliminary  Prospectus)
         as the Company has advised you,  prior to the Execution  Time,  will be
         included or made therein.


                                       -2-

<PAGE>




                  (b) On the Effective Date, the Registration  Statement did and
         when the  Final  Prospectus  is first  filed in  accordance  with  Rule
         424(b),  the Final Prospectus (and any supplement  thereto) will comply
         in all material  respects with the applicable  requirements of the Act,
         the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange  Act"),
         and the Trust  Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust  Indenture
         Act"), and the respective rules thereunder;  on the Effective Date, the
         Registration  Statement  did not  contain  any  untrue  statement  of a
         material  fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
         therein  or  necessary  in  order to make the  statements  therein  not
         misleading;  on  the  Effective  Date  and  on  the  Closing  Date  (as
         hereinafter defined), the Indenture did and will comply in all material
         respects with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules
         thereunder;  and on the date of its filing  pursuant to Rule 424(b) and
         on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement
         thereto)  will not include any untrue  statement of a material  fact or
         omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
         therein,  in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
         not  misleading;   provided,   however,   that  the  Company  makes  no
         representations  or warranties as to (i) that part of the  Registration
         Statement  which shall  constitute  the  Statement of  Eligibility  and
         Qualification  (Form T-l) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee;
         or (ii) the information  contained in or omitted from the  Registration
         Statement  or the  Final  Prospectus  (or any  supplement  thereto)  in
         reliance upon and in conformity with  information  furnished in writing
         to  the  Company  by  or on  behalf  of  any  Underwriter  through  the
         Representative specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement
         or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).

                  (c) The terms which follow, when used in this Agreement, shall
         have the  meanings  indicated.  With  respect  to each of  Registration
         Statement  No.  33-45008,   Registration  Statement  No.  33-52914  and
         Registration  Statement No.  33-66116,  the term "Effective Date" shall
         mean the later of each date that such registration  statement initially
         became  effective,  each  date  that any  post-effective  amendment  or
         amendments  thereto  became  or  become  effective  and the date of the
         filing  of the  Company's  most  recent  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K.
         "Execution  Time" shall mean the date and time that this  Agreement  is
         executed and delivered by the parties hereto.  "Basic Prospectus" shall
         mean  the  combined  prospectus  referred  to in  paragraph  (a)  above
         contained in and forming a part of Registration  Statement No. 33-66116
         at  the  Effective  Date.  "Preliminary   Prospectus"  shall  mean  any
         preliminary   prospectus  supplement  to  the  Basic  Prospectus  which
         describes the Securities and the offering  thereof and is used prior to
         filing of the  Final  Prospectus.  "Final  Prospectus"  shall  mean the
         prospectus  supplement  relating to the Securities  that is first filed
         pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the  Execution  Time,  together  with the
         Basic  Prospectus.  "Registration  Statement"  shall mean  Registration
         Statement  No.  33-45008,   Registration  Statement  No.  33-52914  and
         Registration   Statement   No.   33-66116,   including   in  each  case
         incorporated  documents,  exhibits and  financial  statements,  each as
         amended  to the  Execution  Time and,  in the event any  post-effective
         amendment to any  Registration  Statement  becomes  effective after the
         Execution  Time and prior to the  Closing  Date,  shall  also mean such
         Registration  Statement as so amended.  "Rule 415",  "Rule 424",  "Rule
         429" and "Regulation  S-K" refer to such rules and regulation under the
         Act. Any  reference  herein to the  Registration  Statement,  the Basic
         Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be
         deemed to  refer  to  and  include  the  documents   incorporated by


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



         reference  therein  pursuant  to Item 12 of Form S-3 which  were  filed
         under the Exchange Act on or before the date  Post-Effective  Amendment
         No. 1 to Registration  Statement No.  33-66116 became  effective or the
         issue date of the Basic Prospectus,  any Preliminary  Prospectus or the
         Final  Prospectus,  as the case may be; and any reference herein to the
         terms  "amend",   "amendment"  or  "supplement"  with  respect  to  the
         Registration   Statement,   the  Basic   Prospectus,   any  Preliminary
         Prospectus  or the  Final  Prospectus  shall be  deemed to refer to and
         include the filing of any  document  under the  Exchange  Act after the
         effective date of such Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 or the issue date
         of the  Basic  Prospectus,  any  Preliminary  Prospectus  or the  Final
         Prospectus,  as the case may be, deemed to be  incorporated  therein by
         reference.  A "Delayed  Offering"  shall mean an offering of securities
         pursuant  to Rule  415  which  does not  commence  promptly  after  the
         effective date of a registration  statement,  with the result that only
         information  required  pursuant  to Rule 415 need be  included  in such
         registration  statement at the  effective  date thereof with respect to
         the securities so offered.

                  2. Purchase and Sale.  Subject to the terms and conditions and
in  reliance  upon the  representations  and  warranties  herein set forth,  the
Company  agrees  to sell to  each  Underwriter,  and  each  Underwriter  agrees,
severally and not jointly,  to purchase from the Company,  at the purchase price
set  forth in  Schedule  I  hereto,  the  respective  principal  amounts  of the
Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in Schedule II hereto.

                  3.  Delivery  and  Payment.  Delivery  of and  payment for the
Securities  shall be made on the date and at the time  specified  in  Schedule I
hereto  (or such  later  date not  later  than five  business  days  after  such
specified date as the Representative  shall designate),  which date and time may
be  postponed  by  agreement  between the  Representative  and the Company or as
provided in Section 8 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the
Securities being herein called the "Closing  Date").  Delivery of the Securities
shall be made to the Representative  for the respective  accounts of the several
Underwriters   against   payment  by  the  several   Underwriters   through  the
Representative  of the  respective  purchase  prices thereof by wire transfer of
immediately  available  funds.  Delivery of the Securities shall be made at such
location as the Representative  shall reasonably designate at least one business
day in advance of the Closing Date and payment for the Securities  shall be made
at the office  specified in Schedule I hereto.  Certificates  for the Securities
shall  be   registered  in  such  names  and  in  such   denominations   as  the
Representative  may request not less than two full  business  days in advance of
the Closing Date.

                  The  Company  agrees  to have  the  Securities  available  for
inspection,  checking and packaging by the Representative in New York, New York,
not later than 1:00 P.M. on the business day prior to the Closing Date.

                  4.  Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each
Underwriter that:

                  (a) The  Company  will  use its  best  efforts  to  cause  any
         post-effective   amendment  to  the  Registration   Statement,  if  not
         effective at the  Execution  Time,  to become  effective.  Prior to the
         termination  of the  offering of the  Securities,  the Company will not
         file  any  amendment  of  the  Registration   Statement  or  supplement



                                       -4-

<PAGE>



         (including the Final  Prospectus or any Preliminary  Prospectus) to the
         Basic Prospectus (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to
         an offering of first mortgage bonds or debt  securities  other than the
         Securities) unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review
         prior to  filing  and will not  file  any such  proposed  amendment  or
         supplement  to which you  reasonably  object.  Subject to the foregoing
         sentence,  the  Company  will  cause  the  Final  Prospectus,  properly
         completed,  and any supplement  thereto to be filed with the Commission
         pursuant to the  applicable  paragraph  of Rule 424(b)  within the time
         period  prescribed  and  will  provide  evidence  satisfactory  to  the
         Representative of such timely filing.  The Company will promptly advise
         the  Representative  (i)  when  any  post-effective  amendment  to  the
         Registration  Statement,  if not effective at the Execution Time, shall
         have  become  effective;  (ii)  when  the  Final  Prospectus,  and  any
         supplement thereto,  shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant
         to Rule 424(b); (iii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the
         Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been
         filed or become  effective;  (iv) of any request by the  Commission for
         any amendment of the Registration  Statement or supplement to the Final
         Prospectus or for any  additional  information;  (v) of the issuance by
         the Commission of any stop order  suspending the  effectiveness  of the
         Registration  Statement  or  the  institution  or  threatening  of  any
         proceeding for that purpose;  and (vi) of the receipt by the Company of
         any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of
         the  Securities  for  sale in any  jurisdiction  or the  initiation  or
         threatening of any  proceeding  for such purpose.  The Company will use
         its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if
         issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

                  (b)  If,  at  any  time  when  a  prospectus  relating  to the
         Securities is required to be delivered  under the Act, any event occurs
         as a result of which the Final  Prospectus as then  supplemented  would
         include any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any
         material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
         light of the circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,
         or if it shall be  necessary  to amend the  Registration  Statement  or
         supplement the Final  Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange
         Act or the  respective  rules  thereunder,  the Company  promptly  will
         prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of
         paragraph (a) of this Section 4, an amendment or supplement  which will
         correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

                  (c) As soon as  practicable,  the Company will make  generally
         available to its security holders and to the  Representative an earning
         statement  or   statements  of  the  Company  which  will  satisfy  the
         provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act.

                  (d) The Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel
         for the Underwriters,  without charge, copies of Registration Statement
         No.  33-45008,  Registration  Statement No.  33-52914 and  Registration
         Statement No. 33-66116, as amended, as originally filed (including,  in
         the case of Registration Statement No. 33- 66116, as amended,  exhibits
         thereto;  provided  that the  Company  will,  upon the  request  of the
         Underwriters,  furnish copies of the exhibits to Registration Statement
         No. 33- 45008 and Registration Statement No. 33-52914),  all amendments
         thereto  relating  to the  Securities  and,  so long as  delivery  of a
         prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act, as


                                       -5-

<PAGE>



         many copies of any Preliminary  Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and
         any supplement thereto as the  Representative  may reasonably  request.
         The Company  will pay the expenses of printing or other  production  of
         all documents relating to the offering.

                  (e)  The  Company  will  cooperate  in  good  faith  with  the
         Representative  in qualifying  the  Securities for offer and sale under
         the laws of such  jurisdictions  as the  Representative  may designate,
         will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the
         distribution  of  the   Securities,   and,  upon  the  request  of  the
         Representative,  will arrange for the  determination of the legality of
         the Securities for purchase by institutional investors.

                  (f) Until the  business  date set forth on  Schedule I hereto,
         the Company will not, without the consent of the Representative, offer,
         guarantee, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, by public
         offering,  or announce the public offering of, any long-term  unsecured
         debt securities other than the Securities.

                  5.  Conditions to the  Obligations  of the  Underwriters.  The
obligations of the  Underwriters to purchase the Securities  shall be subject to
the accuracy of the  representations  and  warranties on the part of the Company
contained  herein as of the Execution Time and the Closing Date, to the accuracy
of the  statements  of the  Company  made in any  certificates  pursuant  to the
provisions  hereof,  to the  performance  by  the  Company  of  its  obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

                  (a) The Final  Prospectus  shall have been filed in the manner
         and within the time period  required by Rule 424(b);  and no stop order
         suspending the  effectiveness of the Registration  Statement shall have
         been  issued  and no  proceedings  for that  purpose  shall  have  been
         instituted or threatened.

                  (b) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative the
         opinion of William E. Jaudes, Vice President and General Counsel of the
         Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

                           (i) the Company is a corporation  duly  organized and
                  validly  existing  and in  good  standing  under  the  laws of
                  Missouri and has due corporate  power and authority to own its
                  properties  and conduct its business as described in the Final
                  Prospectus,  and is duly  qualified to conduct in Illinois and
                  Iowa the  businesses  in which it is engaged in those  States,
                  which  are the only  States in which it is  required  to be so
                  qualified;

                           (ii) the  Company  has full  power and  authority  to
                  execute the Indenture and to issue the Securities  thereunder,
                  and the  Indenture  has been  duly  authorized,  executed  and
                  delivered by the Company,  has been duly  qualified  under the
                  Trust  Indenture  Act,  and  constitutes  a valid and  legally
                  binding  instrument  by the  Company  enforceable  against the
                  Company in accordance with its terms;



                                       -6-

<PAGE>



                           (iii)  Boatmen's  Trust  Company  is  authorized  and
                  qualified  under the laws of the States of Missouri,  Illinois
                  and Iowa to act as Trustee under the Indenture;

                           (iv)  the  Securities  have  been  duly   authorized,
                  executed  and  issued  by  the  Company   and,   assuming  due
                  authentication  thereof by the  Trustee  and upon  payment and
                  delivery in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,  will
                  constitute  valid  and  legally  binding  obligations  of  the
                  Company  enforceable  against the Company in  accordance  with
                  their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;

                           (v) to the best  knowledge of such counsel,  there is
                  no pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding before any
                  court  or  governmental  agency,  authority  or  body  or  any
                  arbitrator involving the Company of a character required to be
                  disclosed  in  the   Registration   Statement   which  is  not
                  adequately disclosed in the Final Prospectus,  and there is no
                  franchise,  contract or other document of a character required
                  to  be  described  in  the  Registration  Statement  or  Final
                  Prospectus,  or to  be  filed  as an  exhibit,  which  is  not
                  described or filed as required; and the statements included or
                  incorporated  in the  Final  Prospectus  describing  any legal
                  proceedings  or material  contracts or agreements  relating to
                  the Company fairly summarize such matters;

                           (vi) Registration     Statement     No.     33-45008,
                  Registration   Statement   No.  33-  52914  and   Registration
                  Statement  No.  33-66116,  and each  post-effective  amendment
                  thereto,  have  each  become  effective  under  the  Act;  any
                  required  filing  of the  Basic  Prospectus,  any  Preliminary
                  Prospectus  and the  Final  Prospectus,  and  any  supplements
                  thereto,  pursuant  to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner
                  and within the time  period  required by Rule  424(b);  to the
                  best knowledge of such counsel,  no stop order  suspending the
                  effectiveness of the  Registration  Statement has been issued,
                  and no  proceedings  for that purpose have been  instituted or
                  threatened;  at the respective  Effective  Dates thereof,  the
                  Registration  Statement  and, at the time first filed pursuant
                  to Rule 424(b),  the Final  Prospectus (in each case including
                  the  documents  then  incorporated  by  reference  therein but
                  excluding the  financial  statements  and other  financial and
                  statistical  information  contained  therein  as to which such
                  counsel  need  express no opinion)  complied as to form in all
                  material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act,
                  the Exchange Act and the Trust  Indenture  Act, as applicable,
                  and the respective rules  thereunder;  and such counsel has no
                  reason to believe  that,  at the  respective  Effective  Dates
                  thereof,  the  Registration  Statement  contained  any  untrue
                  statement of a material  fact or omitted to state any material
                  fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the
                  statements   therein   not   misleading   or  that  the  Final
                  Prospectus,  at the time first  filed  pursuant to Rule 424(b)
                  and at the Closing  Date,  includes any untrue  statement of a
                  material fact or omits to state a material  fact  necessary in
                  order  to make the  statements  therein,  in the  light of the
                  circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;



                                       -7-

<PAGE>



                           (vii) the  Company  has full power and  authority  to
                  execute  this  Agreement  and this  Agreement  has  been  duly
                  authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

                           (viii) the Missouri Public Service Commission and the
                  Illinois  Commerce  Commission  have duly authorized the issue
                  and sale of the Securities; such authorizations are sufficient
                  for the issue and sale of the Securities and are in full force
                  and effect; no other approval or consent of or filing with any
                  other  governmental  body,  including  without  limitation any
                  regulatory  body of the State of Iowa (other  than,  under the
                  Act or the Trust  Indenture Act, which have been obtained,  or
                  in  connection  or  compliance  with  the  provisions  of  the
                  securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction, as to which
                  such counsel  expresses no  opinion),  is legally  required in
                  connection  with the execution and delivery of this  Agreement
                  and the Indenture or the  authorization,  issuance and sale of
                  the Securities;

                           (ix) the execution and delivery of the Indenture, the
                  Securities  and this  Agreement,  and the  fulfillment  of the
                  terms thereof and hereof by the Company,  will not result in a
                  breach of any of the terms or  provisions  of, or constitute a
                  default  under any  provision  of, the  Company's  articles of
                  incorporation or by-laws or any indenture,  mortgage,  deed of
                  trust or other agreement or instrument,  of which such counsel
                  has knowledge,  to which the Company is now a party or, to the
                  best  of  such  counsel's   knowledge,   any  order,  rule  or
                  regulation of any court or governmental  agency or body having
                  jurisdiction  over the  Company  or any of its  activities  or
                  properties;

                           (x)  the   provisions  of  the   Securities  and  the
                  Indenture conform in all material respects as to legal matters
                  to the  statements  concerning  them  contained  in the  Final
                  Prospectus  under "The  Offering"  and  "Certain  Terms of the
                  Capital Securities";

                           (xi) no holders of  securities  of the  Company  have
                  rights  to the  registration  of  such  securities  under  the
                  Registration Statement;

                           (xii) the  franchises,  permits  and  licenses  under
                  which the Company operates in the States of Missouri, Illinois
                  and Iowa are  adequate  to permit the Company to engage in the
                  businesses which it presently  conducts in those States and do
                  not  contain  any  unduly  burdensome  provisions;   in  those
                  municipalities  where the Company operates without  franchises
                  or where expired franchises have not been renewed, the lack of
                  such  franchises  does not  materially  affect  the  Company's
                  operations   in  such   municipalities   and  no   actions  or
                  proceedings  are  pending  or,  to such  counsel's  knowledge,
                  threatened  by  such  municipalities  which  would  materially
                  affect the Company's operations[; and

                           (xiii)  the   Company  is  exempt  from  all  of  the
                  provisions of the Public Utility  Holding Company Act of 1935,
                  except Sections 9(a)(2) and 11(b)(2) thereof].


                                       -8-

<PAGE>




                  Such counsel's  opinion set forth in paragraphs  (ii) and (iv)
above is subject to the qualifications  that the enforceability of the Company's
obligations under the Indenture and the Securities may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,  moratorium and other similar
laws relating to or affecting creditor's rights generally,  by general equitable
principles  (regardless  of  whether  such  enforceability  is  considered  in a
proceeding  in equity or at law) and by an  implied  covenant  of good faith and
fair dealing.

                  Such  opinion  shall  also  state  that  such  counsel  has no
knowledge  of any  litigation,  pending  or  threatened,  which  challenges  the
validity of the Securities,  the Indenture, or this Agreement, or which seeks to
enjoin the  performance of the Company's  obligations  thereunder or which might
have  a  material  adverse  effect  on the  business,  properties  or  financial
condition of the Company  except as disclosed  in or  contemplated  by the Final
Prospectus.

                  In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to factual
matters upon certificates or written statements from others or other appropriate
representatives of the Company or upon certificates of public officials. In such
opinion,  such  counsel  may state that  while such  counsel  has  examined  the
Registration  Statement  and the  Final  Prospectus,  such  counsel  necessarily
assumes the correctness and  completeness of the statements made and information
included therein and takes no  responsibility  therefor,  except insofar as such
statements relate to him and as set forth in paragraph (x) above.

                  Such counsel's  opinion may further state that it is addressed
to the  Underwriters  and is  rendered  solely for their  benefit and may not be
relied upon in any manner by any other  person  (other than  Winthrop,  Stimson,
Putnam & Roberts to the extent stated in its opinion to the  Underwriters  as of
the Closing Date) without such counsel's prior written consent.

                  (c) The  Representative  shall have  received  from  Winthrop,
         Stimson, Putnam & Roberts,  counsel for the Underwriters,  such opinion
         or opinions,  dated the Closing Date,  with respect to the issuance and
         sale of the Securities,  the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the
         Final  Prospectus  (together  with any  supplement  thereto)  and other
         related matters as the Representative may reasonably  require,  and the
         Company  shall have  furnished to such  counsel such  documents as they
         request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

                  (d) The Company shall have furnished to the  Representative  a
         certificate of the Company,  signed by the Chairman of the Board or the
         President  and the  principal  financial or  accounting  officer of the
         Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such
         certificate  have carefully  examined the Registration  Statement,  the
         Final  Prospectus,  any  supplement  to the Final  Prospectus  and this
         Agreement and that:

                           (i) the representations and warranties of the Company
                  in  this  Agreement  are  true  and  correct  in all  material
                  respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as
                  if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied  with
                  all the  agreements  and satisfied  all the  conditions on its
                  part to be  performed  or satisfied at or prior to the Closing
                  Date;



                                       -9-

<PAGE>



                           (ii) no stop order  suspending the  effectiveness  of
                  the Registration  Statement has been issued and no proceedings
                  for that purpose  have been  instituted  or, to the  Company's
                  knowledge, threatened; and

                           (iii)  since  the date of the most  recent  financial
                  statements included in the Final Prospectus  (exclusive of any
                  supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse change
                  in the condition (financial or other),  earnings,  business or
                  properties  of  the  Company,  whether  or  not  arising  from
                  transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set
                  forth in or contemplated in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of
                  any supplement thereto).

                  (e) At the Closing Date, Price Waterhouse shall have furnished
         to the  Representative  a letter or  letters,  dated as of the  Closing
         Date,  in  form  and  substance  satisfactory  to  the  Representative,
         confirming  that they are independent  accountants  with respect to the
         Company  within  the  meaning of the Act and the  Exchange  Act and the
         respective  applicable  published rules and regulations  thereunder and
         stating in effect that:

                           (i)  in  their   opinion,   the   audited   financial
                  statements and financial statement  schedules  incorporated in
                  the  Registration  Statement  and  the  Final  Prospectus  and
                  reported  on by them comply in form in all  material  respects
                  with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
                  Exchange Act and the related published rules and regulations;

                           (ii)  based  on the  performance  of  the  procedures
                  specified  by  the  American  Institute  of  Certified  Public
                  Accountants  for review of interim  financial  information  as
                  described in Statement of Auditing  Standards No. 71,  Interim
                  Financial  Information,   on  unaudited  financial  statements
                  incorporated  in the  Registration  Statement  and  the  Final
                  Prospectus  (if any),  inquiries  of  officials of the Company
                  responsible  for financial and accounting  matters and reading
                  the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, directors and
                  principal  committees  of the  Company,  nothing came to their
                  attention which caused them to believe that:

                                    (1)  any  unaudited   financial   statements
                           incorporated  in the  Registration  Statement and the
                           Final  Prospectus  do not  comply  as to  form in all
                           material   respects   with   applicable    accounting
                           requirements  of the Act and the  Exchange  Act,  and
                           with  the  published  rules  and  regulations  of the
                           Commission thereunder,  or any material modifications
                           should  be made  for  them to be in  conformity  with
                           generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
                           basis substantially  consistent with that of the most
                           recent audited financial  statements  incorporated in
                           the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus;

                                    (2) with respect to the period subsequent to
                           the  date of the  most  recent  financial  statements
                           (other  than any  capsule  information),  audited  or
                           unaudited,    included   or   incorporated   in   the
                           Registration  Statement  and  the  Final  Prospectus,
                           there were any changes, at a specified date not more


                                      -10-

<PAGE>



                           than  five  business  days  prior  to the date of the
                           letter, in the capital stock or the long-term debt of
                           the Company as compared with the amounts shown in the
                           most   recent   financial   statements   included  or
                           incorporated   by  reference   in  the   Registration
                           Statement  and the  Final  Prospectus  except  in all
                           instances   for   changes   which  the   Registration
                           Statement  discloses have occurred or may occur or as
                           may result from the retirement of preferred  stock to
                           satisfy a mandatory  sinking  fund  requirement,  the
                           issuance of common  stock  pursuant to the  Company's
                           Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan, and its issuance or
                           retirement of long-term debt through the nuclear fuel
                           lease, or for the twelve-month  period ended not more
                           than five days  prior to the date  hereof  there were
                           any  decreases in excess of 3%, as compared  with the
                           comparable information for the twelve months ended as
                           of the date of the most recent  financial  statements
                           referred to above, in operating  revenues,  operating
                           income,   net  income,   earnings  on  common  stock,
                           earnings  per  share  of  common  stock,  or ratio of
                           earnings to fixed  charges,  except in all  instances
                           for  decreases  which  the   Registration   Statement
                           discloses  have occurred or may occur,  in which case
                           the letter shall be  accompanied by an explanation by
                           the  Company as to the  significance  thereof  unless
                           said  explanation  is  not  deemed  necessary  by the
                           Representative; or

                                    (3) the amounts  included  in any  unaudited
                           "capsule" information included or incorporated in the
                           Registration  Statement  and the Final  Prospectus do
                           not agree with the amounts set forth in the unaudited
                           financial statements for the same periods or were not
                           determined on a basis  substantially  consistent with
                           that  of the  corresponding  amounts  in the  audited
                           financial statements incorporated by reference in the
                           Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus;

                           (iii) the pro forma financial  statements relating to
                  the  Company's   proposed  merger  with  CIPSCO   Incorporated
                  included or  incorporated  by  reference  in the  Registration
                  Statement and the Final Prospectus  comply as to form with the
                  applicable accounting requirements of Article 11 of Regulation
                  S-X under the Exchange Act; and

                           (iv)  they have  performed  certain  other  specified
                  procedures as a result of which they  determined  that certain
                  information of an accounting,  financial or statistical nature
                  (which is  limited to  accounting,  financial  or  statistical
                  information derived from the general accounting records of the
                  Company) set forth in the Registration Statement and the Final
                  Prospectus  Supplement,  including the information included or
                  incorporated  in the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K or
                  any Form 8-K,  incorporated in the Registration  Statement and
                  the Final  Prospectus,  and the  information  included  in the
                  "Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  the  Results  of
                  Operations"   included  or   incorporated   in  the  Company's
                  Quarterly   Reports   on  Form  10-Q,   incorporated   in  the
                  Registration  Statement and the Final Prospectus,  agrees with
                  


                                      -11-

<PAGE>



                  the  accounting  records of the Company and its  subsidiaries,
                  excluding any questions of legal interpretation.

                  References  to the  Final  Prospectus  in this  paragraph  (e)
include any supplement thereto at the date of the letter.

                  In addition,  at the Execution Time,  Price  Waterhouse  shall
have  furnished  to the  Representative  a letter  or  letters,  dated as of the
Execution Time, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, to the
effect set forth above.

                  (f) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates
         as  of  which  information  is  given  in  the  Registration  Statement
         (exclusive  of  any  amendment   thereof)  and  the  Final   Prospectus
         (exclusive of any  supplement  thereto),  there shall not have been (i)
         any change or decrease  specified in the letter or letters  referred to
         in  paragraph  (e)  of  this  Section  5 or  (ii)  any  change,  or any
         development  involving  a  prospective  change,  in  or  affecting  the
         business or properties of the Company the effect of which,  in any case
         referred  to in clause (i) or (ii)  above,  is, in the  judgment of the
         Representative,  so material and adverse as to make it  impractical  or
         inadvisable  to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities
         as  contemplated  by  the  Registration  Statement  (exclusive  of  any
         amendment   thereof)  and  the  Final  Prospectus   (exclusive  of  any
         supplement thereto).

                  (g) Prior to the  Closing  Date,  the  Securities  shall  have
         received  ratings  of  ________  or higher  by  Standard  & Poor's  and
         ________ or higher by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., and such ratings
         shall be in effect on the Closing Date.

                  (h)  Subsequent  to the Execution  Time,  there shall not have
         been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company's debt securities
         by any "nationally  recognized  statistical  rating  organization"  (as
         defined for purpose of Rule 436(g)  under the Act) or any notice  given
         of any  intended  or  potential  decrease  in any such  rating  or of a
         possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction
         of the possible change.

                  (i) The orders of the Missouri  Public Service  Commission and
         the Illinois  Commerce  Commission  duly  authorizing and approving the
         issuance and sale of the Securities as  contemplated  in this Agreement
         and in the Final  Prospectus  shall be in full  force and effect at the
         Closing  Date,   and  no   authorization   or  approval  of  any  other
         governmental  regulatory authority shall be required in connection with
         the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company.

                  (j)  Prior  to  the  Closing  Date,  the  Company  shall  have
         furnished to the Representative such further information,  certificates
         and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.

                  If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not
have been  fulfilled  in all  material  respects  when and as  provided  in this
Agreement,  or if  any of the  opinions  and  certificates  mentioned  above  or
elsewhere in this  Agreement  shall not be in all material  respects  reasonably
satisfactory  in form and  substance to the  Representative  and counsel for the
Underwriters,  this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters  hereunder



                                      -12-

<PAGE>



may  be  canceled  at,  or at  any  time  prior  to,  the  Closing  Date  by the
Representative.  Notice of such  cancellation  shall be given to the  Company in
writing or by telephone or electronic transmittal confirmed in writing.

                  6. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If the sale of the
Securities  provided for herein is not consummated  because any condition to the
obligations of the  Underwriters set forth in Section 5 hereof is not satisfied,
because  of any  termination  pursuant  to  Section 9 hereof or  because  of any
refusal,  inability  or  failure  on the  part of the  Company  to  perform  any
agreement  herein or comply with any provision  hereof other than by reason of a
default by any of the Underwriters,  the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
severally upon demand for all out-of-pocket  expenses (including reasonable fees
and  disbursements  of  counsel)  that  shall  have  been  incurred  by  them in
connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

                  7.  Indemnification and Contribution.

                  (a) The Company  agrees to indemnify  and hold  harmless  each
         Underwriter,  the  directors,  officers,  employees  and agents of each
         Underwriter  and each person who  controls any  Underwriter  within the
         meaning  of either  the Act or the  Exchange  Act  against  any and all
         losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they
         or any of them may become  subject  under the Act,  the Exchange Act or
         other Federal or state  statutory law or  regulation,  at common law or
         otherwise,  insofar as such losses,  claims, damages or liabilities (or
         actions in respect  thereof)  arise out of or are based upon any untrue
         statement or alleged  untrue  statement of a material fact contained in
         Registration   Statement  No.  33-45008,   Registration  Statement  No.
         33-52914 or Registration  Statement No.  33-66116,  or in any amendment
         thereof, or in the Basic Prospectus,  any Preliminary Prospectus or the
         Final Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or
         arise out of or are based  upon the  omission  or alleged  omission  to
         state  therein  a  material  fact  required  to be  stated  therein  or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,  and agrees to
         reimburse each such  indemnified  party, as incurred,  for any legal or
         other  expenses   reasonably   incurred  by  them  in  connection  with
         investigating or defending any such loss, claim,  damage,  liability or
         action,  provided,  however, that the Company will not be liable in any
         such case to the extent that any such loss, claim,  damage or liability
         arises out of or is based  upon any such  untrue  statement  or alleged
         untrue  statement  or  omission  or alleged  omission  made  therein in
         reliance upon and in conformity with written  information  furnished to
         the   Company  by  or  on  behalf  of  any   Underwriter   through  the
         Representative  specifically  for  inclusion  therein.  This  indemnity
         agreement  will be in addition to any  liability  which the Company may
         otherwise have.

                  (b) Each  Underwriter  severally  agrees to indemnify and hold
         harmless the Company,  each of its directors,  each of its officers who
         signed Registration Statement No. 33-45008,  Registration Statement No.
         33-52914  or  Registration  Statement  No.  33- 66116 or any  amendment
         thereof, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of
         either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing
         indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference
         to written  information  relating to such Underwriter  furnished to the
         


                                      -13-

<PAGE>



         Company by or on behalf such  Underwriter  through  the  Representative
         specifically  for  inclusion  in  the  documents  referred  to  in  the
         foregoing  indemnity.  This indemnity  agreement will be in addition to
         any liability  which any  Underwriter  may otherwise  have. The Company
         acknowledges  that the  statements  set forth in [the first sentence of
         the last paragraph of the cover page, the top paragraph on page S-2 and
         the third and fourth  paragraphs]  under the caption  "Underwriting" in
         the Final  Prospectus  constitute  the only  information  furnished  in
         writing by or on behalf of the several  Underwriters  for  inclusion in
         the documents referred to in the foregoing  indemnity,  and you, as the
         Representative, confirm that such statements are correct.

                  (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified  party under this
         Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
         party  will,  if a claim in respect  thereof is to be made  against the
         indemnifying  party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party
         in writing of the  commencement  thereof;  but the failure so to notify
         the  indemnifying  party (i) will not relieve it from  liability  under
         paragraph  (a) or  (b)  above  unless  and to  the  extent  it did  not
         otherwise  learn  of  such  action  and  such  failure  results  in the
         forfeiture  by  the  indemnifying   party  of  substantial  rights  and
         defenses;  and (ii) will not, in any event,  relieve  the  indemnifying
         party from any  obligations  to any  indemnified  party  other than the
         indemnification  obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The
         indemnifying  party  shall  be  entitled  to  appoint  counsel  of  the
         indemnifying  party's  choice at the  indemnifying  party's  expense to
         represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification
         is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be
         responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate  counsel retained
         by the  indemnified  party  or  parties  except  as set  forth  below);
         provided,  however,  that such  counsel  shall be  satisfactory  to the
         indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's election to
         appoint  counsel to represent the indemnified  party in an action,  the
         indemnified  party  shall  have the  right to employ  separate  counsel
         (including local counsel),  and the  indemnifying  party shall bear the
         reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the
         use of  counsel  chosen  by the  indemnifying  party to  represent  the
         indemnified  party  would  present  such  counsel  with a  conflict  of
         interest;  (ii) the actual or potential  defendants  in, or targets of,
         any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
         party and the indemnified  party shall have  reasonably  concluded that
         there may be legal  defenses  available to it and/or other  indemnified
         parties  which are different  from or additional to those  available to
         the indemnifying  party;  (iii) the  indemnifying  party shall not have
         employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
         indemnified  party  within  a  reasonable  time  after  notice  of  the
         institution  of such  action;  or (iv)  the  indemnifying  party  shall
         authorize  the  indemnified  party to employ  separate  counsel  at the
         expense of the  indemnifying  party.  An  indemnifying  party will not,
         without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
         compromise  or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
         pending or threatened claim,  action,  suit or proceeding in respect of
         which  indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether
         or not the indemnified  parties are actual or potential parties to such
         claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes
         an unconditional  release of each indemnified  party from all liability
         arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.



                                      -14-

<PAGE>



                  (d) In the event that the indemnity  provided in paragraph (a)
         or (b) of this  Section 7 is  unavailable  to or  insufficient  to hold
         harmless  an  indemnified  party for any  reason,  the  Company and the
         Underwriters  agree to  contribute  to the  aggregate  losses,  claims,
         damages and liabilities  (including legal or other expenses  reasonably
         incurred  in  connection   with   investigating   or  defending   same)
         (collectively  "Losses")  to which the  Company  and one or more of the
         Underwriters  may be subject in such  proportion as is  appropriate  to
         reflect  the  relative  benefits  received  by the  Company  and by the
         Underwriters  from the offering of the Securities;  provided,  however,
         that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any
         agreement   among   underwriters   relating  to  the  offering  of  the
         Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting
         discount or commission  applicable to the Securities  purchased by such
         Underwriter  hereunder.  If the allocation  provided by the immediately
         preceding  sentence is unavailable for any reason,  the Company and the
         Underwriters  shall  contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to
         reflect not only such relative  benefits but also the relative fault of
         the Company and of the  Underwriters  in connection with the statements
         or  omissions  which  resulted  in such  Losses  as  well as any  other
         relevant  equitable  considerations.  Benefits  received by the Company
         shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering
         (before deducting expenses),  and benefits received by the Underwriters
         shall be  deemed to be equal to the total  underwriting  discounts  and
         commissions,  in each case as set forth on the cover  page of the Final
         Prospectus.  Relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether
         any  alleged  untrue  statement  or  omission  relates  to  information
         provided  by the  Company  or the  Underwriters.  The  Company  and the
         Underwriters  agree  that  it  would  not  be  just  and  equitable  if
         contributions  were  determined  by pro rata  allocation  or any  other
         method of  allocation  which  does not take  account  of the  equitable
         considerations  referred to above.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions of
         this  paragraph  (d), no person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentation
         (within the  meaning of Section  11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
         contribution  from any  person  who was not  guilty of such  fraudulent
         misrepresentation.  For  purposes  of this  Section 7, each  person who
         controls  an  Underwriter  within the  meaning of either the Act or the
         Exchange  Act and each  director,  officer,  employee  and  agent of an
         Underwriter  shall  have  the  same  rights  to  contribution  as  such
         Underwriter,  and each  person  who  controls  the  Company  within the
         meaning  of either the Act or the  Exchange  Act,  each  officer of the
         Company  who shall have  signed  the  Registration  Statement  and each
         director of the Company shall have the same rights to  contribution  as
         the  Company,  subject  in  each  case  to  the  applicable  terms  and
         conditions of this paragraph (d). The  obligations of the  Underwriters
         to contribute  hereunder are several in proportion to their  respective
         underwriting obligations and not joint.

