J H HEAFNER CO INC
8-K, 1998-12-15
MOTOR VEHICLE SUPPLIES & NEW PARTS
Previous: UNITED RENTALS INC /DE, 8-K, 1998-12-15
Next: INFOSPACE COM INC, S-1/A, 1998-12-15



<PAGE>   1


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                 Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 8, 1998




                         The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


North Carolina                      0001068152                  56-0754594
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission                 (IRS Employer 
of incorporation)                  File Number)             Identification No.)


2105 Water Ridge Parkway, Suite 500, Charlotte, North Carolina        28217
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                            (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code (704) 423-8989




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



<PAGE>   2


Item 5. Other Events

On December 8, 1998, The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc. (the "Company") completed
its offering of $50 million in aggregate principal amount of 10% Series C Senior
Notes Due 2008 (the "Notes"). The Notes were issued and sold in accordance with
Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 144A and have not been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be
offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Securities
Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereof.

The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company ranking pari passu in
right of payment with all other existing and future senior indebtedness of the
Issuer and senior in right of payment to any existing and future subordinated
indebtedness of the Issuer.

The Notes will mature on May 15, 2008. Interest on the Notes will be payable
semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing May 15, 1999.
The Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part,
at any time after May 15 of 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 at 105%, 103.333%,
101.667% and 100% of the principal amount thereof, respectively, in each case
plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of the redemption. In addition,
prior to the earlier of May 15, 2001 and the closing of a registered exchange
offer for the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (included
herein), the Company may redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal
amount of the Notes at a redemption price of 110% of the principal amount
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, with the
proceeds of certain public equity offerings, provided that at least 65% of the
original aggregate principal amount of the Notes remains outstanding immediately
after such redemption. Following the closing of such a registered exchange offer
and prior to May 15, 2001, up to $52.5 million of the original aggregate
principal amount of the Notes, less the maximum aggregate principal amount of
the Company's previously-issued 10% Senior Notes Due 2008 (the "Existing Notes")
permitted to be redeemed under the indenture governing the Existing notes, may
be redeemed at such redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest,
provided that at least $97.5 million in total original aggregate principal
amount of Notes and Existing Notes remains outstanding. Upon the occurrence of
certain change of control events, the Company will be required to make an offer
to purchase the Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase.

The net proceeds of the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, legal
and accounting fees and other out-of-pocket expenses payable by the Company,
were approximately $49.0 million. The Issuer applied the net proceeds to repay
certain amounts outstanding under the Company's credit facility. The Notes were
sold to certain "qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A under
the Securities Act) through BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. and Credit Suisse
First Boston Corporation as Initial Purchasers.

The Issuer has agreed to file an exchange offer registration statement or, under
certain circumstances, a shelf registration statement pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement. In the event the Company fails to comply with
certain of its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, additional
cash interest will be payable on the Notes.

The Issuer does not intend to apply for listing of the Notes on any securities
exchange or for inclusion of the Notes in any automated quotation system. The
Notes will be eligible for trading in The PORTAL Market, a subsidiary of The
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.


<PAGE>   3


Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

         (c) Exhibits

             Exhibit 4.1   Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1998 among The
                           J.H. Heafner Company, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors
                           named therein and First Union National Bank, as
                           trustee

             Exhibit 4.2   Form of 10% Senior Note Due 2008, Series C (attached
                           as Exhibit 1 to the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix
                           to the Indenture)

             Exhibit 10.1  Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 1,
                           1998, among The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc.,
                           BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. and Credit Suisse
                           First Boston Corporation



<PAGE>   4


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Date: December 15, 1998              The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc.

                                     By:  /s/  Donald C. Roof
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Donald C. Roof
                                          SVP - Finance
                                          Chief Financial Officer




<PAGE>   5


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Number    Exhibit Name                                                 
- ------    ------------                                                 

  4.1     Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1998 among The J.H. Heafner
          Company, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein and
          First Union National Bank, as trustee
         
  4.2     Form of 10% Senior Note Due 2008, Series C (attached as
          Exhibit 1 to the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix to the
          Indenture)
         
  10.1    Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 1, 1998, among
          The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc., BancBoston Robertson Stephens
          Inc. and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation



<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 4.1

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


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








                         THE J.H. HEAFNER COMPANY, INC.
                                     Issuer


                       Series C 10% Senior Notes Due 2008


                                       the

                              Subsidiary Guarantors


                                  named herein


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

                                    INDENTURE


                          Dated as of December 1, 1998


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



                            FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK

                                     Trustee






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


<PAGE>   2

                             CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

       TIA                                             Indenture
     Section                                            Section 
     -------                                           ---------

     310(a)(1)      ..............................     7.10
        (a)(2)      ..............................     7.10
        (a)(3)      ..............................     N.A.
        (a)(4)      ..............................     N.A.
        (b)         ..............................     7.08; 7.10
        (c)         ..............................     N.A.
     311(a)         ..............................     7.11
        (b)         ..............................     7.11
        (c)         ..............................     N.A.
     312(a)         ..............................     2.05
        (b)         ..............................     11.03
        (c)         ..............................     11.03
     313(a)         ..............................     7.06
        (b)(1)      ..............................     N.A.
        (b)(2)      ..............................     7.06
        (c)         ..............................     11.02
        (d)         ..............................     7.06
     314(a)         ..............................     4.02; 
                                                       4.13; 11.02
        (b)         ..............................     N.A.
        (c)(1)      ..............................     11.04
        (c)(2)      ..............................     11.04
        (c)(3)      ..............................     N.A.
        (d)         ..............................     N.A.
        (e)         ..............................     11.05
        (f)         ..............................     4.13
     315(a)         ..............................     7.01
        (b)         ..............................     7.05; 11.02
        (c)         ..............................     7.01
        (d)         ..............................     7.01
        (e)         ..............................     6.11
     316(a)(last sentence) .......................     11.06 
        (a)(1)(A)   ..............................     6.05
        (a)(1)(B)   ..............................     6.04
        (a)(2)      ..............................     N.A.
        (b)         ..............................     6.07
     317(a)(1)      ..............................     6.08
        (a)(2)      ..............................     6.09
        (b)         ..............................     2.04
     318(a)         ..............................     11.01

                           N.A. means Not Applicable.


     ---------------
     Note:  This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any
     purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.

<PAGE>   3


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                   ARTICLE 1                 Page
                                                             ----

                   Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

     SECTION 1.01.  Definitions ............................   1
     SECTION 1.02.  Other Definitions ......................  25
     SECTION 1.03.  Incorporation by Reference of Trust
                      Indenture Act ........................  26
     SECTION 1.04.  Rules of Construction ..................  26


                                   ARTICLE 2

                                 The Securities

     SECTION 2.01.  Form and Dating ........................  27
     SECTION 2.02.  Execution and Authentication ...........  27
     SECTION 2.03.  Registrar and Paying Agent .............  28
     SECTION 2.04.  Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust.....  29
     SECTION 2.05.  Securityholder Lists ...................  29
     SECTION 2.06.  Replacement Securities .................  29
     SECTION 2.07.  Outstanding Securities .................  30
     SECTION 2.08.  Temporary Securities ...................  30
     SECTION 2.09.  Cancellation ...........................  30
     SECTION 2.10.  Defaulted Interest .....................  31
     SECTION 2.11.  CUSIP Numbers ..........................  31


                                   ARTICLE 3

                                   Redemption

     SECTION 3.01.  Notices to Trustee .....................  31
     SECTION 3.02.  Selection of Securities To Be 
                      Redeemed .............................  31
     SECTION 3.03.  Notice of Redemption ...................  32
     SECTION 3.04.  Effect of Notice of Redemption .........  33
     SECTION 3.05.  Deposit of Redemption Price ............  33
     SECTION 3.06.  Securities Redeemed in Part ............  33


                                   ARTICLE 4

                                   Covenants

     SECTION 4.01.  Payment of Securities ..................  33
     SECTION 4.02.  SEC Reports ............................  34
     SECTION 4.03.  Limitation on Indebtedness .............  36
     SECTION 4.04.  Limitation on Restricted Payments ......  39
     SECTION 4.05.  Limitation on Restrictions on


<PAGE>   4

                      Distributions from Subsidiaries ......  41
     SECTION 4.06.  Limitation on Sales of Assets and
                      Subsidiary Stock .....................  41
     SECTION 4.07.  Limitation on Affiliate Transactions ...  44
     SECTION 4.08.  Limitation on the Sale or Issuance
                      of Capital Stock of Restricted
                      Subsidiaries .........................  45
     SECTION 4.09.  Change of Control ......................  46
     SECTION 4.10.  Limitation on Liens ....................  48
     SECTION 4.11.  Limitation on Sale/Leaseback 
                      Transactions .........................  48
     SECTION 4.12.  Future Guarantors ......................  48
     SECTION 4.13.  Compliance Certificate .................  48
     SECTION 4.14.  Further Instruments and Acts ...........  49


                                   ARTICLE 5

                               Successor Company

     SECTION 5.01.  When Company May Merge or Transfer
                      Assets ...............................  49


                                   ARTICLE 6

                             Defaults and Remedies

     SECTION 6.01.  Events of Default ......................  51
     SECTION 6.02.  Acceleration ...........................  53
     SECTION 6.03.  Other Remedies .........................  54
     SECTION 6.04.  Waiver of Past Defaults ................  54
     SECTION 6.05.  Control by Majority ....................  54
     SECTION 6.06.  Limitation on Suits ....................  55
     SECTION 6.07.  Rights of Holders To Receive Payment ...  55
     SECTION 6.08.  Collection Suit by Trustee .............  55
     SECTION 6.09.  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .......  56
     SECTION 6.10.  Priorities .............................  56
     SECTION 6.11.  Undertaking for Costs ..................  56
     SECTION 6.12.  Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws .......  57


                                   ARTICLE 7

                                    Trustee

     SECTION 7.01.  Duties of Trustee ......................  57
     SECTION 7.02.  Rights of Trustee ......................  58
     SECTION 7.03.  Individual Rights of Trustee ...........  59
     SECTION 7.04.  Trustee's Disclaimer ...................  59
     SECTION 7.05.  Notice of Defaults .....................  59
     SECTION 7.06.  Reports by Trustee to Holders ..........  59


<PAGE>   5

     SECTION 7.07.  Compensation and Indemnity .............  60
     SECTION 7.08.  Replacement of Trustee .................  61
     SECTION 7.09.  Successor Trustee by Merger ............  62
     SECTION 7.10.  Eligibility; Disqualification ..........  62
     SECTION 7.11.  Preferential Collection of Claims 
                      Against Company ......................  62


                                   ARTICLE 8

                       Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance

     SECTION 8.01.  Discharge of Liability on Securities;
                      Defeasance ...........................  63
     SECTION 8.02.  Conditions to Defeasance ...............  64
     SECTION 8.03.  Application of Trust Money .............  65
     SECTION 8.04.  Repayment to Company ...................  65
     SECTION 8.05.  Indemnity for Government 
                      Obligations ..........................  66
     SECTION 8.06.  Reinstatement ..........................  66


                                    ARTICLE 9

                                   Amendments

     SECTION 9.01.  Without Consent of Holders .............  66
     SECTION 9.02.  With Consent of Holders ................  67
     SECTION 9.03.  Compliance with Trust Indenture ........  68
     SECTION 9.04.  Revocation and Effect of Consents
                      and Waivers ..........................  68
     SECTION 9.05.  Notation on or Exchange of 
                      Securities ...........................  69
     SECTION 9.06.  Trustee To Sign Amendments .............  69
     SECTION 9.07.  Payment for Consent ....................  69
     SECTION 9.08.  Single Class of Securities..............  70


                                   ARTICLE 10

                             Subsidiary Guaranties

     SECTION 10.01.  Guaranties ............................  69
     SECTION 10.02.  Limitation on Liability................  71
     SECTION 10.03.  Successors and Assigns ................  72
     SECTION 10.04.  No Waiver..............................  72
     SECTION 10.05.  Modification ..........................  72
     SECTION 10.06.  Release of Subsidiary Guarantor........  72



<PAGE>   6

                                   ARTICLE 11

                                 Miscellaneous

     SECTION 11.01.  Trust Indenture Act Controls ...........  73
     SECTION 11.02.  Notices.................................  73
     SECTION 11.03.  Communication by Holders with Other
                       Holders...............................  74
     SECTION 11.04.  Certificate and Opinion as to 
                       Conditions Precedent .................  74
     SECTION 11.05.  Statements Required in Certificates
                       or Opinion ...........................  74
     SECTION 11.06.  When Securities Disregarded.............  74
     SECTION 11.07.  Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent
                       and Registrar.........................  75
     SECTION 11.08.  Legal Holidays .........................  75
     SECTION 11.09.  Governing Law...........................  75
     SECTION 11.10.  No Recourse Against Others .............  75
     SECTION 11.11.  Successors .............................  75
     SECTION 11.12.  Multiple Originals .....................  75
     SECTION 11.13.  Table of Contents; Headings.............  76

     Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix
     Exhibit 1 - Form of Initial Security
     Exhibit A - Form of Exchange Security

<PAGE>   7


       INDENTURE dated as of December 1, 1998, among THE J.H. HEAFNER COMPANY,
INC., a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), OLIVER & WINSTON, INC., a
California corporation, ITCO LOGISTICS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation,
PHOENIX RACING INC., a California corporation, THE SPEED MERCHANT, INC., a
California corporation (collectively, the "Subsidiary Guarantors"), and FIRST
UNION NATIONAL BANK, a national banking association, as trustee (the "Trustee").


       Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for
the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Company's Series C 10%
Senior Notes Due 2008 (the "Initial Securities") and, if and when issued
pursuant to a registered exchange for Initial Securities, the Company's Series D
10% Senior Notes Due 2008 (the "Exchange Securities") and if and when issued
pursuant to a private exchange for Initial Securities, the Company's Series D
10% Senior Notes Due 2008 (the "Private Exchange Securities", together with the
Exchange Securities and the Initial Securities, the "Securities"):


                                    ARTICLE 1

                   Definitions and Incorporation by Reference


         SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

         "Additional Assets" means (i) any property or assets (other than
Indebtedness and Capital Stock) in a Related Business; (ii) the Capital Stock of
a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of
such Capital Stock by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or (iii)
Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time
is a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that any such Restricted
Subsidiary described in clauses (ii) or (iii) above is primarily engaged in a
Related Business.

         "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 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; 


<PAGE>   8
                                                                               2


and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing. For purposes of Sections 4.04, 4.06 and 4.07 only, "Affiliate" shall
also mean any beneficial owner of Capital Stock representing 5% or more of the
total voting power of the Voting Stock (on a fully diluted basis) of the Company
or of rights or warrants to purchase such Capital Stock (whether or not
currently exercisable) and any Person who would be an Affiliate of any such
beneficial owner pursuant to the first sentence hereof.

         "Asset Disposition" means any sale, lease, transfer or other
disposition (or series of related sales, leases, transfers or dispositions) by
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any disposition by means of
a merger, consolidation or similar transaction (each referred to for the
purposes of this definition as a "disposition"), of (i) any shares of Capital
Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors' qualifying shares or
shares required by applicable law to be held by a Person other than the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary), (ii) all or substantially all the assets of any
division or line of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or
(iii) any other assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary outside of
the ordinary course of business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
(other than, in the case of (i), (ii) and (iii) above, (A) a disposition by a
Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) for purposes of Section 4.06 only, a
transaction permitted by Section 4.04, or excluded from the definition of
"Restricted Payment", (C) any transfer of properties or assets (including
Capital Stock) that is governed by, and made in accordance with, Section 5.01
and (D) any disposition of assets with a fair market value of less than
$250,000).

         "Attributable Debt" in respect of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction means,
as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the interest
rate borne by the Securities, compounded annually) of the total obligations of
the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included
in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease
has been extended).

         "Average Life" means, as of the date of determination, with respect to
any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the
sum of the products of the numbers of years from the date of determination to
the dates of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or
redemption or similar payment with respect to such Preferred Stock multi-


<PAGE>   9
                                                                               3


plied by the amount of such payment by (ii) the sum of all such payments.

         "Banks" means the Lenders as defined in the Credit Facility.

         "Bank Indebtedness" means all Obligations pursuant to the Credit
Facility.

         "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company or any
committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.

         "Business Day" means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.

         "Capital Lease Obligation" means an obligation that is required to be
classified and accounted for as a capital lease for financial reporting purposes
in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such
obligation shall be the capitalized amount of such obligation determined in
accordance with GAAP; and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the
last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first
date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a
penalty.

         "Capital Stock" of any Person means any and all shares, interests,
rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or
interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred
Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

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

                  (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
         14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders,
         is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and
         13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause
         (i) such person shall be deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all
         shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such
         right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time),
         directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of
         the Voting Stock of the Company (for the purposes of this clause (i),
         such other person shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock
         of a specified corporation held by a parent corporation, 


<PAGE>   10
                                                                               4


         if such other person is the beneficial owner (as defined in this clause
         (i)), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting power of
         the Voting Stock of such parent corporation);

                  (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals
         who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors
         (together with any new directors whose election by such Board of
         Directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the
         Company was approved by (x) a vote of 66-2/3% of the directors of the
         Company then still in office who were either directors at the beginning
         of such period or whose election or nomination for election was
         previously so approved or (y) Permitted Holders holding a majority of
         the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company held by
         all Permitted Holders) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of
         the Board of Directors then in office;

                  (iii) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or
         dissolution of the Company; or

                  (iv) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into
         another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the
         Company, or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the
         Company to another Person (other than a Person that is controlled by
         the Permitted Holders), and, in the case of any such merger or
         consolidation, the securities of the Company that are outstanding
         immediately prior to such transaction and which represent 100% of the
         aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company are changed
         into or exchanged for cash, securities or property, unless pursuant to
         such transaction such securities are changed into or exchanged for, in
         addition to any other consideration, securities of the surviving
         corporation that represent immediately after such transaction, at least
         a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the
         surviving corporation.

         "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         "Company" means the party named as such in this Indenture until a
successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor and, for purposes of
any provision contained herein and required by the TIA, each other obligor on
the indenture securities.


