EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO
8-K, 1996-11-13
NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION
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<PAGE>
 
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                    FORM 8-K
 
                                 CURRENT REPORT
 
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
      DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): NOVEMBER 13, 1996
 
                          EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
        DELAWARE                     1-2700                  74-0608280
     (STATE OR OTHER        (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER)        (IRS EMPLOYER
      JURISDICTION                                     IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
    OF INCORPORATION)
 
       ONE PAUL KAYSER CENTER           79901
      100 NORTH STANTON STREET     (ZIP CODE)
           EL PASO, TEXAS
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (915) 541-2600
 
 
                                     1 of 4
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
 
  On November 13, 1996, El Paso Natural Gas Company, a Delaware corporation
(the "Registrant"), issued and sold $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
its 6-3/4% Notes Due 2003 and $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its
7-1/2% Debentures Due 2026 (collectively, the "Offered Securities"). The
Offered Securities were purchased pursuant to the terms of an Underwriting
Agreement, dated November 7, 1996, among the Registrant, Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation, Chase Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co.
and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated. The terms of the Offered Securities are
set forth in the Indenture dated as of November 13, 1996, between the
Registrant and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee, which Indenture is filed
as an Exhibit to this Report. In connection with the offering of the Offered
Securities, the Offered Securities have been registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, on the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-
3, as amended (No 333-14617).
 
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
 
  (c) Exhibits:
 
  See the Exhibit Index following the signature page of this Report, which is
incorporated by reference herein.
 
                                    2 of 4
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, THE
REGISTRANT HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REPORT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE
UNDERSIGNED HEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED.
 
                                          EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY
 
                                                  /s/ Jeffrey I. Beason
                                          By: _________________________________
                                                    Jeffrey I. Beason
                                              Vice President and Controller
 
Date: November 13, 1996
 
                                    3 of 4
<PAGE>
 
                          EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                       TO
                            FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT
 
                       DATE OF REPORT: NOVEMBER 13, 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                     DESCRIPTION
 -------                    -----------
 <C>     <S>
   4.1   Indenture dated as of November 13, 1996, between
         the Registrant and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
         trustee.
   4.2   Form of 6-3/4% Note Due 2003.
   4.3   Form of 7-1/2% Debenture Due 2026.
</TABLE>
 
 
                                     4 of 4

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
                          EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY
 
                                       TO
 
                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
                                               TRUSTEE
 
                               ----------------
 
                                   INDENTURE
 
                         DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 13, 1996
 
                               ----------------
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                          EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY
 
                CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO
                  SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318, INCLUSIVE, OF THE
                         TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 TRUST INDENTURE
   ACT SECTION                                                                    INDENTURE SECTION
 ---------------                                                                  -----------------
 <C>             <S>                                                              <C>
  (S) 310(a)(1)   ...............................................................  609
  (a)(2)          ...............................................................  609
  (a)(3)          ...............................................................  Not Applicable
  (a)(4)          ...............................................................  Not Applicable
  (b)             ...............................................................  608
                  ...............................................................  610
  (S) 311(a)      ...............................................................  613
  (b)             ...............................................................  613
  (S) 312(a)      ...............................................................  701
                  ...............................................................  702
  (b)             ...............................................................  702
  (c)             ...............................................................  702
  (S) 313(a)      ...............................................................  703
  (b)             ...............................................................  703
  (c)             ...............................................................  703
  (d)             ...............................................................  703
  (S) 314(a)      ...............................................................  704
  (a)(4)          ...............................................................  101
                  ...............................................................  1004
  (b)             ...............................................................  Not Applicable
  (c)(1)          ...............................................................  101
                  ...............................................................  102
  (c)(2)          ...............................................................  101
                  ...............................................................  102
  (c)(3)          ...............................................................  Not Applicable
  (d)             ...............................................................  Not Applicable
  (e)             ...............................................................  102
  (S) 315(a)      ...............................................................  601
  (b)             ...............................................................  602
  (c)             ...............................................................  601
  (d)             ...............................................................  601
  (e)             ...............................................................  514
  (S) 316(a)      ...............................................................  101
  (a)(1)(A)       ...............................................................  502
                  ...............................................................  512
  (a)(1)(B)       ...............................................................  513
  (a)(2)          ...............................................................  Not Applicable
  (b)             ...............................................................  508
  (c)             ...............................................................  104
  (S) 317(a)(1)   ...............................................................  503
  (a)(2)          ...............................................................  504
  (b)             ...............................................................  1003
  (S) 318(a)      ...............................................................  107
</TABLE>
- --------
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be
      a part of the Indenture.
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
                               ----------------
 
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----

 PARTIES...................................................................   1
 RECITALS OF THE COMPANY...................................................   1
 
                                  ARTICLE ONE
 
            DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
 
 Section 101.   Definitions...............................................    1
                Act.......................................................    1
                Affiliate.................................................    1
                Authenticating Agent......................................    2
                Authorized Newspaper......................................    2
                Bankruptcy Law............................................    2
                Board of Directors........................................    2
                Board Resolution..........................................    2
                Business Day..............................................    2
                Commission................................................    2
                Company...................................................    2
                Company Request or Company Order..........................    2
                Consolidated Net Tangible Assets..........................    2
                Corporate Trust Office....................................    3
                corporation...............................................    3
                covenant defeasance.......................................    3
                Custodian.................................................    3
                Debt......................................................    3
                Default...................................................    3
                Defaulted Interest........................................    3
                defeasance................................................    3
                Definitive Security.......................................    3
                Depositary................................................    3
                Dollar or $...............................................    3
                Event of Default..........................................    3
                Exchange Act..............................................    3
                Funded Debt...............................................    3
                Global Security...........................................    3
                Holder....................................................    3
                Indenture.................................................    3
                interest..................................................    4
                Interest Payment Date.....................................    4
                Lien......................................................    4
                Maturity..................................................    4
                Notice of Default.........................................    4
                Officer's Certificate.....................................    4
                Opinion of Counsel........................................    4
                Original Issue Discount Security..........................    4
 
                                       i
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
 <C>           <S>                                                          <C>
                Outstanding..............................................     4
                Paying Agent.............................................     5
                Periodic Offering........................................     5
                Permitted Liens..........................................     5
                Person...................................................     5
                Place of Payment.........................................     6
                Predecessor Security.....................................     6
                Principal Property.......................................     6
                Redemption Date..........................................     6
                Redemption Price.........................................     6
                Regular Record Date......................................     6
                Restricted Subsidiary....................................     6
                Sale-Leaseback Transaction...............................     6
                Securities...............................................     6
                Security Register and Security Registrar.................     6
                Special Record Date......................................     6
                Stated Maturity..........................................     6
                Subsidiary...............................................     6
                Trust Indenture Act......................................     7
                Trustee..................................................     7
                U.S. Government Obligations..............................     7
                Vice President...........................................     7
 Section 102.   Compliance Certificates and Opinions.....................     7
 Section 103.   Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee...................     8
 Section 104.   Acts of Holders; Record Dates............................     8
 Section 105.   Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company....................     9
 Section 106.   Notice to Holders; Waiver................................     9
 Section 107.   Conflict with Trust Indenture Act........................    10
 Section 108.   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.................    10
 Section 109.   Successors and Assigns...................................    10
 Section 110.   Separability Clause......................................    10
 Section 111.   Benefits of Indenture....................................    10
 Section 112.   Governing Law............................................    10
 Section 113.   Legal Holidays...........................................    10
 Section 114.   Language of Notices, Etc. ...............................    11
 Section 115.  Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors of the
                Company Exempt from Individual Liability.................    11
 
                                  ARTICLE TWO
 
                                 SECURITY FORMS
 Section 201.   Forms Generally..........................................    12
 Section 202.   Form of Face of Security.................................    12
 Section 203.   Form of Reverse of Security..............................    14
 Section 204.   Global Securities........................................    19
 Section 205.   Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication..........    20
</TABLE>
 
                                       ii
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
                                 ARTICLE THREE
 
                                 THE SECURITIES
 
 <C>           <S>                                                          <C>
 Section 301.   Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series....................     21
 Section 302.   Denominations...........................................     23
 Section 303.   Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating..........     23
 Section 304.   Temporary Securities....................................     24
 Section 305.   Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.....     25
 Section 306.   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities........     26
 Section 307.   Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved..........     27
 Section 308.   Persons Deemed Owners...................................     28
 Section 309.   Cancellation............................................     28
 Section 310.   Computation of Interest.................................     28
 Section 311.   CUSIP Numbers...........................................     29
 
                                  ARTICLE FOUR
 
                           SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
 
 Section 401.   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.................     30
 Section 402.   Application of Trust Money..............................     30
 
                                  ARTICLE FIVE
 
                                    REMEDIES
 
 Section 501.   Events of Default.......................................     32
 Section 502.   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment......     32
 Section 503.   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
                Trustee.................................................     33
 Section 504.   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim........................     34
 Section 505.   Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securi-
                ties....................................................     34
 Section 506.   Application of Money Collected..........................     34
 Section 507.   Limitation on Suits.....................................     34
 Section 508.   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal,
                Premium and Interest....................................     35
 Section 509.   Restoration of Rights and Remedies......................     35
 Section 510.   Rights and Remedies Cumulative..........................     35
 Section 511.   Delay or Omission Not Waiver............................     35
 Section 512.   Control by Holders......................................     36
 Section 513.   Waiver of Past Defaults.................................     36
 Section 514.   Undertaking for Costs...................................     36
 Section 515.   Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.................     36
</TABLE>
 
                                      iii
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
                                  ARTICLE SIX
 
                                  THE TRUSTEE
 
 <C>           <S>                                                          <C>
 Section 601.   Certain Duties and Responsibilities.....................     37
 Section 602.   Notice of Defaults......................................     37
 Section 603.   Certain Rights of Trustee...............................     37
 Section 604.   Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities..     38
 Section 605.   May Hold Securities.....................................     38
 Section 606.   Money Held in Trust.....................................     38
 Section 607.   Compensation and Reimbursement..........................     38
 Section 608.   Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.................     39
 Section 609.   Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.................     39
 Section 610.   Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.......     39
 Section 611.   Acceptance of Appointment by Successor..................     41
 Section 612.   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Busi-
                ness....................................................     41
 Section 613.   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.......     42
 Section 614.   Appointment of Authenticating Agent.....................     42
 
                                 ARTICLE SEVEN
 
               HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
 
 Section 701.   Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Hold-
                ers.....................................................     44
 Section 702.   Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders..     44
 Section 703.   Reports by Trustee......................................     44
 Section 704.   Reports by Company......................................     44
 