                  8. Default by an Underwriter.  If any one or more Underwriters
shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities  agreed to be purchased
by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their  obligations  under this
Agreement,  the remaining  Underwriters shall be obligated  severally to take up
and pay for (in the  respective  proportions  which the amount of Securities set
forth opposite  their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate  amount
of Securities  set forth  opposite the names of all the remaining  Underwriters)
the Securities  which the  defaulting  Underwriter  or  Underwriters  agreed but
failed to  purchase;  provided,  however,  that in the event that the  aggregate
amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed


                                      -15-

<PAGE>



but failed to purchase  shall exceed 10% of the  aggregate  amount of Securities
set forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right
to purchase all, but shall not be under any  obligation to purchase any, of such
Securities,  and if such  nondefaulting  Underwriters  do not  purchase  all the
Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting
Underwriter or the Company.  In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set
forth in this Section 8, the Closing  Date shall be  postponed  for such period,
not exceeding  seven days, as the  Representative  shall determine in order that
the required changes in the  Registration  Statement and the Final Prospectus or
in any other documents or  arrangements  may be effected.  Nothing  contained in
this  Agreement  shall relieve any defaulting  Underwriter of its liability,  if
any, to the Company and any nondefaulting  Underwriter for damages occasioned by
its default hereunder.

                  9. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination
in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice given to the Company
prior to delivery of and payment for the  Securities,  if prior to such time (i)
trading  in  the  Company's  Common  Stock  shall  have  been  suspended  by the
Commission or the NYSE or trading in securities generally on the NYSE shall have
been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been  established on such
Exchange;  (ii) a banking  moratorium  shall  have  been  declared  by  Federal,
Missouri,  Illinois  or New York State  authorities;  or (iii)  there shall have
occurred any outbreak or escalation of  hostilities,  declaration  by the United
States of a national  emergency or war or other calamity or crisis the effect of
which  on  financial  markets  is such as to make  it,  in the  judgment  of the
Representative,  impracticable  or  inadvisable  to proceed with the offering or
delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Final Prospectus (exclusive of
any supplement thereto).

                  10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective
agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to
this  Agreement  shall  remain  in full  force  and  effect,  regardless  of any
investigation  made by or on behalf of any  Underwriter or the Company or any of
the officers,  directors or controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof,
and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.  The provisions of
Sections 6 and 7 hereof shall survive the  termination or  cancellation  of this
Agreement.

                  11. Notices. All communications  hereunder shall be in writing
and  effective  only on  receipt,  and, if sent to the  Representative,  will be
mailed,  delivered  or  electronically  transmitted  and  confirmed,  to  Lehman
Brothers Inc., 3 World Financial  Center,  200 Vesey Street,  New York, New York
10285,  attention of Karen Hanovice,  Senior Vice President;  or, if sent to the
Company,  shall be mailed,  delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at 1901
Chouteau Avenue,  Post Office Box 149, St. Louis,  Missouri 63166;  attention of
Donald E. Brandt,  Senior Vice  President,  Finance and  Corporate  Services and
Chief Financial Officer.

                  12.  Successors.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors.  Nothing
expressed or  mentioned  in this  Agreement is intended or shall be construed to
give any person,  firm or  corporation,  other than the parties hereto and their
respective  successors  and the  controlling  persons,  directors  and  officers
referred to in Section 7, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or
in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein  contained;  this Agreement



                                      -16-

<PAGE>



and all conditions and provisions  hereof being intended to be and being for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and said controlling  persons,  directors and officers and for the benefit of no
other person, firm or corporation.

                  No purchaser of any Securities from any  Underwriter  shall be
deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

                  13. Applicable  Law.  The  rights  and  duties of the  parties
hereto under this Agreement shall,  pursuant to New York General Obligations Law
Section 5-1401, be governed by the law of the State of New York.

                  14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by different parties hereto on separate  counterparts,  each
such  counterpart,  when so  executed  and  delivered,  shall be deemed to be an
original, and all of such counterparts shall, taken together, constitute one and
the same agreement.



                                      -17-

<PAGE>



                  If the foregoing is in accordance with your  understanding  of
our  agreement,  please  sign and return to us the  enclosed  duplicate  hereof,
whereupon this letter and your acceptance  shall  represent a binding  agreement
among the Company and the several Underwriters.


                                            Very truly yours,

                                            UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY




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


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED as of the date first above written.

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.



By:  Lehman Brothers Inc.
     --------------------



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



For themselves and the other several Underwriters,  if any, named in Schedule II
to the foregoing Agreement.


                                      -18-

<PAGE>




                                   SCHEDULE I

Underwriting Agreement dated December __, 1996

Representative:                     Lehman Brothers Inc.

Designation, Purchase price and Description of the Securities:

         Designation:  Series  A  SKISSM,  [___]%  Subordinated  Capital  Income
         Securities (Series A Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures). Each
         $1,000  principal  amount of such [___]%  Subordinated  Capital  Income
         Securities is referred to below as a "Security".

         Principal amount:  $[_________]

         Supplemental Indenture: Resolutions, dated June 9, 1995 of the Board of
         Directors of Union Electric  Company and dated December __, 1996 of the
         Executive Committee thereof.

         Date of Maturity:  December 15, 2045

         Purchase price:  $[____] per Security.

         Public Offering Price:  $[1,000] per Security.

         Sinking fund provisions:  None

         Redemption  provisions:  The Securities will not be redeemable prior to
         December __, 2006; thereafter, the Securities will be redeemable at the
         option  of the  Company,  in whole or in part,  at any time on or after
         December  __,  2006 at the  following  redemption  prices (in each case
         expressed in percentages of principal amount):


 If Redeemed During 12 Month Period                          Redemption
     Beginning December   ,                                     Price

        2006...........................                          %

        2007...........................

        2008...........................

        2009...........................

        2010...........................

        2011...........................

        2012...........................

        2013...........................




<PAGE>





        2014...........................

        2015...........................

   2016 and thereafter...................                        100%


         in each  case,  upon not less  than 30 nor more  than 60 days'  notice,
         together with accrued  interest to, but not  including,  the date fixed
         for redemption;


Closing Date, Time and Location:    10:00 A.M. on December __, 1996, at the 
offices of
                      Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts,
                One Battery Park Plaza, New York, New York 10004

Date referred to in Section 4(f) after which the Company may offer or sell by 
public offering long-term unsecured debt securities issued or guaranteed by
the Company without the consent of the Representative:   [____________], 199_




<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE II


                                                             Principal Amount
                                                           of Securities to be
Underwriters                                                     Purchased

Lehman Brothers Inc. ...............................................$



              Total ................................................$






<PAGE>


                                                                 EXHIBIT 4.12

                                                                 WSP&R
                                                                 DRAFT
                                                                 11/22/96






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



                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY

                                       TO



                             BOATMEN'S TRUST COMPANY


                                     Trustee




                                    --------


                                    INDENTURE
                 (For Unsecured [Subordinated] Debt Securities)



                           Dated as of ________, 1996



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



<PAGE>



                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY

                            Reconciliation  and tie between Trust  Indenture Act
of 1939 and Indenture, dated as of ____________, 1996

Trust Indenture Act Section                                 Indenture Section
ss.310   (a)(1)...................................................909
         (a)(2)...................................................909
         (a)(3)...................................................914
         (a)(4)...................................................Not Applicable
         (b)......................................................909
                                                                  910
ss.311   (a)......................................................913
         (b)......................................................913
         (c)......................................................913
ss.312   (a).....................................................1001
         (b).....................................................1001
         (c).....................................................1001
ss.313   (a).....................................................1002
         (b).....................................................1002
         (c).....................................................1002
         (d).....................................................1002
ss.314   (a).....................................................1002
         (a)(4)...................................................606
         (b).....................................................Not Applicable
         (c)(1)...................................................102
         (c)(2)...................................................102
         (c)(3)..................................................Not Applicable
         (d).....................................................Not Applicable
         (e)......................................................102
ss.315   (a)......................................................901
                                                                  903
         (b)......................................................902
         (c)......................................................901
         (d)......................................................901
         (e)......................................................814
ss.316   (a)......................................................812
                                                                  813
         (a)(1)(A)................................................802
                                                                  812
         (a)(1)(B)................................................813
         (a)(2)...................................................Not Applicable
         (b) .....................................................808
ss.317   (a)(1)...................................................803
         (a)(2)...................................................804
         (b)......................................................603
ss.318   (a)......................................................107



<PAGE>









                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                         Page


                                   ARTICLE ONE

                        Definitions and Other Provisions
                             of General Application

SECTION 101.               Definitions....................................1
                           "Act"    ......................................2
                           "Affiliate"....................................2
                           "Authenticating Agent".........................2
                           "Authorized Officer"...........................2
                           "Board of Directors"...........................2
                           "Board Resolution".............................3
                           "Business Day".................................3
                           "Commission"...................................3
                           "Company"......................................3
                           "Company Request" or "Company Order"...........3
                           "Corporate Trust Office".......................3
                           "corporation"..................................3
                           "Defaulted Interest"...........................3
                           "Discount Security"............................3
                           "Dollar" or "$"................................3
                           "Eligible Obligations".........................3
                           "Event of Default".............................4
                           "Governmental Authority".......................4
                          "Government Obligations"........................4
                           "Holder".......................................4
                           "Indenture"....................................4
                           "Interest Payment Date"........................4
                           "Maturity".....................................4
                           "Officer's Certificate"........................4
                           "Opinion of Counsel"...........................5
                           "Outstanding"..................................5
                           "Paying Agent".................................6
                           "Periodic Offering"............................6

                                       -i-


<PAGE>



                           "Person" ......................................6
                           "Place of Payment".............................6
                           "Predecessor Security".........................6
                           "Redemption Date"..............................7
                           "Redemption Price".............................7
                           "Regular Record Date"..........................7
                           "Required Currency"............................7
                           "Responsible Officer"..........................7
                           "Securities"...................................7
                           "Security Register" and "Security Registrar"...7
                           "Senior Indebtedness"..........................7
                           "Special Record Date"..........................7
                           "Stated Interest Rate".........................7
                           "Stated Maturity"..............................8
                           "Successor Corporation"........................8
                           "Tranche"......................................8
                           "Trust Indenture Act"..........................8
                           "Trustee"......................................8
                           "United States"................................8
SECTION 102.               Compliance Certificates and Opinions...........8
SECTION 103.               Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.........9
SECTION 105.               Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.........11
SECTION 106.               Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.......12
SECTION 107.               Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.............12
SECTION 108.               Effect of Headings and Table of Contents......13
SECTION 109.               Successors and Assigns........................13
SECTION 110.               Separability Clause...........................13
SECTION 111.               Benefits of Indenture.........................13
SECTION 112.               Governing Law.................................13
SECTION 113.               Legal Holidays................................13

                                   ARTICLE TWO

                                 Security Forms

SECTION 201.               Forms Generally...............................14
SECTION 202.               Form of Trustee's Certificate 
                           of Authentication.............................14


                                  ARTICLE THREE

                                 The Securities

SECTION 301.               Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series..........15
SECTION 302.               Denominations.................................18

                                      -ii-


<PAGE>




SECTION 304.               Temporary Securities..........................21
SECTION 305.               Registration, Registration of Transfer 
                           and Exchange..................................22
SECTION 306.               Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen 
                           Securities................................... 23
SECTION 307.               Payment of Interest; Interest Rights 
                           Preserved.................................... 24
SECTION 308.               Persons Deemed Owners.........................25
SECTION 309.               Cancellation by Security Registrar............25
SECTION 311.               Payment to Be in Proper Currency..............25
SECTION 312.               Extension of Interest Payment.................26


                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                            Redemption of Securities

SECTION 401.               Applicability of Article......................26
SECTION 402.               Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.........26
SECTION 403.               Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed........27
SECTION 404.               Notice of Redemption..........................27
SECTION 405.               Securities Payable on Redemption Date.........28
SECTION 406.               Securities Redeemed in Part...................29


                                  ARTICLE FIVE

                                  Sinking Funds

SECTION 501.               Applicability of Article......................29
SECTION 502.               Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments 
                           with Securities.............................. 29
SECTION 503.               Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.... 30


                                   ARTICLE SIX

                                    Covenants

SECTION 601.               Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest....30
SECTION 602.               Maintenance of Office or Agency...............31
SECTION 603.               Money for Securities Payments to Be Held 
                           in Trust......................................31
SECTION 604.               Corporate Existence...........................33
SECTION 605.               Maintenance of Properties.....................33
SECTION 606.               Annual Officer's Certificate as to
                           Compliance....................................33
SECTION 607.               Waiver of Certain Covenants...................33



                                      -iii-


<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE SEVEN

                           Satisfaction and Discharge

SECTION 701.               Satisfaction and Discharge of Securities......34
SECTION 702.               Legal and Covenant Defeasance.................35
SECTION 703.               Application of Trust Money....................38


                                  ARTICLE EIGHT

                           Events of Default; Remedies

SECTION 801.               Events of Default.............................38
SECTION 802.               Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission 
                           and Annulment.................................40
SECTION 803.               Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for
                           Enforcement by Trustee........................41
SECTION 804.               Trustee May File Proofs of Claim..............41
SECTION 805.               Trustee May Enforce Claims Without 
                           Possession of Securities......................42
SECTION 806.               Application of Money Collected................42
SECTION 807.               Limitation on Suits...........................43
SECTION 808.               Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive 
                           Principal, Premium and Interest...............44
SECTION 809.               Restoration of Rights and Remedies............44
SECTION 810.               Rights and Remedies Cumulative................44
SECTION 811.               Delay or Omission Not Waiver..................44
SECTION 812.               Control by Holders of Securities..............44
SECTION 813.               Waiver of Past Defaults.......................45
SECTION 814.               Undertaking for Costs.........................45
SECTION 815.               Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws..............46


                                  ARTICLE NINE

                                   The Trustee

SECTION 901.               Certain Duties and Responsibilities...........46
SECTION 902.               Notice of Defaults............................47
SECTION 903.               Certain Rights of Trustee.....................47
SECTION 904.               Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of
                           Securities....................................49
SECTION 905.               May Hold Securities...........................49
SECTION 906.               Money Held in Trust...........................49
SECTION 907.               Compensation and Reimbursement................49
SECTION 908.               Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.......50
SECTION 909.               Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.......50

                                      -iv-


<PAGE>




SECTION 910.               Resignation and Removal; Appointment 
                           of Successor..................................50
SECTION 911.               Acceptance of Appointment by Successor........52
SECTION 912.               Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or 
                           Succession to Business........................53
SECTION 913.               Preferential Collection of Claims 
                           Against Company...............................54
SECTION 914.               Co-trustees and Separate Trustees.............54
SECTION 915.               Appointment of Authenticating Agent...........55


                                   ARTICLE TEN

                Holders' Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company

SECTION 1001.              Lists of Holders..............................57
SECTION 1002.              Reports by Trustee and Company................57


                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN

               Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Other Transfer

SECTION 1101.              Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only 
                           on Certain Terms..............................58
SECTION 1102.              Successor Corporation Substituted.............58


                                 ARTICLE TWELVE

                             Supplemental Indentures

SECTION 1201.              Supplemental Indentures Without 
                           Consent of Holders............................59
SECTION 1202.              Supplemental Indentures With 
                           Consent of Holders............................61
SECTION 1203.              Execution of Supplemental Indentures..........62
SECTION 1204.              Effect of Supplemental Indentures.............62
SECTION 1205.              Conformity With Trust Indenture Act...........62
SECTION 1206.              Reference in Securities to 
                           Supplemental Indentures.......................63
SECTION 1207.              Modification Without Supplemental Indenture...64


                                ARTICLE THIRTEEN

                   Meetings of Holders; Action Without Meeting

SECTION 1301.              Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.....64
SECTION 1302.              Call, Notice and Place of Meetings............64
SECTION 1303.              Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings..........65
SECTION 1304.              Quorum; Action................................65


                                       -v-


<PAGE>


SECTION 1305.              Attendance at Meetings; Determination 
                           of Voting Rights; Conduct 
                           and Adjournment of Meetings...................66
SECTION 1306.              Counting Votes and Recording Action 
                           of Meetings...................................67
SECTION 1307.              Action Without Meeting........................67


                                ARTICLE FOURTEEN

                    Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders,
                             Officers and Directors

SECTION 1401.              Liability Solely Corporate....................67


                                [ARTICLE FIFTEEN

                           Subordination of Securities

SECTION 1501.              Securities Subordinate to Senior 
                           Indebtedness..................................68
SECTION 1502.              Payment Over of Proceeds of Securities........68
SECTION 1503.              Disputes with Holders of Certain 
                           Senior Indebtedness...........................70
SECTION 1504.              Subrogation...................................70
SECTION 1505.              Obligation of the Company Unconditional.......71
SECTION 1507.              Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness......71
SECTION 1508.              Notice to Trustee to Effectuate 
                           Subordination.................................72
SECTION 1509.              Modification, Extension, Etc., of Senior 
                           Indebtedness..................................72
SECTION 1510.              Trustee Has No Fiduciary Duty to Holders 
                           of Senior Indebtedness........................72
SECTION 1511.              Paying Agents Other Than the Trustee..........72
SECTION 1512.              Rights of Holders of Senior 
                           Indebtedness Not Impaired.....................73
SECTION 1513.              Effect of Subordination Provisions; 
                           Termination...................................73]


                                      -vi-


<PAGE>








                  INDENTURE,  dated  as of  ____________,  1996,  between  UNION
ELECTRIC  COMPANY,  a corporation  duly organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Missouri (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office
at 1901 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, and BOATMEN'S TRUST COMPANY,
a  corporation  duly  organized  and  existing  under  the laws of the  State of
Missouri,  having its principal corporate trust office at 510 Locust Street, St.
Louis, Missouri 63101, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee").


                             RECITAL OF THE COMPANY


                  The Company has duly  authorized the execution and delivery of
this  Indenture to provide for the issuance  from time to time of its  unsecured
[subordinated]1  debentures,  notes or other evidences of  indebtedness  (herein
called the  "Securities"),  to be issued in one or more  series as  contemplated
herein;  and all acts necessary to make this Indenture a valid  agreement of the
Company have been performed.

                  For  all  purposes  of this  Indenture,  except  as  otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise  requires,  capitalized terms
used  herein  shall have the  meanings  assigned  to them in Article One of this
Indenture.

                   NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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


                                   ARTICLE ONE

             Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application


SECTION 101.               Definitions.

                  For  all  purposes  of this  Indenture,  except  as  otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
- --------
1        Bracketed  language  will be  inserted  in the  Indenture  under  which
         Subordinated  Capital Income Securities  ("SKIS") or other subordinated
         Securities will be issued.

                                       -1-


<PAGE>




                           (a) the  terms  defined  in  this  Article  have  the
         meanings  assigned  to them in this  Article  and include the plural as
         well as the singular;

                           (b) all terms used herein  without  definition  which
         are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference
         therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

                           (c) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein
         have  the  meanings  assigned  to them  in  accordance  with  generally
         accepted  accounting  principles in the United States,  and,  except as
         otherwise  herein  expressly  provided,  the term  "generally  accepted
         accounting  principles"  with  respect to any  computation  required or
         permitted  hereunder  shall  mean  such  accounting  principles  as are
         generally accepted in the United States at the date of such computation
         or, at the  election of the Company  from time to time,  at the date of
         the execution and delivery of this Indenture;  provided,  however, that
         in determining  generally accepted accounting  principles applicable to
         the Company, the Company shall, to the extent required,  conform to any
         order,  rule or regulation  of any  administrative  agency,  regulatory
         authority  or other  governmental  body  having  jurisdiction  over the
         Company; and

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

                  Certain terms,  used  principally in Article Nine, are defined
in that Article.

                  "Act", when used with respect to any Holder of a Security, has
the meaning specified in Section 104.

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

                  "Authenticating  Agent"  means  any  Person  (other  than  the
Company or an  Affiliate  of the  Company)  authorized  by the Trustee to act on
behalf of the Trustee to authenticate one or more series of Securities.

                  "Authorized  Officer"  means the  Chairman  of the Board,  the
President,  any Vice  President,  the  Treasurer  or any other  duly  authorized
officer of the Company.

                  "Board of  Directors"  means  either the board of directors of
the  Company  or any  committee  thereof  duly  authorized  to act in respect of
matters relating to 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

                                       -2-


<PAGE>



adopted by the Board of Directors,  or a duly authorized  committee thereof, and
to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification,  and delivered
to the Trustee.

                  "Business  Day",  when used with respect to a Place of Payment
or any other particular  location specified in the Securities or this Indenture,
means any day,  other  than a Saturday  or  Sunday,  which is not a day on which
banking  institutions  or trust  companies  in such  Place of  Payment  or other
location are generally  authorized  or required by law,  regulation or executive
order to remain closed,  except as may be otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 301.

                  "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission,  as
from time to time  constituted,  created  under the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934,  or,  if at any time  after the date of  execution  and  delivery  of this
Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned
to it under the Trust  Indenture  Act,  then the body, if any,  performing  such
duties at such time.

                  "Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first
paragraph  of this  Indenture  until a successor  Person  shall have become such
pursuant  to  the  applicable  provisions  of  this  Indenture,  and  thereafter
"Company" shall mean such successor Person.

                  "Company  Request" or "Company  Order" means a written request
or  order  signed  in the  name of the  Company  by an  Authorized  Officer  and
delivered to the Trustee.

                  "Corporate  Trust  Office"  means the office of the Trustee at
which at any particular  time its corporate  trust business shall be principally
administered,  which  office  at the  date of  execution  and  delivery  of this
Indenture is located at 510 Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63101.

                  "corporation" means a corporation, association, company, joint
stock company or business trust.

                  "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.

                  "Discount  Security"  means any Security which provides for an
amount  less than the  principal  amount  thereof to be due and  payable  upon a
declaration of  acceleration  of the Maturity  thereof  pursuant to Section 802.
"Interest" with respect to a Discount Security means interest,  if any, borne by
such Security at a Stated Interest Rate.

                  "Dollar"  or "$"  means a dollar or other  equivalent  unit in
such coin or currency of the United  States as at the time shall be legal tender
for the payment of public and private debts.

                  "Eligible Obligations" means:

                           (a)  with respect to Securities denominated in 
         Dollars, Government Obligations, or

                                       -3-


<PAGE>



         

                           (b)  with  respect  to  Securities  denominated  in a
         currency  other than  Dollars or in a  composite  currency,  such other
         obligations  or  instruments as shall be specified with respect to such
         Securities, as contemplated by Section 301.

                  "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 801.

                  "Governmental  Authority"  means the  government of the United
States or of any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia or of
any county,  municipality or other political  subdivision of any thereof, or any
department, agency, authority or other instrumentality of any of the foregoing.

                  "Government Obligations" means:

                           (a)  direct   obligations   of,  or  obligations  the
         principal of and interest on which are  unconditionally  guaranteed by,
         the United States  entitled to the benefit of the full faith and credit
         thereof; and

                           (b)  certificates,   depositary   receipts  or  other
         instruments  which evidence a direct ownership  interest in obligations
         described in clause (a) above or in any specific  interest or principal
         payments due in respect thereof; provided,  however, that the custodian
         of such obligations or specific interest or principal payments shall be
         a bank or trust  company  (which may  include the Trustee or any Paying
         Agent) subject to Federal or state  supervision  or examination  with a
         combined  capital and surplus of at least  $50,000,000;  and  provided,
         further,  that  except  as may  be  otherwise  required  by  law,  such
         custodian   shall  be   obligated   to  pay  to  the  holders  of  such
         certificates,  depositary receipts or other instruments the full amount
         received by such  custodian in respect of such  obligations or specific
         payments and shall not be permitted to make any deduction therefrom.

                  "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered
 in the Security Register.

                  "Indenture"  means this instrument as originally  executed and
delivered and as it may from time to time be  supplemented  or amended by one or
more  indentures  supplemental  hereto  entered into pursuant to the  applicable
provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities
established as contemplated by Section 301.

                  "Interest  Payment  Date",  when  used  with  respect  to  any
Security,  means the Stated  Maturity  of an  installment  of  interest  on such
Security.

                  "Maturity",  when used with respect to any Security, means the
date on which the  principal  of such  Security or an  installment  of principal
becomes  due and payable as  provided  in such  Security  or in this  Indenture,
whether at the Stated Maturity,  by declaration of  acceleration,  upon call for
redemption or otherwise.

                                       -4-


<PAGE>




                  "Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by an 
Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

                  "Opinion of Counsel" means a written  opinion of counsel,  who
may be counsel for the Company, or other counsel acceptable to the Trustee.

                  "Outstanding", when used with respect to Securities, means, as
of the date of  determination,  all  Securities  theretofore  authenticated  and
delivered under this Indenture, except:

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

                  (b)  Securities   deemed   to  have   been   paid  in
         accordance with Section 701; and

                  (c) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or
         in  exchange  for or in  lieu  of  which  other  Securities  have  been
         authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture,  other than any
         such  Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to
         the  Trustee  proof  satisfactory  to it  and  the  Company  that  such
         Securities  are held by a bona fide  purchaser or  purchasers  in whose
         hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided,  however,  that  in  determining  whether  or not the  Holders  of the
requisite  principal amount of the Securities  Outstanding under this Indenture,
or the Outstanding  Securities of any series or Tranche, have given any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or whether
or not a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders of Securities,

                                    (x)  Securities  owned by the Company or any
                  other  obligor  upon the  Securities  or any  Affiliate of the
                  Company or of such other  obligor  (unless the  Company,  such
                  Affiliate  or such  obligor  owns all  Securities  Outstanding
                  under this Indenture,  or all  Outstanding  Securities of each
                  such  series  and  each  such  Tranche,  as the  case  may be,
                  determined  without  regard  to  this  clause  (x))  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 or upon any such determination as to
                  the presence of a quorum,  only  Securities  which the Trustee
                  knows  to be so  owned  shall  be  so  disregarded;  provided,
                  however,  that  Securities 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  Securities  and that the
                  pledgee  is not the  Company  or any  other  obligor  upon the
                  Securities  or any  Affiliate  of the Company or of such other
                  obligor;

                                    (y)  the  principal  amount  of  a  Discount
                  Security  that  shall be  deemed  to be  Outstanding  for such
                  purposes  shall be the amount of the  principal  thereof  that
                  would be due and payable as of the date of such  determination
                  upon a declaration  of  acceleration  of the Maturity  thereof
                  pursuant to Section 802; and

                                       -5-


<PAGE>




                                    (z) the  principal  amount  of any  Security
                  which is  denominated in a currency other than Dollars or in a
                  composite  currency that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for
                  such purposes  shall be the amount of Dollars which could have
                  been  purchased by the principal  amount (or, in the case of a
                  Discount   Security,   the  Dollar   equivalent  on  the  date
                  determined  as set forth  below of the  amount  determined  as
                  provided in (y) above) of such currency or composite  currency
                  evidenced by such Security, in each such case certified to the
                  Trustee in an Officer's Certificate,  based (i) on the average
                  of the mean of the buying  and  selling  spot rates  quoted by
                  three banks which are members of the New York  Clearing  House
                  Association  selected  by the  Company in effect at 11:00 A.M.
                  (New York time) in The City of New York on the fifth  Business
                  Day preceding any such  determination or (ii) if on such fifth
                  Business Day it shall not be possible or practicable to obtain
                  such   quotations   from  such  three  banks,  on  such  other
                  quotations or alternative methods of determination which shall
                  be as consistent as  practicable  with the method set forth in
                  (i) above;

provided,  further,  that, in the case of any Security the principal of which is
payable from time to time without presentment or surrender, the principal amount
of such  Security  that  shall be deemed to be  Outstanding  at any time for all
purposes of this Indenture shall be the original  principal  amount thereof less
the aggregate amount of principal thereof theretofore paid.

                  "Paying  Agent"  means  any  Person,  including  the  Company,
authorized  by the  Company to pay the  principal  of and  premium,  if any,  or
interest, if any, on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

                  "Periodic  Offering"  means an  offering  of  Securities  of a
series from time to time any or all of the specific  terms of which  Securities,
including without limitation the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the
Stated  Maturity or Maturities  thereof and the redemption  provisions,  if any,
with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents upon the
issuance of such Securities.

                  "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture,  trust or  unincorporated  organization or any  Governmental  Authority
thereof.

                  "Place of Payment",  when used with respect to the  Securities
of any  series,  or tranche  thereof,  means the place or places,  specified  as
contemplated by Section 301, at which,  subject to Section 602, principal of and
premium,  if any,  and  interest,  if any, on the  Securities  of such series or
tranche are payable.

                  "Predecessor  Security" of any particular Security means every
previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced
by such  particular  Security;  and,  for the purposes of this  definition,  any
Security  authenticated  and  delivered  under Section 306 in exchange for or in
lieu of a mutilated,  destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed (to the
extent  lawful) to evidence the same debt as the mutilated,  destroyed,  lost or
stolen Security.

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

                                       -6-


<PAGE>




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

                  "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest
Payment Date on the  Securities of any series means the date  specified for that
purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

                  "Required Currency" has the meaning specified in Section 311.

                  "Responsible Officer",  when used with respect to the Trustee,
means any officer of the  Trustee  assigned  by the  Trustee to  administer  its
corporate trust matters.

                  "Securities"  has the meaning  stated in the first  recital of
this  Indenture and more  particularly  means any securities  authenticated  and
delivered under this Indenture.

                  "Security   Register"  and  "Security   Registrar"   have  the
respective meanings specified in Section 305.

                  ["Senior  Indebtedness"  means  all  obligations  (other  than
non-recourse  obligations and the indebtedness  issued under this Indenture) of,
or  guaranteed  or assumed by, the Company for borrowed  money,  including  both
senior  and  subordinated  indebtedness  for  borrowed  money  (other  than  the
Securities),  or for the  payment  of  money  relating  to any  lease  which  is
capitalized  on the balance  sheet of the Company in accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles as in effect from time to time, or evidenced by
bonds,  debentures,  notes  or  other  similar  instruments,  and in each  case,
amendments,  renewals,  extensions,  modifications  and  refundings  of any such
indebtedness or obligations,  whether  existing as of the date of this Indenture
or subsequently incurred by the Company.]2

                  "Special  Record  Date"  for  the  payment  of  any  Defaulted
Interest  on the  Securities  of any series  means a date  fixed by the  Trustee
pursuant to Section 307.

                  "Stated   Interest  Rate"  means  a  rate  (whether  fixed  or
variable) at which an obligation by its terms is stated to bear simple interest.
Any  calculation  or other  determination  to be made  under this  Indenture  by
reference to the Stated Interest Rate on a Security shall be made without regard
to the  effective  interest  cost to the  Company of such  Security  and without
regard to the Stated  Interest Rate on, or the effective cost to the Company of,
any  other  indebtedness  the  Company's  obligations  in  respect  of which are
evidenced or secured in whole or in part by such Security.

                  "Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any obligation or
any installment

- --------
2        Bracketed  language will be inserted in the Indenture  under which SKIS
         or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                       -7-


<PAGE>



of principal thereof or interest thereon,  means the date on which the principal
of such obligation or such  installment of principal or interest is stated to be
due and payable  (without regard to any provisions for  redemption,  prepayment,
acceleration, purchase or extension).

                  "Successor Corporation" has the meaning set forth in Section 
1301.

                  "Tranche"  means a group of  Securities  which  (a) are of the
same series and (b) have  identical  terms except as to principal  amount and/or
date of issuance.

                  "Trust  Indenture  Act"  means,  as of  any  time,  the  Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, or any successor statute, as in effect at such time.

                  "Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this  Indenture  until a successor  Trustee  shall have become such
with  respect to one or more series of  Securities  pursuant  to the  applicable
provisions of this  Indenture,  and thereafter  "Trustee"  shall mean or include
each  Person who is then a Trustee  hereunder,  and if at any time there is more
than one such Person,  "Trustee" as used with respect to the  Securities  of any
series shall means the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

                  "United  States"  means  the  United  States of  America,  its
Territories,   its   possessions  and  other  areas  subject  to  its  political
jurisdiction.

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

                  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, upon
any  application  or  request by the  Company to the  Trustee to take any action
under any provision of this  Indenture,  the Company shall,  if requested by the
Trustee,  furnish  to the  Trustee an  Officer's  Certificate  stating  that all
conditions  precedent,  if any,  provided for in this Indenture  relating to the
proposed  action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel  stating that
in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent,  if any, have been
complied with,  except that in the case of any such application or request as to
which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision
of this  Indenture  relating  to such  particular  application  or  request,  no
additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

                  Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

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

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

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

                                       -8-


<PAGE>





                  (d)  a  statement  as to  whether,  in the opinion of
         each such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

                  In any case where several matters are required to be certified
by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified  Person, it is not necessary that
all such  matters be  certified  by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person,  or that they be so certified or covered by only one  document,  but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion  with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters,  and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

                  Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be
based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of,
or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or  representations
with respect to the matters upon which such officer's certificate or opinion are
based are  erroneous.  Any such  certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based,
insofar as it relates to factual  matters,  upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations  by, an officer or  officers  of the  Company  stating  that the
information  with respect to such factual  matters is in the  possession  of the
Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should
know,  that the certificate or opinion or  representations  with respect to such
matters are erroneous.

                  Where any Person is required  to make,  give or execute two or
more applications,  requests, consents,  certificates,  statements,  opinions or
other instruments under this Indenture,  they may, but need not, be consolidated
and form one instrument.

                  Whenever,  subsequent  to the  receipt  by the  Trustee of any
Board Resolution, Officer's Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or other document or
instrument,  a clerical,  typographical  or other  inadvertent or  unintentional
error or omission shall be discovered  therein, a new document or instrument may
be  substituted  therefor in corrected form with the same force and effect as if
originally filed in the corrected form and, irrespective of the date or dates of
the actual  execution  and/or  delivery  thereof,  such  substitute  document or
instrument shall be deemed to have been executed and/or delivered as of the date
or dates  required  with respect to the document or  instrument  for which it is
substituted. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding,  if any
such corrective  document or instrument  indicates that action has been taken by
or at the  request  of the  Company  which  could  not have  been  taken had the
original document or instrument not contained such error or omission, the action
so taken shall not be invalidated or otherwise rendered ineffective but shall be
and remain in full force and effect, except to the extent that such action was a
result of willful  misconduct or bad faith.  Without  limiting the generality of
the  foregoing,  any  Securities  issued under the  authority of such  defective
document  or  instrument  shall  nevertheless  be the valid  obligations  of the
Company entitled to the benefits of this Indenture  equally and ratably with all
other Outstanding Securities, except as aforesaid.

                                       -9-


<PAGE>





SECTION 104. Acts of Holders.

                  (a) Any request,  demand,  authorization,  direction,  notice,
         consent, election, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to
         be made,  given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by
         one or more instruments of  substantially  similar tenor signed by such
         Holders  in  person  or by an  agent  duly  appointed  in  writing  or,
         alternatively,  may be  embodied  in and  evidenced  by the  record  of
         Holders  voting in favor  thereof,  either in person or by proxies duly
         appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in
         accordance with the provisions of Article Thirteen, or a combination of
         such  instruments  and any such  record.  Except  as  herein  otherwise
         expressly  provided,  such  action  shall  become  effective  when such
         instrument  or  instruments  or  record  or both are  delivered  to the
         Trustee and,  where it is hereby  expressly  required,  to the Company.
         Such  instrument  or  instruments  and any such  record (and the action
         embodied therein and evidenced  thereby) are herein sometimes  referred
         to as the "Act" of the Holders  signing such  instrument or instruments
         and so  voting  at any such  meeting.  Proof of  execution  of any such
         instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding
         by any Person of a  Security,  shall be  sufficient  for any purpose of
         this Indenture and (subject to Section 901)  conclusive in favor of the
         Trustee  and  the  Company,  if  made in the  manner  provided  in this
         Section.  The record of any  meeting of Holders  shall be proved in the
         manner provided in Section 1306.