<PAGE>   11
                                                                               5


         "Consolidated Coverage Ratio" as of any date of determination means the
ratio of (i) the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the period of the most recent
four consecutive fiscal quarters ending at least 45 days prior to the date of
such determination to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such four fiscal
quarters (provided that with respect to Indebtedness Incurred under a revolving
credit facility, instead of such historical interest, there shall be included
pro forma interest on the one year projected average balance of such
Indebtedness as determined in good faith by senior management of the Company);
provided, however, that

                    (1) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has Incurred
          any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period that remains
          outstanding or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate
          the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is an Incurrence of Indebtedness, or
          both, other than in either such case Indebtedness Incurred under a
          revolving credit facility, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense
          for such period shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma
          basis to such Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness had been Incurred
          on the first day of such period, and to the application of the
          proceeds of such Indebtedness, including the discharge of any other
          Indebtedness repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged, or
          the acquisition of assets with the proceeds of such new Indebtedness,
          as if such application had occurred on the first day of such period,

                    (2) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has repaid,
          repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness since
          the beginning of such period or if any Indebtedness is to be repaid,
          repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged (in each case other than
          Indebtedness Incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such
          Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) on
          the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the
          Consolidated Coverage Ratio, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense
          for such period shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such
          discharge had occurred on the first day of such period and as if the
          Company or such Restricted Subsidiary had not earned the interest
          income actually earned during such period in respect of cash or
          Temporary Cash Investments used to repay, repurchase, defease or
          otherwise discharge such Indebtedness,


<PAGE>   12
                                                                               6


                    (3) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any
          Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Disposition or
          disposition of a Permitted Investment ("Disposition"), the EBITDA for
          such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the EBITDA (if
          positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of
          such Disposition for such period, or increased by an amount equal to
          the EBITDA (if negative), directly attributable thereto for such
          period and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be
          reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Interest Expense
          directly attributable to any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness
          incurred under a revolving credit facility) of the Company or any
          Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise
          discharged with respect to the Company and its continuing Restricted
          Subsidiaries in connection with such Disposition for such period (or,
          if the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is sold, the
          Consolidated Interest Expense for such period directly attributable to
          the Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness Incurred under a revolving
          credit facility) of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the
          Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer
          liable for such Indebtedness after such sale),

                    (4) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any
          Restricted Subsidiary (by merger or otherwise) shall have made an
          Investment in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person that becomes a
          Restricted Subsidiary) or a Permitted Investment or an acquisition of
          assets, including any acquisition of assets occurring in connection
          with a transaction requiring a calculation to be made hereunder, which
          constitutes all or substantially all of an operating unit, segment or
          location of a business, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for
          such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto
          (including the Incurrence of any Indebtedness other than under a
          revolving credit facility) as if such Investment or acquisition
          occurred on the first day of such period and

                    (5) if since the beginning of such period any Person (that
          subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into
          the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such
          period) shall have made any Disposition, any Investment or acquisition
          of assets that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause
          (3) or (4) above if made 


<PAGE>   13
                                                                               7


         by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period, EBITDA
         and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated
         after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Disposition,
         Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an
acquisition of assets, the amount of income or earnings relating thereto and the
amount of Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness
Incurred in connection therewith, the pro forma calculations shall be determined
in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Company.
If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro
forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the
rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the
entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to
such Indebtedness if such Interest Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess
of 12 months).

         "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for any period, the total
interest expense of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries,
plus, to the extent not included in such interest expense, and to the extent
incurred by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, without duplication, (i)
interest expense attributable to capital leases and the interest expense
attributable to leases constituting part of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction
(provided that interest expense attributable to leases constituting part of
Sale/Leaseback Transactions in respect of warehouses owned on the date of this
Indenture with a value not in excess of $10 million shall be excluded from this
calculation), (ii) amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost, (iii)
capitalized interest, (iv) non-cash interest expenses, (v) commissions,
discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and
bankers' acceptance financing, (vi) net costs associated with Hedging
Obligations (including amortization of fees), (vii) Preferred Stock dividends in
respect of all Preferred Stock held by Persons other than the Company or a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary (other than non-cash dividends in respect of Preferred
Stock that is not Disqualified Stock of the Company), (viii) interest incurred
in connection with Investments in discontinued operations, (ix) interest
accruing on any Indebtedness of any other Person to the extent such Indebtedness
is Guaranteed by (or secured by the assets of) the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary and (x) the cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan
or similar trust to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust
to pay interest or fees to any 


<PAGE>   14
                                                                               8


Person (other than the Company) in connection with Indebtedness Incurred by such
plan or trust.

         "Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the net income of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries; provided, however, that there shall
not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:

                  (i) any net income of any Person (other than the Company) if
         such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that (A) subject to
         the exclusion contained in clause (iv) below, the Company's equity in
         the net income of any such Person for such period shall be included in
         such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash
         actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Company
         or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution
         (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution paid to a
         Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in clause (iii)
         below) and (B) the Company's equity in a net loss of any such Person
         for such period shall be included in determining such Consolidated Net
         Income;

                  (ii) any net income (or loss) of any Person acquired by the
         Company or a Subsidiary in a pooling of interests transaction for any
         period prior to the date of such acquisition;

                  (iii) any net income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the
         extent such Restricted Subsidiary is subject to prohibitions, directly
         or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of
         distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to
         the Company, except that the Company's equity in a net loss of any such
         Restricted Subsidiary for such period shall be included in determining
         such Consolidated Net Income;

                  (iv) any gain or loss realized upon the sale or other
         disposition of any assets of the Company or its consolidated
         Subsidiaries or any other Person (including pursuant to any
         sale-and-leaseback arrangement) which is not sold or otherwise disposed
         of in the ordinary course of business and any gain or loss realized
         upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person;

                  (v) extraordinary gains or losses; and


<PAGE>   15
                                                                               9


                  (vi) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting
         principles.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.04 only, there shall
be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or
advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such dividends, repayments or
transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted pursuant to
Section 4.04(a)(3)(D).

         "Consolidated Net Worth" means the total of the amounts shown on the
balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as of the end of the most recent
fiscal quarter of the Company ending at least 45 days prior to the taking of any
action for the purpose of which the determination is being made, as (i) the par
or stated value of all outstanding Capital Stock of the Company plus (ii)
paid-in capital or capital surplus relating to such Capital Stock plus (iii) any
retained earnings or earned surplus less (A) any accumulated deficit and (B) any
amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock.

         "Credit Facility" means the Amended and Restated Loan and Security
Agreement, dated as of May 20, 1998, by and among the Company, certain of its
Subsidiaries, the lenders referred to therein, BankBoston, N.A., as Agent, and
Fleet Capital Corporation and First Union National Bank, as Co-Agents, together
with the related documents thereto (including the notes, guarantees and security
documents thereunder), as amended, extended, renewed, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount,
terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, and any
agreement (and related document) governing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance,
in whole or in part, the borrowings and commitments then outstanding or
permitted to be outstanding thereunder or under a successor credit agreement,
whether by the same or any other lender or group of lenders.

         "Currency Agreement" means in respect of a Person any foreign exchange
contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement designed to protect
such Person against fluctuations in currency values.

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


<PAGE>   16
                                                                              10


         "Disqualified Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any Capital
Stock which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is
convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the option of the holder) or upon
the happening of any event (i) matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to
a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (ii) is convertible or exchangeable at
the holder's option for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or (iii) is
redeemable or must be purchased, upon the occurrence of certain events or
otherwise, by such Person at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in
part, in each case on or prior to the first anniversary of the Stated Maturity
of the Securities; provided, however that any Capital Stock that would not
constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof
the right to require such Person to purchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon
the occurrence of an "asset sale" or "change of control" occurring prior to the
first anniversary of the Stated Maturity of the Securities shall not constitute
Disqualified Stock if (x) the "asset sale" or "change of control" provisions
applicable to such Capital Stock are not more favorable to the holders of such
Capital Stock than Sections 4.06 and 4.09 and (y) any such requirement only
becomes operative after compliance with such terms applicable to the Securities,
including the purchase of any Securities tendered pursuant thereto; provided
further, however, that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that, by its
terms, authorizes such Person to satisfy in full its obligations with respect to
the payment of dividends or upon maturity, redemption (pursuant to a sinking
fund or otherwise) or repurchase thereof or otherwise by the delivery of Capital
Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified
Stock.

         "EBITDA" for any period means the sum of Consolidated Net Income, plus
Consolidated Interest Expense plus the following to the extent deducted in
calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (a) all income tax expense of the
Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) depreciation expense
of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, (c) amortization
expense of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries and (d) all
other non-cash charges of the Company and its consolidated Restricted
Subsidiaries (excluding any such other non-cash charge to the extent that it
represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period),
in each case for such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for
taxes based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization
and non-cash charges of, a Restricted Subsidiary shall be added to 


<PAGE>   17
                                                                              11


Consolidated Net Income to compute EBITDA only to the extent (and in the same
proportion) that the net income of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in
calculating Consolidated Net Income.

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

         "Existing Notes" means the $100.0 million of 10% Senior Notes Due 2008
of the Issuer issued in exchange for the $100.0 million of 10% Senior Notes Due
2008 of the Issuer originally issued May 20, 1998.

         "Existing Notes Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of May 15,
1998, among the Company, certain of its Subsidiaries, as Subsidiary Guarantors,
and First Union National Bank, as Trustee, relating to the Existing Notes.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America as in effect as of May 20, 1998, including those set forth in
(i) the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, (ii) statements and
pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (iii) such other
statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession and (iv) the rules and regulations of the SEC governing
the inclusion of financial statements (including pro forma financial statements)
in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange
Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting bulletins and
similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC. All ratios and
computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in
conformity with GAAP.

         "Guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any
Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person
and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person
(i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment
of) such Indebtedness or other obligation of such Person (whether arising by
virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase
assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial
statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for the purpose of
assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment
thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or
in part); provided, however, that the term "Guarantee" shall not include
endorsements for 


<PAGE>   18
                                                                              12


collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term "Guarantee"
used as a verb has a corresponding meaning. The term "Guarantor" shall mean any
Person Guaranteeing any obligation.

         "Guaranty Agreement" means a supplemental indenture, in a form
satisfactory to the Trustee, pursuant to which a Subsidiary Guarantor guarantees
the Company's obligations with respect to the Securities on the terms provided
for herein.

         "Hedging Obligations" of any Person means the obligations of such
Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement or Currency Agreement.

         "Holder" or "Securityholder" means the Person in whose name a Security
is registered on the Registrar's books.

         "Immaterial Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary with total assets not
greater than $50,000.

         "Incur" means issue, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become
liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a
Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger,
consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such
Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary. The term "Incurrence" when used
as a noun shall have a correlative meaning.

         "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person on any date of
determination (without duplication):

                  (i) the principal in respect of (A) indebtedness of such
         Person for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes,
         debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which
         such Person is responsible or liable, including, in each case, any
         premium on such indebtedness to the extent such premium has become due
         and payable;

                  (ii) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person and all
         Attributable Debt in respect of Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered
         into by such Person;

                  (iii) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the
         deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations
         of such Person and all obligations of such Person under any title
         retention 


<PAGE>   19
                                                                              13


         agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary
         course of business);

                  (iv) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of
         any obligor on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance or similar
         credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to letters of
         credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in
         clauses (i) through (iii) above) entered into in the ordinary course of
         business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not
         drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is
         reimbursed no later than the tenth Business Day following payment on
         the letter of credit);

                  (v) the amount of all obligations of such Person with respect
         to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified
         Stock or, with respect to any Subsidiary of such Person, the
         liquidation preference with respect to, any Preferred Stock (but
         excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

                  (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i)
         through (v) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the
         payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable,
         directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, including
         by means of any Guarantee;

                  (vii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i)
         through (vi) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or
         asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such
         Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of
         the value of such property or assets or the amount of the obligation so
         secured; and

                  (viii) to the extent not otherwise included in this
         definition, Hedging Obligations of such Person.

The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding
balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the
maximum liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the
obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date.

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

         "Interest Rate Agreement" means in respect of a Person any interest
rate swap agreement, interest rate cap 


<PAGE>   20
                                                                              14


agreement or other financial agreement or arrangement designed to protect such
Person against fluctuations in interest rates.

         "Investment" in any Person means any direct or indirect advance, loan
(other than advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are
recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender) or other
extensions of credit (other than leases of equipment to customers in the
ordinary course of business) (including by way of Guarantee or similar
arrangement) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or
other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account
or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness
or other similar instruments issued by such Person. For purposes of the
definition of "Unrestricted Subsidiary", the definition of "Restricted Payment"
and Section 4.04, (i) "Investment" shall include the portion (proportionate to
the Company's equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of
the net assets of any Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary
is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a
redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall
be deemed to continue to have a permanent "Investment" in an Unrestricted
Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to (x) the Company's
"Investment" in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (y) the
portion (proportionate to the Company's equity interest in such Subsidiary) of
the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such
redesignation; and (ii) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted
Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such
transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

         "Issue Date" means the date on which the Initial Securities are
originally issued.

         "ITCO" means ITCO Logistics Corporation.

         "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien
or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement or lease in the nature thereof).

         "Net Available Cash" from an Asset Disposition means cash payments
received therefrom (including any cash payments received by way of deferred
payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise
and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any 


<PAGE>   21
                                                                              15


securities received as consideration, but only as and when received, but
excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the
acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to such
properties or assets or received in any other noncash form), in each case net of
(i) all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and
expenses incurred, and all Federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes
required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP, as a consequence of such Asset
Disposition, (ii) all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any
assets subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any
Lien upon or other security agreement of any kind with respect to such assets,
or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such
Asset Disposition, or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such
Asset Disposition, (iii) all distributions and other payments required to be
made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such
Asset Disposition and (iv) the deduction of appropriate amounts provided by the
seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated
with the property or other assets disposed in such Asset Disposition and
retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset
Disposition.

         "Net Cash Proceeds", with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital
Stock, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys' fees,
accountants' fees, underwriters' or placement agents' fees, discounts or
commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in
connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a
result thereof.

         "Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer,
President, Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the
Secretary of the Company.

         "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by two Officers.

         "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion from legal counsel who is
acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the
Company or the Trustee.

         "Permitted Holders" means Ann H. Gaither and William H. Gaither and
members of their immediate families and any spouse, parent or descendant of the
foregoing, any trust the beneficiaries of which include only any of the


<PAGE>   22
                                                                              16


foregoing, and any corporation, partnership or other entity all of the Capital
Stock of which (other than directors' qualifying shares) is owned by any of the
foregoing.

         "Permitted Investment" means an Investment by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary in (i) the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary or a Person
that will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary;
provided, however, that the primary business of such Restricted Subsidiary is a
Related Business; (ii) another Person if as a result of such Investment such
other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all
or substantially all its assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
provided, however, that such Person's primary business is a Related Business;
(iii) Temporary Cash Investments; (iv) receivables owing to the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business
and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided,
however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the
Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the
circumstances; (v) payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that
are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses
for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;
(vi) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary;
(vii) stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created
in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments; (viii) promissory notes issued by
members of management of the Company and its Subsidiaries as payments for
restricted shares of Capital Stock of the Company not to exceed $500,000 per
year; and (ix) any Person to the extent such Investment represents the non-cash
portion of the consideration received for an Asset Disposition as permitted
pursuant to Section 4.06.

         "Permitted Liens" means, with respect to any Person,

                  (a) pledges or deposits by such Person under workers'
         compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation,
         or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts
         (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such
         Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory
         obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or United States
         government bonds to secure surety 


<PAGE>   23
                                                                              17


         or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as
         security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of
         rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

                  (b) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers', warehousemen's
         and mechanics' Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being
         contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens
         arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to
         which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other
         proceedings for review;

                  (c) Liens for property taxes not yet subject to penalties for
         non-payment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
         proceedings;

                  (d) Liens in favor of issuers of surety bonds or letters of
         credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such
         Person in the ordinary course of its business; provided, however, that
         such letters of credit do not constitute Indebtedness;

                  (e) survey exceptions, encumbrances, easements or reservations
         of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric
         lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or
         zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property or Liens
         incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the
         ownership of its properties which were not Incurred to secure
         Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely
         affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in
         the operation of the business of such Person;

                  (f) Liens securing Indebtedness, including Indebtedness
         Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(4), Incurred to finance the
         construction, purchase or lease of, or repairs, improvements or
         additions to, property of such Person; provided, however, that the Lien
         may not extend to any other property (other than improvements thereon)
         owned by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries at the time the Lien is
         Incurred, and the Indebtedness (other than any interest thereon)
         secured by the Lien may not be Incurred more than 180 days after the
         later of the acquisition, completion of construction, repair,
         improvement, addition or commencement of full operation of the property
         subject to the Lien;


<PAGE>   24
                                                                              18


                  (g) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section
         4.03(b)(1) or Section 4.03(b)(5);

                  (h) Liens existing on (or Incurred in connection with
         Indebtedness committed on) May 20, 1998;

                  (i) Liens on property or shares of Capital Stock of another
         Person at the time such other Person becomes a Subsidiary of such
         Person; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, incurred or
         assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person
         becoming such a Subsidiary; provided further, however, that such Lien
         may not extend to any other property (other than improvements thereon)
         owned by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries;

                  (j) Liens on property at the time such Person or any of its
         Subsidiaries acquires the property, including any acquisition by means
         of a merger or consolidation with or into such Person or a Subsidiary
         of such Person; provided, however, that such Liens are not created,
         Incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such
         acquisition; provided further, however, that the Liens may not extend
         to any other property (other than improvements thereon) owned by such
         Person or any of its Subsidiaries;

                  (k) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a
         Subsidiary of such Person owing to such Person or a Restricted
         Subsidiary of such Person;

                  (l) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as such Hedging
         Obligations relate to Indebtedness that is, and is permitted to be
         under this Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing
         such Hedging Obligations;

                  (m) any interest or title of a lessor in property subject to
         any Capital Lease Obligation or operating lease;

                  (n) any attachment of a judgment Lien that does not give rise
         to an Event of Default;

                  (o) Liens on inventory deemed to arise by reason of the
         consignment of inventory in the ordinary course of business of the
         Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

                  (p) Liens to secure any Refinancing (or successive
         Refinancings) as a whole, or in part, of any 


<PAGE>   25
                                                                              19


         Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses
         (f), (h), (i) and (j); provided, however, that (x) such new Lien shall
         be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the
         original Lien (plus improvements to or on such property) and (y) the
         Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any
         amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or,
         if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under
         clauses (f), (h), (i) or (j) at the time the original Lien became a
         Permitted Lien and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and
         expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding,
         extension, renewal or replacement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, "Permitted Liens" will not include any Lien
described in clauses (f), (i) or (j) above to the extent such Lien applies to
any Additional Assets acquired directly or indirectly from Net Available Cash
pursuant to Section 4.06. For purposes of this definition, the term
"Indebtedness" shall be deemed to include interest on such Indebtedness.

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

         "Preferred Stock", as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means
Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as
to the payment of dividends or distributions, or as to the distribution of
assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such
Person, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.

         "principal" of a Security means the principal of the Security plus the
premium, if any, payable on the Security which is due or overdue or is to become
due at the relevant time.