                                 ARTICLE EIGHT
 
              CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
 
 Section 801.   Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms....     46
 Section 802.   Successor Substituted...................................     46
 
                                  ARTICLE NINE
 
                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
 
 Section 901.   Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders......     47
 Section 902.   Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.........     47
 Section 903.   Execution of Supplemental Indentures....................     48
 Section 904.   Effect of Supplemental Indentures.......................     48
 Section 905.   Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.....................     48
 Section 906.   Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures......     49
</TABLE>
 
                                       iv
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
                                  ARTICLE TEN
 
                                   COVENANTS
 
 <C>           <S>                                                          <C>
 Section 1001.  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest..............     50
 Section 1002.  Maintenance of Office or Agency.........................     50
 Section 1003.  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.......     50
 Section 1004.  Statement by Officers as to Default.....................     51
 Section 1005.  Existence...............................................     51
 Section 1006.  Limitations on Liens....................................     52
 Section 1007.  Restriction of Sale-Leaseback Transaction...............     53
 Section 1008.  Waiver of Certain Covenants.............................     54
 
                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN
 
                            REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
 
 Section 1101.  Applicability of Article................................     55
 Section 1102.  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee...................     55
 Section 1103.  Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.......     55
 Section 1104.  Notice of Redemption....................................     55
 Section 1105.  Deposit of Redemption Price.............................     56
 Section 1106.  Securities Payable on Redemption Date...................     56
 Section 1107.  Securities Redeemed in Part.............................     56
 
                                 ARTICLE TWELVE
 
                                 SINKING FUNDS
 
 Section 1201.  Applicability of Article................................     57
 Section 1202.  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities...     57
 Section 1203.  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund...............     57
 
                                ARTICLE THIRTEEN
 
                                   DEFEASANCE
 
 Section 1301.  Applicability of Article................................     58
 Section 1302.  Legal Defeasance........................................     58
 Section 1303.  Covenant Defeasance.....................................     59
 Section 1304.  Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of
                Securities..............................................     60
 Section 1305.  Repayment to Company....................................     60
</TABLE>
- --------
Note: This Table of Contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part
of the Indenture.
 
 
                                       v
<PAGE>
 
  INDENTURE dated as of November 13, 1996, between EL PASO NATURAL GAS
COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware
(the "Company"), having its principal office at One Paul Kayser Center, 100
North Stanton Street, El Paso, Texas 79901, and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a
New York banking corporation, as Trustee (the "Trustee").
 
                            RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
 
  The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture
to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures,
notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the "Securities"), to be issued in
one or more series as in this Indenture provided.
 
  All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the
Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
 
  This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that
are required to be a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable,
shall be governed by such provisions.
 
  NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
 
  For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities
by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate
benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:
 
                                  ARTICLE ONE
 
            DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
 
Section 101. Definitions.
 
  For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided
or unless the context otherwise requires:
 
    (1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them
  in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
 
    (2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture
  Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to
  them therein;
 
    (3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
  assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting
  principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term
  "generally accepted accounting principles" with respect to any computation
  required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as
  are generally accepted in the United States at the date of such
  computation;
 
    (4) the words "herein", "hereof " and "hereunder" and other words of
  similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular
  Article, Section or other subdivision; and
 
    (5) the words "Article" and "Section" refer to an Article and Section,
  respectively, of this Indenture.
 
  "Act", when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in
Section 104.
 
  "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
 
the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the
terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
 
  "Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant
to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of
one or more series.
 
  "Authorized Newspaper" means a newspaper, in the English language or in an
official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each
Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and
of general circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used
or in the financial community of such place.
 
  "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state
law for the relief of debtors.
 
  "Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Company, or the
executive or any other committee of that board duly authorized to act in
respect thereof.
 
  "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Corporate
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, the principal financial
officer of the Company or any other authorized officer of the Company or a
person duly authorized by any of them, to have been duly adopted by the Board
of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
 
  "Business Day", when used with respect to any Place of Payment or other
location, means, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301
with respect to any series of Securities, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that
Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law,
executive order or regulation to close.
 
  "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to
time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time after the
execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing
the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties at such time.
 
  "Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of
this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to
the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall
mean such successor Person.
 
  "Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or order signed
in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive
Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or any other authorized
officer of the Company or a person duly authorized by any of them, and
delivered to the Trustee.
 
  "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, at any date of determination, the
total amount of assets after deducting therefrom (i) all current liabilities
(excluding (A) any current liabilities that by their terms are extendable or
renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than 12 months
after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed, and (B)
current maturities of long-term debt), and (ii) the value (net of any
applicable reserves) of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and
other like intangible assets, all as set forth on the consolidated balance
sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the Company's most
recently completed fiscal quarter, prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
  "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which at any
particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally
administered, which at the date hereof is 450 West 33rd Street, New York, NY
10001.
 
  "corporation" includes corporations, associations, partnerships, limited
liability companies, joint-stock companies and business trusts.
 
  "covenant defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1303.
 
  "Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar
official under any Bankruptcy Law.
 
  "Debt" means any obligation created or assumed by any Person for the
repayment of money borrowed and any purchase money obligation created or
assumed by such Person.
 
  "Default" means, with respect to a series of Securities, any event which is,
or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default
with respect to Securities of such series.
 
  "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.
 
  "defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1302.
 
  "Definitive Security" means a Security other than a Global Security or a
temporary Security.
 
  "Depositary" means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in
whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as
Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301, until a
successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter shall mean or include each Person
which is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than
one such Person, shall be a collective reference to such Persons.
 
  "Dollar" or "$" means the coin or currency of the United States of America
as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and
private debts.
 
  "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 501.
 
  "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time, and any statute successor thereto.
 
  "Funded Debt" means all Debt maturing one year or more from the date of the
creation thereof, all Debt directly or indirectly renewable or extendible, at
the option of the debtor, by its terms or by the terms of any instrument or
agreement relating thereto, to a date one year or more from the date of the
creation thereof, and all Debt under a revolving credit or similar agreement
obligating the lender or lenders to extend credit over a period of one year or
more.
 
  "Global Security" means a Security in global form that evidences all or part
of the Securities of any series and is authenticated and delivered to, and
registered in the name of, the Depositary for such Securities or a nominee
thereof.
 
  "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the
Security Register.
 
  "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from
time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental
hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including,
for all purposes of this instrument, and any such supplemental indenture, the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and
govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The
term "Indenture" also shall include the terms of particular series of
Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.
 
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
  "interest", when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security
which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable
after Maturity.
 
  "Interest Payment Date", when used with respect to any Security, means the
Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
 
  "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, charge, lien or other
encumbrance of any kind, whether or not filed, recorded or perfected under
applicable law.
 
  "Maturity", when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which
the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and
payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
 
  "Notice of Default" means a written notice of the kind specified in Section
501(3).
 
  "Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or any
other authorized officer of the Company or a person duly authorized by any of
them, and delivered to the Trustee. The officer signing an Officer's
Certificate given pursuant to Section 1004 shall be the principal executive,
financial or accounting officer of the Company.
 
  "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of legal counsel, who may be an
employee of or counsel for the Company and who shall be reasonably acceptable
to the Trustee.
 
  "Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which provides for an
amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable
upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section
502.
 
  "Outstanding", when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date
of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture, except:
 
    (1) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the
  Trustee for cancellation;
 
    (2) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary
  amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent
  (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by
  the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the
  Holders of such Securities; provided, however, that, if such Securities are
  to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to
  this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been
  made;
 
    (3) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in
  exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated
  and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in
  respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof
  satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser
  in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and
 
    (4) Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 1302 and 1303,
  with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance or covenant
  defeasance as provided in Article Thirteen.
 
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (A) the
principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed
to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be
due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the
Maturity thereof on such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) the principal
amount of a Security denominated in one or more currencies or currency units
other than U.S. dollars shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent of such currencies
or currency units,
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301 on the date
of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the
case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent (as so
determined) on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount
determined as provided in Clause (A) above) of such Security, and (C)
Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or
any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and
deemed not to be outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows
to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned as described in
Clause (C) above which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as
Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the
pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee
is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate
of the Company or of such other obligor.
 
  "Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the
Company.
 
  "Periodic Offering" means an offering of Securities of a series from time to
time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation,
the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of
interest thereon, if any, the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities thereof,
the original issue date or dates thereof, the redemption provisions, if any,
with respect thereto, and any other terms specified as contemplated by Section
301 with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company upon the
issuance of such Securities.
 
  "Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens upon rights-of-way for pipeline purposes;
(ii) any governmental Lien, mechanics', materialmen's, carriers' or similar
Lien incurred in the ordinary course of business which is not yet due or which
is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and any
undetermined Lien which is incidental to construction; (iii) the right
reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or public authority by the terms
of any right, power, franchise, grant, license, permit or by any provision of
law, to purchase or recapture or to designate a purchaser of, any property;
(iv) Liens of taxes and assessments which are (A) for the then current year,
(B) not at the time delinquent, or (C) delinquent but the validity of which is
being contested at the time by the Company or any Subsidiary in good faith;
(v) Liens of, or to secure performance of, leases; (vi) any Lien upon, or
deposits of, any assets in favor of any surety company or clerk of court for
the purpose of obtaining indemnity or stay of judicial proceedings; (vii) any
Lien upon property or assets acquired or sold by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary resulting from the exercise of any rights arising out of defaults
on receivables; (viii) any Lien incurred in the ordinary course of business in
connection with workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance, temporary
disability, social security, retiree health or similar laws or regulations or
to secure obligations imposed by statute or governmental regulations; (ix) any
Lien upon any property or assets in accordance with customary banking practice
to secure any Debt incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in
connection with the exporting of goods to, or between, or the marketing of
goods in, or the importing of goods from, foreign countries; or (x) any Lien
in favor of the United States of America or any state thereof, or any other
country, or any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, to secure
partial, progress, advance, or other payments pursuant to any contract or
statute, or any Lien securing industrial development, pollution control, or
similar revenue bonds.
 
  "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, other
entity, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
  "Place of Payment", when used with respect to the Securities of any series,
means, unless otherwise specifically provided for with respect to such series
as contemplated by Section 301, the office or agency of the Company in The
City of New York and such other place or places where, subject to the
provisions of Section 1002, the principal of and any premium and interest on
the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by
Section 301.
 