                  (b) The fact and date of the  execution  by any  Person of any
         such  instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness
         of such  execution  or by a  certificate  of a notary  public  or other
         officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds,  certifying
         that the individual signing such instrument or writing  acknowledged to
         him the  execution  thereof or may be proved in any other  manner which
         the Trustee and the Company deem sufficient. Where such execution is by
         a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity,  such
         certificate or affidavit shall also constitute  sufficient proof of his
         authority.

                  (c) The principal amount (except as otherwise  contemplated in
         clause (y) of the proviso to the definition of Outstanding)  and serial
         numbers of Securities  held by any Person,  and the date of holding the
         same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

                  (d) Any request,  demand,  authorization,  direction,  notice,
         consent,  election,  waiver or other Act of a Holder  shall  bind every
         future  Holder of the same  Security  and the Holder of every  Security
         issued  upon  the  registration  of  transfer  thereof  or in  exchange
         therefor  or in lieu  thereof in respect of anything  done,  omitted or
         suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance  thereon,
         whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

                  (e) Until  such time as  written  instruments  shall have been
         delivered to the Trustee with respect to the  requisite  percentage  of


                                      -10-


<PAGE>



         principal  amount of  Securities  for the action  contemplated  by such
         instruments, any such instrument executed and delivered by or on behalf
         of a  Holder  may be  revoked  with  respect  to  any  or  all of  such
         Securities by written notice by such Holder or any  subsequent  Holder,
         proven in the manner in which such instrument was proven.

                  (f)  Securities  of  any  series,   or  any  Tranche  thereof,
         authenticated  and delivered after any Act of Holders may, and shall if
         required  by the  Trustee,  bear a  notation  in form  approved  by the
         Trustee as to any action  taken by such Act of Holders.  If the Company
         shall so  determine,  new  Securities  of any  series,  or any  Tranche
         thereof,  so modified as to conform,  in the opinion of the Trustee and
         the Company, to such action may be prepared and executed by the Company
         and  authenticated  and  delivered  by  the  Trustee  in  exchange  for
         Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche.

                  (g) If the Company  shall  solicit  from  Holders any request,
         demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act,
         the Company may, at its option, by Board  Resolution,  fix in advance a
         record  date for the  determination  of Holders  entitled  to give such
         request, demand,  authorization,  direction, notice, consent, waiver or
         other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a
         record date is fixed, such request, demand,  authorization,  direction,
         notice,  consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such
         record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on
         the  record  date  shall be deemed to be Holders  for the  purposes  of
         determining  whether  Holders  of  the  requisite   proportion  of  the
         Outstanding  Securities  have authorized or agreed or consented to such
         request, demand,  authorization,  direction, notice, consent, waiver or
         other Act, and for that  purpose the  Outstanding  Securities  shall be
         computed as of the record date.

SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

                  Any  request,  demand,   authorization,   direction,   notice,
consent,  election,  waiver or Act of  Holders  or other  document  provided  or
permitted  by this  Indenture to be made upon,  given or furnished  to, or filed
with, the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company, or the Company by the Trustee
or by any  Holder,  shall be  sufficient  for every  purpose  hereunder  (unless
otherwise herein expressly  provided) if in writing and delivered  personally to
an officer or other  responsible  employee of the  addressee,  or transmitted by
facsimile  transmission,  telex or other direct written electronic means to such
telephone  number or other  electronic  communications  address  as the  parties
hereto shall from time to time  designate,  or transmitted  by registered  mail,
charges prepaid,  to the applicable address set opposite such party's name below
or to such other address as either party hereto may from time to time designate:

                  If to the Trustee, to:

                  Boatmen's Trust Company
                  510 Locust Street
                  St. Louis, Missouri  63101

                  Attention:  P.C. QuiBelle

                                      -11-


<PAGE>



                  Telephone:  (314) 466-1356
                  Telecopy:   (314) 466-2469

                  If to the Company, to:

                  Union Electric Company
                  1901 Chouteau Avenue
                  St. Louis, Missouri  63103

                  Attention: Treasurer
                  Telephone:  (314) 621-3222
                  Telecopy:   (314) 554-3066

                  Any communication  contemplated herein shall be deemed to have
been made, given,  furnished and filed if personally  delivered,  on the date of
delivery,  if  transmitted  by  facsimile  transmission,  telex or other  direct
written  electronic  means, on the date of  transmission,  and if transmitted by
registered mail, on the date of receipt.

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.

                  Except as  otherwise  expressly  provided  herein,  where this
Indenture  provides  for notice to Holders of any event,  such  notice  shall be
sufficiently  given,  and shall be deemed  given,  to Holders if in writing  and
mailed,  first-class  postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at
the address of such  Holder as it appears in the  Security  Register,  not later
than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the
giving of such notice.

                  In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or
by reason of any other  cause it shall be  impracticable  to give such notice to
Holders by mail,  then such  notification  as shall be made with the approval of
the  Trustee  shall  constitute  a  sufficient  notification  for every  purpose
hereunder.  In any case where  notice to Holders is given by mail,  neither  the
failure to mail such  notice,  nor any  defect in any  notice so mailed,  to any
particular  Holder shall affect the  sufficiency  of such notice with respect to
other Holders.

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

SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

                  If any  provision  of  this  Indenture  limits,  qualifies  or
conflicts  with  another  provision  hereof  which is  required  or deemed to be
included  in  this  Indenture  by,  or is  otherwise  governed  by,  any  of the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such other  provision shall control;  and
if any provision  hereof  otherwise  conflicts with the Trust Indenture Act, the
Trust Indenture Act shall control.

                                      -12-


<PAGE>




SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

                  The  Article and Section  headings in this  Indenture  and the
Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction
hereof.

SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns.

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

SECTION 110. Separability Clause.

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

SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture.

                  Nothing  in  this  Indenture  or the  Securities,  express  or
implied,  shall  give to any  Person,  other  than  the  parties  hereto,  their
successors  hereunder,  the  Holders,  [and so long as the notice  described  in
Section  1513 hereof has not been given,  the holders of Senior  Indebtedness,]3
any  benefit  or any  legal or  equitable  right,  remedy  or claim  under  this
Indenture.

SECTION 112. Governing Law.

                  This  Indenture  and the  Securities  shall be governed by and
construed in  accordance  with the laws of the State of New York,  except to the
extent that the law of any other jurisdiction shall be mandatorily applicable.

SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.

                  In any case where any Interest  Payment Date,  Redemption Date
or Stated  Maturity of any Security  shall not be a Business Day at any Place of
Payment,  then  (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the
Securities  other than a provision in Securities  of any series,  or any Tranche
thereof,  or in the Board Resolution or Officer's  Certificate which establishes
the terms of the Securities of such series or Tranche, which specifically states
that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)  payment of interest or
principal and premium, if any, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such
date,  but may be made on the  next  succeeding  Business  Day at such  Place of
Payment[,  except that if such Business Day is in the next  succeeding  calendar
year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding
- --------
3        Bracketed  language will be inserted in the Indenture  under which SKIS
         or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                      -13-


<PAGE>



Business  Day in each  case]4  with the same  force and effect as if made on the
Interest  Payment Date or Redemption  Date, or at the Stated  Maturity,  and, if
such  payment is made or duly  provided  for on such  Business  Day, no interest
shall  accrue on the  amount  so  payable  for the  period  from and after  such
Interest Payment Date,  Redemption Date or Stated Maturity,  as the case may be,
to such Business Day.


                                   ARTICLE TWO

                                 Security Forms


SECTION 201. Forms Generally.

                  The   definitive   Securities  of  each  series  shall  be  in
substantially   the  form  or  forms  thereof   established   in  the  indenture
supplemental   hereto   establishing  such  series  or  in  a  Board  Resolution
establishing  such  series,  or in an  Officer's  Certificate  pursuant  to such
supplemental  indenture or Board Resolution,  in each case with such appropriate
insertions,  omissions,  substitutions  and other  variations as are required or
permitted by this Indenture,  and may have such letters,  numbers or other marks
of  identification  and such legends or  endorsements  placed  thereon as may be
required  to  comply  with  the  rules  of  any   securities   exchange  or  the
authorizations,  orders or  regulations  of any state  regulatory  agency having
jurisdiction over the Company, or as may,  consistently  herewith, be determined
by the officers  executing such  Securities,  as evidenced by their execution of
the Securities. If the form or forms of Securities of any series are established
in a  Board  Resolution  or in an  Officer's  Certificate  pursuant  to a  Board
Resolution,  such Board Resolution and Officer's  Certificate,  if any, shall be
delivered  to the  Trustee  at or prior to the  delivery  of the  Company  Order
contemplated  by  Section  303  for  the  authentication  and  delivery  of such
Securities.

                  Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, the
Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without  coupons.
The  definitive  Securities  shall  be  produced  in such  manner  as  shall  be
determined  by the officers  executing  such  Securities,  as evidenced by their
execution thereof.

SECTION 202. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.

                  The  Trustee's  certificate  of  authentication  shall  be  in
substantially the form set forth below:

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

- --------
4        Bracketed  language will be inserted in the Indenture  under which SKIS
         or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                      -14-


<PAGE>




                             BOATMEN'S TRUST COMPANY
                                   as Trustee



                             By: ______________________
                                   Authorized Officer



                                  ARTICLE THREE

                                 The Securities


SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

                  The  aggregate  principal  amount of  Securities  which may be
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

                  The Securities may be issued in one or more series. Subject to
the last paragraph of this Section,  prior to the authentication and delivery of
Securities  of any series  there  shall be  established  by  specification  in a
supplemental indenture or in a Board Resolution,  or in an Officer's Certificate
pursuant to a supplemental indenture or a Board Resolution:

                  (a) the title of the  Securities  of such series  (which shall
         distinguish  the Securities of such series from Securities of all other
         series);

                  (b) any  limit  upon the  aggregate  principal  amount  of the
         Securities  of such series  which may be  authenticated  and  delivered
         under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered
         upon  registration  of transfer of, or in exchange  for, or in lieu of,
         other  Securities of the series  pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 406
         or 1206 and, except for any Securities which,  pursuant to Section 303,
         are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

                  (c) the Person or Persons (without specific identification) to
         whom  interest on Securities  of such series,  or any Tranche  thereof,
         shall be  payable  on any  Interest  Payment  Date,  if other  than the
         Persons in whose  names  such  Securities  (or one or more  Predecessor
         Securities)  are  registered  at the close of  business  on the Regular
         Record Date for such interest;

                  (d) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities
         of such series or any Tranche  thereof,  is payable or any formulary or
         other  method  or  other  means by which  such  date or dates  shall be
         determined, by reference or otherwise (without regard to any provisions
         for redemption, prepayment, acceleration, purchase or extension);


                                      -15-


<PAGE>



                  (e) the rate or rates at which the  Securities of such series,
         or any Tranche thereof, shall bear interest, if any (including the rate
         or rates at which overdue  principal shall bear interest,  if different
         from the rate or rates at which such  Securities  shall  bear  interest
         prior  to  Maturity,  and,  if  applicable,  the rate or rates at which
         overdue  premium or  interest  shall  bear  interest,  if any),  or any
         formulary  or other  method or other  means by which such rate or rates
         shall be determined,  by reference or otherwise; the date or dates from
         which such interest shall accrue;  the Interest  Payment Dates on which
         such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for
         the interest  payable on such Securities on any Interest  Payment Date;
         [the  right of the  Company,  if any,  to extend the  interest  payment
         periods  and the  duration of any such  extension  as  contemplated  by
         Section 312]5 and the basis of computation  of interest,  if other than
         as provided in Section 310;

                  (f) the place or places at which or  methods  by which (1) the
         principal of and premium,  if any, and interest,  if any, on Securities
         of  such  series,  or  any  Tranche  thereof,  shall  be  payable,  (2)
         registration  of transfer of Securities of such series,  or any Tranche
         thereof,  may be effected,  (3) exchanges of Securities of such series,
         or any Tranche thereof,  may be effected and (4) notices and demands to
         or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series, or any
         Tranche  thereof,  and  this  Indenture  may be  served;  the  Security
         Registrar for such series;  and if such is the case, that the principal
         of such Securities  shall be payable  without  presentment or surrender
         thereof;


                  (g) the period or periods  within which,  or the date or dates
         on which,  the  price or  prices at which and the terms and  conditions
         upon which the Securities of such series,  or any Tranche thereof,  may
         be redeemed,  in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and any
         restrictions  on  such  redemptions,  including  but not  limited  to a
         restriction on a partial redemption by the Company of the Securities of
         any series,  or any Tranche  thereof,  resulting  in  delisting of such
         Securities from any national exchange;

                  (h) the obligation or  obligations,  if any, of the Company to
         redeem or  purchase  the  Securities  of such  series,  or any  Tranche
         thereof,  pursuant to any sinking  fund or other  mandatory  redemption
         provisions  or at the  option  of a Holder  thereof  and the  period or
         periods within which or the date or dates on which, the price or prices
         at which and the terms and conditions upon which such Securities  shall
         be  redeemed  or  purchased,  in  whole or in  part,  pursuant  to such
         obligation,  and applicable  exceptions to the  requirements of Section
         404 in the case of mandatory  redemption or redemption at the option of
         the Holder;

                  (i) the  denominations in which Securities of such series,  or
         any Tranche thereof,  shall be issuable if other than  denominations of
         $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

- --------
         5        Bracketed  language  will be inserted in the  Indenture  under
                  which SKIS or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                      -16-


<PAGE>



                  (j)  the   currency   or   currencies,   including   composite
         currencies,  in which payment of the principal of and premium,  if any,
         and interest,  if any, on the Securities of such series, or any Tranche
         thereof, shall be payable (if other than in Dollars);

                  (k) if the  principal of or premium,  if any, or interest,  if
         any, on the Securities of such series,  or any Tranche thereof,  are to
         be payable,  at the election of the Company or a Holder  thereof,  in a
         coin or currency  other than that in which the Securities are stated to
         be  payable,  the  period  or  periods  within  which and the terms and
         conditions upon which, such election may be made;

                  (l) if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the
         Securities of such series,  or any Tranche thereof,  are to be payable,
         or are to be  payable  at the  election  of  the  Company  or a  Holder
         thereof,  in securities or other property,  the type and amount of such
         securities or other property, or the formulary or other method or other
         means by which  such  amount  shall be  determined,  and the  period or
         periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, any such
         election may be made;

                  (m) if the  amount  payable  in  respect  of  principal  of or
         premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series,
         or any Tranche thereof, may be determined with reference to an index or
         other fact or event ascertainable outside this Indenture, the manner in
         which such amounts shall be  determined  to the extent not  established
         pursuant to clause (e) of this paragraph;

                  (n) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of
         the  principal  amount of  Securities  of such  series,  or any Tranche
         thereof, which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
         Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 802;

                  (o) any Events of Default,  in addition to those  specified in
         Section 801,  with respect to the  Securities  of such series,  and any
         covenants  of  the  Company  for  the  benefit  of the  Holders  of the
         Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, in addition to those
         set forth in Article Six;

                  (p) the terms,  if any,  pursuant to which the  Securities  of
         such series, or any Tranche thereof, may be converted into or exchanged
         for shares of capital  stock or other  securities of the Company or any
         other Person;

                  (q) the  obligations  or  instruments,  if any, which shall be
         considered to be Eligible  Obligations  in respect of the Securities of
         such series,  or any Tranche  thereof,  denominated in a currency other
         than  Dollars  or  in a  composite  currency,  and  any  additional  or
         alternative   provisions  for  the   reinstatement   of  the  Company's
         indebtedness in respect of such Securities  after the  satisfaction and
         discharge thereof as provided in Section 701;

                  (r) if the Securities of such series,  or any Tranche thereof,
         are to be issued in global form,  (i) any  limitations on the rights of
         the Holder or Holders of such  Securities  to transfer or exchange  the
         same or to obtain the registration of transfer thereof, (ii) any

                                      -17-


<PAGE>



         limitations  on the rights of the  Holder or Holders  thereof to obtain
         certificates  therefor in definitive form in lieu of temporary form and
         (iii) any and all other matters incidental to such Securities;

                  (s) if the Securities of such series,  or any Tranche thereof,
         are to be issuable as bearer securities, any and all matters incidental
         thereto  which  are  not  specifically   addressed  in  a  supplemental
         indenture as contemplated by clause (g) of Section 1201;

                  (t) to the extent not  established  pursuant  to clause (r) of
         this  paragraph,  any  limitations  on the rights of the Holders of the
         Securities  of such  Series,  or any  Tranche  thereof,  to transfer or
         exchange  such  Securities  or to obtain the  registration  of transfer
         thereof;  and if a service charge will be made for the  registration of
         transfer or  exchange  of  Securities  of such  series,  or any Tranche
         thereof, the amount or terms thereof;

                  (u) any  exceptions  to  Section  113,  or  variation  in  the
         definition  of Business  Day,  with respect to the  Securities  of such
         series, or any Tranche thereof; and

                  (v) any other terms of the  Securities of such series,  or any
         Tranche  thereof,   not  inconsistent   with  the  provisions  of  this
         Indenture.

                  [The Securities of each series, or any Tranche thereof,  shall
be  subordinated  in the right of payment to Senior  Indebtedness as provided in
Article Fifteen.]6

                  With respect to Securities  of a series  subject to a Periodic
Offering,  the  indenture  supplemental  hereto  or the Board  Resolution  which
establishes  such  series,  or  the  Officer's   Certificate  pursuant  to  such
supplemental  indenture  or Board  Resolution,  as the case may be, may  provide
general terms or  parameters  for  Securities of such series and provide  either
that the specific  terms of Securities of such series,  or any Tranche  thereof,
shall be specified in a Company  Order or that such terms shall be determined by
the Company or its agents in accordance with  procedures  specified in a Company
Order as contemplated by the clause (b) of the third paragraph of Section 303.

SECTION 302. Denominations.

                  Unless otherwise  provided as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities,  or any Tranche thereof,  the Securities of
each  series  shall be  issuable  in  denominations  of $1,000 and any  integral
multiple thereof.

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

                  Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with 
respect to any
- --------
6        Bracketed  language will be inserted in the Indenture  under which SKIS
         or other subordinated Securities will be issued.


                                      -18-


<PAGE>



series of Securities,  or any Tranche thereof,  the Securities shall be executed
on behalf of the Company by an  Authorized  Officer  and may have the  corporate
seal of the Company affixed thereto or reproduced  thereon attested by any other
Authorized  Officer.  The  signature  of any or all  of  these  officers  on the
Securities may be manual or facsimile.

                  Securities  bearing  the  manual or  facsimile  signatures  of
individuals who were at the time of execution Authorized Officers of the Company
shall bind the Company,  notwithstanding  that such  individuals  or any of them
have ceased to hold such  offices  prior to the  authentication  and delivery of
such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

                  The Trustee  shall  authenticate  and deliver  Securities of a
series,  for original issue, at one time or from time to time in accordance with
the Company Order referred to below, upon receipt by the Trustee of:

                  (a) the  instrument or  instruments  establishing  the form or
         forms and terms of such series, as provided in Sections 201 and 301;

                  (b) a Company Order requesting the authentication and delivery
         of such Securities and, to the extent that the terms of such Securities
         shall not have been established in an indenture  supplemental hereto or
         in a Board  Resolution,  or in an Officer's  Certificate  pursuant to a
         supplemental  indenture or Board  Resolution,  all as  contemplated  by
         Sections 201 and 301, either (i) establishing such terms or (ii) in the
         case  of  Securities  of  a  series  subject  to a  Periodic  Offering,
         specifying  procedures,  acceptable to the Trustee, by which such terms
         are to be  established  (which  procedures  may provide,  to the extent
         acceptable to the Trustee,  for authentication and delivery pursuant to
         oral or electronic instructions from the Company or any agent or agents
         thereof,   which  oral  instructions  are  to  be  promptly   confirmed
         electronically  or in writing),  in either case in accordance  with the
         instrument or instruments delivered pursuant to clause (a) above;

                  (c) the  Securities of such series,  executed on behalf of the
         Company by an Authorized Officer;

                  (d) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:

                               (i)   that   the   form  or  forms  of  such
                  Securities  have been duly  authorized by the Company and have
                  been  established  in conformity  with the  provisions of this
                  Indenture;

                               (ii) that the terms of such  Securities have been
                  duly  authorized by the Company and have been  established  in
                  conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

                              (iii) that such Securities, when authenticated and
                  delivered  by the  Trustee  and  issued and  delivered  by the
                  Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified

                                      -19-


<PAGE>



                  in such  Opinion of Counsel,  will have been duly issued under
                  this Indenture and will  constitute  valid and legally binding
                  obligations of the Company,  entitled to the benefits provided
                  by this  Indenture,  and  enforceable in accordance with their
                  terms,  subject,  as to  enforcement,  to laws  relating to or
                  affecting  generally the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights,
                  including, without limitation,  bankruptcy and insolvency laws
                  and to general  principles  of equity  (regardless  of whether
                  such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or
                  at law);

provided,  however,  that,  with respect to Securities of a series  subject to a
Periodic  Offering,  the Trustee  shall be entitled to receive  such  Opinion of
Counsel  only once at or prior to the time of the first  authentication  of such
Securities  (provided that such Opinion of Counsel addresses the  authentication
and delivery of all  Securities of such series) and that in lieu of the opinions
described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above Counsel may opine that:

                                    (x) when the terms of such Securities  shall
                  have been established pursuant to a Company Order or Orders or
                  pursuant to such procedures (acceptable to the Trustee) as may
                  be specified  from time to time by a Company  Order or Orders,
                  all as  contemplated  by and in accordance with the instrument
                  or instruments  delivered  pursuant to clause (a) above,  such
                  terms will have been duly  authorized  by the Company and will
                  have been  established  in conformity  with the  provisions of
                  this Indenture; and

                                    (y) such Securities,  when authenticated and
                  delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and
                  the Company Order or Orders or specified  procedures  referred
                  to in  paragraph  (x) above and  issued and  delivered  by the
                  Company in the manner and subject to any conditions  specified
                  in such  Opinion of Counsel,  will have been duly issued under
                  this Indenture and will  constitute  valid and legally binding
                  obligations of the Company,  entitled to the benefits provided
                  by the Indenture,  and  enforceable  in accordance  with their
                  terms,  subject,  as to  enforcement,  to laws  relating to or
                  affecting  generally the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights,
                  including, without limitation,  bankruptcy and insolvency laws
                  and to general  principles  of equity  (regardless  of whether
                  such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or
                  at law).

                  With respect to Securities  of a series  subject to a Periodic
Offering,  the Trustee may  conclusively  rely, as to the  authorization  by the
Company of any of such Securities,  the form and terms thereof and the legality,
validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel
and other documents delivered pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 and this Section,
as applicable, at or prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities
of such  series  unless and until  such  opinion  or other  documents  have been
superseded  or  revoked  or  expire  by  their  terms.  In  connection  with the
authentication  and  delivery of  Securities  of a series  subject to a Periodic
Offering,   the  Trustee   shall  be  entitled  to  assume  that  the  Company's
instructions  to  authenticate  and deliver such  Securities  do not violate any
rules,  regulations or orders of any Governmental  Authority having jurisdiction
over the Company.


                                      -20-


<PAGE>



                  If the form or terms of the Securities of any series have been
established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officer's  Certificate as
permitted  by  Sections  201 or  301,  the  Trustee  shall  not be  required  to
authenticate such Securities if the issuance of such Securities pursuant to this
Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights,  duties or immunities  under the
Securities  and this  Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee.

                  Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, each Security shall
be dated the date of its authentication.

                  Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities,  or any Tranche thereof,  no Security shall
be entitled to any benefit under this  Indenture or be valid or  obligatory  for
any  purpose   unless  there  appears  on  such   Security  a   certificate   of
authentication  substantially  in the form  provided for herein  executed by the
Trustee or its agent by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security
shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been
duly  authenticated  and delivered  hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of
this Indenture.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  if any Security shall have been
authenticated  and delivered  hereunder to the Company,  or any Person acting on
its behalf,  but shall never have been issued and sold by the  Company,  and the
Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for  cancellation as provided
in Section 309  together  with a written  statement  (which need not comply with
Section 102 and need not be accompanied  by an Opinion of Counsel)  stating that
such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of
this Indenture  such Security  shall be deemed never to have been  authenticated
and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits hereof.

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.

                  Pending  the  preparation  of  definitive  Securities  of  any
series, or any Tranche thereof,  the Company may execute, and upon Company Order
the Trustee  shall  authenticate  and deliver,  temporary  Securities  which are
printed, lithographed,  typewritten,  mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any
authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities
in lieu of which they are issued, with such appropriate  insertions,  omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may
determine,  as  evidenced  by  their  execution  of such  Securities;  provided,
however, that temporary Securities need not recite specific redemption,  sinking
fund, conversion or exchange provisions.

                  Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to the  Securities  of any  series,  or any Tranche  thereof,  after the
preparation  of definitive  Securities of such series or Tranche,  the temporary
Securities of such series or Tranche shall be  exchangeable,  without  charge to
the Holder  thereof,  for  definitive  Securities of such series or Tranche upon
surrender of such  temporary  Securities  at the office or agency of the Company
maintained  pursuant to Section  602 in a Place of Payment for such  Securities.
Upon such  surrender  of  temporary  Securities,  the Company  shall,  except as
aforesaid,  execute and the Trustee shall  authenticate  and deliver in exchange
therefor definitive Securities of the same series and Tranche, of authorized

                                      -21-


<PAGE>



denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

                  Until  exchanged in full as  hereinabove  provided,  temporary
Securities  shall in all  respects be entitled to the same  benefits  under this
Indenture as  definitive  Securities  of the same series and Tranche and of like
tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder.

SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

                  The Company  shall cause to be kept in each office  designated
pursuant to Section 602,  with respect to the  Securities  of each series or any
Tranche thereof,  a register (all registers kept in accordance with this Section
being collectively  referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to
such reasonable  regulations as it may prescribe,  the Company shall provide for
the registration of Securities of such series or Tranche and the registration of
transfer  thereof.  The  Company  shall  designate  one Person to  maintain  the
Security Register for the Securities of each series on a consolidated basis, and
such Person is referred to herein, with respect to such series, as the "Security
Registrar."  Anything  herein to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the Company may
designate  one or more of its  offices  as an  office in which a  register  with
respect to the  Securities  of one or more  series,  or any  Tranche or Tranches
thereof, shall be maintained,  and the Company may designate itself the Security
Registrar  with  respect to one or more of such series.  The  Security  Register
shall be open for  inspection  by the Trustee and the Company at all  reasonable
times.

                  Except as otherwise  specified as  contemplated by Section 301
with  respect to the  Securities  of any series,  or any Tranche  thereof,  upon
surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of such series or Tranche
at the office or agency of the Company  maintained  pursuant to Section 602 in a
Place of Payment for such series or Tranche,  the Company shall execute, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee
or  transferees,  one or more new Securities of the same series and Tranche,  of
authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

                  Except as otherwise  specified as  contemplated by Section 301
with  respect to the  Securities  of any  series,  or any Tranche  thereof,  any
Security of such series or Tranche may be exchanged at the option of the Holder,
for one or more new  Securities  of the same series and Tranche,  of  authorized
denominations and of like tenor and aggregate  principal amount,  upon surrender
of the  Securities  to be exchanged  at any such office or agency.  Whenever any
Securities are so surrendered for exchange,  the Company shall execute,  and the
Trustee shall  authenticate and deliver,  the Securities which the Holder making
the exchange is entitled to receive.

                  All Securities  delivered upon any registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the
same debt,  and  entitled  to the same  benefits  under this  Indenture,  as the
Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

                  Every Security  presented or surrendered  for  registration of
transfer or for exchange  shall (if so required by the  Company,  the Trustee or
the Security Registrar) be duly endorsed or shall be accompanied by a written

                                      -22-


<PAGE>



instrument of transfer in form  satisfactory to the Company,  the Trustee or the
Security  Registrar,  as the case may be, duly executed by the Holder thereof or
his attorney duly authorized in writing.

                  Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to Securities of any series,  or any Tranche thereof,  no service charge
shall be made for any  registration  of transfer or exchange of Securities,  but
the Company may require  payment of a sum  sufficient  to cover any tax or other
governmental  charge that may be imposed in connection with any  registration of
transfer or exchange of  Securities,  other than  exchanges  pursuant to Section
304, 406 or 1206 not involving any transfer.

                  The Company shall not be required to execute or to provide for
the registration of transfer of or the exchange of (a) Securities of any series,
or any Tranche  thereof,  during a period of 15 days  immediately  preceding the
date notice is to be given  identifying  the serial numbers of the Securities of
such series or Tranche called for redemption or (b) any Security so selected for
redemption in whole or in part,  except the  unredeemed  portion of any Security
being redeemed in part.

SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

                  If any mutilated  Security is surrendered to the Trustee,  the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor a new  Security  of the same  series,  and of like tenor and  principal
amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

                  If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (a)
evidence to their satisfaction of the ownership of and the destruction,  loss or
theft of any  Security and (b) such  security or indemnity as may be  reasonably
required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them  harmless,
then,  in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security
is held by a Person  purporting  to be the owner of such  Security,  the Company
shall execute and the Trustee  shall  authenticate  and deliver,  in lieu of any
such destroyed,  lost or stolen Security,  a new Security of the same series and
Tranche,  and of like  tenor and  principal  amount  and  bearing  a number  not
contemporaneously outstanding.

                  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  in case any such  mutilated,
destroyed,  lost or stolen  Security  has  become or is about to become  due and
payable,  the Company in its discretion may,  instead of issuing a new Security,
pay such Security.

                  Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section,  the
Company may require  the payment of a sum  sufficient  to cover any tax or other
governmental  charge  that may be  imposed  in  relation  thereto  and any other
reasonable  expenses  (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected
therewith.

                  Every new  Security  of any  series  issued  pursuant  to this
Section in lieu of any destroyed,  lost or stolen  Security shall  constitute an
original additional  contractual  obligation of the Company,  whether or not the
destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone

                                      -23-


<PAGE>



other than the Holder of such new Security,  and any such new Security  shall be
entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately  with
any and all other Securities of such series duly issued hereunder.

                  The  provisions  of  this  Section  are  exclusive  and  shall
preclude (to the extent  lawful) all other  rights and remedies  with respect to
the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

                  Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, interest on any
Security which is payable,  and is punctually  paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest  Payment  Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that  Security
(or one or more  Predecessor  Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

                  [Subject to Section  312]7 any interest on any Security of any
series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease
to be payable  to the Holder on the  related  Regular  Record  Date by virtue of
having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company,
at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

                  (a) The  Company  may elect to make  payment of any  Defaulted
         Interest to the Persons in whose  names the  Securities  of such series
         (or their  respective  Predecessor  Securities)  are  registered at the
         close of business on a date (herein called a "Special Record Date") for
         the  payment of such  Defaulted  Interest,  which shall be fixed in the
         following  manner.  The Company  shall notify the Trustee in writing of
         the amount of Defaulted  Interest  proposed to be paid on each Security
         of such series and the date of the  proposed  payment,  and at the same
         time the  Company  shall  deposit  with the  Trustee an amount of money
         equal to the  aggregate  amount  proposed to be paid in respect of such
         Defaulted  Interest  or shall  make  arrangements  satisfactory  to the
         Trustee for such  deposit  prior to the date of the  proposed  payment,
         such money when  deposited  to be held in trust for the  benefit of the
         Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided.
         Thereupon the Trustee  shall fix a Special  Record Date for the payment
         of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not
         less than 10 days  prior to the date of the  proposed  payment  and not
         less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the
         proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such
         Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company,
         shall promptly  cause notice of the proposed  payment of such Defaulted
         Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class
         postage  prepaid,  to each Holder of  Securities  of such series at the
         address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register, not less
         than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed
- --------
7        Bracketed  language will be inserted in the Indenture  under which SKIS
         or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                      -24-


<PAGE>



         payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor
         having been so mailed,  such  Defaulted  Interest  shall be paid to the
         Persons  in  whose  names  the  Securities  of such  series  (or  their
         respective  Predecessor  Securities)  are  registered  at the  close of
         business on such Special Record Date.

                  (b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted  Interest on
         the   Securities   of  any  series  in  any  other  lawful  manner  not
         inconsistent with the requirements of any securities  exchange on which
         such Securities may be listed,  and upon such notice as may be required
         by such exchange,  if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee
         of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment
         shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

                  Subject  to the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  Section  and
Section 305, each Security  delivered under this Indenture upon  registration of
transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other  Security shall carry the
rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such
other Security.

SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners.

                  The  Company,  the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the
Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such  Security is  registered  as the
absolute  owner  of such  Security  for the  purpose  of  receiving  payment  of
principal  of and  premium,  if any,  and  (subject  to  Sections  305 and  307)
interest,  if any,  on such  Security  and for all  other  purposes  whatsoever,
whether or not such  Security be overdue,  and neither the Company,  the Trustee
nor any agent of the Company or the  Trustee  shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.

SECTION 309. Cancellation by Security Registrar.

                  All   Securities   surrendered   for   payment,    redemption,
registration  of transfer or exchange  shall, if surrendered to any Person other
than the Security Registrar,  be delivered to the Security Registrar and, if not
theretofore canceled,  shall be promptly canceled by the Security Registrar. The
Company may at any time deliver to the Security  Registrar for  cancellation any
Securities  previously  authenticated and delivered  hereunder which the Company
may have  acquired in any manner  whatsoever or which the Company shall not have
issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered  shall be promptly  canceled by
the Security  Registrar.  No Securities  shall be authenticated in lieu of or in
exchange  for any  Securities  canceled as provided in this  Section,  except as
expressly  permitted  by this  Indenture.  All canceled  Securities  held by the
Security  Registrar  shall be disposed  of in  accordance  with a Company  Order
delivered to the Security Registrar and the Trustee,  and the Security Registrar
shall  promptly  deliver a  certificate  of  disposition  to the Trustee and the
Company  unless,  by a Company  Order,  similarly  delivered,  the Company shall
direct that canceled  Securities be returned to it. The Security Registrar shall
promptly  deliver  evidence of any cancellation of a Security in accordance with
this Section 309 to the Trustee and the Company.

SECTION 310. Computation of Interest.


                                      -25-


<PAGE>



                  Except as otherwise  specified as  contemplated by Section 301
for Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, interest on the Securities
of each series  shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year  consisting  of
twelve  30-day  months  and on the basis of the  actual  number of days  elapsed
within any month in relation to the deemed 30 days of such month.

SECTION 311. Payment to Be in Proper Currency.

                  In the case of the  Securities  of any series,  or any Tranche
thereof,  denominated  in any  currency  other than  Dollars  or in a  composite
currency (the "Required  Currency"),  except as otherwise specified with respect
to such Securities as contemplated by Section 301, the obligation of the Company
to make any  payment  of the  principal  thereof,  or the  premium  or  interest
thereon,  shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender by the Company,  or
recovery by the  Trustee,  in any  currency  other than the  Required  Currency,
except to the extent that such tender or  recovery  shall  result in the Trustee
timely holding the full amount of the Required Currency then due and payable. If
any such tender or recovery is in a currency  other than the Required  Currency,
the Trustee may take such actions as it considers  appropriate  to exchange such
currency for the Required  Currency.  The costs and risks of any such  exchange,
including  without  limitation the risks of delay and exchange rate fluctuation,
shall be borne by the  Company,  the Company  shall  remain fully liable for any
shortfall or  delinquency  in the full amount of Required  Currency then due and
payable,  and in no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable therefor except in
the case of its negligence or willful misconduct.

[SECTION 312. Extension of Interest Payment.