         "Public Equity Offering" means an underwritten primary public offering
of common stock of the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act.

         "Public Market" means any time after (x) a Public Equity Offering has
been consummated and (y) at least 15% of the total issued and outstanding common
stock of the Company has been distributed by means of an effective registration


<PAGE>   26
                                                                              20


statement under the Securities Act or sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act.

         "Refinance" means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance,
extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue
other Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such Indebtedness.
"Refinanced" and "Refinancing" shall have correlative meanings.

         "Refinancing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness that Refinances any
Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on May 20,
1998 or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture, including Indebtedness that
Refinances Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that (i) such
Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity no earlier than the Stated
Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (ii) such Refinancing
Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is
Incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness
being Refinanced and (iii) such Refinancing Indebtedness has an aggregate
principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, an aggregate
issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if
Incurred with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then
outstanding or committed (plus fees and expenses, including any premium and
defeasance costs) under the Indebtedness being Refinanced; provided further,
however, that Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a
Subsidiary that Refinances Indebtedness of the Company or (y) Indebtedness of
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that Refinances Indebtedness of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.

         "Related Business" means any business related, ancillary or
complementary to the businesses of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries
on May 20, 1998.

         "Restricted Payment" with respect to any Person means

                  (i) the declaration or payment of any dividends or any other
         distributions of any sort in respect of its Capital Stock (including
         any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving
         such Person) or similar payment to the direct or indirect holders of
         its Capital Stock (other than dividends or distributions payable solely
         in its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) and dividends or
         distributions to the extent payable to the Company or a Restricted
         Subsidiary, and other than pro rata 


<PAGE>   27
                                                                              21


         dividends or other distributions made by a Subsidiary that is not a
         Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the extent made to minority stockholders (or
         owners of an equivalent interest in the case of a Subsidiary that is an
         entity other than a corporation)),

                  (ii) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or
         retirement for value on or subsequent to May 20, 1998 of any Capital
         Stock of the Company held by any Person or of any Capital Stock of a
         Restricted Subsidiary held by any Affiliate of the Company (other than
         the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), including the exercise of any
         option to exchange any Capital Stock (other than into Capital Stock of
         the Company that is not Disqualified Stock),

                  (iii) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or
         other acquisition or retirement for value, prior to scheduled maturity,
         scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any
         Subordinated Obligations (other than the purchase, repurchase or other
         acquisition of Subordinated Obligations purchased in anticipation of
         satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final
         maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of acquisition)
         or

                  (iv) the making of any Investment (other than a Permitted
         Investment) in any Person.

         "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company that is a
Subsidiary on May 20, 1998 and any other Subsidiary that is not an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.

         "Sale/Leaseback Transaction" means an arrangement relating to property
now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
transfers such property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
leases it from such Person.

         "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "Securities" means the Securities issued under this Indenture.

         "Senior Indebtedness" of a Person means (i) Indebtedness of such
Person, whether outstanding on May 20, 1998 or thereafter Incurred, and (ii)
accrued and unpaid interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing
of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization 


<PAGE>   28
                                                                              22


relating to such Person to the extent post-filing interest is allowed in such
proceeding) in respect of (A) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and
(B) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar
instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable
unless, in the case of (i) and (ii), in the instrument creating or evidencing
the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such
obligations are subordinate in right of payment to the Existing Notes and the
Securities; provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include (1)
any obligation of the Company to any Subsidiary or of any Subsidiary Guarantor
to the Company or any other Subsidiary, (2) any liability for Federal, state,
local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person, (3) any accounts payable or
other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business
(including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities), (4)
any Indebtedness of such Person (and any accrued and unpaid interest in respect
thereof) which is subordinate or junior in any respect to any other Indebtedness
or other obligation of such Person or (5) that portion of any Indebtedness which
at the time of Incurrence is Incurred in violation of this Indenture.

         "Significant Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be
a "Significant Subsidiary" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under
Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

         "Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any security, the date
specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of
principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any
mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the
repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the
happening of any contingency unless such contingency has occurred).

         "Subordinated Obligation" means any Indebtedness of the Company
(whether outstanding on May 20, 1998 or thereafter Incurred) which is
subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Securities pursuant to a
written agreement to that effect.

         "Subsidiary" means, in respect of any Person, any corporation,
association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the
total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including
partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any
contingency) to vote in the election of 


<PAGE>   29
                                                                              23


directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person, (ii) such Person and one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

         "Subsidiary Guarantor" means each Subsidiary of the Company that is a
Subsidiary on the Issue Date and any other Subsidiary that Guarantees the
Company's obligations with respect to the Securities.

         "Subsidiary Guaranty" means a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor of
the Company's obligations with respect to the Securities.

         "Temporary Cash Investments" means any of the following:

                  (i) any investment in direct obligations of the United States
         of America or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the
         United States of America or any agency thereof,

                  (ii) investments in time deposit accounts, certificates of
         deposit and money market deposits maturing within 360 days of the date
         of acquisition thereof issued by a bank or trust company which is
         organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state
         thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States, and
         which bank or trust company has capital, surplus and undivided profits
         aggregating in excess of $50,000,000 (or the foreign currency
         equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt which is rated "A" (or
         such similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally
         recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436
         under the Securities Act) or any money-market fund sponsored by a
         registered broker dealer or mutual fund distributor,

                  (iii) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30
         days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (i)
         above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in
         clause (ii) above,

                  (iv) investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than
         360 days after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other
         than an Affiliate of the Company) organized and in existence under the
         laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized
         by the United States of America with a 


<PAGE>   30
                                                                              24


         rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of "P-1"
         (or higher) according to Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or "A-1" (or
         higher) according to Standard and Poor's Ratings Group,

                  (v) investments in split dollar life insurance policies on
         various officers, directors and shareholders of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
         practices, and

                  (vi) investments in securities with maturities of 12 months or
         less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any
         state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by
         any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at
         least "A" by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or "A" by Moody's
         Investors Service, Inc.

         "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. ss 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the Issue Date.

         "Trustee" means the party named as such in this Indenture until a
successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

         "Trust Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the President or any
other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to
administer its corporate trust matters.

         "Uniform Commercial Code" means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as
in effect from time to time.

         "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (i) any Subsidiary of the Company that
at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by
the Board of Directors in the manner provided below and (ii) any Subsidiary of
an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary
(other than Subsidiary Guarantors) of the Company (including any newly acquired
or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such
Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of,
or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the
Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated;
provided, however, that either (A) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total
assets of $1,000 or less or (B) if such Subsidiary has assets greater than
$1,000, such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04. The Board of
Directors may designate any 


<PAGE>   31
                                                                              25


Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that
immediately after giving effect to such designation (x) the Company could Incur
$1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) and (y) no Default shall
have occurred and be continuing. Any such designation by the Board of Directors
shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of
the resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and
an Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the
foregoing provisions.

         "U.S. Government Obligations" means direct obligations (or certificates
representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of the United States of
America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of
which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged and
which are not callable or redeemable at the issuer's option.

         "Vendor Financing" means Indebtedness Incurred to finance the cost to
acquire inventory to the extent such Indebtedness is issued to and held by the
supplier of such inventory.

         "Voting Stock" of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock or other
interests (including partnership interests) of such Person then outstanding and
normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote
in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof. The "voting power"
of Voting Stock means the number of votes which such Voting Stock is normally
entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in such
an election.

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

         SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.

                                                    Defined in
                                 Term                 Section 
                                 ----               ----------

          "Affiliate Transaction" ................    4.07
          "Bankruptcy Law" .......................    6.01
          "covenant defeasance option" ...........    8.01(b)
          "Custodian" ............................    6.01
          "Event of Default" .....................    6.01
          "legal defeasance option" ..............    8.01(b)
<PAGE>   32
                                                                              26


          "Legal Holiday" ........................   11.08
          "Offer" ................................    4.06(b)
          "Paying Agent" .........................    2.03
          "Registrar".............................    2.03
          "Successor Company" ....................    5.01

         SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This
Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA which are
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following
TIA terms have the following meanings:

         "Commission" means the SEC;

         "indenture securities" means the Securities;

         "indenture security holder" means a Securityholder;

         "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;

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

         "obligor" on the indenture securities means the Company and any other
obligor on the indenture securities.

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

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

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

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

                  (3) "or" is not exclusive;

                  (4) "including" means including without limitation;

                  (5) words in the singular include the plural and words in the
         plural include the singular;

                  (6) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be
         subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its
         nature as unsecured Indebtedness;


<PAGE>   33
                                                                              27


                  (7) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other
         discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof
         that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date
         prepared in accordance with GAAP;

                  (8) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i)
         the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the
         maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect
         to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater; and

                  (9) all references to the date the Securities were originally
         issued shall refer to the date the Initial Securities were originally
         issued.


                                    ARTICLE 2

                                 The Securities


         SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Initial
Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Exchange Securities are set
forth in the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix attached hereto (the "Appendix")
which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The
Initial Securities and the Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix which is hereby
incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Exchange
Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby
incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Securities may
have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule,
agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any
such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company).
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the
Securities set forth in the Appendix and Exhibit A are part of the terms of this
Indenture.

         SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign the
Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

         If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that
office at the time the Trustee authenti-


<PAGE>   34
                                                                              28


cates the Security, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.

         A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the
Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The
signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated
under this Indenture.

         The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities for original
issue in an aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000 upon a written order of
the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant
Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the
amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original
issue of Securities is to be authenticated. The aggregate principal amount of
Securities outstanding at any time may not exceed that amount except as provided
in Section 2.07.

         The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable
to the Company to authenticate the Securities. Unless limited by the terms of
such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever
the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the
Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the
same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and
demands.

         SECTION 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain an
office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer
or for exchange (the "Registrar") and an office or agency where Securities may
be presented for payment (the "Paying Agent"). The Registrar shall keep a
register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may
have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The
term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent.

         The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any
Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture, which
shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the
provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify
the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Company fails to
maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be
entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The
Company or any of its 


<PAGE>   35
                                                                              29


domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent,
Registrar, co-registrar or transfer agent.

         The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying
Agent in connection with the Securities.

         SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust. Prior to each due
date of the principal and interest on any Security, the Company shall deposit
with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when
so becoming due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the
Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the
benefit of Securityholders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for
the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities and shall notify the
Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company
or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as
Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may
require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account
for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section,
the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the
Trustee.

         SECTION 2.05. Securityholder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as
current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it
of the names and addresses of Securityholders. If the Trustee is not the
Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five
Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the
Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the
Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Securityholders.

         SECTION 2.06. Replacement Securities. If a mutilated Security is
surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the
Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue
and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of
Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies
any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or
the Company, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the
judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the
Paying Agent, the Registrar and any co-registrar from any loss which any of them
may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company and 


<PAGE>   36
                                                                              30


the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Security.

         Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Company.

         SECTION 2.07. Outstanding Securities. Securities outstanding at any
time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled
by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this
Section as not outstanding. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because
the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

         If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.06, it ceases to be
outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to
them that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

         If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with
this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay
all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Securities
(or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on
and after that date such Securities (or portions thereof) cease to be
outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

         SECTION 2.08. Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are
ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate
temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of
definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers
appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company
shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities and
deliver them in exchange for temporary Securities.

         SECTION 2.09. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver
Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent
shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration
of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and
destroy (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all
Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or
cancellation and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company unless
the Company directs the Trustee to deliver canceled Securities to the Company.
The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities 


<PAGE>   37
                                                                              31


it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

         SECTION 2.10. Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment
of interest on the Securities, the Company shall pay defaulted interest (plus
interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner.
The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the persons who are
Securityholders on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix or
cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail to each
Securityholder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date
and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

         SECTION 2.11. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may
use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use
"CUSIP" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided,
however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the
correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained
in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall
not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.


                                    ARTICLE 3

                                   Redemption


         SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem
Securities pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Securities, it shall notify the
Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Securities
to be redeemed.

         The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for in this
Section at least 60 days before the redemption date unless the Trustee consents
to a shorter period. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect that such
redemption will comply with the conditions herein.

         SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities To Be Redeemed. If fewer than all
the Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be


<PAGE>   38
                                                                              32


redeemed pro rata or by lot or by a method that complies with applicable legal
and securities exchange requirements, if any, and that the Trustee in its sole
discretion shall deem to be fair and appropriate and in accordance with methods
generally used at the time of selection by fiduciaries in similar circumstances.
The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Securities not previously
called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the
principal of Securities that have denominations larger than $1,000. Securities
and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or a
whole multiple of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities
called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for
redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of the Securities or
portions of Securities to be redeemed.

         SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption. At least 30 days but not more than
60 days before a date for redemption of Securities, the Company shall mail a
notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder of Securities to be
redeemed at such Holder's registered address.

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

                  (1) the redemption date;

                  (2) the redemption price;

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

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

                  (5) if fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be
         redeemed, the identification and principal amounts of the particular
         Securities to be redeemed;

                  (6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such
         redemption payment, interest on Securities (or portion thereof) called
         for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; and

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

         At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the Company's name and at the 


<PAGE>   39
                                                                              33


Company's expense. In such event, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the
information required by this Section.

         SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption
is mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the
redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice. Upon surrender
to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price
stated in the notice, plus accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to
the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest
due on the related interest payment date). Failure to give notice or any defect
in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any
other Holder.

         SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to the redemption
date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a
Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money
sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities
to be redeemed on that date other than Securities or portions of Securities
called for redemption which have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee
for cancellation.

         SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security
that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate for the Holder (at the Company's expense) a new Security equal in
principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.


                                    ARTICLE 4

                                    Covenants

         SECTION 4.01. Payment of Securities. The Company shall promptly pay the
principal of and interest on the Securities on the dates and in the manner
provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. Principal and interest shall
be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying
Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all
principal and interest then due.

         The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate
specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue
installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.


<PAGE>   40
                                                                              34


         SECTION 4.02. SEC Reports. Notwithstanding that the Company may not be
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act, the Company shall file with the SEC (to the extent such filings are
accepted by the SEC) and provide the Trustee and Securityholders with such
annual reports and such information, documents and other reports as are
specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and applicable to a U.S.
corporation subject to such Sections, such information, documents and reports to
be so filed and provided at the times specified for the filing of such
information, documents and reports under such Sections.

         SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Indebtedness. (a) The Company shall not,
and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur, directly or
indirectly, any Indebtedness; provided, however, that the Company may Incur
Indebtedness if, on the date of such Incurrence and after giving effect thereto,
the Consolidated Coverage Ratio exceeds 2 to 1 if such Indebtedness is Incurred
prior to May 15, 2000 or 2.25 to 1 if such Indebtedness is Incurred on or after
May 15, 2000.

         (b) Notwithstanding Section 4.03(a), the Company and the Restricted
Subsidiaries may Incur any or all of the following Indebtedness:

                  (1) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to the Credit Facility;
         provided, however, that, after giving effect to any such Incurrence,
         the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness then outstanding
         does not exceed the greater of (i) $100 million less the sum of all
         principal payments with respect to such Indebtedness pursuant to
         paragraph Section 4.06(a)(ii)(A) and (ii) the sum of (x) 65% of the
         book value of the inventory of the Company and its Restricted
         Subsidiaries and (y) 85% of the book value of the accounts receivables
         of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

                  (2) Indebtedness owed to and held by the Company or a
         Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that (i) any subsequent
         issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock which results in any such
         Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any
         subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (other than to the Company or
         a Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute
         the Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the obligor thereon and (ii) if
         the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is
         expressly subordinated to the prior 


<PAGE>   41
                                                                              35


         payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the
         Securities;

                  (3) the Securities and the Exchange Securities;

                  (4) Vendor Financing, and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect
         thereof, in an aggregate amount which does not exceed, when taken
         together with all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause
         (4) and then outstanding, including Vendor Financing outstanding on May
         20, 1998, $20 million;

                  (5) Attributable Debt in respect of Sale/Leaseback
         Transactions, and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, in an
         amount which does not exceed, when taken together with all other
         Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (5) and then outstanding,
         $15 million; provided that such Sale/Leaseback Transactions comply with
         Section 4.11;

                  (6) Indebtedness outstanding (or Incurred pursuant to
         commitments outstanding) on May 20, 1998 (other than Indebtedness
         described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this Section 4.03);

                  (7) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary Incurred and
         outstanding on or prior to the date on which such Subsidiary was
         acquired by the Company (other than Indebtedness Incurred in connection
         with, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support
         utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related
         transactions pursuant to which such Subsidiary became a Subsidiary or
         was acquired by the Company); provided, however, that on the date of
         such acquisition and after giving effect thereto, the Company would
         have been able to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness
         pursuant to Section 4.03(a);

                  (8) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness
         Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(3),
         (6), (7) or (8); provided, however, that to the extent such Refinancing
         Indebtedness directly or indirectly Refinances Indebtedness of a
         Subsidiary Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(7), such Refinancing
         Indebtedness shall be Incurred only by such Subsidiary;

                  (9) Hedging Obligations consisting of Interest Rate Agreements
         directly related to Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by the
         Company pursuant to this Section 4.03;


<PAGE>   42
                                                                              36


                  (10) the Subsidiary Guaranties and subsidiary guaranties of
         the Existing Notes of the Subsidiary Guarantors; and

                  (11) Indebtedness of the Company in an aggregate principal
         amount which, together with all other Indebtedness of the Company
         outstanding on the date of such Incurrence (other than Indebtedness
         permitted by Section 4.03(b)(1) through (10) or Section 4.03(a)), does
         not exceed $15 million.

         (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not Incur any
Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(b) if the proceeds thereof are used,
directly or indirectly, to Refinance any Subordinated Obligations unless such
Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Securities to at least the same extent
as such Subordinated Obligations.

         (d) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03, (i)
in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of
the types of Indebtedness described herein, the Company, in its sole discretion,
will classify such item of Indebtedness and only be required to include the
amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of the above clauses and (ii) an
item of Indebtedness may be divided and classified in more than one of the types
of Indebtedness described herein.

         SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments. (a) The Company shall
not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to
make a Restricted Payment if at the time the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:

                  (1) a Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would
         result therefrom);

                  (2) the Company is not able to Incur an additional $1.00 of
         Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a); or

                  (3) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all
         other Restricted Payments since May 20, 1998 would exceed the sum of:

                           (A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income accrued during
                  the period (treated as one accounting period) from July 1,
                  1998 to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at
                  least 45 days prior to the date of such Restricted Payment
                  (or, in case such Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit,
                  minus 100% of such deficit);


<PAGE>   43
                                                                              37


                           (B) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the
                  Company from the issuance or sale of its Capital Stock (other
                  than Disqualified Stock) subsequent to May 20, 1998 (other
                  than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the Company and
                  other than an issuance or sale to an employee stock ownership
                  plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its
                  Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees);

                           (C) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the
                  Company from the issuance or sale of its Capital Stock (other
                  than Disqualified Stock) to an employee stock ownership plan
                  (including a 401(k) plan that holds Capital Stock of the
                  Company) subsequent to May 20, 1998; provided, however, that
                  if such employee stock ownership plan incurs any Indebtedness,
                  such aggregate amount shall be limited to an amount equal to
                  any increase in the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company
                  resulting from principal repayments made by such employee
                  stock ownership plan with respect to Indebtedness incurred by
                  it to finance the purchase of such Capital Stock;

                           (D) the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company
                  is reduced on the Company's balance sheet upon the conversion
                  or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Company)
                  subsequent to May 20, 1998 of any Indebtedness of the Company
                  convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than
                  Disqualified Stock) of the Company (less the amount of any
                  cash, or the fair value of any other property, distributed by
                  the Company upon such conversion or exchange);

                           (E) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the net
                  reduction in Investments in a Person resulting from dividends,
                  repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets,
                  in each case to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from
                  such Person and (ii) the portion (proportionate to the
                  Company's equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair
                  market value of the net assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary
                  at the time such Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a
                  Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the foregoing
                  sum shall not exceed, in the case of any Person, the amount of
                  Investments previously made on or after May 20, 1998 (and
                  included in the 


<PAGE>   44
                                                                              38


                  calculation of Restricted Payments) by the Company or any
                  Restricted Subsidiary in such Person; and

                           (F) $5.0 million.

         (b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

                  (i) any acquisition of any Capital Stock of the Company made
         out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, or made by
         exchange for, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified
         Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary of
         the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust
         established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit
         of their employees); provided, however, that (A) such acquisition of
         Capital Stock shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of
         Restricted Payments and (B) the Net Cash Proceeds from such sale shall
         be excluded from the calculation of amounts under Section
         4.04(a)(3)(B);

                  (ii) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other
         acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Obligations made by
         exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent
         sale of, Indebtedness of the Company which is permitted to be Incurred
         pursuant to Section 4.03; provided, however, that such purchase,
         repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement
         for value shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of
         Restricted Payments;

                  (iii) dividends paid within 60 days after the date of
         declaration thereof if at such date of declaration such dividend would
         have complied with this Section 4.04; provided, however, that at the
         time of payment of such dividend, no other Default shall have occurred
         and be continuing (or result therefrom); provided further, however,
         that such dividend shall be included in the calculation of the amount
         of Restricted Payments;

                  (iv) the repurchase or other acquisition of shares of, or
         options to purchase shares of, common stock of the Company or any of
         its Subsidiaries from employees, former employees, directors or former
         directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or permitted
         transferees of such employees, former employees, directors or former
         directors), (x) upon death, retirement, severance or termination of
         employment or service or (y) pursuant to the terms of the agreements 


<PAGE>   45
                                                                              39


         (including employment agreements) or plans (or amendments thereto)
         approved by the Board of Directors under which such individuals
         purchase or sell or are granted the option to purchase or sell, shares
         of such common stock; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of
         such repurchases and other acquisitions shall not exceed $1.0 million
         in any calendar year; provided further, however, that such repurchases
         and other acquisitions shall be excluded in the calculation of the
         amount of Restricted Payments;

                  (v) the payment to The Kelly Springfield Tire Company or its
         successors and assigns of dividends on the 7,000 shares of Series A
         Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock or the 4,500 shares of Series B
         Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock held by The Kelly Springfield
         Tire Company to the extent required to be paid by the Company pursuant
         to the terms of such stock as in existence on May 20, 1998; provided,
         however that such payment shall be excluded in the calculation of the
         amount of Restricted Payments; or

                  (vi) payments to employees of ITCO in respect of certain stock
         appreciation rights granted by ITCO and required to be made after
         consummation of the Transactions (as defined in the Purchase
         Agreement), not to exceed $1.5 million in the aggregate; provided,
         however, that such payments shall be excluded in the calculation of the
         amount of Restricted Payments.

         SECTION 4.05. Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from
Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become
effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on
its Capital Stock to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or pay any
Indebtedness owed to the Company, (b) make any loans or advances to the Company
or (c) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company, except:

                  (i) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement in
         effect at or entered into on May 20, 1998 or the Credit Facility as in
         effect on May 20, 1998;

                  (ii) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a
         Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement relating to any
         Indebtedness Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary on or prior to the
         date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company
<PAGE>   46
                                                                              40


         (other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide
         all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to
         consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant
         to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or
         was acquired by the Company) and outstanding on such date;

                  (iii) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement
         effecting a Refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an
         agreement referred to in Section 4.05(i) or (ii) or this clause (iii)
         or contained in any amendment to an agreement referred to in Section
         4.05(i) or (ii) or this clause (iii); provided, however, that the
         encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted
         Subsidiary contained in any such refinancing agreement or amendment are
         not, taken as a whole, materially less favorable to the Securityholders
         than encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted
         Subsidiary contained in such predecessor agreements;

                  (iv) any such encumbrance or restriction consisting of
         customary provisions restricting (x) assignment, subletting or other
         transfers contained in leases, licenses and similar agreements to the
         extent such provisions restrict the transfer of the lease or the
         property subject thereto, or (y) the assignment or other transfer of
         any lease or other contract;

                  (v) in the case of clause (c) of this Section 4.05,
         restrictions contained in security agreements or mortgages securing
         Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary or Permitted Liens to the
         extent such restrictions restrict the transfer of the property subject
         to such security agreements or mortgages or Permitted Liens; and

                  (vi) any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary
         imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or
         disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of
         such Restricted Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or
         disposition.

         SECTION 4.06. Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock. (a)
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to,
directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset Disposition unless (i) the Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration at the 


<PAGE>   47
                                                                              41


time of such Asset Disposition at least equal to the fair market value
(including as to the value of all non-cash consideration), as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors, of the shares and assets subject to such Asset
Disposition and at least 75% of the consideration thereof received by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or cash equivalents
and (ii) an amount equal to 100% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset
Disposition is applied by the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the
case may be) (A) first, to the extent the Company elects (or is required by the
terms of any Indebtedness), to prepay, repay, redeem or purchase Senior
Indebtedness or Indebtedness (other than any Disqualified Stock) of a Wholly
Owned Subsidiary (in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company) within one year from the later of the date of such
Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash; (B) second, to the
extent of the balance of such Net Available Cash after application in accordance
with clause (A), to the extent the Company elects, to acquire Additional Assets
within one year from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the
receipt of such Net Available Cash; (C) third, to the extent of the balance of
such Net Available Cash after application in accordance with clauses (A) and
(B), to make an offer to the holders of the Securities (and to holders of other
Senior Indebtedness designated by the Company) to purchase Securities (and such
other Senior Indebtedness) pursuant to and subject to the conditions of Section
4.06(b) and (c); and (D) fourth, to the extent of any balance of such Net
Available Cash after application in accordance with clauses (A), (B) and (C), in
any manner that does not violate this Indenture; provided, however, that in
connection with any prepayment, repayment or purchase of Indebtedness pursuant
to clause (A) or (C) above, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary shall
permanently retire such Indebtedness and shall cause the related loan commitment
(if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so
prepaid, repaid or purchased. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be required to
apply any Net Available Cash in accordance with this Section 4.06(a) except to
the extent that the aggregate Net Available Cash from all Asset Dispositions
which are not applied in accordance with this Section 4.06(a) exceeds $5
million. Pending application of Net Available Cash pursuant to this Section
4.06, such Net Available Cash shall be invested in Permitted Investments.

         For the purposes of this Section 4.06, the following are deemed to be
cash or cash equivalents: 


<PAGE>   48
                                                                              42


(x) the assumption of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
and the release of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from all liability
on such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Disposition and (y)
securities received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the
transferee that are promptly converted by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary into cash.

         (b) In the event of an Asset Disposition that requires the purchase of
Securities (and other Senior Indebtedness) pursuant to Section 4.06(a)(ii)(C),
the Company shall be required to purchase Securities tendered pursuant to an
offer by the Company for the Securities (and other Senior Indebtedness) (the
"Offer") at a purchase price of 100% of their principal amount (without premium)
plus accrued but unpaid interest (or, in respect of such other Senior
Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of
such Senior Indebtedness) in accordance with the procedures (including prorating
in the event of oversubscription) set forth in Section 4.06(c). If the aggregate
purchase price of Securities (and any other Senior Indebtedness) tendered
pursuant to such Offer is less than the Net Available Cash allotted to the
purchase thereof, the Company shall apply the remaining Net Available Cash in
accordance with Section 4.06(a)(ii)(D). The Company shall not be required to
make an Offer to purchase Securities (and other Senior Indebtedness) pursuant to
this Section 4.06 if the Net Available Cash available therefor is less than $5
million (which lesser amount shall be carried forward for purposes of
determining whether such an Offer is required with respect to the Net Available
Cash from any subsequent Asset Disposition).

         (c) (1) Promptly, and in any event within 20 days after the Company
becomes obligated to make an Offer, the Company shall be obligated to deliver to
the Trustee and send or, at the request of the Company have the Trustee send, in
the name and on behalf of the Company, by first-class mail to each Holder, a
written notice stating that the Holder may elect to have his Securities
purchased by the Company either in whole or in part (subject to prorating as
hereinafter described in the event the Offer is oversubscribed) in integral
multiples of U.S. $1,000 of principal amount, at the applicable purchase price.
The notice shall specify a purchase date not less than 30 days nor more than 60
days after the date of such notice (the "Purchase Date") and shall contain such
information concerning the business of the Company which the Company in good
faith believes will enable such Holders to make an informed decision (which at a
minimum will include (i) the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K
(including 


<PAGE>   49
                                                                              43


audited consolidated financial statements) of the Company, the most recent
subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any Current Report on Form
8-K of the Company filed subsequent to such Quarterly Report, other than Current
Reports describing Asset Dispositions otherwise described in the offering
materials (or corresponding successor reports), (ii) a description of material
developments in the Company's business subsequent to the date of the latest of
such Reports, and (iii) if material, appropriate pro forma financial
information) and all instructions and materials necessary to tender Securities
pursuant to the Offer, together with the information contained in clause (3).

         (2) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Offer is
delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Company shall deliver to the
Trustee an Officers' Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Offer (the "Offer
Amount"), (ii) the allocation of the Net Available Cash from the Asset
Dispositions pursuant to which such Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance
of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(a). On such date, the
Company shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent
(or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold in
trust) in Temporary Cash Investments, maturing not later than the last day prior
to the Purchase Date or the Purchase Date if funds are immediately available by
open of business, an amount equal to the Offer Amount to be held for payment in
accordance with the provisions of this Section. Upon the expiration of the
period for which the Offer remains open (the "Offer Period"), the Company shall
deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Securities or portions thereof which
have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Company. The
Trustee shall, on the Purchase Date, mail or deliver payment to each tendering
Holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the aggregate
purchase price of the Securities delivered by the Company to the Trustee is less
than the Offer Amount, the Trustee shall deliver the excess funds (including
income earned thereon) to the Company immediately after the expiration of the
Offer Period for application in accordance with this Section.

         (3) Holders electing to have a Security purchased shall be required to
surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company
at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the
Purchase Date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the
Trustee (or paying agent if applicable) or the Company receives not later than
one Business Day prior to the Purchase Date, a telex, facsimile transmission or
letter setting forth the name of the Holder, 


<PAGE>   50
                                                                              44


the principal amount of the Security which was delivered for purchase by the
Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such
Security purchased. If at the expiration of the Offer Period the aggregate
principal amount of Securities surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount,
the Company shall select the Securities to be purchased on a pro rata basis
(with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only
Securities in denominations of U.S. $1,000, or integral multiples thereof, shall
be purchased). Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be
issued new Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of
the Securities surrendered.

         (4) At the time the Company delivers Securities to the Trustee which
are to be accepted for purchase, the Company shall also deliver an Officers'
Certificate stating that such Securities are to be accepted by the Company
pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section. A Security shall
be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly
or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering
Holder.

         (d) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the
requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws
or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this
Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations
conflict with provisions of this Section, the Company shall comply with the
applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have
breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

         SECTION 4.07. Limitation on Affiliate Transactions. (a) The Company
shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any
transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property,
employee compensation arrangements or the rendering of any service) with any
Affiliate of the Company (an "Affiliate Transaction") unless the terms thereof
(i) are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than
those that could be obtained at the time of such transaction in arm's-length
dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate, (ii) if such Affiliate
Transaction involves an amount in excess of $1 million, (1) are set forth in
writing and (2) have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors having no personal stake in such Affiliate Transaction and (iii) if
such Affiliate Transaction involves an amount in excess of $7.5 


<PAGE>   51
                                                                              45


million, have been determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm
to be fair, from a financial standpoint, to the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries.

         (b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not prohibit (i) any
transaction permitted pursuant to Section 4.04, or explicitly excluded from the
definition of "Restricted Payment", (ii) any issuance of securities, or other
payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the
funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans
approved by the Board of Directors, (iii) the grant of stock options or similar
rights to employees and directors of the Company pursuant to plans approved by
the Board of Directors, (iv) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary
course of business in accordance with the past practices of the Company or its
Restricted Subsidiaries, but in any event not to exceed $1 million in the
aggregate outstanding at any one time, (v) the payment of reasonable fees to
directors of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries who are not employees
of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, (vi) any Affiliate Transaction
between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted
Subsidiaries; provided, however, that no Affiliate of the Company (other than
another Restricted Subsidiary) owns the Capital Stock of any such Restricted
Subsidiary, (vii) the issuance or sale of any Capital Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the Company or (viii) the amendment or extension or
renewal of any transaction in effect on May 20, 1998 on terms no less favorable
to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries than the terms in effect on May
20, 1998.

         SECTION 4.08. Limitation on the Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock of
Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company shall not sell or otherwise dispose of any
Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, and shall not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to issue or sell or otherwise dispose of any
of its Capital Stock except (i) to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary,
(ii) directors' qualifying shares, (iii) if, immediately after giving effect to
such issuance, sale or other disposition, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries own any Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary or (iv) if,
immediately after giving effect to such issuance, sale or other disposition,
such Restricted Subsidiary would no longer constitute a Restricted Subsidiary
and any Investment in such Person remaining after giving effect thereto would
have been permitted to be made under Section 4.04 if made on the date of such
issuance, sale or other disposition.


<PAGE>   52
                                                                              46


         SECTION 4.09. Change of Control. (a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of
Control, each Holder shall have the right to require that the Company repurchase
such Holder's Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the
principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date
of purchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record
date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date), in accordance
with the terms set forth in Section 4.09(b). In the event that at the time of
such Change of Control the terms of the Senior Indebtedness of the Company
restrict or prohibit the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section, then
prior to the mailing of the notice to Holders provided for in Section 4.09(b)
below but in any event within 30 days following any Change of Control, the
Company shall (i) repay in full all such Senior Indebtedness or offer to repay
in full all such Senior Indebtedness and repay such Senior Indebtedness of each
lender who has accepted such offer or (ii) obtain the requisite consent under
the agreements governing such Senior Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of
the Securities as provided for in Section 4.09(b).

         (b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall
mail a notice to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee (the "Change of Control
Offer") stating:

                  (1) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder
         has the right to require the Company to purchase such Holder's
         Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal
         amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of
         purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant
         record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

                  (2) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change
         of Control (including information with respect to pro forma historical
         income, cash flow and capitalization, each after giving effect to such
         Change of Control);

                  (3) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30
         days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

                  (4) the instructions determined by the Company, consistent
         with this Section, that a Holder must follow in order to have its
         Securities purchased.

<PAGE>   53
                                                                              47


         (c) Holders electing to have a Security purchased will be required to
surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company
at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the
purchase date. Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the
Trustee or the Company receives not later than one Business Day prior to the
purchase date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth
the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered
for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his
election to have such Security purchased.

         (d) On the purchase date, all Securities purchased by the Company under
this Section shall be delivered by the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company
shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the
Holders entitled thereto.

         (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the
Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of
Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the
times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this
Section applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and
purchases all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of
Control Offer.

         (f) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the
requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws
or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this
Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations
conflict with provisions of this Section, the Company shall comply with the
applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have
breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

         SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Liens. The Company shall not, and shall not
permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, Incur or permit to
exist any Lien of any nature whatsoever on any of its properties (including
Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary), whether owned at May 20, 1998 or
thereafter acquired, other than Permitted Liens, without effectively providing
that the Securities shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) the
obligations so secured for so long as such obligations are so secured.


<PAGE>   54
                                                                              48


         SECTION 4.11. Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions. The Company
shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any
Sale/Leaseback Transaction with respect to any property unless (i) the Company
or such Subsidiary would be entitled to (A) Incur Indebtedness in an amount
equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction
pursuant to Section 4.03 and (B) create a Lien on such property securing such
Attributable Debt without equally and ratably securing the Securities pursuant
to Section 4.10, (ii) the net proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary in connection with such Sale/Leaseback Transaction are at least equal
to the fair value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of such property and
(iii) the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with
Section 4.06; provided that the sale by ITCO Holding Company, Inc. of its
facility in Orlando owned as of May 20, 1998, Florida and the subsequent lease
by ITCO Holding Company, Inc. of such facility as contemplated as of the date of
this Indenture, shall not be a Sale/Leaseback Transaction for purposes for this
Section 4.11.

         SECTION 4.12. Future Guarantors. The Company shall cause each domestic
Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary that is neither a
borrower nor a guarantor under the Credit Facility) to execute and deliver to
the Trustee a Guaranty Agreement pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary
will Guarantee payment of the Securities on the same terms and conditions as
those set forth in Article 10.

         SECTION 4.13. Compliance Certificate. The Company shall deliver to the
Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company an
Officers' Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the
signers of their duties as Officers of the Company they would normally have
knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default that
occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the
Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take
with respect thereto. The Company also shall comply with TIA ss 314(a)(4).

         SECTION 4.14. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the
Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do
such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more
effectively the purpose of this Indenture.