  "Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by
such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any
Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in
lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to
evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
 
  "Principal Property" means (a) any pipeline assets of the Company or any
Subsidiary, including any related facilities employed in the transportation,
distribution or marketing of natural gas, that is located in the United States
or Canada, and (b) any processing or manufacturing plant owned or leased by
the Company or any Subsidiary and located within the United States or Canada,
except, in the case of either clause (a) or (b), any such assets or plant
which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, is not material in relation
to the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries as a whole.
 
  "Redemption Date", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed,
means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
 
  "Redemption Price", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed,
means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
 
  "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date
on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as
contemplated by Section 301.
 
  "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company owning or
leasing any Principal Property.
 
  "Sale-Leaseback Transaction" means the sale or transfer by the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property to a Person (other than
the Company or a Subsidiary) and the taking back by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, of a lease of such Principal
Property.
 
  "Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture
and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture.
 
  "Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective meanings
specified in Section 305.
 
  "Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date
fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
 
  "Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any Security or any installment
of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such
Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such
installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
 
  "Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting
stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or
more other Subsidiaries, or by the
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this
definition, "voting stock" means stock which ordinarily has voting power for
the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior
class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.
 
  "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at
the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as otherwise
provided in Section 905; provided, however, that if the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent
required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
 
  "Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first paragraph of
this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to
the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall
mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any
time there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the
Securities of any series shall mean each Trustee with respect to Securities of
that series.
 
  "U.S. Government Obligations" means securities which are (i) direct
obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and
credit is pledged, or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by
and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States, the payment
of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation
by the United States, each of which are not callable or redeemable at the
option of the issuer thereof.
 
  "Vice President", when used with respect to the Company or Trustee, means
any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words
added before or after the title "vice president".
 
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
 
  Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any
action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee such certificates or opinions as may be required under the Trust
Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of
an Officer's Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an
Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth
in this Indenture.
 
  Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for
in Section 1004) shall include:
 
    (1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion
  has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating
  thereto;
 
    (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
  investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
  certificate or opinion are based;
 
    (3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made
  such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express
  an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has
  been complied with; and
 
    (4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual,
  such condition or covenant has been complied with.
 
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
 
  In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or
covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all
such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and
one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may
certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
 
  Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or
representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or
opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may
be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or
opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company
stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the
possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or
representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
 
  Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.
 
Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.
 
  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by
Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed (either physically or by means of a
facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic
transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) by such
Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein
otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such
instrument or instruments are delivered (either physically or by means of a
facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic
transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) to the
Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing
such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or
of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of
this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act)
conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner
provided in this Section.
 
  The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or
writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a
certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take
acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such
instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such
execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof
of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or
writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved
in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
 
  The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any
Person, and the date of commencement of such Person's holding the same, shall
be proved by the Security Register.
 
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
other action of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of
the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the
registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in
respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the
Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made
upon such Security.
 
  Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give or take
any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with
regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one
or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such
appointment with regard to all or any different part of such principal amount.
 
  The Company may set any day as the record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to
give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or
taken by Holders of Securities of such series, but the Company shall have no
obligation to do so. With regard to any record date set pursuant to this
paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on
such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons,
shall be entitled to give or take the relevant action, whether or not such
Holders remain Holders after such record date.
 
Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.
 
  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,
 
    (1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for
  every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or
  with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate
  Trustee Administration Department, or
 
    (2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for
  every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in
  writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed
  to it at One Paul Kayser Center, 100 North Stanton Street, El Paso, Texas
  79901, to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, or at any other address
  previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
 
Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.
 
  Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly
provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid (if
international mail, by air mail), to each Holder affected by such event, at
his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest
date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for
the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by
mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so
mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice
with respect to other Holders. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner
herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such
Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.
 
  Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be
waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before
or after the event, and such waiver shall be the
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with
the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the
validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
 
  In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of
any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then
such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
 
Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
 
  If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of
the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and
govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of
this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act
that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to
apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.
 
Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
 
  The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
 
Section 109. Successors and Assigns.
 
  All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its
successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
 
Section 110. Separability Clause.
 
  In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability
of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
 
Section 111. Benefits of Indenture.
 
  Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall
give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors
hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under this Indenture.
 
Section 112. Governing Law.
 
  This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the law of the State of New York.
 
Section 113. Legal Holidays.
 
  In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment,
then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the
Securities (other than a provision of the Securities of any series which
specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section))
payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at
such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if
made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated
Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after
such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case
may be.
 
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
Section 114. Language of Notices, Etc.
 
  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
Act required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English
language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of
the country of publication.
 
Section 115. Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors of the
Company Exempt from Individual Liability.
 
  No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or
contained in this Indenture or of or contained in any Security, or for any
claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or in any Security, or
because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had
against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past,
present or future, of the Company or any successor Person, either directly or
through the Company or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any
constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment
or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability
is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a part of
the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the
Securities.
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE TWO
 
                                SECURITY FORMS
 
Section 201. Forms Generally.
 
  The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth
in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant
to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in
each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other
variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such
letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or
endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any
securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the
officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the
Securities.
 
  The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on
steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as
determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution of such Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is
established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an
appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer
or other authorized person on behalf of the Company and delivered to the
Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by
Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.
 
Section 202. Form of Face of Security.
 
  [Insert any legend required by the United States Internal Revenue Code and
the regulations thereunder.]
 
  [If a Global Security,--insert legend required by Section 204 of the
Indenture] [If applicable, insert--UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK
CORPORATION, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER,
EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE
& CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH
OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF,
CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
 
                          EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY
 
                              [TITLE OF SECURITY]
 
NO.                                                                 U.S.$
 
[CUSIP NO.      ]
 
  EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY, a corporation duly incorporated and existing
under the laws of Delaware (herein called the "Company", which term includes
any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to               , or registered assigns, the
principal sum of         United States Dollars on          [if the Security is
to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert--, and to pay interest thereon from
       , or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has
been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on          and     in each
year, commencing         , at the rate of    % per annum, until the principal
hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert--, and at
the rate of    % per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any
overdue installment of interest]. The interest so payable, and
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the      or
(whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such
Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly
provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular
Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be
fixed by the Trustee, notice of which shall be given to Holders of Securities
of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be
paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series
may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all
as more fully provided in such Indenture].
 
  [If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert--The
principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a
default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at
Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall
bear interest at the rate of    % per annum, which shall accrue from the date
of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made
or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on
demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on
demand shall bear interest at the rate of   % per annum, which shall accrue
from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest
has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on
demand.]
 
  [If a Global Security, insert--Payment of the principal of [(and premium, if
any)] and [if applicable, insert--any such] interest on this Security will be
made by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in
designated by the Holder in such coin or currency of the United States of
America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts [state other currency].]
 
  [If a Definitive Security insert--Payment of the principal of [(and premium,
if any)] and [if applicable, insert--any such] interest on this Security will
be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in
            , [in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at
the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts]
[state other currency] [or subject to any laws or regulations applicable
thereto and to the right of the Company (as provided in the Indenture) to
rescind the designation of any such Paying Agent, at the [main] offices of
     in      and      in     , or at such other offices or agencies as the
Company may designate, by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check
drawn on, or transfer to a [United States Dollar] account maintained by the
payee with, a bank in The City of New York [     ] (so long as the applicable
Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing at least
[     ] days prior to the payment date)] [if applicable, insert--; provided,
however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by
[United States Dollar] [state other currency] check mailed to the addresses of
the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the Security
Register] [or by transfer to a [United States Dollar] [state other currency]
account maintained by the payee with a bank in The City of New York [state
other Place of Payment] (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received
proper transfer instructions in writing by the Record Date prior to the
applicable Interest Payment Date)].]
 
  Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
  Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the
Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.
 
  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed.
 
Dated:
 
                                          El Paso Natural Gas Company
 
                                          By: _________________________________
                                            [Title]
 
Section 203. Form of Reverse of Security.
 
  This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company
(the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an
Indenture dated as of November 13, 1996 (the "Indenture"), between the Company
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee", which term includes
any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all
indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of
the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the
Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be,
authenticated and delivered. As provided in the Indenture, 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, may be subject to different covenants and Events of Default and
may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted. This Security is
one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert--,
limited in aggregate principal amount to U.S.$   ].
 
  [If applicable, insert--The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail, [if
applicable, insert--(1) on         in any year commencing with the year
and ending with the year     through operation of the sinking fund for this
series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)]
at any time [if applicable, insert--on or after     ,   ], as a whole or in
part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices
(expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if
applicable, insert--on or before     ,    %, and if redeemed] during the 12-
month period beginning         of the years indicated,
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         REDEMPTION                                                          REDEMPTION
     YEAR                  PRICE                              YEAR                             PRICE
     ----                ----------                           ----                           ----------
     <S>                 <C>                                  <C>                            <C>
 
 
 
 
 
 
</TABLE>
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to    % of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert--(whether
through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to
the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or
prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such
Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of
business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as
provided in the Indenture.]
 
  [If applicable, insert--The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail, (1) on
        in any year commencing with the year     and ending with the year
through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices
for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages
of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if
applicable, insert--on or after       ], as a whole or in part, at the
election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise
than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the
principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-
month period beginning         of the years indicated,
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       REDEMPTION PRICE                         REDEMPTION PRICE FOR
                        FOR REDEMPTION                        REDEMPTION OTHERWISE THAN
                       THROUGH OPERATION                          THROUGH OPERATION
     YEAR             OF THE SINKING FUND                     OF THE SINKING FUND PRICE
     ----             -------------------                     -------------------------
     <S>              <C>                                     <C>
 
 
 
 
 
 
</TABLE>
 
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to    % of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the
sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but
interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the
Indenture.]
 
  [If applicable, insert--The sinking fund for this series provides for the
redemption on         in each year beginning with the year     and ending with
the year     of [if applicable,--not less than $    ("mandatory sinking fund")
and not more than] $    aggregate principal amount of Securities of this
series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company
otherwise than through [if applicable,--mandatory] sinking fund payments may
be credited against subsequent [if applicable,--mandatory] sinking fund
payments otherwise required to be made [if applicable,--in the inverse order
in which they become due].]
 
  [If the Security is subject to redemption in part of any kind, insert--In
the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or
Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof
will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]
 
  [If applicable, insert--The Securities of this series are not redeemable
prior to Stated Maturity.]
 