                  The Company  shall have the right at any time,  so long as the
Company is not in default in the payment of interest  on the  Securities  of any
series hereunder, to extend interest payment periods on all Securities of one or
more series, or Tranches thereof, if so specified as contemplated by Section 301
with  respect  to such  Securities  and upon such terms as may be  specified  as
contemplated by Section 301 with respect to such securities .]8


                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                            Redemption of Securities


SECTION 401.  Applicability of Article.

                  Securities of any series,  or any Tranche  thereof,  which are
redeemable  before their Stated  Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with
their terms and (except as otherwise  specified as  contemplated  by Section 301
for  Securities  of such  series or Tranche) in  accordance  with this  Article.
- -------- 
8 Bracketed language will be inserted in the Indenture under which SKIS
or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                      -26-


<PAGE>




SECTION 402.  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

                  The election of the Company to redeem any Securities  shall be
evidenced by a Board Resolution or an Officer's Certificate.  The Company shall,
at least 45 days prior to the  Redemption  Date fixed by the  Company  (unless a
shorter  notice shall be  satisfactory  to the  Trustee),  notify the Trustee in
writing of such Redemption  Date and of the principal  amount of such Securities
to be redeemed.  In the case of any  redemption of  Securities  (a) prior to the
expiration of any restriction on such  redemption  provided in the terms of such
Securities or elsewhere in this  Indenture or (b) pursuant to an election of the
Company  which  is  subject  to a  condition  specified  in the  terms  of  such
Securities,  the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer's Certificate
evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

SECTION 403.  Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed.

                  If less than all the Securities of any series,  or any Tranche
thereof, are to be redeemed,  the particular  Securities to be redeemed shall be
selected by the  Security  Registrar  from the  Outstanding  Securities  of such
series or Tranche not previously called for redemption,  by such method as shall
be provided for any particular series, or, in the absence of any such provision,
by such method of random selection as the Security Registrar shall deem fair and
appropriate and which may, in any case, provide for the selection for redemption
of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such
series or Tranche or any integral  multiple  thereof) of the principal amount of
Securities of such series or Tranche of a  denomination  larger than the minimum
authorized  denomination  for  Securities  of such series or Tranche;  provided,
however,  that if, as indicated in an Officer's  Certificate,  the Company shall
have  offered to purchase all or any  principal  amount of the  Securities  then
Outstanding  of any series,  or any Tranche  thereof,  and less than all of such
Securities  as to which  such offer was made  shall  have been  tendered  to the
Company for such  purchase,  the Security  Registrar,  if so directed by Company
Order,  shall  select  for  redemption  all  or any  principal  amount  of  such
Securities which have not been so tendered.

                  The Security  Registrar  shall promptly notify the Company and
the Trustee in writing of the  Securities  selected for  redemption  and, in the
case of any  Securities  selected to be redeemed in part,  the principal  amount
thereof to be redeemed.

                  For  all  purposes  of  this  Indenture,  unless  the  context
otherwise  requires,  all  provisions  relating to the  redemption of Securities
shall relate,  in the case of any Securities  redeemed or to be redeemed only in
part, to the portion of the principal  amount of such Securities  which has been
or is to be redeemed.

SECTION 404.  Notice of Redemption.

                  Notice of redemption  shall be given in the manner provided in
Section 106 to the Holders of the Securities to be redeemed not less than 30 nor
more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date.

                  All notices of redemption shall state:

                                      -27-


<PAGE>




                  (a)      the Redemption Date,

                  (b)      the Redemption Price,

                  (c) if less than all the  Securities  of any series or Tranche
         are to be redeemed,  the identification of the particular Securities to
         be redeemed and the portion of the principal  amount of any Security to
         be redeemed in part,

                  (d) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price, together
         with accrued interest,  if any, to the Redemption Date, will become due
         and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if  applicable,
         that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

                  (e) the  place  or  places  where  such  Securities  are to be
         surrendered for payment of the Redemption  Price and accrued  interest,
         if any,  unless it shall have been specified as contemplated by Section
         301 with respect to such  Securities  that such surrender  shall not be
         required,

                  (f) that the  redemption  is for a sinking or other  fund,  if
         such is the case, and

                  (g) such other matters as the Company shall deem  desirable or
         appropriate.

                  Unless  otherwise  specified with respect to any Securities in
accordance  with  Section  301,  with  respect  to any notice of  redemption  of
Securities  at the  election  of the  Company,  unless,  upon the giving of such
notice,  such  Securities  shall be deemed to have been paid in accordance  with
Section 701,  such notice may state that such  redemption  shall be  conditional
upon the receipt by the Paying Agent or Agents for such Securities,  on or prior
to the date fixed for such redemption,  of money sufficient to pay the principal
of and premium,  if any, and interest,  if any, on such  Securities  and that if
such money shall not have been so received  such notice  shall be of no force or
effect and the Company shall not be required to redeem such  Securities.  In the
event that such notice of redemption contains such a condition and such money is
not so received,  the redemption  shall not be made and within a reasonable time
thereafter  notice  shall be  given,  in the  manner  in  which  the  notice  of
redemption  was given,  that such money was not so received and such  redemption
was not required to be made,  and the Paying Agent or Agents for the  Securities
otherwise to have been redeemed shall promptly return to the Holders thereof any
of such Securities which had been surrendered for payment upon such redemption.

                  Notice of  redemption  of  Securities  to be  redeemed  at the
election of the Company,  and any notice of  non-satisfaction of a condition for
redemption  as  aforesaid,  shall be given by the Company  or, at the  Company's
request,  by the  Security  Registrar  in the  name  and at the  expense  of the
Company.  Notice of mandatory  redemption  of  Securities  shall be given by the
Security Registrar in the name and at the expense of the Company.

SECTION 405. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.


                                      -28-


<PAGE>



                  Notice of redemption  having been given as aforesaid,  and the
conditions,  if any,  set  forth  in such  notice  having  been  satisfied,  the
Securities or portions  thereof so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date,
become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein  specified,  and from and
after such date (unless,  in the case of an unconditional  notice of redemption,
the Company  shall  default in the payment of the  Redemption  Price and accrued
interest,  if any) such  Securities or portions  thereof,  if  interest-bearing,
shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption
in accordance  with such notice,  such Security or portion thereof shall be paid
by the Company at the Redemption Price,  together with accrued interest, if any,
to the Redemption  Date;  provided,  however,  that no such surrender shall be a
condition to such payment if so  specified as  contemplated  by Section 301 with
respect to such  Security;  and  provided,  further,  that  except as  otherwise
specified  as  contemplated  by Section 301 with respect to such  Security,  any
installment of interest on any Security the Stated Maturity of which installment
is on or prior to the  Redemption  Date  shall be  payable to the Holder of such
Security, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close
of business on the related  Regular  Record Date  according to the terms of such
Security and subject to the provisions of Section 307.

SECTION 406. Securities Redeemed in Part.

                  Upon the  surrender  of any  Security  which is to be redeemed
only in part at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee
so requires,  due  endorsement  by, or a written  instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof
or his attorney duly authorized in writing),  the Company shall execute, and the
Trustee shall  authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security,  without
service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and Tranche,  of
any  authorized  denomination  requested by such Holder and of like tenor and in
aggregate  principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed  portion
of the principal of the Security so surrendered.


                                  ARTICLE FIVE

                                  Sinking Funds


SECTION 501.  Applicability of Article.

                  The  provisions  of this Article  shall be  applicable  to any
sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of any series,  or any Tranche
thereof,  except as  otherwise  specified  as  contemplated  by Section  301 for
Securities of such series or Tranche.

                  The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by
the  terms of  Securities  of any  series,  or any  Tranche  thereof,  is herein
referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment",  and any payment in excess of
such minimum  amount  provided for by the terms of Securities of any series,  or
any  Tranche  thereof,  is  herein  referred  to as an  "optional  sinking  fund
payment".  If provided  for by the terms of  Securities  of any  series,  or any


                                      -29-


<PAGE>



Tranche  thereof,  the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to
reduction as provided in Section 502. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied
to the  redemption of Securities of the series or Tranche in respect of which it
was made as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

SECTION 502.  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

                  The  Company  (a)  may  deliver  to  the  Trustee  Outstanding
Securities  (other than any  previously  called for  redemption)  of a series or
Tranche in respect of which a mandatory  sinking  fund payment is to be made and
(b) may apply as a credit  Securities  of such series or Tranche which have been
redeemed  either at the  election of the  Company  pursuant to the terms of such
Securities  or through  the  application  of  permitted  optional  sinking  fund
payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities,  in each case in satisfaction
of all or any part of such mandatory  sinking fund payment;  provided,  however,
that no Securities shall be applied in satisfaction of a mandatory  sinking fund
payment if such Securities shall have been previously so applied.  Securities so
applied  shall be received  and  credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the
Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption  through  operation
of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory  sinking fund payment shall
be reduced accordingly.

SECTION 503.  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

                  Not less than 45 days prior to each  sinking fund payment date
for the  Securities  of any series,  or any Tranche  thereof,  the Company shall
deliver to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate specifying:

                  (a) the amount of the next succeeding  mandatory  sinking fund
         payment for such series or Tranche;

                  (b) the amount,  if any, of the optional  sinking fund payment
         to be made together with such mandatory sinking fund payment;

                  (c) the aggregate sinking fund payment;

                  (d) the portion, if any, of such aggregate sinking fund 
         payment which is to be satisfied by the payment of cash;

                  (e) the  portion,  if  any,  of such  aggregate  sinking  fund
         payment which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities
         of such series or Tranche pursuant to Section 502 and stating the basis
         for such credit and that such  Securities  have not previously  been so
         credited,  and the  Company  shall  also  deliver  to the  Trustee  any
         Securities  to be so  delivered.  If the Company shall not deliver such
         Officer's  Certificate,  the next  succeeding  sinking fund payment for
         such series or Tranche  shall be made entirely in cash in the amount of
         the mandatory  sinking fund payment.  Not less than 30 days before each
         such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the  Securities
         to be  redeemed  upon such  sinking  fund  payment  date in the  manner
         specified in Section 403 and cause notice of the redemption  thereof to
         be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner

                                      -30-


<PAGE>



         provided  in Section  404.  Such notice  having  been duly  given,  the
         redemption of such  Securities  shall be made upon the terms and in the
         manner stated in Sections 405 and 406.


                                   ARTICLE SIX

                                    Covenants


SECTION 601. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

                  The Company  shall pay the  principal of and premium,  if any,
and interest,  if any, on the  Securities of each series in accordance  with the
terms of such Securities and this Indenture.

SECTION 602.  Maintenance of Office or Agency.

                  The  Company  shall  maintain in each Place of Payment for the
Securities  of each series,  or any Tranche  thereof,  an office or agency where
payment of such Securities  shall be made, where the registration of transfer or
exchange of such  Securities may be effected and where notices and demands to or
upon the Company in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and
any change in the  location,  of each such office or agency and prompt notice to
the Holders of any such change in the manner specified in Section 106. If at any
time the Company  shall fail to maintain any such  required  office or agency in
respect of Securities of any series,  or any Tranche  thereof,  or shall fail to
furnish the Trustee with the address  thereof,  payment of such Securities shall
be made,  registration  of  transfer or  exchange  thereof  may be effected  and
notices and  demands in respect  thereof  may be served at the  Corporate  Trust
Office of the Trustee,  and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent
for all such purposes in any such event.

                  The Company may also from time to time  designate  one or more
other offices or agencies with respect to the  Securities of one or more series,
or any Tranche  thereof,  for any or all of the foregoing  purposes and may from
time  to  time  rescind  such  designations;  provided,  however,  that,  unless
otherwise  specified  as  contemplated  by  Section  301  with  respect  to  the
Securities of such series or Tranche, no such designation or rescission shall in
any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency
for such  purposes in each Place of Payment for such  Securities  in  accordance
with the  requirements  set forth above.  The Company shall give prompt  written
notice to the Trustee,  and prompt notice to the Holders in the manner specified
in Section 106, of any such  designation  or rescission and of any change in the
location of any such other office or agency.

                  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any office or
agency  required by this Section may be  maintained at an office of the Company,
in which event the Company  shall  perform all functions to be performed at such
office or agency.

                                      -31-


<PAGE>




SECTION 603.  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

                  If the Company  shall at any time act as its own Paying  Agent
with respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof,  it shall,
on or  before  each  due  date of the  principal  of and  premium,  if any,  and
interest, if any, on any of such Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the
benefit of the Persons  entitled  thereto a sum  sufficient to pay the principal
and premium or  interest  so becoming  due until such sums shall be paid to such
Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided.  The Company shall promptly
notify the Trustee of any  failure by the Company (or any other  obligor on such
Securities) to make any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest,
if any, on such Securities.

                  Whenever the Company  shall have one or more Paying Agents for
the Securities of any series,  or any Tranche  thereof,  it shall,  on or before
each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest,  if any, on
such  Securities,  deposit  with such  Paying  Agents sums  sufficient  (without
duplication)  to pay the principal and premium or interest so becoming due, such
sum to be  held in  trust  for  the  benefit  of the  Persons  entitled  to such
principal,  premium or  interest,  and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee)
the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any failure by it so to act.

                  The Company  shall cause each Paying Agent for the  Securities
of any series, or any Tranche thereof, other than the Company or the Trustee, to
execute  and  deliver to the Trustee an  instrument  in which such Paying  Agent
shall agree with the Trustee,  subject to the  provisions of this Section,  that
such Paying Agent shall:

                  (a) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the  principal
         of and premium,  if any, or  interest,  if any, on such  Securities  in
         trust for the benefit of the Persons  entitled  thereto until such sums
         shall  be paid to such  Persons  or  otherwise  disposed  of as  herein
         provided;

                  (b) give the Trustee  notice of any failure by the Company (or
         any  other  obligor  upon  such  Securities)  to make  any  payment  of
         principal  of or  premium,  if  any,  or  interest,  if  any,  on  such
         Securities; and

                  (c) at any time during the  continuance  of any such  default,
         upon the written  request of the Trustee,  forthwith pay to the Trustee
         all sums so held in trust  by such  Paying  Agent  and  furnish  to the
         Trustee  such  information  as it  possesses  regarding  the  names and
         addresses of the Persons entitled to such sums.

                  The Company may at any time pay,  or by Company  Order  direct
any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or
such Paying  Agent,  such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as
those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent and, if
so stated in a Company Order  delivered to the Trustee,  in accordance  with the
provisions of Article  Seven;  and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the
Trustee,  such Paying Agent shall be released  from all further  liability  with
respect to such money.


                                      -32-


<PAGE>



                  Any money  deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent,  or
then held by the  Company,  in trust for the  payment  of the  principal  of and
premium,  if any, or interest,  if any, on any Security and remaining  unclaimed
for two years after such  principal and premium,  if any, or interest has become
due and  payable  shall be paid to the Company on Company  Request,  or, if then
held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust; and, upon such payment
or  discharge,  the  Holder of such  Security  shall,  as an  unsecured  general
creditor  and not as a  Holder  of an  Outstanding  Security,  look  only to the
Company for payment of the amount so due and payable and remaining  unpaid,  and
all  liability  of the Trustee or such Paying  Agent with  respect to such trust
money,  and all  liability of the Company as trustee  thereof,  shall  thereupon
cease;  provided,  however,  that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being
required  to make any such  payment to the  Company,  may at the  expense of the
Company  cause to be mailed,  on one occasion  only,  notice to such Holder that
such money remains  unclaimed and that,  after a date specified  therein,  which
shall  not be less  than 30 days from the date of such  mailing,  any  unclaimed
balance of such money then remaining will be paid to the Company.

SECTION 604. Corporate Existence.

                  Subject to the rights of the Company under Article Eleven, the
Company  shall do or cause to be done all things  necessary to preserve and keep
in full force and effect its corporate existence.

SECTION 605. Maintenance of Properties.

                  The Company shall cause (or, with respect to property owned in
common with others,  make reasonable effort to cause) all its properties used or
useful  in the  conduct  of its  business  to be  maintained  and  kept  in good
condition,  repair  and  working  order and shall  cause  (or,  with  respect to
property  owned in common with others,  make  reasonable  effort to cause) to be
made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements
thereof,  all as, in the judgment of the  Company,  may be necessary so that the
business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted; provided,
however,   that  nothing  in  this  Section   shall  prevent  the  Company  from
discontinuing,  or causing the  discontinuance of, the operation and maintenance
of any of its  properties  if such  discontinuance  is, in the  judgment  of the
Company, desirable in the conduct of its business.

SECTION 606.  Annual Officer's Certificate as to Compliance.

                  Not  later  than  ______________  1 in each  year,  commencing
___________  1, 199_ the  Company  shall  deliver to the  Trustee  an  Officer's
Certificate  which need not comply with Section 102,  executed by the  principal
executive officer or the principal financial officer or the principal accounting
officer  of the  Company,  as to  such  officer's  knowledge  of  the  Company's
compliance  with  all  conditions  and  covenants  under  this  Indenture,  such
compliance to be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement
of notice under this Indenture.

SECTION 607. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

                  The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with
any term, provision or condition set forth in (a) Section 602 or any additional

                                      -33-


<PAGE>



covenant or restriction  specified with respect to the Securities of any series,
or any Tranche  thereof,  as  contemplated by Section 301 if before the time for
such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the  Outstanding  Securities of all series and Tranches with respect to which
compliance with Section 602 or such additional  covenant or restriction is to be
omitted,  considered as one class,  shall, by Act of such Holders,  either waive
such compliance in such instance or generally  waive  compliance with such term,
provision or condition and (b) Section 604, 605, 606 or Article Eleven if before
the time for such  compliance  the Holders of at least a majority  in  principal
amount of Securities  Outstanding  under this  Indenture  shall,  by Act of such
Holders,  either  waive such  compliance  in such  instance or  generally  waive
compliance  with such term,  provision or condition;  but, in the case of (a) or
(b), no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term,  provision or condition
except to the extent so expressly  waived,  and,  until such waiver shall become
effective,  the  obligations  of the  Company  and the duties of the  Trustee in
respect of any such term,  provision or condition shall remain in full force and
effect.


                                  ARTICLE SEVEN

                           Satisfaction and Discharge


SECTION 701. Satisfaction and Discharge of Securities.

                  (a) This Indenture  shall upon Company  Request cease to be of
further  effect  (except that  Sections 304, 305, 306, 404, 503 (as to notice of
redemption),  602, 603, 907 and 915 and this Article Seven shall  survive),  and
the Trustee,  at the expense of the Company,  shall execute  proper  instruments
acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

                  (i)  either

                           (1)  all  Securities  theretofore  authenticated  and
                  delivered   (other  than  (A)   Securities   which  have  been
                  destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid
                  as provided in Section 306 and (B)  Securities  deemed to have
                  been  paid  in  accordance  with  Section  702(a))  have  been
                  delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

                           (2) all Securities not  theretofore  delivered to the
                  Trustee for cancellation  (other than Securities  described in
                  clause  (1)(A)  above)  shall be  deemed  to have been paid in
                  accordance with Section 702(a);

                  (ii)  the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums
         payable hereunder by the Company; and

                  (iii) the Company has  delivered  to the Trustee an  Officers'
         Certificate  stating that all conditions  precedent herein provided for
         relating to the  satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been
         complied with.

                                      -34-


<PAGE>




                  (b) In the  event  there  shall be  Securities  of two or more
series  Outstanding  hereunder,  the  Trustee  shall be  required  to execute an
instrument  acknowledging  satisfaction  and discharge of this Indenture only if
requested  to do so with respect to  Securities  of all series as to which it is
Trustee and if the other  conditions  thereto as required herein are met. In the
event there shall be two or more Trustees  hereunder,  then the effectiveness of
each such  instrument  from each Trustee  hereunder  shall be  conditioned  upon
receipt of such instruments from each other Trustee hereunder.

                  (c) Upon  satisfaction  and  discharge  of this  Indenture  as
provided in this Section 701, the Trustee shall  assign,  transfer and turn over
to the Company,  subject to the lien provided by Section 907, any and all money,
securities  and other  property  then held by the Trustee for the benefit of the
Holders of the Securities other than money and Eligible  Obligations held by the
Trustee pursuant to Section 703.

SECTION 702.  Legal and Covenant Defeasance.

                  (a) On and after the date the Company shall have fulfilled the
conditions of Section 702(c), it shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the
entire  indebtedness  represented by any Security or Securities of any series or
Tranche,  or any portion of the  principal  amount  thereof,  and  satisfied its
obligations  under this  Indenture  with respect  thereto  (hereinafter,  "Legal
Defeasance").  Such Securities  shall  thereafter be deemed to be  "Outstanding"
solely for the purposes of Section 703 hereof and the  following  provisions  of
this Indenture shall survive with respect thereto:  (i) the rights of Holders of
such  Securities  to receive,  solely from the trust fund  described  in Section
702(c),  payments in respect of the principal of, premium,  if any, and interest
on such Securities when such payments are due, or on the redemption date, as the
case may be,  and (ii) the  obligations  of the  Company  and the  Trustee  with
respect to such Securities  under Sections 304, 305, 306, 404, 503 (as to notice
of  redemption),  602, 603, 907 and 915 and this Article Seven.  The Company may
elect to effect a Legal Defeasance under this Section 702(a) notwithstanding the
prior election to effect a Covenant Defeasance under Section 702(b) with respect
to Securities or portions thereof of the same series or Tranche.

                  (b) The Company shall be released from its  obligations  under
the covenants  contained in Sections 604 (except with respect to maintaining its
corporate  existence),  605 and 606  and  Article  Eleven  with  respect  to any
Security or  Securities of any series or Tranche or any portion of the principal
amount thereof (and under any covenants  inserted pursuant to Section 301(v), in
any  supplemental   indenture,   Board   Resolution  or  Officers'   Certificate
establishing  such  Security),  on and after the date the  conditions in Section
702(c) are satisfied (hereinafter,  "Covenant  Defeasance").  Such Securities or
portions thereof shall thereafter be deemed not  "Outstanding"  for the purposes
of any  direction,  waiver,  consent or  declaration  or Act of Holders (and the
consequences  of any  thereof)  in  connection  with such  covenants,  but shall
continue to be deemed  "Outstanding"  for all other purposes  hereunder.  In the
event of a Covenant  Defeasance,  the  Company may omit to comply with and shall
have no liability in respect of any term,  condition or limitation  set forth in
any such covenant,  whether  directly or indirectly,  by reason of any reference
elsewhere  herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such
covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such

                                      -35-


<PAGE>



omission to comply shall not  constitute a Default or an Event of Default  under
Section 801(c) with respect to such Securities or portions thereof,  but, except
as specified  above,  the  remainder of this  Indenture  and such  Securities or
portions thereof shall continue to be in full force and effect.

                  (c)  The following shall be the conditions to any defeasance 
under this Section 702:

                                    (i)  there   shall  have  been   irrevocably
                  deposited with the Trustee,  in trust:  (1) money in an amount
                  which shall be sufficient, or (2) Eligible Obligations,  which
                  shall not contain  provisions  permitting  the  redemption  or
                  other prepayment  thereof at the option of the issuer thereof,
                  the  principal of and the interest on which when due,  without
                  any regard to reinvestment  thereof will provide moneys which,
                  together with the money, if any, deposited with or held by the
                  Trustee,  shall be sufficient,  or (3) a combination of (1) or
                  (2) which shall be  sufficient,  to pay when due the principal
                  of and  premium,  if any,  and  interest,  if any,  due and to
                  become due on such Securities or portions  thereof;  provided,
                  however,  that (x) in the case of the provision for payment or
                  redemption  of less than all the  Securities  of any series or
                  Tranche,  such Securities or portions  thereof shall have been
                  selected by the Security  Registrar as provided herein and, in
                  the case of a redemption, the notice requisite to the validity
                  of such  redemption  shall  have  been  given  or  irrevocable
                  authority  shall have been given by the Company to the Trustee
                  to give such notice,  under  arrangements  satisfactory to the
                  Trustee and (y) such money or the  proceeds  of such  Eligible
                  Obligations  shall  either (i) have been on  deposit  with the
                  Trustee for a period of at least 90 days,  or (ii) the Trustee
                  shall  have   received   an  Opinion  of  Counsel   reasonably
                  satisfactory  in  form  to  the  Trustee  to the  effect  that
                  payments  to  Holders  with such  moneys as  proceeds  are not
                  recoverable as a preference under any applicable United States
                  federal  or state  law  relating  to  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
                  receivership,   winding-up,  liquidation,   reorganization  or
                  relief of debtors;

                                    (ii) if such  deposit  shall  have been made
                  prior to the Maturity of such  Securities,  the Company  shall
                  have delivered to the Trustee a Company Order stating that the
                  money and Eligible  Obligations  deposited with the Trustee in
                  accordance with this Section shall be held by the Trustee,  in
                  trust, as provided in Section 703;

                                    (iii) if  Eligible  Obligations  shall  have
                  been  deposited  with the  Trustee,  the  Company  shall  have
                  delivered to the Trustee an opinion of an  independent  public
                  accountant of nationally recognized standing,  selected by the
                  Company,  to the  effect  that the  requirements  set forth in
                  clause (i) above have been satisfied;

                                    (iv) the  Company  shall  have  delivered to
                  the  Trustee an Opinion  of Counsel in the form  described  in
                  Section 702(d);


                                      -36-


<PAGE>



                  
                                    (v) the Company shall have  delivered to the
                  Trustee an  Officers'  Certificate  and an Opinion of Counsel,
                  each stating that all conditions  precedent herein relating to
                  either  the  Legal  Defeasance  under  Section  702(a)  or the
                  Covenant  Defeasance under Section 702(b), as the case may be,
                  have been complied with; and

                                    (vi) the  deposit  shall  not  result in the
                  Company,  the Trustee or the trust being deemed an "investment
                  company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                  (d) (i) In the case of Legal  Defeasance under Section 702(a),
the  Opinion  of  Counsel  referred  to in  Section  702(c)  shall  be in a form
reasonably  satisfactory to the Trustee and shall be (x) accompanied by a ruling
of the Internal Revenue Service issued to the Company,  or (y) based on a change
in law or  regulation  occurring  after the date hereof,  to the effect that the
Holders will not realize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as
a result of such Legal  Defeasance but will realize income,  gain or loss on the
Securities,  including payments of interest thereon, in the same amounts, in the
same  manner  and at the same  times as would  have been the case if such  Legal
Defeasance had not occurred; and

                                    (ii)  In  the  case  of Covenant  Defeasance
                    under Section 702(b),  the Opinion of Counsel referred to in
                    Section 702(c) shall be in a form reasonably satisfactory to
                    the  Trustee  and to the effect  that the  Holders  will not
                    realize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes
                    as a result of such  Covenant  Defeasance  but will  realize
                    income,  gain or loss on the Securities,  including payments
                    of interest thereon, in the same amounts, in the same manner
                    and at the same  times as would  have  been the case if such
                    Covenant Defeasance had not occurred.

                  (e) In the event that the Company effects a Legal  Defeasance,
upon  receipt  by the  Trustee of money or  Eligible  Obligations,  or both,  in
accordance  with Section  702(c),  together with the documents  required by such
paragraph, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Request,  acknowledge in
writing  that the  Security or  Securities  or portions  thereof with respect to
which such  deposit  was made are deemed to have been paid for all  purposes  of
this  Indenture  and that the  entire  indebtedness  of the  Company  in respect
thereof is deemed to have been satisfied and discharged.

                  (f) If  payment  of less  than  all of the  Securities  of any
series, or any Tranche thereof, is to be provided for in the manner and with the
effect  provided in this  Section,  the  Security  Registrar  shall  select such
Securities,  or portions of principal  amount thereof in the manner specified by
Section 403 for  selection for  redemption of less than all the  Securities of a
series or Tranche.

                  (g) In the event that Securities which shall be deemed to have
been paid as a result of a Legal Defeasance (or with respect to which a Covenant
Defeasance  has been  effected) do not mature and are not to be redeemed  within
the 60-day period commencing with the date of the deposit with the Trustee of

                                      -37-


<PAGE>



moneys or Eligible  Obligations,  the Company shall, as promptly as practicable,
give a notice, in the same manner as a notice of redemption with respect to such
Securities,  to the Holders of such  Securities  to the effect that such deposit
has been made and the effect thereof.

                  (h) The Company shall pay, and shall indemnify the Trustee and
each Holder of Securities which are deemed to have been paid as provided in this
Section against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed  against the
Eligible  Obligations  deposited  with the Trustee or the  principal or interest
received by the Trustee in respect of such Eligible Obligations.

                  (i) Anything  herein to the contrary  notwithstanding,  if, at
any time after a Legal Defeasance or a Covenant  Defeasance is effected pursuant
to this Section  (without  regard to the provisions of this paragraph  (i)), the
Trustee  shall be  required  to return  the money or  Eligible  Obligations,  or
combination  thereof,  deposited  with it to the  Company or its  representative
under any applicable  federal or state  bankruptcy,  insolvency or other similar
law, the indebtedness of the Company in respect of such Security shall thereupon
be deemed retroactively not to have been satisfied and discharged, as aforesaid,
and to remain  Outstanding,  or, as the case may be, the  obligations  under the
above-mentioned  covenants in respect of such Security shall thereupon be deemed
retroactively not to have been released.

SECTION 703.  Application of Trust Money.

                  Neither the Eligible  Obligations nor the money deposited with
the  Trustee  pursuant  to Section  702(c)(i),  nor the  principal  or  interest
payments on any such  Eligible  Obligations,  shall be withdrawn or used for any
purpose other than, and shall be held in trust for, the payment of the principal
of and premium,  if any, and interest,  if any, on the Securities or portions of
principal amount thereof in respect of which such deposit was made, all subject,
however, to the provisions of Section 603; provided,  however,  that, so long as
there shall not have occurred and be  continuing  an Event of Default,  any cash
received from such principal or interest  payments on such Eligible  Obligations
deposited with the Trustee,  if not then needed for such purpose,  shall, to the
extent practicable, be invested in Eligible Obligations of the type described in
Section  702(c)(i)(2)  maturing  at such  times and in such  amounts as shall be
sufficient to pay when due the  principal of and premium,  if any, and interest,
if any,  due and to become due on such  Securities  or  portions  thereof on and
prior to the Maturity thereof,  and interest earned from such reinvestment shall
be paid over to the Company as received  by the  Trustee,  free and clear of any
trust,  lien or pledge under this Indenture  except the lien provided by Section
907; and provided,  further,  that, so long as there shall not have occurred and
be continuing an Event of Default,  any moneys held by the Trustee in accordance
with this Section on the Maturity of all such Securities in excess of the amount
required to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, then
due on such  Securities  shall be paid over to the Company free and clear of any
trust,  lien or pledge under this Indenture  except the lien provided by Section
907.



                                      -38-


<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE EIGHT

                           Events of Default; Remedies


SECTION 801. Events of Default.

                  "Event of  Default",  wherever  used  herein  with  respect to
Securities of any series, means any one of the following events:

                  (a) failure to pay  interest,  if any, on any Security of such
         series  within  sixty (60) days after the same  becomes due and payable
         [(whether or not payment is  prohibited  by the  provisions  of Article
         Fifteen  hereof);  provided,  however,  that a valid  extension  of the
         interest  payment period by the Company as  contemplated in Section 312
         of this  Indenture  shall not  constitute a failure to pay interest for
         this purpose]9; or

                  (b) failure to pay the principal of or premium, if any, on any
         Security  of such  series  within  three (3)  Business  Days  after its
         Maturity  [(whether or not payment is prohibited  by the  provisions of
         Article Fifteen hereof)]; or

                  (c)  failure to perform or breach of any  covenant or warranty
         of the Company in this  Indenture  (other than a covenant or warranty a
         default in the  performance of which or breach of which is elsewhere in
         this  Section  specifically  dealt  with or which  has  expressly  been
         included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series
         of  Securities  other than such  series)  for a period of 60 days after
         there has been given,  by registered or certified  mail, to the Company
         by the Trustee,  or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at
         least 33% in principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Securities  of such
         series,  a  written  notice  specifying  such  default  or  breach  and
         requiring  it to be remedied  and stating that such notice is a "Notice
         of  Default"  hereunder,  unless the  Trustee,  or the  Trustee and the
         Holders of a  principal  amount of  Securities  of such series not less
         than the principal  amount of Securities the Holders of which gave such
         notice,  as the case may be,  shall agree in writing to an extension of
         such  period  prior  to its  expiration;  provided,  however,  that the
         Trustee,  or the Trustee and the  Holders of such  principal  amount of
         Securities of such series,  as the case may be, shall be deemed to have
         agreed to an extension of such period if corrective action is initiated
         by the Company within such period and is being diligently pursued; or

                  (d) the entry by a court having  jurisdiction  in the premises
         of (1) a decree or order for  relief in  respect  of the  Company in an
         involuntary  case or proceeding  under any applicable  Federal or State
         bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization  or other similar law or (2) a
         decree or order  adjudging  the  Company a bankrupt  or  insolvent,  or
         approving  as properly  filed a petition by one or more  Persons  other
- --------
         9        Bracketed  language  will be inserted in the  Indenture  under
                  which SKIS or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                      -39-


<PAGE>



         than the Company  seeking  reorganization,  arrangement,  adjustment or
         composition  of or in  respect  of the  Company  under  any  applicable
         Federal or State law, or appointing a custodian,  receiver, liquidator,
         assignee,  trustee,  sequestrator  or other  similar  official  for the
         Company or for any  substantial  part of its property,  or ordering the
         winding up or liquidation of its affairs,  and any such decree or order
         for  relief or any such  other  decree  or order  shall  have  remained
         unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

                  (e) the  commencement  by the Company of a  voluntary  case or
         proceeding   under  any   applicable   Federal  or  State   bankruptcy,
         insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or
         proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by
         it to the  entry of a decree  or order for  relief  in  respect  of the
         Company in a case or proceeding  under any applicable  Federal or State
         bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization or other similar law or to the
         commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against
         it, or the  filing by it of a  petition  or answer or  consent  seeking
         reorganization or relief under any applicable  Federal or State law, or
         the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the  appointment
         of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee,
         trustee,  sequestrator  or similar  official  of the  Company or of any
         substantial part of its property,  or the making by it of an assignment
         for the benefit of creditors,  or the admission by it in writing of its
         inability  to pay its  debts  generally  as  they  become  due,  or the
         authorization of such action by the Board of Directors; or

                  (f)  any other Event of Default specified with respect to 
         Securities of such series.

SECTION 802.  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

                  If an Event of Default  shall have  occurred and be continuing
with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding,  then in every
such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 33% in principal amount of
the Outstanding  Securities of such series may declare the principal amount (or,
if any of the Securities of such series are Discount Securities, such portion of
the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof
as  contemplated  by Section 301) of all of the  Securities of such series to be
due and payable  immediately,  by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the
Trustee if given by Holders),  and upon receipt by the Company of notice of such
declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately
due and payable  [(provided  that the payment of  principal  of such  securities
shall remain  subordinated to the extent provided in Article Fifteen hereof)]10;
provided,  however,  that if an Event of  Default  shall  have  occurred  and be
continuing  with respect to more than one series of  Securities,  the Trustee or
the  Holders  of  not  less  than  33%  in  aggregate  principal  amount  of the
Outstanding  Securities of all such series,  considered  as one class,  may make
such declaration of  acceleration,  and not the Holders of the Securities of any
one of such  series.  --------  10  Bracketed  language  will be inserted in the
Indenture under which SKIS or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                      -40-


<PAGE>




                  At any time  after such a  declaration  of  acceleration  with
respect to  Securities  of any series shall have been made and before a judgment
or decree for  payment of the money due shall have been  obtained by the Trustee
as hereinafter in this Article  provided,  the Event or Events of Default giving
rise to such declaration of acceleration  shall,  without further act, be deemed
to have been waived,  and such declaration and its consequences  shall,  without
further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if

                  (a)  the Company shall have paid or deposited with the Trustee
         a sum sufficient to pay

                                    (1) all overdue interest on all Securities 
                  of such series;

                                    (2) the principal of and premium, if any, on
                  any  Securities of such series which have become due otherwise
                  than by such  declaration of acceleration and interest thereon
                  at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities;

                                    (3) to  the  extent  that  payment  of  such
                  interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate
                  or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities;

                                    (4) all amounts due to the Trustee under 
                  Section 907; and

                  (b) any other  Event or  Events of  Default  with  respect  to
         Securities of such series,  other than the non-payment of the principal
         of Securities of such series which shall have become due solely by such
         declaration  of  acceleration,  shall  have  been  cured or  waived  as
         provided in Section 813.