<PAGE>   55
                                                                              49


                                    ARTICLE 5

                                Successor Company


         SECTION 5.01. When Company or Subsidiary Guarantors May Merge or
Transfer Assets. (a) The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or
into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of
transactions, all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:

                  (i) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the
         "Successor Company") shall be a Person organized and existing under the
         laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District
         of Columbia and the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall
         expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and
         delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the
         obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture;

                  (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and
         treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor
         Company or any Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having
         been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time
         of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

                  (iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the
         Successor Company would be able to Incur an additional $1.00 of
         Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a);

                  (iv) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the
         Successor Company shall have Consolidated Net Worth in an amount that
         is not less than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately
         prior to such transaction;

                  (v) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
         Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel addressed to the
         Trustee with respect clauses (i) through (iv); provided, however, that
         the requirements set forth in clauses (iii) and (iv) above shall not
         apply to a merger between the Company and any Wholly Owned Subsidiary;
         and

                  (vi) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
         Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the 


<PAGE>   56
                                                                              50


         Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax
         purposes as a result of such transaction and will be subject to Federal
         income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same
         times as would have been the case if such transaction had not occurred.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be permitted to change
its state of incorporation from North Carolina to Delaware upon delivery to the
Trustee of an Officers' Certificate certifying as to the matters set forth in
clauses (ii) through (iv) above and shall not be required to deliver any further
documentation to the Trustee in connection therewith.

         (b) The Company shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to
consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one
transaction or series of transactions, all or substantially all of its assets to
any Person (other than in a transaction or transactions to which Section 10.06
applies, provided that the Company certifies to the Trustee that the Company
will comply with Section 4.06) unless: (i) the resulting, surviving or
transferee Person shall be a Person (if not such Subsidiary) (the "Successor
Guarantor") organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and, if such Person
is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Person shall expressly assume, by a Guaranty
Agreement, in a form acceptable to the Trustee, all the obligations of such
Subsidiary, if any, under its Subsidiary Guaranty; (ii) immediately after giving
effect to such transaction or transactions on a pro forma basis (and treating
any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or
transferee Person as a result of such transaction as having been issued by such
Person at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing; and (iii) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and, if the resulting, surviving or transferee Person is not a
Subsidiary Guarantor, an Opinion of Counsel, in each case, with respect to
clauses (i) and (ii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Subsidiary Guarantor
is released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to
Section 10.06, then such Subsidiary Guarantor's successor or transferee shall be
released from all of such Subsidiary Guarantor's obligations under its
Subsidiary Guaranty.

         (c) The Successor Company shall be the successor to the Company and
shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power
of, the Company under this Indenture, but the predecessor Company in the case of
a 


<PAGE>   57
                                                                              51


conveyance, transfer or lease shall not be released from the obligation to pay
the principal of and interest on the Securities. The Successor Guarantor shall
be the successor to such Subsidiary Guarantor and shall succeed to, and be
substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Subsidiary
Guarantor under this Indenture, but such predecessor Subsidiary Guarantor in the
case of a conveyance, transfer or lease shall not be released from the
obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities.


                                    ARTICLE 6

                              Defaults and Remedies


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

                  (1) the Company defaults in any payment of interest on any
         Security when the same becomes due and payable, and such default
         continues for a period of 30 days;

                  (2) the Company (i) defaults in the payment of the principal
         of any Security when the same becomes due and payable at its Stated
         Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon
         declaration or otherwise, or (ii) fails to redeem or purchase
         Securities when required pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities;

                  (3) the Company fails to comply with Section 5.01;

                  (4) the Company fails to comply with Section 4.02, 4.03, 4.04,
         4.05, 4.06 (other than a failure to purchase Securities), 4.07, 4.08,
         4.09 (other than a failure to purchase Securities), 4.10, 4.11 or 4.12
         and such failure continues for 30 days after the notice specified
         below;

                  (5) the Company fails to comply with any of its agreements in
         the Securities or this Indenture (other than those referred to in
         clause (1), (2), (3) or (4) above) and such failure continues for 60
         days after the notice specified below;

                  (6) Indebtedness of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary
         is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or
         is accelerated by the 


<PAGE>   58
                                                                              52


         holders thereof because of a default and the total amount of such
         Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $10 million (the "cross
         acceleration provision");

                  (7) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or
         within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

                           (A) commences a voluntary case;

                           (B) consents to the entry of an order for relief
                  against it in an involuntary case;

                           (C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it
                  or for any substantial part of its property; or

                           (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its
                  creditors;

         or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to
         insolvency;

                  (8) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or
         decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

                           (A) is for relief against the Company or any
                  Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

                           (B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any
                  Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its
                  property; or

                           (C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the
                  Company or any Significant Subsidiary;

         or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws, and, in any
         such case referred to in this clause (8), the order or decree remains
         unstayed and in effect for 60 days;

                  (9) any final, non-appealable judgment or decree for the
         payment of money in excess of $10 million is entered against the
         Company or any Significant Subsidiary, remains outstanding for a period
         of 60 days following the entry of such judgment or decree and is not
         discharged, waived or the execution thereof stayed within 10 days after
         the notice specified below; or


<PAGE>   59
                                                                              53


                  (10) a Subsidiary Guaranty ceases to be in full force and
         effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Subsidiary
         Guaranty) or a Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms its
         obligations under its Subsidiary Guaranty.

         The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for
any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is
effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any
court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental
body.

         The term "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, United States Code, or any
similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term "Custodian"
means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official
under any Bankruptcy Law.

         A Default under clauses (4), (5) or (9) is not an Event of Default
until the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding Securities notify the Company of the Default and the Company does
not cure such Default within the time specified after receipt of such notice.
Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that
such notice is a "Notice of Default".

         The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the
occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers' Certificate of
any Event of Default under clause (6) or (10) and any event which with the
giving of notice or the lapse of time would become an Event of Default under
clause (4), (5) or (9), its status and what action the Company is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto.

         SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event
of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the Company)
occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders
of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities by notice to the Company
and the Trustee, may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on
all the Securities to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such
principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the Company occurs,
the principal of and interest on all the Securities shall ipso facto become and
be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part
of the Trustee or 


<PAGE>   60
                                                                              54


any Securityholders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Securities by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its
consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree
and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except
nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of
acceleration. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair
any right consequent thereto.

         SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment
of principal of or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of
any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.

         The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any
of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or
omission by the Trustee or any Securityholder in exercising any right or remedy
accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is
exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

         SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Securities by notice to the Trustee may waive an
existing Default and its consequences except (i) a Default in the payment of the
principal of or interest on a Security (ii) a Default arising from the failure
to redeem or purchase any Security when required pursuant to this Indenture or
(iii) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be
amended without the consent of each Securityholder affected. When a Default is
waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other Default or impair any consequent right.

         SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Securities may direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may
refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or,
subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to
the rights of other Securityholders or would involve the Trustee in personal
liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed
proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to
taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemni-


<PAGE>   61
                                                                              55


fication satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and
expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

         SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits. Except to enforce the right to
receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no
Securityholder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the
Securities unless:

                  (1) the Holder has given to the Trustee written notice stating
         that an Event of Default is continuing;

                  (2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
         Securities have made a written request to the Trustee to pursue the
         remedy;

                  (3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee
         reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or
         expense;

                  (4) the Trustee has not complied with the request within 60
         days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or
         indemnity; and

                  (5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
         Securities has not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the
         request during such 60-day period.

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

         SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders To Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of
principal of and interest on the Securities held by such Holder, on or after the
respective due dates expressed in the Securities, or to bring suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be
impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

         SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default
specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may
recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the
Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any
unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in Section
7.07.


<PAGE>   62
                                                                              56


         SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file
such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Securityholders
allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors or
its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote
on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other
Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial
proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee
and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments
directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section
7.07.

         SECTION 6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money or property
pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the
following order:

                  FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

                  SECOND: to Securityholders for amounts due and unpaid on the
         Securities for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or
         priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the
         Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

                  THIRD: to the Company.

         The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to
Securityholders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record
date, the Company shall mail to each Securityholder and the Trustee a notice
that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

         SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of
any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for
any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may
require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay
the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable
costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the
suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses
made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the
Trustee, a suit by a Holder 


<PAGE>   63
                                                                              57


pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal
amount of the Securities.

         SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company (to the
extent it may lawfully do so) shall 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 shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution
of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the
execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.


                                    ARTICLE 7

                                     Trustee

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

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

                  (1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only
         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
         conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
         correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or
         opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of
         this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and
         opinions to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the
         requirements of this Indenture.

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


<PAGE>   64
                                                                              58


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

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

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

         (d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the
Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

         (e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received
by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.

         (f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law.

         (g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur 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 to believe that repayment of such
funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.

         (h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or
affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be
subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the TIA.

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

         (b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an
Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable
for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the
Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.


<PAGE>   65
                                                                              59


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

         (d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to
take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or
powers; provided, however, that the Trustee's conduct does not constitute wilful
misconduct or negligence.

         (e) The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice or opinion of
counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the
Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from
liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in
good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

         SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its
individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities
and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights
it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar
or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must
comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

         SECTION 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be
responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of
this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company's
use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any
statement of the Company in the Indenture or in any document issued in
connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the
Trustee's certificate of authentication.

         SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing
and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder
notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a
Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security (including
payments pursuant to the mandatory redemption provisions of such Security, if
any), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its
Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the
interests of Securityholders.

         SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. As promptly as practicable
after each May 1 beginning with the May 1 following the date of this Indenture,
and in any event 


<PAGE>   66
                                                                              60


prior to July 1 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder a
brief report dated as of May 1 that complies with TIA ss 313(a). The Trustee
also shall comply with TIA ss 313(b).

         A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders
shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the
Securities are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee
whenever the Securities become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting
thereof.

         SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to the
Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The
Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon
request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it,
including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services.
Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee's agents, counsel, accountants and
experts. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss,
liability or expense (including attorneys' fees) incurred by it in connection
with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties
hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which
it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not
relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that the
Company has been prejudiced by such failure. The Company shall defend the claim
and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense of any such claim. If, in the
opinion of the Trustee's counsel, the Trustee has an interest adverse to the
Company or a potential conflict of interest exists between the Trustee and the
Company, the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the
reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not reimburse any
expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the
Trustee through the Trustee's own wilful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.
The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

         To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the
Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held
or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay
principal of and interest on particular Securities.


<PAGE>   67
                                                                              61


         The Company's payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall
survive the discharge of this Indenture. When the Trustee incurs expenses after
the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to
the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration
under the Bankruptcy Law.

         SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any
time by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may
appoint a successor Trustee, which successor Trustee shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Company. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

                  (1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

                  (2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

                  (3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the
         Trustee or its property; or

                  (4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

         If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of
a majority in principal amount of the Securities and such Holders do not
reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to
herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee.

         A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the
successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee
under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its
succession to Securityholders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all
property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien
provided for in Section 7.07.

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


<PAGE>   68
                                                                              62


         If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Securityholder
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee
and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

         Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this
Section, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 accrued or arising with
respect to the period during which the retiring Trustee served shall continue
for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

         SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates
with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its
corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking
association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any
further act shall be the successor Trustee.

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

         SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all
times satisfy the requirements of TIA ss 310(a). The Trustee shall have a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most
recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA
ss 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of
TIA ss 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or
certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are
outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA ss 310(b)(1)
are met.

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



<PAGE>   69
                                                                              63


                                    ARTICLE 8

                       Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance

         SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Securities; Defeasance. (a)
When (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee all outstanding Securities (other
than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.06) for cancellation or (ii) all
outstanding Securities have become due and payable, whether at maturity or as a
result of the mailing of a notice of redemption pursuant to Article 3 hereof and
the Company irrevocably deposits with the Trustee funds sufficient to pay at
maturity or upon redemption all outstanding Securities, including interest
thereon to maturity or such redemption date (other than Securities replaced
pursuant to Section 2.07), and if in either case the Company pays all other sums
payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall, subject to Sections
8.01(c), cease to be of further effect. The Trustee shall acknowledge
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture on demand of the Company
accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the
cost and expense of the Company.

         (b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Company at any time may
terminate (i) all its obligations under the Securities and this Indenture
("legal defeasance option") or (ii) its obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03,
4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11 and 4.12 and the operation of
Sections 6.01(4), 6.01(6), 6.01(7), 6.01(8), 6.01(9) (but, in the case of
Sections 6.01(7) and (8), with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries) and
6.01(10) and the limitations contained in Sections 5.01(a)(iii) and (iv) and
Section 5.01(b) ("covenant defeasance option"). The Company may exercise its
legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant
defeasance option.

         If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the
Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect
thereto. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the
Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in
Sections 6.01(4), 6.01(6), 6.01(7), 6.01(8), 6.01(9) (but, in the case of
Sections 6.01(7) and (8), with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries) and
6.01(10) or because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section
5.01(a)(iii) or (iv) or Section 5.01(b). If the Company exercises its legal
defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, each Subsidiary Guarantor
shall 


<PAGE>   70
                                                                              64


be released from all its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guaranty.

         Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request
of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those
obligations that the Company terminates.

         (c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company's
obligations in Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 7.07 and 7.08 and in
this Article 8 shall survive until the Securities have been paid in full.
Thereafter, the Company's obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.04 and 8.05 shall
survive.

         SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance. The Company may exercise its
legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

                  (1) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee
         money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of
         and interest on the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case
         may be;

                  (2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a
         nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their
         opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and
         without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus
         any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times
         and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal and interest
         when due on all the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case
         may be;

                  (3) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the
         123-day period no Default specified in Sections 6.01(7) or (8) with
         respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the
         period;

                  (4) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other
         agreement binding on the Company;

                  (5) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
         to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not
         constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under
         the Investment Company Act of 1940;

                  (6) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Company
         shall have delivered to the Trustee an 


<PAGE>   71
                                                                              65


         Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or
         there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or
         (ii) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the
         applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that,
         and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the
         Securityholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal
         income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject
         to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at
         the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not
         occurred;

                  (7) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Company
         shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
         that the Securityholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for
         Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and
         will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same
         manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
         covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

                  (8) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers'
         Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
         precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Securities as
         contemplated by this Article 8 have been complied with (provided that
         such Opinion need only pass upon clause (4) above with respect to
         material agreements known to such counsel after due inquiry).

         Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date in
accordance with Article 3.

         SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in
trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this
Article 8. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government
Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to
the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities.

         SECTION 8.04. Repayment to Company. The Trustee and the Paying Agent
shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or
securities held by them at any time.

         Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the
Paying Agent shall pay to the Company 


<PAGE>   72
                                                                              66


upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest
that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Securityholders entitled
to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

         SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for Government Obligations. The Company shall
pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed
on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal
and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

         SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable
to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this
Article 8 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or
judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or
otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company's obligations under this
Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no
deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 8 until such time as the Trustee
or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government
Obligations in accordance with this Article 8; provided, however, that, if the
Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities
because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated
to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the
money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.


                                    ARTICLE 9

                                   Amendments

         SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders. The Company, the Subsidiary
Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without
notice to or consent of any Securityholder:

                  (1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

                  (2) to comply with Article 5;

                  (3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or
         in place of certificated Securities; provided, however, that the
         uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of
         Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the 


<PAGE>   73
                                                                              67


         uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the
         Code;

                  (4) to add guarantees with respect to the Securities, or to
         secure the Securities;

                  (5) to add to the covenants of the Company or the Subsidiary
         Guarantors for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or
         power herein conferred upon the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors;

                  (6) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection
         with qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, this Indenture
         under the TIA; or

                  (7) to make any change that does not adversely affect the
         rights of any Securityholder.

         After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company
shall mail to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The
failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect therein, shall
not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.

         SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders. The Company, the Subsidiary
Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without
notice to any Securityholder but with the written consent of the Holders of at
least a majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding
(including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for
the Securities). However, without the consent of each Securityholder affected
thereby, an amendment may not:

                  (1) reduce the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent
         to an amendment;

                  (2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of
         interest on any Security;

                  (3) reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of
         any Security;

                  (4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any
         Security or change the time at which any Security may be redeemed in
         accordance with Article 3;

                  (5) make any Security payable in money other than that stated
         in the Security;


<PAGE>   74
                                                                              68


                  (6) make any change in Section 6.04 or Section 6.07 or the
         second sentence of this Section; or

                  (7) make any change in any Subsidiary Guaranty that would
         adversely affect the Securityholders.

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

         After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company
shall mail to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The
failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect therein, shall
not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.

         SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to
this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

         SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers. A consent
to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and
every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that
evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Security, even if notation of
the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such Holder or
subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder's Security
or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation
before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment or
waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Securityholder. An amendment or
waiver becomes effective upon the execution of such amendment or waiver by the
Trustee.

         The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for
the purpose of determining the Securityholders entitled to give their consent or
take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken
pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the
immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Securityholders at such
record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be
entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to
take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after
such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120
days after such record date.


<PAGE>   75
                                                                              69


         SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment
changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the
Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate
notation on the Security regarding the changed terms and return it to the
Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company
in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a
new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate
notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such
amendment.

         SECTION 9.06. Trustee To Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any
amendment authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment does not
adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.
If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment the
Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and
to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying
upon, an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such
amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

         SECTION 9.07. Payment for Consent. Neither the Company nor any
Affiliate of the Company shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid
any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder
for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms
or provisions of this Indenture or the Securities unless such consideration is
offered to be paid to all Holders that so consent, waive or agree to amend in
the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent,
waiver or agreement.

         SECTION 9.08. Single Class of Securities. The Initial Securities and
the Exchange Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as one
class and none of the Initial Securities or the Exchange Securities shall have
the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.


                                   ARTICLE 10

                              Subsidiary Guaranties

         SECTION 10.01. Guaranties. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby
unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, jointly and severally, to each
Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (a) the full and
punctual payment 


<PAGE>   76
                                                                              70


of principal of and interest on the Securities when due, whether at maturity, by
acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, and all other monetary obligations of
the Company under this Indenture and the Securities and (b) the full and
punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of
the Company under this Indenture and the Securities (all the foregoing being
hereinafter collectively called the "Obligations"). Each Subsidiary Guarantor
further agrees that the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in
part, without notice or further assent from such Subsidiary Guarantor and that
such Subsidiary Guarantor will remain bound under this Article 10
notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation.

         Each Subsidiary Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of, payment
from and protest to the Company of any of the Obligations and also waives notice
of protest for nonpayment. Each Subsidiary Guarantor waives notice of any
default under the Securities or the Obligations. The obligations of each
Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (a) the failure of any
Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or
remedy against the Company or any other Person under this Indenture, the
Securities or any other agreement or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of
any thereof; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the
terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement;
(d) the release of any security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the
Obligations or any of them; (e) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to
exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Obligations; or
(f) any change in the ownership of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

         Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that its Subsidiary Guaranty
herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due
(and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any
resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of
the Obligations.

         Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b), 10.02 and 10.06, the
obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any
reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any
claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be
subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination
whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the
Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
obligations of 


<PAGE>   77
                                                                              71


each Subsidiary Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or
otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any
claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Securities or
any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any
default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the
obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other
act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of
such Subsidiary Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of such
Subsidiary Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

         Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein
shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Obligation
is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the
bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.