  [If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert--If an
Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due
and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
  [If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert--If an Event
of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to--insert formula for determining the
amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and
payable, and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest,
all of the Company's obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of
and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]
 
  The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with
the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all series to be affected (voting as one class). The
Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected
series (voting as one class), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of
such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the
Indenture. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of any series then
Outstanding to waive past defaults under the Indenture with respect to such
series and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of
this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all
future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the
registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof,
whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
 
  As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of
this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously
given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect
to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in
principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding
shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in
respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable
indemnity and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time
Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed
to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice,
request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit
instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment
of principal hereof or [any premium or] interest hereon on or after the
respective due dates expressed herein.
 
  No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of
the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and [any premium and]
interest on this Security at the times, place(s) and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.
 
  [If a Global Security, insert--This Global Security or portion hereof may
not be exchanged for Definitive Securities of this series except in the
limited circumstances provided in the Indenture.
 
  The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be
entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities except as
described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for
any purpose under the Indenture.]
 
  [If a Definitive Security, insert--As provided in the Indenture and subject
to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is
registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for
registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in [if
applicable, insert
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
- --any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this
Security are payable] [if applicable, insert-- The City of New York[, or,
subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the
Company (limited as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of
any such transfer agent, at the [main] offices of         in         and
in     or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate]],
duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the
Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or
more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized
denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to
the designated transferee or transferees.]
 
  The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of U.S.$    and any integral multiple thereof. As
provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate
principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different
authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
 
  No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or
exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
 
  Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the
Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the
Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company,
the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
 
  No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or
contained in the Indenture or of or contained in any Security, or for any
claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or in any Security, or
because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had
against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past,
present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person, either directly
or through the Company or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any
constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment,
penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is
hereby expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as a
condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the Securities and the
execution of the Indenture.
 
  The Indenture provides that the Company (a) will be discharged from any and
all obligations in respect of the Securities (except for certain obligations
described in the Indenture), or (b) need not comply with certain restrictive
covenants of the Indenture, in each case if the Company deposits, in trust,
with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations (or a combination
thereof) which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof
in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to
pay all the principal of and interest on the Securities, but such money need
not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
 
  This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York.
 
  All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
  [If a Definitive Security, insert as a separate page--
 
  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and
transfer(s) unto
 
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address of Assignee)
 
the within instrument of EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY and does hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint                                Attorney to
                                  -------------------------------
transfer said instrument on the books of the within-named Company, with full
power of substitution in the premises.
 
  Please Insert Social Security or
  other Identifying Number of Assignee:
  -------------------------------------         ----------------------

Dated:                                           
       ----------------------                    ----------------------
                                                        Signature
 
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as
written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.]
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
Section 204. Global Securities.
 
  Every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a
legend in substantially the following form:
 
    THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
  HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
  NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR
  EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN
  THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED,
  EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. EVERY
  SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR
  IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY
  SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
 
  If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in the form of
one or more Global Securities, as specified as contemplated by Section 301,
then, notwithstanding Clause (9) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section
302, any Global Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of
such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall
represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time
endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities
represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as the case
may be, to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect
the amount, or any reduction or increase in the amount, of Outstanding
Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon
instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or
in a Company Order. Subject to the provisions of Sections 303, 304 and 305,
the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Global Security in the manner and
upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the
applicable Company Order. Any instructions by the Company with respect to
endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Global Security shall be in a
Company Order (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be
accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel).
 
  The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any
Security represented by a Global Security if such Security was never issued
and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Global
Security together with a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 102
and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the
reduction or increase, as the case may be, in the principal amount of
Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement
contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
Section 205. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
 
  The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the
following form:
 
  This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in
the within-mentioned Indenture.
 
                                          The Chase Manhattan Bank,
                                                       As Trustee
 
                                          By: _________________________________
                                                   Authorized Officer
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE THREE
 
                                THE SECURITIES
 
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
 
  The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
 
  The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be
established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303,
set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer's Certificate,
or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the
issuance of Securities of any series,
 
    (1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish
  the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);
 
    (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
  the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture
  (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of
  transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the
  series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any
  Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been
  authenticated and delivered hereunder);
 
    (3) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be
  payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or
  more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the
  Regular Record Date for such interest;
 
    (4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the
  series is payable or the method of determination thereof;
 
    (5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear
  interest, if any, or the method of determination thereof, the date or dates
  from which such interest shall accrue, or the method of determination
  thereof, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be
  payable and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any
  Interest Payment Date;
 
    (6) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002,
  the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series
  shall be payable, Securities of the series may be surrendered for
  registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for
  exchange and notices, and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the
  Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;
 
    (7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and
  the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be
  redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
 
    (8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase
  Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous
  provisions or upon the happening of a specified event or at the option of a
  Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices
  at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series
  shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such
  obligation;
 
    (9) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
  thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be
  issuable;
 
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
    (10) whether payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest,
  if any, on the Securities of the series shall be without deduction for
  taxes, assessments or governmental charges paid by Holders of the series;
 
    (11) the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the
  principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series
  shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States of America
  and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the
  United States of America for purposes of the definition of "Outstanding" in
  Section 101;
 
    (12) if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or interest
  on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an
  index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
 
    (13) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of
  the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder
  thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or
  those in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency,
  currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any
  premium and interest on Securities of such series as to which such election
  is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and
  conditions upon which such election is to be made;
 
    (14) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the
  principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon
  declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502
  or the method of determination thereof;
 
    (15) if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be
  issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities
  and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security
  or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in
  Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and
  registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person
  other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and
  in which any such transfer may be registered;
 
    (16) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of
  Default set forth in Section 501 or the covenants of the Company set forth
  in Article Ten pertaining to the Securities of the series;
 
    (17) if other than as provided in Sections 1302 and 1303, the means of
  defeasance or covenant defeasance as may be specified for the Securities of
  the series;
 
    (18) if other than the Trustee, the identity of the Security Registrar
  and any Paying Agent; and
 
    (19) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent
  with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section
  901(4)).
 
  All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as
to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the
Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set forth, or
determined in the manner provided, in the Officer's Certificate referred to
above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.
 
  All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and,
unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of
the Holders, for increases in the aggregate principal amount of such series of
Securities and issuances of additional Securities of such series or for the
establishment of additional terms with respect to the Securities of such
series.
 
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
  If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken by or
pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action
shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized person on
behalf of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery
of the Officer's Certificate setting forth, or providing the manner for
determining, the terms of the series.
 
  With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, such
Board Resolution or Officer's Certificate may provide general terms for
Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of
particular Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company Order or
that such terms shall be determined by the Company, or one or more of the
Company's agents designated in an Officer's Certificate, in accordance with a
Company Order.
 
Section 302. Denominations.
 
  The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form
without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by
Section 301. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to
the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable
in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
 
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
 
  The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of
the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its
President or any Vice President and need not be attested. The signature of any
of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.
 
  Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who
were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not
hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
 
  At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this
Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for
the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in
accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such
Securities; provided, however, that in the case of Securities offered in a
Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities
from time to time in accordance with such other procedures (including, without
limitation, the receipt by the Trustee of oral or electronic instructions from
the Company or its duly authorized agents, thereafter promptly confirmed in
writing) acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a
Company Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first
authentication of Securities of such series. If the form or terms of the
Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more
Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such
Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture
in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and
(subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion
of Counsel stating,
 
    (1) if the form or forms of such Securities have been established by or
  pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form or
  forms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this
  Indenture;
 
    (2) if the terms of such Securities have been, or in the case of
  Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, will be, established
  by or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
  Section 301, that such terms have been, or in the case of Securities of a
  series offered in a Periodic Offering, will be, established in conformity
  with the provisions of this Indenture, subject, in the case of Securities
  of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, to any conditions specified in
  such Opinion of Counsel; and
 
    (3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee
  and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions
  specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally
  binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their
  terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
  reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
  relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
  principles.
 
If such form or forms or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not
be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner
which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
 
  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding
paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at
one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer's Certificate
otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of
Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to
the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents
are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the
first Security of such series to be issued.
 
  With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the
Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such
Securities, the form or forms and terms thereof and the legality, validity,
binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and the
other documents delivered pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 and this Section,
as applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of
such series.
 
  Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
 
  No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein
executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such
certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only
evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered
hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been
authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the
Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for
cancellation as provided in Section 309 for all purposes of this Indenture
such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered
hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
 
Section 304. Temporary Securities.
 
  Pending the preparation of Definitive Securities of any series, the Company
may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten,
mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination,
substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Securities in lieu of which they
are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and
other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as
evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
 
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
  If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause
Definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable
delay. After the preparation of Definitive Securities of such series, the
temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for Definitive
Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such
series at the office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section
1002 for the purpose of exchanges of Securities of such series, without charge
to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary
Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more Definitive
Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like
aggregate principal amount and tenor. Until so exchanged the temporary
Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same
benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Securities of such series and
tenor.
 
Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
 
  The Company shall cause to be kept at an office or agency of the Company in
The City of New York a register (the register maintained in such office or in
any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein
sometimes referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the
registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Company will
prior to the issuance of any Securities hereunder, appoint the Trustee as the
initial "Security Registrar" for the purpose of registering Securities and
transfers of Securities as herein provided and its corporate trust office
which, at the date hereof, is located at 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New
York 10001 as the initial office or agency in The City of New York where the
Security Register will be maintained. The Company may at any time replace such
Security Registrar, change such office or agency or act as its own Security
Registrar. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any
change of the Security Registrar or of the location of such office or agency.
 
  Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at
the office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 1002 for
such purpose, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or
more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of
a like aggregate principal amount and tenor.
 
  At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (except a Global
Security) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any
authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor,
upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency.
Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which
the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
 
  All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the
Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
 
  Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for
exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly
endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the
Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
 
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
  No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange
of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than
exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.
 
  The Company shall not be required (1) to issue, register the transfer of or
exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of
Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and
ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (2) to register
the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole
or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in
part.
 
  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture and except as
otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, no Global Security may be
transferred to, or registered or exchanged for Securities registered in the
name of, any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or any
nominee thereof, and no such transfer may be registered, except as provided in
this paragraph. Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration
or transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security shall be a
Global Security, except as provided in this paragraph. If (1) (A) the
Depositary for a Global Security notifies the Company that it is unwilling or
unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or ceases to be a
clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and (B) a successor
Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, or (2) the Company
determines in its sole discretion that Securities of a series issued in global
form shall no longer be represented by a Global Security, then such Global
Security may be exchanged by such Depositary for Definitive Securities of the
same series, of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal
amount and tenor, registered in the names of, and the transfer of such Global
Security or portion thereof may be registered to, such Persons as such
Depositary shall direct.
 
