WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES INC
S-3, 1996-05-02
STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES & ROLLING & FINISHING MILLS
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<PAGE>   1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 1996

                                                 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-3

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                          WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

          DELAWARE                                       31-1189815             
 (State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)     

            1205 DEARBORN DRIVE, COLUMBUS, OHIO 43085 (614) 438-3210
 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, 
  of registrant's principal executive offices)

 DALE T. BRINKMAN, ESQ., GENERAL COUNSEL, 1205 DEARBORN DRIVE, COLUMBUS, 
  OH 43085, (614) 438-3001

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
 of agent for service) 

                                WITH A COPY TO:

 PHILIP C. JOHNSTON, ESQ., VORYS, SATER, SEYMOUR AND PEASE, 52 EAST GAY STREET,
             P. O. BOX 1008, COLUMBUS, OH 43216-1008 (614) 464-6210

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to
time after this Registration Statement becomes effective as determined by market
conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

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

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

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

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

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

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Title of each                                                 Proposed                    Proposed
class of securities                 Amount to                   maximum                 maximum aggregate          Amount of reg-
to be registered                    be registered               offering price(1)       offering price (1)         istration fee
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>                         <C>                       <C>                        <C>     
Debt Securities                     $450,000,000(2)(3)          100%                      $450,000,000               $155,173
</TABLE>


(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant
to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933.

(2) Or, if only debt securities are issued at original discount such greater
principal amount as shall result in aggregate proceeds of $450,000,000.

(3) In U.S. Dollars or the equivalent thereof in foreign currencies as shall
result in an aggregate initial public offering price for all securities of
$450,000,000.


<PAGE>   2





THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSIONER ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.


<PAGE>   3
                   Subject to Completion, Dated May ___, 1996

PROSPECTUS

                          WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                 DEBT SECURITIES

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

         Worthington Industries, Inc. (the "Company") may offer and sell from
time to time unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness
("Debt Securities"), with an initial offering price not to exceed $450,000,000
in the aggregate (or the equivalent in foreign denominated currency or units
based on or related to currencies, including European Currency Units). All
specific terms of the offering and sale of the Debt Securities, including the
specific designation, rights and restrictions and whether the Debt Securities
are senior or subordinated, the currencies or composite currencies in which the
Debt Securities are denominated, the aggregate principal amount, the maturity,
rate and time of payment of interest, and any conversion, exchange, redemption
or sinking fund provisions, and initial public offering price, listing on any
securities exchange, and the agents, dealers or underwriters, if any, to be
utilized in connection with the sale of the Debt Securities, will be set forth
in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement"). The Debt
Securities may be sold for U. S. Dollars, foreign denominated currency or
currency units; principal of and any interest may likewise be payable in U.S.
Dollars, foreign denominated currency or currency units - in each case, as the
Company specifically designates. The managing underwriters with respect to each
series sold to or through underwriters will be named in the Prospectus
Supplement.

         The Debt Securities may be offered through dealers, through
underwriters or through agents designated from time to time as set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement. Net proceeds to the Company will be the purchase price in
the case of a dealer, the public offering price less discount in the case of an
underwriter or the purchase price less commission in the case of an agent - in
each case, less other expenses attributable to issuance and distribution. See
"Plan of Distribution" for possible indemnification arrangements for dealers,
underwriters and agents.

         THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE DEBT
SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.



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

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


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

The date of this Prospectus is May __, 1996


<PAGE>   4











          The following legend shall run sideways down the cover page:

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


<PAGE>   5



         No dealer, salesperson or other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations other than those contained or
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus or the accompanying Prospectus
Supplement and, if given or made, such information or representations must not
be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company or any underwriter,
dealer or agent. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus or the accompanying
Prospectus Supplement nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances
create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the
Company since the date of this Prospectus. Neither this Prospectus nor the
accompanying Prospectus Supplement constitutes an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy the debt securities in any jurisdiction in which
such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such
offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is
unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") all of which may be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549 and at
the following regional offices of the Commission: Citicorp Center, 500 West
Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511; and Seven World Trade
Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can be
obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the Commission
at 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549.

         The Company has filed a registration statement on Form S-3 (together
with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration Statement") under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This Prospectus
does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement,
certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations
of the Commission. For further information, reference is made to the
Registration Statement and the exhibits filed as part thereof. Statements
contained herein are qualified in their entirety by reference to the
Registration Statement and such exhibits.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         There are hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus the
following documents and information heretofore filed with the Commission: (i)
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1995
filed pursuant to the 1934 Act; (ii) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q for the quarters ended August 31, 1995, November 30, 1995 and February 29,
1996 filed pursuant to the 1934 Act; and (iii) the Company's Current Report on
Form 8-K dated February 20, 1996 together with the Form 8-K/A dated April 19,
1996.

         All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d)
of the 1934 Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination
of the offering of the Debt Securities shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of
such documents.

         Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or a portion of
which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein.


<PAGE>   6

modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded
shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
of this Prospectus.

         The Company will provide without charge to each person, including any
beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this Prospectus is delivered, upon written
or oral request of such person, a copy (without exhibits unless such documents
are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents) of any or all of
the documents that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Such
requests should be made to Shareholder Relations, Worthington Industries, Inc.,
1205 Dearborn Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43085 (telephone 614/438-3210).

                                   THE COMPANY

         The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and
is a holding company with its operations carried on by various subsidiary
corporations. Through its subsidiaries, the Company is a leading manufacturer of
metal and plastic products. The Company processes flat rolled steel to close
tolerances for sale to industrial customers who require steel of precise
specifications for their own product fabrications. It also manufactures metal
pressure cylinders, cast steel products, precision metal parts, injection molded
plastic parts, and metal framing products for use in construction.

         The Company's principal executive offices are located at 1205 Dearborn
Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43085; and its telephone number is (614) 438-3210.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
net proceeds from the sale of the Debt Securities will be used for general
corporate purposes, which may include funding of the Company's capital
expenditures, repayment of indebtedness, additions to working capital and
acquisitions. The Company anticipates that it will raise additional funds from
time to time through debt financings, including borrowings under its Revolving
Credit Agreement.

                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

         The following table represents the Company's consolidated ratio of
earnings to fixed charges for the periods shown.



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 Nine Months Ended                                   Year Ended May 31,
                            ---------------------------       ------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Feb. 29,           Feb. 28,
                               1996               1995        1995         1994            1993           1992              1991
                               ----               ----        ----         ----            ----           ----              ----

<S>                            <C>                <C>         <C>          <C>             <C>            <C>                <C>
Actual                         12.3               16.3        16.5         24.4            27.3           19.2               9.6
Supplemental (1)                6.8                            8.8
</TABLE>

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

(1) To give effect to the purchase by the Company of the stock of Dietrich
Industries, Inc. as reflected in the pro forma condensed consolidated statements
of income included in the Company's Form 8-K/A filed on April 19, 1996.


<PAGE>   7





          For the purpose of this ratio: (i) earnings consist of income from
continuing operations before fixed charges (reduced by capitalized interest)
and income taxes for the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries and its
proportionate share of the income of unconsolidated affiliated companies,
reduced by undistributed earnings of less than 50%-owned unconsolidated
affiliated companies; and (ii) fixed charges consist of interest on all
indebtedness (without reduction of interest capitalized) for the Company and its
majority-owned subsidiaries (consolidated and unconsolidated), and its
proportionate share of the interest on indebtedness of 50%-owned unconsolidated
affiliates.

                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

         The following description of the terms of the Debt Securities sets
forth certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Debt Securities
offered by any Prospectus Supplement and the extent, if any, to which such
general provisions may apply to the Debt Securities so offered will be described
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities. Accordingly, for
a description of the terms of a particular issue of Debt Securities, reference
must be made to both the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto and to the
following description.

         The Debt Securities will be general obligations of the Company and may
be either senior debt or subordinated debt of the Company to the extent set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. See "Description of Debt
Securities -- Subordination" below. Debt Securities that will be senior debt
will be issued under an indenture (the "Indenture") between the Company and PNC
Bank, Ohio, National Association (the "Trustee"). A copy of the form of
Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement filed with
the Commission. Debt Securities that will be subordinated debt will be issued
under an indenture that will be entered into by the Company and one or more
commercial banks to be selected as trustees prior to the issuance of such
subordinated debt. The following discussion of certain provisions of the
Indenture is a summary only and does not purport to be a complete description of
the terms and provisions of the Indenture. Accordingly, the following discussion
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Indenture,
including the definition therein of terms used below with their initial letters
capitalized.

General

         The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Debt
Securities that can be issued thereunder. The Debt Securities may be issued in
one or more series as may be authorized from time to time by the Company.
Reference is made to the applicable Prospectus Supplement for the following
terms of the Debt Securities of the series with respect to which such Prospectus
Supplement is being delivered:


<PAGE>   8





                  (a) The title of the Debt Securities of the series;

                  (b) Any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under the
Indenture;

                  (c) The date or dates on which the principal and premium with
respect to the Debt Securities of the series are payable;

                  (d) The rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at
which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest (if any) or the
method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such
interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall
be payable or the method by which such dates will be determined, the record
dates for the determination of holders thereof to whom such interest is payable
(in the case of Registered Securities), and the basis upon which interest will
be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

                  (e) The place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of
the corporate trust office of the Trustee where the principal, premium, and
interest with respect to Debt Securities of the series shall be payable;

                  (f) The price or prices at which, the period or periods within
which, and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may
be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or otherwise;

                  (g) The obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem,
purchase, or repay Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or
analogous provisions or at the option of a holder thereof and the price or
prices at which, the period or periods within which, and the terms and
conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed,
purchased, or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;

                  (h) If other than denominations of $1,000 or any integral
multiple thereof, the denominations in which Debt Securities of the series shall
be issuable;

                  (i) If the amount of principal, premium, or interest with
respect to the Debt Securities of the series may be determined with reference to
an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be
determined;

                  (j) If the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of
Debt Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more
dates prior to such stated maturity, the amount that will be deemed to be such
principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal
amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than


<PAGE>   9





the stated maturity or which will be deemed to be outstanding as of any such
date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is
to be determined), and if necessary, the manner of determining the equivalent
thereof in United States currency;

                  (k) The coin or currency or currencies or units of two or more
currencies in which payment of the principal, premium, and interest with respect
to Debt Securities of the series shall be payable;

                  (l) If the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in
whole or in part in the form of a Global Security, the terms and conditions, if
any, upon which such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for
other individual Debt Securities in definitive registered form and the
Depositary for such Global Security;

                  (m) The classification of such Debt Securities as senior debt
or subordinated debt; and

                  (n) Any other specific terms of the Debt Securities including
any additional events of default or covenants provided for with respect to such
Debt Securities, and any term which may be required by or advisable under U.S.
Courts and regulations.

         The Prospectus Supplement will also describe any material United States
federal income tax consequences or other special considerations applicable to
the series of Debt Securities to which such Prospectus Supplement relates,
including those applicable to (a) Debt Securities with respect to which payments
of principal, premium, or interest are determined with reference to an index or
formula (including changes in prices of particular securities, currencies, or
commodities), (b) Debt Securities with respect to which principal, premium, or
interest is payable in a foreign or composite currency, (c) Debt Securities that
are issued at a discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no
interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market
rates ("Original Issue Discount Debt Securities"), and (d) variable rate Debt
Securities that are exchangeable for fixed rate Debt Securities.

         Payments of interest on Debt Securities may be made at the option of
the Company by check mailed to the registered holders thereof or, if so provided
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, at the option of a holder by wire
transfer to an account designated by such holder.

         Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
Securities may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the Trustee at which
its corporate trust business is principally administered in the United States or
at the office of the Trustee or the Trustee's agent in the Borough of Manhattan,
the City and State of New York, at which its corporate agency business is
conducted, subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without the
payment of any service charge, other than any tax or governmental charge payable
in connection therewith.


<PAGE>   10





Registered Global Securities

         The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in
the form of one or more fully registered global securities (a "Global Security")
that will be deposited with a depositary (the "Depositary"), or with a nominee
for a Depositary identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
series. In such case, one or more Global Securities will be issued in a
denomination or aggregate denomination equal to the portion of the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding registered Debt Securities of the series to be
represented by such Global Security or Securities. Unless and until it is
exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities in definitive registered form,
a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for
such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such
Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such
Depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such Depositary or a nominee of
such successor.

         The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any
portion of a series of Debt Securities to be represented by a Global Security
will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. The
Company anticipates that the following provisions will apply to all depositary
arrangements.

         Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global
Security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
respective principal amounts of the Debt Securities represented by such Global
Security to the accounts of Persons that have accounts with such Depositary
("participants"). The accounts to be credited shall be designated by any
underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of such Debt
Securities. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be
limited to participants or Persons that may hold interests through participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security will be shown on, and
the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained
by the Depositary for such Global Security (with respect to interests of
participants) or by participants or Persons that hold through participants (with
respect to interests of Persons other than participants). So long as the
Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of
such Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will
be considered the sole owner or Holder of the Debt Securities represented by
such Global Security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Except as
set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be
entitled to have the Debt Securities represented by such Global Security
registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical
delivery of such Debt Securities in definitive form and will not be considered
the owners or Holders thereof under the applicable indenture.

         Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on Debt Securities
represented by a Global Security registered in the name of a Depositary or its
nominee will be made to such Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as
the registered owner of such Global Security. None of the Company, the Trustee
or any paying agent for such Debt Securities will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account
of beneficial ownership interests in such Global Security or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests.


<PAGE>   11







         The Company expects that the Depositary for any Debt Securities
represented by a Global Security, upon receipt of any payment of principal,
premium or interest, will immediately credit participants' accounts with
payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in
the principal amount of such Global Security as shown on the records of such
Depositary. The Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of
beneficial interest in such Global Security held through such participants will
be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case
with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in "street
names" and will be the responsibility of such participants.

         If the Depositary for any Debt Securities represented by a Global
Security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary and a
successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within ninety (90) days,
the Company will issue such Debt Securities in definitive form in exchange for
such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time and in its sole
discretion determine not to have any of the Debt Securities of a series
represented by one or more Global Securities and, in such event, will issue Debt
Securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for all of the Global
Security or Securities representing such Debt Securities.

Subordination

         Debt Securities may be subordinated ("Subordinated Debt Securities") to
senior debt to the extent set forth in the Prospectus Supplement and indenture
relating thereto. The Company currently conducts substantially all its
operations through Subsidiaries and the holders of Debt Securities (whether or
not Subordinated Debt Securities) will be structurally subordinated to the
creditors of the Company's Subsidiaries.

         Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinate in right of payment,
to the extent and in the manner set forth in the indenture and the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such Subordinated Debt Securities, to the prior payment
of all Indebtedness of the Company that is designated as "Senior Indebtedness"
(as defined in the indenture relating to such Subordinated Debt Securities) with
respect to such Subordinated Debt Securities. By reason of such subordination,
in the event of insolvency, creditors of the Company who are holders of Senior
Indebtedness, as well as certain general creditors of the Company, may recover
more, ratably, than the holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities.


<PAGE>   12














Events of Default and Remedies

         The following events are defined in the Indenture as "Events of
Default" with respect to a series of Debt Securities:

                  (a) Default in the payment of any installment of interest on
any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and
payable and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

                  (b) Default in the payment of principal or premium with
respect to any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same become due
and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required
repurchase, or otherwise;

                  (c) Default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with
respect to any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become
due and payable;

                  (d) Failure on the part of the Company to comply with the
provisions of the Indenture relating to consolidations, mergers and sales of
assets;

                  (e) Failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or
perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company in
the Debt Securities of that series, in any resolution of the Board of Directors
of the Company authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt Securities, in
the Indenture with respect to such series, or in any supplemental Indenture with
respect to such series (other than a covenant a default in the performance of
which is otherwise specifically dealt with) continuing for a period of 60 days
after the date on which written notice specifying such failure and requiring the
Company to remedy the same shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee
or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the time outstanding.

                  (f) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or
is accelerated by the holders thereof because of a default, the total amount of
such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $20 million or the United States
dollar equivalent thereof at the time, and such default remains uncured or such
acceleration is not rescinded for 10 days after the date on which written notice
specifying such failure and requiring the Company to remedy the same shall have
been given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by
the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities
of that series at the time outstanding;

                  (g) The Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall
(1) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief
under the United States Bankruptcy Code or other federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency, or similar law, (2) consent to the institution of, or fail to
controvert within the time and in the manner prescribed by law, any such
proceeding 


<PAGE>   13
or the filing of any such petition, (3) apply for or consent to the appointment
of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, or similar official for the
Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its
property, (4) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition
filed against it in any such proceeding, (5) make a general assignment for the
benefit of creditors, (6) admit in writing its inability or fail generally to
pay its debts as they become due, (7) take corporate action for the purpose of
effecting any of the foregoing, or (8) take any comparable action under any
foreign laws relating to insolvency;

                  (h) The entry of an order or decree by a court having
competent jurisdiction for (1) relief with respect to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries or a substantial part of any of their property under the
United States Bankruptcy Code or any other federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency, or similar law, (2) the appointment of a receiver, trustee,
custodian, sequestrator, or similar official for the Company or any such
Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of any of their property (except
any decree or order appointing such official of any Restricted Subsidiary
pursuant to a plan under which the assets and operations of such Restricted
Subsidiary are transferred to or combined with another Restricted Subsidiary or
Subsidiaries of the Company or to the Company), or (3) the winding-up or
liquidation of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary (except any decree
or order approving or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of the affairs of a
Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to a plan under which the assets and operations
of such Restricted Subsidiary are transferred to or combined with another
Restricted Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company or to the Company), and
such order or decree shall continue unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive
days, or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or
decree stays in effect for 60 consecutive days;

                  (i) Any judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess
of $20 million or the United States dollar equivalent thereof at the time is
entered against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company by a court of
competent jurisdiction, which judgment is not covered by insurance, and is not
discharged and either (1) an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any
creditor upon such judgment or decree or (2) there is a period of 60 days
following the entry of such judgment or decree during which such judgment or
decree is not discharged or waived or the execution thereof stayed and, in
either case, such default continues for 10 days after the date on which written
notice specifying such failure and requiring the Company to remedy the same
shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the
Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities of that series at the time outstanding; and

                  (j) Any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt
Securities of that series.



         An Event of Default with respect to one series of Debt Securities is
not necessarily an Event of Default for another series.


         If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (e),
(f), (i), or (j) above occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of
Debt Securities, unless the principal and interest with respect to all the Debt
Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, 


<PAGE>   14
either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Debt Securities of such series then outstanding may declare the
principal of (or, if Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of
the principal amount as may be specified in such series) and interest on all the
Debt Securities of such series due and payable immediately. If an Event of
Default described in clause (g) or (h) above occurs, unless the principal and
interest with respect to all the Debt Securities of the series shall have become
due and payable, the principal of (or, if any series are Original Issue Discount
Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in
such series) and interest on all Debt Securities of all series then outstanding
shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other
act on the part of the Trustee or any holder of Debt Securities.

         If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be
entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceeding for the collection
of the sums so due and unpaid or to enforce the performance of any provision of
the Debt Securities of the affected series or the Indenture, to prosecute any
such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and to enforce any such
judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on the Debt
Securities of such series. In addition, if there shall be pending proceedings
for the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the
Debt Securities, or if a receiver, trustee, or similar official shall have been
appointed for its property, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered to file
and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal, premium, and interest (or,
in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the
principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and
unpaid with respect to the Debt Securities. No holder of any Debt Security of
any series shall have any right to institute any action or proceeding upon or
under or with respect to the Indenture, for the appointment of a receiver or
trustee, or for any other remedy, unless (a) such holder previously shall have
given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Debt
Securities of that series and of the continuance thereof, (b) the holders of not
less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities
of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute such
action or proceeding with respect to such Event of Default and shall have
offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the
costs, expenses, and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and (c) the
Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request, and offer of
indemnity shall have failed to institute such action or proceeding and no
direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the
Trustee pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.

         Prior to the acceleration of the maturity of the Debt Securities of any
series, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities of that series at the time outstanding may, on behalf of the holders
of all Debt Securities of that series, waive any past default or Event of
Default and its consequences for that series, except (a) a default in the
payment of the principal, premium, or interest with respect to such Debt
Securities or (b) a default with respect to a provision of the Indenture that
cannot be amended without the consent of each holder affected thereby. In case
of any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default
arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for all purposes, and the
Company, the Trustee, and the holders of the Debt Securities of that series
shall be restored to their former positions and rights under the Indenture.


<PAGE>   15







         The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default
known to it with respect to a series of Debt Securities, give to the holders of
the Debt Securities of such series notice of all uncured defaults with respect
to such series known to it, unless such defaults shall have been cured or waived
before the giving of such notice; provided, however, that except in the case of
default in the payment of principal, premium, or interest with respect to the
Debt Securities of such series or in the making of any sinking fund payment with
respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of
such notice is in the interest of the holders of such Debt Securities.

Modification of the Indenture

         The Company and the Trustee may enter into supplemental Indentures
without the consent of the holders of Debt Securities issued under the Indenture
for one or more of the following purposes:

                  (a) To evidence the succession of another person to the
Company pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture relating to consolidations,
mergers, and sales of assets and the assumption by such successor of the
covenants, agreements, and obligations of the Company in the Indenture and in
the Debt Securities;

                  (b) To surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company
by the Indenture, to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants,
restrictions, conditions, or provisions for the protection of the holders of all
or any series of Debt Securities as the Board of Directors of the Company shall
consider to be for the protection of the holders of such Debt Securities, and to
make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of
such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions, or provisions a default or
an Event of Default under the Indenture (provided, however, that with respect to
any such additional covenant, restriction, condition, or provision, such
supplemental Indenture may provide for a period of grace after default, which
may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults, may
provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default, may limit the remedies
available to the Trustee upon such default, or may limit the right of holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of Debt Securities
to waive such default);

                  (c) To cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any
provision contained in the Indenture, in any supplemental Indenture, or in any
Debt Securities that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision
contained therein, to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage, or pledge any property
to or with the Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or
questions arising under the Indenture as shall not adversely affect the
interests of any holders of Debt Securities of any series;

                  (d) To modify or amend the Indenture in such a manner as to
permit the qualification of the Indenture or any supplemental Indenture under
the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect;


<PAGE>   16

                  (e) To add or change any of the provisions of the Indenture to
change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment or principal or premium with
respect to Debt Securities so long as any such action does not adversely affect
the interests of the holders of Debt Securities in any material respect or
permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities of any series in
uncertificated form;

                  (f) To comply with the provisions of the Indenture relating to
consolidations, mergers, and sales of assets;

                  (g) To add guarantees with respect to the Debt Securities or
to secure the Debt Securities;

                  (h) To make any change that does not adversely affect the
rights of any holder;

                  (i) To add to, change, or eliminate any of the provisions of
the Indenture with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities, so long as
any such addition, change, or elimination not otherwise permitted under the
Indenture shall (1) neither apply to any Debt Security of any series created
prior to the execution of such supplemental Indenture and entitled to the
benefit of such provision nor modify the rights of the holders of any such Debt
Security with respect to such provision or (2) become effective only when there
is no such Debt Security outstanding;

                  (j) To evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
by a successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or
more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture as
shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the
Indenture by more than one Trustee; and

                  (k) To establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any
series, as described under "Description of Debt Securities -- General" above.

         With the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected thereby, the
Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into a
supplemental Indenture for the purpose of adding any provisions to, changing in
any manner, or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any
supplemental Indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the holder of
the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that without the consent
of the holders of each Debt Security so affected, no such supplemental Indenture
shall (a) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt Securities of any
series whose holders must consent to an amendment, (b) reduce the rate of or
extend the time for payment of interest on any Debt Security, (c) reduce the
principal of or extend the stated maturity of any Debt Security, (d) reduce the
premium payable upon the redemption of any Debt Security or change the time at
which any Debt Security may or shall be 


<PAGE>   17
redeemed, (e) make any Debt Security payable in a currency other than that
stated in the Debt Security, (f) release any security that may have been granted
with respect to the Debt Securities, or (g) make any change in the provisions of
the Indenture relating to waivers of defaults or amendments that require
unanimous consent.

Consolidation, Merger, and Sale of Assets

         The Company may not consolidate with or merge with or into any person,
or convey, transfer, or lease all or substantially all of its assets, unless the
following conditions have been satisfied:

                  (a) Either (1) the Company shall be the continuing person in
the case of a merger or (2) the resulting, surviving, or transferee person, if
other than the Company (the "Successor Company"), shall be a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State, or the
District of Columbia and shall expressly assume all of the obligations of the
Company under the Debt Securities and the Indenture;

                  (b) Immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and
treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or
any subsidiary of the Company 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 or Event of Default would occur or be continuing; and

                  (c) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such
consolidation, merger, or transfer complies with the Indenture.

Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture; Defeasance

         The Indenture shall generally cease to be of any further effect with
respect to a series of Debt Securities if (a) the Company has delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities of such series (with certain
limited exceptions) or (b) all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or
are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called
for redemption within one year, and the Company shall have deposited with the
Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in the currency in which the Debt
Securities are denominated sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all
such Debt Securities (and if, in either case, the Company shall also pay or
cause to be paid all other sums payable under the Indenture by the Company).

         In addition, the Company shall have a "legal defeasance option"
(pursuant to which it may terminate, with respect to the Debt Securities of a
particular series, all of its obligations under such Debt Securities and the
Indenture with respect to such Debt Securities) and "covenant 


<PAGE>   18
defeasance option" (pursuant to which it may terminate, with respect to the Debt
Securities of a particular series, its obligations with respect to such Debt
Securities under certain specified covenants contained in the Indenture). If the
Company exercises its legal defeasance option with respect to a series of Debt
Securities, payment of such Debt Securities may not be accelerated because of an
Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option with
respect to a series of Debt Securities, payment of such Debt Securities may not
be accelerated because of an Event of Default related to the specified
covenants.

         The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant
defeasance option with respect to the Debt Securities of a series only if (a)
the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee cash or U.S.
Government Obligations (as defined in the Indenture) for the payment of
principal, premium, and interest with respect to such Debt Securities to
maturity or redemption, as the case may be, (b) 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 the principal, premium, and
interest when due with respect to all the Debt Securities of such series to
maturity or redemption, as the case may be, (c) 123 days pass after the deposit
is made and during the 123-day period no default described in clause (g) or (h)
under "Description of Debt Securities -- Events of Default and Remedies" above
with respect to the Company occurs that is continuing at the end of such period,
(d) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and
after giving effect thereto, (e) the deposit does not constitute a default under
any other agreement binding on the Company, (f) 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, (g) the Company shall have delivered
to the Trustee an opinion of counsel addressing certain federal income tax
matters relating to the defeasance, and (h) 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 Debt Securities of
such series as contemplated by the Indenture have been complied with.

         The Trustee shall hold in trust cash or U.S. Government Obligations
deposited with it as described above and shall apply the deposited cash and the
proceeds from deposited U.S. Government Obligations to the payment of principal,
premium, and interest with respect to the Debt Securities of the defeased
series.

The Trustee

         The Company may maintain banking and other commercial relationships
with the Trustee and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business and the
Trustee may own Debt Securities.


<PAGE>   19




                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The Company may sell the Debt Securities in the following ways: (i)
through agents; (ii) through underwriters; (iii) through dealers; and (iv)
directly to purchasers.

         Offers to purchase the Debt Securities may be solicited by agents
designated by the Company from time to time. Any such agent, who may be deemed
to be an underwriter as that term is defined in the Securities Act, involved in
the offer or sale of the Debt Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is
delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by the Company to such
agent set forth, in the Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the
Prospectus Supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for
the period of its appointment.

         If any underwriters are utilized in the sale, the Company will enter
into an underwriting agreement with such underwriters at the time of sale to
them and the names of the underwriters and the terms of the transaction will be
set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, which will be used by the underwriters
to make resales to the public of the Debt Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus is delivered.

         If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the Debt Securities in respect
of which this Prospectus is delivered, the Company will sell such Debt
Securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such Debt
Securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at
the time of resale.

         Agents, dealers and underwriters may be entitled under agreements
entered into with the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain
civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to
contribution with respect to payments which such agents, dealers or underwriters
may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents, dealers and underwriters may
be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for the
Company in the ordinary course of business.

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

                         VALIDITY OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

         The validity of the Debt Securities will be passed upon for the Company
by Dale T. Brinkman, General Counsel of the Company. Mr. Brinkman beneficially
owns 10,702 shares of the Company's Common Stock and also has exercisable
options to purchase an additional 24,250 shares of the Company's Common Stock.
Pursuant to its By-laws, the Company is required to indemnify Mr. Brinkman to
the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law against any expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with any action, suit or proceeding in
which he is made party by reason of his being an officer of the Company.

