LA QUINTA INNS INC
8-K, 1996-03-07
HOTELS & MOTELS
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    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 1996
===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                --------------
                                   FORM 8-K
                                CURRENT REPORT

                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                       DATE OF REPORT:  MARCH 6, 1996
                DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED:  MARCH 6, 1996


                           LA QUINTA INNS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         TEXAS                       1-7790                74-1724417
(State of incorporation)    (Commission file number)     (IRS Employer
                                                       Identification No.)


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

                                WESTON CENTRE
                             112 E. PECAN STREET
                                P.O. BOX 2636
                       SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS  78299-2636
         (Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code)

                                (210) 302-6000
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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

<PAGE>

ITEM 5.    OTHER EVENTS

           On January 19, 1996, La Quinta Inns, Inc. (the
"Company") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No.
333-00309) (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, relating to the public offering from time to
time of up to $250,000,000 aggregate offering price of unsecured
debt securities of the Company, which Registration Statement was
declared effective on January 25, 1996.

           On March 6, 1996, the Company entered into an
underwriting agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") with Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Smith Barney
Inc. relating to the sale of the Company's 7 1/4% Senior Notes due
2004.  The Underwriting Agreement is attached hereto and
referenced as Exhibit 1 to the Registration Statement.

ITEM 7.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)        Exhibits

1          Underwriting Agreement.

4.1        Officers' Certificate pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 10.4
           of the Indenture dated as of September 15, 1995, between
           the Company and U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A., as
           Trustee, establishing a series of securities
           entitled "7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2004."

4.2        Form of 7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2004 described
           in Exhibit 4.1.


                                    2

<PAGE>


                                SIGNATURE

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

                                            LA QUINTA INNS, INC.
                                            (Registrant)



Date:  March 6, 1996                       By  /s/ William C. Hammett, Jr.
                                               -----------------------------
                                               William C. Hammett, Jr.
                                               Senior Vice President
                                               Accounting and Administration


                                      3

<PAGE>

                          INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.     Description
- -----------     -----------
  1          Underwriting Agreement.

  4.1        Officers' Certificate pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 10.4
             of the Indenture dated as of September 15, 1995, between
             the Company and U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A., as Trustee,
             establishing a series of securities entitled "7 1/4% Senior
             Notes due 2004."

  4.2        Form of 7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2004 described in Exhibit 4.1.





<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 1




                                  $100,000,000

                              LA QUINTA INNS, INC.

                          7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2004


                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                                  March 6, 1996

Morgan Stanley & Co.
  Incorporated
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Smith Barney Inc.
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co.
      Incorporated
    1251 Avenue of the Americas
    New York, New York 10020


Dear Sirs and Mesdames:

          La Quinta Inns, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters") $100,000,000 principal amount of its 7 1/4% Senior Notes due
2004 (the "Securities") to be issued pursuant to the provisions of an Indenture
dated as of September 15, 1995 (the "Indenture") between the Company and
U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A., as Trustee (the "Trustee").

          The Company wishes to confirm as follows its respective agreements
with you and the other several Underwriters on whose behalf you are acting, in
connection with the several purchases of the Securities by the Underwriters.

          1.   REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS.  The Company has
prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
(collectively, the "Act"), a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Act
(File No. 333-00309) (the "registration statement"), including a prospectus
relating to the offer and sale of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
the Company's debt securities, which registration statement has been declared
effective and

<PAGE>


copies of which have been heretofore delivered to you. Such registration
statement in the form in which it was declared effective (including all
financial schedules and exhibits and including all documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference therein through the date hereof), is
hereinafter referred to as the "Registration Statement." The Company proposes
to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Act, a prospectus
supplement specifically relating to the Securities. Such prospectus
supplement in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities is
hereinafter referred to as the "Prospectus Supplement." The term "Basic
Prospectus" as used in this Agreement means the prospectus in the form
included in the Registration Statement. The term "Prospectus" means the Basic
Prospectus together with the Prospectus Supplement, PROVIDED that if a
prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Act is
delivered pursuant to Rule 434(c) under the Act, then (i) the term
"Prospectus" as used in this Agreement means the prospectus subject to
completion (as defined in Rule 434(g) under the Act) as supplemented by (A)
the addition of Rule 430A or other information contained in the form of
prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 434(c)(2) under the Act and (B) the
information contained in the abbreviated term sheet described in Rule
434(c)(3) under the Act, and (ii) the date of such Prospectus shall be deemed
to be the date of such abbreviated term sheet.  The term "Prepricing
Prospectus" as used in this Agreement means any preliminary prospectus
supplement specifically related to the Securities together with the Basic
Prospectus.  Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement,
any Prepricing Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12
of Form S-3 under the Act as of the date of the Registration Statement, such
Prepricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any
reference to any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, any
Prepricing Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder (collectively, the "Exchange Act"), that, upon filing, are
incorporated by reference therein, as required by paragraph (b) of Item 12 of
Form S-3.  As used herein, the term "Incorporated Documents" means, at any
time, the documents that at such time are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, any Prepricing Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto.

          2.   AGREEMENTS TO SELL AND PURCHASE.  The Company hereby agrees,
subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, to sell to each
Underwriter and, upon the basis of the representations, warranties and
agreements of the Company herein contained and subject to all the terms and
conditions set forth herein, each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly,
to purchase from the Company the principal amount of Securities set

                                  - 2 -

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forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto (or such
principal amount of Securities increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof)
at 99.4900% of such principal amount plus accrued interest, if any, from
March 11, 1996, to the date of payment and delivery.

          3.   TERMS OF PUBLIC OFFERING.  The Company has been advised by you
that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective
portions of the Securities as soon after the Registration Statement and this
Agreement have both become effective as in your judgment is advisable and
initially to offer the Securities upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.
The Company is further advised by you that the Securities are to be offered to
the public initially at 99.4900% of their principal amount (the "Public Offering
Price") plus accrued interest, if any, from March 11, 1996 to the date of
payment and delivery and to certain dealers selected by you at a price that
represents a concession not in excess of .40% of their principal amount under
the Public Offering Price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and such dealers
may reallow, a concession, not in excess of .20% of their principal amount, to
any Underwriter or to certain other dealers.

          4.  DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES AND PAYMENT THEREFOR.  Payment for the
Securities shall be made by wire transfer to an account specified by the Company
in immediately available funds at 10:00 A.M., New York City time on March 11,
1996, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than March
20, 1996, as shall be designated in writing by you.  The time and date of such
payment are hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date."

          Payment for the Securities shall be made against delivery to you for
the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the one or more global
certificates representing the Securities registered in the name of Cede & Co.
with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the
Securities to the Underwriters duly paid.

          5.   AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY.  The Company agrees with the several
Underwriters as follows:

          (a)  The Company shall, if, at the time this Agreement is executed and
     delivered, it is necessary for a post-effective amendment thereto to be
     declared effective before the offering of the Securities may commence, use
     its best efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to become effective
     at the earliest possible time.  The Company shall comply fully and in a
     timely manner with the applicable provisions of Rule 424, Rule 430A and
     Rule 434 under the Act.

                                      - 3 -

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          (b)  The Company shall advise you promptly and, if requested by any of
     you, confirm such advice in writing, (i) if and when the Prospectus or form
     of prospectus is sent for filing pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act and
     when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes
     effective, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission that
     relate to the Registration Statement or any request by the Commission for
     amendment of or a supplement to the Registration Statement, any Prepricing
     Prospectus or the Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the
     issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
     of the Registration Statement, or of the suspension of qualification of the
     Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of
     any proceeding for such purpose by the Commission or any state securities
     commission or other regulatory authority, and (iv) during the period
     referred to in subsection (f) below, (A) of any change in the Company's
     condition (financial or other), business, prospects, properties, net worth
     or results of operations, or of the happening of any event, including the
     filing of any information, document or report pursuant to the Exchange Act,
     that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration
     Statement untrue or that requires the making of any additions to or changes
     in the Registration Statement in order to state a material fact required by
     the Act to be stated therein or to make the statements therein not
     misleading or that makes any statement of a material fact made in the
     Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) untrue or that requires the
     making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus (as then amended or
     supplemented) in order to state a material fact required by the Act to be
     stated therein or in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
     the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (B) of
     the necessity to amend or supplement the Prospectus (as then amended or
     supplemented) to comply with the Act or any other law.  If at any time the
     Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other
     regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or
     exemption of the Securities under any state securities or Blue Sky laws,
     the Company shall use every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal or
     lifting of such order at the earliest possible time.