No such  rescission  shall affect any subsequent  Event of Default or impair any
right consequent thereon.

SECTION 803.  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for
              Enforcement by Trustee.

                  If an Event  of  Default  described  in  clause  (a) or (b) of
Section 801 shall have  occurred  and be  continuing,  the Company  shall,  upon
demand  of the  Trustee,  pay to it,  for  the  benefit  of the  Holders  of the
Securities  of the series with respect to which such Event of Default shall have
occurred, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal
and premium, if any, and interest,  if any, and, to the extent permitted by law,
interest on premium,  if any, and on any overdue principal and interest,  at the
rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,  and, in addition thereto,
such  further  amount as shall be  sufficient  to cover any  amounts  due to the
Trustee under Section 907.

                  If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts  forthwith  upon
such demand,  the Trustee,  in its own name and as trustee of an express  trust,
may institute a judicial  proceeding  for the  collection of the sums so due and
unpaid,  may  prosecute  such  proceeding  to judgment  or final  decree and may
enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such

                                      -41-


<PAGE>



Securities  and  collect  the  moneys  adjudged  or decreed to be payable in the
manner  provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other  obligor
upon such Securities, wherever situated.

                  If an Event of  Default  with  respect  to  Securities  of any
series shall have occurred and be continuing,  the Trustee may in its discretion
proceed  to protect  and  enforce  its  rights and the rights of the  Holders of
Securities  of such  series  by such  appropriate  judicial  proceedings  as the
Trustee  shall deem most  effectual  to protect  and  enforce  any such  rights,
whether  for the  specific  enforcement  of any  covenant or  agreement  in this
Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted  herein,  or to enforce
any other proper remedy.

SECTION 804.  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

                  In  case  of the  pendency  of any  receivership,  insolvency,
liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or
other judicial  proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the
Securities  or the  property  of the  Company or of such other  obligor or their
creditors,  the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities
shall  then be due  and  payable  as  therein  expressed  or by  declaration  or
otherwise and  irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on
the Company for the payment of overdue  principal or interest) shall be entitled
and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

                  (a) to file  and  prove  a  claim  for  the  whole  amount  of
         principal,  premium, if any, and interest,  if any, owing and unpaid in
         respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as
         may be  necessary  or  advisable  in order to have  the  claims  of the
         Trustee  (including  any claim for  amounts  due to the  Trustee  under
         Section 907) and of the Holders  allowed in such  judicial  proceeding,
         and

                  (b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property 
         payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian,  receiver,  assignee,  trustee,  liquidator,  sequestrator or
other similar official in any such judicial  proceeding is hereby  authorized by
each  Holder to make such  payments  to the  Trustee  and, in the event that the
Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to
pay to the Trustee any amounts due it under Section 907.

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

SECTION 805.  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

                  All rights of action and claims  under this  Indenture  or the
Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee  without the possession
of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating

                                      -42-


<PAGE>



relating  thereto,  and any such  proceeding  instituted by the Trustee shall be
brought  in its own name as trustee of an express  trust,  and any  recovery  of
judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable  compensation,
expenses,  disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be
for the  ratable  benefit of the Holders in respect of which such  judgment  has
been recovered.

SECTION 806.   Application of Money Collected.

                  [Subject to the  provisions of Article  Fifteen,]11  any money
collected  by the  Trustee  pursuant  to this  Article  shall be  applied in the
following  order,  at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the
distribution  of such money on account  of  principal  or  premium,  if any,  or
interest, if any, upon presentation of the Securities in respect of which or for
the  benefit of which such money  shall  have been  collected  and the  notation
thereon of the  payment if only  partially  paid and upon  surrender  thereof if
fully paid:

                  First:  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under 
         Section 907;

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

                  Third:  To the Company.

SECTION 807. Limitation on Suits.

                  No Holder  shall have any right to institute  any  proceeding,
judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of
a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

                  (a) such Holder shall have previously  given written notice to
         the  Trustee  of a  continuing  Event of  Default  with  respect to the
         Securities of such series;

                  (b) the  Holders  of not less  than a  majority  in  aggregate
         principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series in respect
         of which an Event of Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing,
         considered as one class, shall have made written request to the Trustee
         to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own
         name as Trustee hereunder;

                  (c) such Holder or Holders shall have offered to the Trustee 
         reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be 
         incurred in compliance with such request;
- --------
11       Bracketed  language will be inserted in the Indenture  under which SKIS
         or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                                      -43-


<PAGE>




                  (d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, 
         request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such 
         proceeding; and

                  (e) no direction  inconsistent with such written request shall
         have been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders
         of  a  majority  in  aggregate  principal  amount  of  the  Outstanding
         Securities  of all series in respect of which an Event of Default shall
         have occurred and be continuing, considered as one class;

it being  understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have
any right in any manner  whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision
of this  Indenture to affect,  disturb or  prejudice  the rights of any other of
such Holders or to obtain or to seek to obtain  priority or preference  over any
other of such  Holders or to enforce any right under this  Indenture,  except in
the manner herein  provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such
Holders.

SECTION 808.  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and
              Interest.

                  Notwithstanding  any other  provision in this  Indenture,  the
Holder  of  any   Security   shall  have  the  right,   which  is  absolute  and
unconditional,  to receive payment of the principal of and premium,  if any, and
(subject to Section 307 [and 3121]12  interest,  if any, on such Security on the
Stated  Maturity or  Maturities  expressed in such  Security (or, in the case of
redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of
any such payment,  and such rights shall not be impaired  without the consent of
such Holder.

SECTION 809.  Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

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

SECTION 810.  Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

                  Except as otherwise  provided in the last paragraph of Section
306, no right or remedy herein  conferred  upon or reserved to the Trustee or to
the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy,  and every
right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in
- --------
12       Bracketed  language will be inserted in the Indenture  under which SKIS
         or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                                      -44-


<PAGE>



addition to every other right and remedy  given  hereunder  or now or  hereafter
existing at law or in equity or  otherwise.  The  assertion or employment of any
right or remedy  hereunder,  or  otherwise,  shall not  prevent  the  concurrent
assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 811. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

                  No  delay or  omission  of the  Trustee  or of any  Holder  to
exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any
such right or remedy or  constitute  a waiver of any such Event of Default or an
acquiescence therein.  Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to
the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised  from time to time,  and as often
as may be deemed  expedient,  by the Trustee or by the Holders,  as the case may
be.

SECTION 812.  Control by Holders of Securities.

                  If an Event of Default  shall have  occurred and be continuing
in respect of a series of  Securities,  the Holders of a majority  in  principal
amount of the  Outstanding  Securities  of such  series  shall have the right to
direct the time,  method and place of conducting  any  proceeding for any remedy
available  to the Trustee,  or  exercising  any trust or power  conferred on the
Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided,  however, that
if an Event of Default  shall have  occurred and be  continuing  with respect to
more than one series of  Securities,  the  Holders of a  majority  in  aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all such series, considered as
one class,  shall have the right to make such direction,  and not the Holders of
the Securities of any one of such series; and provided, further, that

                  (a) such  direction  shall not be in conflict with any rule of
         law or with this  Indenture,  and  could not  involve  the  Trustee  in
         personal  liability in circumstances  where indemnity would not, in the
         Trustee's sole discretion, be adequate, and

                  (b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the
         Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

SECTION 813.  Waiver of Past Defaults.

                  The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the
Securities of such series waive any past default  hereunder with respect to such
series and its consequences, except a default

                  (a) in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or 
         interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or

                  (b) in respect of a covenant or  provision  hereof which under
         Section  1202 cannot be modified or amended  without the consent of the
         Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.


                                      -45-


<PAGE>



                  Upon any such waiver,  such default shall cease to exist,  and
any and all Events of  Default  arising  therefrom  shall be deemed to have been
cured,  for every purpose of this Indenture;  but no such waiver shall extend to
any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 814.  Undertaking for Costs.

                  The  Company  and the  Trustee  agree,  and each Holder by his
acceptance  thereof  shall be deemed to have  agreed,  that any court may in its
discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under
this  Indenture,  or in any suit  against  the  Trustee  for any  action  taken,
suffered or omitted by it as Trustee,  the filing by any party  litigant in such
suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in
its discretion assess reasonable costs,  including  reasonable  attorneys' fees,
against  any party  litigant  in such suit,  having due regard to the merits and
good  faith of the  claims or  defenses  made by such  party  litigant;  but the
provisions  of this  Section  shall  not  apply  to any suit  instituted  by the
Company,  to any suit  instituted by the Trustee,  to any suit instituted by any
Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series in respect of which
such suit may be brought,  considered as one class, or to any suit instituted by
any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or premium, if
any, or  interest,  if any, on any  Security on or after the Stated  Maturity or
Maturities  expressed in such  Security  (or, in the case of  redemption,  on or
after the Redemption Date).

SECTION 815.  Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

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


                                  ARTICLE NINE

                                   The Trustee


SECTION 901. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

                  (a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with 
         respect to  Securities of any series,

                                    (1)  the Trustee undertakes to perform, with
                  respect to Securities of such series, such duties and only

                                      -46-


<PAGE>



                   such duties as are  specifically set forth in this Indenture,
                   and no implied  covenants or  obligations  shall be read into
                   this Indenture against the Trustee; and

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

                  (b) In case an Event of Default with respect to  Securities of
         any series shall have  occurred and be  continuing,  the Trustee  shall
         exercise, with respect to Securities of such series, such of the rights
         and powers vested in it by this  Indenture,  and use the same degree of
         care and skill in their  exercise,  as a prudent man would  exercise or
         use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

                                    (1) this subsection shall not be construed 
                  to limit the effect of subsection (a) of this Section;

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

                                    (3) the  Trustee  shall not be  liable  with
                  respect  to any  action  taken or omitted to be taken by it in
                  good faith in accordance  with the direction of the Holders of
                  a majority in principal  amount of the Outstanding  Securities
                  of any one or more series, as provided herein, relating to the
                  time,  method and place of conducting  any  proceeding for any
                  remedy  available to the Trustee,  or exercising  any trust or
                  power  conferred  upon the Trustee,  under this Indenture with
                  respect to the Securities of such series; and

                                    (4) no  provision  of this  Indenture  shall
                  require  the  Trustee  to  expend  or risk  its own  funds  or
                  otherwise incur any financial  liability in the performance of
                  any of its duties hereunder,  or in the exercise of any of its
                  rights or powers,  if it shall  have  reasonable  grounds  for
                  believing that  repayment of such funds or adequate  indemnity
                  against such risk or liability  is not  reasonably  assured to
                  it.

                  (d)  Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every 
        provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the

                                      -47-


<PAGE>



         liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to
         the provisions of this Section.

SECTION 902. Notice of Defaults.

                  The  Trustee  shall  give the  Holders  notice of any  default
hereunder  with  respect  to the  Securities  of any  series to the  Holders  of
Securities  of such series in the manner and to the extent  required to do so by
the Trust  Indenture  Act,  unless such default shall have been cured or waived;
provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in
Section 801(c),  no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 75 days
after  the  occurrence  thereof.  For the  purpose  of this  Section,  the  term
"default"  means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time,  or both,
would become, an Event of Default.

SECTION 903. Certain Rights of Trustee.

                  Subject to the provisions of Section 901 and to the applicable
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:

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

                  (b) any request or direction of the Company  mentioned  herein
         shall be sufficiently  evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order,
         or as otherwise  expressly  provided herein,  and any resolution of the
         Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

                  (c)  whenever  in the  administration  of this  Indenture  the
         Trustee shall deem it desirable  that a matter be proved or established
         prior to  taking,  suffering  or  omitting  any action  hereunder,  the
         Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically  prescribed) may,
         in the  absence  of bad  faith  on its  part,  rely  upon an  Officer's
         Certificate;

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

                  (e) the Trustee  shall be under no  obligation to exercise any
         of the rights or powers  vested in it by this  Indenture at the request
         or  direction  of any Holder  pursuant to this  Indenture,  unless such
         Holder  shall  have  offered  to the  Trustee  reasonable  security  or
         indemnity  against the costs,  expenses and liabilities  which might be
         incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

                  (f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation 
         into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate,

                                      -48-


<PAGE>



         statement,  instrument,  opinion,  report, notice, request,  direction,
         consent,  order, bond, debenture,  note, other evidence of indebtedness
         or other paper or document,  but the Trustee,  in its  discretion,  may
         make such further inquiry or  investigation  into such facts or matters
         as it may see fit,  and, if the Trustee  shall  determine  to make such
         further inquiry or investigation, it shall (subject to applicable legal
         requirements) be entitled to examine, during normal business hours, the
         books,  records and premises of the Company,  personally or by agent or
         attorney;

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

                  (h) except as  otherwise  provided in Section 801, the Trustee
         shall  not be  charged  with  knowledge  of any Event of  Default  with
         respect  to the  Securities  of any  series  for  which it is acting as
         Trustee  unless either (1) a  Responsible  Officer of the Trustee shall
         have actual  knowledge of the Event of Default or (2) written notice of
         such  Event of  Default  shall  have been  given to the  Trustee by the
         Company,  any other obligor on such Securities or by any Holder of such
         Securities.

SECTION 904. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of
             Securities.

                  The recitals  contained  herein and in the Securities  (except
the Trustee's  certificates of authentication)  shall be taken as the statements
of the Company,  and neither the Trustee nor any  Authenticating  Agent  assumes
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to
the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.  Neither the
Trustee  nor  any  Authenticating  Agent  shall  be  accountable  for the use or
application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 905.               May Hold Securities.

                  Each of the  Trustee,  any  Authenticating  Agent,  any Paying
Agent,  any  Security  Registrar  or any  other  agent  of the  Company,  in its
individual or any other capacity,  may become the owner or pledgee of Securities
and,  subject to Sections 908 and 913, may otherwise  deal with the Company with
the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee,  Authenticating Agent,
Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

SECTION 906.  Money Held in Trust.

                  Money  held by the  Trustee  in  trust  hereunder  need not be
segregated  from other funds,  except to the extent required by law. The Trustee
shall be under no liability for interest on investment of any money  received by
it hereunder  except as expressly  provided herein or otherwise agreed with, and
for the sole benefit of, the Company.

SECTION 907. Compensation and Reimbursement.

                                      -49-


<PAGE>




                  The Company shall

                  (a)  pay  to  the  Trustee   from  time  to  time   reasonable
         compensation   for  all  services   rendered  by  it  hereunder  (which
         compensation  shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to
         the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

                  (b) except as otherwise  expressly provided herein,  reimburse
         the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements
         and advances  reasonably  incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance
         with  any  provision  of  this  Indenture   (including  the  reasonable
         compensation  and the  expenses  and  disbursements  of its  agents and
         counsel),  except to the extent that any such expense,  disbursement or
         advance may be attributable to its negligence, wilful misconduct or bad
         faith; and

                  (c)  indemnify  the  Trustee  and  hold it  harmless  from and
         against,  any loss,  liability  or expense  reasonably  incurred  by it
         arising out of or in connection  with the acceptance or  administration
         of the trust or  trusts  hereunder  or the  performance  of its  duties
         hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against
         any claim or liability in connection  with the exercise or  performance
         of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such
         loss,  liability  or expense  may be  attributable  to its  negligence,
         wilful misconduct or bad faith.

                  As security  for the  performance  of the  obligations  of the
Company  under  this  Section,  the  Trustee  shall  have  a lien  prior  to the
Securities  upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such
other  than  property  and funds  held in trust  under  Section  703  (except as
otherwise provided in Section 703). "Trustee" for purposes of this Section shall
include any predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that the negligence,  wilful
misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee  hereunder shall not affect the rights of
any other Trustee hereunder.

SECTION 908. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

                  If the Trustee shall have or acquire any conflicting  interest
within the meaning of the Trust  Indenture  Act, it shall either  eliminate such
conflicting interest or resign to the extent, in the manner and with the effect,
and  subject to the  conditions,  provided in the Trust  Indenture  Act and this
Indenture.  For purposes of Section  310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and to
the extent permitted thereby, the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee in respect
of the  Securities  of any  series,  shall not be  deemed to have a  conflicting
interest  arising from its capacity as trustee in respect of the  Securities  of
any other series.

SECTION 909.  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

                  There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be

                  (a) a corporation  organized and doing business under the laws
         of the United States, any State or Territory thereof or the District of
         Columbia,  authorized  under  such  laws to  exercise  corporate  trust
         powers,  having a combined capital and surplus of at least  $50,000,000
         and  subject  to   supervision  or  examination  by  Federal  or  State
         authority, or

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<PAGE>




                  (b) if and to the extent  permitted by the Commission by rule,
         regulation or order upon  application,  a  corporation  or other Person
         organized and doing  business  under the laws of a foreign  government,
         authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
         combined  capital  and  surplus of at least  $50,000,000  or the Dollar
         equivalent  of  the   applicable   foreign   currency  and  subject  to
         supervision or examination by authority of such foreign government or a
         political subdivision thereof  substantially  equivalent to supervision
         or examination applicable to United States institutional trustees,

and, in either case,  qualified  and  eligible  under this Article and the Trust
Indenture  Act. If such  corporation  publishes  reports of  condition  at least
annually,  pursuant  to  law or to  the  requirements  of  such  supervising  or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital
and surplus of such  corporation  shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at
any  time  the  Trustee  shall  cease  to be  eligible  in  accordance  with the
provisions of this Section,  it shall resign  immediately in the manner and with
the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 910.  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

                  (a)  No   resignation   or  removal  of  the  Trustee  and  no
appointment  of a  successor  Trustee  pursuant  to this  Article  shall  become
effective  until the  acceptance  of  appointment  by the  successor  Trustee in
accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 911.

                  (b) The  Trustee  may  resign at any time with  respect to the
Securities  of one or more  series  by  giving  written  notice  thereof  to the
Company.  If the  instrument of acceptance  by a successor  Trustee  required by
Section 911 shall not have been  delivered  to the Trustee  within 30 days after
the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any
court of competent  jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of such series.

                  (c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the
Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Trustee and to the
Company.

                  (d) If at any time:

                  (1) the Trustee  shall fail to comply  with  Section 908 after
         written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a
         bona fide Holder for at least six months, or

                  (2) the Trustee  shall cease to be eligible  under Section 909
         and shall fail to resign after written request  therefor by the Company
         or by any such Holder, or

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

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<PAGE>




         (x) the  Company by a Board  Resolution  may remove  the  Trustee  with
         respect to all Securities or (y) subject to Section 814, any Holder who
         has been a bona fide  Holder for at least six months  may, on behalf of
         himself  and all  others  similarly  situated,  petition  any  court of
         competent  jurisdiction  for the removal of the Trustee with respect to
         all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

                  (e)  If  the  Trustee  shall  resign,  be  removed  or  become
         incapable  of  acting,  or if a vacancy  shall  occur in the  office of
         Trustee  for any cause  (other  than as  contemplated  in clause (y) in
         subsection (d) of this Section),  with respect to the Securities of one
         or more series,  the Company,  by a Board  Resolution,  shall  promptly
         appoint a successor  Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities
         of that or those series (it being  understood  that any such  successor
         Trustee may be appointed  with respect to the Securities of one or more
         or all of such  series  and  that at any time  there  shall be only one
         Trustee with respect to the  Securities of any  particular  series) and
         shall  comply with the  applicable  requirements  of Section  911.  If,
         within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the
         occurrence  of such  vacancy,  a successor  Trustee with respect to the
         Securities  of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a
         majority in  principal  amount of the  outstanding  Securities  of such
         series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor
         Trustee so  appointed  shall,  forthwith  upon its  acceptance  of such
         appointment in accordance  with the applicable  requirements of Section
         911,  become the  successor  Trustee with respect to the  Securities of
         such  series  and  to  that  extent  supersede  the  successor  Trustee
         appointed by the Company.  If no successor  Trustee with respect to the
         Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or
         the Holders and accepted  appointment in the manner required by Section
         911,  any Holder who has been a bona fide  Holder of a Security of such
         series for at least six months  may, on behalf of itself and all others
         similarly  situated,  petition any court of competent  jurisdiction for
         the  appointment of a successor  Trustee with respect to the Securities
         of such series.

                  (f) So long as no event which is, or after  notice or lapse of
         time, or both,  would  become,  an Event of Default shall have occurred
         and be  continuing,  and except with respect to a Trustee  appointed by
         Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
         Securities  pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section,  if the Company
         shall have delivered to the Trustee (i) a Board Resolution appointing a
         successor Trustee,  effective as of a date specified therein,  and (ii)
         an instrument of acceptance of such  appointment,  effective as of such
         date, by such  successor  Trustee in  accordance  with Section 911, the
         Trustee shall be deemed to have resigned as  contemplated in subsection
         (b)of this Section,  the successor Trustee shall be deemed to have been
         appointed by the Company pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section and
         such appointment  shall be deemed to have been accepted as contemplated
         in Section 911, all as of such date,  and all other  provisions of this
         Section  and  Section  911  shall be  applicable  to such  resignation,
         appointment and acceptance except to the extent  inconsistent with this
         subsection (f).

                  (g)  The Company shall give notice of each resignation and 
         each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any 
         series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to

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         the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by
         first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such
         series as their names and  addresses  appear in the Security  Register.
         Each  notice  shall  include  the name of the  successor  Trustee  with
         respect  to the  Securities  of  such  series  and the  address  of its
         corporate trust office.

SECTION 911. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

                  (a)  In  case  of the  appointment  hereunder  of a  successor
         Trustee  with  respect  to the  Securities  of all  series,  every such
         successor  Trustee so appointed shall execute,  acknowledge and deliver
         to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such
         appointment,  and thereupon the  resignation or removal of the retiring
         Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee,  without any
         further  act,  deed or  conveyance,  shall  become  vested with all the
         rights,  powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the
         request of the Company or the successor Trustee,  such retiring Trustee
         shall,  upon  payment of all sums owed to it,  execute  and  deliver an
         instrument  transferring  to such  successor  Trustee  all the  rights,
         powers  and  trusts of the  retiring  Trustee  and shall  duly  assign,
         transfer and deliver to such  successor  Trustee all property and money
         held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

                  (b)  In  case  of the  appointment  hereunder  of a  successor
         Trustee  with  respect to the  Securities  of one or more (but not all)
         series,  the Company,  the retiring Trustee and each successor  Trustee
         with respect to the  Securities of one or more series shall execute and
         deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee
         shall  accept  such  appointment  and  which  (1)  shall  contain  such
         provisions  as shall be  necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm
         to, and to vest in, each  successor  Trustee  all the  rights,  powers,
         trusts  and  duties  of  the  retiring  Trustee  with  respect  to  the
         Securities  of that or those  series to which the  appointment  of such
         successor Trustee relates,  (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring
         with respect to all Securities,  shall contain such provisions as shall
         be deemed  necessary  or  desirable  to  confirm  that all the  rights,
         powers,  trusts and duties of the retiring  Trustee with respect to the
         Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring  Trustee is
         not retiring  shall  continue to be vested in the retiring  Trustee and
         (3) shall add to or change any of the  provisions of this  Indenture as
         shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the  administration  of
         the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that
         nothing herein or in such supplemental  indenture shall constitute such
         Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall
         be trustee of a trust or trusts  hereunder  separate and apart from any
         trust or trusts hereunder  administered by any other such Trustee;  and
         upon the  execution  and delivery of such  supplemental  indenture  the
         resignation or removal of the retiring  Trustee shall become  effective
         to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without
         any further act, deed or  conveyance,  shall become vested with all the
         rights,  powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect
         to the  Securities of that or those series to which the  appointment of
         such successor  Trustee relates;  but, on request of the Company or any
         successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of all sums owed
         to it,  shall duly  assign,  transfer  and  deliver  to such  successor
         Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee  hereunder
         

                                      -53-


<PAGE>



         with  respect to the  Securities  of that or those  series to which the
         appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

                  (c) Upon request of any such  successor  Trustee,  the Company
         shall execute any  instruments  which fully vest in and confirm to such
         successor  Trustee all such  rights,  powers and trusts  referred to in
         subsection (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

                  (d) No successor  Trustee shall accept its appointment  unless
         at the  time  of  such  acceptance  such  successor  Trustee  shall  be
         qualified and eligible under this Article.

SECTION 912. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

                  Any  corporation  into  which  the  Trustee  may be  merged or
converted or with which it may be  consolidated,  or any  corporation  resulting
from any merger,  conversion  or  consolidation  to which the Trustee shall be a
party, or any corporation  succeeding to all or substantially  all the corporate
trust business of the Trustee,  shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder,
provided such corporation  shall be otherwise  qualified and eligible under this
Article,  without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the  parties  hereto.  In case any  Securities  shall  have  been
authenticated,  but not delivered,  by the Trustee then in office, any successor
by merger,  conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt
such  authentication  and deliver the Securities so authenticated  with the same
effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

SECTION 913. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

                  If the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company or
any other obligor upon the  Securities  (other than by reason of a  relationship
described in Section  311(b) of the Trust  Indenture  Act), the Trustee shall be
subject  to any  and  all  applicable  provisions  of the  Trust  Indenture  Act
regarding the  collection of claims  against the Company or such other  obligor.
For purposes of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act:

                  (a) the term "cash transaction" means any transaction in which
full  payment  for goods or  securities  sold is made  within  seven  days after
delivery of the goods or  securities  in  currency or in checks or other  orders
drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand;

                  (b) the term "self-liquidating paper" means any draft, bill of
exchange,  acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred
by  the  Company  for  the  purpose  of  financing  the  purchase,   processing,
manufacturing,  shipment,  storage or sale of goods,  wares or  merchandise  and
which is secured by  documents  evidencing  title to,  possession  of, or a lien
upon, the goods,  wares or merchandise  or the  receivables or proceeds  arising
from the sale of the goods,  wares or merchandise  previously  constituting  the
security,  provided the security is received by the Trustee  simultaneously with
the  creation of the  creditor  relationship  with the Company  arising from the
making,  drawing,  negotiating  or  incurring  of the draft,  bill of  exchange,
acceptance or obligation.

SECTION 914. Co-trustees and Separate Trustees.

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<PAGE>




                  At any time or times,  for the  purpose of  meeting  the legal
requirements of any applicable  jurisdiction,  the Company and the Trustee shall
have power to appoint,  and,  upon the written  request of the Trustee or of the
Holders of at least  thirty-three  per centum (33%) in  principal  amount of the
Securities  then  outstanding,  the Company shall for such purpose join with the
Trustee  in the  execution  and  delivery  of  all  instruments  and  agreements
necessary  or proper to  appoint,  one or more  Persons  approved by the Trustee
either to act as  co-trustee,  jointly with the  Trustee,  or to act as separate
trustee, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of
appointment,  and to vest in such Person or Persons,  in the capacity aforesaid,
any property,  title,  right or power deemed necessary or desirable,  subject to
the other  provisions  of this  Section.  If the  Company  does not join in such
appointment  within 15 days after the receipt by it of a request so to do, or if
an Event of Default  shall have  occurred and be  continuing,  the Trustee alone
shall have power to make such appointment.

                  Should any written  instrument or instruments from the Company
be required by any  co-trustee  or separate  trustee so  appointed to more fully
confirm to such co-trustee or separate  trustee such property,  title,  right or
power, any and all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged
and delivered by the Company.

                  Every  co-trustee  or separate  trustee  shall,  to the extent
permitted by law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following
conditions:

                  (a) the Securities shall be authenticated  and delivered,  and
         all rights,  powers, duties and obligations hereunder in respect of the
         custody of  securities,  cash and other  personal  property held by, or
         required to be deposited or pledged with, the Trustee hereunder,  shall
         be exercised solely, by the Trustee;

                  (b)  the  rights,   powers,   duties  and  obligations  hereby
         conferred  or imposed  upon the  Trustee  in  respect  of any  property
         covered by such  appointment  shall be  conferred  or imposed  upon and
         exercised or performed either by the Trustee or by the Trustee and such
         co-trustee  or separate  trustee  jointly,  as shall be provided in the
         instrument  appointing such co-trustee or separate  trustee,  except to
         the  extent  that  under  any  law of any  jurisdiction  in  which  any
         particular act is to be performed,  the Trustee shall be incompetent or
         unqualified  to perform such act, in which event such  rights,  powers,
         duties  and  obligations  shall  be  exercised  and  performed  by such
         co-trustee or separate trustee;

                  (c) the  Trustee  at any time,  by an  instrument  in  writing
         executed by it, with the  concurrence  of the  Company,  may accept the
         resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate  trustee  appointed
         under this Section, and, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and
         be continuing,  the Trustee shall have power to accept the  resignation
         of, or remove,  any such  co-trustee  or separate  trustee  without the
         concurrence  of the Company.  Upon the written  request of the Trustee,
         the Company  shall join with the Trustee in the  execution and delivery
         of all  instruments  and  agreements  necessary or proper to effectuate
         such resignation or removal.  A successor to any co-trustee or separate
         trustee so resigned or removed may be appointed in the manner  provided
         in this Section;

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<PAGE>




                  (d) no co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be 
         personally liable by reason of any act or omission of the Trustee, or 
         any other such trustee hereunder; and

                  (e) any Act of  Holders  delivered  to the  Trustee  shall  be
         deemed to have been  delivered  to each such  co-trustee  and  separate
         trustee.

SECTION 915. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

                  The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with
respect to the Securities of one or more series,  or any Tranche thereof,  which
shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to  authenticate  Securities
of such series or Tranche issued upon original issuance, exchange,  registration
of  transfer or partial  redemption  thereof or  pursuant  to Section  306,  and
Securities so authenticated  shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture
and shall be valid and  obligatory for all purposes as if  authenticated  by the
Trustee  hereunder.  Wherever  reference  is  made  in  this  Indenture  to  the
authentication  and  delivery  of  Securities  by the  Trustee or the  Trustee's
certificate  of  authentication,  such  reference  shall be  deemed  to  include
authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating  Agent
and a  certificate  of  authentication  executed  on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating  Agent.  Each  Authenticating  Agent shall be  acceptable  to the
Company and shall at all times be a  corporation  organized  and doing  business
under the laws of the  United  States,  any State or  territory  thereof  or the
District of Columbia or the  Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,  authorized under such
laws to act as  Authenticating  Agent,  having a combined capital and surplus of
not less than  $50,000,000  and subject to supervision or examination by Federal
or State authority.  If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition
at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital
and  surplus of such  Authenticating  Agent  shall be deemed to be its  combined
capital  and  surplus as set forth in its most  recent  report of  condition  so
published.  If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section,  such Authenticating Agent shall
resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

                  Any  corporation  into  which an  Authenticating  Agent may be
merged or converted  or with which it may be  consolidated,  or any  corporation
resulting  from  any  merger,   conversion  or   consolidation   to  which  such
Authenticating  Agent shall be a party,  or any  corporation  succeeding  to the
corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating  Agent,  shall
continue to be an  Authenticating  Agent,  provided  such  corporation  shall be
otherwise  eligible  under this Section,  without the execution or filing of any
paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

                  An  Authenticating  Agent  may  resign  at any time by  giving
written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any
time  terminate the agency of an  Authenticating  Agent by giving written notice
thereof to such Authenticating  Agent and to the Company.  Upon receiving such a
notice of resignation  or upon such a  termination,  or in case at any time such
Authenticating  Agent  shall  cease  to  be  eligible  in  accordance  with  the
provisions of this Section,  the Trustee may appoint a successor  Authenticating
Agent which shall be  acceptable to the Company.  Any  successor  Authenticating
Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with

                                      -56-


<PAGE>



all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect
as if originally named as an Authenticating  Agent. No successor  Authenticating
Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

                  The Trustee  agrees to pay to each  Authenticating  Agent from
time to time reasonable  compensation  for its services under this Section,  and
the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments,  in accordance
with, and subject to the provisions of Section 907.

                  The   provisions  of  Sections  308,  904  and  905  shall  be
applicable to each Authenticating Agent.

                  If an  appointment  with respect to the  Securities  of one or
more series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be made pursuant to this Section, the
Securities of such series or Tranche may have endorsed  thereon,  in addition to
the  Trustee's  certificate  of  authentication,  an  alternate  certificate  of
authentication substantially in the following form:

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


                                         BOATMEN'S TRUST COMPANY
                                         As Trustee


                                         By______________________
                                           As Authenticating
                                           Agent


                                         By______________________
                                           Authorized Signatory


                  If all of the  Securities  of a series  may not be  originally
issued at one  time,  and if the  Trustee  does not have an  office  capable  of
authenticating  Securities upon original  issuance located in a Place of Payment
where the Company wishes to have  Securities of such series  authenticated  upon
original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which
writing  need not comply  with  Section  102 and need not be  accompanied  by an
Opinion of  Counsel),  shall  appoint,  in  accordance  with this Section and in
accordance  with such  procedures  as shall be  acceptable  to the  Trustee,  an
Authenticating  Agent having an office in a Place of Payment  designated  by the
Company with respect to such series of Securities.



                                      -57-


<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE TEN

                Holders' Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company


SECTION 1001.  Lists of Holders.

                  Semiannually,  not later than  _________  1 and  ________ 1 in
each year,  commencing _________ 1, 199_, and at such other times as the Trustee
may request in writing,  the Company  shall  furnish or cause to be furnished to
the Trustee  information  as to the names and addresses of the Holders,  and the
Trustee shall preserve such information and similar  information  received by it
in any other  capacity  and  afford to the  Holders  access  to  information  so
preserved  by it, all to such  extent,  if any,  and in such  manner as shall be
required by the Trust Indenture Act; provided,  however,  that no such list need
be furnished so long as the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.

SECTION 1002.  Reports by Trustee and Company.

                  Not later than ____ 1 in each year,  commencing  ____ 1, 199_,
the Trustee shall transmit to the Holders and the Commission a report,  dated as
of the next  preceding  May 1, with  respect  to any  events  and other  matters
described in Section  313(a) of the Trust  Indenture  Act, in such manner and to
the extent  required by the Trust  Indenture  Act. The Trustee shall transmit to
the Holders  and the  Commission,  and the  Company  shall file with the Trustee
(within thirty (30) days after filing with the Commission in the case of reports
which pursuant to the Trust  Indenture Act must be filed with the Commission and
furnished to the Trustee) and transmit to the Holders,  such other  information,
reports and other documents,  if any, at such times and in such manner, as shall
be required by the Trust Indenture Act.


                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN

               Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Other Transfer


SECTION 1101.  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

                  The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other
corporation,  or convey or otherwise transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless

                  (a) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which
         the Company is merged or the Person  which  acquires by  conveyance  or
         transfer,  or which leases,  the  properties  and assets of the Company
         substantially  as an entirety shall be a Person  organized and existing
         under the laws of the United States,  any State thereof or the District
         of Columbia,  and shall expressly assume, by an indenture  supplemental
         hereto,  executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to
         the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and 

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<PAGE>



         premium,  if any, and interest,  if any, on all Outstanding  Securities
         and the  performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of
         the Company to be performed or observed;

                  (b)  immediately  after giving effect to such  transaction and
         treating  any   indebtedness   for  borrowed  money  which  becomes  an
         obligation  of the  Company as a result of such  transaction  as having
         been incurred by the Company at the time of such transaction,  no Event
         of Default,  and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both,
         would  become  an  Event  of  Default,   shall  have  occurred  and  be
         continuing; and

                  (c)  the  Company  shall  have  delivered  to the  Trustee  an
         Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such
         consolidation,  merger, conveyance, or other transfer or lease and such
         supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions
         precedent herein provided for relating to such  transactions  have been
         complied with.

SECTION 1102. Successor Corporation Substituted.