                                     EXPERTS

         The consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule
of the Company (Worthington Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries) at May 31, 1995
and 1994, and for each of the 


<PAGE>   20
three years in the period ended May 31, 1995, incorporated by reference or, in
the case of the financial statement schedule, included in Worthington
Industries, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 1995,
have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in
their report thereon incorporated by reference or, in the case of their report
on the financial statement schedule, included therein and incorporated herein by
reference. Such consolidated financial statements and schedule are incorporated
herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of
such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

         The consolidated financial statements of Dietrich Industries, Inc. and
subsidiaries incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Worthington
Industries, Inc.'s Amendment No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated April
19, 1996 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as
stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been
so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.


<PAGE>   21









                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

         The following table sets forth the estimated (except for the Commission
registration fee) fees on expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with
the sale and distribution of the securities registered hereby other than
underwriting discounts and commissions:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                <C>     
         Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee..     $155,173
         Rating Agency fees ..................................      125,000
         Trustee fees and expenses ...........................        5,000
         Blue Sky filing and counsel fees and expenses .......       15,000
         Printing costs ......................................       20,000
         Legal fees and expenses .............................       75,000
         Accounting fees and expenses ........................       20,000
         Miscellaneous expenses ..............................        9,827
                                                                   --------
              Total ..........................................     $425,000
                                                                   ========
</TABLE>


ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Article V of the Company's Bylaws provides that the Company must
indemnify officers and directors against any pending or threatened action
(whether criminal, civil, administrative, or investigative) brought against them
because they are officers and directors of the Company if (1) they acted in good
faith and reasonably believed their actions to be in the best interest of the
Company, and (2) in criminal proceedings they had no reasonable cause to believe
that their conduct was unlawful. In addition, they require the Company to
advance expenses on behalf of officers and directors in defending lawsuits if
they agree in writing to repay such amounts if they are not successful in the
litigation. The indemnification provisions forbid the Company to indemnify an
officer or director if such person is adjudged to be liable to the Company for
gross negligence or intentional misconduct, unless a court concludes that such
person is entitled to indemnity. The determination that directors or officers
acted in good faith and reasonably believed their actions to be in the best
interest of the Company must be made by disinterested directors, independent
legal counsel, shareholders or a court. The Bylaws provisions also permit an
officer or director, even if he has not met the applicable standards, to be
indemnified if a court, in view of all of the circumstances, concludes that it
would be fair and reasonable to give the person the protection of the
indemnification provisions.

         The Board of Directors has in the past and may in the future maintain
insurance to insure its present or former directors, officers, and employees
against liabilities and expenses arising out of any claim or breach of duty,
error, misstatement, misleading statement, omission or other acts done by
reasons of their being such a director, officer or employee of the registrant.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS.

(a) Exhibits.  The following exhibits are filed herewith and made a part hereof:

    1    Form of Underwriting Agreement.

    4    Form of Indenture dated as of ________________, 1996 between the
         Company and PNC Bank, Ohio, National Association, as Trustee, relating
         to the Debt Securities.

    5    Opinion of Dale T. Brinkman, General Counsel of the Company, as to the
         validity of the Debt Securities.

    12   Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.


<PAGE>   22


    23(a)   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

    23(b)   Consent of Dale T. Brinkman, General Counsel of the Company
            (included in Exhibit 5).

    23(c)   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

    24      Powers of Attorney.

    25      Statement of Eligibility of PNC Bank, Ohio, National Association,
            under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 on Form T-1 relating to the
            Indenture.

    99      Form of Prospectus Supplement

ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.

    (a)     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

    (1)     To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made
            of the securities registered hereby, a post-effective amendment to
            this Registration Statement;

            (i)      To include any prospectus required
                     by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1993;

            (ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                     arising after the effective date of the registration
                     statement (or the most recent post-effective
                     amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
                     aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                     information set forth in the Registration Statement;

            (iii)    To include any material information with respect to
                     the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
                     the Registration Statement or any material change to
                     such information in the Registration Statement;

             provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in
             paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not
             apply if the information required to be included in a
             post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
             periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by
             the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the
             Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
             reference in the Registration Statement.

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

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

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

    (c)     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons
controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise,
the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.

    In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities
(other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer
or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
registrant will, unless in the


<PAGE>   23





opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

         (d)      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

                  (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the
         Securities Act of 1933 the information omitted from the form of
         prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance
         upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the
         registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the
         Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration
         statement as of the time it was declared effective.

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


<PAGE>   24



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on May 2, 1996.

                                    WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                    By:  /s/ DONALD G. BARGER, JR.
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Donald G. Barger, Jr.
                                         Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration
statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>                                       <C>    
         *                                         *                                         *
- ------------------------------------      ------------------------------------      ---------------------------------
John H. McConnell                         John P. McConnell                         Donal H. Malenick
Director, Chairman of the                 Director, Vice Chairman,                  Director, President, Chief
Board                                     Chief Executive Officer                   Operating Officer
Date:                                     Date:                                     Date:

         *                                         *                                /s/ Donald G. Barger, Jr.
- ------------------------------------      ------------------------------------      ---------------------------------
Pete A. Klisares                          Robert J. Klein                           Donald G. Barger, Jr.
Director, Executive Vice                  Director, Executive Vice                  Vice President-Finance, Chief
President                                 President-Marketing and                   Financial Officer and Principal
Date:                                     Planning                                  Accounting Officer
                                          Date:                                     Date:

         *                                         *                                         *
- ------------------------------------      ------------------------------------      ---------------------------------
Charles D. Minor                          Charles R. Carson                         William S. Dietrich, II
Director, Secretary                       Director                                  Director
Date:                                     Date:                                     Date:

         *                                         *                                         *
- ------------------------------------      ------------------------------------      ---------------------------------
John E. Fisher                            John F. Havens                            Katherine S. LeVeque
Director                                  Director                                  Director
Date:                                     Date:                                     Date:

         *                                         *                                         *
- ------------------------------------      ------------------------------------      ---------------------------------
Robert B. McCurry                         Gerald B. Mitchell                        James Petropoulos
Director                                  Director                                  Director
Date:                                     Date:                                     Date:

*By: /s/ DONALD G. BARGER, JR.                       Date:  May 2, 1996
    --------------------------------                            -
       Donald G. Barger, Jr.
       Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>



<PAGE>   1
                                                                      Exhibit 1

                          WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                        New York, New York

To the Representatives
named in Schedule I hereto
of the Underwriters named
in Schedule II hereto

Dear Sirs:

                  Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to sell to the underwriters named in Schedule II hereto
(the "Underwriters"), for whom you (the "Representatives") are acting as
representatives, debt securities (the "Securities") with the terms and in the
principal amount as set forth in Schedule I hereto. The Securities will be
issued under an indenture (the "Indenture") dated as of ________________, 1996
between the Company and PNC Bank, Ohio, National Association, as trustee (the
"Trustee"). If the firm or firms listed in Schedule II hereto include only the
firm or firms listed in Schedule I hereto, then the terms "Underwriters" and
"Representatives", as used herein, shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or
firms.

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

                  (a) The Company has complied with the requirements for the use
         of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") and has filed
         with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
         Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-____), including a
         basic prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and
         sale of the Securities. The Company may have filed one or more
         amendments thereto, including a Preliminary Final Prospectus, each of
         which has previously been furnished to you. Such Registration
         Statement, as so amended, has become effective. The offering of the
         Securities is a Delayed Offering and, although the Basic Prospectus may
         not include all the information with respect to the Securities and the


<PAGE>   2



         offering thereof required by the Act and the rules thereunder to be
         included in the Final Prospectus, the Basic Prospectus includes all
         such information required by the Act and the rules thereunder to be
         included therein as of the Effective Date. The Company will next file
         with the Commission a final prospectus supplement relating to the
         Securities in accordance with Rules 415 and 424(b)(2) or (5) relating
         to the Securities and the offering thereof. As filed, such final
         prospectus supplement shall include all information required by the Act
         and the rules thereunder to be included in the Final Prospectus with
         respect to the Securities and the offering thereof and, except to the
         extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification,
         shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior
         to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution
         Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other
         changes (beyond that contained in the Basic Prospectus and any
         Preliminary Final Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to
         the Execution Time, will be included or made therein.

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


                                        2
<PAGE>   3



                  (c) The terms which follow, when used in this Agreement, shall
         have the meanings indicated. The term "the Effective Date" shall mean
         each date that the Registration Statement and any post-effective
         amendment or amendments thereto became or become effective and each
         date after the date hereof on which a document incorporated by
         reference in the Registration Statement is filed. "Execution Time"
         shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and
         delivered by the parties hereto. "Basic Prospectus" shall mean the
         prospectus referred to in paragraph (a) above contained in the
         Registration Statement at the Effective Date. "Preliminary Final
         Prospectus" shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the
         Basic Prospectus which describes the Securities and the offering
         thereof and is used prior to filing of the Final Prospectus. "Final
         Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the
         Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the
         Execution Time, together with the Basic Prospectus. "Registration
         Statement" shall mean the Registration Statement referred to in
         paragraph (a) above, including incorporated documents, exhibits and
         financial statements, in the form in which it shall become effective
         and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes
         effective prior to, or any document incorporated by reference therein
         is filed prior to, the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), shall
         also mean such Registration Statement as so amended or supplemented.
         "Rule 415", "Rule 424", "Rule 430A" and "Regulation S-X" refer to such
         rules or regulation under the Act. Any reference herein to the
         Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final
         Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
         include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to
         Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities Exchange Act
         of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") on or before the Effective
         Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Basic
         Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus,
         as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms "amend",
         "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement,
         the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final
         Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any
         document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the
         Registration Statement or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus, any
         Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may
         be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. A "Delayed
         Offering" shall mean an offering of securities pursuant to Rule 415
         which does not commence promptly after the effective date of a
         registration statement, with the result that only information required
         pursuant to Rule 415 need be included in such Registration Statement at
         the effective date thereof with respect to the securities so offered.


                                        3
<PAGE>   4



                  (d) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement or the use of any Preliminary Final Prospectus
         has been issued by the Commission.

                  (e) The documents incorporated by reference in the
         Registration Statement and any Preliminary Final Prospectus, when they
         became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be,
         conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or
         the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
         Commission thereunder; and any further documents so filed and
         incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus or any further
         amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective
         or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in
         all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange
         Act, as applicable.

                  (f) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries listed on
         Schedule III attached hereto (the "Significant Subsidiaries") has
         sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
         included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement any
         material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion,
         flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from
         any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree that
         is material on a consolidated basis, otherwise than as set forth or
         contemplated in the Registration Statement or Final Prospectus; and,
         since the date as of which information is given in the Registration
         Statement, there has not been any material change in the capital stock
         (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of options), or
         any material increase in long-term debt of the Company or any of its
         consolidated subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any
         development known by the Company (after diligent inquiry) involving a
         prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general
         affairs, management, financial position, shareholders' equity or
         results of operations of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
         taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
         Final Prospectus.

                  (g) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable
         title in fee simple to all Principal Property owned by them, in each
         case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except for
         liens, encumbrances and defects that are described in the Registration
         Statement or any Preliminary Final Prospectus or that, individually or
         in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on the
         business, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of
         operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a
         "Material Adverse Effect"); and any Principal Property held under lease
         by the Company or its subsidiaries are held by them under valid,
         subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions that,
         individually


                                        4
<PAGE>   5



         or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The term
         "Principal Property" shall mean any manufacturing plant or other
         similar facility (including production machinery and equipment located
         thereon) or warehouse, owned or leased by the Company or any
         subsidiary, which is located within the United States other than (a)
         any such plant or facility which the Board of Directors of the Company
         determines in good faith by board resolution is not of material
         importance to the total business conducted, or assets owned, by the
         Company and its subsidiaries as an entirety, or (b) any portion of any
         such plant or facility which the Board of Directors determines by Board
         Resolution in good faith not to be of material importance to the use or
         operation thereof. "Production machinery and equipment" shall mean
         production machinery and equipment in such manufacturing plants used
         directly in the production of the Company's or any subsidiary's
         products.

                  (h) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
         existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
         of Delaware, with full corporate power and authority to own its
         properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration
         Statement and Preliminary Final Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do
         business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the
         laws of each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or
         conducts any business so as to require such qualification other than
         where the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse
         Effect.

                  (i) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth
         in the Registration Statement and the Preliminary Final Prospectus or
         incorporated by reference therein, and all of the issued and
         outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and
         validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

                  (j) Each of the Significant Subsidiaries has been duly
         incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation under the laws of
         its jurisdiction of incorporation, with full corporate power and
         authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described
         in the Registration Statement or the Preliminary Final Prospectus or
         incorporated by reference therein, and has been duly qualified as a
         foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good
         standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases
         properties or conducts any business so as to require such
         qualification, other than where the failure to be so qualified or in
         good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and all the
         outstanding shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary of
         the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are
         fully-paid and non-assessable, and, except as disclosed in or
         contemplated by the Registration


                                        5
<PAGE>   6



         Statement, are owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and
         clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests and claims.

                  (k) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
         delivered, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and,
         when executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee, will
         constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company,
         enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement,
         to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general
         applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
         equity principles; and the Securities have been duly authorized by the
         Company and, when authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the
         terms of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the
         Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will have been duly executed,
         authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and
         legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits
         provided by the Indenture; and the Securities and the Indenture will
         conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Final Prospectus.

                  (l) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant
         Subsidiaries is, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both
         would be, in violation of or in default under, its respective
         certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or the equivalent
         organizational documents) or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
         loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or
         any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of
         them or any of their respective properties is bound, except for
         violations and defaults which individually or in the aggregate would
         not have a Material Adverse Effect; the execution and delivery of the
         Indenture, the issue and sale of the Securities, the performance by the
         Company of all its obligations under the Securities, the Indenture and
         this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions herein and
         therein contemplated will not conflict with, result in a breach or
         violation of or constitute a default under (i) the certificate of
         incorporation or by-laws of the Company or (ii) the terms of any
         indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement
         or instrument to which the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of
         their properties is a party or is bound or by which any of their assets
         or properties is subject, or of any law, judgment, order or decree,
         applicable to the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their
         properties, of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency,
         governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Company,
         any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, except, in the case
         of clause (ii), to the extent any such breach, violation or default
         would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a


                                        6
<PAGE>   7



         Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the holders of
         the Securities.

                  (m) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration
         or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is
         required for the issue and sale of the Securities or the consummation
         by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
         the Indenture, except those which have been, or will have been prior to
         the Closing Date, obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act
         and those which may be required under state securities or blue sky laws
         in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by
         the Underwriters.

                  (n) There is no pending or, to the best knowledge of the
         Company, threatened action, suit or proceeding before any court or
         governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator to which the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property
         of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that would
         reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a
         Material Adverse Effect; there is no contract or other document of a
         character required to be described in the Registration Statement or
         Final Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not
         described or filed as required; and the statements included or
         incorporated in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus
         describing any legal proceedings or material contracts or agreements
         relating to the Company summarize such matters in all material
         respects.

                  (o) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance
         with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and
         regulations relating to the protection of human health or the
         environment or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning
         any Hazardous Material (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), except as
         disclosed in the Registration Statement or where such non-compliance
         with Environmental Laws would not, singly or in the aggregate,
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The term
         "Hazardous Material" means (i) any "hazardous substance" as defined by
         the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
         Act of 1980, as amended, (ii) any "hazardous waste" as defined by the
         Resource Conversation and Recovery Act, as amended, (iii) any petroleum
         or petroleum product, (iv) any polychlorinated biphenyl, and (v) any
         pollutant or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical,
         material, waste or substance regulated under or within the meaning of
         any other Environmental Law.

                  (p)      The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
         offering and sale of the Securities, will not be an


                                        7
<PAGE>   8


         "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment
         company", as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of
         1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act").

                  (q) To the Company's knowledge, none of the Company, any of
         its consolidated subsidiaries or Worthington Specialty Processing,
         London Industries, Inc., TWB Company, Worthington Armstrong Venture and
         Acerex, S.D. de C.V., does business with the government of Cuba or with
         any person or affiliate located in Cuba within the meaning of Section
         517.075, Florida Statutes.

                  (r) To the Company's knowledge, Ernst & Young LLP, who have
         certified certain financial statements of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, are independent public accountants as required by the Act
         and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                  (s) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
         delivered by the Company.

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

                  3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the
Securities shall be made on the date and at the time specified in Schedule I
hereto (or such later date not later than five business days after such
specified date as the Representatives shall designate), which date and time may
be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as
provided in Section 8 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the
Underwriters' Securities being herein called the "Closing Date"). Delivery of
the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts
of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through
the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the
Company in immediately available funds. The Securities will be represented by
one or more global certificates, which will be made available for inspection by
the Representatives by 1:00 p.m. on the business day prior to the Closing Date
at such place in New York City as the Representatives and the Company shall
agree. Certificates for the Securities shall be registered in such names and in
such denominations as the Representatives may request not less than two (2)
business days in advance of the Closing Date.

                  4.       Agreements.  The Company agrees with the several
Underwriters that:

                                        8
<PAGE>   9



                  (a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the
         Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration
         Statement or supplement (including the Final Prospectus or any
         Preliminary Final Prospectus) to the Basic Prospectus unless the
         Company has furnished to the Representatives a copy for their review
         prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or
         supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object, unless, in
         the reasonable judgment of the Company and its counsel, such amendment
         or supplement is necessary to comply with applicable law, in which case
         the Company will permit such Representatives a reasonable opportunity
         to comment thereon. Subject to the foregoing sentence, the Company will
         cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement
         thereto to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the applicable
         paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will
         provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely
         filing. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when
         any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have become
         effective, (ii) when the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto,
         shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b),
         (iii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any
         amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become
         effective, (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment of
         the Registration Statement or supplement to the Final Prospectus or for
         any additional information, (v) of the issuance by the Commission of
         any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
         Statement or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that
         purpose and (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
         respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for
         sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
         proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to
         prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain
         as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof. The Company will file
         promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements
         required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the
         Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Final Prospectus and for so
         long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the
         offering or sale of the Securities.

                  (b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the
         Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs
         as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then supplemented would
         include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
         material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of
         the circumstances under which they were made when such Final Prospectus
         is delivered, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the
         Registration Statement or supplement


                                        9
<PAGE>   10



         the Final Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document
         incorporated by reference in such Final Prospectus to comply with the
         Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act or the respective
         rules thereunder, the Company promptly will (i) prepare and file with
         the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this
         Section 4, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement
         or omission or effect such compliance and (ii) supply any supplemented
         Prospectus to the Representatives in such quantities as the
         Representatives may reasonably request.

                  (c) As soon as practicable but in any event not later than
         eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement,
         the Company will make generally available to its security holders and
         to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the
         Company and its consolidated subsidiaries which will satisfy the
         provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations
         thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 under the
         Act).

                  (d) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and
         counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the
         Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and, so long as
         delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by
         the Act, as many copies of any Preliminary Final Prospectus and the
         Final Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may
         reasonably request.

                  (e) Promptly from time to time, the Company will take such
         action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such
         Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such
         jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with
         such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein
         in such jurisdictions of such Securities, provided that in connection
         therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign
         corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any
         jurisdiction.

                  (f) Until the Closing Date, the Company will not, without the
         consent of Salomon Brothers Inc, offer, sell or contract to sell, or
         otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or announce the offering
         of, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company, which are
         substantially similar to the Securities.

                  (g) The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from
         the sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement in the manner
         specified in the Final Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds."


                                       10
<PAGE>   11



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

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

                  (b) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives
         the opinion of Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease, counsel for the Company,
         dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

                           (i) the Company has been duly incorporated and is
                  validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
                  laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and
                  authority to own its properties and conduct its business as
                  described in the Final Prospectus, is duly qualified to do
                  business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing
                  under the laws of each jurisdiction set forth on Schedule IV
                  attached hereto;

                           (ii) each of the Significant Subsidiaries has been
                  duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation
                  under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, with
                  corporate power and authority to own its properties and
                  conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus and
                  has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the
                  transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws
                  of each jurisdiction set forth on Schedule IV attached hereto;

                           (iii) the Indenture has been duly authorized,
                  executed and delivered by the Company, has been duly qualified
                  under the Trust Indenture Act and when executed and delivered
                  by the Trustee, will constitute a legal, valid and binding
                  obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its
                  terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
                  insolvency, moratorium or other laws of general applicability
                  relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
                  equity principles; and the Securities have been duly
                  authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, when
                  authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions
                  of the Indenture and delivered to


                                       11
<PAGE>   12



                  and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement,
                  will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the
                  Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture; and the
                  statements in the Final Prospectus under "Description of the
                  Debentures" and "Description of Debt Securities", insofar as
                  such statements constitute a summary of the documents referred
                  to therein, fairly present the information called for with
                  respect to such documents;

                           (iv) the Registration Statement has become effective
                  under the Act; any required filing of the Basic Prospectus,
                  any Preliminary Final Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, and
                  any supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made
                  in the manner and within the time period required by Rule
                  424(b); to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order
                  suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or
                  the use of such Final Prospectus has been issued, no
                  proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or
                  threatened, and the Registration Statement and the Final
                  Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference
                  therein, other than that part of the Registration Statement
                  that constitutes Form T-1 and the financial statements and
                  other financial and statistical information contained therein
                  as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to
                  form in all material respects with the applicable requirements
                  of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act and
                  the respective rules thereunder;

                           (v)  this Agreement has been duly authorized,
                  executed and delivered by the Company;

                           (vi) no consent, approval, authorization, order,
                  registration or qualification of or with any court or
                  governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale
                  of the Securities or the consummation of the transactions
                  contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under
                  the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be
                  required under the state securities or blue sky laws in
                  connection with the purchase and distribution of the
                  Securities by the Underwriters;

                           (vii) the Company is not and, after giving effect to
                  the offering and sale of the Securities, will not be an
                  "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an
                  "investment company", as such terms are defined in the
                  Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment
                  Company Act");

         In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel, has acted as
         outside counsel to the Company on a regular basis and has acted as
         counsel to the Company in connection with


                                       12
<PAGE>   13



         the Registration Statement, and based on the foregoing, while they have
         not themselves checked the accuracy or completeness of, or otherwise
         verified, and are not passing upon, and assume no responsibility for,
         the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in
         the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (other than as set
         forth in opinion (iii) above), in the course of their preparation,
         review and discussion of the contents of the Registration Statement and
         such Final Prospectus with certain officers and employees of the
         Company and its independent accountants, but without independent check
         or verification, no facts have come to their attention which have
         caused them to believe that, as of the Effective Date, the Registration
         Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Company prior to
         the Closing Date (other than that part of the Registration Statement
         that constitutes Form T-1 and the financial statements and other
         financial and statistical information therein or incorporated by
         reference therein, as to which such counsel need express no belief)
         contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading or that such Final Prospectus, as
         amended or supplemented by the Company prior to the Closing Date (other
         than the financial statements and other financial and statistical
         information therein or incorporated by reference therein, as to which
         such counsel need express no belief), contains an untrue statement of a
         material fact or omits to state a 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; furthermore,
         such counsel shall state that no facts have come to their attention
         which have caused them to believe that any of the documents
         incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus (other than the
         financial statements and other financial and statistical information
         therein or incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel
         need express no belief) when they became effective or were so filed, as
         the case may be, in the case of a registration statement which became
         effective under the Act, contained an untrue statement of a material
         fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
         or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or, in the
         case of other documents which were filed under the Act or the Exchange
         Act with the Commission, as of their date, contained an untrue
         statement or a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
         involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the
         State of Ohio and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
         or the United


                                       13
<PAGE>   14



         States, to the extent deemed proper and specified in such opinion, upon
         the opinion of other counsel of good standing believed to be reliable
         and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, (B) to the
         extent such opinion relates to the law of the State of New York (which
         law the Indenture, this Agreement and the Securities state to be the
         governing law thereof), assume that the laws of the State of Ohio are
         the same as those of the State of New York and (C) as to matters of
         fact, to the extent deemed proper, on certificates of responsible
         officers of the Company and public officials. References to the Final
         Prospectus in this paragraph (b) include any supplements thereto at the
         Closing Date.

                  (c) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives
         the opinion of Dale T. Brinkman, Senior Vice President and General
         Counsel of the Company, dated the Closing Date to the effect that:

                           (i) all the outstanding shares of capital stock of
                  each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly
                  authorized and validly issued, are fully-paid and
                  non-assessable, and are owned by the Company, directly or
                  indirectly, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
                  security interests and claims;

                           (ii) to the best knowledge of such counsel, (a) there
                  is no pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding before
                  any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any
                  arbitrator to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
                  a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its
                  subsidiaries is subject, that would reasonably be expected
                  individually or in the aggregate to have a Material Adverse
                  Effect; (b) there is no contract or other document of a
                  character required to be described in the Registration
                  Statement, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not
                  described or filed as required; and (c) the statements
                  included or incorporated in the Final Prospectus describing
                  any legal proceedings or material contracts or agreements
                  relating to the Company fairly summarize such matters;

                           (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Significant
                  Subsidiaries is, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time
                  or both would be in violation of or in default under, its
                  respective certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or the
                  equivalent organizational documents) or any material
                  indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other
                  agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its
                  Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of
                  them or any of their respective properties is bound, except
                  for violations and defaults which


                                       14
<PAGE>   15



                  individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material
                  Adverse Effect; the execution and delivery of the Indenture,
                  the issue and sale of the Securities, the performance by the
                  Company of all of its obligations under the Securities, the
                  Indenture and this Agreement and the consummation of the
                  transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict
                  with, result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
                  default under (i) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws
                  of the Company or (ii) the terms of any indenture, mortgage,
                  deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument
                  to which the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their
                  properties is party or is bound or by which any of their
                  assets or properties is subject, or of any law, judgment,
                  order or decree, to the best knowledge of such counsel to be
                  applicable to the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of
                  their properties, of any court, regulatory body,
                  administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having
                  jurisdiction over the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any
                  of their properties, except, in the case of clause (ii), to
                  the extent any such breach, violation or default would not,
                  singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or
                  a material adverse effect on the holders of the Securities;

         In addition, such counsel shall state that he is General Counsel of the
         Company and has participated on behalf of the Company in connection
         with the Registration Statement, and based on the foregoing, while he
         has not himself checked the accuracy or completeness of, or otherwise
         verified, and is not passing upon, and assumes no responsibility for,
         the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in
         the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus, in the course of
         his preparation, review and discussion of the contents of the
         Registration Statement and such Final Prospectus with certain officers
         and employees of the Company and its independent accountants, but
         without independent check or verification, no facts have come to his
         attention which have caused him to believe that, as of the Effective
         Date, the Registration Statement or any further amendment thereto made
         by the Company prior to the Closing Date (other than that part of the
         Registration Statement that constitutes Form T-1 and the financial
         statements and other financial and statistical information therein or
         incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel need
         express no belief) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that such
         Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented by the Company prior to
         the Closing Date (other than the financial statements and other
         financial and statistical information therein or incorporated by
         reference therein, as to which such counsel


                                       15
<PAGE>   16



         need express no belief), contains an untrue statement of a material
         fact or omits to state a 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; furthermore, such counsel
         shall state that no facts have come to his attention which have caused
         him to believe that any of the documents incorporated by reference in
         the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other
         financial and statistical information therein or incorporated by
         reference therein, as to which such counsel need express no belief)
         when they became effective or were so filed, as the case may be, in the
         case of a registration statement which became effective under the Act,
         contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading, or, in the case of other documents
         which were filed under the Act or the Exchange Act with the Commission,
         as of their date, contained an untrue statement or a material fact or
         omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
         statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
         made, not misleading.

         In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
         involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the
         State of Ohio and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
         or the United States, to the extent deemed proper and specified in such
         opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing believed to
         be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters
         and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent deemed proper, on
         certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public
         officials. References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (b)
         include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.

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

                  (e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a
         certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board, or the
         President or any Vice President and the principal financial or
         accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the
         effect that:


                                       16
<PAGE>   17



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

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

                           (iii) since the date of the most recent financial
                  statements included in, or incorporated by reference in, the
                  Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there
                  has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or
                  contemplated in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any
                  supplement thereto).

                  (f) At the Closing Date, Ernst & Young LLP, shall have
         furnished to the Representatives a letter or letters (which may refer
         to letters previously delivered to one or more of the Representatives),
         dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Annex I
         hereto, and including such other matters as the Representatives may
         reasonably request, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
         the Representatives.