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
 
  If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, together with, in
proper cases, such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or
the Trustee to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in
exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and
principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
 
  If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to
their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii)
such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and
any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the
Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new
Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing
a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
 
  In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or
is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead
of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
  Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may
require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses
(including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
 
  Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in exchange
for any mutilated Security or in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen
Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the
Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security
shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the
benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other
Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.
 
  The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the
extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement
or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
 
Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
 
  Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to
any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be
paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest.
 
  Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein
called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder
on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and
such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each
case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:
 
    (1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to
  the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their
  respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business
  on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which
  shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the
  Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid
  on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and
  at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of
  money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such
  Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee
  for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when
  deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to
  such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee
  shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest
  which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the
  date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by
  the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall
  promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name
  and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed
  payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to
  be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of
  such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less
  than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed
  payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor
  having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons
  in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective
  Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such
  Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the
  following Clause (2).
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
    (2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the
  Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with
  the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be
  listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after
  notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant
  to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the
  Trustee.
 
  Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each
Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in
exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to
interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other
Security.
 
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners.
 
  Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to
any series of Securities, prior to due presentment of a Security for
registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the
Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is
registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment
of principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) any
interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or
not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any
agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.
 
  No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its
behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect
to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company,
the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such
Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee
nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on
account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial
ownership interests.
 
Section 309. Cancellation.
 
  All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer
or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee
and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to
the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and
delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner
whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for
delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously
authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all
Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No
Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities
cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this
Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of
in accordance with its customary procedures, and the Trustee shall thereafter
deliver to the Company a certificate with respect to such disposition.
 
Section 310. Computation of Interest.
 
  Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities
of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
Section 311. CUSIP Numbers.
 
  The Company in issuing the Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (in addition
to the other identification numbers printed on the Securities), and, if so,
the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices of redemption as a
convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that
no representation is made as to the correctness of such "CUSIP" numbers either
as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and
that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed
on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect
in or omission of such "CUSIP" numbers.
 
                                      29
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE FOUR
 
                          SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
 
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
 
  This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with
respect to Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of
registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly
provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute
proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture
with respect to such Securities, when
 
    (1) either
 
      (A) all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered
    (other than (i) such Securities which have been destroyed, lost or
    stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306,
    and (ii) such Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been
    deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and
    thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as
    provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for
    cancellation; or
 
      (B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
    cancellation
 
        (i) have become due and payable, or
 
        (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within
      one year, or
 
        (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under
      arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
      redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the
      Company,
 
  and the Company in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or
  caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the
  purpose an amount of money in the currency or currency units in which such
  Securities are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire
  indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee
  for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of
  such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable)
  or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
 
    (2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable
  hereunder by the Company with respect to such Securities; and
 
    (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate and
  an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein
  provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture
  with respect to such Securities have been complied with.
 
  Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with
respect to Securities of any series, (x) the obligations of the Company to the
Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any
Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and the right of the Trustee to resign
under Section 610 shall survive, and (y) if money shall have been deposited
with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the
obligations of the Company and/or the Trustee under Sections 402, 606, 701 and
1002 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.
 
Section 402. Application of Trust Money.
 
  Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money
deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and
applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying
 
                                      30
<PAGE>
 
Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee
may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any
premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the
Trustee.
 
                                      31
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE FIVE
 
                                   REMEDIES
 
Section 501. Events of Default.
 
  "Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any
series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such
Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be
effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of
any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or
governmental body):
 
    (1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that
  series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for
  a period of 30 days; or
 
    (2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on)
  any Security of that series at its Maturity; or
 
    (3) default in the performance, or breach, of any term, covenant or
  warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a term, covenant or
  warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in
  this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included
  in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than
  that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60
  days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the
  Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of
  at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that
  series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it
  to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default"
  hereunder; or
 
    (4) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law
  (A) commences a voluntary case, (B) consents to the entry of any order for
  relief against it in an involuntary case, (C) consents to the appointment
  of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or
  (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
 
    (5) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any
  Bankruptcy Law that (A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary
  case, (B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially
  all of its property, or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company; and the
  order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or
 
    (6) any other Event of Default provided as contemplated by Section 301
  with respect to Securities of that series.
 
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
 
  If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or
the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any of the
Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion
of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms
thereof) of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable
immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if
given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or
specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable.
 
  At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in
this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
 
                                      32
<PAGE>
 
Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and
the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if
 
    (1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient
  to pay
 
      (A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,
 
      (B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that
    series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of
    acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed
    therefor in such Securities,
 
      (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest
    upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such
    Securities, and
 
      (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the
    reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
    Trustee, its agents and counsel;
 
  and
 
    (2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series,
  other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series
  which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been
  cured or waived as provided in Section 513.
 
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
 
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
 
  The Company covenants that if
 
    (1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when
  such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a
  period of 30 days, or
 
    (2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if
  any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,
 
the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of
the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such
Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that
payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue
principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further
amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection,
including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
 
  If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the
Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a
judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may
prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same
against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the
moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of
the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities,
wherever situated.
 
  If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and
is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series
by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most
effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific
enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the
exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
 
                                      33
<PAGE>
 
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
 
  In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other
obligor upon the Securities, their property or their creditors, the Trustee
shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture
Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such
proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and
receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims
and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee,
liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial
proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the
Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such
payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 607.
 
  No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to
vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided,
however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election
of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors'
or other similar committee.
 
Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
 
  All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may
be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the
Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and
any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name
as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after
provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the
ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such
judgment has been recovered.
 
Section 506. Application of Money Collected.
 
  Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied
in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case
of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium or
interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the
payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
 
    FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;
 
    SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal
  of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which or
  for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without
  preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and
  payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest,
  respectively; and
 
    THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.
 
Section 507. Limitation on Suits.
 
  No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute
any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for
the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder,
unless
 
                                      34
<PAGE>
 
    (1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a
  continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;
 
    (2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
  Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to
  the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in
  its own name as Trustee hereunder;
 
    (3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable
  indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in
  compliance with such request;
 
    (4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and
  offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
 
    (5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to
  the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in
  principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;
 
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall
have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any
provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any
other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or
preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this
Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable
benefit of all of such Holders.
 
Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and
Interest.
 
  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any
Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive
payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and
307) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed
in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and
to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights
shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
 
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
 
  If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any
right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued
or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee
or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination
in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored
severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter
all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as
though no such proceeding had been instituted.
 
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
 
  Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of
Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the
Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or
remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be
cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or
now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or
employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent
the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or
remedy.
 
Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
 
  No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to
exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair
any such right or remedy or constitute a
 
                                      35
<PAGE>
 
waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right
and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders
may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient,
by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
 
Section 512. Control by Holders.
 
  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the
Securities of such series; provided, however, that
 
    (1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with
  this Indenture;
 
    (2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee
  which is not inconsistent with such direction; and
 
    (3) subject to the provisions of Section 601, the Trustee shall have the
  right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith
  shall determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee
  in personal liability.
 
Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.
 
  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of
such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and
its consequences, except
 
    (1) a continuing default in the payment of the principal of or any
  premium or interest on any Security of such series, or
 
    (2) a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under
  Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the
  Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.
 
  Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every
purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent
or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
 
Section 514. Undertaking for Costs.
 
  In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture,
or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted
by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file
an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any
such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust
Indenture Act; provided, however, that neither this Section nor the Trust
Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an
undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the
Company.
 
Section 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.
 
  The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it
will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim
or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants
or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it
may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any
such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution
of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the
execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
 
                                      36
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE SIX
 
                                  THE TRUSTEE
 
Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
 
  The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the
Trust Indenture Act. No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that
repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability
is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided,
every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the
liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the
provisions of this Section.
 
Section 602. Notice of Defaults.
 
  If a Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any
series, the Trustee shall, within 90 days after it occurs, transmit, in the
manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture
Act, notice of all uncured or unwaived Defaults known to it; provided,
however, that, except in the case of a Default in payment on the Securities of
any series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the board of
directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of its directors
and/or its duly authorized officers in good faith determines that withholding
such notice is in the interests of Holders of Securities of such series;
provided further, however, that, in the case of any default or breach of the
character specified in Section 501(3) with respect to the Securities of such
series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after
the occurrence thereof.
 
Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee.
 
  Subject to the provisions of Section 601:
 
    (1) the Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or
  refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
  instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
  bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
  document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
  presented by the proper party or parties;
 
    (2) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned
  herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company
  Order (other than delivery of any Security to the Trustee for
  authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303, which shall be
  sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board
  of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
 
    (3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall
  deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking,
  suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other
  evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad
  faith on its part, rely upon an Officer's Certificate;
 
    (4) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such
  counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization
  and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
  hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
 
    (5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
  rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction
  of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture,
 
                                      37
<PAGE>
 
  unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security
  or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be
  incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
 
    (6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
  facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
  instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
  bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
  document but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry
  or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;
 
    (7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
  perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
  attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
  negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by
  it hereunder; and
 
    (8) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer's
  Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of
  officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this
  Indenture, which Officer's Certificate may be signed by any person
  authorized to sign an Officer's Certificate, including any person specified
  as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not
  superseded.
 
Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
 
  The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee's
certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the
Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility
for their correctness. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent makes
any representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of
the Securities. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be
accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the
proceeds thereof.
 
Section 605. May Hold Securities.
 
  The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security
Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to
Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights
it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent,
Security Registrar or such other agent.
 
Section 606. Money Held in Trust.
 
  Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under
no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as
otherwise agreed with the Company.
 
Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.
 
  The Company agrees
 
    (1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for
  all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be
  limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee
  of an express trust);
 
    (2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
  Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and
  advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision
  of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses
  and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
  disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad
  faith; and
 
                                      38
<PAGE>
 
    (3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any
  loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its
  part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration
  of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of
  defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the
  exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except
  those attributable to its negligence or bad faith.
 
  The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate the Trustee
and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances
shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional
indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon
all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds
held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.
 
  Without limiting any rights available to the Trustee under applicable law,
when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an
Event of Default specified in Section 501(4) or Section 501(5), the expenses
(including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the
compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under any applicable Bankruptcy Law.
 
  The provisions of this Section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge
of this Indenture and the defeasance of the Securities.
 
Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
 
  If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the
meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such
interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject
to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.
 
Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
 
  There shall at all times be one or more Trustees hereunder with respect to
the Securities of each series, at least one of which shall be a Person that is
eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined
capital and surplus required by the Trust Indenture Act. If such Person
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of a supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of
this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed
to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report
of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign
immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this
Article.
 
Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
 
  No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor
Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance
of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable
requirements of Section 611.
 
  The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or
more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument
of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have
been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice
of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series.
 
                                      39
<PAGE>
 
  The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any
series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the
Company.
 
  If at any time:
 
    (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written
  request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide
  Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
 
    (2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall
  fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such
  Holder, or
 
    (3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a
  bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall
  be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the
  Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
  conservation or liquidation,
 
then, in any such case, (A) the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to
all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona
fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself
and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and
the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
 
  If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if
a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to
the Securities of one or more series, the Company shall promptly appoint a
successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those
series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed
with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that
at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of
any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of
Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or
incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of
such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor
Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment
in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the
successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that
extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no
successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been
so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the
manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of
a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself
and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series.
 
  The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the
Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a
successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders
of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each
notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
 
                                      40
<PAGE>
 
Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
 
  (a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect
to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or
removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor
Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with
all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the
request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall,
upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to
such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring
Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee
all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
 
  (b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect
to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the
retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1)
shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer
and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of
that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee
relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all
Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or
desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to
which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the
retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this
Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being
understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall
constitute such Trustees as co-trustees of the same trust and that each such
Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart
from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and
upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation
or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent
provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act,
deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts
and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or
those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but,
on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property
and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the
Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor
Trustee relates.
 
  (c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute
any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
 
  (d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of
such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under
this Article.
 
Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
 
  Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with
which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust
business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder,
provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this
Article, without the execution or filing of any paper
 
                                      41
<PAGE>
 
or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any
Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee
then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such
authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the
Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee
had itself authenticated such Securities.
 
Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
 
  If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any
other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims
against the Company (or any such other obligor).
 
Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
 
  The Trustee (upon notice to the Company) may appoint an Authenticating Agent
or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be
authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such
series issued upon original issue (in accordance with procedures acceptable to
the Trustee) and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption
thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be
entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory
for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever
reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of
Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such
reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of
the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication
executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each
Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times
be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized
under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and
surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination
by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports
of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said
supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the
combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to
be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to
be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such
Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the
effect specified in this Section.
 
  Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating
Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially
all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of such Authenticating
Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation
shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or such
Authenticating Agent.
 
  An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time
terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice
thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a
notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating
Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail
 
                                      42
<PAGE>
 
written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to
all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such
Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the
Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its
appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and
duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named
as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be
appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
 
  Except with respect to an Authenticating Agent appointed at the request of
the Company, the Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time
to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Company for such payments,
subject to the provisions of Section 607.
 
  If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to
this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in
addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative
certificate of authentication in the following form:
 
  This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.
 
                                          The Chase Manhattan Bank,
                                                 As Trustee
 
 
                                          By:__________________________________
                                                  As Authenticating Agent
 
 
                                          By:__________________________________
                                                    Authorized Officer
 
                                      43
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE SEVEN
 
               HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
 
Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.
 
  The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee
 
    (1) semi-annually, not later than May 15 and November 15 in each year, a
  list for each series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may
  reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities
  of such series as of the preceding April 30 or October 31, as the case may
  be, and
 
    (2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30
  days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of
  similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the
  time such list is furnished;
 
provided, however, that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Security
Registrar for Securities of a series, no such list need be furnished with
respect to such series of Securities.
 
Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
 
  The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to
Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.
 
  The rights of the Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to
their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the
corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by
the Trust Indenture Act.
 
  Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with
the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any
agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure
of information as to the names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act.
 
Section 703. Reports by Trustee.
 
  The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee
and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.
 
  Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not more than
12 months shall be transmitted no later than July 15 in each calendar year
with respect to the 12-month period ending on the previous May 15, commencing
May 15, 1997.
 
  A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any
Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company
will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
 
Section 704. Reports by Company.
 
  The Company shall:
 
    (1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required
  to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of
  the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of
  any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by
 
                                      44
<PAGE>
 
  rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file
  with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange
  Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or
  reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the
  Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations
  prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary
  and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required
  pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed
  and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from
  time to time in such rules and regulations;
 
    (2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules
  and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such
  additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by
  the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be
  required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and
 
    (3) transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear
  in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the
  Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required
  to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this
  Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to
  time by the Commission.
 
                                      45
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE EIGHT
 
             CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
 
Section 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
 
  The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or
sell, lease or transfer its properties and assets as, or substantially as, an
entirety to, any Person, unless:
 
    (1) (A) in the case of a merger, the Company is the surviving entity, or
  (B) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is
  merged or the Person which acquires by sale or transfer, or which leases,
  the properties and assets of the Company as, or substantially as, an
  entirety shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto,
  executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to
  the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any
  premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or
  observance of every covenant and condition of this Indenture on the part of
  the Company to be performed or observed;
 
    (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or
  Event of Default exists; and
 
    (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate and
  an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale,
  transfer or lease and the supplemental indenture required in connection
  with such transaction comply with this Article and that all conditions
  precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been
  complied with.
 
Section 802. Successor Substituted.
 
  Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into,
any other Person or any sale, transfer or lease of the properties and assets
of the Company as, or substantially as, an entirety in accordance with Section
801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the
Company is merged or to which such sale, transfer or lease is made shall
succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of,
the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor
Person had been named originally as the Company herein, and thereafter, except
in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all
obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
 
                                      46
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE NINE
 
                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
 
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
 
  Without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Trustee, at any time
and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental
hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following
purposes:
 
    (1) to secure the Securities pursuant to the requirements of Section 1006
  or otherwise; or
 
    (2) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the
  assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and
  in the Securities; or
 
    (3) to add to the covenants of the Company or the Events of Default for
  the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such
  covenants or Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all
  series of Securities, stating that such covenants or Events of Default, as
  the case may be, are expressly being included solely for the benefit of
  such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the
  Company; or
 
    (4) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this
  Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided,
  however, that any such addition, change or elimination shall become
  effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created
  prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to
  the benefit of such provision; or
 
    (5) to establish the form or terms of securities of any series as
  permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or
 
    (6) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein
  which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, to comply with
  any applicable mandatory provisions of law or to make any other provisions
  with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided
  that such action pursuant to this Clause (6) shall not adversely affect the
  interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material
  respect; or
 
    (7) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder
  by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series
  and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
  necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
  hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section
  611; or
 
    (8) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Indenture to
  such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of this
  Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or under any similar federal
  statute subsequently enacted, and to add to this Indenture such other
  provisions as may be expressly required under the Trust Indenture Act.
 
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
 
  With the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such supplemental
indenture (voting as one class), by Act of said Holders delivered to the
Company and the Trustee, the Company and the Trustee may enter into an
indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions
of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of
Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no
 
                                      47
<PAGE>
 
such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Security affected thereby,
 
    (1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of
  principal of or interest, if any, on, any Security, or reduce the principal
  amount thereof or premium, if any, on or the rate of interest thereon, or
 
    (2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding
  Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any
  such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required
  for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or
  certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this
  Indenture, or
 
    (3) change any obligation of the Company, with respect to Outstanding
  Securities of a series, to maintain an office or agency in the places and
  for the purposes specified in Section 1002 for such series, or
 
    (4) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section
  1008, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain
  other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the
  consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby;
  provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the
  consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to "the
  Trustee" and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this
  proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(7).
 
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other
provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the
benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the
rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such
covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under
this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
 
  It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it
shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
 
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
 
  In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby
of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to
receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying
upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental
indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but
shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which
affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or
otherwise.
 
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
 
  Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this
Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental
indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every
Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered
hereunder shall be bound thereby.
 
Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
 
  Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform
to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
 
                                      48
<PAGE>
 
Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
 
  Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of
any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required
by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any
matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so
determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the
opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may
be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
 
                                      49
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE TEN
 
                                   COVENANTS
 
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
 
  The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any
premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the
terms of the Securities and this Indenture.
 
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
 
  The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of
Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be
presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and
demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and
this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to
the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or
agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required
office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address
thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or
served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby
appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands.
 
  The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices
or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or
surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind
such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission
shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an
office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for
such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of
any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any
such other office or agency.
 
  Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities as
contemplated by Section 301, the Company hereby initially designates as the
Place of Payment for each series of Securities The City and State of New York,
and initially appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as the
Company's office or agency for each such purpose in such city.
 
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.
 
  If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to
any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal
of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series,
segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a
sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming
due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as
herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure
so to act.
 
  Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of
Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or any
premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying
Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by
the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the
Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
 
 
                                      50
<PAGE>
 
  The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other
than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which
such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of
this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) hold all sums held by it for the
payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on
Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled
thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of
as herein provided; (2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any
payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the
Securities of that series; and (3) during the continuance of any such default,
upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums
held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of
that series.
 
  The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company
Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by
the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the
same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such
Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such
Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such
money.
 
  Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by
the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years
after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be
paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall
be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall
thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for
payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with
respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee
thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such
Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the
expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper
in each Place of Payment with respect to such series, notice that such money
remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be
less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of
such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
 
Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default.
 
  The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 150 days after the end of
each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officer's
Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer
thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of
the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any
period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the
Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and
status thereof of which they may have knowledge.
 
Section 1005. Existence.
 
  Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things
necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights
(charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if it shall
determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct
of the business of the Company.
 
                                      51
<PAGE>
 
Section 1006. Limitations on Liens.
 
  The Company will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to,
create, assume, incur or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Principal Property,
whether owned or leased on the date of this Indenture or thereafter acquired,
to secure any Debt of the Company or any other Person (other than the
Securities issued hereunder), without in any such case making effective
provision whereby all of the Securities Outstanding hereunder shall be secured
equally and ratably with, or prior to, such Debt so long as such Debt shall be
so secured. This restriction shall not apply to:
 
    (i) any Lien upon any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted
  Subsidiary in existence on the date of this Indenture or created pursuant
  to an "after-acquired property" clause or similar term in existence on the
  date of this Indenture or any mortgage, pledge agreement, security
  agreement or other similar instrument in existence on the date of this
  Indenture;
 
    (ii) any Lien upon any property or assets created at the time of
  acquisition of such property or assets by the Company or any Restricted
  Subsidiary or within one year after such time to secure all or a portion of
  the purchase price for such property or assets or Debt incurred to finance
  such purchase price, whether such Debt was incurred prior to, at the time
  of or within one year of such acquisition;
 
    (iii) any Lien upon any property or assets existing thereon at the time
  of the acquisition thereof by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
  (whether or not the obligations secured thereby are assumed by the Company
  or any Restricted Subsidiary);
 
    (iv) any Lien upon any property or assets of a Person existing thereon at
  the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary by acquisition, merger
  or otherwise;
 
    (v) the assumption by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
  obligations secured by any Lien existing at the time of the acquisition by
  the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the property or assets subject
  to such Lien or at the time of the acquisition of the Person which owns
  such property or assets;
 
    (vi) any Lien on property to secure all or part of the cost of
  construction or improvements thereon or to secure Debt incurred prior to,
  at the time of, or within one year after completion of such construction or
  making of such improvements, to provide funds for any such purpose;
 
    (vii) any Lien on any oil, gas, mineral and processing and other plant
  properties to secure the payment of costs, expenses or liabilities incurred
  under any lease or grant or operating or other similar agreement in
  connection with or incident to the exploration, development, maintenance or
  operation of such properties;
 
    (viii) any Lien arising from or in connection with a conveyance by the
  Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any production payment with respect
  to oil, gas, natural gas, carbon dioxide, sulphur, helium, coal, metals,
  minerals, steam, timber or other natural resources;
 
    (ix) any Lien in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
 
    (x) any Lien created or assumed by the Company or any Restricted
  Subsidiary in connection with the issuance of Debt the interest on which is
  excludable from gross income of the holder of such Debt pursuant to the
  Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute, for
  the purpose of financing, in whole or in part, the acquisition or
  construction of property or assets to be used by the Company or any
  Subsidiary;
 
    (xi) any Lien upon property or assets of any foreign Restricted
  Subsidiary to secure Debt of that foreign Restricted Subsidiary;
 
                                      52
<PAGE>
 
    (xii) Permitted Liens;
 
    (xiii) any Lien upon any additions, improvements, replacements, repairs,
  fixtures, appurtenances or component parts thereof attaching to or required
  to be attached to property or assets pursuant to the terms of any mortgage,
  pledge agreement, security agreement or other similar instrument, creating
  a Lien upon such property or assets permitted by Clauses (i) through (xii),
  inclusive, of this Section; or
 
    (xiv) any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement (or
  successive extensions, renewals, refinancing, refundings or replacements)
  of any Lien, in whole or in part, that is referred to in Clauses (i)
  through (xiii), inclusive, of this Section, or of any Debt secured thereby;
  provided, however, that the principal amount of Debt secured thereby shall
  not exceed the greater of the principal amount of Debt so secured at the
  time of such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement and
  the original principal amount of Debt so secured (plus in each case the
  aggregate amount of premiums, other payments, costs and expenses required
  to be paid or incurred in connection with such extension, renewal,
  refinancing, refunding or replacement); provided, further, however, that
  such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement shall be
  limited to all or a part of the property (including improvements,
  alterations and repairs on such property) subject to the encumbrance so
  extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced (plus improvements,
  alterations and repairs on such property).
 
  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company may,
and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or suffer
to exist any Lien upon any Principal Property to secure any Debt of the
Company or any other Person (other than the Securities) that is not excepted
by Clauses (i) through (xiv), inclusive, of this Section without securing the
Securities issued hereunder, provided that the aggregate principal amount of
all Debt then outstanding secured by such Lien and all similar Liens, together
with all net sale proceeds from Sale-Leaseback Transactions (excluding Sale-
Leaseback Transactions permitted by Clauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, of
Section 1007), does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
 
Section 1007. Restriction of Sale-Leaseback Transaction.
 
  The Company will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to,
engage in a Sale-Leaseback Transaction unless:
 
    (i) such Sale-Leaseback Transaction occurs within one year from the date
  of acquisition of the Principal Property subject thereto or the date of the
  completion of construction or commencement of full operations on such
  Principal Property, whichever is later;
 
    (ii) the Sale-Leaseback Transaction involves a lease for a period,
  including renewals, of not more than three years;
 
    (iii) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to
  incur Debt secured by a Lien on the Principal Property subject thereto in a
  principal amount equal to or exceeding the net sale proceeds from such
  Sale-Leaseback Transaction without securing the Securities; or
 
    (iv) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, within a one-year period
  after such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, applies or causes to be applied an
  amount not less than the net sale proceeds from such Sale-Leaseback
  Transaction to (A) the repayment, redemption or retirement of Funded
  Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (B) investment in another
  Principal Property.
 
  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company may,
and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, effect any Sale-Leaseback
Transaction that is not excepted by Clauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, of
this Section, provided that the net sale proceeds from such Sale-Leaseback
 
                                      53
<PAGE>
 
Transaction, together with the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding
Debt (other than the Securities) secured by Liens upon Principal Properties
not excepted by Clauses (i) through (xiv), inclusive, of Section 1006, do not
exceed 15% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
 
Section 1008. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
 
  The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term,
provision or condition set forth in Section 1005, 1006 or 1007 with respect to
the Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance the
Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all affected series (voting as one class) shall, by
Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or
generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such
waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to
the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective,
the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any
such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
 
  A waiver which changes or eliminates any term, provision or condition of
this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one
or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the
Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such term, provision or
condition, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of
the Holders of Securities of any other series.
 
                                      54
<PAGE>
 
                                ARTICLE ELEVEN
 
                           REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
 
Section 1101. Applicability of Article.
 
  Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity
shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in
accordance with this Article.
 
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
 
  The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a
Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of
less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 45
days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter
notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such
Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be
redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In
the case of any redemption of Securities (1) prior to the expiration of any
restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or
elsewhere in this Indenture, or (2) pursuant to an election of the Company
which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities, the
Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer's Certificate evidencing
compliance with such restriction or condition.
 
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.
 
  If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all
the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed),
the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45
days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding
Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method
as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the
selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized
denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof)
of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger
than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.
 
  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for
partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
 
  For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires,
all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the
case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion
of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be
redeemed.
 
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption.
 
  Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail (if international
mail, by air mail), postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60
days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be
redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.
 
  All notices of redemption shall state:
 
    (1) the Redemption Date,
 
    (2) the Redemption Price,
 
                                      55
<PAGE>
 
    (3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series and of a
  specified tenor are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of
  partial redemption of any Securities, the principal amounts) of the
  particular Securities to be redeemed,
 
    (4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and
  payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that
  interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,
 
    (5) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for
  payment of the Redemption Price, and
 
    (6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.
 
  Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the
Company or, at the Company's request, by the Trustee in the name and at the
expense of the Company.
 
Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.
 
  On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the
Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying
Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of
money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption
Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the
Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.
 
Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
 
  Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be
redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the
Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the
Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued
interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any
such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security
shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued
interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose
Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the
Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered
as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to
their terms and the provisions of Section 307.
 
  If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender
thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear
interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the
Security.
 
Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.
 
  Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a
Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires,
due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory
to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without
service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like
tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in
aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion
of the principal of the Security so surrendered.
 
                                      56
<PAGE>
 
                                ARTICLE TWELVE
 
                                 SINKING FUNDS
 
Section 1201. Applicability of Article.
 
  The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for
the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.
 
  The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of
Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund
payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the
terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an "optional
sinking fund payment". If provided for by the terms of Securities of any
series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to
reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be
applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the
terms of Securities of such series.
 
Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
 
  The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than
any previously called for redemption), and (2) may apply as a credit
Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the
Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of
permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such
Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking
fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made
pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such
series; provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited.
Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee
at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through
operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment
shall be reduced accordingly.
 
Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
 
  Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series
of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee),
the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate specifying
the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant
to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be
satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be
satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to
Section 1202 and stating the basis for such credit and that such Securities
have not been previously so credited, and will also deliver to the Trustee any
Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking
fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon
such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and
cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the
expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice
having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon
the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.
 
                                      57
<PAGE>
 
                               ARTICLE THIRTEEN
                                  DEFEASANCE
 
Section 1301. Applicability of Article.
 
  The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to each series of
Securities except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of such series.
 
Section 1302. Legal Defeasance.
 
  In addition to discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Section 401, the
Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on
all the Securities of such a series on the 91st day after the date of the
deposit referred to in Clause (1) below, and the provisions of this Indenture
with respect to the Securities of such series shall no longer be in effect
(except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of
Securities of such series and the Company's right of optional redemption, if
any, (ii) substitution of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities,
(iii) rights of holders of Securities to receive payments of principal thereof
and interest thereon, upon the original stated due dates therefor or on the
specified redemption dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining
rights of the holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv)
the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, (v)
the rights of the holders of Securities of such series as beneficiaries hereof
with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or
any of them, and (vi) the obligations of the Company under Section 1002), and
the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon a Company Request,
execute proper instruments acknowledging the same, if the conditions set forth
below are satisfied (hereinafter, "defeasance"):
 
   (1) The Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with
 the Trustee as trust funds in trust, for the purposes of making the following
 payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the
 benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series (i) cash in an
 amount, or (ii) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which
 may only be made in legal coin or currency of the United States, U.S.
 Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times
 and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash, or (iii) a
 combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
 firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
 thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (A) the principal and interest and
 premium, if any, on all Securities of such series on each date that such
 principal, interest or premium, if any, is due and payable or on any
 Redemption Date established pursuant to Clause (3) below, and (B) any
 mandatory sinking fund payments on the dates on which such payments are due
 and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities
 of such series;
 
   (2) The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel based on
 the fact that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published
 by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date hereof,
 there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either
 case to the effect that, and such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of
 the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for
 federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and
 will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same
 manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit and
 defeasance had not occurred;
 
   (3) If the Securities are to be redeemed prior to Stated Maturity (other
 than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of
 such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or
 provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made;
 
   (4) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both
 would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the
 date of such deposit; and
 
 
                                      58
<PAGE>
 
   (5) The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate and
 an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided
 for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this provision have been
 complied with.
 
  For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company and any other
obligor upon the Securities of such series shall be deemed to have paid and
discharged the entire debt represented by the Securities of such series, which
shall thereafter be deemed to be "Outstanding" only for the purposes of
Section 1304 and the rights and obligations referred to in Clauses (i) through
(vi), inclusive, of the first paragraph of this Section, and to have satisfied
all its other obligations under the Securities of such series and this
Indenture insofar as the Securities of such series are concerned.
 
Section 1303. Covenant Defeasance.
 
  The Company and any other obligor, if any, shall be released on the 91st day
after the date of the deposit referred to in Clause (1) below from its
obligations under Sections 704, 801, 1005, 1006 and 1007 with respect to the
Securities of any series on and after the date the conditions set forth below
are satisfied (hereinafter, "covenant defeasance"), and the Securities of such
series shall thereafter be deemed to be not "Outstanding" for the purposes of
any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, waiver, consent or
declaration or other action or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any
thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed
Outstanding for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant
defeasance means that, with respect to the Securities of such series, the
Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any
term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section, whether directly
or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to such Section or
by reason of any reference in such Section to any other provision herein or in
any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default
or an Event of Default under Section 501, but, except as specified above, the
remainder of this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be
unaffected thereby. The following shall be the conditions to application of
this Section 1303:
 
    (1) The Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with
  the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following
  payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to,
  the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, (i) cash in an
  amount, or (ii) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on
  which may only be made in legal coin or currency of the United States, U.S.
  Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times
  and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash, or (iii) a
  combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
  firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
  thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (A) the principal and interest and
  premium, if any, on all Securities of such series on each date that such
  principal, interest or premium, if any, is due and payable or on any
  Redemption Date established pursuant to Clause (2) below, and (B) any
  mandatory sinking fund payments on the day on which such payments are due
  and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the
  Securities of such series;
 
    (2) If the Securities are to be redeemed prior to Stated Maturity (other
  than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of
  such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or
  provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made;
 
    (3) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or
  both would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
  on the date of such deposit;
 
 
    (4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
  which shall confirm that the holders of the Securities of such series will
  not recognize income, gain or loss
 
                                      59
<PAGE>
 
  for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant
  defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and
  in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if
  such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred; and
 
    (5) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
  Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to
  the covenant defeasance contemplated by this provision have been complied
  with.
 
Section 1304. Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of
Securities.
 
  Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all moneys
or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section
1302 or 1303 (and all funds earned on such moneys or U.S. Government
Obligations) shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either
directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own
Paying Agent), to the Holders of the particular Securities of such series for
the payment or redemption of which such moneys have been deposited with the
Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest;
but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent
required by law. Subject to Sections 1302 and 1303, the Trustee promptly shall
pay to the Company upon request any excess moneys held by them at any time.
 
Section 1305. Repayment to Company.
 
  The Trustee and any Paying Agent promptly shall pay or return to the Company
upon Company Request any money and U.S. Government Obligations held by them at
any time that are not required for the payment of the principal of and any
interest on the Securities of any series for which money or U.S. Government
Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303.
 
  The provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall apply to any
money held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent under this Article that remains
unclaimed for two years after the Maturity of any series of Securities for
which money or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to
Section 1302 or 1303.
 
                               ----------------
 
  This instrument may be executed with counterpart signature pages or in any
number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
 
  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly
executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
 
                                          El Paso Natural Gas Company
 
                                                    /s/ H. Brent Austin
                                          By: _________________________________
                                            Name:  H. Brent Austin
                                            Title: Executive Vice President and
                                                   Chief Financial Officer
 
                                          The Chase Manhattan Bank
 
                                                   /s/ Richard Lorenzen
                                          By: _________________________________
                                            Name:  Richard Lorenzen
                                            Title: Senior Trust Officer
 
 
                                      60

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2
 
          THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF.  THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR
EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE
DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT
IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.  EVERY SECURITY
AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR
OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE
FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

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

                          EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY

                              6 3/4% NOTE DUE 2003

                                        
NO.  U.S.$

CUSIP NO.  283695BF0

          EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY, a corporation duly incorporated and
existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the "Company", which term
includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for
value received, hereby promises to pay to               , or registered
assigns, the principal sum of                    United States Dollars ($
) on November 15, 2003 and to pay interest thereon from November 13, 1996, or
from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or
duly provided for, semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 in each year,
commencing May 15, 1997, at the rate 
<PAGE>
 
of 6 3/4% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for
payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on
any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the
Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest, which shall be the May 1 or November 1 (whether or not a Business
Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such
interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be
payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the
Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of
such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice of which shall be
given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to
such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the
Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required
by such exchange, all as more fully provided in such Indenture.

          Payment of the principal of and interest on this Security will be made
by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in the United
States of America designated by the Holder in such coin or currency of the
United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment
of public and private debts.

          Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security
set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

          Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed.

Dated:  

                              EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY

                              By:
                                 ----------------------------
                                  H. Brent Austin
                                  Executive Vice President
                                  and Chief Financial Officer

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
                          [Reverse Side of Security]

          This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more series under
an Indenture dated as of November 13, 1996 (the "Indenture"), between the
Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee", which term
includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all
indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the
respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities
thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of
the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and
delivered.  As provided in the Indenture, 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, may be subject to
different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the
Indenture provided or permitted.  This Security is one of the series designated
on the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to Two Hundred Million
and 00/100 United States Dollars (U.S.$200,000,000).

          The Securities of this series are not redeemable prior to Stated
Maturity.

          If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall
occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture.

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all series to be affected (voting as one class).  The
Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected series
(voting as one class), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such
series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the
Indenture.  The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of any series then
Outstanding to waive past defaults under the Indenture with respect to such
series and their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this
Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

          As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given
the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of the 
<PAGE>
 
Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written
request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of
Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity and the Trustee
shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with
such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60
days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity.  The
foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security
for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or interest hereon on or
after the respective due dates expressed herein.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which
is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this
Security at the times, place(s) and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein
prescribed.

          This Global Security or portion hereof may not be exchanged for
Definitive Securities of this series except in the limited circumstances
provided in the Indenture.

          The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not
be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities except as
described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for
any purpose under the Indenture.

          The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of U.S.$1,000.00 and any integral multiple
thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like
aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a
different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the
same.

          No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

          Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee
may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner
hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither
the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.

          No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or
contained in the Indenture or of or contained in any Security, or for any claim
based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or in any Security, or because of
the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or
future, of the Company or of any successor Person, either directly or through
the Company or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution,
statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment, penalty or
otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby
expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as a 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the Securities and the
execution of the Indenture.

          The Indenture provides that the Company (a) will be discharged from
any and all obligations in respect of the Securities (except for certain
obligations described in the Indenture), or (b) need not comply with certain
restrictive covenants of the Indenture, in each case if the Company deposits, in
trust, with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations (or a combination
thereof) which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in
accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay
all the principal of and interest on the Securities, but such money need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

          This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York.

          All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                    TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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


                                   THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                                 As Trustee

                                   By:
                                      ---------------------
                                        Authorized Officer


                                       4

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3
 
          THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF.  THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR
EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE
DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT
IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.  EVERY SECURITY
AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR
OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE
FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

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

                          EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY

                           7 1/2% DEBENTURE DUE 2026

                                        
NO. 1  U.S.$

CUSIP NO.  283695BG8

          EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY, a corporation duly incorporated and
existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the "Company", which term
includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for
value received, hereby promises to pay to              , or registered assigns,
the principal sum of                       United States Dollars ($
) on November 15, 2026 and to pay interest thereon from November 13, 1996, or
from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or
duly provided for, semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 in each year,
commencing May 15, 1997, at the rate of 7 
<PAGE>
 
1/2% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for
payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on
any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the
Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest, which shall be the May 1 or November 1 (whether or not a Business
Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such
interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be
payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the
Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of
such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice of which shall be
given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to
such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the
Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required
by such exchange, all as more fully provided in such Indenture.

          Payment of the principal of and interest on this Security will be made
by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in the United
States of America designated by the Holder in such coin or currency of the
United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment
of public and private debts.

          Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security
set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

          Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed.

Dated:  

                              EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY

                              By:
                                 ---------------------------- 
                                     H. Brent Austin
                                     Executive Vice President
                                     and Chief Financial Officer

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
                          [Reverse Side of Security]

          This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more series under
an Indenture dated as of November 13, 1996 (the "Indenture"), between the
Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee", which term
includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all
indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the
respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities
thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of
the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and
delivered.  As provided in the Indenture, 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, may be subject to
different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the
Indenture provided or permitted.  This Security is one of the series designated
on the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to Two Hundred Million
and 00/100 United States Dollars (U.S.$200,000,000).

          The Securities of this series are not redeemable prior to Stated
Maturity.

          If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall
occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture.

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all series to be affected (voting as one class).  The
Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected series
(voting as one class), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such
series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the
Indenture.  The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of any series then
Outstanding to waive past defaults under the Indenture with respect to such
series and their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this
Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

          As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given
the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of the 
<PAGE>
 
Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written
request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of
Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity and the Trustee
shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with
such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60
days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing
shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the
enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or interest hereon on or after
the respective due dates expressed herein.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which
is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this
Security at the times, place(s) and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein
prescribed.

          This Global Security or portion hereof may not be exchanged for
Definitive Securities of this series except in the limited circumstances
provided in the Indenture.

          The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not
be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities except as
described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for
any purpose under the Indenture.

          The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of U.S.$1,000.00 and any integral multiple
thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like
aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a
different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the
same.

          No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

          Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee
may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner
hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither
the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.

          No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or
contained in the Indenture or of or contained in any Security, or for any claim
based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or in any Security, or because of
the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or
future, of the Company or of any successor Person, either directly or through
the Company or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution,
statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment, penalty or
otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby
expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as a 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the Securities and the
execution of the Indenture.

          The Indenture provides that the Company (a) will be discharged from
any and all obligations in respect of the Securities (except for certain
obligations described in the Indenture), or (b) need not comply with certain
restrictive covenants of the Indenture, in each case if the Company deposits, in
trust, with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations (or a combination
thereof) which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in
accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay
all the principal of and interest on the Securities, but such money need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

          This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York.

          All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                    TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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


                                  THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                              As Trustee
                
                                  By:
                                     ---------------------
                                      Authorized Officer


                                       4


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