          (c)  The Company shall furnish to each of you without charge (i) two
     (2) conformed copies (plus one (1) additional similarly conformed copy to
     your legal counsel) of the Registration Statement as first filed with the
     Commission and of each amendment to

                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>



     it, including all exhibits filed therewith, (ii) such number of conformed
     copies of the Registration Statement as so filed and of each amendment to
     it, without exhibits, as you may reasonably request, (iii) such number of
     copies of the Incorporated Documents, without exhibits, as you may request,
     and (iv) two (2) copies of each of the exhibits to the Incorporated
     Documents.

          (d)  The Company shall not file any amendment or supplement to the
     Registration Statement, whether before or after the time when it becomes
     effective, or make any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, or, prior
     to the end of the period of time referred to in subsection (f) below, file
     any document pursuant to the Exchange Act that will, upon filing, become an
     Incorporated Document, of which you shall not previously have been advised
     and provided a copy within two business days (or such reasonable amount of
     time as is necessitated by the exigency of such amendment, supplement or
     document) prior to the filing thereof and to which you shall reasonably
     object in writing.

          (e)  Prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
     Company has delivered to you, without charge, in such quantities as you
     have requested, copies of each form of the Prepricing Prospectus.  The
     Company consents to the use, in accordance with the provisions of the Act
     and with the state securities or Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions in
     which the Securities are offered by the several Underwriters and by
     dealers, prior to the date of the Prospectus, of each Prepricing Prospectus
     so furnished by the Company.

          (f)  Promptly after the Registration Statement becomes effective, and
     from time to time thereafter for such period as in the reasonable opinion
     of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus is required by the Act to be
     delivered in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, the
     Company shall expeditiously furnish to each Underwriter and each dealer,
     without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (and of any amendment or
     supplement to the Prospectus) as you may reasonably request for the
     purposes contemplated by the Act.  The Company consents to the use of the
     Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by you or any dealer in
     accordance with the provisions of the Act and with the state securities or
     Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the Securities are offered by
     the several Underwriters and by all dealers to whom Securities may be sold,
     both in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities and for such
     period of time thereafter as a prospectus is required by the Act to be
     delivered in connection therewith.

          (g)  If during the period specified in subsection (f) above any event
     shall occur as a result of which it becomes necessary, in the judgment of
     the Company or in the

                                      - 5 -

<PAGE>

     reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, to amend or supplement
     the Prospectus (as them amended or supplemented) in order to make the
     statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
     were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary to amend or supplement
     the Prospectus to comply with the Act or any other law, the Company shall,
     as promptly as practicable, prepare and, subject to the provisions of
     subsection (d) above, file with the Commission an appropriate amendment
     or supplement to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus,
     as so amended or supplemented, will not, in the light of the circumstances
     under which they were made, be misleading, and the Prospectus, as so
     amended or supplemented, will comply with the Act or such other law, and
     shall expeditiously furnish to you without charge such number of copies
     thereof as you may reasonably request.

          (h)  Prior to any public offering of the Securities, the Company shall
     cooperate with you and with counsel for the Underwriters in connection with
     the registration or qualification of the Securities for offering and sale
     by the Underwriters and by dealers under the state securities or Blue Sky
     laws of such jurisdictions as you may request (provided, that the Company
     shall not be obligated to qualify as a foreign corporation in any
     jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to take any action that
     would subject it to consent to service of process in suits, other than
     those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any
     jurisdiction in which it is not now so subject).  The Company shall
     continue such qualification in effect so long as required by law for
     distribution of the Securities and shall file such consents to service of
     process or other documents as may be necessary or appropriate in order to
     effect such registration or qualification (provided, that the Company shall
     not be obligated to take any action that would subject it to consent to
     service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering
     or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so
     subject).

          (i)  The Company shall make generally available to its security
     holders as soon as reasonably practicable a consolidated earnings statement
     covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the "effective
     date" (as defined in Rule 158 under the Act) of the Registration Statement
     (but in no event later than 90 days after such date) that shall satisfy the
     provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.

          (j)  (i) For so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, the
     Company shall mail to each of you without charge as soon as available, a
     copy of each report of the Company mailed to stockholders or filed with the
     Commission,

                                      - 6 -

<PAGE>


     and (ii) during the period specified in subsection (f) above, from time
     to time such other information concerning the Company as you may
     reasonably request.

          (k)  During the period beginning on the date hereof and continuing to
     and including the Closing Date, the Company shall not offer, sell, contract
     to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company or
     warrants to purchase debt securities of the Company substantially similar
     to the Securities (other than (i) the Securities and (ii) commercial paper
     issued in the ordinary course of business), without the prior written
     consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, which shall not be
     unreasonably withheld.

          (l)  The Company shall use the proceeds from the sale of the
     Securities in the manner described in each of the Basic Prospectus and
     the Prospectus Supplement under the heading "Use of Proceeds."

          (m)  The Company shall not voluntarily claim, and shall actively
     resist any attempt to claim, the benefit of any usuary laws against the
     holders of the Securities.

          (n)  If this Agreement shall terminate or shall be terminated after
     execution pursuant to any provision hereof (otherwise than pursuant to the
     second paragraph of Section 10 hereof or by notice given by you terminating
     this Agreement pursuant to Section 10 or Section 11 hereof) or if this
     Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters because of any failure or
     refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or fulfill any
     of the conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse you
     for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and
     expenses of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred by you in connection
     herewith.

          6.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.  The Company
represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

          (a)  The Company and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
     meet the requirements for using Form S-3 under the Act.  The registration
     statement in the form in which it became or becomes effective and also in
     such form as it may be when any post-effective amendment thereto shall
     become effective and the Prospectus and any supplement or amendment thereto
     when filed with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under the Act, complied or
     will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Act; the
     Registration Statement does not and will not at any such time contain an
     untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
     not misleading; and

                                      - 7 -

<PAGE>

     the Prospectus and any supplement or amendment thereto will not at any
     such time contain an 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; except that this representation
     and warranty does not apply (A) to statements in or omissions from the
     registration statement or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in
     conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the
     Company in writing by or on behalf of any Underwriter through you expressly
     for use therein or (B) to that part of the Registration Statement that
     constitutes the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust
     Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), of the
     Trustee (the "Form T-1").

          (b)  Each Prepricing Prospectus included as part of the registration
     statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment or supplement
     thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, complied when so
     filed in all material respects with the provisions of the Act.

          (c)  The Incorporated Documents heretofore filed, when they were filed
     (or, if any amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when
     such amendment was filed), conformed in all material respects with the
     requirements of the Exchange Act, and any further Incorporated Documents so
     filed will, when they are filed, conform in all material respects with the
     requirements of the Exchange Act; no such document when it was filed (or,
     if an amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such
     amendment was filed), 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; and no such further
     document, when it is filed, will contain an untrue statement of a material
     fact or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

          (d)  All of the Company's subsidiaries (collectively, the
     "Subsidiaries") are listed in an exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on
     Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (the "Form 10-K"), which is
     incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.  The Company and
     each of the Subsidiaries that is a "significant subsidiary" (as defined in
     Regulation S-X under the Act) (collectively, the "Significant
     Subsidiaries") has been duly organized, is validly existing (if applicable,
     as a corporation in good standing) under the laws of its jurisdiction of
     organization and has full corporate (or partnership) power and authority to
     carry on its business as it is currently being conducted (and, in the case
     of the

                                      - 8 -

<PAGE>

     Company, to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement) and to own,
     lease and operate its properties, and each is duly qualified and is in good
     standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business in each
     jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership or
     leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the failure
     to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a material
     adverse effect, singly or in the aggregate, on the condition (financial or
     other), business, properties, net worth or results of operations of the
     Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse
     Effect").