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

                  (h) On or after the Execution Time, there shall not have been
         any decrease in the rating of any of the Company's debt securities by
         any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined
         for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act) or any notice given of any
         intended or


                                       17
<PAGE>   18



         potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any
         such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible
         change.

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

                  If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not
have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this
Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the
Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder
may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the
Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in
writing or by telephone or telegraph confirmed in writing.

                  Unless the Company and the Underwriters otherwise agree, the
documents required to be delivered by this Section 5 shall be delivered at the
office of counsel for the Underwriters on the Closing Date.

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

                  7.       Indemnification and Contribution.

                  (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
         Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each
         Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the
         meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all
         losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they
         or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or
         other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or
         otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
         actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
         statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
         the Registration


                                       18
<PAGE>   19



         Statement for the registration of the Securities as originally filed or
         in any amendment thereof, or in the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary
         Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof
         or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
         or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
         stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as
         incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them
         in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
         damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will
         not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim,
         damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue
         statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
         made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written
         information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter
         through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. This
         indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the
         Company may otherwise have.

                  (b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold
         harmless the Company each of its directors, each of its officers who
         signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the
         Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to
         the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each
         Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to
         such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such
         Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in
         the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity
         agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter
         may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the statements set
         forth in the last paragraph of the cover page, and under the heading
         "Underwriting" in any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final
         Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or
         on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the documents
         referred to in the foregoing indemnity, and you, as the
         Representatives, confirm that such statements are correct.

                  (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
         Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
         party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
         indemnifying party under this section 7, notify the indemnifying party
         of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the
         indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under
         paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not
         otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the
         forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses
         and (ii) will not, in any


                                       19
<PAGE>   20



         event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any
         indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in
         paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to
         appoint counsel of the indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying
         party's expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for
         which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party
         shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any
         separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as
         set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be
         reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the
         indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to represent the
         indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the
         right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), which in
         the case of either (i) and (ii) below shall be reasonably satisfactory
         to the indemnifying party, and the indemnifying party shall bear the
         reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the
         use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the
         indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of
         interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of,
         any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
         party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded, upon
         the advice of its counsel, that there may be legal defenses available
         to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or
         additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the
         indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably
         satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
         party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such
         action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified
         party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying
         party; provided, however, that in no event shall the indemnifying party
         be liable for legal fees or expenses of more than one primary firm
         representing the indemnified parties or more than one local counsel in
         each state or other jurisdiction in which an action in which
         indemnification is available has been brought. An indemnifying party
         will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties,
         settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
         respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding
         in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
         hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or
         potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement,
         compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each
         indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action,
         suit or proceeding.


                                       20
<PAGE>   21



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


                                       21
<PAGE>   22



                  8. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters
shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased
by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this
Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up
and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set
forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate amount
of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters)
the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate
amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities set
forth in schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to
purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the
Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the
Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting
Underwriter or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set
forth in this Section 8, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period,
not exceeding seven days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that
the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or
in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in
this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if
any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by
its default hereunder.

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

                  10. Payment of Certain Expenses by the Company. The Company
covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or
cause to be paid (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's
counsel and


                                       22
<PAGE>   23



accountants in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act
and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing
of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Final Prospectus and the Final
Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering
of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or
producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the Indenture, Blue
Sky and legal investment memoranda and any other documents in connection with
the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses
in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale
under state securities laws as provided in Section 4(e) hereof, including the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
qualification and in connection with Blue Sky and legal investment surveys; (iv)
any fees charged by securities rating agencies for rating the Securities; (v)
the filing fees incident to any required review by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Securities; (vi) the
cost of preparing the Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and
any agent of the Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities; and (viii) all
other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations
hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It
is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section and Section 6
hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including
the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by
them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

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

                  12. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing
and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be
mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to them, at the address specified
in Schedule I hereto; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or
telegraphed and confirmed to it at 1205 Dearborn Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43085,
Attention: Dale T. Brinkman, General Counsel.

                  13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the
officers and directors and


                                       23
<PAGE>   24



controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder.

                  14. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

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

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                             By:________________________________
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date
specified in schedule I hereto.

By:



By: ______________________________
    Name:
    Title:

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


                                       24
<PAGE>   25



                                   SCHEDULE I

Underwriting Agreement dated

Registration Statement No.

Representative(s):

Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:

                  Title:

                  Principal amount:

                  Purchase price (include accrued
                           interest or amortization, if
                           any):

                  Sinking fund provisions:

                  Redemption provisions:

                  Other provisions:

Closing Date, Time and Location:

Type of Offering: Non-Delayed Offering
Delayed Delivery Arrangements:

                  Fee:

                  Minimum principal amount of each contract:  $

                  Maximum aggregate principal amount of all contracts:

Date referred to in Section 4(f) after which the Company may offer or sell
     debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company without the consent
     of the Representative(s):

Modification of items to be covered by the letter from Ernst & Young LLP
     delivered pursuant to Section 5(e) at the Execution Time:


                                       25

<PAGE>   26



                                   SCHEDULE II
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              Principal Amount
                                                                              of Securities to
Underwriters                                                                    be Purchased
- ------------                                                                  ----------------
<S>                                                                           <C>
[Names of Underwriters]                                                       $

                                                                              -------------------
   Total....................................................................  $
                                                                              ===================
</TABLE>

                                       26
<PAGE>   27


                                  SCHEDULE III

                        List of Significant Subsidiaries



                                       27

<PAGE>   28



                                   SCHEDULE IV

                              List of Jurisdictions




                                       28


<PAGE>   29


                                     Annex I



                                       29




<PAGE>   1
                                                                      Exhibit 4

                          WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                       and

                      PNC BANK, OHIO, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                   as Trustee

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

                                    Indenture

                            Dated as of May ___, 1996

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

                                 Debt Securities


<PAGE>   2
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 Page
                                                                                                 ----

<S>                                                                                               <C>    
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY....................................................................        l

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   Definitions
                                   -----------

SECTION 1.01.      Certain Terms Defined...................................................        1
SECTION 1.02.      Incorporation by Reference of Trust
                   Indenture Act ..........................................................       18
SECTION 1.03.      Rules of Construction...................................................       18


                                   ARTICLE II

                                 Debt Securities
                                 ---------------

SECTION 2.01.      Forms Generally.........................................................       19
SECTION 2.02.      Form of Trustee's Certificate of
                   Authentication..........................................................       19
SECTION 2.03.      Principal Amount; Issuable in
                   Series..................................................................       20
SECTION 2.04.      Execution of Debt Securities............................................       23
SECTION 2.05.      Authentication and Delivery of Debt
                   Securities..............................................................       24
SECTION 2.06.      Denomination of Debt Securities.........................................       26
SECTION 2.07.      Registration of Transfer and Exchange...................................       26
SECTION 2.08.      Temporary Debt Securities...............................................       28
SECTION 2.09.      Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
                   Debt Securities.........................................................       29
SECTION 2.10.      Cancellation of Surrendered Debt
                   Securities..............................................................       30
SECTION 2.11.      Provisions of the Indenture and Debt
                   Securities for the Sole Benefit of
                   the Parties and the Holders.............................................       30
SECTION 2.12.      Payment of Interest; Interest Rights
                   Preserved...............................................................       30
SECTION 2.13.      Securities Denominated in Foreign
                   Currencies..............................................................       31
SECTION 2.14.      Wire Transfers..........................................................       31
SECTION 2.15.      Securities Issuable in the Form of a
                   Global Security.........................................................       32
SECTION 2.16.      Medium Term Securities..................................................       35
SECTION 2.17.      Defaulted Interest......................................................       35
SECTION 2.18.      Judgments...............................................................       36
</TABLE>



                                       i
<PAGE>   3
                                   ARTICLE III

                          Redemption of Debt Securities
                          -----------------------------

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                 <C>
SECTION 3.01.        Applicability of Article................................................       37
SECTION 3.02.        Notice of Redemption; Selection of
                     Debt Securities.........................................................       37
SECTION 3.03.        Payment of Debt Securities Called for
                     Redemption..............................................................       39
SECTION 3.04.        Mandatory and Optional Sinking
                     Funds...................................................................       40
SECTION 3.05.        Redemption of Debt Securities for
                     Sinking Fund............................................................       41


                                   ARTICLE IV

                       Particular Covenants of the Company
                       -----------------------------------

SECTION 4.01.        Payment of Principal of, and Premium,
                     If Any, and Interest on, Debt
                     Securities  ............................................................       43
SECTION 4.02.        Maintenance of Offices or Agencies
                     for Registration of Transfer,
                     Exchange and Payment of Debt
                     Securities..............................................................       43
SECTION 4.03.        Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the
                     Office of Trustee.......................................................       44
SECTION 4.04.        Duties of Paying Agents, etc............................................       44
SECTION 4.05.        Statement by Officers as to Default.....................................       45
SECTION 4.06.        Further Instruments and Acts............................................       46
SECTION 4.07.        Existence...............................................................       46
SECTION 4.08.        Maintenance of Properties...............................................       46
SECTION 4.09.        Payment of Taxes and Other Claims .......................................      46
SECTION 4.10.        Limitation on Liens.....................................................       47
SECTION 4.11.        Limitation on Sale/Leaseback
                     Transactions............................................................       47
SECTION 4.12.        Limitation on Indebtedness of
                     Restricted Subsidiaries.................................................       47
SECTION 4.13.        Limitation on Issuance of Preferred
                     Stock by Restricted Subsidiaries........................................       48
</TABLE>




                                       ii
<PAGE>   4
                                    ARTICLE V

            Holders' Lists and Reports by the Company and the Trustee
            ---------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                  <C>
SECTION 5.01.         Company to Furnish Trustee
                      information as to Names and
                      Addresses of Holders; Preservation
                      of Information..........................................................       49
SECTION 5.02.         Communications to Holders...............................................       49
SECTION 5.03.         Reports by Company......................................................       49
SECTION 5.04.         Reports by Trustee......................................................       50
SECTION 5.05.         Record Dates for Action by Holders......................................       51


                                   ARTICLE VI

             Remedies of the Trustee and Holders in Event of Default
             -------------------------------------------------------


SECTION 6.01.         Events of Default.......................................................       51
SECTION 6.02.         Collection of Indebtedness by
                      Trustee, etc............................................................       55
SECTION 6.03.         Application of Moneys Collected by
                      Trustee.................................................................       57
SECTION 6.04.         Limitation on Suits by Holders..........................................       58
SECTION 6.05.         Remedies Cumulative; Delay or
                      Omission in Exercise of Rights Not
                      a Waiver of Default.....................................................       59
SECTION 6.06.         Rights of Holders of Majority in
                      Principal Amount of Debt Securities
                      to Direct Trustee and to Waive
                      Default.................................................................       59
SECTION 6.07.         Trustee to Give Notice of Defaults
                      Known to It, but May Withhold Such
                      Notice in Certain Circumstances.........................................       60
SECTION 6.08.         Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay
                      Costs in Certain Suits Under the
                      Indenture or Against the Trustee........................................       60


                           ARTICLE VII

                     Concerning the Trustee
                     ----------------------

SECTION 7.01.         Certain Duties and Responsibilities.....................................       61
SECTION 7.02.         Certain Rights of Trustee...............................................       62
SECTION 7.03.         Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in
                      Indenture or in Debt Securities.........................................       64
SECTION 7.04.         Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar
                      May Own Debt Securities ................................................       64
</TABLE>


                                      iii
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                 <C>
SECTION 7.05.        Moneys Received by Trustee to be Held
                     in Trust................................................................       64
SECTION 7.06.        Compensation and Reimbursement..........................................       65
SECTION 7.07.        Right of Trustee to Rely on an
                     Officers' Certificate Where No Other
                     Evidence Specifically Prescribed........................................       65
SECTION 7.08.        Separate Trustee; Replacement of
                     Trustee.................................................................       66
SECTION 7.09.        Successor Trustee by Merger.............................................       67
SECTION 7.10.        Eligibility; Disqualification...........................................       68
SECTION 7.11.        Preferential Collection of Claims
                     Against Company.........................................................       68
SECTION 7.12.        Compliance with Tax Laws................................................       68


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                             Concerning the Holders
                             ----------------------

SECTION 8.01.        Evidence of Action by Holders...........................................       69
SECTION 8.02.        Proof of Execution of Instruments and
                     of Holding of Debt Securities...........................................       69
SECTION 8.03.        Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt
                     Securities..............................................................       69
SECTION 8.04.        Instruments Executed by Holders Bind
                     Future Holders..........................................................       70


                                   ARTICLE IX

                             Supplemental Indentures
                             -----------------------

SECTION 9.01.        Purposes for Which Supplemental
                     Indenture May Be Entered into
                     Without Consent of Holders..............................................       71
SECTION 9.02.        Modification of Indenture with
                     Consent of Holders of Debt
                     Securities..............................................................       73
SECTION 9.03.        Effect of Supplemental Indentures.......................................       74
SECTION 9.04.        Debt Securities May Bear Notation
                     of Changes by Supplemental
                     Indentures..............................................................       75
SECTION 9.05.        Payment for Consent.....................................................       75
</TABLE>




                                       iv
<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
                                    ARTICLE X

                  Consolidation of, Merger, Sale or Conveyance
                  --------------------------------------------

<S>                                                                                                          <C>
SECTION 10.01.                Consolidations and Mergers of the
                              Company.................................................................       75
SECTION 10.02.                Rights and Duties of Successor
                              Corporation.............................................................       76


                                   ARTICLE XI

                    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture;
                    ----------------------------------------
                          Defeasance; Unclaimed Moneys
                          ----------------------------

SECTION 11.01.                Applicability of Article................................................       77
SECTION 11.02.                Satisfaction and Discharge of
                              Indenture...............................................................       77
SECTION 11.03.                Conditions to Defeasance................................................       78
SECTION 11.04.                Application of Trust Money..............................................       80
SECTION 11.05.                Repayment to Company....................................................       80
SECTION 11.06.                Indemnity for U.S. Government
                              Obligations.............................................................       80
SECTION 11.07.                Reinstatement...........................................................       80


                                   ARTICLE XII

                            Miscellaneous Provisions

SECTION 12.01.                Successors and Assigns of Company
                              Bound by Indenture......................................................       80
SECTION 12.02.                Acts of Board, Committee or Officer
                              of Successor Company Valid..............................................       81
SECTION 12.03.                Required Notices or Demands.............................................       81
SECTION 12.04.                Indenture and Debt Securities to Be
                              Construed in Accordance with the
                              Laws of the State of New York...........................................       82
SECTION 12.05.                Officers' Certificate and Opinion of
                              Counsel to Be Furnished upon
                              Application or Demand by the
                              Company.................................................................       82
SECTION 12.06.                Payments Due on Legal Holidays..........................................       82
SECTION 12.07.                Provisions Required by Trust
                              Indenture Act to Control................................................       83
SECTION 12.08.                Indenture May Be Executed in
                              Counterparts............................................................       83
SECTION 12.09.                Computation of Interest on Debt
                              Securities..............................................................       83
SECTION 12.10.                Effect of Headings......................................................       83
</TABLE>



                                       v
<PAGE>   7
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
SECTION 12.11.                Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and
                              Registrar...............................................................       83
SECTION 12.12.                No Recourse Against Others..............................................       83
SECTION 12.13.                Severability............................................................       84

SIGNATURES                    ........................................................................       84
</TABLE>





                                       vi
<PAGE>   8
                          WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                 Debt Securities

                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET *

This Cross Reference Sheet shows the location in the Indenture of the provisions
inserted pursuant to Sections 310-318(a), inclusive of the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Indenture
                                    TIA Section                                               Section
                                    -----------                                               -------
                                                                                   
<S>                                                                                         <C>
310(a)(1)             ..................................................................       7.10    
   (a)(2)             ..................................................................       7.10
   (a)(3)             ..................................................................       7.10
   (a)(4)             ..................................................................       7.10
   (a)(5)             ..................................................................       7.10
   (b)                ..................................................................       7.10
   (c)                ..................................................................       N.A. **
                                                                                              
311(a)                ..................................................................       7.11
   (b)                ..................................................................       7.11
   (c)                ..................................................................       N.A.
                                                                                              
312(a)                ..................................................................       5.01
   (b)                ..................................................................       5.02
   (c)                ..................................................................       5.02
                                                                                              
313(a)                ..................................................................       5.04
   (b)(1)             ..................................................................       5.04
   (b)(2)             ..................................................................       5.04
   (c)                ..................................................................      12.03
   (d)                ..................................................................       5.04
                                                                                              
314(a)(1)             ..................................................................      5.03(a)
   (a)(2)             ..................................................................      5.03(b)
   (a)(3)             ..................................................................      5.03(a) & (b)
                                                                                              & 12.03
   (a)(4)             ..................................................................      4.05
</TABLE>


*        The Cross Reference Sheet is not part of the Indenture.

**       N.A  means "Not Applicable."


<PAGE>   9
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           Indenture
                                    TIA Section                                             Section
                                    -----------                                             -------
                                                                                
<S>                                                                                         <C>    
   (b)                ..................................................................     N.A.         
   (c)(1)             ..................................................................     12.05
   (c)(2)             ..................................................................     12.05
   (c)(3)             ..................................................................     N.A.
   (d)                ..................................................................     N.A.
   (e)                ..................................................................     12.05
   (f)                ..................................................................     4.06
                                                                                             
315(a)                ..................................................................     7.01(a)
   (b)                ..................................................................     6.07 & 12.03
   (c)                ..................................................................     7.01
   (d)                ..................................................................     7.01
   (e)                ..................................................................     6.08
                                                                                             
316(a)(last sentence) ..................................................................     1.01
   (a)(1)(A)          ..................................................................     6.06
   (a)(1)(B)          ..................................................................     6.06
   (a)(2)             ..................................................................     9.01(d)
   (b)                ..................................................................     6.04
   (c)                ..................................................................     5.05
                                                                                             
317(a)(1)             ..................................................................     6.02
   (a)(2)             ..................................................................     6.02
   (b)                ..................................................................     4.04
                                                                                             
318(a)                ..................................................................     12.07
</TABLE>
                                                                                








<PAGE>   10
                  INDENTURE dated as of May ___, 1996, between WORTHINGTON
INDUSTRIES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware (hereinafter sometimes called the "Company"), and PNC
Bank, Ohio, National Association, an association duly incorporated and existing
under the Federal laws of the United States (hereinafter sometimes called the
"Trustee").

                             RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

                  The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of
this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures,
notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more
series unlimited as to principal amount (herein called the "Debt Securities"),
as in this Indenture provided.

                  All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement
of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH

                  That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which
the Debt Securities are authenticated, issued and delivered, and in
consideration of the premises, and of the purchase and acceptance of the Debt
Securities by the holders thereof, the Company and the Trustee covenant and
agree with each other, for the benefit of the respective Holders from time to
time of the Debt Securities or any series thereof, as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   Definitions

                  SECTION 1.01. Certain Terms Defined. The terms defined in this
Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the
context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any
Indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in
this Section 1.01. All other terms used in this Indenture which are defined in
the Trust Indenture Act or which are by reference


<PAGE>   11





therein defined in the Securities Act (except as herein otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings
assigned to such terms in the Trust Indenture Act and in the Securities Act as
in force as of the date of original execution of this Indenture.

                  "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; and the terms
"controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

                  "Authorized Newspaper" means a newspaper in an official
language of the country of publication customarily published at least once a
day, and customarily published for at least five days in each calendar week, and
of general circulation in such city or cities specified pursuant to Section 2.03
with respect to the Debt Securities of any series. Where successive publications
are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications
may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the
foregoing requirements and in each case on any business day in such city.

                  "Attributable Indebtedness" in respect of a Sale/Leaseback
Transaction means, as of the time of determination, (i) if the obligation in
respect of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction is a Capitalized Lease Obligation,
the amount of such obligation determined in accordance with GAAP and included in
the financial statements of the lessee or (ii) if the obligation in respect of
such Sale/Leaseback Transaction is not a Capitalized Lease Obligation, the total
Net Amount of Rent required to be paid by the lessee under such lease during the
remaining term thereof (including any period for which the lease has been
extended), discounted from the respective due dates thereof to such
determination date at the rate per annum borne by the Debt Securities compounded
semi-annually.

                  "Bank Indebtedness" means any and all amounts payable under or
in respect of the Credit Agreement, as supplemented amended or modified from
time to time, including principal, premium (if any), interest (including
interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for
reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing
interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement
obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect
thereof.


                                        2
<PAGE>   12
                  "Banks" means the Lenders, as such term is defined in the
Credit Agreement.

                  "Board of Directors" means either the Board of Directors of
the Company or any duly authorized committee or subcommittee of such Board,
except as the context may otherwise require.

                  "business day" means, when used with respect to any Place of
Payment specified pursuant to Section 2.03, any day that is not a Saturday, a
Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust
companies in such Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law to close,
except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.03.

                  "Capitalized Lease Obligation" means an obligation that is
required to be classified and accounted for as a capitalized 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 (including partnership interests) in (however
designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding
any debt securities convertible into such equity.

                  "Commodity Price Protection Agreement" means, in respect of
any Person, any forward contract, commodity swap agreement, commodity option
agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such
Person against fluctuations in commodity prices.

                  "Common Stock" means the common shares, $.01 par value per
share, of the Company, which shares are currently traded over-the-counter on the
NASDAQ National Market.

                  "Company" means Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and, subject to the provisions of Article X, shall also include its
successors and assigns.

                  "Company Order" means a written order of the Company, signed
by its Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, President or



                                        3
<PAGE>   13
any Vice President and by its Treasurer, Secretary, any Assistant
Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary.

                  "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, as of any date of
determination, the sum of the amounts that would appear on a consolidated
balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the total assets (less
accumulated depletion, depreciation or amortization, allowances for doubtful
receivables, other applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP, after giving effect to purchase accounting and after
deducting therefrom, to the extent included in total assets, in each case as
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (without
duplication): (i) the aggregate amount of liabilities of the Company and its
Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as current liabilities (including
taxes accrued as estimated); (ii) current Indebtedness and current maturities of
long-term Indebtedness; (iii) minority interests in the Company's subsidiaries
held by Persons other than the Company or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company; and (iv) unamortized debt discount and expenses and other unamortized
deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names,
copyrights, licenses, organization or developmental expenses and other
intangible items.

                  "Consolidated Net Worth" means the total of the amount 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.

                  "corporate trust office of the Trustee" or other similar term
means the office of the Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the
Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered in the United
States of America, except that with respect to the presentation of Debt
Securities for payment or for registration of transfer and exchange, such term
shall also mean the office of the Trustee or the Trustee's agent in the Borough
of Manhattan, the city and state of New York, at which at any particular time
its corporate agency business shall be conducted.


                                        4
<PAGE>   14



                  "Credit Agreement" means the Credit Facility Agreement dated
as of ____________, among the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, each as a
Borrower, and the Lenders party thereto, as supplemented, amended or modified
from time to time.

                  "Currency" means Dollars or Foreign Currency.

                  "Currency Exchange Protection Agreement" means, in respect of
any Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, currency
option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person
against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

                  "Debt Security" or "Debt Securities" has the meaning stated in
the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any debt
security or debt securities, as the case may be of any series authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture.

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

                  "Depositary" means, unless otherwise specified by the Company
pursuant to either Section 2.03 or 2.15, with respect to registered Debt
Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of
one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York,
or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act
or other applicable statute or regulations.

                  "Disqualified Stock" of a Person means Redeemable Stock of
such Person as to which the maturity, mandatory redemption, conversion or
exchange or redemption at the option of the holder thereof occurs, or may occur,
on or prior to the first anniversary of the Stated Maturity of the Debt
Securities.

                  "Dollar" or "$" means such currency of the United States as at
the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

                  "Dollar Equivalent" means, with respect to any monetary amount
in a Foreign Currency, at any time for the determination thereof, the amount of
Dollars obtained by converting such Foreign Currency involved in such
computation into Dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of Dollars with the
applicable Foreign Currency as quoted by Bankers Trust Company (unless another
comparable financial institution is designated by the Company) in New York, New
York at approximately 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the date two business days
prior to such determination.


                                        5
<PAGE>   15




                  "European Currency Units" has the meaning assigned to it from
time to time by the Council of the European Communities.

                  "European Communities" means the European Economic Community,
the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.

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

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

                  "Floating Rate Security" means a Debt Security that provides
for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by
reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 2.03.

                  "Foreign Currency" means a currency issued by the government
of any country other than the United States or a composite currency the value of
which is determined by reference to the values of the currencies of any group of
countries.

                  "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States as in effect as of the date on which the Debt Securities of the
applicable series are issued, including those set forth in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as
approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession. All ratios and
computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in
conformity with GAAP consistently applied.

                  "Global Security" means with respect to any series of Debt
Securities issued hereunder, a Debt Security which is executed by the Company
and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to
the Depositary's instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and any
Indentures supplemental hereto, or resolution of the Board of Directors and set
forth in an Officers' Certificate, which shall be registered in the name of the
Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in
an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all the Outstanding Debt
Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same
terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or
dates on which principal is due and interest rate or method of determining
interest.


                                        6
<PAGE>   16





                  "Government Contract Lien" means any Lien required by any
contract, statute, regulation or order in order to permit the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries to perform any contract or subcontract made by it with or at
the request of the United States or any State thereof or any department, agency
or instrumentality of either or to secure partial, progress, advance or other
payments by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the United States or any
State thereof or any department agency or instrumentality of either pursuant to
the provisions of any contract, statute, regulation or order.

                  "Guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other
obligation 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 other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership
arrangements, or by agreement 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 purposes of assuring in any
other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness or other obligation 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 collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The
term "Guarantee" used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

                  "Hedging Obligations" of any Person means the obligations of
such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Protection Agreement, Currency
Exchange Protection Agreement or Commodity Price Protection Agreement or other
similar agreement.

                  "Holder," "Holder of Debt Securities" or other similar terms
means, with respect to a Registered Security, the Registered Holder.

                  "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 terms "Incurred",
"Incurrence" and "Incurring" shall each have a correlative meaning.

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


                                        7


<PAGE>   17





                  (i) the principal of Indebtedness of such Person for borrowed
         money;

                  (ii) the principal of obligations of such Person evidenced by
         bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

                  (iii) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;

                  (iv) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and
         unpaid purchase price of property or services (except Trade Payables);

                  (v) all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of
         credit, banker's acceptances or other similar instruments or credit
         transactions (including reimbursement obligations with respect
         thereto), other than obligations with respect to letters of credit
         securing obligations (other than obligations described in (i) through
         (iv) 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 third business day following receipt by such Person of a demand for
         reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit;

                  (vi) 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 the Company, any Preferred
         Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

                  (vii) all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on
         any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed
         by such Person; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness
         shall be the lesser of (A) the fair market value of such asset at such
         date of determination and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness of such
         other Persons;

                  (viii) all Indebtedness of other Persons to the extent
         Guaranteed by such Person; and

                  (ix) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition,
         obligations in respect of Hedging Obligations except those secured by
         Permitted Liens.

For purposes of this definition, the maximum fixed redemption, repayment or
repurchase price of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have
a fixed redemption, repayment

                                        8


<PAGE>   18





or repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such
Stock as if such Stock were redeemed, repaid or repurchased on any date on which
Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture;
provided, however, that if such Stock is not then permitted to be redeemed,
repaid or repurchased, the redemption, repayment or repurchase price shall be
the book value of such Stock as reflected in the most recent financial
statements 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 instrument as originally executed, or,
if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented and
shall include the form and terms of particular series of Debt Securities as
contemplated hereunder, whether or not a supplemental Indenture is entered into
with respect thereto.

                  "Interest Rate Protection Agreement" means, in respect of any
Person, any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate option agreement,
interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate floor
agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such
Person against fluctuations in interest rate.

                  "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 Amount of Rent" as to any lease for any period means the
aggregate amount of rent payable by the lessee with respect to such period after
excluding amounts required to be paid on account of maintenance and repairs,
insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates and similar charges. In the case of
any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such
net amount shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be
considered as payable under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which
it may be so terminated.

                  "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the
Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the President or any Vice President
and by the Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Treasurer or Assistant
Secretary of the Company each such certificate shall include the statements
provided for in Section 12.05, if applicable.


                                        9


<PAGE>   19






                  "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by
legal counsel for the Company (which counsel may be an employee of the Company),
or outside counsel for the Company. Each such opinion shall include the
statements provided for in Section 12.05, if applicable.

                  "Original Issue Discount Debt Security" means any Debt
Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to
be due and payable upon a declaration or acceleration of the maturity thereof
pursuant to Section 6.01.