                  Upon any  consolidation  by the Company  with or merger by the
Company into any other corporation or any conveyance, or other transfer or lease
of the  properties  and assets of the  Company  substantially  as an entirety in
accordance  with  Section  1101,  the  successor   corporation  formed  by  such
consolidation  or into  which the  Company is merged or the Person to which such
conveyance,  transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for,
and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with
the same  effect  as if such  successor  Person  had been  named as the  Company
herein,  and thereafter,  except in the case of a lease, the predecessor  Person
shall be relieved of all  obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the
Securities Outstanding hereunder.


                                 ARTICLE TWELVE

                             Supplemental Indentures


SECTION 1201. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

                  Without  the  consent  of any  Holders,  the  Company  and the
Trustee,  at any  time  and  from  time to  time,  may  enter  into  one or more
indentures  supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of
the following purposes:

                  (a) to  evidence  the  succession  of  another  Person  to the
         Company and the  assumption  by any such  successor of the covenants of
         the Company  herein and in the  Securities,  all as provided in Article
         Eleven; or

                  (b) to add one or  more  covenants  of the  Company  or  other
         provisions  for the  benefit of all  Holders or for the  benefit of the
         Holders of, or to remain in effect only so long as there shall be

                                      -59-


<PAGE>



         Outstanding, Securities of one or more specified series, or one or more
         specified  Tranches thereof,  or to surrender any right or power herein
         conferred upon the Company; or

                  (c) to add any  additional  Events of Default  with respect to
         all or any series of Securities Outstanding hereunder; or

                  (d) to change or eliminate any provision of this  Indenture or
         to add any new provision to this Indenture;  provided, however, that if
         such  change,  elimination  or  addition  shall  adversely  affect  the
         interests  of the  Holders  of  Securities  of any  series  or  Tranche
         Outstanding  on the date of such indenture  supplemental  hereto in any
         material  respect,  such change,  elimination  or addition shall become
         effective  with respect to such series or Tranche only  pursuant to the
         provisions of Section 1202 hereof or when no Security of such series or
         Tranche remains Outstanding; or

                  (e) to provide collateral security for the Securities; or

                  (f) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series
         or Tranche as contemplated by Sections 201 and 301; or

                  (g) to provide for the  authentication  and delivery of bearer
         securities and coupons appertaining thereto representing  interest,  if
         any, thereon and for the procedures for the registration,  exchange and
         replacement   thereof  and  for  the  giving  of  notice  to,  and  the
         solicitation  of the vote or consent of, the holders  thereof,  and for
         any and all other matters incidental thereto; or

                  (h) to evidence and provide for the  acceptance of appointment
         hereunder  by a  separate  or  successor  Trustee  with  respect to the
         Securities  of one or more  series  and to add to or change  any of the
         provisions  of this  Indenture  as shall be necessary to provide for or
         facilitate the  administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one
         Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 911(b); or

                  (i) to  provide  for the  procedures  required  to permit  the
         Company  to  utilize,  at its  option,  a  non-certificated  system  of
         registration  for all, or any series or Tranche of, the Securities;  or
         to provide for the authentication and delivery of bearer securities and
         coupons appertaining thereto representing interest, if any, thereon and
         for the  procedures  for the  registration,  exchange  and  replacement
         thereof  and for the giving of notice to, and the  solicitation  of the
         vote or consent  of,  the  holders  thereof,  and for any and all other
         matters incidental thereto; or

                  (j) to change any place or places  where (1) the  principal of
         and  premium,  if any,  and  interest,  if any, on all or any series of
         Securities,  or any Tranche thereof,  shall be payable,  (2) all or any
         series of Securities,  or any Tranche  thereof,  may be surrendered for
         registration of transfer,  (3) all or any series of Securities,  or any
         Tranche  thereof,  may be surrendered  for exchange and (4) notices and
         demands  to or upon the  Company  in  respect  of all or any  series of
         Securities, or any Tranche thereof, and this Indenture may be served;

                                      -60-


<PAGE>



         provided, however, that any such place is located in New York, New 
         York, or St. Louis, Missouri; or

                  (k) to cure  any  ambiguity,  to  correct  or  supplement  any
         provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent  with any other
         provision herein, or to make any other changes to the provisions hereof
         or to add other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising
         under this  Indenture,  provided  that such other  changes or additions
         shall not  adversely  affect the interests of the Holders of Securities
         of any series or Tranche in any material respect.

                  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Trust
Indenture  Act as in effect at the date of the  execution  and  delivery of this
Indenture or at any time thereafter shall be amended and

                                    (x) if any such amendment  shall require one
                  or more  changes  to any  provisions  hereof or the  inclusion
                  herein of any additional provisions,  or shall by operation of
                  law be deemed to  effect  such  changes  or  incorporate  such
                  provisions by reference or otherwise,  this Indenture shall be
                  deemed to have been amended so as to conform to such amendment
                  to the Trust  Indenture  Act,  and the Company and the Trustee
                  may,  without  the  consent  of any  Holders,  enter  into  an
                  indenture  supplemental  hereto  to effect  or  evidence  such
                  changes or additional provisions; or

                                    (y) if any such  amendment  shall permit one
                  or more  changes  to, or the  elimination  of, any  provisions
                  hereof which, at the date of the execution and delivery hereof
                  or at any time thereafter, are required by the Trust Indenture
                  Act to be contained herein,  this Indenture shall be deemed to
                  have been amended to effect such changes or  elimination,  and
                  the Company and the  Trustee  may,  without the consent of any
                  Holders,  enter  into  an  indenture  supplemental  hereto  to
                  evidence such amendment hereof.

SECTION 1202.  Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.

                  With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate  principal  amount of the  Securities  of all series then  Outstanding
under this Indenture,  considered as one class, by Act of said Holders delivered
to the  Company  and  the  Trustee,  the  Company,  when  authorized  by a Board
Resolution,   and  the  Trustee  may  enter  into  an  indenture  or  indentures
supplemental  hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in
any manner or eliminating  any of the provisions of, this  Indenture;  provided,
however,  that if there shall be Securities of more than one series  Outstanding
hereunder and if a proposed  supplemental  indenture  shall directly  affect the
rights of the Holders of Securities  of one or more,  but less than all, of such
series,  then  the  consent  only of the  Holders  of a  majority  in  aggregate
principal  amount  of the  Outstanding  Securities  of all  series  so  directly
affected,  considered as one class,  shall be required;  and provided,  further,
that if the  Securities  of any series  shall have been  issued in more than one
Tranche and if the proposed  supplemental  indenture  shall directly  affect the
rights of the Holders of Securities  of one or more,  but less than all, of such


                                      -61-


<PAGE>



Tranches,  then the  consent  only of the  Holders  of a majority  in  aggregate
principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Securities  of all  Tranches  so directly
affected,  considered as one class,  shall be required;  and provided,  further,
that no such supplemental indenture shall:

                  (a) change the Stated  Maturity  of the  principal  of, or any
         installment  of  principal  of or  interest  on [(except as provided in
         Section 312  hereof)],13 any Security,  or reduce the principal  amount
         thereof  or  the  rate  of  interest  thereon  (or  the  amount  of any
         installment  of interest  thereon) or change the method of  calculating
         such rate or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or
         reduce the amount of the principal of a Discount Security that would be
         due and payable  upon a  declaration  of  acceleration  of the Maturity
         thereof  pursuant to Section  802,  or change the coin or currency  (or
         other  property),  in which any Security or any premium or the interest
         thereon  is  payable,  or impair  the right to  institute  suit for the
         enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated  Maturity of any
         Security  (or, in the case of  redemption,  on or after the  Redemption
         Date),  without,  in any such case,  the  consent of the Holder of such
         Security, or

                  (b)  reduce  the   percentage  in  principal   amount  of  the
         Outstanding  Securities  of any  series  or any  Tranche  thereof,  the
         consent of the Holders of which is required  for any such  supplemental
         indenture,  or the consent of the Holders of which is required  for any
         waiver of  compliance  with any  provision of this  Indenture or of any
         default hereunder and its  consequences,  or reduce the requirements of
         Section  1304 for quorum or  voting,  without,  in any such  case,  the
         consent of the Holders of each  Outstanding  Security of such series or
         Tranche, or

                  (c) modify any of the provisions of this Section,  Section 607
         or Section 813 with  respect to the  Securities  of any series,  or any
         Tranche  thereof,  or except to increase the  percentages  in principal
         amount referred to in this Section or such other Sections or to provide
         that other  provisions of this  Indenture  cannot be modified or waived
         without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected
         thereby;  provided,  however,  that this clause  shall not be deemed to
         require  the  consent  of any  Holder  with  respect  to changes in the
         references to "the Trustee" and concomitant changes in this Section, or
         the deletion of this proviso,  in accordance  with the  requirements of
         Sections 911(b) and 1201(h).

A  supplemental  indenture  which  changes or  eliminates  any covenant or other
provision of this  Indenture  which has expressly  been included  solely for the
benefit  of one or  more  particular  series  of  Securities,  or of one or more
Tranches  thereof,  or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of
such series or Tranches with respect to such covenant or other provision,  shall
be deemed not to affect  the  rights  under  this  Indenture  of the  Holders of
Securities of any other series or Tranche.

- --------
         13       Bracketed  language  will be inserted in the  Indenture  under
                  which SKIS or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                      -62-


<PAGE>



                  It shall not be  necessary  for any Act of Holders  under this
Section to approve the particular form of any proposed  supplemental  indenture,
but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall  approve the substance  thereof.  A
waiver by a Holder of such Holder's right to consent under this Section shall be
deemed to be a consent of such Holder.

SECTION 1203. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

                  In executing,  or accepting the additional  trusts created by,
any  supplemental  indenture  permitted  by this  Article  or the  modifications
thereby of the trusts created by this  Indenture,  the Trustee shall be entitled
to receive,  and  (subject to Section  901) shall be fully  protected in relying
upon,  an Opinion of Counsel  stating that the  execution  of such  supplemental
indenture is  authorized  or permitted by this  Indenture.  The Trustee may, but
shall not be obligated  to,  enter into any such  supplemental  indenture  which
affects the Trustee's own rights,  duties,  immunities or liabilities under this
Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 1204. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

                  Upon the execution of any  supplemental  indenture  under this
Article  this  Indenture  shall be modified in  accordance  therewith,  and such
supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and
every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered
hereunder shall be bound thereby.  Any supplemental  indenture permitted by this
Article may restate this Indenture in its entirety,  and, upon the execution and
delivery  thereof,  any such  restatement  shall  supersede  this  Indenture  as
theretofore in effect for all purposes.

SECTION 1205. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act.

                  Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article
shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

SECTION 1206. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

                  Securities   of   any   series,   or  any   Tranche   thereof,
authenticated  and delivered after the execution of any  supplemental  indenture
pursuant to this  Article  may,  and shall if required  by the  Trustee,  bear a
notation in form  approved by the Trustee as to any matter  provided for in such
supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any
series, or any Tranche thereof, so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the
Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental  indenture may be prepared and
executed  by the  Company  and  authenticated  and  delivered  by the Trustee in
exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche.



                                      -63-


<PAGE>



SECTION 1207. Modification Without Supplemental Indenture.

                  If the terms of any particular series of Securities shall have
been established in a Board Resolution or an Officer's Certificate pursuant to a
Board  Resolution  as  contemplated  by  Section  301,  and not in an  indenture
supplemental hereto,  additions to, changes in or the elimination of any of such
terms may be effected by means of a supplemental  Board  Resolution or Officer's
Certificate,  as the case may be,  delivered  to, and  accepted by, the Trustee;
provided,   however,  that  such  supplemental  Board  Resolution  or  Officer's
Certificate  shall not be  accepted  by the Trustee or  otherwise  be  effective
unless all conditions set forth in this Indenture  which would be required to be
satisfied  if  such  additions,  changes  or  elimination  were  contained  in a
supplemental  indenture  shall  have  been  appropriately  satisfied.  Upon  the
acceptance  thereof by the Trustee,  any such  supplemental  Board Resolution or
Officer's  Certificate  shall be deemed  to be a  "supplemental  indenture"  for
purposes of Section 1204 and 1206.


                                ARTICLE THIRTEEN

                   Meetings of Holders; Action Without Meeting


SECTION 1301.  Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

                  A meeting  of Holders of  Securities  of one or more,  or all,
series, or any Tranche or Tranches  thereof,  may be called at any time and from
time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand,
authorization,  direction,  notice,  consent, waiver or other action provided by
this  Indenture  to be made,  given or taken by  Holders of  Securities  of such
series or Tranches.

SECTION 1302.  Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

                  (a) The  Trustee  may at any time call a meeting of Holders of
Securities of one or more, or all, series,  or any Tranche or Tranches  thereof,
for any purpose  specified in Section  1301, to be held at such time and at such
place in St.  Louis,  Missouri,  as the Trustee  shall  determine,  or, with the
approval  of the  Company,  at any other  place.  Notice of every such  meeting,
setting  forth the time and the place of such  meeting and in general  terms the
action  proposed  to be taken at such  meeting,  shall be given,  in the  manner
provided  in Section  106,  not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the
date fixed for the meeting.

                  (b) If the Trustee shall have been requested to call a meeting
of the Holders of Securities of one or more, or all,  series,  or any Tranche or
Tranches thereof, by the Company or by the Holders of 33% in aggregate principal
amount of all of such  series and  Tranches,  considered  as one class,  for any
purpose  specified  in  Section  1301,  by  written  request  setting  forth  in
reasonable  detail  the  action  proposed  to be taken at the  meeting,  and the
Trustee  shall not have  given the notice of such  meeting  within 21 days after
receipt of such request or shall not thereafter  proceed to cause the meeting to


                                      -64-


<PAGE>



be held as provided  herein,  then the Company or the Holders of  Securities  of
such series and Tranches in the amount above specified,  as the case may be, may
determine the time and the place in St. Louis,  Missouri, or in such other place
as shall be determined or approved by the Company, for such meeting and may call
such  meeting  for such  purposes  by  giving  notice  thereof  as  provided  in
subsection (a) of this Section.

                  (c) Any meeting of Holders of  Securities  of one or more,  or
all, series, or any Tranche or Tranches  thereof,  shall be valid without notice
if the Holders of all  Outstanding  Securities  of such  series or Tranches  are
present  in person or by proxy and if  representatives  of the  Company  and the
Trustee  are  present,  or if notice is  waived in  writing  before or after the
meeting by the Holders of all Outstanding  Securities of such series, or by such
of them as are not  present  at the  meeting  in person or by proxy,  and by the
Company and the Trustee.

SECTION 1303.  Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

                  To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities
of one or more, or all,  series,  or any Tranche or Tranches  thereof,  a Person
shall be (a) a Holder of one or more  Outstanding  Securities  of such series or
Tranches,  or (b) a Person  appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a
Holder  or  Holders  of one or more  Outstanding  Securities  of such  series or
Tranches by such Holder or  Holders.  The only  Persons who shall be entitled to
attend any meeting of Holders of  Securities  of any series or Tranche  shall be
the  Persons   entitled  to  vote  at  such  meeting  and  their  counsel,   any
representatives  of the Trustee and its counsel and any  representatives  of the
Company and its counsel.

SECTION 1304.  Quorum; Action.

                  The Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Outstanding  Securities of the series and Tranches with respect to
which a meeting shall have been called as hereinbefore  provided,  considered as
one class,  shall  constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of
such series and Tranches;  provided,  however, that if any action is to be taken
at such  meeting  which this  Indenture  expressly  provides may be taken by the
Holders of a specified  percentage,  which is less than a majority, in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series and Tranches,  considered as
one class, the Persons  entitled to vote such specified  percentage in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series and Tranches,  considered as
one class, shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within one hour
of the time appointed for any such meeting,  the meeting  shall,  if convened at
the request of Holders of Securities of such series and Tranches,  be dissolved.
In any  other  case the  meeting  may be  adjourned  for such  period  as may be
determined  by the  chairman of the  meeting  prior to the  adjournment  of such
meeting.  In the  absence  of a  quorum  at any  such  adjourned  meeting,  such
adjourned  meeting may be further adjourned for such period as may be determined
by the  chairman  of the  meeting  prior to the  adjournment  of such  adjourned
meeting. Except as provided by Section 1305(e), notice of the reconvening of any
meeting  adjourned  for more than 30 days shall be given as  provided in Section
1302(a)  not less  than ten days  prior  to the  date on which  the  meeting  is
scheduled to be reconvened.  Notice of the  reconvening of an adjourned  meeting
shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of such series and Tranches which shall

                                      -65-


<PAGE>



constitute a quorum.

                  Except as limited by Section 1202, any resolution presented to
a meeting or adjourned  meeting duly  reconvened at which a quorum is present as
aforesaid  may be  adopted  only by the  affirmative  vote of the  Holders  of a
majority in aggregate  principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Securities  of the
series and Tranches  with respect to which such meeting  shall have been called,
considered as one class;  provided,  however,  that,  except as so limited,  any
resolution  with respect to any action which this Indenture  expressly  provides
may be taken by the  Holders  of a  specified  percentage,  which is less than a
majority,  in principal amount of the Outstanding  Securities of such series and
Tranches,  considered as one class,  may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned
meeting  duly  reconvened  and at which a quorum is present as  aforesaid by the
affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount
of the  Outstanding  Securities of such series and  Tranches,  considered as one
class.

                  Any  resolution  passed or  decision  taken at any  meeting of
Holders of Securities duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding
on all the Holders of  Securities  of the series and  Tranches  with  respect to
which such meeting shall have been held,  whether or not present or  represented
at the meeting.

SECTION 1305.  Attendance at Meetings; Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct 
               and Adjournment of Meetings.

                  (a)  Attendance at meetings of Holders of Securities may be in
person or by proxy;  and, to the extent  permitted  by law, any such proxy shall
remain in effect and be binding upon any future  Holder of the  Securities  with
respect  to which it was given  unless  and until  specifically  revoked  by the
Holder or future Holder of such Securities before being voted.

                  (b)  Notwithstanding  any other  provisions of this Indenture,
the Trustee may make such  reasonable  regulations  as it may deem advisable for
any meeting of Holders of  Securities  in regard to proof of the holding of such
Securities and of the  appointment  of proxies and in regard to the  appointment
and duties of inspectors of votes,  the submission  and  examination of proxies,
certificates  and other  evidence of the right to vote,  and such other  matters
concerning  the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem  appropriate.  Except as
otherwise  permitted  or  required  by any  such  regulations,  the  holding  of
Securities  shall be proved  in the  manner  specified  in  Section  104 and the
appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104.
Such  regulations  may provide  that  written  instruments  appointing  proxies,
regular on their  face,  may be  presumed  valid and  genuine  without the proof
specified in Section 104 or other proof.

                  (c) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing,  appoint a
temporary chairman of the meeting,  unless the meeting shall have been called by
the  Company or by Holders as  provided  in Section  1302(b),  in which case the
Company or the  Holders of  Securities  of the series and  Tranches  calling the
meeting,  as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman.
A permanent  chairman and a permanent  secretary of the meeting shall be elected
by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the  Outstanding  Securities  of all series and Tranches  represented  at the
meeting, considered as one class.

                                      -66-


<PAGE>





                  (d) At any  meeting  each Holder or proxy shall be entitled to
one vote for each $1 principal  amount of Securities held or represented by him;
provided,  however,  that no vote  shall be cast or  counted  at any  meeting in
respect of any Security  challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman
of the meeting to be not Outstanding.  The chairman of the meeting shall have no
right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security or proxy.

                  (e) Any meeting duly called  pursuant to Section 1302 at which
a quorum is present may be  adjourned  from time to time by Persons  entitled to
vote a majority in aggregate  principal amount of the Outstanding  Securities of
all series and Tranches represented at the meeting, considered as one class; and
the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

SECTION 1306.  Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

                  The vote  upon any  resolution  submitted  to any  meeting  of
Holders shall be by written  ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures
of the Holders or of their  representatives  by proxy and the principal  amounts
and serial  numbers of the  Outstanding  Securities,  of the series and Tranches
with respect to which the meeting shall have been called, held or represented by
them.  The permanent  chairman of the meeting  shall  appoint two  inspectors of
votes  who  shall  count  all  votes  cast at the  meeting  for or  against  any
resolution  and who shall make and file with the  secretary of the meeting their
verified  written  reports  of all votes  cast at the  meeting.  A record of the
proceedings of each meeting of Holders shall be prepared by the secretary of the
meeting and there shall be attached to said record the  original  reports of the
inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or
more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of
the meeting and showing  that said notice was given as provided in Section  1302
and, if applicable,  Section 1304. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the
affidavits of the  permanent  chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such
copy  shall be  delivered  to the  Company,  and  another  to the  Trustee to be
preserved by the Trustee,  the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted
at the meeting.  Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive  evidence
of the matters therein stated.

SECTION 1307. Action Without Meeting.

                  In lieu of a vote of  Holders  at a  meeting  as  hereinbefore
contemplated in this Article,  any request,  demand,  authorization,  direction,
notice,  consent,  waiver or other action may be made, given or taken by Holders
by written instruments as provided in Section 104.


                                ARTICLE FOURTEEN

                    Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders,
                             Officers and Directors


                                      -67-


<PAGE>




SECTION 1401.   Liability Solely Corporate.

                  No recourse  shall be had for the payment of the  principal of
or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Securities, or any part thereof,
or for any claim  based  thereon  or  otherwise  in respect  thereof,  or of the
indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation,  covenant or agreement
under  this  Indenture,  against  any  incorporator,   stockholder,  officer  or
director,  as such, past, present or future of the Company or of any predecessor
or  successor   corporation  (either  directly  or  through  the  Company  or  a
predecessor or successor  corporation),  whether by virtue of any constitutional
provision,  statute or rule of law, or by the  enforcement  of any assessment or
penalty  or  otherwise;  it being  expressly  agreed  and  understood  that this
Indenture and all the Securities are solely corporate  obligations,  and that no
personal  liability   whatsoever  shall  attach  to,  or  be  incurred  by,  any
incorporator,  stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, of the
Company or of any  predecessor  or  successor  corporation,  either  directly or
indirectly  through the Company or any  predecessor  or  successor  corporation,
because of the  indebtedness  hereby  authorized or under or by reason of any of
the obligations,  covenants or agreements  contained in this Indenture or in any
of the  Securities  or to be implied  herefrom or  therefrom,  and that any such
personal  liability is hereby  expressly  waived and released as a condition of,
and as part of the  consideration  for, the execution of this  Indenture and the
issuance of the Securities.


                                [ARTICLE FIFTEEN

                           Subordination of Securities


SECTION 1501.  Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness.

                  The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants
and agrees,  and each Holder of the Securities of each series, by its acceptance
thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of and
premium,  if any, and  interest,  if any, on each and all of the  Securities  is
hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this
Article,  in  right  of  payment  to the  prior  payment  in full of all  Senior
Indebtedness.

                  Each  Holder  of  the  Securities  of  each  series,   by  its
acceptance  thereof,  authorizes  and  directs the Trustee on its behalf to take
such action as may be necessary or appropriate  to effectuate the  subordination
as provided in this Article,  and appoints the Trustee its  attorney-in-fact for
any and all such purposes.

SECTION 1502. Payment Over of Proceeds of Securities.

                  In the event (a) of any  insolvency or bankruptcy  proceedings
or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in
respect  of  the  Company  or a  substantial  part  of its  property,  or of any
proceedings  for  liquidation,  dissolution  or other winding up of the Company,
whether  or not  involving  insolvency  or  bankruptcy,  or (b)  subject  to the
provisions of Section 1503,  that (i) a default shall have occurred with respect


                                      -68-


<PAGE>



to the payment of principal of or interest on or other monetary  amounts due and
payable on any Senior Indebtedness,  or (ii) there shall have occurred a default
(other than a default in the payment of principal or interest or other  monetary
amounts  due and  payable)  in respect of any  Senior  Indebtedness,  as defined
therein or in the instrument under which the same is outstanding, permitting the
holder or holders  thereof to  accelerate  the maturity  thereof (with notice or
lapse of time, or both), and such default shall have continued beyond the period
of grace,  if any, in respect  thereof,  and, in the cases of subclauses (i) and
(ii) of this clause  (b),  such  default  shall not have been cured or waived or
shall  not have  ceased  to  exist,  or (c) that the  principal  of and  accrued
interest  on the  Securities  of any  series  shall have been  declared  due and
payable  pursuant  to  Section  801 and such  declaration  shall  not have  been
rescinded and annulled as provided in Section 802, then:

                           (1) the  holders  of all  Senior  Indebtedness  shall
         first be entitled to receive payment of the full amount due thereon, or
         provision  shall be made for such  payment in money or  money's  worth,
         before the Holders of any of the  Securities  are entitled to receive a
         payment on account of the principal of or interest on the  indebtedness
         evidenced  by  the  Securities,   including,  without  limitation,  any
         payments made pursuant to Articles Four and Five;

                           (2) any payment by, or distribution of assets of, the
         Company  of any  kind  or  character,  whether  in  cash,  property  or
         securities, to which any Holder or the Trustee would be entitled except
         for the  provisions of this Article,  shall be paid or delivered by the
         Person  making  such  payment  or  distribution,  whether a trustee  in
         bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to
         the  holders of such Senior  Indebtedness  or their  representative  or
         representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under
         which any instruments  evidencing any of such Senior  Indebtedness  may
         have been issued,  ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining
         unpaid on account of such Senior  Indebtedness  held or  represented by
         each,  to the extent  necessary  to make  payment in full of all Senior
         Indebtedness  remaining  unpaid after giving  effect to any  concurrent
         payment or distribution (or provision  therefor) to the holders of such
         Senior Indebtedness,  before any payment or distribution is made to the
         Holders  of the  indebtedness  evidenced  by the  Securities  or to the
         Trustee under this Indenture; and

                           (3) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing,
         any payment by, or  distribution  of assets of, the Company of any kind
         or character,  whether in cash,  property or securities,  in respect of
         principal of or interest on the  Securities or in  connection  with any
         repurchase by the Company of the  Securities,  shall be received by the
         Trustee or any Holder before all Senior  Indebtedness  is paid in full,
         or provision is made for such payment in money or money's  worth,  such
         payment or  distribution  in respect of principal of or interest on the
         Securities or in connection  with any  repurchase by the Company of the
         Securities   shall  be  paid  over  to  the   holders  of  such  Senior
         Indebtedness  or  their  representative  or  representatives  or to the
         trustee or trustees  under any  indenture  under which any  instruments
         evidencing any such Senior  Indebtedness may have been issued,  ratably
         as aforesaid, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness
         remaining  unpaid  until all such Senior  Indebtedness  shall have been
         

                                      -69-


<PAGE>



         paid  in  full,  after  giving  effect  to any  concurrent  payment  or
         distribution  (or  provision  therefor)  to the  holders of such Senior
         Indebtedness.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the 123rd day
following  the date of  deposit  of cash or  Eligible  Obligations  pursuant  to
Section 701  (provided  all  conditions  set out in such Section shall have been
satisfied),  the funds so deposited and any interest thereon will not be subject
to any rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness  including,  without limitation,
those arising under this Article  Fifteen;  provided that no event  described in
clauses  (d) and (e) of Section 801 with  respect to the  Company  has  occurred
during such 123-day period.

                  For purposes of this Article only,  the words "cash,  property
or securities"  shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation
provided for by a plan or reorganization  or readjustment  which are subordinate
in  right  of  payment  to all  Senior  Indebtedness  which  may at the  time be
outstanding  to the same extent as, or to a greater  extent than, the Securities
are so  subordinated  as  provided in this  Article.  The  consolidation  of the
Company  with,  or the merger of the Company into,  another  corporation  or the
liquidation or  dissolution of the Company  following the conveyance or transfer
of its  property as an entirety,  or  substantially  as an entirety,  to another
corporation upon the terms and conditions  provided for in Article Eleven hereof
shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for
the purposes of this Section 1502 if such other corporation  shall, as a part of
such consolidation,  merger,  conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions
stated in Article Eleven hereof. Nothing in Section 1501 or in this Section 1502
shall  apply to claims of, or  payments  to, the  Trustee  under or  pursuant to
Section 907.

SECTION 1503.  Disputes with Holders of Certain Senior Indebtedness.

                  Any  failure by the  Company to make any payment on or perform
any  other  obligation  in  respect  of  Senior  Indebtedness,  other  than  any
indebtedness  incurred  by the  Company or assumed or  guaranteed,  directly  or
indirectly,  by the  Company  for  money  borrowed  (or any  deferral,  renewal,
extension  or  refunding  thereof)  or any  other  obligation  as to  which  the
provisions  of this  Section  shall  have  been  waived  by the  Company  in the
instrument or instruments by which the Company incurred,  assumed, guaranteed or
otherwise created such indebtedness or obligation, shall not be deemed a default
under  clause (b) of Section  1502 if (i) the  Company  shall be  disputing  its
obligation to make such payment or perform such  obligation  and (ii) either (A)
no final  judgment  relating to such dispute shall have been issued  against the
Company which is in full force and effect and is not subject to further  review,
including a judgment  that has become final by reason of the  expiration  of the
time within which a party may seek further appeal or review, or (B) in the event
that a judgment that is subject to further review or appeal has been issued, the
Company shall in good faith be  prosecuting  an appeal or other  proceeding  for
review and a stay or execution  shall have been obtained  pending such appeal or
review.

SECTION 1504.  Subrogation.

                  Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed to have been paid in 
full unless the holders thereof shall have received cash (or securities or

                                      -70-


<PAGE>



other  property  satisfactory  to such  holders) in full  payment of such Senior
Indebtedness  then  outstanding.   Upon  the  payment  in  full  of  all  Senior
Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of
the  holders  of  Senior   Indebtedness  to  receive  any  further  payments  or
distributions of cash,  property or securities of the Company  applicable to the
holders of the Senior  Indebtedness  until all amounts  owing on the  Securities
shall be paid in full; and such payments or distributions  of cash,  property or
securities  received  by the  Holders  of the  Securities,  by  reason  of  such
subrogation, which otherwise would be paid or distributed to the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company,  its creditors other than the
holders of Senior  Indebtedness,  and the Holders,  be deemed to be a payment by
the Company to or on account of Senior  Indebtedness,  it being  understood that
the  provisions  of this Article are and are intended  solely for the purpose of
defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the holders of
the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

SECTION 1505.   Obligation of the Company Unconditional.

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

                  Upon any payment or  distribution  of assets or  securities of
the Company  referred to in this  Article,  the Trustee and the Holders shall be
entitled to rely upon any order or decree of a court of  competent  jurisdiction
in which such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings
are pending for the purpose of ascertaining  the persons entitled to participate
in  such  distribution,  the  holders  of  the  Senior  Indebtedness  and  other
indebtedness of the Company,  the amount thereof or payable thereon,  the amount
or amounts paid or distributed thereon, and all other facts pertinent thereto or
to this Article.

SECTION 1506.  Priority of Senior Indebtedness Upon Maturity.

                  Upon the maturity of the principal of any Senior  Indebtedness
by lapse of time,  acceleration  or otherwise,  all matured  principal of Senior
Indebtedness  and interest and premium,  if any,  thereon shall first be paid in
full before any payment of  principal  or premium or  interest,  if any, is made
upon the  Securities or before any  Securities can be acquired by the Company or
any sinking  fund payment is made with  respect to the  Securities  (except that
required sinking fund payments may be reduced by Securities acquired before such
maturity of such Senior Indebtedness).

SECTION 1507.  Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness.

                                      -71-


<PAGE>




                  The Trustee  shall be entitled to all rights set forth in this
Article with respect to any Senior  Indebtedness  at any time held by it, to the
same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness.  Nothing in this Article
shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

SECTION 1508.   Notice to Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

                  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of this Article or any other
provision of the  Indenture,  the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of
the  existence  of any facts which would  prohibit  the making of any payment of
moneys to or by the  Trustee  unless and until the Trustee  shall have  received
written notice  thereof from the Company,  from a Holder or from a holder of any
Senior Indebtedness or from any representative or representatives of such holder
and,  prior to the receipt of any such  written  notice,  the  Trustee  shall be
entitled,  subject to Section  901, in all respects to assume that no such facts
exist; provided, however, that, if prior to the fifth Business Day preceding the
date upon which by the terms  hereof any such moneys may become  payable for any
purpose,  or in the event of the execution of an instrument  pursuant to Section
702 acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, then if prior to
the second Business Day preceding the date of such execution,  the Trustee shall
not have  received  with respect to such moneys the notice  provided for in this
Section,  then, anything herein contained to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the
Trustee may, in its discretion, receive such moneys and/or apply the same to the
purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to
the  contrary,  which may be  received  by it on or after such  date;  provided,
however,  that no such  application  shall  affect  the  obligations  under this
Article of the persons receiving such moneys from the Trustee.

SECTION 1509.  Modification, Extension, Etc., of Senior Indebtedness.

                  The holders of Senior  Indebtedness  may, without affecting in
any manner the subordination of the payment of the principal of and premium,  if
any, and interest,  if any, on the Securities,  at any time or from time to time
and in their absolute  discretion,  agree with the Company to change the manner,
place or terms of payment,  change or extend the time of payment of, or renew or
alter, any Senior  Indebtedness,  or amend or supplement any instrument pursuant
to which any  Senior  Indebtedness  is  issued,  or  exercise  or  refrain  from
exercising  any other of their rights under the Senior  Indebtedness  including,
without limitation,  the waiver of default thereunder,  all without notice to or
assent from the Holders or the Trustee.

SECTION 1510.  Trustee Has No Fiduciary Duty to Holders of Senior Indebtedness.

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

                                      -72-


<PAGE>




SECTION 1511.  Paying Agents Other Than the Trustee.

                  In case at any time any Paying  Agent  other than the  Trustee
shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder,  the term
"Trustee" as used in this Article  shall in such case (unless the context  shall
otherwise  require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent
within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent
were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee;  provided,
however,  that Sections 1507, 1508 and 1510 shall not apply to the Company if it
acts as Paying Agent.

SECTION 1512.  Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness Not Impaired.

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

SECTION 1513.  Effect of Subordination Provisions; Termination.

                  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  herein to the  contrary,
other  than  as  provided  in  the  immediately  succeeding  sentence,  all  the
provisions of this Indenture shall be subject to the provisions of this Article,
so far as the same may be applicable thereto.

                  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the
provisions  of this  Article  Fifteen  shall be of no  further  effect,  and the
Securities  shall no longer be  subordinated  in right of  payment  to the prior
payment of Senior  Indebtedness,  if the  Company  shall have  delivered  to the
Trustee a notice to such effect.  Any such notice delivered by the Company shall
not be deemed to be a  supplemental  indenture  for  purposes of Article  Twelve
hereof.]14

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


                  This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original,  but all such 
counterparts  shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
- --------
14       Bracketed  language will be inserted in the Indenture  under which SKIS
         or other subordinated Securities will be issued.

                                      -73-


<PAGE>



                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this
Indenture  to be duly  executed,  and  their  respective  corporate  seals to be
hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

                                       UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY



                                       By:_______________________________

[SEAL]

ATTEST:


- ---------------------
                                       BOATMEN'S TRUST COMPANY, Trustee


                                       By: _______________________________



[SEAL]

ATTEST:


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

                                      -74-


<PAGE>


STATE OF MISSOURI                   )
                                    ) ss.:
CITY OF ST. LOUIS                   )


                  On the _____ day of _________, 1996, before me personally came
_________________,  to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say
that he is the  __________________________ of Union Electric Company, one of the
corporations  described in and which executed the foregoing instrument;  that he
knows the seal of said corporation;  that the seal affixed to said instrument is
such  corporate  seal;  that it was so  affixed  by  authority  of the  Board of
Directors  of said  corporation,  and that he signed  his name  thereto  by like
authority.



                                        ------------------------------
                                        Notary Public
                                        [Notarial Seal]


STATE OF MISSOURI                   )
                                    ) ss.:
CITY OF ST. LOUIS                   )


                  On the _____ day of ____________,  1996,  before me personally
came ____________,  to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say
that  he is a  ___________________  of  Boatmen's  Trust  Company,  one  of  the
corporations  described in and which executed the foregoing instrument;  that he
knows the seal of said corporation;  that the seal affixed to said instrument is
such  corporate  seal;  that it was so  affixed  by  authority  of the  Board of
Directors  of said  corporation,  and that he signed  his name  thereto  by like
authority.