         In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other
right which any Holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any
Subsidiary Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay
the principal of or interest on any Obligation when and as the same shall become
due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to
perform or comply with any other Obligation, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby
promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith
pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee an amount equal
to the sum of (i) the unpaid amount of such Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid
interest on such Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by law) and
(iii) all other monetary Obligations of the Company to the Holders and the
Trustee.

         Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that, as between it, on the one hand,
and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the
Obligations Guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for
the purposes of such Subsidiary Guarantor's Subsidiary Guaranty herein,
notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such
acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the
event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in
Article 6, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith
become due and payable by such Subsidiary Guarantor for the purposes of this
Section.


<PAGE>   78
                                                                              72


         Each Subsidiary Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and
expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by the Trustee or any
Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section.

         SECTION 10.02. Limitation on Liability. Any term or provision of this
Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum, aggregate amount of the
Obligations guaranteed hereunder by any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not exceed
the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this
Indenture, as it relates to such Subsidiary Guarantor, voidable under applicable
law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws
affecting the rights of creditors generally.

         SECTION 10.03. Successors and Assigns. This Article 10 shall be binding
upon each Subsidiary Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall enure to
the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in
the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee,
the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the
Securities shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or
assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

         SECTION 10.04. No Waiver. Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of
either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege
under this Article 10 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or
partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right,
power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the
Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other
rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 10 at law,
in equity, by statute or otherwise.

         SECTION 10.05. Modification. No modification, amendment or waiver of
any provision of this Article 10, nor the consent to any departure by any
Subsidiary Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same
shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent
shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which
given. No notice to or demand on any Subsidiary Guarantor in any case shall
entitle such Subsidiary Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in
the same, similar or other circumstances.


<PAGE>   79
                                                                              73


         SECTION 10.06. Release of Subsidiary Guarantor. Upon the sale or other
disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of a Subsidiary
Guarantor or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of
such Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case other than to the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company) permitted by this Indenture, such Subsidiary Guarantor
shall be deemed released from all obligations under this Article 10 without any
further action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. At the request
of the Company, the Trustee shall execute and deliver an appropriate instrument
evidencing such release.

                                   ARTICLE 11

                                  Miscellaneous


         SECTION 11.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this
Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is
required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the required provision
shall control.

         SECTION 11.02. Notices. Any notice or communication shall be in writing
and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

         if to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

         The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc.
         2105 Water Ridge Parkway, Suite 500
         Charlotte, NC 28217
         Facsimile: (704) 423-8987

         Attention of Chief Financial Officer 

         if to the Trustee:

         First Union National Bank
         230 South Tryon Street, 9th Floor
         Charlotte, NC 28288
         Facsimile: (704) 383-7316

         Attention: Corporate Trust Group

         The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.


<PAGE>   80
                                                                              74


         Any notice or communication mailed to a Securityholder shall be mailed
to the Securityholder at the Securityholder's address as it appears on the
registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed
within the time prescribed.

         Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any
defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other
Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided
above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, all notices, requests and other
communications under Article 6 shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered
personally or sent by facsimile (with confirmation of receipt) or by guaranteed
next business day courier service, addressed to the recipient as set forth above
in this Section 11.02, and shall be duly given (i) in the case of personal
delivery, upon delivery, (ii) in the case of delivery by facsimile, upon
confirmation of receipt, and (iii) in the case of delivery by courier service,
on the business day following delivery to such courier service.

         SECTION 11.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders may communicate pursuant to TIA ss 312(b) with other
Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the
Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have
the protection of TIA ss 312(c).

         SECTION 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon
any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from
taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee:

                  (1) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
         satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the
         signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
         Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

                  (2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
         satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such
         counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.


<PAGE>   81
                                                                              75


         SECTION 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each
certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition
provided for in this Indenture shall include:

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

                  (2) 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;

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

                  (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
         individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

         SECTION 11.06. When Securities Disregarded. In determining whether the
Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any
direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or by any Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only
Securities which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also,
subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the time shall be
considered in any such determination.

         SECTION 11.07. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The
Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders.
The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their
functions.

         SECTION 11.08. Legal Holidays. A "Legal Holiday" is a Saturday, a
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are not required to be open in the
State of New York or the State of North Carolina. If a payment date is a Legal
Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal
Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular
record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.


<PAGE>   82
                                                                              76


         SECTION 11.09. Governing Law. This Indenture and the Securities shall
be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New
York but without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to
the extent that the application of the laws of another jurisdiction would be
required thereby.

         SECTION 11.10. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer,
employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability
for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or this Indenture or for
any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their
creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder shall waive and release
all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration
for the issue of the Securities.

         SECTION 11.11. Successors. All agreements of the Company in this
Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the
Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

         SECTION 11.12. Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of
copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them
together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this
Indenture.

         SECTION 11.13. Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents,
cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this
Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended
to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms
or provisions hereof.


<PAGE>   83
                                                                              77



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

                                   THE J.H. HEAFNER COMPANY, INC.,

                                     by
                                        ------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                   OLIVER & WINSTON, INC.,

                                     by
                                        ------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                     by
                                        ------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                   THE SPEED MERCHANT, INC.,

                                     by
                                        ------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                     by
                                        ------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                   PHOENIX RACING, INC.,

                                     by
                                        ------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                     by
                                        ------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:


<PAGE>   84
                                                                              78


                                   ITCO LOGISTICS CORPORATION,

                                     by
                                        ------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:



<PAGE>   85
                                                                              79



                                   FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as
                                   Trustee,

                                     by
                                        ------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:



<PAGE>   86



                                                 RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX



           FOR OFFERINGS TO QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS PURSUANT TO
         RULE 144A, AND TO CERTAIN PERSONS IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS IN
                            RELIANCE ON REGULATION S.

                   PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL SECURITIES,
                EXISTING SECURITIES, PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES
                             AND EXCHANGE SECURITIES

         1. Definitions

         1.1 Definitions

         For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated below:

         "Depository" means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their
respective successors.

         "Exchange Securities" means the Series D 10% Senior Notes Due 2008 to
be issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with a Registered Exchange
Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

         "Existing Securities" means the 10% Senior Notes Due 2008 of the
Company issued in exchange for the Company's 10% Senior Notes Due 2008
originally issued May 20, 1998.

         "Initial Purchasers" means BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. and
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation.

         "Initial Securities" means the Series C 10% Senior Notes Due 2008,
issued under this Indenture on or about the date hereof.

         "Private Exchange" means the offer by the Company, pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement, to the Initial Purchasers to issue and deliver to
each Initial Purchaser, in exchange for the Initial Securities held by the
Initial Purchaser as part of its initial distribution, a like aggregate
principal amount of Private Exchange Securities.

         "Purchase Agreement" means the Purchase Agreement dated December 1,
1998 among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.

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

         "Registered Exchange Offer" means the offer by the Company, pursuant to
the Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial Securities and
holders of Existing Securities, to issue and deliver to such holders, in
exchange 


<PAGE>   87
                                                                               2


for the Initial Securities, or the Existing Securities, as the case may be, a
like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Securities registered under the
Securities Act.

         "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights Agreement
dated December 1, 1998, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the
Initial Purchasers.

         "Securities" means the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities and
the Private Exchange Securities, treated as a single class.

         "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933.

         "Securities Custodian" means the custodian with respect to a Global
Security (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor person thereto and
shall initially be the Trustee.

         "Shelf Registration Statement" means the registration statement issued
by the Company, in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Securities or
Private Exchange Securities, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

         "Transfer Restricted Securities" means Securities that bear or are
required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b) hereto.


         1.2 Other Definitions

                                                         Defined in
               Term                                       Section:
               ----                                      ----------

     "Agent Members". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1(b)
     "Global Security". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1(a)
     "Regulation S" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1(a)
     "Rule 144A". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1(a)

         2. The Securities.

         2.1 Form and Dating.

         The Initial Securities are being offered and sold by the Company
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

         (a) Global Securities. Initial Securities offered and sold to a QIB in
reliance on Rule 144A under the 


<PAGE>   88
                                                                               3


Securities Act ("Rule 144A") or in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities
Act ("Regulation S"), in each case as provided in the Purchase Agreement, shall
be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Securities in
definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with the global
securities legend and restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto
(each, a "Global Security"), which shall be deposited on behalf of the
purchasers of the Initial Securities represented thereby with the Trustee, at
its North Carolina office, as custodian for the Depository (or with such other
custodian as the Depository may direct), and registered in the name of the
Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Company and
authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal
amount of the Global Securities may from time to time be increased or decreased
by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its
nominee as hereinafter provided.

         (b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a
Global Security deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

         The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with
this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global
Securities that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such
Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depository and (b)
shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such
Depository's instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the
Depository.

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

         (c) Certificated Securities. Except as provided in Section 2.3 or 2.4,
owners of beneficial interests in Global 


<PAGE>   89
                                                                               4


Securities will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated
Securities.

         2.2 Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1)
Initial Securities for original issue in an aggregate principal amount of
$50,000,000 and (2) Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities for issue
only in a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, respectively,
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, for a like principal amount of
Initial Securities and/or Existing Securities, as the case may be, in each case
upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and
either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such
order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the
date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated and
whether the Securities are to be Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities. The aggregate principal amount of Securities
outstanding at any time may not exceed $150,000,000 except as provided in
Section 2.06 of this Indenture.

         2.3 Transfer and Exchange. (a) Transfer and Exchange of Global
Securities.

                  (i) The transfer and exchange of Global Securities or
         beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository,
         in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on
         transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository
         therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Security
         shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with
         the Depository's procedures containing information regarding the
         participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial
         interest in the Global Security. The Registrar shall, in accordance
         with such instructions instruct the Depository to credit to the account
         of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in
         the Global Security and to debit the account of the Person making the
         transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Security being
         transferred.

                  (ii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix
         (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Security
         may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee
         of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository
         or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such
         nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor
         Depository.


<PAGE>   90
                                                                               5


                    (iii) In the event that a Global Security is exchanged for
          Securities in definitive registered form pursuant to Section 2.4 of
          this Appendix or Section 2.08 of the Indenture, prior to the
          consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a
          Shelf Registration Statement, in either case with respect to such
          Securities, such Securities may be exchanged only in accordance with
          such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of
          this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth
          on the reverse of the Initial Securities intended to ensure that such
          transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S, as the case may be)
          and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the
          Company.

         (b) Legend.

                  (i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii),
         (iii) and (iv), each Security certificate evidencing the Global
         Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in
         substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the
         following form:

                  "THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A
                  TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES
                  SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS
                  SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN
                  THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION
                  THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED
                  THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE
                  EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES
                  ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

                  THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
                  ISSUER THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED
                  OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (i) INSIDE THE U.S. TO A PERSON
                  WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED
                  INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE
                  SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
                  RULE 144A, (ii) OUTSIDE THE U.S. IN A TRANSACTION IN
                  ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (iii)
                  PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE
                  SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE),
                  (iv) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                  SECURITIES ACT, OR (v) TO THE ISSUER, IN EACH OF CASES (i)
                  THROUGH (iv) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS
                  OF ANY STATE OF THE 


<PAGE>   91
                                                                               6


                  UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT
                  HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM
                  IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE."

                  (ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted
         Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a
         Global Security) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, in the
         case of any Transfer Restricted Security that is represented by a
         Global Security, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to
         exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a certificated Security
         that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any
         restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security, if
         the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for
         such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to
         be in the form, and accompanied by the opinions and other information,
         set forth on the reverse of the Security).

                  (iii) After a transfer of any Initial Securities or Private
         Exchange Securities pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration
         Statement with respect to such Initial Securities or Private Exchange
         Securities, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to legends
         on such Initial Security or such Private Exchange Security will cease
         to apply, the requirements requiring any such Initial Security or such
         Private Exchange Security issued to certain Holders be issued in global
         form will cease to apply, and a certificated Initial Security or
         Private Exchange Security without legends will be available to the
         transferee of the Holder of such Initial Securities or Private Exchange
         Securities upon exchange of such transferring Holder's certificated
         Initial Security or Private Exchange Security or directions to transfer
         such Holder's interest in the Global Security, as applicable.

                  (iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with
         respect to the Initial Securities pursuant to which Holders of such
         Initial Securities are offered Exchange Securities in exchange for
         their Initial Securities, subject to the last sentence of Section
         2.4(a) of this Appendix, all requirements pertaining to such Initial
         Securities that Initial Securities issued to certain Holders be issued
         in global form will cease to apply and certificated Initial Securities
         with the restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto
         will be available to Holders of such Initial Securities that do not
         exchange their Initial Securities, and Exchange Securities in
<PAGE>   92
                                                                               7


         certificated or global form will be available to Holders that exchange
         such Initial Securities in such Registered Exchange Offer.

                  (v) Upon the consummation of a Private Exchange with respect
         to the Initial Securities pursuant to which Holders of such Initial
         Securities are offered Private Exchange Securities in exchange for
         their Initial Securities, all requirements pertaining to such Initial
         Securities that Initial Securities issued to certain Holders be issued
         in global form will still apply, and Private Exchange Securities in
         global form with the Restricted Securities Legend set forth in Exhibit
         1 hereto will be available to Holders that exchange such Initial
         Securities in such Private Exchange.

         (c) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Security. At such time as all
beneficial interests in a Global Security have either been exchanged for
certificated Securities, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Security
shall be returned to the Depository for cancellation or retained and canceled by
the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest
in a Global Security is exchanged for certificated or Definitive Securities,
redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Securities
represented by such Global Security shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be
made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Securities
Custodian for such Global Security) with respect to such Global Security, by the
Trustee or the Securities Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

         (d) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Securities.

                  (i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges,
         subject to the requirements of this Appendix, the Company shall execute
         and the Trustee shall authenticate certificated Securities and Global
         Securities at the Registrar's or co-registrar's request.

                  (ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of
         transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum
         sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar
         governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any
         such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable
         upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.09 and 9.05).


<PAGE>   93
                                                                               8


                  (iii) The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to
         register the transfer of or exchange of (a) any certificated Security
         selected for redemption in whole or in part pursuant to Article 3 of
         this Indenture, except the unredeemed portion of any certificated
         Security being redeemed in part, or (b) any Security for a period
         beginning 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer
         to repurchase or redeem Securities or 15 Business Days before an
         interest payment date.

                  (iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration of
         transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent,
         the Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat the person in
         whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such
         Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and
         interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever,
         whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the
         Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be
         affected by notice to the contrary.

                  (v) All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange
         pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt
         and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the
         Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

         (e) No Obligation of the Trustee.

                  (i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to
         any beneficial owner of a Global Security, a member of, or a
         participant in the Depository or other Person with respect to the
         accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any
         participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest
         in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant,
         member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of
         any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any
         amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and
         communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made
         to Holders under the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon
         the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or
         its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial
         owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the
         Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the
         Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in
         relying 


<PAGE>   94
                                                                               9


         upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its
         members, participants and any beneficial owners.

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

         2.4 Certificated Securities.

         (a) A Global Security deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee
as custodian for the Depository pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to
the beneficial owners thereof in the form of certificated Securities in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global
Security, in exchange for such Global Security, only if such transfer complies
with Section 2.3 and (i) the Depository notifies the Company that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security or if at
any time such Depository ceases to be a "clearing agency" registered under the
Exchange Act and a successor Depository is not appointed by the Company within
90 days of such notice, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or (iii) the Company, in its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in
writing that it elects to cause the issuance of certificated Securities under
this Indenture. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.3 or this Section
2.4, the issuance of certificated Securities shall be subject to the ownership
certification requirements of Rule 903(c)(3)(ii)(B) of Regulation S under the
Securities Act.

         (b) Any Global Security that is transferable to the beneficial owners
thereof pursuant to this Section shall be surrendered by the Depository to the
Trustee located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, to be so
transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of
such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated
Initial Securities of authorized denominations and registered in such names as
the Depository shall direct. Any portion of a Global Security transferred
pursuant to this Section shall be 


<PAGE>   95
                                                                              10


executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall
direct. Any certificated Initial Security delivered in exchange for an interest
in the Global Security shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(b),
bear the restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

         (c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b), the registered Holder
of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person,
including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent
Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this
Indenture or the Securities.

         (d) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in
Section 2.4(a), the Company will promptly make available to the Trustee a
reasonable supply of certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered
form without interest coupons.

<PAGE>   96



                                                                       EXHIBIT 1
                                                                              to
                                                 RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX



                       [FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

                           [Global Securities Legend]

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

         TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN
WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH
SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE
LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE
INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.


                         [Restricted Securities Legend]

"THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION
EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE
"SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION
THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF
THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5
OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT (A) THIS
SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (i)
INSIDE THE U.S. TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A
TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (ii) OUTSIDE THE U.S. IN A
TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (iii) PURSUANT
TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144
THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (iv) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (v) TO THE ISSUER, IN EACH OF CASES (i) THROUGH
(iv) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS 


<PAGE>   97
                                                                               2


OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT
HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE
RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE."

<PAGE>   98
                                                                               3



                         THE J.H. HEAFNER COMPANY, INC.

No.__________                                                      $___________

                       Series C 10% Senior Notes Due 2008


         The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, promises
to pay to ______________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of 
_______________ Dollars on May 15, 2008.

         Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15.

         Record Dates: May 1 and November 1.

         Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side
of this Security.


     Dated:

                                   THE J.H. HEAFNER COMPANY, INC.

                                     by

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




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



TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
     AUTHENTICATION

FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Trustee, certifies
that this is one of
the Securities referred
to in the Indenture.

  by
    -----------------------------
        Authorized Signatory

<PAGE>   99
                                                                               4



                   [FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL SECURITY]


                       Series C 10% Senior Notes Due 2008



1. Interest

         The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (such
corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to, being herein called the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the
principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above; provided,
however, that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) occurs, interest will accrue on this Security at a rate of .50% per
annum from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall
occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been
cured. The Company will pay interest semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of
each year. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to
which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from December 8,
1998. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by
the Securities plus 1% per annum, and it shall pay interest on overdue
installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.


2. Method of Payment

         The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted
interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Securities at the close
of business on the May 1 or November 1 next preceding the interest payment date
even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the
interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to
collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money
of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a
Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The
Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a
certificated Security (including principal, premium and interest) by mailing a
check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided, however, 


<PAGE>   100
                                                                               5


that payments on a certificated Security will be made by wire transfer to a U.S.
dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such
Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee
or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30
days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date
as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).