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

                  (i) Debt Securities of that series theretofore canceled by the
         Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

                  (ii) Debt Securities of that series for whose payment or
         redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited
         with the Trustee or any paying agent (other than the Company) in trust
         or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company
         shall act as its own paying agent) for the holders of such Debt
         Securities; provided, that, if such Debt Securities are to be redeemed,
         notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this
         Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been
         made; and

                  (iii) Debt Securities of that series which have been paid
         pursuant to Section 2.09 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other
         Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this
         Indenture, other than any such Debt Securities in respect of which
         there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it
         that such Debt Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose
         hands such Debt Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
Debt Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt
Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be
disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining
whether the Trustee shall be


                                       10


<PAGE>   20





protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which the Trustee knows to be so
owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged
in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the
satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such
Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor
upon the Debt Securities or an Affiliate of the Company or of such other
obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of
Outstanding Debt Securities have given any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an
Original Issue Discount Debt Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for
such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and
payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration
of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01. In determining whether the
Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of
any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Debt Security denominated
in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that shall be deemed to be
Outstanding for such purposes shall be the Dollar Equivalent, determined in the
manner provided as contemplated by Section 2.03 on the date of original issuance
of such Debt Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of any Original
Issue Discount Security, the Dollar Equivalent on the date of original issuance
of such Security of the amount determined as provided in the preceding sentence
above) of such Debt Security.

                  "pari passu", as applied to the ranking of any Indebtedness of
a Person in relation to other Indebtedness of such Person, means that each such
Indebtedness either (i) is not subordinate in right of payment to any
Indebtedness or (ii) is subordinate in right of payment to the same Indebtedness
as is the other, and is so subordinate to the same extent, and is not
subordinate in right of payment to each other or to any Indebtedness as to which
the other is not so subordinate.

                  "Permitted Liens" means, with respect to any Person, (a)
pledges or deposits by such Person under worker's compensation laws,
unemployment insurance laws, social security 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 bonds to secure performance, surety or appeal bonds to which such Person
is a party or which are otherwise required of such Person, or deposits as
security for



                                       11


<PAGE>   21





contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent or other obligations
of like nature, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business; (b)
Liens imposed by law, such as carriers', warehousemen's, laborers',
materialmen's, landlords', vendors', workmen's, operators', factors and
mechanics liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings; (c) Liens for taxes, assessments and other
governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent or which are being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (d) survey exceptions, encumbrances,
easements or reservations of or with respect to, or rights of others for or with
respect to, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric and other utility lines
and usages, telegraph and telephone lines, pipelines, surface use, operation of
equipment, permits, servitudes and other similar matters, 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 in connection with 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; (e) Liens existing on
or provided for under the terms of agreements existing on the Issue Date
(including, without limitation, under the Credit Agreement); (f) Liens on
property at the time the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acquired the
property or the entity owning such property, including any acquisition by means
of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company; provided, however, that
any such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, (g) Liens securing a Hedging Obligation so long as such
Hedging Obligation is of the type customarily entered into for the purpose of
limiting risk; (h) Purchase Money Liens; (i) Liens securing only Indebtedness of
a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or one or more wholly owned
Subsidiaries of the Company; (j) Liens on any property to secure Indebtedness
Incurred in connection with the construction, installation or financing of
pollution control or abatement facilities or other forms of industrial revenue
bond financing or Indebtedness issued or Guaranteed by the United States, any
state or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof; (k) Government
Contract Liens; (l) Liens securing Indebtedness of joint ventures in which the
Company or a Subsidiary has an interest to the extent such Liens are on property
or assets of, such joint ventures; (m) Liens resulting from the deposit of funds
or evidences of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing Indebtedness
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (n) legal or equitable encumbrances
deemed to exist by reason of negative pledges or the existence of any litigation
or other legal proceeding and any related lis pendens filing (excluding any
attachment prior to judgment lien or attachment lien in aid of execution on a
judgment); (o) any attachment Lien being


                                       12


<PAGE>   22





contested in good faith and by proceedings promptly initiated and diligently
conducted, unless the attachment giving rise thereto will not, within sixty days
after the entry thereof, have been discharged or fully bonded or will not have
been discharged within sixty days after the termination of any such bond; (p)
any judgment Lien, unless the judgment it secures will not, within sixty days
after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution thereof stayed
pending appeal, or will not have been discharged within sixty days after the
expiration of any such stay; (q) Liens to banks arising from the issuance of
letters of credit issued by such banks ("issuing banks") on the following: (i)
any and all shipping documents, warehouse receipts, policies or certificates of
insurance and other document accompanying or relative to drafts drawn under any
credit, and any draft drawn thereunder (whether or not such documents, goods or
other property be released to or upon the order of the Company or any Subsidiary
under a security agreement or trust or bailee receipt or otherwise), and the
proceeds of each and all of the foregoing; (ii) the balance of every deposit
account, now or at the time hereafter existing, of the Company or any Subsidiary
with the issuing banks, and any other claims of the Company or any Subsidiary
against the issuing banks; and all property claims and demands and all rights
and interests therein of the Company or any Subsidiary and all evidences thereof
and all proceeds thereof which have been or at any time will be delivered to or
otherwise come into the issuing bank's possession, custody or control, or into
the possession, custody or control of any bailee for the issuing bank or of any
of its agents or correspondents for the account of the issuing bank, for any
purpose, whether or not the express purpose of being used by the issuing bank as
collateral security or for the safekeeping or for any other or different
purpose, the issuing bank being deemed to have possession or control of all of
such property actually in transit to or from or set apart for the issuing bank,
any bailee for the issuing bank or any of its correspondents for other acting in
its behalf, it being understood that the receipt at any time by the issuing
bank, or any of its bailees, agents or correspondents, or other security, of
whatever nature, including cash, will not be deemed a waiver of any of the
issuing bank's rights or power hereunder; (iii) all property shipped under or
pursuant to or in connection with any credit or drafts drawn thereunder or in
any way related thereto, and all proceeds thereof; (iv) all additions to and
substitutions for any of the property enumerated above in this subsection; (r)
rights of a common owner of any interest in property held by such Person; (s)
farmout, carried working interest, joint operating, unitization, royalty,
overriding royalty, sales and similar agreements relating to the exploration or
development of, or production from, oil and gas properties entered into the
ordinary course of business; (t) any defects, irregularities or deficiencies in
title to easements, rights-of-


                                       13


<PAGE>   23





way or other properties which do not in the aggregate materially adversely
affect the value of such properties or materially impair their use in the
operation of the business of such Person; and (u) Liens to secure any
refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive
refinancings. refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements), as a whole, or
in part, of any indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing
clauses (e) through (g); provided, however, that (i) such new Lien shall be
limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus
improvements on such property) and (ii) 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 (e) through (m) at the time the original
Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture and (B) an amount necessary to
pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing,
refunding, extension, renewal or replacement.

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

                  "Place of Payment" mean, when used with respect to the Debt
Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of, and
premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of that series are payable
as specified pursuant to Section 2.03.

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

                  "Principal Property" means any manufacturing plant or other
similar facility (including production machinery and equipment located thereon)
or warehouse, owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary, which is located
within the United States other than (a) any such plant or facility which the
Board of Directors determines in good faith by board resolution is not of
material importance to the total business conducted, or assets owned, by the
Company and its Subsidiaries as an entirety, or (b) any portion of any such
plant or facility which the Board of Directors determines by Board Resolution in
good faith not to be of material importance to the use or operation thereof.
"Production machinery and equipment" means production machinery


                                       14


<PAGE>   24





and equipment in such manufacturing plants used directly in the production of
the Company's or any Subsidiary's products.

                  "Purchase Money Lien" means a Lien on property securing
Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to provide funds
for all or any portion of the cost of acquiring, constructing, altering,
expanding, improving or repairing such property or assets used in connection
with such property.

                  "Redeemable Stocks" 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) 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 for Indebtedness
(other than Preferred Stock) or Disqualified Stock or (iii) is redeemable at the
option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part.

                  "Registered Holder" means the Person in whose name a
Registered Security is registered in the Debt Security Register (as defined in
Section 2.07(a)).

                  "Registered Security" means any Debt Security registered as to
principal and interest in the Debt Security Register (as defined in Section
2.07(a)).

                  "Registrar" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.07(a).

                  "Representative" means the trustee, agent or
representative (if any) for an issue of Indebtedness.

                  "responsible officer" when used with respect to the Trustee,
means any officer within the Trustee, including any Vice President, any Second
Vice President, any trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee performing
functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be
such officers, and any other officer of the Trustee to whom corporate trust
matters are referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.

                  "Restricted Subsidiary" means a subsidiary of the Company
which shall at the time, directly or indirectly, through one or more
subsidiaries or in combination with one or more subsidiaries or the Company,
owns or leases a Principal Property.

                  "Sale/Leaseback Transaction" means an arrangement relating to
property owned on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired whereby the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries transfers


                                       15


<PAGE>   25





such property to a Person and the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries leases it from such Person.

                  "Secured Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the
Company secured by a Lien.

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

                  "Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any security, the
date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the 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 beyond the control of the issuer unless such
contingency has occurred).

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

                  "Temporary Cash Investments" means any of the following: (i)
investments in U.S. Government Obligations maturing within 90 days of the date
of acquisition thereof, (ii) investments in time deposit accounts, certificates
of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 90 days of the date of
acquisition thereof issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under
the laws of the United States, any State thereof or any foreign country
recognized by the United States having capital, surplus and undivided profits
aggregating in excess of $500,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof) and
whose long-term debt is rated "A" or higher according to Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. (or such similar equivalent rating by at least one "nationally
recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined in Rule 436 under the
Securities Act)), (iii) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 7
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 and (iv) investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than 90 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
or any foreign country recognized by the United States with a rating at the time
as of which any investment 



                                       16


<PAGE>   26
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 Corporation.

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

                  "Trustee" initially means PNC Bank, Ohio, National
Association, Cincinnati, Ohio and any other Person or Persons appointed as such
from time to time pursuant to Section 7.08, and, subject to the provisions of
Article VII, includes its or their successors and assigns. If at any time there
is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the Debt
Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the Debt
Securities of that series.

                  "Trust Indenture Act" (except as herein otherwise expressly
provided) means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date of this
indenture as originally executed and, to the extent required by law, as amended.

                  "United States" means the United States of America (including
the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and
other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

                  "United States Alien" means any Person who, for United States
Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien
individual, a nonresident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a
foreign partnership one or more members of which is, for United States Federal
income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien individual or a
nonresident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

                  "U.S. Government Obligations" means securities that are (x)
direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith
and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by
and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States, the payment of
which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the
United States, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the
option of the issuer thereof.

                  "Yield to Maturity" means the yield to maturity, calculated at
the time of issuance of a series of Debt Securities, or, if applicable, at the
most recent redetermination 


                                       17


<PAGE>   27
of interest on such series and calculated in accordance with accepted financial
practice.

                  SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture
Act. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this
indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms have the following meanings:

                  "indenture securities" means the Debt Securities.

                  "indenture security holder" means a Holder.

                  "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture.

                  "indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means
the Trustee.

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

                  All other Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture
that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, reference to another statute or
defined by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission have the meanings
assigned to them by such definitions.

                  SECTION 1.03.  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) the principal amount of any noninterest 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; and

                  (7) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be the
         greater of (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or
         (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or 



                                       18


<PAGE>   28
mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock.


                                   ARTICLE II

                                 Debt Securities

                  SECTION 2.01. Forms Generally. The Debt Securities of each
series shall be in substantially the form established without the approval of
any Holder by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or in one or
more Indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate
insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or
permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks
of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company
may deem appropriate (and, if not contained in a Supplemental Indenture entered
into in accordance with Article IX, as are not prohibited by the provisions of
this Indenture) or as may be required or appropriate to comply with any law or
with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any securities
exchange on which such series of Debt Securities may be listed, or to conform to
general usage, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers
executing such Debt Securities as evidenced by their execution of the Debt
Securities.

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

                  SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee's Certificate of Authentication on all Debt Securities authenticated
by the Trustee shall be in substantially the following form:

                     TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

                                       PNC Bank, Ohio, National Association
                                       As Trustee


                                       19


<PAGE>   29
                                           By
                                              ------------------------------
                                              Authorized Signature







                  SECTION 2.03. Principal Amount; Issuable in Series. The
aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued, executed,
authenticated, delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is unlimited.

                  The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series. There
shall be established, without the approval of any Holders, in or pursuant to a
resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers' Certificate,
or established in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the
issuance of Debt Securities of any series any or all of the following:

                  (l) the title of the Debt Securities of the series (which
         shall distinguish the Debt Securities of the series from all other Debt
         Securities);

                  (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt
         Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under
         this Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered
         upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of,
         other Debt Securities of the series pursuant to this Article II);

                  (3) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if
         any, of the Debt Securities of the series are payable;

                  (4) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at
         which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or
         the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from
         which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which
         such interest shall be payable, or the method by which such date will
         be determined, in the case of Registered Securities, the record dates
         for the determination of Holders thereof to whom such interest is
         payable; and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other
         than that of a 360-day year of twelve thirty-day months;

                  (5) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of
         the corporate trust office of the Trustee where the principal of, and
         interest on, Debt Securities of the series shall be payable;

                  (6) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within
         which and the terms and conditions upon which 


                                       20


<PAGE>   30
         Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at 
         the option of the Company or otherwise;

                  (7) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase
         or repay Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or
         analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the
         price or prices to which and the period or periods within which and the
         terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be
         redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such
         obligations;

                  (8) the terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities of the
         series may be convertible into or exchanged for Common Stock, Preferred
         Stock (which may be represented by depositary shares), other Debt
         Securities or warrants for Common Stock, Preferred Stock or
         Indebtedness or other securities of any kind of the Company or any
         other obligor and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion
         or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion or
         exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and any other
         provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;

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

                  (10) if the amount of principal of interest on Debt Securities
         of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant
         to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

                  (11) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of
         Debt Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or
         more dated prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be
         deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose,
         including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable
         upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will be
         deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the
         manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined); and
         the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the
         United States of America for purposes of the definition of Dollar
         Equivalent;

                  (12) any changes or additions to Article XI, including the
         addition of additional covenants that may be subject to 



                                       21
<PAGE>   31
         the covenant defeasance option pursuant to Section 11.02(b)(ii);

                  (13) if other than such coin or Currency of the United States
         as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
         private debts, the coin or Currency or Currencies or units of two or
         more Currencies in which payment of the principal of and premium, if
         any, and interest on, Debt Securities of the series shall be payable;

                  (14) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion
         of the principal amount of Debt Securities of the series which shall be
         payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof
         pursuant to Section 6.01 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section
         6.02;

                  (15) the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or
         assignment as security for the Debt Securities of the series of any
         properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral,
         including whether certain provisions of the Trust Indenture Act are
         applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this
         Indenture as currently in effect;

                  (16) any addition to or change in the Events of Default with
         respect to the Debt Securities of the series and any change in the
         right of the Trustee or the Holders to declare the principal of and
         interest on, such Debt Securities due and payable;

                  (17) if the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in
         whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the
         terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or
         Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual
         Debt Securities in definitive registered form; and the Depositary for
         such Global Security or Securities and the form of any legend or
         legends to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in
         addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.15;

                  (18) any trustees, authenticating or paying agents,
         transfer agents or registrars;

                  (19) the applicability of, and any addition to or change in
         the covenants and definitions currently set forth in this Indenture or
         in the terms currently set forth in Article X, including conditioning
         any merger, conveyance, transfer or lease permitted by Article X upon
         the 


                                       22
<PAGE>   32
         satisfaction of an Indebtedness coverage standard by the Company and
         Successor Company (as defined in Article X);

                  (20) the terms, if any, of any Guarantee of the payment of
         principal of and interest on, Debt Securities of the series and any
         corresponding changes to the provisions of this Indenture as currently
         in effect;

                  (21) with regard to Debt Securities of the series that
         do not bear interest the dates for certain required reports
         to the Trustee; and

                  (22) any other terms of the Debt Securities of the
         series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the
         provisions of this Indenture).

                  All Debt Securities of any one series appertaining thereto
shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may
otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of
Directors and as set forth in such Officers' Certificate or in any such
Indenture supplemental hereto.

                  SECTION 2.04. Execution of Debt Securities. The Debt
Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the
Board, its Vice Chairman, its President or a Vice President and by its
Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Such
signatures upon the Debt Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of
the present or any future such authorized officers and may be imprinted or
otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities. The seal of the Company, if any,
may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed,
imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities.

                  Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate
of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, signed
manually by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or
be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any
Debt Security executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt
Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

                  In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any
of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities
so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or
disposed of by the Company, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be
authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such




                                       23
<PAGE>   33
Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debt
Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the
actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper officers
of the Company, although at the date of such Debt Security or of the execution
of this Indenture any such Person was not such officer.

                  SECTION 2.05. Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this
Indenture, the Company may deliver Debt Securities of any series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon
authenticate and deliver said Debt Securities to or upon a Company Order. In
authenticating such Debt Securities and accepting the additional
responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt Securities, the
Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be
fully protected in relying upon:

                  (1)      a copy of any resolution or resolutions of the
         Board of Directors, certified by the Secretary or Assistant
         Secretary of the Company, authorizing the terms of issuance
         of any series of Debt Securities;

                  (2)      an executed supplemental Indenture, if any;

                  (3)      an Officers' Certificate; and

                  (4)      an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with
         Section 12.05 which shall also state:

                           (a) that the form of such Debt Securities has been
                  established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of
                  Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by
                  Section 2.01 in conformity with the provisions of this
                  Indenture;

                           (b) that the terms of such Debt Securities have been
                  established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of
                  Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by
                  Section 2.03 in conformity with the provisions of this
                  Indenture;

                           (c) that such Debt Securities, when authenticated and
                  delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the
                  manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion
                  of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding
                  obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with
                  their terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be
                  limited by bankruptcy, 




                                       24
<PAGE>   34
                  insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
                  creditors' rights generally and (ii) rights of acceleration
                  and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by
                  equitable principles of general applicability;

                           (d) that the Company has the corporate power to issue
                  such Debt Securities and has duly taken all necessary
                  corporate action with respect to such issuance;

                           (e) that the issuance of such Debt Securities will
                  not contravene the charter or by-laws of the Company or result
                  in any material violation of any of the terms or provisions of
                  any law or regulation or of any indenture, mortgage or other
                  agreement known to such counsel by which the Company is bound;

                           (f) that authentication and delivery of such Debt
                  Securities and the execution and delivery of any supplemental
                  Indenture will not violate the terms of this Indenture; and

                           (g) such other matters as the Trustee may
                  reasonably request.

                  Such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether
a court in the United States would render a money judgment in a currency other
than that of the United States.

                  The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate
and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section 2.05 if the Trustee, being
advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if
the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive
committee or a trust committee of directors, trustees or vice presidents shall
determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to
existing Holders.

                  The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably
acceptable to the Company to authenticate Debt Securities of any series. Unless
limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may
authenticate Debt 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.




                                       25
<PAGE>   35
                  Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any
series, each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

                  SECTION 2.06.  Denomination of Debt Securities.  Unless
otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series,
the Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable only as
Registered Securities in such denominations as shall be specified
or contemplated by Section 2.03.  In the absence of any such
specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any series,
the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

                  SECTION 2.07. Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) The
Company shall keep or cause to be kept a register for each series of Registered
Securities issued hereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Debt
Security Register"), in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may
prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Registered
Securities and the transfer of Registered Securities as in this Article II
provided. At all reasonable times the Debt Security Register shall be open for
inspection by the Trustee. Subject to Section 2.15, upon due presentment for
registration of transfer of any Registered Security at any office or agency to
be maintained by the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.02,
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the
name of the transferee or transferees a new Registered Security or Registered
Securities of authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount.

                  Unless and until otherwise determined by the Company by
resolution of the Board of Directors, the register of the Company for the
purpose of registration, exchange or registration of transfer of the Registered
Securities shall be kept at the corporate trust office of the Trustee and, for
this purpose, the Trustee shall be designated "Registrar".

                  Registered Securities of any series (other than a Global
Security) may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Registered
Securities of the same series of other authorized denominations. Subject to
Section 2.15, Registered Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at the
office or agency to be maintained by the Company as provided in Section 4.02,
and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in
exchange therefor the Registered Security or Registered Securities which the
Holder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.




                                       26
<PAGE>   36
                  (b) All Registered Securities presented or surrendered for
registration of transfer, exchange or payment shall (if so required by the
Company, the Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed or be accompanied by a
written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the
Company, the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Registered Holder
or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

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

                  No service charge shall be made for any exchange or
registration of transfer of Debt Securities (except as provided by Section
2.09), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto, other than
those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company's own
expense or without expense or without charge to the Holders.

                  The Company shall not be required (a) to issue, register the
transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities for a period of 15 days next
preceding any mailing of notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series
or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities selected,
called or being called for redemption.

                  Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of
any Debt Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar
may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the
absolute owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payment of
principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, such Debt Security and for
all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Debt Security is overdue, and
none of the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent or Registrar shall be
affected by notice to the contrary.

                  None of the Company, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee,
any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for
any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of,
beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests.

                  SECTION 2.08. Temporary Debt Securities. Pending the
preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the 



                                       27
<PAGE>   37
Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary
Debt Securities (printed, lithographed, photocopied, typewritten or otherwise
produced) of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the
definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form
and with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for
temporary Debt Securities, all as may be determined by the Company with the
concurrence of the Trustee. Temporary Debt Securities may contain such reference
to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Debt
Security shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee
upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like
effect, as the definitive Debt Securities.

                  If temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the
Company will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared
without unreasonable delay. (a) After the preparation of definitive Debt
Securities of such series, the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall be
exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities of such series upon surrender of the
temporary Debt Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company
at a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder thereof,
except as provided in Section 2.07 in connection with a transfer, and (b) upon
surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any
series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver
in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of
the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so
exchanged, temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities
of such series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section
2.03(17) with respect to the payment of interest on Global Securities in
temporary form.

                  Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security
for a definitive Global Security or for the individual Debt Securities
represented thereby pursuant to Section 2.07 or this Section 2.08, the temporary
Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the
principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such
temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount to
exchanged and endorsed.

                  SECTION 2.09. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt
Securities. If (i) any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Trustee at
its corporate trust office (in the case of Registered Securities) or (ii) the
Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the




                                       28
<PAGE>   38
destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security, and there is delivered to the
Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to
save each of them and any paying agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the
Trustee receives notice that such Debt Security has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, then the Company shall execute and, upon a Company Order, the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, a new Debt Security of the
same series of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number
not contemporaneously Outstanding. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt
Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any
other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured
or is about to mature or which has been called for redemption shall become
mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a
substituted Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without
surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the
applicant for such payment shall furnish the Company and the Trustee with such
security or indemnity as either may require to save it harmless from all risk,
however remote, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the
satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of
such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.

                  Every substituted Debt Security of any series issued pursuant
to the provisions of this Section 2.09 by virtue of the fact that any Debt
Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an original additional
contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or
stolen Debt Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all
the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all
other Debt Securities of that series duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities
shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions
are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, and shall preclude any and all other
rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter
enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable
instruments or other securities without their surrender.

                  SECTION 2.10. Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities. All
Debt Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or
exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent or a
Registrar, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation by it, or if surrendered
to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debt 



                                       29
<PAGE>   39
Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any
of the provisions of this Indenture. All canceled Debt Securities held by the
Trustee shall be destroyed (subject to the record retention requirements of the
Exchange Act) and certification of their destruction delivered to the Company,
unless otherwise directed. On request of the Company, the Trustee shall deliver
to the Company canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee. If the Company
shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not
operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented thereby
unless and until the same are delivered or surrendered to the Trustee for
cancellation. The Company may not issue new Debt Securities to replace Debt
Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

                  SECTION 2.11. Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities
for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders. Nothing in this Indenture
or in the Debt Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to
give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, the Holders or any Registrar
or paying agent, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in
respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein
contained; all its covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole
benefit of the parties hereto, the Holders and any Registrar and paying agents.

                  SECTION 2.12. Payment of Interest; Rights Preserved. (a)
Interest on any Registered Security that is payable and is punctually paid or
duly provided for on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in
whose name such Registered Security is registered at the close of business on
the regular record date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of
such Registered Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the regular
record date. Payment of interest on Registered Securities shall be made at the
corporate trust office of the Trustee (except as otherwise specified pursuant to
Section 2.03), or at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address
of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Debt Security
Register or, if provided pursuant to Section 2.03 and in accordance with
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the option of the Registered Holder
by wire transfer to an account designated by the Registered Holder.

                  (b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12
and Section 2.17, each Debt Security of a particular series delivered under this
Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any
other Debt Security of the same series shall carry the rights to interest
accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt
Security.






                                       30
<PAGE>   40
                  SECTION 2.13.  Securities Denominated in Foreign
Currencies.

                  (a) Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.03 for
Registered Securities of any series, payment of the principal of, and premium,
if any, and interest on, Registered Securities of such series will be made in
Dollars.

                  (b) For the purposes of calculating the principal amount of
Debt Securities of any series denominated in a Foreign Currency or in units of
two or more Foreign Currencies (including European Currency Units) for any
purpose under this Indenture, the principal amount of such Debt Securities at
any time Outstanding shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of such
principal amount as of the date of any such calculation.

                  In the event any Foreign Currency or currencies or units of
two or more Currencies in which any payment with respect to any series of Debt
Securities may be made ceases to be a freely convertible Currency on United
States Currency markets, for any date thereafter on which payment of principal
of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of a series is due,
the Company shall select the Currency of payment for use on such date, all as
provided in the Debt Securities of such series. In such event, the Company
shall, as provided in the Debt Securities of such series, notify the Trustee of
the Currency which it has selected to constitute the funds necessary to meet the
Company's obligations or such payment date and of the amount of such Currency to
be paid. Such amount shall be determined as provided in the Debt Securities of
such series. The payment to the Trustee with respect to such payment date shall
be made by the Company solely in the Currency so selected.

                  SECTION 2.14. Wire Transfers. Notwithstanding any other
provision to the contrary in this Indenture, the Company may make any payment of
monies required to be deposited with the Trustee on account of principal of, or
premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities (whether pursuant to
optional or mandatory redemption payments, interest payments or otherwise) by
wire transfer immediately available funds to an account designated by the
trustee on or before the date such moneys are to be paid to the Holders of the
Debt Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

                  SECTION 2.15. Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global
Security. (a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.03
that the Debt Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall
execute and the 



                                       31
<PAGE>   41
Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.05, authenticate and
deliver, such Global Security or Securities, which (i) shall represent, and
shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of,
the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be represented by such Global
Security or Securities, or such portion thereof as the Company shall specify in
an Officers' Certificate, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary
for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered
by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary's
instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:
'Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Debt
Securities represented hereby, this Global Security may not be transferred
except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a
nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary
or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee
of such successor Depositary', or such other legend as may then be required by
the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

                  (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.15
or of Section 2.07 to the contrary, and subject to the provisions of paragraph
(c) below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global
Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Debt Securities in
registered form, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part
and in the manner provided in Section 2.07, only by the Depositary to a nominee
of the Depositary for such Global Security, or by a nominee of the Depositary to
the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or a
nominee of the Depositary to a successor Depositary for such Global Security
selected or approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor
Depositary.

                  (c) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security or
Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as
Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or if at any time the
Depositary for the Debt Securities for such series shall no longer be eligible
or in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute, rule or
regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to
such Global Security or Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Global
Security or Securities is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the
Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company
shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Company Order for
the authentication and delivery of such individual Debt Securities of such
series in exchange for such 



                                       32
<PAGE>   42
Global Security, will authenticate and deliver, individual Debt Securities of
such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security in exchange for such
Global Security or Securities.

                  (ii) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion
determine that the Debt Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or
issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be
represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company
will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of individual Debt Securities of such series in
exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security, will authenticate and
deliver individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in
definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount
of such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or
Securities.

                  (iii) If specified by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.01
and 2.03 with respect to Debt Securities issued or issuable in the form of a
Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such
Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Debt Securities
of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are
acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon the
Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent upon receipt of a Company
Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such
series shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, (1) to each
Person specified by such Depositary a new Debt Security or Securities of the
same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as
requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange
for such Persons beneficial interest in the Global Security; and (2) to such
Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized
denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of
the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt
Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

                  (iv) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding
three paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee or its agent will
authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities. Upon the exchange of the
entire principal amount of a Global Security for individual Debt Securities,
such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as
provided in the preceding paragraph, Registered Securities issued in exchange
for a Global Security pursuant to 



                                       33
<PAGE>   43
this Section 2.15 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized
denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to
instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall
instruct the Trustee or the Registrar. The Trustee or the Registrar shall
deliver such Registered Securities to the Persons in whose names such Registered
Securities are so registered.