                                       ------------------------------
                                       Notary Public
                                       [Notarial Seal]

                                       -1-


<PAGE>


                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.13

                                                                  WSP&R
                                                                  DRAFT
                                                                  11/22/96



               [FORM OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS APPROVING
               ISSUANCE AND SALE OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES]



                  RESOLVED,   that   the   transaction   negotiated   with   the
         Underwriters  represented by Lehman Brothers Inc. for the purchase from
         Union Electric Company (the "Company") of $___,000,000 principal amount
         of the Company's  Debentures to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (For
         Unsecured  Subordinated  Debt Securities) dated as of December __, 1996
         (the  "Subordinated  Indenture")  from the Company to  Boatmen's  Trust
         Company,  as trustee  (the  "Subordinated  Indenture  Trustee"),  which
         transaction provides for an interest rate to be borne by the securities
         of ___% and a price to be paid to the Company for the  Debentures of at
         least  $______________  is hereby  approved and accepted;  and that the
         execution and delivery of the  Underwriting  Agreement  dated  December
         ___,  1996 by the  officers of the  Company be and hereby is  approved,
         ratified and confirmed,  and such officers be and hereby are authorized
         to take  all  such  further  actions  as they  may  deem  necessary  or
         desirable  in order to carry into  effect the terms and  provisions  of
         such Underwriting Agreement.

                  RESOLVED, that:

                  (i)  the  securities  to  be  issued  under  the  Subordinated
                  Indenture  shall  be  designated  "___%  Subordinated  Capital
                  Income Securities (Series A Subordinated  Deferrable  Interest
                  Debentures)" (the "SKIS"); all capitalized terms used in these
                  resolutions  and not defined herein shall have the meaning set
                  forth in the Subordinated Indenture;

                  (ii)  the SKIS shall be limited in aggregate principal amount 
                  to $___,000,000 at any time Outstanding;

                  (iii) the SKIS shall mature and the principal thereof shall be
                  due and  payable  on  December  15,  2045,  together  with all
                  accrued and unpaid  interest  thereon  to, but not  including,
                  such date;

                  (iv) the SKIS shall bear  interest  from the date of  original
                  issuance (which is anticipated to be December __, 1996) at the
                  rate of ___% per annum  payable  semi-annually  in  arrears on
                  June 15 and  December  15 of each  year  (each,  an  "Interest
                  Payment  Date")  commencing  [June 15,  1997].  The  amount of
                  interest  payable  for any such period will be computed on the
                  

<PAGE>



                  basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day  months.  Interest on
                  the SKIS will accrue from the date of original issuance but if
                  interest has been paid on such SKIS, then from the most recent
                  Interest Payment Date through which interest has been paid. In
                  the event  that any  Interest  Payment  Date is not a Business
                  Day,  then  payment of  interest  payable on such date will be
                  made on the next  succeeding date which is a Business Day (and
                  without  any  interest  or other  payment  in  respect of such
                  delay),  except  that,  if such  Business  Day is in the  next
                  succeeding  calendar  year,  such payment shall be made on the
                  immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same
                  force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date;

                  (v) each  installment of interest on the SKIS shall be payable
                  to the  Person in whose name such SKIS are  registered  at the
                  close of  business  on the  Business  Day next  preceding  the
                  corresponding  Interest  Payment  Date  (the  "Regular  Record
                  Date") for the SKIS.  Any  installment of interest on the SKIS
                  not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease
                  to be payable to the Holders on such Regular  Record Date, and
                  may be paid to the person in whose name the SKIS is registered
                  at the close of business on a Special  Record Date to be fixed
                  by the Subordinated  Indenture Trustee for the payment of such
                  defaulted  interest,  notice  whereof  shall  be  given to the
                  Holders  of the  SKIS  not  less  than 10 days  prior  to such
                  Special  Record Date,  or may be paid at any time in any other
                  lawful manner not  inconsistent  with the  requirements of any
                  securities  exchange on which the SKIS may be listed, and upon
                  such notice as may be required by such  exchange,  all as more
                  fully provided in the Subordinated Indenture;

                  (vi) the  principal  and each  installment  of interest on the
                  SKIS shall be  payable at the office or agency of the  Company
                  in St. Louis, Missouri. For so long as the SKIS are registered
                  in the name of The  Depository  Trust  Company  ("DTC") or its
                  nominee,  the  principal and the interest due on the SKIS will
                  be payable by the  Company or its agent to DTC for  payment to
                  its  participants  for subsequent  disbursement  to beneficial
                  owners. The Company will initially be the Paying Agent and the
                  Registrar for the SKIS;

                  (vii) the SKIS will not be  redeemable  prior to December  __,
                  2006; thereafter, the SKIS will be redeemable at the option of
                  the  Company,  in whole  or in  part,  at any time on or after
                  December __, 2006 at the following  redemption prices (in each
                  case expressed in percentages of principal amount):



                                       -2-

<PAGE>





If Redeemed During 12 Month Period                            Redemption
     Beginning December   ,                                      Price

        2006...........................                           %

        2007...........................

        2008...........................

        2009...........................

        2010...........................

        2011...........................

        2012...........................

        2013...........................

        2014...........................

        2015...........................

   2016 and thereafter...................                           100%


                  in each  case,  upon not less  than 30 nor more  than 60 days'
                  notice,  together with accrued interest to, but not including,
                  the date fixed for redemption;

                  (viii) so long as any SKIS are Outstanding, the failure of the
                  Company to pay  interest  on any SKIS within 60 days after the
                  same  becomes  due and  payable  (whether  or not  payment  is
                  prohibited  by  the  provisions  of  Article  Fifteen  of  the
                  Subordinated  Indenture) shall constitute an Event of Default;
                  provided,  however,  that a valid  extension  of the  interest
                  payment period by the Company as  contemplated  in Section 312
                  of the Subordinated Indenture and paragraph (x) of these Board
                  Resolutions shall not constitute a failure to pay interest for
                  this purpose;

                  (ix)  pursuant to Section 312 of the  Subordinated  Indenture,
                  the Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to
                  time  during  the term of the  SKIS,  to extend  the  interest
                  payment  period  to a  period  not  exceeding  10  consecutive
                  semi-annual  periods (an "Extended  Interest Payment Period"),
                  and at the end of such Extended  Interest Payment Period,  the
                  Company  shall pay all interest  accrued and unpaid  (together
                  with  interest  thereon at the same rate as specified  for the
                  SKIS to the extent  permitted by  applicable  law) through the
                  last day of such Extended  Interest  Payment  Period  provided
                  that if any principal  amount of the SKIS is paid on such day,
                  then not including  interest for such day with respect to such
                  amount; provided,  however, that during such Extended Interest
                  Payment  Period,  the  Company  shall not  declare  or pay any
                  dividend   on,  or  redeem,   purchase,   acquire  or  make  a
                  liquidation  payment with respect to, any of its capital stock
                  or make any guarantee  payments with respect to the foregoing.
                  Prior to the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment
                  


                                      -3-

<PAGE>


                  Period,  the Company may further  extend the interest  payment
                  period,  provided that such Extended  Interest  Payment Period
                  together with all such previous and further extensions thereof
                  may not exceed 10  consecutive  semi-annual  periods or extend
                  beyond the Stated  Maturity of the SKIS.  Upon the termination
                  of any Extended Interest Payment Period and the payment of all
                  amounts  then  due,  the  Company  may  select a new  Extended
                  Interest Payment Period, subject to the above requirements. No
                  interest during an Extended Interest Payment Period, except at
                  the end thereof, shall be due and payable;

                  (x) the  Company  shall  give the  Holders of the SKIS and the
                  Subordinated Indenture Trustee written notice of its selection
                  of such  Extended  Interest  Payment  Period ten (10) Business
                  Days prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding  Interest
                  Payment Date and (ii) the date the Company is required to give
                  notice to Holders of the SKIS (or, if  applicable,  to the New
                  York  Stock  Exchange  or  other  applicable   self-regulatory
                  organization)  of the record or payment date of such  interest
                  payment,  but in any  event not less  than two  Business  Days
                  prior to such record date. The semi-annual period in which any
                  notice is given  pursuant to this paragraph  shall  constitute
                  one of the 10  semi-annual  periods which comprise the maximum
                  Extended Interest Payment Period;

                  (xi) the SKIS will be originally issued in global form payable
                  to Cede & Co.,  and  will,  unless  and  until  the  SKIS  are
                  exchanged in whole or in part for certificated SKIS registered
                  in  the  names  of the  various  beneficial  holders  thereof,
                  contain  restrictions on transfer,  substantially as described
                  in the form of SKIS; and

                  (xii) the SKIS shall have such other terms and  provisions  as
                  are  provided in the form of  subordinated  debt  security set
                  forth in Exhibit B hereto, and shall be issued in such form.

                  RESOLVED,  that the  officers  of the  Company be, and each of
         them hereby is, authorized to establish additional terms of the SKIS in
         accordance with the  Subordinated  Indenture and to execute and deliver
         an  Officer's   Certificate  to  the  Subordinated   Indenture  Trustee
         containing such additional terms.

                  RESOLVED,   that   the   preparation   and   filing   of   the
         Post-Effective  Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 33-66116,
         including a Prospectus  Supplement  dated December ___, 1996,  with the
         Securities and Exchange  Commission,  under the Securities Act of 1933,
         and the distribution  thereof, in connection with the issue and sale of
         $_____ million  principal  amount of ___%  Subordinated  Capital Income
         Securities (Series A Subordinated  Deferrable Interest Debentures),  be
         and hereby is approved, ratified and confirmed.

                  RESOLVED,  that the officers of the Company are authorized and
         directed to execute and deliver any and all documents  and  instruments
         and to take any and all  actions  and to do any and all things they and
         each of them may deem  necessary or advisable in order to carry out the
         intent and purposes of the foregoing resolutions.


                                      -4-

<PAGE>


                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.14

                                                                  WSP&R
                                                                  DRAFT
                                                                  11/22/96


                      [FORM OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITY]


No. 1
Cusip No. _______________

           (See legend at the end of this Security for restrictions on
                       transferability and change of form)


                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY

                   __% SUBORDINATED CAPITAL INCOME SECURITIES
             (SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES)


                  UNION  ELECTRIC  COMPANY,  a  corporation  duly  organized and
existing  under the laws of the State of  Missouri  (herein  referred  to as the
"Company,"  which term includes any successor  Person under the Indenture),  for
value received,  hereby promises to pay _______________,  or registered assigns,
the principal sum of ___________________________ MILLION DOLLARS on December 15,
2045, to pay interest on said principal sum from _______ or from the most recent
Interest Payment Date through which interest has been paid or duly provided for,
semi-annually  in arrears on June 15 and  December  15 of each year,  commencing
[June 15, 1997] at the rate of __% per annum to, but not including,  the date on
which the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.  The amount of
interest  payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of
a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The interest so payable,  and punctually
paid or duly  provided  for, on any Interest  Payment Date will,  as provided in
such  Indenture,  be paid to the Person in whose name this  Security  (or one or
more  Predecessor  Securities)  is  registered  at the close of  business on the
Regular  Record Date for such  interest,  which shall be the  Business  Day next
preceding such Interest  Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually  paid
or duly  provided for will  forthwith  cease to be payable to the Holder on such
Regular  Record  Date and may  either be paid to the  Person in whose  name this
Security (or one or more  Predecessor  Securities) is registered at the close of
business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted  Interest to
be fixed by the Trustee,  notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities
of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special  Record  Date,  or be
paid  at any  time  in  any  other  lawful  manner  not  inconsistent  with  the
requirements  of any securities  exchange on which the Securities of this series
may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange,  all as
more fully provided in the Indenture referred to herein.


<PAGE>




                  Payment of the principal of and interest on this Security will
be made at the office or agency of the Company  maintained  for that  purpose in
St. Louis, Missouri, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as
at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

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

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

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this instrument to
be duly executed.

                                        UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY



                                        By: ___________________________________


ATTEST:


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

                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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


                                        BOATMEN'S TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee


                                        By: ____________________________________
                                                    Authorized Signatory

ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION
Identification No. 5968



                                       -2-

<PAGE>



                  This Security is one of a duly authorized  issue of securities
of the Company (herein called the  "Securities")  issued and to be issued in one
or more series under an  Indenture,  dated as of December  __, 1996,  as amended
(herein called the "Indenture," which term shall have the meaning assigned to it
in such instrument), between the Company and Boatmen's Trust Company, as Trustee
(herein called the Trustee,  which term includes any successor trustee under the
Indenture),  and reference is hereby made to the Indenture,  including the Board
Resolutions  filed with the Trustee on December  __,  1996  creating  the series
designated  on the  face  hereof,  for a  statement  of the  respective  rights,
limitations  of rights,  duties and  immunities  thereunder of the Company,  the
Trustee  and the  Holders  of the  Securities  and of the terms  upon  which the
Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one
of the series  designated  on the face hereof,  limited in  aggregate  principal
amount to $___,000,000.

                  The  Securities  of this series are not subject to  redemption
prior to  December  __,  2006;  thereafter,  the  Securities  of this series are
subject  to  redemption  upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'  notice by
mail,  at any time on or after  December __, 2006 as a whole or in part,  at the
election  of the  Company,  at the  following  Redemption  Prices  (in each case
expressed in percentages of principal amount):


 If Redeemed During 12 Month Period                           Redemption
      Beginning December   ,                                    Price

         2006...........................                          %

         2007...........................

         2008...........................

         2009...........................

         2010...........................

         2011...........................

         2012...........................

         2013...........................

         2014...........................

         2015...........................

   2016 and thereafter...................                          100%

together in the case of any such  redemption  with accrued  interest to, but not
including,  the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity
is on or prior to such  Redemption  Date will be  payable  to the Holder of such
Security,  or one or more  Predecessor  Securities,  of  record  at the close of
business on the related Regular Record Date referred to on the face hereof,  all
as provided in the Indenture.

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


                                       -3-

<PAGE>




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

                  The Indenture  contains  provisions for defeasance at any time
of the  entire  indebtedness  of this  Security  upon  compliance  with  certain
conditions set forth in the Indenture.

                  If an Event of  Default  with  respect to  Securities  of this
series shall occur and be  continuing,  the principal of the  Securities of this
series  may be  declared  due and  payable  in the  manner  and with the  effect
provided in the Indenture.

                  The  Indenture  permits,  with certain  exceptions  as therein
provided,  the  amendment  thereof  and  the  modification  of  the  rights  and
obligations  of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the  Securities  of
each series to be affected  under the  Indenture  at any time by the Company and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the  Securities  at the time  Outstanding  of each  series to be  affected.  The
Indenture  also  contains   provisions   permitting  the  Holders  of  specified
percentages  in principal  amount of the  Securities  of each series at the time
Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive
compliance  by the Company with certain  provisions of the Indenture and certain
past defaults  under the Indenture and their  consequences.  Any such consent or
waiver by the Holder of this Security  shall be conclusive and binding upon such
Holder and upon all future  Holders of this Security and of any Security  issued
upon the  registration  of  transfer  hereof or in  exchange  herefor or in lieu
hereof,  whether  or not  notation  of such  consent or waiver is made upon this
Security.

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


                                       -4-

<PAGE>




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

                  The Company  shall have the right at any time and from time to
time during the term of the  Securities  of this  series to extend the  interest
payment period to a period not exceeding 10 consecutive  semi-annual periods (an
"Extended  Interest Payment  Period"),  and at the end of such Extended Interest
Payment  Period,  the Company  shall pay all  interest  then  accrued and unpaid
(together with interest thereon at the same rate as specified for the Securities
of this series to the extent  permitted by applicable  law) through the last day
of such Extended  Interest  Payment Period provided that if any principal amount
of this Security is paid on such day,  then not including  interest for such day
with  respect to such  principal  amount;  provided,  however,  that during such
Extended  Interest  Payment  Period  the  Company  shall not  declare or pay any
dividend on, or redeem,  purchase,  acquire or make a  liquidation  payment with
respect to, any of its capital stock or make any guarantee payments with respect
to the foregoing. Prior to the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment
Period,  the Company may further extend the interest  payment  period,  provided
that such Extended Interest Payment Period,  together with all such previous and
further extensions thereof, may not exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods or
extend beyond the Stated  Maturity of the  Securities  of this series.  Upon the
termination of any such Extended  Interest Payment Period and the payment of all
amounts then due, the Company may select a new Extended Interest Payment Period,
subject to the above  requirements.  No  interest  during an  Extended  Interest
Payment Period, except at the end thereof, shall be due and payable. The Company
shall give the Holder of this Security  notice of its selection of such Extended
Interest Payment Period as provided in the Indenture.

                  The  Securities of this series are issuable only in registered
form  without  coupons  in  denominations  of $1,000 and any  integral  multiple
thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth,  Securities  of this  series are  exchangeable  for a like  aggregate
principal  amount  of  Securities  of  this  series  and of  like  tenor  and of
authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

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

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

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




                                        -5-

<PAGE>



                                     LEGEND

                  [Unless and until this  Security is  exchanged  in whole or in
part  for  certificated  Securities  registered  in the  names  of  the  various
beneficial  holders  hereof as then  certified to the Trustee by The  Depository
Trust  Company or its  successor  (the  "Depositary"),  this Security may not be
transferred  except as a whole by the  Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary
or by a nominee of the  Depositary to the  Depositary or another  nominee of the
Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or
a nominee of such successor Depositary.

                  Unless  this   certificate   is  presented  by  an  authorized
representative of the Depositary to the Company or its agent for registration of
transfer,  exchange or payment,  and any certificates to be issued is registered
in the name of Cede & Co.,  or such other  name as  requested  by an  authorized
representative  of the  Depositary  and any amount  payable  thereunder  is made
payable to Cede & Co., or such other  name,  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.

                  This  Security may be exchanged  for  certificated  Securities
registered  in the  names of the  various  beneficial  owners  hereof if (a) the
Depositary is at any time  unwilling or unable to continue as  depositary  and a
successor  depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, or (b) the
Company  elects  to issue  certificated  Securities  to  beneficial  owners  (as
certified to the Company by the Depositary).]


                                       -6-

<PAGE>


                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.1





                                November 22, 1996



Union Electric Company
1901 Chouteau Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri  63103

Dear Sirs:

                  I refer to the  proposed  issue  and  sale by  Union  Electric
Company (herein called the "Company") of $310,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of First Mortgage Bonds (herein called the "Bonds") and Debt Securities  (herein
called the "Debt  Securities" and, together with the Bonds, the "Securities") in
one or more series at prices and on terms to be  determined at the time or times
of sale.

                  I understand  that the Company  proposes to issue and sell the
Securities  in  accordance   with  the  terms  and   provisions   set  forth  in
Post-Effective  Amendment No. 1 to the  Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (No.
33-66116),  being  filed  by  the  Company  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Registration Statement").

                  I advise you that, in my opinion:

         1.  The  Company is a corporate  duly  organized  and validly  existing
under the laws of the State of Missouri  and is legally  qualified to conduct in
Illinois the business in which it is now engaged in that state.

         2.  Each  series  of Bonds  are to be issued  under  the  Indenture  of
Mortgage  and Deed of Trust of the Company  dated June 15,  1937,  as amended by
supplemental  indentures dated May 1, 1941, April 1, 1971, February 1, 1974, and
July 7, 1980 (such  indenture as so amended being herein  called the  "Mortgage"
and being an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement),  and under a supplemental
indenture (herein called the "Supplemental Indenture"), a form of which has been
filed as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement.  The Mortgage has been duly
authorized,  executed and delivered and is a valid  instrument  legally  binding
upon  the  Company;  and  a  Supplemental  Indenture,  when  duly  executed  and
delivered, will be a valid instrument legally binding upon the Company.

         3.  Upon (a) the  approval  of the  terms of issue and sale of Bonds by
the Public Service Commission of Missouri and the


<PAGE>



Illinois  Commerce  Commission and the recordation upon the books of the Company
of the certificate of approval of the Missouri Commission,  (b) the Registration
Statement  becoming  effective  under the  Securities  Act of 1933 and the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, (c) the approval by the Board of Directors of the Company
of an increase in the bonded  indebtedness  of the Company,  (d) the approval by
the Board of Directors  of the Company of a  Supplemental  Indenture  and of the
issue and sale of Bonds in accordance with a duly executed  contract between the
Company and the underwriters,  (e) the execution of a Supplemental  Indenture by
the  Company  and by the  Trustee  under the  Mortgage,  acting by their  proper
officers,  respectively,  the  delivery  thereof  and the filing for record of a
Supplemental Indenture in the proper offices for recordation,  (f) the execution
of Bonds by the proper  officers of the Company  and  authentication  thereof in
accordance  with the  provisions of the Mortgage,  and (g) the delivery of Bonds
and full payment therefor in accordance with such authorizations of the Board of
Directors and of the above-mentioned Commissions,  Bonds will be duly authorized
and issued,  will  constitute  the legal,  valid and biding  obligations  of the
Company and will be entitled to the lien of, and the  benefits  provided by, the
Mortgage and indentures supplemental thereto.

         4.  Each  series  of the  Debt  Securities  are to be  issued  under an
Indenture  of the Company,  as  supplemented  by  resolutions  of the  Executive
Committee  of the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  (such  indenture,  as so
supplemented  being  herein  called  the  "Indenture"  and the  forms  of  which
indenture  and  resolutions  are being  filed as  exhibits  to the  Registration
Statement).  The Indenture has been duly  authorized and, when duly executed and
delivered, will be a valid instrument legally binding upon the Company.

         5.  Upon (a) the Registration  Statement  becoming  effective under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the Trust  Indenture Act of 1939, (b) the approval by
the Board of Directors of the Company,  or a duly authorized  committee thereof,
of the issue and sale of the Debt  Securities in accordance with a duly executed
contract  between the Company and the  underwriters,  (c) the  execution  of the
Indenture by the Company and the trustee  under the  Indenture,  acting by their
proper  officers,  and the  delivery  thereof,  (d) the  execution  of the  Debt
Securities by the proper officers of the Company and  authentication  thereof in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and (e) the delivery of the Debt
Securities and full payment therefor in accordance with such  authorizations  of
the Board of Directors of the Company,  or a duly authorized  committee thereof,
the Debt  Securities  will be duly  authorized and issued,  will  constitute the
legal, valid and binding  obligations of the Company and will be entitled to the
benefits provided by the Indenture.

                  The opinions  expressed herein are limited to matters governed
by the laws of the States of Missouri  and  Illinois and I express no opinion as
to the law of any other jurisdiction. In


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



rendering the opinion set forth in paragraphs (4) and (5), I have relied,  as to
matters  governed  by the  laws of the  State of New  York,  on the  opinion  of
Winthrop,  Stimson,  Putnam  &  Roberts  of even  date  herewith.  The  opinions
expressed  is  paragraphs  (2),  (3),  (4) and (5) are  subject  to  bankruptcy,
insolvency  ,  fraudulent  conveyance,  reorganization  and other  similar  laws
relating to or  affecting  creditors'  rights  generally  and general  equitable
principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                  I hereby  consent  to the use of a copy of this  opinion as an
exhibit to the  Registration  Statement and to the making of the statements with
respect to me under the  headings  "Description  of New  Bonds",  "Experts"  and
"Legal  Opinions"  in the  Prospectus  constituting  a part of the  Registration
Statement.

                                       Yours truly,

                                       /s/ William E. Jaudes


                                       -3-

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.2



                                November 22, 1996






Union Electric Company
1901 Chouteau Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63103



Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  In  connection  with the proposed  issuance by Union  Electric
Company (the "Company") of up to $310,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Debt
Securities (the "Debt Securities")  pursuant to an indenture between the Company
and Boatmen's Trust Company, as Trustee for the Debt Securities (as supplemented
from time to time, the "Indenture"),  we have reviewed Post-Effective  Amendment
No. 1 to the  Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (No.  33-6116),  including the
related  prospectus,   being  filed  under  the  Securities  Act  of  1933  (the
"Securities  Act")  with  respect  to the  Debt  Securities  (the  "Registration
Statement")  for issuance from time to time under Rule 415 under the  Securities
Act,  the form of  Indenture  filed as an  exhibit  thereto  and the  opinion of
William E. Jaudes,  Vice President and General Counsel of the Company,  filed as
an exhibit thereto.

                  The opinions  expressed herein are limited to matters governed
by the law of the State of New York and we  express  no opinion as to the law of
any other jurisdiction.

                  We concur with the opinions  expressed in  paragraphs  (4) and
(5) of the above-referenced opinion of Mr. Jaudes (subject to the qualifications
stated therein) insofar as they involve the laws of the State of New York.



<PAGE>


Union Electric Company                -2-                      November 22, 1996


                  Mr.  Jaudes may rely on this  opinion as to all matters of New
York law in rendering his  above-referenced  opinion.  We hereby  consent to the
filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement.  In giving
such  consent,  we do not thereby  admit that we are included in the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.


                                       Very truly yours,


                                       /s/ Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts




<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 8










                                November 22, 1996



Union Electric Company
1901 Chouteau Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63103


                  Re:      Subordinated Capital Income
                           Securities (Series A Subordinated
                           Deferrable Interest Debentures)


Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  As  special  tax  counsel  to  Union  Electric   Company  (the
"Company"),  we have  assisted  in the  preparation  of the  form of  prospectus
supplement (the "Prospectus  Supplement")  that is an exhibit to  post-effective
amendment No. 1 to the  registration  statement on Form S-3 (File No.  33-66116)
under the Securities  Act of 1933 (the "Act"),  as filed with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission on the date hereof,  covering the issuance of  Subordinated
Capital Income Securities (Series A Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures)
(the "Capital Securities") by the Company (the "Registration Statement"). Unless
otherwise defined herein, all terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in the Registration Statement.

                  We have  examined and relied upon the  Registration  Statement
(including  without  limitation  the  Company's  statements  in  the  Prospectus
Supplement to the effect that the likelihood of extension of an interest payment
period on the Capital  Securities  is remote) and the form of Indenture  between
the Company and Boatmen's Trust Company,  as Trustee,  as filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement.

                  Based on the foregoing and on our  consideration of such other
information  as we have deemed  necessary and  appropriate,  we hereby  confirm,
subject to the qualifications contained therein, our opinion as set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement under the caption "United States Taxation."


<PAGE>




                  We hereby  consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus
Supplement  under the heading "United States  Taxation." In giving such consent,
we do not thereby  admit that we are included in the  category of persons  whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.


                                    Very truly yours,



                                    /s/ Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts


<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 12


                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
                COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

                                                                12 Months
                            Year Ended December 31,               Ended
                                                               September 30,
                 1991      1992      1993      1994      1995      1996
                          (Thousands of Dollars Except Ratios)
Net income
for
the Period     $321,512  $302,748  $297,160  $320,757  $314,107  $316,294

Add:
Taxes Based
on income       218,954   197,009   182,716   203,827   207,734   210,972
Fixed Charges:
Interest
on Debt         163,061   125,798   124,430   135,608   129,239   128,828

Amortization
of Premium
and
Discount,
Less Expense
on Debt;
and Bond
Defeasance
Cost              4,148     9,521     5,170     5,504     5,502     4,731

Rentals
(See note)        1,171       908     1,314     1,299     3,330     3,303
Total
Fixed
Charges         168,380   136,227   130,914   142,411   138,071   136,862


Earnings
Available
for Fixed
Charges        $708,846  $635,984  $610,790  $666,995  $659,912  $664,128

Ratio
of
Earnings
to Fixed
Charges            4.21      4.66      4.66      4.68      4.78      4.85

(*) Total  annual  interest  charges  on all bonds for the twelve  months  ended
September 30, 1996 was $112,951,000.

Note: Represents the interest factor applicable to rentals.



<PAGE>



                                                                     EXHIBIT 23





                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS




         We hereby consent to the  incorporation  by reference in the Prospectus
         constituting   part  of  this   Post-Effective   Amendment   No.  1  to
         Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (No.  33-66116) of our report dated
         February 1, 1996, which appears on page 17 of Union Electric  Company's
         1995 Annual Report to Shareholders,  which is incorporated by reference
         in Union  Electric  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year
         ended  December  31,  1995.  We also  consent to the  incorporation  by
         reference  of our report on the  Financial  Statement  Schedule,  which
         appears on page 12 of such Annual  Report on Form 10-K. We also consent
         to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.


         /s/ Price Waterhouse LLP

         Price Waterhouse LLP
         St. Louis, Missouri
         November 22, 1996


<PAGE>


                                                                   EXHIBIT 25.2



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM T-1

FOR STATEMENTS OF ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATION
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE


                   BOATMEN'S TRUST COMPANY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

         Missouri                                              43-0497480

- ------------------------------                            ---------------------
(State of incorporation if not                            (I.R.S. Employer
a national bank)                                          Identification No.)

    510 Locust Street
    St. Louis, Missouri                                          63101

- --------------------------------                        -----------------------
(Address of Trustee's principal                                (Zip Code)
executive offices)


                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of Obligor as specified in its charter)


         MISSOURI                                          43-0559760

- -------------------------------                  ------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                         (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)

1901 Chouteau Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri                                        63103
- --------------------                                  ----------------
(Address of principal executive                          (Zip Code)
officers)

          Debt Securities
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Title of the Indenture securities)



<PAGE>



                                        1

                                     GENERAL


Item 1.  General information.

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a)  Name and address of each examining or supervising  authority to which it is
subject.

               Missouri State Finance Department
               Jefferson City, Missouri

               Auditor of Public Accounts
               Banking Department, Trust Division
               State of Illinois
               Springfield, Illinois

To determine  compliance  with the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended,
and regulations thereunder.

               Board of Governors
               Federal Reserve System
               Washington, D.C.

(b)  Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

                               Yes



Item 2.  Affiliations with Obligor and Underwriters.

If the  obligor  or any  underwriter  for the  obligor  is an  affiliate  of the
trustee, describe each such affiliation.

                               None



<PAGE>



                                        2



Item 16.  List of Exhibits.

List below all exhibits  filed as a part of this  statement of  eligibility  and
qualification.

         *Exhibit 1.  A copy of articles of  association  of the trustees as now
                      in effect.

         *Exhibit 2.  A copy of the  certificate of authority of the trustees to
                      commence business.

         *Exhibit 3.  A copy of the  authorization  of the  trustee to  exercise
                      corporate trust powers.

        **Exhibit 4.  A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.

          Exhibit 5.  Inapplicable.

         *Exhibit 6.  The consents of the trustee required by Section 321 (b) of
                      the Act.

          Exhibit 7.  A copy of the latest  report of  condition  of the trustee
                      published  pursuant to the law or the  requirements of its
                      supervising or examining authority.

  *Exhibits  1, 2, 3, and 6 above are  incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibits
T-1A(a),  T-1A(b),  T-1A(c), and T-1D,  respectively,  heretofore filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission  under its File No.  2-4751,  to which there
have been no subsequent  amendments or other  changes.  The  Commission has been
requested  by letter  dated May 10,  1966 to  classify  these  exhibits as basic
documents under Rule 24(b) of the SEC Rules of Practice.

 **Exhibit 4 above is incorporated by reference to Exhibit T-1B heretofore filed
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission under its File No. 2-23262 to which
there have been no subsequent amendments or other changes.



<PAGE>



                                        3


                                    SIGNATURE



  Pursuant to the  requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee,
BOATMEN'S TRUST COMPANY, a corporation  organized and existing under the laws of
Missouri,  has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized,  all in the
City of St. Louis, and State of Missouri, on the 22nd day of November, 1996.



                                  BOATMEN'S TRUST COMPANY
                                  TRUSTEE



                                  By: ________________________
                                      P. C. Qui Belle
                                      Assistant Treasurer



<PAGE>



STATE OF MISSOURI                                                        TR-100
                                                                         Page 1
DIVISION OF FINANCE
P.O. Box 716
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102

                                  TRUST COMPANY

                   CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION AND INCOME

Report at the close of business date:  September 30, 1996

   Boatmen's Trust Company
Legal Title of Trust Company

    St. Louis             N/A   , Missouri            18
      city                County                  Charter Number

OFFICERS' STATEMENT

We, the  undersigned  officers,  do hereby declare that this Report of Condition
and Income  (including  the  supporting  schedules)  are true to the best of our
knowledge and belief.

Signature of Officer                           Signature of Officer
Authorized to Sign Report                      Authorized to Sign Report

V. Raymond Stranghoener,                       Mary Jane Block,
Executive Vice President                       Executive Vice President

Typed or printed name and title                Typed or printed name and title

10-17-96                    314/466-3345                10-17-96
Date of Signature            (Area Code)               Date of Signature
                           Telephone Number

DIRECTORS' ATTEST

We, the  undersigned  directors,  attest to the  correctness  of this  Report of
Condition and Income  (including  supporting  schedules) and declare it has been
examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief is true and correct.

Signature of              Signature of              Signature of
Director                    Director                  Director

NOTARIZED

                State of Missouri City of St. Louis, ss:
(Notary Seal)   Sworn  to and  subscribed  before  me  this  17th  day of
                October, 1996.
                          Notary Public
                  My commission expires 4-3-98



<PAGE>



Boatmen's Trust Company                                                  TR-100
Legal Title of Trust Company                                             Page 2

                                  TRUST COMPANY
                        CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION

Report at the close of business:  September  30, 1996
Include the  institution's  subsidiaries.  All  schedules  are to be reported in
thousands  of  dollars.  Report  the amount  outstanding  on the last day of the
quarter.