3. Paying Agent and Registrar

         Initially, First Union National Bank, a national banking association
("the Trustee"), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint
and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The
Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may
act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.


4. Indenture

         The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of
December 1, 1998 ("Indenture"), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and
the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture
and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 (15 U.S.C. ss 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the
"Act"). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings
ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms,
and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of
those terms. The Initial Securities and the Exchange Securities shall be treated
as a single class of securities for the purposes of the Indenture.

         The Securities are general unsecured senior obligations of the Company
limited to $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount (subject to Section 2.06 of
the Indenture). The Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other
things, limit the Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries, the making of Restricted Payments, the creation of
restrictions on distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries, Asset Dispositions,
certain transactions with Affiliates, the Incurrence of Liens and Sale/Leaseback
Transactions and certain consolidations, mergers and transfers of assets.

         To guarantee the due and punctual payment of principal and interest, if
any, on the Securities and all 


<PAGE>   101
                                                                               6


other amounts payable by the Company under the Indenture and the Securities when
and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration
or otherwise, according to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, the
Subsidiary Guarantors have, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed
such obligations on a senior basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.


5. Optional Redemption

         Except as set forth in the following paragraph, the Securities will not
be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to May 15, 2003. Thereafter,
the Securities will be redeemable, at the Company's option, in whole or in part,
at any time or from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder's registered address, at
the following redemption prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount),
plus accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of
record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant
interest payment date):

                  if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on May 15 of
         the years set forth below:

                                                                      Redemption
              Period                                                     Price  
              ------                                                  ----------
              2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     105.000%
              2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     103.333
              2005  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     101.667
              2006 and thereafter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     100.000


         In addition, prior to the earlier of May 15, 2001 and the closing of
the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the original
aggregate principal amount of the Securities with the net proceeds of one or
more Public Equity Offerings following which there is a Public Market, at a
redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 110.0% plus
accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of
record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant
interest payment date); provided, however, that at least 65% of the aggregate
original principal amount of the Securities must remain outstanding and be held,
directly or indirectly, by Persons other than the Company and its Affiliates,
after each such redemption.

         From time to time after the closing of the Registered Exchange Offer
and prior to May 15, 2001, the Company may redeem up to $52.5 million in
aggregate principal 


<PAGE>   102
                                                                               7


amount of Initial Securities and Exchange Securities, less the maximum aggregate
principal amount of Existing Securities the Company is permitted to redeem under
the Existing Notes Indenture at the time of such redemption, with the net
proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings following which there is a
Public Market, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal
amount) of 110.0% plus accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to the
right of Holders of record (and holders of record of Existing Securities) on the
relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment
date); provided, however, that at least $97.5 million in aggregate principal
amount of Initial Securities, Exchange Securities and Existing Securities must
remain outstanding and be held, directly or indirectly, by Persons other than
the Company and its Affiliates, after each such redemption.

         In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Securities or
the Existing Securities, as the case may be, for redemption will be made by the
Trustee on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in
its sole discretion shall deem to be fair and appropriate, although no Security
or Existing Security, as the case may be, of $1,000 in original principal amount
or less shall be redeemed in part. If any Security or Existing Security, as the
case may be, is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating
to such Security or Existing Security as the case may be, shall state the
portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Security or
Existing Security, as the case may be, in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon
cancelation of the original Security or Existing Security, as the case may be.

6. Notice of Redemption

         Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed
at his registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be
redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to
pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities (or portions
thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying
Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are
satisfied, on and after such date interest shall cease to accrue on such
Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.



<PAGE>   103
                                                                               8


7. Put Provisions

         Upon a Change of Control, any Holder of Securities will have the right
to cause the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Securities of such
Holder at a repurchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the
Securities to be repurchased plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase
(subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to
receive interest due on the related interest payment date) as provided in, and
subject to the terms of, the Indenture.


8. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

         The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations
of $1,000 and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange
Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents
and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The
Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Securities selected
for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the
portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or any Securities for a period of 15
days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or 15 days before an
interest payment date.


9. Persons Deemed Owners

         The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the owner of
it for all purposes.


10. Unclaimed Money

         If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for
two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company
at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After
any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company
and not to the Trustee for payment.


11. Discharge and Defeasance

         Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time may terminate
some or all of its obligations under the 


<PAGE>   104
                                                                               9


Securities and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee money or
U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the
Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.


12. Amendment, Waiver

         Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the
Indenture or the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities
and (ii) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the
written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of
the Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture,
without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company, the Subsidiary
Guarantors and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or the Securities to cure any
ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, or to comply with Article 5 of the
Indenture, or to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in
place of certificated Securities, or to add guarantees with respect to the
Securities or to secure the Securities, or to add additional covenants or
surrender rights and powers conferred on the Company or the Subsidiary
Guarantors, or to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with
qualifying the Indenture under the Act, or to make any change that does not
adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder. The Initial Securities and
Exchange Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class,
and none of the Initial Securities or the Exchange Securities shall have the
right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.


13. Defaults and Remedies

         Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (i) default for 30 days
in payment of interest on the Securities; (ii) default in payment of principal
on the Securities at maturity, upon redemption pursuant to paragraph 5 of the
Securities, upon acceleration or otherwise, or failure by the Company to redeem
or purchase Securities when required; (iii) failure by the Company to comply
with other agreements in the Indenture or the Securities, in certain cases
subject to notice and lapse of time; (iv) certain accelerations (including
failure to pay within any grace period after final maturity) of other
Indebtedness of the Company if the amount accelerated (or so unpaid) exceeds $10
million; (v) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the
Company and the Significant Subsidiaries; and 


<PAGE>   105
                                                                              10


(vi) certain final non-appealable judgments or decrees for the payment of money
in excess of $10 million and (vii) certain events pertaining to the Subsidiary
Guaranties. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities may declare all
the Securities to be due and payable immediately. Certain events of bankruptcy
or insolvency are Events of Default which will result in the Securities being
due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

         Securityholders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except
as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or
the Securities unless it receives reasonable indemnity or security. Subject to
certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may
withhold from Securityholders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default
in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is
in the interest of the Holders.


14. Trustee Dealings with the Company

         Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under
the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or
pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed
to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company
or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.


15. No Recourse Against Others

         A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company
or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company
under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of
or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security,
each Securityholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and
release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.



<PAGE>   106
                                                                              11


16. Authentication

         This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the
Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of
authentication on the other side of this Security.


17. Abbreviations

         Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Securityholder or
an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the
entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as
tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors
Act).

18. Holders' Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement.

         Each Holder of a Security, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and
agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including,
without limitation, the obligations of the Holders with respect to a
registration and the indemnification of the Company to the extent provided
therein.

19. Governing Law.

         THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH,
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF
ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

         The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written request and
without charge to the Securityholder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the
text of this Security in larger type. Requests may be made to:


                    The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc.
                    2105 Water Ridge Parkway, Suite 500
                    Charlotte, NC 28217

                    Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

<PAGE>   107
                                                                              12



                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

                To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

                  I or we assign and transfer this Security to


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

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


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



     Date: ________________ Your Signature: _____________________


     Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.

     In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this
     certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in
     Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act after the later of the date of
     original issuance of such Securities and the last date, if any, on which
     such Securities were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company,
     the undersigned confirms that such Securities are being transferred in
     accordance with their terms:

     CHECK ONE BOX BELOW 

             (1)  [ ]      to the Company; or

             (2)  [ ]      pursuant to an effective registration statement under
                           the Securities Act of 1933; or

             (3)  [ ]      inside the United States to a "qualified
                           institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under
                           the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its
                           own account or for the account of a qualified
                           institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such
                           transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in
                           each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule
                           144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or


<PAGE>   108
                                                                              13


              (4) [ ]      outside the United States in an offshore transaction
                           within the meaning of Regulation S under the
                           Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the
                           Securities Act of 1933; or

              (5) [ ]      pursuant to another available exemption from
                           registration provided by Rule 144 under the
                           Securities Act of 1933.

              Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to
              register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in
              the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof;
              provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee
              may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the
              Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other
              information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm
              that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or
              in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of
              the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule
              144 under such Act.




                                   ------------------------
                                         Signature

     Signature Guarantee:

     ---------------------         --------------------------
     Signature must be guaranteed       Signature

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


             TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

         The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this
Security for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises
sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a "qualified
institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of
1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A
and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as
the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to


<PAGE>   109
                                                                              14


request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying
upon the undersigned's foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption
from registration provided by Rule 144A.


Dated: ________________       ______________________________ 
                              NOTICE:  To be executed by an 
                              executive officer


<PAGE>   110
                                                                              15



                      [TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]

              SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

         The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been
made:


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

</TABLE>


<PAGE>   111
                                                                              16



                       OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

          If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, check the box:

                              [ ]

          If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by
the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, state the amount
in principal amount: $


Date: _______________    Your Signature: _____________________________
                                         (Sign exactly as your name
                                         appears on the other side of
                                         this Security.)

Signature Guarantee: _______________________________________
                        (Signature must be guaranteed by a 
                         member firm of the New York Stock 
                         Exchange or a commercial bank or trust 
                         company)


<PAGE>   112



                                                                       EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITY]

[*/]
[**/]
                   THE J.H. HEAFNER COMPANY, INC. 
No.                                                                 $          
                 Series D 10% Senior Notes Due 2008

The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, promises to pay to
________________________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of 
_______________ Dollars on May 15, 2008.

Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15

Record Dates: May 1 and November 1.

Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this
Security.

Dated:
                              THE J.H. HEAFNER COMPANY, INC.

                                by
                                   -----------------------


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

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION

FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Trustee, certifies
that this is one of the
Securities referred to in
the Indenture.

  by
    -----------------------------
        Authorized Signatory

- ----------------
*/ [If the Security is to be issued in global form add the Global Securities
Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and the attachment from such Exhibit 1
captioned "[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES] - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR
DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY".]

**/ [If the Security is a Private Exchange Security issued in a Private Exchange
to an Initial Purchaser holding an unsold portion of its initial allotment, add
the Restricted Securities Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and replace the
Assignment Form included in this Exhibit A with the Assignment Form included in
such Exhibit 1.]

<PAGE>   113
                                                                               2



    [FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITY]

                                        
                       Series D 10% Senior Notes Due 2008


1. Interest

         The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (such
corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to, being herein called the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the
principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above [; provided,
however, that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) occurs, interest will accrue on this Security at a rate of .50% per
annum from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall
occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been
cured] ***/. The Company will pay interest semiannually on May 15 and November
15 of each year. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent
date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from
December 8, 1998. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the
rate borne by the Securities plus 1% per annum, and it shall pay interest on
overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.






- ---------------
***/ Insert if at the time of issuance of the Exchange Security or Private
Exchange Security (as the case may be) neither the Registered Exchange Offer has
been consummated nor a Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective
in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement.


<PAGE>   114
                                                                               3


2. Method of Payment

         The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted
interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Securities at the close
of business on the May 1 or November 1 next preceding the interest payment date
even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the
interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to
collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money
of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public and private debts. Payments in respect of Securities (including
principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the accounts specified by the holders thereof or, if no U.S.
dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States is
designated by any holder to the Trustee or the Paying Agent at least 30 days
prior to the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee
may accept in its discretion), by mailing a check to the registered address of
such holder.



3. Paying Agent and Registrar

         Initially, First Union National Bank, a national banking association
("the Trustee"), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint
and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The
Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may
act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.



4. Indenture

         The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of
December 1, 1998 ("Indenture"), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and
the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture
and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 (15 U.S.C. ss 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the
"Act"). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings
ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms,
and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of
those terms. The Initial Securities and the Exchange Securities shall be treated
as a single class of securities for the purposes of the Indenture.


<PAGE>   115
                                                                               4


         The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the Company limited
to $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount (subject to Section 2.06 of the
Indenture). The Indenture contains certain covenants that among other things,
limit, the Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries, the making of Restricted Payments, the creation of
restrictions on distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries, Asset Dispositions,
certain transactions with Affiliates, the Incurrence of Liens and Sale/Leaseback
Transactions and certain consolidations, mergers and transfers of assets.

         To guarantee the due and punctual payment of principal and interest, if
any, on the Securities and all other amounts payable by the Company under the
Indenture and the Securities when and as the same shall be due and payable,
whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the
Securities and the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantors have, jointly and
severally, unconditionally guaranteed such obligations on a senior basis
pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption

         Except as set forth in the following paragraph, the Securities will not
be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to May 15, 2003. Thereafter,
the Securities will be redeemable, at the Company's option, in whole or in part,
at any time or from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder's registered address, at
the following redemption prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount),
plus accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of
record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant
interest payment date):

                  if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on May 15,
         of the years set forth below:

                                                                      Redemption
              Period                                                     Price
              ------                                                  ----------
              2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     105.000%
              2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     103.333
              2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     101.667
              2006 and thereafter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     100.000


         In addition, prior to the earlier of May 15, 2001 and the closing of
the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the original
aggregate principal amount of the Securities with the net proceeds of one or
more Public Equity Offerings following which there is a Public 


<PAGE>   116
                                                                               5


Market, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of
110.0% plus accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of
Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the
relevant interest payment date); provided, however, that at least 65% of the
aggregate original principal amount of the Securities must remain outstanding
and be held, directly or indirectly, by Persons other than the Company and its
Affiliates, after each such redemption.

         From time to time after the closing of the Registered Exchange Offer
and prior to May 15, 2001, the Company may redeem up to $52.5 million in
aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities and Exchange Securities, less
the maximum aggregate principal amount of Existing Securities the Company is
permitted to redeem under the Existing Notes Indenture at the time of such
redemption, with the net proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings
following which there is a Public Market, at a redemption price (expressed as a
percentage of principal amount) of 110.0% plus accrued interest to the
redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record (and holders of
record of Existing Securities) on the relevant record date to receive interest
due on the relevant interest payment date); provided, however, that at least
$97.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities, Exchange
Securities and Existing Securities must remain outstanding and be held, directly
or indirectly, by Persons other than the Company and its Affiliates, after each
such redemption.

         In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Securities or
Existing Securities, as the case may be, for redemption will be made by the
Trustee on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in
its sole discretion shall deem to be fair and appropriate, although no Security
or Existing Security, as the case may be, of $1,000 in original principal amount
or less shall be redeemed in part. If any Security or Existing Security, as the
case may be, is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating
to such Security or Existing Security, as the case may be, shall state the
portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Security or
Existing Security, as the case may be, in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon
cancelation of the original Security or Existing Security, as the case may be.




<PAGE>   117
                                                                               6


6. Notice of Redemption

         Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed
at his registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be
redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to
pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities (or portions
thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying
Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are
satisfied, on and after such date interest shall cease to accrue on such
Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.



7. Put Provisions

         Upon a Change of Control, any Holder of Securities will have the right
to cause the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Securities of such
Holder at a repurchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the
Securities to be repurchased plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase
(subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to
receive interest due on the related interest payment date) as provided in, and
subject to the terms of, the Indenture.



8. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

         The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations
of $1,000 and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange
Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents
and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The
Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Securities selected
for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the
portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or any Securities for a period of 15
days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or 15 days before an
interest payment date.




<PAGE>   118
                                                                               7


9. Persons Deemed Owners

         The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the owner of
it for all purposes.



10. Unclaimed Money

         If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for
two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company
at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After
any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company
and not to the Trustee for payment.



11. Discharge and Defeasance

         Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time may terminate
some or all of its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the
Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the
payment of principal and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity,
as the case may be.



12. Amendment, Waiver

         Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the
Indenture or the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities
and (ii) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the
written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of
the Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture,
without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company, the Subsidiary
Guarantors and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or the Securities to cure any
ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, or to comply with Article 5 of the
Indenture, or to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in
place of certificated Securities, or to add guarantees with respect to the
Securities or to secure the Securities, or to add additional covenants or
surrender rights and powers conferred on the Company, or to comply with any
requirements of the SEC in connection with qualifying the Indenture under the
Act, or to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any
Securityholder. The Initial Securities and Exchange 


<PAGE>   119
                                                                               8


Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class, and none
of the Initial Securities or the Exchange Securities shall have the right to
vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.


13. Defaults and Remedies

         Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (i) default for 30 days
in payment of interest on the Securities; (ii) default in payment of principal
on the Securities at maturity, upon redemption pursuant to paragraph 5 of the
Securities, upon acceleration or otherwise, or failure by the Company to redeem
or purchase Securities when required; (iii) failure by the Company to comply
with other agreements in the Indenture or the Securities, in certain cases
subject to notice and lapse of time; (iv) certain accelerations (including
failure to pay within any grace period after final maturity) of other
Indebtedness of the Company if the amount accelerated (or so unpaid) exceeds $10
million; (v) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the
Company and the Significant Subsidiaries; and (vi) certain final, non-appealable
judgments or decrees for the payment of money in excess of $10 million and (vii)
certain events pertaining to the Subsidiary Guaranties. If an Event of Default
occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and
payable immediately. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of
Default which will result in the Securities being due and payable immediately
upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

         Securityholders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except
as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or
the Securities unless it receives reasonable indemnity or security. Subject to
certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may
withhold from Securityholders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default
in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is
in the interest of the Holders.

14. Trustee Dealings with the Company

         Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under
the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or
pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed
to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with 


<PAGE>   120
                                                                               9


the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not
Trustee.



15. No Recourse Against Others

         A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company
or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company
under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of
or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security,
each Securityholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and
release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.



16. Authentication

         This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the
Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of
authentication on the other side of this Security.



17. Abbreviations

         Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Securityholder or
an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the
entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as
tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors
Act).


<PAGE>   121
                                                                              10


18. CUSIP Numbers

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



19. Holders' Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement.

         Each Holder of a Security, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and
agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including,
without limitation, the obligations of the Holders with respect to a
registration and the indemnification of the Company to the extent provided
therein.



20. Governing Law.

         THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH,
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF
ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

         The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written request and
without charge to the Securityholder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the
text of this Security in larger type. Requests may be made to:

                    The J.H. Heafner Company, Inc.
                    2105 Water Ridge Parkway, Suite 500
                    Charlotte, NC 28217

                    Attention:  Chief Financial Officer


<PAGE>   122
                                                                              11



                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

                To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

                  I or we assign and transfer this Security to


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

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


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



     Date: ________________ Your Signature: _____________________


     Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.


<PAGE>   123
                                                                              12



                       OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

         If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, check the box:

                                   [ ]

         If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by
the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, state the amount:
$


Date: __________________ Your Signature: ________________________
                               (Sign exactly as your name appears 
                               on the other side of the Security)


Signature Guarantee:_________________________________________
                    (Signature must be guaranteed by a member 
                    firm of the New York Stock Exchange or a 
                        commercial bank or trust company)

<PAGE>   1

                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.1

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY






                         THE J.H. HEAFNER COMPANY, INC.