                  (v) Payments in respect of the principal of and interest on
any Debt Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee will
be payable to the Depositary or such nominee in its capacity as the registered
owner of such Global Security. The Company and the Trustee may treat the Person
in whose name the Debt Securities, including the Global Security, are registered
as the owner thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and
all other purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Registrar,
the paying agent or any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any
responsibility or liability for (a) any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of the beneficial ownership interests of the Global
Security by the Depositary or its nominee or any of the Depositary's direct or
indirect participants, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records
of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants
relating to the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security, (b) the
payments to the beneficial owners of the Global Security of amounts paid to the
Depositary or its nominee, or (c) any other matter relating to the actions and
practices of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect
participants. None of the Company, the Trustee or any such agent will be liable
for any delay by the Depositary, its nominee, or any of its direct or indirect
participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities, and
the Company and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in
relying on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for all purposes
(including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective
principal amounts, of the Debt Securities to be issued).

                  SECTION 2.16. Medium Term Securities. Notwithstanding any
contrary provision herein, if all Debt Securities of a series are not to be
originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Company to
deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate, resolutions of the Board of
Directors, supplemental Indenture, Opinion of Counsel or written order or any
other document otherwise required pursuant to Section 2.01, 2.03, 2.05 or l2.05
at or prior to the time of authentication of each Debt Security of such series
if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior to the
authentication upon original issuance of the first such Debt Security of such
series 


                                       34
<PAGE>   44
to be issued; provided, that any subsequent request by the Company to the
Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of such series upon original issuance
shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that, as of the
date of such request, the statements made in the Officers' Certificate delivered
pursuant to Section 2.05 or 12.05 shall be true and correct as if made on such
date and that the Opinion of Counsel delivered at or prior to such time of
authentication of an original issuance of Debt Securities shall specifically
state that it shall relate to all subsequent issuances of Debt Securities of
such series that are identical to the Debt Securities issued in the first
issuance of Debt Securities of such series.

                  A Company Order delivered by the Company to the Trustee in the
circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph, may provide that Debt
Securities which are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the telephonic
or written order of Persons designated in such written order (any such
telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such Person) and
that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with the Officers'
Certificate, supplemental Indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors
relating to such written order, such terms and conditions of such Debt
Securities as are specified in such Officers' Certificate, supplemental
Indenture or such resolution.

                  SECTION 2.17. Defaulted Interest. Any interest on any Debt
Security of a particular series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or
duly provided for, on the dates and in the manner provided in the Debt
Securities of such series and in this Indenture (herein called "Defaulted
Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Registered Holder thereof
on the relevant record date by virtue of having been such Registered Holder, and
such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each
case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

                  (i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted
         Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of
         such series are registered at the close of business on a special record
         date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed
         in the following manner: The Company shall notify the Trustee in
         writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each
         such Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed
         payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the
         Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be
         paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements




                                       35
<PAGE>   45
         satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the
         proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the
         benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this
         clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date
         for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than
         15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed
         payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of
         the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify
         the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the
         expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of
         such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be
         mailed, first class postage pre-paid, to each Holder thereof at its
         address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days
         prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of
         such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having
         been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in
         whose names the Registered Securities of such series are registered at
         the close of business on such special record date.

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

                  SECTION 2.18. Judgments. The Company may provide pursuant to
Section 2.03 for Debt Securities of any series that (a) the obligation, if any,
of the Company to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on,
the Debt Securities of any series in a Foreign Currency or Dollars (the
"Designated Currency") as may be specified pursuant to Section 2.03 is of the
essence and agrees that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law,
judgments in respect of Debt Securities of such series shall be given in the
Designated Currency; (b) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the
Designated Currency of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on,
such Debt Securities shall, notwithstanding any payment in any other Currency
(whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), be discharged only to the extent
of the amount in the Designated Currency that the Holder receiving such payment
may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase with the sum paid in
such other Currency (after any premium and cost of

                                       36
<PAGE>   46

exchange) on the business day in the country of issue of the Designated Currency
or in the international banking community (in the case of a composite currency)
immediately following the day on which such Holder receives such payment; (c) if
the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason
falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional
amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and (d) any
obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a
separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein,
shall continue in full force and effect.

                                   ARTICLE III

                          Redemption of Debt Securities

                  SECTION 3.01. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this
Article shall be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series which are
redeemable before their Stated Maturity except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 2.03 for Debt Securities of such series.

                  SECTION 3.02. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt
Securities. In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all
or, as the case may be, any part of the Debt Securities of any series in
accordance with their terms, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company or a supplemental Indenture, the Company shall fix a date for redemption
and shall give notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days
prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Holders of Debt Securities of such
series so to be redeemed as a whole or in part, in the manner provided in
Section 12.03. The notice if given in the manner herein provided shall be
conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder
receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in
the notice to the Holder of any Debt Security of a series designated for
redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the
proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security of such series.

                  Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed
for redemption, the redemption price at which Debt Securities of such series are
to be redeemed, the Place or Places of Payment that payment will be made upon
presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities, that any interest accrued to
the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that the
redemption is for a sinking fund payment (if applicable), that on and after said
date any interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease
to accrue, that

                                       37
<PAGE>   47

in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities original issue discount
accrued after the date fixed for redemption will cease to accrue, the terms of
the Debt Securities of that series pursuant to which the Debt Securities of that
series are being redeemed and 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 Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt
Securities of a series are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify
the CUSIP numbers of the Debt Securities of that series to be redeemed. In case
any Debt Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of
redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon
surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of that
series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof.

                  At least 60 days before the redemption date unless the Trustee
consents to a shorter period, the Company shall give notice to the Trustee of
the redemption date, the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and
the series and terms of the Debt Securities pursuant to which such redemption
will occur. 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. If fewer than all the Debt Securities of a
series are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be
selected by the Company and given to the Trustee, which record date shall be not
less than 15 days after the date of notice to the Trustee.

                  On or prior to the redemption date for any Registered
Securities, the Company shall 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) an amount of money in the Currency in which such Debt Securities are
denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.03) sufficient to pay the
redemption price of such Registered Securities or any portions thereof that are
to be redeemed on that date.

                  If less than all the Debt Securities of like tenor and terms
of a series are to be redeemed (other than pursuant to mandatory sinking fund
redemptions) the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion
it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debt Securities of that series or
portions thereof (in multiples of $1,000) to be redeemed. In any case where more
than one Registered Security of such series is registered in the same name, the
Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered
as if it were represented by one Registered Security of such series. The Trustee
shall promptly

                                       38
<PAGE>   48

notify the Company in writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption
and, in the case of any Debt Securities selected for partial redemption, the
principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If any Debt Security called for
redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof on such redemption date,
the principal, premium, if any, and interest shall bear interest until paid from
the redemption date at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of that series. If
less than all the Debt Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to
be redeemed, the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by
the Company. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Debt Securities called
for redemption also apply to portions of Debt Securities called for redemption.

                  SECTION 3.03. Payment of Debt Securities Called for
Redemption. If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.02,
the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of the series with respect to
which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at
the Place or Places of Payment stated in such notice at the applicable
redemption price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for
redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the
payment of such Debt Securities at the applicable redemption price, together
with any interest accrued to said date) any interest on the Debt Securities or
portions of Debt Securities of any series so called for redemption shall cease
to accrue and any original issue discount in the case of Original Issue Discount
Securities shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt
Securities at the Place or Places of Payment in said notice specified, the said
Debt Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by
the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest
accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption.

                  Any Debt Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be
surrendered at the corporate trust office or such other office or agency of the
Company as is specified pursuant to Section 2.03 (in the case of Registered
Securities) and at the principal London office of the Trustee or such other
office or agency of the Company outside the United States as is specified
pursuant to Section 2.03 (in the case of Bearer Securities) with, if the
Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a
written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the
Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney
duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Debt Security without service
charge, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series, of like tenor
and form, of any authorized

                                       39
<PAGE>   49

denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to
and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security
so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company
shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary
for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a
denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the
principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Debt Security
providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder
thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Debt Security or Debt
Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Debt Security of the
payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

                  SECTION 3.04. Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds. The
minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt
Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental
Indenture is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment", and any
payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Debt
Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental
Indenture is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment".

                  In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking
fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of a series in cash, the
Company may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Debt Securities of that
series (together with the unmatured Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto)
theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or (b) receive credit
for the principal amount of Debt Securities of that series which have been
redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such
Debt Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund
payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, resolution or
supplemental Indenture; provided, that such Debt Securities have not been
previously so credited. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for
such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Debt
Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for redemption through
operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund
payment shall be reduced accordingly.

                  SECTION 3.05. Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of
Debt Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for
that series pursuant to the terms of that series, any resolution or supplemental
Indenture, the portion thereof, if any, which is to

                                       40
<PAGE>   50

be satisfied by payment of cash in the Currency in which the Debt Securities of
such series are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.03) and
the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and
crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to this Section 3.05 (which
Debt Securities, if not previously redeemed, will accompany such certificate)
and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make any permitted
optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate
shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with
respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its
delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments
therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund
payment date. Failure of the Company to deliver such certificate (or to deliver
the Debt Securities specified in this paragraph) shall not constitute a Default,
but such failure shall require that the sinking fund payment due on the next
succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in
cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Debt
Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to
deliver or credit Debt Securities as provided in this Section 3.05 and without
the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to
such series.

                  Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional)
made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made
in cash which shall equal or exceed $100,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company
shall so request) with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series
shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date on which such
payment is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date,
on the sinking fund payment date following the date of such payment) to the
redemption of such Debt Securities at the Redemption Price specified in such
Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for operation of the
sinking fund together with any accrued interest to the date fixed for
redemption. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee
to the redemption of Debt Securities shall be added to the next cash sinking
fund payment received by the Trustee for such series and, together with such
payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section
3.05. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Debt Securities of any
particular series held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with
respect to Debt Securities of such series and not held for the payment or
redemption of particular Debt Securities shall be applied by the Trustee,
together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the
purpose, to the payment of the 

                                       41
<PAGE>   51

principal of the Debt Securities of that series at its Stated Maturity.

                  The Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed
upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in the last
paragraph of Section 3.02 and the Company shall cause notice of the redemption
thereof to be given in the manner provided in Section 3.02 except that the
notice of redemption shall also state that the Debt Securities are being
redeemed by operation of the sinking fund. Such notice having been duly given,
the redemption of such Debt Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the
manner stated in Section 3.O3.

                  At least one business day before each sinking fund payment
date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee (or, if the Company is acting as its
own paying agent, the Company shall segregate and hold in trust) in cash a sum
in the Currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are denominated
(except as provided pursuant to Section 2.03) equal to any interest accrued to
the date fixed for redemption of Debt Securities or portions thereof to be
redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 3.05.

                  The Trustee shall not redeem any Debt Securities of a series
with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of such Debt
Securities by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the
continuance of a Default in payment of interest on such Debt Securities or of
any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence
of this paragraph) with respect to such Debt Securities, except that if the
notice of redemption of any such Debt Securities shall theretofore have been
mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such
Debt Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the
Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article III.
Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time
when any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter
paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or
Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of such Debt Securities;
provided, however, that in case such Event of Default or Default shall have been
cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on
the next sinking fund payment date for such Debt Securities on which such moneys
may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.05.

                                       42
<PAGE>   52

                                   ARTICLE IV

                       Particular Covenants of the Company

                  SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal of, and Premium, If Any,
and Interest on, Debt Securities. The Company, for the benefit of each series of
Debt Securities, will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal
of, and premium, if any, and interest on, each of the Debt Securities at the
place, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Debt
Securities. Each installment of interest on the Debt Securities may at the
Company's option be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the
Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 2.07(a) to the address of such
Person as it appears on the Debt Security Register.

                  Principal, premium and interest of Debt Securities of any
series shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or
any paying agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay
in the Currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are denominated
(except as provided pursuant to Section 2.03) all principal, premium and
interest then due.

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

                  SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for
Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities. The Company
will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities, an
office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be presented or
surrendered for payment, where Debt Securities of such series may be surrendered
for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in
respect of the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture may be served.
The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and
any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company
shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to
furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders,
notices and demands may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the
Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all
presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

                  The Company may also from time to time designate different or
additional offices or agencies to be maintained for such purposes (in or outside
of such Place of Payment), and may

                                       43
<PAGE>   53

from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such
designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its
obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Company will give prompt
written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission
of designation and any change in the location of any such different or
additional office or agency.

                  SECTION 4.03. Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of
Trustee. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the
office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a
Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to
each series of Debt Securities.

                  SECTION 4.04. Duties of Paying Agents, etc. (a) The Company
shall cause each paying agent, if any, other than the Trustee, to execute and
deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the
Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.04,

                  (i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for
         the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on,
         the Debt Securities of any series (whether such sums have been paid to
         it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of
         such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt
         Securities of such series;

                  (ii) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by
         the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such
         series) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or
         interest on, the Debt Securities of such series when the same shall be
         due and payable; and

                  (iii) that it will at any time during the continuance of an
         Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith
         pay to the Trustee all sums so held by it as such agent.

                  (b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will,
on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest
on, the Debt Securities if any, of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in
trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series a sum
sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due.
The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure by the Company to
take such action or the failure by any other obligor on such Debt Securities to
make any

                                       44
<PAGE>   54

payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, such Debt
Securities when the same shall be due and payable.

                  (c) Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or
cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying
agent, as required by this Section 4.04, such sums to be held by the Trustee
upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or
such paying agent.

                  (d) Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents
with respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, prior to each due date
of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Securities of
such series, deposit with any such paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the
principal, premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for
the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless any such paying agent
is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or
failure so to act.

                  (e) Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section
4.04 is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05.

                  SECTION 4.05. Statement by Officers as to Default. The Company
will deliver to the Trustee, on or before a date not more than four months after
the end of each fiscal year of the Company (currently ending May 31) ending
after the date hereof, an Officers' Certificate stating, as to each officer
signing such certificate, that (i) in the course of his performance of his
duties as an officer of the Company he would normally have knowledge of any
Default, (ii) whether or not to the best of his knowledge any Default occurred
during such year and (iii) if to the best of his knowledge the Company is in
Default, specifying all such Defaults and what action the Company is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company also shall comply with
Section 3l4(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act.

                  Section 4.06. Further Instruments and Acts. The Company will,
upon request of the Trustee, execute and deliver such further instrument and do
such further acts as may reasonably be necessary or proper to carry out more
effectually the purposes of this Indenture.

                  Section 4.07. Existence. Subject to Article X, the Company
will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full
force and effect its existence, rights

                                       45
<PAGE>   55

(charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company
shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the
conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss thereof is not
disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

                  Section 4.08. Maintenance of Properties. The Company will
cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the
business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair
and working order and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals,
replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of
the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on by the Company and
its Subsidiaries may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times;
provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company or a
Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such
properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, not
materially detrimental to the conduct of the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and not disadvantageous in any material respect
to the Holders.

                  SECTION 4.09. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company
will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall
become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or
imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or
property of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (2) all lawful claims for labor,
materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the
property of the Company or any Subsidiary, provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any
such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

                  SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Liens. Unless the Company
contemporaneously secures the Debt Securities equally and ratably with (or prior
to) such obligation, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist any Lien on
any Principal Property, or any shares of stock or any Indebtedness of any
Restricted Subsidiary whether owned on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired,
securing any obligation except for:

                  (i)      Permitted Liens; or

                  (ii) Liens other than those referred to in Section 4.10(i)
         above securing Indebtedness if, after giving pro

                                       46
<PAGE>   56

         forma effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness (and the receipt
         and application of the proceeds thereof) or the securing of outstanding
         Indebtedness, the sum of (without duplication) (A) all Indebtedness of
         the Company and its Subsidiaries secured by Liens (other than Permitted
         Liens) and (B) all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of
         Sale/Leaseback Transactions with respect to any Principal Property, at
         the time of determination does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net
         Tangible Assets.

                  SECTION 4.11. Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions. The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into
any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with respect to any Principal Property unless (i)
the Company or such Subsidiary would be entitled to create a Lien on such
Principal Property securing Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable
Indebtedness with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction without securing
the Debt Securities pursuant to Section 4.10 or (ii) the Company, within six
months from the effective date of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction, applies to
the voluntary defeasance or retirement (excluding retirements of Debt Securities
and other Indebtedness ranking pari passu with the Debt Securities as a result
of conversions or pursuant to mandatory sinking fund or mandatory prepayment
provisions or by payment at maturity) of Debt Securities or other Indebtedness
ranking pari passu with the Debt Securities an amount equal to the Attributable
Indebtedness in respect of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction.

                  SECTION 4.12. Limitation on Indebtedness of Restricted
Subsidiaries. The Company will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue,
assume or guarantee any Indebtedness for borrowed money other than (1)
Indebtedness secured by a lien which such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted to
create or assume pursuant to Section 4.10 without securing the Securities, (2)
Indebtedness to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary, (3) Indebtedness
of any corporation that exists at the time such corporation becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary, provided that, such indebtedness is not incurred in anticipation of
such corporation becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (4) Indebtedness of a
corporation that exists at the time such corporation is merged with or into or
consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of a sale, lease or
other disposition of all or substantially all the properties of a corporation to
a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that, such Indebtedness is not incurred in
anticipation of such merger, consolidation or sale, lease or other disposition,
(5) Indebtedness incurred in connection with any industrial development bond
financing, (6) Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary in the
ordinary course of the business of such Restricted Subsidiary and which matures
not

                                       47
<PAGE>   57

more than, and is not renewable or executable at the option of the obligor to a
date more than, twelve months after the date such Indebtedness is incurred, and
(7) Indebtedness incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary to extend, renew or
replace, in whole or in part, any Indebtedness referred to in the foregoing
clauses (3) or (4) or Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary existing at the
date hereof, provided that the principal amount of Indebtedness so incurred
shall not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness outstanding at the time of
such extension, renewal or replacement.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may permit one or
more Restricted Subsidiaries to issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness for
borrowed money which is not secured by a lien upon any Principal Property or
shares or capital stock or indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, provided
that, the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness permitted by this paragraph
(together with all liens created, assumed or incurred (as measured by all
Indebtedness secured by all such liens then outstanding or to be so created or
assumed) and all Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered into (as measured by the
Value of all such Sale/Leaseback Transactions then outstanding or to be so
entered into)) at any time outstanding shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net
Tangible Assets.

                  SECTION 4.13. Limitation on Issuance of Preferred Stock by
Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to issue any Preferred or preference Stock (except to the Company
or any wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary) or permit any person other than the
Company or any wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary to hold any such Preferred or
preference Stock.

                                    ARTICLE V

                           Holders' Lists and Reports
                         by the Company and the Trustee

                  SECTION 5.01. Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to
Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information. The Company
covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Trustee with respect to the Registered Securities of each series:

                  (a) not more than 15 days after each record date with respect
         to the payment of interest, if any, a list, in such form as the Trustee
         may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Registered
         Holders as of such record date, and

                                       48
<PAGE>   58

                  (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
         within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a
         list as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is
         furnished;

provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such
lists shall not be required to be furnished.

                  The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is
reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the
Holders (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in
this Section 5.01 or (2) received by it in the capacity of paying agent or
Registrar (if so acting) hereunder.

                  The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided
in this Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

                  SECTION 5.02. Communications to Holders. Holders may
communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other
Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Debt
Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have
the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

                  SECTION 5.03. Reports by Company. (a) The Company covenants
and agrees, and any obligor hereunder shall covenant and agree, to file with the
Trustee and the Holders (in the manner and to the extent provided in Section
5.04), within 15 days after the Company or such obligor, as the case may be, is
required to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of
the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or
copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as said Commission may from time
to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company or such obligor,
as the case may be, may be required to file with said Commission pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company or such
obligor, as the case may be, is not required to file information, documents or
reports pursuant to either of such Sections, then to file with the Trustee, the
Holders (in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 5.04) and said
Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to
time by said Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information,
documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the
Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national
securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and
regulations.

                                       49
<PAGE>   59

                  (b) The Company covenants and agrees, and any obligor
hereunder shall covenant and agree, to file with the Trustee, the Holders (in
the manner and to the extent provided in Section 5.04) and the Securities and
Exchange Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed
from time to time by said Commission, such additional information, documents,
and reports with respect to compliance by the Company or such obligor, as the
case may be, with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as
may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.

                  SECTION 5.04. Reports by Trustee. As promptly as practicable
after each January 1 beginning with the January 1 following the date of this
Indenture, and in any event prior to February 15 in each year, the Trustee shall
mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of ___________ that complies with
Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee also shall comply with
Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

                  Reports pursuant to this Section 5.04 shall be transmitted by
mail:

                  (1) to all Registered Holders, as the names and addresses of
         such Holders appear in the Debt Security Register;

                  (2) except in the cases of reports under Section 313(b)(2) of
         the Trust Indenture Act, to each holder of a Debt Security of any
         series whose name and address appear in the information preserved at
         the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 5.02.

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

                  SECTION 5.05. Record Dates for Action by Holders. If the
Company shall solicit from the Holders of Debt Securities of any series any
action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any
direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the
Company may, at its option, by resolution of the Board of Directors, fix in
advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Debt Securities
entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so.
Any such record date shall be fixed at the

                                       50
<PAGE>   60

Company's discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought
or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Debt
Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be
deemed to be Holders of Debt Securities for the purpose of determining whether
Holders of the requisite proportion of Debt Securities of such series
Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that
purpose the Debt Securities of such series Outstanding shall be computed as of
such record date.

                                   ARTICLE VI

             Remedies of the Trustee and Holders in Event of Default

                  SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. If any one or more of the
following shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to Debt Securities
of any series (each of the following, an "Event of Default"):

                  (a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon
         any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become
         due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30
         days; or

                  (b) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if
         any, on any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall
         become due and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption, by
         declaration, upon required repurchase or otherwise; or

                  (c) default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with
         respect to any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same
         shall become due and payable; or

                  (d) failure on the part of the Company to comply with Article
         X; or

                  (e) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or
         perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the
         Company in the Debt Securities of that series, in any resolution of the
         Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt
         Securities, in this Indenture with respect to such series or in any
         supplemental Indenture with respect to such series (other than a
         covenant a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this
         Section specifically dealt with), continuing for a period of 60 days
         after the date on which written notice specifying such failure and
         requiring the Company to remedy the same shall have been given, by
         registered or certified mail, to

                                       51
<PAGE>   61

         the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the
         Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
         Securities of that series at the time Outstanding; or

                  (f) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
         Company is not paid within any applicable grace period after final
         maturity or is accelerated by the holders thereof because of a default,
         the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds
         [$20,000,000] or its Dollar Equivalent at the time and such default
         remains uncured or such acceleration is not rescinded for 10 days after
         the date on which written notice specifying such failure and requiring
         the Company to remedy the same shall have been given, by registered or
         certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the
         Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of
         the Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding; or

                  (g) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall
         (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking
         relief under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other Federal or
         State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, (ii) consent to the
         institution of, or fail to controvert within the time and in the manner
         prescribed by law, any such proceeding or the filing of any such
         petition, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver,
         trustee, custodian, sequestrator or similar official for the Company or
         any such Significant Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its
         property, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a
         petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general
         assignment for the benefit of creditors, (vi) admit in writing its
         inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due, (vii)
         take corporate action for the purpose of effecting any of the
         foregoing, or (viii) take any comparable action under any foreign laws
         relating to insolvency; or

                  (h) the entry of an order or decree by a court having
         competent jurisdiction in the premises for (i) relief in respect of the
         Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or a substantial part of
         any of their property under Title 11 or the United States Code or any
         other Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, (ii) the
         appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or similar
         official for the Company or any such Significant Subsidiary or for a
         substantial part of any of their property (except any decree or order
         appointing such

                                       52
<PAGE>   62

         official of any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to a plan under which
         the assets and operations of such Significant Subsidiary are
         transferred to or combined with another Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of
         the Company or to the Company) or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation
         of the Company or any such Significant Subsidiary (except any decree or
         order approving or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the
         affairs of a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to a plan under which the
         assets and operations of such Significant Subsidiary are transferred to
         or combined with another Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company or
         to the Company); and such order or decree shall continue unstayed and
         in effect for 60 consecutive days; or any similar relief is granted
         under any foreign laws and the order or decree stays in effect for 60
         consecutive days; or

                  (i) any judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess
         of [$20,000,000] or its Dollar Equivalent at the time is entered
         against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company by a court or
         courts of competent jurisdiction, which judgment is not covered by
         insurance, and is not discharged and either (A) an enforcement
         proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or
         decree or (B) there is a period of 60 days following the entry of such
         judgment or decree during which such judgment or decree is not
         discharged, waived or the execution thereof stayed and, in the case of
         (A) or (B), such default continues for 10 days after the date on which
         written notice specifying such failure and requiring the Company to
         remedy the same shall have been given, by registered or certified mail,
         to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the
         Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
         Securities of that series at the time Outstanding; or

                  (j)      any other Event of Default provided with respect
         to Debt Securities of that series;

then and in each and every case that an Event of Default described in clause
(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (i) or (j) with respect to Debt Securities of that
series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, unless the principal of
and interest on all the Debt Securities of that series shall have already become
due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series then
Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee
if given by Holders), may declare the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities
of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the
principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series)

                                       53
<PAGE>   63

and interest on all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable
immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be
immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt
Securities or Coupons appertaining thereto of that series contained to the
contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in clause (g) or (h)
occurs, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of and
interest on all the Debt Securities shall have become due and payable, the
principal of (or, if any Debt Securities are Original Issue Discount Debt
Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the
terms thereto) and interest on all the Debt Securities then Outstanding
hereunder shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any
declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders, anything in
this Indenture or in the Debt Securities contained to the contrary
notwithstanding.

                  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt
Securities of a particular series by notice to the Trustee may rescind an
acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any
judgment or decree already rendered 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. Upon any such rescission, the parties hereto
shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder,
and all rights, remedies and powers of the parties hereto shall continue as
though no proceeding had been taken.

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

                  The foregoing Events of Default shall constitute Events of
Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether 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 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 which with the giving of notice and the lapse of time would become
an Event of Default

                                       54
<PAGE>   64

under clause (c), (d), (e), (f), (i) or (j), its status and what action the
Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

                  SECTION 6.02. Collection of Indebtedness by Trustee, etc. If
an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and
as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any
action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due
and unpaid or enforce the performance of any provision of the Debt Securities of
the affected series or this Indenture, and may prosecute any such action or
proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or
final decree against the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities,
and the Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, of such series (and collect in
the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other
obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series wherever situated the moneys
adjudged or decreed to be payable).

                  In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy
or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt
Securities of any series under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other
Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, or in case a receiver,
trustee or other similar official shall have been appointed for its property, or
in case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any
other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series, its creditors or its
property, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of Debt Securities
of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made
any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.O2, shall be entitled
and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and
prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and
interest (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount
Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the
terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such
series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for
reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and
for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities Incurred, and all advances
made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith) and of
the Holders thereof allowed in any such judicial proceedings relative to the
Company, or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series, its
creditors or its property, and to collect and receive any moneys or other
property payable or

                                       55
<PAGE>   65

deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with
respect to the claims of such Holders and of the Trustee on their behalf, and
any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby
authorized by each of such Holders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the
event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to such
Holders, to pay to the Trustee such amount as shall be sufficient to cover
reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and
all other reasonable expenses and liabilities Incurred, and all advances made,
by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith.

                  All rights of action and of asserting claims under this
Indenture, or under any of the Debt Securities appertaining thereto, of any
series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any such Debt
Securities or the production thereof in any trial or other proceedings relative
thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be
brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of
judgment (except for any amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section
7.06) shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of all the Debt Securities
in respect of which such action was taken.