          (e)  All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of, or
     other ownership interests in, each Significant Subsidiary have been duly
     authorized and validly issued, and certain shares of capital stock of each
     Significant Subsidiary are owned, directly or through Subsidiaries, by the
     Company as set forth on Exhibit 21 to the Form 10-K.  All such shares or
     other ownership interests in each Significant Subsidiary are fully paid and
     nonassessable, and are free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
     pledge, claim, lien or encumbrance (each, a "Lien"), except for Liens that
     are in the aggregate immaterial to the business of the Company and the
     Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.  There are no outstanding subscriptions,
     rights, warrants, options, calls, convertible securities, commitments of
     sale, or Liens related to or entitling any person to purchase or otherwise
     to acquire any shares of the capital stock of any Significant Subsidiary.

          (f)  Neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries is in
     violation of or in default in the performance of any of their respective
     charters or bylaws (or partnership agreements, as the case may be) or any
     bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or any
     indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other contract, lease or other
     instrument to which the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries is a
     party or by which it or any of them is bound, or to which any of the
     property or assets of the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries is
     subject, except as could not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be
     expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (g)  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered
     by the Company, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the
     Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms
     (assuming the due execution and delivery thereof by you), except as rights
     to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by Federal or state
     securities laws, court decisions or public policy.


                                      - 9 -

<PAGE>

          (h)  The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture
     Act and has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the
     Company, and when duly executed and delivered by the Company in accordance
     with its terms (assuming the due execution and delivery thereof by the
     Trustee), will be a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company,
     enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the
     extent that a waiver of rights under any usury laws may be unenforceable
     and subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
     reorganization, moratorium and similar laws, now or hereafter in effect,
     relating to or affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally and to
     general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought
     at law or in equity).

          (i)  The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and on
     the Closing Date, the Indenture and the Securities will have been duly
     executed by the Company and will conform in all material respects to the
     descriptions thereof in the Prospectus.  When the Securities are issued,
     executed and authenticated in accordance with the Indenture and paid for in
     accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Securities will be legal,
     valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the
     Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the
     Indenture, except to the extent that a waiver of rights under any usury
     laws may be unenforceable and subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
     fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws, now or
     hereafter in effect, relating to or affecting creditors' rights and
     remedies generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of
     whether enforcement is sought at law or in equity).

          (j)  The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Indenture and
     the Securities by the Company and the performance of this Agreement, the
     Indenture and the Securities (i) does not require any consent, approval,
     authorization or order of or registration or filing with any court,
     regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, agency
     or official (except such as may be required for the registration of the
     Securities under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and compliance with
     the state securities or Blue Sky laws of various jurisdictions, all of
     which have been or will be effected in accordance with this Agreement) and
     (ii) will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or
     provisions of, or constitute a default or cause an acceleration of any
     obligation under, any of the respective charters or bylaws (or partnership
     agreements, as the case may be) of the Company or any of the Significant
     Subsidiaries or any material bond, note, debenture or other evidence of

                                       - 10 -

<PAGE>

     indebtedness or any material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other
     material contract, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of
     the Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound,
     or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of the
     Significant Subsidiaries is subject, or any order of any court or
     governmental agency or authority entered in any proceeding to which the
     Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries was or is a party or by
     which any of them is bound or (solely with respect to actions by the
     Company or the Significant Subsidiaries) violate any applicable Federal,
     state or local law, rule, administrative regulation or ordinance or
     administrative or court decree, any of the foregoing of which could, singly
     or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
     Effect.

          (k)  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, there is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court
     or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, pending against the
     Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries that is required to be
     disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or that could,
     singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
     Adverse Effect or materially and adversely to affect the performance of the
     Company's obligations pursuant to this Agreement, the Indenture or the
     Securities and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings
     are contemplated or threatened.  No action has been taken with respect to
     the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries, and no statute, rule or
     regulation or order has been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental
     agency that suspends the effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
     prevents or suspends the use of any Prepricing Prospectus or suspends the
     sale of the Securities in any jurisdiction referred to in Section 5(h)
     hereof; no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature by a
     Federal or state court of competent jurisdiction has been issued with
     respect to the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries that suspends
     the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, prevents or suspends the
     use of any Prepricing Prospectus or suspends the sale of the Securities in
     any jurisdiction referred to in Section 5(h) hereof; other than the
     litigation matters or proceedings described in the Form 10-K under the
     caption "Item 3.  Legal Proceedings", no action, suit or proceeding before
     any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official
     (domestic or foreign), is pending against or, to the best of the Company's
     knowledge, threatened against, the Company or any of the Significant
     Subsidiaries that, if adversely determined, could, singly or in the
     aggregate, reasonably be expected in any manner to invalidate this
     Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities; and every request of the
     Commission, or any securities authority or agency of any

                                       - 11 -

<PAGE>



     jurisdiction, for additional information (to be included in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) has been complied
     with in all material respects. No contract or document of a character
     required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
     or to be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the
     Registration Statement is not so described or filed or incorporated by
     reference as required.

          (l)  The firm of accountants that has certified or shall certify the
     applicable consolidated financial statements and supporting schedules of
     the Company filed or to be filed with the Commission as part of the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus are independent public
     accountants with respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries, as required
     by the Act and the Exchange Act.  The consolidated financial statements,
     together with related notes, set forth in the Prospectus and the
     Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the
     requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and fairly present, in all
     material respects, the financial position of the Company and the
     Subsidiaries at the respective dates indicated and the results of their
     operations and their cash flows for the respective periods indicated, in
     accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United
     States of America consistently applied throughout such periods, except as
     disclosed in the notes to such financial statements; and the other
     financial and statistical information and the supporting schedules included
     in the Prospectus and in the Registration Statement present fairly, in all
     material respects, the information required to be stated therein.

          (m)  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, subsequent to
     the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus, (i) neither the Company nor any of the
     Significant Subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities or obligations,
     direct or contingent, that are material to the Company and the
     Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, nor entered into any transaction not in the
     ordinary course of business that is material to the Company and the
     Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) there has been no decision or judgment
     in the nature of litigation adverse to the Company or any of the
     Significant Subsidiaries, and (iii) there has been no material adverse
     change in the condition (financial or other), business, net worth or
     results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole
     (any of the above, a "Material Adverse Change").

          (n)  Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is involved in
     any labor dispute nor, to the best of the Company's knowledge, is any labor
     dispute imminent, other

                                       - 12 -

<PAGE>

     than routine disciplinary and grievance matters, and the Company is not
     aware (without any independent verification) of any existing or imminent
     labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers,
     manufacturers or contractors, that could reasonably be expected to
     result in a Material Adverse Effect.

          (o)  The Company and each of the Significant Subsidiaries possess such
     licenses, certificates, authorizations, approvals, franchises, trademarks,
     service marks, trade names, permits and other rights issued by local,
     state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies as are necessary to
     conduct the businesses now conducted by them and the lack of which could
     reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and
     the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and neither the Company nor any of the
     Significant Subsidiaries has, to be the best of the Company's knowledge,
     received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
     modification of any such certificate, authorization, approval, franchise,
     trademark, service mark, trade name, permit or right that, if the subject
     of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could reasonably be
     expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (p)  The Company has not and, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
     none of the Subsidiaries nor any employee or agent of the Company has,
     directly or indirectly, paid or delivered any fee, commission or other sum
     of money or item or property, however characterized, to any finder, agent,
     government official or other party, in the United States or any other
     country, that is in any manner related to the business or operations of the
     Company that the Company knows or has reason to believe to have been
     illegal under any federal, state or local laws of the United States or any
     other country having jurisdiction; and the Company has not participated,
     directly or indirectly, in any boycotts or other similar practices in
     contravention of law affecting any of its actual or potential customers.