SECTION A.  BALANCE SHEET                               thousands of dollars

ASSETS
1. Cash and balances due from depository institutions                  2,668
2. Securities
   a. Held-to-maturity securities
      (must equal Part 1, item 6)                                     17,364
   b. Available-for-sale securities
      (must equal Part 1, item 6)                                     64,851
3. Assets held in trading accounts                                      none
4. Premises and fixed assets                                          45,899
   (including capitalized leases)
5. Other Assets (describe amounts that
   exceed 25% of this item)                                          245,112
   a. Fed Funds Sold                                    154,725
   b. Accrued Trust Fees                                 25,907
   c.
6. Total Assets (sum of Items 1 through 5)                           375,894

LIABILITIES
7. Accounts Payable                                                       16
8. Taxes Payable                                                       2,775
9. Other liabilities for borrowed money                               25,438
10. Other liabilities (describe amounts that
    exceed 25% of this item)                                         174,737
    a. Customer Deposits                                162,455
    b.
    c.
11. Total Liabilities (sum of items 7 through 10)                    202,966

EQUITY CAPITAL
12. Preferred Stock                                                     none
13. Common Stock                                                       7,060
14. Surplus                                                           41,440
15. a. Undivided Profits                                             120,405
    b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on
       available-for-sale securities                                   4,023
16. Total Equity Capital (sum of items 12 through 15b)               172,928
17. Total Liabilities and Equity Capital
    (sum of items 11 and 16)                                         375,894



<PAGE>



                                                                         TR-100
                                                                         Page 3
                                  TRUST COMPANY
                        CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION
                                   thousands of dollars
PART 1-SECURITIES             Held-to-
(Exclude assets held in       maturity     Available-for-sale
trading accounts)
1. U.S. Treasury Securities       none            3,065
2. U.S. Government Agency and
   Corporate Obligations          none             none
3. Securities issued by states
   and political subdivisions
   in the U.S.                    none            1,728
4. Other bonds, notes and
   debentures                    17,010            none
5. Corporate Stock Inc. mutual
   fund var NAV of 16,091           354          60,058
6. Total (sum of items 1
   through 5) (Totals must equal
   Section A, items 2a and 2b)   17,364          64,851

MEMORANDUM (included in above items)
7. Mortgage derivative products
   and collateralized mortgage
   obligations                    none             none
8. Market value of held-to-
   maturity securities
   (item 6 above)                17,397

                                      thousands of dollars
                                                            Total
                     Preferred Common                      Equity
                       Stock   Stock                      Capital
                       (Par     (Par           Undivided    (Line
                      (Value)  Value) Surplus   Profits    Total)

PART 2-CHANGES IN
EQUITY CAPITAL
Utilize calendar
year-to-date figures.
Indicate decreases and
losses in parentheses.
1. Balance end of
   previous year         none    7,060   6,440    111,897    125,397
2. Net income (loss)
   (Must equal Section B,
   item 11)                                        25,978     25,978
3. Changes in net
   unrealized holding
   gains losses) on
   available-for-sale
   securities                                       2,474     2,474
4. Sale, conversion,



<PAGE>


   acquisition, or
   retirement of capital
5. Changes incident to
   business combinations
6. LESS: Cash dividends
   declared on preferred stock                    (15,921)  (15,921)
7. LESS: Cash dividends
   declared on common stock
8. Other increases
   (decreases) - itemize
   Capital infusion from
   parent company                                  35,000    35,000

9. Balance end of
   current period (Total
   equity capital must
   equal Section A,
   item 16)              none    7,060   41,440   124,428   172,928

PART 3-OFF-BALANCE SHEET ACTIVITIES          thousands of dollars
1. Securities borrowed or lent; Commitments
   to purchase or sell when-issued  securities;
   interest rate contracts  including (a)
   National  value of interest rate swaps,
   (b) Futures sod forward  contracts, (c)
   Option contracts; Other off-balance
   sheet liabilities                                 none



<PAGE>


                                                                     EXHIBIT 99
                                                                 DRAFT 11/22/96

This preliminary  Prospectus Supplement and the Information contained herein are
subject to completion or amendment and  prospective  purchasers  are referred to
the related final Prospectus Supplement for definitive information on any matter
contained herein. This preliminary Prospectus Supplement shall not constitute an
offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale
of these  securities in any  jurisdiction  in which such offer,  solicitation or
sale  would be  unlawful  prior  to  registration  or  qualification  under  the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

         PRELIMINARY, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED [__________] , 1996

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated [________], 1996)
                                  $[----------]

                             Union Electric Company
                                Series A SKIS(sm)
                 [_____]% Subordinated Capital Income Securities
             (Series A Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures)
                                 ---------------
     The [_____]%  Subordinated Capital Income Securities (Series A Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures) (the "Debentures") are unsecured debt securities
of Union  Electric  Company  (the  "Company")  which will mature on December 15,
2045. Interest on the Debentures is payable semiannually on June 15 and December
15  in  each  year,  commencing  June  15,  1997,  except  under   circumstances
described  herein during and under which  payment of interest on the  Debentures
may be deferred.  The  Debentures  will not be redeemable  prior to December __,
2006;  thereafter,  the  Debentures  will be  redeemable  at the  option  of the
Company,  in whole or in part, on or after  December __, 2006 at the  redemption
prices set forth herein together with accrued  interest to the redemption  date.
The Debentures  will be represented by a Global  Security that will be deposited
with,  or on  behalf  of,  The  Depository  Trust  Company  ("DTC")  and will be
available  for purchase in  denominations  of $1,000 and any  integral  multiple
thereof.  Each $1,000  principal amount of Debentures is referred to herein as a
"Debenture." See "Certain Terms of the Debentures."

     The  obligations of the Company under the Debentures  are  subordinate  and
junior  in  right  of  payment  to  Senior   Indebtedness  (as  defined  in  the
accompanying  Prospectus) of the Company. As of September 30, 1996,  outstanding
Senior  Indebtedness  of the  Company  aggregated  approximately  $1.8  billion.
                              --------------------
     See "Risk  Factors"  on page S-4 for  certain  information  relevant  to an
investment in the Debentures,  including the period and circumstances during and
under  which  payment of  interest on the  Debentures  may be  deferred  and the
related United States federal income tax consequences.
                              --------------------

  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
       EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
             COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
                   PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS TO
                     WHICH IT RELATES. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
                       THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
================================================================================
                           Price to          Underwriting           Proceeds to
                           Public(1)          Discount(2)            Company(3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Debenture........        100%               _____%                 _____%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................   $[___________]      $[_________]          $[___________]
================================================================================
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from the date of original issuance.
(2) The  Company  has  agreed  to  indemnify  the  Underwriter  against  certain
    liabilities,  including  liabilities  under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as
    amended.

(3) Before deducting estimated expenses of $60,000 payable by the Company.

                              --------------------
The Debentures are offered by the Underwriter,  as specified herein,  subject to
receipt  and  acceptance  by it and  subject to its right to reject any order in
whole or in part. It is expected that the Debentures  will be ready for delivery
in book-entry  only form through the facilities of DTC in New York, New York, on
or about December __, 1996,  against payment  therefor in immediately  available
funds.
                              --------------------
                                 LEHMAN BROTHERS
December __, 1996
- -----------------
SM Lehman Brothers Inc. has applied to register SKIS as a service mark.
<PAGE>



                              SELECTED INFORMATION

     The following material, which is presented herein solely to furnish limited
introductory  information  regarding  the  Company  and the  offering,  has been
selected  from or is based upon,  is qualified in its entirety by, and should be
read together with, the detailed  information and financial  statements included
and  incorporated  by  reference  into  this  Prospectus  Supplement  and in the
accompanying Prospectus.


                                  The Offering

Securities Offered......................  $[__________]    aggregate   principal
                                            amount of  Debentures  due  December
                                            15, 2045.

Interest Payment Dates..................  June 15 and  December 15 in each year,
                                            commencing  June  15, 1997,   except
                                            under circumstances described herein
                                            during  and under  which  payment of
                                            interest  on the  Debentures  may be
                                            deferred.

Redemption..............................  The Debentures  will not be redeemable
                                            prior   to   December    __,   2006;
                                            thereafter,   the   Debentures   are
                                            redeemable  at  the  option  of  the
                                            Company, in whole or in part, at any
                                            time on or after  December  __, 2006
                                            and prior to maturity  upon not less
                                            than  30  nor  more  than  60  days'
                                            notice at the redemption  prices set
                                            forth herein  together  with accrued
                                            interest to the redemption date.

Subordination...........................  The  obligations  of the Company under
                                            the Debentures are  subordinate  and
                                            junior in right of payment to Senior
                                            Indebtedness   (as  defined  in  the
                                            accompanying   Prospectus)   of  the
                                            Company.  As of September  30, 1996,
                                            outstanding  Senior  Indebtedness of
                                            the Company aggregated approximately
                                            $1.8 billion.


                             Union Electric Company


Business ...............................  Principally,      the      generation,
                                            transmission,  distribution and sale
                                            of electricity.

Service Area ...........................  Electric  service to an  approximately
                                            24,500  square  mile area  primarily
                                            covering  the  eastern  and  central
                                            portions of  Missouri,  and portions
                                            of Illinois  adjacent to St.  Louis,
                                            Missouri;  and  gas  service  to  90
                                            Missouri   communities   and  Alton,
                                            Illinois, and vicinity.

Service Area Population (estimated).....  Electric--2,600,000; Gas--360,000

Customers...............................  Electric--1,133,000; Gas--120,000

Revenue Distribution (12 months ended
 September 30, 1996)....................  Electric--95.7%; Gas--4.3%

Sources of Kwh Generation (12 months
 ended September 30, 1996) .............  Coal--68.1%; Nuclear--28.5%;
                                            Hydro--3.4%

Property and Plant, net (as of
 September 30, 1996)....................  $5.3 billion


                                       S-2

<PAGE>



Pending Merger..........................  As described  in   the    accompanying
                                            Prospectus,  the Company has entered
                                            into an Agreement and Plan of Merger
                                            pursuant  to which the  Company  and
                                            CIPSCO Incorporated  ("CIPSCO") will
                                            combine  to  form  a new  registered
                                            public   utility   holding   company
                                            subject to  satisfaction  of certain
                                            conditions.   Consummation   of  the
                                            merger will not affect the Company's
                                            obligations   with  respect  to  the
                                            Debentures      or     its     other
                                            indebtedness.   See  "Recent  Merger
                                            Developments."


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       Selected Financial Information
                                                           (Dollars in Thousands)
                                                                                       12 Months Ended
                              ---------------   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 September         December         December         December         December         December
                                    30,               31,              31,              31,              31,              31,
                                   1996              1995             1994             1993             1992             1991
                              ---------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------

Income Statement Data:
<S>                            <C>               <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>        
Operating Revenues             $ 2,247,625       $ 2,102,707      $ 2,056,116      $  2,066,004     $ 2,015,121      $ 2,096,940
Operating Income.......        $   433,281       $   441,896      $   450,186      $    411,297     $   412,017      $   482,813
Net Income.............        $   316,294       $   314,107      $   320,757      $    297,160     $   302,748      $   321,512
Ratios of Earnings to
Fixed Charges..........             4.85              4.78             4.68              4.66            4.66             4.21

</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                       As of September 30, 1996
                                                               -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Actual              Ratio              As              Ratio
                                                                ------------        -----------        --------        -----------
                                                                                                     Adjusted
                                                                                                     ----------
Balance Sheet Data:
<S>                                                             <C>                     <C>          <C>                 <C>
Long-term Debt (excluding current maturities)...............    $1,727,945              39.7%        $                        %
Preferred Stock Subject to Mandatory Redemption.............           624
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory
Redemption..................................................       218,497               5.0
Common Stock Equity.........................................     2,406,831              55.3
                                                                -----------         -----------      ----------          ------

     Total Capitalization...................................    $4,353,897             100.0%       $                    100.0%
                                                                ===========            =====        ===========          =====
Short-term Debt and Current Maturities of
  Long-term Debt............................................    $   76,490                          $
                                                                ===========                         ===========
</TABLE>



                                       S-3

<PAGE>



IN  CONNECTION  WITH THIS  OFFERING,  THE  UNDERWRITER  MAY  OVERALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE DEBENTURES AT A
LEVEL  ABOVE  THAT  WHICH  MIGHT  OTHERWISE  PREVAIL  IN THE OPEN  MARKET.  SUCH
STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.

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

                                  RISK FACTORS

        Prospective   purchasers  of  Debentures  should  carefully  review  the
information  contained  elsewhere  in  this  Prospectus  Supplement  and  in the
accompanying Prospectus and should particularly consider the following matters:

        Subordination of Debentures. The Debentures are unsecured obligations of
the  Company  and are  subordinate  and  junior  in right of  payment  to Senior
Indebtedness  of the Company.  As of  September  30,  1996,  outstanding  Senior
Indebtedness of the Company aggregated  approximately $1.8 billion. There are no
terms in the  Debentures  that limit the Company's  ability to incur  additional
indebtedness,  including  indebtedness  that ranks senior to the  Debentures.  A
default with respect to, or the acceleration  of, any other  indebtedness of the
Company will not constitute an Event of Default with respect to the  Debentures.
See  "Description of New Debt  Securities  -Subordination"  in the  accompanying
Prospectus.

        Option to Extend  Interest  Payment  Period.  The  Company has the right
under the  Indenture  at any time and from time to time  during  the term of the
Debentures,  so  long  as an  Event  of  Default  has  not  occurred  and is not
continuing,  to extend the interest  payment period to a period not exceeding 10
consecutive  semi-annual periods (an "Extension  Period").  Semi-annual interest
payments on the Debentures  would be deferred (but would continue to accrue with
interest  thereon at the same rate as specified for the Debentures to the extent
permitted by  applicable  law) during any such  Extension  Period.  Prior to the
termination  of any such  Extension  Period,  the Company may further extend the
interest payment period,  provided that such Extension Period, together with all
such  previous and further  extensions  thereof,  may not exceed 10  consecutive
semi-annual  periods or extend beyond the maturity of the  Debentures.  Upon the
termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the
Company may select a new Extension  Period,  subject to the above  requirements.
See  "Certain  Terms of the  Debentures  -- Option to  Extend  Interest  Payment
Period."

               If the Company exercises its right to extend the interest payment
period,  the Company may not, during any such Extension  Period,  declare or pay
any dividend on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with
respect to, any of its capital stock or make any guarantee payments with respect
to the  foregoing.  Therefore,  the  Company  believes  that the  likelihood  of
extension of an interest payment period on the Debentures is remote.

        Accruals of Interest  for United  States  Federal  Income Tax  Purposes.
Should the Company so defer payment of interest, holders of the Debentures (even
if they used the cash method of accounting  for United States federal income tax
purposes)  would be  required to accrue  income (in the form of  original  issue
discount) for United States federal income tax purposes even though interest was
not being paid on a current basis.  As a result,  such holders would be required
to include such  interest in gross income for United States  federal  income tax
purposes in advance of the receipt of cash,  and would not receive the cash from
the Company related to such income if such holders  disposed of their Debentures
prior to the record date for payment of interest. See "United States Taxation --
Stated Interest and Original Issue Discount."


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

        The net proceeds from the sale of the Debentures  will be used to redeem
the  outstanding  __________  shares of the Company's  Preferred  Stock,  $_____
Series of _____,  stated  value  $_____ per  share,  which are  redeemable  at a
redemption price of $_____ per share through [date].  Such redemption is subject
to the Company's closing the sale of the Debentures. Pending application to such
redemption,  the net proceeds will be utilized  temporarily to reduce short-term
bank  debt and to  repay  outstanding  commercial  paper  or for  other  general
corporate purposes.



                                       S-4

<PAGE>
                           RECENT MERGER DEVELOPMENTS

        On August 11, 1995,  the Company  entered into an Agreement  and Plan of
Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with CIPSCO and Ameren Corporation ("Ameren"), a
newly formed entity, 50% owned by the Company and 50% owned by CIPSCO,  pursuant
to which,  among other things, the Company and CIPSCO will be merged with Ameren
(the "Merger").

        On July 12, 1996, a joint  agreement was filed with the Missouri  Public
Service  Commission  (the "MPSC") that  recommends  approval of the Merger.  The
Company,  the MPSC staff,  the Office of the Public  Counsel,  several  customer
groups  and others  signed the  agreement.  Agreement  provisions  include a new
three-year  alternative regulation plan that would run from July 1, 1998 to June
30, 2001.  Like the current  alternative  regulation plan with the MPSC, the new
plan provides that  earnings  over a 12.61 percent  regulatory  return on equity
("ROE") up to a 14 percent ROE would be shared  equally  between  customers  and
shareholders.  The new three-year plan would also return to customers 90 percent
of all earnings above an ROE of 14 percent up to 16 percent. Earnings above a 16
percent ROE would be credited entirely to customers.  Other agreement provisions
include:  recovery over a 10-year period of the Missouri portion of an estimated
$71.5 million of  Merger-related  transaction  and transition  costs; a Missouri
electric   rate   decrease,   effective   September   1,  1998,   based  on  the
weather-adjusted   average  annual  credits  to  customers   under  the  current
alternative  regulation plan with the MPSC; and an experimental  retail wheeling
pilot program for 100 megawatts of electric  power to be filed by the Company no
later than March 1, 1997.  Also, as part of the agreement,  the Company will not
seek to recover in Missouri  the merger  premium.  The  exclusion  of the merger
premium  from rates would not result in a charge to earnings.  On September  25,
1996, the MPSC ordered that additional  information be filed in November 1996 in
connection with the Merger proceedings. The MPSC is expected to issue a decision
on the Merger in early 1997.

        On October 16,  1996,  the Federal  Energy  Regulatory  Commission  (the
"FERC") set the proposed  Merger for hearing.  The FERC  directed the  presiding
administrative  law judge in the case to issue an initial decision no later than
April 30, 1997.  The FERC is expected to issue a final decision on the Merger by
the end of 1997.

        On November 7, 1996,  the Hearing  Examiner  for the  Illinois  Commerce
Commission  (the "ICC") issued a proposed order in connection with the Company's
and CIPSCO's Merger  proceedings.  In the proposed order,  the Hearing  Examiner
recommended  that the Merger be  approved.  In  addition,  the Hearing  Examiner
recommended that a decision on the Company's and CIPSCO's  proposals for sharing
Merger savings be made after the Merger. The Company and CIPSCO will be required
to file a rate case or alternative regulation plan within one year after closing
of the Merger  whereby an  appropriate  sharing  of net Merger  savings  between
stockholders and customers will be determined at that time. The Hearing Examiner
also recommended that the Company's  proposed transfer of it's existing Illinois
electric and gas facilities to CIPSCO be denied,  but recommended that the joint
dispatch  agreement be  approved.  A final order from the ICC is expected by the
end of 1996.

        The  following  selected  unaudited  pro  forma  financial   information
reflects the effects of  combining  the Company and CIPSCO into Ameren under the
pooling of interests method of accounting.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)                                                          (Unaudited)

                                12 Months Ended                 1995              1994               1993
                              September 30, 1996

<S>                               <C>                        <C>               <C>                <C>
Total revenues                    $3,291,799                 $3,127,316        $3,146,101         $3,138,944

Net income                        $  376,393                 $  372,872        $  391,459         $  368,571

Earnings per share                   $2.74                      $2.72             $2.85              $2.69
</TABLE>

        The pro forma financial  information  consolidates the financial results
of Electric Energy Inc.  ("EEI"),  which effectively will be 60% owned by Ameren
subsequent to the Merger as a result of the current  ownership  interests in EEI
by the Company and CIPSCO.  Additional pro forma  information is included in the
documents  incorporated  by  reference  herein.  See  "Incorporation  of Certain
Information by Reference" in the accompanying Prospectus.

                                       S-5

<PAGE>
                         CERTAIN TERMS OF THE DEBENTURES

        The following  description of specific terms of the Debentures should be
read in conjunction  with the description of the general terms and provisions of
the New Debt  Securities  set  forth in the  accompanying  Prospectus  under the
caption  "Description of New Debt  Securities."  The following  summary does not
purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to the  provisions of, and
is  qualified  in  its  entirety  by  reference  to,  the   description  in  the
accompanying  Prospectus and the Indenture,  dated as of December __, 1996, from
the  Company  to  Boatmen's  Trust  Company,  as  Trustee  (the  "Trustee"),  as
supplemented  by  resolutions  of the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  (the
"Board")  passed on June 9, 1995 and  resolutions of the Executive  Committee of
the Board passed on December __, 1996. The  Indenture,  as so  supplemented,  is
hereinafter referred to in this Prospectus Supplement as the "Indenture."

Principal Amount, Interest and Maturity

        The Debentures will be issued as a series of Debt  Securities  under the
Indenture.  The  Debentures  will be limited in  aggregate  principal  amount to
$[___] million.

        The Debentures are to mature on December 15, 2045 and will bear interest
at the rate per  annum  shown in the  title  thereof  payable  semi-annually  in
arrears on June 15 and December 15 in each year,  commencing  June  15,  1997 to
the  persons  in whose  names  the  Debentures  are  registered  at the close of
business  on the  relevant  record  dates,  which will be the  Business  Day (as
hereinafter  defined)  immediately  preceding the relevant payment dates. For so
long as the  Debentures  are  registered in the name of DTC or its nominee,  the
principal and interest due on the  Debentures  will be payable by the Company or
its  agent to DTC for  payment  to its  Participants  (as  defined  herein)  for
subsequent  disbursement to Beneficial Owners (as defined herein). The amount of
interest  payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
of twelve 30-day months. Interest will accrue from the date of original issuance
or from the most recent  interest  payment date through which  interest has been
paid,  as the case may be.  In the  event  that  any date on which  interest  is
payable on the  Debentures  is not a Business  Day, then payment of the interest
payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business
Day (and  without any  interest or other  payment in respect of any such delay),
except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding  calendar year, such
payment shall be made on the  immediately  preceding  Business Day, in each case
with the same force and effect as if made on such date.  A "Business  Day" shall
mean any day other than a day on which banking institutions in New York City are
authorized or obligated by law to close.


Global Securities

        This  discussion  of DTC  and  its  book-entry  system  supplements  the
discussion of depositary arrangements in "Global Securities" in the accompanying
Prospectus.

        DTC will act as securities depositary for the Debentures. The Debentures
will  be  issued  in  fully-registered  form in the  name  of Cede & Co.  (DTC's
partnership nominee).  One or more fully-registered  Debenture certificates will
be issued as Global  Securities for the Debentures,  in the aggregate  principal
amount of the Debentures, and will be deposited with DTC.

        DTC is a  limited-purpose  trust  company  organized  under the New York
Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking
Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning  of the New  York  Uniform  Commercial  Code,  and a  "clearing  agency"
registered  pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. DTC holds securities that its participants ("Direct  Participants")
deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among Direct  Participants
of  securities  transactions,  such  as  transfers  and  pledges,  in  deposited
securities  through  electronic   computerized   book-entry  changes  in  Direct
Participants'  accounts,  thereby  eliminating the need for physical movement of
securities  certificates.  Direct  Participants  include  securities brokers and
dealers,  banks,  trust  companies,  clearing  corporations,  and certain  other
organizations.  DTC is owned by a number of its Direct  Participants  and by the
New York Stock  Exchange,  Inc.,  the American  Stock  Exchange,  Inc.,  and the
National  Association of Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  Access to the DTC system is
also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust
companies that clear through or maintain a custodial  relationship with a Direct
Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants" and together
with Direct Participants,  "Participants").  The Rules applicable to DTC and its
Participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        Purchases of Debentures  under the DTC system must be made by or through
Direct  Participants,  which will receive a credit for the  Debentures  on DTC's
records.   The  ownership  interest  of  each  actual  purchaser  of  Debentures
("Beneficial  Owner") is in turn to be  recorded on the  Participants'  records.
Beneficial  Owners  will  not  receive  written  confirmation  from DTC of their
purchase,  but Beneficial  Owners are expected to receive written  confirmations
providing  details of the transaction,  as well as periodic  statements of their
holdings,  from the Participant  through which the Beneficial Owner entered into
the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in

                                       S-6
<PAGE>
the  Debentures  are  to be  accomplished  by  entries  made  on  the  books  of
Participants  acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners.  Beneficial Owners will not
receive  certificates  representing  their  ownership  interests in  Debentures,
except in the event  that use of the  book-entry  system for the  Debentures  is
discontinued.

        To facilitate subsequent  transfers,  all Debentures deposited by Direct
Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC's  partnership  nominee,
Cede & Co. The deposit of Debentures with DTC and their registration in the name
of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership.  DTC has no knowledge of
the actual Beneficial  Owners of the Debentures;  DTC's records reflect only the
identity  of the Direct  Participants  to whose  accounts  such  Debentures  are
credited,  which may or may not be the Beneficial  Owners. The Participants will
remain  responsible  for  keeping  account of their  holdings on behalf of their
customers.

        Conveyance  of  notices  and  other  communications  by  DTC  to  Direct
Participants,   by  Direct  Participants  to  Indirect   Participants,   and  by
Participants to Beneficial  Owners will be governed by arrangements  among them,
subject to any  statutory or  regulatory  requirements  as may be in effect from
time to time.

        Neither  DTC nor  Cede & Co.  will  consent  or  vote  with  respect  to
Debentures.  Under its usual procedures,  DTC would mail an Omnibus Proxy to the
Company as soon as possible  after the record date.  The Omnibus  Proxy  assigns
Cede & Co.'s  consenting or voting rights to those Direct  Participants to whose
accounts the Debentures are credited on the record date (identified in a listing
attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

        Principal and interest  payments on the Debentures  will be made to DTC.
DTC's practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the payable date in
accordance with their respective  holdings shown on DTC's records unless DTC has
reason to believe that it will not receive payment on the payable date. Payments
by Participants to Beneficial  Owners will be governed by standing  instructions
and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers  in  bearer  form or  registered  in  "street  name,"  and will be the
responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC or the Company, subject to any
statutory  or  regulatory  requirements  as may be in effect  from time to time.
Payment of principal and interest to DTC is the  responsibility  of the Company,
disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants shall be the responsibility
of DTC, and disbursements of such payments to the Beneficial Owners shall be the
responsibility of Participants.

        DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect  to the  Debentures  at any  time by  giving  reasonable  notice  to the
Company.  Under such  circumstances,  in the event that a  successor  securities
depositary is not obtained,  Debenture  certificates  are required to be printed
and delivered.

        The Company may decide to  discontinue  use of the system of  book-entry
transfers  through DTC (or a successor  securities  depositary).  In that event,
Debenture certificates will be printed and delivered.

        The  information  in this section  concerning  DTC and DTC's  book-entry
system is based upon information obtained from DTC, and neither the Company, the
Underwriter nor the Trustee takes any responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

        Neither  the  Company,  the Trustee  nor the  Underwriter  will have any
responsibility  or obligation to Participants,  or the persons for whom they act
as nominees,  with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC, its nominee or
any Participant  with respect to any ownership  interest in the  Debentures,  or
payments to, or the providing of notice for, Participants or Beneficial Owners.

Redemption

        The  Debentures  will not be  redeemable  prior to  December  __,  2006.
Thereafter,  the Debentures will be redeemable at the option of the Company,  in
whole or in part,  at any time on or after  December  __, 2006 at the  following
redemption prices (in each case expressed in percentages of principal amount):


        If Redeemed During 12 Month Period                  Redemption
              Beginning December __,                           Price
              ----------------------                           -----

                      2006........................                  %

                      2007........................

                      2008........................

                      2009........................

                                       S-7
<PAGE>
                      2010........................

                      2011........................

                      2012........................

                      2013........................

                      2014........................

                      2015........................

                      2016 and thereafter.........               100%


in each case,  upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'  notice and together
with accrued interest to the redemption date.


Option to Extend Interest Payment Period

        The  Company  shall  have the  right  at any time and from  time to time
during the term of the  Debentures  to extend the interest  payment  period to a
period not exceeding 10 consecutive  semi-annual periods, and at the end of such
Extension  Period,  the Company  shall pay all interest  then accrued and unpaid
(together with interest thereon at the same rate as specified for the Debentures
to the extent permitted by applicable law); provided,  however,  that during any
such  Extension  Period the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend on, or
redeem, purchase,  acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
its capital stock or make any guarantee  payments with respect to the foregoing.
Prior to the termination of any such Extension  Period,  the Company may further
extend  the  interest  payment  period,  provided  that such  Extension  Period,
together with all such previous and further extensions  thereof,  may not exceed
10  consecutive  semi-annual  periods  or  extend  beyond  the  maturity  of the
Debentures.  Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all
amounts then due, the Company may select a new Extension Period,  subject to the
above  requirements.  No interest during an Extension Period,  except at the end
thereof,  shall be due and  payable.  The Company  shall give the holders of the
Debentures  notice of its selection of such  Extension  Period ten Business Days
prior to the earlier of (i) the next interest payment date and (ii) the date the
Company  is  required  to give  notice to  holders  of the  Debentures  (or,  if
applicable,  to the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable  self-regulatory
organization) of the record or payment date of such interest payment, but in any
event not less than two Business Days prior to such record date.

Subordination

        The  obligations of the Company under the Debentures are subordinate and
junior in right of payment to Senior  Indebtedness  of the Company in accordance
with the provisions  described in the accompanying  Prospectus under the caption
"Description of New Debt Securities -- Subordination." As of September 30, 1996,
outstanding  Senior  Indebtedness of the Company  aggregated  approximately $1.8
billion.

Paying Agent and Registrar

        Initially,  the Company will act as Paying Agent and  Registrar  for the
Debentures.


                             UNITED STATES TAXATION

               The  following  summary  describes  the  principal  United States
federal income tax  consequences  of the purchase,  ownership and disposition of
Debentures.  This summary only  addresses  Debentures  held as capital assets by
United States Holders (defined below) that acquire  Debentures on their original
issue  at their  original  offering  price,  and  does  not  deal  with  special
situations,  such as those of dealers in  securities  or  currencies,  financial
institutions,  insurance companies,  tax-exempt  organizations,  persons holding
Debentures  as part of a hedging or  conversion  transaction  or a  straddle  or
United States Holders whose  "functional  currency" is not the U.S.  dollar.  As
used herein,  a "United  States  Holder" means a beneficial  owner of Debentures
that is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation or partnership
organized in or under the laws of the United  States,  any state  thereof or the
District  of  Columbia,  or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to
United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.

                                       S-8

<PAGE>
               The  statements  of law or  legal  conclusion  set  forth in this
summary constitute the opinion of Winthrop,  Stimson, Putnam & Roberts,  special
tax counsel to the Company. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and regulations,  rulings,  pronouncements and
judicial decisions thereunder as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to
change. Any such change,  which may be retroactive,  may cause the United States
federal income tax  consequences  to vary  substantially  from the  consequences
described  below.  An opinion of counsel is not binding on the Internal  Revenue
Service  ("IRS") or the courts,  and the  authorities  on which this  summary is
based are subject to various  interpretations.  It is, therefore,  possible that
the United States  federal  income tax treatment of the purchase,  ownership and
disposition of Debentures may differ from the treatment described below.

               PROSPECTIVE  INVESTORS  ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN TAX
ADVISORS IN LIGHT OF THEIR OWN PARTICULAR  CIRCUMSTANCES AS TO THE UNITED STATES
FEDERAL INCOME TAX  CONSEQUENCES  OF THE PURCHASE,  OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF
DEBENTURES, AS WELL AS THE EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS.

Stated Interest and Original Issue Discount

               Under new Treasury  Regulations  applicable  to debt  instruments
issued  on or after  August  13,  1996,  generally,  stated  interest  on a debt
instrument  will  give  rise to  original  issue  discount  ("OID")  unless  the
likelihood of late payment or nonpayment  is a "remote  contingency."  Under the
Indenture,  the  Company  has the right to defer the  payment of interest on the
Debentures  at any  time or from  time to time  for a period  not  exceeding  10
consecutive  semi-annual periods with respect to each Extension Period, provided
that no Extension  Period may extend beyond the maturity of the Debentures.  The
Company  believes  that the  likelihood  of it  exercising  its  option to defer
payments of interest is remote because  exercising the option would, among other
things,  prevent the Company  from  declaring  dividends  on its capital  stock.
Accordingly,  the Company  believes that the Debentures  should be considered as
issued without OID and, therefore, except as set forth below, stated interest on
Debentures  will  generally  be taxable to a United  States  Holder as  ordinary
income at the time it is paid or accrued in  accordance  with the United  States
Holder's method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes.

               Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  should the Company  exercise its
right to defer  payments  of  interest,  the  Debentures  would at that  time be
treated as having been reissued with OID.  Consequently,  United States  Holders
(even if they used the cash  method of  accounting  for  United  States  federal
income tax  purposes)  would be required to include OID in income on an economic
accrual basis for as long as the Debentures remained outstanding,  including any
Extension Periods. The amount of OID that would accrue in any semi-annual period
would   approximately  equal  the  amount  of  interest  that  accrues  in  that
semi-annual  period at the stated  interest  rate. A United  States  Holder that
disposed  of  Debentures  before the  record  date for the  payment of  interest
following  an  Extension  Period  would  include  interest in gross income as it
accrued on the  Debentures but would not receive any interest  payments  related
thereto from the Company.

Sale or Redemption of Debentures

               Gain or loss will be  recognized  by a United  States Holder on a
sale of Debentures (including a redemption) in an amount equal to the difference
between the amount  realized  (which,  for this  purpose,  will exclude  amounts
attributable to accrued  interest not previously  included in income as interest
or OID) and the United States Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Debentures sold
or redeemed.  The tax basis of a United States Holder in its Debentures would be
increased by any OID included in income and decreased by any subsequent payments
of  interest.  A United  States  Holder that  disposed of  Debentures  during an
Extension  Period may  recognize a capital  loss because the market value of the
Debentures may not fully reflect  interest  accrued as OID during such Extension
Period. Gain or loss recognized by a United States Holder on Debentures held for
more than one year will generally be taxable as long-term capital gain or loss.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

               The amount of interest paid or OID accrued, if any, on Debentures
held of record by United  States  Holders  (other  than  corporations  and other
exempt  holders) will be reported  annually to the IRS. It is  anticipated  that
such  interest or OID will be reported to holders on Form 1099 and  delivered by
January 31 following each calendar year.

               "Backup  withholding"  at a rate of 31% will apply to payments of
interest to non-exempt  United States  Holders  unless the holder  furnishes its
taxpayer  identification  number in the manner prescribed in applicable Treasury
Regulations,  certifies that such number is correct,  certifies as to no loss of
exemption from backup withholding and meets certain other conditions.

                                       S-9
<PAGE>
               Payment of the proceeds from the  disposition of Debentures to or
through the United States office of a broker is subject to information reporting
and backup  withholding  unless the holder or beneficial  owner  establishes  an
exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.

               Any amounts withheld under the backup  withholding  rules will be
allowed as a refund or a credit  against  the  holder's  United  States  federal
income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.


                                  UNDERWRITING

        The  Underwriter  has agreed to  purchase  and the Company has agreed to
sell to the Underwriter the Debentures. The Underwriting Agreement provides that
the obligation of the  Underwriter is subject to certain  conditions  precedent,
and that the Underwriter  will be obligated to purchase all of the Debentures if
any are purchased.

        The  Company  has been  advised by the  Underwriter  that it proposes to
offer the Debentures to the public initially at the price to public set forth on
the cover page of this  Prospectus  Supplement  and to  certain  dealers at such
price less a concession not in excess of [____]% of the principal  amount of the
Debentures;  that the Underwriter and such dealers may reallow a discount not in
excess of [____]% of the principal  amount of the Debentures on sales to certain
other dealers;  and that after the initial public offering,  the price to public
and concession and discount to dealers may be changed by the Underwriter.

        The Debentures are a new issue of securities with no established trading
market.  The Company does not intend to apply for listing of the Debentures on a
national  securities  exchange,  but has been advised by the Underwriter that it
presently intends to make a market in the Debentures, as permitted by applicable
laws and  regulations.  The  Underwriter  is not obligated,  however,  to make a
market in the Debentures and any such market making may be  discontinued  at any
time at the sole discretion of the Underwriter. Accordingly, no assurance can be
given as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, the Debentures.

        The Company has agreed to  indemnify  the  Underwriter  against  certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


                                  LEGAL MATTERS

        Statements as to United States  taxation in this  Prospectus  Supplement
under the caption "United States Taxation" have been passed upon for the Company
by  Winthrop,  Stimson,  Putnam & Roberts,  acting as special tax counsel to the
Company, and are stated herein on their authority as experts.  Such firm is also
acting  as  counsel  to the  Underwriter  in  connection  with the  offering  of
Debentures.



                                      S-10

<PAGE>


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

        No dealer,  salesperson or other  individual has been authorized to give
any information or to make any representations other than those contained in the
Prospectus or this  Prospectus  Supplement in connection  with the offer made by
the  Prospectus  and this  Prospectus  Supplement  and,  if given or made,  such
information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Company or the Underwriter. The Prospectus and this Prospectus Supplement
do not  constitute an offer or  solicitation  by anyone in any  jurisdiction  in
which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making
such offer or  solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is
unlawful  to make  such  offer or  solicitation.  Neither  the  delivery  of the
Prospectus or this Prospectus Supplement nor any sale made hereunder shall under
any  circumstances  create an  implication  that there has been no change in the
affairs of the Company since the date hereof.


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


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                          Page
                                                                          ----

                              Prospectus Supplement

Selected Information...................................................   S-2
Risk Factors...........................................................   S-4
Use of Proceeds........................................................   S-4
Recent Merger Developments.............................................   S-5
Certain Terms of the Debentures........................................   S-6
United States Taxation.................................................   S-9
Underwriting...........................................................   S-11
Legal Matters..........................................................

                                   Prospectus

Available Information..................................................    2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference........................    2
The Company............................................................    3
Use of Proceeds........................................................    3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.....................................    3
Description of New Bonds...............................................    3
Description of New Debt Securities.....................................    7
Global Securities......................................................   14
Experts................................................................   14
Legal Opinions.........................................................   15
Plan of Distribution...................................................   15

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


<PAGE>



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

                               $[_______________]

                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY


                                Series A SKISsm
                             [_____]% Subordinated
                           Capital Income Securities
                       (Series A Subordinated Deferrable
                              Interest Debentures)


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

                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
                               December __, 1996

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



                                LEHMAN BROTHERS


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


<PAGE>


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