                  In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in
its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this
Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem
most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in
equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of
any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise
of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or
equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

                  SECTION 6.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any
moneys or other property collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.02 with
respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be applied in the order
following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of
such moneys or other property, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities
of such series in respect of which moneys or other property have been collected,
and the notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon
surrender thereof if fully paid:

                  FIRST: To the payment of all money due the Trustee pursuant to
         Section 7.06;

                  SECOND: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt
         Securities in respect of which such moneys have been 

                                       56
<PAGE>   66

         collected shall not have become due, to the payment of interest on the
         Debt Securities of such series in the order of the maturity of the
         installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such
         interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue
         installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case
         of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt
         Securities of such series, such payments to be made ratably to the
         Persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;

                  THIRD: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt
         Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall
         have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the
         whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such
         series for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest
         on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that
         such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue
         installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case
         of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt
         Securities of such series; and, in case such moneys shall be
         insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the
         Debt Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal
         and premium, if any, and interest, without preference or priority of
         principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over
         principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over
         any other installment of interest, or of any Debt Security of such
         series over any Debt Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate
         of such principal and premium, if any, and interest; and

                  FOURTH: The remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Company,
         its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to
         receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

                  The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any
payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.03. At least 15 days before such
record date, the Company shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that
states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

                  SECTION 6.04. Limitation on Suits by Holders. No Holder of any
Debt Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any
provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in
equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, upon or under or with respect to this


                                       57
<PAGE>   67

Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other
remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee
written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of that
same series and of the continuance thereof and unless the Holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of
that series shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such
action or proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as
Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable
indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
Incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of
such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any
such action or proceedings and no direction inconsistent with such written
request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.06; it being
understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every
Debt Security with every other Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more
Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of
any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of
any Holders, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any
other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the
manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all such
Holders. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section
6.04, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as
can be given either at law or in equity.

                  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture,
however, the right of any Holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the
principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on,
such Debt Security on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt
Security, and to institute 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 6.05. Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in
Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default. All powers and remedies given by
this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted
by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other
powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial
proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the
covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission
of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any
Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid, shall impair any such

                                       58
<PAGE>   68

right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or an
acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every
power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the
Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed
expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

                  SECTION 6.06. Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal
Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default. The Holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at
the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt
Securities of such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be
otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture, and
that subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right
to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel
shall determine that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the
Trustee shall by a responsible officer or officers determine that the action so
directed would involve it in personal liability or would be unjustly prejudicial
to Holders of Debt Securities of such series not taking part in such direction;
and provided, further, however, that nothing in this Indenture contained shall
impair the right of the Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee
and which is not inconsistent with such direction by such Holders. Prior to the
acceleration of the maturity of the Debt Securities of any series, as provided
in Section 6.01, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the
Holders of all the Debt Securities of that series waive any past Default or
Event of Default and its consequences for that series specified in the terms
thereof as contemplated by Section 2.03, except (i) a Default in the payment of
the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt
Securities and (ii) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02
cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby. In case
of any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default
arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this
Indenture, and the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities
of that series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder,
respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default
or impair any right consequent thereon.

                  SECTION 6.07.  Trustee to Give Notice of Defaults Known
to It, but May Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances.


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<PAGE>   69

The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Default known to it
with respect to a series of Debt Securities give to the Holders thereof, in the
manner provided in Section 12.03, notice of all Defaults with respect to such
series known to the Trustee, unless such Defaults shall have been cured or
waived before the giving of such notice; provided, that, except in the case of
Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on,
any of the Debt Securities of such series or in the making of any sinking fund
payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors,
the executive committee or a committee of directors or responsible officers of
the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in
the interests of the Holders thereof.

                  SECTION 6.08. Requirement of an Undertaking To Pay Costs in
Certain Suits under the Indenture or Against the Trustee. All parties to this
Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security by his acceptance thereof
shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in
any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in
any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee,
the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs
of such suit in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture
Act, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs,
including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit,
having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by
such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.08 shall not apply to
any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or
group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than ten percent in principal
amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series or to any suit
instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of,
or premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security on or after the due date
for such payment expressed in such Debt Security.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                             Concerning the Trustee

                  SECTION 7.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The
Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or
waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform
such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or

                                       60
<PAGE>   70


waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it
by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise,
as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his own affairs.

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

                  (a) this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect
         of the first paragraph of this Section 7.01;

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

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

                           (2) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
                  Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of
                  the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed
                  therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the
                  Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture;
                  but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by
                  any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished
                  to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine
                  the same to determine whether or not they conform to the
                  requirements of this Indenture; but the Trustee shall examine
                  the evidence furnished to it pursuant to Section 5.03 to
                  determine whether or not such evidence conforms to the
                  requirement of this Indenture;

                           (c) the Trustee shall not be liable for an error of
                  judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer, unless
                  it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in
                  ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

                           (d)      the Trustee shall not be liable with respect
                  to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it with

                                       61
<PAGE>   71


                  respect to Debt Securities of any series in good faith in
                  accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than
                  a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
                  Debt Securities of that series relating to the time, method
                  and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
                  available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
                  conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect
                  to Debt Securities of such series.

                  None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any personal
financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the
exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds
for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such
risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

                  Whether or not therein expressly so provided, 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.

                  SECTION 7.02.  Certain Rights of Trustee.  Except as
otherwise provided in Section 7.01:

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

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

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

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<PAGE>   72

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

                  (e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or
         omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be
         authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon
         it by this Indenture;

                  (f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after
         the curing of all Events of Default which may have occurred, the
         Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or
         matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
         opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval
         or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the
         Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
         outstanding Debt Securities of a series affected by such matter;
         provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the
         Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by
         it in the making of such investigation is not, in the opinion of the
         Trustee, reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to
         it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable
         indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to
         so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every such investigation shall
         be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by
         the Company upon demand;

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

                  (h) if any property other than cash shall at any time be
         subject to a Lien in favor of the Holders, the Trustee, if and to the
         extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent
         jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property
         to such lien, shall be entitled to make advances for the purpose of
         preserving such property or of discharging tax Liens or other prior
         Liens or encumbrances thereon.


                                       63
<PAGE>   73

                  SECTION 7.03. Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or
in Debt Securities. The recitals contained herein, in the Debt Securities
(except the Trustee's certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the
statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the
correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity
or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series, except
that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver
this Indenture, authenticate the Debt Securities and perform its obligations
hereunder, and that the statements made by it or to be made by it in a Statement
of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true
and accurate. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by
the Company of any of the Debt Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

                  SECTION 7.04. Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt
Securities. The Trustee or any paying agent or Registrar, in its individual or
any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and
subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act relating to conflicts of
interest and preferential claims may otherwise deal with the Company with the
same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Registrar.

                  SECTION 7.05. Moneys Received by Trustee to Be Held in Trust.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee
shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the
purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other
funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no
liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder. So long as no
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on
any such moneys shall be paid from time to time to the Company upon a Company
Order.

                  SECTION 7.06. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company
covenants and agrees to pay in Dollars to the Trustee from time to time, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered
by it hereunder (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to
the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and, except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse in Dollars the
Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this
Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its agents, attorneys and counsel and of all Persons not
regularly in its employ) except any such expense,

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<PAGE>   74

disbursement or advances as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The
Company also covenants to indemnify in Dollars the Trustee for, and to hold it
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense Incurred without negligence,
willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or trusts
hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself
against any claim of liability in connection with the exercise or performance of
any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligations of the Company under this
Section 7.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the
Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional
Indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture. The Company and the Holders agree that such additional Indebtedness
shall be secured by a Lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all
property and funds held or collected by the Trustee, as such, except funds held
in trust for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on,
particular Debt Securities.

                  When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an
Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) occurs, the expenses and
the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar
law.

                  SECTION 7.07. Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers'
Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed. Except as otherwise
provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of
this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be
proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action
hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the
part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an
Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the
absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full
warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the
provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

                  SECTION 7.08. Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee. The
Company may, but need not, appoint a separate Trustee for any one or more series
of Debt Securities. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or more or all
series of Debt Securities at any time by giving notice to the Company. The
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular
series may remove the Trustee for such series and

                                       65
<PAGE>   75

only such series by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor
Trustee. 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 Debt Securities of a particular
series 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. No resignation or removal of the Trustee
and no appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the
applicable requirements of this Section 7.08.

                  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 Holders of Debt Securities of each applicable series. 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 7.06.

                  If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days
after the retiring Trustee gives notice of resignation or is removed, the
retiring Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Debt
Securities of any applicable series may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee for the Debt Securities
of such series.

                  If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder
of Debt Securities of any applicable series may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor
Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.

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<PAGE>   76

                  Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to
this Section 7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.06 shall continue
for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

                  In the case of the appointment hereunder of a separate or
successor trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the
Company, any retiring Trustee and each successor or separate Trustee with
respect to the Debt Securities of any applicable series shall execute and
deliver an Indenture supplemental hereto (1) which shall contain such provisions
as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of any retiring trustee with respect to the Debt
Securities of any series as to which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring
shall continue to be vested in such retiring Trustee and (2) that shall add to
or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to
provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more
than one trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such
supplemental Indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same
trust and that each such separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be
Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or
trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

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

                  SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall
at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture
Act. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least
[$50,000,000] as set

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<PAGE>   77

forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. No obligor upon
the Debt Securities of a particular series or Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with such obligor shall serve
as Trustee upon the Debt Securities of such series. The Trustee shall comply
with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that there
shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(l) of the Trust Indenture
Act this Indenture or 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 Section
310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act are met.

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

                  SECTION 7.12. Compliance with Tax Laws. The Trustee hereby
agrees to comply with all U.S. Federal income tax information reporting and
withholding requirements applicable to it with respect to payments of premium
(if any) and interest on the Debt Securities, whether acting as Trustee,
Security Registrar, paying agent or otherwise with respect to the Debt
Securities.

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                                  ARTICLE VIII

                             Concerning the Holders

                  SECTION 8.01. Evidence of Action by Holders. Whenever in this
Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate
principal amount of the Debt Securities of any or all series may take action
(including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction,
notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at
the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage have
joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of
instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in person or by agent or proxy
appointed in writing, (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof
at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions
of Section 5.02 or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and
any such record of such a meeting of Holders.

                  SECTION 8.02. Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding
of Debt Securities. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.01, 7.02 and 12.11,
proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy shall
be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations
as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory
to the Trustee.

                  The ownership of Registered Securities of any series shall be
proved by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Registrar for
such series.

                  The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter
referred to in this Section 8.02 as it shall deem necessary.

                  SECTION 8.03. Who May Be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Registered
Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar may deem
and treat the Person in whose name any Registered Security shall be registered
upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Registered Security
(whether or not such Registered Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding
any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving
payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject
to Section 2.03) interest on such Registered Security and for all other
purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any
Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and all such payments
so made to any such Holder

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<PAGE>   79

for the time being, or upon his order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the
sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys
payable upon any such Registered Security.

                  None of the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent or the
Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

                  SECTION 8.04. Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future
Holders. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as
provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the
percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series
specified in this Indenture in connection with such action and subject to the
following paragraph, any Holder of a Debt Security which is shown by the
evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the Holders of which have
consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its
corporate trust office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02,
revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security. Except as aforesaid
any such action taken by the Holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and
binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Debt
Security and of any Debt Security issued upon transfer thereof or in exchange or
substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard
thereto is made upon such Debt Security or such other Debt Securities. Any
action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of
the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with
such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the
Holders of all the Debt Securities of such series.

                  The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record
date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Registered Securities
entitled to give their consent or take any other action 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
Holders of Registered Securities 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 of Registered Securities after such record
date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after
such record date unless the consent of the Holders of the

                                       70
<PAGE>   80

percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series
specified in this Indenture shall have been received within such 120-day period.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                             Supplemental Indentures

                  SECTION 9.01. Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture May Be
Entered into Without Consent of Holders. The Company, when authorized by a
resolution of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and
at any time, without the consent of Holders, enter into an Indenture or
Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or
more of the following purposes:

                  (a) to evidence the succession pursuant to Article X of
         another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the
         assumption by the Successor Company (as defined in Section 10.01) of
         the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company in this
         Indenture and in the Debt Securities;

                  (b) to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the
         Company, to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants,
         restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the
         Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities (and if such covenants
         are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities,
         stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the
         benefit of such series) as the Board of Directors shall consider to be
         for the protection of the Holders of such Debt Securities, and to make
         the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any
         of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a
         Default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any
         of the several remedies provided in this Indenture; provided, that in
         respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or
         provision such supplemental Indenture may provide for a particular
         period of grace after Default (which period may be shorter or longer
         than that allowed in the case of other Defaults) or may provide for an
         immediate enforcement upon such Default or may limit the remedies
         available to the Trustee upon such Default or may limit the right of
         the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all
         series of Debt Securities to waive such default;

                                       71
<PAGE>   81

                  (c) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any
         provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in any
         Debt Securities of any series that may be defective or inconsistent
         with any other provision contained herein, in any supplemental
         Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series; to convey,
         transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the
         Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or
         questions arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect
         the interests of any Holders of Debt Securities of any series;

                  (d) to modify or amend this Indenture in such a manner as to
         permit the qualification of this Indenture or any Indenture
         supplemental hereto under the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect,
         except that nothing herein contained shall permit or authorize the
         inclusion in any Indenture supplemental hereto of the provisions
         referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act;

                  (e) to add to or change any of the provisions of this
         Indenture to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of
         principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, Registered
         Securities; provided, that any such action shall not adversely affect
         the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series in any
         material respect or permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt
         Securities of any series in uncertificated form;

                  (f)      to evidence the succession of another corporation
         to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of
         the covenants of the Company herein and in the Debt
         Securities;

                  (g)      to add Guarantees with respect to the Debt
         Securities or to secure the Debt Securities;

                  (h) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of
         this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Debt Securities;
         provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination not
         otherwise permitted under this Section 9.01 shall (i) neither (A) apply
         to any Debt Security of any series created prior to the execution of
         such supplemental Indenture and entitled to the benefit of such
         provision nor (B) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Debt
         Security with respect to such provision or (ii) shall become effective
         only when there is no such Debt Security Outstanding;

                                       72
<PAGE>   82

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

                  (j)      to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities
         of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 2.03.

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

                  Any supplemental Indenture authorized by the provisions of
this Section 9.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the
consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities appertaining thereto at the
time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.

                  After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective,
the Company shall mail to Holders of Debt Securities of each series affected
thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such
notice to all such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect
the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

                  SECTION 9.02. Modification of Indenture with Consent of
Holders of Debt Securities. Without notice to any Holder but with the consent
(evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the Holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of
each series affected by such supplemental Indenture, the Company, when
authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from
time to time and at any time enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental
hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in
force at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions
to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this
Indenture or of any supplemental Indenture or of modifying in any manner the
rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series; provided, that no
such supplemental Indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Debt
Security so affected, shall (i) reduce the percentage in principal amount of

                                       73
<PAGE>   83


Debt Securities of any series whose Holders must consent to an amendment; (ii)
reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Debt
Security; (iii) reduce the principal of or extend the Stated maturity of any
Debt Security; (iv) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Debt
Security or change the time at which any Debt Security may or shall be redeemed
in accordance with Article III; (v) make any Debt Security payable in Currency
other than that stated in the Debt Security; (vi) release any security that may
have been granted in respect of the Debt Securities; or (vii) make any change in
Section 6.06 or this Section 9.02.

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

                  Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of a
resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such
supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the
consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the
execution of such supplemental Indenture unless such supplemental Indenture
affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or
otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be
obligated to enter into such supplemental Indenture.

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

                  After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective,
the Company shall mail to Holders of Debt Securities of each series affected
thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such
notice to all such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect
the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.

                  SECTION 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the
execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this
Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in
accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights,
obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the
Company and

                                       74
<PAGE>   84

the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder
subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms
and conditions of any such supplemental Indenture shall be and be deemed to be
part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

                  The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.01 and
7.02, may receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as
conclusive evidence that any such supplemental Indenture complies with the
provisions of this Article IX.

                  SECTION 9.04. Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by
Supplemental Indentures. Debt Securities of any series authenticated and
delivered after the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the
provisions of this Article IX may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a
notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such
supplemental Indenture. New Debt Securities of any series so modified as to
conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any
modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental Indenture may
be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and
delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Debt Security of such
series shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

                  SECTION 9.05. 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 Debt 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.

                                    ARTICLE X

                    Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance

                  SECTION 10.01. Consolidations and Mergers of the Company. The
Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any Person, or convey,
transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets, unless: (i) either (a)
the Company shall be the continuing Person in the case of a merger or (b) the
resulting, surviving or transferee Person if other than the Company (the
"Successor Company") shall be a corporation

                                       75
<PAGE>   85

organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or
the District of Columbia and the Successor 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 Debt
Securities according to their tenor, 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 of the Company 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 or Event of Default
would occur or be continuing; and (iii) the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that
such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental Indenture (if any)
comply with this Indenture.

                  SECTION 10.02. Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation. In
case of any consolidation or merger, or conveyance or transfer of the assets of
the Company as an entirety or virtually as an entirety in accordance with
Section 10.01, the Successor Company shall succeed to and be substituted for the
Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the
first part, and the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of any further
obligation under the Indenture and the Securities. The Successor Company
thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the
name of the Company, any or all the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which
theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the
Trustee; and, upon the order of the Successor Company, instead of the Company,
and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture
prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Debt Securities
which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Debt Securities which the
Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the
Trustee for that purpose. All the Debt Securities so issued shall in all
respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debt
Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture as though all such Debt Securities had been issued at the date of the
execution hereof.

                  In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance
such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the
Debt Securities appertaining thereto thereafter to be issued as may be
appropriate.

                                       76
<PAGE>   86

                                   ARTICLE XI

              Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance;
                                Unclaimed Moneys

                  SECTION 11.01. Applicability of Article. If, pursuant to
Section 2.03, provision is made for the defeasance of Debt Securities of a
series, then the provisions of this Article XI relating to defeasance of Debt
Securities shall be applicable except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section
2.03 for Debt Securities of such series.

                  SECTION 11.02. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture;
Defeasance. (a) If at any time (i) the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities of any series theretofore
authenticated and delivered (other than (1) any Debt Securities of such series
which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been
replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.09 and (2) Debt Securities for whose
payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to
the Company as provided in Section 11.05) or (ii) all Debt Securities of such
series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have
become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within
one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the
Company shall deposit with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in the
Currency in which such Debt Securities are denominated (except as otherwise
provided pursuant to Section 2.03) sufficient to pay at maturity or upon
redemption all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest
due or to become due on such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case
may be, and if in either case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all
other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to
be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of
transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities herein expressly provided for and
rights to receive payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest
on, such Debt Securities with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and
the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers' Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall
execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this
Indenture.

                  (b) Subject to Sections 11.02(c), 11.03 and 11.07, the Company
at any time may terminate, with respect to Debt Securities of a particular
series, (i) all its obligations under

                                       77
<PAGE>   87

the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the Debt
Securities of such series ("legal defeasance option") or (ii) its obligations
with respect to the Debt Securities of such series under clause (iii) of Section
10.01 and the related operation of Section 6.01(d) and the operation of Sections
6.01(e), (f), (i) and (j) ("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 Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of
an Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option,
payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated
because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(d), (e), (f), (i) and
(j) (except to the extent covenants or agreements referenced in such Sections
remain applicable).

                  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 2.07, 2.09, 4.02, 4.04, 5.01, 7.06, 7.10, 11.05, 11.06
and 11.07 shall survive until the Debt Securities of the defeased series have
been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company's obligations in Sections 7.06, 11.05
and 11.06 shall survive.

                  SECTION 11.03. Conditions of Defeasance. The Company may
exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with
respect to Debt Securities of a particular series 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 premium, if any, and interest on, the
         Debt Securities of such series 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 the principal, premium

                                       78
<PAGE>   88


         and interest when due on all the Debt Securities of such series 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 Section 6.01(g) or (h) with
         respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the
         period;

                  (4) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of
         such deposit and after giving effect thereto;

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

                  (6) 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;

                  (7) in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Company
         shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that
         (i) the Company has received from 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 of the
         effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm
         that, the Holders of Debt Securities of such series 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;

                  (8) in the event of the covenant defeasance option, the
         Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to
         the effect that the Holders of Debt Securities of such series 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

                  (9) 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 Debt Securities of
         such series as contemplated by this Article XI have been compiled with.

                                       79
<PAGE>   89

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

                  SECTION 11.04. Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall
hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to
this Article XI. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S.
Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this
Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on,
the Debt Securities of the defeased series.

                  SECTION 11.05. Repayment to Company. The Trustee and any
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 any paying agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by
them for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed
for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the
Company for payment as general creditors.

                  SECTION 11.06. Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The
Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Holders against any
tax, fee or other change imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S.
Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S.
Government Obligations.

                  SECTION 11.07 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any paying
agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance
with this Article XI by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order
or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or
otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company's obligations under this
Indenture and the Debt Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and
reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XI until
such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such
money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI.

                                   ARTICLE XII

                            Miscellaneous Provisions

                  SECTION 12.01. Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by
Indenture. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and

                                       80
<PAGE>   90

agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Company or the
Trustee shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

                  SECTION 12.02. Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of
Successor Company Valid. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this
Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee
or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force
and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any Successor Company.

                  SECTION 12.03. Required Notices or Demands. Except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, any notice or demand which by
any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served
by the Trustee or by the Holders to or on the Company may be given or served by
being deposited postage prepaid in a post office letter box in the United States
addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee) as
follows: Worthington Industries, Inc., 1205 Dearborn Drive, Worthington, Ohio
43085, Attention: Chief Financial Officer. Except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Indenture, any notice, direction, request or demand by the
Company or by any Holder to or upon the Trustee may be given or made, for all
purposes, by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office letter box in the
United States addressed to the corporate trust office of the Trustee initially
at ____________ _____________________________. The Company or the Trustee by
notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for
subsequent notices or communications.

                  Any notice required or permitted to a Registered Holder by the
Company or the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture shall be
deemed to be properly mailed by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office
letter box in the United States addressed to such Holder at the address of such
Holder as shown on the Debt Security Register. Any report pursuant to Section
313 of the Trust Indenture Act shall be transmitted in compliance with
subsection (c) therein.

                  In the event of suspension of regular mail service or by
reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then
such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute sufficient notice for every purpose thereunder.

                  In the event of suspension of publication of any Authorized
Newspaper or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give
notice by publication, then such notifica tion as shall be given with the
approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose
hereunder.

                                       81
<PAGE>   91

                  Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any
defect in it or any defect in any notice by publication as to a Holder shall not
affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. If a notice
or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, it is
conclusively presumed duly given.

                  SECTION 12.04. Indenture and Debt Securities to Be Construed
in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York. This Indenture, each Debt
Security and each Coupon shall be deemed to be New York contracts, and for all
purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State (without
reference to principles of conflicts of law).

                  SECTION 12.05. Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to
Be Furnished upon Application or Demand by the Company. Upon any application or
demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the
provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this
Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion
of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions
precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such
application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is
specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such
particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be
furnished.

                  Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and
delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the Person
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 Person, 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
Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

                  SECTION 12.06. Payments Due on Legal Holidays. In any case
where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of and premium, if any,
on the Debt Securities of a series or the date fixed for redemption or repayment
of any Debt Security or the making of any sinking fund payment shall not be a
business 

                                       82
<PAGE>   92

day at any Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of such series, then payment
of interest or principal and premium, if any, or the making of such sinking fund
payment need not be made on such date at such Place of Payment, but may be made
on the next succeeding business day at such Place of Payment with the same force
and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption,
and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date. If a record date is
not a business day, the record date shall not be affected.

                  SECTION 12.07. Provisions Required by Trust Indenture Act to
Control. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits,
qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture which
is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections 310 to 318,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control.

                  SECTION 12.08. Computation of Interest on Debt Securities.
Interest, if any, on the Debt Securities shall be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months, except as may otherwise be provided
pursuant to Section 2.03.

                  SECTION 12.09. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The
Registrar and any paying agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

                  SECTION 12.10. No Recourse Against Others. An incorporator or
any past, present or future director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such,
of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company
under the Debt 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
Debt Security, each Holder shall waive and release all such liability. The
waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Debt
Securities.

                  SECTION 12.11. Severability. In case any provision in this
Indenture, the Debt Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby.

                  SECTION 12.12.  Effect of Headings.  The article and
section headings herein and in the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

                  SECTION 12.13. Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts. This
Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
an original; but such

                                       83
<PAGE>   93

counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

                  The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture upon
the terms and conditions herein set forth.

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

                          WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                                 By: ___________________________
                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:

                      PNC BANK, OHIO, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                                 By: ___________________________
                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:

                                       84

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       Exhibit 5
May 2, 1996

Worthington Industries, Inc.
1205 Dearborn Drive
Columbus, OH  43085

Dear Sirs and Madams:

I have acted as counsel to Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), of $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the
Company's debt securities (the "Debt Securities"). The Debt Securities are to be
issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of _________________, 1996, to be
entered into by and between the Company and PNC Bank, Ohio, National
Association, as Trustee (the "Indenture").

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item
601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated
under the Act (the "Rules and Regulations").

I have examined (i) the Registration Statement on Form S-3 relating to the Debt
Securities (the "Registration Statement") filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on the date hereof under the Act; (ii) a copy of the form of the
Indenture; (iii) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company as currently in
effect; (iv) the By-laws of the Company as currently in effect; and (v) the
resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company or the Executive
Committee thereof relating to the issuance of the Debt Securities, authorizing
the proper officers of the Company to determine the final terms of certain Debt
Securities and approving the Indenture (the "Resolutions"). I have also examined
originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of
such records of the Company and such other documents, certificates and records
as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth
herein.

In my examination, I have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me
as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to
me as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of
such latter documents. In making my examination of documents executed by the
parties other than the Company, I have assumed that such parties had the power,
corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and
have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporation and
other, and execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the
validity and binding effect thereof. As to any facts material to the opinions
expressed herein which were not independently 


<PAGE>   2
established or verified, I have relied upon oral or written statements and
representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

In rendering such opinions, I also have assumed that (i) the Indenture will be
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, (ii) prior to the
offering and sale of Debt Securities, the officers of the Company duly
authorized by the Company's Board of Directors or a committee thereof will
authorize by proper corporate action the terms of and the prices at which the
Debt Securities are to be issued and sold pursuant to the terms of the
Indenture; and (iii) the denomination of Debt Securities in a currency other
than United States dollars will not contravene the exchange control laws of the
jurisdiction the currency of which the Debt Securities are denominated.

I am admitted to the Bar of the State of Ohio, and I do not express any opinion
as to the laws of any other jurisdiction other than the corporate laws of the
State of Delaware or laws of the United States of America to the extent referred
to specifically herein.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

1. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, upon execution and
delivery by the Company in accordance with the provisions thereof, will be a
valid and binding agreement, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or
other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally and (b) general principals of equity (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), and except
further as enforcement thereof may be limited by (x) requirements that a claim
with respect to any Debt Securities denominated other than in United States
dollars (or a foreign currency or foreign currency unit judgment in respect of
such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange
prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law or (y) the
governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments in
foreign currency or foreign currency units or payments outside the United
States.

2. The Debt Securities, when duly executed by the Company and authenticated by
the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and paid for by the purchasers
thereof, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the
benefit of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with
their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or
other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), and except
further as enforcement thereof may be limited by (x) requirements that a claim
with respect to any Debt Securities denominated other than in United States
dollars (or a foreign currency or foreign currency unit judgment in respect of
such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange
prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law or (y) governmental
authority to limit, 


<PAGE>   3
delay or prohibit the making of payments in foreign currency units or payments
outside the United States.

I hereby consent to the use of my name in the Registration Statement under the
caption "Legal Matters" and to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not admit that I come
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section under the
Act or the Rules and Regulations.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     /s/ Dale T. Brinkman
                                                     General Counsel


<PAGE>   1
                             Worthington Industries
                    Exhibit 12 - Statement Re: Computation of
                       Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
                              (Dollars in Millions)




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Nine Months Ended                              Year Ended May 31
                                          ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
                                          February 29,  February 29,  February 28,
                                             1996          1996           1995     1995    1995    1994    1993      1992      1991
                                          ---------------------------------------  -------------------------------------------------
                                              Pro                                   Pro
                                             Forma                                 Forma
                                              (1)                                   (1)
<S>                                          <C>         <C>             <C>       <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>       <C>      <C>  
Consolidated pretax income from                         
   continuing operations                     $ 113       $ 110           $ 132     $ 195   $ 187   $ 136   $ 108     $  91    $  75
                                                                        
Adjustments to earnings:                                                
   Equity in net income of less than                                    
     50%-owned affiliate                       (20)        (20)            (25)      (32)    (32)    (19)     (3)     --         (5)
   Income distributed from less than                                   
     50%-owned affiliate                         1           1            --           1       1      --      --      --         --
   Interest (capitalized and expensed)          14           6               5        18       7       3       3         4        6
   Interest capitalized during the period       (1)         (1)           --          (1)     (1)     --      --      --         (1)
   Interest from majority-owned affiliate                               
     and 50%-owned affiliates                                           
     (unconsolidated)                            2           2               2         3       3       2       1         1        2
                                          ---------------------------------------  -------------------------------------------------
Total earnings                               $ 109       $  98           $ 114     $ 184   $ 165   $ 122   $ 109     $  96    $  77
                                          =======================================  =================================================
                                                                        
                                                                        
Interest (capitalized and expensed)          $  14       $   6           $   5     $  18   $   7   $   3   $   3     $   4    $   6
Interest from majority-owned affiliate                                  
   and  50%-owned affiliates 
    (unconsolidated)                             2           2               2         3       3       2       1         1        2
                                          ---------------------------------------  -------------------------------------------------
                                  
                                                                        
Total fixed charges                          $  16       $   8           $   7     $  21   $  10   $   5   $   4     $   5    $   8
                                          =======================================  =================================================
                                                                        
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges             6.8        12.3            16.3       8.8    16.5    24.4    27.3      19.2      9.6
                                          =======================================  =================================================
</TABLE>


1        Represents supplemental ratio to give effect to the purchase by
         Worthington Industries, Inc. of the stock of Dietrich Industries, Inc.
         as reflected in the pro forma condensed consolidated statements of
         income included in Worthington's Form 8-K/A filed on April 19, 1996.

<PAGE>   1
                                 EXHIBIT 23 (a)

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3), and related Prospectus of Worthington
Industries, Inc. for the registration of $450,000,000 in debt securities and to
the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated June 15, 1995, with
respect to the consolidated financial statements of Worthington Industries, Inc.
incorporated by reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
May 31, 1995 and our report dated August 25, 1995 with respect to the related
financial statement schedule included therein, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.


                                                          /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Columbus, Ohio
April 30, 1996


<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 23(C)

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
Worthington Industries, Inc. on Form S-3 of our report dated February 5, 1996 on
the consolidated financial statements of Dietrich Industries, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and for the year then ended, appearing in
Amendment No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A of Worthington Industries, Inc.
dated April 19, 1996 and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in
the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
May 1, 1996




<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  Donald G. Barger, Jr.
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Donald G. Barger, Jr.
<PAGE>   2

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  Charles R. Carson    
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Charles R. Carson
<PAGE>   3

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  William S. Dietrich, II
                                        --------------------------------
                                        William S. Dietrich, II

<PAGE>   4

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  John E. Fisher          
                                        --------------------------------
                                        John E. Fisher
<PAGE>   5

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  John F. Havens            
                                        --------------------------------
                                        John F. Havens
<PAGE>   6

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  Robert J. Klein        
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Robert J. Klein
<PAGE>   7

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  Pete A. Klisares      
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Pete A. Klisares
<PAGE>   8

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  Katherine S. LeVeque
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Katherine S. LeVeque
<PAGE>   9

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  Donal H. Malenick       
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Donal H. Malenick
<PAGE>   10

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  John H. McConnell       
                                        --------------------------------
                                        John H. McConnell
<PAGE>   11

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  John P. McConnell       
                                        --------------------------------
                                        John P. McConnell
<PAGE>   12

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  Robert B. McCurry          
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Robert B. McCurry
<PAGE>   13

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  Charles D. Minor       
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Charles D. Minor
<PAGE>   14

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  Gerald B. Mitchell       
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Gerald B. Mitchell
<PAGE>   15

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or
director of Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is
about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration
Statement (and/or amendments thereto) on Form S-3 for the registration of up to
$450,000,000 of its debt securities for offering and sale, hereby constitutes
and appoints Donal H. Malenick, Donald G. Barger, Jr. and Dale T. Brinkman, his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without
the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to sign such Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granted unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 23rd
day of February, 1996.

                                        /s/  James Petropoulos      
                                        --------------------------------
                                        James Petropoulos

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 25
                                    FORM T-1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              Washington, DC 20549

            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF
               1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

              CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A
        TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b) (2)
                                              ------

                      PNC Bank, Ohio, National Association
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

                                   31-0236824
               (I.R.S. employer identification No.)

PNC Bank, Ohio, National Association
201 East Fifth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio   45202
(Address of principal executive offices)

                          Worthington Industries, Inc.
               (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

             OHIO                                       31-1189815
(State or other jurisdiction                         (I.R.S. employer
of incorporation or organization)                   identification no.)

1205 Dearborn Drive                                        43085
Columbus, Ohio                                             (Zip Code)
(Address of principal
executive offices)


                          WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                DEBT SECURITIES
                       (Title of the indenture securities)


ITEM   1.         GENERAL INFORMATION.

                  Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.


                                     page 1
<PAGE>   2



                  (a).  Name and address of each examining or supervising 
authority to which it is subject.

                            1)       Comptroller of the Currency
                            Washington, DC
                            2)       Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
                                     Cleveland, Ohio
                            3)       Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
                                     Washington, DC

                  (b).  Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust
                  powers.  Yes

ITEM   2.         AFFILIATION WITH OBLIGOR.

                  If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each
         such affiliation.

                            Neither the obligor nor any underwriter for the
                            obligor is an affiliate of the trustee.

ITEM   3.         VOTING SECURITIES OF THE TRUSTEE.

                  Furnish the following information as to each class
                  of voting securities of the trustee:

                  As of April 15, 1996 (Insert date within 31 days).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Col. A                                                 Col. B
       Title of class                                       Amount outstanding
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                         <C>
PNC Bank, Ohio, National Association                                 1,523,879
Common Stock
</TABLE>

ITEM   4.         TRUSTEESHIPS UNDER OTHER INDENTURES.

                  If the trustee is a trustee under another indenture under
         which any other securities, or certificates or interest or
         participation in any other securities, of the Obligor are outstanding,
         furnish the following information.

                  The Trustee is not a trustee for any other indenture with the
         obligor.


ITEM   5.         INTERLOCKING DIRECTORATES AND SIMILAR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE 
         OBLIGOR OR UNDERWRITERS.


                                     page 2
<PAGE>   3


                  If the trustee or any of the directors or executive officers
         of the trustee is a director, officer, partner, employee, appointee, or
         representative of the Obligor or of any underwriter for the obligor,
         identify each such person having any such connection and state the
         nature of each such connection.

                  None

ITEM 6.           VOTING SECURITIES OF THE TRUSTEE OWNED BY THE OBLIGOR OR ITS 
         OFFICIALS.

                  Furnish the following information as to the voting securities
         of the trustee owned beneficially by the obligor and each director,
         partner, and executive officer of the obligor.

                  As of April 15,1996 (Insert date within 31 days)
                  None

ITEM 7.           VOTING SECURITIES OF THE TRUSTEE OWNED BY UNDERWRITERS OR
         THEIR OFFICIALS.

                  Furnish the following information as to the voting securities
         of the trustee owned beneficially by each underwriter for the obligor
         and each director, partner, and executive officer of each such
         underwriter.

                  As of April 15, 1996.(Insert date within 31 days).
                  None

ITEM 8.           SECURITIES OF THE OBLIGOR OWNED OR HELD BY THE TRUSTEE.

                  Furnish the following information as to securities of the
         obligor owned beneficially or held as collateral security for
         obligations in default by the trustee.

                  As of April 15, 1996, the amount of securities of the obligor
         owned beneficially or held as collateral security for obligations in
         default by the trustee do not exceed more than one percent of the
         outstanding securities of each class of the obligor.

                  None.

                                     page 3
<PAGE>   4

ITEM   9.         SECURITIES OF UNDERWRITERS OWNED OR HELD BY THE TRUSTEE.

                  If the trustee owns beneficially or holds as collateral
         security for obligations in default any securities of an underwriter
         for the obligor, furnish the following information as to each class or
         securities of such underwriter any of which are so owned or held by the
         trustee.

                  As of April 15, 1996, the amount of securities of the
         Underwriter owned beneficially by the trustee do not exceed more than
         one percent of the outstanding securities of each class of securities
         of the Underwriter.

                  None.

ITEM  10.         OWNERSHIP OR HOLDINGS BY THE TRUSTEE OF VOTING SECURITIES OF 
         CERTAIN AFFILIATES OR SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE OBLIGOR.

                  If the trustee owns beneficially or holds as collateral
         security for obligations in default voting securities of a person who,
         to the knowledge of the trustee (1) owns 10 percent or more of the
         voting securities of the obligor or (2) is an affiliate, other than a
         subsidiary, of the obligor, furnish the following information as to the
         voting securities of such person.

                  As of April 15, 1996, none.

ITEM 11.          OWNERSHIP OR HOLDINGS BY THE TRUSTEE OF ANY SECURITIES OF A
         PERSON OWNING 50 PERCENT OR MORE OF THE VOTING SECURITIES OF THE
         OBLIGOR.

                  If the trustee owns beneficially or holds as collateral
         security for obligations in default any securities of a person who, to
         the knowledge of the trustee, owns 50 percent or more or the voting
         securities of the obligor, furnish the following information as to each
         class of securities of such person, any of which are so owned or held
         by the trustee.

                  As of April 15, 1996, none.

ITEM 12.          INDEBTEDNESS OF THE OBLIGOR TO THE TRUSTEE.


                                     page 4
<PAGE>   5


                  Except as noted in the instruction, if the obligor is indebted
                  to the trustee, furnish the following information.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Col. A                                      Col. B                     Col. C
Nature of indebtedness                  Amount outstanding            Date due
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>                           <C>
Revolving Credit Facility               $35,000,000                   04/28/01
Bridge Loan Credit Facility             $35,000,000                   10/28/96
Discretionary Line of Credit            $20,000,000                   09/01/96
Discretionary Bid Line of Credit        $20,000,000                   09/01/96
</TABLE>

ITEM 13.          DEFAULTS BY THE OBLIGOR.

                  (a) State whether there is or has been a default with respect
         to the securities under this indenture. Explain the nature of any such
         default.

                           None.  This is a new issue of debt securities.

                  (b) If the trustee is a trustee under another indenture which
         any other securities, or certificates of interest of participation in
         any other securities, of the obligor are outstanding, or is trustee for
         more than one outstanding series of securities under the indenture,
         state whether there has been a default under any such indenture or
         series, identify the indenture or series affected, and explain the
         nature of any such default.

                           As of April 15, 1996, the Trustee is not Trustee on
                  any other such indenture.

ITEM 14.          AFFILIATIONS WITH THE UNDERWRITERS.

                  If any underwriter is an affiliate of the trustee, describe
                  each such affiliation. None.

ITEM  15.         FOREIGN TRUSTEE.

                  Identify the order or rule pursuant to which the foreign
         trustee is authorized to act as sole trustee under indentures qualified
         or to be qualified under the Act.


                                     page 5
<PAGE>   6


                  Not applicable.  Domestic Trustee

ITEM  16.         LIST OF EXHIBITS.

                  List below all exhibits filed as part of this statement of
         eligibility and qualification.

                  1) Articles of Association of the Trustee, as presently in
         effect, filed as Exhibit I to Trustee's Statement of eligibility and
         Qualification, Registration No. 33-45972 and incorporated herein, by
         reference.

                  2) A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to
         commence business, filed as Exhibit 2 to Trustee's Statement of
         Eligibility and Qualification, Registration No. 33-45972 and
         incorporated herein by reference.

                  3) A copy of the Authorization of the Trustee to exercise
         Corporate Trust powers, as presently in effect, filed as Exhibit 3 to
         the Trustee's Statement of Eligibility and Qualification, Registration
         No. 33-45972 and incorporated herein by reference.

                  4) A copy of the existing Bylaws of the Trustee, or
         instruments corresponding thereto, as presently in effect, filed as
         Exhibit 4 to the Trustee's Statement of Eligibility and Qualification,
         Registration No. 33-45972 and incorporated herein by reference.

                  5) The consents of the United States institutional trustees
         required by Section 321(b) of the Act, filed as Exhibit 5 to the
         Trustee's Statement of Eligibility and Qualification, Registration No.
         33-45972 and incorporated herein by reference.

                  6) Effective February 8, 1993, The Central Trust Company,
         N.A. changed its name to PNC Bank, Ohio, National Association. The 
         Comptroller of the Currency Administrator of National Banks issued a 
         certificate acknowledging this name change. A hard copy of this 
         certificate will be furnished upon request.

                  7) A copy of the Balance Sheet taken from latest Report of
         Condition, of the Trustee,

                                     page 6
<PAGE>   7

         published of December 31, 1995, pursuant to law or the requirements of
         its supervising or examining authority.


                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, PNC
Bank, Ohio, National Association, organized and existing under the laws of the
United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the
city of Cincinnati, and the State of Ohio, on the 24TH day of April, 1996.

                                PNC Bank, Ohio, National Association,


                                as Trustee


                                            By: /s/ BELINDA A. HOLDEN 
                                               -------------------------------
                                               Belinda A. Holden
                                               Assistant Vice President

                                     page 7
<PAGE>   8

                               CONSENT OF TRUSTEE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 in connection with the proposed issue of Worthington Industries, Inc. debt
securities we hereby consent that reports of examination by Federal, State,
Territorial, or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the
Securities and Exchange Commission upon request therefor.

                      PNC Bank, Ohio, National Association

                      as Trustee

                       By: /s/ BELINDA A. HOLDEN
                          --------------------------------
                          Belinda A. Holden
                          Assistant Vice President


                                     page 8
<PAGE>   9
<TABLE>
<S>                     <C>                                                     <C>
Legal Title of Bank:    PNC BANK, OHIO, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION                    Call Date:  12/31/95 ST-BK: 39-1200 FFIEC 031
Address:                201 East Fifth Street                                                                      Page RC-1
City, State, Zip:       Cincinnati, OH 45202-4117
FDIC Certificate No.    10/0/7/4/2
</TABLE>

CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL AND STATE-CHARTERED
SAVINGS BANKS FOR DECEMBER 31, 1995

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC-BALANCE SHEET

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                          C400
                                                                                                       -------------------------
                                                                        Dollar Amounts in Thousands    Bil   Mil   Thou
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                          <C>         C>            <C>                 <C>
ASSETS                                                                                                 ////////////////
1.  Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC-A:                            ////////////////
    a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)                                           0081     208,248     1.a.
    b. Interest-bearing balances(2)                                                                    0071           0     1.b.
2.  Securities:                                                                                        ////////////////
    a. Held-to-maturity securities (from Schedule RC-B, column A)                                      1754           0     2.a.
    b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)                                    1773     810,663     2.b.
3.  Federal funds and securities purchased under agreements to resell in
    domestic offices of the bank                                                                       ////////////////
    and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBFs:                                           ////////////////
    a. Federal funds sold                                                                              0276      16,600     3.a. 
    b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell                                                 0277           0     3.b.
4.  Loans and lease financing receivables:                                                             ////////////////
    a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule RC-C)        /RCFD 2122/   2,917,796    ////////////////
    b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses                            /RCFD 3123/     115,916    ////////////////
    c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve                                /RCFD 3128/           0    ////////////////
    d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income,                                                       ////////////////
       allowance, and reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)                                             2125   2,801,880     4.d.
5.  Trading assets (from Schedule RC-D)                                                                3545           0     5.
6.  Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)                                           2145      22,079     6.
7.  Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)                                                       2150       1,860     7.
8.  Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies
    (from Schedule RC-M)                                                                               2130           0     8.
9.  Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding                                       2155       1,208     9.
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)                                                             2143      32,783     10.
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)                                                                  2160      82,647     11.
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)                                                           2170   3,977,968     12.
</TABLE>
- -----------------
(1)  Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2)  Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.

<PAGE>   10
<TABLE>
<S>                     <C>                                                     <C>
Legal Title of Bank:    PNC BANK, OHIO, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION                   Call Date:  12/31/95 ST-BK: 39-1200 FFIEC 031
Address:                201 East Fifth Street                                                                      Page RC-2
City, State, Zip:       Cincinnati, OH 45202-4117
FDIC Certificate No.    /0/0/7/4/2


Schedule RC--Continued

                                                                                    -----------------------------------
                                                     Dollar Amounts in Thousands        Bil  Mil  Thou
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:
    a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C from Schedule RC-E,      RCON 2200 2,675.218     13.a
       part I)                                                                                                13.a.(1)
    (1) Noninterest-bearing(1)                              RCON 6631     486,288     ///////////////////     13.a.(2)
    (2) Interest-bearing                                    RCON 6636   2,188,930     ///////////////////
    b.  In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs (from                                   13.b.
        Schedule RC-E, part II)                                                       RCFN 2200    39.190     13.b.(1)
    (1) Noninterest-bearing                                 RCFN 6631           0     ///////////////////     13.b.(2)
    (2) Interest-bearing                                    RCFN 6636      39,190     ///////////////////
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase        ///////////////////
    in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries,       ///////////////////  
    and in IBFs:                                                                      ///////////////////     14.a.
    a.  Federal funds purchased                                                                               14.b.
    b.  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase                                RCFD 0278   511,388     15.a
15. a.  Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury                                      RCFD 0279   216,532     15.b.
    b.  Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC-D)                                      RCON 2840         0
16. Other borrowed money:                                                             RCFD 3548         0     16.a.
    a.  With original maturity of one year or less                                    ///////////////////     16.b.
    b.  With original maturity of more than one year                                  RCFD 2332    50,000     17.
17. Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases                    RCFD 2333    51,109     18.
18. Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding                          RCFD 2910         0     19.
19. Subordinated notes and debentures                                                 RCFD 2920     1,208     20.
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)                                            RCFD 3200    25,000     21.
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)                                    RCFD 2930    44,773     
                                                                                      RCFD 2948 3,614,418     22.
22. Limited-life preferred stock and related surplus                                  ///////////////////
EQUITY CAPITAL                                                                        RCFD 3282         0     23.
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus                                     ///////////////////     24.
24. Common stock                                                                      RCFD 3838         0     25.
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)                          RCFD 3230    15,239     26.a.
26. a.  Undivided profits and capital reserves                                        RCFD 3839   173,877     26.b.
    b.  Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities        RCFD 3632   178,137     27.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments                               RCFD 8434    (3,703)    28.
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)                                 RCFD 3284         0   
29. Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital (sum          RCFD 3210   363,550     29.
    of items 21, 22, and 28)                                                          ///////////////////
                                                                                      RCFD 3300 3,977,968
Memorandum 
To be reported only with the March Report of condition.
1.  Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement that best
    describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the
    bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 1994
                                                                     Number
                                                                     ------
                                                     RCFD 6724 N/A     M.I.

1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted
    auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a
    report on the bank

2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding conducted in accordance with 
    generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm
    which submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the 
    bank separately)

3 = Directors' examination of the bank conducted in accordance with generally
    accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm (may be
    required by state chartering authority)

4 = Directors' examination of the bank performed by other external auditors
    (may be required by state chartering authority)

5 = Review of the bank's financial statements by external auditors

6 = Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external auditors

7 = Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)

8 = No external audit work


- -----------
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings deposits.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 99

                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY ____, 1996

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated May __, 1996)

$200,000,000

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

__% SENIOR NOTES DUE ____

The __% Senior Notes due 20__ (the "Notes") will mature on _________, 20__.
Interest on the Notes is payable on ________ and _________ of each year,
commencing __________, 1996. 

The Notes offered hereby will be represented by one or more Global Securities
representing Book-Entry Securities and will be registered in the name of Cede &
Co., the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, which will act as Depositary.
Beneficial interests in Book-Entry Securities will be shown on, and transfers
thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary and
its participants. Except as described in the accompanying Prospectus under
"Description of Debt Securities - Registered Global Securities," Notes in
certificated form will not be issued in exchange for the Global Securities.
Settlement for the Notes will be made in immediately available funds. The Notes
will trade in the Depositary's Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity,
and secondary market trading activity for the Notes will therefore settle in
immediately available funds. All payments of principal and interest will be made
by the Company in immediately available funds. See "Description of Notes - Same
Day Funds Settlement System and Payment" in this Prospectus Supplement and
"Description of Debt Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus.

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Price To                Underwriting       Proceeds To
                                                     Public (1)              Discount (2)       Company (1)(3)
<S>                                                  <C>                     <C>                <C>
Per Note...........................................  100.00%
Total..............................................  $200,000,000
==============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)   Plus accrued interest, if any, from May ___, 1996 to date of delivery.

(2)   The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
      liabilities including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
      amended.  See "Underwriting."

(3)   Before deduction of expenses payable by the Company estimated at $______.

The Notes are offered subject to receipt and acceptance by the Underwriters, to
prior sale and to the Underwriters' right to reject any order in whole or in
part and to withdraw, cancel or modify the offer without notice. It is expected
that delivery of the Notes will be made in book-entry form through the
facilities of The Depository Trust Company on or about ___________, 1996.

SALOMON BROTHERS INC
                                 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                                                                THE OHIO COMPANY

The date of this Prospectus Supplement is May __, 1996.


<PAGE>   2

IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE NOTES OFFERED
HEREBY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET.
SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.

                                  ------------
<PAGE>   3




                                   THE COMPANY

OVERVIEW

         Worthington Industries, Inc. ("Worthington" or the "Company") is a
leading manufacturer of metal and plastic products, conducting its business
through three segments: processed steel products, custom products, and cast
products. The Company's net sales for its fiscal year ended May 31, 1995 were
$1.5 billion.

         The Company, through its subsidiaries, is the largest independent flat
rolled steel processor in the United States. The Company's steel processing
operations do not make steel, but rather, they purchase it from steel producers
and then process it to exact specifications for over 1,700 industrial customers
primarily in the automotive, automotive supply, appliance, electrical,
communication, construction, office furniture, office equipment, agricultural,
machinery and leisure time industries. The Company believes it offers the widest
array of steel processing services in the industry, which include slitting,
roller leveling, cold reduction, edge rolling, blanking, coating, annealing,
pickling and other services. The Company currently operates ten steel processing
facilities and is a partner in three steel processing joint ventures, most of
which are located in the largest steel consuming regions of the United States.

         For the year ended May 31, 1995, net sales of the Company's processed
steel products segment were approximately $1.0 billion, representing
approximately 70% of Worthington's total fiscal year 1995 sales. This segment
also includes the Company's pressure cylinder business which management believes
to be the largest producer of portable low pressure L.P. gas cylinders and
refrigerant gas cylinders in North America.

         In February 1996, the Company acquired Dietrich Industries, Inc.
("Dietrich"), the nation's largest producer and supplier of metal framing
products for the commercial and residential markets. Dietrich is a large user of
galvanized steel and services a product market not previously supplied by the
Company.

         The Company's other operations comprise the custom products and cast
product segments. Custom products includes Worthington Custom Plastics, Inc.,
the eighth largest plastic injection molding company in the United States, which
sells primarily to the automotive, lawn and garden and appliance industries, and
Worthington Precision Metals, Inc., which supplies components primarily for
automotive transmission, power steering and brake applications. The Company's
cast products business is one of the two largest suppliers of large railcar
castings in the United States and is the leading North American designer and
producer of undercarriages for mass transit cars.

STRATEGY

         The Company considers its operating philosophy and growth strategies to
be key elements of its success. The Company's operating philosophy emphasizes
decentralized decision making, strong customer and supplier relationships, a
focus on quality and customer service and a significant employee cash profit
sharing plan. Under the Company's profit sharing program, a fixed percentage of
each location's earnings are shared every fiscal quarter by virtually all
regular, full-time, non-union employees of the Company, regardless of position.

         The Company's growth strategy focuses on increasing market share,
developing new products, services and niche markets, and expanding
geographically, both domestically and internationally. The Company has pursued
these goals by selectively investing in new and existing facilities and
equipment, joint ventures and acquisitions, while maintaining a high degree of
financial flexibility. In the last five years, the Company has invested
approximately $300 million in capital expenditures in its businesses primarily
from funds generated by existing operations. The Company is a partner in five
joint ventures, 


<PAGE>   4

which have enabled it to develop new products, markets and technological
capabilities and to expand its international presence, while mitigating the
risks and costs associated with such activities.

BUSINESSES

         The Company was founded by John H. McConnell in 1955 as an Ohio
corporation, and was reincorporated in Delaware in 1986. The Company conducts
its business through three segments: processed steel products, custom products
and cast products.

PROCESSED STEEL PRODUCTS

         The Company's processed steel products segment includes its steel
processing businesses and its pressure cylinder business. For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1995, sales of the processed steel products segment were $1.0
billion, approximately 70% of the Company's total sales. Commencing with its
acquisition in February 1996, Dietrich will be included in this segment.
Dietrich's net sales for the calendar year 1995 were approximately $281 million.

         The Company's steel processing operations are conducted through its
Worthington Steel Company subsidiaries ("Worthington Steel"). Worthington Steel
occupies a niche in the steel industry by focusing on more specialized products
requiring more exact specifications, which typically cannot be supplied as
efficiently by steel mills, metal service centers or steel end users.
Worthington Steel is the largest independent flat rolled steel processor in the
United States and operates ten processing facilities, with a concentration in
the Michigan, Ohio and Indiana markets, the largest flat rolled steel consuming
region in the United States. The Company's eleventh steel processing facility,
located in Delta, Ohio, is scheduled for completion late in calendar year 1996.
This facility will be Worthington's largest steel processing plant, and will
include a hot dip galvanizing operation, a new product for the Company, as well
as pickling and slitting capabilities. A portion of this facility's steel
requirements will be supplied pursuant to a long term supply contract with the
North Star/BHP mini-mill which is located adjacent to, and is expected to be
completed concurrently with, the Company's Delta facility.

         Worthington Steel buys coils of wide, open tolerance steel from major
integrated steel mills and mini-mills and processes such steel to the precise
type, thickness, length, width, shape, temper and surface quality specified by
more than 1,700 industrial customers principally in the automotive, automotive
supply, appliance, electrical, communications, construction, office furniture,
office equipment, agricultural, machinery and leisure time industries. The
Company purchases and supplies steel based on the specific orders of customers
and does not process steel for inventory, which reduces its exposure to steel
price movements. Worthington Steel's computer-aided processing capabilities
include among others: pickling, a chemical process using an acidic solution to
remove surface oxide which develops on hot rolled steel; slitting, which cuts
steel to specific widths; roller leveling, a method of applying pressure to
achieve precise flatness tolerances for steel which is cut into exact lengths;
cold reduction, which achieves close tolerances of thickness and temper by
rolling; edge rolling, which conditions the edges of the steel by imparting
round, smooth or knurled edges; blanking, through which steel is cut into
specific shapes; coating which includes producing painted, galvanized or nickel
plated steel; and annealing, a thermal process that changes the hardness and
certain metallurgical characteristics of steel.

         Worthington Steel also "toll processes" steel for steel mills and large
end users. Toll processing is similar to Worthington's normal steel processing,
except the mill or end user retains the title to the steel and has the
responsibility for selling the product. Toll processing enables the Company to
participate in the market for wide sheet steel and large standard orders, which
is a market generally served by steel mills, rather than by intermediate steel
processors. For the year ended May 31, 1995, the Company processed approximately
3.2 million tons of steel, including 1.7 million tons of toll processed steel.


<PAGE>   5

         On February 5, 1996, the Company acquired Dietrich, the largest
supplier of metal framing products for the commercial and residential
construction markets in the United States. The Company believes that Dietrich is
the only national supplier of metal framing products and supplies approximately
35% of the metal framing products sold in the United States. Dietrich is a large
user of galvanized steel and services a product market not previously supplied
by the Company. Dietrich operates 19 facilities in 11 states.

         The Company's processed steel products segment also includes
Worthington Cylinder Corporation ("Worthington Cylinders"), the nation's largest
producer of portable low pressure L.P. gas and refrigerant cylinders.
Worthington Cylinders' primary products are steel cylinders with refrigerant gas
capacities of 15 to 1,000 lbs. and steel and aluminum cylinders with L.P. gas
capacities of 4-1/4 to 420 lbs. The Company's refrigerant cylinders are used
primarily by major refrigerant gas producers to contain refrigerant gases for
use in charging residential, commercial, automotive and other air conditioning
and refrigeration systems. Reusable steel and aluminum L.P. gas cylinders are
sold to manufacturers of barbecue grills, propane and gas grill distributors,
mass merchandisers, and manufacturers and users of material handling, heating,
cooking and camping equipment. The Company also manufactures other cylinder
products, including recapture and recycling tanks for refrigerant gases, helium
tanks, compressed air tanks, acetylene cylinders for welding applications, and
cylinders to hold other gases. Worthington Cylinders has over 2,000 customers.
It operates four manufacturing facilities located in Ohio, Oklahoma and Georgia,
plus an assembly and distribution facility in Canada.

CUSTOM PRODUCTS

         The Company's custom products segment includes its custom plastics
business and its precision metals business. Sales by the custom products segment
totaled $302 million for the year ended May 31, 1995, representing approximately
20% of the Company's net sales. The Company's injection molded plastics business
represents the major portion of these sales.

         The Company's custom plastics business is conducted through Worthington
Custom Plastics, Inc., the eighth largest producer of injection molded plastic
products in the United States. Historically, sales to the automotive market have
dominated the custom plastics business, although in recent years the Company has
increased sales to manufacturers of appliances, lawn and garden equipment, audio
equipment, recreational products, and other items. The Company believes it is
now one of the two largest suppliers of injection molded plastic parts for
non-automotive uses. Worthington Custom Plastics operates five plants located in
Ohio, Kentucky and South Carolina.

         The Company's precision metals business is conducted through
Worthington Precision Metals, Inc. which supplies metal components requiring
extremely precise tolerances for use primarily in the automotive industry for
transmission, power steering and brake applications. This business operates two
facilities located in Ohio and Tennessee.

CAST PRODUCTS

         The Company's cast products segment is operated through Buckeye Steel
Castings Company ("Buckeye Steel") which operates the largest single site steel
foundry in the United States. Buckeye Steel manufactures a diverse line of cast
steel products ranging in size from 100 lbs. to 30 tons. These products are
offered to the railroad, mass transit, construction and off highway equipment
markets. The Company believes Buckeye Steel is one of the two largest suppliers
of large railcar castings in the United States and is the leading North American
designer and producer of undercarriages for mass transit cars. The cast products
segment had sales of $153 million for the year ended May 31, 1995, representing
approximately 10% of total Company sales.


<PAGE>   6

JOINT VENTURES AND AFFILIATES

         As part of its strategy to selectively develop new products, markets
and technological capabilities and to expand its international presence while
mitigating the risks and costs associated with such activities, the Company is a
partner in five unconsolidated joint ventures.

         Worthington/Armstrong Venture ("WAVE"), a 50% owned joint venture with
         Armstrong World Industries, is one of the three leading United States
         manufacturers of suspended ceiling systems for concealed and lay-in
         panel ceilings. WAVE operates facilities in Pennsylvania, Maryland,
         Nevada and France and expects to expand into China in 1996.

         TWB Company, a 50% owned joint venture with Thyssen Stahl of Germany,
         produces laser welded blanks for use in the auto industry for products
         such as inner door frames.

         Acerex S.A. de C.V., a 50% owned joint venture with Hylsa S.A. de C.V.,
         is a steel processing company located in Monterrey, Mexico.

         Worthington Specialty Processing, a 50% owned joint venture with USX
         Corporation, operates primarily as a toll processor for USX
         Corporation.

         London Industries, Inc., a 60% owned joint venture with Sumitomo and
         Nissen Chemitech of Japan, produces injection molded plastics parts,
         concentrating on sales to foreign transplant automakers.

         The Company also owns an approximate 28% interest in Rouge Steel
Company, an integrated steel mill located in Dearborn, Michigan. This
relationship, along with a long term steel supply agreement, has assured the
Company a steady supply of high quality steel at competitive prices regardless
of market conditions. Since Worthington acquired its equity position in 1990,
Rouge Steel has been the Company's largest steel supplier.


<PAGE>   7




                         SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                              (Dollars in Millions)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     Nine
                     Months                                   Year
                     Ended         Nine Months Ended          Ended                       Year Ended May 31
                                                                       --------------------------------------------------------
                    Feb. 29         Feb. 29     Feb. 28       May 31
                     1996            1996        1995          1995     1995        1994        1993         1992        1991
                  ----------       --------    --------     ---------  ------      ------     --------    ---------    --------
                      Pro                                    Pro
                    Forma (1)                               Forma (1)
<S>                  <C>            <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
For the Period:
 Net sales:
Processed
steel
  products......     $  883         $  701      $  752      $1,314     $1,029      $  920      $  768      $  668      $  612
Custom products.        234            234         219         302        302         250         242         218         186
Cast products...        106            106         109         153        153         115         103          85          74
                     ------         ------      ------      ------     ------      ------      ------      ------      ------     
 Total net
sales...........     $1,223         $1,041      $1,080      $1,769     $1,484      $1,285      $1,113      $  971      $  872
 Operating
income (2):
Processed
steel products..     $   76         $   65      $   81      $  132     $  112      $   98      $   79      $   70      $   64
Custom
products........         13             13          13          20         20          15          20          14           6
Cast products...         11             11          13          22         22           6           7           4           1
                     ------         ------      ------      ------     ------      ------      ------      ------      ------     

 Total operating
  income........     $  100         $   89      $  107      $  174     $  154      $  119      $  106      $   88      $   71
Interest
expense.........     $   12         $    5      $    4      $   18     $    6      $    3      $    3      $    4      $    5
Equity in net
income of
unconsolidated
affiliates......         25             25          28          38         38          19           5           5           7
Net earnings....     $   70         $   69      $   82      $  120     $  117      $   85      $   68      $   58      $   48
At end of
period:
 Total assets...     $ --           $1,182      $  912      $ --       $  917      $  799      $  694      $  628      $  570
 Long-term debt.       --               79          53        --           53          54          56          57          59
 Total debt (3).       --              274         103        --           92          66          57          60          69
 Shareholders'
   equity.......     $ --           $  627      $  564      $ --       $  590      $  504      $  438      $  392      $  359
Ratio of earnings 
 to fixed 
  charges (5)           6.8(4)        12.3        16.3         8.8(4)    16.5        24.4        27.3        19.2         9.6
</TABLE>

         (1)      The pro forma dollar amounts give effect to the purchase by
                  the Company of the stock of Dietrich as if the transaction
                  occurred at the beginning of each period presented. Pro forma
                  balance sheet information at the end of the periods is not
                  presented since the transaction has been reflected in the
                  Company's February 29, 1996 condensed consolidated balance
                  sheet.

         (2)      Corporate expenses are allocated on a consistent basis among
                  industry segments.

         (3)      Represents long-term debt (including current maturities) and
                  notes payable.

         (4)      Represents supplemental ratio to give effect to the purchase
                  by the Company of the stock of Dietrich as reflected in the
                  pro forma condensed consolidated statements of income included
                  in the Company's Form 8-K/A filed on April 19, 1996.

         (5)      For the purpose of this ratio: (i) earnings consist of income
                  from continuing operations before fixed charges (reduced by
                  capitalized interest) and income taxes for the Company and its
                  majority-owned subsidiaries and its proportionate share of the
                  income of unconsolidated affiliated companies, reduced by
                  undistributed earnings of less than 50%-owned unconsolidated
                  affiliated companies; and (ii) fixed charges consist of
                  interest on all indebtedness (without reduction of interest
                  capitalized) for the Company and its majority-owned
                  subsidiaries (consolidated and unconsolidated), and its
                  proportionate share of the interest on indebtedness of
                  50%-owned unconsolidated affiliates.


<PAGE>   8




                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         The Company intends to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the
Notes to repay approximately: (a) $180 million of short term debt (the "Bridge
Loan") incurred on February 5, 1996 in connection with the acquisition of
Dietrich; and (b) $20 million of debt outstanding under its Revolving Credit
Agreement ("Revolver Debt"). Both the Bridge Loan and the Revolver Debt bear
variable interest rates based on LIBOR plus a fixed percent. The Bridge Loan
matures October 28, 1996 and its interest rate at February 29, 1996 was 5.67%.
The commitment for the Revolver Debt expires April 2001 and the interest rate on
the Revolver Debt was 5.99% at February 29, 1996.

                                 CAPITALIZATION

         The following table sets forth the consolidated debt and shareholders'
equity of the Company at February 29, 1996, and as adjusted to give effect to
the issuance by the Company of the Notes offered hereby and the application of
the net proceeds therefrom, as described under "Use of Proceeds".

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              At February 29, 1996
                                                       -----------------------------------
                                                             Historical  As Adjusted
                                                             ----------  -----------
                                                                  (In Millions)
<S>                                                          <C>         <C>
Bridge Loan                                                     $180        $ --
Other notes payable                                               14          14
Current maturities of long-term debt                               2           2
                                                                ----        ----
      Total short-term debt                                     $196        $ 16
                                                                ----        ----
Long-term debt, less current maturities:
  Notes                                                         $ --        $200
  Revolver Debt                                                   65          45
  Industrial Development Revenue Bonds                            13          13
  Other                                                            1           1
                                                                ----        ----
      Total long-term debt, less current maturities               79         259

Total shareholders' equity                                       627         627
                                                                ----        ----

Total capitalization                                            $706        $886
                                                                ----        ----
</TABLE>



<PAGE>   9




                              DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

         The following description of the particular terms of the Notes offered
hereby (referred to in the accompanying Prospectus as "Debt Securities")
supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith supersedes, the
description of the general terms and provisions of Debt Securities set forth in
the Prospectus, to which description reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the
accompanying Prospectus.

General

         The Notes will be issued under the Indenture dated as of _____________,
1996 between the Company and the Trustee. The Indenture is subject to and is
governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), and the
terms of the Notes include those made part of the Indenture by reference to the
TIA as an effect of the date of the Indenture. The following description and the
description in the accompanying Prospectus do not purport to be complete and are
subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the TIA and all the
provisions of the Notes and the Indenture.

Principal Amount and Maturity

         The Notes will be limited to $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount
and will mature on _____________________.                      

Interest

         Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, interest on the Notes as
set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement will accrue from
____________, 1996 and is to be payable semi-annually on _____________ and
___________, commencing ___________, 1996, to those persons in whose names the
Notes are registered at the close of business on the next preceding ____________
and ____________, as the case may be.

Optional Redemption


Ranking

         The Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company ranking
pari passu with other senior indebtedness of the Company. In addition, the
Company is a holding company that conducts all its operations through
subsidiaries, and the Notes will be structurally subordinated to all obligations
of its subsidiaries. At February 29, 1996, after giving effect to the use of
proceeds from this offering as described in "Use of Proceeds," the Company would
have had $_____ million of indebtedness for borrowed money ranking pari passu in
right of payment with the Notes and subsidiaries of the Company would have had
aggregate balance sheet liabilities of $______ million.

Sinking Fund

         There will be no mandatory sinking fund payments for the Notes.

Book-Entry System

         Except as described in the Prospectus under "Description of Debt
Securities -- Registered Global Securities," owners of beneficial interests in a
Global Security will not be considered the Holders thereof and will not be
entitled to receive physical delivery of Notes in definitive form, and no Global
Security will 


<PAGE>   10

be exchangeable except for another Global Security of like denomination and
terms to be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

         The Depositary has advised the Company that the Depositary is a
limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "Clearing agency"
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Depositary
was created to hold the securities of its participants and to facilitate the
clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in
such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the
participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities
certificates. The Depositary's participants include securities brokers and
dealers (including the Underwriters), banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations, and certain other organizations some of whom (and/or their
representatives) own the Depositary. Access to the Depositary's book-entry
system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust
companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a
participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are not participants may
beneficially own securities held by the Depositary only through participants.

Same-Day Funds Settlement System and Payment

         Settlement for the Notes will be made by the Underwriters in
immediately available funds. All payments of principal and interest will be made
by the Company in immediately available funds.

         The Notes will trade in the Depositary's Same-Day Funds Settlement
System until maturity, and secondary market trading activity in the Notes will
therefore be required by the Depositary to settle in immediately available
funds. No assurance can be given as to the effect, if any, of settlement in
immediately available funds on trading activity in the Notes.

Certain Covenants

         Limitation on Liens. Except as provided below, the Company may not, and
may not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or
permit to exist any Lien on any Principal Property or any shares of stock of or
any Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned on the date of
issuance of the Notes or thereafter acquired, securing any obligation, unless
the Company contemporaneously secures the Notes equally and ratably with (or
prior to) such obligation. The Company is not required to secure the Notes if
the Lien consists of the following: (i) a Permitted Lien; or (ii) Liens securing
Indebtedness if, after giving pro forma effect to the Incurrence of such
Indebtedness (and the receipt and application of the proceeds thereof) or the
securing of outstanding Indebtedness, the sum of (without duplication) (A) all
Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries secured by Liens (other than
Permitted Liens) and (B) all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of
Sale/Leaseback Transactions with respect to any Principal Property, at the time
of determination, does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

         Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions. The Company shall not, and
shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback
Transaction with respect to any Principal Property, unless (i) the Company or
such Subsidiary would be entitled to create a Lien on such Principal Property
securing Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness with
respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction without securing the Notes pursuant
to the covenant described in "Limitation on Liens" above or (ii) the Company,
within six months from the effective date of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction,
applies to the voluntary defeasance or retirement (excluding retirements of
Notes and other Indebtedness ranking pari passu with the Notes as a result of
conversions, pursuant to mandatory sinking funds or mandatory prepayment
provisions or by payment at maturity) of Notes or other Indebtedness ranking
pari passu with the Notes an amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness with
respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction.


<PAGE>   11


         Limitation on Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will
not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue, assume or guarantee any
Indebtedness for borrowed money other than (1) Indebtedness secured by a Lien
which such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted to create or assume pursuant to
the provisions of the Indenture, without securing the Notes, (2) Indebtedness to
the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary, (3) Indebtedness of any
corporation that exists at the time such corporation becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary, provided that, such Indebtedness is not incurred in anticipation of
such corporation becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (4) Indebtedness of a
corporation that exists at the time such corporation is merged with or into or
consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of a sale, lease or
other disposition of all or substantially all the properties of a corporation to
a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that, such Indebtedness is not incurred in
anticipation of such merger, consolidation or sale, lease or other disposition,
(5) Indebtedness incurred in connection with any industrial development bond
financing, (6) Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary in the
ordinary course of the business of such Restricted Subsidiary and which matures
not more than, and is not renewable or extendable at the option of the obligor
to a date more than, twelve months after the date such Indebtedness is incurred,
and (7) Indebtedness incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary to extend, renew or
replace, in whole or in part, any Indebtedness referred to in the foregoing
clauses (3) or (4) or Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary existing at the
date of the Indenture, provided that, the principal amount of Indebtedness so
incurred shall not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding at
the time of such extension, renewal or replacement. The Company may permit one
or more Restricted Subsidiaries to issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness
for borrowed money which is not secured by a lien upon any Principal Property or
shares of capital stock or indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, provided
that, the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness permitted by this paragraph
(together with all liens created, assumed or incurred (as measured by all
Indebtedness secured by all such liens then outstanding or to be so created or
assumed) and all Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered into (as measured by the
value of all such Transactions then outstanding or to be so entered into)) at
any time outstanding shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

         Limitation on Issuance of Preferred Stock by Restricted Subsidiaries.
The Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any
preferred or preference stock (except to the Company or any wholly owned
Restricted Subsidiary) or permit any Person other than the Company or any wholly
owned Restricted Subsidiary to hold any such preferred or preference stock.

         Certain Definitions. The following definitions, among others, are used
in the Indenture. Many of the definitions of terms used in the Indenture have
been negotiated specifically for the purposes of inclusion in the Indenture and
may not be consistent with the manner in which such terms are defined in other
contexts. Prospective purchasers of Notes are encouraged to read each of the
following definitions carefully and to consider such definitions in the context
in which they are used in the Indenture. Capitalized terms used herein but not
defined have the meanings assigned thereto in the Indenture.

         "Attributable Indebtedness" with respect to a Sale/Leaseback
Transaction means, as of the time of determination, (i) if the obligation with
respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction is a Capitalized Lease Obligation,
the amount of such obligation determined in accordance with GAAP and included in
the financial statements of the lessee or (ii) if the obligation with respect to
such Sale/Leaseback Transaction is not a Capitalized Lease Obligation, the total
Net Amount of Rent required to be paid by the lessee under such lease during the
remaining term thereof (including any period for which the lease has been
extended), discounted from the respective due dates thereof to such
determination date at the rate per annum borne by the Notes compounded
semi-annually.

         "Capitalized Lease Obligations" means an obligation that is required to
be classified and accounted for as a capitalized 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.


<PAGE>   12

         "Commodity Price Protection Agreement" means, in respect of any Person,
any forward contract, commodity swap agreement, commodity option agreement or
other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person against
fluctuations in commodity prices.

         "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, as of any date of
determination, the sum of the amounts that would appear on a consolidated
balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the total assets (less
accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization, allowances for doubtful
receivables, other applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP, after giving effect to purchase accounting and after
deducting therefrom, to the extent included in total assets, in each case as
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (without
duplication): (i) the aggregate amount of liabilities of the Company and its
Subsidiaries that may properly be classified as current liabilities (including
taxes accrued as estimated); (ii) current Indebtedness and current maturities of
long-term Indebtedness; (iii) minority interests in the Company's Subsidiaries
held by Persons other than the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the
Company; and (iv) unamortized debt discount and expenses and other unamortized
deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names,
copyrights, licenses, organization or developmental expenses and other
intangible items.

         "Currency Exchange Protection Agreement" means, in respect of any
Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, currency option
or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person
against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

         "Disqualified Stock" of a Person means Redeemable Stock of such Person
as to which the maturity, mandatory redemption, conversion or exchange or
redemption at the option of the holder thereof occurs, or may occur, on or prior
to the first anniversary of the Stated Maturity of the Notes.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States as in effect as of the date on which the Notes are issued, including
those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles
Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements
and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other
statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in
the Indenture will be computed in conformity with GAAP consistently applied.

         "Government Contract Lien" means any Lien required by any contract,
statute, regulation or order in order to permit the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to perform any contract or subcontract made by it with or at the
request of the United States or any State thereof or any department, agency or
instrumentality of either or to secure partial, progress, advance or other
payments by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the United States or any
State thereof or any department agency or instrumentality of either pursuant to
the provisions of any contract, statute, regulation or order.

         "Hedging Obligations" of any Person means the obligations of such
Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Protection Agreement, Currency Exchange
Protection Agreement, Commodity Price Protection Agreement or other similar
agreement.

         "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person on any date of
determination (without duplication); (i) the principal in respect of
indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money; (ii) the principal in respect of
obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, Notes, notes or other similar
instruments; (iii) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person; (iv) all
obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of
property or services (except trade payables); (v) all obligations of such Person
in respect of letters of credit, banker's acceptances or other similar
instruments or credit transactions (including reimbursement obligations with
respect thereto), other than obligations with respect to letters of credit
securing obligations (other than obligations described in (i) through (iv)
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 not 



<PAGE>   13

later than the third business day following receipt by such Person of a demand
for reimbursement following payment of the letter of credit; (vi) 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
the Company, any Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued
dividends); (vii) all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any
asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such
Person; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness shall be the
lesser of (A) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination
and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons; (viii) all
Indebtedness of other Persons to the extent guaranteed by such Person; and (ix)
to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, obligations in respect
of Hedging Obligations except those secured by Permitted Liens. For purposes of
this definition, the maximum fixed redemption, repayment or repurchase price of
any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have a fixed redemption,
repayment or repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms
of such Stock as if such Stock were redeemed, repaid or repurchased on any date
on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to the
Indenture; provided, however, that if such stock is not then permitted to be
redeemed, repaid or repurchased, the redemption, repayment or repurchase price
shall be the book value of such stock as reflected in the most recent financial
statements 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.

         "Interest Rate Protection Agreement" means, in respect of any Person,
any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate
cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate floor agreement or
other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person against
fluctuations in interest rates.

         "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 Amount of Rent" as to any lease for any period means the aggregate
amount of rent payable by the lessee with respect to such period after excluding
amounts required to be paid on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance,
taxes, assessments, water rates and similar charges. In the case of any lease
that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such net amount
shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered
as payable under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so
terminated.

         "Permitted Liens" means, with respect to any Person, (a) pledges or
deposits by such Person under worker's 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 performance, surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party or
which are otherwise required of such Person, or deposits as security for
contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent or other obligations
of like nature, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business; (b)
Liens imposed by law, such carriers', warehousemen's, laborers', materialmen's,
landlords', vendors', workmen's, operators', producers' and mechanics' Liens, in
each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings; (c) Liens for property taxes, assessments and other governmental
charges or levies not yet delinquent or subject to penalties for non-payment or
which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (d) minor
survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of or with
respect to, or rights of others for or with respect to, licenses, rights-of-way,
sewers, electric and other utility lines and usages, telegraph and telephone
lines, pipelines, surface use, operation of equipment permits, servitudes and
other similar matters 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 in connection with
Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the
value of such properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the
business of such Person; (e) Liens existing on or provided for under the terms
of agreements existing 


<PAGE>   14

on the date the Notes are issued (including, without limitation, under the
Company's credit agreement as defined in the Indenture); (f) Liens on property
at the time the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acquired the property or the
entity owning such property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or
consolidation with or into the Company; provided, however, that any such Lien
may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; (g) Liens securing a Hedging Obligation so long as such Hedging
Obligation is of the type customarily entered into in connection with, and is
entered into for the purpose of, limiting risk; (h) Purchase Money Liens; (i)
Liens securing only Indebtedness of a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company to
the Company or one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company; (j) Liens
on any property to secure Indebtedness incurred in connection with the
construction, installation or financing of pollution control or abatement
facilities or other forms of industrial revenue bond financing or Indebtedness
issued or Guaranteed by the United States, any state or any department, agency
or instrumentality thereof; (k) Government Contract Liens; (l) Liens securing
Indebtedness of joint ventures in which the Company or a Subsidiary has an
interest to the extent such Liens are on property or assets of such joint
ventures; (m) Liens resulting from the deposit of funds or evidences of
Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing Indebtedness of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries; (n) legal or equitable encumbrances deemed to exist
by reason of negative pledges or the existence of any litigation or other legal
proceeding and any related lis pendens filing (excluding any attachment prior to
judgment lien or attachment lien in and of execution on a judgment); (o) any
attachment Lien being contested in good faith and by proceedings promptly
initiated and diligently conducted, unless the attachment giving rise thereto
will not, within sixty days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or
fully bonded or will not have been discharged within sixty days after the
termination of any such bond; (p) any judgment Lien, unless the judgment it
secures will not, within sixty days after the entry thereof, have been
discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or will not have been
discharged within sixty days after the expiration of any such stay; (q) Liens to
banks arising from the issuance of letters of credit issued by such banks
("issuing banks") on the following: (i) any and all shipping documents,
warehouse receipts, policies or certificates of insurance and other document
accompanying or relative to drafts drawn under any credit, and any draft drawn
thereunder (whether or not such documents, goods or other property be released
to or upon the order of the Company or any Subsidiary under a security agreement
or trustor bailee receipt of otherwise), and the proceeds of each and all of the
foregoing; (ii) the balance of every deposit account, now or at the time
hereafter existing, of the Company or any Subsidiary with the issuing banks, and
any other claims of the Company or any Subsidiary against the issuing banks; and
all property claims and demands and all rights and interests therein of the
Company or any Subsidiary and all evidences thereof and all proceeds thereof
which have been or at any time will be delivered to or otherwise come into the
issuing bank's possession, custody or control, or into the possession, custody
or control of any bailee for the issuing bank or of any of its agents or
correspondents for the account of the issuing bank, for any purpose, whether or
not the express purpose of being used by the issuing bank as collateral security
or for the safekeeping or for any other or different purpose, the issuing bank
being deemed to have possession or control of all of such property actually in
transit to or from or set apart for the issuing bank, any bailee for the issuing
bank or any of its correspondents for other acting in its behalf, it being
understood that the receipt at any time by the issuing bank, or any of its
bailees, agents or correspondents, or other security, of whatever nature,
including cash, will not be deemed a waiver of any of the issuing bank's rights
or power hereunder; (iii) all property shipped under or pursuant to or in
connection with any credit or drafts drawn thereunder or in any way related
thereto, and all proceeds thereof; (iv) all additions to and substitutions for
any of the property enumerated above in this subsection; (r) rights of a common
owner of any interest in property held by such Person; (s) farmout, carried
working interest, joint operating, unitization, royalty, overriding royalty,
sales and similar agreements relating to the exploration or development of, or
production from, oil and gas properties entered into the ordinary course of
business; (t) any defects, irregularities or deficiencies in title to easements,
rights-of-way or other properties that do not in the aggregate materially
adversely affect the value of such properties or materially impair their use in
the operation of the business of such Person; and (u) Liens to secure any
refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive
refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements), as a whole or
in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing
clauses (e) through (g); provided, however, that (i) such new Lien shall be
limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien, plus
improvements on such property and (ii) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at
such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of 



<PAGE>   15

(A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the
Indebtedness described under clauses (e) through (l) at the time the original
Lien became a Permitted Lien and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and
expenses, including premiums, relating to such refinancing, refunding,
extension, renewal or replacement.

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

         "Principal Property" means any manufacturing plant or other similar
facility (including production machinery and equipment located thereon) or
warehouse, owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary, which is located
within the United States other than (a) any such plant or facility which the
Board of Directors determines in good faith by board resolution is not of
material importance to the total business conducted, or assets owned, by the
Company and its Subsidiaries as an entirety, or (b) any portion of any such
plant or facility which the Board of Directors determines by Board Resolution in
good faith not to be of material importance to the use or operation thereof.
"Production machinery and equipment" means production machinery and equipment in
such manufacturing plants used directly in the production of the Company's or
any Subsidiary's products.

         "Purchase Money Lien" means a Lien on property securing Indebtedness
Incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to provide funds for all or
any portion of the cost of acquiring, constructing, altering, expanding,
improving or repairing such property or assets used in connection with such
property.

         "Redeemable Stocks" 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) 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 for Indebtedness (other than
Preferred Stock) or Disqualified Stock or (iii) is redeemable at the option of
the holder thereof, in whole or in part.

         "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company, which
shall at the time, directly or indirectly, through one or more Subsidiaries or
in combination with one or more other Subsidiaries or the Company, own or lease
a Principal Property.

         "Sale/Leaseback Transaction" means an arrangement relating to property
owned on the date of issuance of the Notes or thereafter acquired whereby the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries transfers such property to a Person and the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries leases it from such Person.

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

                                  UNDERWRITING

         Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting
agreement, dated ____________, 1996, between the Company and the Underwriters
(the "Underwriting Agreement"), the Company has agreed to sell to each of the
Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters has severally agreed to purchase from
the Company, the principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite its name
below.


<PAGE>   16

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         UNDERWRITER                                          PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES
         -----------                                          -------------------------
<S>                                                           <C>
         Salomon Brothers Inc........................         $
         Goldman Sachs & Co.......................... 
         The Ohio Company............................          _______________________

                  Total                                       $_______________________
</TABLE>

         In the Underwriting Agreement, the several Underwriters have agreed,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase all the Notes
offered hereby if any of the Notes are purchased.

         The Underwriters have advised the Company that they propose initially
to offer the Notes to the public at the public offering price set forth on the
cover page of this Prospectus Supplement and to certain dealers at such price
less a concession not in excess of __% of the principal amount of the Notes. The
Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess
of __% of the principal amount of the Notes to certain other dealers. After the
initial public offering, the public offering price and such concession may be
changed.

         Other than the Notes, the Company has agreed not to offer, sell, or
contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or announce
the offering of, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company, which
are substantially similar to the Notes, from the date of this Prospectus
Supplement until ________ without the prior written consent of Salomon Brothers
Inc.

         The Company has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make in
respect thereof.

         The Notes will not have an established trading market when issued. The
Company has been advised by the Underwriters that they intend to make a market
in the Notes, but the Underwriters are not obligated to do so and may
discontinue making a market in the Notes at any time without notice. The Company
currently has no intention to list the Notes on any securities exchange, and
there can be no assurance given as to the development or liquidity of a trading
market for the Notes.

         In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the
Underwriters and their respective affiliates have engaged in and may in the
future engage in commercial and investment banking activities with the Company
and its affiliates.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         Certain legal matters with respect to the Notes are being passed upon
for the Company by Dale T. Brinkman, General Counsel of the Company, and for the
Underwriters by Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Brinkman
beneficially owns 10,702 shares of Worthington Common Stock and also has
exercisable options to purchase an additional 24,250 shares of Worthington
Common Stock. Pursuant to its By-laws, the Company is required to indemnify Mr.
Brinkman to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law against any expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any action, suit or
proceeding in which he is made party by reason of his being an officer of the
Company.


<PAGE>   17


NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS, OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY
OR BY ANY OF THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL,
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN
THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR
SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION
IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS
NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR
SOLICITATION.

                               -------------------
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         PAGE
                                                                         ----
<S>                                                                      <C>
                              PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

The Company............................................................   S-
Selected Financial Information.........................................   S-
Use of Proceeds .......................................................   S-
Capitalization ........................................................   S-
Description of Notes ..................................................   S-
Underwriting ..........................................................   S-
Legal Matters .........................................................   S-

                                   PROSPECTUS

Available Information .................................................
Incorporation of Certain Documents by

  Reference ...........................................................
The Company ...........................................................
Use of Proceeds .......................................................
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges ....................................
Description of Debt Securities ........................................
Plan of Distribution ..................................................
Validity of Debt Securities............................................
Experts ...............................................................
</TABLE>

$200,000,000

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

___% SENIOR NOTES DUE ____

[COMPANY LOGO]





SALOMON BROTHERS INC

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

THE OHIO COMPANY







PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
DATED _________, 1996


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