          (q)  All material tax returns required to be filed by the Company or
     any of the Subsidiaries in any jurisdiction have been filed, other than
     those filings being contested in good faith, and all material taxes,
     including withholding taxes, penalties and interest, assessments, fees and
     other charges due or claimed to be due from such entities have been paid,
     other than those being contested in good faith or for which adequate
     reserves have been provided or those currently payable without penalty or
     interest.

          (r)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus or except as could not,
     singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
     Adverse Effect, (a) to the best


                                       - 13 -

<PAGE>



     of the Company's knowledge, neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries is
     in violation of any Federal, state or local law or regulation relating
     to pollution or protection of public heath or welfare or the environment,
     including, without limitation, the storage, handling, transportation,
     emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants,
     contaminates, hazardous or toxic materials, substances or wastes, or
     petroleum or petroleum products ("Environmental Laws"), (b) the Company
     and each of the Subsidiaries have received all permits, licenses or
     other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws
     to conduct their respective businesses, and the Company and each of the
     Subsidiaries are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any
     such permit, license or approval and (c) neither the Company nor, to
     the best of the Company's knowledge, any of the Subsidiaries, has
     received any notice or communication from any governmental agency or
     any written notice from any other person regarding violation of or
     liability under Environmental Laws and (d) there is no pending action
     or proceeding, or to the best of the Company's knowledge, pending or
     threatened claim or investigation against the Company or any of
     the Subsidiaries regarding violation of or liability under Environmental
     Laws.

          (s)  To the best of the Company's knowledge, there are no costs and
     liabilities associated with Environmental Laws that could, in the
     aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (t)  To the best of the Company's knowledge, neither the Company nor
     any of the Subsidiaries has (A) violated any Federal or state law relating
     to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees nor any
     applicable wage or hour laws, nor any provisions of the Employee Retirement
     Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") or the rules and regulations
     promulgated thereunder, or (B) engaged in any unfair labor practice that,
     with respect to any matter specified in clause (A) or (B) above, could
     reasonably be expected to result, singly or in the aggregate, in a Material
     Adverse Effect.  There is (i) no significant unfair labor practice
     complaint pending against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or, to the
     best of the Company's knowledge, threatened against any of them, before the
     National Labor Relations Board or any state or local labor relations board,
     and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising
     out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is so pending against
     the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or, to the best of the Company's
     knowledge, threatened against any of them and (ii) to the best of the
     Company's knowledge, no union representation question existing with respect
     to the employees of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and, to

                                       - 14 -

<PAGE>



     the best of the Company's knowledge, no union organizing activities are
     taking place, except (with respect to any matter specified in clause (i)
     or (ii) above) such as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
     Material Adverse Effect.

          (u)  To the best of the Company's knowledge, (i) each of the Company
     and the Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all property (real
     and personal) described in the Prospectus as being owned by it, in fee
     simple in the case of real property (other than in the case of certain
     buildings the land under which is leased to the Company pursuant to long-
     term leases that are valid, subsisting and enforceable against the
     Company), free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests or other
     encumbrances except such as are described in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus or in a document filed as an exhibit to the Registration
     Statement and (ii) all the property described in the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus as being held under lease by each of the Company and the
     Significant Subsidiaries is held by it under valid, subsisting and
     enforceable leases, except (with respect to any matter specified in clause
     (i) or (ii) above) such as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
     Material Adverse Effect.

          (v)  Other than as described in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, no holder of any security of the Company has any right to
     require registration of any security of the Company because of the filing
     of the registration statement or consummation of the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement, except such rights as have been satisfied
     or waived.

          (w)  The Company has complied with all provisions of Florida Statutes,
     Section 517.075, relating to issuers doing business with Cuba.

          7.   INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.  (a)  The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each of you and each other Underwriter and each
person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable costs of
investigation) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prepricing Prospectus or in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein (in the case of the any Prepricing Prospectus or the
Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not

                                       - 15 -

<PAGE>

misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission that has been made therein or omitted
therefrom in reliance upon and in conformity with the information relating to
such Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any
Underwriter through you expressly for use in connection therewith; provided,
however, that the indemnification contained in this subsection (a) with respect
to any Prepricing Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter
(or to the benefit of any person controlling such Underwriter) on account of any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arising from the sale of the
Securities by such Underwriter to any person if a copy of the Prospectus shall
not have been delivered or sent to such person within the time required by the
Act and the regulations thereunder, and the untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission of a material fact contained in such
Prepricing Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus, provided that the Company
has delivered the Prospectus to the several Underwriters in requisite quantity
on a timely basis to permit such delivery or sending.  The foregoing indemnity
agreement shall be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise
have.

          (b)  If any action, suit or proceeding shall be brought against any
Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter in respect of which
indemnity may be sought against the Company, such Underwriter or such
controlling person shall promptly notify the parties against whom
indemnification is being sought (the "indemnifying parties"), and such
indemnifying parties shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment
of counsel and payment of all fees and expenses.  Such Underwriter or any such
controlling person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
action, suit or proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or
such controlling person unless (i) the indemnifying parties have agreed in
writing to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the indemnifying parties have failed
to assume the defense and employ counsel, or (iii) the named parties to any such
action, suit or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such
Underwriter or such controlling person and the indemnifying parties and such
Underwriter or such controlling person shall have been advised by its counsel
that representation of such indemnified party and any indemnifying party by the
same counsel would be inappropriate under applicable standards of professional
conduct (whether or not such representation by the same counsel has been
proposed) due to actual or potential differing interests between them (in which
case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of
such action, suit or proceeding on behalf of such Underwriter or such
controlling person).  It is understood, however, that the indemnifying parties
shall, in connection with any one such action, suit or proceeding or

                                       - 16 -

<PAGE>

separate but substantially similar or related actions, suits or proceedings
in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of only one
separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for
all such Underwriters and controlling persons, which firm shall be designated
in writing by Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, and that all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  The indemnifying parties
shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action, suit or proceeding
effected without their written consent, but if settled with such written
consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such
action, suit or proceeding, the indemnifying parties agree to indemnify and
hold harmless any Underwriter, to the extent provided in the preceding
paragraph, and any such controlling person from and against any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment.

          (c)  Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the
Registration Statement and any person who controls the Company within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, to the
same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but
only with respect to information relating to such Underwriter furnished in
writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Prepricing Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto.  If any action, suit or proceeding shall be
brought against the Company, any of its directors, any such officer or any such
controlling person based on the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any
Prepricing Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and in respect of
which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter pursuant to this
subsection (c), such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the
indemnifying parties by subsection (b) above (except that if the Company shall
have assumed the defense thereof such Underwriter shall not be required to do
so, but may employ separate counsel therein and participate in the defense
thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at such
Underwriter's expense), and the Company, its directors, any such officer and any
such controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to the
Underwriters by subsection (b) above.  The foregoing indemnity agreement shall
be in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have.

          (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is
unavailable to an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (c) above in respect
of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein,
then an indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified

                                       - 17 -

<PAGE>

party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other
hand from the offering of the Securities, or (ii) if the allocation provided
by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in
clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the
total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received
by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page
of the Prospectus.  The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company on the one hand or by the Underwriters on
the other hand and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

          (e)  The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by a
pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for
such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to in subsection (d) above.  The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses referred to in subsection (d) above shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating any claim or defending any such action, suit or proceeding.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price of the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public exceeds
the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to
pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters'
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion
to the respective principal amounts of Securities set forth opposite their names
in Schedule I hereto

                                       - 18 -

<PAGE>

(or such principal amounts of securities increased as set forth in Section 10
hereof) and not joint.

          (f)  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could
have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of
such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter
of such action, suit or proceeding.

          (g)  Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an
indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this
Section 7 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred.  The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 7 and the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall
remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any person
controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Securities and payment therefor
hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement.  A successor to any
Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter, or to the Company, its
directors or officers, or any person controlling the Company, shall be entitled
to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements
contained in this Section 7.

          8.  CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS.  The several obligations
of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities hereunder are subject to the
following conditions:

          (a)  If, at the time this Agreement is executed and delivered, it is
     necessary for a post-effective amendment thereto to be declared effective
     before the offering of the Securities may commence, such post-effective
     amendment shall have become effective not later than 5:30 P.M., New York
     City time, on the date hereof, or at such later date and time as shall be
     consented to in writing by you, and all filings, if any, required by Rules
     424, 430A and 434 under the Act shall have been timely made; no stop order
     suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement shall have been
     issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to
     the knowledge of the Company or any Underwriter, threatened by the
     Commission, and any request of the Commission for additional information
     (to be included in the registration statement or the Prospectus or
     otherwise) shall have been complied with to your satisfaction.


                                       - 19 -


<PAGE>

          (b)  Subsequent to the effective date of this Agreement, there shall
     not have occurred (i) any downgrading or any notice of any intended or
     potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not
     indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any
     of the Company's securities by any "nationally recognized statistical
     rating organization," as such term is defined for purposes of Rule
     436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (ii) any change in or affecting the
     condition (financial or other), business, properties, net worth, or results
     of operations of the Company or the Subsidiaries not contemplated by the
     Prospectus, that, in your reasonable opinion, would materially adversely
     affect the market for the Securities, or (iii) any event or development
     relating to or involving the Company or any officer or director of the
     Company that makes any statement made in the Prospectus untrue in any
     material respect or that, in the opinion of the Company and its counsel or
     the Underwriters and their counsel, requires the making of any addition to
     or change in the Prospectus in order to state a material fact required by
     the Act or any other law 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, if amending or supplementing the Prospectus to
     reflect such event or development would, in your reasonable opinion,
     materially adversely affect the market for the Securities.

          (c)  You shall have received on the Closing Date, an opinion of Latham
     & Watkins, counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed to
     the several Underwriters, to the effect that:

               (i)  the Securities, when executed and authenticated in
          accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered to and paid
          for by you in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will
          constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable
          against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to
          applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
          reorganization, moratorium and similar laws then or thereafter in
          effect relating to or affecting rights and remedies of creditors, and
          to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is
          sought in a proceeding at law or in equity) and to the discretion of
          the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought;

              (ii)  the Indenture, assuming due authorization, execution and
          delivery thereof by the Trustee, will be a valid and binding agreement
          of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
          terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,

                                     - 20 -

<PAGE>

          fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
          then or thereafter in effect relating to or affecting rights and
          remedies of creditors, and to general principles of equity
          (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at
          law or in equity) and to the discretion of the court before which
          any proceeding therefor may be brought;

             (iii)  the Securities and the Indenture conform in all material
          respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration
          Statement and the Prospectus under the headings "Description of Debt
          Securities" and "Description of Senior Notes";

              (iv)  The Registration Statement and all post-effective
          amendments, if any, have become effective under the Act and, to the
          best of such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the
          effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the
          Act and no proceedings therefor have been initiated by the Commission;
          and any required filing of the Prospectus, and any supplements
          thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 434 under the Act has been
          made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b)
          and Rule 430A under the Act; the Indenture has been duly qualified
          under the Trust Indenture Act;

               (v)  To the best of such counsel's knowledge no consent,
          approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any federal or
          New York court or governmental agency or body is required to be
          obtained or made by the Company for the consummation of the sale of
          the Securities by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, except (A)
          such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act
          and (B) such as may be required under the state securities laws in
          connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the
          Underwriters;

              (vi)  The Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply as to
          form in all material respects with the requirements for registration
          statements on Form S-3 under the Act and the rules and regulations of
          the Commission thereunder; it being understood, however, that such
          counsel need express no opinion with respect to (A) the financial
          statements, schedules and other financial and statistical data
          included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
          incorporated therein or (B) the Form T-1.  In passing upon the
          compliance as to form of the Registration Statement and the
          Prospectus, such counsel may assume that the statements made and
          incorporated by reference therein are correct and complete;

                                     - 21 -

<PAGE>

             (vii)  Neither the purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters
          nor the sale of the Securities by the Company pursuant to the terms of
          this Agreement will result in the breach of or a default under those
          agreements identified to such counsel by an officer of the Company as
          material to the Company; and

            (viii)  The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the heading
          "Plan of Distribution" and in the first, second and sixth paragraphs
          under the heading "Underwriters", insofar as such statements
          constitute a summary of legal matters, are accurate in all material
          respects.

          Such opinion may be limited to the internal laws of the State of New
     York and the Federal laws of the United States. Such counsel may rely as to
     factual matters on certificates of officers of the Company and of state
     officials, in which case their opinion shall state that they are so doing.
     Such opinion also shall take further exceptions that shall be reasonably
     acceptable to the Underwriters.

          In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
     participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the
     Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the
     Company, representatives of the Underwriters and their counsel, at which
     the contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related
     matters were discussed and, although such counsel need not pass upon and
     need not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or
     fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus and such counsel may state that they have made no independent
     check or verification thereof, during the course of such participation,
     (relying as to materiality to a large extent upon the statements of
     officers and other representatives of the Company), no facts came to such
     counsel's attention that caused such counsel to believe that the
     Registration Statement (as amended or supplemented, if applicable, and
     including the Incorporated Documents), at the time such Registration
     Statement or any post-effective amendment became effective and on the date
     hereof, 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 that the Prospectus
     (including the Incorporated Documents) as amended or supplemented, as
     of its date and as of the Closing Date, contained an untrue statement
     of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in
     order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; it being
     understood that such counsel need express no belief with respect to
     (i) the financial statements, schedules and other financial and

                                     - 22 -

<PAGE>

     statistical data included in the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus or incorporated therein or (ii) the Form T-1.

          (d)  You shall have received on the Closing Date, an opinion of John
     F. Schmutz, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, dated
     the Closing Date and addressed to the several Underwriters, to the effect
     that:

               (i)  To the best of such counsel's knowledge, no authorization,
          approval, consent or order of, or registration or filing with, any
          court or governmental authority or agency is required to be obtained
          or made by the Company for the valid sale of the Securities to you,
          except (A) such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust
          Indenture Act and (B) such as may be required under the state
          securities or Blue Sky laws or regulations of any jurisdiction in the
          United States in connection with the purchase and distribution of the
          Securities by the Underwriters;

              (ii)  The Company has corporate power and authority to enter into
          this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities and each of this
          Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities has been duly authorized
          by all necessary corporate action by the Company, and each of this
          Agreement and the Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by
          the Company;

             (iii)  Neither the purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters
          nor the sale of the Securities by the Company pursuant to the terms of
          this Agreement will conflict with or constitute a breach of or a
          default under the certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws,
          or other organizational documents, of the Company or any of the
          Significant Subsidiaries or the terms of any material agreement or
          instrument to which the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries
          is a party or by which any of them is bound, or to which any of the
          properties of the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries is
          subject, or will result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
          charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or
          any of the Significant Subsidiaries, or result in any violation of any
          statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or, to the best
          of such counsel's knowledge, any judgment, injunction, order or decree
          of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over
          the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries or any of their
          respective properties;

              (iv)  Each of the Company and, to the best of such counsel's
          knowledge, the Significant Subsidiaries that

                                     - 23 -

<PAGE>

          is a corporation has been duly incorporated and is validly
          existing and is a corporation in good standing under the laws of
          its jurisdiction of its incorporation, and each of the Company
          and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Significant
          Subsidiaries has the corporate (or partnership) power and
          authority and all necessary governmental authorizations,
          approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, franchises and permits
          of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies to
          own and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
          described in the Registration Statement and the 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 such
          qualification is required wherein it owns or leases material
          property or conducts business, except where the failure so to
          qualify could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
          Adverse Effect;

               (v)  All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of, or other
          ownership interests in, each Significant Subsidiary has been duly
          authorized and validly issued, and is fully paid and nonassessable
          and, except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement and
          the Prospectus, certain shares of capital stock of, or other ownership
          interests in, each Significant Subsidiary are owned by the Company,
          either directly or through Subsidiaries, as set forth on Exhibit 21 to
          the Form 10-K, free and clear of any perfected security interest or,
          to the best of such counsel's knowledge, any other security interests,
          claims, liens, equities or encumbrances;

              (vi)  Except as described in the Registration Statement and the
          Prospectus, there is no holder of any security of the Company or any
          other person who has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the
          Company to sell or otherwise issue to them, or to permit them to
          underwrite the sale of, the Securities or the right to have any
          securities of the Company included in the registration statement or
          the right, as a result of the filing of the registration statement, to
          require registration under the Act of any securities of the Company,
          except such rights as have been satisfied or waived;

             (vii)  To the best of such counsel's knowledge (A) there are no
          franchises, contracts, indentures, mortgages, leases, loan agreements,
          notes or other agreements or instruments to which the Company or any
          Significant Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them may be bound
          that are required to be described in

                                     - 24 -

<PAGE>

          the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as
          exhibits to or incorporated by reference in the Registration
          Statement other than those described therein or filed or
          incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto, (B) no default
          exists in the due performance or observance of any obligation,
          agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
          indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other
          instrument, except for defaults that would not, singly or in the
          aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and (C) the statements
          in the Form 10-K under the caption "Item 3.  Legal Proceedings"
          insofar as they relate to statements of law or legal conclusions,
          are accurate in all material respects;

            (viii)  The Company and the Significant Subsidiaries own all
          patents, trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service
          mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions,
          trade secrets and rights described in the Prospectus as being owned by
          them or any of them or necessary for the conduct of their respective
          businesses, and such counsel is not aware of any claim to the contrary
          or any challenge by any other person to the rights of the Company and
          the Significant Subsidiaries with respect to the foregoing;

              (ix)  To the best of such counsel's knowledge, there is no
          current, pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding before any
          court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator
          involving the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries or any of
          their respective properties of a character required to be disclosed in
          the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that is not adequately
          so disclosed;

               (x)  At the time it became effective and on the Closing Date, the
          Registration Statement (except for (A) financial statements, the notes
          thereto and related schedules and other financial, numerical,
          statistical or accounting data included or incorporated therein or
          omitted therefrom and (B) the Form T-1, as to which no opinion need be
          expressed) and the Prospectus complied and complies as to form in all
          material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act; and
          each of the Incorporated Documents (except for financial statements,
          the notes thereto and related schedules and other financial,
          numerical, statistical or accounting data included therein or omitted
          therefrom, as to which no opinion need be expressed) complies as to
          form in all material respects with the Exchange Act;

              (xi)  The statements in the Registration Statement and the
          Prospectus, insofar as they are descriptions of

                                     - 25 -
<PAGE>

          contracts, agreements or other legal documents, or refer to
          statements of law or legal conclusions, are accurate and present
          fairly the information required to be shown; and

             (xii)  Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is an
          "investment company" required to be registered under Section 8 of the
          Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company
          Act"), or an entity "controlled by an investment company" required to
          be registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.

          Such opinion may be limited to the internal laws of the State of Texas
     and the Federal laws of the United States.  Such opinion shall take further
     exceptions that shall be reasonably acceptable to the Underwriters.

          In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
     participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the
     Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the
     Company, your representatives and your counsel, at which the contents of
     the Registration Statement and Prospectus (including the Incorporated
     Documents) and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel is
     not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
     completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus, on the basis of the foregoing, relying as to
     the factual matters underlying the determination of materiality to a large
     extent upon the statements of officers and other representatives of the
     Company, no facts came to such counsel's attention that caused such counsel
     to believe that the Registration Statement (as amended or supplemented, if
     applicable, and including the Incorporated Documents), at the time such
     Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment became effective
     and on the date hereof, 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 (other than
     information omitted therefrom in reliance on Rule 430A under the Act),
     or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and as of
     the Closing Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
     omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
     therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
     not misleading; it being understood that such counsel need express no
     belief with respect to (i) the financial statements, schedules and other
     financial and statistical data included in the Registration Statement or
     the Prospectus or incorporated therein or (ii) the Form T-1.

                                     - 26 -
<PAGE>

          (e)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Davis
     Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date and
     addressed to the several Underwriters, with respect to the matters referred
     to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (viii) and in the last
     paragraph of subsection (c) above and such other related matters as you may
     request.

          (f)  You shall have received letters addressed to the several
     Underwriters, and dated the date hereof and the Closing Date from KPMG Peat
     Marwick LLP, independent certified public accountants, substantially in the
     forms heretofore approved by you.

          (g)  (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that
     purpose shall have been taken or, to the knowledge of the Company, shall be
     contemplated by the Commission at or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) there
     shall not have been any change in the capital stock of the Company nor any
     material increase in the short-term or long-term debt of the Company (other
     than in the ordinary course of business) from that set forth or
     contemplated in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto);
     (iii) there shall not have been, since the respective dates as of which
     information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or
     any amendment or supplement thereto), except as may otherwise be stated in
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or
     supplement thereto), any Material Adverse Change; (iv) the Company and the
     Subsidiaries shall not have any liabilities or obligations, direct or
     contingent (whether or not in the ordinary course of business), that are
     material to the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than
     those reflected in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any
     amendment or supplement thereto); and (v) all the representations and
     warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and
     correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as
     of the Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date, and you shall
     have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief
     executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company (or such
     other officers as are acceptable to you), to the effect set forth in this
     Section 8(g) and in Sections 8(b)(i) and 8(h) hereof.

          (h)  The Company shall not have failed at or prior to the Closing Date
     to have performed or complied in all material respects with any of its
     agreements herein contained and required to be performed or complied with
     by it hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date.

                                     - 27 -

<PAGE>

          (i)  The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you
     such further certificates and documents as you shall have reasonably
     requested.

          All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be
in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to you and your counsel.

          Any certificate or document signed by any officer of the Company and
delivered to the Underwriters, or to counsel for the Underwriters, shall be
deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to
the statements made therein.

          9.   EXPENSES.  The Company agrees to pay the following costs and
expenses and all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder:  (i) the preparation, printing or
reproduction, and filing with the Commission of the registration statement
(including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Prepricing
Prospectus, the Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them;
(ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight
charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the
registration statement, each Prepricing Prospectus, the Prospectus, the
Incorporated Documents, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may
be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the
Securities; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and
delivery of the Securities, including any stamp taxes in connection with the
original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or
reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, the Indenture, the preliminary and
supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda and all other agreements or documents printed
(or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities;
(v) the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under
the state securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states as provided herein
(including the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters relating to the preparation, printing or reproduction, and delivery
of the preliminary and supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda and such registration and
qualification); (vi) the filing fees and the fees and expenses of counsel for
the Underwriters in connection with any filings required to be made with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; (vii) the transportation and
other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection
with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities; and (viii) the
fees and expenses of the Company's accountants and the fees and expenses of
counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company.

                                     - 28 -
<PAGE>

          10.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT.  This Agreement shall become
effective:  (i) upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto; or
(ii) if, at the time this Agreement is executed and delivered, it is necessary
for the registration statement or a post-effective amendment thereto to be
declared effective before the offering of the Securities may commence, when
notification of the effectiveness of the registration statement or such
post-effective amendment has been released by the Commission.  Until such time
as this Agreement shall have become effective, it may be terminated by the
Company by notifying you, or by you, on behalf of the several Underwriters, by
notifying the Company.

          If any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase Securities that it or they are obligated to purchase hereunder on the
Closing Date, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities that such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters are obligated but fail or refuse to
purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of
Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on the Closing Date,
each non-defaulting Underwriter shall be obligated, severally, in the proportion
that the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite its name in Schedule
I hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth
opposite the names of all non-defaulting Underwriters or in such other
proportion as you may specify, to purchase the Securities that such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters are obligated, but fail or refuse, to purchase;
PROVIDED that in no event shall the principal amount of Securities that any
Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased
pursuant to this Section 10 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such
principal amount of Securities without the written consent of such Underwriter.
If any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase
Securities that it or they are obligated to purchase on the Closing Date and the
aggregate principal amount of Securities with respect to which such default
occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities
that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on the Closing Date and
arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for the purchase of such
Securities by one or more non-defaulting Underwriters or other party or parties
approved by you and the Company are not made within 36 hours after such default,
this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company.  In any such case that does not
result in termination of this Agreement, any of you or the Company shall have
the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven
days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.  Any
action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter
from liability in respect of any such default of any such Underwriter under this
Agreement.  The term

                                     - 29 -
<PAGE>

"Underwriter" as used in this Agreement includes, for all purposes
of this Agreement, any party not listed in Schedule I hereto who,
with your approval and the approval of the Company purchases
Securities that a defaulting Underwriter is obligated, but fails
or refuses, to purchase.

          Any notice under this Section 10 may be given by
telegram, telecopy or telephone but shall be subsequently
confirmed by letter.

          11.  TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.  This Agreement shall be
subject to termination in your absolute discretion, without
liability on the part of any Underwriter to the Company by notice
to the Company if prior to the Closing Date (i) trading in
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the American
Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market shall have been
suspended or materially limited, (ii) a general moratorium on
commercial banking activities in New York or Texas shall have been
declared by either federal or state authorities, or (iii) there
shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or
other international or domestic calamity, crisis or change in
political, financial or economic conditions, the effect of which
on the financial markets of the United States is such as to make
it, in your reasonable judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to
commence or continue the offering of the Securities at the
offering price to the public set forth on the cover page of the
Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the resale of the
Securities by the Underwriters.  Notice of such termination may be
given to the Company by telegram, telecopy or telephone and shall
be subsequently confirmed by letter.

          12.  INFORMATION FURNISHED BY THE UNDERWRITERS.  The
statements set forth in the last paragraph on the cover page, the
stabilization legend on the inside cover page, and the statements
in the third paragraph under the caption "Underwriters" in any
Prepricing Prospectus and in the Prospectus constitute the only
information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters through
you expressly for use therein as such information is referred to
in Sections 6(a) and 7 hereof.

          13.  MISCELLANEOUS.  Except as otherwise provided in
Sections 5, 10 and 11 hereof, notice given pursuant to any
provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
delivered (i) if to the Company, at the office of the Company at
Weston Centre, 112 E. Pecan Street, P.O. Box 2636, San Antonio,
Texas 78299-2636, Attention:  John F. Schmutz, Esq., Vice
President and General Counsel; or (ii) if to the Underwriters,
care of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, 1251 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York 10020, Attention: Debt Syndicate
Department.

          This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the
several Underwriters, the Company, its directors

                                     - 30 -

<PAGE>

and officers and the other controlling persons referred to in
Section 7 hereof and their respective successors and assigns, to
the extent provided herein, and no other person shall acquire or
have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.  Neither the
term "successor" nor the term "successors and assigns" as used in
this Agreement shall include a purchaser from any Underwriter of
any of the Securities in his status as such purchaser.

          14.  APPLICABLE LAW; COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed
within the State of New York.

          This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts
that together constitute one and the same instrument.  If signed
in counterparts, this Agreement shall not become effective unless
at least one counterpart hereof shall have been executed and
delivered on behalf of each party hereto.

                                     - 31 -
<PAGE>


          Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth
the agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   LA QUINTA INNS, INC.

                                   By: /s/ JOHN F. SCHMUTZ
                                      ---------------------------
                                      Name: John F. Schmutz
                                      Title: Vice President and General Counsel




Accepted as of the date hereof
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Smith Barney Inc.


Acting severally on behalf
  of themselves and on behalf
  of the other several
  Underwriters named herein.


     By Morgan Stanley & Co.
          Incorporated



        By: /s/ JENNIFER HARRIS
           --------------------------
           Name: Jennifer Harris
           Title: Vice President


                                     - 32 -
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I

                              LA QUINTA INNS, INC.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
     UNDERWRITERS                                                OF SECURITIES
     ------------                                                -------------
<S>                                                              <C>
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 33,400,000
Goldman, Sachs & Co.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 33,300,000
Smith Barney Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 33,300,000
                                                                  ------------
     Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100,000,000
                                                                  ------------
                                                                  ------------
</TABLE>


                                     - 1 -


<PAGE>


                       LA QUINTA INNS, INC.

                      OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE


          Pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 10.4 of the Indenture
dated as of September 15, 1995 (the "Indenture"), between La
Quinta Inns, Inc. (the "Company") and U.S. Trust Company of
Texas, N.A., as Trustee (the "Trustee"), the undersigned officers
of the Company do hereby certify as follows in connection with
the issuance of the Company's 7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2004 (the
"Securities") under the Indenture:

          1.   In our opinion, all conditions precedent under the
Indenture to the issuance and authentication of the Securities
and the delivery of the Securities by the Company have been
complied with.

          2.   The undersigned have read the conditions referred
to in paragraph 1 above and the definitions in the Indenture
relating thereto.

          3.   The statements of the undersigned contained herein
are based upon our participation in the issuance of the
Securities and a review of the Indenture.

          4.   Each of the undersigned has made such examination
or investigation as is necessary in our opinion to enable the
undersigned to express an informed opinion as to whether the
conditions referred to in paragraph 1 above have been complied
with.

          5.   The form of the Securities is attached hereto as
Exhibit A.  The terms of the Securities are as follows:

          Title:                  7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2004

          Limit of aggregate
          principal amount:       $100,000,000

          Principal
          Payment Date:           March 15, 2004

          Interest:               7 1/4% per annum, accruing from
                                  March 11, 1996, payable on
                                  March 15 and September 15 of
                                  each year to holders of record
                                  on the next preceding March 1
                                  or September 1, commencing
                                  September 15, 1996.

<PAGE>

          Place of
          Payment of
          Principal,
          premium and
          interest:               New York, New York

          Redemption              At the option of the Company, in whole or
                                  in part, at any time, at a price equal to
                                  the greater of (i) 100% of the principal
                                  amount and (ii) the sum of the present
                                  values of the remaining scheduled payments
                                  of principal and interest thereon
                                  discounted to the date of redemption on a
                                  semiannual bases at the Treasury Yield (as
                                  defined in the form of the Securities attached
                                  hereto as Exhibit A) plus 12.5 basis points,
                                  plus in each case accrued interest to the
                                  date of redemption.

          6.   The form and terms of the Securities have been established in
compliance with the Indenture.


Dated:  March 6, 1996

                                   LA QUINTA INNS, INC.


                                   By: /s/ Gary L. Mead
                                       ------------------------------
                                       Name:    Gary L. Mead
                                       Title:   President and Chief
                                                Executive Officer


                                   By: /s/ Michael A. Depatie
                                       ------------------------------
                                       Name:    Michael A. Depatie
                                       Title:   Senior Vice President-Finance


                                     2


<PAGE>
                                                               EXHIBIT 4.2

CUSIP:
No. 504195ADO                               $100,000,000

Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Notes in definitive
registered form, this Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the
Depositary to the 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.

                              LA QUINTA INNS, INC.

                            7 1/4% Senior Note due 2004

          LA QUINTA INNS, INC., a Texas corporation (the "Company", which
term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or
registered assigns, at the office or agency of the Company in New York, New
York, the principal sum of 100,000,000 Dollars on March 15, 2004, in the coin
or currency of the United States, and to pay interest, semi-annually on
March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing September 15, 1996, on said
principal sum at said office or agency, in like coin or currency, at the rate
per annum specified in the title of this Note, from the March 15 or the
September 15, as the case may be, next preceding the date of this Note to which
interest has been paid or duly provided for, unless the date hereof is a date
to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, in which case from the
date of this Note, or unless no interest has been paid or duly provided for
on these Notes, in which case from March 11, 1996, until payment of said
principal sum has been made or duly provided for; PROVIDED, that payment of
interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the
address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the
Security register or by wire transfer as provided in the

<PAGE>

Indenture.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date hereof is after March
1 or September 1, as the case may be, and before the following March 15 or
September 15, this Note shall bear interest from such March 15 or September 15;
PROVIDED, that if the Company shall default in the payment of interest
due on such March 15 or September 15, then this Note shall bear interest from
the next preceding March 15 or September 15, to which interest has been paid
or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for on
these Notes, from March 11, 1996.  The interest so payable on any March 15 or
September 15 will, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture
referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid to the person in whose name this
Note is registered at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1, as
the case may be, next preceding such March 15 or September 15, whether or not
such day is a Business Day.

          Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth
on the reverse hereof.  Such further provisions shall for all purposes have
the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

          This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose
until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been manually
signed by the Trustee under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, LA QUINTA INNS, INC. has caused this instrument
to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers and has
caused a facsimile of its corporate seal to be affixed hereunto or imprinted
hereon.

Dated:

(SEAL)                   LA QUINTA INNS, INC.

                         By________________________________

Attest:                  By________________________________

________________________


                                       2

<PAGE>

               CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

Dated:                        U.S. Trust Company of
                                   Texas, N.A.,
                                 as Trustee


                         By________________________________
                           Authorized Signatory


                                       3

<PAGE>

                                 REVERSE OF NOTE

                              LA QUINTA INNS, INC.

                           7 1/4% Senior Note due 2004

          This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of debentures, notes,
bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company (hereinafter called
the "Securities") of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be
issued under and pursuant to an indenture dated as of September 15, 1995
(herein called the "Indenture"), duly executed and delivered by the Company
to U.S. Trust of Texas, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee"), to
which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby
made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations,
duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders
of the Securities.  The Securities may be issued in one or more series, which
different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may
mature at different times, may bear interest (if any) at different rates, may
be subject to different redemption provisions (if any), may be subject to
different sinking, purchase or analogous funds (if any) and may otherwise
vary as in the Indenture provided. This Note is one of a series designated as
the 7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2004 of the Company, limited in aggregate
principal amount to $100,000,000.

          Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months.  The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and, to
the extent lawful, on overdue installments of interest at the rate PER ANNUM
borne by this Note.  If a payment date is not a Business Day as defined in
the Indenture at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the
next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue for
the intervening period.

          In case an Event of Default with respect to the 7 1/4% Senior Notes
due 2004, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing,
the principal hereof and the interest accrued hereon, if any, may be
declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the
manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the
Indenture.

          The Indenture contains provisions which provide that, without prior
notice to any Holders, the Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture and
the Securities of

                                       4

<PAGE>

any series with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the outstanding Securities of all series affected by such
supplemental indenture (all such series voting as one class), and the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all series
affected thereby (all such series voting as one class) by written notice to
the Trustee may waive future compliance by the Company with any provision of
the Indenture or the Securities of such series; PROVIDED that, without the
consent of each Holder of the Securities of each series affected thereby, an
amendment or waiver, including a waiver of past defaults, may not: (i) extend
the stated maturity of the principal of, or any sinking fund obligation or
any installment of interest on, such Holder's Security, or reduce the
principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon (including any
amount in respect of original issue discount), or any premium payable with
respect thereto, or adversely affect the rights of such Holder under any
mandatory redemption or repurchase provision or any right of redemption or
repurchase at the option of such Holder, or reduce the amount of the
principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and
payable upon an acceleration of the maturity or the amount thereof provable
in bankruptcy, or change any place of payment where, or the currency in
which, any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or
impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on
or after the due date therefor; (ii) reduce the percentage in principal
amount of outstanding Securities of the relevant series the consent of whose
Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, for any waiver of
compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or certain Defaults and
their consequences provided for in the Indenture; (iii) waive a Default in
the payment of principal of or interest on any Security of such Holder; or
(iv) modify any of the provisions of the Indenture governing supplemental
indentures with the consent of Securityholders except to increase any such
percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture
cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each
outstanding Security affected thereby.

          The Notes will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the option of
the Company at any time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100%
of their principal amount or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining
scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the date of
redemption (the "Redemption Date") on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day
year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury

                                       5

<PAGE>

Yield, plus 12.5 basis points, plus in each case accrued interest to the
Redemption Date.

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

          "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury
security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity
comparable to the remaining term of the Notes that would be utilized, at the
time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in
pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
remaining term of the Notes.  "Independent Investment Banker" means Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated or, if such firm is unwilling or unable to select
the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution
of national standing appointed by the Trustee.

          "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any Redemption
Date, (i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury
Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the
third business day preceding such Redemption Date, as set forth in the daily
statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York and designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for
U.S. Government Securities" or (ii) if such release (or any successor
release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such business
day, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such
Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.
"Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference
Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the
Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in
writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the
third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

          "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Smith Barney Inc. and another Primary
Treasury Dealer (as defined herein) at the option of the Company; provided,
however,

                                       6

<PAGE>

that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government
securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company
shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

          Holders of Notes to be redeemed will receive notice thereof by
first-class mail at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date
fixed for redemption.

          It is also provided in the Indenture that, subject to certain
conditions, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Securities of all series affected (voting as a single class), by
notice to the Trustee, may waive an existing Default or Event of Default with
respect to the Securities of such series and its consequences, except a
Default in the payment of principal of or interest on any Security or in
respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture which cannot be modified
or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security
affected.  Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any
Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series arising
therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of the
Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default
or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

          The Indenture provides that a series of Securities may include one
or more tranches (each a "tranche") of Securities, including Securities
issued in a periodic offering.  The Securities of different tranches may have
one or more different terms, including authentication dates and public
offering prices, but all the Securities within each such tranche shall have
identical terms, including authentication date and public offering price.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, subject to certain
exceptions, with respect to sections of the Indenture concerning the
execution, authentication and terms of the Securities, redemption of the
Securities, Events of Default of the Securities, defeasance of the Securities
and amendment of the Indenture, if any series of Securities includes more
than one tranche, all provisions of such sections applicable to any series of
Securities shall be deemed equally applicable to each tranche of any series
of Securities in the same manner as though originally designated a series
unless otherwise provided with respect to such series or tranche pursuant to
a board resolution or a supplemental indenture establishing such series or
tranche.

                                       7

<PAGE>

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

          The Notes are issuable initially only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any multiple of $1,000 at the office
or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture,
but, without the payment of any service charge, Notes may be exchanged for a
like aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations.

          Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note at
the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, a new Note or Notes of authorized denominations for an equal
aggregate principal amount will be issued to the transferee in exchange
therefor, subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without
charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection
therewith.

          The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the
Trustee may deem and treat the registered Holder hereof as the absolute owner
of this Note (whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding
any notation of ownership or other writing hereon), for the purpose of
receiving payment of, or on account of, the principal hereof and, subject to
the provisions hereof, interest hereon, and for all other purposes, and
neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the
Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

          No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of
the Company in the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto or in any
Note, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against
any incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, as such, past, present,
or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or
through the Company or any successor corporation, under any rule of law,
statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment
or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability
being expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as part of
the consideration for the issue hereof.

                                       8

<PAGE>

          Terms used herein which are defined in the Indenture shall have the
respective meanings assigned thereto in the Indenture.

                                       9

<PAGE>

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

[PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
    IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE]

______________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
[PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE]

____________________________________________________________
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby

____________________________________________________________
irrevocably constituting and appointing such person attorney

____________________________________________________________
to transfer such Note on the books of the Issuer, with full

____________________________________________________________
power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:______________________


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

                                       10




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