                     $100,000,000 10% Senior Notes Due 2008
                      $50,000,000 10% Senior Notes Due 2008

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                                                                December 1, 1998

BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
c/o BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
    100 Federal Street
    M/S 01-12-07
    Boston, MA 02110

Dear Sirs:

         The J. H. Heafner Company, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the
"Issuer"), proposes to issue and sell to BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
("BancBoston") and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFBC" and, together
with BancBoston, the "Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms set forth in a
purchase agreement of even date herewith (the "Purchase Agreement"), $50,000,000
aggregate principal amount of its 10% Senior Notes Due 2008 (the "Initial
Securities") to be unconditionally guaranteed (each, a "Subsidiary Guaranty") on
an unsecured senior basis by certain of the Issuer's subsidiaries (the
"Subsidiary Guarantors", and together with the Issuer, the "Company"). The
obligations of the Company in this Agreement are joint and several obligations
of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Initial Securities will be
issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1998, (the "Indenture")
among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and First Union National Bank, as
trustee (the "Trustee"). Pursuant to an Indenture dated May 15, 1998 among the
Issuer, certain of the Issuer's current subsidiaries and First Union National
Bank, as trustee, the Issuer issued $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
its 10% Senior Notes Due 2008 (the "Existing Securities"). As an inducement to
the Initial Purchasers, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the
benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities (including, without limitation,
the Initial Purchasers), the Exchange Securities (as defined below) and the
Private Exchange Securities (as defined below) (collectively the "Holders"), as
follows:

         1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall, at its own cost,
prepare and, not later than March 31, 1999, file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement (the "Exchange
Offer Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to a proposed offer
(the "Registered Exchange Offer") to the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) who are not prohibited by any law or
policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer,
and to the holders of the Existing Securities, to issue and deliver to such
Holders or holders of Existing Securities, as the case may be, in exchange for:
(a) the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount (up to $50,000,000
aggregate principal

                                        1

<PAGE>   2



amount) of debt securities (the "Initial Exchange Securities") of the Issuer and
(b) the Existing Securities, a like principal amount (up to $100,000,000
aggregate principal amount) of debt securities (together with the Initial
Exchange Securities, the "Exchange Securities") of the Issuer, each of the
Exchange Securities issued under the Indenture and identical in all material
respects to the Initial Securities (except for the transfer restrictions
relating to the Initial Securities and the provisions relating to the matters
described in Section 6 hereof) that would be registered under the Securities
Act. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 180
days (or if the 180th day is not a business day, the first business day
thereafter) after the date of original issue of the Initial Securities (the
"Issue Date") and shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective
for not less than 20 Business Days (as defined in the Indenture) (or longer, if
required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange
Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the "Exchange Offer
Registration Period").

         If the Company effects the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company will
be entitled to close the Registered Exchange Offer 20 Business Days after the
commencement thereof provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial
Securities and the Existing Securities theretofore validly tendered in
accordance with the terms of the Registered Exchange Offer.

         Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to
enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities or holder of Existing
Securities, as the case may be, electing to exchange the Initial Securities or
the Existing Securities, as applicable, for Exchange Securities (assuming that
such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such
Holder's business and has no arrangements with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Securities and is not prohibited by any law or
policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to
trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any
limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material
restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United
States.

         The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities which is a broker-dealer electing to exchange Securities, acquired
for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading
activities, for Exchange Securities (an "Exchanging Dealer"), is required to
deliver a prospectus containing the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto
on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and
the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan
of Distribution" section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any
such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser that elects to sell
Exchange Securities acquired in exchange for Securities (as defined below)
constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is required to deliver a
prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation
S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.


                                        2

<PAGE>   3



         The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the prospectus
contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that (i) in the
case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be
delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be
the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the
Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them received in
exchange for Initial Securities (unless such period is extended pursuant to
Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto, available to any broker-dealer for use in
connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities received in exchange for
Initial Securities for a period of not less than 90 days after the consummation
of the Registered Exchange Offer.

         If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Initial Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company
issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the
existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the
securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding
provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial
Securities (the "Private Exchange Securities"). The Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively
called the "Securities."

         In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

                  (a) mail to each Holder and each holder of Existing Securities
         a copy of the prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer
         Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of
         transmittal and related documents;

                  (b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than
         20 Business Days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the
         date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;

                  (c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
         Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
         New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;

                  (d) permit Holders and holders of Existing Securities to
         withdraw tendered Securities and tendered Existing Securities at any
         time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last
         business day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open;
         and

                  (e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.


                                        3

<PAGE>   4



         As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:

                  (x) accept for exchange all the Initial Securities or Existing
         Securities, as the case may be, validly tendered and not withdrawn
         pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as
         the case may be;

                  (y) deliver to the Trustee for cancelation all the Initial
         Securities or Existing Securities, as the case may be, so accepted for
         exchange; and

                  (z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to
         each Holder of the Initial Securities and to each holder of Existing
         Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the
         case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial Securities or
         Existing Securities, as the case may be, of such Holder or holder of
         Existing Securities so accepted for exchange.

         The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class
separate from one another on any matter.

         Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
Initial Securities or the Existing Securities, as the case may be, surrendered
in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Initial Securities,
from the date of original issue of the Initial Securities.

         Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a
broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the
distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a
broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in
exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities.

         Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary

                                        4

<PAGE>   5



in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.

         2. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company
is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within
225 days of the Issue Date (or, if such 225th day is not a business day, the
first business day thereafter), (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with
respect to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not
eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange
Offer and held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or
(iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to participate
in the Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an
Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such
Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the date of the
exchange, the Company shall take the following actions:

                  (a) The Company shall, at its cost, as promptly as practicable
         (but in no event more than 45 days after so required or requested
         pursuant to this Section 2) file with the Commission and thereafter
         shall use its best efforts to cause to be declared effective a
         registration statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement" and,
         together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a
         "Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities
         Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted
         Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with
         the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration
         Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the
         "Shelf Registration"); provided, however, that no Holder (other than an
         Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it
         covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees
         in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement
         applicable to such Holder.

                  (b) The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to keep the
         Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit
         the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders
         of the relevant Securities for a period of two years (or for such
         longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date
         of its effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when
         all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have
         been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted securities
         (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule
         thereof). The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable
         efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the
         requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result
         in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and
         sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is required
         by applicable law.

                  (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to
         the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement
         and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as
         of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or
         supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
         requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
         Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material
         fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                                        5

<PAGE>   6



         3. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall
apply:

                  (a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser,
         prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the
         Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement,
         if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an
         Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment
         from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange
         Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its
         reasonable efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with
         the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may
         propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on
         the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section
         and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto
         in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the prospectus forming a part
         of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the
         information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal
         delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested
         by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Items 507
         or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in
         the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange
         Offer Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
         reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a
         summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff
         of the Commission with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of
         any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule
         13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
         "Exchange Act")) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer
         in the Registered Exchange Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"),
         whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by
         the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the
         reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of
         counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views
         of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf
         Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders, who propose
         to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as
         selling securityholders.

                  (b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial
         Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any Participating
         Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice
         that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered
         Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall
         be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
         until the requisite changes have been made):

                           (i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment
                  thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the
                  Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
                  has become effective;

                           (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments
                  or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus
                  included therein or for additional information;

                           (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
                  order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
                  Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
                  purpose;

                                        6

<PAGE>   7



                           (iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal
                  counsel 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; and

                           (v) of the happening of any event that requires the
                  Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the
                  prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the
                  prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material
                  fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated
                  therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the
                  case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under
                  which they were made) not misleading.

                  (c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain
         the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending
         the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

                  (d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities
         included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge,
         at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any
         post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
         schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits
         thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).

                  (e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and
         each Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder or holder of Existing
         Securities who so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the
         Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment
         thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if any
         Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto
         (including those incorporated by reference).

                  (f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
         deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of
         the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the
         prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the
         Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as
         such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to
         the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any
         amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of the
         Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities
         covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
         included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

                  (g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any
         Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other
         persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered
         Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus
         included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
         or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The
         Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the
         use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any
         Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and
         such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the
         Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of
         the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or
         supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement.


                                        7

<PAGE>   8



                  (h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities, pursuant
         to any Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or
         cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their
         respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
         of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky"
         laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the
         Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts
         or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such
         jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
         provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i)
         qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not
         then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to
         general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it
         is not then so subject.

                  (i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the
         Securities or to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
         certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any
         Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such
         denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a
         reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to
         such Registration Statement.

                  (j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
         paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for
         which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration
         Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective
         amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related
         prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter
         delivered to Holders of the Securities or holders of the Existing
         Securities, as the case may be, the prospectus will not contain an
         untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
         required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
         therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
         misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders
         of the Securities, the holders of the Existing Securities and any known
         Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through
         (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until
         the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the
         Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities, the holders of the
         Existing Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall
         suspend use of such prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the
         Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the
         Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above
         shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the
         date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the
         Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities, the holders of the
         Existing Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall
         have received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this
         Section 3(j).

                  (k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
         Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the
         Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
         Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with
         printed certificates for the Initial Securities, the Exchange
         Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a
         form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

                  (l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of
         the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the
         Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make
         generally available to its

                                        8

<PAGE>   9



         security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a)
         of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions
         of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the
         end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year)
         beginning with the first month of the Company's first fiscal quarter
         commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement,
         which statement shall cover such 12-month period.

                  (m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified
         under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner
         and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such
         qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the
         appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall
         appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions
         of the Indenture.

                  (n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be
         sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the
         Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of
         the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require
         for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may
         exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that
         unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time
         after receiving such request.

                  (o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements
         (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form)
         and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities
         shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
         Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

                  (p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall
         (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the
         Securities any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to
         the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other
         agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter
         all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents
         and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company's officers,
         directors and employees to supply, and use all reasonable efforts to
         obtain from its accountants and auditors, all relevant information
         reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such
         underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf
         Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary
         to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within
         the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however,
         that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be
         coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of
         the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such
         other parties as described in Section 4 hereof. Each Holder shall be
         under an obligation to, and each Holder will, keep all non-public or
         proprietary information so supplied confidential unless and until such
         information is generally available to the public.

                  (q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if
         requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall direct (i)
         its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the
         Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing
         underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial
         opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it
         being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall
         include, without limitation, the due incorporation and good standing

                                        9

<PAGE>   10



         of the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company
         and its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the
         due authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of
         the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the due authorization,
         execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and
         enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of material
         legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company and its
         subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
         obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the
         offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the
         type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of
         such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by
         reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the
         Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of
         the date of the opinion and as of the effective date of the Shelf
         Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto,
         as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement
         and the prospectus included therein, as then amended or supplemented,
         and from any documents incorporated by reference therein of an untrue
         statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such documents,
         in the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such
         documents were filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act); (ii)
         its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and
         certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the
         applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants and
         the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for
         which financial information is provided in the Shelf Registration
         Statement to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable
         Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary
         form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort
         letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to
         receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if
         permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.

                  (r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested
         by any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the
         Company shall direct (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial
         Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion or
         opinions in substantially the form or forms set forth in the opinion
         delivered pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Purchase Agreement with such
         changes as are customary in connection with the preparation of a
         Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants and
         the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for
         which financial information is provided in the Registration Statement
         to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating
         Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the
         requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Sections 6(a)
         of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes.

                  (s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to
         be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities or the Existing
         Securities, as the case may be, by Holders or holders of Existing
         Securities to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the
         Company) in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private
         Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or
         caused to be marked, on the Initial Securities or the Existing
         Securities, as the case may be, so exchanged that such Initial
         Securities or the Existing Securities, as the case may be, are being
         canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private
         Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no

                                       10

<PAGE>   11



         event shall the Initial Securities or the Existing Securities, as the
         case may be, be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

                  (t) The Company will use its reasonable efforts to (a) if the
         Initial Securities or the Existing Securities, as the case may be, have
         been rated prior to the initial sale of the Initial Securities confirm
         such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a Registration
         Statement, or (b) if the Initial Securities or the Existing Securities,
         as the case may be, were not previously rated, cause the Securities
         covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate
         rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate
         principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement,
         or by the managing underwriters, if any.

                  (u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
         Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member
         of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the
         distribution" (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "Rules") of
         the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof,
         whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a
         placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or
         otherwise, the Company will assist such broker-dealer in complying with
         the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i)
         if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, engaging a
         "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in Rule 2720) to
         participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating
         to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in
         respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by
         such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made
         through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such
         Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent
         underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters
         provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to
         such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer
         to comply with the requirements of the Rules.

                  (v) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other
         steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities or the
         Existing Securities, as the case may be, covered by a Registration
         Statement contemplated hereby.

         4. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1
through 3 hereof (excluding fees and expenses, if any, of counsel for the
Initial Purchasers), whether or not the Registered Exchange Offer or a Shelf
Registration is filed or becomes effective, and, in the event of a Shelf
Registration, shall bear or reimburse the Holders of the Securities covered
thereby for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel
designated by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Initial
Securities covered thereby to act as counsel for the Holders of the Initial
Securities in connection therewith.

         5. Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder of the Securities any Participating Broker-Dealer and each
person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any
Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to
collectively as the "Indemnified Parties") from and against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof
(including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each
Indemnified Party

                                       11

<PAGE>   12



may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or
are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf
Registration, 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 shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that
(i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating
to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer (or controlling person thereof) from whom the person asserting any
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned,
to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be
delivered by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer (or controlling person
thereof) under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any such
loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer
results from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, at or
prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person,
a copy of the final prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies
thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer; provided further,
however, that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability
which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company
shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person
who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the
indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

         (b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect
thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the
limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This
indemnity

                                       12

<PAGE>   13



agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise
have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party 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. In case any
such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party, and which counsel, together with one local counsel in each
jurisdiction, shall act on behalf of all the indemnified parties with respect to
such action), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified
party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party
will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal
or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of
which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could
have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability
on any claims that are the subject matter of such action.

         (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Securities
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by
the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in
clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or
such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by
an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is
the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such
Holders from the sale of the

                                       13

<PAGE>   14



Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages
which such Holders have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d),
each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as the Company.

         (e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancelation of this Agreement
or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

         6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. (a) Additional
interest (the "Additional Interest") with respect to the Initial Securities
shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such
event in clauses (i) through (iii) below a "Registration Default"):

                  (i) If by March 31, 1999, neither the Exchange Offer
         Registration Statement nor a Shelf Registration Statement has been
         filed with the Commission;

                  (ii) If by July 21, 1999, neither the Registered Exchange
         Offer is consummated nor, if required in lieu thereof, the Shelf
         Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission; or

                  (iii) If after either the Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (A)
         such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective; or (B)
         such Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be
         usable (except as permitted in paragraph (b)) in connection with
         resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified
         herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the
         related prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would
         include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
         material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of
         the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or (2) it
         shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement
         the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the
         Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.

Additional Interest shall accrue on the Initial Securities over and above the
interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on
which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the earlier of
the date on which (i) all such Registration Defaults have been cured and (ii)
the Initial Securities no longer constitute Transfer Restricted Securities, at a
rate of 0.50% per annum.

         (b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iii)(B) hereof
shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material

                                       14

<PAGE>   15



events, with respect to the Company that would need to be described in such
Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of
clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or
supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe
such events; provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default
occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall
be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration
Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

         (c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clause (i), (ii)
or (iii) of Section 6(a) above will be payable in cash on the regular interest
payment dates with respect to the Initial Securities. The amount of Additional
Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest
rate by the principal amount of the Initial Securities, multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest
rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day
year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

         (d) "Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Security until (i) the
date on which such Transfer Restricted Security has been exchanged by a person
other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the
Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the
Registered Exchange Offer of a Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date
on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such
broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which
such Initial Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act
and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the
date on which such Initial Securities is distributed to the public pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under
the Securities Act.

         7. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to
file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required
to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Initial
Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to
permit sales of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A.
The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent
required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Transfer Restricted
Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation
of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of
Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to
prospective purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities identified to the
Company by the Transfer Restricted Securities upon request. Upon the request of
any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Company shall deliver to such
Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to
require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange
Act.

         8. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten
offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering ("Managing Underwriters") will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering; provided that the
Managing Underwriters must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

                                       15

<PAGE>   16



         No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.

         9.  Miscellaneous.

         (a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.

         (b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

                  (1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current
address given by such Holder to the Company.

                  (2)  if to the Initial Purchasers;

                           BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
                           100 Federal Street
                           M/S 01-12-07
                           Boston, MA 02110
                           Attention:  High Yields Capital Markets

         with a copy to:

                           Cravath, Swaine & Moore
                           825 Eighth Avenue
                           New York, NY  10019-7475
                           Fax No.:  (212) 474-3700
                           Attention:  William J. Whelan, III

                  (3)      if to the Company, at its address as follows:

                           The J. H. Heafner Company, Inc.
                           2105 Water Ridge Parkway, Suite 500
                           Charlotte, NC 28217
                           Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

         with a copy to:

                           Howard, Smith & Levin LLP
                           1330 Avenue of the Americas
                           New York, NY  10019
                           Attention:  Scott F. Smith


                                       16

<PAGE>   17



         All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile
transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.

         (c) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

         (d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.

         (e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         (f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

         (g) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

         (h) Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such
provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

         (i) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than
subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.



                                       17

<PAGE>   18



         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the several Initial Purchasers, the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor
in accordance with its terms.

                              Very truly yours,

                              THE J. H. HEAFNER COMPANY, INC.

                                    by

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

                              OLIVER & WINSTON, INC.

                                    by

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

                                    by

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

                              THE SPEED MERCHANT, INC.,

                                    by

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

                                    by

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

                              PHOENIX RACING, INC.,

                                    by

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

                                    by

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



                                       18

<PAGE>   19



                              ITCO LOGISTICS CORPORATION,

                                    by

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


                                       19

<PAGE>   20




The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.

BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION


by:  BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.

       by

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




                                       20

<PAGE>   21



                                                                         ANNEX A





       Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter
of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities
where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."



                                       21

<PAGE>   22



                                                                         ANNEX B





       Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
in exchange for Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."



                                       22

<PAGE>   23



                                                                         ANNEX C





                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

       Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in
exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for
use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until , 199 , all dealers
effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a
prospectus.1

       The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker
or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or
concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.

       For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.


- --------
   1 In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.

                                       23

<PAGE>   24


                                                                         ANNEX D





     [ ]   CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO
RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF
ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

           Name:    
                 --------------------------------------
           Address:
                    -----------------------------------

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





If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.



                                       24




© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission